Chapter 947

In *Prison Break*, there are several very classic characters.

However, in order to control costs, except for the male lead Yang Shiyi, Lu Yan He prepared to audition unknown actors for all other roles. One is out of practical consideration for salary, the second is to give more actors opportunities, and the third is out of the positioning of this drama. It mainly wants to occupy the overseas market. Those famous actors in China also have no popularity in the overseas market, which is not significant.

And for China, having Yang Shiyi alone, plus Lu Yan He's screenwriting, is enough, and the performance will definitely not be bad.

Thus, Arctic Light Video launched a vigorous audition in the industry.

Moreover, Arctic Light Video directly turned this audition into a live broadcast format—

Used to advance the promotion of the drama *Prison Break*, and also earned a wave of advertising fees first.

Well, people watching the live broadcast were also shocked. An actor audition live broadcast, can also sell ads?

Facts proved that Arctic Light Video not only sold it, but also sold more than one ad.

*Prison Break*, starring Yang Shiyi and written by Lu Yan He, took the lead in meeting everyone on behalf of Linghe Theater.

One season, six episodes.

Forty minutes per episode.

"The first season and the second season are basically filmed back-to-back. The number of episodes per season is so small, mainly because it is limited by the tight broadcast time, so time needs to be left for post-production."

Chen Yin recorded a video specifically introducing the situation of *Prison Break*.

This is also one of the early promotions for *Prison Break*.

Hanging everyone's appetite bit by bit.

Including telling everyone from the production concept what kind of drama this is to be produced.

"Lu Yan He has a very grand and long-term plan for this story. Originally, if it weren't for the collaboration with Arctic Light Video, this drama would have been his first English drama."

Appetite hung up.

"Few episodes can maximize not sacrificing production quality because of tight filming time," Chen Yin said with a smile. "Therefore, although we predict that some audiences will take a wait-and-see attitude because the number of episodes is too small, compared to attracting audiences temporarily, we hope to attract audiences season by season, continuously."

Speaking to this point, to some extent, it is to shape the boutique positioning of the drama *Prison Break* in advance.

However, for a drama, if you want to do such an expected positioning, you must be careful not to over-raise the audience's expectations for it. Otherwise, an eight-point drama is made, just because the audience's expectation for it is nine points, but the reputation is not good.

Therefore, the information released by Chen Yin is very selective.

Talk about conceptual things, but do not make constructive descriptions in any specific aspects.

Talk about some concepts in production, but do not introduce any benchmarking for this drama.

In short, this drama is still in the specific filming stage.

There is no need to hang too high an appetite at the beginning.

You are not *Journey to the West* or *Dream of the Red Chamber*, with a great reputation, and can withstand the nitpicking of so many people for so many years.

Even if it is *Journey to the West* or *Dream of the Red Chamber*, there are still people who don't like them, saying they are not as good as their reputation.

"Why do you want to make a drama like *Prison Break*?"

When Lu Yan He was eating with director Chen Lingling, Chen Lingling suddenly asked.

Lu Yan He said: "Because this is a drama specifically created for the international version of Arctic Light Video. I did want to do this drama in Hollywood at the beginning, making an American drama with an American cultural background and starring Americans. This drama... well, how should I put it? I hope it can completely hook the audience to watch it episode by episode with the hook of the story itself. It is that kind of pure story rhythm. No matter which episode you start watching from, you can be attracted."

Chen Lingling nodded.

"You write scripts, and the starting point stands in a very strategic position. I admire you for this," she said.

Lu Yan He smiled embarrassedly.

"The main reason is also that I write down whatever stories and themes I think of, and then according to different needs, I go to these script libraries and idea libraries to find suitable ones," Lu Yan He explained. "Director, actually, I have a project here that I want to invite you to handle."

After Lu Yan He collaborated with Chen Lingling on *Phoenix Terrace* and *Silent River*, they never collaborated again.

However, the connection between him and Chen Lingling has never been broken over the years.

They basically make an appointment a few times a year to eat and chat.

Originally, *Silent River* was going to develop a second season, and it was said that Lu Yan He would write the script.

But because Lu Yan He had too many projects of his own, and Lu Yan He couldn't hold the master control of the second season at all, it was left unsettled later.

Until now, the second season of *Silent River* has not been developed.

Chen Lingling asked: "Which work do you want me to direct? It won't be *Prison Break*, right?"

Lu Yan He shook his head with a smile.

The style of *Prison Break* is too far from Chen Lingling.

"It's not *Prison Break*, nor is it a ready-made script," Lu Yan He said. "So far, I have never written a serious costume drama. If you don't count martial arts themes like *Dragon Inn* or fairy themes like *Chinese Paladin*, it is a real costume drama like *Phoenix Terrace*."

"Yeah," Chen Lingling nodded. "You really write few plays in this regard."

"I have an idea for a costume drama now, and I want to invite you to direct it," Lu Yan He said. "A story about revenge."

"Oh?" Chen Lingling was a little surprised, "Revenge?"

The guard played by Lu Yan He in *Phoenix Terrace* is actually a revenge character.

Lu Yan He said: "A story about someone everyone thought was dead, but actually escaped death and rebuilt his bones, reappearing with another face, wanting to overturn a tragedy."

Chen Lingling was a little surprised and asked: "You said your script is not finished yet."

"Yes, the script is not finished yet, but I have already thought about what the whole story is like," Lu Yan He said. "I want to make this drama a Linghe Theater project in collaboration with Arctic Light, and prepare it. Of course, this drama will definitely not be finished in a year or two, so I need to communicate with you in advance."

Chen Lingling asked: "You haven't officially started the first year of collaboration with Arctic Light Video, and you are already preparing for the second or even third year?"

Lu Yan He nodded: "I believe this script will be successful."

Chen Lingling was silent for a moment.

"Then tell me in detail about your script, what kind of story it is."

"The name of this story is *Nirvana in Fire*."

If you ask which drama Lu Yan He thinks is most likely to be liked by overseas audiences in overseas distribution among Chinese TV dramas, Lu Yan He chooses two types of themes first: one is crime reasoning, and the other is costume power struggle.

The former is the hard currency theme with the least barriers in the international market, and the latter is because power struggle is also a hard currency in themes.

However, Chinese costume power struggle dramas have a very big shortcoming in going overseas, which is translation.

Not so many people understand China's cultural background.

Many proper nouns may not be able to find accurate translations.

However, for the story *Nirvana in Fire*, Lu Yan He believes that its structure and theme are the type that can be eaten both ancient and modern, domestic and foreign.

First, the setting of "revenge + power struggle" is a classic narrative itself.

Secondly, there are many "wisdom fighting" segments in *Nirvana in Fire*. It is not complicated. On the contrary, its design is actually easy to understand.

From the story text, Lu Yan He believes that *Nirvana in Fire* is a drama that can be tried to go overseas.

Therefore, Lu Yan He found Chen Lingling. Chen Lingling is the director Lu Yan He knows who has the most ability and qualifications to make such a big costume power struggle drama.

Moreover, she also has experience collaborating with overseas streaming media. *Silent River* was produced for the global market.

Style, rhythm, collaboration with international production teams, etc., Chen Lingling is familiar with—these "background knowledge" can effectively reduce communication costs.

"Then are you acting in this drama?"

"I can't act," Lu Yan He shook his head. "Although I want to act."

Mei Changsu is still a character very worth acting.

Chen Lingling said: "I can direct, but the condition is that you act as Mei Changsu."

Lu Yan He: "..."

Chen Lingling's expression was resolute, saying: "This condition is not negotiable."

Lu Yan He: "..."

Chen Lingling said: "If you star, I will work for you."

Lu Yan He: "... I have too many projects to act in."

"Didn't you say this project is not in a hurry to go online? Start filming next year? Start filming the year after? It's all fine," Chen Lingling said. "In this way, I can pick another one from your projects to do and help you film another one."

Lu Yan He: "Director—"

"The conditions I gave are already very good. Think about it."

Producer Huangcheng, who has collaborated with her for decades, laughed: "Director Chen just wants to collaborate with you again."

Lu Yan He looked at Chen Lingling with some emotion.

Chen Lingling: "How about it?"

Lu Yan He scratched his head, sighed, hesitated for a few seconds, and said: "Alright then."

Chen Lingling: "That's more like it."

"Then what else will you help me film?" Lu Yan He asked.

Chen Lingling said: "It depends on you. If you have any projects on hand that you want me to direct, I can take a look. If not, I also have a few suitable ones in my hand. You see which one you are interested in and want to do together, and I will go to Arctic Light, let them buy it, put it in Linghe Theater, and let Linghe produce it together."

Lu Yan He nodded immediately: "This can be done."

His eyes lit up.

"Why don't I see what projects you have in your hand?"

If Lu Yan He had any projects on hand that he wanted to invite Chen Lingling to direct, he would have said it the first time.

Chen Lingling: "Why don't you look at the drama *Tile Light*."

"What is this?"

"A drama I have always wanted to do. Because there are only five episodes, no matter how I calculate, I can't recover the cost, so it has never been done," Chen Lingling said. "I contacted several video platforms, and none of them could support me in doing this project."

Lu Yan He said: "Too few episodes make it difficult to sell ads, so it's difficult to recover costs. Then how much does this drama cost to produce?"

"At least 20 million per episode. This is a palace drama, and I want to restore it 1:1," Chen Lingling said. "Tell the story of the rise and fall of a woman in the harem."

Lu Yan He thought for a moment and said: "At least 100 million production budget as a base, this is indeed a big cost, no wonder—"

Huangcheng: "Why did you bring this up to Yan He again, this—"

Lu Yan He said: "It's okay, why don't you give me the script and production plan, and I'll let Chen Yin see if there is any way to find a profitable production model."

Chen Lingling: "I don't want to put implants in the plot."

"I hate this the most," Lu Yan He said. "If it really doesn't work, just give it up. Let's take a look first."

"Okay," Chen Lingling said. "If this can't be done, then look at others."

Huangcheng immediately said: "Yan He, don't be embarrassed. This project is indeed very difficult to make a profit. It has been many years, and it has never attracted investment. We know that."

"Yeah," Lu Yan He said. "But the director has been thinking about this project for so many years, she must still want to film it."

Huangcheng showed a helpless expression.

The reason why the production cost of this five-episode drama *Tile Light* is as high as 100 million is because Chen Lingling wants to restore the architecture, clothing, etc., according to the real historical situation 1:1. The cost of art production is comparable to a big drama of forty episodes.

And the same art cost, the latter can use forty episodes, the former only uses five episodes. Under the current market conditions, the cost is naturally outrageously high.

Chen Yin said: "From the conventional production and sales system, no matter how you control it, it cannot be profitable."

Lu Yan He asked: "What about unconventional?"

"For example, use the art of *Tile Light*, such as architecture, to seamlessly connect to another project, and the art cost is borne by two crews," Chen Yin said. "Or, take *Tile Light* as an IP, and simultaneously link to produce variety shows, games, animations, etc., or business collaborations, etc., to share costs while expanding the space for profit. Five episodes is the biggest shortcoming for profit, but if this IP can produce different content products and multiple sales end exits, it can also be done."

Lu Yan He pondered for a moment and asked: "Then how do you think it is appropriate to do this?"

"Using the actors of *Tile Light* to do variety shows is the most convenient way, but the premise is that the actors of *Tile Light* have popularity and traffic, and they are willing to accept this model," Chen Yin said. "There is another way, using the characters in *Tile Light* to make a few derivative web movies, filming back-to-back, but director Chen Lingling may not agree."

Lu Yan He understood what Chen Yin meant.

He thought for a while and said: "Tell director Chen all the ways that can be tried, and see how she chooses, whether there is anything that can be accepted."

Chen Yin nodded.

"There is another way, which is to do the second season, the third season, the same, filming back-to-back," Chen Yin said. "But I think, if there is an idea to produce the second season and the third season, the number of episodes of this story would have been directly increased to ten or twenty episodes. Director Chen may not be willing to produce the second season and the third season."

"Use a worldview, the same scenery, to tell another group of people, another story, and make it into an anthology drama."

The so-called anthology drama, like *The White Lotus*, every season is a different protagonist, a different story, just using the same theme concept.

*Buried* is also like this.

Lu Yan He said: "Maybe anthology drama is a relatively reasonable choice."

"Yeah, but if you do an anthology drama, you must film back-to-back. In this way, the scenery in terms of art and the related costs of staff can be seamlessly connected. Otherwise, more expenses will be generated," Chen Yin said. "Now *Tile Light* only has one script."

"It doesn't matter. After finding a profitable production model, just do it according to this model. It's not in a hurry to meet everyone next year or the year after," Lu Yan He said.

"Also."

Lu Yan He said: "Just communicate with director Chen like this. I think she can agree with the concept of anthology drama."

It's just that filming two or even three at once, this invisibly increases more costs.

If the drama's performance is not good, it will be a flop, then it will be an even bigger flop.

Of course, Lu Yan He believes in Chen Lingling.

With her requirements for drama, she has almost never missed.