When the plane arrived at Los Angeles International Airport, it was already seven o'clock in the evening. Zhang Ran saw a very large sign from afar, with two huge Chinese characters "Zhang Ran" written in Chinese.

"I've been waiting for more than an hour. But it's good to come. I can't wait. We're going to have a big fight this time!" As soon as I saw Zhang Ran come out, Neil ran over and gave Zhang Ran a bear hug, and said excitedly.

"Of course, we're going to do a big fight this time!" Zhang Ran got into Neil's car leisurely.

Neil still lived in the past place, got out of the car, Zhang Ran came to the door and rang the doorbell.

The doorbell rang several times before the door opened. Zhang Ran saw Lisa holding a spatula in his hand and hugged her: "Lisa, you are getting more and more beautiful. I really envy this guy Neil!"

"Thank you, Robin, I'm so happy to see you! I made your favorite Kung Pao Chicken. After you returned to China, I have always cooked. Now my cooking skills have improved a lot!" Lisa smiled and hugged Zhang Ran.

Zhang Ran stretched out his nose and smelled it, nodded with a smile, "I believe it must be good, Neil has become fat!"

Suddenly a burnt smell came, and Lisa screamed, "Oh, the food is so messy!" As she said that, she turned around and ran to the kitchen with a spatula.

During the meal, everyone naturally talked about the movie and Zhang Ran’s project.

Lisa looked at Zhang Ran and said incredibly: "Robin, I was really shocked. How did you actually invite Lucbesson as a producer?"

Zhang Ran explained with a smile: "Although Lucbesson is a very famous director, he is also the boss of Europa Films. The most important thing for him is to make money. If we can make money in this project, he will naturally join!"

"Neil and I thought you shouldn't go back to China. You're so good at staying in Hollywood will have more prospects. I didn't expect that you will develop better when you return to China." Lisa said with some emotion, "Robin, when this movie is successful, will you stay in Hollywood to develop?"

"No." Zhang Ran shook his head with certainty. He might be a little confused at the beginning of his rebirth. Now he is becoming more and more aware of where his path is. "Hollywood has the funds I need, but there is no movie I want. In fact, even if I didn't go back to China, I might not stay in Hollywood. I guess I will go to New York."

"That's a pity!" Lisa said regretfully, "You and Neil are both geniuses. If you cooperate, you will definitely be able to make a movie that will amaze the whole world like Lucas and Spielberg!"

"Even if I'm not in Hollywood, I can work with Neil. Aren't we working together now?" Zhang Ran said with a smile, "Even if I'm not in Hollywood, I'll make a movie that will amaze the world!"

After dinner, Zhang Ran and Neil began to talk about the main business. Zhang Ran was most concerned about the issue of tax refunds. They needed to solve the 15 million yuan in funds through tax refunds, otherwise they would have to attract investment.

Movie tax refunds are not a long-standing tax refund project, and in the late 1980s it was still an optional fraction of the cost of film production. However, as Canada and the UK gradually increased tax refund subsidies related to film production, tax refunds have an increasingly greater impact on films.

Louisiana was the pioneer of tax refunds in the United States and passed the film tax refund-related bill in 1991. After tasting the sweetness, Louisiana passed a similar bill in 2002, further increasing the state government’s tax refund for film production. In the following three years, Louisiana gained huge economic benefits and reputation effects. After the bill to further increase the film tax refund in 2002, the film industry created 5,437 jobs and $7.5 million in 2003; while in 2005, the film industry created 18,882 jobs and $340 million in output.

Now only five states in the 50 states in the United States have tax refund laws that encourage film shooting and production; however, after seeing the sweetness of Louisiana, each state will soon introduce similar bills. By 2009, 44 states in the 50 states in the United States passed similar tax refund laws. By 2013, the 44 states in the United States with movie tax refund laws had a total of $1.55 billion in tax refunds for the Hollywood film industry, which is an astonishing amount that almost reaches 15% of the total annual production cost of the Hollywood film industry.

Although Louisiana's tax refund policy is very generous, it still cannot be compared with Canada. In 1997, the Canadian government officially launched the relevant legal policies of the "Film Production Tax Refund Program". According to this bill, the Canadian federal government will pay film companies about 16% of the film production costs that meet the relevant regulations; in addition, Canadian provinces also have their own movie tax refund policies. These two policies can be superimposed, so that filming movies in Canada can get a total tax refund equivalent to 37% to 70% of the labor cost and 25% to 30% of the consumption.

Canada's tax refund policy has reduced the cost of Hollywood movies a lot, but it has also led to a serious problem. Many Hollywood crews go to Canada to shoot. The local government also stipulates that crews must use some local talents. In this way, a large number of people in Hollywood have fewer job opportunities. In the end, fewer and fewer movies are filmed in Los Angeles.

However, the tax refund situations in Canadian states are also different. Zhang Ran naturally hopes to choose a province that is both in line with the scenes of the movie and can get the most tax refunds.

Neil has been busy preparing for the project since he started participating in Zhang Ran's project. He not only consulted the tax refund policies of Canadian provinces, but also visited the provinces with relatively high space tax refunds and introduced: "Vancouver has the highest tax refund ratio, which can reach 55%. It is undoubtedly cost-effective to shoot our movie in Vancouver. I went to Vancouver to see it. We all need a scene and all kinds of facilities are quite complete. However, Canada's tax refund for special effects is not refunded to the production company, but to the special effects company, so the special effects company quotes are relatively low. However, if we want to get the tax refund first, then the later and special effects cannot be done in Canada. New Zealand's tax refund for later and special effects can be obtained in advance, but the proportion is not high, only 15%. Our special effects and post-production costs are expected to be 40 million, so we can only refund 6 million. In addition, the tax refund for filming in Canada is only about 13 million!"

Zhang Ran nodded slightly: "It doesn't matter if there is 2 million, we have the ability to solve it!"

Neil continued: "When I went to New Zealand, I went to Australia. They just launched a new tax refund policy this year. According to regulations, the government provides 30% post-production, digital effect production and image production compensation, and this reward measure can also be superimposed with the reward measures of state and territorial governments. If the entire post-production of our movie is all in Australia, we can get a subsidy of nearly 12 million yuan. However, the Australian tax refund is refunded only after the filming is completed."

Zhang Ran nodded. This is a problem. If special effects and later are used in Australia, the cost can be saved by several million, but there is an additional funding gap of 8 million. He has a fundamental understanding of Australia's special effects industry and asked: "Is there any excellent special effects company in Australia?"

Neil explained: "Agi, they are responsible for the special effects of "The Matrix", and they are very good in technology! When I consulted with the Australian Film International Cooperation Agency for subsidies, the person in charge was very interested in our project. I really hope that we can move all this project to Australia!"

Zhang Ran felt relieved when he heard the team of "The Matrix" and said with a smile: "If the Australian government can refund taxes in advance and refund us 15 million, I will move to Australia to shoot without saying a word!"

Neil shook his head: "I have asked, they did not agree, this is the government's policy and will not change for small people like us!"

Zhang Ran had heard of the government's revision of fiscal policies for movies, but it was a big director like Peter Jackson, a big company like Warner. He was a little famous in China. He was completely an unknown person in the world. Others could not provide such convenience for himself! He asked: "What did you think?"

Neil had already considered this: "I think it's better to go to Australia to do the late stage. Although the tax refund will be completed after the film is produced, the amount of tax refund is several million more, which is a big sum of money. As for the $8 million funding gap, we can make up for it through other channels, and there is no need to raise funds!"

Zhang Ran pondered for a while, nodded and said, "That's it. Contact agi as soon as possible and ask them to send the best special effects director over. He must participate in the entire process during the preparation stage." Speaking of this, Zhang Ran suddenly remembered something: "Have you found the special effects staff I asked you to find for me?"

In addition to filming advertisements, Neil also participated in many visual effects work in film and television dramas, including "Star Gate", "The End of the World", etc., and met many relevant personnel. Moreover, UCL itself also cultivates special effects talents, so it is not difficult for him to find a few people: "According to your requirements, I found ten, six of them were Chinese, I wonder when you will see them?"

"No hurry!" Zhang Ran breathed a sigh of relief. With this group of people joining Tiangong Chongcai, there will be a backbone. Participating in this project will provide sufficient technical support. "Let's discuss the next work. There are many things to start below!"

Neil nodded and said, "No problem!"

The next day, Zhang Ran flipped out of bed at around 6 o'clock in the morning, put on his clothes and went downstairs, preparing to go to the bathroom to use the toilet.

When I walked to the bathroom door, I heard the moans "Yeah, ahhh" and the sound of slapping from inside. They were all adults, so Zhang Ran naturally knew what they were doing.

It's early in the morning, full of energy!

Zhang Ran smiled and shook his head, leaving the bathroom door. After leaving the door, he started jogging along the street.

There were many people running in the morning, and there were many pairs in pairs, all wearing couple outfits when running. Not only those who ran, but also many people were practicing breathing when Zhang Ran ran to the park, and there were also many people practicing their breathing. The sounds of croaking came one after another. Zhang Ran also found a place, took a breath, and started shouting.

When Zhang Ran came back from practice, Neil sat on the sofa watching TV and Lisa made breakfast in the kitchen.

Breakfast is very simple, two slices of baked slightly yellow bread, a cup of milk, and then a fried egg. Looking at the white egg, Zhang Ran suddenly felt a little confused about the buns in the Beijing Electric Canteen.

Neil asked while eating, "Robin, you are going to the union today, right?"

Zhang Ran had already planned: "I'll go to the phone number first, and then go to the actors' union to sign the union agreement. We have to finalize the starring actors as soon as possible. The starring lineup cannot be determined and there is no way to pre-sale!"

Although Neil is also a producer, he has no choice but to do the agreements with various unions. Zhang Ran must sign them by himself and smiled and said, "I am in the production office. If you have any questions, you can come over at any time. I will contact the casting director later and wait until the union agreement is signed, then the casting work can be started!"

Zhang Ran nodded and said, "Okay, let's take action separately!"
Chapter completed!