Entertainment: I just want to be the boss behind the scenes

Chapter 144: Winning is a big profit, losing is no loss
In early March, the severe cold eased slightly.

The "Seminar on the Internet Platform Audiovisual Program Review System" that has been discussed in the industry for more than half a year has finally begun.

"Hello, this is the meeting outline for this seminar. There are nameplates on the tables inside. We can just sit according to our seats."

At the door of the conference hall of the Radio, Film and Television Planning Institute, two staff members handed Meng Bai a paper bag containing documents and notebooks.

After saying thank you, Meng Bai took the bag and went in through the door at the side. After taking a look around, he realized that this conference room was not very big and could probably only seat about a hundred people.

It really proves the saying that small matters are handled with a big meeting, and big matters are handled with a small meeting.

He didn't arrive early, and there were already quite a few people in the conference room when he entered.

Looking around, I found a lot of familiar faces, almost all of them were the heads of the online drama centers of various film and television platforms and representatives of film and television companies.

"Boss Meng, you're here."

"Mr. Liu, you're here so early."

"Boss Meng, you young man are slower than us middle-aged people."

"Haha, there's nothing I can do. I came here through East City. The morning rush hour in northern Beijing is so congested that no one can make a sound."

"Hello, Mr. Meng."

"..."

As the producer of the hottest "hit drama" in the online drama market, Arclight Films is well-known in the industry. As the soul of Arclight Films, Meng Bai is not well-known to the public, but he is still very popular in the industry.

The leaders present had all had some contact with each other before, so when they saw Meng Bai, those who were far away nodded, while those who were nearby started to greet him.

Meng Bai responded while looking for his name tag - it was in the middle of the second row. It seemed that Arclight Films was highly valued in this conference.

Looking around, I found that Liu Jun and Hou Hongliang seemed to have not arrived yet, but Zhu Zhenhua had arrived first.

He also saw Meng Bai, waved his hand, and then came over.

"I plan to start auditioning actors for The Best of Us next week." Zhu Zhenhua said, "Do you have any recommendations?"

Meng Bai touched his chin and thought about it. Arclight Films now has only three actors. Wang Longzheng's style is quite different from campus dramas. Even if he plays the role of "Dean of Education", it will look weird.

There is nothing wrong with Li Yitong and Zhu Xudan, but they don't seem to match the character of the heroine "Geng Geng". As for the other characters...

"Please keep the role of 'Luo Zhi' for a while. I have a recommendation for someone." Meng Bai said, "Also, the female lead can recommend a girl to audition when the time comes."

The character "Luo Zhi" is the senior of "Geng Geng" and the heroine of another work in the "Zhenhua Series", "Secret Love in the South".

Meng Bai plans to give this role to Li Yitong. Firstly, this role can be regarded as a "hidden heroine" and can help her gain some experience.

Secondly, we can also wait and see the audience’s reaction when the show is broadcast. If the evaluation of her is high, it can be postponed to the main film of "Oranges Born in Huainan".

As for Zhu Xudan, we can let her audition when the time comes. If she is selected, that would be great. If not, we can find her other dramas.

Seeing that Meng Bai only mentioned an audition and a supporting role and did not forcefully interfere with the leading role, Zhu Zhenhua breathed a sigh of relief.

As the first drama of the entire series, he has high hopes for "The Best of Us" and naturally hopes that the most suitable actors can be chosen for the main roles.

As the investor and producer, Arclight Films has a lot of say in this project. If they really intend to assign the leading actor directly, it would be difficult for him to refuse.

If Meng Bai knew what Zhu Zhenhua was thinking, he would definitely pat him on the shoulder and say, "Brother, you're thinking too much."

He is not a coal boss who makes dramas just to promote people and pick up girls. As a film and television practitioner, his primary purpose in investing in every project is to make money.

"Do you have any good candidates in mind?" Meng Bai asked back.

"I don't have any idea about the female lead, but for the male lead, I think Liu Haoran is quite suitable. I sent him an invitation a few days ago." Zhu Zhenhua saw that Meng Bai was unfamiliar with this name, so he introduced him, "He's the guy who starred in "Beijing North Love Story" before."

"Oh, him." Meng Bai suddenly realized.

He was impressed by this movie, mainly because the director of the drama was his senior at the Central Academy of Drama, Chen Sicheng.

As for why people pay attention to Chen Sicheng, it is because he "stole" Tong Ya, the "flower of the Chinese opera" during Meng Bai's years in school.

I remember when these two people first announced their relationship, several class groups were filled with "resentment".

Meng Bai actually understood his senior quite well. When he was dating Song Zhi in school, his reputation among the boys in the acting department of the class of 06 was also average.

As the two were chatting, Dai Ying from Qiyi TV came over. Behind her, there was a round-faced, slightly fat man.

"Mr. Meng, this is Bai Yicong from Linghe Culture, Mr. Bai." Dai Ying gestured to the man behind her and introduced him.

Meng Bai looked at the man with some surprise. He had never heard of Linghe Culture, but he was very familiar with the name "Bai Yicong".

He was the producer and screenwriter of Penguin Video's previous "The Darker Side" and this year's "Grave Robbers' Chronicles".

"Mr. Bai, I've long heard of your great name." Meng Bai stretched out his hand.

"Haha, Junior Brother Meng Bai, you are too polite. I have heard about you for a long time." Bai Yicong shook hands happily and said with a smile, "It's rare to have brothers in the same industry. We need to communicate more in the future." Like Meng Bai, Bai Yicong also graduated from the Central Academy of Drama, but in the directing department.

To some extent, he is actually a bit like a "middle-aged version of Meng Bai with weakened looks".

When it comes to "long-known", Bai Yicong is not being polite, the two of them have indeed had intersections a long time ago.

At the beginning, Meng Bai took advantage of the information gap and aired "Soul Ferry" before "The Darker Side", successfully reaping the first wave of dividends from the online drama market.

Don’t underestimate the difference of ten days or half a month, it still has a great impact on the status of the two dramas.

Although both are among the earliest online dramas, the audience's evaluation of "The Darker Side" is at most a "good work", while "Soul Ferry" is the "pioneer of self-made online dramas."

Even if another ten years later, if someone wants to summarize the development history of domestic online dramas, "The Darker Side" may not be mentioned, but the name of "Soul Ferry" will definitely be indispensable.

They are both engaged in online dramas, and their main themes are "suspense". Strictly speaking, the relationship between the two is actually closer to that of competitors.

Bai Yicong is half admiring and half wary of his "junior brother" Meng Bai.

What I admire is that he relied on his talent to create an emerging market from scratch, but what I am wary of is the competition among each other.

"When will senior brother's "Grave Robbers' Chronicles" be aired?" Meng Bai asked for information.

Bai Yicong did not hide it, or rather, this kind of news could not be hidden: "Probably in the summer vacation, currently scheduled for July."

"July, what a coincidence." Meng Bai said in surprise. Seeing him looking at him curiously, he explained, "The next drama of our Arclight Films is also scheduled to be broadcast in July."

Bai Yicong was stunned, thought for a moment and said, "It's the second drama of the 'Green Ivy Series', I remember it was called 'Forensic Qin Ming'."

Meng Bai nodded. It was obvious that the other party also knew a lot of news from his side.

The drama "Forensic Qin Ming" began preparations this month. Including shooting and post-production, it will take about four months, so it will be broadcast in July.

It's no wonder that the traditional film and television industry has such strong opinions about online dramas. It often takes one to two years for a TV drama to go from project establishment to broadcast. In comparison, online dramas take as little as three to five months, or as long as half a year.

This kind of project time and capital recovery speed is really good for film and television companies.

This is also why traditional film and television companies such as Huace, Huanrui, and Ciwen have also sent people to participate in today's online drama seminar.

Everyone is eyeing the online drama market.

"That's great." Bai Yicong smiled and said, "When the time comes, we'll have to ask Junior Brother to let us off a little."

"Brother, you got it the wrong way around." Meng Bai smiled bitterly, "With the name 'Grave Robbers' Chronicles', I was planning to go back and discuss with the platform to postpone the broadcast for a month."

Bai Yicong frowned. These words sounded like a sign of weakness, but he also felt that he was hinting that he was relying on the big IP of "The Lost Tomb".

"You're too polite, Junior Brother. With the explosive start of "Psychological Crime" and the high sales of the original novel, I believe the popularity and heat of this drama will not be low."

Everybody is hyping up the popularity of the IP, so no one should criticize anyone else.

"Then we will have to cooperate more."

"must."

The two brothers shook hands "friendly", pretending not to know the other's "ulterior motives".

Watching Bai Yicong leave, Zhu Zhenhua said, "Brother Meng, are you really going to have a head-on collision with Grave Robbers' Chronicles?"

Although the main themes are different, everyone in the industry understands what this super IP represents.

Meng Bai shook his head: "There are more and more online dramas, and there will be more big IPs in the future. It's impossible to avoid them. Instead of waiting until then to get flustered, why not give it a try now and see how powerful these big IPs are."

After that, he joked, "Besides, a head-on collision is not without its benefits. Maybe it will spark discussion among the audience and gain some popularity. Anyway, we have the name of "Grave Robbers' Chronicles", so it's not shameful for us to lose."

Zhu Zhenhua was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

I have to say that Meng Bai's idea is really good. The popularity and traffic of "Grave Robbers' Chronicles" are obvious to all. PK with such a big IP at the same time, if you win, you will make a lot of money, and if you lose, you will not lose.

Besides, after a year of development, the current online drama market is fully capable of accommodating two popular online dramas at the same time.

After all, this is not like a movie, where ticket prices have to be considered. Audiences can watch one movie after another every week without any delay.

After chatting for a few more words, Meng Bai finally saw Liu Jun. He said something to Zhu Zhenhua and walked over.

"Come here, Meng Bai, let me introduce you." Liu Jun called out, and when he came closer, he gestured to a middle-aged man beside him and said, "This is Director Nie from the Radio and Television Planning Institute."

"Hello, Director Nie." Meng Bai said politely.

Director Nie was quite enthusiastic and said with a smile: "It is said that this new industry still needs young people. President Meng is indeed young and promising."

"Director Nie is too polite. We young people lack experience. We still need more guidance from leaders for the future planning of the industry."

"Haha, I'm afraid everyone would rather we don't give them any guidance." Director Nie laughed, and then continued, "I wonder what President Meng thinks about the future development of the online drama market?"

(End of this chapter)