Chapter 38: Facts and opinions
Not only was Alix herself stunned by the price she requested, so was Jin Kang and everybody else in the room. What she was asking for was a steep price, equal to the salary of a B list singer or actress.
She was a no name composer with nothing to show for her work, in fact, if it was a resume, it was empty.
First to lose the shackles of shock was Jin Kang. She rushed to Alix's side and tugged on her friends arm.
"Are you crazy?" she whispered to her.
Jin Kang's movement woke up director Ban and producer Mao as well.
Producer Mao spoke first, "Err, miss Alix this asking price..."
He broke off but his voice was a clear indicator of exactly what he thought. The finger of his right hand was pointing upwards, meaning that the price was way too high.
Alix on the other hand doubled down in her confidence. Things that the game gave her were not ordinary.
"Director Ban, ten million is the price for the assault on the frog in the swamp. The pricing for my compositions differs, I have recorded three of them here today, you can listen and I will quote you the price for each one.
The second one is three million while the third is three hundred thousand yuan."
One was a melody capable of hypnotizing every creature, another was a sunny tune which brought happiness and warmth, the waking of the canaries which she used in the game to wake up mother canary.
The cheapest was her own work, something she composed two years ago but never played on any piano until today.
Taken aback by her seriousness, director Ban took a seat and crossed his arms over his chest. He let out a shallow laugh and shook his head, completely in disbelief.
"Oh my, you really are serious about this."
"As a heart attack." she replied.
Nothing was more serious than a heart attack.
"But, I can go down to five million as long as I get credit for my work. If you need to turn it into a song, I can compose the lyrics as well. It should be the main song used in the movie however and if you need to select a singer, I want to have the right to pick my choice.
You have listened to it and I know that you felt it's magic.
My piano melody for assault on a frog can draw you in and leave you yearning for more.
Even now, I know that you are longing to listen to it again. There are people who will watch the movie twice or thrice just for the song. Director Ban, I don't want us to waste each other's time running around in circles.
I intend to monetarize my work one way or another. Think it over and give me a call in three days."
She had a class to teach and she needed to leave now.
"Director Ban, producer Mao, Jin and I need to leave now. We have classes to teach so we cannot stay for long."
While she handed director Ban her business card, the producer got a flash drive with the recorded songs and handed it to her.
She had already told the elf to hack into the producer's computer and delete anything related to her music.
She had learned early in life that people were not always who they appeared to be. What if the producer had unscrupulous morals and he edited a few things and passed it off as his work?
She would guard her things jealously now, nothing would ever be taken from her.
After they left, the producer rushed to look for the soft copies of the music recordings left on his computer.
"Oh, it's all gone." He said in surprise, it was not his style not to save what he worked on. Had he been so enchanted that he forgot? "What are you going to do?" He asked director Ban.
"I need to think. It's true that there is something magical about the assault on the frog but ten million for the composition of an amateur beginning composer is ridiculous.
I don't know if she is arrogant or that good."
Director Ban, after responding searched his pockets for a cigarette.
"Don't smoke in my studio." Producer Mao snapped and frowned at the director.
Director Ban put the cigarette back in his pocket and nodded, "Fine, fine, don't take my head off. Tell me what you think, is it worth it to take a chance on her?"
Producer Mao leaned back in the chair and thought about the beautiful piano melodies that he had lost himself in. He wondered what they would sound like if they were played on a violin.
And there was a guitar, it could also be played on a guitar. If lyrics and a beautiful haunting voice was added, the song could become a number number one hit on the charts.
"Do you want the facts or my opinion?" He asked the director.
"Both." Director Ban told him.
Producer Mao held up one hand, his right one and he said, "Fact one, she is good but unknown so it's a risk. Fact two, she is Zhang Caishen's wife, the CEO of Zhang construction so if she screws you over, there is somewhere to go and demand for compensation.
Fact three, she is Lin Billi's older sister. Lin Billi is a classical music genius so this could be a good PR angle."
Director Ban scowled and looked at the producer as if he was crazy.
"How are the last two facts related related to anything? Lin Billi doesn't matter here unless the compositions are hers.
As for Mr. Zhang, I will send you to demand for compensation on my behalf if I am wronged.
I dare you to make that argument before him.
Just give me your opinion."
Everything else was unnecessary noise, useless noise at that.
"I think that was the most hauntingly beautiful music I have ever listened to. I could hardly lift my hands to adjust the settings when she was playing. I was transported to another world.
I don't know how everyone knows Lin Billi when she exists. Hell, I think we have been giving the wrong sister praise all these years.
In fact, we have been misusing the words classical music genius because. This one, she is not just a genius, she is a monster if she came up with something like that.
Take a chance on her, I am willing to sign her to Mao studios as an exclusive composer with the highest salary if she is willing.
If you don't take the frog composition, someone else will. And that someone could be me."
Good composers were highly sought after in the music business. In his opinion, Lin Alix was not good, she was a great composer.
To be able to provoke vivid images from the imagination of someone with her music was an experience he had never had before. He would have to find a way to work more with her.
The pie was still whole, soon people would be coming from everywhere longing for a slice.
As the first person to see the pie, he had to eat the biggest share.