Huayu 1995

Chapter 264 Me Too (Seeking Double Monthly Tickets)
These days, it's very difficult for celebrities to get exposure.

TV dramas are probably the most likely to achieve widespread national recognition.

Advertising won't work.

With so many advertisements every year, only a few celebrities from those advertisements are remembered, and even then, they aren't remembered because of the advertisements themselves.

People naturally dislike advertising.

No matter how well you shoot your advertisement, it's still like feeding people.

Only television dramas are a form of entertainment that reaches from cities to rural areas, allowing a star to leave an impression on the entire nation.

However, such TV dramas are rare.

There are many more actors who are famous for their roles but not for themselves.

The Spring Festival Gala is different these days; its viewership is incredibly high, and people really know how to watch it.

Zhang Heping's arrangement for Su Chao to appear on the Spring Festival Gala next year, even if it's not a huge favor, at least shows that he has shown genuine sincerity.

Su Chao was very grateful to him.

However, deciding which song to choose for the Spring Festival Gala is also a difficult decision.

The choices are either good songs or meaningful songs. The former is simple; "The Moon Caused the Trouble" was very popular and could even be considered one of the most popular songs of the year.

Or "Faith" and "Too Softhearted," although they haven't been released yet, Su Chao knows they are no worse than "The Moon Caused the Trouble."

The latter is a real headache.

"The Chinese" is the most suitable, it should be given to Andy Lau.

Su Chao doesn't plan to sing "The Song of Seven Sons - Macau" himself.

After much consideration, "Friends" is probably the most suitable.

Friends/Walking together for a lifetime/Those days/Away/A word/A lifetime/A lifetime of friendship/A cup of wine…

This song, among those celebrating friendship, is accessible to all tastes, neither too artistic nor too vulgar.

At that time, compared with Su Chao's songs, most of the mainland music scene was shockingly vulgar.

Of course, being common doesn't mean it's unpleasant to listen to or not widely sung.

After chatting with Uncle Zhang for a while, Su Chao followed Wang Gang inside.

Uncle Zhang, Uncle Lin...

They are all benefactors.

This reminded Su Chao of the TV series "Joy of Life," where his girlfriend from his previous life complained that the male-oriented novels were actually about him and his five fathers.

Su Chao retorted without backing down, "How good can your female-oriented books be? You have 100,000 iron cavalrymen who actually surrendered and went to bed with their hands bound."

I have received the mandate of Heaven, and may my reign be long and prosperous!

After entering, Su Chao and the others bowed to the lucky audience members and staff below the stage.

Older generation celebrities are very polite.

They are willing to lower their heads to those who provide them with food and clothing.

The program's setting is very simple.

Su Chao thought the actors would be getting makeup and costumes done, but it turned out they just brought over three sofas.

Zhang Zien and Wang Gang sat in one seat, while Zhang Guoli and his wife sat in the other.

Su Chao and the female host did it together.

He suspected that the female host had arranged it, intending to get close to him and then sexually harass him.

He... would rather die than submit.

I wonder what Lin Zhimeng is doing. With such heavy snow, she should be asleep by now.

Su Chao quickly banished Lin Zhimeng from his mind.

How can you be distracted when you're thinking about women?

Su Chao has appeared on variety shows.

That happened in my past life.

He was just sitting in the audience.

The most striking impression was that the actresses wore very thick foundation, as if they had applied a layer of putty, and even the exposed skin was covered in it.

And everything was fake.

The guests were saying some nonsensical things into the teleprompter.

There were people nearby shedding tears for the guests.

That time, when he was a lucky audience member, Su Chao could smell the medicated oil on the person next to him, but he didn't know where she had put it.

"Su Chao, what do you think of this TV series?"

The host asked the other four people a question before finally asking Su Chao a very vague one.

I can answer any way I want, even if you say "me".

They... look down on people.

"I think this TV series is great..."

Su Chao spoke eloquently about the TV series; he was one of the few people, besides Zhang Zien, who knew the full picture of the series.

What he knew more than director Zhang Zien was the impact of the TV series' broadcast.

Knowing the answer, work backwards to deduce the process.

It's easy to make a lasting impression.

The host then realized that the little boy did not need her special care.

She remembered the foreign variety shows she had watched before.

In a similar scene, the host and the guest were sitting together, chatting, when the host suddenly burst into laughter and leaned on the guest's lap.

For no apparent reason, my heart began to flutter.

No, I have to make my husband pay another share of the "marital tax" when I get back.

If you have a short time, submit it twice.

If the temptation is strong enough, it's impossible not to stand up.

"Su Chao has a really good understanding of our TV series. He put a lot of effort into creating the theme song."

Wang Gang livened up the atmosphere.

His main job is as a host, and he has more seniority than the host of this program, and knows better how to control the situation.

Today it's like having two hosts.

"I heard that the two most crucial lines of the theme song were first thought of by you, Su Chao. Why did you come up with those two lines?"

The female host regained her voice.

No matter how handsome a man is, he can't afford to lose his professionalism.

"My family is from the countryside..."

My family was very poor, and my mother always told me that poor children learn to be independent early!
Su Chao inexplicably recalled this famous meme from later years, which also mocked the fake sentimentality of variety shows. However, he controlled his facial expressions well and didn't intend to create any memorable moments, so he honestly said, "The things we use for weighing things in the countryside are usually like this. Subconsciously, I feel that it's what city people call a balance scale, which means fairness..."

Su Chao's explanation is perfectly correct.

He came from the countryside.

This life is the same as the past life; there's really nothing to hide.

No one will look down on him because of this.

On the contrary, his composure reveals his inner strength.

Who would look down on him?
Take Lin Xi for example.

Lin Xi looks down on mainlanders, except for Su Chao.

Lin Xi looks down on rural people, except for Su Chao.

Lin Xi looks down on other creatives, but he still wants to exclude Su Chao.

When you become powerful enough, even the most arrogant person will be unable to flaunt their superiority in front of you.

Just like Su Chao now.

He said I was from the countryside, but everyone knew he was handsome, his albums sold a million copies, and his annual income was at least two million.

In 1995, what family had two million?

"Did you encounter any difficulties while singing this song?"

The host hoped that Su Chao could talk more in-depth.

"Difficulties... there weren't any major difficulties. The only problem was that the style requirements were a bit unusual. We approached several singers, but the director felt they didn't quite have the right feel. Later, at the wrap party..."

Everyone loves to hear stories.

Isn't that simple? Su Chao is very good at this kind of teamwork.

"It's really quite magical, like it was destined. At the time, Su Chao was just an extra and had never released an album, but someone heard him humming a song, and they immediately thought it was perfect for him, haha..."

For Zhang Heping's sake, no amount of praise for Su Chao is too much.

"Such a handsome extra was bound to make something of himself sooner or later, but I never expected him to become a singer."

Wang Gang also echoed this sentiment.

“I had anticipated this, and I even introduced him to Jiang Shan’s music video and advertisements for Safeguard and Coconut Palm.”

Zhang Guoli won't let this opportunity to generate buzz pass him by.

He had a keen eye for talent and could be considered half a mentor to Su Chao.

"The coconut palm advertisement is so classic. I didn't expect it was introduced by Mr. Zhang Guoli."

The host was genuinely surprised.

These behind-the-scenes stories, if the parties involved don't speak out, in this era where the internet is underdeveloped—no, in fact, there is no internet at all—would never be known.

"The slogan for the coconut palm advertisement was actually come up with by Su Chao. He's really talented when it comes to creative ideas."

Zhang Guoli continued to reveal more information.

Only when Su Chaoyue is truly remarkable does it truly highlight his discerning eye as a talent scout.

"I suddenly had an inspiration at the time. Teacher Zhang Guoli really likes to mentor younger generations!"

Su Chao readily complied with his commercial hype.

"Moreover, it seems that a movie written by Su Chao has been filmed in Hong Kong."

Zhang Guoli has found his niche.

Riding the wave of popularity~ Riding the wave~ Riding the wave~
"From Hong Kong? Which director made it?"

The host actually knew.

When they make a show, they definitely need to do their homework beforehand and have a thorough understanding of the situation of each guest.

But they know when to play dumb.

"Director Benny Chan, the one who directed 'A Moment of Romance,' and the female lead was Joey Wong."

Su Chao doesn't mind taking this opportunity to promote the movie.

The movie will be released in the first half of next year.

Currently, Benny Chan is working on editing and post-production, while Pei-Wah Chan has started handling distribution.

Her goal is to have the film released simultaneously in Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea.

This can minimize the impact of piracy.

Although it is very difficult, considering Golden Harvest's influence in Asia, and the fact that Su Chao has latched onto the coattails of Culture Orange, the current situation is much better than when Stephen Chow released "A Chinese Odyssey".

After all, Xi'an Film Studio did not have high hopes for Stephen Chow's "A Chinese Odyssey".

If Stephen Chow hadn't repeatedly broken box office records in Hong Kong, this movie might not have even had a chance to be shown in mainland China.

"Wang Zuxian, wow, I like her so much. I believe everyone has seen her in 'A Chinese Ghost Story'. I never expected her to star in your movie."

The host performed very well.

"She really liked the script, and she acted in it for free. Leslie Cheung also made a cameo appearance..."

Su Chao wouldn't mind adding fuel to the fire.

Of course, it's impossible to say that Wang Zuxian is now facing the predicament of having no acting opportunities or even having to retire from the entertainment industry because she was called a prostitute by the old lady of the Lin family.

He said he liked the script and that it was more dignified for him to act without receiving any payment.

Actually, Wang Zuxian's matter is a big deal in Hong Kong, but it's nothing outside of Hong Kong.

In a recent poll of the most influential actors, Japan ranked Wang Zuxian third, after Hendrik Willem Van Loon and Leslie Cheung.

The same is true in mainland China, where people's impression of Wang Zuxian is still based on "A Chinese Ghost Story".

Most of the scandals involving Hong Kong stars don't get reported to the mainland.

Guided by the host, Su Chao first talked about the movie "My Sassy Girl" and then about song creation.

"You're only eighteen, don't you plan to continue your studies?"

Just as the event was about to end, the host suddenly asked a personal question.

"Uh……"

Su Chao sighed.

See, this is a very real situation.

People who don't continue their studies after graduating from high school are often seen as having no future and being idle.

Even though his current income exceeds that of 90% of PhDs.

Do what you're supposed to do at your age.

Even Zhang Heping repeatedly urged him to get a degree, no matter what kind.

With a university degree, joining the Party and attending Party school in the future can be considered a natural progression.

There are also various theater troupes and similar organizations that are not accessible to a high school student.

(End of this chapter)