Confessions of a Salesman

Chapter 1109 Casting
I don't want to deal with Sha Yi, because I know that Sha Yi will definitely compromise. When he knows that there are so many uncertain factors in his industry, the only thing he can do is rely on us.

In the end, Sha Yi’s property was sold to us at a price of 300 million, and we also signed a brokerage contract with him for a period of 3 years. In fact, it was basically the same as his original company’s contract, but Xie Feng was still relatively generous, and in the end he relaxed During the contract period, as long as Sha Yi does not have any filming tasks, he can leave at any time without compensation.

And Huang Qi's trading company successfully signed a contract with the film and television company, and signed the first film "The Wind and Cloud of the Ancient Town" of the cooperation. Huang Qi finally applied for 1500 million from He Jie.In the game between Dongfang and He Jie, He Jie won in the end. This is also a risky attempt. If this investment fails, it means the first confrontation between He Jie and He Jie. He Jie will lose his advantage. It is very likely that in the subsequent games, the opportunity will be lost.

I thought about it, I thought about it, and I think it is still necessary to help He Jie. She has gained an advantage, and she is better than Dongfang no matter what.Only by bringing down Dongfang can I have a chance to bring down Weihua.

Then our "Ancient Town Wind and Cloud" must be well-received and well-received.

I gave Xie Feng a death order, no matter what method is used, this film must be made well, he is responsible for the production, and I am responsible for the publicity.

After I read the script, I think it’s not bad. It’s about a man and a woman. They travel to a fictional era. The man became the emperor’s guard, and the woman became a candidate for the imperial concubine. It’s a love story in ancient costume. , It is also a palace fighting drama, with both fighting scenes and intrigue plots.

On the issue of the casting of the male lead and the female lead, there has been a lot of controversy. Most people think that since they want this drama to be popular, they have to find a first-line traffic star. Money must be spent, even if the filming No, just relying on the aura of a star can also have a certain box office guarantee.

Another part of people think that if they want to have a box office, they have to show some real skills, they have to find some capable actors, and the screenwriting needs to be strengthened. They feel that the script is still too plain, and many details are not rigorous enough.

In fact, I think what they said is quite reasonable. I don’t know anything about movies except watching them, and I haven’t even seen a few movies.I often read novels when I was in school, but after work, I have never read novels at all, let alone scripts. I don’t know anything about them.

I sat in the middle and watched them talk fiercely, and I felt superfluous.

Cigarettes were smoked one after another, and no one asked my opinion. I was about to go out to get some air when I was stopped.

Xie Feng roared: "Stop talking, let's listen to Mr. Chen's opinion!" Immediately there was no sound, no one spoke.

I had no choice but to stop and sit back.

After looking at the bottom, he said slowly: "You have been discussing and discussing like this, and no one can convince anyone, and there has been no result. How about this, everyone come up with a plan, and then we will see which plan is more feasible? "

Everyone nodded.

After the meeting ended, Huang Qi walked up to me and said, "Why do I think it's so unreliable? Can it be done?"

I replied with certainty: "Success is definitely possible, but I don't know what the effect will be?"

Huang Qi said: "Isn't it? I don't know how the effect will be? Then if it doesn't sell well at the box office, how can I ask the company to explain it?"

I cut my throat and said, "What are you explaining? Investment is definitely risky, who can say for sure? Don't hold out too much hope. You might be able to get surprises like this. The higher your expectations , the greater the disappointment!"

Huang Qi looked at me in astonishment and asked, "You don't mean to harm me, do you?"

I curled my lips and said: "You have to use your brain. If you want to harm you, I will not find this film and television company. I also have shares! If the filming is not good, I will lose money too! The emperor is not in a hurry, the eunuch is in a hurry." !"

Huang Qi gave me a blank look.

Both plans were finalized, and everyone started a second discussion. This time, Shi Shi also came over, sat next to me, watched me rubbing my temples, and sneered, "You know it's not easy to make a movie, right?"

I said disdainfully: "If the money is in place, any movie can be made, even tertiary movies!"

Shi Shi smiled and said: "Listen, let's see which plan you think is suitable. We have to hurry up and shoot it before the National Day, so that when it is released on National Day, our film can sell well."

Discussions come and go, and finally revolve around one point, which is the use of actors.

There are too few talented young actors with traffic, and there is no one available. A few candidates have been proposed. They must be first-class handsome, humble and polite, and the salary is also within an acceptable range. , that is, the acting skills are debatable. The scores of the previous films were basically no more than 3 points, and there were only one bad review. I don’t know if it’s the script or the director’s problem. Play yourself, or yourself in front of the public.

Shi Shi asked me, "Don't you want to give me some advice?"

I said helplessly: "How can I give advice? I don't even know who they are talking about! But, I think acting skills are indeed the most important. As for popularity, this is based on hype. It’s enough to show your face on TV a few more times on variety shows, but if you don’t have acting skills, no matter how many faces you show, it’s still box office poison!”

Shi Shi smiled and said: "That's fine, just use our own company's actors, you can make them famous, save money and be obedient! Isn't that great?"

I cut it and said: "This is your strong point, how can you push it to me?"

Shi Shi chuckled and said, "Create a scandal that doesn't hurt or itch, and it's over in a blink of an eye. Who is it before the public realizes it? The news will be obliterated. If something big happens, it's afraid that it will lose its image all at once. Ruined. You said that contradictions are not contradictions. Didn’t you used to be a topic king? You were often on the cover. At that time, when you walked on the street, people recognized you as a star. How did you do it? You teach them. "

I cut it and said: "I am born with a star halo, I am born, they can't imitate it! Seriously, if this quarrel continues, I won't be able to shoot it at the end of the year. The plan is out, but no one can decide which one is better." No way!"

Shi Shi was also a little undecided, and finally looked at me and said: "Why don't you just choose one according to your own ideas, and it depends on luck!"

I groaned and said, "This is a big investment of tens of millions, you tell me it depends on luck? Isn't it a little bit of a joke?"

Shi Shi spread his hands and said, "Then what do you say?"

I thought about it, and made up my mind: "That's it, choose young and capable actors, but don't need traffic, and don't need any stars. If it doesn’t sell well, it’s fine if it sells well, we’ll use the money as publicity, at worst, we’ll make two stars famous, and it can help us make money in the future!”

My voice was not loud, but everyone below heard it, and it became quiet again. Then some people began to agree, and then more people agreed. I don’t know if it’s for my face, or I really think I’m right. Makes sense, this matter is so settled.

Immediately afterwards, it was time to select candidates. There were 3 brokerage companies under Shi Shi. There were more than 20 first-tier stars in the company, and countless second- and third-tier stars. At least there were countless young people who had just signed contracts.

When they learned that they were going to choose someone to take on the most important drama that the company invested in this year, the people from the three brokerage companies were all ready to move.

In the same way, they used relationships and said hello. Those who were able to come to Xie Feng to say hello were all big managers, and there were also some managers who were not from Shishi's company and wanted to participate.

It was originally an internal recruitment, but now it is full of storms, like a beauty pageant, and some calls have come to me.

When I was working in Yunli, a superior leader I contacted called me: "Mr. Chen, I am Lao Zhang, Lao Zhang from the Information Department, do you remember?"

It shows on my phone that I have always been careful to keep the phone number of this kind of person, and I hurriedly replied: "Mr. But you have already left Yunli, you know it!"

Zhang Bu said with a smile: "I know, I know, I came to you to open a back door."

I groaned and said, "Isn't it appropriate for you to say this? How do you call opening the back door? I will do what I can do if I can do it!"

Zhang Bu smiled with satisfaction: "That's it, my daughter, who graduated from the Chengdu Art Institute today, is a dancer. I heard that your company is going to shoot an annual drama in Chengdu, so I wanted to say hello to you. Have a look." Can my daughter be selected?"

I said loudly: "Our company? Which company?" I thought of Weihua Trading Company Branch for a while.

Zhang Bu said with some dissatisfaction: "Yaoyang Industry! Your film and television company has grown so big. I didn't know it. I know that you are a major shareholder. You have to help me with this matter. You also know that I usually I don’t ask for help, but my daughter likes this, and I’m just a baby girl, so I opened my mouth like this!”

I groaned and said, "Poor parents in the world! How about this, let her come over and try, I can say hello to the director, but I really don't care if it's necessary, you know the county It’s better to be an official! Why can’t I directly intervene in artistic creation?”

Zhang Bu said happily: "I know you can do it, even if the female number one can't do it, it's okay to give the female number two!"

I pursed my lips and thought to myself: Is it okay to return the number two girl?What do you think?You don't even look at it. With your appearance, how can your daughter be any better?He still said: "The second female lead in our play died early, and there are not many plays. I will try my best to arrange it!" Telephone.

This kind of telephone operator Shi answered more calls than I did, and then he simply stopped answering.

It was also the first time for me to participate in film production since the selection of candidates. I was so interested that I forgot about other things around me.

It wasn't until Du Shiyang called to remind me that her red tourism project in Aba Prefecture had already started, and asked me to sign a contract with her as soon as possible.

However, I can live the addiction of the judges, and I still can't miss it.

Before Du Shiyang came over, I participated in the first selection of candidates and sat on the judging panel. Although there was no turning round, I still thought it was quite fun.

I sat in the middle, Shi Shi sat on my left, Xie Feng sat on my right, and on both sides of them, there were two assistant directors.

In a large hall, there was a crowd of people sitting in the dark, and it was impossible to tell who was who. At the beginning, there were some actors, and there were a few people by their side. I asked Shi Shi to clear them out. They were not the ones who came to the election. , go out all the time, no matter which brokerage company you are, no matter how old your boss is.

The interview started. I didn't even bother to look at the few who came up in front of me. That man even came with makeup. During the self-introduction, he couldn't even speak clearly. Can you expect him to memorize his lines well?Come up to perform talents, it means that I am born to act, and I will give you a short sketch.

After watching a few times, I couldn't stand it anymore, and said to Shi Shi: "Can we have a primary election first? These are all people recommended by the brokerage company, why are they not as good as ordinary people? Haven't they all been trained?" Is it?"

Shi Shi said helplessly: "There are a lot of them here, and I don't know which brokerage company they are from. I guess they came through the back door and came for an interview after hanging up with a brokerage company. You can't just get the form! Please be patient. Later, there were a few good seedlings!"

I hummed and said, "By the way, what is the name of the girl my leader greeted, no matter what, you have to pass the first round for me!"

Shi Shi said displeasedly: "There are too many to say hello to me, do I remember to come here? If you don't remember it yourself, how can I have the time to remember it for you!"

I sighed and said, "That's over, I didn't remember, do you think it's appropriate for me to ask now?"

Shi Shi smiled and said: "I don't know, you can think for yourself!"

After interviewing 50 people, I didn't like any of them. Even a non-professional person like me felt uncomfortable, and some of them were professional, shaking their heads again and again.

Shi Shi proposed to take a break, and the two of us were in the corridor at the back, smoking a cigarette and looking at the people sitting below.

Shi Shi asked me, "What do you want to choose?"

I groaned and said, "Choose one that is masculine, with sharp edges and corners, preferably with some muscles. For women, the traditional beauty. Don't look like men, and women don't look like women! Ancient costumes The play must be layered!"

Shi Shi smiled and said: "Yo, yo, there are still layers, do you know what layers are?"

(End of this chapter)