Chapter 587: New Figure

Chen Ziyan was so happy, naturally because work was progressing smoothly in all aspects.

Under the operation of her and Lu Qingzhen, the agency Pick Fire was thriving, not only signing many heavyweight clients but also opening up many management models that were rare in the past.

Excluding the daily management that most agencies have to bear and providing high-end management service content—isn't this also a kind of cost reduction and efficiency increase?

Chen Ziyan's Pick Fire Agency, just as she and Lu Qingzhen designed at the beginning, focused on artists in the film and television circle, slowly opening up the situation, and now began to recruit overseas artists. Although there is only one now, there will be countless ones. To put it small, this is opening up a relatively blank domestic market. To put it big, isn't this also a window for cultural exchange?

People in many countries may not notice the works brought by Chinese actors and singers, but they will pay attention to the movements of artists in their own countries. Why can some shows get the green light in show production and obtain some extra support because they invite influential overseas artists to China to participate in the show? It is nothing more than because relevant departments believe that they can drive overseas public attention to China and understanding of Chinese culture, letting them see these good and kind sides that may have been blocked before.

Chen Ziyan believes that this move of hers must be right.

Therefore, she will promote Caina's development in China well.

If she develops well, naturally other overseas artists will take the initiative to cooperate.

The role in *Squid Game* Season 2, Chen Ziyan wants to position it as a "signing gift," which is the reason.

She wants everyone to know that handing over the management contract in mainland China to Pick Fire is not a loss.

The main point is the effect of "will not treat you badly."

By mid-to-late April, the Jump Up Theater, scheduled to start broadcasting on the first Sunday night of May, began vigorous publicity.

This time, the released trailer was not a play, but a mix of several films that had already been filmed.

This theater seemed determined to establish a theater concept, rather than simply gathering a few plays into a so-called theater.

Yuehu TV held a grand media meeting to introduce this theater, and several announced creators came to the scene to meet everyone.

When asked why she wanted to do this theater, Chen Siqi said frankly and generously: "First, I want to further improve the popularity and influence of our *Jump Up* magazine and media. Second, because my boyfriend is a person in the entertainment industry, doing this theater can rub off on his halo."

"Filming a movie in a week, won't the time be too rushed? Will the quality of the films filmed this way be very poor?" A reporter asked.

Lu Yan He said bluntly: "The fifteen-minute segment I had in *Three Mountains* was filmed in one night. Shooting time and quality are not absolutely proportional."

Chen Siqi also explained: "Why is it a week? Actually, the reason is very simple. In order to control costs and reduce risks, only then can more newcomer directors who have not directed works get the opportunity to direct in this theater. Opportunities need costs. No one can be a philanthropist who doesn't care about returns in a long-term project. One movie a week, such a large production volume, if you don't compress the production time and follow the traditional film and television production mode, no platform can support the production cost, and it is almost impossible to make a profit. Therefore, the stories we choose are also those that are not complicated in shooting and can be reasonably filmed within a week to adapt the script."

"Such a large production volume, will it affect the tension and shortage of production talent in the entertainment industry to a certain extent? Why choose the mode of one movie a week instead of one movie a month? This seems to be more able to create boutique works?"

"It's a very simple truth. If I want to create boutique works, should I find a mature team to film it, or hand it over to a team that is mostly newcomers?" Chen Siqi smiled slightly, "Boutique dramas have the practices of boutique dramas. The positioning of Jump Up Theater is not this. Everyone doesn't need to have too high expectations for Jump Up Theater, thinking that it can make high-quality dramas. We all know that this is very difficult. Content creation is always a high-risk thing. We don't know what the audience will like, but what we can guarantee is that we must be doing a work with 100% sincerity and effort within limited resources. Our hope for Jump Up Theater is not that it becomes a benchmark theater for our boutique dramas. We hope it becomes a cradle for creators. In the future, amazing directors, screenwriters, and actors will come out of this theater, and photographers, costume designers, lighting engineers, etc., who can stand on their own will come out."

Afterwards, the responsible executives of Yuehu TV and Polar Lights Video also took the stage for a conversation.

They talked about why they would support doing such a theater. A traditional TV station and a video platform both talked about: "The film and television production personnel are increasingly concentrated on a few people and teams, especially under the influence of cost reduction and efficiency increase, many waist-level projects are cut, and young directors and actors have no chance to stand out. Jump Up Theater has made a great contribution to this industry. It is a unique theater that gives young people opportunities on a large scale. As a platform, we may not earn much profit on this project, but we can discover and accumulate a batch of excellent production talent for our other projects, including the fact that we have already discovered and signed several directors through this theater. From a long-term perspective, the return it brings to us is greater."

This media meeting did not focus on the star effect of traditional film and television dramas. To a certain extent, it was more like a forum in the industry field.

The discussion and heated debate it triggered were not only at the public level, but also in the industry.

It can be said that the current situation in the film and television circle is not that no one has noticed, nor that no one has said it.

However, when others say it, it is often regarded as complaining, regarded as someone "not being appreciated," or even if they realize that this is indeed a problem, under the general environment, no one has the ability to change it. Even if they hold a sack of money to compete with others for a big hit screenwriter, they are not willing to give a newcomer screenwriter a chance at a cabbage price of one thousand yuan per episode—even if they give it, the signature right will be taken away.

Lu Yan He and the others stated the positioning of Jump Up Theater without reservation in such a public occasion, playing open cards, promoting newcomers, this posture is tantamount to a declaration. And they are going to do this, and this is worth doing.

At this time, will you others follow?

How to follow? -

"In any industry, the more people compete, the more opportunities newcomers have to stand out, and the more prosperous it is. Otherwise, it will always be big fish eating small fish, small fish eating shrimp. The entertainment industry, a place where dreams are made for the audience, has become a feudal dynasty with solidified classes. Over time, it is all rotten old antiques, and there are so-called conventional unspoken rules."

This is the Weibo updated by entertainment critic Guan Su Chen after the Jump Up Theater media meeting.

This Weibo also triggered a lot of discussion.

But it was also like a needle, stabbing into some people's hearts.

"Are you planning to film a play for Jump Up Theater?"

*True Crossroads* director Liu Zhijiang is a veteran director in the circle. Even if the *True Crossroads* filmed with Jiang Yuqian had poor results, in his resume, this is just an insignificant failure.

Veteran directors like Liu Zhijiang generally have their own fixed teams and apprentices.

In this line of work, the phenomenon of master-apprentice inheritance still retains a lot. Although criticized, it exists stubbornly and firmly—

The real entertainment industry is actually too small, and the competition is so fierce. The nature of this line of work determines that resources are always in the hands of a very few people. People are inevitably selfish. If it is not a master-apprentice relationship, why should others hand over the skills they have honed for half their lives to you, and why should they take you to mix in this circle.

It's just that some have become true masters and apprentices, such as the editing master and apprentice Wu Chi and Zhao Yuan.

And some have mutated.

Liu Zhijiang also has his own apprentice, Chen Yu. Over the years, Chen Yu has been following him, from assistant director to co-director.

In all fairness, Liu Zhijiang feels that he is really good to Chen Yu. Personally leading, teaching hand-in-hand, feeding resources, giving opportunities, every project has his share. It's fine for other people who have no chance to direct works to go to Jump Up to find projects, but what is there for Chen Yu to go to?

Chen Yu said: "Master, there is a script at Jump Up Theater. I saw it. I contacted them, and they are also willing to let me direct. I have been learning from you before and have never directed independently. Now there is finally an opportunity, I want to try it myself. This play only takes a week to film, and it won't affect our company's projects."

Liu Zhijiang's face was a bit ugly.

From the bottom of his heart, he really didn't want Chen Yu to film that play.

It's not that he was afraid that Chen Yu would go out on his own from now on. If he was really worried about this, he wouldn't have taken him to be a co-director so quickly and given him a signature. Liu Zhijiang just felt that if Chen Yu went to Jump Up Theater to film at this time, he would lose face.

His apprentice, Liu Zhijiang's apprentice, still needs to go to Jump Up Theater to find opportunities?

Liu Zhijiang is also an old gun in the entertainment industry. If such a thing really happened, he would naturally feel that he lost face.

Losing face is not a small matter.

Chen Yu said: "Teacher, I really want to try it."

Chen Yu said so, Liu Zhijiang was unhappy, but he couldn't stop it directly. One, he is not such a person, not necessarily wanting to keep everyone by his side. Two, if he really stopped it, it would make Chen Yu have a rift in his heart, as if he didn't want Chen Yu to get such an opportunity.

Liu Zhijiang hesitated for a moment and said: "If you want to go, of course I won't stop you, but you think clearly for yourself, what kind of quality those plays in Jump Up Theater will be, no one knows, and filming a play in a week, you have filmed so many plays with me, you should know how difficult it is. You are already the co-director of my last play. In my opinion, you don't need to use such a small production as your debut for independent directing. The risk is too great."

Chen Yu said: "Teacher, I have been by your side, received a lot of care, and have never fought alone. If you let me direct a big project as soon as I get started, I don't have that courage. I just happen to think that such a project is relatively small and suitable for me to practice. After accumulating experience through the Jump Up Theater project, I can also prepare for directing feature films in the future."

"Okay, since you have thought it through, go ahead." Liu Zhijiang nodded.

He didn't show it on the surface, but he was still a bit uncomfortable in his heart.

"Teacher." Chen Yu seemed to have something to say.

"What's wrong?" Liu Zhijiang asked, "Worried that I'm angry? Am I such a narrow-minded person?"

Saying so on his mouth, he was indeed still unhappy in his heart.

Liu Zhijiang thought, if this matter spreads, it might be said by others.

Chen Yu smiled, and a look of pleading appeared on his face.

"Teacher, I only communicated with them by video twice, and I don't know Lu Yan He and the others at all." Chen Yu said, "I want to set up a game, ask you to take me to introduce them, otherwise I will just go over, and they don't know what to take me as."

Liu Zhijiang was stunned.

He rolled his eyes at Chen Yu.

"Then you ask me to take you to know at this time, why didn't you ask me to say hello to them before you contacted them?" In this way, this opportunity can also be said to be his introduction, so as not to make him lose face.

Chen Yu smiled shamelessly and said: "How do I know if they will want me? If they look down on me, I have to rely on you to say hello for me. That's too shameful. I lose face, and I also implicate you in losing face."

Liu Zhijiang looked at his student with disgust. The expression on his face was disgusted, but he felt a little more comfortable in his heart.

"Okay, then you make an appointment yourself, and tell me when the time and place are set."

Chen Yu smiled and said: "Thank you, Teacher."

He said again: "This play will be finished soon, and it won't delay our company's next project. Teacher, you will still leave the opportunity of co-director to me, right?"

"You are directing a play independently, and you are still co-directing with me?"

"How many catties and taels am I, don't you know, Teacher? I have to continue to accumulate skills." Chen Yu said.

Liu Zhijiang felt really comfortable this time.

Still okay.

Fortunately, I didn't bring out a white-eyed wolf.

Speaking of which, when you are young, you should have some ambition, otherwise you will always follow him to film, and when you film to the monkey year and horse month, you will still be his student. In the eyes of others, you are still a child who has not been weaned.

Liu Zhijiang looked at Chen Yu with satisfaction.

"*Squid Game* Season 2 has been determined that there is no role for you." Agent He Heng said to Jiang Yuqian, "Next month we will finish filming *Mysterious Shadow*, and there will be no new filming plans later. We can't keep brushing our faces in overseas projects. We still have to act in some heavyweight roles. Now the only female lead in our stock is *Phone*."

Jiang Yuqian nodded and said: "Sister Heng, Director Liu Zhijiang contacted me a few days ago, saying that there is a project later, and he wants me to act as the female lead. His script is still finishing, and after the script is done, it will be sent over. Let's consider this one."

"Director Liu Zhijiang?" He Heng hesitated, "The *True Crossroads* you cooperated with him before, the results were so bad, are you still willing to cooperate with him?"

"Although the ratings data of this drama is very bad, this has nothing to do with the director. Isn't the serious drama like this? It's just that I didn't carry it, making others feel that this project is too bad. If it wasn't for me as the lead, and changing to a powerful actress to act, the popularity would not be so high, and everyone would not feel that this drama is a big street." Jiang Yuqian said very calmly, "The subject he wants to film this time is not a serious subject, but a costume suspense investigation type drama, and I didn't immediately agree to take it. After the script comes over, we will make a decision."

He Heng nodded.

"Although Director Liu is very senior, he is indeed a bit unable to keep up with the current era and market. In recent years, the results of the dramas directed are not very good." He Heng was still a bit hesitant about continuing to cooperate with Liu Zhijiang, "Yuqian, do you still want to win an award?"

"No." Jiang Yuqian shook her head decisively, "Sister Heng, I have thought very clearly about whether to win an award or not, but as you said, I still need a heavyweight play, a heavyweight role, just like *Squid Game*. I can't take that kind of big drama that has to stay in the group for several months. My time cannot be consumed. I need exposure to maintain my current popularity. I consider these factors when taking plays. Just like we communicated before, you don't have to worry about this."

He Heng breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.

She was afraid that Jiang Yuqian would change her mind.

Jiang Yuqian: "Actually, I acted in two roles in *Perfect Truth* and *Mysterious Shadow* this year, which is about the same. It's just because my scenes in these two plays are not much, and they all ended in the first half of the year. Then I can't keep going out to find some supporting roles to act in the second half of the year. Cooperating with Director Liu Zhijiang, one is familiar, and the other is because he is a bit unable to keep up with the current market, but it is also because of the subject matter he filmed. This time he is willing to film a costume investigation that the market likes, so of course I can look at the script again. His script is also a short drama, and the filming time seems to be only fifty or sixty days, which will not be very long."

"That's true." He Heng nodded, "Actually, I am thinking, maybe I can communicate with Director Wu Zhouyou, if there is a suitable role in *Gold Rush* Season 2, you can go to act in a heavyweight role. This drama also has many audiences all over the world. Although it is a bit worse than *Squid Game*, it has the foundation of the first part anyway, and the attention of the second part will not be bad."

Jiang Yuqian thought for a moment and said: "Then you help me contact it, I can make a special appearance."

"Hmm." He Heng nodded.

This Friday, the originally calm film market suddenly exploded with a dark horse.

Another film starring Xu Yiren.

*Someone Under the Bed*.

A film with thriller elements.

Last year, Xu Yiren flew to become a big heroine of the box office dark horse film by virtue of *The Home I Haven't Returned to for a Long Time*.

Unexpectedly, this year she brought a low-cost thriller that was not favored by the market before its release, and exploded with a box office of 210 million in the first three days of the first weekend.

For a time, many people around Lu Yan He were discussing this film.

He also took time to watch this film with Chen Siqi.

The film story is actually very simple. It tells the story of an internet anchor played by Xu Yiren who is targeted by a male fan, followed, and even secretly sneaked into her home by the other party, peeping, and even participating in her life, until she discovered it... It tells the story against the background of such a live broadcast era.

It has the same effect as *The Home I Haven't Returned to for a Long Time*.

"Xu Yiren is indeed suitable for acting in this kind of urban woman." Lu Yan He commented, "Her acting skills have improved much more than in *The Home I Haven't Returned to for a Long Time*."

This actress, who is also very troublesome and difficult to deal with, seems to have walked a path that belongs to her.

Chen Siqi said: "Indeed, Xu Yiren's two consecutive films of this type have achieved box office success. I am afraid that in the next three to five years, stories about urban women counter-killing criminals will emerge one after another. In fact, there have been several followers before, but they were filmed crudely and didn't make any waves, but *Someone Under the Bed* succeeded again. It seems that this type of subject matter really has a market."

Lu Yan He: "It seems like 'The Phone' can bask in some of the reflected glory now."

Chen Siqi: "That's true, when will *Phone* be released?"

"Just finished filming, rushing the post-production, but it will be the end of the year at the fastest." Lu Yan He said, "If it was finished a few months earlier and caught the summer file, maybe under the drive of *Someone Under the Bed*, the box office could be much more."

Chen Siqi: "That's not necessary. Starring Jiang Yuqian and Wang Jing, and you as the screenwriter, this lineup actually doesn't need to rub off on other films. Moreover, *Phone* itself is a big commercial film, and the subject creativity is OK. As long as it is not the Spring Festival file, it is suitable for release. If *Phone* really needs to rub off on other plays, it is *Squid Game*. The film starring the first and second female leads of *Squid Game* should still have topicality, right? I estimate that there can be a lot of topicality overseas."

Lu Yan He nodded.

"This time *Phone* will also go to the Hexi Film Festival to contact overseas film merchants to see the market." Lu Yan He said.

"Will Sister Yuqian go?" Chen Siqi asked.

Lu Yan He: "Will go, she and Wang Jing will go over. They both have brand sponsorships and need to go to the Hexi Film Festival to attend brand activities."

"That's quite good." Chen Siqi nodded, "At that time, you can also invite them to attend our dinner."

At this Hexi Film Festival, Chen Siqi also took the *Jump Up* team to organize a dinner there to warm up for the International Film Critics Forum in June.

Obviously, because two Chinese films *Love Letter* and *Fake Death Won't Work* were shortlisted for the main competition unit, many Chinese filmmakers will appear at this Hexi Film Festival. Many activities have also been organized, just like the dinner Chen Siqi wants to organize. ===== CHAPTER 588 =====