Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 216 What? Let me play Zhen Zhibing?

Boss Lu confidently handed the scripts for the first five episodes directly to Kang Honglei, and went to the rehearsal site with Big Beard.

After filming "Soldier Assault", he immediately made another "My Captain, My Regiment".

However, the original novel of the latter seems to have not been released yet, so it is just right to be bound to Lan Xiaolong through this cooperation.

I still have a copy of "Drawing Sword" in my hand, and this big guy has been tricked into making his mouth crooked?

"Director Lu, it's been ages since we've had a drink together! Tonight..."

When the bearded man heard the phone call between Boss Lu and Lao Zhang, he felt a surge of crisis!
Not to mention anything else, just the Travel Satellite TV in their hands can bring you so much convenience!

"Tonight? I have a dinner date with Han Shanping and Lao Dong tonight."

Zhang Jizhong looked embarrassed, not knowing whether he should recommend himself.

Then he heard an invitation that made him ecstatic: "Old Zhang, why don't you come along if you have time? It will be more lively with more people."

"Okay! Okay, I'll bring some wine. I'll bring some wine."

The bearded man, who could be said to be someone who could take things and let them go, was now very anxious, wondering how he could get back into Boss Lu's inner circle.

Suddenly he thought of someone.

Concubine Liu Yi.

Right! Why did Yang Siwei have the nerve to negotiate a salary of 20 per episode with me? He even used this person to bully me between the lines.

Who would believe me if I said it doesn’t matter?
The dogs didn't believe it.

But how to make good use of this little girl...

Lao Zhang suddenly had an idea: "Director Lu, you played Yin Zhiping in The Legend of the Condor Heroes, how about this Yin Zhiping in The Return of the Condor Heroes..."

"Oh no, Mr. Jin Yong has changed his name to Zhen Zhibing. This Zhen Zhibing?"

Boss Lu looked at him puzzledly and asked, "Are you okay?"

I'm a big director of a $7500 million co-production, and I'm not going to bother to play a cameo role as a lecherous supporting actor for you.

You, Big Beard, want me to live up to the reputation of the Dragon Knight, right?

Zhang Jizhong knew from the look in his eyes that he was flattering the boss, so he quickly explained.

"Director Lu, look, Concubine Yi is going to play Little Dragon Girl in this film, and it's hard to delete the scene between Zhen Zhibing and Little Dragon Girl. We're really worried about it!"

"You're more familiar with the mother and daughter. No matter how you shoot, it will be more convenient than if someone else did it. What do you think?"

Hmm? That's a real problem.

Boss Lu had to admit that he was convinced.

Bearded man, you have successfully aroused a man's possessiveness!
This little girl hasn't succeeded yet, how can she allow others to snore beside her bed?
Boss Lu pretended to be embarrassed: "Well... To be honest, I really don't have the time, but we are old friends."

"Oh! Forget it, I'll just risk my life to help you, but I have to tell you, Lao Zhang, you have to concentrate my scenes and finish filming them in one or two days."

"As for the scene with Xiao Liu, try to be as conservative as possible, showing only a few shoulders at most."

Perhaps feeling that he had said too much, Boss Lu tried to make amends.

"Of course, I'm just making a suggestion. Haha, take a look at it yourself, Lao Zhang."

"I know, I know."

The two of them were chatting and laughing as they walked towards the rehearsal venue when Lu Kuan was suddenly stopped by a female voice.

When I turned around, it was Tong Liya.

"Little boy, why are you here?"

Zhang Jizhong tactfully left first. Tong Liya walked over awkwardly with her hands clasped in front of her.

If I hadn't happened to see him while waiting in the backstage just now, and if I hadn't really had no choice, I would have been too embarrassed to open my mouth.

"Director Lu, I...I have something I'd like to ask you for help with."

Lu Kuan saw that the rehearsal was about to begin and said, "Let's make it short."

Tong Liya then spoke with difficulty.

"Director Lu, I listened to you and signed up for an acting class at the Central Academy of Drama these past few months."

"There was a teacher named Song from the Central Academy of Drama. I paid 8000 yuan for tuition, but he told me, told me..."

The Northern Xinjiang beauty mustered up her courage and said, "He said if I want to join the Acting Department of the Central Academy of Drama, I must first get Director Huang's approval. He also asked me to follow him to Director Huang's house this week..."

"You can't get your money back unless you want to go."

Tong Liya said anxiously, "I asked him to return the money, but he threatened me, saying that even if I gave him the money, I wouldn't be able to attend the Central Academy of Drama next year... wuwuwu."

As she spoke, she began to cry. Boss Lu was just about to take the opportunity to wipe the tears of the beautiful girl from Northern Frontier when suddenly a delicate scolding sounded in his ear!
"Lukuan, what are you doing?"

Liu Yifei, who had just finished rehearsal and hadn't taken off her makeup yet, walked over in a pink halter dress with a bad look on her face.

"Sister Tong? Why are you here?"

Tong Liya was overwhelmed with emotion just now. She didn't know why she had been strong for so long and just broke down in front of him while talking.

Perhaps it was because she knew that Director Lu had the power to suppress Yu Dong, and perhaps Professor Huang could do the same...

"Hello, Princess Yi, I'm here for rehearsal as well. I'm an actor in the Northern Frontier Dance "Spring Letter."

Boss Lu looked at Liu Yifei's scrutinizing gaze with a guilty conscience, feeling quite embarrassed. How could he come at such an inopportune moment?

"Well, Xiao Liu, you chat with Xiao Tong for a while. I'm going to attend the rehearsal. We can talk after I finish."

The young director left with a righteous indignation.

Liu Yifei asked Tong Liya, who had already finished the performance and was wearing casual clothes, to wait for her. She went back to the dressing room to change clothes and then took her out of the CCTV studio.

Yang Siwei was waiting for her in the car.

"Xixi, why are you out alone? Where's the guide?"

"Hey, who is this?"

Concubine Liu Yi introduced the two to each other and asked why Tong Liya had just cried so bitterly.

"Did Lu Kuan behave inappropriately towards you just now? Tell me, I..."

Yang Siwei looked at his own artist with a playful expression, what's wrong with you?

Tell me, what can you do?

Before she could finish her words, Tong Liya quickly clarified the misunderstanding: "No, no, I just asked Director Lu to help me. It has nothing to do with him."

After hearing her crying, Yang Siwei and Liu Yifei were both filled with indignation.

"I've been hearing about this for the past few days. How could Huang Dingyu be even worse than Lu Kuan?"

Yang Siwei was about to respond, but when he heard the rest of the sentence, he decisively interrupted himself.

I dare not say that.

"Don't worry, Sister Tong, I'll talk to Lu Kuan for you and ask him to help you."

She didn't realize that her words were inconsistent. They were both bad guys, so why would Lu Kuan target another bad guy?
Yang Siwei quietly nudged Liu Yifei from behind, reminding her not to make big promises to others, as she might not be able to fulfill them later.

Concubine Liu Yi put her left hand behind her back and waved it to signal her to stop making noise.

"Sister Tong, how about I give you an idea?"

Tong Liya looked at her sister who was a few years younger than her with tears in her eyes. She was actually a very nice person.

The last time she left Lu Kuan's house, it was she who sent her home. She kept asking her questions, fearing that she would suffer a loss.

She felt so useless. She was so old but not as smart as a little sister.

"Xixi, you tell me, I'll listen to you."

"Lu Kuan's company is short of female artists. How about I sign you in?"

Su Chang: ???
Come again?

Not to mention Tong Liya, even Yang Siwei was stunned.

You think you are asking the boss lady, right?
Liu Yifei thought of the entertainment industry route concept that Lu Kuan popularized last night and began to fool Tong Liya.

"Look, Sister Tong, the entertainment industry is most afraid of having the same acting style. Once it becomes the same, those with fewer resources and poorer connections will never be able to catch up with those ahead."

"But you're quite unique. It seems like it's rare to see beautiful women from Northern Xinjiang in China at your age venturing into the entertainment industry these days, right?"

"I have another best friend named Su Chang. I don't know if you've seen Jin Meili in 'Gold Powder'."

Tong Liya said: "I know, the little girl with pigtails."

"Yes, yes, yes! That's her. I always tell her that your image, acting skills, and overall impression are perfect for chick flick roles."

"Chick flick?"

Yang Siwei and Tong Liya were both confused. Yang Siwei left Wenjie too early and didn't have time to listen to Boss Lu's class.

"Yeah, let me explain to you, this chick flick is..."

When Liu Yifei was bragging, her ideas flowed like a spring. She looked at the two people with a sense of accomplishment, one with admiration and the other with questioning eyes, and made her final closing statement.

"So! Being an actor requires being recognizable. If you nail the chick flick genre, all future directors will be looking for you when they have this type of subject in mind!"

"Sister Tong, your exotic style is very recognizable. I'm familiar with Lu Kuan, how about I recommend you to him?"

Tong Liya said coyly, "Is this... is this appropriate, Xixi? I ​​haven't even been to acting school."

"What's the big deal? Lu Kuan himself went to film a movie without even taking a single directing class. It's nothing!"

"And let me tell you, he's a very stingy and snobbish person. If you don't sign a contract with him, there's no guarantee he'll be able to help you."

Tong Liya had mixed feelings. She didn't expect this little sister to be so capable and have such a thorough understanding of the development of artists. No wonder she became so famous at the age of sixteen.

"Then...if it's convenient, could you please talk to Director Lu for me, Sissi?"

Concubine Liu Yi happily agreed: "Sure!"

Then he frowned again: "But..."

Tong Liya was about to listen to her conditions with bated breath when Liu Yifei suddenly turned around and looked at Yang Siwei with a complicated expression.

"Siwei, get out of the car first and help me watch. When the road widens, knock on the window."

Yang Siwei: ???
The slightly plump agent had no choice but to do as he was told. He looked at the girl's pretty profile through the slightly reflective car window, feeling mixed emotions.

Concubine Liu Yi, you make me feel strange now.

Inside the car, Xiao Liu, the pyramid schemer, was doing ideological work with ease.

"Sister Tong, I helped you, so please do me a favor."

"Yeah, Sissi, you say, as long as I can do it!"

Concubine Liu Yi laughed out loud: "Hehe, it's actually very simple. After you really enter the realm of inquiry, if it's convenient, you can help me..."

"What? What does this mean?"

Tong Liya was horrified to find that the seemingly innocent little girl in front of her was far from as simple as she thought.

"Don't panic! It's just a passing mention. Wenjie will definitely sign other female artists in the future. You and Su Chang are both my people, so just keep an eye on them for me."

"Just do what you normally do. For example, if I send you a message one day and ask you where the wide road is, or something like that, just tell me if you know."

"It's easy, right? It's done without anyone knowing. No one will know it was you who said it. I will definitely protect your safety, don't worry!"

Tong Liya was extremely flustered and didn't know how to answer. Suddenly, Yang Siwei, who had his back to them, knocked on the car window several times.

The two got out of the car and watched Ah Fei following Lu Kuan towards them.

"You guys go back first, I have a dinner party tonight."

Boss Lu glanced at Tong Liya, but didn't want to say too much because Concubine Liu Yi was there.

"I know about your situation, and then..."

Concubine Liu Yi glared at him, "What do you mean by 'again'? Lu Kuan, do you still have a conscience?"

"When you see something so unfair, shouldn't you help?"

Lu Kuan frowned and looked at her, are you the Powerpuff Girl?
However, Tong Liya is considered a promising female artist in the domestic entertainment industry in later generations. She cannot be said to be particularly outstanding, but she is recognizable for her exotic style.

Later, the two people from Northern Xinjiang became so famous, so why can't this first-generation leader make more money for Boss Lu?

After listening to Tong Liya's narration, he also gave a decisive order.

"How about this, you find a time to come to the company, and I'll have the company lawyer accompany you to make a phone call."

"Just tell the truth on the phone and record everything that Teacher Song says. I'll find someone to expose you and get your money back."

"Let's talk about it after the art exam for the Central Academy of Drama or the Beijing Film Academy next year. Just sign the contract with the company first, and someone will contact you."

After Boss Lu finished speaking, he asked Ah Fei to leave. He would discuss the Travel Satellite TV matter with Han Shanping and Dong Shuangqiang in the evening.

Concubine Liu Yi turned her back to Lu Kuan and raised her eyebrows at Tong Liya, which surprised her.

It actually happened!

"Thank you, Sissi, you're amazing!"

Liu Yifei thought to herself, "What's so great about me? This bastard has been coveting me for a long time."

The place for dinner that night was found by Dong Shuangqiang. It was still in a winding alley, with no sign and not open to the public.

After the eight regulations came out, private restaurants like these, which catered exclusively to leaders, sprang up like mushrooms after a rain. However, Mr. Dong, who was cautious by nature, started looking for these places in 2003.

Probably to provide a place for the leaders behind him to feast and chat.

Together with Han Shanping's secretary Gao Chengsheng and Zhang Jizhong who came with some good wine, the five of them sat in a small private room.

Dong Shuangqiang found the location and naturally brought the wine. Looking at Zhang Jizhong smilingly unsealing two bottles of 80-year-old octagonal-capped Feitian liquor, Old Dong looked slightly displeased.

"Lao Zhang, you're only here to add a pair of chopsticks. Hurry and put away the wine!"

Boss Lu stared in amazement as Dong Shuangqiang took out a bottle of 60-degree Prairie White from the bag.

"Old Dong, who are you trying to drink to death today? Why did you bring such strong liquor?"

Caoyuan Bai is a local wine from Inner Mongolia. In terms of value, it is definitely not comparable to Moutai. However, Dong Shuangqiang is from Inner Mongolia, so it is not wrong to use wine from his hometown to entertain guests.

However, this wine is commonly known as "Drunken Donkey", and those with low alcohol tolerance will find two taels of it enough.

Han Shanping also touched his stomach with a trembling look on his face: "Why don't we just drink some Moutai today, and then drink your Caoyuan Bai in the first month of the lunar year to keep us warm!"

Dong Shuangqiang was not willing to agree, and without saying anything, he filled everyone's 3 liang small glass.

"Everyone here can drink a little. We've finally gotten together, so we have to drink to our heart's content."

Then he jokingly said to Han Shanping, "Boss Han, I don't treat you as my boss today. Just eat and drink."

"Oh! How can I, a Sichuanese, be afraid of drinking? Come on!"

Before the cold dishes were served, several people had already drunk a finger of wine with a plate of peanuts.

Even Boss Lu, who had taken the alcohol test, hissed a little, complaining that the wine was too strong, like a fire burning from his throat to his pubic area.

Zhang Jizhong thought that he was relying on Lu Kuan's reputation to mingle in the circle today, so he started to raise his glass to toast with a humble attitude.

After three rounds of drinks, they started talking about business.

"Xiaolu, after the New Year, Travel Channel's production unit in Peking will be handed over to us. What are you going to do?"

Dong Shuangqiang and Lu Kuan have communicated many times and have basically decided on a plan.

"Mr. Lu, please tell me about it. After all, it's your idea, and I'm afraid I can't express it well."

Boss Lu clinked glasses with him and swallowed his drink. "The development plan for 2004 will be based on three key strategies."

"Variety shows, prime-time TV series, and seasonal dramas."

What Han Shanping was most concerned about was the seasonal drama project that was similar to the TV movie model, so Boss Lu explained this first.

He pulled a book from his bag and placed it in front of him.

"Zhu Xian?"

Yes, it is the "Zhu Xian" which was published in Taiwan in March.

During this period, the audiences for martial arts and fairy tales in Taiwan and Hong Kong, as well as the popular literature publishing industry, were relatively developed, and many trial works would be published in Taiwan first.

"Let me briefly introduce this novel. Generally speaking, it's similar to 'Chinese Paladin'."

"Xianxia themes, sect disputes, and the love-hate relationship between the male and female protagonists."

"I have asked Wenjie to organize a team of novelists and screenwriters, and the first version will be out before the end of the month." Lu Kuan had previously proposed several plans, and the subject matter was set at a soft political level like "House of Cards". As a result, Han Shanping made a brief inquiry about the review standards and was immediately rejected.

This kind of seasonal drama aims to be as eye-catching as American dramas, so that the audience can look forward to the next week's plot every week.

Apart from the pornographic and tyrannical themes with high ratings, in today's era, the only way to attract attention is to use exquisite pictures and grand special effects scenes comparable to those in movies.

Lu Kuan continued to explain.

"This novel was chosen for adaptation for several reasons."

"First, it fills the gap in domestic Xianxia dramas after The Legend of Sword and Fairy. Currently, we are the only one in the industry to have taken the plunge into this genre."

"Secondly, Xianxia dramas allow for ample room for special effects, maximizing the eye-catching effect, and fall right in the middle of the cost-effectiveness gap between movies and regular TV series."

Han Shanping asked, "How do you say that?"

"For example, the ticket price for last year's Hollywood special effects blockbuster 'Harry Potter' was around 35-40 yuan in first-tier cities."

"Last year, the average monthly salary nationwide was less than 1200 yuan. To put it bluntly, that 40 yuan movie ticket price is enough to buy eight or nine kilograms of pork."

"Suppose there's a local TV station that invites you to watch a movie every week with special effects that rival those of Hollywood blockbusters. Do you think the audience would be excited?"

Dong Shuangqiang raised a key question: "How much does it cost per episode to achieve blockbuster-level special effects?"

Zhang Jizhong added, "The cost of Hollywood productions is extremely high, but now domestic directors all know that Boss Lu has a special effects company, haha."

Lu Kuan did not comment. He had a little selfish motive in this matter, but it was mainly for the improvement of the quality of the play.

"The high cost of special effects for Hollywood blockbusters is mainly due to the high labor costs of Western special effects companies. This time, when we were filming in the United States, we hired more than a dozen special effects artists, pyrotechnicians, and visual effects directors."

"Currently, a mid-level special effects artist in Hollywood earns around $4 a year, and a top-tier artist around $15. For example, on the Beast Logic project for the film 'Outlander' in Australia, there were over 800 people working simultaneously. Even if each of them had two or three projects on hand, the cost of the special effects alone would have been over $2 million."

"However, the average labor cost in China is less than a quarter of that in Hollywood. With the exception of a small portion of the special effects for 'Zhu Xian' that needs to be produced overseas, the domestic team at Butian Films is fully capable of handling them. It can be said to be both high-quality and affordable!"

They recruited talents and used the "Alien Land" project as training, and also took on some special effects work for two major projects, "A World Without Thieves" and "The Promise".

At present, the special effects level of Butian Films can basically catch up with the second-rate level of Hollywood.

The special effects work of a TV series can still be guaranteed in quality and quantity.

Dong Shuangqiang agreed: "If there is such a cost-effective special effects service, given the quality of the series, the advertising fees can completely cover most of the special effects costs."

Han Shanping continued to ask: "How were the screening and shooting cycles, as well as the cast and crew arrangements considered?"

"Let's talk about the cast and crew first."

"I personally directed the first four episodes of the first season, setting the tone for the style, special effects level, and plot rhythm of the entire series."

"Then the remaining episodes will be completed by 1-3 directors, whether it's one or two, as long as they can perfectly carry out the previous style."

No one understands the audience's tastes and eye-catching points better than Lu Kuan. He is the first to fire the first shot, and the subsequent directors follow suit.

For example, Wu Ershan, Lin Yibin and others who have already worked with him in "Alien Land".

"As for the actors, I suggest focusing on qualified acting students and veteran actors from the troupe."

For example, ask Hu Ge, a junior at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, and Zhu Yawen, a sophomore at the Beijing Film Academy.

"First, the pay for these two types of people is not high. Second, their schedules are easy to coordinate, and since they are experienced and able to mentor newcomers, the average performance quality is guaranteed."

Lu Kuan envisioned a rhythm where he would shoot the first four episodes before the broadcast season, start shooting the fifth episode after the first week of broadcasting and collecting audience feedback.

This will give subsequent directors more time to adapt, and once things get going they can move to one episode per week.

"Since 2004, the broadcast season has been from July to October, mainly to coincide with the summer vacation, Mid-Autumn Festival, and National Day. It airs every Saturday night, with about 7 to 10 episodes per season."

"November to February of the following year is the time for writing the scripts for the next season. If the response to the previous season is good, a round of reruns will be arranged before July, and the series can also be sold to other TV stations."

Dong Shuangqiang laughed and said, "Director Lu is still good at business. He plays with himself first, then gives the rest to others to play with, and then he will get a new woman in August, right?"

Boss Lu said righteously: "Vulgar!"

"First, it's to spread the cost. I believe that other than CCTV, no other TV station would be unwilling to produce a drama of our quality."

"Secondly, it's to create anticipation for the audience. This carousel is like a recap, helping viewers recall the plot of the previous season."

Han Shanping nodded. The whole plan was very detailed and basically took into account all aspects of innovation and feasibility.

"Let me add a few more points."

"First, we adopt a fixed plus flexible advertising model. We would rather have a low fixed amount but a high flexibility ratio. I am very confident in the ratings of the series."

Han Shanping smiled and said, "Your film 'Alien Land' will also premiere in June. The ticket price won't be less than 6 yuan by then. This will give the audience a psychological comparison."

"I watch Zhu Xian on Travel Channel every Saturday. Watching one episode is like getting 40 yuan for free. Is that the truth? Haha!"

Everyone laughed. They had learned a word from Lu Kuan before, which was "freeloading". The audience loved freeloading.

"Secondly, I contacted Douban, another film and television review forum under Blog.com, which was also an important factor in the success."

Some of you here may be more proficient in traditional film and television projects, but know very little about Internet collaboration.

"The reason why seasonal dramas are filmed and broadcast simultaneously is to take into account the audience's opinions and collect feedback. This forum is very popular now, and we must make use of it."

"We set up a separate discussion group on Douban to guide viewers to comment on the plot, characters, etc. and encourage posting. This is not only conducive to collecting opinions, but also a natural advertising center."

This is equivalent to big data collection in the barbaric era. Without the big data services of later generations, we can only collect opinions manually.

Han Shanping slapped his thigh and said, "That's it! I'll wait for your script to be completed and see how the first few episodes turn out."

Boss Lu smiled and said, "Mr. Han, don't rush to make a decision. There is another important issue that requires your coordination."

"what?"

"The issue of passing the review."

Dong Shuangqiang took over the conversation: "If we participate in the review process like a TV series, we have to submit the script plan for review first, and then review it again after production. We are filming while broadcasting, so we definitely don't have enough time."

"Mr. Han, I suggest that China Film Group come forward and submit this as a television movie, episode by episode. This year, the new national policy states that, except for films with major themes such as history and political figures, scripts can be submitted for approval first."

Han Shanping frowned and pondered for a moment, then suddenly turned to Lu Kuan and said, "Xiaolu, this matter is actually easier for you to handle than for me."

Everyone was shocked.

You are the vice chairman and general manager of China Film Group, and he is a novice director. How can he be better than you?

Han Shanping said with a smile, "You're looking for Director Tong! You helped him so much last time, so you should ask for a favor, right?"

This refers to Lu Kuan's achievement in debating with a group of scholars at the symposium on the lifting of the ban on the Seven Gentlemen of Beijing Film Academy in November.

"How about this, Mr. Han? Shiliuda proposed the concept of cultural industry, and China Film Group will be a pilot unit next year. Let's go to Director Tong and discuss this film and television concept, which is somewhere between TV series and movies."

"Let's see if we can come up with a more flexible review plan for emerging industries. For example, we can submit a season's worth of dramas for approval at a time, even if we pay a high deposit to the radio and television station in advance. If the review conditions are violated after the broadcast, the money will be directly deducted."

Han Shanping looked at him in surprise. What kind of deposit is this? Protection fee, right?
You paid 1000 million in advance for this season, but you won’t shoot the next season?

Hasn’t this money always been stuck in the Radio and Television Bureau’s small treasury?

This kid is such a thief!

Old Han didn't point it out at the moment, so this matter was relatively easy to handle.

Not to mention anything else, among the current TV drama review team, those currently working at the Beijing Film Academy include the director of the directing department Xie Xiaojin and the old professor Zheng Dongtian.

Didn’t we also ask them to help broadcast “Chinese Paladin” on TV before?

They had basically reached an agreement on all the details. Dong Shuangqiang was about to say something when Han Shanping interrupted him unintentionally.

"Then this matter is basically settled. I'll have to trouble Director Lu with the preparations for the filming of 'Zhu Xian'."

Dong Shuangqiang was stunned!
The speaker has intention, and the listener takes it even more seriously. This sentence implicitly mentions the copyright issue of "Zhu Xian".

Boss Lu gently blew on the floating leaves in the tea without making eye contact with anyone.

He was also waiting for Dong Shuangqiang's reaction.

Who owns the copyright of "Zhu Xian"? This is undoubtedly a very important question.

For Lu Kuan and Wenjie, the IP of "Zhu Xian" is a derivative theme that can be explored infinitely.

In the first season, he could sell second-round products and peripheral products.

If the second season becomes popular again, he can sell the game adaptation rights, even!

He can pull in the animators from Butian Film and poach a few people from gaming companies to make his own games!
If the third season becomes more popular, it is inevitable that it will be adapted into a major movie.

After three seasons, "Zhu Xian" has accumulated tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of fans across the country. Making a big movie is just making money.

But now we face a problem:
Lu Kuan, Dong Shuangqiang and China Film Group controlled Travel TV through New Vision.

Lu Kuan plays the role of program director and content provider.

I found the script and the writing team myself, and I directed the show myself. Why should I accept an investment from the joint venture New Vision to share the copyright?

I ask the world, wouldn’t it be better if I could keep the copyright for myself and then sell it to you, New Vision, at the market price?

But Dong Shuangqiang doesn't want to!
As mentioned before, he is a capital tycoon who is accustomed to inflating valuations and cashing out through listings. Now that Boss Lu is tightly holding on to the copyright, how can I, New Vision, increase its valuation?
How can I use a shell company, go public, and cash out later?
Lu Kuan had thought of this a long time ago, which is why Lao Han just made that allusion that seemed both intentional and unintentional.

What does "I need to trouble Director Lu with the preparations for the filming of "Zhu Xian"?" mean?

Dong Shuangqiang's face instantly turned gloomy. He should have thought of this earlier.

He thought Lu Kuan wanted to monopolize the copyright, and that China Film Group and he, Dong Shuangqiang, should be on the same front and would not allow such a thing to happen.

But he forgot that Han Shanping is Han Shanping and China Film Group is China Film Group.

The money earned goes into the pocket of China Film Group. What does it have to do with me, Han Shanping?
Boss Lu's casual gesture in private was enough to make Han Shanping stand on the same side with him!
The scene suddenly became deathly silent. Even Zhang Jizhong, who was watching the fun, felt a chill in the air.

"Hahaha! Mr. Han, you're joking. I'm about to start preparing for my next movie. I'm more than capable of handling the entire project even if you leave it to me!"

Boss Lu looked at Dong Shuangqiang as if asking for his opinion, "Brother Dong, let's ask the world to take the lead on this matter. Can New Vision also lend a hand?"

Dong Shuangqiang's expression instantly thawed, and he secretly felt lucky that he hadn't turned hostile just now. Is this kid fucking kidding me?

His attitude changes every moment, which makes me feel very upset.

"Haha, brother, you're being too modest. Those who are capable should do more work!"

He pondered for a moment, then slapped his thigh and said, "How about this: New Vision doesn't have much money in its account, so we'll take 30%, and Wenjie will take the rest."

"Mr. Han, what do you think?"

Wenjie already holds a 25% stake in New Vision, and with the remaining 70%, it means that Wenjie holds a 77.5% stake in the entire project.

Han Shanping was originally Lu Kuan's sedan bearer, so of course he had no objection to Boss Lu giving up his seat.

"I think I can."

Gao Chengsheng watched all this silently from the side, secretly admiring Lu Kuan's meticulous mind.

Before the dinner in the evening, he first found Han Shanping.

The argument just now was just a plan agreed upon by the two of them.

As the saying goes, if you aim high, you will get something in the middle; if you aim in the middle, you will get something below.

Han Shanping first took sides and then gave Lu Kuan room to make up for it. Now Dong Shuangqiang himself didn't get much of the copyright share, and he still had to be grateful to Lu Kuan.

How can we say anything good about him for using such tactics and schemes!

All I can say is that it’s best not to be an enemy with a wide road ahead…

Dong Shuangqiang was a little drunk, and the drama just now frightened him so much that cold sweats broke out on his back.

It doesn't seem like I have any objections to Lu Kuan, after all, they also gave me some of the copyright.

They have really fallen out. Even if they were to cooperate with Hunan TV, New Vision only held 25% of the shares. Now they can make a profit by selling it off!

But if I were to say how grateful I am for this 30% share, I would seem to be making myself look particularly pathetic...

Oh, this road is so wide, what can one say!
It made the boss feel like a little wife, feeling awkward.

But Travel Satellite TV really cannot do without him. Without new content, what is the difference between Travel Satellite TV and other second- and third-tier satellite TV stations except Hunan TV?
Only a wide road and a strong community behind it can deliver high-quality content, which is the key to attracting advertisers and increasing ratings.

It is also the key to the appreciation of the assets in his hands.

Boss Lu continued, "The second trick is the prime-time TV dramas."

"We can be innovative, but we still have to seize prime time slots like these, as they are the foundation of our ratings."

"Teacher Jiang Wei's "The Lurker" has completed post-production. I watched a few episodes yesterday and there is absolutely no problem."

"It's no exaggeration to say that next year, apart from a few dramas on CCTV and Hunan TV, I can't think of any work that can rival 'The Lurker' in terms of ratings."

Dong Shuangqiang nodded: "But 'Lush' will only be on air for a month or so, and the sequel..."

"The follow-up is a military drama called Soldier Assault. Today, I asked Lao Zhang to contact Kang Honglei, and it's basically finalized."

Han Shanping listened to his plan and thought it was perfect.

The target audience of "Zhu Xian" is the audience group under 35 years old, while the prime-time spy war dramas and military dramas are for the audience group over 35 years old.

But Boss Lu still has a trump card, a phenomenal variety show that has been proven by time and history.

"Super Girl?"

"Well, you can think of it as the Chinese version of 'American Idol.'"

American Idol is a reality show launched by Fox in 2002. American citizens aged 16 to 24 can sign up to participate, and the champion can get a singing contract.

In other words, Hunan TV copied this ancestor of talent shows.

Lu Kuan smiled and said, "I will discuss the details of the program at the meeting. Now we must first register the copyright."

"why?"

"Xiangtai is also considering it, but has not yet made up its mind to proceed."

The timing chosen by Boss Lu to intercept the deal was crucial, as Xiangtai had already made an attempt in 2003.

In 2003, Hunan TV's entertainment channel launched a trial show called "Happy Boys", but due to major loopholes in its promotion and production concepts, it ultimately flopped and didn't make much of a splash.

Boss Lu didn't know why Ouyang Changqing was planning to participate in this talent show again next year, but he was sure to be intercepted in this life.

We all copied Fox, so don't say who is more noble than who.

In fact, he also thought about alternatives such as The Voice of China.

But again, this is the starting point of the domestic entertainment trend, and programs that are relatively appealing to both the elite and the masses are more likely to succeed.

Half a step ahead is a genius, one step ahead is a madman.

The Voice of China can be seen as the 2.0 version of music variety shows. By the next year or the year after, everyone will be scrambling to imitate Super Girl, and homogeneous competition will become serious.

Lu Kuan relied on his own connections to invite people like Mei Yanfang and her Hong Kong singer friends, Jay Chou, Han Hong and others to be judges, and then to develop The Voice of China.

It was launched at a time when the audience was tired of the Super Girl-style universal suffrage, and it was another killer move.

Competitors will find themselves constantly imitating, never surpassing.

Dong Shuangqiang, Han Shanping and others looked at each other and said hesitantly, "Since Xiang TV's similar program suffered a Waterloo last year, this year we..."

Boss Lu showed weakness to his opponent: "I have some ideas, but they may not succeed. It can be considered a useful attempt. Anyway, our core business lies in prime time and seasonal dramas."

nonsense!

Who can now realize the money-making and eye-catching nature of this program? Just pretend to be timid and put the copyright in Wenjie. Dong Shuangqiang and China Film Group will not be interested in this thing for the time being.

"This month I've recruited a team from various local stations and will integrate them with Travel Channel. The program is quite risky, so it will be produced by Wenjie and then sold to New Vision."

Dong Shuangqiang smiled awkwardly: "Lu, that's not what I meant."

The boss felt a little embarrassed. He had just given up 30% of his share, but now he was backing off from the risky column. It didn't seem good!
Boss Lu said proudly, "That's fine! I'm just giving the team some practice. When the company was founded, we already had a variety show production department, but we've never had any projects put into practice."

"Nothing much to say, Director Lu, this glass of wine is for you!"

Dong Shuangqiang poured himself a drink and drank it in one gulp without waiting for Lu Kuan to react.

Hey, why bother, Mr. Dong...

It’s not that Boss Lu is deliberately taking advantage of his allies.

Whether it is the copyright of "Zhu Xian" or "Super Girl", only by holding it in your own hands can you maximize your profits.

It would be such a waste to share it with China Film, a company that only makes movies, and Dong Shuangqiang, who only wants to go public and cash out. It's a complete misuse of resources.

For Lu Kuan, the traffic brought by these two and the development of Blog.com and Douban is even more significant than the actual benefits.

Take the second Super Girl competition in 2005 as an example.

The program team set up five competition zones in Yangcheng, Lin'an, Chengdu, Zhengzhou and Changsha, attracting 5 contestants to participate in the auditions, and more than 15 million viewers continued to pay attention.

Baidu Tieba, which had just been established at the time, had more than 75000 topics and over 88 posts in less than a month after the program auditions.

In this life's finals, in addition to text messages, voting channels can also be set up on Blog.com and Douban.com. Customers who open an SP membership for 5 yuan/month can get a number of votes.

It’s all about money! It’s about users!
This group of users born in the 80s and 90s will be the backbone of domestic Internet users in the future, and they must be won over!
(End of this chapter)