Huayu: This celebrity doesn't follow the rules.

Chapter 122 The Night Chase is Going to Satellite TV

The next day, at 9:30 a.m., in the meeting room of Jiangying Media.

Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, warming the room and creating a stark contrast to the chilly atmosphere of the audition studio the day before.

Jiang Ye personally brewed the tea, and the fragrant aroma filled the air.

There was a soft knock on the door, and Bailu led the two of them in.

Walking in front was Pan Leming, dressed in a comfortable casual suit, with his usual slightly shy and kind smile on his face.

Behind him followed a capable and efficient woman with short hair, exquisite makeup, and sharp, scrutinizing eyes. She was none other than Chen Zhixi, the current head of Ruyi Film and Television.

"Teacher Pan, General Manager Chen, welcome, please have a seat."

Jiang Ye greeted him warmly, shook hands with him, and glanced at Pan Leming quickly and politely.

With just that one glance, Jiang Ye's heart skipped a beat, and his last shred of hope vanished.

It was pretty much as he had expected, or even more severe.

Several years of silence can have a huge impact on a person's appearance.

Old Pan in front of me still has the features of his former handsome face, and his temperament is more calm and gentle, but he has indeed had problems with his body management, and his figure is too round.

The suit looked a bit tight on him, completely lacking the slender, elegant, and frail scholarly air of Xu Xian from back then, and also quite different from the decadent and tough Guan Hongfeng in "Day and Night".

The male protagonist of "A Thousand Years of Song" is a general who has lived for nearly a thousand years. He needs a kind of inhuman handsomeness and aloofness that has been honed and refined by the years, so the requirements for his appearance are extremely high.

Being short might be compensated for with camera lenses and shoe insoles, but this overall bulkiness would be disastrous under a high-definition lens, making it hard for viewers to believe that this is a charming, non-human being who can make young girls' hearts flutter.

He originally had some expectations for Lao Pan, just in case it was a good fit.

After exchanging pleasantries and taking their seats, they drank tea for a while.

We chatted about our recent situations, and the atmosphere was pleasant.

Jiang Ye didn't waste any words and went straight to the point.

"Mr. Pan, Mr. Chen, thank you both very much for coming today. I'll get straight to the point."

Pan Leming and Chen Zhixi both put down their teacups and looked at him.

"I have the utmost admiration for Teacher Pan's acting skills and dedication, which is the main reason why I initially extended the invitation."

Jiang Ye first set the tone, then subtly shifted his tone, "But precisely because of my admiration, I must take on more responsibility. The male lead in the 'A Thousand Years of Song' project has a rather unique character setting, with extremely high requirements for appearance and the unique atmosphere between him and the actresses, which could even be described as somewhat obsessive."

He paused, then looked sincerely at Pan Leming: "Brother Pan, to be honest, I feel that the current character design may not be able to fully showcase your charm."

“It’s even possible that the audience might overlook your excellent acting skills because of the demanding requirements for appearance. This would be a loss for you and for our project. So, I think this male lead role might not be suitable for you.”

Actually, I just think he's too fat...

Having said all that, Pan Leming showed no anger. He simply smiled knowingly, even with a hint of relief: "Director Jiang, you're too kind. I understand. I've read the script, and indeed... it's a bit inappropriate!"

After reading the script, he felt a little insecure, and he was well aware of his current appearance.

Moreover, during the initial discussions, the show was scheduled to start filming immediately, leaving him no time to even lose weight.

However, we still have to come.

What if?
Chen Zhixi, standing beside him, raised her eyebrows slightly. She didn't speak immediately but waited for Jiang Ye to continue.

She knew very well that Jiang Ye had invited them over not just to say, "You're not suitable."

Jiang Ye revealed his true purpose: "But, Brother Pan, President Chen, I have another notebook here that I think is tailor-made for you."

He gave him a wink, and his assistant immediately handed him the script outline for "Day and Night".

"This is the story of twin brothers chasing a murderer. The older brother is a former captain of the criminal investigation team. He has a calm personality and is carrying the suspicions of a family annihilation case."

"The younger brother is a gangster with a strong sense of social responsibility. The actor needs to accurately portray two completely different people in one play, and there are even plays within plays where the actor plays the other."

"I've thought about it a lot, and I can't think of anyone else in the entire industry besides Brother Pan who can handle this kind of extreme performance tension and depth."

Jiang Ye's tone was full of affirmation and enticement: "This role is the real stage to showcase your explosive acting skills! The male lead, I wonder if Teacher Pan is interested?"

Pan Leming picked up the script outline, glanced through a few pages, and his eyes instantly changed. The excitement of encountering a role he liked made his fingertips tremble slightly.

He looked up and exchanged a glance with Chen Zhixi.

Chen Zhixi was an extremely shrewd person, and he immediately understood that Lao Pan had his eye on this manuscript.

But she still wanted to confirm Jiang Ye's intentions again.

"President Jiang's script is indeed brilliant. I know Lao Pan's personality; when he encounters such a challenging role, he can't take his eyes off it."

She then changed the subject, "However, on the other hand, it would be difficult for Jiangying Media to handle a project of this caliber by itself alone. If President Jiang needs it, Ruyi is willing to invest in it. We can provide funding and production resources, which would also help Lao Pan set up a good platform."

This shows her sincerity!

Chen Zhixi would do everything in her power to help Pan Leming.

And that was precisely Jiang Ye's goal.

In fact, Jiang Ye wanted to discuss the collaboration on "Day and Night" from the very beginning, but the conditions for filming the series were not yet met, so he came up with the idea of ​​using the casting of "A Thousand Years of Song" as a pretext.

Pan Leming ultimately didn't get the male lead role in that drama, not because Jiang Ye deliberately made things difficult for him, but because his current physical condition didn't meet the requirements of the role.

If the shape fits, Jiang Ye isn't unwilling to compromise...

The reason he went through all that trouble was actually to get in touch with Chen Zhixi.

He needs Ruyi's accumulated experience in auditing channels and industry connections to help with the process.

Chen Zhixi is the best choice to get this drama broadcast on a major television network.

The key point is that she will owe Jiang Ye a favor after helping him, which is a very worthwhile deal.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ye laughed heartily, picked up the teapot and refilled the tea for the two of them: "President Chen is right. With a powerful company like Ruyi backing us, of course we couldn't ask for more."

"However, the project is just starting out, and we can discuss the specific details of cooperation gradually. There's no rush."

"Actually, besides discussing the roles, there is another more important purpose for inviting you two here today."

"I don't want to make this 'Day and Night' into just a web series."

The first season of "Day and Night" actually qualified for broadcast on a major television network.

It wasn't broadcast on satellite TV because it's a suspenseful crime drama with a plot involving many elements of crime and criminal investigation. Although the first season passed the review of the Ministry of Public Security and the State Administration of Radio and Television, its overall subject matter may not be as advantageous as some family ethics and urban romance dramas in terms of scheduling for broadcast on satellite TV.

Furthermore, since it's exclusively broadcast on Youku, the platform may have focused more on online channel operations and revenue during production and promotion, and didn't actively push for satellite broadcasting. It's somewhat of a pity.

Chen Zhixi paused, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Oh? President Jiang means... to launch it on a satellite?"

“Exactly.” Jiang Ye nodded, his tone becoming serious. “The script is of high quality, and Brother Pan’s acting skills are a solid foundation. I want to try for a prime-time slot on satellite TV.”

"But as you know, crime dramas and twins with reversed identities face much stricter censorship and more complicated processes when they are approved for broadcast on television than web series."

He looked at Chen Zhixi with sincere eyes, "Ruyi has been deeply involved in the industry for many years, and its connections and channels are more solid than those of new companies like ours. To be frank, I would like to ask Sister Chen to help smooth things over with the approval process."

The surprise in Chen Zhixi's eyes instantly turned into barely suppressed excitement. She leaned forward slightly, and her voice rose a few decibels: "On satellite TV? Let me see the script!"

In 2016, there was still a significant gap between web series and television dramas.

She took the complete script from her assistant, her fingertips tracing the neatly printed pages, reading through it word by word, from the details of the case to the psychological descriptions of the characters.

The only sound in the meeting room was the soft rustling of papers turning. Jiang Ye and Pan Leming tacitly refrained from disturbing her, each holding a teacup and waiting for her judgment.

Half an hour later, Chen Zhixi slammed the script shut, his eyes practically overflowing with excitement.

She looked at Jiang Ye, her tone filled with unwavering certainty: "Jiang Ye, this script is a sure thing! The twin identity reversal is captivating, the criminal investigation is solid, and the character arcs are well-developed. Lao Pan is absolutely perfect for this role!"

She paused, then turned to the core issue: "Don't worry about the satellite TV broadcast. I know the censorship thresholds for police and crime dramas inside and out. Next week, I'll have the company's legal department and censorship department work together to screen any potentially problematic details in the script, and then have some familiar expert consultants review it. As for the distribution channels, I'll handle that personally and make sure the process is smooth."

Pan Leming sat to the side, listening to the two's plan, and his tense shoulders completely relaxed.

He knew that Chen Zhixi's words not only secured the role, but also largely guaranteed the future of the drama.

Jiang Ye smiled and raised his glass: "With Sister Chen's words, I feel at ease. This cup of tea is for you, and also for our future cooperation."

The aroma of tea filled the air once more, but this time, there was a sense of peace and satisfaction, along with a subtle anticipation of a future blockbuster product.

Jiang Ye didn't mention this drama at the meeting because the collaboration hadn't been finalized yet.

In 2016, Jiangying Media clearly identified two key projects as its strategic focus.

One project targets overseas markets, opening a gateway to international expansion.

The other project aims to dominate primetime slots on satellite TV, targeting the national popularity and influence of mainstream platforms.

He needs to shed the label that outsiders have attached to Jiangying Media as a web drama company and allow the company to gain a more stable position in the industry.

If these two dramas can break through and become hits in their respective fields, with one gaining overseas reputation and market share and the other establishing itself on mainstream satellite TV, then Jiangying Media's voice in industry resource competition, its ability to negotiate project prices, and even the level of its partners will surely experience a qualitative leap.

The company's Series A valuation can also increase significantly!

The door to the reception room closed gently, and the footsteps of Pan Leming and Chen Zhixi faded into the distance.

Jiang Ye leaned back in his chair, let out a long sigh of relief, and felt great.

Just then, the door was carefully pushed open a crack, and a head peeked in, its eyes filled with trepidation.

"Boss, have they left?" Bai Lu asked in a low voice.

"Ah."

Jiang Ye was in a good mood, and seeing her pitiful look, he couldn't help but tease her. He deliberately put on a stern face and said, "Little Bai."

Bai Lu's heart tightened, and she stood up straight, holding the tray.

"You didn't get the lead role, so you're not going to film anything? Are you going to work for me as a free cleaner and experience life?"

Bai Lu was stunned, her eyes widening instantly, her voice trembling with grievance, almost bringing her to tears: "Boss! Wasn't it...didn't you have someone tell me to stay another day? I...I already asked for leave from the film crew!"

Her voice trailed off as she spoke, feeling like she'd been tricked again.

"Oh? Is that so?" Jiang Ye pretended to think for a moment, then laughed, picked up the coffee she had just placed on the table, took a big gulp, and smacked his lips.

A familiar feeling, a familiar taste.

The coffee made by Xiaobai is still great!
"Actually, it's nothing. Let's make some coffee and go back to the film set!"

Egret: "..."

She wanted to slam the tray in her hand onto Jiang Ye's head.

Jiang Ye found it even more amusing to see her little face scrunched up like a upset little dumpling: "Ahem, Xiaobai, do you know why coffee is bitter?"

The egret looked up blankly.

"Because it can't beat you."

Jiang Ye told an extremely lame joke in a very serious tone.

Bai Lu's lips twitched, forcing out a fake smile that was even uglier than crying: "Heh, heh... Boss, your joke... is even colder than my acting."

She couldn't bring herself to laugh; she just felt so tired.

Seeing her pitiful, angry look, Jiang Ye finally had a change of heart and stopped teasing her.

He put down his coffee cup, his tone returning to normal: "Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Are you free tonight?"

"No...no."

"Okay, come with me to dinner tonight, I'll introduce you to some seniors."

Bai Lu was suddenly stunned, her eyes widening instantly, this time filled with wariness and a hint of panic: "Huh? Dinner? Boss, this... isn't this the legendary... business dinner??"

Countless dark rumors about the entertainment industry flashed through her mind in an instant, and her voice trembled, "I...should I drink with them? I can't hold my liquor, I'm knocked out after just one drink!"

Now it was Jiang Ye's turn to be stunned.

"Wow? You've improved, Xiao Bai. You even know the industry's unspoken rules now?"

"I...I saw the gossip online..."

"You wish! Drinking with them? Give me a break. This is a family dinner, a proper meal and business discussion. Even if you wanted to, they have wives here. Do you think you could possibly have a chance? You're just dreaming!"

Egret: "..."

Her feelings were extremely complicated. She was relieved that she didn't have to go to the dreaded dinner party, but she also felt a strange sense of frustration and resentment because her boss "disliked" her so much.

She silently lowered her head and vigorously wiped the already clean coffee table, imagining it as Jiang Ye's face.

I'll rub you to death!
Seeing her humiliated expression, Jiang Ye felt even better and took another sip of coffee with great satisfaction.

Hmm, next time we hire a new assistant, let Xiaobai teach her how to make coffee first!
(End of this chapter)