Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 438, Section 436: Reboot

In July, the heat wave in Changsha, accompanied by humidity, steams up every inch of the air.

Wang Sheng was enjoying a moment of peace and coolness in the executive suite of the Hilton Star City Hotel.

After a quick lunch, I took a short rest.

Just after 1 p.m., the doorbell for the suite rang precisely on time.

Li Tingting led in a middle-aged reporter with a refined demeanor and wearing black-rimmed glasses—Zhang Jianwei, a senior reporter from China Youth Daily and an old acquaintance of Wang Sheng.

From the "spark theory" when Shengying Media first emerged to the in-depth reports on many key moments, Zhang Jianwei recorded many important moments of Wang Sheng and Shengying with his keen observation and relatively objective writing.

"Teacher Zhang, thank you for your hard work." Wang Sheng stood up to greet him with a gentle smile.

"President Wang really worked hard. He fought a tough battle this morning, a true testament to his courage and skill, which was truly awe-inspiring."

Zhang Jianwei shook hands with a smile, his words full of sincere praise: "Now the internet is praising you as a 'young business leader' and a 'flag bearer of cultural confidence'."

“It’s all just empty fame. Winning a debate doesn’t mean you’re set for life.” Wang Sheng invited Zhang Jianwei to sit on the sofa in the living room. After Li Tingting served him some tea, she quietly stepped aside to take notes. “On the road to industry, hard work is more important than verbal battles.”

The interview began in a relaxed yet insightful atmosphere.

Zhang Jianwei's questions were clearly well-prepared, covering both the core topics of the morning's debate and extending to Shengying Media's future strategy.

"Mr. Wang, this morning you repeatedly emphasized 'cultural confidence' and 'market-oriented path.' Does this mean that Shengying will further increase its investment in commercial genre films and reduce projects that are more auteur-driven or artistically exploratory?" Zhang Jianwei asked, turning on his recorder.

Wang Sheng shook his head, picked up his teacup and took a sip: "This is a misunderstanding, or rather, a binary view of either/or. Shengying's film slate has always been diverse."

We want to make commercial blockbusters like "Night at the Museum," we also make stylized genre films like "Brotherhood of Blades," and we invest in art films like "Postmen in the Mountains."

The key is to find corresponding markets and ways for different types of films to survive. Commercial blockbusters make money, which in turn supports art films and the cultivation of new talent; conversely, the innovative explorations of art films can inject new aesthetic elements into commercial films. It's an ecosystem, not a matter of choosing one over the other.

He paused, then continued, "Moreover, I believe that commercial success inherently includes recognition of artistic value."

A film's success is short-lived if it only achieves box office success without leaving any cultural imprint or emotional resonance. What we strive for is both critical acclaim and commercial success—a unity of commercial and cultural value.

Zhang Jianwei nodded and took notes, then asked, "Regarding the listing, will the recent controversies affect Shengying Media's IPO process?"

“The innocent are innocent.” Wang Sheng’s tone was calm, but it carried an undeniable certainty. “All of Shengying Media’s operations are legal and compliant, and can withstand scrutiny.”

We are full of confidence in the future of the Chinese film market, and we also have full confidence in the professionalism and impartiality of the regulatory agencies.

The IPO plan is proceeding as scheduled and will not be altered by any noise. On the contrary, we believe that a more transparent and standardized capital market environment will benefit companies like Shengying that focus on long-term value and industry layout.

The conversation naturally turned to international cooperation and new media.

Wang Sheng then shared his views on future communication channels: "...The speed at which the Internet becomes widespread will exceed our imagination. It will not only be a tool for obtaining information, but also a core platform for entertainment consumption, social interaction, and even commercial transactions."

Shengying has already begun to develop its online business, such as the 'Maoyan' movie information platform and online seat selection system, which are currently under development.

In the future, viewers will increasingly rely on online reviews and convenient online services to choose which movies to watch and where to watch them.

He casually mentioned: "Even entertainment forms like music and idol selection will undergo disruptive changes due to the widespread use of mobile communication technologies, such as text messaging."

Viewers are no longer passive recipients; they can directly participate in the creation and selection of entertainment content by pressing their thumbs.

These words were both a judgment on future trends and a foreshadowing of what he would discuss with Ouyang Changlin that evening.

The interview lasted for more than an hour, and Zhang Jianwei closed his notebook with satisfaction.

……

In the evening, Ouyang Changlin hosted a banquet at a private restaurant with distinctive Hunan cuisine.

The private room was decorated in an antique style, and outside the window was a tranquil courtyard.

Besides Ouyang Changlin, a key figure who has been promoted to executive vice president of Hunan TV, several other high-ranking officials with real power, including the director of the satellite TV program center and the director of the advertising department, were also present.

The high level of the event demonstrates Hunan TV's high regard for Wang Sheng. After several rounds of drinks and dishes, the atmosphere became increasingly harmonious.

Ouyang Changlin, beaming, toasted Wang Sheng again for the success of the morning's debate: "President Wang, you have no idea, the ratings report came out this afternoon, and that live broadcast this morning was number one in the country during its time slot! The impact was enormous! You not only vindicated yourself, but also built a golden reputation for Hunan TV!"

Wang Sheng smiled and clinked glasses with him: "Director Ouyang, you're too kind. It was Hunan TV that gave me a platform to speak. It's a win-win situation."

“Yes, win-win cooperation!” Ouyang Changlin put down his wine glass, leaned forward slightly, and got to the point, “President Wang, to be honest, besides celebrating our success, there’s something else I’d like to discuss with you today.”

He paused, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness and anticipation: "It's 'Super Girl'."

Wang Sheng raised an eyebrow slightly, pretending to listen attentively.

Ouyang Changlin sighed, "Back in 97, taking advantage of the return of Hong Kong, we managed to create such a huge commotion. Cecilia Cheung became an overnight sensation and is still the most sought-after actress in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan."

But after that, we tried to do it again, but it always felt like something was missing, the timing wasn't right. It felt like that success that time was a perfect storm of circumstances, especially the prevailing trends of the era, as if it were all designed to launch Cecilia Cheung.

The program director picked up the thread, his tone tinged with confusion: "Yes, Mr. Wang. We've reviewed it many times and feel that while the competition format and promotion were innovative at the time, they don't seem unreplicable now. So why has it become so difficult to replicate that nationwide frenzy?"

"Director Ouyang, everyone," Wang Sheng began slowly, "The success of '97 certainly had a unique historical context. But to think it's unrepeatable is overly pessimistic. In my opinion, now is precisely the best time to relaunch 'Super Girl,' and even make it more influential than it was in '97!"

"Oh?" Ouyang Changlin and the others perked up, their eyes all focusing on Wang Sheng.

“There are several reasons,” Wang Sheng said clearly. “First, the technological foundation has begun to take shape, especially with the popularization and functional evolution of mobile communications.”

He took out his phone and waved it, "As far as I know, by the end of June this year, the number of mobile phone users nationwide has exceeded 6 million! (Note: This is actual data; in June 2002, the number of mobile phone users in China reached 2.06 million)"
Moreover, mobile phones are no longer just for making calls; their text messaging functions are becoming increasingly powerful, and the costs are decreasing. What does this mean?

He asked and answered his own question: "This means we can introduce 'SMS voting'! Let the audience vote for their favorite contestants directly by sending text messages to determine whether they advance!"

This interactive model of 'instant participation and destiny-determining' will greatly enhance audience engagement and stickiness, something that the 97 competition format, lacking audience interaction, simply cannot match!

Those present were all elites in the media industry, and they immediately realized the enormous energy and commercial potential contained within.

SMS voting not only generates amazing interactive data, but the information fee revenue it brings in is also a huge gold mine!

“Second,” Wang held up one finger, “the rise of internet forums and portal websites. Young people today are increasingly accustomed to communicating on the communities of portal websites like Sohu, Sina, and NetEase, as well as on BBS forums like Xici Hutong and Tianya Community.”

We can collaborate deeply with these websites to create dedicated discussion forums for "Super Girl," where we can share contestant updates, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and guide the discussion to gain traction.

The online public opinion sphere resonates with television broadcasts, rapidly amplifying a program's influence and generating buzz in society.

"Third," Wang Sheng continued, "after several years of development, the coverage and influence of provincial satellite TV stations are now vastly different from what they used to be. Hunan Satellite TV itself has also greatly improved its brand awareness and entertainment program production capabilities. It has the platform strength to undertake such a large-scale live talent show."

"Fourth, social and psychological needs." Wang Sheng looked at the crowd. "With economic development, young people have a stronger desire for individual expression and self-realization. They yearn to see the 'miracle' of ordinary people becoming famous overnight and to participate in the process of creating stars. 'Super Girl' provides just such a 'dream-making' stage and an outlet for emotional expression."

He concluded, "Therefore, it's not that the times don't need a second 'Super Girl,' but rather that the times are calling for an upgraded version of 'Super Girl' that better reflects audience sovereignty and can better leverage new media resources!"

These words stirred the emotions of Ouyang Changlin and the others, their eyes shining with excitement.

Wang Sheng's analysis not only points out the possibilities, but also outlines specific feasible paths and innovative points.

“SMS voting… online community collaboration… audience sovereignty…” Ouyang Changlin muttered to himself, then his eyes lit up and he exclaimed excitedly, “Brilliant! President Wang, your words have truly cleared up the fog! So how exactly should we cooperate?”

Wang Sheng was confident: "As usual, Enlight Media and Hunan TV will co-produce this project and form a joint project team. Enlight Media will be responsible for the core model design, artist contract templates, inviting some top judges, and using our film and television resources to provide outstanding contestants with follow-up development channels, such as film and television drama theme songs, roles, and even tailor-made movies."

Hunan Provincial Satellite TV will be responsible for program production, broadcasting, execution of local auditions, and major advertising sales. Profit sharing can be negotiated based on investment and resource contribution, similar to the model used for "Kung Fu Soccer."

He specifically emphasized: "This time, we want to firmly hold the contestants' management contracts in the hands of the joint project company to create a sustainable 'idol production line,' instead of just producing one Cecilia Cheung."

Ouyang Changlin raised his glass almost without hesitation: "I think it's a good idea! Have the staff work on finalizing the details as soon as possible! Mr. Wang, I wish us a second successful collaboration!"

“Together we create brilliance!”

Everyone raised their glasses in celebration.

(End of this chapter)