Back to 80: My literary life.

Chapter 459: It's a rare sight to see Fang Minghua being ridiculous

The next morning, Zhao Hongjun was still sleeping soundly on his soft Simmons bed. He was awakened by the phone on the bedside table and he picked up the receiver reluctantly.

"Mr. Zhao, I'm Zheng Xiaolong." Zheng Xiaolong's enthusiastic voice came from the other end of the microphone.

"Director Zheng, so early? Have you finished reading the script?"

"I've read it and it's well written. I would like to discuss the specific cooperation matters with you," said Zheng Xiaolong.

Zhao Hongjun was not surprised by Zheng Xiaolong's attitude, and said lazily:

"Now?"

"Yes, now."

Zhao Hongjun was really reluctant to leave the warm bed, but thinking about the business, he had to say, "Okay, I'll come over."

"OK, bye."

Zhao Hongjun hung up the phone, slowly got up, and appeared in Zheng Xiaolong's office an hour later.

"Mr. Zhao, please take a seat." Zheng Xiaolong's attitude was more enthusiastic than yesterday.

"Mr. Zhao, can you represent Minghua himself?" Zheng Xiaolong asked the first question.

"Of course, Minghua and I are good friends. Here is his handwritten power of attorney." Zhao Hongjun said and took out a piece of paper from his bag and handed it to the other party.

Zheng Xiaolong took a closer look before he felt relieved.

There are too many scammers these days.

"Mr. Zhao, I've read the script and it's well written. We want to buy it. Minghua is a great writer. How about I charge 500 yuan per episode?"

Zhao Hongjun knew that the price offered by Zheng Xiaolong was not low.

According to relevant national policies and regulations, the remuneration for each episode of a TV drama script is generally between 300 and 500 yuan. It can be said that Zheng Xiaolong is very sincere.

But Zhao Hongjun is not here to sell scripts!
So he smiled and said, "Director Zheng, I said yesterday that we are collaborating, not just selling scripts."

"How to cooperate?"

"It's very simple. We are responsible for the investment and you are responsible for the production. Then we sell it to your TV station and we split the profits 50-50 after deducting the costs. How about that?" Zhao Hongjun replied.

“How much money are you prepared to invest?”

"100-120 million."

Zheng Xiaolong thought about it.

On average, each episode only has over 2 points, which is not much.

However, this TV series does not have many outdoor scenes, nor any special effects shots. The main investment in funds is for the actors' salaries, props, and daily expenses, so it can barely be done by saving a little.

but
"Is it that simple?" Zheng Xiaolong was a little skeptical.

"Director Zheng, how complicated do you think it is?" Zhao Hongjun asked back.

"Mr. Zhao, I have to say one more thing. Making TV shows is not as easy to make money as publishing books. You also know that the audience can watch TV shows for free."

Zheng Xiaolong spoke very cryptically.

In fact, he knew it in his heart.

Is there any profit after deducting the cost?
fart!
It's definitely a loss.

I just worked hard for half a year to shoot a drama and saved some money for the TV station.

As for this TV series, based on past experience, the TV station can only spend about 60 yuan to purchase it.

An investment of 120 million, with the radio station purchasing it for 60, is equivalent to saving the TV station 60. Why not do it?
But what does Zhao Hongjun want? !

Zhao Hongjun laughed after hearing Zheng Xiaolong's question: "I know that TV production is not profitable. The price you TV station paid for the production is not high, and it is not possible to break even." "Then why do you still want to produce it?"

"Promote patriotic ideas and provide the masses with excellent spiritual food. What if we lose money?" Zhao Hongjun said this passionately, and Zheng Xiaolong almost spit out the tea he had just drunk.

Who are you kidding?

Provide excellent spiritual food to the masses?
Then why doesn't your publishing company print serious novels, but instead publishes books like "The Housewife" and "Ghost Blows Out the Light" one after another?
However, since the other party said so, Zheng Xiaolong did not ask any more questions and said that I personally agree, but such a major matter still needs to be studied and approved by the main leaders of the station.

"Then please hurry up, I have to go to Guangdong Province and Hainan in a few days." Zhao Hongjun stood up.

Zheng Xiaolong seemed to understand what he meant. He smiled and asked tentatively, "Why? Mr. Zhao, are you going to look for TV stations in these two provinces?"

Zhao Hongjun looked at him and answered after a while.

"My main job when I went to Guangdong Province and Hainan was to see how my company's business was going."

The main work?

What is that secondary job?
We are all smart people, so we just understand it tacitly.

The leader of Yanjing TV Station did not delay and gave a reply three days later in the afternoon: in principle, they agreed to Shengshi Film and Television Company's request, and the specific contents of the contract would be discussed in detail during the meeting the next morning.

It was Zheng Xiaolong who called Zhao Hongjun.

After receiving the call, Zhao Hongjun immediately called Fang Minghua in Xijing.

At this time, Fang Minghua was in his office discussing with Bai Miao and others the works that would participate in this year's selection of outstanding short and medium-length novels.

At the end of 1987, due to various reasons, the Writers Association suspended the national selection of outstanding short and medium-length novels of the previous year. It was restarted this year. The selection scope is the medium-length novels published in major newspapers and magazines in the two years from 1987 to 1988. According to convention, the major magazines still recommend the works themselves.

Since each magazine has a limited number of recommendations, and Yanhe magazine has published many famous works in the past two years, it has become a very difficult task to decide which novels to recommend for the selection.

The three editors discussed and considered repeatedly, and finally decided to nominate ten novels for the selection, including Chi Li's "Troublesome Life", Fang Minghua's "Qiu Ju's Lawsuit", Su Tong's "Wives and Concubines", and Yu Hua's "A Kind of Reality" and Shi Tiesheng's "Poison" as short stories.

We are going to finalize it today and then send the ten novels to the judging committee on behalf of the magazine.

"If everyone has no objection, it is settled. The meeting is adjourned."

As soon as a few people left, the phone on Fang Minghua's desk rang.

He picked up the microphone and heard a familiar voice coming from it.

"Minghua, I'm from the Red Army. The leader of Yanjing Television Station has agreed to our request and asked me to go over there tomorrow morning to discuss it in detail."

"It's as expected." Fang Minghua said with a smile, "You can talk to them tomorrow, and everything else will be easy to deal with. The director and the main actors will be selected according to our requirements."

"I know, but do you think Yanjing Television will agree?" Zhao Hongjun was a little skeptical.

"Don't forget, we are the investors!" Fang Minghua said lightly.

"Okay then, I'll try my best."

"Red Army, now's the time to put your eloquence to good use!" Fang Minghua joked.

"Stop flattering me! I need to get ready. I'm hanging up now."

After Zhao Hongjun hung up the phone, he did not feel much joy, but rather felt a little absurd.

It turned out that before going to Yanjing, Fang Minghua had given him a list with the names of the director of "Desire" and several main actors on it.

He said that once the other party is willing to cooperate with us, we will find the people on the list to take the photos!

It's ridiculous, so be it.

It's rare to see Fang Minghua act ridiculously.

Zhao Hongjun took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and blew out a smoke ring in a very cool manner.

(End of this chapter)