Huayu: Hard fight against Zhang Weiping at the beginning

Chapter 294: My Own Swordsman

At this time, many successful people in suits and ties were standing in the multi-purpose hall of the Sheraton Hotel. These people obviously knew each other, and various greetings were heard one after another.

"Lao Zhang, I knew I would run into you..."

"Old Li, I was looking for you too. How come you are also interested in this edition of 'Wulin Wai Zhuan'?"

"Of course. Zhang Chen's sitcom is the first costume sitcom in China, so we are definitely interested in it. But you guys, aren't you always not interested in sitcoms?"

"That's different. You also said that Zhang Chen made it. We can catch a cold~"

"Hahaha~"

……

"Director Gao, why is CCTV trying to compete with us for sitcoms? Hasn't CCTV always been uninterested in this stuff?"

"If we can't use it, don't we still have the TV drama channel? Besides, I'm just here to watch it, so I have to know the quality of the drama. If it's snatched away by your Mango TV, we'll know how to deal with it then."

"You are too polite. You are CCTV. How dare that local station go against CCTV?"

"Come on, stop it. Mango TV has been fighting against us before. Just look at the ratings of Super Girl these past two days. What have you done to the ratings?"

"Hahaha, that's not as good as your News Broadcast~"

"'News Broadcast' is not a TV series, it's not the same thing at all~"

Similar conversations took place frequently in various places in the hall. It was obvious that these people came here for the reputation of director Zhang Chen.

Some people are also discussing the play itself:
"Director Zhang, do you really think that period sitcoms can work?"

"I don't know. No one can be sure without seeing the finished film, but at least we don't have to worry about censorship issues."

"That's true, but I heard there aren't any big stars..."

"I've heard about it, too. But I heard that the screenwriter lineup is very luxurious. Zhang Chen and his company's screenwriter team worked together to create this, so it shouldn't be bad. Apart from anything else, as long as it can be half as funny as "Stone", the ratings of this drama will definitely skyrocket..."

Before the film screening started, people from satellite TV stations from all over the country arrived one after another. Zhang Guoli introduced several satellite TV station directors he was familiar with to Zhang Chen and others.

After all, Zhang Guoli is an actor who often plays in dramas. He is very familiar with the film purchasing directors of these TV stations. He introduced Zhang Chen to them: "Director Zhang, let me introduce you. This is Zhang Chen. Zhang Chen, this is Director Zhang Jianmin who is in charge of film purchasing for Mango TV!"

Zhang Chen smiled and shook hands with the other party, and said politely: "Director Zhang, it's our first meeting, please take care of me!"

Zhang Jianmin looked at Zhang Chen and praised him, "I've heard that Director Zhang Chen is the best among young directors in China. Seeing him today, I can see that his reputation is well-deserved!"

"No, no, Director Zhang, you are too kind!"

Wherever they passed, there were voices of "Nice to meet you".

Zhang Chen shook hands warmly and Dong Jianqiang exchanged business cards. This was a good opportunity to expand their network.

Everyone present was from the TV station and had seen many celebrities before, but this was the first time Zhang Chen had seen one.

He looks gentle and kind, with a friendly smile, completely different from the powder keg image shown in newspapers and on TV.

In the corner, Shang Jing and Ning Caishen looked at Zhang Chen with envy who was surrounded by the crowd. Big directors were treated like the center of attention, while a small director like him didn't even have anyone to talk to.

Shang Jing and Ning Caishen couldn't help but feel a little sour in their hearts. I am the real director (screenwriter) of this drama.

……

Now that everyone has gotten to know each other, the movie viewing is about to begin.

They were all insiders, so there was no special host. Chen Xi acted as the host.

She came to the podium and tried the microphone, then smiled and said her opening remarks: "Dear leaders, dear friends from the TV station, welcome to Xingchen Entertainment's film screening!

You are all busy people, so I won’t say much. Let me first explain the rules.

First we will play the first five episodes of "Wulin Waijia" for everyone to make a basic judgment, and then you can bid.

Ladies and gentlemen, in order to avoid unnecessary competition, we will use a blind bidding method this time, and the highest bidder will win. "

When Chen Xi announced it, she herself was a little hesitant, as it seemed that no other drama had adopted this approach yet.

But the idea was made by Zhang Chen, so she could only carry it out.

Dong Jianqiang didn't think it was a big deal. His confidence came from Zhang Chen's long-term success.

"In the afternoon, the staff will give everyone paper and pen. After I announce the reserve price, everyone will write down their bids on a piece of paper. Someone will collect the bids and I will announce the highest bid. This will also avoid hurting the relationship."

After Chen Xi finished speaking, there was an immediate burst of discussion below.

I have never seen a drama sold this way. Are they like a newborn calf that is not afraid of a tiger, or are they confident?

Zhang Chen also stood up at this time, walked to the podium, and put on his most friendly smile: "Thank you all for coming to this film screening. This is the first time for Xingchen Entertainment to make a TV series. I'm sure you all have doubts. It doesn't matter. Let's watch the film first. I believe everyone will have a conclusion on the quality of the film after watching it.

After watching the movie in the morning, we will take a break at noon and then we will start bidding in the afternoon.

By the way, let me emphasize that this time we are bidding only for the first broadcast rights, and "Wulin Wai Zhuan" does not accept buyouts. Okay, I won't waste my words, let's watch the movie first."

Soon, the lights in the conference room went out and it was pitch dark.

A beam of light appeared on the screen, and then the humorous music of the theme song "Laughing in the Rivers and Lakes" sounded.

Just by hearing that nasty sound, everyone felt very amused. Then they saw that the lyrics and music were both written by Zhang Chen.

Everyone knew that Zhang Chen wrote three songs for "Super Girl" and they became popular all over the country, but they didn't expect that he also wrote one for "Wulin Waijia".

Listening to the melody, it seems quite fitting. How talented is this guy?

Episode 1: "Miss Guo smashes Tongfu store, shopkeeper Tong cleverly guides lost people"

Episode 2: The shopkeeper comforts the man pretending to be sick, and the waiter punishes the provocative woman

Episode 3: "The guys became little followers, and Mo Xiaobei established the Eight Sects"

Episode 4: Chef Li outsmarts the blind old lady, and the white thief encounters the gambling king

Episode 5: "Zhan Hongling Chases the Pickpocket Across Thousands of Miles, Guo Furong Is Obsessed with the Thief"

Two hours later, the first five episodes of "Wulin Waijia" were played and the lights in the room came on again.

All the film buyers present then realized that the people around them all had smiles on their faces, and when they looked at themselves, they saw the same thing.

Good show, definitely a good show!

We all make a living from this, and we can tell whether a drama is good or not just by watching it a few times.

As a sitcom, it is undoubtedly qualified, as can be seen from the smiles on everyone's faces.

The lines are humorous, the characters are distinct, and dialects are used in the film.

The Qin dialect, which is obviously a bit stiff, somehow sounds funny when it comes out of Tong Xiangyu's mouth, making people want to learn a few words from her.

Since the release of Stone, the industry has gradually realized the role of dialects, and many TV dramas have tried to use them. I didn’t expect that My Own Swordsman would use them in advance. In addition, four of the five episodes have guest appearances by celebrities, including Fan Binbin, Li Binbin, Xu Qing, Zeng Li, Zhang Guoli, Feng Xiaogang, Jiang Wenli, Tong Dawei, Huang Xiaoming…

Even Zhang Chen made a cameo appearance in it.

Damn, who said before that they don’t have a star lineup? Aren’t these stars?
It's very common for celebrities to guest-star in sitcoms, but I've never seen anything like "Wulin Waijia".

Other dramas have one star guest-starring in one episode, but in "Wulin Waijiao", it's different, with several stars often guest-starring together. It's really like treating bean buns as solid food.

But think about it, with Zhang Chen's fame, it would be easy to invite some people to make guest appearances.

A drama like this has all the jokes and all the stars, but as for the story, it's nothing more than a sitcom that's funny.

They are all veterans, and everyone knows that this drama will definitely be a hit and will definitely be another classic!
The only thing left to consider now is how to get it.

Some film purchasing directors of first-tier TV stations are already considering the current situation. Since everyone knows that the drama is excellent, the bidding in the afternoon will definitely be fierce. So is the current amount of money they have enough?

It seems that I have to apply to the station to increase my credit limit at noon.

"It's so wonderful, Director Zhang, this sitcom produced by your company is so wonderful, it will definitely be a hit~
Director Zhang, please name a price. CCTV wants this drama~"

Hearing what Director Gao of CCTV said, the film purchasing directors of other satellite TV stations felt nervous and cursed in their hearts: "Damn it, this old guy is being a hooligan again..."

CCTV always broadcasts dramas exclusively when it buys them.

That is to say, once they buy the drama, other channels cannot broadcast it. If they want to broadcast it, they can only wait for the second round.

"No, Director Gao, Director Zhang said that we will bid together this afternoon, so what are you doing?"

Everybody wants it, but CCTV is playing tricks, so everybody must be dissatisfied. Someone reminded Zhang Chen that you have to keep your word.

Zhang Chen immediately waved his hand and said, "No, no, we agreed to bid in the afternoon, so it will be in the afternoon. If Director Gao is interested, he can also participate in the blind bidding in the afternoon."

Director Gao shut up angrily when he saw that he had angered everyone, but he had already made up his mind that he must get this drama. If Channel 1 couldn't broadcast it, he could put it on the TV drama channel.

Seeing that everyone seemed very interested, some film purchasing directors of second-tier satellite TV stations were already thinking about it.

They are not first-tier satellite TV stations and do not have that much wealth. They will definitely not win the bidding in the afternoon. But if one company cannot win, they can join forces to bid together.

There are already several second-tier satellite TV stations that have this idea, and everyone has started to make eye contact.

Zhang Chen saw all of this and said with a smile: "Okay, representatives, let's think about the bidding in the afternoon. It's time for lunch now. We have arranged a simple lunch for everyone. Please move..."

……

In the afternoon, the auction was scheduled to start at three o'clock, and representatives from major satellite TV stations had already arrived at the venue at around two o'clock.

Everyone looked at each other and chatted absentmindedly.

Director Gao of CCTV, Director Zhang of Mango TV, Director Song of Lychee TV, Director Li of Blueberry TV, Director Yang of Tomato TV, Director Yu of Apple TV...

The five major satellite TV stations and CCTV are all full of confidence.

Everyone has a piece of paper with the bid price written on it in their briefcases, and the numbers on it are the results of repeated discussions with the Taiwan leaders at noon.

"Haha, Director Gao is determined to win~"

"Hey, Director Song, please don't compete with me when the time comes~"

"Brother Yang, can you tell me how much you have prepared?"

"Brother Yu, you are making things difficult for me. Why don't you tell me first, Brother Yang, how much are you going to pay?"

"Haha, haha, trade secret~"

The group of people were joking with each other, but there was a sense of caution in their jokes.

Finally, the organizers arrived, along with two specially invited notaries.

Chen Xi walked onto the podium and said, "Everyone has watched the first five episodes of 'Wulin Waijia' this morning, and I believe you have a good idea of ​​the quality of the series. Now, please hand in your bids to the staff. To be fair, we will announce the winning TV station on the spot."

After Chen Xi finished speaking, the assigned staff took a transparent box and collected the tickets one by one. The buyers folded up their labels and stuffed them into the box. Then the staff took the box to the podium.

Zhang Chen looked at the box in front of him, smiled at everyone in the audience, and then said to Shang Jing and others behind him: "Everyone, let's witness this moment together."

Shang Jing, Ning Caishen, Dong Jianqiang and others behind him all came forward.

Under the supervision of the notary, Zhang Chen opened the bids one by one: CCTV, mango, tomato, blueberry, tomato, apple…

As the bid price gradually decreased, everyone became more nervous.

Director Gao was a little nervous. CCTV never pays very high prices for dramas, but because the platform is big enough, many producers are still willing to sell to them.

But this time, Xingchen Entertainment adopted a "highest bidder wins" strategy, basically fulfilling the possibility of CCTV's filming.

Among the five major TV stations except CCTV, each one is richer than the other, especially mango, tomato, and blueberry...

"I declare that the winning bidder is Mango TV, 80!"

80, Mango TV!

When the result was announced, everyone in the audience gasped.

80, this price can really be considered a sky-high price.

For a normal drama, especially a popular one, you can get it for around 50.

Mango TV was so crazy that it reported 80.

This is a roll or a lot of money!
The happiest people are definitely those from Xingchen Entertainment. The pay is 80 per episode, and the first season of "Wulin Waijia" has 30 episodes, so that's 2400 million.

The production cost is less than 1000 million, which is a sure profit.

In the original time and space, "Wulin Waijia" had 80 episodes and a production cost of 2000 million. In this time and space, Zhang Chen changed it to 30 episodes per season. It is expected to shoot at least three seasons, with a total investment of about 3000 million. The first broadcast alone can make at least 4000 million, not counting the second and third rounds.

For ordinary TV series, the first broadcast rights can probably make back the investment, and the remaining second and third rounds are pure profit.

The second run can usually sell for a little less than half of the first run. Based on the price of "Wulin Waijiao", it is estimated to be around 30.

Sanlun is the local station.

The richer ones can afford 7 or 8 yuan per episode, while the cheaper ones can be purchased for a few thousand yuan, but the prices are too high.

The combined income of dozens of local stations is also quite low.

"The Legend of Sword and Fairy" was like this. It was not broadcast on satellite TV in the first round, but dozens of copies were sold to local TV stations, and in the end each episode earned nearly 80.

This does not include audio and video copyright.

TV dramas still make money quickly.

……

Tomorrow the story of Taken begins
(End of this chapter)