Chapter 238 248 [Wang Shuo, the veteran of Yanjing, and two beauties from the south Chen and the north Zhao]

Li Yishu exchanged a few pleasantries with the other party, then looked at the fat-headed man next to him. The familiar face asked knowingly, “Director Liu, who is this?”

“This is Wang Shuo, my good friend…”

Before Liu Yiqi finished introducing him, Li Yishu pretended to be surprised and said, “It turns out to be Writer Wang. Hello, hello. It happened two years ago. Thank you Writer Wang for speaking up for me.”

He was talking about Teng Wenji. When the war of words broke out two years ago, Wang Shuo also joined in. Although he mainly criticized the literary world, he also spoke well of Li Yishu in some ways.

“Director Li, you’re too polite. I’m just annoyed with Teng Wenji.”

Wang Shuo smiled and said rather arrogantly, “Teng Wenji is an old guy. He should just focus on making his movies. Why is he playing the senior-junior game? It’s really annoying. Does he think he can comment on things at will just because he has seniority? To put it bluntly, he is just an old guy who takes advantage of his age. In our Yanjing dialect, he is just an idiot.”

He was similar to Han Han later. When he debuted, he was criticized for being indecent. After all, most of his works were anti-traditional and not part of the popular scar literature at the time, so he hated the concept of seniority.

“Writer Wang is right. This Teng Wenji is just an old dog!”

Li Yishu laughed.

Apart from anything else, Wang Shuo’s temper is quite to his liking, or to say, when it comes to scolding Teng Wenji, the two of them have something in common. He is worthy of being a veteran in the Beijing circle, and he will start to scold anyone he catches.

As long as we all curse Teng Wenji together, we are good friends!
“Director Li is really a quick-witted person. Teng Wenji is really an old dog! And Director Li, don’t call me Mr. Writer Wang. Just call me Big Cannon. That’s what my friends call me.”

Wang Shuo’s eyes lit up. He didn’t expect that Li Yishu was also a veteran like him.

It’s normal to think about it. The other party became famous at a young age, so he is a bit arrogant. Then what about Teng Wenji? What era is this? He still plays the game of seniority!
“no problem.”

Li Yishu smiled and nodded, then asked everyone to sit down, and then said, “Director Liu, I believe Yongmei has already made it clear to you before. Regarding TV series, our company plans to shoot at least two this year.”

“Don’t worry about the funding. As long as the script is good and fits the current market environment, we can invest any amount of money. The main purpose is to make it a hit and make our Shuyi Culture Film and Television Company famous.”

Shuyi Culture Film and Television Company is also a subsidiary under the name of Art Entertainment Group. It is mainly involved in the production, investment and distribution of TV series, which is separated from movies in order to facilitate future operations.

Liu Yi nodded and said, “Yes, Director Li. Manager Yongmei has already told me that I am planning to film my good friend Wang Shuo’s novel “Die After Getting High”, but he promised Zhao Baogang from the Yanjing Television Art Center that he would leave the novel to Director Zhao.”

“I am planning to remake his book ‘Frosty Leaves Are Red Like February Flowers’. I have already discussed the copyright with Mr. Mao Dun’s family. I will also be the screenwriter for the TV series when the time comes.”

Have a good time? Li Yishu couldn’t help but look at Wang Shuo. He had an impression of this TV series, starring Wang Zhiwen and Jiang Shan. Because the lines were too advanced, even in the era of short videos decades later, they were often edited and released.

“This is also the purpose of my coming.”

Wang Shuo next to him took over the conversation and said, “I talked to Gangzi. He wanted to adapt my three novels, “Die After a Good Time”, “Forever Lost My Love” and “No One Applauds”, into a TV series. However, the Yanjing Television Art Center didn’t want to make it. It happened that Lao Liu came to me to ask for the copyright. When I told him about it, he offered to bring me to you.”

“Has the script been written?” Li Yishu asked back.

Wang Shuo shook his head. “It’s still being written, but it will be done soon. It’s adapted from my novel, so it can be done within a week. I was originally planning to go to the south to see if I could find an investor, but then Lao Liu suggested that I try my luck with you, so I shamelessly followed him here.”

“Haha, you came to me.”

Li Yishu smiled cheerfully and said, “At present, the domestic TV drama market is still blank. Our company plans to build a film and television city in Huairou, Yanjing. We will increase investment in TV dramas in the future. Now we welcome like-minded friends to create together.”

Liu Yi was surprised: “Build a film and television city?”

“Yes, a film and television studio that specializes in TV dramas.”

Li Yishu looked at the two of them and nodded, saying, “It’s mainly Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings, with some buildings from the Republic of China period added in. The company is currently planning to shoot two TV series this year to see the results, and then expand the production of film and television dramas next year.”

Wang Shuo was extremely surprised. He originally thought that the company founded by Li Yishu was just making TV series for fun, but he didn’t expect that they would make such a big fuss and actually build a film and television city specifically for TV series shooting.

Thinking of this, Wang Shuo rolled his eyes and said with a smile: “Director Li, I have actually thought about opening a film and television company. I wonder if we can cooperate with your company?”

“No problem at all.”

Li Yishu smiled and said, “We can cooperate on both movies and TV series. Whether it’s funding, crew or overseas distribution, our company has very rich experience. I believe you have all seen “Sword Rain”. This movie was invested and filmed in the mainland, but the global box office exceeded 1.8 million US dollars, ranking 1993th in the global box office in 13.”

The movie was released at the end of 1992. If you really want to count, it can only be counted to 1992. However, because it was the New Year’s Eve, Lee Yi-su’s movie was also counted to 1993.

Hearing this, Wang Shuo’s heart began to beat wildly. Ever since his novels were adapted into movies and TV series, Wang Shuo had wanted to get involved in the film and television industry, and he has been working as a screenwriter in the past few years.

Until this year, when Wang Shuo heard that the authorities intended to allow private companies to produce movies and TV series, he planned to open a film and television company and cooperate specifically with powerful investors.

Now it seems that it might be better to develop in-depth cooperation with Li Yishu’s company. Regardless of whether he has money or not, in terms of overseas distribution alone, there is basically no competitor in the mainland that can compete with him.

Wang Shuo’s eyes flickered as he said, “Once my company is established, this “Over the Hook” will be our first collaborative project. What do you think?”

“No problem!” Li Yishu agreed readily. He was not an exploitative capitalist who only cared about benefiting himself and not letting others make money.

The next few years will be Wang Shuo’s golden period of creativity. “Forever Lost”, “Party A and Party B”, and “Days Related to Youth” are all very good early movies and TV series in mainland China.

“Director Li, then it’s a deal!”

Wang Shuo’s face lit up with joy. It would be great if the movie he wrote could be distributed overseas.

Wang Shuo is not short of money now. The royalties from his writings and copyrights have enabled him to achieve financial freedom in this era. What he pursues now is to “look good”.

“That’s a deal.”

Li Yishu smiled, then looked at Liu Yijun and said, “Director Liu, our company has also invested in your film “Red Leaves Like February Flowers”. Now you can start preparing the crew.”

“Thank you Director Li!”

Liu Yi was delighted. This was the first time he had stepped out of the system to film a TV series. Being able to attract investment to make it happen meant that there would be opportunities in the future.

Several people chatted for a while.

After Li Yishu stood up and sent the two away, she also said to Yongmei: “This year, we will give priority to filming their TV series.”

“Okay, boss.” Yongmei nodded, then thought of something and said, “By the way, boss, do you want to arrange for Zhou Xun and Jia Jingwen to come?”

“See if there are any suitable roles. If so, arrange for them both.” Li Yishu thought for a moment and said, “Have you signed any new artists recently?”

“Yes, we have signed a few new people. I’ll have someone bring their information for you to review.”

“Well, bring it to my office.”

After saying this, Li Yishu turned around and went back to her office.

After a while, Yongmei came in with several employment files.

“Wang Qian? How did she sign a contract with our company?”

When Li Yishu saw the first artist information, she couldn’t help but look at Yongmei. Isn’t this Yu Feihong’s good friend?

Yongmei explained, “Boss, this is someone that Teacher Yu Feihong introduced to me, and she is a graduate of the acting department. I think she has good abilities, so I signed her.”

When she heard that it was Yu Feihong who arranged it, Li Yishu nodded without comment. She probably saw that Wang Qian was not doing well at the moment, and happened to see that her company had signed a contract, so she arranged Wang Qian to come here.

Speaking of which, Wang Qian is an actress with very good acting skills. The TV series “Serious Crime Unit 6” she starred in was very popular all over the country in the early 2000s, and the role of Ji Jie became a classic.

“Well, next the company can also go to places like Beijing Film Academy, the Central Academy of Drama, and the Dance Academy more often to sign some actors and actresses. The company is now preparing for a TV series, so we should use as many of our own people as possible.”

“Good boss.”

Li Yishu continued to look through the artist files. There were four in total. The first one was familiar actors and friends. The remaining two were not familiar faces, but they also graduated from Beijing Film Academy and the Central Academy of Drama. They were probably actors who did not make it.

Since the reform and opening up, hundreds of students have emerged from acting classes at the Central Academy of Drama and the Beijing Film Academy. However, those who can really become famous are rare, but definitely one in ten.

These two people who claimed to be students of the Central Academy of Drama and the Beijing Film Academy could not even be recognized by others in the future, which means that there is a high probability that they changed their careers in the future.

The film and television industry is also about the survival of the fittest. Many veteran actors become popular again after they are older. If these two can’t hold on to the end, it is estimated that it will be difficult to promote them.

When seeing the last piece of information, Li Yishu looked at the photo of the familiar face and the masculine name, and she didn’t expect it to be her!

Zhao Mingming!
Actress Lee Yi-su still remembers the image of Zhao Feiyan in the TV series “Flying Swallow in the Han Palace”.

She can be regarded as a model of beauty in ancient costume. Like Chen Hong, she is a typical classical beauty who looks better in ancient costume than in modern clothes. In the mid-90s, there was a nickname for the two of them: “Chen in the South and Zhao in the North”.

Li Yishu thought of Chen Hong, a girl he had never had the chance to date. Now that the company had started producing TV series, it was time to give Chen Hong a chance to win a little red flower.

Chen in the South and Zhao in the North, these two beauties in ancient costumes, it is time to make a TV series and make them both famous.

“There won’t be many signed artists in the future.”

Li Yishu took out Zhao Mingming’s file and said, “Based on her image alone, she has the potential to become a star. She’s either pretty or has good acting skills…”

This was Yongmei’s first time working as an agent. After hearing what Li Yishu said, she understood what kind of people she would sign next. They would either be pretty girls or have good acting skills.

“I understand, boss. I will be cautious about signing artists in the future.”

“Well, if you sign a contract with someone, you have to be responsible for them, right?”

That afternoon.

Li Yishu met Xu Wenrong, the founder of Hengdian Group.

The conditions he wanted were very simple. In addition to the basic requirement of having a large area of ​​land to build a cinema, he also wanted a majority of the shares.

“Director Li, isn’t our Hengdian Group’s shareholding a little low?”

Xu Wenrong, the founder of Hengdian Group, also hesitated when he heard Li Yishu say that his art group would hold a 60% stake.

Not only did they have to provide the land, but they also had to provide funds to build the cinema. Xu Wenrong felt that it was a bit of a loss to just take 40% of the shares.

Li Yishu smiled and said, “Boss Xu, you can’t say that. The policies offered by Huairou in Yanjing are better. The reason why we chose Hengdian Group to cooperate with us is mainly because of its relatively good geographical location, which connects the north and the south. However, it is not necessary for Hengdian to be the only choice.”

“And Mr. Xu, once this film and television city is built, it will be an investment of tens of millions or even hundreds of millions. It will not only boost the local economy, but also bring long-term employment to the local area.”

There is currently no large-scale film and television city in China, and extras have not yet become a profession. Once Li Yishu’s film and television city is successfully established, if nothing unexpected happens, a large number of crews will come here to film in the future.

As the number of film crews increases, the need for extras will increase dramatically. Regardless of whether one can make a lot of money, at least it can form a profession, unlike many extras nowadays who are actually just doing it for fun.

When they hear that a film crew is recruiting extras, they rush over in droves to join in the fun. It’s more like a side job.

Hearing this, Xu Wenrong pondered for a moment and gritted his teeth and said, “No problem, but I hope Director Li can also let them come to our Hengdian to shoot the movie directed by Brother Chen Kai that Director Li mentioned before.”

“Sure.” Li Yishu smiled and said, “I’ll ask someone to talk to Director Chen about this.”

Regarding the Hengdian Film and Television City project, Li Yishu never thought of taking all the spoils alone. On the one hand, she was not able to take it all, and on the other hand, she was afraid that someone would cause trouble for her.

Once this film and television city is built, it will definitely boost the local economy. Once the film and television city is settled here, it will be impossible for it to move away.

So the best way is to cooperate with Hengdian Group.

Xu Wenrong is actually equivalent to Zong Qinghou, the founder of Wahaha. At the beginning, they were both representatives elected collectively.

It was only after the reform and opening up and complete privatization that Xu Wenrong became the helmsman of Hengdian Group. He has connections and influence in the local area, and cooperating with him can avoid a lot of trouble.

It would certainly not be easy to succeed in the first negotiation. Although Xu Wenrong had agreed, it would still be a long process to determine how to convert the land and calculate the investment.

Li Yishu had no experience or time for these things, so she just handed them over to Amy who had rushed back from the United States and asked her to form a team to negotiate these matters.

The resources of the Art and Entertainment Group have only been integrated for a short time, so it is still very short of talent. And such a big thing as investing in a film and television city must be handled personally by Amy, an experienced veteran.

(End of this chapter)