Chinese Entertainment Intelligence King

Chapter 277 Qin Lan Sets Her Sights on Yang Mi, from "The Right Path of the World is Full of Vicissitudes" and "Lurking".

"Mr. Qin, how are you feeling?"

After finishing the phone call, Yan Li looked at Qin Lan sitting in his boss's chair and asked her with a smile.

Qin Lan leaned back in her office chair, turned around once, and nodded solemnly.

"not bad."

At other times, Yan Li would have already been flirting and taking advantage of President Qin, but now that Huo Siyan and the others were present, he just smiled and looked at them.

"How is it? Isn't our Yi'an's new home pretty good?"

Huo Siyan, a sycophant, said, "It's not just good, it's absolutely fantastic! If I could work here, I'd be laughing in my sleep every night."

That was such an overstatement of flattery that Liu Yun, who was standing next to her, almost rolled her eyes. However, she also admitted that Yi An's new residence was indeed impressive and had a very high profile.

Li Xiaolu was more direct, pointing to an inconspicuous door in the corner and asking.

"What's that, a restroom?"

Qin Lan's expression changed slightly, turning a little red, while Yan Li remained calm.

"It's not just a restroom, there's also a lounge where you can take a nap when you're tired from work or during your lunch break."

"Can I take a look?"

"sure."

Yan Li readily agreed, but Qin Lan was a little restless and followed suit, intending to cover things up if anything went wrong.

The group was quite curious about the lounge. When they opened the door, they discovered that what Yan Li had described as simple was actually quite a hidden world.

It's basically decorated like a hotel king room, and it's a star-rated hotel. It has a king bed, wardrobe, TV, and everything else you could need. The bathroom has a wet and dry separation and a shower room, which is even bigger than some people's bathrooms at home.

Qin Lan's worries were completely unnecessary, because the place was cleaned by a dedicated person every day, and it was spotless, as if no one had ever lived there.

"Ah, that feels good."

Huo Siyan sat on the bed and tested the mattress's elasticity, but Li Xiaolu sensed something. She went out, closed the door, listened intently, and looked at it strangely.

"Soundproof?"

"hold head high."

Yan Li, standing to the side, looked calm. The rest room is a place to sleep, so it's normal to do some soundproofing and seek some peace and quiet, isn't it?
Although Qin Lan saw that everything in the lounge was normal, she still felt a little embarrassed when she remembered the experience of delivering dinner that night, so she half-coaxed and half-dragged Huo Siyan and the others out.

"I still have some work to do. If you want to look around the company, look for Zhang Qing, who is Hu Ya's assistant. We'll go out for dinner after I'm done."

"Hu Ya isn't here?"

Qin Lan had wanted to ask this earlier. Usually when she came over, Hu Ya or Yan Li's assistant Ding Feng would receive her, but this time it was a different person.

"She has an exam today."

"take an exam?"

Qin Lan was a little confused, and Yan Li smiled and said, "You think being the director of my president's office is easy?"

In the past, when the company was small, Hu Ya relied on her seniority and Yan Li's trust to act as a mere figurehead in the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Now that the company has grown, positions have been promoted, and even the various tasks in the CEO's office have become increasingly formalized.

Even though Yan Li values ​​loyalty the most, Hu Ya can't rely solely on loyalty; she needs certain professional skills, otherwise she might be sidelined by her subordinates one day.

So Hu Ya enrolled in many training courses and study classes, and also took some relevant certification exams. Today, she specifically took leave to take the exam.

Yan Li was quite supportive of this point.

Regardless of what Hu Ya actually learns, the key is that she demonstrates a learning and ambitious attitude, and contributes to the company's future.

Even if the boss doesn't care, his colleagues will be less skeptical when they see those certificates and diplomas that are worth real money.

Hu Ya is a long-time employee of the company, and she has made great contributions. Yan Li hopes that she can hold the position of Director of the President's Office for a long time.

But as the company grows, internal competition becomes increasingly fierce, and there are many who want to rise to the top. If Yan Li only relies on his past achievements, he can protect her for a while, but not forever.

Qin Lan seemed thoughtful upon hearing this. Hu Ya was making progress; perhaps she should also take some classes in her spare time.

Yan Li is developing too fast; I'd feel really insecure if I didn't improve myself.

...

Not wanting to disturb Yan Li's work, the group decided to visit Yi An's new company premises instead.

There's really nothing worth visiting.

Because Yi'an has a base in Hengdian, some of its business and work are located there.

For example, the majority of facilities, such as photography studios, rehearsal halls, post-production editing, costume and prop storage, especially for period dramas, are located in Hengdian, while the headquarters of Yi'an is relatively limited.

Therefore, Yi'an's area is basically filled with office areas, meeting rooms, and guest rooms of various sizes.

Compared to a normal company, it simply has some additional functional rooms with film and entertainment functions, such as an audio-visual room, a screening room, a media center, and a styling and makeup room. That's all.

After walking around, the thing that interested them most was the company's lounge area.

Coffee, tea, drinks, and snacks are provided for employees to rest and chat when they are tired. It is said that afternoon tea or late-night snacks are also provided every few days, all free of charge.

To Qin Lan and her colleagues' surprise, there were actually a few employees chatting and drinking coffee there, though not many.

Aren't you afraid of being seen by your boss and superiors?!

Unable to resist her curiosity, Huo Siyan found a male employee sitting alone, managed to get some information out of him in a few words, and then returned to say that...

Well, it's not as complicated as they think.

Setting up this relaxation area would be a waste if it were just sitting idle, so the company won't prevent employees from coming here to rest.

Of course, under normal circumstances, those who dare to come here for a while must have some kind of support or excuse.

For example, that male employee just now, he works in the distribution department. He came here specifically to make a call to an important client and casually had a drink and a bite to eat. Nobody would say anything about that.

Moreover, anyone with a brain wouldn't stay here for long, slacking off in public.

It usually takes ten minutes or so, at most half an hour, to get some fresh air and relax before going back to work.

"The company atmosphere at Yi'an is pretty good."

Liu Yun sighed slightly. Although it wasn't exactly open and free, it was still relatively relaxed overall, much better than Huayi Brothers.

The work environment and atmosphere there are much more tense and oppressive than in Yi'an.

The artist management department, in particular, involves a lot of competition. Some groups are quite hostile to each other, and some even set traps and cause trouble.

For example, Liu Yun's group, led by the sisters Li Bingbing and Li Xue, didn't get along well with Zhou Gongzi's group.

Huo Siyan fared even worse; Group A didn't want her, even though she was doing alright in Group B.

As a result, the second group had too many people and internal chaos broke out. In the end, they were forced to appoint two leaders, each in charge of their own area, and some artists even left for other groups.

Because of her "undercover identity," Huo Siyan was quite sensitive. After the reorganization of the second group, neither of the two leaders wanted to take on this hot potato and kept passing the buck. In the end, she was assigned to the newly established fourth group, which was led by Huang Xiaoming.

Huo Siyan had previously complained that if she hadn't wanted to avoid paying the breach of contract penalty, she would have already gone solo.

Of course, she would prefer to join Yi'an, but the possibility is very low, or rather, she doesn't dare to.

The main problem is that she has offended both Fan Xiaopang and Wang Ou to the point of no return.

The two of them have been in Yi'an for so long and have connections in all aspects. They have plenty of ways to trip her up, and even Qin Lan's intervention has been useless.

The other members of the Teddy Sisters group were either unambitious or timid, and were not suitable to join Yi An.

This was also a little unresolved for Qin Lan; she had always wanted to arrange for a close artist to join her in Yi'an.

Yi An and Yan Li prioritize promoting artists from their own company. Qin Lan usually gives resources to the Teddy Sisters group, but she not only has to pick up leftovers from Fan Bingbing and Wang Lijun, but also has all sorts of concerns.

But if Qin Lan promotes an artist from Yi'an, there won't be so many concerns and worries.

In line with the interests of both the company and Yan Li, Qin Lan's influence through her pillow talk and Yi An's connections and resources can play a significant role.

But Qin Lan couldn't find a suitable candidate, so she simply stopped looking for one herself.

Anyway, Yi'an will definitely sign new people. She can observe Yi'an's new people, and if she thinks any of them are good prospects, she can recruit them.

This saved her a lot of trouble, which was good for both the newcomer and the company; it was a win-win situation for everyone.

Just as she was pondering this, she suddenly saw a familiar face passing by, and Qin Lan couldn't help but wave.

"Brother Wang."

When Wang Decai, the head of Yi'an Film and Television Department, saw Qin Lan, a bright smile appeared on his chubby face.

"What brings you here today?"

"The company moved to a new office, so we came to visit."

Huo Siyan and the others all stood up and greeted Wang Decai respectfully.

"Producer Wang."

"Mr. Wang."

In a person's life, choices and luck are indeed extremely important.

Wang Decai was just an assistant director on "Heroes of Sui and Tang Dynasties" back then. Although he had been in the industry for a long time and had some connections, he was not a big shot.

As a result, after meeting Yan Li, he joined Yi An. As Yan Li and Yi An rose in status, he also became arrogant.

Two years ago, many of Yi An's projects were produced by Wang Decai.

After becoming the head of Yi'an Film and Television Department, he did not participate in many specific projects, but he had a certain say in all the film and television projects produced or participated in by Yi'an.

Just as Xiao Guan held a prominent position in the industry due to the strength of the distribution department, Wang Decai, backed by Yi An, was considered a big shot by many.

Even Qin Lan's arrangement of the Teddy Sisters group followed the same path as Wang Decai.

Qin Lan had met Yan Li in Hengdian and had also met Wang Decai, but it was only a brief encounter. They gradually became familiar with each other later.

Wang Decai jokingly said that he was the matchmaker for Yan Li and Qin Lan, and that he would help Qin Lan whenever she asked.

However, this guy is a seasoned veteran.

He helped Qin Lan with her needs, and he also helped Dong Xuan and Fan Xiaopang with theirs. He even lent a helping hand when Wang Ou asked him for help.

Because of his seniority, important position, and easy-going nature, even though several people know that he is adept at navigating social situations, no one would easily offend him.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Qin Lan looked curiously at the little girl following behind Wang Decai.

"Who is this?"

"Yang Mi".

Wang Decai raised an eyebrow, then smiled and said, "I think she's quite suitable for a role in one of our company's productions, since she played Guo Xiang in 'The Return of the Condor Heroes' before. I'll get her a contract signed."

Yang Mi, who had been silent until now, stopped pretending to be mute and came out to greet them: "Teacher Qin, Teacher Huo..."

"Guo Xiang."

Qin Lan suddenly realized why Yang Mi looked somewhat familiar. Looking at the somewhat youthful-looking Yang Mi, Qin Lan seemed to be deep in thought.

Is she a newcomer, or has she not worked with Yi An much before? Could it be that Yi An wants to sign her?

Qin Lan kept this in mind, and when Yan Li finished eating, she specifically asked him about it.

Yan Li's expression turned somewhat strange upon hearing this.

At first, he thought Qin Lan was trying to sabotage Dong Xuan's plans, but later he realized that she was simply inquiring about Yang Mi.

Tsk tsk, the Teddy Sisters are always so arrogant, they don't even know Yang Mi is from their rival's side.
However, after thinking about it carefully, Yan Li felt that it was not entirely incomprehensible.

The fact that Yang Mi is Dong Xuan's beloved student is only known within the Beijing Film Academy, and even within the 2005 acting class.

Moreover, the master-disciple relationship did not last long before it soured, and it was only recently that it was rekindled.

On the surface, Dong Xuan and Yang Mi had almost no interaction beyond being teachers and students at the Beijing Film Academy. Yang Mi had never acted in a play about Yi An. Qin Lan had no intelligence network and was meeting Yang Mi for the first time, so she had no idea that Yang Mi was Dong Xuan's person.

Not wanting to cause trouble, Yan Li didn't mention Yang Mi and Dong Xuan, but he did admit that Yi An was considering signing Yang Mi.

Yi An will definitely sign new players; there's no doubt about that.

The so-called Fan Xiaopang and Wang Ou are just people Yan Li is too lazy to pay attention to, and Yi An is intentionally concentrating resources to promote them first.

Fan Bingbing is currently at the peak of his career, and Wang Ou is also doing well. It's appropriate to add a new tier of talent.

Yang Mi is a professionally trained actress with a good appearance and decent acting skills. She is a bit older than Fan Bingbing and Wang Lijun, and she is quite cunning and hardworking.

As mentioned before, Yan Li doesn't want naive and innocent employees; he prefers ambitious ones. This was the case when he signed Fan Xiaopang and Wang Ou.

In addition, according to the information Yang Mi had before Yan Li, she was one of the four most popular actresses of a certain year.

This shows that she will also make a name for herself in the future. When scratching lottery tickets, of course you should scratch those with a high probability of winning.

As for Dong Xuan's initial concerns about the Rongxinda contract and the suppression from Fan and Wang, Yan Li didn't think they were a big deal.

The former, Yan Li could easily handle.

Yan Li could tolerate their willfulness to some extent, but if it harmed the company's interests, that was a different matter.

Moreover, Wang Ou is one thing, Yan Li can teach him a lesson and he'll behave. As for Fan Xiaopang, Yan Li really doesn't think he'd care much about a young girl.

Unless Yang Mi confronts Fan Xiaopang, the top female star, she doesn't understand the rules and deserves to be punished.

However, Yan Li and Dong Xuan thought the same thing: there was no rush to sign Yang Mi.

Dong Xuan wanted to give Yang Mi more momentum and confidence, while Yan Li wanted to assess Yang Mi's potential and value in various aspects.

Yi An today has no shortage of artists who want to join. If Yan Li were willing, he could easily build a three-digit artist roster.

But such artists are too cost-effective. He prefers those with high potential, those who can be worth ten or a hundred people.

Yang Mi showed potential and value, so Yi An signed her and poured resources into promoting her. If she lacked potential, it wouldn't have mattered whether they signed her or not.

It wasn't just Yang Mi; several newcomers that Yi An's talent agency had their eyes on were all arranged in this way.

However, Yang Mi was recommended by Dong Xuan, and with good future intelligence and other conditions, she was a key target for observation, so the support she received was significantly stronger.

Yan Li isn't worried that Yang Mi might take Yi An's resources and then regret it once her career takes off.

If you dare to mess with him, he'll help you switch careers.

Putting aside Yan Li's status and resources in the industry, just having an intelligence network makes it easy for him to ruin someone, even if it's not easy for him to make someone successful.

However, Yan Li misunderstood something. He thought Qin Lan was simply curious about Yang Mi and didn't want to get involved, but he didn't know that she had other ideas.

After finishing their meal, Yan Li went back to work, while Qin Lan and the others planned to return home.

However, after getting into the car, Qin Lan watched Yan Li's car drive away and pondered for a moment.

"I have something to do, you guys go first."

Huo Siyan and the others thought that Qin Lan and Yan Li had made an appointment. Although they were speechless that the couple was still so affectionate after all these years, they were too embarrassed to be a third wheel, so they chatted and laughed for a few minutes before parting ways.

Qin Lan made a phone call to confirm that Yang Mi was still at the company. She then drove back to the vicinity of Yi An Company's location and waited there while using her mobile phone to briefly check Yang Mi's information.

Born in 86, a graduate of the Beijing Film Academy, and under Rong Xinda Group, he has acted in "The Return of the Condor Heroes" and "Wang Zhaojun".

Qin Lan paid special attention to "Wang Zhaojun," the lead actress in a CCTV drama; no wonder Yan Li valued her so highly.

What a seedling!

Her age is also suitable. If she is recruited into the Teddy Sisters group, she will become the youngest sister without affecting the rankings of the others.

Uh, I'm thinking a bit too far ahead.

Qin Lan shook her head. It wasn't even close to being settled yet; she'd have to get to know her first. Perhaps because Qin Lan had made a phone call earlier, only about ten minutes later, she saw Yang Mi walking out of the building.

With a light touch of the accelerator, the car slowly pulled up in front of Yang Mi. Qin Lan rolled down the window and looked at Yang Mi with a smile.

"You're Xiao Yang, right? I just happen to be passing by. I'll give you a ride."

Yang Mi was a little confused. She glanced at her assistant waiting not far away and didn't know whether she should refuse. But Qin Lan was exceptionally enthusiastic and pulled her into the car.

...

Meanwhile, Yan Li, who had returned to the company, took a short rest and met a guest in the reception room in the afternoon.

"Teacher Jiang, it's been a long time."

Yan Li shook hands with Jiang Qitao, who was the screenwriter of "The Emperor Wu of Han" back then, and was also one of the examiners when Yan Li auditioned for the role of Huo Qubing.

By the way, he was also one of the screenwriters for "Bright Sword".

However, at the time, "Bright Sword" was mainly controlled by Hairun Media, and Jiang Qitao was not on the set. Although the two had worked together, they did not appear in a second drama.

But given their past friendship and his impressive resume, Jiang Qitao still held a certain weight in Yan Li's heart.

This can be seen from the fact that Yan Li personally received him. Now the threshold for Yi An is high, and those who come to run projects may not necessarily be able to meet Yan Li.

"Mr. Yan, it's been a long time."

Jiang Qitao shook hands with Yan Li. The longer someone had known Yan Li, the more incredible it was to see him now.

In just a few years, an unknown actor became a film and television tycoon admired by many. When Jiang Qitao tried to recall what Yan Li looked like when they first met, he could hardly remember.

The few remaining impressions overlap with the current confident and charismatic CEO Yan.

“I met Director Hu a few days ago, and she said she would organize a reunion for the cast of ‘Emperor Wu of Han’. I didn’t expect to meet Teacher Jiang today.”

Yan Li looked delighted to see an old acquaintance, personally brewing tea for Jiang Qitao and exchanging pleasantries with him.

Jiang Qitao, who was initially a little reserved and nervous, gradually relaxed after feeling Yan Li's enthusiasm and expressed his feelings.

"Thinking back on it now, I still feel a bit dazed. It was the right choice to cast you as Huo Qubing. You were both young talents who made a name for themselves."

"Haha, even a good horse needs a discerning eye to appreciate it. If it weren't for Director Hu and Teacher Jiang back then, I wouldn't have gotten the role of Huo Qubing."

Yan Li had quite a few representative roles in his career, but Huo Qubing was definitely one that deserves mention.

Even now, when people mention Yan Li's general image, more people know him as the male lead in the popular TV series Xue Rengui, but Huo Qubing has more die-hard fans.

Well, there are also some who like General Yuwen, but they are not within Yan Li's consideration.

Yan Li himself also has a certain affection for the brilliant character of Huo Qubing. If he were to choose his three favorite characters, Huo would definitely be one of them.

This is also why Yan Li, despite only playing a supporting role, has a good impression of Hu Mei, the director of "The Emperor Wu of Han", and Jiang Qitao, the screenwriter.

Of course, there was also a practical reason: Hu Mei and Jiang Qitao were both well-known figures in the industry and could bring certain benefits to Yan Li.

For example, this time, Jiang Qitao didn't come to reminisce; instead, he brought his new script.

The Right Path in the World is Full of Vicissitudes

Upon hearing the title, Yan Li immediately knew what the subject matter was, given how famous the teacher's poem was.

After glancing at the script outline, Yan Li calculated the time.

This drama is quite large in scale. Including preparation, filming, and post-production, it's unlikely to air next year; it won't be able to until 2009.

"Is this a tribute drama?"

2009 marked the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and it was inevitable that some patriotic films would be made to commemorate the occasion. Yan Li had considered this before, but unexpectedly, a script was delivered to his door.

"That's right, it was originally planned to be a tribute drama in collaboration with CCTV."

Jiang Qitao briefly explained the background of the script.

As can be seen from his previous resume, Jiang Qitao has collaborated directly with CCTV on many of his works, and this time is no exception.

"The Right Path of the World is Full of Vicissitudes" was a script given to him by CCTV, intended as a tribute.

However, once the script was written, the situation changed somewhat.

Well, it's not that CCTV stood Jiang Qitao up, but rather that CCTV is a large and powerful organization with many departments and subsidiaries, and with its 60th anniversary approaching, it has many dramas to prepare for the occasion.

Filming here and there has led to a shortage of internal funding and resources, resulting in various delays for the "The Right Path of the World is Full of Vicissitudes" project.

Jiang Qitao was getting anxious, so he planned to find some outside help, or simply transfer the project out.

He contacted two companies: Hairun and Yi'an.

The former had worked together before, and the latter had a personal relationship with Yan Li. Hairun had not yet given an explanation, while Yan Li, upon hearing that it was Jiang Qitao, took the initiative to invite him to meet.

"Teacher Jiang, what did CCTV say?"

"There's no concrete answer yet. I've contacted them several times, and they keep telling me they're still researching it. I suggested looking for other companies, and they didn't object."

Jiang Qitao harbored some resentment. Ordinary screenwriters don't get involved in these things; they just submit their drafts, get paid, and leave.

But Jiang Qitao is different. Firstly, he is an industry veteran with a certain degree of influence. Secondly, he has put a lot of effort into this drama and has high expectations for it. He doesn't want it to gather dust in the warehouse, so he took the initiative to take charge.

Yan Li flipped through the script again and actually understood why CCTV had been so slow to act.

The entire series consists of about fifty episodes, spanning approximately 30 years from the cooperation in the Northern Expedition and the establishment of the Whampoa Military Academy to the founding of the People's Republic of China. It involves countless characters and wars and represents a huge investment of resources.

Moreover, it's not something just anyone can make well; a renowned director, talented actors, and a top-notch production team are all indispensable.

Yan Li roughly estimated that 3000 million was probably not enough to cover the costs, but 5000 million was also possible.

Of course, this kind of mainstream theme, or a tribute drama, can receive certain policy support and subsidies.

But that might be the problem!

Even for CCTV, the amount of such subsidies is limited. Who gets them and who doesn't, how much or how little, is a lot of debate involved.

CCTV, as a giant, has undeniable power and strength, but due to its background, it is not as free as private enterprises in many things, so it is normal for it to take a cautious approach when things happen.

Based on Yan Li's experience, CCTV would most likely produce a drama like "The Right Path of the World is Full of Vicissitudes," which has a well-known screenwriter, excellent quality, and a wonderful theme.

However, it would be difficult to overcome some obstacles, and Jiang Qitao was somewhat anxious.

But that's fine, he's not in a hurry. How could this project be related to Yi'an?

If Yan Li can secure this project, he can make a few more trips, and with support and subsidies from various parties, half, or at least one-third, of the costs can be covered.

Yi'an will bear part of the remaining costs, and will raise some funds as needed, so the pressure is not too great.

For Yan Li, making money from the drama "The Road to Awakening" was secondary; the key was to present it as a tribute.

The cultural industry, especially Yan Li, wants to use Weibo as a weapon of public opinion, not only to express its attitude, but also to express it frequently and extensively.

In the current domestic environment, the internet and cultural industries are rife with traitors and dissidents. The more this is the case, the more Yan Li, Yi An, and related industries must remain loyal to the Party and turn their hearts towards the sun.

Sometimes, it may be a matter of attitude that determines who survives to the end and achieves the greatest success.

Yan Li and Jiang Qitao had a good chat. Although they did not reach a direct agreement on the matter, both sides were quite positive.

Yi'an will hold a meeting to discuss the matter further. If the project is confirmed, then they will explore contacting CCTV.

The commercial benefits of this project are not that great, but Yan Li is willing to take a larger share of the pie.

He would be very happy to have this giant backing him if CCTV were willing to cooperate, and it would be even better if the program were broadcast on CCTV, which would also enhance the effect of his stated plans.

However, while the collaboration is underway, this project must be controlled by Yi An.

At the very least, it must be nominally produced by Yi An, and promoted by Yan himself, as a tribute to the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

...

After ending the conversation, Yan Li personally escorted Jiang Qitao to the elevator and then returned to the company.

As I passed by the film and television department, I suddenly remembered something and called the deputy director of the film and television department into his office.

"How's the communication going with the 'Lurking' episode I gave your department last time?"

"It didn't go very smoothly. The production cost of this drama was not high, so there was not much demand for external investment. Moreover, the director and screenwriter, Jiang Wei, was somewhat resistant to our participation."

"why?"

Yan Li was puzzled. Even if they weren't short of money, Yi An's distribution channels were solid, and "Lurking" didn't have any big company backing it. Why resist Yi An?

"It seems that there are concerns about the actors. It is said that Jiang Wei has contacted his friends and already arranged for the male and female lead roles."

Yan Li became interested: "Who did you find?"

"Xin Baiqing and Zhu Yuanyuan, a married couple."

After reading the script for "Lurking", Yan Li matched the two actors with their roles. One was reserved and somewhat bookish, while the other was rough, shrewish, and generous. They were indeed a good match.

However, he is less famous. Zhu Yuanyuan is better off, but Xin Baiqing would not have known who he was if Yan Li hadn't seen his play.

Yan Li had previously considered interfering in the casting of "Lurking" because the show had triggered monthly intelligence reports that it was doing very well and was a hit on television, so he wanted to arrange for someone to benefit from it.

But Director Jiang Wei insisted, and the actors were also good. Yan Li thought about it and decided not to force him.

"How about this, we'll leave the male and female leads unchanged. Apart from Qin Lan, you can talk to the talent agency department and see if Song Wen or Jia Chuan can get a role."

"As for the share, they don't lack money to make dramas, they always want to make more money, so the joint distribution department will talk to them."

Yan Li focused on developing distribution at the time, with one of his main objectives being to use this as a starting point to secure projects.

And now, Yi'an has completely achieved this.

Taking "Lurking" as an example, the production company doesn't need much external investment, and other companies can't invest even if they want to.

But Yi An is different; she has the killer weapon of successful distribution, which is hard for any film company that wants to make money to refuse.

A simple calculation will make it clear.

If the investment in "Lurking" is 1000 million, and it can sell for 3000 million, then after deducting costs, it can make a profit of 2000 million.

If Yi An joins the franchise and gets a 50% share, each franchise will receive 500 million yuan. It is expected that the franchise will be able to sell "Lurking" for 5000 million yuan, or 2500 million yuan for each franchise. After deducting costs, the franchise can earn 2000 million yuan.

They may seem to earn the same amount, but don't forget that the former bears the risk alone, while the latter shares it with two companies.

The latter only lost 500 million, and the production company could use that 500 million to invest in another film.

Not to mention, the production company might not be able to sell the film for 3000 million, and Yi An's film would not only sell for 5000 million.

You can seek help from Yi'an in many ways, including saving money, reducing risks, potentially earning more, and getting faster returns.

Yan Li advised Yi An against using distribution channels to coerce competitors, as it could easily backfire and damage the industry's reputation.

He emphasized leveraging Yi'an's strengths and employing a strategy of enticement, or at least a combination of coercion and enticement, to ensure a win-win situation.

You can't be a nice guy in business. Sometimes you have to use some strategies, provided that you can achieve a win-win situation. Once your partner has tasted the benefits, there will be no more unpleasantness.

In the past two years, there have been some rumors about Yi'an being domineering, but no partner has ever said that Yi'an is a swindler.

"I understand."

The deputy director of the film and television department nodded and was about to get up and leave when Yan Li called him back.

"You're the best drinker in your department, right?"

The deputy director reassured everyone: "Among the directors, I am the best, but there are a few young men in the department who are even stronger."

"You, pick one more from those few, and come with me to a party tonight."

The deputy director couldn't contain his curiosity: "What kind of event is it? Should we prepare something?"

"As long as I have a stomach, I can drink."

Yan Li smiled and revealed the situation: "The company wants to film the Four Great Classical Novels, but the approval process isn't going smoothly. I'll ask a few knowledgeable people for advice."

The deputy director understood that this kind of "savvy person" was someone who cultivated relationships in various ways and had extensive experience at drinking parties. Boss Yan was the one who pulled people aside to drink with him.

"How about we arrange for some more public relations personnel?"

In these kinds of situations, there are both meat-themed and vegetarian options. For example, Huayi Brothers directly arranges for its own artists to attend.

Yi An's minimum standards aren't that low, but they can't avoid the need for such services, so they usually outsource.

Beijing is a vibrant and bustling city, with all sorts of people doing all sorts of things.

In the entertainment, modeling, and dance industries, there are some people who are not doing well and occasionally take on side jobs.

These people all have regular agents. Yi An knows a few reliable ones. Whenever there's a need, she usually pays them directly, and sometimes she'll arrange some minor roles for them.

"Forget it, let's get a feel for things first and see how it goes."

Yan Li actually understood what was going on through the system and knew how to resolve it. He wanted to find someone knowledgeable to mediate between them because he didn't want to get involved in certain matters.

In business, many things are unavoidable, but Yan Li is very cautious. He's willing to spend more, but he emphasizes safety above all else.

...

In the evening, Yan Li returned to Wancheng Huafu after finishing his social engagements.

Dong Xuan was still awake, wearing her pajamas and fiddling with her phone. Yan Li, curious, leaned over to take a look.

"Tong Yaya? Still chatting so late?"

"You don't know, Ya Ya just joined a new film crew and is a little nervous about filming. I'm trying to comfort her."

Tong Yaya is actually not young, she is three years older than Yang Mi, but she has much less acting experience.

Currently, she is a junior at the Central Academy of Drama and hasn't filmed many movies, so she often asks Dong Xuan for advice on acting issues.

Dong Xuan was particularly enthusiastic, even more so than some students from the Beijing Film Academy.

Besides their good relationship, another reason is that Tong Yaya is a student at the Central Academy of Drama. Her decision to abandon her own school's teachers and seek advice from Dong Xuan gave her a great sense of vanity, and even a feeling of NTR (Netorare, a form of infidelity).

It seems that both the Beijing Film Academy and the Central Academy of Drama are particularly interested in things that give them an edge over each other.

Yan Li, on the other hand, probably because he attended a vocational college and was often looked down upon by undergraduate students, still has some affection for his alma mater, Beijing Film Academy, but his sense of identification with it is not as deep.

Moreover, it remains to be seen whether Tong Yaya genuinely sought advice or simply catered to Dong Xuan's preferences.

Yan Li's heart, having become accustomed to seeing people's hearts through the system, has become even more corrupt, always thinking the worst of people when faced with a situation.

He doesn't really like to analyze these things with his woman.

People with weak hearts tend to be naive and innocent, but they've all been corrupted. They scheme and plot at work and then continue their schemes at home, exhausting themselves to death.

Lying lazily in bed, Yan Li reminded Dong Xuan of something.

"I don't object to you wanting to put Yang Mi and Tong Yaya into the company, but resources are limited. You may not be able to treat them equally. You need to lay the groundwork for who should take the lead and who should take the lead. Otherwise, if you cause trouble later, it will be easy for people to watch and make a fool of themselves."

Upon hearing this, Dong Xuan leaned closer and asked, "Which of these two do you think is better?"

“Yang Mi, there’s a fierce glint in this girl’s eyes, while Tong Yaya is a bit too soft.”

Calling them gentle is an understatement; there's a reason why Tong Yaya and Dong Xuan get along so well—they're both the type who enjoy being good wives and mothers.

It's not that this type is bad; Yan Li himself also dated Dong Xuan.

However, such people lack ambition in their careers. They are promoted halfway, and then they find a man to marry and have children. What will happen to the company then?
Yang Mi is different. In Yan Li's eyes, she is the kind of ruthless person who would go to the film set to shoot even if she was married and pregnant.

From a boss's perspective, it goes without saying which type of employee they prefer and would rather have.

When Yan Li gave his answer, Dong Xuan was somewhat disappointed. She still had a slight grudge against Yang Mi and preferred to support the more agreeable and obedient Tong Yaya.

But she trusted Yan Li's judgment. Rather than having conflicts in the future, it was better to clarify things beforehand, leaving room for both sides to maneuver...

　(1000/102000)

　　
　
(End of this chapter)