this man is not calm

Chapter 289 Sincere Cooperation

It was still early, so Li Xuan and Jin Shang were walking and looking at the work sites in the film and television industry that they rarely come into contact with.

"It's okay for the two of us to just come in like this, right? I see there are security guards at the door catching strangers to prevent paparazzi from coming in and taking photos."

"It's okay. Look at us hanging the tags. We don't look like people who are here to cause trouble."

"I don't even know what this broken ID is for. Is it useful? I think the people who deliver lunch boxes and take out the trash are more like the staff here than me."

Li Xuan said angrily,

"Just call someone to come in, why sneak in?"

"It's interesting, and only in this way can you see what it really is."

Even though Jin Shang is just a small boss, when he actually goes to the grassroots for inspection or experience, he is easily "arranged" and cannot see everyone's true appearance.

This time I came not to find fault, but to see the implementation speed of several major projects.

The first thing I saw was the scene of the TV series "Bouquet" (tentative title) adapted from the best-selling novel "The Wisdom and Life of the Realm".

This book is more popular on the Internet than "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" which Jinxi Culture has been promoting for a long time, which surprised Jin Shang. Measured by a soft science fiction novel, it is only at the upper-middle level, but it is loved by a large number of book fans, which is enough to prove that it does meet the public's expectations in some aspects.

Compared with the confidence of his screenwriters, Jin Shang himself is not too optimistic about the film and television prospects of the book. The reason why he decided to film it is also taking into account the existence of the vast number of fans of the original work, so that the film and television series will not be too cold. .

The investment in "Bouquet" is not high. Except for the leading role, which needs a good actor with excellent acting skills and a relatively high reputation, the other supporting roles are not very important.

It would be impossible to justify a film and television drama with a "big male protagonist" without a star.

When the invitation for the project was sent out, Jin Shang was surprised that several popular young actors expressed their interest in starring in the original work "The Wisdom and Life of the Realm".

"The planning process of this drama made me realize that I may have made a mistake, not too big or too small. The future of the entertainment industry will definitely develop in the direction of secularization, fragmentation, civilianization, and even vulgarization. The literary and artistic attributes will become less and less, but now, people inside and outside the industry still regard film and television practitioners as literary and artistic workers. The attraction of film and television adaptations of well-known novels is still quite large."

"Then...why hasn't anyone taken pictures before?"

"Input and income are not directly proportional, and it is easy to lose money. The current situation in the industry, let alone the organization, even if the drama is filmed, it is difficult to find a suitable platform to broadcast it, and the channels for monetization are narrow. Therefore, all parties are not enthusiastic about investment. Not high. Unless there is great hope of success in literature, art or business."

Either get a prize or make money.

The project "Bouquet" is actually rather embarrassing. It is said to be literary and artistic, but it is not so "authentic". It is difficult for science fiction, a relatively new genre, to be recognized by seniors. As for commercial performance, everyone is not stupid and knows that it can now The ones that get back their money are basically low-cost sitcoms and comedies, as well as blockbusters with big investments, big stars, big productions, famous directors, and money spent on publicity.

Even if the lead actor has excellent acting skills and performs at a super level, it is difficult to win awards, and the commercial prospects are not very optimistic. It is useless for investors and film and television companies, but for stars who need to be exposed, this is an excellent way to earn reputation. It's a good opportunity, so even if the salary offered by Jinxi Culture is not high, there are still people willing to take it.

In this era when commercial films are in the ascendant and literary and artistic films have not yet completely declined, the influence of literary and artistic young people is still relatively large. Their number may not be too large, but they are widely distributed. They can drive public opinion, convince everyone, and indirectly promote " "Passenger fans" pay attention, this is very powerful.

"So, your reputation as a literary talent is still very useful?"

"Yes, it's more valuable than I thought. In the past few years, I need to realize it quickly. When the Internet era comes, I will switch to the path of an opinion leader."

"Then...it is still necessary to make some low-budget, fresh, and very stylish literary films, right?"

"Yes, I have asked people to investigate the market. Be careful with original creations. You can try more IPs that have been tested by the market. It can be regarded as training people."

It is also a good thing to make more movies before the era of blockbusters has come and stars are paid very cheaply.

Jin Shang rubbed his fingers and smiled.

"As long as you make sure you don't lose money, it's enough. If one of them becomes a hit, you'll make a lot of money. It's actually difficult to predict whether a movie or TV series will be popular with the people. It's a good idea to invest a little money first and test the waters."

"Then...what do you think of this "Bouquet"?"

"It's well received, but not very popular. This type of film and television drama has a low upper limit, but it is very 'fan-attracting' and can easily gain 'hardcore' support."

This is why Jin Shang feels that if he invests in making some genre films, he should continue to make them even if he will lose money in the short term. For Jinxi Culture who is interested in pursuing a deeper career in this industry, this is a process of laying the foundation. It is not enough to just buy and exploit other people's projects. It must have its own "basic base".

Standing not far away, watching the director instructing the actors, Li Xuan whispered in Jin Shang's ear after recording the video for a while:

"I thought there would be a story about stars showing off their big names, directors and producers showing off their prestige, and group performers being suppressed. But the result... was uneventful."

"It's just about making ends meet, how can there be so much going on? Don't believe all the gossip in the newspapers."

"fake?"

"No, a large part of it is true. But compared to most film and television drama shootings, it's a drop in the bucket. There may be discord in private, but on the surface, harmony is maintained and business is done."

Filming film and television dramas is actually a hard job. These days, there are no luxury business cars, nanny cars, etc., and there is no such thing as unclear speech or lines.

You know, most domestic films nowadays adhere to the style of not adding subtitles unless necessary.

In other words, when you are an actor, especially a protagonist with a lot of lines, you must be at least as good as a senior drama actor, not to mention as an announcer. Otherwise, you will not be able to find a job at all.

Putting aside the fancy tricks for now, the basic business skills are not up to par, and you are not even qualified to enter the industry.

Jin Shang didn't know the director or the protagonist of the TV series "Bouquet", but Li Xuan had some impressions, but she couldn't name them.

"A somewhat famous second-tier actor and director, with good abilities and able to direct the set in an orderly manner. Moreover, the filming seems to be progressing well."

Jin Shang had a headache when he mentioned this.

On the other hand, the filming of "Foreign Girl" was more troublesome. It was difficult to find a venue. Many of the extras who starred in their original roles occasionally had problems, which delayed the progress. Fortunately, the leading actors were relatively dedicated and capable, so there was no big trouble.

More than one-third of the persons in charge dispatched by the company are coordinating matters there. The factory-renovated studio also has a time limit and cannot be completed within the stipulated time. If the venue is changed or rebuilt, the cost will soar and no one can afford it. What was relatively easy was the filming location for the sequel to "I Love My Family". They were all talented actors and it was a family drama that was not demanding. It was considered easy even if you don't have to worry about it. The progress of the sequel to "Family with Children" is a little slower, but it is still within an acceptable range.

Outside the built recording studio, Li Xuan curiously went to see the lighting engineer and artist making adjustments. The makeup artist urgently touched up the actors' makeup, while Jin Shangze chatted with Zhu Jingxiao, who also came to check the progress of the work.

"You...it's a good thing that sitcoms aren't so particular, otherwise you'd be in trouble."

"It's okay to make do."

Jin Shang shrugged helplessly.

Filming a TV series is not a perfect thing.

The background of the protagonist's family is that of an ordinary citizen's family. But look at the furniture, electrical appliances and clothes, how can there be any "ordinary" feeling?

There are two computers at home that cost tens of thousands of dollars. The shoes on the children’s feet are brand-name ones that cost several hundred dollars a pair. They are used by the whole family, including shoes, clothes, bags, cosmetics, watches, mobile phones, cordless phones, game consoles, etc. , is this something ordinary working-class families can afford?

There is even a second-hand car. These days, even if it is not a brand-new car, a family that can afford to drive it will definitely not be a poor family burdened with food, clothing, housing and transportation.

"There's nothing we can do about it. The plot requires it, and the sponsors give us a lot of money."

Commercial advertising sponsorship has been around for a long time, but it was the first time that Zhu Jingxiao had seen so many advertising placements like Jin Shang's.

There are strict regulations on the number of close-ups, the number of seconds of exposure, whether it is a distant shot or a close shot, the angle at which the trademark is exposed, etc.

Prices are clearly marked and charged by the second.

Advertisements on TV stations during prime time are not so particular.

The wide variety of implantation methods opened Director Zhu's eyes.

"Taipei's restructuring is still lagging behind. Are all the commercial companies outside doing this? In comparison, we are looking for help from wineries, pharmaceutical companies and health care product companies, which is really insignificant."

"You are being modest. I heard that during the news period from 6:30 to 8:00, you can earn a luxury car in one second. I am really... envious of others."

"The more you earn, the more expenses you will have."

Zhu Jingxiao curled her lips angrily,

"Many programs are purely public welfare without any profit-making benefits, and no one can be missing."

"Then... the advertisements for the TV series we collaborated with sold well, right?"

"It's not bad, it's a small supplement. The task of the comprehensive channel is quite heavy. As you know, the big production of "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is a gold-swallowing beast with a bottomless pit. Although the direct investment in Taiwan is not much, the manpower and material resources can be consumed Quite a few. If you want to take good photos, you can’t be careless.”

The second part is expected to be broadcast in the summer around July. This time period was specially chosen to attract the attention of young students. The story from "Eighteen princes against Dong" to "Chasing the deer in the Central Plains" is the essence of "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms". Basically, most of the heroes and stories that everyone is familiar with happened during this time period.

The first part was just a small test, but starting from the second part, the story became more and more exciting. As the most important production project of the year, Zhu Jingxiao, who was deeply involved in it, also felt a lot of pressure.

"What's going on over there with Dai Yiqin..."

"The two concerts have been postponed to the second half of the year. I should stay in Beijing in the past few months..."

The scenes about Zhao Yun in the second part have been filmed. The difficulty now lies in the big scene of the third part. Thousands of cavalry troops attack, and Changban slope enters and exits seven times. Not only the actors, but also all the staff felt it. pressure.

Years ago, when filming the battle between the three heroes of Hulao Pass and Lu Bu, an accident occurred during a cavalry charge. The horses were frightened and injured two actors and a horse trainer. Fortunately, it was not serious, otherwise the trouble would have been big.

In this situation where the special effects technology is not up to par and there is no way to use computers to create large scenes, real shooting must be done well. Not only is the cost huge, but it is also accompanied by risks. If it succeeds, it will be a classic. If it fails, it will probably be a drama. And a negative teaching material for film schools.

"When he comes back, go to the racecourse and practice more. Zhao Zilong, a white horse and a silver gun, is one of the next focuses. The promotional video uses him as a selling point."

Among the heroes of the late Han Dynasty, there are still a few who are truly regarded as handsome men, but the most well-known ones are Zhao Yun and Zhou Yu. The reputation of the actor who plays Mizhouro is completely incomparable to Dai Yiqin. Whichever one you choose, it is not at all a question.

"Okay! Nothing major happened in the first half of the year. Now I'm focusing on this drama and going all out."

The two talked about some trivial matters again, and Zhu Jingxiao said with emotion:

"Your... book "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is selling well, right?"

"good."

Jin Shang replied with a smile.

The physical book is not cheap. The genuine book retails for 35 yuan, the average online discount price is around 30 yuan, and the hardcover version is 49 yuan. Even so, sales are good.

Last year, the physical book sales of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" were 450,000. After this year's TV series was released, it exceeded 500,000 in one month in March. More than half of April, it exceeded 400,000, a slight decrease, but it was still a hot seller.

According to Jin Shang's prediction, such high sales will not last long. After stabilizing in a few years, annual sales may remain at around 600,000, with a slight increase as the population increases.

What the actual situation will be is still unknown, and the impact of the Internet on physical books cannot be underestimated.

Of course, even if this book only sells a total of 20 to 30 million a year, Jin Shang would be very satisfied.

The cost of running a printing press is so low that it is almost negligible, except for the material cost. The power of the industrial age is extremely obvious in this industry. On the contrary, the cost of creation and early planning, and later publicity and development is even greater.

"Xiao Jin is reliable in what he does. The most commendable thing is that everyone can make money. No one will reject such a sponsor. In the future, you will be able to get along well in this industry."

"Thank you for your good words."

A large production requires a large platform for display and sincere cooperation, which is beneficial to everyone. In particular, there are so many projects under Jinxi Culture that are yet to be developed and broadcast. Even if they are not broadcast during the prime time of the comprehensive channel, they are still very good at the second level, which is much better than local stations with limited coverage.

(End of this chapter)