Huayu: When the director changed his major

Chapter 42 Can You Give Me Your Pen?
Just when Cheng Xi was thinking about the Trinity, Mr. Zeng interrupted him.

"Teacher Zuibai, we already have a half-finished script. The main idea is that white, rich, beautiful, tall, rich, and handsome are very popular now, and we want to take the opportunity to create a contrast."

"For example, if the protagonist is short, poor, ugly, fat, or something like that, and you incorporate some jokes into it, but you're worried that it's too negative and the audience won't be able to accept it."

After saying that, Secretary Hu handed the two scripts to Cheng Xi and Wang Ge respectively.

Cheng Xi took the notebook and looked at it. The cover said "I am not tall, rich and handsome".

Because of the famous line in "Wan Wan", "Marry a fair, rich and beautiful man and reach the peak of life", the two terms "tall, rich and handsome" and "fair, rich and beautiful" have become deeply popular.

It’s a very straightforward description; even an old man who hears it for the first time knows what it means, so it’s deeply rooted in people’s hearts.

Maybe some people used more flowery language to express their appreciation in the past, but now it has been unified into "tall, rich and handsome" for men and "white, rich and beautiful" for women.

The fast-paced lifestyle has made expression fast-food.

Cheng Xi was used to reading and marking scripts with a pen, so he said to Jin Chen:

"Xiao Jin, right? Can you give me your fountain pen?"

When Jin Chen heard Cheng Xi also call her Xiao Jin, she was obviously stunned.

It was not until Mr. Zeng looked at her that she was startled and immediately ran over to respectfully hand the pen to Cheng Xi.

Cheng Xi took her pen without even looking at her or saying thank you.

To deal with a woman like this, you have to let her know who is superior and who is inferior. He saw very clearly the look on Jin Chen's face that showed he was unwilling to call him Teacher Zuibai.

If you have lived two lives and still don't understand this little thing, then your life has been in vain.

If it was the other two men making trouble for the medicine, Cheng Xi would not have deliberately added a small word.

After all, we are all the same age.

But only in this way can Jin Chen see the situation clearly and not treat me as someone who is pursuing her.

Get used to me being on top.

The prey cannot be the hunter.

Then everyone saw Cheng Xi open the script and start writing and drawing on it.

Cheng Xi didn't read the script very fast, but this was only the first three episodes, so it didn't take long for Cheng Xi to finish reading the script.

I have to say that the editors invited by Sohu are quite capable and the script is very solid.

But it is true that this script will not become popular.

Cheng Xi was not polite. He took money from others to help them get rid of disasters, so he said:

“The scripts written by several teachers are very solid, and it can be seen that they have a very solid foundation.”

When the two editors heard what Cheng Xi said, their expressions improved a little, and then Cheng Xi said "but".

"But this script won't be popular."

When the two screenwriters heard this, their smiles disappeared before they could even begin to bloom.

"First of all, the protagonist's image is a problem. To attract clicks, the protagonist cannot be short, poor, or ugly. This will make it difficult for the audience to empathize with the show, and female viewers will click and abandon it. You can ask Xiao Jin about this."

When Jin Chen heard Cheng Xi say this, he could only nod obediently.

"Secondly, the script is very solid, but not grounded enough. We need to connect with netizens and not be afraid of being vulgar. Audiences are vulgar, and vulgarity gets clicks."

"Then, the biggest feature of our short dramas is their short duration. Because of the short duration, the dramas must be thrilling, not lukewarm. They must be fast and fierce, with big contrasts. TV dramas can take their time, but short dramas don't have that time."

Then Cheng Xi pointed to a few places in the script and said:

"There are a few sections here that are too slow, and the audience won't like it."

Everyone present was a little indignant at first, but the more they listened, the more they believed it was true. Especially the two young troublemakers, who had already started taking notes in their notebooks.

"The two screenwriters are very professional, but they probably write more serious dramas. So they often focus on the introduction, development, turning point and ending. This doesn't work in a short play. In a short play, you just keep twisting and turning, and hitting me in the face again and again. That's how it clicks, and with that click, your expression will be seen and meaningful.

"People nowadays have such high thresholds that if you don't satisfy them within a few seconds, they'll leave."

Cheng Xi is an expert in live streaming and understands the audience too well. He can make them feel happy for one second and never feel unhappy for two seconds.

If you are not satisfied in the third second, you will immediately paddle away.

This is similar to a short play.

"Finally, the title of the show is not good. It's not explosive enough, and its popularity is naturally insufficient. It's hard to become a hit like 'Wan Wan'."

"First, the rhythm of "I'm not tall, rich, and handsome" is not good enough, and the name is too long. Second, the subject is 'I', and the negative expression will weaken the communication effect."

"Why is this?" Zeng Xiongjie asked curiously.

"Mr. Zeng, think about it. Although we all know we're not tall, rich, and handsome, that doesn't stop us from wanting to be. If I were to recommend this drama to a friend, I'd probably feel a bit reluctant. Even using 'He's Not Tall, Rich, and Handsome' would be a better approach."

Although what the screenwriters said was a bit harsh, they had to admit that Fang Chengxi was right in some ways. It was not that these screenwriters were too weak, but that they had not yet adapted to the rhythm of short plays.

And through the filming of "Wan Wan" and learning from Yi Xiaoxing, combined with his thoughts from his previous life, Cheng Xi is already far ahead of them in terms of concepts.

Zeng Xiongjie also nodded repeatedly after listening to this. In fact, he was not very satisfied with the script. People would watch it after it was filmed, but he wanted to make a hit like "Wan Wan".

He always felt that something was missing before, and now he knows that it is the lack of explosive points and lack of grounding.

If it fails to resonate with the public and stimulate the audience's emotions, it will not become a hit.

Otherwise, there is no false reputation, and Zuibai’s several successes would not be without reason.

Just these few sentences are enough for everyone to digest for a while.

This is why Zeng Xiongjie spent a lot of money to hire Cheng Xi.

You have the ability to change the script and use Zuibai's fame to advertise the short play, so why not?

He has always believed that professional matters should be left to professionals.

"Then what name do you think is a good one, Mr. Zuibai?"

Zeng Xiongjie asked eagerly.

Hearing this question, Cheng Xi leaned back tactically without saying anything, as if he was thinking about something.

Zeng Xiongjie saw it and understood what Cheng Xi meant. He knew that he was going to use real money, so he said:

"Um, Mr. Zuibai, our contract has already been prepared. Please take a look."

As Zeng Xiongjie spoke, he took out a contract that had been prepared long ago from his briefcase.

Cheng Xi checked the contract. It contained many clauses and was not a standard contract. He definitely could not sign it rashly.

So he said:

"There's no rush for the contract. I'll take it back and discuss it with my lawyer. I'll also evaluate the script and see if I want to take on this project."

Zeng Xiongjie nodded and said:
"Of course. Then let's not talk about business anymore. I'll take Mr. Zuibai around our Sohu headquarters."

"Um, Xiao Jin, come over and keep me company."

Jin Chen was originally preparing to leave, but when he heard what Mr. Zeng said, he paused.

Walking behind Cheng Xi, he followed silently.

(End of this chapter)