“Sitcoms usually have six or seven main characters.” Gu Wenhua immediately interrupted Huang Feizhang, “From American sitcoms like ‘Friends’ and ‘The Big Bang Theory’ in the last century, to domestic shows like ‘Criminal Investigation Team 26’ and ‘Editorial Office Story’, and then to ‘Martial Arts Alliance’ in this century, they all have this configuration.”
Sister Hong kicked Huang Feizhang under the table, then quickly replied with a smile, "Why is it always this configuration?"
Gu Wenhua said, "Sitcoms have weak plots and can't be sustained by a single storyline. Six or seven people can be flexibly grouped together, and two or three storylines can be filled in one episode."
"Oh, oh, oh," Sister Hong laughed, "So our sitcom will need six or seven people?"
Gu Wenhua glanced at Ye Chu, and when Ye Chu blinked, Gu Wenhua understood her meaning and said, "This number is the most suitable. The 6+1 model is better, that is, six regular guests, and one or two rotating characters introduced each episode. However, it depends on Ye Chu's opinion. Ye Chu, what do you think?"
Shang Yechu pondered for a moment: "There are already many domestic sitcoms. Will our sitcom, 'Happiness Street,' still have any novelty when it's released?" This was another concern of hers.
“There’s no need to worry about that,” Gu Wenhua said hurriedly. “Since ‘The Apartment,’ there hasn’t been a popular sitcom in China for a long time. There’s been a gap in that area. If we take advantage of the movie’s popularity, as long as the quality isn’t too bad, even if it doesn’t become a hit, breaking even shouldn’t be difficult.”
"The Apartment" ended back in 2014. Since then, many domestic dramas have tried to replicate its success, but haven't quite succeeded. Audiences have been waiting three years for a sitcom.
Seeing that Shang Yechu was already interested, Gu Wenhua pressed on, saying, "In short, we're not trying to create some immortal classic drama. We just want to help Happiness Commercial Street get through this lull in its popularity."
These words cleared the fog for Shang Yechu. She was right; who said she had to make a big-budget, meticulously crafted production? As long as it helped Xingfu Commercial Street, that was fine. She'd really developed a "big-budget syndrome" from making too many big productions. How many big-budget productions did the Chinese entertainment industry produce a year?
The popularity of the movie "Happy Street" will likely last for two or three months, giving Qingping Entertainment a good opportunity to produce a sitcom. Sitcoms typically have a maximum of twenty episodes per season, a modern setting, and minimal post-production special effects, making production quick. Especially since comedy films are approved relatively quickly…
After some deliberation, the feasibility of this matter turned out to be quite high. Just as Shang Yechu was about to get excited, she suddenly felt that something was wrong.
"Aren't you a movie actor?" Shang Yechu looked at Gu Wenhua. "Why are you suddenly so enthusiastic about TV dramas?"
For a film director to suddenly switch to making sitcoms is simply absurd; Gu Wenhua must have lost his mind. Even if Gu Wenhua likes Shang Yechu, it's impossible. Just as Shang Yechu wouldn't give up "The Heavenly Emperor" to Yang Huanyi, feelings are feelings, and film is film.
Gu Wenhua paused, his face immediately showing an expression of extreme discomfort, like someone waiting in line for the toilet.
Shang Yechu was greatly surprised and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Gu Wenhua hesitated for a long time, finally showing a look of giving up. He let out a breath and said, "This is what I think, Ye Chu. Our, our 'Happy Street' movie did well at the box office. Such a good film, the script has a lot of potential. Many directors have never made a movie with this kind of box office performance in their entire careers."
“I was thinking… thinking…” Gu Wenhua said shyly, “It’s such a waste to only make one movie like this. If we could turn it into an original IP and make it into a series like Marvel…”
Shang Yechu's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately understood Gu Wenhua's idea.
Gu Wenhua actually wanted to use Happiness Street as a base to build a "Happiness Street universe"!
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