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

Chapter 509: I am such a clever kid!

Li Qin has always been interested in film and television investment, and Meng Bai knew this when he first met her.

It’s just that her savings were all cheated away in one day, which made her a little afraid of the rope, so she rarely mentioned it since then.

But as she left Rong Xinda and set up her own independent studio, she has been feeling restless again over the past year or so.

Moreover, compared to before, she now has an incomparable advantage, which is that she has a boyfriend who can support her.

Having watched Meng Bai for so many years, she now knows the capital operation behind a film and television project, if not everything about it, at least she knows it inside and out.

She didn't look for projects that were already completed, but started from the source, picking a novel she liked and buying the film and television rights. Anyway, her husband had the production resources, so she didn't need to save up extra projects.

"Yes, our teacher Li is planning to make a comeback." Meng Bai joked.

Li Qin's cheeks turned red, and she was obviously thinking about the cheating she had suffered that year.

"It's different this time. I'll invest in the project myself. There will definitely be no problem." She blinked, propped up her head with her hands and looked at the man. "Besides, we still have President Meng."

"Hehe, Mr. Meng's brand is very precious, and he won't just sell it casually." Meng Bai said, "Tell me which novel you like first?"

"The book is called "Not Becoming Reborn", and it is the first business war novel of the period with the theme of female entrepreneurship. The author is A Nai."

"Anai?"

Meng Bai thought for a moment and said, "Oh, it must be the author of Ode to Joy."

"Yes, that's her." Li Qin's eyes lit up, "You know her too?"

"I have learned that she has mainly collaborated with Noon Sunshine in recent years. She has adapted many works and achieved good results."

In her early years, An Nai was a senior executive of a manufacturing company in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, so most of her novels are about urban workplaces or entrepreneurship in those days.

In addition to "Ode to Joy", she also adapted the dramas "All Is Well" and "A Flowing River" in collaboration with Noon Sunshine, and the results were also very good.

"That's not right. Judging from the performance of her film and television adaptation project, the copyright of the novel should have been sold long ago. How could it have waited until you came?" Meng Bai asked doubtfully.

"This book, 'Not Allowed to Rebirth', was published quite a while ago, about 14 or 15 years ago. The previous copyright contract has expired, so I'm selling it again."

Li Qin said: "But what you said is also true. The competition for copyright is indeed very fierce. Finally, I said that the team of Arclight Films would be responsible for the production, and that convinced her."

"Oh - so you are trying to get something for nothing!"

"How can you say you get something for nothing? This is a language skill."

"That sounds familiar."

"Hehe, thank you Mr. Meng for your good teaching."

After saying this, the two of them couldn't help but smile at each other.

Back then, Meng Bai used this set of rhetoric to convince Li Qin to accompany him to "cheat" the investment from Leshi.com, so that they could shoot "Soul Ferry", and then there was the current Arc Light Pictures.

"Okay, I can promise you."

Meng Bai leaned back, pretending to be serious. "But Arc Light requires several levels of submission for each project. If you want to approve your project, you have to wait for the project department to review it first."

Li Qin couldn't help but roll her eyes in her heart when she heard that. If it was really reported from bottom to top like a normal project, then why would she look for him?

She knew in her heart that this guy was doing it on purpose, and he must want to use this opportunity to make her agree to some "unequal contract".

"Just tell me, what do you want from me?"

"Tsk tsk, how can you be so stubborn even when asking for help?"

Meng Bai glanced at her and smiled kindly: "How about this, you are going to attend the Magnolia Awards ceremony next month. If you keep smiling throughout the whole process and don't get angry or bring up things afterwards, then I will agree to it."

"..."

Li Qin couldn't help rolling her eyes when she heard this. She knew that this bastard's "request" must be a lie, but she didn't expect that he was waiting for her here.

"How is it?" Meng Bai looked at her with a natural expression and said, "This request is easy to achieve, right?"

"Okay, I promise you."

Li Qin took a deep breath and responded without changing his expression.

Don’t be angry, then don’t be angry. Anyway, both he and that woman are just runners-up for the Magnolia Award this time. There’s nothing to argue about.

Having said that, if this project can be successfully broadcast, she will have one foot in the top of the film and television industry.

When I become bigger and stronger in the future, I will choose a super good project to invite her. If she doesn't agree, she will miss a good opportunity; if she agrees, she will have to film under me and make money for me.

Well, thinking about that scene really makes me feel happy, hahahaha…

Meng Bai looked at the expression on the girl's face, which was alternately yearning and joyful, and asked in confusion, "What are you thinking about?" "Ah..." Li Qin was awakened from her fantasy, shook her head, and said seriously, "Well, nothing, I'm just thinking about what to do with this project later?"

"The first and most important thing is to find investment." Meng Bai said, "I will ask the project department to contact you later to see the approximate cost scale of this project. By the way, are you planning to play the female lead yourself?"

"Yeah, if I buy it, I will definitely act in it."

Li Qin sat up straight and tried to put on a serious and mature expression: "Do you think I look like a successful female entrepreneur?"

"...You look more like the daughter of a successful female entrepreneur who was brought up in pampered circumstances and is planning to elope with some poor boy in the future."

"What?" Li Qin pouted, "I'm serious."

Meng Bai said helplessly: "I am serious too."

I have to say, although this girl has been in the industry for so many years and cannot be said to have not worked hard, she does lack some talent in acting.

Apart from the role of "a cold and aloof rich girl with a tragic fate", other types of roles are always a little lacking.

"Besides, do you have time to shoot?" Meng Bai said, "I remember you have been talking about the project of 'Fang Hua'. With Director Wang's shooting speed, I guess you will have to work on this project for the next two years."

"'Flower City'..."

When Li Qin heard her boyfriend mention this, she said with a somewhat embarrassed look: "No need to go for this project, I didn't get selected."

"Not selected? What kind of person is Wang Jiawei? How could he be chosen?"

"You change your expression faster than I do."

Li Qin explained: "It's not Director Wang's fault. The story of this drama takes place in Shanghai, so most of the actors chosen are local. Another reason is... Director Wang said that my height doesn't match the character's image, so I was not chosen."

"Who did he choose in the end?"

"It seems to be Tang Yan."

"Tang Yan...oh——"

Li Qin looked at the man's face with an expression of "No wonder", and her mouth suddenly shrank: "What did you mean by 'oh' just now? Am I much worse than Tang Yan?"

"How could that be? You are young, beautiful, and full of youthful energy. How can she compare with you? It's just that her height..."

Meng Bai spread his hands. The hardware conditions are here and the objective reality will not change according to subjective will.

Li Qin frowned. Although she was unwilling to accept it, she couldn't refute such an objective gap. However...

"Huh, compared to some people, my height is also an advantage."

This "some people" naturally refers to Li Yitong.

When Meng Bai heard the girl's excuse, his face showed no expression, but he secretly laughed in his heart.

Li Qin's official height is 166 cm. This number is naturally exaggerated. The actual height is around 162 or 163 cm.

Li Yitong is about the same height as her. She reported herself to be 164cm tall, but in fact she is just over m tall.

Based on his personal experience over the years, Teacher Li was indeed slightly taller, but the difference was only one or two centimeters at most, so she was just "the pot calling the kettle black".

Of course, there is no need to say this.

"Forget it, it doesn't matter if it doesn't work out. It's not a good project anyway." Meng Bai said, "I originally wanted to tell you about a movie project, but I was afraid you didn't have time. This is perfect."

"Movie? What movie?"

"Remember the scammer who was caught before? I thought his experience was quite interesting, so I wanted to write a book about it. This year, the country has begun to strengthen its crackdown on online fraud, so I plan to film this book."

Online fraud has been a stubborn problem in the field of economic crime in recent years. Since last year, the authorities have introduced various measures to combat it.

In recent months, topics related to northern Myanmar have become increasingly popular. In addition, the "anti-fraud APP" that was vigorously promoted this month has triggered another wave of discussion. "Telecom fraud in the northern Myanmar industrial park" has suddenly become a hot social topic.

Because of the subject matter of the project, Arc Light has always been very close to the public security department. Golden Shield asked Meng Bai if he would consider producing a project with a related subject matter. After all, in terms of publicity, the power of film and television works is still very strong.

Meng Bai just remembered the idea he had put aside before, so he decided to cooperate with the Ministry of Public Security to film this script.

The reason why he wanted Li Qin to be the heroine was a little selfish. After all, the two of them met because of this incident, and it was also a way for him to commemorate the past.

According to the time calculation, the preparation will start this year, the filming and production will be next year, and it will be released the year after next.

From 2013 to 2023, it is exactly ten years.

When the time comes, I will tell Teacher Li that this movie is a commemoration of the "tenth anniversary of our acquaintance", which will surely move the girl to tears.

Well, I am such a clever little fellow!

(End of this chapter)