Entertainment from Divorce

In the top-floor office of the Brilliant Entertainment headquarters building, Tan Yue sat behind his ebony desk, his fingertips tracing a quarterly viewership report from the TV drama department.

The data displayed on the screen showed that all three TV dramas broadcast by the company in the first half of the year entered the top 10 in viewership ratings for their respective periods.

Tan Yue tapped lightly on the keyboard and wrote a note at the end of the report: "We need to strengthen the early planning of the sequel IP to avoid over-consuming the audience's enthusiasm. We can adjust the plot direction in conjunction with current hot topics."

Just as the document was saved, there was a gentle knock on the office door, and the steady voice of Qian Tao, the director of the TV drama department, came from outside: "President Tan, is it convenient to report on work?"

"Come in." Tan Yue looked up and saw Qian Tao wearing a dark gray suit, holding a dark blue folder in his hands, his hair neatly combed, and his face showing his usual seriousness.

"President Tan, this is the work summary of the TV drama department for the first half of the year, as well as the progress of the 'New Director Training Program' that you previously instructed me to organize. I have included it in the attachments." Qian Tao placed the folder on the table and lightly tapped the cover with his fingertip. "In the first half of the year, our department completed the production of 3 TV series and polished 5 scripts. Among them, 'The People of the Alley' has been confirmed to be broadcast in prime time on Sichuan TV and is expected to start filming next month. As for the training of new directors, after half a year of observation and assessment, we have selected 3 promising young directors and would like to report to you on their progress."

Tan Yue opened the folder, his gaze first sweeping over the work summary, then stopping at the page listing the new directors.

The paper clearly listed three names: Zhou Mingyu, Su Xiaotang, and Lu Chuan. Each name was accompanied by a detailed resume and representative works. The handwriting was neat, showing Qian Tao's dedication.

"Let's talk about their situation first, focusing on their actual achievements, without being too formal." Tan Yue leaned back in his chair, his fingertips lightly tracing the edge of the paper, his tone filled with anticipation for talent.

Qian Tao nodded, pulled out three printed analyses of works from the folder, and introduced them one by one: "The first one is Zhou Mingyu, 32 years old. He worked as an executive director in our company for four years and participated in the filming of 'Old Town Story' and 'Lights of Home'. Last year, he independently directed a web short drama called 'Moonlight in the Rental Room,' which focuses on the lives of young people who drift to Beijing. It has been viewed over 200 million times, and netizens commented that it is 'realistic in detail and delicate in emotion.' He is especially good at capturing the micro-expressions of the characters, and his camera language is very down-to-earth."

He paused, then handed Zhou Mingyu a USB drive containing clips from his work: "This is a highlight from his short drama. Take a look at this clip. The protagonist is eating instant noodles at a convenience store after working overtime. The camera slowly pans from the steam of the noodles to the neon lights outside the window. There isn't a single line of dialogue, but it perfectly captures the loneliness of being a struggling artist in Beijing. It's very insightful."

Tan Yue took the USB drive and placed it aside, indicating that he should continue.

"The second one is Su Xiaotang, 29 years old, a graduate of the directing department of the Film Academy. She worked as a documentary director for three years before joining our company last year. She is good at shooting female-themed films. Last month, she completed a public service short film called 'Her Day,' which records the daily lives of three professions: female doctor, female teacher, and female truck driver. It has been viewed more than 50 million times on short video platforms, and netizens said that they 'saw the power of different women.' Her advantage is her fast narrative pace. She is good at piecing together stories with fragmented shots, which is very much in line with the aesthetics of today's young audiences."

Qian Tao flipped to the third document, his tone more appreciative: "The third one is Lu Chuan, 30 years old. He worked as a director at a local TV station for 5 years before joining last year through our company's 'Young Director Recruitment Program'."

"His most outstanding achievement is the tourism promotional video 'Shu Di Yan Huo' (Shu Land Fireworks) he filmed for Sichuan TV last month. It didn't take the traditional approach. Instead, it followed an old tea drinker from the perspective of a tourist from out of town, taking him to visit Chengdu's Kuanzhai Alley, eat Leshan Bobo Chicken, and watch the sunset in Dujiangyan. The video was edited into a short video by netizens, and the related topic 'Shu Di Yan Huo' has been viewed over 8 million times."

“I’ve seen ‘Fireworks in Sichuan’,” Tan Yue suddenly said, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. “I saw clips of it on my WeChat Moments and it left a deep impression on me.”

Qian Tao was pleasantly surprised: "You noticed it too? Lu Chuan spent a whole month in Sichuan Province to shoot this promotional video, walking around the streets and alleys with old tea drinkers, and even specially learned the basics of Sichuan opera singing, all to better understand the local culture. What he shot is not a simple check-in style record, but a story with warmth and detail, which is rare among young directors."

“It is indeed rare.” Tan Yue gently traced the name “Lu Chuan” with his finger. “Nowadays, many young directors either deliberately pursue artistry and ignore the audience’s acceptance, or they blindly cater to the market and lose their original creative intentions.”

He looked up at Qian Tao, his tone firm: "Contact Lu Chuan now and have him come to my office. I want to talk to him. Also, Zhou Mingyu and Su Xiaotang shouldn't be overlooked. Have them each prepare a short film proposal, and we'll hold a review meeting next week to arrange suitable projects for them to gain experience."

"Okay, Mr. Tan, I'll contact Lu Chuan right away." Qian Tao quickly took out his phone, his fingers rapidly tapping the screen, a relieved smile on his face.

He knew that Tan Yue valued these newcomers so much not only for the development of the TV drama department, but also for the company's long-term talent pool.

Twenty minutes later, there was another knock on the office door. This time the knock was light and urgent, with a hint of tension.

"Mr. Tan, this is Lu Chuan. You wanted to see me?" A slightly immature voice came from outside the door.

"Come in." Tan Yue looked up and saw a young man standing at the door wearing a light blue shirt and black trousers. His hair was a little messy, and the buttons on his collar were fastened meticulously. He was holding a black notebook tightly in his hand, and his fingers were slightly white from the force. His eyes were full of tension and anticipation.

Lu Chuan walked into the office, his eyes quickly scanning the Interstellar poster hanging on the wall, then he quickly lowered his head, his voice trembling slightly: "Hello, Mr. Tan, I... I didn't expect you to contact me. When I received Director Qian's call, I thought I misheard."

Seeing his nervous expression, Tan Yue couldn't help but laugh: "Don't be nervous, sit down. I wanted to talk to you about the creation of 'Shu Di Yan Huo' and your plans for the future."

Lu Chuan sat down on the sofa, his body ramrod straight, his hands on his knees, his nerves still taut.

For him, Tan Yue is not only the company's CEO, but also his idol.

"Why did you choose the perspective of tourists following an old tea drinker in the promotional video 'Shu Di Yan Huo' instead of a traditional landscape display?" Tan Yue spoke first, posing a professional question in an attempt to ease his tension.

When the topic of creation came up, Lu Chuan's eyes lit up instantly, and his nervousness dissipated considerably: "President Tan, I think tourism promotional videos shouldn't just be descriptions of scenery, but should also convey cultural warmth."

“That’s a great idea.” Tan Yue nodded, her tone full of approval. “Many creators easily fall into the trap of self-expression and ignore the audience’s feelings. Also, I noticed that there are many establishing shots in the promotional video, such as the bluestone road after the rain and the red lanterns hanging under the eaves. These shots have no narration, but they are very atmospheric. How did you come up with that idea?”

Lu Chuan answered Tan Yue's questions carefully.

“That’s the power of details.” Tan Yue closed his tablet, his tone serious. “Whether it’s a movie or a TV series, details are key to moving the audience. For example, in ‘Old Town Story,’ when the grandfather gives his granddaughter candy, his hand trembles involuntarily. This detail was added by the actor himself, but it became a famous scene in the whole series. The fact that you can notice details like ‘century-old tea canisters’ shows that you have a strong ability to observe, which is very important for directors.”

The two talked about "Fireworks in Sichuan" for nearly an hour, from cinematic language and narrative rhythm to cultural expression and audience resonance. Lu Chuan became more and more relaxed as the conversation went on, his initially tense nerves gradually easing, and the light in his eyes growing brighter.

He discovered that Tan Yue was not only approachable but also very knowledgeable about creation, and many of his views resonated with him, from which he benefited greatly.

"What are your plans for future creative work? What kind of works do you want to make?" Tan Yue suddenly asked, his eyes full of anticipation.

Lu Chuan paused for a moment, then answered seriously: "I want to make TV dramas with realistic themes, focusing on the lives of ordinary people. For example, community workers in cities, teachers in rural areas, and deliverymen. Their lives have many touching stories, but they are rarely noticed by the camera. I hope to show their joys and sorrows through my works, so that more people can see the brilliance of these ordinary people."

“This is a good direction.” Tan Yue nodded, his tone tinged with satisfaction. “Realistic themes are our company’s strength and also the kind of themes the market needs. Many viewers now like to watch down-to-earth works because these works reflect their own experiences and resonate with them.”

He got up and walked to his desk, took out a blank script cover, and handed it to Lu Chuan: "After you go back, prepare well and put together a short film proposal on a realistic theme. It doesn't need to be too long, about 30 minutes is fine. Focus on showing your control over the characters and details. After a while, I will give you a TV series script and let you independently direct two episodes as your training project."

Lu Chuan took the script cover, gently stroking the "Brilliant Entertainment" logo on it, his eyes instantly welling up with tears.

He looked up at Tan Yue, his voice choked with emotion: "President Tan, thank you... I... I will definitely prepare well and live up to your trust!"

"You're welcome. This is something you earned through your own abilities." Tan Yue patted him on the shoulder, his tone gentle. "Remember, as a director, the most important thing is to stay true to your original aspirations and treat every work and every shot with care. No matter what difficulties you encounter in the future, never give up your love for creation."

Lu Chuan nodded vigorously, clutching the script cover tightly as if holding a precious dream.

He stood up and bowed deeply: "President Tan, I will not let you down! I will go back now to prepare the plan. If there is anything I don't understand, I hope you can give me some guidance."

"You can come find me anytime, or find Director Qian," Tan Yue said with a smile. "Go ahead and do your best."

Lu Chuan walked out of the office with much lighter steps; his previous tension had long been replaced by excitement.

Looking at the script cover in his hand, he secretly made up his mind: he must seize this opportunity, produce an excellent work, and live up to Tan Yue's trust and his own years of perseverance.

Watching Lu Chuan's departing figure, Tan Yue returned to his desk, picked up the list of newcomers handed over by Qian Tao, and his gaze fell on the names of Zhou Mingyu and Su Xiaotang.

He knew that the television drama department needed more young directors like Lu Chuan.

After Lin Qingye transitioned to film, the television department still had several senior directors, but lacked fresh blood, which could easily lead to creative stagnation in the long run.

Zhou Mingyu's delicate emotions, Su Xiaotang's female perspective, and Lu Chuan's market resonance can fill the gaps in different themes and keep the TV drama department creatively vibrant.

"Qian Tao, come in here for a moment." Tan Yue dialed Qian Tao's number, his tone serious. "Make arrangements for the new director review meeting next week. Have Zhou Mingyu and Su Xiaotang prepare short film proposals, and also push forward Lu Chuan's training project. In addition, starting now, assign each of the three new directors a dedicated mentor to guide them and improve their professional skills as quickly as possible."

"Okay, Mr. Tan, I'll arrange it right away." Qian Tao's voice was full of enthusiasm.

After hanging up the phone, Tan Yue turned on his computer, created a new document, and titled it "New Director Training Program for TV Drama Department".

In the document, he detailed the training objectives, project arrangements, and assessment standards, considering every aspect from short film training to directing TV series, from professional training to market analysis.

He knew that the company's development was inseparable from the support of talent, especially at this critical time when Lin Qingye was transforming into a film company and the company was moving towards becoming a world-class entertainment company. It was even more necessary to cultivate a group of young creators with potential, passion and ability.

Lu Chuan, Zhou Mingyu, and Su Xiaotang are the future hope of the TV drama department, and also the future hope of the company.

Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the document and the lines of text.

Tan Yue's fingers flew across the keyboard, the plan on the screen being refined little by little. Every detail reflected his vision for the company's future and his expectations for young creators.

Now, he hopes to build a platform for more young people like Lu Chuan, so that they can avoid detours and realize their creative dreams more quickly.

Because he knows that only by passing on the torch can the company continue to develop, maintain its leading position in the fierce industry competition, and truly achieve its goal of becoming a world-class entertainment company.

In the evening, Qian Tao sent a message saying that Lu Chuan had begun preparing the short film proposal, and Zhou Mingyu and Su Xiaotang were also actively preparing materials for the review meeting.

Tan Yue looked at the message and a relieved smile appeared on his lips.

He closed his laptop, got up and walked to the window, looking at the lights gradually coming on downstairs, his heart filled with peace and anticipation.

He believed that in the near future, Lu Chuan and his team would definitely make a name for themselves in the television drama field, producing more excellent works, injecting new vitality into Brilliant Entertainment's television drama department, and contributing to the company's international development. (End of Chapter)