Chapter 710

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

"Jiang Producer, public is public, private is private," one cannot mix public and private.

Shen Yao handed the scripts she had selected over to Jiang Han Zhou across from her, and incidentally indicated that the perspective of this drama would be best placed on the female lead.

Because their purpose in filming a TV drama was still mainly to make money, and for this type of TV drama, it is most suitable to unfold from the female lead's perspective, making it easy for the audience to immerse themselves.

After all, this type of drama somewhat resembles idol dramas that focus heavily on the romance line between the male and female leads; even if danger and trouble appear inside, they are merely used to catalyze the male and female leads' feelings.

The market for idol dramas is women, so whether women can smoothly immerse themselves determines the extent of this drama's popularity.

Jiang Han Zhou touched the scripts handed over; the several unit stories on them indeed leaned toward romance, including the companionship between the male and female leads. Due to a lack of descriptive detail in some aspects, Shen Yao had already made modifications and adjustments, so it would not be abrupt.

"The previously settled male and female leads will likely have to be replaced. You know the current situation in the entertainment industry; finding a male star willing to play a supporting role, the difficulty is no ordinary matter," as long as there is a representative role, they want to be the male lead, hating that they cannot add all the script's highlights onto their own role.

Jiang Han Zhou's original choices were merely normal standards; it's just that the male and female leads didn't break away much, possessing the most basic contract spirit.

But hearing Shen Yao put it this way, they still had to be replaced.

"Money can make the devil turn the millstone; moreover, the entertainment industry lacks handsome men and beautiful women the least.

They're just supporting roles; as long as acting skills are on the passing grade, the persona holds up, who knows, they might become more popular than the female lead."

This is a common ailment of idol dramas; the boost for the female lead completely cannot compare to the male lead, because the vast majority who can watch this type of drama are girls; girls will definitely immerse themselves in the female lead's perspective, then the male lead becomes the one with the highest fan attraction.

Even not only idol dramas, but also big male lead dramas and big female lead dramas, the male lead is also more likely to attract fans and upgrade their status; there's no special reason, it's just that the environment determines the market, and the market in turn acts on the environment.

"Hmm, perhaps we can select a few good ones and sign them first or reach cooperation," rather than letting others benefit, better to gather them into one's own embrace.

Jiang Han Zhou's company does not involve artist signing, because it's not cost-effective; after all, packaging and promotion, occasionally also having to help tear resources, if not a big hit, one fundamentally cannot earn back those previous investments.

Right now, however, it's somewhat different; the scripts they produce can obviously earn more money, bring larger revenue; cooperating with other companies, one can be stabbed in the back at any time; better to grasp the initiative in one's own hands.

Shen Yao pondered for a moment, feeling that in this aspect she could also appropriately help.

But it's still that sentence said before: public is public, private is private, clear distinction between public and private.

Jiang Han Zhou: ……

What Jiang Han Zhou likes most is Shen Yao's current state of speaking; a natural talent for investment, not affected by any external force, able to reduce outside interference as much as possible, letting herself earn more money.

"No problem, still the previous contract; our two goals are aligned," Jiang Han Zhou stretched out his hand, "Happy cooperation."

Shen Yao smiled and shook it back, "Happy cooperation."

Next is the system's busy time; after all, investigating news and such, internet technology is still not as direct and satisfying as the system.

The system can monitor 360 degrees without dead angles, all-round; let alone these stars in the entertainment industry, even big shots in all other walks of life can have their secrets dug out by it.

Fortunately, Shen Yao isn't some pervert, and has no ambition to dominate; otherwise the system would definitely be even busier than now.

System: ……

The system gets tired now too; every day passes both painfully and happily; truly, there's too much gossip to listen to; this entertainment industry really is a good place.

"……No no no, he sleeps with fans not to mention, and doesn't proactively pay money, trash!"

"This person, whole body full of plastic surgery traces; face stitched and patched, fundamentally can't withstand a few months before needing rework; wasn't it that he went to Korea recently, just so that face could look a bit more natural."

"This one is even more incredible; his family actually embezzles; can the system let him off? Directly report to relevant departments; won't be long before he eats state food."

"……"

The system would tell Shen Yao a few pieces of gossip that shocked its life every night; most were related to the personnel she had it investigate; every year, countless handsome men and beautiful women enter the entertainment industry; among them, very few can emerge; the vast majority float and sink in the field of fame and fortune; Shen Yao wanting to pick a few not-too-bad ones to cultivate, no big problem.

But even if found and cultivated, 'How does Host guarantee they won't be assimilated?'

The entertainment industry is a big dye vat, and the dye colors extremely rapidly.

The system hasn't not seen those who persist in their own ideas end up tottering and falling into depravity; this is the survival law of the circle, completely not controlled by anyone.

Shen Yao rolled her eyes at the obviously idle side, 'Why should I guarantee? This is Jiang Han Zhou's matter to consider.'

After all, she belongs to taking money to do the job; the principal is the wealthy and generous Jiang Han Zhou.

System: ……

The system feels its own Host is somewhat unfathomable; she and Jiang Han Zhou don't have an intimate relationship? Yet she really just strictly abides by public-private distinction.

Shen Yao smiled and hmmed, 'What's bad about it? Moreover, this kind of thing, me meddling more is instead disadvantageous to companionship.'

Not an idiot either; still need people around to help stare at every moment?

'Hurry up and investigate the rest of the people clearly; our time is not much,' later still have to get busy.

Urged by the Host, the system could only bury its head and work overtime; fortunately, this shift it is very willing to work; even if no rest all day, there's nothing bad.

Soon, Jiang Han Zhou received a personnel list from Shen Yao.

Jiang Han Zhou himself also had a list on hand, but not as streamlined as Shen Yao's; among them, some even Jiang Han Zhou couldn't see any problem with.

"Take this list and talk to the people above about signing matters; the conditions we offer are real gold and silver; believe they won't refuse."

Of course, even if they refuse it's nothing; doing business, the emphasis is on willingness.

Otherwise, aggrieved now, later still have to separate ways.

The subordinate took the list Jiang Han Zhou handed over, turned around and went to contact these people; of course, in order to have the capital and strength for signing, Jiang Han Zhou had recruited several famous agents in the circle in advance.

Both sides complementary; after all, a boss who sends a script as soon as a contract is signed, there aren't many seen.

Shen Yao saw Jiang Han Zhou again when the two discussed script casting; the male lead had already fallen to their own side; the female lead is a rising young actress with a recent hit drama; fans clamoring for absolute female lead, not caring whether this female lead sits and eats a loss or not.

"What about the director? For an idol drama setting, the director definitely must know how to film people."

Otherwise, all are blank shots, nothing hidden, full-range dead angles; one look and there's no feeling of making hearts pound; no matter how novel this drama's content, it can't be saved.

"It's a Director Li who excels at filming people; these are a few dramas he's shot; reviews are good; the crew is also very solid," Jiang Han Zhou is abnormally reliable in other aspects; involving his own money-making big career, no one can block his choices.

Shen Yao nodded; indeed, if it's this configuration, this drama hasn't even started filming and has already beaten most other dramas by a large half; after all, not every crew has this kind of preparation; more are still coaxing and deceiving; even the male and female leads don't know what type of drama they're filming.

The entertainment industry's atmosphere has also been gradually corrupted over recent years; current audiences reminisce about the former flourishing scene, unaware that scene vanished long ago with capital's withdrawal — after all, capital investment differs, and so do its priorities.

Now is the era of online video dominance; before long, web dramas on video platforms will likely account for a larger share than satellite-broadcast TV dramas, because technological progress makes many prefer browsing on phones — TV dramas? Their share will only shrink further, except among certain specific groups (middle-aged and elderly), online video will take the lion's share.

One is an investor-producer, the other handles scriptwriting and crew affairs; together they funded this not-so-large production.

Unlike investors in previous dramas who formed factions, aside from the Tao Tao Video platform, the entire crew's greatest say belongs to these two.

"After all, the investment isn't that much, and the male and female leads aren't famous either," not to mention deducting items that don't cost much — one can imagine how lean this production is.

The System marveled, "Host plans to take the web drama route?"

Clearly not leaning toward satellite broadcast; current crews still hope for satellite airing — that's also a star actor's pursuit.

"Mm, let's try; might make a tidy profit." Today's web dramas are uneven and loosely censored; their current investment is a Strange Tales-like, Chinese weird-fiction genre — satellite is hard and requires all kinds of cuts; better to go web drama, save time and effort, and might just produce a surprising effect.

System:... Surprising effect? What surprising effect? Could it be sudden explosive popularity, like "Palace Intrigue"?

The System hesitated; it always felt its Host, no matter how capable, couldn't make every drama a hit — it didn't have that kind of cheat.

Shen Yao thought: what System cheat? The "surprising effect" she spoke of was merely a tidy profit, not "Palace Intrigue"-level explosive, massive popularity.

Actually, if one seriously observes and studies audience tastes, making a profitable film or drama is very easy — it's just that current capital is too arrogant, utterly ignoring audiences' emotional needs and normal aesthetics, filming entirely by their own self-righteous ideas regardless; the result is still being schooled by market and audience — after all, money comes from audiences; offend the Gods of Wealth who send money, and who loses if not you?

Shen Yao wouldn't be like that; every film and drama she promised Jiang Han Zhou carried her own calculations — even "Wang Sheng," most likely to lose money, had winning awards as its main purpose, not making a killing domestically.

By this reckoning, Shen Yao's transition seems effortless — from novel author to crew screenwriter, silky smooth, no trouble at all.

Could she really be a genius?!

Shen Yao had to shamelessly praise herself; facts speak louder than words — even if she slacked off, she'd gain mission rewards upon leaving this world.

The drama was tentatively titled "Gui Lu"; female lead teams up with a male weird-entity of unknown identity to solve strange cases, help him resolve unfinished wishes, interspersed with all kinds of weird phenomena and human scheming — a fairly innovative genre.

Of course, new bottle old wine — still the same romance package; the only difference is the portrayal is more refined and understated, not overly prominent, making it watchable.

Crew slated to start shooting in early June; one location was set in Tao Yuan Village under Tao Yuan County.

Shi Wei was in the village loading goods to sell, mostly produce from her Spiritual Field space — her main income source.

She'd been back home starting a business for a while; to say her venture hadn't boosted Tao Yuan Village and even Tao Yuan County's economy at all would be false, but to say it wildly boosted them would be an exaggeration.

Some village families, having gained a little advantage but not enough, feel shortchanged; they hide nearby every so often badmouthing Shi Wei's whole family, fabricating absurd rumors — still aiming for Shi Wei to lead them to fortune.

Shi Wei:...

Shi Wei isn't a masochist; targeted by superiors at work, coming home to farm and still enduring neighbors' stifling attitude — so she simply stopped caring, focused only on herself, creating a subtle rift between her family and the village.

"Sister Shi Wei, people came to our village — said a crew is filming, will shoot for quite a few days." Shi Wei's younger brother ran over, chattering away what he'd seen, then pulled Shi Wei closer to compete: "Several hundred a day — the village aunties all want to be picked."

Shi Song felt his sister was perfect in every way; maybe she'd get picked if she tried, and the work isn't tiring — just helping cook a meal, ingredients paid on the spot; with this job she wouldn't have to run to Tao Yuan County daily to sell alone.

Seeing this, Shi Wei simply went along with Shi Song and agreed — but she had to finish her current work first before going to the crew to apply.

Shi Song:...

Shi Song is only a middle-school graduate this year, a high school freshman brat.

High school isn't far from the village; he goes to and from school daily with village kids — adults' affairs ultimately affected the children's bond, but not irreparably stiff; besides, Shi Wei didn't feel she'd done anything wrong — if she doesn't seize the initiative now, once business grows bigger and stronger later, it'll only be more uncomfortable.

The vehicle loaded with vegetables and fruit bound for Tao Yuan County; Shi Wei clapped her palms, signaling Shi Song to get in: "Let's go take a look."

Shi Song immediately grinned, saying his sister's cooking skills guarantee no problem.

Shi Wei wasn't as simple as Shi Song thought; she mused: with so many crew people, there must be plenty of twists and turns — she'd better stay focused on her farming venture, best to market her field produce into a supply relationship; that would earn more than cooking.

"Shi Wei?"

"Shen Yao!"

Shi Wei never expected that the moment she arrived at the crew, she'd run into her biggest career client.