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

Chapter 414, Wang Lei: Haven't I, who always prided myself on being right, also lost until now?
At this moment, Liu Meizhen was in the hotel, drinking jasmine tea and surfing the internet on her laptop, with her blonde, blue-eyed, but voluptuous assistant beside her.

After connecting to the TV channel, Liu Meizhen prepared to watch the upcoming films.

"You actually watch Chinese dramas now?" The assistant next to me said in broken Chinese.

“Appreciating art is part of my job, so what’s so strange about it?” Liu Meizhen smiled and looked at her assistant beside her, saying, “But you, it’s been so long since I’ve seen you, your Chinese has become much more fluent.”

"Isn't this what you always do when you come to China to work?"

“Actually, in places like Beijing and Shanghai, not understanding Chinese isn’t a problem. It’s really not a big deal,” Liu Meizhen paused and said, “Don’t underestimate this dragon.”

"No, no, that's not how it is~"

The assistant quickly shook her head and waved her hands, her ample bosom swaying along with her movements, making Liu Meizhen dizzy.

It must be admitted that this is considered a rare talent even among Westerners.

A purely natural talent.

"I've just developed a slight interest in Chinese culture."

At this moment, the assistant blushed, her fair skin turning red.

The busty girl got shy.

They are interested in Chinese culture.

Ever since I watched "The New World" and "Parasite".

Oh, and then there's "Source Code".

She began to exhibit this special feeling, that of someone from this purely Western world.

He became interested in Li Xuan.

"You are attracted to the Chinese people."

"You are one too," the assistant muttered. "You used to drink coffee."

Liu Meizhen was stunned for a moment.

Yes.

She used to drink coffee.

I don't know when it started, but I've been influenced and changed.

It piqued my interest. There are some things I should say but won't.

indeed.

This giant dragon from the East.

His culture has a captivating quality.

Or perhaps it's that this land is capable of producing people like Li Xuan and Sheng Chang.

It gave her a strange sense of fascination.

But she also knew it.

Personal appreciation is appreciation.

But work is work.

Her job was to bring Hollywood productions to China, working for Lionsgate and acting as a Hollywood broker.

In a situation where the film market is already facing reverse pressure.
It has also completely squeezed out the television market.

This will make China's visualization market completely subservient to Hollywood.

In fact, it has already been done.

She had conducted market research.

For some young people with strong hands-on skills, there are basically no barriers to entry.

For the films, they also chose domestic productions.

However, in the realm of television dramas, they have long since embraced the internet age and have already ventured into broader horizons.

The current introduction of legitimate content is actually aimed at capturing the younger generation in lower-income areas.

Works that use "aesthetics" to wrap "ideas".

"We are the lighthouse of the world, responsible for illuminating the way for others; this is our duty."

It is our responsibility to conquer everything.

No matter how much you admire Li Xuan.

That was just out of personal appreciation.

I just hope he can face reality.

The same goes for Shengchang.

Hopefully they can abandon darkness and embrace the light.

After being crushed this time.

Would the two people who were "conquered" immediately bow down in worship?

at this time.

Wang Su was also standing in front of the television. Zheng Long was not beside him at this time; Lu Chuan was next to him instead.

The box office battle is not over yet.

The battlefield of Li Xuan's "Awakening Era" is about to begin.

“He shouldn’t have done that; it’s arrogant,” Lu Chuan said after a moment of silence. “Is his behavior a way of using his own film project to drive traffic to his own company?”

Wang Su said.

"Isn't this a good thing? If it would harm his film project, this would be a good thing."

"If I win, I will win honorably; if I lose, I will lose honorably. If he wins while he is arrogant and his box office is damaged, I will not feel good about it either."

"Have you ever considered a scenario where, hypothetically, they could complement each other?"

"Mr. Wang, do you think it's possible?"

Lu Chuan then countered with a question.

Is this possible?

In terms of subject matter...

That's unlikely.

Because of the issue of the intensity of this subject matter.

It's not a show that can get high ratings.

It's more like something that was moved out to complete some task.

"Actually, I'm a little curious about this work. He's best at telling stories about ordinary people, so what kind of results can he achieve this time by changing the narrative perspective?"

“Everyone has their own narrative perspective. You have one, Jiang Wen has one, Li Xuan has one. Everyone has their own strengths in storytelling, but there are also areas where they are not good at it. I’m just curious whether he can handle a work like ‘The Age of Awakening’ with a plot summary.”

Although Wang Su was very hostile towards Li Xuan.

But that was also due to differences in positions and interests.

It is difficult to reconcile the two.

He was a man of humble origins.

They want to take their current positions.

This is absolutely unacceptable...but similarly
Wang Suo admires the works of Li Xuan, who has reached this point through his talent.

It also has its own curiosity.
Curious about this Li Xuan
How far can he go?
A stance is a stance.

Appreciation is appreciation, after all.

"This is the principle I bear, the burden I carry. Let's see if I can continue to lead the Beijing circle to victory this time."

"Can we beat Hollywood television?"

Lu Chuan was somewhat surprised.

"It's not Li Xuan anymore?"

"My conflict with Li Xuan is a conflict between him and me, a conflict within this land and this market. If Hollywood tries to take over this market, that's something I absolutely cannot allow or tolerate."

Compared to Li Xuan, whose ideals and interests differed.

Hollywood is the real enemy.

To this end, Wang Shuo used extraordinary resources, from the support of the Chinese University of Beiping to various pre-arranged literary awards. He put everything into the public eye.

Although that's true, Wang Shuo, who is indeed qualified to be a writer, knew that winning the award was only a matter of time, but there's a difference between the formal process and direct arrangement.

Strive to do it as quickly as possible.

It squeezes the heat of human life to its extreme.

This time, we must suppress Li Xuan.

Similarly, we should let Hollywood productions know that we also have our own domestic works.
After everything was arranged.

Then we'll have to watch Li Xuan's "The Age of Awakening".

Let's look at what he filmed from a perspective he wasn't familiar with, from a personal standpoint.

What exactly are its components?

whether.

He really is that extraordinary.

At this moment, Wang Lei turned on his computer.

The internet is more bustling at night than during the day.

Upon opening Youku, the entire homepage is filled with the gray of the apocalypse and the yellow of the desert.

[The Walking Dead is officially imported and updated simultaneously!]

[The ultimate transformation for a chemistry teacher! Breaking Bad is now available!]

Huge advertising banners completely filled the screen.

The video websites went all out with their marketing, pouring all their resources into these two newly released American dramas.

The comment sections, bullet screen sections, and various forums were filled with zombies and drug dealers overnight.

"Holy crap! At least I don't have to search for resources everywhere anymore! Youku is awesome!"

"Rick is so handsome! This is the kind of show men should watch!"

"Old Bai is forever a god! This plot, this pacing, even Chinese dramas won't be able to make something like this in twenty years!"

On the big screen, the data from Youku's backend was changing in real time, with the lines for "The Walking Dead" and "Breaking Bad" jumping almost vertically upwards.

Wang Haiyang, the subordinate standing next to him, turned pale when he saw the data.

"Mr. Wang, this...this level of popularity is terrifying."

Wang Lei remained silent, simply watching quietly.

For the first time, Hollywood's iron heel has so blatantly stepped into the courtyard of Chinese-language TV dramas.

Relying on internet channels.

"Who do you think will win this time?" Wang Lei's voice was flat, revealing no emotion. "Give me your evaluation based on comprehensive data, including Hollywood productions."

Wang Haiyang hesitated for a moment, but still told the truth.

"Mr. Wang, looking at the data alone... whether it's 'The World' from the Beijing circle or 'The Age of Awakening' by Li Xuan... they'll probably lose."

"In terms of pure viewership data, we will lose."

"Oh."

Wang Haiyang braced himself and continued his analysis: "Young people's viewing habits have changed. American dramas are fast-paced and exciting, completely made to appeal to their tastes. But with 'The World' and 'The Age of Awakening,' they might pay more attention to the artistic atmosphere. Even if 'The Age of Awakening' is dragged down by the popularity of 'Dying to Survive,' habits are habits, and interests are interests. People who have accepted Western ideas prefer to watch this kind of 'advanced' stuff rather than didactic films."

"Therefore, it's very difficult to win."

"Yeah……"

He turned his head and looked at the city lights outside the window. "You know what 'advanced' things are, Wang Haiyang? I used to think that everything in Hollywood was advanced, so everything Huayi did was aimed at Hollywood."

"but"

"Even I, who always strives to be the best, have lost to him so far."

……

Wang Lei neither confirmed nor denied it.

I don't plan to discuss this matter with Wang Haiyang anymore.

He picked up the remote control and turned on the huge LCD TV in the office.

"Advanced..."

He chewed on the word as if savoring some strange taste.

"Then let's see where our own technology is lagging behind."

The TV screen lights up.

The time is 7:30.

Beijing TV.

The opening sequence of "The World" unfolds slowly, accompanied by deep and melodious music.

There are no flashy editing techniques or dazzling special effects.

It consists of a series of old photos interwoven with black and white and yellowish-colored images, showing simple faces and low-lying shantytowns.

An overwhelming sense of nostalgia washes over you.

Introduction.

1969, Northeast China, Jichun City, Guangzi film.

The camera pans across the row of bungalows covered in snow. Smoke rises from chimneys, icicles hang from telephone poles, and children, bundled up in thick cotton-padded coats, chase and play in the alleyways.

Noisy, dilapidated, yet full of vitality.

“This smell…”

Wang Lei leaned forward slightly.

Wang Haiyang, who was next to him, also subconsciously held his breath.

So true.

It's so real that it doesn't feel like watching a TV series, but rather like flipping through a dusty family photo album.

The plot moves at the very least without any dragging.

Zhou family.

My father, Zhou Zhigang, is about to go to the southwest in response to the call of the "Third Front".

At the dinner table, the family ate a silent farewell meal.

My eldest brother, Zhou Bingyi, is going to the Production and Construction Corps.

The second sister, Zhou Rong, harbors a secret desire to go to Guizhou.

Only the youngest brother, Zhou Bingkun, and their mother remained to take care of the family.

With just a few scenes and a few lines of dialogue, the fate of a family and a cross-section of an era are clearly depicted.

“Period drama…” Wang Lei’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he uttered three words.

"What the Beijing elite excels at."

They understand this subject matter too well.

They understand the joys and sorrows of ordinary people against the backdrop of a great era.

They understand the patriotism hidden in the everyday details of life.

They know how to use the simplest lens to capture the most poignant reality.

Wang Haiyang was already looking at his computer, rapidly refreshing Weibo and Douban.

"Mr. Wang...it's blown up..."

His voice trembled slightly.

"The reputation of 'The Human World'... The first episode hasn't even finished airing yet, and the Douban score is already 9.2!"

"It occupies three of the top ten trending topics on Weibo!"

On the screen, the story continues.

At the train station, Zhou's father saluted his youngest son, Zhou Bingkun, through the train window onto the platform with a standard military salute.

With tears in his eyes, Zhou Bingkun returned the same standard military salute.

There wasn't a single sentimental line.

But that sense of inheritance and separation between father and son, belonging to an era, and that heavy responsibility, struck the hearts of every viewer with such force.

It truly captures the unique romantic feeling of the Chinese people.

This time, the Beijing circle didn't give a perfunctory response.
It's not just about publicity resources.

The filming resources are also plentiful.

He glanced at Wang Lei secretly.

Wang Lei's face remained expressionless, but he understood better than anyone what this meant.

This is not an ordinary TV series.

This is a work that has achieved the ultimate in every aspect, from the script to the director, the performances, and the costumes and props.

This was a move that the Beijing elite had been holding back for a long time, orchestrated by Wang Su himself, mobilizing all available resources to deliver a powerful blow.

Wang fried.

Wang Haiyang said in a low voice, "President Wang, the quality of this drama is amazing. Wang Shuo and his team really went all out this time."

"Indeed, it gives me the feeling that Wang Shuo's talent has regressed by twenty years and returned to its peak."

This kind of understanding of history and insight into human nature cannot be built with money alone.

That's something that's been accumulated over generations within a certain circle.

It's their roots.

The two episodes have finished airing.

There was dead silence in the office.

The TV started playing commercials, and the cheerful music contrasted sharply with the lingering, heavy feeling of the song "The World".

good looking.

This is Wang Haiyang's simplest idea.

The higher the quality of "The Human World," the more it highlights how dangerous Li Xuan's situation is.

There are domestic dramas like "The World" that are considered the pinnacle of domestic productions, blocking the way.

It was followed by top-tier American TV series like "The Walking Dead" and "Breaking Bad."

And Li Xuan's "The Age of Awakening"...

Just hearing the name is half the battle won.

Wang Haiyang and Li Xuan were old rivals, and at this point, he had mixed feelings. He didn't really want Li Xuan to lose.

I really don't want that.
At least, after watching his film "Dying to Survive," Wang Haiyang, as an "ordinary person," deeply empathized with it.
His works are made for ordinary people.

Even if he didn't want to admit it, Wang Haiyang felt in his heart that Li Xuan was 'great' as a filmmaker.

"It's eight o'clock."

Wang Lei interrupted him, his gaze falling on the lower right corner of the television screen.

Time: 20:00.

He picked up the remote control and changed the channel without hesitation.

CCTV-1.

The opening credits of "The Age of Awakening" appeared right on time.

Unlike the simple warmth of "The World", the opening of "The Age of Awakening" is black and white and somber.

The cold railway tracks, the numb crowds, the arrogant foreigners in the concession, and the sign that read "No Chinese or dogs allowed".

Repressed.

heavy.

A sense of historical humiliation emanated from the screen, pressing in directly.

Wang Haiyang's brows furrowed unconsciously.

It's so boring.

This was completely different from the feeling he had after watching "The World"—a feeling of wanting to share the fate and breath of the characters in the story.

It's a passive feeling, like being forcibly placed in a history classroom.

Actually, it's not very good.

The main film begins.

Japan, 1915.

The overseas students surrounded the envoy sent by Yuan Shikai to protest the signing of the humiliating "Twenty-One Demands".

Then, the camera shifts.

Chen Duxiu then appeared.

He wasn't giving a passionate speech; instead, he was discussing the founding of "Youth Magazine" with his friends.

Long stretches of dialogue.

It's all about ideas, about doctrines, about how to enlighten the people.

"...In order to fundamentally save the nation, it is necessary to transform the national character of China..."

"...Science and human rights should be given equal importance..."

These lines are all precious and powerful.

But in TV dramas, especially after the extremely realistic storyline of "The World," it seems...

It's too dry.

It's too "hard".

Wang Haiyang began to fidget.

He even subconsciously reached for his phone.

This is not his problem.

This is the most genuine reaction from the vast majority of ordinary viewers.

In an age of entertainment to the death, who has the patience to listen to intellectuals from a hundred years ago debating these incomprehensible philosophical principles?

He couldn't help but look at Wang Lei again.

Wang Lei remained seated, motionless, just as before.

His face showed no emotion.

There was no impatience, nor any surprise.

He just watched, like a calm observer analyzing a game of chess.

He is waiting.

Waiting for Li Xuan to make his move.

How Li Xuan will keep the audience who were "tricked" into watching "Dying to Survive" in this drama.

(End of this chapter)