How can you become a star without money?

Chapter 102 You guys go and take down Stephen Chow [10,000-word update, please subscribe]

2010 was also known as the first year of micro-films, one of the main reasons being the viral success of Chopsticks Brothers' "Old Boys," which promoted audio-visual works based on the Internet.

It can be considered a milestone in web series.

But in fact, Wang Dali and Xiao Yang have been releasing web dramas since 06. Their first one, "Memoirs of a Male Geisha," became a hit on the forum after it was released on Mop.

Even an episode of "iPartment" incorporated this joke.

Moreover, these two can be considered the pioneers of domestic adaptation and secondary creation. They have mastered the art of turning Japanese music videos into short dramas. However, there was no other way, as the practice of borrowing from others was prevalent in China in the early days, since the cost and risk of creating original works were too great.

Wang Dali is a rich second-generation from a small town, but he has had an artistic dream since childhood. He started to pursue his dream in Beijing in the 1990s, but he always failed. After all, he is not particularly outstanding in terms of singing and dancing talent.

Fortunately, he had a solid financial foundation, so he eventually started his own company to pursue his dream.

Xiao Yang is a top student from Beijing Dianzi University. The two met through a commercial advertising collaboration. At that time, Wang Dali recognized Xiao Yang's talent. After years of collaboration, they became friends. Finally, the two amnesiac young men who had drifted to Beijing decided to take a different path.

Since their talents couldn't be seen on the big screen or the small screen, they chose the computer screen. Just in time for the rise of the DV micro-film era, their first short comedy, "Male Geisha," which they collaborated on in 07, became a hit.

Having capitalized on the information gap created by parody and cover songs, the two then produced an extended MV-style short drama, which they themselves called a music film, thus pioneering a new model.

With the help of Wang Dali's resources accumulated over the years and Xiao Yang's talent, Chopsticks Brothers' business has actually been quite good in the past two years. The two have taken on many offline collaborations and saved some money by leveraging their online popularity.

Just in time for Youku's IPO this year, it has partnered with China Electric Power to launch the "11 Degrees of Youth" film series project, inviting several grassroots and Beijing drifter artists to create a series of short 'new media films' to generate buzz for the platform.

So Chopsticks Brothers got involved, and coincidentally, to commemorate MJ's death, Wang Dali was a loyal fan of his, and that's how "Old Boys" came about.

However, the production cost of this short drama is higher than before. Even if everything is simplified, it will still cost around 80 yuan.

Originally, the two of them were going all in and pooled all their savings to raise the money, but unfortunately, Wang Dali's father suddenly fell ill and needed a large sum of money for medical treatment, which made money the biggest pressure.

Since the beginning of the year, the two have been looking for investors to launch their project, but most people declined when they heard that it was a pure competition entry and could not have too much product placement.

Just as the two were getting anxious about this, they received a call from someone claiming to be a headhunting firm, saying that someone wanted to invest in them.

With nothing to lose, the two decided to have a talk.

Hearing that the other company was located in the Yonghegong Park area put his mind at ease, since anyone who could set up a company there must have some strength.

But when they arrived at the office with the Xinghuo Culture Company sign hanging on it and saw that it was empty, the two of them were still a little worried.

Hopefully, we won't encounter any shell companies.

After waiting for a while, Wang Yao finally arrived late with Ni Ni and Nazha.

"Sorry, sorry, there was a traffic jam on the way." Wang Yao said with an apologetic smile.

"It's alright, it's alright, we just arrived too." Wang Dali greeted them with a smile, exchanging a glance with Xiao Yang.

Although the person in question looks rather young, the two women following behind him are incredibly attractive and at least at the level of school beauties from an arts school, suggesting he might be a second-generation rich kid.

"The office has just been approved, and there's nothing there yet. Please bear with us," Wang Yao said with a smile.

"It's alright, it's alright. Mr. Wang, is this company newly opened?" Xiao Yang asked.

“Yes, the license was just issued yesterday, but this is a branch office. We also have a sister company in Shanghai.” Wang Yao smiled. “I’m actually a fan of both of you. I thought of you as soon as I arrived in Beijing. I originally wanted to send you a private message, but I was afraid it would seem like I didn’t care enough, so I contacted a headhunter.”

"No, no, but I was really startled when I got the call from the headhunting company. I thought we had done something wrong and they were going to sue us," Wang Dali laughed.

"Actually, the purpose of inviting you two here is very simple. My company is opening, and I need some partners who are experienced in micro-dramas and micro-films," Wang Yao said bluntly.

"Mr. Wang, does your company specialize in making micro-dramas?" Xiao Yang was somewhat disappointed.

“This company specializes in making micro-dramas and micro-films.” Wang Yao shook his head.

"May I ask what business Mr. Wang's other companies are involved in?" Wang Dali asked with a smile.

"The publicity and distribution company specializes in collaborating with production companies like Huayi Brothers and Berna." Wang Yao smiled slightly.

Brother Chopsticks' smile froze at the same time.

My first thought was that this kid was definitely bragging.

If you're working with such a big production company, why would you need to go through the trouble of finding two grassroots, marginalized karaomis like us?
Any assistant directors they randomly pick would have more experience than us.

But both of them are seasoned veterans and won't undermine the young man just because he boasts a bit. After all, judging from Wang Yao's demeanor and those two cool girls, he should still have some ability.

"My apologies, Mr. Wang, are you looking to transform your business?" Wang Dali asked.

“Yes, investing in the big screen is too costly and inflexible. I have more faith in the internet as a medium for dissemination. You two must have heard of YouTube. I tried making a similar content program called ‘The Campus Belle is Here’ before the new year.” Wang Yao opened his notebook and showed some data.

With the budget secured, Luo Hongming and his team's production efficiency improved significantly, and in less than a month, they had accumulated nearly 10,000 fans.

"Oh, I've seen this show before. Was it produced by President Wang?" Xiao Yang exclaimed in surprise.

“I was the one who interviewed the Shanghai opera episode,” Wang Yao said with a smile.

"No wonder those two beauties looked familiar." Xiao Yang suddenly realized, his attitude becoming much more eager. "A survey on academic qualifications, this idea is simply genius."

"This interview program is an initial attempt. Although there is no advertising revenue yet, there are already other ways to monetize it, so I wanted to increase investment in web dramas, and that's how this company came about," Wang Yao said with a smile.

"Mr. Wang, that's quite a generous gesture," Wang Dali exclaimed.

“I really like the musical short drama format of both of you, so I would like to invite you to join us, or to collaborate in other forms.” Wang Yao waved his hand.

"To be honest, Mr. Wang, we do have a pretty good project right now." Xiao Yang and Wang Dali exchanged a glance, and then began to introduce the background of the "Old Boys" project.

"It sounds like a great idea. It can ride on MJ's popularity and express the pursuit of dreams. But this time, your core theme song is not going to be another cover, is it?" Wang Yao praised it first, and then pointed out the flaw.

Brother Chopsticks' smile was simultaneously met with surprise.

Oh no, I've met a real fan!
"Well, to be honest, it really is a tribute," Wang Dali said with an awkward smile.

"How much of a tribute did you pay?" Wang Yao countered.

Xiao Yang held up one finger.

Wang Yao raised an eyebrow slightly, thinking that these two guys were really not being honest, "just a little bit?"

“The whole song.” Xiao Yang smiled shyly.

"Pfft!" Ni Ni, who was watching the commotion from the side, spat out a mouthful of water.

Wang Yao brought her along specifically to teach her negotiation skills, since he wouldn't be the one handling all the collaborations in the future.

“Isn’t that plagiarism?!” Ni Ni said while coughing.

“We wanted to buy the copyright, but our budget wasn’t enough, so we had to get on board first and pay the difference later,” Wang Dali explained.

"Besides, is taking things from the Japanese considered plagiarism?" Xiao Yang said with a sneer.

“I think that makes sense,” Nazha agreed.

“Theoretically, that’s true, but if you two become famous, you’ll have a dark history to carry. No evil is too small to be considered a crime. I think you two have the potential to become big stars. Don’t leave any dirt on yourselves. Have you seen what happened to Jackie Chan recently? It’s a cautionary tale,” Wang Yao said with a light laugh.

"It can't be that exaggerated, can it?" Xiao Yang exclaimed in surprise.

"It doesn't matter if it doesn't become popular, but once it does, it becomes a sin. That's how this industry is; you have to be careful." Wang Yao shook his head. "How about this, I'll invest in your project."

"Huh?" The two of them were startled at the same time.

You've already decided to invest before even starting the sales pitch?
He's a real rich kid.

“Mr. Wang, if we include copyright and other factors, this project might cost close to a million, and there’s no guarantee of profitability,” Wang Dali explained.

"It's alright, just consider it as buying resources. As the investor, you can specify the supporting roles, right?" Wang Yao said with a smile.

"Of course, as long as you don't replace us, it's fine," Xiao Yang quickly replied.

"Let's choose her for the female lead. She's going to the Beijing Film Academy entrance exam in a couple of days, and I reckon she'll be enrolled around the time 'Old Boy' is released," Wang Yao said, pointing at Nazha.

"Huh?" The three of them exclaimed in unison.

Brother Chopsticks was secretly shocked. Holy crap, is the female lead really that high-profile?!
Is this a way to cram resources in or just boost click rates?

Naza was surprised and touched. Although she didn't know what the mini-drama was, it was after all an investment of one million from her brother!

"However, to ensure the quality of this work, I have to ask one more question: what are your future career plans? Do you want to continue making money while filming dramas, or do you want to dedicate yourself entirely to filming dramas?" Wang Yao changed the subject.

The two looked at each other after hearing this.

"What does Mr. Wang mean?" Wang Dali asked in a deep voice.

“You can set up a studio under the name of Chopsticks Brothers, affiliated with my company. You can operate independently, accept assigned projects, or sign a contract as full-time artists and be managed by the company.” Wang Yao handed over two contracts.

The two took it and looked at it, then exchanged it and finished reading.

Either way, it was an absolute windfall for them.

This contract is too generous!

What have we done to deserve this?

"Mr. Wang, although I haven't signed with a big company, I did graduate from Beijing Film Academy. This contract is incredibly generous; even many top-tier artists might not get such terms. What exactly do you value in us?" Xiao Yang hesitated for a moment before asking directly. "Value is subjective. It only means that, in my eyes, you two are worth these terms," Wang Yao said with a warm smile.

The two men, nicknamed "Chopsticks Brothers," exchanged a glance.

With such great conditions, we'd even take advantage of any advances!
He stood up, cupped his hands, and said in a deep voice.

"Report your favor on the golden stage!"

"I will risk my life for you, Yulong!"

Wang Yao also stood up and clapped, "Good, good, good, your goal this year is to take down Stephen Chow."

"what?"

Wang Yao did offer Chopsticks Brothers very generous terms, but compared to the value they created, it was insignificant.

The value of these two lies not in their talent, but in their "wildness." The common problems of plagiarism and copying that plague all literary and artistic creators are almost non-existent in these two.

Without these two flaws, making money would be much easier.

However, it was fortunate that these two caught the wave of the internet's rapid, unregulated growth. If it had been a few years later, they certainly wouldn't have been able to make it. After all, there were many more unconventional methods available. It can only be said that the times made the heroes.

The independent studio contract that Brother Chopsticks signed is for ten years, with generous terms and huge costs for breach of contract.

After signing the contract, the two were overjoyed and prepared to dissolve their original company, leaving only the filming crew. They would no longer have to be distracted by other work, and Wang Dali would be able to spend more time with his father.

The script for "Old Boys" is still in draft form. Wang Yao has arranged a time for Luo Hongming and the others to arrive so that they can brainstorm together.

Luo Hongming and Liu Hao not only brought the "School Beauty" group, but also Professor Yi Xiaoxing. After a year of coercion and enticement, Yi Xiaoxing was finally moved by the nearly 20 yuan monthly activity fund.

Compared to the base salary of 10,000 yuan, the activity funds and the relatively free creative environment were what truly moved Yi Xiaoxing. Of course, the allure of Tianhuo Network Media's abundant model resources also played a part.

Both Professor and Brother Chopsticks came from Mop.com, so they can be considered to have met offline.

Although they were all acquaintances from the internet, everyone was a little shy when they first met.

After Wang Yao led everyone in introducing themselves, the first brainstorming session of Xinghuo Culture began.

Wang Yao wrote the topic 'Hot Topic' on the whiteboard.

Everyone raised their eyebrows when they saw those two words.

"Since you are all creators of parody and comedy, I won't go into too much detail. Today, we'll only discuss trending topics, which will be the core criterion for determining the commercial value of your works in the future."

Whether it's riding the wave of a trending topic or creating one yourself, I hope every work generates some kind of buzz. Wang Yao tapped the blackboard. "The 'Campus Beauty Survey' episode surpassed 300,000 views. Can you all analyze what the buzz was?"

The group looked at each other in bewilderment, and then each wrote down their answer.

"It's probably a pun, judging from the comment ratio," Yi Xiaoxing said first.

"I think it's still the school beauty, since the reason people click on the video is most likely because of the school beauty," Xiao Yang said.

Everyone else also expressed their opinions, and finally Wang Yao shook his head and drew an X on it.

"Brothers, that episode didn't generate any buzz at all."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone was stunned.

"The puns are just a joke, and the 'school beauty' is the hook, but neither of them are actually trending topics. If they were truly trending, they would have already garnered millions of views, or even gone viral and trended on social media."

"What constitutes a hot topic? Only controversial topics are hot topics. Points that can only spark discussion but not conflict are just memes, not hot topics," Wang Yao said in a deep voice.

"Mr. Wang, do you mean that a single emotion cannot become a hot topic?" Luo Hongming was the first to understand.

"That's right. Look at the recent trending topics. Which one didn't become popular because it caused strong conflicts and confrontations? By the way, everyone here has a background in media. News communication includes three core elements: news facts, media, and audience."

Only when facts conflict with the audience can something be called a hot topic; otherwise, it's just an opinion, or a point of interest. Wang Yao said in a deep voice.

Wang Yao's statement was quite novel; many people present were hearing it for the first time.
"What is the essential difference between the two?" Xiao Yang asked, puzzled.

“Emotions and trending topics require confronting emotions, and confrontation will generate a reaction. But interesting points won’t. Interesting points can only evoke emotions, not reactions. It’s like the difference between me pushing you and me insulting you while pushing you,” Wang Yao explained.

"Oh, I see. So, if we had included some content that could spark conflict in the interviews for that episode, it would have become a hot topic?" Liu Hao asked.

"That's right. For example, on the day of the interview, we didn't ask about academic qualifications, but instead asked some questions that people consider common sense but are difficult to answer."

"For example, if the interviewee can't answer the question 'What day was the founding of the People's Republic of China?', wouldn't that easily lead to more conflicting comments?" Wang Yao asked rhetorically.

Upon hearing this, everyone's imaginations ran wild.

“If you can’t answer the question about the school motto, you’ll be questioned.” Yi Xiaoxing raised her hand.

"Ask the boys about common sense that the girls don't know, that's how you create conflict, since the main subject of the interview is the school beauty," Xiao Yang said with a smile.

"These conflicts will stimulate the desire to share. For example, I see something and share it with Lao Liu, and then Lao Liu shares it with his friends. This is how it spreads. Moreover, new conflicts will arise in the process of spreading."

"But if the video only has a pun, some people won't be interested, and the probability of it spreading will be lower because it doesn't concern my 'interests.' Therefore, the core of a trending topic is conflict, and the core of conflict is making the audience feel that their interests have been violated in order to generate a reaction." Wang Yao nodded.
"Of course, the hot topics in this way are basically very hot topics, and it's not easy to come across them normally, but there are still some other ways that can produce similar effects, such as this one."

Wang Yao wrote two letters 'S B' on the whiteboard.

Everyone's lips twitched simultaneously; it wouldn't be appropriate to directly curse them.

"What's your first reaction when you see these two letters?" Wang Yao asked with a smile.

“I got scolded,” Luo Hongming replied.

“Look, you’re interpreting it according to your own logic, but actually I said it’s an abbreviation for ‘going to work,’ or it’s just two letters with no other meaning. Would you accept my explanation?” Wang Yao asked rhetorically.

“I won’t accept it. People only accept what they want to accept.” Yi Xiaoxing narrowed her eyes.

"That's right. Misunderstandings are a level below conflicts, and they also have the potential to become trending topics during the dissemination process because everyone wants to prove themselves right."
"So I try my best to persuade others to agree with my interpretation, but if they don't agree, it will indirectly lead to conflict and disagreement," Wang Yao said with a smile.

"I think I understand. A trending topic is someone who subtly criticizes another person and makes them guess what they're doing. Once they get angry, they react, and when many people react, it becomes a trending topic, right?" Wang Dali said thoughtfully.

"So if you want more views, you should prioritize collecting trending material. But today's brainstorming topic isn't that; it's counterintuitive, or rather, translation of abbreviations." Wang Yao wrote down 'DS B' again, which consists of three letters.

The group exchanged glances, hesitant to speak.

"I have a swear word that I'm not sure if I should say," Luo Hongming said, raising his hand.

"Definitely not, that's counterintuitive. Let's think about it again," Wang Yao said with a smile.

After much deliberation, it was Ni Ni, who was just watching the spectacle, who broke the deadlock: "Everyone, go to work."

Everyone suddenly realized, "Oh, that makes sense."

"And this one?" Wang Yao wrote down two more letters.

'J ^ B'.

???

The crowd's expressions were strange, and they hesitated to speak again.

"Overtime." Ni Ni raised an eyebrow.

The crowd gasped in astonishment. A genius?!
“This one,” Wang Yao wrote down 'T ^M^ D'.

"Mr. Wang, is it really not okay to swear?" Yi Xiaoxing was holding it in.

"Nonsense, do you think your insults will pass censorship?" Wang Yao chuckled. "You're suffering from holding it in, and the audience is suffering from watching it. That's the kind of reaction that abbreviations and similar memes can elicit. If you can go against common sense, it will add a lot to the work."

"I'm quite busy, but it's simple. I've already grasped the essence!" Ni Ni said as if divinely inspired.

The crowd applauded in admiration.

"What about this one?" Wang Yao increased the difficulty to 'WCS B'.

"What do you mean, 'go to work'?" Luo Hongming blurted out.

"Working for free," Ni Ni said with a faint smile.

"Um, I don't know why, even though I didn't swear, I'm in a really bad mood." Yi Xiaoxing said with a bitter expression.

This is a kind of pain that only those who have worked a regular job can understand.

He couldn't help but cast a sympathetic glance at Ni Ni.

“This,” Wang Yao said with a smile.

"Hey, Mr. Wang, that's going a bit too far," the crowd protested.

Even Ni Ni's words were on the tip of her tongue.

"Eat a lemon," Naza said from the side.