Entertainment: 1990

Chapter 414 The Chicken Feather Finishes

Zhang Yan originally thought it would take some time before the negotiation team would give a response.

Who knew that the very next afternoon, the deputy team leader would call him into the office again.

Seeing the other person's smiling face, Zhang Yan quickly asked, "Boss, is there any progress on the matter?"

"more or less."

The deputy team leader chuckled, "You made several calls to the negotiation team this morning. Mr. Zhang, you have quite the mobilization ability."

"what?"

Zhang Yan was taken aback for a moment, then quickly clarified, "Boss, please don't misunderstand. This is a win-win situation. I don't need to pull strings or do favors for you."

The deputy team leader stared at Zhang Yan for a while, then smiled and said, "That's true. The saying 'Go abroad to New York to make your way in the world, and return to Tianjin in glory' spread everywhere in just one day. It's normal that Tianjin would take the initiative to support you."

After that, everything went smoothly.

The negotiation team selected an advertisement from a state-owned enterprise and an advertisement from a joint venture. Zhang Yan also took the opportunity to slip in a big deal that he had been trying to secure for a long time but had not been able to reach an agreement on.

Then he took the three contracts back to Tianjin and had the company work overtime to shoot the pre-roll ads.

After assigning tasks, he and Chen Hong went to the wrap party for "A Messy Life".

Filming for this drama started at the end of May and has been going on for two and a half months now. Li Bingbing's scenes were filmed long ago, but she did not leave.

Instead, he stayed on set to do odd jobs, and also took on two commercials arranged by Zhang Yan. Although neither was a big job, he still earned a total of 13,000 yuan.

Including what the two of them had saved up on set, after paying off Zhang Yan's debts, they still managed to scrape together more than 8,000 yuan and send it back home.

That's why, even though the two sisters had been neglected for more than a month, their eyes still lit up when they saw Zhang Yan again, and they wished they could hug Zhang Yan's legs on either side.

However, the crew was strictly hierarchical, and it wasn't easy for anyone to get close to the front of the group—plus there were several veteran actors present, so the two sisters could only look on with envy.

Just then, a hand suddenly waved in front of their eyes, and Niu Li laughed and said, "You two better watch yourselves, or you might get caught by President Chen."

Li Bingbing and Li Xue exchanged a glance and said in unison, "What nonsense are you talking about? The boss is here, can't we even take a look?"

"Haha~"

Niu Li responded with a sneer. She didn't know what others thought, but as the best friend of the Ice and Snow Sisters on set, she was 100% certain that the two sisters had a special relationship with President Zhang.

Otherwise, who would hire an unknown person to shoot an advertisement and pay them such a high fee?

Most importantly, Niu Li confirmed that these women were not as well-off as her and had no connections or financial resources whatsoever.

Two young women suddenly become very wealthy (clothes, pagers), and experience a windfall of good fortune. In other industries, this might be possible, but in the entertainment industry…

So she stared at the two sisters and said sincerely, "Now I'm a signed artist who has fulfilled my dream. If you ever find a good opportunity in the future, please give me a hand."

"Uh~"

The Ice and Snow sisters understood the unspoken meaning in her words, since Niu Li usually never shied away from such matters and her attitude was quite obvious.

but……

Li Xue, who was closer to her, whispered, "Isn't your family well-off? Why do you still..."

"I'm after fame!"

Niu Li frankly stated, "My family is considered to be in a relatively good position, but we still can't make me a star."

As she spoke, she looked in Zhang Yan's direction and said vaguely, "But that one is different."

The Ice and Snow sisters exchanged glances again. Li Xue's expression was somewhat conflicted, while Li Bingbing's was resolute—a resolute refusal.

Although Li Bingbing had only been in the film and television industry for a short time, he had already realized that there were far more monks than porridge in the industry. Although President Zhang had a lot of resources, there were not enough to go around for so many women.

Unlike Mr. Chen, who sits back and relaxes his grip, she wouldn't actively create more competitors for herself! Meanwhile...

Zhang Guoli and Chen Daoming were discussing with Zhang Yan the possibility of winning an award for "Sunshine." Actors like them, who are ambitious for the future, are just as eager for awards as Chen Hong.

Xia Yu's Best Actor award at the Venice Film Festival has left them feeling quite unbalanced.

Shouldn't this 'Best Actor' award be based on acting skills? Giving it to a kid who just turned 18... does he even know what acting is?!

Although neither of them showed it, their words revealed their resentment and discontent, with Chen Daoming being particularly sarcastic.

"The world has really changed."

He lamented, "Back when we first entered the industry, apart from children's play actors, who didn't have to hone their skills for several years before gaining recognition? Unlike now, young people can make headlines so easily."

Zhang Yan ignored his question and instead changed the subject, asking Zhang Guoli, "Director Zhang, why don't you take a few days off first, and then..."

"Need not!"

Zhang Guoli flatly refused: "I was already late in preparing, not to mention that I directed and acted in it myself. If I don't hurry up, how can I convince the public?"

In terms of directing talent, Zhang Guoli may not be as good as Feng Xiaogang, but his energy is something that most people don't have.

I heard that he's been filming during the day and then talking on the phone with the screenwriter of "Prime Minister Liu Luoguo" at night, often staying up until one or two in the morning. He then gets up the next morning to continue filming as usual, without missing anything.

This person is almost forty years old...

Zhang Yan felt that at his age, he might not be able to catch up with the other person.

He then pressed further, "Did Zhang Guojun throw a tantrum later? How did the casting of the other actors go?"

"They had emotions, but they didn't direct them at me."

Zhang Guoli laughed and said, "I've seen plenty of people like him. Although he doesn't know what flexibility is, he's very serious about his work and won't let his emotions interfere with his business."

Therefore, human nature is complex.

From Zhang Yan's perspective, Zhang Guojun's domineering approach was completely unacceptable. However, to be fair, he genuinely wanted to make a good TV series, rather than focusing solely on vying for power and profit.

"There are only a few supporting roles that haven't been finalized yet."

At this point, Deng Jie chimed in, "Zhang Guojun didn't recommend anyone, and Guoli and I didn't have anyone we liked either. Perhaps you, Mr. Zhang, will have to choose someone yourself."

"is it?"

Zhang Yan asked with some curiosity, "What kind of role is so difficult to produce?"

Deng Jie laughed and said, "One is Yin Hong, who has a lot of screen time in the drama; another is Consort Jiang, who made Emperor Qianlong stop attending court in the morning; and the third is my head maid, Yan Cui, who later became Liu Yong's concubine."

These three roles shouldn't be difficult to choose.

Zhang Yan immediately realized that it wasn't that roles were hard to find, but rather that he had been given room to 'showcase' his abilities.

"Consort Jiang, let's select people from the dance troupe."

Having secured the role with the fewest scenes for Wang Luyao, Zhang Yan then looked at Chen Hong: "Do you have any suitable candidates for the remaining two roles?"

He doesn't have anyone to promote lately—Li Bingbing is only a sophomore in college, so he definitely can't take on those two roles.

Besides, Chen Hong is now the official boss's wife, so Zhang Yan definitely needs to consult her opinion.

Chen Hong, protecting her belly, laughed and said, "You decide. I haven't been to the company much lately, so I can't think of anyone more suitable right now. By the way, remember to pick out the lead actors for 'The Age of Glory' first, so that there won't be any scheduling conflicts."

Speaking of the lead actors in "The Age of Glory," Zhang Yan has a headache. Because it's a script specifically written for young actors, the competition is incredibly fierce.

Students from the Central Academy of Drama, Beijing Film Academy, and Shanghai Theatre Academy each displayed their unique talents, with the Central Academy of Drama, having the largest number of students, even showing signs of internal strife.

(End of this chapter)