2001 Media Godfather

Chapter 43 suddenly has a bit of ambition.

In the north, autumn is gradually getting cooler.

With the airing of "With You" and Lu Mingze's revelations, Ningyuan, a small place, suddenly became a hot commodity, and many people, regardless of their motives, wanted to visit it.

Chu An and Lu Mingze were not overjoyed by their victory; on the contrary, they were suffering greatly.

At this very moment, Chu An, wrapped in a coat, was huddled in a classroom that Ningyuan No. 1 Middle School had temporarily lent to the film crew, watching the footage from episode ten over and over again, his brow furrowed so deeply it could kill a fly.

Lu Mingze watched for a while and suggested, "How about we just send it to get it cut like this?"

Chu An shook his head, "No! This ending is too bland; the audience won't wait a week."

The reason the two of them aren't filming but are instead looking at footage is because they've hit a roadblock.

Episode 10 was filmed the day before yesterday. The ending scene shows the second male lead, Lu Xinghe, trying hard to learn physics in order to please Geng Geng.

Chu An felt a lack of anticipation for the next episode. They hadn't filmed yesterday, and they hadn't filmed today either. He was completely at a loss for what to do next.

Now Lu Mingze is about to give up, "It's not a big deal if episode 10 is just uneventful, right?"

Chu An rejected it again, looking at the footage over and over again, "A weekly drama can't have a single mistake."

Why do so many directors want to produce weekly dramas? Because the advantages are too obvious.

First, the investment is controllable.

Film one or two episodes first, then air a test episode to see the audience's reaction. If they like it, continue; if not, cut it. How much money can we save that way?

Secondly, it allows for creative flexibility.

Filming and airing on the fly means it's essential to listen to audience feedback and adjust the plot structure accordingly. To put it bluntly, every weekly drama that survives is one that audiences like and that makes money.

However, every advantage has its disadvantages.

Weekly dramas place very high demands on the constraints of plot structure and the creators' adaptability.

Alternatively, use a multi-narrative structure, staggering the climaxes of different storylines to ensure that each episode has a climax from one of the storylines, like Game of Thrones.

Or it's a single-line, high-octane storyline with no dull moments, like "Breaking Bad" or "House of Cards".

Either way, it's a challenge for Chu An, a half-baked screenwriter.

He was able to use a barrage of internet memes to engage the audience at first, but as the plot progressed, that trick clearly became less effective, and he seemed to have run out of ideas.

At this moment, Lu Mingze checked the time, but there was nothing he could do if he couldn't find any inspiration.

"It's almost noon, let's take a break, maybe inspiration will come knocking on our door!"

Intentionally changing the subject: "Xiao Chu, what are your plans for the next step?"

Chu An was taken aback. "What's the next step?"

Lu Mingze: "It's after filming this movie."

Lu Mingze had actually wanted to have a good talk with Chu An for a long time.

"With your abilities and the money you've made on this show."

"And then..." Lu Mingze paused, "and then your ambition! You don't still want to stay in such a small place as Ningyuan, do you?"

Director Lu is a simple person, but he's not really stupid.

From the moment Chu An came to him with the script until today, everything he has done is clear to anyone who isn't blind: his ambitions extend far beyond just one play.

He lit a cigarette, looked down and exhaled, "Kid, I can tell you'll go further than me in this industry."

"Tch~~!" Chu An felt a little awkward from his seriousness and laughed, "What ambition come from?"

"Live to work, die if you must!"

Lu Mingze didn't understand. "It's that simple?"

Chu An: "It's that simple."

Chu An was telling the truth. In his previous life, he came from humble beginnings. How could he have reached such a high level? He had struggled and fought his way up, and he had a clear conscience. He was just doing his duty to heaven and earth and his ancestors.

As for ideals and sentiments, well, regrets.

He figured it out in his past life.

It's fine to have ideals, but that won't stop him from doing the silly things that young people should do.

Unfortunately, that thing is like a ladle; you hold one end down and the other end tilts up.

Who doesn't have regrets? So, let what can't be made up for fester in your memory, but never let go of what can be made up for.

As for ideals...

In any case, I didn't have time to talk about ideals in my past life, so I just struggled with money.

I can think about it in this lifetime, but I haven't decided yet.

Therefore, Chu An just wants to have a good time right now, whether he lives or dies!

It's that simple.

After carefully considering Lu Mingze's words, he replied, "Going out is definitely on my mind! But I'll have to wait until after I finish my university entrance exams."

No matter what, I have to go to university; it's a regret from my past life.

Lu Mingze nodded. "Then I'll give you an idea, what do you think?"

Chu An, "Tell me about it."

Lu Mingze: "Transfer to Shengjing High School for your senior year, so I can find you." Chu An glared at him, "You want to find me? Whether I even want to see you is another matter!"

This guy wants to use President Chu as a babysitter.

Director Lu broke down and grinned, "Isn't there still 'You Are My Glory'? You also have shares in my studio, right? Anyway, it's settled then. Go to Shengjing, I'll make the arrangements for you."

Chu An didn't object; it was only a matter of time before he went to Shengjing or Shanghai to develop his career.

Suddenly curious, I asked, "Old Lu, what are your ambitions? If they're to my liking, I'll help you achieve them."

You know what, Lu Mingze really does have it.

With a cigarette butt dangling from his mouth, he declared, "Let's make a TV series that rivals Rob Bowman's!"

Rob Bowman is a famous American television director known for his fast-paced and visually impactful works, including "The X-Files" and "Star Trek." He is one of the directors that Lu Mingze admires.

Chu An was speechless for a moment. Look at your pathetic self!
"You put in so much effort, and all you get is a tie? Didn't you ever think about surpassing it?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Mingze immediately felt embarrassed, "Don't be silly! We can't compare to them."

Chu An, "..."

These words startled Chu An. How proud Lu Mingze was!

The guy who dared to go bankrupt and switch to fashion dramas after just a few words from the public has turned out to be just a foreign monk. You're telling me he can't compare to others?

Well, it's not Director Lu's fault, because the gap is just too big.

Unlike later generations, where the post-90s generation thought the US was nothing special, the post-00s generation almost regarded the US as a third-world country.

But in this era, regardless of time or space, China has just escaped poverty and is always in the position of a follower.

Most people look up to the Americans with more than just admiration; they feel awe!
Lu Mingze is probably no exception.

Especially in the film and television industry, the gap in both technology and the professional skills of practitioners is an indisputable fact.

Chu An understood, but also didn't understand, that Lu Mingze could say such a thing.

Seeing Chu An's strange expression, Director Lu assumed he was ignorant and started explaining things to him.

"What are you dissatisfied with?"

"Last year, our total box office revenue was 9.6 million RMB. Hollywood's highest-grossing film also had 9.6 million... US dollars!"

Director Lu emphasized this, his tone full of admiration.

"One of their films is worth seven times your entire year's box office!"

"Let's talk about TV dramas next."

"Last year, the annual output value of our TV dramas was only a little over a billion yuan. I don't know how much others make, but I do know that the production cost of just two or three dramas is enough to make up your annual output value."

He sighed softly, a sigh of helplessness mixed with honesty: "Look at the film they made, and then look at ours, there's no comparison."

These words left Chu An stunned, unsure of how to respond.

I suddenly realized a problem, a very serious problem:
So this is how people in this era view Hollywood and the American film and television industry.

This was something Chu An found hard to accept.

how to say?

Although in another timeline, Hollywood and American TV series still have their advantages, and ordinary people believe that their film and television industry is much stronger than that of China.

However, practitioners in China are clear-headed.

Hollywood and American TV series are not things that fly in the sky and are out of reach; there's no need to belittle ourselves.

We certainly can't make a show like "Breaking Bad" or "Game of Thrones," but the Americans just can't make a show like "Ming Dynasty 1566" or "Nirvana in Fire."

We certainly don't have the developed film industry of Hollywood, but they have also lost the ability to explore the deep integration of commercial films and art.

What they don't have, they'll likely never have again.

What we cannot compare to now, we may not be able to surpass in the future.

This is the confidence of ordinary people under the rejuvenation of a great nation, but it is something that is lacking in this era.

Chu An suddenly widened his eyes, "What's missing?"

Aren't those the things I firmly believe in?

I've seen it before!

This will also allow more people to see it!
“Old Lu!” Chu An stared at Lu Mingze for a long time, then smiled brightly, “I suddenly have a little bit of ambition.”

"Huh?" Lu Mingze didn't understand.

Chu An's words became increasingly outrageous: "When we have the resources, how about we make a movie about the future?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Mingze wondered why he was so disliked.

"Making movies? I don't even dare to think about making movies!"

"You should finish the ending of episode ten first, then keep bragging!"

……

.

No matter how late it is, I'll definitely finish the next chapter.

(End of this chapter)