Traveling back to 1966, starting by living in a cowshed.

Chapter 228 Counterattacking Their Global Dominance 2

The news that seven special effects blockbusters from Zhonghua Films were sweeping across Asia spread like wildfire throughout the world in just a few days.

Early that morning, Lin Zhou had just entered his office when his secretary, Xiao Zhou, rushed in looking flustered.

"Mr. Lin, something terrible has happened... no, it's great! The downstairs area is completely packed!"

Lin Zhou put down his briefcase, looked up, and asked, "What's all this commotion about?"

"They're all overseas publishers!" the secretary exclaimed rapidly. "Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia, Europe... they're all here! They're all waiting in the lobby, saying they absolutely have to see you!"

Lin Zhou's lips curled slightly: "You arrived quickly."

"So, will you see them?" the secretary asked cautiously. "With so many people coming all at once, I don't know how to arrange things."

"Arrangements?" Lin Zhou smiled faintly. "No need for special arrangements. Let them come in one by one. Those who want to talk can sit down and discuss. Those who don't want to wait, the door is over there."

"yes!"

The secretary had only been gone a short while when the first person to walk in was the representative of Japan's largest independent publisher, who bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle as soon as he entered.

"Mr. Hayashi, I am the representative of Toyo Tokyo Eiga. My name is Sato!"

Lin Zhou raised his hand to signal:

"Sit down. Just say it, what do you want to talk about?"

Sato immediately straightened his back, his tone urgent:

"Mr. Lin, we want the exclusive distribution rights in Japan for seven major films from Zhonghua Films! We'll agree to any conditions!"

Lin Zhou said calmly:

"The eight major Hollywood studios recently declared that anyone who dares to collaborate with Chinese studios is going against the entire Hollywood movement. Aren't you afraid?"

Sato smiled bitterly:

"Of course I'm afraid. But Hollywood movies are getting worse every year, and they don't make much money."

"Your company's movies are nothing short of robbery when they're released in Japan! Compared to making money, what are those threats?"

Lin Zhou nodded:

"Quite an appetite. They demand exclusivity right from the start."

"Mr. Lin, we have nationwide cinema resources!" Sato hurriedly added.

"We can guarantee the highest number of screenings and the longest run time! As long as you give us the distribution rights for the East Asian region, we'll pay the highest agency fee, and we're even willing to compromise on revenue sharing!"

Lin Zhou tapped his fingers lightly on the table:

"The agency fee will be 30% higher than your market price. Zhonghua Group will take 50% of the subsequent box office revenue."

"If you can accept it, let's continue talking. If you can't, the door is behind you."

Sato's expression changed; he was clearly shocked by this condition.

"Thirty percent? Fifty percent?" He swallowed hard.

"Mr. Lin, isn't this condition a bit too harsh? We've never offered such high conditions for Hollywood films before."

Lin Zhou looked up at him:

"Do Hollywood movies have special effects like mine? Can Hollywood movies achieve sold-out screenings and double their box office in Japan?"

Sato opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

The facts are right in front of us.

Zhonghua's films aren't just about whether they can sell; they're about selling like hotcakes.

"I...I need to make a phone call and ask the president for permission."

Lin Zhou raised his hand: "Please go ahead. But I don't have much time; there's a long line of people waiting behind me."

Sato immediately went to Secretary Zhou's desk, hurriedly dialed a number, and spoke in a very low voice, but one could still hear the excitement and argument in his voice.

A few minutes later, he hung up the phone, took a deep breath, and walked back.

"Mr. Lin, we agree! We agree to everything! As long as we can obtain the exclusive distribution rights in Japan, we will accept all your conditions!"

Lin Zhou, his expression unchanged, said to Secretary Zhou:

"Very good. Have the legal department prepare the contract and have it signed today."

"Thank you, Mr. Lin! Thank you, Mr. Lin!" Sato bowed again, so excited that he almost staggered out of the office.

No sooner had he left than the South Korean publisher rushed in.

"Mr. Lin! We are Seoul Film Productions from South Korea! We want the exclusive distribution rights in South Korea! No matter what the Japanese conditions are, we can raise them!"

Lin Zhou glanced at him: "No need to add anything. Same conditions. Sign if you can accept it, otherwise wait for the next person."

The South Korean distributor barely hesitated: "Sign! Sign it now!"

Subsequently, publishers from Southeast Asian countries followed suit.

Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia...

Everyone who enters has the same attitude—lowering their stance and only asking for the right to publish.

A Hollywood ban?

It's worthless compared to real money.

Around noon, European publishers also began to arrive.

France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom...

They were all dressed in suits and had a reserved demeanor, but once they opened their mouths, they were all eager to speak.

The French representative laid his cards on the table as soon as he sat down:

"Mr. Lin, we all know that Hollywood is suppressing you."

"But the European market isn't their domain. We want the distribution rights for all your films in Western Europe."

Lin Zhou asked, "Aren't you afraid of retaliation from Hollywood?"

The French representative scoffed:

"Retaliation? How can they retaliate? By not showing their films? To be honest, European audiences are already tired of Hollywood stuff."

"Your films are the real breath of fresh air."

The German representative was even more direct: "Mr. Lin, we value efficiency. Name your terms, and if they're reasonable, we'll sign immediately. We only care about one thing—when can it be released?"

"Once the contract is signed, everything will be online within a week," Lin Zhou said.

"Great!" The German representative's eyes lit up. "Then there's nothing to hesitate about."

For a time, the office was constantly ringing with phone calls and bustling with people coming and going.

People from the legal department were coming and going, and stacks of contracts piled up on their desks.

In the afternoon, someone finally withstood the pressure and came to us on behalf of the eight major Hollywood studios.

The secretary came in to report:

"Mr. Lin, representatives from the eight major Hollywood film studios have come here and say they absolutely must see you."

Lin Zhou didn't even lift his eyelids: "I won't see you."

The secretary was taken aback: "They're not going to meet us at all? They said they came to discuss cooperation in good faith."

"Sincerity?" Lin Zhou sneered. "Where was the sincerity during the car accident, the bombing, the blacklist, and the ban?"

He paused, then instructed, "Go out and tell them that they can cooperate if they want."

"Agency fee: three times the market price. Box office revenue share: Zhonghua takes 60%. Less than a penny less, no discussion."

The secretary gasped, "Three times? Sixty percent? Mr. Lin, this... they definitely won't agree to this."

"I want them to refuse," Lin Zhou said calmly. "Just relay their exact words."

The secretary didn't dare ask any more questions and turned to go out and deliver the message.

A few minutes later, the secretary returned with a strange expression.

"Mr. Lin, after hearing this, they were so angry that they jumped up and down, saying that you were deliberately humiliating them, and that they would completely blacklist Zhonghua, so that not a single one of your films could be released in the United States."

Lin Zhou's lips curled into a cold smile:

"Ban them? Let them try. I want to see who will give in first."

The secretary nodded. "I understand. Should I send them away?"

"No need to rush," Lin Zhou waved his hand. "Let them wait in the lobby. If they want to wait, they can wait until the end of time. If they don't want to wait, they can get out."

"Yes."

After the secretary left, the office returned to silence.

Not long after, Chen Tao rushed over from the electronics company.

"Ah Zhou, what's going on outside? I heard the entire Zhonghua Group office building is packed with global publishers?"

Lin Zhou looked up at him: "As you can see, they're scrambling to give you money."

Chen Tao gasped:

"My goodness! We were being chased and harassed before, but now the tables have turned! What about Hollywood? Aren't they furious?"

"They jumped," Lin Zhou said calmly. "I told them to get lost."

Chen Tao laughed heartily: "Well done! These bastards should have been taught a lesson long ago!"

After laughing, Chen Tao's expression turned serious:

"Oh, right, there's something else I need to tell you. The distributors for Zhonghua Electronics in Europe and Australia have all gone crazy."

"They call every day, asking when the ban will be lifted, saying that as soon as our electronic products arrive, they will immediately take care of everything."

Lin Zhou picked up his teacup and took a small sip.

"The ban will be lifted soon."

Chen Tao was taken aback: "You're that confident?"

"It's not that I'm confident," Lin Zhou said, looking out the window with a deep gaze, "it's that they can't live without Zhonghua's products."

"Whether it's movies or electronic products, they can't stop them, and they can't afford to stop them."

Chen Tao slammed his hand on the table:

"Great! That's exactly what I was waiting for! I'll go back and make the arrangements right away. As soon as the ban is lifted, we'll launch a full-scale assault on the European and American markets!"

Lin Zhou nodded: "Go ahead. Stay calm and don't panic."

"rest assured!"

Chen Tao left in a hurry.

Lin Zhou was left alone in the office once again.

He picked up a newly signed global distribution contract, flipped through a couple of pages, and then tossed it back onto the table.

Asia, Europe, Australia, Japan and South Korea, Southeast Asia...

He has brought almost the entire world under his control.

Except for the Ugly Country.

The eight major Hollywood studios are still putting up a stubborn resistance.

Lin Zhou picked up the internal phone and called the director of the distribution department.

"Starting next week, seven films will be released one after another. Don't stop, don't interrupt, keep the momentum going."

"Yes, Mr. Lin!"

"Tell everyone that whoever is quick gets to eat more meat. Those who are slow won't even get any soup."

"Understood! I'll arrange it right away!"

After hanging up the phone, Lin Zhou leaned back in his chair, his gaze calm.

Guys in Hollywood.

Do you think that by joining forces to block me, you can trap me?

You are wrong.

The world is vast. Even without the US, I can still conquer the world.

And what you will lose is your entire future.