1979: The child's mother is a celestial being.

Chapter 254 It's Impossible to Lose Money (Please Subscribe!)

CCTV.

The preparatory center for the TV series "Dream of the Red Chamber".

The production team has been holding meetings for several days regarding the selection of filming locations and the construction of sets.

However, no results were obtained.

The discussion is still ongoing today.

"..."

“The hanging flower gate and the covered corridor of Rongguo Mansion cannot be replaced by the kind of set that is ‘similar in form but not in spirit’ found in film studios. Not to mention the scale of Grandmother Jia’s main house and the layout of Baoyu’s Yihong Courtyard. If there is even the slightest difference, the flavor will be completely different.”

"Since we want to pursue perfection and pay attention to details, the existing buildings cannot meet the description of Rongguo Mansion in 'Dream of the Red Chamber'. Only by starting from scratch and building a completely new one would be more feasible."

“Then let’s build it ourselves.” Wang Fulin had grown tired of everyone arguing and knew that continuing like this wasn’t a solution, so he finally made the decision.

Of course, no matter what decision he makes, there will be dissenting voices. For example, as soon as he finished speaking, someone immediately brought up the issue of funding.

Wang Fulin shut the man up with a simple, "If the funding isn't enough, I'll ask for more."

Seeing the director's firm stance, those who wanted to express their opinions on this issue stopped talking and chose to remain silent.

But new problems have arisen.

So, if we're going to build it ourselves, where should we build it?
The discussion on this issue soon reached the "Journey to the West" production team, who were also working at CCTV.

"I thought I had already been meticulous enough in making 'Journey to the West,' but I never expected that Wang Fulin and his team would be making 'Dream of the Red Chamber,' and they would even have to rebuild the Rongguo Mansion and Ningguo Mansion themselves. I'm afraid we might not even be able to start filming until next spring," Director Yang Jie remarked after hearing the news.

Then the rest of the crew started discussing it amongst themselves.

"Where do Director Wang and his team plan to build the Rongguo Mansion?"

"No conclusion has been reached yet. Some people say it should be built around the Ming and Qing Dynasty Street near the Beijing Film Studio, some say it should be built in the suburbs, and some think it would be cheaper to renovate an old courtyard. Anyway, there are many different opinions, and each has its own reasons."

"If you ask me, it should be built near our CCTV headquarters. That way, after the show is finished filming, there will still be a building left. Maybe after 'Dream of the Red Chamber' airs, people will come to visit it."

"That's a good idea, but CCTV doesn't have the space. Where would we build it?"

“That’s true…” The man sighed, turned around and saw Liu Xiaoli deep in thought, and asked curiously, “Sister Xiaoli, what are you thinking about?”

"No, it's nothing, I was just listening to your conversation."

While saying this, Liu Xiaoli was actually thinking about what her husband had mentioned a couple of days ago about their company's plan to build a film and television city.

If the film and television city plan is really implemented, perhaps the Rongguo Mansion, which was planned to be built in "Dream of the Red Chamber," could also be built in the film and television city.

However, this was just Liu Xiaoli's guess, so she didn't tell anyone else for the time being.

But as soon as I got home, I immediately mentioned it to my husband.

"Is the Rongguo Mansion going to be rebuilt in 'Dream of the Red Chamber'?"

"Yes, I heard my colleagues discussing it when I was at CCTV this afternoon..."

Liu Xiaoli relayed the news she had heard to her husband, and then asked, "Is your company still planning to go ahead with that film and television city project?"

"What film and television city plan?" Yang Hongmei, who was hearing about it for the first time, interjected.

Then, Chen Qian also became a parrot.

Chen Fusheng answered his mother and daughter's questions and explained the situation to them.

Of course, his explanation was very simple:
"A film and television city is a place where movies and TV shows are filmed together."

After saying that, he looked at his wife, thought for a moment, and said:

"I only mentioned the film and television city plan at a company meeting, and it hasn't been submitted yet. Firstly, the box office revenue sharing for 'Die Hard' hasn't been finalized yet, and secondly, the company plans to build the building first... But since you said that the 'Dream of the Red Chamber' crew wants to renovate the Rongguo Mansion, I think this might be an opportunity. Tomorrow, I'll go to CCTV with you to talk to Director Wang."

Historically, the production team of this version of "Dream of the Red Chamber" not only renovated the Rongguo Mansion, but also the Grand View Garden in Beijing, both of which later became tourist attractions.

As a time traveler, Chen Fusheng knew very well that very few buildings could become tourist attractions based on a film or television series.

Moreover, it would be one thing if he said he didn't want to build a film and television city, but since he wanted to and had encountered this opportunity, it would be a great pity to miss it.

“Okay!” Liu Xiaoli nodded with a smile. Her husband’s reaction proved that her judgment was correct.

The next day.

CCTV.

The preparatory center for the TV series "Dream of the Red Chamber".

Because someone suggested at the meeting yesterday that the Rongguo Mansion be built around the Ming and Qing Dynasty Street near the Beijing Film Studio.

Yesterday afternoon, members of the art team went to take a look.

At this morning's meeting, Wang Fulin inquired about the results of the investigation.

Wang, the art director in charge of leading the team to conduct an on-site inspection at the Beijing Film Studio, opened his notebook, shook his head with a serious expression, and said: "Director Wang, comrades, yesterday afternoon we carefully surveyed the area around the Ming and Qing Street of the Beijing Film Studio. The conclusion is: it is probably not feasible."

"How so?" Wang Fulin pressed for a reason.

Team Leader Wang nodded, clearly having been prepared:

"First of all, the Ming and Qing Street at Beijing Film Studio was built to film stories of everyday life in the mid-to-late Qing Dynasty. Its architectural style and street scale exude a sense of 'down-to-earth' and 'commoner's flavor. However, the Rongguo Mansion we want is an imperial-built mansion of a duke, a noble family with a reputation for wealth and power. It emphasizes grandeur, solemnity and elegance. If we build the duke's mansion next to a street that imitates the commoner's life, it would be like building a phoenix's nest next to a chicken coop. The style would be completely incompatible and would seriously damage the noble atmosphere and aesthetic tone that 'Dream of the Red Chamber' should have."

At this point, Team Leader Wang turned to a new page of his notes and continued, "Secondly, the spatial scale and layout are severely limited. We have made preliminary calculations and found that to fully present the layout of the Rongguo Mansion, we need at least nearly a hundred acres of continuous land. However, the open space around the Ming and Qing Street of the Beijing Film Studio is not only not large enough, but it is also fragmented by existing roads, warehouses and other buildings, making it impossible to plan the Rongguo Mansion with its central axis symmetry, deep courtyards and sense of depth. If we force it in, we cannot show the grandeur of the mansion described in the book as 'three and a half miles in size'."

"Third, the surrounding environment and filming interference are unavoidable. As everyone knows, Beijing Film Studio is a production base that is already in operation. There are bound to be utility poles and modern buildings around it. More importantly, it is impossible to avoid noise interference from other film crews. For example, if we are filming a major scene such as Grandmother Jia's banquet or Baoyu reciting a song, and we hear the 'bang bang' of a gunfight movie or the sound of a car horn from next door, it would be a disaster!"

After listening to Team Leader Wang's report, everyone in the conference room frowned and echoed his sentiments:
"From this perspective, it is indeed not very suitable to build the Rongguo Mansion at the Beijing Film Studio."

"It's a real pity. I heard that Beijing Film Studio also intends to make a film version of 'Dream of the Red Chamber'..."

Just then, someone knocked on the meeting room door, interrupting everyone's discussion, and they all turned to look at the door.

Upon seeing that it was the factory director's secretary, Wang Fulin stood up and asked, "Secretary Jiang, do you have any instructions?"

"I'm sorry to bother everyone." Secretary Jiang apologized to everyone first, then looked at Wang Fulin and said, "Director Wang, the factory director would like to see you in his office."

"……it is good."

Since the factory director had sent his secretary to invite him, Wang Fulin didn't dare to delay.

After turning around and greeting the crew, he followed Secretary Jiang toward the factory manager's office.

As they walked, he inquired, "Secretary Jiang, what brings Director Wang to see me?"

"Director Chen from Dongfang Company is here. It seems he and the factory manager were discussing a topic related to the location your crew is interested in, which is why the factory manager asked me to invite you over." "Oh, I see."

Filled with doubt and curiosity, Wang Fulin soon arrived at the factory director's office.

Chen Fusheng had met Wang Fulin before when he was rehearsing for the CCTV Spring Festival Gala.

So there's no need to be too polite when we meet again. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, I got straight to the point and asked, "Director Wang, I heard that your 'Dream of the Red Chamber' crew is looking for filming locations?"

"Yes, Director Chen is very well-informed."

“Of course, my wife works for CCTV.” Chen Fusheng continued, “Have you chosen a location yet?”

"We don't have any yet. Director Chen, you're very knowledgeable, could you recommend one or two?"

Upon hearing that the location for "Dream of the Red Chamber" had not yet been decided, Chen Fusheng brought up the film and television city plan that he had just discussed with Director Wang once again.

Upon hearing this, Wang Fulin couldn't hide his shock and asked, "Director Chen, is your Oriental Company really that rich?"

"Director Wang, you flatter me. Rather than saying that our Oriental Company has abundant funds, it is more accurate to say that this is a strategic investment that we must make based on our judgment of the industry."

Chen Fusheng continued, "Because we have a lot of dealings with the international film and television industry, we are more aware of the current gap between domestic and international film and television technology. Building a film and television city can help systematically solve the core pain points currently faced by domestic film crews, such as the lack of scenes, weak technical support, and low shooting efficiency. By providing a large-scale and professional production base, we can fundamentally optimize the production process, thereby improving the overall production level and competitiveness. Although we dare not say that doing so will catch up with foreign countries, we hope to narrow the gap."

"Director Chen has a grand vision. Currently, China does not have its own film and television city. If Oriental Company is willing to take the lead in making this happen, although we dare not say that our craftsmanship will immediately catch up with foreign countries, it will definitely be a great boon for the film and television industry."

"Yes, that's right..."

Wang Fulin and factory director Wang Feng both praised him generously.

However, when it came to 'interests', both sides quickly calmed down.

Where does Director Chen plan to build the film studio?

"My team surveyed the areas surrounding Beijing and found that Yangsong Town in the HR district was quite good."

In reality, Chen Fusheng didn't send anyone to investigate at all; the address he gave was just the Huairou Film and Television Base from his previous life.

“Yangsong Town in the HR District is in the suburbs, that’s quite far,” Wang Fulin remarked.

“After all, a film and television city takes up a considerable area. They can’t possibly grant me such a large plot of land in Beijing, can they?” Chen Fusheng smiled.

"That's true... So, Director Chen, when do you plan to start construction on this project?"

"To be honest, I wasn't in a hurry at first and planned to submit the project later. It was only because I heard that Director Wang's 'Dream of the Red Chamber' production team was looking for a location to build the Rongguo Mansion that I thought I'd come and talk to Director Wang and Director Wang. If you're interested in cooperating, I'll go back and prepare the materials now..."

Wang Feng and Wang Fulin whispered to each other for a while. Wang Feng sat up straight and said, "Director Chen is very honest. We won't keep you in suspense any longer. We'd like to know what kind of benefits we can enjoy if we build Rongguo Mansion in the film city you mentioned, Director Chen?"

"of course."

Chen Fusheng was clearly prepared for this question.

Without hesitation, he said, "First, we will prioritize the construction of Rongning Street. Second, the funds for the construction of Rongning Street will be provided by our Oriental Company, and CCTV will not need to spend a single penny."

When Chen Fusheng said this, both Wang Feng and Wang Fulin were moved.

The former is better; at least it's not noticeable on the surface.

Wang Fulin almost showed his surprise on his face.

At this moment, Chen Fusheng added fuel to the fire.

“If we sign the cooperation agreement now, the ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’ production team will be the film and television city’s first business deal. I can decide to waive the rental fees during the filming period.”

"Really?" Hearing that he wouldn't even have to pay the rental fee, Wang Fulin couldn't hold back any longer. He stared at Chen Fusheng with shining eyes, as if afraid that he would change his mind at any moment.

“Absolutely true,” Chen Fusheng said.

Wang Feng also asked in confusion, "In this way, wouldn't your Oriental Company be making a losing deal?"

'How could we lose money? Rongning Street, which remains, is the most valuable part. If the Grand View Garden were also built in the film studio, it would be worth twice as much.'

Of course, the reason why what's in your heart is what's in your heart is precisely because you can't say it out loud.

As for what can be said?

That's obviously nonsense, or rather, it's just sweet talk.

For example, at this moment, Chen Fusheng said in a serious tone: "Director Wang, as I said before, the Oriental Company is building the film and television city for the better development of China's film and television industry, not for making money, or simply for making money. 'Dream of the Red Chamber' is a masterpiece, a treasure. I hope that Director Wang can spend more funds on production, live up to the work, and leave a classic for future generations. Some things cannot be measured by money."

After he finished speaking, Chen Fusheng received two respectful glances.

At this point, the collaboration is already halfway to success.

The remaining half depends on whether the leaders approve the materials submitted by Chen Fusheng.

However, he believes that it will not be rejected.

After all, he doesn't ask the national treasury for money; he spends his own.

All I want is a piece of land.

Land isn't worth much these days.

Most importantly, China has no film and television cities.

Do we need to?

Of course we need it.

and so……

After Chen Fusheng's materials were passed through layers of channels to Haizi, the 'approval' he received was:

"This matter is beneficial in the long run and should be supported. We hope that it will be scientifically planned and developed into a qualified Chinese film city."

……

"Oriental Film Export Company".

Xiao Xinghai looked at the company signboard in front of him, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and muttered, "This is it."

Then, I stepped forward...

-

P.S.: Leave request!

An elderly person in my hometown passed away, and I need to go back to help. I will be helping for three days starting tomorrow. If everything goes smoothly, I will resume updates on the evening of the 15th.

Please understand!
(End of this chapter)