Huayu became famous overnight

Chapter 279 Phenomenal Variety Show

In July, the capital city was filled with the chirping of cicadas.

It's so noisy it's giving me a headache.

The key issue is that the sun is extremely hot and toxic.

After Xu Ming returned to the "My Love from the Star" crew, he had several simple sunshades set up so that he could move around as soon as he was ready, simply covered by transparent plastic.

They put an electric fan inside and hung a few ice packs in front of it. Soon the shed became very cool, allowing everyone to cool off while filming.

"I must say, these sunshades really make things a lot more comfortable." Guo Fan, wearing a t-shirt, sat in the shed enjoying the third-best caress of the electric fan.

The first two in line are naturally Xu Ming and Fan Bingbing.

Unlike others, they didn't wear less clothing because they felt hot. Off-screen it was sunny, but on-screen it was still autumn.

Not only can they not wear less clothing, but their costumes are completely covered up. After each scene, they have to quickly take them off and use a fan to cool off, otherwise they might get heatstroke.

"This must be the first time our crew has done this, right? I've been to so many film crews, and this is the first time I've received this kind of treatment," Fan Bingbing said with a smile.

"The main reason is that other production teams are also reluctant to spend money on this. They would rather upgrade the food and accommodation for the director and lead actors than spend money on the entire production team."

The assistant director bowed slightly and said, "Unlike Brother Ming, who is so kind and considerate, always thinking of us on set."

His words were half flattery and half genuine sincerity.

There was another deeper reason, which he didn't dare to say.

That is, most directors and lead actors do not want to see the rest of the crew enjoy the same treatment as them.

I feel uneasy if I don't get a special privilege.

"Don't just thank me. Guo Fan sent someone to buy the ice packs, and Sister Bingbing arranged for someone to deliver the cold drinks in this shed."

Xu Ming shared the credit, then said, "We're brothers, so taking care of you is my duty, no need for thanks."

The people in the shed didn't respond, but their eyes had already turned to reverence.

Following a leader like this means you don't have to worry about having no future.

That's right, the film and television industry is relatively closed compared to other industries.

Especially on set, people's social circles are often limited to the crew, and they gradually develop a kind of江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) spirit when they get along.

Even at Xu Ming's position, he was still willing to call them his own brothers, and what he did was indeed for their own good.

People are naturally willing to do things for them, which is more binding than a contract.

"By the way, Xiaojuan will be bringing over a truckload of popsicles later. You all should each have one, but don't eat too many or you'll get a stomachache."

Let's wrap up early tonight and all go back to the hotel to watch "The Voice of China" and support our own show, okay?

Xu Ming smiled. He had discussed the early closing with Guo Fan, but the others were unaware of it.

Upon hearing this arrangement out of the blue, even Fan Bingbing cheered loudly.

"it is good!"

Before we knew it, it was evening and we were done with work.

Inside the hotel, people gathered in twos and threes in their respective rooms, waiting for "The Voice of China" to start.

"I heard that our company's music director, Li Ronghao, participated in the audition. How did it go?" Guo Fan asked curiously.

"You'll see when you watch it; I won't spoil it."

Xu Ming paused for a moment, then added, "But don't even think about it this time."

Originally, the production team's initial plan was to put Li Ronghao in the first episode to attract viewers.

However, once the auditions actually began, they discovered that there were many contestants who could create a good show, so they decided to put the latter aside and keep them as a backup plan.

"By the way, wasn't it originally said that your show would be broadcast exclusively online on Sohu Video? How come it premiered on Beijing and Taiwan?" Fan Bingbing asked.

"The timing wasn't right, and Sohu was quite interested. Plus, the offer from Beijing and Taiwan was quite high, so we changed the plan."

Xu Ming shook his head. He had a falling out with the TV station before, and only after he started thinking about online broadcasting did he realize that there were limitations imposed by the times.

The later explosion of video websites was largely due to the widespread adoption of smartphones.

People can now watch videos online on their mobile phones anytime, anywhere, which naturally and gradually replaces television.

But now, the penetration rate of smartphones is far lower than that of televisions, and internet speeds and data charges are far less convenient than in the past.

Fortunately, they kept a backup plan, deciding to broadcast it on both satellite TV and online platforms.

As they were chatting, Fan Bingbing stopped responding.

Turning my head again, I saw that the latter was staring intently at the television screen.

The first trainee to take the stage was dressed in a security guard uniform. His weathered appearance, typical of a man in his forties, was quite eye-catching.

"Singing so well, are you really a security guard?" Fan Bingbing exclaimed in surprise when she heard the uncle sing.

"Absolutely, we've done background checks. If it weren't true, we wouldn't have put it on stage," Xu Ming affirmed.

However, it was his idea to have this middle-aged man wear a security guard uniform on stage.

Variety shows are essentially performance shows. The producer does whatever the audience wants to see, and this contrast between his profession and his singing voice is precisely one of the essences of "The Voice of China".

"Don't people say that variety shows are scripted? Don't you guys have scripts?" Fan Bingbing said.

"At most, we have a framework, a general outline of the process, but the specific content depends on the performance of the mentors and students. It's not the same as 'Avenue of Stars'," Xu Ming explained.

"Avenue of Stars" took advantage of the underdeveloped internet, using the guise of grassroots talent, but most of the winners were professional singers.

Take A Bao, for example. He appears on TV dressed like a shepherd, but he's actually a son of someone from the Datong Locomotive Factory in Shanxi Province. Back then, that factory was the largest and most famous in Datong.

Before even appearing on the show, they had already been performing at bars and nightclubs.

Phoenix Legend, for example, also had its background information packaged and designed at the time.

In the past, when information was not readily available, one could easily get away with it.

These days, anyone who dares to create a persona will have their past exposed by netizens.

Not to mention that Xu Ming is well aware that he has made many enemies in the industry, and there are probably countless eyes watching him and this show.

Soon, the entire hotel became quiet, with only the sound of television programs echoing in the air.

Compared to previous music talent shows...

The Voice of China has greatly increased in terms of both scale and entertainment value.

The contrast created by listening to voices without seeing the contestants, the disappointment of contestants performing well but not being turned around by anyone, the competition among mentors for their favorite students, and so on, all drew every viewer in front of the television.

"Ming-ge, the show is trending!" Xiao-juan exclaimed excitedly.

It's only halfway through its run, and it's already trending on social media.

In an instant, everyone in the room gained a more intuitive understanding of the premiere results of "The Voice of China".

"Congratulations! Qiming has another trump card project." Fan Bingbing said with a smile.

Everyone knows that Qiming has three treasures: Xu Ming's scripts, Yu Zheng's studio, and Zhuo Wei's online publicity department.

Now, variety shows are poised to become Qiming's fourth treasure.

Other industry insiders who also followed "The Voice of China" realized the show's potential after experiencing its high quality.

It wasn't until the next day, when the results of "The Voice of China" were released, that they realized they had still underestimated the competition.

……

The premiere ratings are in!

Xiao Juan sidled up to Xu Ming, her face beaming with excitement.

It instantly drew everyone's attention on set.

They knew how popular "The Voice of China" was after its broadcast yesterday, but they were also curious about just how popular it was.

"The premiere ratings were 4.31%, and the peak viewership exceeded 5. Since its broadcast yesterday, there have been as many as 28 trending topics related to the program, consistently ranking in the top three." Xiao Juan paused for a moment, "President Tang said that advertisers have already offered 500,000 yuan per episode."

These are data that anyone with a keen eye could find out, so she didn't hide them from others.

In an instant, everyone on set was shocked.

Many people are asking, "What's so amazing about these data?"

Yeah, these guys have no idea about data in variety shows; they're just being overly enthusiastic and shocked.

Only Fan Bingbing clearly understood what a 4% viewership rating meant; generally, a TV series that could break 2% was already considered amazing.

If the premiere ratings break 4%, and it doesn't start strong but then decline, it's bound to be a phenomenal hit.

"This year, the peak viewership of 'Super Girl' was only 3%, and a single advertisement cost 20 yuan. Our 'The Voice of China' has already performed one of the best among variety shows this year," Xiao Juan continued.

Upon comparison, everyone suddenly realized the truth.

They know how amazing "Super Girl" is.

With just its first episode airing, "The Voice of China" surpassed "Super Girl"...

hiss--

Once everyone realized the value of "The Voice of China," they immediately congratulated Xu Ming.

"Let Zhuowei appropriately shift the focus from the program itself to the trainees, and let Xiaoyuan speed up the signing process."

The entire production team should receive their bonuses as they are due, and their enthusiasm should be boosted. They should not become complacent just because the premiere was a success. Also, the four mentors should be contacted to participate more in Weibo interactions.

We should treat "The Voice of China" like a family heirloom, maximizing its influence and avoiding short-sighted practices.

Xu Ming, however, did not revel in his success. Instead, he calmly explained the situation to Xiao Juan.

With a foundation from his past life, he believed that the success of "The Voice of China" was inevitable.

But whether he can establish this brand and even surpass its predecessor is the direction he needs to strive for.

"Yes," Xiao Juan replied.

Xu Ming looked at Guo Fan and the others: "You've rested enough, it's time to start filming. Everyone, get your minds back on filming."

Soon, at his urging, the crew resumed filming.

This earned Fan Bingbing's respect.

No wonder the other party, despite being young, was able to bring Qiming to where he is today; he truly remains unfazed by praise or criticism.

If it were her, she would probably have started celebrating with everyone the moment the show's results came out.

Unfortunately, the tree wants to be still but the wind does not stop.

As time went on, the popularity of "The Voice of China" rose to a level that exceeded everyone's expectations.

Including Xu Ming.

From the streets and alleys to the elderly and children, from online to offline, the voices of discussion about "The Voice of China" are everywhere.

This summer, the singing from "The Voice of China" across China even drowned out the cicadas' chirping.

It became so popular that it lost all its friends.

As a result, Qiming, the producer of the program, became a hot commodity.

People from all walks of life tried to contact Xu Ming, hoping to get a share of the profits.

After all, once a project becomes a phenomenal hit...

Its influence extends beyond a single circle, reaching the entire society.

One week later, on the film set.

"Ming-ge, a representative from Tencent has contacted Mr. Tang's side, wanting to discuss the broadcasting rights for the semi-finals to the finals of 'The Voice of China'."

Xiao Juan counted on her fingers, "Representatives from several companies that have in-depth cooperation with us, such as Sohu, Sina, and LeTV, are currently at the company and would like to talk to you."

By the way, Wanda Group is interested in sponsoring the second season of "The Voice of China" and has asked the company to submit an offer.

One familiar name after another gave Xu Ming a headache.

If it were another company, he could ignore it and enjoy peace and quiet on set.

But these companies are all partners of Qiming, and they cannot be separated from it at all.

"It's only aired two episodes, and it's already that popular?" Xu Ming raised an eyebrow.

"Very popular."

Xiao Juan said confidently, "The second episode's ratings broke 5%, and since Director Li appeared on screen yesterday, his Weibo followers have increased by 1.3 million, and his original song 'Li Bai' has ranked first on QQ Music's Rising Chart."

Other contestants who showed outstanding performance have gained at least 100,000 fans, and they have already been contacted by agencies and commercial performances.

The appearance fees for the four mentors have reportedly increased by at least 50%.

It can be said that everyone and everything related to "The Voice of China" has benefited greatly.

This is the influence of a phenomenal variety show.

"Tomorrow, I'll go back to the company tomorrow," Xu Ming said thoughtfully.

Given the current situation, if he doesn't go back soon, those people might refuse to leave.

This also provides an opportunity to redistribute the profits generated by "The Voice of China" and establish future rules.

After the two finished talking.

Fan Bingbing deliberately kept her distance, indicating that she wouldn't eavesdrop, before stepping forward.

"Is 'The Voice' still accepting contestants? I have a friend..."

"Big sister, the preliminary rounds are over." Xu Ming interrupted.

"Can't I just join a class halfway through...?" Fan Bingbing was still up to his old tricks.

It's clear to everyone that "The Voice of China" has rivaled the former "Super Girl" and become a new generation of star-making machine.

After only two episodes, the popularity of contestants like Li Ronghao is already comparable to that of some minor celebrities.

She only asked because others knew she was filming with Xu Ming and came to her for help.

“Even if there were such a competition format, do you think your friend could afford the price?” Xu Ming countered.

"And what about the guests?" Fan Bingbing asked.

"It was decided a step too late, before the show even aired," Xu Ming shrugged.

All things considered, persuading Chen Kun to join the Dream Mentor program was actually a good opportunity for the latter.

After all, after "The Voice of China," mainland China will usher in a golden age of variety shows.

Many has-been celebrities have made a comeback through variety shows, while popular celebrities have made a fortune, earning in just two or three years what they earned in the first half of their lives.

Thinking about this, Xu Ming suddenly understood why his performance on "The Voice of China" was even more impressive in this life than in his previous life.

Among the four mentors, Jay Chou and Faye Wong replaced Yu Chengqing and Yang Kun, and the difference in their status and popularity is quite significant.

"Have the mentors for the next season been decided?" Fan Bingbing asked, her eyes darting around.

“We signed three-year contracts with four mentors,” Xu Ming replied.

He's not stupid; he knew the four of them would definitely get a raise after the show aired, so he naturally signed the contract early.

The reason for signing only a three-year contract, rather than longer, is to leave room for maneuver.

"Besides, you're not suited for variety shows, and variety shows aren't suitable for you either," Xu Ming said earnestly.

Given their good relationship, he wouldn't mind giving the other party a piece of advice.

(End of this chapter)