Chapter 1565: Business

When people encounter difficulties, they often burst forth with unimaginable strength.

Similarly, if a person is extremely eager for success, they may also take unexpected actions.

Just like Robert Downey Jr. at this moment.

In fact, even Susan hadn't expected that her husband would make such a decision!

No salary!

Was this guy crazy?

To be clear, for an actor, especially one like Robert Downey Jr. who was at a low point, acting in a film for zero salary meant he would have no income until the movie was released.

Robert Downey was no longer a young man; he knew full well what his words meant.

But now, he really couldn't afford to wait any longer.

The strength of his competitors and his own current predicament made him realize that if he didn't seize an opportunity to rise again, what awaited him would be complete downfall.

Now forty-one years old, Robert Downey knew that if he failed once more, he would essentially be abandoned by Hollywood.

Robert Downey remembered his father once telling him that being a bohemian was easy when young—time was cheap, no responsibilities on his shoulders, free in the ocean of art.

But as he aged, worldly troubles enveloped him, and trying to maintain that former state of life was nothing but a fool's dream.

Many movie protagonists hit rock bottom after major life upheavals, as if gaining a chance to be reborn, and from then on, their lives became positive and upward—walking with a spring in their step and succeeding in almost everything.

After encountering trouble, not changing one's life direction or gaining some insight would be a waste.

Robert Downey Jr. was probably that kind of person.

After experiencing great ups and downs in life, he made the decision to change himself.

And now, facing Zhao Fusheng, he offered the biggest bargaining chip he had.

Zero salary?

Zhao Fusheng glanced at Robert Downey Jr. and smiled: "Mr. Downey, it seems you've made a big decision."

With his life experience, Zhao Fusheng could clearly tell whether someone was acting or putting on a show. Not to mention anything else, from the resolute determination Robert Downey Jr. had just shown, coupled with the shocked expression on his wife Susan's face, Zhao Fusheng could see that he had truly made a great decision to act in "Iron Man" for zero salary.

"Yes."

Robert Downey Jr. looked at Zhao Fusheng: "Mr. Zhao, I beg you to give me this chance."

Although Zhao Fusheng was less than thirty years old, more than a decade younger than him, he held the key to his future, so he had no choice but to act this way.

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "Mr. Downey, I am a businessman. To be honest, I don't know much about how to make movies, and I haven't read Marvel comics. In fact, before Kevin Feige mentioned 'Iron Man' to me, I didn't even know what it was about."

Susan and Robert Downey exchanged glances, not understanding what Zhao Fusheng meant.

Was he going to reject them?

Seeing their reaction, Zhao Fusheng chuckled and continued: "For me, 'Iron Man' is a business. I invested in Marvel, and Marvel needs a blockbuster movie to increase the company's value. So I believe that as long as you can create value for my business, you will surely make a comeback, won't you?"

"Uh..."

Robert Downey was clearly confused by Zhao Fusheng's words and was at a loss.

"Mr. Zhao, do you mean you have no objection to Robert playing Tony Stark?" It was Susan who was quicker, having served as a producer and being a top student from USC, she quickly caught on and interpreted Zhao Fusheng's meaning.

Zhao Fusheng nodded with a smile: "I said, I'm an investor, not a director or a screenwriter. I don't know if you're better than those two Oscar winners. In my view, any actor who fits the role can play it."

He paused and smiled: "Of course, I appreciate Mr. Downey's willingness to act in 'Iron Man' for zero salary, but our investment is sufficient. Mr. Downey doesn't need to work for free. If you're willing, I can promise to sign a multi-picture deal with you. How about that?"

A multi-picture deal, simply put, means signing an actor for several films at a fixed price.

For example, Stephen Chow and Chow Yun-fat, when they signed with Win's Movie Company in Hong Kong back in the day, they signed multi-picture deals. So despite making many films, their salaries were actually quite low.

Because most multi-picture deals are signed when the actor isn't very famous.

For instance, when Stephen Chow first became popular, his salary was three million per film. But after making a few films, his salary had risen to nine million or even ten million per film.

However, because he had signed a multi-picture deal, he could only take three million.

That was one reason why Stephen Chow later became reluctant to cooperate with others—he had been taken advantage of too many times and naturally became wary of trusting others.

Before the handover, the Hong Kong entertainment industry was actually darker than people could imagine.

The role played by various triad societies was, for anyone with a bit of common sense, simply astonishing.

The bodyguard in "God of Gamblers" was a bona fide gang boss. Although his wife, a decade later, constantly claimed to be close to this or that star, saying the Xiang family was law-abiding, in truth, everyone knew what business they started with. So-called law-abiding was just a joke.

Capital comes with original sin from the start—this saying is quite true.

Take Hong Kong as an example: the husband of the woman from Big Lychee started his family fortune by selling opium, and Sir Run Run Shaw's partner was known as Lin the God of Deception.

As for the Xiang family, needless to say, they were among the top gang bosses in Hong Kong.

Even Zeng Luohanguo's father was the prototype for Pig Oil Boy under Lei Luo back in the day; otherwise, how could he have made a name for himself in the Hong Kong entertainment industry?

But that's a digression. Back to the main topic.

Zhao Fusheng had his own plans in proposing a multi-picture deal to Robert Downey Jr.

In the future, when filming "Avengers: Endgame," this guy's salary would be as high as one hundred million dollars, which was simply too outrageous.

In Zhao Fusheng's view, that was like taking money straight out of his own pocket!

Absolutely not allowed!

So Zhao Fusheng decided to sign a multi-picture deal with Robert Downey Jr.

"Well..."

Robert Downey Jr. exchanged a glance with his wife and hesitated.

Although he was willing to act in this film for free, that didn't mean he truly believed he couldn't become famous again.

In Susan and Robert Downey Jr.'s view, what he needed was just an opportunity!

And now, the multi-picture deal proposed by Zhao Fusheng made Robert Downey Jr. hesitate.

Seeing the couple's reaction, Zhao Fusheng realized he might have been overthinking.

Indeed, this was Hollywood, a place of business and fame. His idea seemed good on the surface, but in reality, it was somewhat wishful thinking.

With that in mind, Zhao Fusheng shook his head: "How about this: for the 'Iron Man' film series, Mr. Downey will receive a salary of ten million dollars per film. For other Marvel works, the salary can be discussed later. What do you think?"

At this point, he had to settle for the next best thing.

Susan and Robert Downey Jr. were stunned again, looking at Zhao Fusheng in surprise, clearly not expecting him to offer such terms.

"Mr. Zhao, are you joking?" Susan asked Zhao Fusheng in surprise.

Zhao Fusheng shrugged: "I told you, I'm a businessman. I'm only responsible for my business."

This was his true feeling and the truth. In Zhao Fusheng's view, perhaps for Kevin Feige and Robert Downey Jr., "Iron Man" was a chance to change their fate, but for him, it was just a business deal.