Chapter 482: Jiang Lan Wants to Roll Her Eyes at Lu Yan He

"Because I want to cooperate with Lu Yan He, I like the works he writes very much." Jin Yanshu said, "After 'Friends' was obtained by others at our TVN for adaptation rights, I had the idea of adapting 'Rouge.' Although Lu Yan He is known by more people as an actor, the works he writes as a screenwriter even make a professional screenwriter like me feel jealous. Sigh, why are young people so talented now? Haha, that's my idea."

Jin Yanshu showed a helpless, kind elder's smile.

Lu Yan He, who had been sitting in front of Jin Yanshu listening to her talk about female consciousness for a long time, was silently plated with a layer of gold.

Lu Yan He could imagine that when these words of Jin Yanshu were reported by the media, his fans would be so cool. They would run around telling everyone, look, Lu Yan He's talent cannot even be ignored by TVN executives, who took the initiative to cooperate with Lu Yan He to adapt "Rouge," not for anything else, just to cooperate with Lu Yan He.

Lu Yan He thought to himself, whoever believes it gets cheated.

However, after the news that "Rouge" was to be adapted into both a Chinese drama and a Korean drama spread, it still brought some trouble to Lu Yan He.

For example, Vice Station Master Jiang Lan of Jingtai, very regretfully said to Lu Yan He, why didn't such cooperation cooperate with her, but went to cooperate with Bingyuan Video.

Lu Yan He spoke bluntly, because people took the initiative to find them.

The implication is, you didn't take the initiative yourself and blame me?

Jiang Lan was not really regretting missing a good opportunity.

A story like "Rouge," even if filmed into a drama, is not suitable for broadcast on Jingtai.

The main audience of Jingtai is not the audience of "Rouge."

Jiang Lan took this opportunity to propose: "Do you have any other stories in your hands? Can we have new cooperation?"

Lu Yan He said: "Station Master Jiang, I have indeed written several scripts in my hands, and I have ideas, but they are all very expensive."

Jiang Lan rolled her eyes at Lu Yan He speechlessly, "Who do you think I am? Which project you cooperated with me made you suffer?"

"I don't know if I suffered, but you definitely won't suffer. When filming 'Seventeen Layers,' you even wanted me to sign a variety show cooperation agreement with Jingtai."

Jiang Lan: "... It's all old sesame and rotten millet things, it's a pity you still remember."

Lu Yan He: "... My memory is quite good."

Jiang Lan: "I am also cooperating and winning with everyone. With such a large investment in 'Seventeen Layers,' we also have to try our best to recover some costs from other aspects and reduce risks. You understand me more."

"Then 'Seventeen Layers' is so successful, why didn't you send us a few red envelopes?" Lu Yan He asked back.

Jiang Lan: "..."

Lu Yan He stopped when he was ahead.

He didn't really want to receive any red envelopes from Jiang Lan. He just wanted to point out to Jiang Lan, don't fool him, he knows it clearly in his heart.

Lu Yan He now has seven or eight stories with formed outlines, "Love Letter," "Those Years, We Chased Together," "Chinese Paladin," "Dumb and Dumber," "Telephone," "The Notebook"... Some were written long ago but have not been pushed, such as "Dumb and Dumber," some were eliminated when making choices, such as "The Notebook."

Lu Yan He sorted it out, combed the outlines and project introductions he wrote, and on a sunny afternoon, went to Jiang Lan's office to give it to her, letting her watch it on the spot.

"Okay, then I will take a good look first. If I think it is suitable for adaptation into a TV series to be broadcast on Jingtai, I will tell you."

"Station Master Jiang, watch it now." Lu Yan He said, "I only have one copy of this information, no backup, I have to take it back later."

Jiang Lan: "..."

Jiang Lan took a deep breath, and couldn't say anything, so she had to sit down and work on the spot.

Lu Yan He sat by the window, drinking coffee, but his mind was thinking about the stimulation that the film "The Mist" brought him.

He had watched so many horror and thriller films before, and it couldn't be released in China. Should he not write it out and waste it like this?

That would be a pity.

To this day, Lu Yan He also fully feels how much help the identity of a successful screenwriter can bring to his acting career.

It can be said that half of his unique status in the entertainment industry now is brought by his screenwriter identity.

To say nothing else, at least films like "Saw," "Ringu," and "It" are all very classic big explosion works.

Why not write the scripts for these works and pave the way for his Hollywood path?

Horror films have always been classic representatives of low cost and high return.

There are also "The Purge," "Triangle," "The Butterfly Effect"... These are all films he has watched.

Although he is not very clear about what specific box office results they achieved, being able to be seen by him must mean they are classic works in horror films. Of course, the latter three films are strictly speaking thrillers, not horror films.

In China, the two are not clearly distinguished, and basically, they are all called horror films.

Because they are all scary things.

Lu Yan He sent a message to Chen Ziyan to ask for her opinion.

Chen Ziyan was surprised: You have new stories again?

Lu Yan He: Yes, after reading the script of "The Mist," it gave me some inspiration.

Chen Ziyan: You can write the script first, but you may not be able to find a buyer so quickly, unless we produce this film ourselves. However, you also know that this is basically impossible. In the United States, if you want to distribute a film, you almost cannot bypass those giants.

Lu Yan He: We indeed don't have distribution channels, but American Green Valley Film Company has already distributed many horror films. In this genre track, they have a lot of experience. Maybe we can cooperate with them.

Chen Ziyan: We don't know if they are willing to cooperate with us.

Lu Yan He asked: What if we invest ourselves, as long as they are responsible for distribution, would they be willing?

Chen Ziyan: You want to invest in this film yourself?

Lu Yan He said: I can write a script that is very low cost and almost doesn't need much money.

The cost of horror films is not high originally. For example, the famous "Saw," the cost is only 1.2 million US dollars, and it took 100 million US dollars in global box office. There are even more exaggerated ones, such as "The Blair Witch Project" and "Paranormal Activity," which used DV shooting to create the effect of a fake documentary, and tens of thousands of dollars obtained over 100 million US dollars in box office, which is extremely exaggerated. Of course, Lu Yan He will not write the latter two, unless it is anonymous—

He still wants face.

Using "fraud" methods for marketing and promotion, Lu Yan He also knows how miserable these two films were scolded later.

Chen Ziyan said: Even if the cost is low, a film is an investment of several million US dollars. Are you sure you want to take out so much money yourself to make a foreign horror film? This is not a Chinese film, no matter what, there are many ways to help you recover losses.

Lu Yan He said: Sister Ziyan, I have an idea. It doesn't need several million US dollars. It can be filmed with only a few hundred thousand US dollars.

Chen Ziyan was stunned and asked: What idea?

Lu Yan He said: A man wakes up and finds himself in a coffin. He was buried alive. The oxygen in the coffin is limited. He must find a way to escape before the oxygen runs out.

What Lu Yan He said is the film "Buried" starring "Deadpool" Ryan Reynolds.

A film story that takes place entirely in a coffin.

Chen Ziyan's head boomed.

Some films sell ups and downs of the plot, and the emotional tension between characters.

Some films sell unparalleled special effects big scenes, and the film world that makes people immerse in it.

And some films, like the feeling presented by Lu Yan He's few words, sell an unprecedented idea.

Chen Ziyan almost didn't need to think to know how attractive this story was.

This is a story that most people wouldn't think of normally, but once they hear it, they can't help but be afraid and attracted to it.

Originally, Chen Ziyan wanted to tell Lu Yan He, don't be impulsive, go write an English horror film script, and then film it into a film, it's not such a simple thing. It was so hard for them to film "Love Letter."

But when Lu Yan He's idea was spoken out, Chen Ziyan was convinced.

Indeed, such a film that takes place entirely in a coffin only needs one space and one actor to complete the filming of the entire film.

Most importantly, Chen Ziyan believes that Lu Yan He will write this story to be tense and exciting. Lu Yan He's ability to write stories has been fully proven.

Chen Ziyan said: I support you.

Lu Yan He breathed a sigh of relief sincerely.

Chen Ziyan said: You write the script, we register the copyright, and then we go to talk to the American Green Valley Company.

Chen Ziyan added: However, why don't you film this script into a Chinese film?

Lu Yan He: I feel that this kind of film with thriller and horror nature, the domestic box office may not be high. However, of course, it can also be filmed as a Chinese film if there is an opportunity in the future.

Chen Ziyan: This kind of one-man monologue has a lot of room for performance. I think many male actors will definitely be interested.

Lu Yan He said: But this is a genre film, and it is destined to be a low-budget film, and the requirements for the actor's acting skills are particularly high.

Lu Yan He feels that male actors who have the ability to act in such a film may not necessarily look down on this script.

Chen Ziyan: You underestimated the value of this script. This is a script that can very well show the quality of male actors. If acted well, it can be used to impact awards. I believe many male actors will compete for this film to impact awards.

Performance awards?

Lu Yan He realized that he might have fallen into a preconceived impression again.

Because in his impression, "Buried" is not a film that relies on performance—although this film relies entirely on Ryan Reynolds' performance to support the whole film, people generally still feel that this film wins in story creativity.

Therefore, Lu Yan He never thought that such an original script that had never been seen in the eyes of others could be a script that helps actors impact performance awards.

At this time, Jiang Lan finally finished reading the information Lu Yan He gave her.

Jiang Lan's eyes looking at Lu Yan He were shocked.

Jiang Lan has worked in the entertainment industry for so many years, has seen geniuses, and has seen fast hands, but like Lu Yan He, a screenwriter who can write so many scripts in just a few years, Jiang Lan really hasn't seen a second one.

Most importantly, the quality of his scripts is also very high. He is not the kind of writing-style screenwriter, nor is he the kind of screenwriter who can only write a certain type of subject matter. The era he involves has both modern and ancient costumes, and the subject matter he involves includes romance, comedy, fairy tales, suspense... Jiang Lan even had a moment when she suspected that Lu Yan He had a powerful team behind him to help him create scripts.

This is too productive!

"Station Master Jiang, is there any story you are interested in here?"

Jiang Lan nodded.

"Of course there is, 'Chinese Paladin,' this drama is written according to the structure of a TV series script, right?" Jiang Lan asked, "This is not the volume of a film."

Lu Yan He nodded.

"This is indeed prepared to be written into a TV series script, but this drama is prepared for Zhibai and Yan Liang." He said bluntly, "The three of us don't have a schedule in a short time, and it definitely won't be filmed next year."

As soon as Jiang Lan heard it, her face changed immediately.

"Give this drama to me." Jiang Lan said, "I will use the highest level of resources to push this drama."

Lu Yan He, Li Zhibai, and Yan Liang starring together?

This starring lineup, perhaps except for Lu Yan He himself, no one else can gather it.

Jiang Lan could almost imagine how big an earthquake would be caused once the news of this drama was released.

"Chinese Paladin" is a fairy tale drama with teenagers as the protagonists, and it is different from the current fairy tale dramas that talk about love. This is a drama that seriously talks about chivalry. In the TV series market, this theme has been prosperous for decades and frequently produces explosions.

Jiang Lan couldn't imagine the situation where she didn't grab this drama.

The reason why Lu Yan He put "Chinese Paladin" in it for Jiang Lan to see was also for this purpose.

The three of them will graduate next year.

Other dramas can be dragged back, but "Chinese Paladin" cannot be dragged. This is a drama that should be acted when young. This is also what Lu Yan He had thought about long ago, leaving a commemorative drama for the three of them.

Therefore, once the time is arranged, this drama will start filming the year after next. Then the preliminary preparation work must be started.

Lu Yan He said: "Station Master Jiang, then are you planning to take the exclusive TV broadcast rights for this drama?"

Jiang Lan was stunned.

"TV broadcast rights?"

"I want to keep the copyright of this drama in my own hands." Lu Yan He smiled slightly at Jiang Lan, "I don't want the tragedy of 'Friends' to happen again."

Obviously, the script of "Friends" was written by Lu Yan He, but because the copyright was in the hands of Jingtai, when the conflict between the two sides happened, the person who was out became him.

He will never let himself suffer such a loss again in the future. Especially continuing to cooperate with a partner like Jingtai who has a criminal record, it is not too much to have 800 hearts.

Jiang Lan was silent.

The TV series copyright is not in Jingtai's own hands?

It is not that all TV series broadcast on Jingtai have copyrights in their hands. In fact, most of the TV series broadcast on Jingtai are just copyright dramas, not self-made dramas.

However, those copyright dramas are already filmed by others, made into finished products, and they just spend money to buy broadcast rights.

The situation now is different.

Jiang Lan asked: "Are you planning to film 'Chinese Paladin' yourself?"

Lu Yan He shook his head and said: "Although we have a production company, the manpower is not so sufficient, and there is no experience. This drama must be done by others. 'Chinese Paladin' is special. After all, there is only one script now, and it is also a project I left for myself. If Jingtai wants this drama, you can wait for us to free up our hands, film the drama, and then bid with other TV stations. Or if you are in a hurry, you can prepay the procurement money, and we will form a production team, or you can form it, provided that it meets my requirements."

Jiang Lan looked at Lu Yan He unbelievably.

She really wanted to ask at this time: "Do you think I look stupid?"

Lu Yan He didn't expect Jiang Lan to agree to such outrageous conditions.

He just threw out a condition first, dropped the words here, and then talked slowly later.

But in any case, Lu Yan He was serious about prepaying the procurement money. The original work of "Chinese Paladin" has a volume of 34 episodes, and it is a huge worldview, requiring a lot of special effects production. If you really want to film it well, the investment in this drama starts at at least 200-300 million.

Lu Yan He definitely doesn't have this money to do it himself.

It's too expensive.

He can invest a little himself, but if he invests all by himself, the risk is too great.

Even if Lu Yan He believes that this drama will definitely succeed.

Lu Yan He mentioned "Chinese Paladin" to Jiang Lan today just for this matter.

Jiang Lan didn't answer, but changed the topic.

"Except for 'Paladin,' the others are film scripts." Jiang Lan said.

"Yes, but the fact that 'Rouge' is going to be adapted into two versions of dramas gave me an inspiration. Although they are film scripts, they can also be adapted into dramas." Lu Yan He said, "Just like 'Lost in Journey,' although it has not been officially announced yet, Bingyuan Video has also bought the adaptation rights and will adapt two web dramas based on this concept."

Jiang Lan: "..."

She really wanted to complain that video websites are really stupid and have a lot of money.

Bingyuan Video's adaptation of "Lost in Journey" completely uses only the influence of the name "Lost in Journey" and the concept of "road comedy." Jiang Lan doesn't know how much money Bingyuan Video spent to buy this adaptation right, but it definitely wasn't cheap.

Jiang Lan suddenly understood why Lu Yan He was so "exorbitant" when he mentioned the production of "Chinese Paladin" just now.

This is because the appetite has been raised by the surrounding environment.

Jiang Lan can fully imagine how many people are begging Lu Yan He for cooperation with blank checks, and Lu Yan He can fill in the numbers on them.

Jiang Lan took a deep breath.

She still has to go back and think carefully about the "Chinese Paladin" project.

As for other scripts, Jiang Lan didn't particularly like them because they were not suitable for adaptation into TV series.

"Love Letter" and "Those Years" are youth campus stories, which are not the dishes of Jingtai viewers.

"Telephone" involves dual-space and suspense-thriller elements. This kind of subject matter is adapted into a drama, and it may have vertical viewers when broadcast on video websites, but when placed on TV stations, it can hardly get ratings.

"Dumb and Dumber" was directly eliminated. A comedy story with two male leads, it is huge difficulty to adapt into a TV series.

"The Notebook" is a love story with a very long time span... This is the only story among the remaining stories that looks suitable for Jingtai. However, a love story? Even if this story is very moving, and there is a lot of room for adaptation, but in this era, is there anyone willing to watch such a pure love story?

Jiang Lan is also not sure.

Putting aside other things, these scripts, these stories, each has its highlights and selling points. But they are not very suitable for the channel of a traditional TV station like Jingtai. This is not the era when TV stations were king before.

Jiang Lan hesitated again and again, looked up at Lu Yan He, and asked: "If it were you, which one of these stories do you think would be more attractive to viewers if adapted into a TV series?"

Lu Yan He said: "For video platforms, it must be 'Telephone.' For TV stations... maybe 'The Notebook' is more suitable, but if I were to adapt it, the theme would not just focus on the love story of the protagonists, but would enrich the background of the two protagonists and the background of the era."

In the script of "The Notebook" written by Lu Yan He, this is a Republic of China drama, because the war background involved in it must set the era background here.

Jiang Lan thought about it. According to Lu Yan He's statement, this would be a big project.

If she wants to film a magnificent love epic, why should she adapt "The Notebook"? She might as well find other screenwriters to customize such a script. Twenty years ago, she was willing to invest a lot of resources to do such a project.

Now, she feels that the love epic no longer has such a big market, and it is not worth her making such a big investment.

Therefore, after watching for so long, finally Jiang Lan liked it, but Lu Yan He wanted the condition of "exorbitant," and Jiang Lan felt others were not suitable for Jingtai.

Wasted time.

Jiang Lan said: "We still have to think carefully about how to do 'Chinese Paladin.' Yan He, if you want us to invest in this drama, then we must share the copyright income together."

"I just asked you to prepay the procurement money."

"Isn't that a disguised investment?" Jiang Lan asked with a smile.

Lu Yan He shrugged his shoulders and said: "Neither Aurora Video nor Bingyuan Video will think this is an investment."

Jiang Lan: "They all rely on big capital groups and don't spend money as money. We traditional TV stations now have to spend every penny on the blade."

"《?"

He looked at Jiang Lan with a smile.

Don't sell misery.

Your cash cow was planted by him, Lu Yan He, with great effort.

He knows very well how much money you can make by relying on this drama.

Jiang Lan: "..."

She found Lu Yan He very tricky.

This person is becoming more and more difficult to deal with (fool).

"By the way, Yan He, there is one more thing, I forgot to tell you." Jiang Lan changed the topic.

Lu Yan He asked: "What's the matter?"

Jiang Lan said: "Regarding 'Seventeen Layers,' the third draft of the second season script has been changed. We want to develop a theater version after the second season."

Developing a theater version—that is, a film—for a hot drama, this is not common in other countries and regions, except for Japan, which has made it a convention worldwide.

Even if it became as popular as "Friends" and "The Big Bang Theory," I haven't seen them develop derivative films.

However, Lu Yan He feels that the worldview of "Seventeen Layers" is indeed quite suitable for developing a theater version.

It is itself a genre film of the level-breaking type under the battle royale motif. Whether it is a TV series or a film, such content is generally not restricted by form.

Lu Yan He asked: "Are you planning to let everyone return?"

"Hmm." Jiang Lan nodded, "Just use the original cast of the TV series to film the theater version."

"Is the script written?"

"Not yet, I also want to ask for your opinions first." Jiang Lan said, "Especially your opinion and Chen Bige's opinion."

"What is Sister Bige's opinion?" Lu Yan He asked.

Jiang Lan said: "I haven't asked her yet. I want to hear your opinion first. She will definitely refer to your opinion before making a decision."

Lu Yan He said: "I don't know when this theater version will start filming, but my schedule for next year has basically been given out, and I want to film 'Chinese Paladin' the year after next, so I don't know if the time will be enough."

Jiang Lan said: "The schedule must be coordinated. If it really can't be coordinated, we will wait for your time later. I want to know, would you be willing to act?"

"If it is still the original cast, I am quite willing." Lu Yan He directly expressed his attitude, "However, you have to talk to Sister Ziyan about the specific conditions. I don't have the final say in this regard."

Jiang Lan endured her eye-rolling in one second.

After coming out of Jiang Lan's place, Lu Yan He went to Chen Ziyan's place.

It was Chen Ziyan who asked him to go there.

Not only Chen Ziyan was there, but Lu Qingzhen was also there.

"Sister Ziyan, Sister Qingzhen." Lu Yan He greeted them.

Chen Ziyan said: "Sit down, I called you over today because there is one thing to tell you."

Lu Yan He was a bit surprised, not knowing what Chen Ziyan called him over so solemnly for.

Chen Ziyan said: "Because you are also one of the shareholders of our company, we think you also need to know about this."

Lu Yan He also bought shares in this high-end brokerage service company established by Chen Ziyan and Lu Qingzhen.

He also received dividends at the beginning of this year.

Lu Yan He always forgets these things.

He is really involved in a bit too much now, so he won't remember things that are not often in contact.

Chen Ziyan said: "We want to tell you one thing, I and Sister Qingzhen have been planning for almost half a year, and decided to start."

"Hmm?" Lu Yan He looked at her unexpectedly.

"We are preparing to do brokerage for foreign artists." Chen Ziyan said, "There are almost no brokerage companies in China that do foreign artists, but now our domestic market... especially in recent years, because of policy-level cultural exchanges and other aspects, many programs or other aspects will invite foreign artists to come, including many foreign films released in China, and many foreign artists will come to China for promotion. We all judge that the market for foreign artists in China will slowly increase in the future. If we can seize the opportunity in this area and sign some brokerage agency contracts for artists in the Chinese region, we will make a lot of money in the future."

Lu Yan He nodded.

"Okay, Sister Ziyan." Lu Yan He doesn't understand these, so he believes whatever Chen Ziyan says.

Chen Ziyan shook her head and said: "Yan He, there is one more thing."

"What's the matter?" Lu Yan He asked suspiciously.

Chen Ziyan said: "It's also something we suddenly thought of when we decided to do this. Should we find a powerful brokerage company overseas for you to be responsible for all your affairs overseas? You have more and more work overseas now. In the last few months, you have to go abroad two or three times almost every month, and as you go to Hollywood to film later, this situation will become more and more frequent. Now every time you go out, we are looking for service companies overseas. Of course, their basic service work is okay, but compared with professional brokerage companies, it is definitely a big difference. If it weren't for directors like Mukan who came directly to find you, if you didn't have a brokerage company overseas, it would be almost impossible to get their scripts."

Lu Yan He nodded.

Overseas, if an actor wants to act, the first thing is to find an agent. It is different from the situation in China, because overseas has very complex unions and some other systems, and many mandatory requirements are made, so if you don't have an agent, you can't sign a contract, and you can't sign a play.

Even, you can't get any scripts. Because the scripts of major film and television companies are sent to brokerage companies and controlled by various agents.

Unlike in China, where actors can also be self-employed.

Lu Yan He thought about it and asked: "Does signing a brokerage company overseas to act as my contract agent conflict with my contract with Star Entertainment?"

Chen Ziyan: "I will handle Star Entertainment. Give them some sweetness, and they won't refuse. Besides, your contract with Star Entertainment only has two years left, and it is obvious that we will not renew it with them. They used to try to interfere with your work, but now they have completely given up on this matter."

Lu Yan He: "Signing an overseas brokerage company to act as my overseas brokerage affairs... This is also possible, but my work focus will definitely not be able to be placed overseas in the next few years. In this case, isn't it a waste?"

Chen Ziyan said: "Waste? Yan He, there is nothing that is a waste for you. Just like the film 'The Mist,' according to Hollywood industry convention, your agent can directly take a 10% commission from your 1 million salary, which is 100,000 US dollars. For an agent who is not at the top of the industry, this might be one-third or even one-half of their annual income. You have the salary of 'The Mist' in hand. As long as the news is released, there will be a large number of senior agents competing for the job. Of course, we are not looking for an agent, but a powerful brokerage company." ===== CHAPTER 483 =====