Siheyuan: I am a trader in both worlds!

Chapter 566 The former is purification, the latter is romance

What's the old saying?

Open your mind and the pattern will come naturally.

Ximen Lang, once he opened up his mind, his vision expanded rapidly! Ideas started popping up one after another!

"First, we'll adapt the scripts of those film and television works that can't be directly copied into localized scripts that are more suitable for the local audience. Then, with the freshly produced scripts, we'll recruit actors, directors, and all sorts of other essential staff like costume and prop sets, and start filming immediately."

"Because everything here is readily available, and the photography equipment is exceptionally convenient and easy to use. As for aerial photography, a single drone can solve everything. Oh, right, and then there's the money-burning special effects. With the current level of special effects, 5 cents at most, maybe 5 cents, you don't even deserve to call it 5-cent special effects!"

"Just find a college student, pay them a few thousand yuan, and all the special effects will be taken care of. It's cheap, affordable, fast, and efficient! It's an absolute steal! We can produce a series every month or two, and they'll all be high-quality, well-produced, and have compelling storylines!"

"If we keep up this momentum for a year or two, maybe we can create a film and television mecca like Hollywood! If we really make it happen, that would be amazing! Even if we don't become as famous as Hollywood in the US and can't gain worldwide recognition in the short term."

"After a period of time, and of course, with the strong support from our side, we will definitely be able to develop a film industry! We won't say it will be incredibly amazing, but it will certainly be quite mature and absolutely able to crush Hollywood! If that happens, then we'll be really awesome!"

What?
Can movies really be industrialized?
This was the first time Bai Ling and Lao Luo had heard this kind of statement.

"Is it about manufacturing cameras? If you can mass-produce cameras and film, then it can certainly be called industry."

Seeing that Bai Ling and Lao Luo really didn't understand at all, they even brought up the production of cameras and film.

Ximen Lang was speechless.

"What kind of nonsense is this? It has absolutely nothing to do with anything!"

"Isn't it the film industry you were talking about?"

"It is indeed the film industry, but the film industry I'm referring to is a complete industrial chain system centered on film, encompassing creation, production, distribution, exhibition, and derivative product development. It's not just an artistic creation field, but a highly commercialized, technology-intensive, and interdisciplinary modern industrial system. What are you talking about?"

A barrage of technical terms left Bai Ling and Lao Luo, who had never encountered this field before, completely bewildered.

Ximen Lang patiently explained to everyone one by one.

"First, there's the creative aspect, which is very easy to understand. Simply put, it's about having a budget and money. The budget, of course, is the script. Whether you choose and plan the topic yourself or trade copyrights, the most important thing is to produce a script."

"That's it, money is essential! Whether you pay for it yourself, seek social financing, or apply for various subsidies, you definitely need to have enough money prepared. Because making a movie costs money, you understand that, right?"

"Don't treat us like idiots, okay? Of course we know all this!"

He was even rebuked by Bai Ling, but seeing that Bai Ling and Lao Luo could understand, Ximen Lang continued.

"As for the production process, simply put, it consists of pre-production, filming, and post-production. Pre-production includes things like casting, location scouting, and storyboarding. Filming involves the director, cinematographer, lighting, art direction, and special effects team. Post-production includes editing, color grading, sound effects, and visual effects." "Distribution and screening are also easy to understand. After making a film, you need to promote it properly, otherwise, how will anyone know you've made a movie waiting to be released? Distribution involves having promotional channels to help you promote it. And screening, naturally, means showing it in theaters."

"Of course, in our country, besides theatrical screenings, you can also cooperate with major streaming platforms to achieve simultaneous theatrical and online releases, or directly stream online without going through physical theaters. However, we don't have that capability right now, so I won't go into detail here."

"As for merchandise and IP operation, that's even simpler. Once the movie becomes a hit, go directly to the theme park. Relying on the enduring popularity brought by the movie, you can continuously attract audiences to spend money at the theme park! Truly turn a one-off deal into a steady stream of revenue!"

"Add to that selling figurines, posters, and other merchandise, as well as game adaptations and novel adaptations. One movie, and you're making money everywhere! That's what you call knowing how to make money. You make way more than someone who just idiots and makes movies, don't you?"

The explanation left Bai Ling and Lao Luo dumbfounded, and the phrase "sucking marrow from bones" involuntarily came to mind.

It's clear that people from later generations really know how to have fun, and they're not just ordinary people.

I kept marveling to myself.
"Tell me, how do these people's brains work? How can they have so many cunning schemes in their stomachs?!"

On the other side, Bai Ling, who had already somewhat come to her senses, tentatively asked.

"So the real meaning of the film industry is to tightly integrate multiple links and turn it into a precise assembly line?"

"Right! Exactly right! The film industry doesn't just tell stories through movies; it turns stories into a business that can be replicated globally! It's like a precision assembly line, turning ideas into standardized products that are ultimately sold worldwide!"

"In short, it's about breaking down humanity's most primal need for empathy into mass-producible cultural commodities, using technology, capital, and psychology to precisely calculate the residual value of every single tear!"

Seeing that the so-called film industry was actually like this, Bai Ling's fist hardened.

Their eyes involuntarily began to search the surroundings for suitable streetlights.

However, because it was in the middle of nowhere, there were no streetlights or anything like that. All you could see were car headlights, not streetlights.

We can't really treat Ximen Lang as an evil capitalist and then hang him from a street lamp.

Taking a deep breath, Bai Ling continued to ask questions.

"But didn't you just say that film is an art? A high art! The seventh art! Such a high art, the seventh art, has been turned into something reeking of money, it's unbearable, can it still be called art?!"

Regarding this question...
"Let me give you two pieces of advice. First, making money is business, nothing to be ashamed of. Second, it may be art, but don't think of art as something too highbrow."

"Because of its relationship with art, well, it's like what, like a pharmaceutical factory and a poppy flower, the former for purification, the latter for romance."

(End of this chapter)