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

Chapter 15: Finally got a chance

Seeing that the two had reached an agreement, Boss Jia on the side congratulated them for a few words, then said he had something to do and had to leave first.

Before leaving, he half-jokingly said that he felt Meng Bai was a good fit for Leshi's corporate culture and asked if Meng Bai was interested in working at Leshi.

Meng Bai naturally declined politely, saying that he was just a small screenwriter who could tell stories, and had little knowledge of corporate strategies and was not qualified to take on such a big responsibility.

Privately, he secretly complained that Boss Jia might have thought that his on-the-spot nonsense performance was appropriate and wanted to drag him into doing "PPT research and development" together.

After seeing Boss Jia off, Meng Bai and Gan Wei briefly talked about other aspects of the project.

Although the filming has been decided, it is only a preliminary intention. There will be many more negotiations to finalize the details of the cooperation, such as copyright ownership, film remuneration, director selection, crew preparation, etc.

At this point, Gan Wei raised another question: "Leshi.com is just a video platform. Its resources in film and television production are average. We need to contact a qualified professional team to prepare the crew."

Meng Bai's eyelids jumped. He could finally take out the other chip he had prepared.

"As for preparing the crew, I can help." Meng Bai said with a thoughtful expression: "I have a friend who works for Rong Xinda. I can 'borrow' Rong Xinda's production team through her."

"Rong Xinda?" Gan Wei thought for a moment and said, "Is it the Rong Xinda directed by Li Shaohong?"

"Yes."

"Wow..." Gan Wei sighed and looked at Meng Bai strangely, as if she didn't expect that he had such a channel. She couldn't help but ask in confusion: "If you have this channel, why didn't you discuss this script with Rong Xinda?"

"Of course we have discussed it." Meng Bai shook his head and said regretfully, "But this kind of old-fashioned film and television company is relatively traditional in terms of script themes and formats, so... you know."

Gan Wei nodded in understanding. Indeed, these traditional film and television companies have an innate "contempt chain" for online dramas, and most of them look down on them.

She had also met the two "Mr. Li" of Rong Xinda, and knew that their ideas were still based on the old-fashioned sad dramas and romantic costume dramas. A supernatural suspense story like Meng Bai's was definitely not the right one.

"It would be great if we could attract Rong Xinda's professional team and personnel." Gan Wei said generously, "You can tell them that the form of cooperation can be discussed. If necessary, Leshi can give up a certain share as a co-producer. If there are any other requirements, you can also tell them."

"There's no need for a joint production. I'm just asking a friend for personal help." Meng Bai said after careful consideration, "But there is indeed a demand."

"what?"

"My friend is a girl, and she's also a new actor. When I was writing the script, I used her as a template for the female lead, Wang Xiaoya, so..."

"The heroine..." Gan Wei naturally understood what Meng Bai hadn't finished saying. She frowned and thought for a while, then asked, "Is your friend an actor from Rong Xinda?"

"Yes." Meng Bai nodded: "Her name is Li Qin, I wonder if Mr. Gan has heard of her."

"Li Qin?" Gan Wei thought for a while and seemed to have some impression of this name: "Is she the girl who played the young Xue Baochai in the new Dream of Red Mansions?"

"Yes."

"I remember she's a new generation actress that Rong Xinda has been promoting for the past two years, and she's highly regarded by Director Li." Gan Wei asked, "Are you sure Rong Xinda would agree to her starring in this kind of low-budget web drama?"

"It's a friend's help, and she's also the heroine." Meng Bai said ambiguously: "Maybe it can help her broaden her acting range."

"It seems like you guys have a good relationship then."

Gan Wei glanced at Meng Bai in a rather ambiguous way, and then she seemed to have thought of something, and looked at Meng Bai and said, "By the way, did you agree on this with her from the beginning, and planned to use this as a bargaining chip to convince me to agree to cooperate?"

Meng Bai said noncommittally: "We always need to make more preparations."

Meng Bai did not expect that this "chip" was originally intended to be used to "provide timely assistance", but he did not expect that the talks between him and the other party would go smoothly, and now it can only be regarded as "icing on the cake".

But it's also good to be able to add icing on the cake. At least when discussing the profit sharing later, he has the capital to fight for a larger share. Although Meng Bai did not answer, Gan Wei didn't care about these small details at this time. As for the role's requirements, she naturally agreed.

After all, Li Qin is a popular young actress in the past two years. For a low-budget online drama, even if she plays the female lead, it can be considered as "marrying down".

Several major conditions have been agreed upon, and today's meeting has basically achieved its purpose. The remaining detailed conditions will be discussed slowly later.

After a few more polite words, Gan Wei said goodbye and left first.

Meng Bai walked out of the Leshi.com building and breathed a sigh of relief as he faced the busy streets in the park.

It has been more than two years, from the high aspirations and high spirits when I graduated from college, to the repeated setbacks and disappointments after entering the society, and then to the silent accumulation of experience after suffering losses and becoming mature.

Until today, he finally caught a chance!
After being in a daze for a while, Meng Bai smiled brightly.

You are still too young. You are already excited as soon as you see a little hope.

Meng Bai took a deep breath and calmed down his excitement. He looked back at the LeTV building and then strode away.

Don't waste time, there is still a lot to do.

I don't know how that girl Li Qin is doing?

……

"Boom, boom, boom..."

"Please come in."

Hearing the voice coming from the house, Li Qin took a deep breath, silently said "Come on", then smiled sweetly, opened the door and walked into the house, and said happily to a middle-aged woman in the house: "Hello, Aunt Li, I'm here!"

The middle-aged woman in the room looked over when she heard the voice, and said with a gentle smile: "Qinqin is here, please take a seat first, I have a few documents to deal with first."

"It's okay, Aunt Li, you go ahead and do your work." Li responded and sat down on the sofa beside her with familiarity. Then, while thinking about how to start the conversation, he carefully looked at the middle-aged woman's expression.

After separating from Meng Bai last time, Li Qin has been in northern Beijing for the past two days, preparing to negotiate with the company about the "new play" she had taken on.

Fortunately, her last drama was just aired not long ago, and she hasn’t taken on any new roles for a while, so she still has plenty of time.

However, whether the deal can be reached ultimately depends on the middle-aged woman she just called "Aunt Li", Li Shaohong, one of the "three giants" of Rong Xinda.

Compared with normal bosses and artists in other film and television companies, the feelings and relationship between Li Qin and Li Shaohong are much closer.

At the beginning, Li Qin was a key student of the Kunqu Opera Department of Shanghai Theatre Academy, and was known as "a once-in-30-years boudoir actress". When Li Shaohong was casting for the remake of Dream of Red Mansions, she took a fancy to Li Qin, so she contacted her repeatedly for several months, and talked with the school several times, and finally got her out.

Of course, titles like “once in thirty years” basically come from the promotional press releases issued by Rong Xinda, and their value is not much higher than that of “a beautiful girl once in four thousand years”.

In fact, the role of "boudoir dan" in Shanghai Theatre Academy changes every three years, with three or four people in each batch. Li Qin was indeed the most talented and capable student in the same batch, but she was far from being a "once-in-a-decade" talent.

However, Li Shaohong did think highly of Li Qin. Not only did he give her priority in Rong Xinda's internal dramas, he also introduced her to many external resources.

Li Qin has mostly played the female lead in the dramas she has filmed in recent years, and her treatment is much better than that of Jiang Mengjie, who also made her debut in "Dream of Red Mansions" and was the female lead "Lin Daiyu" at the time.

Because of this, Li Qin has always been very grateful to Li Shaohong. But now she has to "cheat" her Aunt Li, not only because of technical pressure, but also because of emotional pressure.

(End of this chapter)