Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 126, Section 125: Actually, I'm incredibly clever.

In late March 1997, spring was gradually arriving in Beijing, but the mornings and evenings were still chilly.

For Fan Xiaopang, who lived in a cramped southern-style room in the Beitaipingzhuang courtyard with a monthly rent of 300 yuan, the chill of spring penetrated deeper into his heart.

After nearly ten days of continuous surveillance, aside from depleting their already meager living expenses and exacerbating their growing anxiety, they gained almost nothing.

The dense crowd of extras at the entrance of the Beijing Film Studio was like an invisible wall, firmly blocking this fifteen-year-old girl from out of town, whose only qualification was the pale experience of "The Strong Woman" (which was not broadcast), from the door of opportunity.

She endured ridicule, doubt, and rejection with gritted teeth.

But what made her most desperate was the repetitive nature of the situation, where she saw no hope whatsoever.

Every day is a replica of the day before; hope is like a soap bubble, rising in the morning light and silently bursting at dusk.

However, Fan Xiaopang was not the type to give up easily.

In extreme distress, her resourcefulness and resilience were forced out.

She no longer just passively held up her sign and waited to be chosen, but began to observe more carefully.

She discovered that, besides the film crew members who came out to select extras, there was another group of people who could enter and leave the Beijing Film Studio relatively freely—

They were well-dressed, some even accompanied by photographers or assistants. Their expressions were not as anxious or slick as those of people in the industry; instead, they had the composure of customers, and even a hint of curiosity.

The security personnel at the factory gate simply asked them a few questions or registered them before letting them pass.

"What...are these people doing?" Fan Xiaopang wondered.

She quietly approached a few elderly extras who were chatting and casually inquired, "Uncle, are those well-dressed people business owners here to discuss deals?"

An older extra, who was smoking a cigarette, glanced at her and sneered, "What boss? That's a client of Shengying Media! They're here to talk about a 'wedding movie' or that currently popular 'Golden Wedding Years' movie! They're here to spend money, do you think they're the same as us?"

"Shengying Media...a client..."

Fan Xiaopang's eyes suddenly lit up, as if a lightning bolt had flashed in the darkness.

A bold, almost absurd idea instantly formed in her mind: Pretend to be a customer! Infiltrate the factory!

The thought startled her, and her heart pounded wildly.

If this is discovered, the consequences will be unimaginable, and it could very well completely ruin her chances of establishing herself in the capital.

But... this is the only chance to quickly get close to that core area, and the only chance to possibly meet that legendary figure—Wang Sheng!
"The brave will die of overeating, and the timid will die of starvation!"

Fan Xiaopang steeled his heart, and the adventurous gene in his bones was fully activated.

She quickly began to plan: What kind of customer should she impersonate? What props would she need? How should she answer any questions?

She looked down at her old coat, which looked a bit dusty from days of running around, and knew this wouldn't do.

The client looks glamorous.

She ran back to her rented room as fast as she could, and pulled out her best beige knit sweater and a pair of slightly mature-looking black straight-leg pants from the bottom of her trunk—her "battle outfit" that she had bought specifically for her trip to Beijing, but had never been willing to wear.

Then, facing the small mirror, she carefully combed her hair into a neat ponytail, trying her best to look more mature and composed.

What about the "props"?

She remembered seeing an advertisement for Shengying Media at a newsstand, which seemed to have a service hotline.

She ran to a public phone booth, paid a few cents, and dialed the number in the newspaper.

"Hello, this is Shengying Media." A clear female voice answered the phone.

Fan Xiaopang took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calm and natural: "Hello, I'd like to inquire about your 'Golden Wedding Anniversary' service. Do I need to make an appointment? If it's convenient, I'd like to visit your company in the next couple of days to check out the facilities. Is that alright?"

The customer service representative on the other end of the phone replied enthusiastically, "Yes, ma'am, we welcome customers to visit. Would you mind leaving your name and contact information? I can make a note of it for you. When you come, just go to the reception room at the factory gate, explain your purpose, and someone will greet you."

"My name is Fan Xiaopang."

Fan Xiaopang had a sudden inspiration: "My phone number... it's not convenient for me to leave it here. I'll probably go over and take a look tomorrow afternoon."

After hanging up the phone, Fan Xiaopang's palms were sweaty.

The first step can be considered as laying a seemingly plausible but ultimately ambiguous foreshadowing.

The next afternoon, Fan Xiaopang changed into new clothes, straightened his back as much as possible, and tried to appear confident as he walked towards the gate of the Beijing Film Studio.

Her goal was clear: to enter the factory area, find Shengying Media's office, and wait for an opportunity to find Wang Sheng. As for what to say or do once she found him, she had no idea. She would just take it one step at a time, relying entirely on improvisation and a willingness to go all out.

……

at the same time.

The reception area inside the general manager's office of Shengying Media.

Wang Sheng was receiving a familiar guest—Zhang Jianwei, a reporter from China Youth Daily.

More than six months have passed since the last interview, and Wang Sheng and the "Beijing Film Studio-Shengying Media-Film Studio Alliance" model he represents have achieved far more success than initially expected.

Zhang Jianwei was assigned by his department to conduct this follow-up report, with the main goal of gaining a deeper understanding of the logic behind the explosive popularity of the emerging "television film" industry and its future direction.

"Mr. Wang, congratulations again! 'Crazy Lottery' and 'Wedding Dress' have ignited the enthusiasm of audiences across the country."

After exchanging pleasantries, Zhang Jianwei got straight to the point: "The leaders in the ministry are also very interested in this, and they specifically asked me to come and ask you: How did you so astutely discover the great potential of the 'television and film' field? Was its success accidental or inevitable?"

Wang Sheng, dressed in a simple shirt, sat on the sofa, his demeanor more composed than it had been six months ago.

He smiled, but instead of answering directly, he picked up an internal newsletter from the side and handed it to Zhang Jianwei.

"Reporter Zhang, take a look at this. This is the message that Factory Director Han Sanping brought back from a meeting at the ministry yesterday."

Zhang Jianwei took a look and saw that it was a brief summary of public feedback on "television and movies" received by radio and television departments and cultural units in various places recently. There were summaries of telephone records, excerpts of letters, and even a few photos of banners presented by the public.

Without exception, the content was enthusiastic praise for films such as "Crazy Lottery" and "Wedding Dress" and strong support for programs like "Weekend Cinema".

"The voice of the people is the best answer." Wang Sheng waited until Zhang Jianwei finished reading before slowly saying, "It's not that we're so clever, but that we just happened to do the right thing. The film studio's resources and professional talent were idle, the TV station's time slots were empty, and the people wanted to watch some fresh, interesting, and down-to-earth programs but had no choice. We just twisted these threads together."

He paused, then continued, "Would you call it accidental or inevitable? I think it's an accident within an inevitability. It's inevitable that there was such a huge gap in the market; it's accidental that we were the first to fill it in this way."

The key is speed; content must be produced on a large scale and in a standardized manner to maintain its appeal. 'Television movies'—with their short production cycles, controllable costs, and close connection to daily life—perfectly meet these conditions.

For television viewers of this era, television movies are like live broadcasts, short videos, and short dramas were when they first came out.

Zhang Jianwei quickly took notes, nodding repeatedly: "So you believe that the core of this model lies in accurately grasping the mismatch between market demand and supply, and efficiently connecting them in an industrialized way?"

“That’s one way to understand it,” Wang Sheng nodded. “But this is only the first step. To keep going down this path, the current unorthodox methods are not enough; we need more solid internal skills.”

"Oh? What do you mean by internal energy cultivation?" Zhang Jianwei keenly seized the opportunity.

Wang Sheng leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming serious: "This is what I want to talk to you about next. I'm currently preparing for the college entrance examination, and my goal is to get into the management department of Beijing Film Academy."

Zhang Jianwei was visibly taken aback, and pushed up his glasses: "Mr. Wang, you mean... you're going to university?"

He knew that Wang Sheng had attended a training course at the Beijing Film Academy, but he never expected that Wang Sheng would choose to return to school at the height of his career.

“Yes, as a non-student applicant.” Wang Sheng answered confidently, “If all goes well, I might become a formal student at Beijing Film Academy this September.”

"This...excuse my bluntness, Mr. Wang, your current achievements far surpass those of many people with formal training. Why would you, at the peak of your career, have the idea of ​​returning to school for further studies?" Zhang Jianwei's question represented the doubts of the vast majority of people.

Wang Sheng smiled, his smile carrying a clarity and prudence beyond his years: "Reporter Zhang, it's precisely because you seem so 'successful' now that I feel a little uneasy."

He carefully considered his words: "Whether it's Shengying Media or the film studio alliance, the development over the past six months has largely been achieved through momentum, some opportunities, and the hard work of our brothers."

It's a bit like... building a house. If the foundation is laid quickly, the building can be erected quickly, but how high and how stable the building can be depends on how deep and solid the foundation is.

I'm increasingly aware of my shortcomings in management, macro-strategy, and theoretical understanding. Relying solely on experience and intuition will only increase the risks.

"So you hope to make up for it through systematic learning?" Zhang Jianwei pressed.

“Yes.” Wang Sheng nodded solemnly: “The market is changing, technology is changing, and audience tastes are changing. I need a more systematic knowledge framework, I need to calm down and read books, exchange ideas with teachers and classmates, and elevate the problems encountered in practice to the theoretical level to think about and solve them.”

The Beijing Film Academy has the best faculty and the most cutting-edge academic atmosphere. I hope to "recharge" there and lay a more solid foundation for our business. This is also for the sake of going further in the future.

He then added, "Moreover, pursuing further education does not mean giving up one's career. The Beijing Film Academy itself advocates the integration of industry, academia, and research. While studying, I can continue to grasp the company's overall direction and apply the theories I learn to practice in a timely manner, which is itself a better form of improvement."

As Zhang Jianwei took notes, he was filled with emotion.

This young man not only possesses a keen business sense and strong execution ability, but more importantly, he has a mindset of being prepared for potential crises, constantly reflecting on himself, and pursuing excellence.

In the 1990s, a time brimming with opportunities and prone to restlessness, it was truly rare to maintain such a clear mind.

The two also had an in-depth discussion on the future expansion of television and film themes, technological upgrades such as the upcoming digital wave, and how to deal with possible imitation and copycatting.

(End of this chapter)