Chapter 365 Winter is Coming
Meng Bai once took an elective course in college, which mainly focused on how to adapt foreign film and television works when transplanting. The teacher mentioned "Love Apartment" once, but it was just a negative example.
It was not because it was plagiarized, but mainly because he disliked its localized adaptation.
For this reason, Meng Bai has never watched this sitcom that was very popular at the time, and he doesn't know Wang Chuanjun very well. The few impressions he has, in addition to the conflicts with fans of "Love Apartment", are the "I don't like" storm caused by Wang Jiawei's "The Ferryman" two years ago.
However, after watching "Dying to Survive" today, Meng Bai's impression of him has changed a lot. Let's not talk about what kind of person he is, but he is indeed a qualified actor in terms of acting.
As for Zhang Yu, Meng Bai has met him once before, when he went to find Rao Xiaozhi with Guo Fan. He participated in the new movie "The Nameless", an absurd comedy with a crime theme, which is said to be released at the end of the year.
"What do you think of this movie?" When the premiere was over, Ning Hao introduced the main actors to Meng Bai and asked by the way.
"It's a great movie!"
Meng Bai praised without any concealment. Ning Hao was about to laugh when he heard him continue: "Why didn't you mention this project when you asked me to introduce your director's plan?"
"What you said is true. When we met, this movie had already been filmed. What's the point of me introducing it to you?"
"Then can our "The Beneficiary" also have this level?"
"The production scale is different, so it can't be compared." Ning Hao spread his hands, "But the quality standards must be the same."
"Okay, I hope there will be a surprise." Meng Bai said: "How is the progress now?"
Ning Hao thought for a while: "Recently, the crew is being prepared. If everything goes well, it should be able to start filming before the end of the year."
"That's pretty fast." Meng Bai said.
Ning Hao remembered another thing: "By the way, how is your "The Wandering Earth" going now? When I went to see Lao Guo some time ago, I heard him say that the post-production special effects were not going well."
Speaking of this, Meng Bai couldn't help but sighed: "It's okay, anyway, we are working overtime. There are fewer film and television projects started this year than in previous years, and several special effects companies have more time. Anyway, we are working overtime now, and the progress is normal."
"Haha, as a rival of the Spring Festival, this is not good news." Ning Hao said with a smile.
"You should talk to Brother Guo about this. As an investor, I just want to make money and don't get involved in other things."
"That's good, our director likes investors like you."
The two laughed together.
After laughing, Ning Hao sighed again: "Speaking of which, this year's film and television market does feel a little colder than in previous years. You just said that there are fewer film and television projects started, and the investment for several projects here this year is the same. It's not as easy to find as before."
"It's normal. The general trend is not good, and the capital has no money." Meng Bai said.
Domestic Internet capital began to rise around 2010, and gradually reached its peak around 2015 and 2016. Huge traffic needs to be performed, and the film and television industry has become the best place to go. With the influx of hot money supported by capital, the domestic film and television industry has also begun to develop rapidly.
New capital has brought new outlets and new ways of playing. Fan economy, IP effect, traffic competition, combination of stars and capital, suppression of traditional platforms by mobile terminals... The old rules have been disrupted, and everyone is swept up by this huge torrent and rolling forward.
When the industry was the hottest, almost any director could start shooting immediately with an idea, and any film and television company could get financing immediately with a work.
Hengdian and Shanghai, these film and television bases, are almost open all year round, and cinemas have also extended from second- and third-tier cities to small counties in the eighteenth tier. The salary of a third-tier actor for a play can be as high as millions, and the box office of movies is breaking records in the billions every year.
What is the entertainment boom? This is the entertainment boom!
But like the prosperity of all industries in the past, the bonus period will eventually pass.
In fact, since the second half of last year, many practitioners in the film and television industry have been able to vaguely feel the chill hidden under the prosperity. This year, this feeling has become more obvious.
Because of Pinduoduo, Meng Bai has been asking Gu Fei and others to collect information on the capital market, so he may understand market changes better than most people in the industry.
At the beginning of the year, due to the adjustment of the management department, the game version number was suspended, and an important monetization channel for Internet traffic was blocked.
Then, a large number of P2P thunders caused financial capital to enter the minefield. In addition, concepts such as shared bicycles, long-term rental apartments, currency circles, private equity funds, etc. that have been popular in recent years have also encountered problems with the capital chain.
Small capital is not doing well, and a group of giants don’t have much surplus food at home. The sequelae of the stock market crash in 2015 have gradually begun to appear. The A-share market has fallen from 3,500 before the Spring Festival to 2,800 this year, and it has not yet bottomed out.
Even Tencent, which has always been the most generous, has tightened investment restrictions this year and is no longer as generous as before.
Under this situation, the entertainment industry, which has long relied on Internet capital, will naturally go downhill.
Coupled with the recent "yin-yang contract" incident, which has led to the official's exit, it may trigger another round of major rectification, which will make the situation even worse.
Of course, these are changes hidden under the surface, and the prosperity of the entire industry remains. Only people like Meng Bai who are closer to capital can have some perception.
——
After the premiere of "Dying to Survive", Meng Bai took Li Yitong, who was still full of emotion about the plot, back to the large flat in Sanlitun.
It is gratifying that Jin Chen, who has always been a light bulb, is finally gone, allowing him to enjoy a night of tenderness and sweetness comfortably.
Returning to the company the next day, Meng Bai, who was refreshed, called Chen Jing over first and asked her to check some of the tax situations of Arc Light in recent times.
"It's a sensitive period recently, and no one knows whether it will spread to the entire industry. At this time, everything should be done in a safe way. Check our previous taxes and some possible problems, and deal with them as soon as possible... We shouldn't have any problems, right?"
"Hmm..."
Seeing Chen Jing hesitate for a while, Meng Bai was stunned: "No, Sister Jing, is there really a problem?"
Are you kidding? You, a mature and steady lady, have also betrayed the revolution?
"Actually, it's not a problem." Chen Jing adjusted her glasses. "We had several projects before, which were accounted for by Landao. We also enjoyed local preferential policies when paying taxes locally. It is reasonable according to the regulations, but there is also a certain ambiguity. I am worried that if it is stricter this time, it may become a gap."
Because many projects including the "Green Ivy Series" were filmed in Landao before, Arclight registered a company in the local industrial park for convenience, mainly for fund allocation, and also to enjoy some local preferential policies.
In theory, this is still somewhat different from those companies registered in Horgos. After all, they do have a lot of filming work in Landao, which is acceptable.
But as Meng Bai said, it is a sensitive period recently, and I am afraid that if the official is serious and cuts it off directly, it will be bad if they are accidentally hurt.
Meng Bai thought for a moment, and said to Chen Jing: "Well, let's not wait for the situation to change later, and directly take the initiative to communicate with the taxation departments of Jingbei and Landao, and make up for what needs to be paid, and make this matter settled."
Anyway, it has to be solved, so it is better to be proactive, at least the attitude will appear more sincere.
Even if the authorities really want to rectify the industry in the future, they will not be embarrassed to take action against Arc Light when they see that their side is so active.
After instructing Chen Jing, Meng Bai put his worries aside, and then began to be his own spectator.
To be honest, he was really curious about how big a problem Fan Qiaoqiao could find this time.
However, after the official announcement was issued, the parties involved in the incident all stopped and fell silent. It is estimated that there will be no news on the surface before the case is investigated.
The attention of netizens is very fragile. After a few days without new melons, everyone's enthusiasm gradually began to shift to the summer movies.
Meng Bai's vision is obviously correct. After the release of "Dying to Survive", it immediately became the most talked-about movie in recent times, just as expected.
The box office in the first four days reached 1.3 billion, breaking the record of 960 million in the first week of "Wolf Warrior 2" last year, which is a good start for the 2018 summer season.
However, Ning Hao and Xu Zheng are not without competitors. In addition to Shen Teng's "The Richest Tomato", there is another movie to be released earlier.
After a lapse of four years, Jiang Wen's "Republic of China Trilogy" The last part "Hidden Man" was also put on this year's summer season.
And surprisingly, Jiang Wen, who has always been regarded as "full of style" by fans, has made great efforts to promote the movie this time.
First, as a non-fan, he went to Youku to be a commentator for the World Cup, and then he appeared on several talk variety shows such as "13 Invitations" and "Round Table".
If everything is normal so far, then the next operation is a bit surprising.
Tencent Video issued an announcement stating that this year's hottest variety show "Produce 101" in the summer will start the "Group Night" finals. In addition to the host Huang Bo, Jiang Wen, Liao Fan and Peng Yuyan will also be invited as special guests.
When many people first saw this news, they thought that the employee in charge of publicity at Tencent Video was drunk. It was not until a night later that they realized that it was true!
Jiang Wen - Girl Group
What is a surprise? This is a surprise!
Although there is also Huang Bo, he has been to the show once in the previous episodes. Although it is also to promote the movie, it at least does not seem so abrupt.
But this sudden Jiang Wen is a bit abstract.
However, it can be seen from this that the "One Step Away" four years ago was indeed very powerful, forcing Jiang Wen to no longer maintain his momentum.
Meng Bai called Fang Fang directly and asked her to help get two guest seats in the front row of the final night.
The picture of "Jiang Wen + Girl Group" is too show-like, it would be a pity not to go to the scene to watch it.
"...Okay, Mr. Fang, thank you."
After hanging up the phone, Meng Bai thought about it and called Meng Ziyi again.
She has a good relationship with Yang Chaoyue and has been talking about her since the beginning of the show. Now that it’s the finals, it would be nice to go to the scene to support her.
Listening to the ringtone coming from the phone, Meng Bai couldn’t help but think of Yang Chaoyue’s ranking results, and couldn’t help but sigh in his heart.
This girl has been a dark horse since the beginning of the whole show. She ranked third in the first ranking, and then ranked second in the second.
In the latest episode that has just been aired, the program ranked for the third time, leaving only the last 22 contestants to enter the finals, and she still firmly maintained the third position.
Of the other three TCG members who were with her before, only Hanizi is left, barely staying in the show at the 21st position. As for Hu Linxi and Zhao Xiaotang, they have been eliminated first.
If we say that the most well-known contestant in the entire "Creation 101" is Yang Chaoyue, it is definitely her.
Of course, since the first episode of the show, the audience’s debate against her has never stopped.
Opponents believe that she is not good at singing and dancing, and can do nothing except look good; supportive fans say that Chaoyue is not good at singing and dancing, but that is because she has no foundation. Apart from that, her performance, personality, character, and professional attitude are all qualified, and she is also beautiful.
Anyway, in terms of appearance, both sides are quite unified.
Meng Bai also took the time to watch her performances several times before. How should I put it? Maybe it’s because I’m used to watching her in the company before. I still feel that this girl is cute and cute, not as amazing as fans say.
Whether you support or oppose, the program and Tencent Video have made a lot of traffic.
As for whether the program team really planned to give Yang Chaoyue the so-called "sacrifice script" at the beginning, it didn’t matter after Meng Bai specifically mentioned it when he went to Tencent Video to discuss cooperation on the new drama.
Just as he was thinking about it, the ringing sound on the phone stopped, and then came Meng Ziyi's weak voice.
"Hello, uncle."
"What's wrong with you?" Meng Bai was puzzled.
Meng Ziyi said in a muffled voice: "It's okay, I just caught a cold while filming a waterfall scene the day before yesterday, I just caught a cold--"
"From your voice, it seems quite serious."
"It's not serious, I just have a runny nose."
"Then...drink more hot water?"
"...Uncle, sometimes I really doubt how you found so many girlfriends."
"I didn't look for any, they always looked for me."
"..."
In the hotel room, Meng Ziyi, who was resting with a quilt in his arms, couldn't help rolling his eyes.
"What are you calling me about? If nothing, I'm going to rest."
"Oh, I wanted to ask you when the drama will be finished, so I can find you if I need anything."
Meng Ziyi thought for a moment: "Haha, now you say you have something to do, but you just told me to drink more hot water... I have to finish filming by the end of August,
so I don't have time." "August? Forget it." Meng Bai said calmly: "I wanted to take you to see Xiao Yang and the others at the finals, but since I don't have time, forget it."
"Finals? I can go, I can go!"
Meng Ziyi's voice suddenly rose an octave, and he sat up from the bed and shouted excitedly.
"Didn't you say you were going to film?"
"Just take two days off." Meng Ziyi said sincerely: "Filming is not as important as you, my little uncle!"
"Come on, don't give me that." Meng Bai said: "Then you arrange your time in advance, and I'll wait for you in Xiaoshan then."
"Okay!"
Meng Ziyi agreed happily.
But after hanging up the phone, she couldn't help but mutter to herself: "You still don't believe me? Filming is not as important as my uncle!"
(End of this chapter)
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