Chapter 476 What level?
Liu Shishi's slender fingers stopped at the project budget summary column, her fingertips lightly tapped the shocking numbers, and her brows suddenly frowned.
"The total investment is 150 million, and the main creative team took away 82 million..." After repeating it softly, he raised his eyelids and was too lazy to read it again.
He looked at Jiang Yuanyuan with a sharp gaze, "Yuanyuan, explain the details of this 82 million to me one by one."
Jiang Yuanyuan was well prepared and reported clearly: "Shishi, this includes 10 million yuan in copyright adaptation fees for Mr. Mo Yan.
As China's first Nobel Prize winner in literature, Red Sorghum is his masterpiece. Although this price is high, it is in line with his literary status and is widely recognized in the industry."
Liu Shishi nodded slightly, her tone softening slightly. "Ten million yuan for Mr. Mo Yan's copyright fee is a reasonable amount. Good works are the foundation. Keep going."
"Director Zheng Xiaolong's salary is 12 million yuan," Jiang Yuanyuan continued. "With phenomenal productions like 'Empresses in the Palace' and high market recognition, this is a typical salary for top TV directors these days."
Liu Shishi nodded again: "Director Zheng's ability and appeal are the key guarantees of the quality of the series.
12 million is expensive, but if we can replicate the success of "Empresses in the Palace," the returns will be worth it. I accept this expense."
The subject suddenly changed, and he asked, "What about the remaining 60 million?"
Jiang Yuanyuan spoke a little faster: "The leading actress Zhou Xun received 30 million yuan, the other main actors and supporting actors received a total of about 20 million yuan, and the screenwriter's adaptation fee was 10 million yuan."
"Heh." Liu Shishi's sneer was particularly clear.
"So, excluding copyright fees and Director Zheng's fees, the actors' salaries and screenwriter fees alone will take up another 60 million? Zhou Xun 30 million, the other actors 20 million, and the screenwriter 10 million?"
Sister Yi drummed her fingers on the table, each sound revealing dissatisfaction: "Mr. Mo Yan's original work is the foundation, and Director Zheng's control determines success or failure! This is the core value!
While actors and screenwriters are certainly important, it's the re-creation that comes before the first two. The current price of "Red Sorghum" is simply putting the cart before the horse!"
He looked at Jiang Yuanyuan with a sharp gaze: "How could Shanying come up with such an unbalanced allocation of funds and put all the risks on the investors?"
Jiang Yuanyuan looked embarrassed and quickly explained, "Shishi, this is indeed the abnormal state of the current market. Since the influx of capital into the entertainment industry at the end of last year, the salaries of actors, especially those of top-tier stars, have been inflated.
Zhou Xun is one of the four major actresses and has won numerous film awards. When she "came down to earth" to film a TV series, the offer was naturally astonishing.
Screenwriter fees are also rising, and Shanying may also feel that it is too high, but Zhou Xun and this screenwriter seem to have agreed on it at the beginning of the project, so there may be a binding relationship.
"Bundled?" Liu Shishi's tone became even colder, "Winning awards and ratings are never the same.
My husband often says that today's industry is driven by internet thinking, emphasizing cost-effectiveness and input-output ratios. Is it worth betting 30 million on a movie actor's appeal in the television industry?
Besides, Zhou Xun is about to turn 40. Is it appropriate for her to play an 18-year-old girl? Let the investors take all the risks while they get the profits first. How can this be justified?
Sister Yi leaned forward slightly, her aura fully on display: "Yuanyuan, if we follow this plan, I've made it clear that I won't invest!
If I give my money to my employees, it will increase their loyalty; if I donate it to charity, it will accumulate merit; even if I throw it into the water, it will make a sound.
If you invest in this project and it fails, not only will you lose real money, you'll likely also be labeled a "fool with too much money" or "investment failure." What's the point?
Jiang Yuanyuan tried to persuade her, "Shishi, I completely understand your concerns. But Shanying also said that the combination of Zheng Xiaolong and Zhou Xun has no shortage of investors.
We were approached because of your studio’s reputation and your large fan base, and we wanted to join forces to boost ratings…”
"Not short of investment?" Liu Shishi interrupted immediately, a hint of sarcasm in her smile, "They're willing to find a 'powerful' partner like me. Aren't they interested in the publicity resources and viewership base it can bring?
Want to use the studio’s resources to cover the risk of inflated costs? Cooperation is possible, but it must be based on a reasonable basis.”
After a brief pause, he ordered firmly: "Tell Shanying that I accept Mo Yan's 10 million copyright fee and Zheng Xiaolong's 12 million director's fee.
But the actors' salaries and screenwriters' fees must be greatly reduced, and the total cost must be reduced!
If they can't do that, let them go find those 'suckers' who are willing to pay for the inflated bubble. My studio won't be there for them."
Seeing the boss's firm attitude and his logical and to-the-point statements, Jiang Yuanyuan knew there was no room for maneuver and immediately responded solemnly:
"I understand, Shishi. I'll go talk to Shanying right away and try to lower costs, control risks, and come up with a more rational cooperation plan."
"We will never give in on matters of principle. There are plenty of good projects on the market." Liu Shishi waved her hand, her gesture indicating that the matter had come to a temporary end and was awaiting the results of subsequent negotiations.
After Jiang Yuanyuan left, the office returned to peace.
After efficiently processing the remaining documents on the desk, Liu Shishi leaned back slightly and leaned back on the comfortable chair.
I habitually pick up my phone and open Weibo to see what's new today.
As expected, the top trending searches:
Topics such as "Selection of the new four little beauties", "Yang Ying's votes make a comeback and enter the top four", "Yang Mi and Zhao Liying", and "Ni Ni's four little beauties" are prominently listed.
I clicked in with great interest and saw that the selection had entered the final few hours. Fans of each team were voting frantically, and the number of votes on the list was jumping and refreshing almost every minute.
The current situation is very clear: Yang Mi, Yang Ying, Zhao Liying and Ni Ni are far ahead in the votes, leaving the others far behind. If nothing unexpected happens, they will be the new "Four Little Flowers".
Seeing this lineup, Liu Shishi's lips curled up with a faint smile. She had withdrawn from such selections since last year.
The extremely powerful "little lion" has already announced that his idol's film performance, TV drama ratings, and commercial value are all in a class of their own!
She is capable of being on par with or even surpassing the "Four Great Dan Actresses", so how could she lower her own status and compete with the new generation for the title of "Little Flower"?
He even threatened that if the organizers dared to take advantage of the popularity of the number one sister, he would rush to the voting website.
The organizer, Metropolitan Entertainment News, was well aware of Liu Shishi's influence and the power of her fan club, so they tactfully did not include her in the candidate list.
What’s interesting is that when fans of “Sister Yi” Liu Yifei saw that she had stopped playing, they immediately followed suit.
They said that their idol debuted earlier and should be on the same level as big stars, and should not "condescend" to participate in the competition, and jokingly called it "not helping the poor."
"Metropolitan Entertainment News" had no choice but to remove Liu Yifei from the candidates.
Liu Tianxian's fans were finally satisfied. In their opinion, the pattern of the "two Lius" among the new generation of female stars must be maintained and must not be broken.
When Liu Shishi first heard the news, she laughed.
The essence of the "Four Little Flowers" is a means for the media to create topics, attract attention, and increase their own popularity and traffic, but if they can be selected, it is indeed a good thing for female stars.
This title is like a shining business card, an efficient "packaging" and "positioning" that can quickly simplify market awareness and reduce promotion costs.
To some extent, it provides a "betting" reference for the market and capital, making it easier for the selected candidates to access high-quality film and television and commercial resources.
It’s a pity not to run for election!
Just as my thoughts were drifting away, the number of votes on the screen changed dramatically again.
The first sister came back to her senses and took a closer look, she couldn't help but raise her eyebrows slightly. Yang Ying's votes increased rapidly in a short period of time, surpassing the previous leaders Yang Mi and Zhao Liying in one fell swoop, and temporarily jumped to first place!
He shook his head slightly, with a look of understanding as if he was watching a play.
This familiar battle for vote-rigging instantly reminded her of the open and covert struggles when she ran for election.
After a few years, the way the entertainment industry pursues traffic and fame is still the familiar formula and the original taste.
In her opinion, the four prospective "flower girls" have different levels of talent.
Needless to say, Yang Mi is a top star who has fought her way to the top through her achievements. She is extremely popular, has a lot of buzz, and has great commercial value. She is a well-deserved leader of this session.
Although Zhao Liying is slightly inferior to Yang Mi in fame and commercial endorsements, she has two hit dramas "Legend of Lu Zhen" and "Legend of the Mermaid", plus her previous accumulated works, so it is reasonable for her to rise to the top.
As for the other two, they are somewhat "unworthy of their reputation".
I have witnessed with my own eyes how impressive Yang Ying's acting skills are when I was filming for "The Founding of a Party".
In the past two years, there has not been a truly hit TV series to support her, and most of the topics revolve around her relationship with Huang Xiaoming.
Now that he has reached the first place in the number of votes, one can imagine the "effort" involved.
Nini looks even more "hydrated".
"Mou Girl" has a very high starting point, but since her debut, the only representative work that people can remember is "The Flowers of War".
Just by being the heroine of a movie, she was able to be listed among the "Four Little Flowers". The sudden increase in the number of votes was obviously due to the strong support of her agency LeTV Film and Television.
In order to promote this leading actress, a huge amount of money was indeed spent.
"It's really becoming more and more like a game of capital and traffic." Liu Shishi whispered to herself, with a barely perceptible sigh and sense of distance in her tone.
She no longer needs such a title to prove anything. Her battlefield is on the larger capital chessboard and production level.
Liu Shishi couldn't help but frown as she looked at the screen where Yang Ying's votes suddenly rose to the top.
In a trance, I recalled the time I spent with Yang Mi on the set of "Chinese Paladin III", and also remembered the pleasant cooperation on the set of "Charlotte's Troubles".
Although there is occasional competition between the two, what is more important is the friendship that they knew from humble beginnings.
Zhao Liying is her best friend and the bridesmaid who stood beside her at the wedding.
"Angel baby? What level of contestant dares to step on Mimi and Liying?"
A trace of displeasure flashed through his heart, "If it weren't for Huang Xiaoming, who would recognize you? Now that the vote count is so bad, it's really just a laughing stock."
As his mind raced, he tapped the screen with his fingertips and cast a vote for Yang Mi and Zhao Liying without hesitation.
Feeling that wasn't enough, she casually edited a Weibo post: "Support my friends! @杨蜜 @赵莉影 are both down-to-earth actors who let their works speak for themselves.
Little lions, if you have the energy, go and cheer for these two sisters who are both talented and popular! [Voting link]"
This Weibo post was posted lightly, but it felt like a huge rock dropped on the fan circle.
The extremely powerful "little lions" immediately heard the news and flocked to the voting page. The votes for Yang Mi and Zhao Liying began to rise rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Just after posting on Weibo, Cai Yinong’s high-pitched roar, mixed with faint sobs, could be faintly heard from the president’s office next door.
Liu Shishi was slightly startled, then stood up and walked over. She knocked on the door, and after receiving a response, she pushed it open and walked in.
The atmosphere in the office was solemn. Gulnazar stood aside, her eyes red and tear marks on her fair cheeks, full of grievance and unwillingness.
Cai Yinong's face was as gloomy as water, and his chest was slightly heaving. It was obvious that he was still angry. When he saw Liu Shishi come in, he reluctantly restrained his expression.
"Sister K, what's wrong? Why are you so angry?" Liu Shishi said calmly, her eyes gently sweeping between the two of them.
Cai Yinong took a deep breath and pointed at Na Zha unhappily: "Ask her! She's grown independent and doesn't accept the company's arrangements anymore!
She came to me and complained that all the good resources were given to the newcomer Chen Yao, and that she felt the company was biased and wronged her!
The more he spoke, the angrier he became, his tone becoming more excited. "Don't you even look at what you've done before? If I give her a chance, will she be able to seize it?"
Upon hearing this, Gulinaza moved her lips as if to defend herself, but ultimately did not dare to speak, and her tears fell even more violently.
After hearing this, Liu Shishi understood.
Because of her relationship issues, Nazha did not follow Sister K's plans, which cost her a lot of popularity and reputation.
It is a normal business decision for the company to temporarily shift its focus to the more promising and obedient newcomer Chen Yao.
Naza came to make trouble at this moment because he really couldn't see the situation clearly.
Cai Yinong seemed to be still angry, and with a hint of provocation, he said to Nazha with a sneer: "Nazha, don't you want resources?
Shishi is here now, and her studio's projects are all big productions. You want to act in a movie, right? If the opportunity comes, just tell her yourself!"
Gulinaza was so provoked that she stamped her feet violently, as if she had given up. She raised her tearful face and looked at Liu Shishi, her voice sounding sobbing but very clear.
"Senior Sister... Can I... can I play a supporting role in the movie 'The Breakup Master' that your studio invested in?"
Liu Shishi was stunned when she heard this. She didn't expect this girl to be so direct and reckless and actually ask for resources in front of Cai Yinong.
He subconsciously looked at Cai Yinong. Although there was still anger on the other party's face, his eyes were flickering and he didn't dare to look at him.
It suddenly dawned on Yijie. Cai Yinong was indeed angry, but he was probably also "disappointed with Nazar".
Nazar's appearance is top-notch in the entertainment industry. She has also gained a certain degree of fame after starring in "Xuan-Yuan Sword". It would be a pity to give up completely.
Even if he doesn't make it to the top tier, being able to stay in the second tier is still a valuable asset for Tangren Films. Furthermore, newcomer Chen Yao is still young, and his future achievements are unknown.
Sister K was probably too angry some time ago, but now that she has calmed down, she thinks of Na Zha's good points and potential, and can't bear to give up this cash cow.
Today's "one plays the good guy and the other plays the bad guy" drama was probably performed for her by the two of them without their knowledge.
The purpose is to use her to give Naza a chance to restart her career, without letting Cai Yinong break the rule of "neglecting Naza".
After figuring this out, Liu Shishi showed a playful smile on her face, and her eyes looked back and forth between Cai Yinong and Gulinaza, making Cai Yinong feel more and more uncomfortable.
After a moment, he made up his mind. No matter what, Na Zha was a Tangren artist after all, so he should keep his wealth within his family.
Moreover, "The Breakup Master" does need a beautiful enough "vase" character to embellish it, and Nazha's appearance is undoubtedly more than enough.
So, Liu Shishi met Naza's nervous and expectant gaze and nodded slowly: "Okay!
There's a female supporting role in "The Breakup Guru." It's not a very important role, but it's quite eye-catching. If you're interested, give it a try.
Gulinaza couldn't believe his ears. The huge surprise instantly washed away all the grievances. He bowed quickly, his voice jumping with joy:
"Thank you, Senior Sister Shi! Thank you! I will definitely perform well! I will definitely not let you down!"
Seeing this, Cai Yinong secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and the tense lines on his face finally softened a little.
Just as Liu Shishi expected, after she had a falling out with Nazha, especially after Nazha broke up with her super boy boyfriend, she did have the idea of re-cultivating her.
It was just that he didn't want to directly contradict his previous decision, so he used Sister Yi to achieve his goal.
Liu Shishi looked at Naza who burst into laughter and Cai Yinong whose expression relaxed, and smiled in her heart: Life at Tangren Film and Television is really never boring.
"Alright, let Yuanyuan contact you later on the details." Liu Shishi said to Nazha, then turned to Cai Yinong, "Sister K, if there's nothing else, I'll be back to Peking."
"Okay, thank you for your hard work today." Cai Yinong nodded in response.
Liu Shishi turned around and left gracefully, thinking to herself: The resources have been given, and the rest depends on whether Na Zha can grasp it.
(One update today, two updates tomorrow)
(End of this chapter)
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