Entertainment from Divorce

Before we knew it, it was already mid-September.

Brilliant Entertainment operates with consistently high efficiency and order.

Each department performed its duties and steadily advanced its projects. There were no unexpected setbacks or thorny problems. Everything proceeded in an orderly manner according to the established plan.

Tan Yue and Chen Ziyu had a clear division of labor.

One oversees the company's overall operations and controls the core direction of film, television, and variety show projects, while the other focuses on external cooperation and expanding industry resources. The husband and wife team work together seamlessly, making the company thrive and earning a stellar reputation in the industry.

In the morning, sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the top-floor CEO's office, casting warm, dappled patterns on the gleaming desk.

Tan Yue sat behind a large desk, dressed in a simple dark casual suit. He looked less sharp and more calm and relaxed than usual.

What lay spread out in front of him was the latest variety show proposal submitted by Xu Nuo, the director of the program department. It was a detailed plan for the latest season of the company's long-running variety show, a thick stack covered with annotations.

Since the last time I finalized the dinner with Xu Nuo and discussed the program preparations...

Xu Nuo then devoted himself wholeheartedly to the preparation work for the variety show recording, leading the program team to repeatedly refine the process, optimize the segment settings, finalize the guest lineup, and even do a meticulous and thorough job in venue setup, logistical support, and emergency plans.

This season focuses on family warmth and life documentary, avoiding excessive sentimentality and deliberate game tropes. It emphasizes authenticity and healing, catering to the aesthetic needs of today's audience, and is also the core project of Brilliant Entertainment's variety show lineup for the second half of the year.

Tan Yue held the pen between his fingers, his expression focused, carefully reviewing the details of the proposal word by word.

Although he doesn't directly interfere with the specific work of the program department, as the company president, he must control the direction and quality of projects, ensuring both viewership and commercial revenue while adhering to the bottom line of content and creating high-quality, well-received variety shows.

He carefully reviewed the program's segment setup, checked the guest list, and examined the product placement plan. When he encountered anything unreasonable, he would lightly circle it with a red pen and write down his suggestions for improvement in neat and clear handwriting.

Tan Yue read intently, pausing from time to time to ponder and organize his thoughts. The office was so quiet that only the soft rustling of paper turning and the scratching of pen tips across the paper could be heard.

Just as he was reviewing the guest lineup, a crisp and polite knock on the door gently broke the silence.

"Come in." Tan Yue put down his pen, raised his voice, and replied in a calm and steady tone.

The office door was gently pushed open, and a figure slowly walked in.

The newcomer was dressed in simple casual wear, with a calm and reserved demeanor, carrying the weight of years of dedicated creative work. His eyes were peaceful yet revealed his passion for creation. He was none other than Lin Qingye, an outstanding director under the company.

"President Tan." Lin Qingye walked to the desk, his tone respectful and humble, without any unnecessary formalities.

Tan Yue looked up at him, a gentle expression on his face. He pointed to the chair opposite him and said, "Director Lin is here. Please sit down. Is there something you need today?"

He has always admired Lin Qingye. This director is humble and focused on his work, not chasing popularity, but concentrating on content. He is a rare down-to-earth creator in the entertainment industry today.

Lin Qingye sat down as instructed, leaning slightly forward, and said in a sincere tone, "President Tan, I recently came across a script that I really like. I've been thinking about filming it for a while now, and I've been pondering it for several days. I wanted to come and talk to you about it and get your opinion."

As he spoke, he gently placed a script he was holding on the table in front of Tan Yue. The script cover was simple, without any extra decorations, and it was clear that it was a carefully polished manuscript.

Since the conclusion of his last film, Lin Qingye has been in a state of rest and recuperation, not in a hurry to start filming, but has been looking for a suitable script, wanting to make a better work.

During this period, he read a lot of scripts, but either the subject matter was not to his liking or the core of the story was thin. It wasn't until he saw this script that he decided to make a film.

Tan Yue glanced down at the script in front of him, took it, opened the cover, and quickly skimmed through the story outline and core synopsis. He then quickly flipped through the first few chapters and had already formed a preliminary judgment in his mind.

He didn't rush to express his opinion, but instead raised his head, looked at Lin Qingye, and said in a calm tone, "Tell me, what is the most attractive part of this script for you, and what core idea do you want to express through this story?"

He wanted to hear Lin Qingye's true thoughts, to see if he had truly understood the script and had a clear creative approach, rather than simply being attracted by the subject matter.

As the head of the company, he is responsible not only for the project but also for the director's career development. He cannot allow Lin Qingye to squander his accumulated reputation and popularity due to an unsuitable work.

Upon hearing this, Lin Qingye's eyes lit up, and his tone became enthusiastic as he spoke eloquently about his understanding of the script.

"This script is a realistic story about the struggles and perseverance of ordinary people at the bottom of society. It focuses on the various aspects of ordinary people's lives, with delicate character portrayals and genuine emotions. There are no melodramatic plots; they are all stories that are close to real life. I think this kind of story is very meaningful. It can resonate with the audience and also reflect the humanistic care of the work. This is also the type of story I have always wanted to make."

He became more and more engrossed in his speech, sharing his thoughts and ideas from the past few days, from character development to camera expression, from emotional core to shooting ideas, without reservation.

It's clear that he genuinely loves the script, has done his homework, and is full of enthusiasm for filming.

Tan Yue listened quietly without interrupting, and only spoke slowly after Lin Qingye finished speaking.

"Director Lin, your idea and original intention are good. Realistic themes do have creative value and are in line with the current market trend. You are good at portraying characters' emotions, so you have an advantage in making this kind of work. However, the problems with this script are also very obvious, and they are serious flaws that are difficult to revise."

He paused, opened the script, pointed to the core plot and structure, and continued: "First of all, the script is too slow-paced. The first half is too long in its setup, and the conflicts are not prominent enough. As a film, it is difficult for the audience to calm down and wait for the climax for a long time. They are easily impatient."

"Secondly, the main storyline is vague, and the characters' motivations are not clear. It seems to talk about a lot of trivial things in life, but it does not have a clear core theme. By the end, the audience does not know what the story is trying to express, and it is difficult to form a deep memory."

"Most importantly, the script is too weak in commercial appeal. Not to mention the difficulty of promotion and distribution after filming, it is not advantageous in terms of theater screenings. In addition, the plot is bland and uneventful, making it difficult to attract ordinary audiences to the theater, and the final box office revenue is hard to guarantee."

"When we make films and television series, we must pursue artistic value while also considering market survival. We cannot rely solely on enthusiasm without considering costs and benefits." Tan Yue's words were straightforward and to the point. They were objective suggestions based on market rules, creative experience, and commercial logic. He did not deny Lin Qingye's vision but only pointed out the inherent flaws in the script.

He knew Lin Qingye's passion for creation, so he spoke very frankly, not wanting him to waste time and energy on unsuitable projects.

Lin Qingye sat opposite Tan Yue, listening quietly to his analysis without offering any rebuttal. The eagerness on his face gradually subsided, replaced by deep thought.

He initially only saw the script's strengths, immersing himself in his own creative ideas and ignoring these fatal flaws. Only when Tan Yue pointed them out one by one did he suddenly realize their significance and find them increasingly reasonable.

He was silent for a moment, then looked up, his eyes full of conviction, and said sincerely to Tan Yue, "Mr. Tan, you are absolutely right. I hadn't considered these issues at all before. I was only focused on the emotions of the story and neglected the pacing and main plot, and I didn't carefully assess the market risks."

"Now that you've said that, I completely understand. This script is indeed not suitable for filming. I'm giving up on this idea and will stop worrying about it."

Lin Qingye has always been insightful, open to good advice, and not stubborn.

He knew that Tan Yue was doing this for his own good and for the company's good. His advice was sincere and based entirely on his professional experience. Rather than blindly starting up, it was better to cut losses and wait for a better opportunity.

Tan Yue felt very gratified to see how humbly he accepted the advice.

"It would be best if you could think this way. On the path of creation, it's better to have nothing than something bad. Good scripts are hard to come by. There's no need to rush into filming. Taking the time to hone your skills and wait for the right opportunity is far more valuable than making a mediocre film."

He paused, then changed the subject, bringing good news to Lin Qingye: "Coincidentally, Director Zheng Tong of the film department recently received several excellent scripts. The team is discussing and screening them internally, but hasn't finalized the project approval yet."

“One of the scripts is a realistic suspense drama. It’s of very high quality, with a tight plot and well-developed characters. It has both artistic value and commercial potential, and it fits your creative style very well. I was thinking that if this script were approved, it would be most suitable for you to direct it.”

This script is the suspenseful crime script that Tan Yue and Zheng Tong had repeatedly selected and polished. It has a profound core, exciting plot, and moderate filming difficulty, making it very suitable for a director like Lin Qingye who is good at delicate portrayal.

Tan Yue had long had this plan, but the script copyright had not yet been secured and the final project had not been approved, so he had not mentioned it until today when Lin Qingye brought up the script.

Upon hearing this, Lin Qingye's eyes lit up instantly, his face filled with surprise and gratitude.

"Really, Mr. Tan? Thank you so much. Thank you for remembering me and thinking of giving me such a great opportunity. I will definitely not let you down. As long as I get this script, I will devote myself to it wholeheartedly, polish every shot, and produce a high-quality film. I will never tarnish our company's reputation."

He knew in his heart that this script was a high-quality project carefully selected by the film department, and the resources invested and the team configuration were definitely top-notch.

Tan Yue entrusting him with such a project is a great trust and high regard, and he can only repay this kindness with high-quality works.

"It's good that you have this determination." Tan Yue nodded with a smile, his tone resolute.

“I’ve always recognized your abilities. As long as you focus on filming, you’ll definitely be able to make this script a success. However, the script’s copyright is still under negotiation, and the team is still conducting the final project evaluation. Go back and wait for news. There’s no need to rush.”

"Once everything is finalized here, Zheng Tong will contact you as soon as possible. Then we can discuss the crew formation, filming schedule, and other details."

"Okay, I understand, Mr. Tan. I'll go back and wait patiently for news, do my homework, and brainstorm shooting ideas in advance." Lin Qingye quickly stood up, bowed deeply to Tan Yue, and said with gratitude, "I won't disturb your work any longer. I'll go back now."

Tan Yue raised his hand to signal, his tone gentle: "Go ahead, I'll let you know if there's any news."

Filled with anticipation and gratitude, Lin Qingye carefully picked up the script he had brought, quickly left the president's office, and gently closed the door behind him, his movements light and quick.

The script problem that had been troubling him for days was not only solved, but also brought him a better opportunity. At this moment, he was filled with anticipation for his future creative endeavors.

After Lin Qingye left, the president's office returned to silence.

Tan Yue withdrew his gaze, picked up the program proposal Xu Nuo had submitted again, and continued his review.

Time passed by little by little, and the morning quietly slipped away amidst busy and fulfilling work.

Just after 2 p.m., there was another knock on the president's office door. This time, it was Zheng Tong, the director of the film department.

Holding a document in his hand, Zheng Tong walked briskly with a hint of joy on his face. He pushed open the office door and went straight to Tan Yue, excitedly reporting, "President Tan, good news! We've secured the copyright for that suspense script we were interested in. The contract is fully signed, there are no outstanding issues, and the project can officially enter the preparation stage and start filming at any time."

To secure the copyright for this script, Zheng Tong led his team in lengthy negotiations with the copyright holder, repeatedly communicating the terms, finalizing the price, and overcoming numerous obstacles. Finally, they successfully acquired the copyright, putting an end to their worries.

This script is a high-quality project carefully selected by the team. It is a key work of Brilliant Entertainment's film sector in the second half of the year, and the entire company attaches great importance to it.

Upon hearing this, Tan Yue's face showed satisfaction. He nodded and said in a steady tone, "Well done. It's good that the copyright has been secured. Now, expedite the subsequent project approval and crew preparation. As for the director of this project, we'll leave it to Lin Qingye."

"I'll go back and make arrangements right away. I'll contact Director Lin Qingye immediately to discuss the script, assemble the production team, finalize the main creative team, and expedite all preparatory work without delaying the schedule."

"Yes, I'm entrusting this matter to you. Be meticulous and thorough in the preliminary preparations, create a good creative environment for the crew, and ensure all resources and funding are available so that the director can focus on the creative process," Tan Yue instructed.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of it." Zheng Tong solemnly agreed, took the copyright contract, turned around and quickly left the office to immediately implement the various matters.

Watching Zheng Tong's departing figure, Tan Yue leaned back in his chair and let out a soft sigh of relief. (End of Chapter)