Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 274, Section 272: Wang Shengnian
In the first few days of December, in his spacious office on the ninth floor of the Jingxin Building, Wang Sheng simply told Li Tingting, "Follow the standard procedures with Taiyuan Entertainment, keep an eye on things," and then put the Korean distribution of "First Love" out of his mind.

The specific tasks will naturally be carried out by the professional team below.

After receiving the order, Li Tingting quickly coordinated with Shengying Media, which was newly established and mainly handled the overseas distribution, legal, and post-production departments for TV series. She began to deal with the contract details with Taewon Entertainment, represented by Jung Tae-won, and a series of complicated procedures required for film export.

As a cultural product export, especially in the late 1990s, film production was not something that could be easily resolved by simply signing a commercial contract.

The first hurdle is the approval of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT).

Detailed application materials need to be submitted to the Film Administration Bureau under the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, including a copy of the "Film Public Screening License", a copy of the distribution contract signed with the foreign company, a synopsis of the film, a list of the main creators, etc., to apply for the "Film Export Approval Certificate".

Among these aspects, the review of the film's political and cultural content is the core element, ensuring that it does not contain content that damages the national image, undermines friendly relations between China and foreign countries, or violates current policies and regulations.

As a pure love youth film, "First Love" has a positive and uplifting theme, so it was not difficult to pass the censorship, but the process was still necessary.

In addition, according to regulations, Chinese copyright holders are required to provide South Korean distributors with a complete set of film materials so that they can conduct localization and promotion overseas.

Sheng Ying Media's post-production department got busy preparing for the following: high-quality intermediate copies of the original film (to be used to create screening copies in South Korea that meet local cinema standards).
International audio track (a separate audio track containing only ambient sounds and sound effects, excluding dialogue and music; this is reserved for Korean dubbing or the production of high-quality subtitles).
It also includes a complete set of promotional materials, including high-definition digital stills, poster design source files, trailers in different edited versions, artistic photos and detailed introductions of director Wang Sheng and lead actors Gao Yuanyuan and Huang Xiaoming, etc.

These technical and administrative tasks are lengthy and meticulous, requiring repeated communication with the Korean side to confirm the format and requirements.

Wang Sheng had no interest in getting involved. His principle was clear: within the contract framework, provide materials that meet industry standards. The subsequent submission, rating, dubbing, subtitling, and promotion in South Korea would be things that Zheng Taiyuan would need to use his local connections and resources to push forward.

Although Jung Tae-won's ability to promote co-productions like "Flying Dance" shows that he is not without a foundation in film exchanges between the two countries, he still needs to overcome the challenges of censorship, cultural differences, and market competition that a purely mainland Chinese film will face when entering the South Korean market.

This process can take anywhere from a few months to indefinitely.

Wang Sheng remained calm about the situation. This copyright transaction was already an unexpected bonus, and its success or failure would not affect Shengying's cash flow or its core business strategy.

……

Throughout December, Wang Sheng's schedule was packed full, as if a multi-front battle had entered a critical stage of its charge.

One of his main focuses was the long-running TV series "Lurking," which he directed for the first time.

The project has already started, and there are countless things to do in the early stages of preparation.

The set design and construction work in Tianjin is nearing completion. Wang Sheng personally visited the site multiple times to scout out the details of the scenes with art director Huo Jianqi, striving to recreate the feel of the era, from the layout of the Tianjin Station office building to every piece of furniture in Yu Zecheng and Cuiping's "home".

Although the cast has been finalized, script readings, costume fittings, and test shoots are still essential. Wang Zhiwen, Chen Daoming, Li Youbin, Jiang Wenli... these names represent the top acting talents in Chinese-language television dramas. Bringing them together and creating the sparks needed for the script requires the coordination and direction of Wang Sheng, the overall helmsman.

He needs to find a balance between artistic pursuits and production efficiency, and the pressure is self-evident.

On another parallel front is the film "Happy Family," which will be released in theaters nationwide on December 10.

As Wang Sheng's latest work as director and screenwriter, following "30 Days", "The Pursuit of Happyness", "Flying Colors", and "First Love", market expectations have already been extremely high.

In the final week before the release, the promotional campaign reached its climax.

Huang Bo's highly recognizable face, full of local vitality, and Li Xiaoran's gentle yet seemingly more complicated image together occupied the pages of major entertainment newspapers.

"Dreamlike adventures," "family bonds," and "laughter mixed with tears" became the key promotional keywords.

Wang Sheng personally attended the grand premiere held at the Beijing Youth Palace. Facing the media, he spoke eloquently, focusing the spotlight more on director Wu Yiyi and lead actors Huang Bo and Li Xiaoran, while he himself remained behind the scenes. However, everyone knew that his will was evident in every aspect of the film, from its conception to its final form.

"Happy Family" came on strong, easily surpassing 80% of pre-screening rates in major box office cities. Its powerful buzz acted like a giant magnet, drawing away most of the oxygen and attention from the year-end film market.

Under these circumstances, "The Dream Factory," which was originally aiming for the Lunar New Year film season, found itself in a delicate and awkward position.

This comedy film, directed by Feng Xiaogang and featuring actors such as Ge You, Liu Pei, He Bing, and Ying Da, is backed by four major companies: Beijing Television Art Center, Forbidden City Film Group, Huayi Brothers Media Group, and Huayi Film Group. Both its subject matter (Beijing-style humor) and its cast are impressive.

If it were released during a Lunar New Year film season without Shengying Media, it would undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with.

However, faced with the prestigious "Wang Sheng Production" brand, the overwhelming publicity surrounding "Happy Family," and the immense enthusiasm shown by theaters, after urgent internal consultations and a weighing of options that inevitably carried a sense of frustration, the producers and distributors of "Party A and Party B" ultimately made a decision that was considered "wise" but also somewhat helpless by the industry: to temporarily avoid the limelight, adjust the release date, and postpone it to the Spring Festival of the following year.

Although the news has not been officially announced, it has already spread in small circles within Beijing.

This means that in the last month of 1999, the spotlight on the Chinese film market was almost entirely focused on one main player – Shengying Media.

From "The Pursuit of Happyness" which sparked social discussion at the beginning of the year, to "Flying Colors" which was difficult to stop due to piracy in the middle of the year, to "First Love" which set off a "national first love" trend at the end of the year and was successfully exported overseas, and now with "Happy Family" reigning supreme in the New Year's film season, Wang Sheng and his company have left their mark on this year at the turn of the century with a series of dazzling commercial successes and precise operation of genre films.

Oh, and there's also Shengying Media, the main producer of "The Birth of a Warrior," which became the highest-grossing film in mainland China in October.

Therefore, some media outlets have already referred to 1999 as "Wang's golden year".

(End of this chapter)