Chapter 367

Wang Zhong has an extraordinary amount of patience for young actors and is also very encouraging.

Xin Zixing had long heard that Wang Zhong was this kind of director, but she had never witnessed it with her own eyes before.

During the makeup test, Xin Zixing stood behind Director Wang Zhong, accompanying him as he watched.

Xin Zixing was a bit curious and asked, "Director, why are you watching even the makeup test?"

Generally, for things like makeup tests, directors only come at the end to see the results; it is truly rare to see someone like Wang Zhong watching from start to finish.

Wang Zhong said, "I'm free today anyway, and watching from the beginning can save a lot of back-and-forth communication later."

Upon hearing these words, a deep sense of "emotion" welled up in the depths of Xin Zixing's heart.

Having worked at Ye Mai Network for so long, a large part of her job content is communication and coordination.

It is precisely because she has suffered so much in this regard that, upon hearing this sentence from Wang Zhong, she felt heartfelt jealousy.

Jealousy toward those who work with Wang Zhong.

Actually, thinking about it again, when she was coordinating this short film with Wang Zhong, she herself had also felt it was incredibly smooth.

In many aspects, Director Wang Zhong's requirements were not only very clear, but he also didn't flip-flop or change his mind.

As a work partner, this is truly a virtue.

Xin Zixing is truly fed up with those collaborators who repeatedly overturn and redo things under the guise of "better results."

This makeup test also became very smooth because Wang Zhong was there.

Every time someone came out, Wang Zhong would provide very precise modification suggestions.

Down to the shape of the eyebrows, Wang Zhong explained everything clearly to the makeup artist in person.

When the work ended, Xin Zixing was surprised to find that eight or nine hours had actually passed.

It was not even a bit less than the normal time.

However, she felt that time passed very quickly, with absolutely no feeling of being tortured or suffering on set.

After careful analysis, Xin Zixing felt that the reason she felt time passed so quickly was entirely because the entire process of trying on makeup and finalizing it made her feel professional; every step was necessary and could not be omitted, and every adjustment had its meaning, with visible changes and differences.

This was just the first time Xin Zixing had come into contact with the state of a top-tier team preparing for a film.

This suddenly made her feel envious.

Because the recording team for "City Travelogue," when compared to Wang Zhong's team, paled in comparison and seemed very unprofessional.

Besides this, there was also Wang Zhong's emphasis on every detail.

The emphasis on detail actually often means another thing: burning money.

But Wang Zhong just felt that this money was worth burning.

"It must have texture." Wang Zhong kept repeating this sentence on set.

Every time he pointed out something that wasn't right, he would add, "The texture isn't good."

Including the cheongsam on Chen Bige, Wang Zhong accompanied her to pick them out one by one and had the tailor make modifications on the spot.

Xin Zixing naturally knew that her small documentary team could not compare to the team of an international master director.

Isn't this overestimating one's own strength?

But Xin Zixing is not a person who is content to lag behind others.

Having seen what is good, Xin Zixing naturally does not want to continue making do.

This is Xin Zixing's personality.

Xin Zixing thought to herself that "City Travelogue," having reached this point, had already fallen into a bottleneck period.

The viewership for each episode was basically stable between six million and eight million. Their platform's algorithm is stricter than other video platforms, so the number of views is relatively small. In fact, they could also see from the backend viewing data that the number of people watching the main content of each episode of "City Travelogue" was around two million.

For a documentary, this is already very high data. For a documentary with a production cost of only over one hundred thousand per episode, its commercial return per episode is even more considerable.

But precisely because of this, Xin Zixing's applications to increase the production budget for "City Travelogue" were rejected several times.

Because within Ye Mai Network, they didn't think "City Travelogue" could further increase its influence, and increasing the production budget would not exchange for higher commercial returns.

Xin Zixing had been depressed about this for a long time.

Today, watching the work of Director Wang Zhong's team, Xin Zixing thought of this matter again.

After thinking it over, she felt she still had to work hard to push this matter forward.

Increasing the production budget indeed cannot guarantee that "City Travelogue" can attract more viewers.

Its upper limit is already there; it is already one of the most popular documentary programs in the country.

However, if the production budget is not increased and no way is found to improve the quality of the program, then this program might really be at its end.

If it just keeps being filmed like this afterward, there won't be any changes.

When eating dinner together, Xin Zixing brought this up with Lu Yan He.

"What do you think?" Xin Zixing asked Lu Yan He.

Lu Yan He nodded and said, "I also think your idea is right. 'City Travelogue' can go to the next level. It carries very important significance; there is almost no second program like it in the country. If we can further improve the quality on the existing foundation and build it into a boutique, I think it will increase its influence to a greater extent."

Documentaries can also be very popular.

Lu Yan He himself doesn't watch many, but he has watched quite a bit of "The Rise of Great Powers" in politics and history classes, has also watched a few episodes of "A Bite of China" on TV, and has heard of the global popularity of the Li Ziqi video series.

In this space-time, there are also similar documentaries, but for some reason, there haven't been any big-hit documentaries that are more lifestyle-oriented like "A Bite of China" or Li Ziqi.

Lu Yan He feels that "City Travelogue" has the potential to further become a big-hit documentary, as long as it is done well.

Xin Zixing is eager to make some changes to "City Travelogue."

Lu Yan He, on his side, will also soon join the cast of "River of Silence."

At the same time, the viewership rating of "Seventeen Layers" also successfully broke through 1.7%.

This makes everyone unable to help but guess, will "Seventeen Layers" also have the grand occasion of a certain episode breaking a 2% rating?

In this day and age, except for CCTV, it is basically very difficult for a drama to break a 2% rating.

Even if it's just a single episode breaking 2%.

This year, Jingtai TV, seeing that there is actually a second drama with such hope, makes other TV stations particularly jealous.

This is no longer a matter of achievement; to put it higher, this is even somewhat related to honor.

Who doesn't want to recreate a viewership miracle in this era of online streaming?

And both of these dramas are starred in by Lu Yan He.

Because of this, Lu Yan He's subsequent dramas have all been targeted by other TV stations.

Among them, the most eye-catching one is this "River of Silence."

Huangcheng hung up the phone, turned back to Chen Lingling, smiled helplessly, and said, "Another one asking about the copyright of 'River of Silence.' This drama hasn't even been filmed yet, and it's already so popular. It seems that once this 'Seventeen Layers' of Little Lu airs, he will have completely established his footing in the TV drama sector."

Chen Lingling gave a light snort and said, "Our industry is just like this; whoever is popular, they follow like a trend. Now they are flattering Little Lu so much, but if one day Little Lu's drama doesn't air well, they will be the first to run."

Huangcheng: "Then just be like you, every drama airs well, and no matter when, you are the director that TV stations like the most."

"That's not the same; there are also times when TV stations look down on my dramas."

"That was when TV stations monopolized the market in the past. Look at which platform would look down on your dramas now? It doesn't exist at all." Huangcheng said, "Every drama you direct has good airing results in the end; this is speaking with solid achievements."

Chen Lingling: "Alright, you don't need to coax me here. I know my past achievements are not bad, but there are also many people online saying that the dramas I film have form over content. Last time when 'Phoenix Terrace' aired, they even said this drama was filmed with a twilight air, saying I was outdated."

"It's just because we didn't use that kind of heavy filter that is popular in many dramas now. Why do you care what those haters say? Regardless of what they say, the results of 'Phoenix Terrace' are solidly good, and the word-of-mouth is also good." Huangcheng glanced at her sideways, "I don't know, a proud person like you still cares about the words of those people online who deliberately smear you?"

Chen Lingling said: "Since they speak so excessively, of course I have to take a look. I also cannot immerse myself in your false flattery of me and be unable to extricate myself."

"Then you should go look at some pertinent evaluations." Huangcheng said, "The kind of filters they like can grind away the texture on the actors' faces, grinding them into fake people. The whole picture is fake as hell. Are you willing to film that kind of drama?"

"I'm not willing, but perhaps the current audience just loves to watch this kind."

"What love to watch? Look, is 'Friends' this kind of filter? Is 'Seventeen Layers' this kind of filter?" Huangcheng said, "It's not like that at all. Which of the dramas that are truly big hits and loved by the audience, the national-level dramas, would process the picture like that."

Huangcheng looked at Chen Lingling helplessly.

"Don't worry about being outdated anymore. Every director who insists on themselves cannot be outdated. Only directors who chase trends will have the saying of being outdated." Huangcheng said, "You don't have this situation. And, if you were outdated, would actors like Lu Yan He and Ceng Qiao agree to star in your drama without even reading the script? If they felt you were outdated when they were filming 'Phoenix Terrace,' how could they have agreed so readily to film your new drama? Whatever others want to say, it can't compare to the attitude of the people truly in this industry; they are the ones who truly understand things."

Huangcheng found it strange; Chen Lingling was never a person who belittled herself. Even, to some extent, she was the type who was overly proud and confident. How did she suddenly become a different person today, doubting whether she was outdated?

Huangcheng comforted Chen Lingling and decided to investigate it seriously. He had to figure out why such a change appeared in Chen Lingling.

However, there were no fresh, smear-her arguments online.

Anyway, those who hate her have been saying those things over and over for these years. If Chen Lingling really took it to heart, she would have long ago.

Then why?

Huangcheng was completely puzzled.

He considered himself to know Chen Lingling very well, but in this matter, he had a kind of confusion that he couldn't grasp.

Chen Lingling also didn't know how to describe her mood to Huangcheng.

Could she tell Huangcheng that she was a little jealous because she saw Lu Yan He's successive successes?

A director as big as her, actually jealous of a young actor like Lu Yan He who had just emerged not long ago. This matter would make people laugh their heads off if said out loud, so Chen Lingling was also unwilling to say it. But she herself had to admit this point.

Chen Lingling is indeed very successful in every drama, and no drama has aired poorly.

Including "Phoenix Terrace," which achieved a win-win for both TV and web, and the audience word-of-mouth was also good.

However, this was still a bit short of what Chen Lingling herself wanted to achieve.

She wanted to film a drama that set off a trend like "Friends," or a drama that led a genre like "Seventeen Layers."

"Phoenix Terrace" is good, but it is mediocrely good. Only half a year has passed since it finished airing, and not many people are discussing this drama anymore. Some dramas are just like this; there's no way, once they finish airing, they start heading into the deep forest where no one asks about them.

And "Friends," which aired at the beginning of the year, until now, still has one or two hot searches related to this drama popping up online from time to time.

Various indices also show that although "Friends" has been airing for half a year, the audience's enthusiasm for it has never diminished.

Chen Lingling is not a director who only pursues artistic value. Otherwise, she couldn't be so successful. Having reached her level, is she still lacking one or two dramas like "Phoenix Terrace"? She is not lacking.

What she wants is a breakthrough.

Therefore, seeing Lu Yan He's dramas hit one after another, Chen Lingling was jealous.

And too embarrassed to admit it.

"You're about to join the cast again. What happened to the promise that you wouldn't be busy with work during these years of college?" Li Zhibai lay half-reclined on the sofa, looking at Lu Yan He with slanted eyes, with an expression of "you liar." "As a result, you're more of a workaholic than any of us."

Lu Yan He said: "The dramas that come to me are basically ones that can be filmed in twenty or thirty days. If I can coordinate my time, why wouldn't I take them? Besides, after I finish filming 'River of Silence,' I won't be able to film any dramas in the next semester. Last semester, in order to film 'Late Spring,' I didn't take many elective courses, and I have to make them all up in the next semester."

"That's enough." Li Zhibai said, "Calculating it, the dramas you filmed this year are not few, but you are right. The effort I take to film one drama is enough for you to film four or five. It's too time-consuming."

The TV dramas Li Zhibai films start at forty or fifty episodes, and the filming time is generally three or four months; if it's long, it could even be five or six months.

This is a world of difference from the time Lu Yan He spends filming.

Lu Yan He said: "I mainly don't have time to act in long dramas."

"That's quite good. Most long dramas are padded." Li Zhibai said, "Why don't such short dramas come to me?"

He grumbled.

Lu Yan He: "The upcoming 'Squid Game' is a short drama, and it's looking for you."

Li Zhibai: "You've been saying that for how long, and I haven't seen any movement. Who knows when it will be filmed."

Lu Yan He said: "I'm still persuading Director Lian Bei. I hope he will film it."

"He has to film the sequel to 'Seventeen Layers.' Where would he have time to film 'Squid Game'?"

"He has another project to film before filming the sequel to 'Seventeen Layers.' So why can't he film 'Squid Game' after finishing the second season of 'Seventeen Layers'?" Lu Yan He said, "You've also watched 'Seventeen Layers.' He is the most suitable to film 'Squid Game'."

Li Zhibai: "Nonsense, who doesn't know he's suitable? It's just that he's not willing."

"Let's talk slowly. This matter can't be rushed." Lu Yan He said, "Good dramas don't fear being late. Ever since 'Lost on Journey,' I've been mentally prepared. There are too many twists and turns to go through from writing the script to preparation and then to official filming. Relax your mindset."

"Speaking of which, how is 'Lost on Journey'? Why hasn't it been filmed yet?"

"Filming starts at the end of the year." Lu Yan He said, "Now the funds and actors are all in place. I'll need you to come and make a cameo for me then."

"Okay, I know." Li Zhibai said, "However, do you have time to participate in 'Lost on Journey' at the end of the year? Aren't you going to film the movie 'Road to Glory' in collaboration with Shang Yongzhou around the end of the year?"

"I'll just film my movie." Lu Yan He said, "The filming of 'Lost on Journey' doesn't need me on set."

"Aren't you the producer and executive producer?"

"My work is all in the pre-production phase, not on set." Lu Yan He said, "There is already a Director Jiang Lu and a Teacher Jia Long on set. If I go again, there will be three people with three opinions, and it will be filmed into something neither fish nor fowl. It's better not to go and hand it over to them completely."

"Are you at ease?"

"Not at ease, but one must be rational. If I were really not at ease, I would be the director myself and film it myself." Lu Yan He shrugged, "I don't have that ability, so why shouldn't I be at ease? I've already found Teacher Jia Long, so I'll just fully trust him. He's almost becoming a comedy master, so does he still need me to question him?"

Li Zhibai clicked his tongue, "This mindset of yours is worth learning by 99% of practitioners. I think our current industry of filming has too many people who want to interfere and point fingers, and too few people who believe others can do it well."

Lu Yan He: "Are you implying 'Divine Map' again?"

"You don't know how many annoying things there are in this crappy drama." Li Zhibai said.

Lu Yan He: "The movie 'Nineteen Years of Crime Records' is the same. Ruyi's evaluation of the filming material for this movie is very low. I asked Sister Ziyan to talk about the filming rights for the drama series, and they were so willing that there was almost no hesitation. It looks like they have completely given up on this story."

Li Zhibai: "Are you planning to film it yourself?"

Lu Yan He: "I won't film it myself. Where would I have that time? Of course, I'll find suitable people to film it."

Li Zhibai paused, looked at him, and said, "How about I give it a try?"

"Try what? Audition?" Lu Yan He said, "Didn't we agree last time that we'll all go audition together later?"

"No." Li Zhibai shook his head, "I mean, if you buy it, I want to try to find a position in this project to practice. I'll do it as voluntary labor."

Lu Yan He looked at him with some surprise, stunned by Li Zhibai's unprecedented initiative.

"You... what do you want to do?" Lu Yan He asked.

Li Zhibai said: "I found that if I only act as an actor, I am indeed passive. I can't learn your ability to write scripts, but I can still learn your ability to organize and do projects."

Lu Yan He was truly somewhat incredulous, not expecting Li Zhibai to have such thoughts.

"Okay, then if you are interested, come on." Lu Yan He said, "Just don't do that thing of giving up halfway."