Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 114, Section 113: Three Thousand Yue Soldiers Can Swallow Wu (Part 1)

February 17, 1997, the eleventh day of the first lunar month.

The Beijing Film Studio is already showing signs of a vigorous revival.

The laziness of the Spring Festival was replaced by a sense of urgency, and the air was filled with engine oil, dust, and a restless atmosphere called "hope".

The main road in the factory area was bustling with people, even more so than before the Lunar New Year.

Many of the faces were unfamiliar, bearing the dust and accents of various places, their eyes filled with curiosity, anticipation, and a hint of awkwardness from being new to the place.

These people are the fresh blood that Han Sanping and Wang Sheng, who led the "Film Studio Alliance," recruited after the Spring Festival holiday.

After a holiday period of fermentation and mobilization within various factories, the original force of over a thousand "soldiers" dispatched by the "eighteen warlords" expanded rapidly like a snowball as the "eighteen warlords" became "thirty warlords," suddenly adding more than two thousand technical workers from film studios all over the country—lighting, photography, sound recording, art design, makeup, production assistants, drivers... covering almost all the basic jobs in film production.

In addition, there were more than 500 children of film studio workers, mostly around 20 years old. They either couldn't find jobs or were filled with longing for Beijing and the film industry. They were all crammed into the huge "melting pot" of the Beijing Film Studio.

The more than 3,000 employees and their children from other factories will be absorbed by the various businesses developed by Beijing Film Studio and Shengying Media.

The more than 500 soldiers were clearly placed under the command of Shengying Media and directly arranged by Wang Sheng.

At nine o'clock in the morning, the small square in front of the main building of Beijing Film Studio was packed with a dense crowd.

More than three thousand people gathered here, their breaths mingling in the cool air, and the hum of their low conversations sounded like muffled thunder.

They were dressed in colorful cotton-padded clothes, and some even carried luggage and packages, making for a rather spectacular scene.

Wang Sheng stood on the steps in front of the main building, wearing a black down jacket without a hat. The cold wind blew his slightly messy hair, but it could not dispel the sharpness and calmness in his eyes.

Han Sanping stood slightly behind him, his hands behind his back, his face solemn, like a pillar of strength.

The factory's security personnel maintained order on the perimeter.

Holding the microphone, Wang Sheng took a deep breath and spoke in a clear and powerful voice that resonated throughout the square: "Fellow veterans, fellow brothers and sisters! I am Wang Sheng, the head of Shengying Media!"

The noise in the square instantly subsided, and thousands of eyes focused on the excessively young "leader".

Legends about him had already spread among these newcomers through various channels—a business genius who could turn lead into gold, a favorite of Director Han, a recipient of national awards, and a leading figure who led the Beijing Film Studio to a bloody path.

Seeing it with his own eyes now, many people still can't help but have a doubt: can he really handle such a huge scene?
Wang Sheng's gaze swept across the audience, taking in their expressions. He continued speaking, his tone calm and confident:
"First of all, on behalf of Beijing Film Studio and Shengying Media, I welcome everyone! From today onwards, we are comrades-in-arms sharing the same pot and the same trench!"

There were no empty formalities; the opening remarks were direct and impactful.

“I know that we come from all over the country and from different film studios. Some studios are doing better, while others may not have been able to pay full salaries for more than half a year. But no matter what happened before, once we come to Beijing Film Studio and Shengying Media, we only have one goal—to earn money steadily with our own skills and make our families live a better life!”

These words resonated with many experienced craftsmen, and a murmur of agreement rippled through the audience.

"Our film studio alliance isn't just for show; we're here to get things done!" Wang Sheng raised his voice a few decibels. "Right now, we have several revenue streams that require a lot of manpower to develop!"

He held up two fingers: "First, the mass production of 'television films' that the alliance is primarily responsible for! This line needs technical backbones who can work diligently in the studio and on location! The lighting must be bright, the equipment must be stable, and the sound recording must be clear! These experienced workers will be assigned to various production teams by the factory's production department. The pay will be based on the project, the more you work, the more you earn!"

Experienced veteran workers in the crowd nodded in agreement; this was their old profession.

"Secondly," Wang Sheng paused, his gaze shifting to the group of over five hundred exceptionally young men and some factory workers suitable for transitioning to new business, "is the 'wedding video' market that our Shengying Media has been independently developing! This market has enormous potential and strong demand! But relying solely on Beijing is far from enough!"

He waved his arm, pointing in the southeast and southwest directions: "We must expand our business! We must expand throughout North China, and throughout all of China!"

"Therefore, the company has decided that the more than 500 employees from various film studios, as well as some workers from other factories, will be divided into two groups to expand outwards!"

A stir immediately broke out in the audience, especially among the young people, who were both excited and nervous.

"One team will be led by Liu Zhi, the former head of the second business department!" Wang Sheng pointed to Liu, who was standing at the front of the crowd, with a sturdy build and a calm face.

Upon hearing this, Da Liu straightened his back and nodded to everyone.

Wang Sheng raised his voice: "Target, Jincheng! The men of all ages in Jincheng value face, so the wedding market has great potential!"

"The other team will be led by Chen Meng!"

Wang Sheng pointed in another direction, where a man who bore a resemblance to Chen Liang but appeared more rugged and capable stepped forward. He was Chen Liang's cousin, a former soldier, known for his loyalty and strong execution skills. He had managed the equipment room efficiently over the past few months. "Target: Shijiazhuang! As the provincial capital, Shijiazhuang radiates throughout Hebei Province; the market is vast!"

“You two groups aren’t going to be out there doing business and attracting clients right away!” Wang Sheng changed the subject, calming the restless crowd down: “Before we go into battle, we need to train! Starting tomorrow, everyone will undergo a month of intensive training!”

"What kind of training?" Wang Sheng asked himself, answering his own question. "Training on the standards of Shengying Media! Training on how to use the latest VHS cameras, training on how to shoot cinematic wedding scenes, training on how to communicate with clients, training on how to handle unexpected situations on site! We also need to train on the company's rules and regulations, and reward and punishment regulations!"

"For this month, food and lodging will be provided, along with a basic living allowance. Those who pass the assessment will be officially hired with a base salary plus commission. If you perform well, earning 3,000 yuan a month is not a dream! Those who fail the assessment will be sent back to where they came from. Shengying Media does not support idlers!"

A combination of kindness and severity, presented in a clear and logical manner.

The people in the audience, especially the younger generation, became even more focused.

“I know you may have heard some things before you came here.” Wang Sheng’s lips curled into a faint smile as he glanced at the crowd. “For example, the fact that this place is like a ‘mountain stronghold’ and that I, the ‘chief leader,’ sound like something out of Water Margin.”

A low chuckle rippled through the audience, lightening the atmosphere somewhat.

"I don't care what others say!" Wang Sheng's voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable air of arrogance: "Here, there's only one rule: the capable rise, the mediocre step aside, and the incompetent fall! The bigger your skills, the bigger the platform I'll provide! The more sweat you shed, the more money you'll earn!"

"We don't follow seniority or consider background! As long as you're willing to learn, work hard, and follow the rules, I, Wang Sheng, can help you earn money honestly, stand tall, and even become an even more awesome person in the future!"

These words were like sparks thrown into boiling oil, instantly igniting the passion in the hearts of many young people present.

They were tired of the dullness and seniority-based system in the factory and longed for a fair competition opportunity where they could earn a living based on their own abilities.

"If you work for me, I can't guarantee that everyone will become rich and powerful."

Wang Sheng's tone became sincere: "But I can guarantee that our efforts will be rewarded! Our sweat will not be in vain! Let's work together to establish the Shengying Media brand and make the reputation of the film studio's children famous! Let those outsiders see that we are not spoiled brats who live off our parents, but truly capable and promising young men!"

"Wow——!"

The applause started sporadically, then surged like a tidal wave, sweeping across the entire square!

Especially the five hundred soldiers, their faces flushed with excitement, clapping vigorously.

Someone in the crowd shouted excitedly, "Listen to the Chief Leader!"

That shout acted like a fuse, instantly igniting everyone's emotions!
"Follow the orders of the Grand Master!"

"Wherever the leader points, we'll attack!"

"Follow the boss!"

The shouts started off somewhat chaotic, but quickly coalesced into a unified, deafening roar:

"Follow the leader's command! Follow the leader's command! Follow the leader's command!"

The shouts of more than three thousand people shook the heavens, and even the glass windows of the main building seemed to tremble slightly.

This cry contains aspirations for the future, faith in the strong, and a sense of belonging and explosive power after finding a leader.

Standing behind Wang Sheng, Han Sanping looked at the enthusiastic crowd below the stage and at the tall, upright figure of the young man beside him. His eyes flashed with extremely complex emotions—gratification, shock, and a touch of indescribable emotion and envy.

This kid is born with a knack for winning people over!

Wang Sheng raised his hands and slowly pressed them down.

The shouts gradually subsided, and everyone stared intently at him, awaiting his next instruction.

Wang Sheng smiled, his first real smile of the day, warm and powerful:
"Great! You've all done a great job! Tonight, the factory canteen will be treating everyone to a meal—a pig and a sheep slaughtered! It'll be a welcome-back dinner for all of you brothers! Starting tomorrow, let's roll up our sleeves and get to work!"

"oh--!"

Cheers once again resounded over the Beijing Film Studio.

(End of this chapter)