Traffic Star Development Program

Chapter 19 Repeated Pulling and Tearing

Zeng Hao put down his pen. "Does the 80 yuan package not include the copyright buyout?"

"Not included. The copyright buyout is an additional cost; SM Entertainment said it would cost an extra 35."

"No need for a buyout," Zeng Hao said. "Copyright sharing is fine. The copyright of the theme song will be registered under Lu Han's name, and we will take the promotional usage rights. The form of cooperation is creative participation, not pure commercial endorsement."

This distinction is key.

If it's an endorsement deal, SM's copyright control will be stricter, and subsequent use will be subject to numerous restrictions. However, if it's "creative participation," the nature of the collaboration changes to a music production partnership. Luhan gets the credit and a share of the creative revenue, while Sunshine Entertainment gets the rights to use the movie's theme song. This benefits both parties, and it's also easier for SM to get approval.

Chen Mo paused for a moment, then said, "This... I need to talk to them again."

"Go talk to them," Zeng Hao said. "Tell them about the creative process: Lu Han will be credited independently, the theme song will premiere at the same time as the movie's release, Lu Han's side will retain 70% of the streaming rights, and we will only take 30%. I will pay 500,000 for the recording fee, a fixed price, no more."

"50, SM offered 80..."

"Chen Mo," Zeng Hao said, "tell them that this song will be released alongside the movie. If the movie does well at the box office, the theme song's exposure will be much greater than if they release a single domestically. This is additional promotional material, not just pure recording costs. If they think 80 is appropriate, I can find someone else."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.

"I'll talk to him, Mr. Zeng. Give me two more days."

In the past two days, Zeng Hao has basically finalized the casting for "Back to 20".

According to his logic, the core appeal of this movie is the script, not the cast. The lead actors should be newcomers or semi-newcomers, and the cost of their salaries should be controlled so that the money can be put into post-production and promotion.

On the surface, this is a tactic that has been proven effective in the TV series "Go Princess Go".

The female lead will be played by Yang Shanshan; this was agreed upon and written into the contract beforehand.

The casting of supporting roles was basically handled by Peng Bing and Xiao Sun. Zeng Hao only set one principle: the total remuneration of all major supporting roles should not exceed 300,000 yuan, and the rest of the money should be reserved for post-production.

The morning after I finished writing the casting memo, Chen Mo called.

"It's settled," he said with a sigh of relief. "SM agreed to the creative participation format. The recording fee is 650,000, Luhan will be credited independently, and they will take 70% of the streaming rights while you take 30%. But there is one additional requirement—the recording time cannot exceed three days, as he needs to rush back to attend his next event."

Zeng Hao checked the box next to "budget limit of 65" in his notebook. "Where's the deadline?"

"They said there's a vacancy at this window from July 4th to 7th."

"Okay, the location is in Qianhu City. I'll book the recording studio," Zeng Hao said. "Chen Mo, you take the lead on the contract. I'll sign it here, and Lu Han's SM agent will sign it. We need to finish the contract within three days."

"No problem," Chen Mo paused for a moment, "President Zeng, you have one more request that you didn't mention before—"

"What?"

"You said you wanted to bring a trainee to observe the recording, but SM Entertainment is a bit hesitant, saying that the recording studio is a closed environment..."

"Just one person, an underage trainee, no video recordings or photos, and a confidentiality agreement signed," Zeng Hao said. "This is a must, let's not discuss it."

Chen Mo spent a long time communicating with them and finally replied: SM agreed, but the trainees need to submit their identity information in advance and cannot use their mobile phones at all in the recording studio.

Zeng Hao agreed, hung up the phone, and sent a message to Sister Liu: "Notify Huayi Training Center that Xu Kunkun is taking a day off on July 4th because of company business needs. Tell him to get ready, and I will pick him up."

Sister Liu replied: Okay, I'll go and inform them.

Two minutes later, Sister Liu sent another message: Xu Kunkun said, "Thank you, President Zeng."

Zeng Hao saw the message but didn't reply; he simply turned his phone over.

July 4th, Qianhu City.

Zeng Hao drove to Huayi Training Center and waited at the entrance for ten minutes. Xu Kunkun ran out with a backpack on his back. When he saw Zeng Hao, he stood up straight and called out "President Zeng" with a hint of barely concealed excitement in his voice.

At eighteen, emotions are hard to hide.

Zeng Hao glanced at him. "Get in the car."

Xu Kunkun didn't dare ask too many questions on the way, but when the car arrived near the recording studio, he couldn't help but ask, "President Zeng, what's today...?"

"Record the theme song," Zeng Hao said. "You go and observe, don't speak, don't take pictures, and hand me your phone before you go in."

Xu Kunkun took out his phone and handed it over, "Recording a theme song...which movie is it for?"

"Back to 20", a theatrical film, will be released in September.

Xu Kunkun nodded, then paused for a moment, "Then the recording..."

"You'll find out when you go in."

The recording studio was located in a semi-underground cultural park in Qianhu City. The exterior walls were made of exposed concrete, and the soundproofing inside was very solid. Zeng Hao parked his car and met Chen Mo at the entrance. Chen Mo led two people over, one of whom was a management liaison sent by SM Entertainment, and the other was Lu Han.

Xu Kunkun paused for half a second.

Lu Han isn't tall, but standing there, the aura he exudes, honed through long-term training, is genuine. When he smiles, there's a curve at the corner of his eye, and he doesn't look too different from the photos in magazines. He's even more vibrant in person than in photos.

He glanced at Xu Kunkun and greeted him in Mandarin, "This is...?"

"Trainees, you're here to learn," Zeng Hao said, his tone no different from introducing a prop. "It won't affect your recording; you've signed a confidentiality agreement for the entire process."

Lu Han nodded without asking any further questions.

Before entering the recording studio, Xu Kunkun suppressed the emotions he couldn't hide on his face, but the tips of his ears turned red.

In the recording studio, Zeng Hao handed the arrangement file and lyrics of the theme song to the music producer. Lu Han put on headphones, stood in the studio, and did two warm-up exercises.

Zeng Hao sat in the chair in the listening area, not looking at Lu Han, but turning his head to glance at Xu Kunkun.

Xu Kunkun sat next to him, trying hard to control himself but unable to quite manage it. His eyes followed the people in the studio, his ears were perked up listening to each processing method, and his lips moved slightly, as if he was silently reciting the lyrics.

Zeng Hao didn't interrupt him, but turned his gaze back to the mixing console in front of him.

After the first take of the recording was completed, the producer gave two suggestions for improvement over the earpiece. Lu Han nodded, adjusted her position in the studio, and started the second take again.

There was a break in the middle, and Lu Han came out to get a drink of water. She sat on the chair for a moment, glanced at Xu Kunkun next to her, and asked, "Are you practicing singing too?"

Xu Kunkun responded, "I have both vocal and dance skills, with a focus on dance, but I'm also practicing singing."

"How long have you been practicing?"

It's been almost a year.

Lu Han took a sip of water, didn't ask any further questions, glanced out the window, and asked, "Is your company in Qianhu City?"