Chapter 1693
Contract Termination
Zhang Yuan endured the entire class, giving Liu Tianchi face and trying his best to listen.
For him, Boss Liu was not as attractive as his good sister's classes.
I guess the students think the same way; everyone judges people by their looks.
In addition, Liu Tianchi's attitude was even more serious.
Of course, what made Zhang Yuan most uneasy was that this older sister said it in public.
“I charge tens of thousands of yuan for a single private lesson outside, so you all earned tens of thousands of yuan today.”
As a teacher, he said this with a proud look on his face, as if he were very capable.
If teachers are like this, it's no wonder students can't wholeheartedly dedicate themselves to studying art.
Zhang Yuan thought to himself, "According to you, if I wanted to make money off people, I could sell tickets for a meet-and-greet or birthday party for several thousand yuan, and earn hundreds of thousands of yuan from one event."
Then every time I come to class, won't my classmates owe me hundreds of thousands?
He disliked the rhetoric of two types of teachers from a young age.
One type is the master of time management. If one person delays the class by one minute, it delays 50 students, which is a total delay of fifty minutes.
Another type is the selfless master. As a teacher, I don't owe you students anything. What you pay are tuition and textbook fees. Compulsory education doesn't require tuition. My salary isn't paid by you.
In Zhang Yuan's eyes, Liu Tianchi was pretty much the same.
After enduring several hours of classes, the good thing is that this person won't deliberately mess with me like Cheng Hao did.
We shouldn't be too polite to him.
After class, he deliberately left early and ambushed the other person at the corner of the stairs.
"What do you want?" This person was quick-witted and could tell at a glance.
How's Feng doing lately?
Are you busy?
"Oh, why are you suddenly concerned about him?" Teacher Liu asked with a smile.
“There’s a movie project I recently co-invested in with China Film Group. Director Lu’s son is the director,” Zhang Yuan said, referring to “Brotherhood of Blades.”
Lu Yang's father, Lu Haibo, is the director and professor of the Film and Television Department at the Central Academy of Drama, and also a doctoral supervisor.
He was Liu Tianchi's immediate superior.
"Oh, I see." Teacher Liu pushed up her glasses.
"There's a role, a supporting one, not too many scenes, but it's not easy to play; it requires an experienced veteran."
"What we want is the image of a civil official who is refined but has a cold and cunning side."
"That's right, it's definitely suitable for your brother Feng to come here. You must help him out." Liu Tianchi understood; she wanted her husband, Zu Feng, to act in the movie.
This character is named Han Kuang, and he is portrayed as a member of the Donglin Party and a cabinet member in the late Ming Dynasty. His prototype is Han Kuang, a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.
He later served as Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary. He was involved in several major cases at the end of the Ming Dynasty, such as the Red Pill Case and the Wei Party Case. In the end, he was dismissed and sent back to his hometown because he was involved in a major case, namely the Yuan Chonghuan Case.
This character is a key figure in the film. He sees through the scheme of the Imperial Guards to switch the body of the eunuch Wei, which leads to the deaths, escapes, and injuries of the brothers. He is a major driving force in the plot.
Originally, the role was to be played by Zhao Lixin, a veteran actor who is well-known for his role as the wealthy merchant Shen Yishi in "Da Ming Dynasty 1566".
They've become very popular in recent years.
But this person's buttocks are extremely crooked!
He is a typical low-class artist who thinks he has an independent consciousness and is self-aware and clear-headed.
But from another perspective, he can't be considered biased, because he changed his nationality to Swedish long ago, making him a fake foreigner.
This kind of person was a guest lecturer at the Central Academy of Drama after returning to China, as well as a lecturer for the continuing education and junior college programs at the Central Academy of Drama.
Others may not care about such people, but Zhang Yuan will not allow them to appear in his plays.
What the hell is this?
It would be better to do Liu Tianchi a favor; Zu Feng's acting skills are fine.
They chatted happily, and Zhang Yuan then asked a question.
"Teacher Liu, why are you substituting for me today?"
That's his real topic; he needs to ask someone knowledgeable.
“Cheng Hao has asked for leave,” Liu Tianchi replied immediately, understanding his meaning.
So that's what you wanted to ask, kid.
"Are you taking leave?" Zhang Yuan lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment. "Are you sick?"
"It's not sick leave, I took personal leave," Teacher Liu replied.
"Personal leave." Zhang Yuan thought to himself that Cheng Hao was a very responsible person, always on time for work, and he had never heard of him taking leave too often.
"I see."
After asking his question, he was about to leave when Liu Tianchi added something.
"I heard."
"I just heard it from someone else," Teacher Liu said, looking unsure whether she should say it or not.
"Please speak freely, we're all on the same side."
"Yes, yes, I heard... Cheng Hao took leave, apparently to go back to her hometown for a blind date."
Zhang Yuan: ...
Seeing his bewildered expression, Liu Tianchi quickly feigned helplessness.
"It may not be accurate. I heard it from others, and it could be a rumor."
"It's alright, you go ahead with your work, take care."
Zhang Yuan snapped out of his daze and saw the man off.
what?
He touched the top of his head. He hadn't eaten any chives recently, so how could they still be so green?
Could it be that my stock price turned green because I bought Huayi shares and played the A-share market?
There may be rumors out of thin air, but they are not necessarily baseless.
No way?
Did you get angry after seeing Yang Mi's clothes last time?
He figured one of them was going home for a blind date, and the other was having a falling out with me.
This is back to the way things were before.
Two months of work for nothing!
He went into the restroom and found a private room to smoke.
Smoking in public is easy to be photographed, which has a bad influence.
Thinking to myself, developing feelings for someone is troublesome; it's not like going to a nightclub where you can just switch to another one if you're not satisfied.
After smoking half a pack, the cleaning lady thought someone was committing suicide in the toilet because there was smoke everywhere, so she left the school.
I went to Wanhe Tianyi this afternoon.
"Unexpected" was a great success after it aired.
The first episode, which garnered the most views, achieved over 4000 million total views on the site, while the other episodes averaged over 3000 million views each.
There was absolutely no sign of a strong start followed by a disappointing finish; it was very stable.
This mini-series, with each episode lasting 5 minutes, sparked a trend of short films!
They can take pictures, so can I... Many people will think this after seeing it.
Because both Professor Beast himself and the lead actor Bai Ke are ordinary people, or rather, commoners.
Too easily looked down upon.
In reality, Wanhe Tianyi was full of creative ideas at the beginning and was by no means easy to replicate.
The Chinese entertainment industry, or even the global film and television industry, is lacking good screenwriters.
The lack of good scripts is the key issue causing works to become increasingly subpar.
Initially, the professor and his team were very enthusiastic about this.
The subsequent downfall was due to Yi Xiaoxing's dissatisfaction with the status quo, and his subsequent involvement in capital games.
But you can't blame him. How much money can you make from making web series?
You could start your own company, make movies, and earn the equivalent of ten years' worth of web series revenue in one go—anyone would be tempted!
The problem is this: "Unexpectedly" is very popular, but the revenue is not high.
Besides the hundreds of thousands of yuan spent on purchasing each episode from Youku, only a small portion is from advertising revenue.
Actually, the real winner is the Youku platform!
After Zhang Yuan brought together shows like "iPartment," "Men's Diary," and "Unexpectedly" to this platform, Youku has become the most fashionable and witty video platform among young people today.
Daily active users far ahead!
Even with the traffic from QQ and WeChat, Tencent Video is temporarily unable to compete, truly deserving of its title as the number one video website in China.
With the addition of the public acquisition of Tudou.com, Youku's stock price is now soaring.
Not only did it make up for the price drop after listing due to various reasons, but it also rose by 30% compared to the highest price on the opening day.
Its total market capitalization is close to 80 billion US dollars!
Zhang Yuan was quite pleased and specially brought several bottles of expensive champagne for those guests.
"I'll pay tonight."
"Choose any restaurant you like, eat whatever you want, and when you're done, just give me an invoice with my company name on it, and I'll reimburse you."
Zhang Yuan generously stated that all expenses for tonight would be paid by Young Master Zhang.
Compared to the returns from rising stock prices, these are just a drop in the ocean.
“We’ll reimburse you… Aren’t you going?” the professor asked.
"I have a friend coming over tonight, we need to talk."
"As long as you're happy, we'll move on to the next project and other works. The platform will support you all."
The group was overjoyed, and Zhang Yuan laughed heartily as well.
However, those who do not plan for the future will inevitably face immediate troubles.
Uku may seem to be thriving and booming now, but in reality, it's facing dire straits.
Tencent hasn't come online yet, but given time, with its financial resources and distribution channels, it will inevitably surpass Youku.
iQiyi, backed by Baidu, is also rapidly rising.
Gu Yongqiang had already seen these hidden worries and was quite anxious.
This is all Zhang Chaoyang's fault; he's incompetent and a bad person.
Instead of developing its own Sohu Video, a bunch of veteran contributors left to start their own businesses and became enemies.
If he had Gu Yongqiang's emotional intelligence, even if Sohu Video wasn't doing well, he could still reap good rewards by supporting Gu Yongqiang and fighting against other platforms.
But neither Zhang Chaoyang nor Gu Yongqiang had that opportunity anymore.
Zhang Yuan felt it was about time to stop.
I got home in the evening.
Roll up your sleeves and cook for yourself.
Those who would let him cook are all his own people.
Before long, Director Guo Jing and his family, along with his younger brother Yang Zhigang and his family, arrived.
"Where's my godson?" "I fried you some chicken legs, eat them while they're hot." Zhang Yuan went out to greet the guests wearing sleeves and an apron, a stark contrast to his usual image.
Yang Zhigang's son has grown quite a bit taller and looks more and more like him.
Looking at their family, I thought how wonderful it would be if there were more actors like Guo Jingyu in the film and television industry who honestly focused on making movies.
"You're so skillful! There aren't many men who can cook," Director Guo's wife praised.
"What you're saying is true, I can do it too," Guo Jingyu retorted, still unconvinced.
"You can only cook some noodles and fried rice, unlike others who can prepare a whole table of food."
"Don't criticize Director Guo, let's start eating while it's hot," Zhang Yuan urged, and they began to eat.
Zhang Yuan thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere of chatting about everyday life and joking about the current state of the entertainment industry.
I enjoy relaxing with this kind of harmonious family.
He gets a headache just from having a casual meal, as he keeps running into people pressuring him to get married.
They have a strong sense of family, and the conversation quickly veered to this topic.
Zhang Yuanxin said, "I'm worried too."
It's not a question of whether or not to get married; it's that I, who used to be in high demand, am now in a completely awkward situation.
Then I remembered Liu Tianchi saying that Cheng Hao went home to go on a blind date.
That can't be right.
Are you being so cruel to me?
If that's the case, how will we meet again?
After glossing over personal matters and having a few more drinks, Director Guo Jing started talking to him about serious business.
I'm here today for work.
Zhang Yuan has always supported his investments in film and television dramas.
But even though he's very popular, he doesn't necessarily need to invest in every show he does; many of his shows are sponsored by local TV stations or cultural and media outlets.
However, he has his own company.
It was the popularity of web series like "Men's Diary" and "Unexpectedly" that led to this phenomenon.
He also saw this opportunity and wanted to give it a try.
In addition, he wanted to set up his own talent agency and sign actors himself.
That's called foresight!
At this point, Guo Jing could have continued to live comfortably in his comfort zone.
In the genre of period dramas targeting middle-aged audiences, he is a leading figure in China.
But they still want to keep up with the times.
It is precisely because of this mind that his works have never become outdated in his decades-long career.
At this point, Zhang Yuan is considered an alumnus. Ju Xingmao, a graduate of the Central Academy of Drama's acting department, has been following Guo Jing around.
Because Ju Xingmao, like Guo Jingyu, was promoted by Li Shaohong and Li Xiaowan, the two were close.
Ju Xingmao's appearance can be described as ugly, which expands the boundaries of the word "ugly".
The entire face, from the facial features to the face shape, is completely abnormal.
And there is severe mandibular retraction.
Li Shaohong discovered him when he was a child and used him to become a character actor.
Even after growing up, he can only play stereotypical roles, and no matter how hard he tries, he still can't get ahead.
Guo Jingyu then advised his buddy, "Why don't you come with me and learn as you film, and then move behind the scenes?"
That's why this guy searched everywhere for opportunities, and finally found a script called "Soul Ferry," which he immediately liked and recommended to Guo Jingyu.
The scriptwriter is called Xiao Jixiangtian, a cross-dressing man.
Despite his unusual appearance and style, he has an exceptional talent for screenwriting.
Now we have the script, the director, and the producer.
We're short of money and manpower.
Guo Jing doesn't have much money in his own company; it's all in the play.
The available funds on the books are only a few million.
That's enough for making web series.
But the problem remains: Guo Jing had foresight regarding this person.
After reading the script, he felt that web series should be filmed season by season, like American dramas.
If we do it this way, it will take many years to film, so we have to ensure the continuity of the main actors. We can't keep changing actors while filming, or it will all be over.
The female lead was chosen to play a minor supporting role in the drama series that sent his younger brother flying, and Xiao Yin, a minor actor he had already signed.
This woman's biological father was Guo Jingyu's teacher.
One of the two male leads was chosen to be Yu Yi, a Shandong man with whom he has worked many times before.
The two have reached an agreement and signed contracts for the previous films to ensure filming.
But the male protagonist searched for a long time and couldn't find it at first.
It was Director Guo's wife who reminded her that during filming, there was a young actor with a composed demeanor and calm eyes who left a good impression on her and also fit the somewhat gloomy and cowardly image of the male lead in the script.
That was Liu Zhiyang, who later became the main character.
Zhang Yuan felt that this person had a similar temperament to Bai Ke, except that one was into serious dramas and the other into comedy, and both had that half-dead vibe.
The entertainment industry is a place that requires ambition. It's easy to find people with bright eyes, but those who are lazy and unambitious are rare.
Guo Jing has a strong sense of family. Once he recognizes you as one of his own, he will treat you as one of his own and will ask you to act in his films for the rest of his life.
But here's the problem: Liu Zhiyang is an actor with the Beijing People's Art Theatre, and he's under contract.
Not only did he act in stage plays and TV series, but he also signed several contracts afterward.
Director Guo thought he might as well buy out his contract to make it easier to film a sequel later.
But you're talking to the Beijing People's Art Theatre?
Who cares about you?
In short, we lost money!
This is awkward.
Zhang Yuan understood perfectly: they were short of money.
Filming budgets are already tight; if we lose money on his behalf, things will become even more difficult.
If it were a normal director, I would just find someone else. But not Guo Jingyu. Once I've decided on someone, I have to use them.
People who value loyalty and friendship are worth befriending.
Zhang Yuan remembered that in his previous life, he gritted his teeth and finally paid the money, making the filming budget extremely meager.
The set was so shabby that even the actors brought their own costumes. The second male lead wore the same black leather jacket from beginning to end, and when it got torn, he would just cover it up with a marker and keep wearing it.
The cars in the film belong to the director, and the locations were taken from places that people no longer used.
The props and backgrounds were all taken from Guo Jing's other dramas or his friends' dramas.
He even dragged the director, producer, assistant, and voice actor into filming a few scenes.
Even Guo Fan would shed tears upon seeing this.
No wonder they all share the surname Guo.
They just cobbled it together and somehow managed to make it into a huge hit!
Guo Jing and "The Ferryman" illustrate one thing.
Truly good films never need big-name stars, billions of dollars, or massive marketing campaigns.
With just a few dedicated actors, a good production team, and a decent script, you can create works that audiences love and remember fondly.
He naturally supports good works that contribute to the healthy development of the community.
"I get it, it all comes down to money."
“We’re all family here, so I’m not bragging, but I may lack many things, but I certainly don’t lack money,” Zhang Yuan said casually.
"You are a seasoned veteran."
"We still need to keep shooting web series, since the pay for them isn't high and we lose out on the revenue from TV stations."
"The budget still needs to be carefully controlled."
"Whatever amount you need, I'll make up the difference; it'll all be considered part of your investment share."
Zhang Yuan knew the other party was an honest person and wouldn't ask for an exorbitant amount.
It's only a few million at most, no big deal.
A simple home-cooked meal sealed the deal for a classic work.
"Regarding online channels, you're quite familiar with Youku, right?" Director Guo asked.
"Yes, but the web series short films on Youku are mainly comedies, and ours isn't a comedy, is it?"
"It's a bit thrilling and suspenseful," Director Guo summarized.
"Let's switch platforms."
"It's okay, I'll help you find them. You take the first picture, and I'll definitely help you sell them," Zhang Yuan assured him.
I'm already planning to leave Youku, so I definitely can't add anything more.
Not only do we need to sell, but we need to sell at a good price!
Because there were children around, we didn't eat too late.
After seeing the guests off, Zhang Yuan went to bed early, as he had to start work the next day.
The next morning, I got up, tidied myself up, and prepared to head to the film set.
I had just left home and was still in the car when I received a call from Teacher Huang Xiaomao.
"Teacher Huang, is something wrong at the company?"
This person is mature and straightforward; there's no need to beat around the bush.
The other party was also straightforward.
"Xiao Jingteng's manager just called me."
"Is he planning a concert?" Upon hearing that it was the Rain God, Zhang Yuan immediately pictured a scene of money raining down.
We're counting on you to make money!
"No," Huang Xiaomao said in a deep voice.
"The other party said they want to terminate the previously signed contract." (End of Chapter)