Huayu: As a child star, I just want to be famous

Chapter 595 Connection (Part 1)

After the third year of junior high school, the couple became busy again.

It's not that there are any other activities related to the film; with the box office results basically set, we can simply hand it over to others.

Today's focus is on visiting the elders and offering New Year's greetings.

In the past, the time was always scheduled before the New Year, but this year, due to the delay caused by the TV series "The Legend of Zhaolie of the Southern Song Dynasty", it was changed to the New Year.

Nowadays, there are only a handful of people whom Chen Linfeng regards as elders and is close enough to make him want to visit them during the Lunar New Year.

Qian Yanqiu definitely qualifies as one of them.

This person has now risen to prominence, serving as Chen Linfeng's nominal and de facto teacher. The higher the student's achievements, the higher the teacher's perceived level.

Old Qian is indeed very accomplished in screenwriting, which has led to his rising status in the industry.

Before Chen Linfeng arrived, there were several screenwriters in the industry present, and they were discussing this matter.

During the Chinese New Year, chatting is an essential activity, but Qian Yanqiu, as the main character, became the one being praised.

"Oh, Xiao Chen's here. Let me introduce you..."

Actually, he knew most of the people present.

Chen Linfeng had heard of Jiang Qitao and Jiang Wei before.

Jiang Qitao has collaborated with several directors, including Zhang Li and Hu Mei, on major historical dramas such as "Emperor Wu of Han" and "The Road to Awakening".

Oh, by the way, this person also participated in the screenwriting of "Bright Sword," and can be said to be the savior of the original work.

Whether it's the director or the actors like Chen Baoguo and Shu Chang, they can all be associated with Chen Linfeng.

Jiang Wei is another example; his high-quality scripts, such as "Don't Talk to Strangers" and "Lurking," are among the best in the industry.

Moreover, both of these dramas were produced by Chen's father's Longlin Company.

Therefore, although they hadn't met much before, Chen Linfeng was still familiar with the person.

That's how the entertainment industry is; it's not that big in essence, and you can easily get involved by going around in circles.

Chen Linfeng was rather puzzled as to how Lao Qian had gotten along with them, as he always felt they weren't from the same circle.

Apart from these two, the others were a bit younger, and they all seemed quite excited when Qian Yanqiu introduced them.

One of them even claimed that he entered this industry after studying Chen Linfeng's scripts.

This made him a little nervous.

Only after Jiang Qitao explained further did I realize that this was his apprentice, whom he had brought along to broaden his horizons.

The entertainment industry still operates in a workshop-like manner, and this kind of mentor-apprentice relationship is quite common.

Aren't he and Qian Yanqiu the same type?

It's just that, as an apprentice, he was a little faster at starting the attack.

Chen Linfeng nodded knowingly.

Among the group of non-big shots, there was one he knew well.

Of course, it was someone I knew well from my previous life, Wang Hailin.

His screenwriting is so-so; he's participated in a few decent films, but he hasn't had many well-known works as the director.

"Meteor Shower" is quite famous, but from the perspective of the screenwriting industry, it's a story that's hard to describe.

His success in later generations was not due to his screenwriting skills, but rather because he became famous for his sharp tongue, essentially profiting from criticizing popular celebrities.

But it's only the beginning of 2014, and this year is the first year of traffic stars.

It will take several more years before audiences get tired of the traffic-driven content.

With the track still under construction, Wang Hailin can only stand there like an ant.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, everyone took their seats.

Chen Linfeng then asked Lao Qian how he had managed to network with so many people.

"Hey, our company values ​​screenwriters the most, and we've asked them for help a lot. Over time, we all got to know each other," Qian Yanqiu explained.

Longlin not only has on-staff screenwriters, but also maintains good relationships with most of its unpaid screenwriters, and frequently collaborates with them.

Chen Linfeng looked enlightened.

"That's right. In recent years, screenwriters have been having a tough time, but thanks to Long Lin, the industry is starting to pay attention to them again."

Jiang Qitao looked quite emotional.

Although he is a big name in the industry and his status is certainly not low, the screenwriting industry itself is not very robust, so even if you are at the top, the situation is not much better.

Jiang Wei nodded repeatedly.

They all entered the industry in the last century and experienced an era when intellectuals and screenwriters were respected.

Compared to today, one can't help but sigh.

When Chen Linfeng arrived, they were discussing the status of screenwriters.

This has become a daily topic among screenwriters, and the discussion even touched on Liu Heping's affairs.

This person can be considered one of the most outstanding screenwriters in China. Even though screenwriter Xiao Chen is at the height of his career, he is definitely one of the top screenwriters in the industry.

However, after "Da Ming Dynasty", he lost a lot of influence in the production team simply because it did not achieve great success.

This shows that even the most outstanding screenwriters, without the support of other identities, have only so-so real status.

In this era where everything revolves around money.

When this topic came up, everyone had a lot of grievances to share and criticized the current chaos in the industry.

Typical examples include adding extra roles or unnecessary scenes.

Chen Linfeng noticed that Wang Hailin also angrily cursed the coal boss as an idiot and disrespectful to the screenwriter.

Seeing that Director Chen was paying attention, he became even more excited and put in his best effort to perform.

Chen Linfeng's expression was somewhat strange. "You didn't say that in my previous life."

That makes sense; when internet capital started focusing on traffic and significantly interfering with creative work, coal mine owners also started to look more sophisticated.

Chen Linfeng listened to their banter, occasionally chiming in with a few words, finding it quite amusing.

There were some gossips he had never heard of before, and he didn't know if they existed in his previous life or if they had been influenced by him.

His current position is quite high, and his understanding of the industry's specifics is actually not as detailed as that of these screenwriters.

The younger generation, in particular, are well-versed in the industry's pain points and are very thoughtful. Whenever Director Chen has a question, they are the most proactive in providing answers.

Chen Linfeng nodded frequently, showing that he was listening, which made them feel valued and they became even more talkative.

I couldn't help but admire him. As expected of Director Chen, it's truly remarkable that he listens attentively to ordinary screenwriters like us.

A group of screenwriters were chatting, and what stood out was their boundless imagination; they talked about whatever came to mind.

We were just criticizing coal mine owners and the censorship process, but then the topic suddenly shifted.

"Director Chen, the drama 'The Legend of Zhaolie of the Southern Song Dynasty' has been quite turbulent lately. I hope it's alright."

Jiang Wei looked somewhat worried.

As soon as he said that, everyone turned their attention to him.

"The Biography of Zhaolie of the Southern Song Dynasty" was the most talked-about topic during the Chinese New Year.

Regardless of the quality of the series itself, or the discussions surrounding whether or not it embodies "historical nihilism," these are all focal points of public attention.

Especially as a screenwriter, I pay close attention to the extent of the scissors' influence.

Although they can't possibly have the same level of scrutiny as Director Chen, the standards are the same, and the higher-ups still have to put on a show.

If Director Chen can produce a script like this, even if they're a little less skilled, they could still come up with some original stories, right?

It's like tearing open a hole no matter what.

Qian Yanqiu was also very concerned about this topic.

"Xiao Feng, you're well-informed, have you heard anything from above yet?"

Chen Linfeng shook his head, "To be specific, there isn't one, but..."

"But what?"

"I heard that some senior figures at the higher levels like to watch it, so it's possible that it might be made an exception and let it pass."

Qian Yanqiu hesitated and said, "So, in other words, not... for the next time?"

"Yes, that's roughly the idea."

"Sigh, is this the only way?" Qian Yanqiu said with a look of regret.

So does everyone else.

Even someone like Director Chen could only be given a "never again" warning, so they have absolutely no chance.

Jiang Qitao said indignantly, "Look what historical dramas have become now. We finally found a new path, but it's being blocked."

This refers to the current state of historical dramas in recent years.

It has become an industry consensus that serious historical dramas cannot be filmed because audiences don't like them.

Since "Ming Dynasty", this viewpoint has been increasingly regarded as the golden rule by various film and television companies.

It's rather abrupt, considering that "The Great Tang Empire" was very popular before, along with "Emperor Wu of Han" and "The Great Song Dynasty Judge", all of which are extremely classic historical dramas.

The subsequent works, such as "The Ming Dynasty", "The Legend of Chu and Han", and "New Three Kingdoms (Zhang Li)", were also not bad.

But that's the impression people get; historical dramas can no longer enjoy the same popularity they used to have.

Even in recent years, the Qin Empire series produced by Longlin Company can only be described as of high quality, with a group of loyal fans.

It's impossible to create the same movie-going frenzy as it did ten years ago.

Not to mention, in addition, too many historical dramas produced by other companies have flopped without a trace.

Today, Chen Linfeng's "Biography of Zhaolie of the Southern Song Dynasty" serves as a good example for everyone.

It's surprising that a historical time-travel drama filmed using the methods of a serious historical drama has become so popular.

The overwhelming discussion was palpable to anyone who went online.

Netizens are very knowledgeable about the history of the Southern Song Dynasty, including figures like Yue Fei, Liu Bei, Zhao Gou, and Qin Hui.

Countless people have claimed that they learned about and even studied the history of the Southern Song Dynasty by watching this drama.

It makes you feel like you've traveled back to those days.

The reason why screenwriters in the past had such a high status was because of their great influence.

As a screenwriter, who doesn't aspire to stir up trends and educate the public?

However, this road is about to end just as one person has finished walking it.

Therefore, everyone began to lament their passing.

"Well, it's not that there's absolutely no way out."

"Ok?"

Everyone was shocked and confused.

"Didn't you say, Director Chen, that this is a one-time exception?"

"Yes, you're going to go against your superiors?" Jiang Wei asked, his face full of surprise.

“No,” Chen Linfeng waved his hand, “After all, the higher-ups haven’t given any clear instructions.”

Moreover, with the current popularity of "The Southern Song Dynasty," if any department were to openly declare its intention to shut it down, wouldn't that be asking for trouble?

Moreover, "The Biography of Zhaolie of the Southern Song Dynasty" has become a hit on the Chinese internet. Even if it doesn't spread overseas, it will likely be very popular in Greater China and within the Confucian cultural sphere.

He is now a darling of the cultural sector, and perhaps this opportunity can be used to break through a barrier.

Chen Linfeng explained, "The censorship standards for web series and TV dramas are obviously different, and there are no fixed rules for them among the authorities."

Or rather, they weren't sure how strict or lenient the measures should be.

He paused, then added, "I think the higher-ups will likely have to consider all opinions before giving a final result."

When Chen Linfeng mentioned the word "all parties," his voice became noticeably heavier.

Before anyone could grasp the specific meaning behind it.

He smiled and continued, "Let me boast a little, my influence is indeed quite large, plus the drama just happened to be a hit."

From the official perspective, this script might seem like a surprise attack.

So it's normal for the reaction from above to be a bit strong. The statement "This won't happen again" might be a prelude to a 'surprise attack' or part of the 'script' itself.

"Is this another way of interpreting it?"

The expressions on everyone's faces instantly changed.

Qian Yanqiu's face lit up with joy. "Doesn't that mean there's still a chance?"

"It would be great if we could leave an opening. No matter how long Chinese history is, we've already filmed almost everything that can be filmed. It's time to come up with some new approaches," Jiang Qitao said with a hint of excitement.

He is a screenwriter who focuses more on historical dramas, but frankly, he hasn't had a good time in recent years due to market reasons.

It's not that we can't survive, but to reach the top in any industry is no joke.

But seeing some shady characters thriving in the market, while he, a serious drama screenwriter, was not very popular, he always felt uneasy.

"Director Jiang is right. If we can re-edit history in the same way as 'The Biography of Zhaolie of the Southern Song Dynasty,' there are so many creative ideas that we can come up with."

Wang Hailin was slightly excited, "Just from what I can think of, Li Shimin's soul is reincarnated as Liu Shan, Xiang Yu comes to the late Tang Dynasty to fight Li Cunxiao, and Li Bai goes to compete with Su Shi in poetry..."

"Uh, this is impossible to write; it's too difficult for screenwriters."

Wang Hailin stopped, somewhat embarrassed.

But no matter what, it is indeed a blue ocean market.

Even though he made his name in the industry with his outrageous idol dramas, he couldn't help but dream of writing a wonderful historical drama.

As I said before, who wouldn't want to educate their citizens?

Historical dramas have always been at the top of the television drama industry's hierarchy of disdain.

Even if time travel elements are added and it becomes less righteous, it's still not something those idol dramas can compete with.

If it could be made like "The Biography of Zhaolie of the Southern Song Dynasty", then it would be no different from a serious drama.

He and a few screenwriters around him whispered about their future, and the more they talked, the more they felt that this was indeed a new path.

Jiang Wei was not so optimistic.

However, he noticed the key point in Chen Linfeng's words.

"Should we still consider all perspectives?"

He pondered for a moment and then said, "Director Chen, how do you think the higher-ups will listen to opinions from all sides?"

"The key is this 'all parties'," Chen Linfeng said meaningfully, "which party exactly?"

Qian Yanqiu's eyes flashed. "So, we can also give some suggestions to the higher-ups?"

"That's right,"

Chen Linfeng clapped his hands, attracting everyone's attention.

"That's the key point."

"I estimate that after the New Year, the optoelectronics industry and related official departments will begin to summarize the opinions from all parties."

“On the internet, although we have the upper hand,” Chen Linfeng said calmly, trying to bring everyone present to his side.

Of course, judging from the results, they should be roughly the same.

"But men probably won't pay much attention to the voices of netizens, since opinions on the internet are somewhat unreliable."

Qian Yanqiu looked worried. "If the relevant departments seek opinions privately, then we'll be in trouble."

"Teacher Qian is right,"

Jiang Wei knew a thing or two about this place. "If you ask around privately, you'll definitely find those university teachers and experts who cooperate a lot with the government. They're not on our side."

Chen Linfeng nodded in agreement.

There are so many universities, it's no exaggeration to say they're a mixed bag.

Especially in this era.

In particular, his stance was completely exposed due to the Nobel Prize and Gao Xiaosong's involvement in the incident.

If you were to find a place like Wuda, it's obvious that you wouldn't go along with his stance.

"Therefore, we must take the initiative."

Chen Linfeng said decisively, "This matter must be brought to the forefront, and then everyone can give their opinions together."

"This 'everyone' refers not only to those of you sitting here, but also to many more screenwriter colleagues, and even other friends in the cultural circle."

"Only in this way can we suppress the opposing voices!"

(End of this chapter)