After reading the analysis report compiled by multiple people over a day regarding Qiao Pan's past productions, Li Yan had grasped a general outline.

Qiao Pan originally worked as a planner in the television industry. Over time, as his vision and abilities were honed, he built up a substantial network and began venturing into films. Because films have a limited runtime and revenue recovery methods differ from TV series, his initial productions all ended in failure.

Subsequently, Qiao Pan entered a dormant period. During that time, he engaged in several co-productions between mainland companies and Cloud Island, doing planning, promotion, and on-set production work. After polishing multiple films, he gained an understanding of the production process and various aspects of the film industry, accumulating considerable experience dealing with filmmakers and investment companies from different regions. With experience, ability, and qualifications, he began taking on roles like chief planner, co-producer, and supervisor.

In recent days, he had independently acquired the capabilities of a chief producer and successfully completed preparations for several films. Some of these were collaborations with prominent directors that achieved box office success, while others were mid- to low-budget films that yielded considerable returns due to his keen insights and precise planning.

Several consecutive years of comprehensive victories had made Qiao Pan quite a famous producer in the industry. However, there are only a few big-name directors who guarantee box office success domestically. The leading figures, the country's master directors, and the people's directors all have long-term collaborations with large companies. There are only a few blockbusters each year, so following the route of famous directors is quite difficult. The process from waiting and negotiating to finally starting collaboration and completing it is a lengthy one.

In contrast, mid- to low-budget films offer a better breakthrough point. There are more opportunities and shorter cycles. If managed well, although they don't earn as much as blockbusters, the profit-to-investment ratio is easier to achieve. Thus, Qiao Pan began to shift towards developing mid- to low-budget films. Yet, he wasn't the only one with this idea; clever people are everywhere. In a winner-takes-all market, the big blockbusters typically reaped the most profits, while the medium-investment films saw the fiercest competition.

As for low-budget films, although the investment isn't large, they usually require a miraculous dark horse effect to make money. Otherwise, earning tens of thousands in box office receipts wouldn't even cover the cost of copies. For low-budget films, making tens of thousands isn't the worst outcome; each year, hundreds of low-budget films can't even be released, relying solely on video products and movie channels to subsidize their youthful loss fees.

Due to his confidence, Qiao Pan continually planned and produced several mid- and low-scale films with novel scripts over a few years, hoping for a wild success despite small odds. Unfortunately, he misjudged the market and failed to execute properly, resulting in continuous failures. Although there were a few small investments in the process that didn't lose money, they were ultimately inconsequential.

Thus, the recent two years have brought about an awkward situation. As the saying in "Cai Gen Tan" goes—a collection of Chinese proverbs—"Success with nine of ten strategies is not extraordinary, but a single failure invites criticism; similarly, successful decisions may not be attributed to glory, but a single failure results in scorn. Hence, the wise choose silence over haste and simplicity over cunning." When your investments profit, it may not be attributed to you; when they fail, you're the one implicated.

...

Although Li Yan had his calculations, he still needed to heed more professional opinions. By evaluating together, they could ensure the success of Heavenly Film's startup venture.

After reviewing all documents, he gathered everyone in the conference room for a meeting.

Zhang Yurong evidently had responded to Jiang Xueyin, acting as a proper subordinate in the company, showing no cordiality when she met Li Yan again.

"I believe you all have also gotten to know each other during the investigation and analysis. Let's discuss: if Qiao Pan brings us a project for investment, given his past record, is it worth our time to further engage with him?"

Li Yan pushed the documents towards the conference table, allowing those unfamiliar to peruse them.

Being a subsidiary of Paradise Group and selected during its inception for the human resources department, it naturally wouldn't be ordinary. On Li Yan's first day on the job yesterday, he laid out such a demand. Naturally, everyone guessed his interest in Qiao Pan, so they promptly gathered all the information and discussed it among themselves. Initially, they thought the deadline was early this morning, so they worked late. To their surprise, Li Yan came only in the afternoon, giving them more time in the morning to digest, analyze, and discuss.

Upon hearing Li Yan's words, everyone exchanged glances for a couple of seconds before someone spoke first.

"Mr. Li, based on our understanding, Qiao Pan is currently not favored by other big companies. They think his most successful films were due to famous directors or stars, not highlighting his personal production abilities. Hence, the subsequent failures; however, I believe Qiao Pan is relatively capable. Besides his best-performing films, some of his mid- and low-budget productions yielded high returns."

Li Yan looked at him, seemingly recognizing him as the creative director, Feng Xiang.

Feng Xiang spoke while picking up the documents on the table and reading out some data to the crowd. "...These few are profitable movies, and they achieved this effect due to his planning and execution. So I think, as long as the investment is below 20 million, we can still attempt further engagement with him."

As soon as he finished speaking, the finance director, Jiang Xueyin, let out a cold laugh: "Gambling 20 million on a producer who repeatedly fails? Do you think I have money to burn? Don't forget, even though Paradise Group has our back, headquarters has minimal expectations or support for our small new subsidiary!"

Feng Xiang felt a bit awkward. Jiang Xueyin, being so young and put in charge of finance, obviously had connections, so he couldn't say much.

Li Yan knew that Jiang Xueyin's anger wasn't directed at Feng Xiang, but at him, as Feng Xiang seemed to support him. So before he, as the general manager, could express his stance, she spoke up to undermine him.

He glanced at everyone's attitude and slowly said, "I'm sorry, I was careless. We are currently in a project discussion meeting and have not yet reached the stage of specific funding implementation. Director Jiang, you may go attend to your other tasks."

"You...!"

Jiang Xueyin was so angry she nearly jumped up. Just now, her cousin had failed to stand up for her, thinking that after all, they were a couple, and she didn't pursue Li Yan any further. However, being young and impetuous, she couldn't bring herself to face him, and her earlier remarks to undermine Feng Xiang were both an unconscious way to negate Li Yan and to consider real financial concerns. As a newly-entered film company, making a two-million-level investment all at once was indeed a risky move.

But she never expected that Li Yan would give her no face at all and directly send her out!

Li Yan maintained a blank expression and pointed towards the door.

He had to do this!

Firstly, because Jiang Xueyin was Zhang Yurong's cousin, regardless of whether it was public, she had already been special. With her acting this way, how could others openly express their suggestions? Secondly, she had been there since the company's preparation. Before the decision of the manager was made, and before Li Yan was appointed general manager and subsequently absent for two weeks, Jiang Xueyin, due to her special status, had always been the invisible leader.

Now that Li Yan had come here to work, and with the intention of staying, not just playing around, he had to first make Jiang Xueyin understand that she couldn't be special! That was just now, and that's the same now. Another reason was to reclaim the general manager's authority, to make her and everyone understand that it's Li Yan who is the decision-maker in the company now. Undefined power will not only lead to his arrangements being unenforceable but also cause organizational and disciplinary chaos among everyone.

So, since this young and impulsive cousin happened to run into the line of fire, Li Yan couldn't consider her feelings or take pity, and directly used her as an example.

Jiang Xueyin saw his indifferent expression and realized he was serious, immediately stormed off, and left the meeting room briskly. In fact, she had only met Li Yan once before and didn't have a bad impression of him. That time at Zhang Tianyi's home, they had quite an enjoyable conversation. Only after finding out that Li Yan was the manager did she inquire about his situation at the company, and realized he was an idle person without ambitions. She, being new with youthful enthusiasm, of course, couldn't watch him squander resources, thus prompted her to overstep her authority.

...

Everyone was also shocked by Li Yan's attitude!

They arrived either earlier or later, originally without any leadership. Later, because Jiang Xueyin took on managerial responsibilities, they could see she was someone with connections, and everyone tacitly acknowledged her leadership. Later on, they learned that the president had already appointed the general manager of Heavenly Film, and not really knowing much about Paradise Group Headquarters, they each inquired about Li Yan. Eventually, they found out that their incoming superior was a casual and useless person, presumably there due to connections, leaving them a bit disappointed.

Because of such dynamics, they would rather have Jiang Xueyin as the manager. After some time getting along with her, they knew this young girl was fairly capable, had a strong sense of responsibility, and was driven, seemingly capable of creating a business together with everyone. If a leader uninterested in making progress came and just muddled through a few months, the new company might shut down, which was quite disheartening for them.

They never expected that on Li Yan's first day, he not only refrained from showing them his casual and slack side but also assigned them tasks before they could even express their opinions. And now, swiftly convening a meeting, he even directly kicked Jiang Xueyin out in front of everyone!

This... didn't seem like the rumored Li Yan at all.

"Let's continue the meeting. What's your opinion?" Li Yan's gaze swept over them, and seeing their hesitation, he added, "I don't want you to speculate and cater to my ideas, but rather provide opinions and suggestions appropriate to your position!"

Li Yan tapped his fingers on the table, and though left unsaid, the implied meaning was: If anyone said they had no opinion, they could leave!

["Mixed" is considered reborn with a new name. The readers who can see this are the die-hard fans of "Mixed," who, I believe, will not stop reading just because of a name change. The application has been successful, and starting tomorrow, the reborn "Mixed" will have chapter titles again, making it easier for everyone to remember where they left off. To avoid abruptness, it will restart from the first chapter, but the content is seamless, directly continuing from here. Thanks to the editors and the readers!]

(Thanks to the brothers who rewarded me yesterday: Me, The Most Unique, め飘渺, zjun971210, jys0022, qwe8833, dongmin8061, Cp Pampas) (To be continued, if you want to know what happens next, please log in to www.qidian.com, more chapters available, support the author, support legitimate reading!)

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.