It's reasonable for me to be a three-time Golden Horse Award-winning director and an all-around

Chapter 180 Is Little Liu Yifei About to Rise to Power? The Three Treasures of Zhouyi Are About to End... New System Task (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

"It's no exaggeration to say that 'Crossing the Guandong' is a TV series suitable for all ages. The actors' performances are excellent, the characters are well-developed, and the plot is captivating. It's simply amazing!"

"A blockbuster drama to kick off the year! It truly lives up to its name!"

"I really didn't expect that not only are the movies produced by Ruishijie good, but their first TV series is also so amazing!"

"The whole play is very rich in national spirit. The father and mother of the Zhu family are very typical Chinese traditional parents. The father is wise, calm, tall and resolute, supporting the whole family like a mountain."

The mother is intelligent, brave, loving, and tolerant, caring for everyone like the earth. The character is vivid, each with their own distinct personality; this is truly a masterpiece!

"..."

In this day and age, although there aren't as many rating websites as in later generations, the positive reviews on forums and blogs are still genuine.

Netizens spontaneously shared their viewing experiences, and the discussion threads, which were filled with praise for the plot and characters, remained highly popular.

The ever-increasing viewership ratings of "Crossing the Guandong" have provided solid data to verify its quality and reputation.

Within just one week of its premiere, the average viewership exceeded 9%, showing no signs of declining.

This achievement truly astonished countless people!
What has attracted even more attention in the industry is that this drama series has set a new record for the highest price per episode in the current TV drama industry, with a price of 85 yuan per episode and a total price of 4420 million yuan.

There may be single contracts on the market that offer higher prices per episode, but none of those have been publicly disclosed.

Since it wasn't made public, the record firmly belongs to "Crossing the Guandong".

After all, Ruishijie didn't hide anything; instead, they made the transaction price public.

In Lü Rui's view, there was no need to hide the price; on the contrary, it could be used as a form of publicity.

When people see that the selling price is so high, they will naturally assume that the series is of good quality. Just like high box office is often associated with high-quality movies, it is the most direct "quality endorsement".

The announcement of this achievement made Ruishijie, a rising star in the TV drama industry, an instant sensation in the industry!

Previously, people only knew that it was a force to be reckoned with in the film industry, but now they have discovered that it has also stepped into the field of television dramas and has produced record-breaking works, showcasing the high quality of its series!
"Wow, this Lü Rui is really good at handling projects!"

In Huayi's office, Zhang Jizhong stared at the news about "Crossing the Guandong" on the webpage, then turned to Wang Zhonglei and sighed.

Wang Zhonglei smiled upon hearing this and followed up by asking, "Director Zhang, your 'The Return of the Condor Heroes' must have sold for a pretty good price, right?"

The distributor of this drama is Ciwen Media, and it has been agreed that it will premiere on Shandong TV on March 14.

Many people in the industry are curious about the high price Zhang Jizhong actually sold this drama for.

He wasn't modest at all, frankly saying, "The price per episode is indeed not low, but 'The Return of the Condor Heroes' has fewer episodes than 'Crossing the Guandong,' so its total selling price can't compare."

Moreover, theirs is a serious drama, while mine is a period drama. The rerun rate will definitely be much lower, and the long-term profit potential will be significantly less.

"That's still very impressive!" Wang Zhonglei chimed in at the opportune moment.

Zhang Jizhong did not deny it, but still sighed: "I have been working in the TV drama industry for almost 20 years. Looking at Ruishijie, the first drama has achieved such results. It is really enviable and amazing!"

As Wang Zhonglei listened, his brows furrowed slightly.

He suddenly realized that the success of "Crossing the Guandong" had brought Ruishijie a reputation and industry influence that seemed a bit exaggerated.

Since its founding in 1994, Huayi Brothers has produced many hit dramas, but none of them have ever produced a work like "Crossing the Guandong" that broke viewership records, set new sales prices, and earned a great reputation.

Thinking about this, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.

If Huayi had been able to reach a share swap agreement with Ruishijie back then, it's possible that they could have made a fortune from this wave of dividends.

But what's done is done, and there's no use in regretting it now.

He sighed inwardly, then changed the subject, his tone becoming serious: "Director Zhang, let's talk about something serious. Huayi wants to sign a long-term cooperation agreement with you, not only to have you lead the production of the drama, but also to ask you to help recruit some promising new artists."

"Feel free to name your terms. We can even discuss the shares this time. We can work together to expand Huayi Brothers' TV drama empire further. What do you think?"

Zhang Jizhong was not surprised, as the two sides had been negotiating for some time.

However, the conditions offered by Huayi Brothers at the time, which included independent creative rights and a signing fee, made him somewhat hesitant.

But now, with the addition of equity, this treatment is definitely top-tier in the industry.

After years of working in the industry, he really wanted a more stable platform.

Now that Huayi has shown even more sincerity, he really has no reason to refuse, so he immediately nodded: "Okay, since President Wang has said so, I have nothing to hesitate about, I'll accept this cooperation!"

"OK."

Wang Zhonglei was overjoyed!
While the two were discussing the details of their collaboration, other companies in the film and television industry were also making their own moves.

At Tangren Media, Cai Yinong was drinking coffee, feeling immense pressure!

Since considering market development last year and officially shifting her work focus to the mainland, she has felt the suffocating competition quite a bit.

As the market expands, more and more film and television companies are entering the market.

Companies like Rongxinda, Hairun Pictures, Zhouyi Pictures, Huayi Brothers Media, and Ciwen Media, which originally had a strong presence in the mainland market, are already established and powerful players in the industry.

Rong Xinda specializes in art-house dramas and has produced many well-received works.

Hairun is known for its realistic themes and military dramas, and has a solid audience base.

Zhouyi Film & Television has gained countless fans with its fantasy period dramas such as "Shuiyue Dongtian".

Ciwen has long been involved in the field of IP adaptation, holding many popular copyrights.

Orange Sky Entertainment, which emerged just last year, is not to be trifled with. It directly signed top agent Wang Jinghua, who has a large number of artist resources in her hands, and stirred up the industry landscape as soon as she entered the market.

And this year's new players are coming in with even greater force!
Shenzhen Broadcasting took the lead in establishing Shenzhen Broadcasting Media, which, backed by local broadcasting resources, focuses on mainstream themes and realistic subjects.

Hunan TV has established Tianyu Media, leveraging the advantages of its satellite TV platform, and plans to enter the market through talent shows and youth dramas.

Hong Kong's Emperor Entertainment Group has also crossed over into the industry to join forces with Shanghai Film Group, establishing Shanghai Film Emperor Entertainment Group, aiming to combine Hong Kong drama production experience with the mainland market.

There are also companies like H&R Century Pictures and Huace Media, the former targeting period drama IPs and the latter focusing on family dramas. Both entered the market with clear objectives, eyeing market share with eager eyes.

What really made Cai Yinong's heart clench was the sudden appearance of Ruishijie.

This company, which had previously only focused on the film industry, saw its first TV series, "Crossing the Guandong," become a hit at the start of the year, breaking sales records and achieving both critical and commercial success!

Thinking of Lü Rui's young yet composed face, and comparing it to his achievements, Cai Yinong couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "How can this person be so amazing?"

Looking back at Tangren Media, it has actually been declining in the last two years.

"Alas, now we can only hope that the remake of 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes' can bring Tangren back to life."

Cai Yinong pondered to herself.

The drama has already begun preparations, and the cast has been basically finalized.

The company's top male star, Hu Ge, plays Guo Jing; Lin Yichen from Taiwan plays Huang Rong; and Yuan Hong plays Yang Kang. This cast is arguably the best Tangren Media can offer at the moment...

As she was thinking, a knocking sound suddenly rang out on the door.

Cai Yinong raised her head and called out, "Come in."

The next second, the director of Tangren Media's talent agency walked in with a girl.

"Mr. Cai, the person has been brought to you."

"Okay, go and do your work."

Cai Yinong nodded slightly, her gaze falling on the girl.

The other person looked somewhat timid and cowardly, gently clutching the hem of their clothes with both hands, their eyes showing a hint of restraint.

This was a girl she had discovered by chance when she went to the Beijing Dance Academy to select actors. She felt an instant connection with her and signed her on the spot.

"Shishi, come here and sit next to me." Cai Yinong beckoned to the girl and patted the sofa next to her.

Liu Shishi walked over and sat down gently beside her, quietly greeting her, "Hello, President Cai."

"Just call me 'sister'," Cai Yinong said kindly, carefully examining the girl in front of her.

She was born with delicate features, with long, slender eyebrows and soft almond-shaped eyes with clear, watery pupils.

Her nose was delicately straight, her lips thin yet radiating a lively spirit, and her skin a translucent, cool white. Even without makeup, her clean and gentle temperament was undeniable. Especially when she sat quietly, she possessed a subtle classical charm.

This girl looks so much like me when I was young!
"Are you getting used to life at Tangren?" Cai Yinong asked with concern.

Liu Shishi nodded gently: "I'm used to it, everyone takes good care of me."

"You'll get used to it." Cai Yinong smiled, her tone carrying a promise. "Now that I've signed you, I won't let you suffer. Focus on honing your acting skills, and I'll arrange all the resources for you. I'll strive to make you Tangren's top actress as soon as possible!"

These words made Liu Shishi blush instantly, her eyes shining, and she nodded vigorously: "Thank you, Sister Cai! I will definitely work hard!"

She never imagined that she, a dancer with no acting experience, would have such an opportunity. She felt both excited and fortunate.

"Alright, you can go ahead and get busy." Cai Yinong waved her hand, then added, "The character 'Mu Nianci' in 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes' is very important. You should study the script carefully and not waste this opportunity."

"Yes, I understand. Thank you, Sister Cai, for giving me this opportunity!"

Liu Shishi stood up, bowed, and quietly walked out of the office.

As Cai Yinong stared at her retreating figure, lost in thought, she suddenly remembered Liu Yifei.

When filming "Chinese Paladin", she genuinely wanted to sign him to Tangren Media, but unfortunately, it didn't work out in the end.

Now that Liu Yifei is with Ruishijie, her status is completely different, so naturally she no longer watches Tangren.

Looking at Liu Shishi's slender and graceful figure with its classical charm, one can vaguely see a resemblance to Liu Yifei.

Thinking of this, she subconsciously murmured, "Using 'Little Liu Yifei' as a starting point for creating momentum doesn't seem like a bad idea..."

In comparison, Tangren Media has the backing of Hong Kong and Taiwan capital, so they are doing relatively well.

Hairun is thriving on both fronts: its artist management business is generating stable output, and its production business is booming with the "Haiyan Drama," securing its place in the industry.

The most difficult situation right now belongs to Zhouyi Film and Television!

This company, which once became a national sensation with "Xiao Shiyi Lang" and "Shuiyue Dongtian", is now on the verge of collapse.

Since those two hit dramas, Zhou Yi's subsequent dramas, such as "Legend of the Spirit Realm," "Phantom Needle," and "Asking the Blue Sky with Wine," have hardly made a splash, with both ratings and word-of-mouth falling short.

This is undoubtedly a devastating blow to a TV drama company that relies on its own IP and production for its own products and services.

What worries Jiang Xueruo even more is that the once-golden "Three Treasures of the Book of Changes" (Yu Bo, Yang Junyi, and Zhang Jin) have lost their former appeal, and the audience is gradually no longer buying into their music.

She knew in her heart that it wasn't that her own storyline was flawed.

Zhou Yi's scripts are always known for their solid logic and vivid character portrayals, earning him a reputation for "high quality" in the industry!

But now, the TV drama market has evolved, and audiences are paying more and more attention to the quality and luxury of costumes, props, and sets, as well as the romantic storylines between actresses and actors.

In contrast, the costumes and props in Zhou Yi's dramas consistently fall short, with cheap fabrics, outdated styles, and tacky color combinations.

This also means that every time we negotiate a collaboration with a TV station, they use this as leverage to lower the price, squeezing our profit margins again and again.

Jiang Xue sat in her office, looking at the several unresolved cooperation proposals on her desk, her brows furrowed: "If things continue like this, what will become of Zhou Yi's future?"

As she flipped through the viewership data of "Asking the Blue Sky with Wine" and compared it with the blockbuster success of "Crossing the Guandong", she felt utterly powerless.

The company is struggling to recoup its investment and sees no hope of its new drama becoming a hit, leading to increasingly tight cash flow.

If we can't find a breakthrough soon, we might really be eliminated by the market!
Meanwhile, on the set of "Soldiers Sortie," the last shot was being taken in an orderly manner.

In the rest area, Lü Rui and Hou Hongliang were chatting while sitting on folding chairs.

"Chairman Lü, I think our company's TV drama production team needs to be strengthened. I've been thinking about it and I think we could poach the core team from Zhouyi Film and Television, or even consider acquiring them. What do you think?"

Hou Hongliang put forward a bold idea.

Lu Rui raised an eyebrow: "Will Zhou Yi agree to the acquisition?"

“If we talk openly, Jiang Xuerou definitely won’t budge.” Hou Hongliang changed the subject, a hint of certainty flashing in his eyes. “So we have to use a clever approach to poach her!”
Just like how we dealt with my former employer, Shandong Film & Television, we quietly poached the core production team. Once their foundation crumbled, things would be easier to negotiate later.

Lu Rui wasn't particularly familiar with the I Ching, but he knew that the production team at this company had real skills.

For example, Zhou Yi did a very solid job in script polishing and camera work; the only shortcoming was that the aesthetics of costumes, props, and sets were not up to par.

Thinking about this, he asked curiously, "What do you think the chances of this succeeding?"

"At least 80%!" Hou Hongliang said confidently. "No one will refuse a bigger platform or a higher salary. As long as we grasp everyone's demand for better development, we are confident that we can handle it."

Lu Rui smiled and readily agreed, "Okay, since you're confident, go for it. If you need me to coordinate resources, just let me know."

"it is good!"

Hou Hongliang nodded emphatically, his heart filled with emotion!

If this were any other company, such major decisions as acquisitions and poaching would take at least ten or eight meetings to finalize.

At Rui Vision, Lü Rui gave his full support after hearing him mention it only once, and this trust really motivated him!

"By the way, how's the acquisition of the online rights to the TV series going?"

Lu Rui suddenly changed the subject and asked about the progress of the new project.

Hou Hongliang immediately responded: "Very smoothly! Online copyrights are incredibly cheap these days. For example, the online copyright for 80 episodes of 'My Own Swordsman,' which is currently airing on CCTV-8, is only 100,000 yuan!"

But do you know how much it sells for on television? A single episode sells for over 3 yuan to a local station, so 80 episodes would cost over 240 million yuan, and the ratings consistently rank among the top three in its time slot. Yet, the online rights are ridiculously cheap.

Lu Rui nodded slightly, his tone solemn: "Hurry up, this opportunity to buy at such a low price may only come once every year or two."

2006 can actually be considered the first year of online video.

Tudou.com got off to a good start, and 6rooms, Ku6, Youku, LeTV, and Sohu Video are all gaining momentum.

They'll definitely try to seize the copyright in a while.

Only by acting now can we gain the upper hand!
"Don't worry!" Hou Hongliang quickly replied, "I've already assembled more than ten project teams, each responsible for different regions, and we're liaising with film and television companies. Everything is going smoothly so far; we've already secured the rights to more than thirty dramas..."

"Okay, let's proceed at this pace."

As the two were chatting, Kang Honglei's loud voice suddenly came from the set ahead: "Cut! This shot is fantastic... I hereby declare that 'Soldiers Sortie' has officially wrapped filming!"

Lu Rui subconsciously turned his head and saw Zhang Yi, who played Shi Jin, getting out of the car in front of the camera. His eyes were red and tears were streaming down his face, and his shoulders were trembling slightly.

Zhang Guoqiang, who plays Gao Cheng, patted him on the back, trying to comfort him, but Zhang Yi couldn't calm down at all and just kept wiping away tears.

That's how it is when actors get too immersed in a role; once they're emotionally charged, it often takes them a long time to detach themselves.

Some people even fall into depression for a long time because of the tragic ending of the character; these are common occurrences.

Seeing this, the surrounding staff and actors all gathered around.

Wang Baoqiang was staring blankly at Tiananmen Square when he saw Zhang Yi crying incessantly. He subconsciously called out "Squad Leader," and then his own eyes reddened as he raised his hand to wipe away his tears.

Lu Rui wasn't surprised by what he saw; he just felt a pang of emotion.

The TV series "Soldiers Sortie" seems to have a magical power, always binding the actors and their characters together, unleashing an indescribable infectiousness...

Just then, his gaze suddenly stopped on Zhang Yi and Wang Baoqiang, and a flash of inspiration struck him!
The film "Dying to Survive" has been greenlit, and he is currently working on casting, but it has not yet officially started.

Regarding the character in this film, he made a special adaptation, combining the male protagonist settings from "Dying to Survive" and "Dallas Buyers Club" into one, and changing the nurse character in the latter to the male protagonist's daughter, only the father and daughter have a distant relationship and deep misunderstandings...

As for the supporting roles, the homosexual characters in "Dallas Buyers Club" were not suitable, so they simply used the supporting characters from "Dying to Survive".

Lu Shouyi, who suffers from a serious illness; Peng Hao, a reclusive but affectionate young man with yellow hair; Zhang Changlin, a fake medicine dealer...

Now, looking at Zhang Yi and Wang Baoqiang in front of him, Lü Rui suddenly felt that these two might be able to try out for supporting roles in the drama.

Zhang Yi's meticulousness suits Lü Shouyi, while Wang Baoqiang's simplicity matches Peng Hao's underlying character quite well...

Just as I was pondering this, suddenly, the long-lost system notification sound rang in my mind:
[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have successfully translated the Hollywood film "Dallas Buyers Club" into Chinese and passed the Film Bureau's review.]

[C-level talent: "Jean-Marc Vallée's directing techniques of 'invisibility of perspective style' and 'realism of cinematic language'" has been successfully awarded.]

[Ding! New task activated. Please advance the financing and casting work for the "Dying to Survive" (Dallas Buyers Club Fusion Edition) project.]

[Reward upon completion of the mission: B-rank talent...]

(End of this chapter)