Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 50: You've really put me in a terrible situation.

After the interview, Zhang Jianwei took a brief tour of the office, which was about 20 square meters in size.

His gaze lingered on the opening group photo on the wall for a long time. In the photo, young Wang Sheng, Chen Liang, Houzi and others surrounded Han Sanping, who was cutting the ribbon in the center, with the sign "Shengying Media Co., Ltd." in the background.

Zhang Jianwei jotted something down in his notebook and then had the photographer take several photos of the office environment from different angles.

After finishing all these tasks, Zhang Jianwei took his leave.

……

After seeing Zhang Jianwei off, Wang Sheng returned to his office, poured himself a glass of cold water, and as he drank it, he replayed every detail of the interview in his mind.

His recent statement about "saving the flame of China's film industry" certainly had genuine feelings, as he had personally witnessed and experienced the predicament of the Beijing Film Studio. However, it was more of a deliberate attempt to "play the victim" and "exaggerate his own abilities."

Tying it to grand national sentiments and the survival of the industry is to gain sympathy, resolve disputes, and seize the high ground in public opinion to silence those who criticize it as "not doing its job properly" or "being a promoter of flaunting wealth."

Looking back now, it's logically consistent and emotionally compelling enough to resonate with journalists like Zhang Jianwei and the readers of China Youth Daily.

As for whether it's fake or not...

I've helped people make money, how could that be fake?
……

In the following days, turmoil was brewing within the Beijing Film Studio.

Han Sanping acted swiftly and decisively, taking advantage of Wang Sheng's booming business and the complete partnership, and quickly took charge of personnel reorganization.

The factory bulletin board posted the disciplinary decision: the deputy factory director in charge of personnel was ordered by the superior department to suspend his duties for investigation; the head of the personnel department, the deputy head of the security department, and the three security staff who were the most violent that day were all dismissed for "seriously violating factory rules and regulations, using crude and simplistic methods, and causing a bad influence"; and the matter was reported to the entire factory and related sister units.

This news came like a bombshell, causing a huge shock within the Beijing Film Studio.

The winds have completely shifted. Those who once scorned or coldly observed Wang Sheng and Chen Liang, these "troublemakers," now truly feel Han Sanping's iron-fisted determination to reform, and also see clearly the power contained within Shengying Media and Wang Sheng.

Chen Liang, Monkey, Big Liu, and Little Soldier, who were among the earliest followers of Wang Shenggan, were especially proud and walked with a swagger.

The beatings and scorn I endured back then have now transformed into doubled enthusiasm for my work.

When they get together, they inevitably drink a few glasses and rant about "serves them right." Their admiration for Wang Sheng deepens even further—Brother Sheng not only helped them make money, but also truly got justice for them!

……

On Thursday, June 6th, a brief but significant signing ceremony was held in the conference room of Beijing Film Studio.

Wang Sheng, representing Shengying Media, and Han Sanping, representing Beijing Film Studio, jointly signed a "Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement" and a detailed "Project Cooperation Implementation Rules".

The core content of the agreement includes:

1. Resource support: Beijing Film Studio will give priority to opening up core resources such as photography, lighting, sound recording, makeup, editing, and equipment to Shengying Media for its "private customization" business, and will settle accounts at internal preferential prices.

2. Profit Sharing: Based on the "customized" project, after deducting costs (including equipment depreciation, staff hours, material consumables, etc.), the profit will be distributed in a ratio of 60% to Beijing Film Studio and 40% to Shengying Media.

3. Personnel secondment: Beijing Film Studio encourages and coordinates key technical personnel to support Sheng Ying Media projects, and Sheng Ying Media is required to pay corresponding labor costs.

4. Brand association: Shengying Media may use descriptions such as "core team originates from the professional technical strength of Beijing Film Studio" in its publicity within a reasonable scope, and Beijing Film Studio will approve of this.

5. Expansion to other regions: Both parties will jointly support the expansion of the "personalized customization" business into the national market, with Beijing Film Studio leveraging its industry influence to assist in connecting resources in various regions. After signing the agreement and exchanging contracts, Han Sanping and Wang Sheng clasped hands tightly.

The attendees—the factory office director, the head of the finance department, and witnesses such as Yu Dong and Chen Liang—applauded.

Immediately afterwards, Wang Sheng made arrangements: he announced the formal establishment of the "Zhejiang-Jiangsu Business Development Department" of Shengying Media, with Yu Dong as the head and Chen Liang as the deputy head, reporting directly to Wang Sheng.

Due to Dong's experience and connections, he was responsible for overall planning, connecting with high-end clients, and establishing local relationships; Chen Liang was responsible for specific business execution, team management, and on-site filming support.

Initial target: Concentrate resources to conquer the Zhejiang market first, and once a foothold is established, immediately head north to enter the Jiangsu market, which also has strong consumer spending power.

……

Friday, June 7th.

The China Youth Daily published an interview with Zhang Jianwei on its second page, in a prominent position. The article was titled "The Guardian of 'The Spark' - A Beijing Film Studio Child's Market-Oriented Redemption Path".

The article centers on Wang Sheng's emotional statement about "saving the foundation of the film industry," detailing his original intention in founding Shengying Media, the difficulties he faced, and his deep affection for the film industry.

Although the controversy surrounding the "sky-high wedding" was mentioned, the overall tone was one of understanding and even approval, elevating the act to the level of exploring new paths for state-owned film studios and their employees who were undergoing difficult transformations.

Several mainstream media outlets have also reprinted or quoted the core viewpoints of this article.

The official media's stance is like issuing an invisible "birth certificate" to the "personal customization" business, indirectly acknowledging the legitimacy of such high-end services and their positive externalities, and regarding it as a new economic phenomenon worth observing in the process of reform and opening up.

Although the debate over luxury consumption will not stop, the voices of doubt have been largely neutralized.

……

On Monday, June 10, the effects of the ongoing report began to emerge.

The phone in Han Sanping's office started ringing incessantly.

Many of the calls did not come from the familiar eight major film studios, but from some more remote and struggling local film studios—such as Xixia Film Studio, Gansu Film Studio, Grassland Film Studio, Yunnan Film Studio, Snow Mountain Film Studio, Guizhou Film Studio, and Xihai Film Studio…

Their goals were remarkably similar—

First, he congratulated the Beijing Film Studio on its new path of reform and praised Han Sanping for his unique vision and pioneering spirit. Then, he abruptly changed the subject and began to complain about the factory's predicament of idle equipment, surplus staff, and no job opportunities for the children of its employees. Finally, he cautiously probed, "Director Han, could you include our factory in your 'wedding film' business to generate some revenue? We have the equipment and staff, and we can discuss profit sharing. We're all brother units, so please help us out."

These film studios are located in regions with low levels of economic development, extremely narrow markets, and where the local wealthy have a weak desire to consume, making it impossible to achieve scale or build a brand.

Therefore, seeing that the trend had already taken hold, these "poor relatives" all chose to "climb the social ladder".

A single order costs 400,000; these film studios know all too well how much it costs.

Some even went so far as to ask directly: "I heard that your Shengying Media business is expanding rapidly. Are you short of people? There are many capable and eager-to-learn kids in our factory. Could you arrange for them to work there and learn some skills? The salary and benefits can be in accordance with your rules."

Holding the phone receiver, Han Sanping looked out the window at the somewhat dilapidated Beijing Film Studio area, his feelings complicated.

I didn't intend to be the ringleader...

(End of this chapter)