Chapter 112 Exclusive Cooperation with Jinjiang
Liu Quan was prepared for his proposal to be completely revamped, something he had encountered many times before.
Especially for someone like Su Ruyi who has achieved great success at a young age, it is easy to become arrogant, thinking that she has better insight than professionals, and wanting to meddle in everything.
Liu Quan felt that the project was probably doomed to fail completely. He didn't actually lack programs, but he felt that this program was very special and might start a new trend.
The new station's positioning is perfectly suited to this kind of adventure; otherwise, it would be difficult to stand out among so many television stations.
But when Liu Quan opened the proposal, his tense expression changed.
Is this... changed or not?
Liu Quan sensed that this proposal was different from the ones he had seen before, but he couldn't quite pinpoint the difference. He just found it more interesting.
Although Liu Quan was very familiar with the project, he did not participate in the planning.
He couldn't help but pick up the proposal he had given to Su Ruyi before. After opening it, he saw that it was marked with red pen. Although the handwriting was rather messy, the changes were still clearly visible.
Su Ruyi did not make drastic changes to the proposal, but only modified some of the games. Moreover, she made some deletions and improvements on the original basis to make the program more layered and competitive, the interaction between the guests was closer, and it was more interesting, thus respecting the creators' hard work.
As Su Ruyi said, the new proposal was revised from the audience's perspective, not created.
"Mr. Su, these changes are fantastic!"
As Liu Quan carefully perused the annotated proposal, he gained a clearer understanding of Su Ruyi's intentions.
Su Ruyi smiled and said, "Content creation still relies on professionals. I'm just offering some suggestions, with the aim of making the program more interesting."
Su Ruyi never intended to make major changes; if she were to do that, she might as well start a completely new program.
If too many changes are made, the program may suffer from poor quality due to unfamiliarity upon implementation.
"With these changes to the program, I have even more confidence," Liu Quan praised.
Half of it was indeed because of agreement, and the other half was for investment.
Su Ruyi didn't shy away from expressing her interest in the show, stating frankly, "I want this show to be seen by the audience, but..."
When Liu Quan heard the word "but," his heart jumped.
"Mr. Su, please tell us. As long as our production team can meet your needs, we will do our best to do so."
Su Ruyi did not answer directly, but asked, "Have you decided on your host?"
"Does Mr. Su have any recommendations?"
Liu Quan was not surprised. It's not unusual for investors to want to promote their favorites; there are always people with connections in any circle.
As long as it's not too bad, Liu Quan thinks it's worth considering.
Anyway, there are two hosts. As long as the hosts they choose are reliable, those with connections who are really incompetent can just be background figures.
First, we need to get the project started.
Su Ruyi shook her head: "I'm not familiar with people in this industry, but I hope I can be there when they're choosing a host."
For such variety shows to be successfully launched, the host's personal charm is also very important. The ability to control the flow of the show, the quick wit, and the ability to catch jokes will all affect the overall quality of the program.
An excellent host is very important in a program. Not only must they have excellent personal skills, but they must also be popular with the audience.
Audience appeal is a very mysterious thing; sometimes it's not necessarily related to looks. Some hosts or actors have average appearances, but they're just likable. Some people have great looks, but they just don't have that "leading man" vibe, and the same goes for hosts.
This program requires an excellent host to control the entire show, and because it requires two hosts, these two hosts must also have a great rapport and be able to work harmoniously together.
Su Ruyi's money didn't come from thin air; she needs to be cautious with her investments and can't just throw it all in like that.
Especially since this is a new station with no existing audience, if the program doesn't perform well, all her money will be wasted without making a sound.
"Of course, no problem!" Liu Quan breathed a sigh of relief.
"Are you planning to select the show's host from within the station, or will you be recruiting from the public?"
Liu Quan: "We plan to conduct open recruitment. We don't have many hosts at our new station, so we want to have more options."
Most of the new TV hosts are newcomers, and not all of them have permanent positions.
The new station's overall model is very novel. Unlike other TV stations such as the provincial station, where once you join, you are guaranteed a permanent position, the new station mainly hires contract workers, except for those transferred from the provincial radio and television station or the provincial station who already have permanent positions.
Therefore, the pressure is immense, and if you don't perform well, you may be fired.
However, this also makes it highly mobile.
Su Ruyi nodded, and then raised her requirements regarding business cooperation.
After listening to her story, Liu Quan fell silent.
Su Ruyi invested in and booked all the advertising for the program, including exclusive title sponsorship, brand collaborations, opening, mid- and closing credits ads, and advertising standees within the program, etc. The revenue will be split equally with the TV station.
This means that she will not only promote her own brand, but also collaborate with other brands.
Of course, this is on the premise that the show has good ratings.
If the ratings are poor, there's no way any advertisers will come to discuss cooperation.
Liu Quan had never known before that a program could insert so many advertisements; this was an advertising space he had never imagined.
"Are we watching a program or an advertisement?" Liu Quan couldn't help but ask.
Su Ruyi smiled without saying a word. Sure enough, one's perspective is determined by one's position. She used to hate watching TV and all the commercials, but now that she's an investor, she wants to cram every corner with commercials.
This kind of cooperation was something Liu Quan had never thought of before, since the TV station's programs had never sought external capital investment before.
Although Liu Quan complained, he wasn't disgusted. The new TV station was responsible for its own profits and losses, so it definitely wanted to gain more benefits, and he even felt that it had opened the door to a new world.
However, all of this is predicated on high enough viewership ratings; otherwise, it's all just empty talk.
Forget about any other commercials in the first two episodes.
The two parties reached an agreement on the details, then hired a lawyer to draft the contract, which was signed after both parties agreed to it.
On the day the contract was signed, Su Ruyi immediately transferred 100,000 yuan to a designated account for specific purposes.
Not only that, Su Ruyi also invited Liu Quan and the program crew to dinner so that everyone could get to know each other before the official launch.
The host has not yet been decided, so the core team consists of only two people: the director and the screenwriter, with Liu Quan serving as the producer.
Other staff, such as photographers, editors, prop masters, and post-production staff, will be transferred from the TV station when it is time to record the program.
The new station is short-staffed, and the technicians are responsible for several programs at the same time, and sometimes they have to do multiple jobs.
The director and screenwriter are both young. The director's name is Chen Mingsheng. He graduated from Beijing Film Academy three years ago and is 25 years old this year. He previously worked as an assistant director or deputy director at a provincial TV station and has never independently directed a program.
Screenwriter Wang Xiaowei is even younger, having just graduated from school last year. She was just hired when the new station recruited this year.
With such qualifications, it's no wonder no investors are willing to invest; he looks far too inexperienced.
In other words, the new station will give newcomers such opportunities, but it would be absolutely impossible for the provincial station, which is very particular about seniority.
The director and screenwriter were a bit nervous, but Chen Mingsheng was fine. He often interacts with people in his work and has attended many social events, so he kept trying to find topics to talk about.
Wang Xiaowei was very shy and ate her food quietly, clearly unsure how to handle the situation.
However, Su Ruyi is a very easy-going person. She didn't force anyone to drink, nor did she act superior just because she paid for the meal. Therefore, the meal was quite harmonious, and Wang Xiaowei later joined in the conversation.
The conversation at the dinner table mainly revolved around the program itself, and there was no need to deal with interpersonal relationships.
Everyone spoke freely, and Su Ruyi wouldn't get angry even if she was refuted. She would accept what made sense and express her own views if there were different opinions.
Once she enters her professional field, Wang Xiaowei naturally becomes very talkative.
Chen Mingsheng had initially come with a perfunctory attitude, but upon hearing Su Ruyi's opinion, he sighed:
"Mr. Su, if I didn't know your background, I would have thought you were in this industry too. Your opinion is so professional."
He had this idea when he first saw the revised proposal, and now, after discussing it face-to-face, he felt that Su Ruyi's opinion was very forward-thinking.
"You flatter me. I just watch a lot of things. I watch a lot of variety shows from Hong Kong and Taiwan."
Su Ruyi dared not take credit for it; she had simply seen too much. Although people from different eras had different ideas, the ways of finding happiness were not too different.
People in this era have relatively limited entertainment options, and their threshold for entertainment has not been raised by online communication, interaction, short videos, and other forms of content creation. Su Ruyi believes that audiences are more easily pleased.
Hong Kong and Taiwan have a wider variety of variety shows than mainland China, so everyone immediately understood what Su Ruyi meant when she said that.
Wang Xiaowei couldn't help but say, "I really like the 'I act, you guess' game that you suggested, Boss Su. I played it with my friends and found it very interesting."
"I act, you guess" is a very classic game in variety shows, and it is still very interesting even after many years.
It's just that people have seen so much of this, so they need even more chemistry between the guests.
Su Ruyi briefly mentioned the game. Her suggestion in the planning section was to create a game library, and each episode could select more suitable games based on the guests.
Then, in this game library, many games commonly seen in variety shows were mentioned.
Wang Xiaowei tried several games and found them all very interesting, but the "I Act, You Guess" game made her and her staff burst into laughter.
When the other person can't guess correctly no matter what, the performer will really get so anxious that they forget everything and use all sorts of bizarre actions and expressions.
She felt that if it were shown on a TV program, the effect would be excellent.
Su Ruyi was also very confident, but she did not forget the most important thing.
"The guests for the first episode are very important. Have you decided who to invite?"
Chen Mingsheng: "We are considering inviting stars from Hong Kong and Taiwan, but we will be short on funds."
The Hong Kong and Taiwan film and television industries are currently thriving, producing many superstars who are extremely popular and beloved by the public. In fact, the mainland often looks up to them with a sense of awe.
They are very famous, and their appearance will definitely attract everyone's attention. If they can appear on the show, there is no need to worry about the ratings.
However, their asking prices are completely different from those of mainland artists.
Even for celebrities who aren't very famous, the prices aren't low.
Su Ruyi immediately refused, "It's too expensive, not worth it. Hiring one Hong Kong or Taiwan star is enough to invite several famous actors or singers from the mainland. The core of this program is still games and entertainment."
A small local TV station doesn't currently have the capacity to invite a group of big stars to spend several hours recording a program.
Investor Su Ruyi disagreed, as she did not want to spend too much money on the show.
She was just testing the waters with a portion of her funds out of interest.
Liu Quan: "We're considering inviting them to sing one or two songs, which would significantly reduce the cost."
Su Ruyi nodded, that was no problem.
“I think we could invite comedians to participate in the show; that would make it more interesting,” Wang Xiaowei suggested.
Many comedians are so funny that just seeing them makes you laugh, which easily creates a good show.
Although many comedians have very different personalities offstage and onstage, they are often quick-witted, and many of them are creative.
Su Ruyi: "I think we could also try inviting actors from popular dramas and use the audience's love for these dramas to attract their attention. For example, the recently popular drama 'Going South' mainly featured new actors, without any big names, so the fees shouldn't be too high."
"Going South" tells the story of migrant workers who went south. Through the perspectives of several main characters, it shows the experiences of different people who left their hometowns to work after the opening up of China.
Some people fall into depravity, some become rich overnight, and some flee back to their hometowns.
The story realistically portrays the lives of migrant workers, with a dramatic and engaging plot that has garnered widespread acclaim.
The theme song of the TV series was played on repeat in the streets and alleys, and people remembered the names of the female and male leads.
Although this TV series made the male and female leads famous and also gave some supporting actors some recognition, they are still newcomers with few works. Inviting them to participate in the program should not cost too much.
Currently, actors and singers in the mainland film and television industry do not command very high appearance fees.
In recent years, there has been a boom in film and television dramas, with many excellent works emerging. If the actors in a particular drama demand high fees, they can switch to other dramas, so there is still a wide range of choices.
Liu Quan's eyes lit up: "That's a great suggestion!"
Performances are also available, including theme songs and insert songs from TV dramas, and even classic scenes or extra episodes from the show, allowing everyone to relive the experience.
Su Ruyi only needs to offer suggestions; whether they are adopted or how they are implemented later is none of her concern, as long as her money is in place.
Su Ruyi is currently preparing to open her third clothing store, which will follow the same model as the new store. It will not only sell clothes produced in her own factory, but will also source goods from the south.
Wang Huiting will be in charge of purchasing goods, while Luo Youqiong will be responsible for the specific operation of the two stores.
The sales volume of Ruyi Selected Department has exceeded that of Ruyi brand apparel, and the profits are very considerable.
Su Ruyi didn't miss this opportunity and opened a store in another area so that she could get more goods and lower the price.
Having already gained experience, operating the new store was much easier. The store was also Su Ruyi's property, so she could design it however she wanted.
"Ruyi, I want to talk to you about something after we finish eating," Li Mei said.
Li Mei now runs her own business and doesn't cook every day, but whenever she does, she invites Su Ruyi over.
Su Ruyi would go whenever she had free time.
Li Mei is a good cook, and she likes her very much.
Seeing her serious expression, Su Ruyi guessed it was about business.
Li Mei now runs a braised food shop, located at the storefront that Lu Ting mentioned before.
This shop opened half a year ago. Li Mei had been setting up a stall near the construction site for a while before deciding to open a shop.
Li Mei sets up a stall near the construction site. Business is very good. She can sell out every meal. Her daily income is more than double that of people in the county.
It was indeed very hard work. Every day was like a spinning top, busy in circles, and the arms were almost too heavy to lift. The money earned was all hard-earned.
She hired people to help her, but she was still too busy and had very little time to rest each day, so she didn't have time to take care of Tong Yunyun.
Tong Yunyun adapted well to the provincial capital, contrary to Li Mei's earlier concerns that they came from a small town and that Tong Yunyun, without a father, would be bullied by city kids.
Tong Yunyun is a social butterfly. She quickly became friends with her classmates after arriving at the new school. Although her academic performance is not very good, she has not fallen behind.
Li Mei didn't worry much and focused all her attention on the business.
In the second semester, Tong Yunyun got into a fight and broke the other person's head; the other person was an older student.
Although the investigation later revealed that Tong Yunyun was bullying younger students and extorting protection money from them, Tong Yunyun, who considered herself the boss, went directly to confront them.
But Li Mei also realized that she was neglecting her child. When she went to school, she even got her child's class wrong.
So Li Mei gave up setting up a stall at the entrance of the construction site and instead rented Lu Ting's storefront to open a braised food shop.
When she first set up her stall, her braised food was very popular. Not only did construction workers come to buy it, but also engineers and contractors who were particular about their craft. Later, even residents from the surrounding area came to buy it, and her business was booming.
Tong Dahua's orders from her have been increasing, and Li Mei will also take the time to improve the spice packets so that Tong Dahua can produce more consistently high-quality products.
Li Mei's braised food shop has been doing very well for the past six months. Moreover, because of her experience selling spice packets to Tong Dahua, she can delegate most of the braising work to others while keeping it confidential. She only needs to be responsible for the core steps.
She can also take a break from her demanding work and have time to take care of her children.
"Aunt Mei, just tell me what's on your mind," Su Ruyi said.
Li Mei didn't hesitate and explained the whole story very straightforwardly. Since starting her business, her personality has changed a lot, and she is more decisive than before.
"Ruyi, I'm thinking of opening a branch store. What do you think?"
"Of course you can. Your business is so good. Didn't you say before that people come from far away to buy from you? You can definitely open a branch in another area."
Li Mei rubbed her hands together and said, "I want to cooperate with you to establish a company and open a chain of stores."
Su Ruyi was surprised. Li Mei had always been conservative, so why was she suddenly so ambitious?
"Aunt Mei, why did you suddenly have this idea?"
"To be honest, I want to be a boss like you, not a small business owner."
Although both are self-employed, the owner of a company and the owner of a snack shop are not the same thing.
Although a wave of people going into business has begun, the mainstream opinion is still that being a self-employed individual is shameful. The overall atmosphere in Qing Province is relatively conservative. Although many people envy the wealth of self-employed individuals, it does not stop them from looking down on them.
"Yunyun was bullied at school?" Su Ruyi frowned.
If it weren't for the child, based on Su Ruyi's understanding of Li Mei, she wouldn't have suddenly changed so much in such a short time.
"No, not at all." Li Mei looked up towards the room. Tong Yunyun was doing her homework in the room, with Wang Huizhen keeping her company. The door was closed.
“However, some people’s words are really harsh and have affected the children. Some teachers also look down on families like ours. Huizhen is also approaching the age to look for a partner. Having a mother who is a company CEO sounds more respectable than being self-employed.”
Su Ruyi always felt that Li Mei was overthinking things. Tong Yunyun had become famous in one battle, and everyone knew that this child was not to be trifled with and had a strong sense of justice.
Several times when she passed by the school, she saw Tong Yunyun being surrounded by a group of children.
Su Ruyi had also asked Tong Yunyun about her situation at school, and Tong Yunyun was quite satisfied with her teachers.
The homeroom teacher knew that Su Ruyi was her older sister, and even asked Tong Yunyun to study with her, showing a great liking for Su Ruyi.
As for Wang Huizhen's marriage, Su Ruyi felt that Li Mei was thinking too soon, as Wang Huizhen clearly wasn't interested in that matter yet.
She is currently taking correspondence courses, studying hard to obtain a university degree, while also needing to work.
You've only been enjoying good times for a few years, why get married and create trouble for yourself?
Nowadays, when women get married, they often have to spend a lot of energy taking care of their new family and dealing with their in-laws.
Once you get married, do you have to have children? A whole host of things come rushing in.
While you're still young, why not enjoy more time alone and when you don't have much responsibility?
However, Su Ruyi naturally encouraged Li Mei's desire to go further.
Su Ruyi is very optimistic about Li Mei's braised food business and believes it is worthwhile to invest in and cooperate with her.
"Are you sure you want to get me to invest? You have a lot of money right now, right? If you open one store after another, you can definitely support it."
Li Mei frankly said, "I feel uneasy running such a big business all by myself, and I don't have much money. I don't want to invest it all at once. By cooperating with you, I can share the risks with someone."
“Okay, let’s pick a time to discuss the specific terms and conditions, whether to open chain stores or adopt a franchise model.”
While Su Ruyi was discussing the braised food shop with Li Mei, the TV station was also preparing for a new program.
With Su Ruyi's investment, the station director quickly approved the new program, but also indicated that the program could not be scheduled for the prime time slot of Saturday night.
Most people at the station didn't think highly of the program; they thought the idea was too audacious. Although it was approved, they didn't take it seriously.
Two weeks later, Chen Mingsheng invited Su Ruyi to audition for a program host.
Some of the people who came for the interview saw the job posting and wanted to give it a try, while others were invited by Chen Mingsheng through various universities, local radio stations, and television stations.
Although it is described as a contract position without a permanent position, it still attracts a large number of people.
The production team had already screened the candidates once, but more than twenty people still came to interview.
Su Ruyi had previously suggested that a presenter doesn't have to be particularly beautiful, but must be humorous and quick-witted, which is completely different from the style of news broadcasting.
Therefore, while most of the people who make it to the final interview stage are good-looking and photogenic, there are also a few whose appearance is relatively average.
Su Ruyi had already received relevant information about these people and had a basic understanding of them, with a deep impression of several of them.
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