Huayu: Director started with art films

Chapter 322 333 [First TV Drama License, First Private Film and Television Company]

Sister Xuan, whose real name is Zhao Xuan.

He is a supervisor who was poached by Yongmei from Yanjing People's Art Theater to manage the actors of the theater. Now he is the general manager of Wen Yi Shidai Agency and also the general agent of all the artists of the company.

Currently, not many people in the mainland are familiar with the profession of agent. Yongmei has been to the branch in Hong Kong and knows what an agent is. To put it bluntly, he is the person in charge of the external business of the actor and must have certain interpersonal skills.

Zhao Xuan actually doesn't quite meet the requirements of an agent, but although she has never been an agent, she has long-term experience in managing actors.

You can take your time with commercial performances and the like, but management talent is rare. Zhao Xuan has worked in the People's Art Theatre for many years. Not only is she experienced, but most importantly, she has extensive connections and knows many directors from film studios.

If there are any movies in the future that need actors, we can use Zhao Xuan’s connections to arrange for the company’s actors to interview and participate.

There is another thing that Yongmei thought about herself, that is, Zhao Xuan's family background is not ordinary. To be able to work in the People's Art Theatre and serve as a small leader, she must have some ability.

Not to mention that the actors in the National Theatre of China are all top students from major performing arts schools. He Bing, Feng Yuanzheng and others are currently working in the National Theatre of China.

All the above are the reasons why Yongmei chose Zhao Xuan as the general manager and general agent of Wen Yi Shi Dai.

Xu Jinglei is a thoughtful and studious person. She gets along very well with Zhao Xuan in the company. She knows very well that the company intends to expand the scale of its artists, but those already famous actors are either in film studios or have their own independent studios, so she has set her sights on several major colleges and universities in Yanjing.

Central Academy of Drama and Beijing Film Academy.

Zhao Xuan had her own connections at the Central Academy of Drama to look for people, and she also wanted to cast a wide net at the Beijing Film Academy. She talked to Xu Jinglei, an artist who was still studying at the Beijing Film Academy, and asked her to help find out if there were any suitable talents to invite.

Jiang Qinqin nodded and agreed without saying anything: "Sure, isn't our company now expanding the scale of recruiting artists? If you have a suitable candidate, please recommend it to Sister Xuan."

"Okay then. I'll tell Sister Xuan later."

Xu Jinglei smiled. Actually, she could just talk to Zhao Xuan about this in private. But Jiang Qinqin was of special status. She was the goddaughter of the mother of her boss.

Jia Jingwen blinked her eyes and said, "Jinglei, you are not talking about Jin Qiaoqiao, the freshman who has been the talk of the town since she entered college, right?"

"Yes, it's her, and also Chen Shasha (Chen Zihan)." Xu Jinglei nodded.

When Jin Qiaoqiao and Chen Shasha first entered school, they caused a sensation among the male sophomores and juniors, just because they were both very beautiful.

The last time was when Jiang Qinqin entered school. She and several other girls in the same class were nicknamed the Five Golden Flowers by their classmates.

At that time, Jiang Qinqin was extremely popular. She was in her prime and very beautiful. She received love letters almost every few days. However, after her relationship with the famous director Li Yishu was exposed, few people dared to send her love letters anymore.

Who dares to be the godsister of a big director?

Jiang Qinqin tilted her head: "I've heard of them both. They seem very beautiful?"

"It's quite beautiful. I even passed by the freshman classroom and took a look..."

Xu Jinglei's eyes rolled and she immediately smiled: "But of course she's not as pretty as you, Qinqin. Everyone knows that you are the most beautiful girl in our Beijing Film Academy."

Hearing this, Jiang Qinqin's lips curled up.

She was not very old to begin with, and had been spoiled by Li Yishu in recent years, so she naturally acted like a little princess. She was very pleased to hear Xu Jinglei's words.

Jiang Qinqin was very happy and said, "Let's not talk about the two of them. Just tell Sister Xuan later. By the way, ask Sister Xuan to go to the Central Academy of Drama as well."

Xu Jinglei said, "It seems that Sister Xuan has already arranged someone to go to the Central Academy of Drama. I heard that there is a new student named Tao Hong who is very good. She also starred in Jiang Wen's "Sunny Days" before."

"Humph!"

Jiang Qinqin snorted coldly. She knew very well that Li Yishu and Jiang Wen didn't get along.

After the closing of the Venice International Film Festival more than two months ago, the list of winners was naturally announced. Among them, Lee Yi-seok won the Silver Lion Award, which was certainly worth celebrating, but it was actually not too much of a surprise.

He is already a triple-A Grand Slam director, and has won the Cannes Best Director award. Now he has an additional Silver Lion award. At best, it is just an extra honor, and it will not be as sensational as when he won the triple A award before.

But Jiang Wen is different. He is an actor himself. Not only was his first film as a director nominated for the Venice Film Festival, but he also produced an 18-year-old actor who won the Best Actor Award. This actor has never had any experience in studying acting, let alone being a student of any college.

At this point Jiang Wen became an overnight sensation.

It is not without precedent for actors to make the leap from being actors to being directors, but it is rare for someone to be successful with their first film like Jiang Wen.

This also led to students on the Beijing Film Academy campus often discussing Jiang Wen, but rarely discussing Li Yishu.

This made Jiang Qinqin, who had always been proud of Li Yishu, very dissatisfied with Jiang Wen.

That's what a girl's mind is like.

Xu Jinglei is much more mature than Jiang Qinqin, and she is more thoughtful. Seeing her like this, how could she not know why the other party is so angry.

She immediately smiled and said, "Let's not talk about this, Qinqin. I heard that Teacher Yu is not here today. She went to attend an interview with the crew. Is it the movie that Director Li promised to make for Teacher Yu?"

"Yes."

Jiang Qinqin nodded and said, "Brother Yishu came back this time to prepare for the crew, but from what he said, it seems that the crew will not officially start filming until January next year, and he himself has to go to Japan to shoot a movie next."

"I really envy Director Li for being able to travel abroad so often."

Going abroad is a good thing these days. Not to mention students like Xu Jinglei, even adults are envious, not to mention that Li Yishu often goes abroad.

Xu Jinglei said eagerly: "Qinqin, if I become a director, can I often go abroad to make movies?"

Jiang Qinqin smiled and said, "I don't know about that, but if you want to be a director, the chances should be higher, right?"

Hearing this, Xu Jinglei's eyes flickered and she seemed a little moved.

"Being a director is too tiring. When I saw Director Chen on the set, he was always gloomy. It's better to be an actor."

Jia Jingwen shook her head. When she was on the crew of "Legend of the Han Palace" this summer, she felt the distress of being a director. Director Chen Jialin had to get up early in the morning to arrange the work of the crew and discuss the play with the actors. It was so tiring.

It’s different for actors. As long as they play their essential roles well, that’s it.

The next day passed in a flash.

Beijing Film Academy was on holiday and the students rushed out of the campus.

We are all college students now, and our study and life are naturally different from those in high school. During the holidays, those who should go out to date should date, and those who should go out to play should play.

Early in the morning, Li Yishu drove to the gate of Beijing Film Academy, ready to pick up Jiang Qinqin to take her to the company for a stroll, and then to Wangfujing for a stroll.

There are a lot of things to do this year, but next year I will be able to relax a lot, and I just need to finish filming "Red Cliff of the Three Kingdoms". After Jiang Qinqin, Jia Jingwen and Xu Jinglei came out, they caught a glimpse of Li Yishu's tiger-headed run at the door.

Jiang Qinqin came running over, jumping and skipping: "Brother Yishu!"

"Boss X2," Jia Jingwen and Xu Jinglei said hurriedly.

"Well, let's all get in the car."

Li Yishu smiled and waved her hand to signal them to get in the car. "I'm going to the company first, and then I'll go shopping in Wangfujing with you at noon."

"Ok."

The three of them got into the car obediently.

Li Yishu chatted with a few people while driving.

As we were chatting, we mentioned the recently popular movie "The Fugitive".

Students of Beijing Film Academy are now discussing this movie. Some of them with good family backgrounds have obtained movie tickets early on through their connections and are showing off in school.

Li Yishu did not find it strange. Ordinary audiences were full of expectations for this movie, not to mention the Beijing Film Academy which was only a step away from the entertainment industry.

If nothing unexpected happens, a large number of these students will enter the film and television industry in the future.

Li Yishu said, "If you want to watch it, I'll talk to Manager Yong later and ask her to get some tickets for you."

Jiang Qinqin was a little tempted, but when she thought of the ticket price, she hesitated and said, "Brother Yishu, I heard that the movie ticket for this movie is very expensive. Why don't we just forget it?"

"Haha, it's okay. The company has cooperation with some movie theaters. Some tickets are nothing."

Li Yishu smiled.

The Art Entertainment Group has very good relations with major film studios and state-owned cinema chains. Not to mention VCD discs, just the movies shot by Li Yishu in recent years were almost all released through state-owned cinema chains, so some movie tickets are nothing.

Hearing this, Jiang Qinqin didn't say anything. Instead, she smiled and talked about some recent things at school.

Jia Jingwen and Xu Jinglei were very envious. Although they had met Li Yishu many times because of Jiang Qinqin, as Li Yishu's status and position became higher and higher, and he even became their boss, the two of them were naturally cautious, for fear of angering each other.

Li Yishu glanced at the rearview mirror and saw the two people staring at each other in the back, so he took the initiative to say, "Jingwen, Qinqin said that your father's health has improved a lot?"

"Yes, Director Li. My father called me and told me that his health has improved a lot and asked me to thank you very much."

"Haha, there's no need to thank me. Just work hard after graduation, and that will be the greatest thanks to me."

"Yes, Director Li, don't worry, I will work hard after graduation!"

After that, Li Yishu chatted with Xu Jinglei for a few more words.

This girl is quite thoughtful. If she wants to become a talented woman in Beijing in the future, it is not only because of her brains, but most importantly, she must be able to speak.

Yesterday he specially met with Zhao Xuan, the new general manager of Wen Yi Shi Dai, and talked about some of the artists currently signed with the company, including their future plans and so on.

During this period, Zhao Xuan mentioned Xu Jinglei many times, thinking that this girl's acting skills were so-so, but she was smart. If she didn't concentrate on her acting career in the future, she could become a company's agent or manager.

Li Yishu agrees with this point. The reason why Xu Jinglei can become one of the four major actresses in the future, as famous as Yan Zi, Zhang Ziyi and Zhou Xun, is because of her high emotional intelligence and the creation of her personality.

Arrived at the company.

Li Yishu let the girls go and have fun on their own. After all, they came to the company often and there was no need to arrange for anyone to accompany them.

He went straight to the conference room and started attending this morning's meeting.

The content of the meeting was mainly about the "Notice on Strengthening and Improving the Management of the Book, Newspaper, Film, Television and Audiovisual Market" issued yesterday, November 11, and the "Order No. 7 issued by the Ministry of Radio, Film and Television."

The former involves publications and the newly released VCD disc market, which is closely related to the Art Entertainment Group. Not to mention publications for now, VCD discs are currently one of the company's main sources of profit in the mainland.

Thanks to Li Yishu's shares in Pioneer Electric, the company is able to get the most favorable prices for optical discs, and thus sell VCD peripherals such as the movies produced by the company over the years, the acquired copyrights, and some licensed overseas movies.

Regarding the notice on the management of books, newspapers, magazines, films, television and audio-visual products, everyone just had a brief discussion. After all, it was not their company's turn to strengthen and improve. The Art and Entertainment Group would not cross the red line and sell some third-level film discs from Hong Kong or overseas.

The following "Order No. 16 issued by the Ministry of Radio, Film and Television" is the top priority of discussion at this meeting.

Article 5 of the decree states: "In principle, individuals and private enterprises shall not set up film and television production and operation organizations."

On the surface, it appears to be a lack of support for private film and television.

But those who understand will understand that "in principle not allowed" means yes, and "in principle allowed" means no.

It's like when someone asks you to do something for them, and you just do it out of convenience, and there are no rules or restrictions. At this time, you can't agree to it right away, so you have to be a little cautious.

This is not allowed in principle, but...

There is a lot of blah blah blah going on, but in a nutshell, I put a lot of effort into this matter.

This is roughly what Order No. 16 means.

The Art Entertainment Group (Yanjing) branch is essentially a Hong Kong enterprise. Initially, Li Yishu asked the Hong Kong Art Film Company to set up an office in Yanjing. Later, the company expanded and became a group, and this place became a branch.

Li Yishu has a very good relationship with CCTV. Not only did she give CCTV a "highest bid" idea, which made CCTV earn a lot of money in advertising in the past two years, but the overseas copyright of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" alone earned CCTV a huge amount of foreign exchange.

The broadcasting rights for "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" in Japan were sold for nearly 3000 million US dollars, and subsequent product licensing also includes broadcasting rights in South Korea and Southeast Asia.

This was all done with the help of Li Yishu.

Therefore, when producing a TV series, it is completely acceptable to produce it under the name of a joint venture with CCTV.

But now the situation is different. A document has been issued from above, and what Li Yishu came to discuss with Yongmei and other senior executives this time is how to apply for a TV drama production license.

More than an hour later.

The meeting discussed and concluded that a truly mainland private film and television company would be re-established in the mainland, and then apply for a license from above!
Strive to obtain the first TV drama license in the country.

The success rate is still very high. After all, in China, people like to conduct a pilot project first for all matters, big or small.

Li Yishu is famous and capable, and his company has experience in independently producing TV dramas. Who else should we give this pilot opportunity to if not him?
(End of this chapter)