Chapter 294 Three Qing Dynasty Palace Dramas
On the afternoon of the 7th, after bidding farewell to Liu Shishi, Song Ci boarded his private plane alone and set off from Donghai back to Peking.
At the same time, in the office of Tengda Culture in the Zhongao Building in Peking, Zhang Zhao, who was working at his desk, heard a knock on the door. He calmly put down his pen and closed the document he had reviewed.
"Come in."
Zeng Jia, who was outside the door, pushed the door open after getting permission and went straight to the desk: "Mr. Zhang, you're looking for me?"
"Sit down!" Zhang Zhao smiled and looked very proud.
After the second reorganization of Tengda Group, he became an independent legal person of the subsidiary and was promoted to president. Not only did his salary and benefits increase, but he also had greater autonomy in business.
Zeng Jia sat down slowly. She was lucky. Just a few days after taking office, she encountered the group's restructuring and was naturally promoted to vice president of Tengda Culture.
"I've seen the new project 'Palace' that you reported a few days ago. It seems to have a lot of overlap with Tangren's 'Startling by Each Step' in terms of the plot?"
The top leader looked puzzled, and Zeng Jia hurriedly explained: "Boss Zhang, the stories during the Kangxi period are basically the same. They are basically based on the battle for the throne of the Nine Dragons with some love stories. It is inevitable that they look similar."
Seeing that Zhang Zhao was frowning and silent, Zeng Jia continued to ask: "Are you worried about the chairman or your wife's thoughts?"
Zhang Zhao waved his hand: "The chairman wouldn't care about such a small matter, and his wife wouldn't care either. I'm just worried that it would cause a copyright dispute and damage the company's reputation."
Zeng Jia immediately understood Zhang Zhao's idea. Since its establishment, Tengda Culture has always had a very good reputation in the industry and is quite popular in the circle. Naturally, the leaders do not want to get involved in a lawsuit over a play and ruin the good reputation that the company has established for a long time.
"Mr. Zhang, you don't have to worry about this. Yu Zheng has promised that his studio will be solely responsible for copyright issues.
If he loses the lawsuit, he will have to compensate the company and Hunan Economic and Television Culture for all the losses. Time-travel themes are very popular now, and "Palace Lock Heart Jade" will definitely make money."
"Okay, since Yu Zheng is willing to cover the copyright issue, the company should invest in this play."
Seeing his deputy's repeated assurances, Zhang Zhao considered it carefully and finally agreed to invest in the drama.
After all, "Palace" is the first film and television project that Zeng Jia has handled after becoming the vice president. They are all members of the team, and it would be difficult for him to offend Zeng Jia, and this project does have great potential.
Finally convincing Zhang Zhao, Zeng Jiaxi smiled and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Zhang, this drama has the potential to be a big hit. Yu Zheng is quite good at costume dramas and can grasp the psychology of the audience."
"Love Is Not Blind, Lost on Journey, Let the Bullets Fly, the company has three movies to be released in the second half of the year, and I am also preparing for Painted Skin 2.
I basically don’t have the energy to pay attention to TV dramas. “Palace” is your first project, so you must pay close attention to it and make sure nothing goes wrong. ”
Zeng Jia nodded solemnly: "I understand! I won't let you down, I will definitely do a good job on this project."
Just as he stood up and left the office, he suddenly remembered something, stopped, turned around and asked, "Boss Zhang, can you help Mimi keep a role in Painted Skin 2?"
Zhang Zhao didn't even raise his head, busy reviewing documents: "Besides the leading role, let Yang Mi pick a role when the time comes."
"Thank you on behalf of Mimi."
Zeng Jia happily left the president's office, and as soon as he got out, he couldn't wait to take out his cell phone and call Yang Mi.
"Mi Mi, two good news. Mr. Zhang has agreed to the matter of "Palace Lock Heart Jade". You can contact Yu Zheng and sign the contract as soon as possible.
Also, the company has a big production called Painted Skin 2 next year, and I have secured a role for you."
Not to mention that Yang Mi received a notice from her agent, which was an unexpected surprise, and she happily contacted Yu Zheng.
By the evening, after an afternoon of dissemination and fermentation, topics related to the "Startling by Each Step" press conference had become a hot search.
"1. Liu Shishi's leading lady"
“2. After ten years, Chen Daoming plays Kangxi again”
“3. Nie Yuan and Yu Bo each have their own merits”
. . .
Netizens were enthusiastic and left messages one after another:
"There are so many handsome men and beautiful women. Tangren's casting never disappoints."
"Shishi is so beautiful. She is unique in her modern outfit among all the ancient costumes."
"The princes are all so handsome. I am really looking forward to "Startling by Each Step."
Tangren Film and Television also struck while the iron was hot and released the final makeup photos of the leading actors on its official Weibo, which gave netizens a feast for the eyes.
At around seven in the evening, in an upscale residential area in Peking, writer Wang Xiaoping was having dinner with her husband, the famous director Zheng Xiaolong.
"What's wrong? Why are you sighing?" Seeing her husband's gloomy face, Wang Xiaoping asked with concern.
Zheng Xiaolong put down his bowl and chopsticks in annoyance: "Hey, I have some free time this afternoon to check Weibo online. Tangren Films is going to release a new drama, and it turns out that a modern girl travels back to the Qing Dynasty to fall in love with a prince. Isn't this just tampering with history!
What is the palace? It is a place full of intrigue and cruelty. Even these innocent girls today would not be able to survive a day if they traveled through it."
Wang Xiaoping chuckled at her husband's indignation and gently advised: "It's just a TV series. After the big hit of The Myth, time-travel themes have become popular and audiences love to watch them. Just let it be. If you're not convinced, just make one yourself."
"I'll shoot it! Xiaoping, don't tell me, I've had this idea for a long time and I've already been preparing to shoot a Qing Dynasty palace drama full of intrigues and show the innocent girls the cruelty of the harem!"
When Wang Xiaoping heard that her husband was going to film a drama about women in the Qing Dynasty palace, she immediately became interested: "Have you chosen the script? Do you want me to help you revise it?"
"I do have a book I like, but..." Zheng Xiaolong nodded first, then shook his head with regret on his face.
"What's wrong? What's wrong?"
Zheng Xiaolong sighed: "Hey, I've taken a fancy to the book "Empresses in the Harem" that you recommended to me some time ago, and I want to adapt it into a script, but unfortunately the copyright is in the hands of Tengda."
Wang Xiaoping also had a headache when he heard that the copyright was in Tenda's hands.
Her husband Zheng Xiaolong and several other children from wealthy families, including the famous screenwriter Wang Shuo, are considered core figures in the Beijing circle and have close ties with Huayi Company.
If the copyright is in the hands of other companies, it will be easy. With the help of my husband's connections, they will basically give some face.
But Tengda Culture is another force in the Beijing circle. They occasionally cooperate with Huayi, but most of the time they keep to themselves and may not necessarily give face to my husband.
"Ah!" Another heavy sigh, Zheng Xiaolong looked envious: "If I had known that film and television copyrights were so important, I should have acquired some in the early years.
When Tengda acquired the copyrights of these novels, films and TV series, they were all sold at bargain prices, but now the prices have increased by dozens of times.”
Wang Xiaoping recalled Tengda's early operations and sighed: "It's worth a lot of money to know in advance. After all, not everyone has the long-term vision of that nobleman.
Tenda’s rapid growth into the largest company in Beijing is largely due to its accumulated copyrights.
But if you really want to shoot "Empresses in the Palace", just cooperate with Tengda Culture. Tengda has always been open about what it does and is not the type to eat alone. "
Zheng Xiaolong told his wife what he had learned: "I have already contacted Tengda Culture, this matter is a bit complicated.
Tengda established a special copyright acquisition company that year, which was later owned by TT Video Network, so Zhang Zhao had no say in the matter.
Wang Xiaoping was a woman after all, and she was very thoughtful. She suggested, "Then let's go directly to Song Ci. As long as he gives the order, there's no need to worry about not getting the authorization for film and television adaptation!"
Zheng Xiaolong glanced at his wife and said, "He is the richest man, not some random person on the street. Forget about negotiating copyrights. Even for me to meet him, I have to wait two months to make an appointment."
"Of course I'm not asking you to go find him directly. Can you please stop being so stubborn? The richest man is also a human being, he has relatives and friends too. Don't forget that he also graduated from Peking University."
Zheng Xiaolong's eyes lit up, and his thoughts suddenly became clear: "Madam, do you mean to ask someone from the school to come forward?"
Wang Xiaoping smiled and offered a suggestion: "We have many old friends in Peking University. Let's ask them to find out who was Song Ci's class teacher and professional tutor when he was in college.
I can ask them to say hello to Song Ci through some connections. It's just a small matter like the copyright of a film or TV series. I think Song Ci will definitely give the school teachers some face."
"Okay, let's do it." Zheng Xiaolong nodded in agreement, and then he sighed: "It was originally just a small matter, but it took so much trouble to involve the richest man."
Wang Xiaoping laughed and joked: "After all, times have changed. In today's economic society, business leaders like Song Ci usually come into contact with high-ranking officials in the court. You should be happy that you can find him through your connections."
Zheng Xiaolong seemed to be thinking about something: "Xiaoping, what you said makes me hesitate. Is it worth wasting a favor that can get the richest man for a TV series?"
"This!" Wang Xiaoping also became conflicted, his brows twisted into a "川" shape. The favor of the richest man was priceless, and he immediately weighed the pros and cons intensely in his heart.
After struggling for a while, Zheng Xiaolong's desire to create prevailed, and he immediately decided: "Forget it, I'll ask my old friends at school to find out the situation first. The matter of favors has not yet been decided!"
After dinner, as night fell, Zheng Xiaolong dug out the phone numbers of his old friends from Peking University and contacted them one by one.
"Old Li, it's me, Zheng Xiaolong. I want to ask you something. Song Ci knows about this, right? When he was in Peking University, what was his relationship with the teachers and principals like? What, he had a good relationship with Principal Zhou? Nonsense!"
"Brother Wang, long time no see! Okay, okay, it's just a hot pot meal, I'll treat you. I'll ask you a favor, please help me find out who Song Ci's homeroom teacher and counselor were when he was in Peking University? Does anyone among our group of old brothers know his teacher?"
"What do you mean?" Wang Xiaoping asked anxiously when she saw her husband busy for a long time.
"Wait for news. Song Ci graduated from Guanghua College, which is a level away from our Chinese Department."
Zheng Xiaolong was helpless. Although they were both from Peking University, Guanghua School was one of the best schools in the university, much stronger than the Chinese Department. People from the two schools did not communicate much, which made it much more difficult for him to find people to inquire about the information.
While Zheng Xiaolong and his wife were patiently waiting for news about a favorite work, Liu Shishi's WeChat fan group was bustling with activity.
"Sister's Qing Dynasty style is so beautiful! She is indeed a chosen ancient person, and can handle the costumes of any dynasty."
"Oh, I really want to be able to watch "Startling by Each Step" tomorrow, but unfortunately I have to wait at least half a year."
Xiaoyanzi: "Good evening, everyone! After seeing the makeup photos released by Tangren today, I designed a poster for "Startling by Each Step". Can you please help me take a look?"
After posting this, Xiaoyanzi posted another picture and explained: "In this poster, there are six princes above the head of the heroine Ruoxi, which means that she has been weighing between several princes throughout her life.
Half of the flag is the Forbidden City, representing the supremacy of the ancient feudal imperial power, which made the women in the deep palace helpless; the other half is Zhang Xiao and tall buildings before the time travel, representing that the heroine originally lived in a modern city of freedom and equality.
"Teacher Yan Zi is amazing! This poster is beautifully made and contains metaphors. She is indeed a talented lady among our little lions."
"I also designed one, but it's not as good as Teacher Yan Zi's one. It just puts the sister and several brothers together." After saying this, the fan also posted a picture.
"This one is great too!" "Awesome, you're worthy of being a fan of technical output!" Group members praised again.
Xiaoyanzi: "I plan to revise it tonight and submit it to Tangren tomorrow. I don't know if my picture will be adopted as the official poster."
Shishi's sister-in-law: "Yanzi is indeed a talented woman who will go to the Peking Academy of Fine Arts. Her design talent is amazing. If Tangren doesn't use your picture, the crew is blind."
At this time, Liu Shishi, who had just attended the crew dinner, was sent back to her home in Fenghuang Mansion by two assistants. She was lazily lying on the sofa watching the movements in the WeChat group.
She was pulled into this fan group called "Tang Poetry Base Camp" by "Xiaoyanzi" when the WeChat shake function was launched a few days ago.
There weren't many people in the group, only about 120 in total, but they all seemed to be her loyal fans. She even knew a few of them, as they had visited her on the set before.
I was originally admiring the poster designed by my fans, when I suddenly saw someone with the ID "Shishi's sister-in-law" speak. Then I looked at the familiar avatar and was stunned: "It can't be my little sister!"
She clicked on the WeChat character information and checked, and it was indeed her sister-in-law Liu Yuqing.
Because everyone at the dinner offered her some red wine, Liu Shishi felt a little dizzy at the moment. She forgot that it was the fan group’s public screen and started chatting in the group.
Lion King: "Qingqing, why are you in the group too?"
After a long while, "Shishi's sister-in-law" replied, and her tone was extremely surprised.
"Sister-in-law, I'm the group owner! I don't even care when you joined the group!"
Lion King: "I joined the group a few days ago, but I haven't spoken in the group."
"Sister-in-law, are you in Donghai today? Where's my brother?"
"I'm in Donghai. Your brother went back to Peking this afternoon."
Liu Shishi and Liu Yuqing seemed to be alone and were chatting animatedly in the group. The others were unaware of their situation, but "Little Swallow" gradually guessed the identity of the "Lion King" and immediately joined in.
Xiaoyanzi: "@Sister Lion King, Yuqing and I are classmates. What do you think of my poster design?"
Liu Shishi was stunned for a moment, then she realized that Xiaoyanzi should be the die-hard fan and classmate Li Lingyan that Liu Yuqing had mentioned before.
"Thank you, Xiaoyanzi. This poster is great. Tangren will definitely use it. Thank you for your sincere efforts."
(End of this chapter)
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