I'm not a drama freak, I can really see through the script

Chapter 413, Young people these days won't read works like "The Age of Awakening".
"The level of interest among Chinese-speaking audiences online has reached an explosive level."

At that moment, Han Ping was in his office, personally checking the public opinion reports.

Jiang Wen, who was standing next to him, exclaimed in admiration.

"President Han, you actually do these things yourself. You haven't changed this habit at all."

You know, other big companies usually delegate these kinds of things to their subordinates, unlike Han Ping, who personally handles everything.

This is the most basic and fundamental work: collecting and reporting data.

"Data doesn't lie, but the people who create the data might lie to you."

Han Ping paused for a moment and then said, "I need to see these things with my own eyes to truly understand them."

"That's why it's so comfortable to work with you."

Jiang Wen smiled at this moment.

He spoke frankly about his feelings.

Working with Han Ping is so comfortable.

Because he knew how to witness things firsthand.

Instead of borrowing the words of others.

At this moment, Han Ping said...

"Actually, I was quite touched."

"Is this touching again?"

"Can you please stop interrupting my emotions? Can't you let me be sentimental once in a while?" Han Ping looked helplessly at Jiang Wen, who was teasing him.

"Then you're just being dramatic."

"The last time I saw something like this was when Cameron's movie was released. In other words, in the Chinese film industry, the works of the three of you have caused a Cameron-level earthquake."

At this moment, Han Ping spoke seriously.

"At the same time, you also set a new record for the highest opening day box office. Together you created history, broke boundaries, and set the highest opening day box office record for a Chinese film to date."

"It can't be said that we did it all. The platform was built up step by step. I only built one piece of it. Li Xuan and Lu Chuan did the same."

Jiang Wen smiled faintly and said, "Building a large market doesn't rely on one person, but on a group of people."

At this moment, Jiang Wen calmly analyzed the situation.

One person cannot support the entire market.

No, not even a few people.

We need a group of people, a group of people who create content.

Let's work together with one heart and one mind.

Due to economies of scale.

This explains why a chemical reaction can occur.

“Zhang Mouzi influenced you, and you in turn influenced Lu Chuan. This kind of thing is passed down from generation to generation. His ‘The King’s Feast’ has a lot of your flavor, but it is also derived from you.”

"You can't say that. Look at who influences Li Xuan."

"He must have been influenced by many people. I see that his film and television styles are all the result of his ability to absorb other people's ideas and make them his own." Han Ping seemed to understand Li Xuan well at this moment.

Jiang Wen, however, just smiled wryly.

"That's different."

"Why is it different?"

"Although he and I share a similar soul, there are still some differences between us. He is different from me. He did not do things because he was influenced by anyone. His film style and shooting techniques survived because they were useful. He actively embarked on this path. In this respect, he is more pure than me and Lu Chuan."

"The battle for film rights is still ongoing and still brewing. Let's see if his film, The Age of Awakening, can resonate with it."

"For me, it's like a little treat while waiting for the box office battle this month."

At this moment, Han Ping did indeed feel some regret.
"It's a bit of a pity. In the end, we still had to import foreign TV series. This time, I practically handed our competitor over to us. Do you think that was right or wrong?" Han Ping was also in charge of importing this TV series, after all, as the head of China Film Group...
"That's right. Even if you don't import them, with the advanced technology of the internet, how could they not see the works? Instead of blinding them, it's better to openly let them in. Besides, their works aren't without their merits; at least they're quite entertaining."

"I'm afraid of being entertained to death."

"Li Xuan chose a very smart time slot, using 'Dying to Survive' to support the time slot of 'Awakening Age'. Judging from the current data, quite a few people actually watched the TV series because they had seen the movie."

Principal Xu Xiang watched the public opinion on the internet.

The film "Dying to Survive" is now trying to capitalize on the popularity of "The Age of Awakening".

A smart business decision.

Using a phenomenal movie to 'extend the life' of a TV series..."

Xu Xiang's voice was soft, yet it carried an indescribable emotion.

"No, it's not about prolonging life."

Wang Fengsheng, sitting opposite him, shook his head and corrected him.

It's 'carrying a sedan chair'.

"Use the popularity of the movie 'Dying to Survive' to promote 'The Age of Awakening'."

"The release date is excellent." Xu Xiang put down his teacup with a soft thud. "One is the commercial market, and the other is a subject matter that China Film Group likes the most."

"The Age of Awakening" is for old-school people, people who have a 'mission' to follow.

But in reality, the commercial market doesn't really appreciate 'mainstream' themes.

“But it was a brilliant move,” Wang Fengsheng replied.

The two exchanged a glance, and both saw a wry smile and a hint of astonishment on each other's faces.

They know the market all too well right now.

Especially in the television drama market.

"What do young people watch these days?" Wang Fengsheng asked, as if he were asking himself, or perhaps Xu Xiang.

“The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad…” Xu Xiang rattled off several names.

They are all the most popular American TV series on the internet right now.

Now that domestic TV dramas are being introduced, there's no need to use VPNs or wait for translation groups anymore.

“That’s right.” Wang Fengsheng nodded. “American TV series have spoiled our visual tastes. Before, only martial arts dramas were phased out, but now many genres have been replaced.”

The biggest problem is that American TV series benefit from the technological spillover from Hollywood, making them visually superior to the cheap special effects in China. They also have more funding.

to be honest.

Purely 'good-looking'.

American TV series are much stronger.

After all, it's an entertainment-oriented country.

Regarding how to entertain the public.

The United States of America is top-notch.

They know what to use to stimulate dopamine and feelings of pleasure.

A money-printing machine adapted for film and television.

We have no choice but to submit to Hollywood and to America.

"Watch 'The Age of Awakening' again."

Wang Fengsheng tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

What comes to mind when you hear this name?

"Preaching." Xu Xiang uttered the two words without hesitation.

"Yes, it's preaching."

Wang Fengsheng sighed.

"This is an impression ingrained in our bones, a 'sin' of historical subjects, especially grand narratives like this. In fact, it's very difficult to film this kind of thing well."

"In the eyes of most young viewers, this kind of drama is synonymous with boredom, tedium, and history lessons."

"No matter how well you film it or how profound it is, people won't even have the desire to watch the first episode."

"This is the biggest dilemma Li Xuan faces."

A brief silence fell over the office.

this is the truth.

A cold, cruel, yet unavoidable reality.

You can't blame the audience's taste, because the market is made up of their choices.

"That's why he had to use 'Dying to God' to 'deceive' people." Xu Xiang's voice rang out again, tinged with amusement.

“You’re lying.” Wang Fengsheng raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, it's a lie."

Xu Xiang leaned forward slightly.

"He used the film 'Dying to Survive' to establish an 'anchor' in the hearts of all viewers."

"This anchor point is..."

"When the audience was so moved by 'Dying to Survive' that they developed a great deal of trust in the name 'Li Xuan,' he immediately launched 'The Age of Awakening.'"

"In terms of publicity, we should link the two together."

"Look, this is our director Li Xuan's latest masterpiece! Like 'Dying to Survive,' it's a work that focuses on reality and is thought-provoking!"

What will the audience think?

Xu Xiang smiled.

"Audiences won't carefully distinguish between movies and TV series, nor will they delve into the differences in subject matter."

Their first reaction was—Oh? The director of "Dying to Survive" has a new film? I have to check it out, it can't be bad!

"He used the popularity of 'Dying to save this TV series."

"They managed to 'trick' a group of viewers who might never have watched a patriotic TV drama into watching it."

Wang Fengsheng listened and nodded slowly.

The analysis was meticulous and thorough.

It's purely a business transaction.

“But…” Wang Fengsheng changed the subject. “You manage to trick them into coming in, and then what?”

"That's the most crucial point."

"The impact of American TV series is real. Even if it's just late-night programming, it still impacts aesthetics."

“Young people are very honest. This generation of young people will not let whether your work is made in China affect their stance and support.”

Wang Fengsheng did not continue.

But the result is self-evident.

It will backfire on the movie "Dying to Survive". This is the advantage and disadvantage of dragging.

This is a form of exploitation and commercial activity.

It could even backfire on Li Xuan himself.
Mainstream works have many meanings.

He has many review criteria.

But these standards absolutely do not include being good-looking.

This is actually what Wang Fengsheng is most worried about.

In this age of entertainment to the death.

A bad film.

It is a crime.

It's difficult to film a good movie about the Awakening Era.

A correct but unwatchable work.

Xu Xiang said.

"But I also admire Li Xuan. His vision is to use a commercially viable work to support a mainstream film. This is a kind of dedication, a vision and greatness that most filmmakers in China do not have. As the presidents of Beijing Film Academy and Central Academy of Drama, we also have our own advantages."

"What do you want to do?" Wang Fengsheng, who was standing next to him, raised an eyebrow.

“I think that since he’s willing to pay the price for what’s right, we old folks can’t let him down. This is clearly something we old guys should be doing, but it’s not right to let him take on this responsibility without offering some real financial help.”

"I want his work to be included in textbooks, whether it's his screenwriting, directing, or acting,"

This surprised Wang Fengsheng, who was standing next to him.
This is almost one of the ultimate dreams for people in the entertainment industry.

It is used in the textbooks of Beijing Film Academy and Central Academy of Drama.

However, the movie "Awakening Era" has not yet been released.

They didn't even know what kind of acting skills and standards this supposedly correct work had.

A decision has already been made.

A decision that requires sacrifice.

"Then let's do some at the Beijing Film Academy as well. It's not that we're doing it on a whim, but after all, we've all witnessed his achievements in the movie 'Dying to Survive,' and there are indeed many scenes that could be included in textbooks."

This can also be seen as a form of compensation for him using the Medicine God to make up for the awakening era.

Hopefully, Li Xuan won't suffer too much of a loss.

night.

Liu Lili's home.

The crystal chandelier in the living room was on, providing bright but not glaring light.

The food on the table had been cleared away, but the faint aroma of Cantonese salted chicken mixed with rice and other dishes still lingered in the air.

Liu Yifei leaned against Li Xuan's chest like a lazy cat, holding a remote control and aimlessly changing channels.

The commercials were very long, ranging from "Brain Gold" to an underwear ad for a certain peerless junior sister—Liu Yifei immediately changed the channel, unable to bear it, and then secretly watched to see if Li Xuan was peeking.

Li Xuan wasn't actually peeking; he was looking at his phone and browsing the news.

The 3G network is alright.

"...The trio of films—'Let the Bullets Fly' directed by Jiang Wen, 'The Last Supper' directed by Lu Chuan, and 'Dying to Survive' directed by Li Xuan—completely ignited this year's Lunar New Year film season..."

"On its third day of release, 'Dying to Survive' maintained a steady and strong box office performance, surpassing 100 million yuan in cumulative revenue. Its positive word-of-mouth continues to grow, making it an undisputed phenomenon..."

Liu Lili came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of cut fruit and placed it on the coffee table.

She glanced at the TV, then at Li Xuan, who was sitting calmly on the sofa.

"The momentum of 'Dying to Survive' is very good."

She spoke, but her tone was ambiguous, neither praising nor revealing anything else.

"Hmm, not bad." Li Xuan picked up a piece of apple, took a bite, and found it to be very crisp.

"The Age of Awakening will be broadcast tonight." Liu Lili changed the subject and got straight to the point.

The atmosphere in the living room seemed to shift slightly after those words were spoken.

Liu Yifei even stopped changing channels.

"Yes, eight o'clock tonight." Li Xuan nodded, his face expressionless.

Liu Lili picked up a toothpick and slowly stuck a piece of cantaloupe into it, but didn't eat it.

She looked at Li Xuan.

"Auntie speaks frankly, please don't take it personally."

"You say."

“From a business perspective, your idea of ​​using the popularity of ‘Dying to Survive’ to promote ‘Age of Awakening’ is very clever.” Liu Lili paused, seemingly organizing her thoughts.

"But... have you considered the possibility of a backlash?"

"Young people today are different from us back then."

Her voice was soft, yet clear.

"They don't like being lectured."

"The Awakening Age, just hearing the name, carries a sense of... mission. This kind of subject matter is inherently unappealing, and it can never be 'good'."

Ultimately, Liu Lili is still a 'liberal,' and she has a natural dislike for 'The Age of Awakening.' At the very least, she doesn't like this kind of work.

"If you 'trick' them into watching TV, and they get bored or feel cheated, who will ultimately blame for their dissatisfaction?"

"It's on your head."

"Putting the blame on 'Dying to Survive' will affect your box office. You should know that this film is very important; it's competing with Lu Chuan and Jiang Wen."

At first, Liu Lili didn't think Li Xuan could compete with Jiang Wen.

but now.
It seems possible.

The current box office stickiness suggests one thing: Li Xuan seems to have the potential to capitalize on the success of "Let the Bullets Fly."

To clash with the 'sword' that Jiang Wen has honed over ten years.
Liu Lili made her point clear.

"The reputation and trust you painstakingly built up with 'Dying to Survive' could very well be dragged down by this TV series."

That was quite a blunt remark.

It could even be described as a blunt pessimism.

Liu Yifei, who was standing next to her, stirred as if she wanted to say something, but Li Xuan gently pressed her hand down.

Li Xuan smiled.

"Aunt Liu, your analysis makes a lot of sense."

He didn't argue.

Because what Liu Lili said is the coldest business logic in this industry.

Is the truth.

Seeing Li Xuan's reaction, Liu Lili sighed instead.

She picked up her phone, opened a news page, and handed it over.

"Look at this again."

On the phone screen, there was a bolded title.

[A powerful move from Beijing's film circles! Wang Su's "The World" gets a release date set, with the Chinese University of Peking officially supporting it!]

Below the news article were countless propaganda press releases.

It has received joint recommendations from various renowned scholars, professors, and critics.

Loud.

Even Yu Hua came to show his support. You should know that he is from the Zhejiang literary circle. He didn't get along with the Beijing literary circle, but since he came to show his support, Wang Su used all his connections in the literary circle.

“The Human World.” Liu Lili’s voice turned somber.

"Wang Shuo and his team really went all out this time; the publicity and distribution costs were almost the same as making a movie."

"The original author was a professor at the Chinese University of Beiping."

"It has literary depth, a sense of life, and is written by a promising new screenwriter from Hong Kong, so the pacing is definitely going to be good."

Liu Lili's analysis is calm and objective.

"To be honest, if I had to choose, I would definitely prefer 'The World' among domestic dramas."

"It has a much better market appeal than 'The Age of Awakening'."

"At least, it's about people, about life, about things we can understand and touch. Young people today don't understand [awakening]."

Liu Lili put her phone away and looked at Li Xuan.

"You are now in a situation where you are attacked from both sides."

“There are blockbuster domestic dramas like ‘The World’ competing with you for viewers.”

"And then there are all those imported American TV series, vying for the attention of young people."

"Your situation is far more dangerous than you imagine."

The living room was quiet.

Li Xuan simply smiled.

"Aunt Liu."

He spoke.

"You are right."

"but……"

He paused.

"We'll see."

Just four simple words.

Li Xuan paused.

"What's the point of always filming things that others have already seen? Because they don't understand [awakening], they won't accept something new when it's presented to them?"

Liu Lili looked at him, at his calm, still eyes, and for a moment she didn't know what to say.

This young man...

At this moment, although Li Xuan remained calm, he was still paying slight attention to the matter of American dramas being introduced to legitimate websites.

This is almost inevitable.

YouTudou. No, it's still called Youku now.

Previously, watching American and British TV series required downloading them, which meant you needed to have some technical skills to find the resources. Now, they're directly imported, so no technical skills are needed. You just need to watch the first 300 seconds and the 300-second commercials to enjoy an episode of an American TV series.
Times have indeed changed.
(End of this chapter)