Entertainment 2000: Supporting female stars will bring you a hundredfold return

Chapter 378 A Gold Mine-Level Retirement Drama: Talented Individuals in Heaven and Earth
Blue Star Entertainment has released numerous films.

They were very familiar with this process.

The second and third parts of "Infernal Affairs" were filmed together.

The cast is star-studded, and the overseas rights have already been sold.

Knowing that this was the last installment in the series, the DVD rights were auctioned off and sold for a high price.

It doesn't reach 2000 million like "Hero," but it's still a good 1200 million.

In an environment where most domestic films gross less than 10 million yuan at the box office, this is truly remarkable.

Compared to my previous life, this is because of Tang Wen's existence.

There are several product placements in the film "Infernal Affairs 3".

They received nearly ten million yuan in advertising fees.

It's fair to say that the movie has already made money even before its release.

Those guys in Hong Kong were trying to get us to make a prequel or a fourth installment, but Tang Wen rejected it.

The fact that the third installment was made to this quality shows that every possible method was used.

If they make a fourth one, it'll definitely be terrible.

Not only will they be criticized, but their reputation will also be ruined and they won't make much money.

It needlessly dragged down the ratings of the first three parts.

The promotion for "Infernal Affairs 3" began two weeks before Tang Wen's return.

Currently, the movie's promotional video is ranked third on Renren.com's trending list.

After a year or two of development, Renren.com spread throughout university campuses and became fully open to the public.

Thanks to the integration with the QQ account portal, the number of registered users has officially surpassed 1 million.

Thanks to Tang Wen's involvement, QQ's user base reached 3 million ahead of schedule.

However, these two figures are somewhat inflated.

At this stage, registration does not require binding a mobile phone number or real-name authentication.

It is very common for one person to have multiple phone numbers.

Especially with QQ, those who sensed a business opportunity began to hoard accounts on a large scale.

"During the promotional period, as usual, Andy Lau led the team to the Northeast, Tony Leung led a group to the South, Li Ming and Gao Yuanyuan continued the promotion in the Beijing-Tianjin area, and Wang Zuxian led the team in Shanghai..."

Summer spoke in a calm tone.

Tang Wen's thoughts drifted, and he secretly sighed that Andy Lau was truly a model worker, worthy of his good reputation.

Not many celebrities are willing to go to the area outside the Great Wall, but he went there every time.

However, there were also gains.

After drinking with Zhao Benshan a few times, the two became good friends.

In the future, when Andy Lau goes to the Northeast, it will be much more convenient with Lao Zhao's help.

In Hong Kong, there aren't many people who are on good terms with Lao Zhao.

If someone needs help, they might have to ask Andy Lau for it.

That's how connections and influence are built.

“I have a lot on my plate, so you guys keep an eye on Infernal Affairs 3. Let Sister Zuxian put in more effort.” Wang Zuxian is one of the producers of this film.

It was already July.

Xia Tian reported on the company's revenue for the first half of the year.

The TV dramas from last year and the year before have been sold several times.

"Eighteen-Year-Old Sky", "Conquest", "Snowflake Goddess Dragon", "The Grand Dyeing Workshop", "Pink Lady"... a series of TV dramas were very popular with local TV stations.

Local TV stations couldn't afford high prices, but by focusing on high volume and low margins, they generated over 3500 million in profits in the new round.

After projects such as "The Story of a Noble Family" and "The Divine Doctor Xi Lai Le" were broadcast on CCTV, not only did local TV stations follow suit, but two satellite TV stations in remote areas also offered high prices to purchase the broadcasting rights.

The family drama "Romantic Affairs," produced by CCTV, has started filming and is progressing smoothly.

This play has four female leads.

Aside from investing, Tang Wen did not participate in the filming.

Bluestar's major project last year, "Bright Sword," was fiercely contested by CCTV and Shanghai.

Well, looking across the whole country, Shanghai is probably the only city that dares to compete with CCTV for broadcasting rights.

The "Bright Sword" project is an A-level big-budget production supervised, produced, and distributed by Tang Wen.

Since 2000, not to mention the films directed by Tang Wen, even just the TV series he is credited with are all masterpieces.

It had already spread within the industry that although Tang Wen was not the director of "Bright Sword" himself, he was involved in the entire process, from writing the script and casting to the final editing.

It can be said that "Bright Sword" is his work.

The story of Tang Wen driving his RV to invite Li Youbin spread widely on Renren and Tianya.

People like this kind of story.

It feels a bit like the story of Liu Bei's three visits to Zhuge Liang's thatched cottage.

Many people are waiting to see what kind of work "Bright Sword" is.

Jiangnan TV was the first to inquire about prices.

CCTV and Shanghai media quickly followed suit.

Blue Star Entertainment sees so many TV stations that interest them.

They simply held a preview screening in Beijing.

The opening of the TV series features the theme song "Military Soul," written by Tang Wen himself, performed by the Beijing Chamber Choir.

This gave all parties involved in the procurement process a boost of morale.

After watching the first few episodes, everyone has a good idea of ​​what to expect. It couldn't be more suitable to air this show during the National Day Golden Week.

After multiple rounds of bidding, CCTV emerged victorious.

They offered an astronomical price for this series—140 million yuan per episode.

The industry was in an uproar.

He shouted that he was crazy.

It's 2003 now, not 2023 where millions of TV dramas are everywhere.

Following media reports, viewers and netizens were not only astonished but also filled with curiosity and anticipation.

The TV series "Bright Sword" only has 26 episodes.

Tang Wen didn't add any fluff or soft advertising. So, despite the high unit price, the first round only sold for 3562 million.

However, there's no need to rush.

"Bright Sword" is a phenomenal TV series, not just something that was popular for one or several rounds.

According to incomplete statistics, it had been replayed at least 3000 times as of 2020.

The copyright was sold to dozens of television stations, including several satellite TV channels.

Tang Wen also holds the online broadcasting rights, and it is foreseeable that he can earn tens of millions of yuan annually from it over the next two or three decades.

This is definitely a goldmine-level retirement drama.

Xia Tian continued, "Du Liang, the author of 'Bright Sword,' has officially joined our screenwriting department as a specially appointed chief screenwriter."

I reported this before summer.

Du Liang is not usually responsible for writing scripts; he is only responsible for reviewing them.

At the same time, he used his personal connections to make friends everywhere.

It mainly involves drinking wine and tea with authors and screenwriters in the cultural circle.

Tang Wen specially approved a Tang Palace consumer card, which would be deposited with hundreds of thousands of yuan every quarter.

Teacher Du Liang was responsible for taking his writer and screenwriter friends out for meals and drinks.

This job sounds amazing.

You can drink tea and wine with writers and authors, chat about everything under the sun, and even get paid.

Du Liang stated that he can work for 30 years!
As a result, Du Liang couldn't hold on for even a quarter or three months after it started.

The aroma of soy sauce is delicious, but you can't resist drinking it two or three times a day.

He asked the company for help, wanting to hire a mature female assistant who loves reading, has experience, good temperament, and is good at conversation.

When Xia Tian saw this requirement, she was speechless—where could she find such a person?

Putting aside everything else, even job postings are not easy to write.

After much deliberation, Xia Tian sought help from Zhang Ran, a long-time resident of Beijing.

After pondering it all night, he replied the next day: "Heaven on Earth!"

Upon seeing those four words, Xia Tian's eyes twitched. She was about to retort, but after thinking about it carefully, she felt that he made sense.

They sent someone to make some private contacts and found that there were indeed qualified candidates.

And it wasn't just one of them; they were a bit older, had earned enough, and were looking for honest men.

Just then, a legitimate job came along, which was like "someone delivering a pillow when you're feeling sleepy."

Xia Tian knew that Tang Wen valued scripts, so he invited three people in one go, each with a different style.

She is tall and aloof, and also skilled at playing the pipa.

She has a youthful face and a petite figure, and can play the harmonica; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she's a college student.

The last one is elegant and mature, with a pair of captivating eyes that look at everyone with deep affection.

On the first day of the trial period, the three of them, through a combination of drinking and coaxing, managed to overpower three directors of Blue Star and the entire editorial department.

Summer was holding back her mischief, so she invited Zhang Ran over the next day.

Unfortunately, Zhang Ran knew what was going on. As soon as he entered the room, he sensed something was wrong and immediately called his real estate company, where he was the president, for help.

The real estate company sent three top public relations professionals, two top sales professionals, and three women for a chat. The eight of them got completely drunk.

They called each other "brother" and "sister," "older sister" and "younger brother" in a jumbled mess.

After downing two cases of baijiu, Zhang Ran and Xia Tian, ​​realizing things were going wrong, quickly called a halt to the battle.

They appreciated each other's talents and returned to their respective companies.

With the help of three capable generals, Blue Star Entertainment's public relations work proceeded exceptionally smoothly.

They soon reaped the rewards.

A novel called "Soldier".

Created by renowned author and screenwriter Lan Xiaolong, the film and television adaptation rights were granted to Blue Star Entertainment by both parties in a preliminary agreement before publication.

The novel "Soldiers" was adapted into a TV series, which everyone will remember; its name is—"Soldiers' Assault."

It's a bit worse than "Bright Sword," and can be considered a low-budget, retirement-friendly drama.

There's another script, a family sitcom that Tang Wen commissioned from Zang Li, the screenwriter of "Romantic Affairs," to be made.

After the first draft was completed, it was revised twice.

The project was named: Home with Kids

Those born in the 80s and 90s are probably very familiar with this name.

The original timeline was used to film four movies in one go.

If it weren't for the investors messing things up and the two lead actors getting tired of it, the fourth installment could definitely have continued.

In Tang Wen's view, the revenue from this drama may exceed that of "Bright Sword".

Because this is a modern drama.

He will personally select the actors and personally take on roles such as producer and executive producer.

With his fame, he could definitely attract a large number of advertisers.

Product placement in advertising has great potential.

Home with Kids is not a short drama; the first three seasons each have 100 episodes.

Although it's a bit short, 100 episodes sounds impressive.

For the first film, building a good reputation and collecting over 1000 million in product placement fees should be enough.

The next two films, each must have at least 2000 million in advertising fees, right?
However, there are still considerable problems in making this film go smoothly.

That's the deeply memorable lead actress, the soul of this film, Song Dandan, who's a bit difficult to deal with.

In later generations, she often brought her own screenwriters to the production team.

They are also demanding of the script and dislike product placement.

Unfortunately, this person held a high position.

Most directors can't persuade her otherwise.

She might not be willing to make more than five films.

But regardless, this series will definitely be filmed.

Screenwriter Zang Li has signed a long-term contract with Blue Star Entertainment.

However, the lead actress, Song Dandan, is not entirely irreplaceable.

There are few female stars who share the same niche as her, but they do exist.

For example, like her, she didn't have much of a youth—Nanako, Cai Ming.

She also has impressive comedic talent and is a year younger than her, making her equally suitable for the lead role.

The projects "Soldiers Sortie" and "Home with Kids" will not be launched for the time being.

Blue Star has so many projects, we're almost too busy to keep up.

The production of the Jin Yong martial arts drama "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber", starring Alec Su, Alyssa Chia, and Gao Yuanyuan, has been completed.

No information has been released to the public yet, but some TV stations have already inquired about the price.

The starting price is 110 million per episode.

That's quite a show of sincerity.

Director Lin of Jiangnan TV personally called Tang Wen to inquire about the show.

If they can win the contract, it will become a major show that Jiangnan TV will broadcast during prime time, following in the footsteps of "Super Girl".

Tang Wen couldn't guarantee it.

The leaders of Beijing TV, Shanghai TV, and other satellite TV stations complained to him that the shows they wanted were always snatched up by CCTV, and asked Tang Wen to think of a solution.

He could only manage a wry smile.

Jiangnan TV, thanks to its collaboration with Tang Wen on "Super Girl" this year, has made a fortune, significantly boosting its influence and popularity. Upon hearing Tang Wen's response, Director Lin simply laughed it off.
"We gave CCTV face when bidding for the drama series before, so we didn't put in our best effort. But once the bidding for this drama starts, I'll personally send people to participate!"

Tang Wen knew exactly how much money "Super Girl" made through a collaboration between two companies and three major operating companies in Jiangnan.

This program is different from the original timeline.

In the original timeline, when the first Super Girl competition was held, it didn't gain much fame.

Insufficient influence.

This can be proven by asking everyone a question.

When you think of the Super Girl champion, who is the first person that comes to mind?

Li Yuchun!
But she was the 2005 Super Girl champion.

The champion in 2004 was An Youqi.

The runner-up was named Wang Ti.

The former still has some fame, while the latter has disappeared from the entertainment industry.

Their circumstances are incomparable to those of the Super Girls of 05.

This is related to the fact that Hunan TV had little experience in organizing its first talent show.

For example, their SMS voting system was poorly implemented.

After voting, you will automatically subscribe to some paid consultations.

Advertisers were unprepared.

The publicity effect was mediocre.

The Super Girl competition in 05 became a huge hit, but they paid a lot of price for it.

Although this was Tang Wen's first time organizing a talent show, he was knowledgeable.

Previously, the Blue Star team collaborated with CCTV on "Touching China" and "Avenue of Stars," accumulating a wealth of experience.

The telecom operators in Jiangnan were also very helpful, assisting with promotion.

The title sponsor was a yogurt drink brand jointly developed by Tangwen and Sanyuan, and the advertising cost was tens of millions of yuan. The slogan they shouted was "30 million yuan for posters!"

At the same time, they recruited temporary college students offline to do on-the-ground promotion.

Online, Renren.com and QQ.com launched a massive advertising campaign.

Renren.com created an interactive section for this purpose.

They took turns inviting contestants to record video messages and accept live text and image interviews.

The sector is very active.

The number of people participating in the live stream simultaneously exceeded one million.

In addition, it is a project that has attracted the attention of leaders in Jiangnan Province.

The influence of the first Super Girl competition was comparable to that of the second competition in the original timeline.

The only drawback is that no particularly breakout singers have emerged.

Nevertheless, both companies can still earn tens of millions.

Renren.com, leveraging this surge in traffic, surpassed Sina, the leading portal website among the three major portals!
The daily average access index has exceeded 200.

Originally, among the three major portal websites, Sina had the highest market share, followed by NetEase and Sohu.

Renren.com emerged out of nowhere and took away a significant share of the market.

Through personal homepages, celebrity endorsements, and exposure of Tang Wen... a series of activities.

They captured 29.1% of the market share.

To become number one in the market.

Only in terms of total market capitalization, it lags behind the other three companies.

The other three major portal websites achieved profitability through unlimited value-added services such as SMS, games, and ubiquitous advertising.

Renren.com covers many sections and has a large footprint, including a professional question and answer section (Zhihu), a movie and book rating section (Douban), and many other areas.

The website's operating costs were higher, and Tang Wen restricted the excessive use of advertisements, which further reduced revenue.

Fortunately, the game company was operating well, barely managing to support Renren.com's continued expansion.

In terms of wireless value-added services, Renren.com will also need to catch up in the next step.

Meanwhile, Tang Wen is preparing to make a breakthrough in making friends.

Calling it a dating service is inaccurate; it should be called a voice chat room.

YY Voice is a company founded in 05.

Tang Wen is preparing to collaborate with Tencent to develop a multi-user online chat tool.

Renren.com has identified a woman who enjoys writing sex diaries. They plan to use her diaries to attract new users.

She took the money and started a Renren.com page.

The diary is being updated continuously.

There is no content related to X yet, but it will be coming soon.

(End of this chapter)