Sifanglou (Four-Sided Building)
Film and television section.
front desk.
Zhang Xincheng went straight to the front desk and found their staff.
They thought they could just find any representative.
However, the staff at the front desk told them that they did not have an appointment, and that most of the association's representatives were busy with the Golden Horse Awards ceremony.
Awards given out at the end of the year represent the busiest time for people, as they have to juggle multiple tasks.
"Not a single representative is here?" Zhang Xincheng thought to himself that something was wrong. The representatives were so busy lately, how could this happen? It would disrupt the director's plans.
The receptionist surprised him the next second: "There's another representative at the association, but do you two... have an appointment?"
Without an appointment, he generally won't let just anyone in to meet the representative.
Who will be responsible if something goes wrong?
Zhang Xincheng felt that as long as he was at the association, the appointment wouldn't be a problem: "Just call and ask the representative if he has time, and give us ten minutes."
As he was speaking, Old Gou pushed out a $100 bill and added, "Make a phone call, and whether you have time to meet us or not, it's all yours."
Old Gou was very proactive, stuffing a $100 bill into the staff member's breast pocket.
The staff member looked left and right to make sure no one was paying attention, then looked down and dialed a landline number.
He had no reason to refuse a $100 phone call.
"Hello, are you a representative from Mays?"
"This is Mace, what's wrong?"
"At the front desk, there are two distinguished guests who wish to see you. Would you like to see them?" The staff member, perhaps because he had already received payment, added the word "distinguished guests."
Upon hearing that they were distinguished guests, Representative Mayes frowned and asked, "Do you have an appointment?"
Staff: "We didn't have time to make an appointment."
Representative Mays wondered why he hadn't met with any other guests today: "Did they say they wanted to see me about something?"
The staff member touched his nose and said, "They said I'm not high enough in rank and need to speak with Mays, who represents you, in person."
See? That's the art of language. People will only do things if they get paid.
Did they receive money?
What they collect are social obligations and worldly wisdom.
Upon hearing this, Representative Mays hesitated for two seconds before nodding and saying, "I have fifteen minutes. Have someone bring them to my office."
"OK."
The staff member hung up the phone and asked other colleagues to take the two "distinguished guests" to the office of Representative Mays.
Gou Yingjun nodded to the staff member.
The staff member smiled and then watched the two figures disappear into the corridor.
...
A representative's office.
There was no ostentatious decoration or luxurious furnishings. This office only had a desk, an office chair, two guest sofas, a coffee table, and a bookshelf against the wall.
It's easy to see from these decorations that this representative from Metz is someone who doesn't particularly like overly extravagant interiors.
“Representative Mays.” A staff member led Zhang Xincheng and Gou Yingjun to the door and then left.
"Please come in." Mays sat on the guest sofa and made tea.
Upon closer inspection, Zhang Xincheng realized that the Mays representative was actually a woman with long, bright green hair and wearing a pure white work uniform. Her face looked very much like that of a beautiful woman from Thailand.
While Lao Zhang and Lao Gou were sizing up Mays, she was also sizing up the two of them.
After looking him over, a big question mark appeared on his face.
Who are these two people?
"Who are you?" Mays was certain he had never seen the two of them before. Had they met at some other important event?
"Hello, Representative Mays. I am Zhang Xincheng, the head of the composition department at Sunset Music Company."
"I am Gou Yingjun, the head of the signing department at Wanxia Music Company."
Mays was even more confused: "A music company, they're looking for me...?"
This beautiful Thai representative spoke fluent Chinese.
Because she could tell that the two of them had Asian features.
Zhang Xincheng revealed the purpose of his trip.
However, he simplified his explanation.
for example.
He didn't bring up the money first.
Zhang Xincheng observed that the office's furnishings were rather simple and unpretentious, suggesting that the person likely didn't discuss money.
"The issue of scheduling movie screenings?" Mays asked, puzzled. "Isn't Sunset a music company? Are you starting to get involved in the film and television industry?"
Zhang Xincheng neither confirmed nor denied it, giving the representative enough room to speculate: "Now that Wanxia has made her first film, she thinks it's her official entry into the film and television industry. So, according to the rules, the two of us, representing Wanxia, came to the association to see if there's anything we can do, or if there are any sensitive topics that can't be filmed, so we can have a better understanding."
These words struck a chord with Mays: "It's great that you have this intention. The film industry is too complicated, so it's wise to come to the association in advance to learn more. However, I don't have much time..."
As she spoke, Mays walked to the bookshelf leaning against the wall and took out a thick book: "This contains some information about the sensitivity and censorship of film topics. Take it to the rest area and take a look first, then pass it on to the staff there."
When Zhang Xincheng heard that Mays was about to get up and leave, he quickly gave a hint.
Gou Yingjun seized the opportunity and asked, "Representative Mays, we would like to understand many of the rules and censorship standards in the film and television industry, mainly for better development. The performance of this first film is still uncertain at the box office, so we'd like to see if we can make an exception in terms of screenings."
Mays declined, saying, "If the film is of good quality, it will naturally get good screenings in theaters."
She didn't want to help with this.
If the movie is bad, her interference in the scheduling would be breaking the rules.
Zhang Xincheng said, "If Representative Mays is willing to help..."
Gou Yingjun quickly nudged Lao Zhang's waist to stop him from speaking: "Representative Mays, a music company has just ventured into the film and television industry. We are newcomers and don't understand many things. However, no one learns anything from the beginning. So, like those film and television giants, we are starting from scratch. We really want to develop the film and television industry, increase our tax revenue, and also do something for the Film and Television Association."
Mays, who was about to get up, sat back down and asked, "There's no room for negotiation on the screening schedule. However, I can inform the theaters that as long as your film 'Sunset' is released and the quality is good, they will try their best to give you preferential treatment in terms of screening."
Mays remained unmoved, only finding Gou Yingjun's words quite reasonable.
An ambitious music company that has just ventured into the film and television industry deserves some support, but the rules cannot be broken.
Therefore, the only option left is to focus on improving the quality of the film.
As long as the movies being released this time are decent, even if the quality is slightly lower but they maintain a normal standard, they can be given some preferential treatment in terms of screening arrangements.
If it's a bad movie, then there's no point in discussing it.
“Great!” Gou Yingjun showed his excitement and stood up to shake Mays’s hand: “Thank you, Representative Mays. We are very grateful to you. For this, our Sunset is willing to contribute 1 million US dollars to the association.”
Mays did not refuse to contribute the money to the association: "Alright, you can go back now. The film's quality meets the standards, so there will be no shortage of screenings. I have other things to do, so please make yourselves at home."
Mays got up and walked out of the office, seemingly calling to her assistant to invite the two to the rest area.
"No need for that trouble. We don't want to disturb your work. We still need to rush back to the company to report."
Gou Yingjun left with Lao Zhang.
After leaving Sifanglou, Zhang Xincheng looked puzzled and began to ask questions.
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