China Entertainment: I have been a director since 05

Chapter 362 When the whole world is still dark

September 2010 was a clear and cool autumn day.

The temperature throughout the day is gradually dropping as the summer movie season comes to an end.

Zhao Zhijiang, the CEO of Hairun Pictures, was sitting in his office at this moment, looking at the documents in his hands, feeling a little hot in his heart.

As an absolute insider in the TV drama industry, Zhao Zhijiang has been in the television field for too long. Hairun Pictures is one of the most well-known film and television companies not only in Beijing, but also in the whole country.

Their track record has always been impressive. The productions of "Bright Sword", "Jade Guanyin" and "Never Forget" are classics that will be indelible now and in the future.

However, with Chang Jihong changing jobs this year, Hairun did feel a kind of pressure.

For the past ten years, Chang Jihong, as the ace agent in the industry, has been in charge of the contracts of most artists such as Jiang Wenli, Liu Ye and Sun Li.

This time when she left, she also took a lot of actors with her.

For Hairun, this is a serious blow.

But this did not undermine Zhao Zhijiang's confidence.

Even after decades in the industry, Zhao Zhijiang has always been very confident that he is a well-deserved industry leader in the field of TV dramas.

In fact, this is true. In the TV drama industry, no matter it is Brother Da Gou, Wu Kebo, Zhao Baogang, or even the current Wang brothers of Huayi, they dare not speak to Zhao Zhijiang in front of him.

This year, Hairun Pictures produced many TV dramas.

"Luoguxiang", "The Tide Rises in Two Rivers", "Warrior", "Gunshots on the Plain", "Sword", "Evil Fate", "Red Rock in the Blaze", "Love in the Rivers and Lakes", "The Past of the Republic of China", "Meteor and Butterfly Sword", "Late Marriage", "The Ruthless Way", "Heavenly Array"...

I can’t say that every one of these TV series is a masterpiece, but every one of them is a star-studded work.

Among them, "Meteor Butterfly Sword" which was just broadcast some time ago broke the ratings of CCTV during the evening time slot of CCTV-1.3, that is, from : to :, with an average rating of more than %.

Even during the first broadcast period on Monday, the ratings broke the record for CCTV's evening TV series, reaching 0.78%.

This exclusive premiere drama of CCTV's summer season commemorates Gu Long in its original flavor. As a martial arts masterpiece, it has completely attracted countless martial arts fans.

Many viewers even believe that this version of "Meteor Butterfly Sword" is the most successful TV adaptation of Gu Long's novel.

"Late Marriage", which took the entire network by storm at the beginning of this year, also set off the peak of TV drama ratings at the beginning of the year.

After winning the championship on Jilin Satellite TV, the show was broadcast in a loop across the country, causing serious thinking on the Internet about reality-themed film and television dramas.

In the TV drama industry in 2010, Hairun Pictures can be said to be unique.

Even though the sensation and ratings caused by "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "Dream of Red Mansions" were far behind Hairun Pictures in terms of profits.

But Zhao Zhijiang never expected that Guan Ling would bring another big wave to the industry as we entered the last period of this year.

He also slapped him hard in front of his actor Wang Luodan.

Just three months after "Three Kingdoms" broke the record for the buyout price of a single episode of a TV series, Guan Ling completely doubled this unattainable figure in the industry!
Incredible, unbelievable...

Unreasonable!

So after the official release date of this TV series was announced, Zhao Zhijiang has been tossing and turning for the past few days. Whenever he closes his eyes, he sees various promotional images of the TV series.

A good boss was almost driven into a mental illness.

After a long wait, this TV series is finally released.

Zhao Zhijiang watched the first two episodes without blinking. He was particularly surprised why this TV series written by Guan Ling and directed by Jiang Wei was so horrible.

Yes, it’s the word horror.

He couldn't understand.

But the impression he got from the first two episodes was not as amazing as he had imagined.

It can only be said to be quite satisfactory.

But after two episodes, Douban's score made Zhao Zhijiang completely silent. Douban gave the show a score of 9.

He completely doubted his life.

In the first two episodes of "Awakening Age", based on his many years of experience in the industry, he felt that Yu Hewei and Zhang Songwen both had very good acting skills, but they focused more on the unfolding of the story and the introduction of the characters, and the actual plot progressed very slowly.

This rating is really too exaggerated.

He even suspected that Guan Ling's team helped Guan Ling do some shameful things to raise the rating of this TV series on Douban.

But the ratings in our hands cannot be faked.
This is the ratings of the premiere issued by CCTV after the premiere yesterday, 4.5% in prime time. Shandong Satellite TV, 1.7% in prime time.
It was just the first broadcast, but the total ratings of the two satellite TV platforms exceeded 6.2%.

Since 2010, the TV station's ratings have actually seen a significant decline, mainly due to some video websites, such as Ku.com, which have diverted traffic.

Internet broadcasting has had a certain impact on TV stations, but the TV stations have not paid too much attention to it.

Although the ratings have declined, this decline has not been fully transferred to online broadcasts, so many TV stations are still in a sluggish reaction stage.

I haven't felt the influence and changes of the times.

For example, after the broadcast of "The New Three Kingdoms", during its premiere on four satellite TV stations in Jiangsu, Anhui, Tianjin and Chongqing, the combined premiere ratings of the four TV stations was only 4.7%.

Therefore, the ratings of "Awakening Age" is actually an anti-normal phenomenon.

Completely different from the legendary high ratings of "Insidious" and "Bruce Lee", this new TV series was influenced too much by the outside world, but it still created a ratings record that made countless people astonished.

Zhao Zhijiang's lips twitched a little and he felt a little numb.

The heat in his heart slowly boiled over and soon surged to his head. He couldn't help but sigh, and subconsciously picked up the teacup on the table and blew on it.

But there was no tea in it.

The ratings record in his hand was like a blinding light, burning him.

He was stunned from the inside out.

"Is this a human being?"

Zhao Zhijiang paused for a long while, and finally uttered the first sentence he had spoken since morning.

Then, he took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, trying to calm himself.

After a long time, a phone call was made from his office and the order was conveyed.

"All staff members in the company who don't have any projects at hand can slow down their work for the time being. Everyone must study the story rhythm and style of the first two episodes of "Awakening Age" and all subsequent episodes, and compile them into a communication report. The report should be handed directly to me."

Soon, the news spread to every corner of Hairun Films.

When Sun Li heard this, she smiled.

Wang Luodan felt a little bit unbelievable when he heard this.

"Boss Zhao has always been reluctant to communicate with other film and television companies. This is the first time that Boss Zhao has given in. Do you want us to learn from him?"

"If he doesn't learn, I'm afraid he won't be able to do it."

Sun Li's voice was calm and cold.
"Ever since Director Guan Ling, no, screenwriter Guan Ling got involved in TV dramas, these TV dramas have generally taken the forefront of the industry. There are even TV dramas like "Da Ming" and "Hidden" that have completely set off industry innovations. This TV drama's premiere has achieved such success. President Zhao must really suspect that he is out of date."

"Boss Zhao is not that out of date," Wang Luodan said, "it's just that my junior brother is too strong."

After hearing this, Sun Li couldn't help laughing, and she looked at Wang Luodan.

"Yes, it is very strong. If there is anyone in the industry who can make Mr. Zhao lose his composure like this, I have only seen one so far."

She also looked at the news on the Internet, her eyes full of desire.

"Luo Dan, Luo Dan, your casual intervention will cause countless people to lose sleep."

The online news on the table shows the industry's evaluation of "Awakening Age". Even in the first two episodes, countless media have expressed their opinions. "It is worthy of being a tribute drama, showing the beginning of the New Culture Movement in a panoramic way. The script is excellent, not boring, not preachy, the costumes and props are restored, and the flesh-and-blood connection of the characters in the first two episodes is counted!"

"Outsiders watch the excitement, insiders watch the doorway. "Awakening Age" is not just a slogan. Yu Hewei and Zhang Songwen's performances are praised!"

"The premiere ratings broke the annual ratings records of CCTV-1 and Shandong Satellite TV! The price of "Awakening Age" is well deserved!"

Sun Li looked at the news and fell silent.

She is waiting for the follow-up.

Whether it opens high and ends low, or opens low and ends high, there is always an answer.

But no matter what, it is a great luck that she can play the role in this play.

……

The premiere received very high ratings and performed well on CCTV’s internal platform.

However, it caused quite a bit of controversy on Shandong Satellite TV.

In the conference room, Lu Peng was being bombarded by people around him.

"The premiere spent so much money on publicity and used Guan Ling's name, but the ratings were only 1.7%, which is three times the size of CCTV."

Someone in the conference room looked at Lu Peng, and then looked at the other people in the conference room.

"This is a gamble, but it's clear, Mr. Lu, that we made the wrong bet."

Everyone's faces were not looking good. Even though part of the buyout price was reimbursed by CCTV, the remaining expenses were definitely not a small amount for Shandong Satellite TV.

If this result is maintained in the end, we will be held responsible.

Not to mention that Shandong TV has never spent so much money on purchasing TV dramas, just take Shandong TV’s advertising expenses. With this viewership rate, how much can it recover?
One hundred million dollars in expenditure.

If the 1.5 million yuan in advertising fees cannot be recovered, then it is not a very good project for the TV station staff.

Seeing that CCTV might be able to achieve greater success and make a fortune with the help of this TV series, while Shandong TV could only watch, everyone in the room felt a little defensive.

After all, the advertising costs, terms, and contracts of CCTV and Shandong TV are all incomparable.

"Wait and see." Lu Peng looked at everyone, "From now on, the advertisements will still be short-term contracts, sold out for one or two days."

"Is Director Lu crazy?"

Many people at the scene had this thought in their minds at the moment. Because of the short-term contract, what would happen if the TV station’s ratings dropped again?
Can the investment be recovered?
Now we still have at least 1.7% viewership, which allows us to negotiate with some advertisers.

If you continue to wait, the flowers might be cold.

Some people expressed different opinions at the meeting.

"Believe me."

Lv Peng looked at everyone and said seriously, "When we were working with Shanying, Director Guan was the biggest and closest partner of Shanying. Today in this meeting, I still believe in Guan Ling. He will create miracles, just like his movies."

"After all, this wasn't shot by Director Guan himself? Director Lu, this is 100 million. We are different from CCTV. For CCTV, this amount of money may only be enough for a few commercials, but for our TV station, it is very difficult.

Mr. Lu, please think twice. We cannot place our hopes on a film director who has nothing to do with TV dramas.

The biggest benefit for us is to recover as much money as possible.”

Some people don't understand.

"I am the chairman and I have the final say."

Lu Peng wanted to have the final say, and although his tone was unpleasant, it was firm and decisive, and the whole room fell into silence.

"You're obsessed with gambling."

A director stood up, shook his head and prepared to leave. He didn't plan to continue talking to Lu Peng about this issue.

"You have to know that no one will stand on your side."

Failure may just be a matter of time.

Lu Peng looked at everyone, his eyes filled with determination.

Jin Liang suddenly stood up and said, "I agree with Mr. Lu."

He might not believe in Lu Peng's personal vision, but he believed in Guan Ling.

Guan Ling asked Shandong TV to try its best to grab the copyright of this TV series.

Then this TV series will definitely become popular all over China.

……

in the following time.

The broadcast of "Awakening Age" continues, unfolding a magnificent historical picture from the New Culture Movement, the May Fourth Movement to the founding of the Communist Party of China, and bringing to life the social customs and various life situations of the awakening age.

And many entrepreneurial groups have slowly begun to emerge.

Mao Runzhi appeared in the rain.

In the midst of the storm, the young man ran as fast as he could, holding the "New Youth" in his hand and stepping on the muddy water. All he saw were the various lives of people and the hardships of the lower classes.

"He came out of the storm and suffering, shining like light!"

The wild geese are wailing and the children are crying.

His eyes were determined, and he ignored the bitter wind and rain, determined to carve out a bloody path in this chaotic world.

We always remember the bright red leader badge but forget his youthful appearance.

Coming on water, coming in the rain.

Seeing the suffering, going through the suffering. Everyone knows what he will bring.

Meet at Taoranting in the snow!
Chen Du, Xiu, Qian Xuantong and Liu Bannong agreed to meet at Taoranting in the snow. The appointment to enjoy the snow at Taoranting is like the mountains and flowing water.

The snow is falling and the red plum blossoms are in full bloom, the sound of piano music is slowly flowing in the water!
The snow is heavy and the piano sounds are loud!
A revolutionary romanticism, the ultimate elegance and beauty!

The three of them drank hot Huadiao wine together, admired the snowflakes and red plum blossoms, and sought a soulmate in the mountains and rivers. What a peaceful and quiet world they had entered from this mortal world!

Later, Cai Yuanpei met him in the snow.

A call is worth more than a thousand words.

At that time, all the Chinese literati came to the same destination and met and gathered together.

He visited the thatched cottage three times, and each time he came out from the snow, walked through the corridor, opened an umbrella, and shook off the snow under the umbrella.

It didn't seem like snow.

But darkness.

When the whole world is dark, maybe there will be light?
The audience raised deep questions.

They know what happened next.

But at this moment, seeing what the characters in the TV series were going through, they didn’t understand.

They don’t understand why someone would wake up in such a deep night.

(End of this chapter)