Generation Z Artists

Chapter 365 A Folk Song for Myself

After leaving the remaining details to Kadokawa Tsutohiko, Fang Xinghe patted his behind and turned to go to the last stop of this trip abroad.

Great America.

Riding on the wave of its explosive popularity in China, Japan, and South Korea, an American television station has finally agreed to produce "The Return of the Condor Heroes."

The price is still not high, but Brother Fang doesn't need "The Return of the Condor Heroes" to make money in the United States. Getting it into the mainstream time slot on a mainstream TV station would be the biggest success.

He sat down at the negotiating table for the second time with CBS's Simons, HBO's Rogers, and others.

"I only have three requirements," he said. "Pre-broadcast publicity, broadcast time, and a commitment to complete the series."

“This is difficult.” Roger frowned deeply. “This is really difficult…”

Fang Xinghe interrupted casually: "We can go with a profit-sharing model; you don't need to pay for the copyright."

"...but it's worth a try."

Roger immediately changed his tune, his smile turning into a fawning one.

Fang Xinghe calmly looked at him: "Then state your terms."

The fact that American television networks can broadcast a hit Chinese martial arts drama from SR without paying cash upfront gives them a huge boost of motivation.

—The main reason is that paid channels have become much more motivated, while free channels are still concerned about the impact.

Ultimately, HBO secured the broadcasting rights to "The Return of the Condor Heroes" with the "most favorable terms" of airing one episode every Tuesday night at 10:30 pm.

This is not the treatment given to a top-tier drama.

Game of Thrones airs one episode every Sunday at 9 p.m., and so does Sex and the City; these are the classic times for Americans to binge-watch TV shows.

But this isn't the worst time to book.

At 10:30 on a weekday, which is the tail end of prime time, most Americans are neither partying out for the weekend nor in bed, so the TV is often on.

Furthermore, aside from not giving money directly, HBO is very generous in other aspects.

They used every possible means—media hype, in-station announcements, variety show promotions—but ultimately only took 75% of the total revenue…

It's too dark?
No, no, no, they are quite sincere.

The real black market shops have a different style: "Net profits will be split equally between the two companies, and may our friendship last forever!"

Then they made the financial statements look like a loss, regretfully announcing, "Sorry, SR, we tried our best, but the audience wasn't buying it..."

You know there's a problem, so what? Can you win the lawsuit?

HBO's willingness to release its total revenue means it's not planning anything underhanded... or at least not anything major.

To put it bluntly, there are probably only three Chinese people in the whole world who have received this kind of treatment.

Fang Xinghe didn't press for more. Unlike Japan and South Korea, making money wasn't the primary task in the United States; building a fan base was the most important thing.

That's how it's settled.

Next, HBO began to do a second edit on the English version.

Fang Xinghe didn't get involved, fully trusting the other party's expertise—the American drama market operates on a different logic, and HBO's paid market is a niche market operating on an unfamiliar logic, so he might not necessarily be better than them.

Ultimately, the entire 1800-minute series was cut into 26 episodes, each about an hour long, with the pace further accelerated, but all the essential parts were retained.

The American version of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" will air in August, with one episode per week, until February next year.

No one knows what the outcome will be, but this is already a groundbreaking event—for both China and the United States.

The news caused a stir in public opinion.

Americans have mixed opinions on this matter, with more mockery than anticipation overall.

FOX News commented: "Ha! Look how fast we've slipped since that guy came to power! Of course, I don't have a problem with SR, he's a cool guy. I just feel sorry for the American television industry. You've lost your most basic sense of honor in alcohol and marijuana. HBO would rather fill in a Chinese show than buy your garbage!"

The central state issued a stern warning: "You're playing with fire! I swear, if this happens, I'll cancel my subscription! I don't want to see a bunch of yellow-skinned people on a channel I've paid for!"

Boston continues to wave the banner of discrimination: "Wow! Wow! Wow! Chinese TV dramas have conquered America! You sons of bitches, you've done a great job! Come on, let's tie our braids back up and shout 'Long live the Mandarin!'"

The sound was loud, but the angle wasn't fresh.

The honeymoon period was at the national level; at the grassroots level, anti-Chinese sentiment had always been one of the mainstream ideas.

White, black, and yellow—I'm not kidding.

The United States is a large nation, but it is no bigger than the rednecks, and Fang Xinghe is not a hero of any ethnicity.

Seeing the commotion, Fang opened the panel and glanced at it, instantly becoming clear-headed.

北美大区：浮粉1400万、中坚252万、死忠48万、狂热16万、信念12833。

The amount of powdery residue in North America is about one-fortieth of the total.

One-twelfth of the core supporters, one-eleventh of the die-hards, one-tenth of the fanatics, and suddenly the number of die-hards with unwavering faith dropped back to one-fifteenth.

The data is quite bizarre, but it's very much in line with the realities of the United States.

Black people have their own street heroes and elite representatives: Allen Iverson, Puff Daddy, Barack Obama, Joe Johnson, and Will Smith...

Not to mention white people, the probability of middle-aged or older white men liking Fang Xinghe is extremely low.

Latinos are neither proud nor have their own heroes; they are simply too poor to afford movies or books and only watch free TV channels.

Asians are Fang Xinghe's largest fan base, but if we further break down Asians, the proportion of Chinese who dislike Fang Xinghe is far higher than those who like him.

So, all things considered, despite all the trouble Fang Ge caused in the US, he only retained about 220 million core fans.

If you're asking how many, then there are definitely quite a few.

In terms of sheer numbers, they can't compare to their local superstars; any attempt to piggyback on their fame would be considered overstepping their bounds.

Difficult, too difficult.

Fortunately, the Washington Post continued to give him its full support, and Wall Street and Silicon Valley also spoke highly of him.

“We don’t have a category for martial arts dramas. Introducing SR’s dramas is a beneficial supplement to our TV drama market. It’s a great attempt, and I think it’s perfectly fine.”

"Don't let arrogance and prejudice blind you!"

"Some people have completely betrayed the founding principles of our American democracy and freedom! What they oppose is not a Chinese drama, nor SR, but the open, progressive and inclusive American spirit!"

"Conservatives will be the biggest culprit dragging America down!"

This is truly a case of turning the tables and blaming others; aren't neoliberals the real source of the chaos?

Fang Xinghe thought so, but he cheerfully gave the liberals a thumbs up.

The entertainment news got more and more outrageous, but it didn't cause much of a stir in mainstream media. After all, it wasn't a big deal; it was just a paid channel wanting to broadcast a martial arts drama, so its impact was limited.

But in the country, this is indeed a huge deal.

"Into America! Fang Xinghe's martial arts epic 'The Return of the Condor Heroes' will be broadcast on HBO's prime time slot in the United States!"

The CCTV Evening News program specifically mentioned this incident in its international news segment, praising Fang Xinghe for his outstanding contributions to the development of China's film and television industry.

This is the 7th or 8th time that CCTV's evening news program has praised "The Return of the Condor Heroes".

Looking at it in the long run, praising someone once a month isn't an exaggeration... Not an exaggeration my foot! It's outrageous!

One domestic TV ratings explosion, one cultural summary meeting, one TV ratings explosion in Japan and South Korea, two cultural cooperation visits to China...

"The Legend of Condor Heroes" deserves to be watched with extra chicken legs every time; the price reduction for CCTV-1 was truly worthwhile.

Other media outlets followed suit, praising "The Return of the Condor Heroes" as a cultural icon.

People who don't know their own limitations usually pop champagne halfway through the show, but these guys are different. The premiere date hasn't even been confirmed yet, and they're already fantasizing about blockbuster ratings and conquering Americans.

How to describe it?
A 40% viewership rating in South Korea isn't much; it's acceptable.

A 35% viewership rating in Japan is not bad; it's finally starting to look promising.

The US is the key. If you can get into the US, you'll be successful, truly successful, and bring honor to your ancestors, Xiao Fang!

The country across the sea truly lives up to its reputation as a beacon of civilization, its status unmatched by any other nation. Even the slightest movement sends the entire country into a frenzy.

Just then, there weren't any major hot topics in China, and the rebroadcast of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" was scheduled for mid-July. So, those spineless media outlets in China started to hype it up as "The Return of the Condor Heroes will open up the American market for Chinese martial arts dramas."

What the hell do you want to eat?!
When Fang Xinghe returned to China, he was met with optimism and malicious attempts to flatter him.

This matter put Dong Youde and Wang Chali under immense pressure, causing them to lose their appetite and sleep, and even develop blisters in their mouths. "Boss, what do you think the ratings will be like?"

"Are you crazy? How many viewers can a pay channel possibly have?"

Fang Xinghe found it so absurd he wanted to laugh.

"Sometimes I just feel like I can't handle it, what kind of illness is this?"

"Uh..." The two brothers looked at each other, their expressions hesitant. "Poverty disease?"

Hey, you know what, that's a pretty accurate summary.

When someone is desperately poor and suddenly becomes rich, they crave recognition and become restless at the slightest honor. That's exactly how it is.

The good thing is that Fang Xinghe gained 2 more points of Star Glory for free. The bad thing is that the ratings in the United States will definitely not be high, and the worst is yet to come.

Fang Xinghe was helpless in this situation, so he could only try to avoid seeing it and not pay attention or respond.

"I can't be bothered with them. Let's get ready to start filming the new movie!"

He decided to find something productive to do. If he kept going like this, his mood would be ruined. He might as well make a new film and then slap anyone who dared to jump out at him.

Dong Youde was instantly happy and stopped worrying about what would happen if the show failed to achieve high ratings in the United States.

"Boss, what are we filming this time?! So many scripts have specifically asked for you. Mr. Yong wants you to play Wei Xiaobao, CCTV has a serious drama they want you to co-direct, and the Film Bureau hopes you can direct and star in a Three Kingdoms co-production..."

"I won't film those terrible movies they make money off of."

Fang Xinghe waved his hand and casually asked, "What's the deal with Wei Xiaobao?"

"A mega-project spearheaded by Emperor Entertainment and Huayi, learning from our multinational joint venture model, featuring a massive investment and a team of stunningly beautiful women, promising an easy and exhilarating path to both love and career success. Now all that's missing is you joining us, and the 3 million investment will be in place soon!"

Dong Youde was beaming with excitement, his chubby face turning bright red.

“We don’t need to put any money into the project. You will receive 2 million in compensation for the director’s and lead actor’s salaries, get 40% of the profits, and have full control over production, casting, editing, and distribution!”

"2 million?" Fang Xinghe was stunned for a moment. "They really dare to give that much..."

Currently, the highest actor salary in China is Jet Li's inflated 100 million yuan but actual salary of 40 million yuan. The next tier is Stephen Chow and Hendrik Willem Van Loon. There are two tiers below that, followed by Fat Chan and Tony Leung, who earn just over 10 million yuan each.

The price for hiring Fang Xinghe isn't the ceiling; he shattered the ceiling and is in the real heavens.

But this is still not worthwhile—it's not like I can't afford 3 million, so why should I let you take the lead and take the copyright?
"No way. You're crazy, aren't you? You want to suck my blood?"

Fang Xinghe chuckled coldly twice, then suddenly looked up, his eyes turning playful.

"But I'll keep an eye on it and see what kind of lineup they end up with."

Who is the director of this mega-drama, which is 10 times better than its predecessor? Who is Wei Xiaobao? And who are the Seven Fairies? It's all quite interesting to think about.

If they still use Huang the tyrant, then we absolutely have to watch this comedy to the very end!
"Received, guaranteed to complete the task!"

Dong Youde wasn't disappointed; it was only 40%, and he wasn't that short-sighted.

Charlie Wang couldn't help but ask, "So what exactly are we filming? You've saved up so many scripts, which one are you planning to use?"

"I need to hurry up and film this one."

Fang Xinghe pulled a thin folder out of the safe and pushed it onto the table.

When Dong Youde and Wang Chali opened it, they saw four big characters on the cover: "Untouchable".

"Huh? An art film?!"

Both of them were industry elites, and they were stunned when they saw the title of the script.

This is clearly not the naming style of a commercial blockbuster.

“Yes.” Fang Xinghe nodded.

Dong Youde was puzzled: "Why do you suddenly want to make art films again?"

Fang Xinghe said nonchalantly, "The domestic film market is only so big. What's the difference between making art films and commercial films?"

"However, your brand recognition in the Japanese, Korean, and European and American markets..."

Fang Xinghe interrupted directly: "Hollywood hasn't fully opened up to me yet, and the Japanese and Korean entertainment industries are also very resistant to me. 'The Condor Heroes' made so much money, it's just right to make a money-losing art film to cool things down."

Upon hearing this, Wang Charlie immediately nodded.

"The Koreans are quite stingy. They nominated us for all three major awards, but didn't give us a single award. There's a lot of wariness towards our juniors in Chungmuro."

Dong Youde didn't understand: "What about Japan?"

"Japanese live-action films rely too much on subject matter. The success of 'Better Days' comes from school bullying; other commercial films are just a joke."

"And what about Hollywood?"

"Still putting on airs, huh!"

Wang Chali knew exactly what was going on, and curled his lip in disdain.

"I reckon my junior brother needs to make one or two more blockbuster movies before he can get full access; otherwise, he'll just be working for them."

"Oh!"

Dong Youde finally understood the boss's deep thoughts and no longer had any doubts. Instead, he began to play the straight man.

"So what is this book about?"

"It's hard to explain in just one or two sentences, but in short, it was a very profound adventure."

Fang Xinghe laughed, his eyes sparkling with intense uncertainty.

The original "The Intouchables" is a French film, the second highest-grossing film in French film history, a commercial miracle in the realm of art films, and has been adapted in multiple countries around the world.

This story comes from the autobiography of French billionaire Philippe Pozzo di Borgo, titled "The Second Breath".

Philip, a wealthy white man paralyzed in a skydiving accident, hires Driss, a young black man from the suburbs, as his full-time caregiver.

The two men come from vastly different backgrounds: Philippe is elegant but pessimistic, while Dries is rude but full of energy.

Through humor and conflict, they break down class and racial barriers, rediscover their passion for life, and demonstrate a friendship and human resonance that transcends social differences.

Fang Xinghe really liked this movie, probably because he was also bedridden for a long time and longed for a friend like "Driss".

In his past life, this was the movie he watched the most times.

In this life, he has a strong desire to recreate it.

Of course, it will not be a complete copy, but rather a localized adaptation.

It's just very difficult.

There is no strong and natural conflict between wealthy white people and lower-class black people in China, so starting with race is absolutely not feasible.

Class conflict in China was not as intense. All the wealthy people rose to prominence in the last 20 years. Poor rural children could change their lives by going to university, and people from the bottom class without education could also achieve upward social mobility through hard work.

So, how should the core conflict be designed?

Fang Xinghe's approach is to focus on the differences between the characters.

Chen Dafu: A local tycoon in Beijing or Shanghai, around 70 years old, who is now paralyzed and stubborn.

Lu Xiaoye: A juvenile delinquent who has been imprisoned twice, an orphan abandoned by his father after his mother's death, is at the tail end of his rebellious phase, a turning point in his life as he moves toward maturity.

Old Chen has a strange temper and doesn't trust anyone, which has alienated him from everyone.

Lu Xiaoye is audacious and lawless, and has picked up a lot of bad habits at the bottom of society, but he has a genuine kindness.

The old man's extreme failure in interpersonal relationships contrasts sharply with Ono's awkwardness in adapting to society, yet they complement each other in a clever way.

The mutual redemption between these two is essentially a reconciliation with themselves, and even more so, a recognition and overcoming of human weaknesses.

This story begins in conflict and ends in reconciliation; it is devoid of petty romances and conveys a universal and profound sense of humanistic concern.

It's not the kind of film that's extremely tear-jerking; it's a bit wild, a bit crazy, a bit subtle, and has a touch of Chinese warmth and tacit understanding.

Whether it's popular abroad or not is another matter, but Fang Xinghe really wants to act in it.

He wasn't playing Han Xiaoye, but rather Xiao Fang, who hadn't yet fully blossomed.

This is a folk song... composed for myself.

(End of this chapter)