Live Streaming: Great Adventure in the Wilderness-Chapter 738 - 735: Arriving at the Studio
Bi Fang was momentarily stunned upon receiving the invitation, before he realized that more than a year had passed and another Spring Festival had come and gone, turning his age on the panel to twenty-six.
Over a year had passed since the acquisition of the intellectual property rights; indeed, it was time to show some results.
"I've got nothing better to do, might as well go take a look," he thought.
Back then, Disney spent thirty million to acquire the rights, which included an animated movie and three seasons of an animated series, as well as a series of related merchandise. This was a one-time payment for the rights, with no subsequent profit sharing involved.
Given Bi Fang's fame at the time, which was just beginning to show after four live streams in half a year, thirty million Ugly Gold was definitely a huge sum, directly providing the startup capital for Wilderness Club.
Otherwise, when this project could have been launched was uncertain, if at all.
It also indirectly provided Bi Fang with ample Wilderness Points.
Even now, with Bi Fang's rising popularity and the creation of a startup chain, thirty million is still not a small amount.
Nowadays, Bi Fang frequently receives endorsement invitations, with promised figures on the contracts reaching billions, as if simply showing up would easily make money, but this is different from a change of events.
Adapting real-life cases into films and television series is a subtle matter, and the definition of its intellectual property rights is rather vague.
You can say they exist, or you can say they don't.
If one were to be a bit shameless, it would be entirely possible to ignore the so-called copyright issues, unless they involve merchandising that might affect image rights, but oftentimes this isn't the main concern.
Not all movies and anime can rely on merchandise to make money.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.
Bi Fang opened the invitation and discovered that three plane tickets to Burbank, California, were thoughtfully attached, clearly suggesting that he could bring friends along.
As for Étienne, they surely sent him one too, though it was unknown if they would run into each other.
If it's March, Étienne should have already started school, right?
Bi Fang wasn't very clear on the French educational system, but since they don't have Spring Festival, theoretically, he should be in school.
The thought of Étienne burying himself in studies made Bi Fang's mouth turn up with a sense of pity.
The date on the plane ticket was the day after next. Bi Fang put it away and started to mentally prepare himself while also checking if any of his friends were interested.
As for the six large dogs at home, there was no need to worry, as someone would take care of them.
"You can spank them if needed; don't worry, they have thick skin and flesh and won't die, especially that sneaky-looking one," Bi Fang told the auntie while pointing at Goudan.
"Woof!"
Suddenly, Goudan's backside clenched, it immediately stood up from the sofa, hopped around a few times, and let out a howl.
...
Three days later.
"Eh? It's just the two of us?"
Yao Jun took off his sunglasses and looked around, noticing it was just him and Bi Fang.
Bi Fang nodded: "Lin Chang said he isn't very interested. If there's a sample film, he'd take a look, but there's no need to make the trip specially. Not everyone is as free as you are."
Yao Jun showed annoyance: "What do you mean I'm that free? I'm here because of you. Otherwise, I can make or lose millions in a minute! Why would I take a plane to watch an animated movie?"
Bi Fang curled his lip and said nothing.
Burbank is a residential satellite city and industrial center of Los Angeles; the Magic Capital doesn't have a direct flight there, so after landing, they still had to drive there. Since it was late, they didn't hurry to their destination but instead found a hotel nearby to stay for the night.
The next morning, Bi Fang made a call to inform the other party of their arrival, and by noon, someone was knocking on their hotel door. When he opened the door, he saw a man with a Mediterranean hairstyle and glasses, dressed like the typical office worker, and wearing a standardized smile: "Hello, Mr. Fang, I'm Benton Morgan from the company, sent to guide you through the movie production process. Are you ready to leave now?"
Morgan didn't beat around the bush as the morning call had settled this exact matter.
Bi Fang nodded: "Give me a moment."
After changing clothes in his bedroom, Bi Fang took Morgan next door and after knocking and seeing a sleepy Yao Jun, he let him know they were ready and then waited in the lobby for fifteen minutes. They had a brief chat about the movie's progress before moving downstairs with Yao Jun.
Once everyone was together, Morgan drove both men to the studio to observe the film production process.
"Isn't this sort of thing usually done by women?" Yao Jun murmured, prompting Bi Fang to tug at the corner of his mouth: "Have you always been this embarrassing?"
Yao Jun looked shocked: "Is that really how you see me?"
"What else?"
Morgan, driving the car, glanced at the rearview mirror and said with a smile, "Sorry, gentlemen, I understand Chinese. In fact, it's because I know Chinese that the company assigned me to you. Of course, if you really need it, I could have the company send someone else."
That was awkward.
Yao Jun slumped in his seat and pretended to be dead.
Bi Fang's proficiency in English was unquestionable, enough for normal conversation, even being able to express botanical scientific names in English, which was exceptionally high. Yao Jun wasn't bad either, having studied abroad in college, he could also communicate normally. Therefore, upon meeting Morgan, they had subconsciously not used Chinese and hadn't considered this possibility.
The slight hiccup aside, Morgan understood it was just a joke and didn't mind it; once they got out of the car, they mutually decided to forget the incident.
Walt Studios, founded by Walt Disney himself, is the most distinctive and oldest division of the entertainment empire. As Bi Fang and Yao Jun walked up the stairs, they could see the live-action movie department nearby and the division of Ugly Country's three major TV networks, ABC, across the way.
Walt Studios is a separate low-rise building, with a plaza in front adorned with several statues that exude a fairytale atmosphere, irresistibly inviting visitors to enter and explore.
Morgan led the two around the plaza before entering the building, greeting many people along the way.
The walls were adorned with a variety of colorful frames, significantly different from an ordinary office building.
Just as Morgan was about to take them to where the movie was being made, Bi Fang unexpectedly ran into an acquaintance.
"Long time no see, Mr. Fang, I wonder if you remember me," Brandt Palliston greeted Bi Fang with a hug.
"Of course, I remember, Mr. Brandt," Bi Fang replied, smiling. With his memory, he wouldn't forget someone he had conversed with for a few minutes.
Brandt Palliston was the one who came to negotiate the rights fees back then, and now seeing him again was truly quite the mixture of feelings.