Chapter 105 The Best of Us
After entering the office, Meng Bai did not wait for Liu Jun to call him, but took out tea from the tea cabinet and brewed some for himself.
"Hehe, this is my office, you look like you're back home." Liu Jun looked at Meng Bai's series of familiar movements and couldn't help but laugh and scold.
Meng Bai sighed: "I feel sorry for you to have a sip of tea. It's not for nothing. I just brought a few boxes of authentic Jinhua ham from Hengdian. I'll put it in your car and take it back to my eldest nephew to taste."
After that, he brought another cup of tea to the desk and whispered: "I also brought you two boxes of Dongyang specialty boy eggs. It is said that this thing is nourishing and aphrodisiac, just right for you, brother."
"What are you talking about? What are you talking about? I still need to replenish myself." Liu Jun said disdainfully, and then said: "But it's your kindness, brother. Let's put it in the car later."
"Haha."
The two chatted for a while, and Meng Bai turned the topic to Zhu Zhenhua who had just left.
"Oh, he has a youth campus project, which is a remake of a novel, and he wants to come and talk about cooperation with Leshi." Liu Jun said.
Meng Bai threw out his previous doubts: "Isn't the youth theme popular right now? Why do I think you seem to have rejected him?"
Liu Jun smiled and said, "Brother, you may not understand because you are mainly engaged in suspense dramas. Youth themes are indeed a popular choice in the past two years, but not all projects of this type are suitable for investment."
As he said, he explained to Meng Bai.
Most of the youth-themed works that have become popular in the past two years are classified as "youth pain", and the main style is "no death". What about early love, pregnancy, abortion, breakup, car accidents, fighting, cheating, young restlessness, male and female ignorance... In short, the more outrageous the plot, the more the protagonist is dead, the more the audience is willing to watch it.
Like last year's popular "Youth", this year's "My Deskmate", and Zhu Zhenhua's previous film "Fleeting Years", they basically follow this path, and the "degree of death" is gradually escalating.
It is precisely because of this that the market has gradually reached a consensus on youth-themed projects. If you want to make a living in youth films, you have to work hard to make your male and female protagonists go further on the road of "acting".
It is rumored that many youth-themed script projects now are not new just because one of the male and female protagonists dies or goes crazy. It has evolved to the point where the protagonists and supporting actors are lined up in a car accident. Those who don't know would think it is a traffic safety law popularization film.
In this situation, if anyone dares to say that he wants to make a youth film with a fresh style, investors will not think you are special, but will only think you are a fool who does not understand the market at all.
Zhu Zhenhua happened to be this fool.
"The project he brought is called "The Best of Us", a novel about youth. I took a look at it, how should I put it, it's a very fresh and plain style. The male and female protagonists are both high school students, encouraging each other to go to college together
or something like that." Liu Jun said: "This kind of content style, of course there is no problem in writing a novel. But our web dramas need a sense of the Internet and explosive points. Your male and female protagonists are either in class or doing homework every day, who will watch it."
Meng Bai thought for a while: "I think it's okay, a plain little romance drama is also quite interesting. Moreover, youth films now have a melodramatic style, making a fresh one can be regarded as differentiated competition."
Liu Jun shook his head: "Brother, differentiated competition is not that simple. Another thing, so for the investors, the biggest highlight of youth films is low cost and high return, small wins big. But his project, according to his plan, requires a budget of 20 million."
At this point, Liu Jun shook his finger and said: "20 million! This budget is enough to make a youth film, and the return on investment is even higher."
Meng Bai understood now that the emotional problem was caused by the budget.
It has to be said that a budget of 20 million yuan for a youth-themed web drama is indeed a bit expensive. The actual investment in "Psychological Crime" was only 30 million yuan.
What's more, his theme did not follow the mainstream choice of the market, but went in the opposite direction, which undoubtedly made the investors feel uncomfortable.
It is estimated that Sohu did not agree to the new project request of this "hero" for the same reason.
However, Meng Bai does not quite agree with Liu Jun's point of view. Although he does not know much about youth themes, since the original novel has achieved good results, it means that this style of story is not lacking in audience groups.
As a content creator, he knows that many times the audience is just like Party A, and they don't know what they want to see.
Only when the real finished product is in front of them, they will suddenly realize, oh, so this is what I want.
Meng Bai has been thinking about the problem that the production style of Arclight Film and Television is a bit single. After all, from him to Wubai and Wang Wei, they all tend to suspense themes.
He also wanted to try some youth-themed or romantic idol projects in the past, but he really didn't know much about this aspect and didn't dare to start easily.
But now, an opportunity is in front of him. With the popularity of the original work as a foundation, the project person also has successful experience, isn't this a good opportunity to try it?
As for the problem of low return on investment, Meng Bai doesn't care so much.
In essence, he is more inclined to be a content producer rather than a businessman. It doesn't matter how much money he makes, as long as he can make money in the end.
Of course, these are just some of his own expectations. Whether he really wants to invest, or whether others will choose him, are still unknown things. He has to wait until he talks face to face before he can decide. After talking
with Liu Jun for a few more words, Meng Bai said goodbye and left. When he reached the door, Sister Su told him that she had told Zhu Zhenhua about the invitation.
"He seemed a little surprised, asked about your news, and said he would wait for you downstairs." Sister Su introduced the situation just now.
Meng Bai thanked him, turned and went downstairs, and came to the coffee shop where he and Gan Wei discussed the script of "Soul Ferry". Sure enough, he saw Zhu Zhenhua sitting alone by the window.
"Hello, Mr. Zhu." Meng Bai walked over, and in the other party's surprised eyes, he smiled and introduced himself: "Arc Light Film and Television, Meng Bai."
"You are Mr. Meng!" Although he was a little shocked by the other party's youth, Zhu Zhenhua quickly reacted, shook his hand and said: "I am Zhu Zhenhua from Xiaotangren Culture."
Like Meng Bai, he had only heard of the other party but had never met him. In his imagination, Meng Bai should be an experienced and senior middle-aged man, probably the image of Wu Bai.
Unexpectedly, the other party turned out to be a young man.
However, although he was emotional, he did not look down on the other party. His "Soul Ferry" opened the "first year of online dramas"; "Psychological Crime" ranked first in the number of views of all online dramas this year.
The success of one drama may be accidental, but the success of the second drama can only be due to strength. With his achievements, no matter how young he is, everyone will only praise him, "Mr. Meng is indeed a young and promising man."
However, he was still a little confused about the other party's invitation. According to his understanding, Arclight Films seems to specialize in suspense-themed works, and does not seem to have much involvement in youth themes.
Thinking of this, Zhu Zhenhua did not waste any words and asked directly: "Mr. Meng, I heard that you are interested in my project?"
(End of this chapter)
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