Actor: Thank you.

Chapter 903 Negotiation collapse
There is an old Chinese saying that goes, "If the father is a hero, the son will be a hero too."

In reality, the father is in the Tobacco Bureau, the son is in the Tobacco Bureau, the grandson is in the Tobacco Bureau...

The main focus is on passing down the generations.

This is roughly what Wang Yuan meant.

His father is the vice president of Shanghai Film Group.

He is not only a colleague of Ren Zhonglun, the president of Shanghai Film Group, but also a classmate of Ren Zhonglun. He is also a senior official of the Shanghai Writers Association and the Shanghai Federation of Literary and Art Circles.

But they are not of the same generation.

His grandfather was the former director of Shanghai Film Studio.

His seniority was so great that even when Xie Jin saw his grandfather, he had to call him teacher.

"The True Story of Ah Q", "Thunderstorm" and "The Garland under the Mountain" are all works directed by this old man.

In the days when ticket prices were measured in "maos", less than one yuan, China Film produced a total of five movies that grossed over 5 million yuan.

Except for "Shaolin Temple", the remaining four are all from Shanghai Film Studio!
When it comes to making money, the Imperial Capital really can't beat the Magic City.

Moreover, these dramas were all produced by Mr. Xu.

Mr. Wang, the current vice president of Shanghai Film Group, is actually a bit like a live-in son-in-law... Anyway, he married the daughter of this top veteran in the Chinese film and television industry, an old man known as one of the "Four Commanders" of the film studio, which led to the current wealth that has been passed down from generation to generation.

Now we come to the third generation. Wang Yuan and Wei Zheng are classmates majoring in Film and Television at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

The two worked together in school, with Wei Zheng directing and Wang Yuan writing the screenplay, and they produced several student films and short films.

The two have continued to collaborate in this manner ever since.

As for "Love Apartment", this is the "famous work" of the two.

Zhang Yuan rarely uses the word "mixed" to describe a film or TV work.

But "Love Apartment" is quite suitable for this word.

On the bright side, since the emergence of "Wulin Waijia", it is considered that the spring of Chinese sitcoms has arrived.

But I didn’t expect that it would be the beginning of autumn before summer even begins.

The theme of sitcoms was jointly reported by a group of "interested people" and was explicitly kicked out of the prime time of all TV stations.

This is a devastating disaster for this industry.

Your kind of low-cost, high-return work makes it very difficult for those of us who specialize in making big money movies to look bad.

Just like later generations' Lady Lu publicly scolded "Catching Dolls" as a low-IQ, highly alkaline comedy, and said it was a tragedy that such a film could dominate the Chinese film market.

Then why don't you come up with some decent blockbusters.

The result was a big one like "Game 749".

There are really excellent blockbusters, but the screening schedule of "The Wandering Earth 2" has been squeezed out by Zhang Yimou.

When it comes down to it, some people are incapable of doing things themselves and they don't allow others to do things.

When investors see that they can achieve big things with little money, they no longer pay attention to those people who just hang out in the circle.

His eyes turned bloodshot, his neck was stiff, and he cursed in a hoarse voice.

Anyway, after the hit "Wulin Waijia", it has been difficult for sitcoms broadcast on TV to make any progress.

Until the emergence of "Love Apartment".

It is not only necessary to know the fact, but also the reason behind it.

"Love Apartment" became popular because the show captured the preferences of young people, which was also an early Internet meme.

This film happened to be released at the time when video websites were rising.

After the broadcast, a large number of sliced ​​or "pirated" videos were circulated on the Internet, expanding its influence and spreading rapidly among young audiences, especially young people who dislike the old-fashioned TV stations and traditional TV dramas.

It can be said that this drama took advantage of the rise of early video websites and had a certain environment to become so popular.

The four words "Love Apartment" were not originally coined by Wang Yuan and Wei Zheng.

This name belongs to an SNS community founded in 03.

It was founded by two people from Taiwan.

The interesting thing about this community website is that it invites "residents" to enter, that is, to register, in the form of a virtual apartment.

And make friends in "Love Apartment".

Later on, they would invite brands and artists to advertise in "Love Apartment", promote their songs, and hold events.

It is a bit like the later "Kaixin.com" and "Renren.com", but slightly different.

Compared to these two, "Love Apartment" is more inclined towards single women and has a tendency towards friendship between the two sexes.

Similar to the early "Momo".

In short, after this website found an operating model that makes profits through trading virtual items and advertising, it has been thinking about how to expand its influence.

Therefore, the creation of the TV series "Love Apartment" is actually to attract fans and new users to the website of the same name.

I don’t know how this website came up with such a tricky angle.

But this job was copied by two more "cunning" people.

They are Wang Yuan and Wei Zheng.

Criticism and reputation are all caused by these two.

First of all, the effect of this film far exceeded the website's expectations, causing a surge in the number of website registrations in a short period of time.

Then...the film was so popular that it far exceeded the website.

As a result, many later viewers had no idea that such an ancient website existed.

It is quite difficult to make a sitcom that was originally a purely commercial nature so popular.

So, what's the cost?
Or, how they did it.

It’s very simple, just one word, copy!
Most of the articles in the world are plagiarized.

The protagonist structure is copied from "Friends".

The movie scene is copied from "How I Met Your Mother".

In addition to various Internet memes, the story also plagiarizes contemporary overseas classics such as "Community", "The War at Home", and "The Big Bang Theory".

The line between homage and plagiarism is very blurred.

Anyway, in its early days, "Love Apartment" took advantage of both the advantages of online dissemination and the fact that there were no genuine American drama resources in China.

Not many people can detect that they plagiarize.

Of course, the crew can also say that they are paying tribute to those classic works and making localized adaptations.

As for whether it is plagiarism or not.

Anyway, Wang Yuan’s two generations ago were all top bosses in the Shanghai film and television industry, and no one could do anything to him.

Regardless of whether it is praised or criticized, two things are certain.

First of all, this drama is very profitable!
Secondly, this drama made a group of young actors famous, and most of them continued to be the mainstays of the Chinese entertainment industry for more than a decade.

This drama has also become a fond memory for a generation.

So, logically speaking, anyone has the right to say that this play is bad, plagiarized, or rotten.

But the artists who became famous because of this drama are not qualified to say so.

Wang Chuanjun and Jin Shijia, who look down on their past, are somewhat like literary youths with low emotional intelligence and are ungrateful.

You can express emotion, recall the good and bad times, and reflect on your own immaturity, but you cannot express disdain for the works you have performed in words or deeds.

If you are an aspiring artist who only takes on works with depth, then why did you take on this play?
It's inconsistent and self-contradictory.

You can’t pick up the bowl to eat and then put it down to curse.

Even though Fan Bingbing had a falling out with Qiong Yao, she never said anything bad about "My Fair Princess" or the role of Jinsuo.

Sun Honglei also wants to transform, but when people say that he is "good at playing gangsters", he will agree with a smile.

For Zhang Yuan, he doesn't care what the actors are like as long as they are not his own artists and do not harm his interests.

As long as the play can make money and meets his strategic goals.

This play has not started filming yet and has not yet been born.

So Mr. Wang would never have thought that Zhang Yuan ignored him as the boss and actually set his sights on his son.

Of course, it is also important to have a good relationship with the Shanghai Film Group.

Cinema organizations such as United Cinemas and Shanghai Film Cinemas are all affiliated parties of Shanghai Film.

It is very important to maintain good relationships so that your works can gain scheduling advantages.

Of course, if you want to get these, you can't get them for free.

Mr. Wang has obviously inherited his father-in-law's style of "doing business as business".

Didn't say it easily.

Zhang Yuan understood that only tangible benefits could make people interested.

"Boss Wang, the film and television drama market is changing very quickly now."

"The radio and television authorities have just issued a series of measures to restrict online video platforms."

“I believe that the introduction of regulations on copyright for online works will not be far away.”

"In my understanding, if the state wants to step in to manage an industry, there are only two outcomes."

"One is that the industry is going to die, the other is that the industry is going to take off."

"I think that the online video platform industry is like a rising sun. With such rapid development overseas, the country will not let domestic practitioners die."

"Then, the only possibility is takeoff."

“And I just happened to have some connections with the video platform.”

"I have always wanted to create a film and television drama project that will be launched simultaneously on the Internet and TV stations. This should also be the first one."

"This kind of thing is risky, and those old-school directors may not be able to accept it."

"But I have seen your son's past works, and they are very imaginative."

"If there is an opportunity, we can create this 'first' together."

Only when he heard the word "first" did the vice president become interested.

He had no doubt about the fact that Zhang Yuan had connections with the video website, as he knew about his relationship with Tudou.

President Wang raised his index finger and waved it: "Good idea."

“You young people understand the Internet better.”

Mr. Wang is not young anymore, a few years older than Mr. Han.

How long can he stay in this position?

We have to consider our children and grandchildren.

Zhang Yuan's proposal did involve areas that were beyond his capabilities and unfamiliar to him.

This sincerity is quite interesting.

To be able to give his son the title of "first".

You can also connect with the video platform, so you can make money no matter how you look at it.

"So, do you have time tomorrow?"

"If you have time, I have it."

"Well, I'm old and don't understand things about the Internet, so you young people should talk about it face to face." "Okay, I'll toast you first."

The other person also raised his glass, and they both smiled and took a sip.

The voice was not loud.

There is no need to cry out loud about this kind of thing.

Therefore, the other guests nearby, especially those from the Magic City TV Station, saw Zhang Yuan chatting with Mr. Wang from the Shanghai Film Studio for a while, and then the other party clinked glasses with him with great joy.

And it’s still a mouthful!

A glass of white wine went down like this.

When drinking with people like us, they would just take a sip at most.

How come this guy was able to take care of the old man as soon as he went up?
"Beijing Film Academy, Shanghai Film Academy, plus the one in Hong Kong." After the banquet, Zhang Yuan counted on his fingers while sitting in the car on the way back to the hotel to rest.

"Among the three major box office hubs, only Guangdong Province has yet to be dealt with."

"We need to find an opportunity to contact local forces."

"You have to worship each mountain top one by one."

"Jiang Zhiqiang, Yang Shouchen and their sphere of influence are mostly in Hong Kong."

"There are connections in Guangdong Province, but not as many as some local 'gangs'."

"And you can't rely on others to get things done. You have to build relationships yourself."

"Otherwise, if we fall out someday... although the probability is small, there is a chance that someone will strangle us."

It is a tradition of the Chinese people to be prepared for danger in times of peace, and when calculating their own combat power, they must prepare as if they were taking on the entire world.

Don't think about relying on others at critical moments, and don't put your destiny in the hands of others.

The next day, he met with Wang Yuan in person.

The other party originally got the job from the Internet, and when he heard his father say that someone wanted to cooperate with a video website to make a film, of course he was interested.

I heard that he is a shareholder of Tudou.com, which makes me even more excited.

This sounds credible.

As soon as we talked, he said he had a project on hand, a sitcom...

Although Zhang Yuan knew roughly what he said, he still listened to him for a long time out of courtesy.

"I am interested in sitcoms."

“I also participated in the investment of “Wulin Wai Zhuan”.”

"There is such a thing?" Wang Yuan felt it was more credible when he heard this.

But he didn't expect that Zhang Yuan, a familiar face who always appeared on the screen as an actor, actually controlled so many resources and power behind him.

But from the fact that he can get along well with his father, you can tell that he is not an ordinary person.

"The current situation is that a website has invested money to let you shoot a movie, right?" Zhang Yuan asked.

"indeed."

"Is that enough money?"

"Hahaha...of course the higher the budget, the better." Wang Yuan chuckled and replied, "People working in the Internet industry are not very generous."

"Hahaha." This time it was Zhang Yuan's turn to laugh.

"It's okay, I'll help you solve it."

Zhang Yuan remembered that there was actually not enough money for this film, and in the end he used his father's connections to get an investment from Shanghai Film Group.

But in the end, it was not broadcast on Shanghai TV.

In Shanghai, people are too concerned about efficiency. If you are not actively accepting favors, you will be sidelined.

"I am very efficient in my work. If you don't have much to do next, then come with me to meet Wang Wei, the president of Tudou."

"That's great!" he replied excitedly.

Seeing his performance, Zhang Yuan thought that he was far inferior to his father in cunning.

No wonder your father is a big shot in the system, but you didn’t get into this business.

Met Wang Wei at a western restaurant on the Bund.

This place was booked by the other party and it’s quite grand.

The four of them chatted while eating.

Why four people?

Because Wang Wei also brought his new love, the ballet queen.

He is tall and thin, but has an average appearance.

Moreover, Zhang Yuan doesn't like "Pork Ribs" and has no feelings for her.

But you're so ostentatious right after your divorce... Tsk.

"I just met Yang Lei at a dinner party a few days ago." After chatting for a while, Zhang Yuan wiped his mouth with a napkin and said.

Ding dong!

After Wang Wei glanced at the woman next to him, he threw his knife and fork onto the plate, making a discordant sound.

Wang Yuan who was standing next to Zhang Yuan thought to himself, are all you actors stupid?

Why are you bringing up something that is not relevant?
It's not appropriate to mention your old love in front of your new love.

Regardless of whether it is appropriate or not, Wang Wei should not lose his temper with shareholders just to show off in front of his new love.

immature.

"It seems like you two are having a bad argument." But Zhang Yuan did not stop talking just because he threw his knife and fork. Instead, he was not affected and continued to ask calmly.

Snapped!
Wang Wei also interrupted and then threw the tablecloth onto the table.

The woman next to him gave him a look and patted his wrist. Only then did he calm down a little and raised his glass of red wine.

"It's been a while since we last met. Let's have a good time and not bring up anything that will spoil the fun."

"Okay." Zhang Yuan also raised his glass and took a sip.

"In that case, let's talk business."

"This Mr. Wang has just been introduced. He is a new and cutting-edge director."

"He's got a sitcom project on his hands right now."

“My idea is to make it a work that can be broadcast online and offline at the same time.”

“This will also increase the popularity of potatoes.”

"And Tudou can also own its own TV series, instead of spending money to buy the copyright of others or waiting for the author to upload pirated copies."

"Sitcom?" Wang Wei frowned, obviously in a bad mood because of what Zhang Yuan just said.

"If the purpose is to attract traffic, Hollywood blockbusters are more attractive."

Wang Wei is a technically minded intellectual.

This can be seen from his second venture, Light Chaser Animation, and the works it produced.

He prefers projects with high technical content.

And sitcoms are obviously the TV dramas with the lowest "technical content".

One scene can be performed by several people.

He wasn't interested.

But you can't say this in front of Wang Yuan.

I feel a little bit dizzy... Zhang Yuan's expression remains unchanged.

"The investment amount is not high, only a few million. It depends on whether you are interested."

"A few million is not a small amount of money. Now that the potatoes are being prepared for listing, funds are still very tight."

"And isn't this an advertisement for that SNS website?"

"Logically speaking, if this drama is broadcast on Tudou, not only should I not pay for it, but they should also pay me for the advertising."

"It's our platform that's promoting him."

Wang Yuan was stunned after hearing this.

Can you still understand it this way?

Asking others to give you change?
"That's true." Zhang Yuan shrugged.

Wang Yuan: You are even more amazing than him!

Aren’t you here to match the project?

How come I was being tricked by the other party while talking?

You have no negotiation skills!
Before talking about serious matters, first use personal matters to tease the other party.

Can we still talk about serious matters?
"Anyway, I just mentioned it to see if you are interested." Zhang Yuan said casually.

"I don't have the plan or funds for the time being." Wang Wei replied bluntly.

Having said that, the meal was quickly finished.

On the way back, Wang Yuan was frowning.

It sounds good, but it went wrong once it was done!

I was looking forward to it, but it turns out that your words as a small shareholder are of no use.

The president didn't respond and didn't give me much face.

"Sometimes, sometimes, I believe that everything has an end..."

He was feeling worried, but he heard Zhang Yuan beside him not only did not look depressed at all, but was humming a song with great interest.

Why are you in such a good mood?

Zhang Yuan was in a good mood because things did not go beyond his expectations.

How could he not know how to talk about things?

But he knew Wang Wei's character, so he deliberately talked about some unhappy topics first.

From the very beginning, he never thought that Wang Wei would be interested in this project.

But as a shareholder of Tudou, we must contact the other party first.

Well, you refused.

"What do we do now?"

"Is this deal over?" Wang Yuan couldn't hold it in any longer and asked.

You really didn't inherit your father, Mr. Wang's cunning. Look how anxious and angry you are.

Zhang Yuan spoke in an unusually calm manner.

"Have you ever heard this saying?"

"If you don't want me here, there are other places that will."

"If Tudou doesn't want me, I'll invest in Youku!"

(End of this chapter)