Chapter 96 Where Does the Enemy Come From
In the Internet age, hot topics change very quickly. A few days ago, you felt that the topic that the whole world was concerned about might have become outdated after a weekend.
Regarding the online debate on web dramas, several video websites also thought so at the beginning, thinking that everyone would talk about it and it would slowly disperse. After all, this is not some entertainment gossip or hot news, and few people would be interested in such debates.
However, what is unexpected is that after half a month, the topic of "web drama censorship" has not only not subsided, but has become more and more intense.
At the beginning, it was just some netizens on the Internet leaving messages and postings to chat, and slowly, some self-media marketing accounts and news websites began to have similar topics. In the end, even some traditional media, and even central media such as People's Daily and Xinhua, began to discuss the topic of "whether online self-made dramas need to strengthen cultural censorship."
"There must be someone behind the scenes deliberately guiding it." In the office of Leshi Films, Liu Jun took a sip of the tea in his hand and said in a positive tone.
Wu Bai on the side frowned and asked: "It is certain that someone is guiding it, but the key is who would do this? What is the purpose?"
"I don't know who did it..." Liu Jun sneered: "But the purpose is very clear, which is to lure the authorities to intervene and readjust the censorship system for online content."
After that, he looked at Meng Bai on the side and asked: "What do you think, brother Meng, which party do you think is behind the scenes?"
Meng Bai smiled when he heard it: "We have a famous saying in the suspense and reasoning circle, which is that if you don't know who the murderer is, then you only need to look at who is the biggest beneficiary."
Liu Jun and others frowned. If only one or two video platforms or one or two works were attacked, it is very likely that other "friendly sites" did it, but now the scope of the attack includes all video platforms and the entire online drama market. Then this beneficiary...
"It's the TV station." A person in charge of the film and television department of Leshi Pictures said on the side: "Only they have reason to indiscriminately attack the entire online drama industry."
Everyone else has reacted now. Indeed, those old traditional TV stations are the most likely ones.
As for their motivation for doing so, it is also very simple, a struggle for interests.
A small part of the income of traditional TV stations comes from fiscal appropriations, and the vast majority comes from advertising fees and sponsorship fees collected from companies. The higher the TV ratings, the higher the advertising fee. It can be said that "ratings" are the lifeblood of TV stations.
Entering the Internet era, the ratings of TV stations have been slowly declining. Ten years ago, a TV series with a rating of over 3 or 5 was considered excellent, but now it is considered a hit if it can break 2.
For TV stations, TV series, variety shows and other entertainment content products are equivalent to their biggest moat. Although various dramas can also be watched online, they can always stand firm by relying on the advantage of the first broadcast.
But with the rise of online dramas, this "moat" seems to have begun to become much shallower. The previous "Never Expected" can still be considered a mini-segment drama, "not up to the stage". But with the emergence of a batch of fine "long dramas" such as "Soul Ferry" and "The Darker Ones", the last "fig leaf" of traditional film and television has been torn apart.
The most important thing is that companies and advertisers seem to have noticed the situation of online dramas. Compared with TV stations, video website advertisements are cheaper, more efficient, and more targeted.
Anyway, they are all investing money, so why not invest the money in the more cost-effective side?
Therefore, starting from the third and fourth quarters of the second half of the year, the revenue and profits of many TV stations have slowed down to varying degrees. And the more entertainment-focused TV stations are, the more obvious this slowdown is.
Obviously, a considerable amount of advertising fees have flowed into the emerging online drama market.
As the saying goes, blocking someone's financial path is like killing their parents. With such an obvious loss of interests now, TV stations naturally cannot sit still and wait for death, and will inevitably attack their opponents' weaknesses.
At present, their attacks are very accurate, hitting the "online drama review" on the weak spot.
"It may not be a deliberate collaboration, it is more likely that it is tacitly understood." Meng Bai said: "Not only TV stations, but also those film and television companies and traditional media that rely on them for food will follow suit."
"Then how should we deal with it?" Wu Bai frowned and asked. Although he started out as a micro-film producer, it was web dramas that really benefited him the most, so he subconsciously brought himself to the video website side.
Liu Jun heard this and shook his head with a wry smile: "I'm afraid there's no way. I've heard that after the Chinese New Year next year, the relevant cultural departments are likely to initiate a meeting for web dramas and web movies to discuss new webcast review methods."
"So fast!" Meng Bai on the side was surprised: "Is there any news about what the specific review method will be?"
Liu Jun said: "There is no detailed news yet, but there are only two ways. Either it is the same as TV dramas and movies, with a review-before-broadcast approval mechanism, and it can only be launched with a license; or it is a filing system, and it can be broadcast after filing with the relevant departments and getting a filing number."
"The filing system is better." Wu Bai said.
Meng Bai sighed, the difference between the two systems is just the same. In short, no matter how it is changed, the current bonus period of web dramas that do not require any review may never come back.
And he is now facing a problem. According to the original plan, the "Soul Ferry" series will have a total of three parts. But at present, the broadcast of "Pendulum 2" should not be affected, but the third part will definitely run into censorship reforms.
His subject matter can be said to be the "hardest hit area" among the hardest hit areas. No matter whether it is approval or filing, it will definitely not pass. If it happens to be caught in the crossfire, it may be pulled out to make an example of others.
Liu Jun and others obviously thought of this problem, and looked at Meng Bai, asking him what he planned to do.
"The current progress of the second part has been shot for three quarters. According to the original plan, it will be completed by the end of the month." Meng Bai frowned and introduced the situation. After a long silence, he put the cup in his hand on the table next to him, as if he had made a decision.
"Brother Meng, what are your plans? We at Leshi can cooperate with your arrangements." Liu Jun said without hesitation.
"Thank you, Brother Liu, there are indeed some things that need trouble." Meng Bai's eyes flashed, and his tone was serious: "I plan to abandon the original 'trilogy' plan, combine the remaining plot of the second part with the third part, streamline some units that do not affect the main line, and shoot them together directly."
Calculating the time, if a part of the side plot is cut off and only the main line and a few important units are retained, it will only take another month to complete the shooting.
After that, post-production editing and publicity preheating will be carried out simultaneously. If there is really no time left, the remaining part can be edited and broadcast at the same time. In this way, it can be launched online at the beginning of next year and can be broadcast before the "reform meeting".
Maybe it was a bit hasty, but at least the whole story can be told, which is not bad.
However, in this way, the project budget, actor schedules, scene props needed for the new plot, etc., all need to be adjusted accordingly.
"Don't worry, I'll apply for the budget funds." Liu Jun said.
"If you need my help, I'll be there at your service." Wu Bai on the other side said the same thing.
The drama "Soul Ferry" is quite important to them, and no one wants to let this story end halfway.
Meng Bai thanked Liu Jun first. The problem of budget funds is actually easy to solve. "Pendulum" is also a "top-tier project" in the online drama market. It has no shortage of investors if it issues a financing demand.
Then, he looked at Wu Bai again: "There are two very important units in the original script of the third part, and I don't plan to delete them. Both units only require one or two of the three main characters, so I have to trouble you, Director Wu, for help. When the time comes, discuss with Brother Wang to see if we can shoot them in groups at the same time."
"Don't worry, leave it to me." Wu Bai agreed without hesitation.
He has been working with Meng Bai for so long, and he knows that he is not the kind of screenwriter who is reluctant to delete any plot he wrote. On the contrary, as long as he feels that the filming effect is not good, he will delete it without mercy.
Therefore, the plot that makes him say "I don't want to delete" must be very important.
Time waits for no one, the storm on the Internet is still going on, and Meng Bai and others have already started to act.
Meng Bai returned to the crew and first called Wang Wei and Li Qin, the three main actors, to introduce the current situation and also said that he planned to shoot the entire main line together.
Wang Wei naturally had no problem. He only needed to check the content of their respective shooting with Wu Bai. Li Qin and Yu Yi also said that they could extend their schedules, anyway, they didn't have any other dramas later. If there is a scheduled event announcement, you can just ask for a temporary leave.
The only one who has some difficulties is Zhang Ruoyun. He passed the audition for the male second role in Tangren. The filming will start at the end of the year, and there may be a few days of overlap.
Meng Bai thought for a while and said, "Well, let's finish your scenes first. I calculated the time, and if there is no accident, it will be in time."
Zhang Ruoyun didn't get too entangled. He smiled and said, "Just do as you said. It doesn't matter if it's a few days overdue. I'll discuss with the crew over there and see if I can postpone my scenes. Anyway, I'm the male second, and I don't have that many shots."
"Okay, Lao Zhang, that's nice." Meng Bai and Zhang Ruoyun exchanged fists.
Friends don't need to say too much, they all remember each other.
Once the leading actor is decided, Meng Bai has solved half of the problem. The rest is the location involved in the new plot.
One of the two important units he talked about with Wu Bai before involved the era scene, and there is no suitable location on Landao. Fortunately, Meng Bai was inspired and remembered that Noon Sunshine was preparing for "The Disguiser" in Shanghai. They must have a suitable choice.
So after asking his senior brother Zhou You for help in asking about the venue, Meng Bai brought Wu Bai, Yu Yi, and other actors to the Chedun Film and Television Base in Shanghai.
(End of this chapter)
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