Full-time actor

Chapter 659 [85] Awakening! The old dean has realized it!
Central Academy of Drama Experimental Theater, backstage.

"Ahhh!"

"Success!"

“So many spectators are cheering!”

“I was basically laughing the whole time!”

Tang Yan held Chen Yu and Liu Yifei's hands and danced backstage, while the others also had relieved smiles on their faces.

From time to time, they heard the sound of the whole audience bursting into laughter, but the play had not yet ended, so they did not dare to be distracted at all.

And now, it's finally time to party.

“A great bunch of kids!”

Chang Li and Liu Tianchi were watching and were also deeply touched, smiling slightly.

Many students have been rehearsing for more than two months just for this graduation drama, and now they are very pleased to see that their hard work has finally paid off.

Although they saw many flaws and shortcomings of the students, as well as awkward performances in the previous drama, overall, the quality of the entire drama was quite high due to Chen Yu's almost extraordinary control of the stage.

The two of them were really scared, and the students disrupted the rhythm and created a dull atmosphere.

Fortunately, all the worries did not come to pass and everything seemed to go so smoothly.

The two of them watched the entire play from beginning to end, and there was nothing that made the audience feel uncomfortable.

This graduation drama is probably one of the most outstanding performances of the Central Academy of Drama over the years.

"Okay, it's not over yet!"

"I still have to defend my graduation thesis, and take graduation photos!"

Liu Tianchi was clapping his hands and reminding them.

The crowd then stopped cheering, but everyone looked very excited, and they were going to go out for a group dinner to celebrate later.

This is what we agreed on before.

"Remove makeup, remove makeup, and start grooming!"

“The only thing left is the thesis!”

"I feel like everyone should have passed the graduation drama!"

A group of people were chatting there, and no one noticed that a thin old man with a lot of energy walked into the backstage, followed by two middle-aged men.

Chang Li was sharp-eyed and recognized it immediately.

Xu Xiaozhong!
"Old Dean, why are you here?"

Chang Li was flattered and hurried forward.

"Let me take a look!"

Xu Xiaozhong smiled.

In previous years, not to mention Xu Xiaozhong, even the secretary and the dean behind him would not come backstage to comfort the students.

After all, it's just a graduation drama, so a school leader would be enough.

Now, not to mention Xu Xiaozhong, Secretary Liu Guofu and Principal Xu Xiang are following behind Xu Xiaozhong.

Chang Li hurriedly greeted the two of them. Chen Yu and the others were obviously surprised to see Xu Xiaozhong and called out to him politely.

All the students at the Central Academy of Drama know this old man.

Not to mention that his photos were sometimes posted in windows and on bulletin boards, and there were also some school-wide meetings, but he actually lived in the faculty and staff dormitory, so he appeared on campus every few days.

Many students have seen him.

"Don't be shy, it's a good performance and very entertaining!"

"It makes me look younger!"

"Ha ha!"

Xu Xiaozhong chatted with a group of students, and especially walked up to Chen Yu: "I finally got to meet the most famous student in our Central Academy of Drama!"

"Hello, old dean!"

Chen Yu greeted him, and Xu Xiaozhong asked softly, "Is this play going to be performed publicly?"

"Well, I have an idea in this regard, but I may not have the time!"

Chen Yu understood what Xu Xiaozhong meant, and Xu Xiaozhong nodded: "Movies, it is indeed a critical period for you to venture into Hollywood now!"

"Hey!"

Xu Xiaozhong sighed and smiled at Chen Yu, "Don't blame me for being nosy. I just wanted to help with drama if I have time. If the drama market can take off, no one will be able to take the credit from you!"

The old man's mind must be on drama, but he also knows that it is unrealistic to ask Chen Yu to give up movies and do drama.

The situation of modern drama is so awkward: young people love to watch it and there is a fixed group, but it is indeed a niche. The market throughout the year may not be as good as Chen Yu’s “Escape Plan”!
There isn't even a plate worth 10 billion.

However, the difference between drama and movies in China is that the profits from drama are greater than those from movies.

The investment cost is also low.

Generally speaking, the box office of a new drama in its first round of performances can reach hundreds of thousands.

In one round, the money from the box office of the drama can make back the investment.

If things go well, the box office can reach hundreds of thousands, and there can even be some profit.

Then, after the first round, there will be a second round. Generally, the second round will be gradually opened to surrounding cities, and then the third round will be nationwide, and so on. After a few rounds, when the audience is somewhat saturated, the performance will begin to cool down.

It will open again after half a year or a year.

A good drama will last forever.

As long as there are people watching, there will be frequent performances all over the country.

Therefore, the life cycle of a drama is very long, and the box office revenue is continuous. Although it may not reach the box office revenue of hundreds of millions or even billions of movies, a good one can also make tens of millions or even hundreds of millions.

If you don't want to make hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars, but just want millions or tens of millions, then a good drama can do that.

No one pays attention to this market, but that doesn’t mean it’s not profitable; on the contrary, the losses from movies are much greater than those from dramas.

Some plays earn tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, but a movie with an investment of hundreds of thousands of dollars is basically impossible to be released in theaters because the actors cannot be paid.

"The Earl of Wulong Mountain" and "Charlotte's Troubles" by Happy Twist in later generations are the only two dramas in the history of drama that have box office exceeded 10 million yuan, and they went through a -year cycle.

The length of this performance is simply unimaginable in the history of film.

Therefore, when many actors cannot get roles in TV dramas or movies, they often choose the path of drama, which can not only hone their acting skills but also earn a break-even income; at least as long as there is drama, they have food to eat.

Xu Xiaozhong’s idea is actually very simple, which is to ensure that the vast majority of students at the Central Academy of Drama can have food to eat after graduation.

If the box office of a drama exceeds 100 million, the revenue can be more than half, which is higher than the share of the film.

Moreover, the actors' pay is cheaper than that of movies. In fact, this is the real actor market... Many actors are paid hundreds of millions for every film, which is the result of market hype and operation.

Earning several hundred yuan a day for a play is the norm for many actors who graduated from the Central Academy of Drama.

Many well-known actors, such as Duan Yihong, Zhang Yi, Wang Baoqiang, etc., will perform in a few plays from time to time, just because of what Xu Xiaozhong just said.

Help!

Help the drama sell box office so that many low-level actors don’t have to go hungry.

They use the celebrity effect to make the drama more popular at the box office. When the investors make money, they will of course share the profits with other actors.

It’s just such a simple cycle.

To put it bluntly, it is moral kidnapping!
Let you come forward so that the lower-level actors can have income.

However, you are at the top of this industry, and you cannot complete a movie by yourself, so this kind of help is actually helping yourself.

Not to mention Chen Yu, any famous actor who performs in a drama can actually understand this point.

"Old Dean, I will definitely help if I need help!"

"If this play is performed publicly, I will take the time to perform 1-2 times every time I come back!"

Chen Yu made the promise, and Xu Xiaozhong certainly knew that this was a bit too much to ask, but when he heard this, he still nodded slightly.

Regardless of whether Chen Yu agreed verbally or otherwise, at least Xu Xiaozhong got the message across.

As for whether it can help the drama market, it depends on Chen Yu's influence.

At present, if we talk about who can single-handedly attract more people to pay attention to drama, in the whole country, only Chen Yu can do it.

Xu Xiaozhong gave a few words of advice and prepared to leave.

Unexpectedly, Chen Yu suddenly said to him: "Old Dean, in fact, although the celebrity effect is useful for dialogue drama, there is another way to expand the influence of drama!"

"any solution?"

Not to mention Xu Xiaozhong, even Dean Xu Xiang and Chang Li were very curious.

The teachers and principals of the Central Academy of Drama are very clear about what the current drama is like.

Everyone is pursuing breakthroughs, even the National Theatre and the People's Art Theatre are launching new drama masterpieces, such as "White Deer Plain", "Rhinoceros in Love", etc.

But when it comes to expanding influence, it is really limited.

Just now, Xu Xiaozhong asked Chen Yu to act in one or two plays, and then seek media publicity. In his opinion, this is the best way to stand out.

Moreover, the market has proven that celebrity participation in dramas is very effective in boosting box office sales.

"Yifei, you guys go to the restaurant first!"

"I'll talk to the old dean and the dean!"

Chen Yu was talking to Liu Yifei and the others, and Xu Xiaozhong was very patient. He really wanted to hear Chen Yu's method. Several people came to the theater's office, and Xu Xiaozhong and Xu Xiang also realized that Chen Yu wanted to discuss something with them.

I guess if the two of them didn't come to the backcourt, Chen Yu would probably come to find them.

Que Shi, originally Chen Yu wanted to find Chang Li and bring a message.

But now that the three giants of the Chinese Academy of Drama are all here, it will be easy. I can just talk about it directly.

It just so happens that drama is also what Chen Yu wants to talk about with them.

It has always been Chen Yu's plan to cooperate with the Central Academy of Drama, and the three people in front of him are undoubtedly the ones with the most say, especially 78-year-old Xu Xiaozhong.

He is definitely the person in charge of the Central Academy of Drama, no doubt about it.

"Deans, Secretary, let me say something unpleasant!"

Chen Yu sat there, and as soon as he spoke, he seemed very impolite: "Even if I don't make movies and specialize in dramas, the market growth is actually limited!"

"How can this be?"

Liu Guofu said unhappily, “If you do a play, many fans who like you will definitely come to support you!”

It was because it was Chen Yu that if any other student said this, Liu Guofu would give him a lecture.

This is a very unprofessional statement.

And it also seemed like he was counterattacking the topic that Xu Xiaozhong had just asked him to help with.

So Xu Xiaozhong didn't say anything, but looked at Chen Yu, waiting for his answer.

"How many people?"

"The number of people who watch dramas now is estimated to be less than 1000 million nationwide, right? The number of moviegoers is more than 3 million!"

"And there are only about 200 million people who regularly watch dramas, and more than 9000 million people who regularly watch movies!"

This is all supported by data. The three leaders in the drama industry actually know this better than Chen Yu.

This is also the reason why Xu Xiaozhong is so anxious to revitalize the drama market.

I was really inspired by the movie!

In the eyes of their older generation, movies are imported products. Although they attach great importance to them, if they have to choose between drama and film as a lifelong career, all three of them will choose the latter without exception.

This is not a question of patriotism or not, but the persistence of this generation of literary and art workers.

This is also the original intention of the Central Academy of Drama to become the top name in the acting department in China.

They love drama more than movies.

Especially Xu Xiaozhong.

"I won't say too much, but it's okay to let a lot of your fans know about the drama, right?"

"If you are the lead actor in a play, it goes without saying that the shows are always sold out, and the media will also report on it, which is a very positive aspect!"

What Xu Xiang said is still conservative.

Chen Yu shook his head and said to the three people, "President, Secretary, I am not arrogant. Although I have the ability to add a lot of new audiences to the drama market, millions are possible, but in my opinion, this is far from growth!"

Liu Guofu, Xu Xiang, Xu Xiaozhong: “???”

This person had an expression of disbelief on his face.

Damn, this isn’t called growth?!

Millions of new viewers, isn’t that growth?

What is this guy talking about? If the drama market really adds millions of new audiences, the entire drama community will be grateful.

"Old Dean, have you ever thought about this? These new users actually want to see me!"

Chen Yu smiled, and it wasn't that he was narcissistic: "After all, it's my work. If it's a different play, these millions of new users, maybe tens of thousands of them, will try to watch someone else's!"

"Others shouldn't watch it, or won't watch it!"

"That is to say, this group of audiences came quickly and left quickly. They came for me, not the show!"

“In the end, the drama market may only add tens of thousands of new audiences!”

"If it's better, it'll be hundreds of thousands!"

Chen Yu was making an estimate, but Xu Xiaozhong nodded. What he said... was actually correct.

Indeed it is.

These new users are not watching the drama, but are actually reading Chen Yu's works.

He acts in plays and watches plays.

If he goes to perform magic, he still has a new group.

To put it nicely, it added millions of viewers, but once Chen Yu left, only one in ten would remain.

This is not an exaggeration. Many dramas use well-known actors. If they replace them with unfamiliar ones, the box office will be... terrible.

Unless the drama is a well-known IP like "Tea House" or "Thunderstorm", then it has the influence of its own work, which is different.

So this is also the reason why the National Theatre and the National People’s Art Theatre remain standing, because they have IP!

"So, the two deans and the secretary, what we need to do is to make the audience fall in love with the drama instead of falling in love with me!"

“Expanding the influence of the work is the most important thing!”

Chen Yu looked at the three people in deep thought and knew that they were persuaded by him.

"How to expand it, if you don't have to be the lead actor?"

Xu Xiaozhong was asking.

"It's simple, get out of the circle!"

"What made this drama popular was not the lead actors, but the solid reputation of the work itself!"

“It’s good that commercial dramas are currently very successful, but that’s not enough. The most influential entertainment industry is still movies!”

The seventh art is not called that for nothing.

"..."

The three of them didn't quite understand.

Because Chen Yu's words were indeed too advanced.

Up to now, few people can think of this track.

"Adapt the play into a movie!"

Chen Yu said word by word: "Commercial dramas are very successful, but they can actually be even more successful if they are adapted into commercial movies, so that more people who like to watch movies can go to the theater!"

"The two actually have something in common. Audiences who like watching movies should also like watching dramas!"

"If more plays are adapted into movies, then more people will watch plays...of course!"

The market will also get bigger.

Many drama directors in later generations did just that.

It's not just Happy Twist. Many drama directors who graduated from the drama directing department of the Central Academy of Drama have brought dramas to the big screen.

The most famous one is "Nobody"!
The drama was popular, and the movie adaptation became even more popular.

Shocking and enlightening!

Chen Yu's words stunned Xu Xiaozhong and the other two, and also opened their eyes.

The three of them obviously had not thought about bringing the play to the big screen.

For works like "Teahouse" and "Thunderstorm", there is no need for that because the fame is already there.

And in fact, there are movies about both of these, but they are so old that no one has ever thought about it in this regard.

However, many new plays dare not be adapted into movies. Not only is the investment cost too high, but what if there is a loss?
So no one dared to try.

Seeing the three people in a daze and lost in thought, Chen Yu continued: "Old Dean, Secretary, Dean Xu, I will participate in the drama, there is definitely no problem!"

“But actually, what I want to do more is to invest in drama!”

"We adapted the plays into commercial movies, and the movies were successful and had box office success. With the influence of the movies, the audience for the plays... naturally increased!"

It is better to teach people to fish than to teach them how to fish!
This is what we call growth. It is not as simple as a few million, but about turning the drama market into a blue ocean as big as the film market.

In Chen Yu's opinion, there is no conflict.

"Hahaha!"

Xu Xiaozhong was the first to laugh, and looked at Chen Yu with complicated eyes: "Young people are young people, their ideas are different from those of us old stubborn people!"

“Dare to think, dare to do!”

“We are really old!”

He glanced at Liu Guofu and Xu Xiang beside him, and they both shook their heads.

In fact, they were also thinking about Chen Yu's plan.

There are risks, but it's worth a try.

And if it succeeds, it will definitely be a new breakthrough in Chinese drama.

Not to mention the entire Central Academy of Drama, all students studying acting will have an additional way to make a living!
This is what we call reform, this is real market growth.

Letting Chen Yu star in the film is actually more of a way of forcing things to grow faster...

(End of this chapter)