Chapter 649: Opportunity

In this industry, there are really too many actors who are unknown and desperately need an opportunity.

The moment Lu Yan He saw so many people, his subconscious reaction was to want to turn around, avoid them, and leave from another exit.

Of course, he didn't do that.

He couldn't do that either.

That would be too hurtful.

Zou Dong and Wang Biao moved very skillfully, one on the left and one on the right, stepping forward to block diagonally in front of Lu Yan He, preparing to clear the way for him.

Lu Yan He took a deep breath, showed a big smile, and didn't wait for them to speak; he spoke first.

"Everyone hasn't left yet?"

The actors waiting in the lobby didn't seem to expect Lu Yan He to take the initiative to speak to them.

"Lu Zong, we, we want... want..." The person guarding at the very front spoke stammeringly, but couldn't explain a sentence clearly for a long time.

"We want to ask, do actors like us... have a chance?" Next to her, a young woman with a not-so-good image and an ordinary appearance asked.

Lu Yan He had an impression of this actor; she was an actor recommended by Liu Bige.

She had acted for many years, had good acting skills, and was very good at playing the role of a street shrew, having played a large number of such roles in the past.

Others also looked at Lu Yan He eagerly.

Lu Yan He nodded with a smile and said: "Regarding the audition results today, I don't remember the specifics for everyone. They will contact everyone later. However, even if this drama doesn't work out, there are other dramas. Today at the audition site, I saw many actors who, in my opinion, are not suitable for *2 Broke Girls* but are very suitable for my other projects."

"We have always been meeting crews and auditioning," someone said. "But everyone says that only your auditions here are real auditions."

"We are not clear about the situation in other places, but our Linghe and *Jump Up* theater do have many projects that need auditions and actors every year," Lu Yan He said. "Moreover, as long as everyone has auditioned, we will collect them into a database. If there are suitable roles, we will contact everyone to audition."

"So for this drama *2 Broke Girls*, will all the leads really be selected from auditions? Won't you use big stars?" someone asked.

Lu Yan He nodded: "This drama needs some actors who are not familiar to the audience, so we held auditions on a large scale just to find actors. This drama has a great demand from resident roles to guest roles. You being able to get an audition invitation must mean you have been considered by the casting team to fit the characteristics of one of the roles in some aspect."

"That's great."

Lu Yan He smiled and cheered them on.

"Everyone, keep it up."

"Lu Zong, please must persist."

"If even you don't use us small actors, maybe we really won't have a chance."

"We are all very cheap."

Lu Yan He nodded very seriously.

"We will work hard, and please everyone continue to support us."

Lu Yan He chatted with them for a while and finally managed to leave.

After getting in the car, Chen Siqi was surprised and asked: "Why did you come out so late? Didn't you send me a message half an hour ago saying you were coming down?"

"There were many auditioning actors left in the lobby waiting for me," Lu Yan He said. "I chatted with them for a while."

"I see," Chen Siqi asked. "How was the audition today?"

"Saw a few good actors," Lu Yan He said. "But I still need to use more detailed scripts to test the acting and see the suitability."

"However, I didn't expect you to invite more than a hundred people to audition."

"This is just the first batch; there is another batch tomorrow," Lu Yan He said. "I am also looking at actors for *Home Alone* by the way. This film is also going to start filming in January next year."

Chen Siqi said: "There aren't that many roles in this film, right?"

"Yes, very few," Lu Yan He nodded. "So I am preparing to select them together."

"Then did you see anyone you liked?"

"Not for now today," Lu Yan He shook his head. "We have already sent audition invitations to those actors in the comedy circle whose appearances are relatively suitable. The roles of the two thieves still need deep acting skills. Actors with insufficient performance experience may still be unable to handle it."

"Hmm," Chen Siqi nodded.

"By the way, have you decided on the chairman of the jury for the Lingyun Awards (drama category)? Are you taking this job?"

"I haven't officially replied yet, but I will probably take it if Chen Hengyi insists," Lu Yan He said. "I have already managed to keep myself clean, and to help the world... don't laugh at me for thinking too much and too big. Within my ability, I hope to do a little more things that can promote the progress of this industry. The Lingyun Awards (drama category) are willing to make such an attempt and need me..."

Lu Yan He couldn't explain clearly what his thoughts were.

However, Chen Siqi nodded.

She knew very well what Lu Yan He was thinking.

"I understand."

Lu Yan He was stunned.

Chen Siqi: "I also support you in what you want to do."

"What is your opinion on *2 Broke Girls*, the new drama made by Lu Yan He's company?"

At an internal meeting of Bingyuan Video, several executives sat together and discussed the drama *2 Broke Girls*.

Although this drama is still in the preparation stage, because it is a script idea provided by Lu Yan He, it was paid attention to by major platforms early on.

*Friends* and *My Own Swordsman* have achieved gratifying results, and *2 Broke Girls* has come again.

Moreover, it is still a youth-oriented sitcom.

This made many people link it to *Friends* for the first time, feeling that perhaps *2 Broke Girls* could be another drama that could create the myth of *Friends*.

"However, this drama is not written by Lu Yan He himself. Although the script idea is provided by him, there is still a difference from him writing it himself, right?" someone said.

"Although he didn't write it himself, I heard that every episode of the script has to be nodded through by him. There is no need to talk about Lu Yan He's eye for scripts, right?" "The production cost of this drama is very low, all using unknown actors, which is the same as *Co-renting Men and Women* made by their Linghe before. Whether it can be popular is not certain."

"That drama *Co-renting Men and Women* went to Beijiguang in the end. Do you know when Beijiguang plans to broadcast it?"

"It seems they are preparing to put it on in March or April next year. The second season of *My Own Swordsman* is to be broadcast during the Spring Festival. They wouldn't let dramas from the same company compete. They are all sitcoms, and they can't compete."

"The sitcoms we have made in recent years have not met expectations. It's a pity. Up to now, the only sitcoms that can reach the popularity of *Friends* and *My Own Swordsman* are still only these two."

"But none of the sitcoms we made lost money; they all made money, just not as expected. The basic market for sitcoms is much higher than other types, and everyone's demand for comedy is still very strong."

"For *2 Broke Girls*, how much do you think we should bid per episode to grab it from Beijiguang? Now the dramas Linghe broadcasts on our Bingyuan are basically broadcast in conjunction with Beijiguang; we didn't get exclusive broadcast."

"How can it be lower than the purchase price of an A-level production?"

"A-level? This drama is a sitcom made by no famous directors, a bunch of newcomer screenwriters, and a bunch of unknown actors, and the investment is also very low. Why should we give it an A-level production purchase price? Just because the script idea of this drama comes from Lu Yan He?"

"Yes, just because this drama has Lu Yan He's name on it," someone said immediately. "Is that still not enough? Not enough? Don't talk about the purchase price of an A-level project; even at such a price, Linghe might not buy it."

"Are you planning to offer the purchase price of an S-level project? Are you crazy?!"

Please... collect 6... 9... book.... bar....!

"Based on the situation of Linghe's recent projects, they will definitely want a low price + dividend model."

"For a 'three-no' drama, if you do this, the risk is too great. What about investment promotion? Are there brands willing to invest?"

"We have communicated with some brand parties. Because *2 Broke Girls* is a sitcom with a modern life background, even if there are no famous actors participating, there are many fast-moving consumer brands willing to invest in advertising," said the person in charge of advertising investment promotion. "As long as this drama carries the three words Lu Yan He, advertisers don't even look at the script and unconditionally believe in Lu Yan He."

For a time, no one spoke.

"Actually, it would be great if *2 Broke Girls* was a drama invested and produced by our Bingyuan."

"*2 Broke Girls* is a drama series produced solely by Linghe and does not accept outside investment. They are not short of money now. It is an obviously profitable project, and the production cost is small. How could they let out the investment share to you?"

"Linghe is too strong. I still have to say, even if this drama really explodes and is very popular in the end, it is ultimately a copyright bureau. The copyright is not in the hands of our Bingyuan and doesn't have our surname."

"Even if the performance of *2 Broke Girls* only reaches half of *Friends*, it is enough to become the drama king of our Bingyuan Video. So what if it doesn't have our surname?"

"I think, why don't we go talk to Lu Yan He and them, like Beijiguang, and talk to them about a cooperation framework."

"How could they still want to carry out framework cooperation with a second video platform now? Every project they come out with, all platforms are grabbing it. Only projects like *Chinese Paladin* with an investment of hundreds of millions, which their Linghe cannot eat alone, have the qualifications for us to participate."

"If you ask me, instead of buying their projects one by one, it's better to throw money and buy Linghe, this company, in one go."

"Too many people think so. I heard that a private equity fund went to talk to Linghe last month, offering 800 million to buy Linghe, and didn't even see Lu Yan He's face."

"800 million is too little. Just the few copyright IPs of Linghe are worth more than 800 million. The derivative value of one *Squid Game* is worth more than 800 million."

"I am talking about 800 million US dollars."

(This data is adapted from a Hollywood actress who sold her film production company for 900 million US dollars in 2021)

For a time, the room was quiet.

"Lu Yan He has released words to the outside world that Linghe is a company he established out of interest and hobbies, mainly serving himself. At the current stage, he does not consider any financing, shareholding, and even less considers selling to others."

At this moment, no one said anything anymore.

800 million US dollars, Lu Yan He refused directly without changing his face.

Among those present, who has such courage?

"Are you really not considering selling the company to others at all?"

Hua Ruzhen sat in front of Lu Yan He and asked.

Lu Yan He nodded.

"Yes, I... I quite enjoy the current status quo, at least everything is in my own hands," Lu Yan He said. "For me now, selling the company and earning more money is just a number. It can only stay in my account."

"You have to know, this money, you can completely use it to make several more Linghes."

"What do I need to make so many Linghes for? One is enough," Lu Yan He smiled.

"Okay," Hua Ruzhen said. "If you have this idea, contact me at any time. The fund behind me is also interested in Linghe, this company. Our offer will definitely not be lower than other companies."

Lu Yan He smiled.

"What is Director Mukan doing recently? How is the script for *The Mist 2* coming along?"

Hua Ruzhen said: "He has already revised the script for *The Mist 2* several rounds with A19, but both sides are not very satisfied."

"Can this still catch up with filming next year?"

"It will definitely catch up, unless there is a big problem with the script," Hua Ruzhen said. "After you filmed *Hurricane 2* before, you never took any Hollywood films again. Are you considering it later?"

"Not considering commercial films for the time being. If there are other good projects, I will consider them," Lu Yan He said. "I have filmed quite a few commercial films in these two years, and I want to film something different."

"Hmm," Hua Ruzhen nodded.

She said again: "By the way, in the future, if your company's projects need investment, look for me at any time. Your projects are definitely a priority for me."

"Good, that's great," Lu Yan He said with a smile. "Linghe has been doing small-cost projects for these few years. Actually, besides *Chinese Paladin*, we also have some other projects with slightly larger investments that we want to do, but the company's cash flow is only so big, and sometimes we really need to get some money from the outside."

Hua Ruzhen nodded.

"I'll tell you one thing," she suddenly said to Lu Yan He. "There was a script in Hollywood before that wanted to find you, but it was intercepted. I guess you don't even know about this. I also heard it when I was chatting with others about gossip."

"Ah?"

"Lunei Ries is developing a new film called *Doomsday*, a science fiction film, dual male leads. One of the male leads is Asian. Lunei's first choice was originally you, but before he even contacted your agent, someone heard the news and tried to change his mind. Now that role has fallen on someone else."

"Who? Do I know him?" Lu Yan He asked curiously.

"He is also a very famous male actor in China, two rounds older than you. They even changed the script for him and adjusted the character's age," Hua Ruzhen said. "Chen Pinhe, have you dealt with him?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 650 =====