Entertainment: 1990

Chapter 277 Sense of Crisis

After Wang Zhongqi left.

Zhang Yan then continued to look through the year-end reports on the table. These were usually managed by Wang Zhongqi, but the year-end summary was compiled by Chen Hong and Wang Jinghua.

After all, no matter how much one trusts Wang Zhongqi, there must be some checks and balances on him.

According to this statistical report, the gross profit of brokerage and record companies is around 5300 million yuan, of which tour revenue accounts for nearly two-thirds, and the rest is from record revenue and advertising revenue.

After deducting all expenses for the year (including but not limited to salaries, bonuses, taxes, car purchases, and headquarters building construction), as well as the 750 million yuan investment in film and television, the remaining net profit was less than 900 million yuan.

Record sales were the lowest among them, but the situation should improve significantly after they release their albums together next year.

As for advertising revenue...

In 93, Chen Hong still earned the most advertising revenue, followed by Wang Luyao, who filmed several lingerie commercials—it's unavoidable these days, businesses still prefer to use handsome men and beautiful women in their advertisements.

However, according to market research, liquor companies will collectively increase their advertising investment in 94, and Han Lei, Lao Lang, Gao Feng and others should be able to get a share of the pie.

Overall, 93 was a year of great achievements and rapid progress.

If this upward trend can continue in 1994, it will only be a matter of time before Dream's total assets exceed 100 million.

By the time I finished reviewing the reports, it was already past 5 p.m.

Zhang Yan felt a bit stuffy in the office, so he got up and went outside to the courtyard to stretch his limbs and loosen up.

"Hello, Mr. Zhang~"

Just then, a clear voice reached his ears. Zhang Yan turned his head and saw that it was Cao Ying. He casually asked, "When did you get back? Did your comedy 'Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio' wrap up filming so quickly?"

She joined the Jiangxi TV crew only after the second season of "I Am a Singer" ended, which was only a little over a month ago.

"I just arrived in Tianjin at noon. When I left, filming wasn't completely finished yet, but my segment was already done," Cao Ying explained. "We were divided into several groups for filming, and the filming speed varied. Our 'Ying Ning' group was one of the faster ones."

How was it like playing the female lead for the first time?

"Quite interesting."

Cao Ying laughed and said, "Part of the plot of this episode was filmed in a bar. It's said that a smile travels through hundreds of years and arrives in the modern world."

She hesitated for a moment, then pointed to a mole next to her nose and said, "Mr. Zhang, I'd like to have this mole removed, but I've heard it might leave a scar... Do you think I should get it removed?"

Zhang Yan stared at her face for a moment, then shook his head and said, "There's no need to point it out. A few minor flaws can actually make her more recognizable."

At this moment, Li Songqiang came over with a stack of documents. Zhang Yan nodded to Cao Ying and led Li Songqiang back to the office.

Cao Ying was just about to leave when he suddenly felt a thorn in his back. He turned around and saw Wang Luyao standing behind him, smiling at him.

"Sister Luyao~"

She quickly greeted him in a flattering manner.

"When did you come back?"

Wang Luyao walked over with a smile, and before Cao Ying could speak, she added, "President Zhang has been very busy lately. If you have any issues, you can consult with Sister Jinghua or President Chen. Please don't bother President Zhang."

"Uh... okay, I understand."

Cao Ying felt a sense of pressure for no apparent reason, and nodded hurriedly like a chicken pecking at rice, then ran away in a flash.

As she watched Wang Jinghua disappear into her office, Wang Luyao's smile vanished instantly.

She initially decided to recruit Cao Ying mainly because she thought he was easygoing and not scheming, and therefore wouldn't pose any threat to her position.

Who knew that Cao Ying would first be recommended by Zhang Fang to serve as the host during the finals of "I Am a Singer", and then get the lead role in a TV series - although it was only a unit female lead, it was something that Wang Luyao could only dream of before.

And as soon as he got back, he took the initiative to "connect" with Brother Yan...

Wang Luyao now strongly suspects that Cao Ying is pretending to be weak while actually being strong!

No, I have to find a way to secure my favor, at least to prevent that little vixen from having the chance to overtake me.

Seeing Zhang Yan's tightly closed door, Wang Luyao opted for Chen Hong's office as a second choice.

She knocked on the door and saw Chen Hong on the phone, so she obediently sat down on the sofa to wait.

“We’ll definitely have some big moves coming next year. Besides, the Golden Eagle Awards are coming to Tianjin, right? If you join us to make your dream come true, the Best Actress award is hard to say, but the Best Actress award is easier to secure.”

Hearing Chen Hong's series of promises over the phone, Wang Luyao's sense of crisis intensified. So, after Chen Hong hung up, she couldn't help but inquire, "Sister Hong, which female celebrity is joining us to realize our dreams this time?"

“My old classmate, Gai Lili.”

Chen Hong shook her head slightly: "She's the type who won't act until she sees the benefits. I guess she'll only decide whether to join after our 'New Dragon and Phoenix' is released."

Gailly?
Wang Luyao felt an even greater sense of urgency. Among young actresses, Gai Lili was not the most outstanding, but in terms of acting skills, she could definitely surpass her and Chen Hong.

And the bear wasn't small either...

"Sister Hong."

Wang Luyao said with a hint of grievance, "I'm also an actress, you can't be biased towards one over the other."

"you?"

Chen Hong looked at her slightly exotic features and suddenly instructed, "Try doing some flexibility exercises."

Wang Luyao was a little confused, but she still obediently got up, took off her coat, revealing her slender figure underneath, and asked, "Sister Hong, what kind of action do you want to see?"

"For moves like backbends and splits, it's best to keep them as fluid as possible."

"Ok."

Wang Luyao is, after all, a dancer. Although she had to leave the stage due to overnutrition, she has always maintained her exercise routine. She immediately performed a backbend split.

The posture was perfect, but the pants were a bit too loose and tore open with a ripping sound.

"oops!"

Wang Luyao quickly stood up straight again and looked down to check the condition of her pants.

Seeing this, Chen Hong went over and closed the door.

Wang Luyao glanced at her and tentatively asked, "Sister Hong, is it evening..."

"What are you thinking!"

Chen Hong glared at her, annoyed: "I wanted to see how flexible you are. You're not good enough for dramatic female leads. I was thinking maybe you could try martial arts roles—your most famous role is Miao Ruolan in 'The Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain,' isn't it?"

Actually, Miao Ruolan doesn't have many action scenes.

However, Wang Luyao still excitedly said, "I can do it! I definitely can!"

As he spoke, he prepared to take off his pants.

"never mind."

Chen Hong stopped her and said, "When our company's martial arts choreographer arrives, you can learn some martial arts routines from him. If you learn them well, I will definitely give you priority when the opportunity arises."

"Does our company need to sign a martial arts instructor contract?"

"of course."

Chen Hong said, "Director Guoli felt that the action scenes in 'The New Dragon and Phoenix' were a bit monotonous and not very good. Later, Jinghua's husband found two friends to be stunt doubles, which was barely acceptable."

Moreover, according to the market research report recently submitted by Jinghua, audiences have high expectations for martial arts dramas—especially adaptations of Jin Yong and Gu Long's novels.

Therefore, our company will not only sign a martial arts choreographer, but also plans to select two young martial arts actors from the Shichahai Martial Arts School.

In the past two years, Jet Li's "Once Upon a Time in China" and "Fong Sai-yuk" series have sparked another wave of kung fu movie fever, and martial arts dramas have also emerged one after another.

Moreover, this group of martial arts actors were mostly from mainland China.

Zhang Yan thought that instead of letting the people of Hong Kong continue to benefit, he might as well take advantage of his proximity to the mainland and use the mainland's martial arts resources to create a mainland martial arts drama production team.

Wang Luyao was also very excited after hearing Chen Hong's explanation and asked, "Sister Hong, when will the martial arts instructor be available?"

Chen Hong shook her head and said, "It's hard to say. Of course, it would be best if there were suitable people on the mainland. If there aren't any suitable people, we might have to poach people from Hong Kong Island."

In fact, Dong Zhihua had already recommended Yu Chenghui, who was known as the Sword Saint. However, Zhang Yan felt that Yu Chenghui's action design was still the same as that of the 80s, lacking both the violent beauty of punches landing and the smooth and fluid movements.

So I still hope to find a trendy, young action choreographer whose thinking is not so rigid.

(End of this chapter)