China Entertainment started in 2004

Chapter 503 Why is it like selecting a concubine?
Domestic companies such as China Film, Huayi Film Group, Orange Sky, and Light Media are all large unified film and television companies that produce overview films.

As a result, artists are exploited to the extreme, and the resources of major film and television companies are only used to support their own artists.

It is difficult for the film and television industry to flourish under this monopolistic and uncompetitive model.

In Hollywood, it is rare for artists to fall out with their agencies, as they usually continue to work together for a long time after signing the contract.

In China, artists and their management companies are either falling out or on the verge of falling out.

There were even bizarre incidents where an actor did not make any money after becoming famous, and instead owed his agency millions. He had no money to compensate and could only fulfill his contract and was blacklisted and retired from the entertainment industry.

Liu Yifei's agent chose a Hollywood company with this consideration in mind.

Hollywood's talent agencies adopt a service-oriented model. Not only do the artists take the lion's share of the profits, but they are also treated like masters. The talent agencies only make hard-earned money.

It’s different in China. Artists are trapped in the company with various harsh conditions, making them like slave resources for these companies.

Wang Shu is not currently working as an artist agent. Not only does he look down on these trivial matters, but he also does not want to restrict the casting of his films after becoming an artist agent.

If he is an artist agent, then the movies he makes will definitely feature artists from the company instead of giving the resources to others.

Of course, he can also provide resources to others while being an artist manager.

But among the artists who signed with Yikeshu Company, who didn’t sign because of Wang Shu?

If he does this, it will definitely affect the mood of the contracted artists.

In the end, it was a mess again.

For example, she signed Mei Ting, Yang Mi, Liu Yan, etc., but did not sign contracts with Zhou Xun and Gong Li.

He happened to have a script that he thought would be more suitable for Gong Li or Zhou Xun to star in, so he invited Gong Li or Zhou Xun to star in it.

In this situation, Mei Ting, Yang Mi, Liu Yan and others will definitely have opinions.

Because they are the contracted artists of the company, no matter whether the role in the film is suitable or not, they are selected from these contracted artists.
Wang Shu took all these into consideration, and added that artist management was of little use to someone like him who was preparing to make money in the stock market.

There's no need to bother.

Of course, if necessary in the future, he will still be an artist manager.

Now, he doesn't want to limit the casting scope of his movies because of his job as an artist agent.

It affects the box office performance and awards of the movies he makes!
He is not an artist agent, he can cast whomever he wants in his movies.

As an artist agent, you have to consider the emotions of your artists and lead the team well.

In this case, they can only select actors from the artists signed by their own company.

Casting in one's own company not only limits the range of actors, but problems will also arise.

There is only one Wang Shu, and he can only make one movie at a time.

If he is an artist agent and signs Mei Ting, Sun Li, Zhou Xun and others, who will be the top star?
There is only one heroine, who plays the heroine? Who plays the supporting role?

This is another series of questions.

People are independent individuals and will consider their own interests. How could they possibly obey Wang Shu's arrangements so harmoniously?
If such a good thing could happen, Huayi and Chengtian would not have been involved in the drama of competing for the top female star.

Now, Wang Shu is not an artist agent, so he doesn’t have to worry about these things at all.

However, Wang Shu is not an artist agent, but Wang Jinhua is.

Now, she obviously understands the difficulty of being an artist agent without the backing of a film and television company in the domestic environment.

Major film and television companies only use their own artists, which makes it difficult for Wang Jinhua, who only works as an artist agent, to use up the large number of artist resources.

Over time, even if the artists were once willing to follow her, they will run away if they don’t have resources for a long time.

It is precisely because of this that Wang Jinhua wants to contact Wang Shu in this way.

Because Wang Shu’s Yikeshu Company does not engage in artist management, it is destined to conduct external casting.

However, as she only works as an artist agent, she happens to have a large number of artist resources that she cannot use.

Therefore, Wang Shu is an excellent partner for her.

The prerequisite is that Wang Shu is willing to use the artists under her.

Now she has realized that just because she has many artists under her control, it doesn't mean she has the right to speak.

Even if Wang Shu doesn't use her artists, she can still find other artists to collaborate with.

So Wang Jinhua kept a low profile and spoke politely all the time.

Wang Shu did not directly accept Wang Jinhua's offer, but said, "Sister Wang, if there is really a co-production project, we will definitely hold external castings. Whether it is your artist or an artist from other companies, I welcome them to audition."

Auditions are meant to be a chance to hype up a movie.

Therefore, Wang Shu has already made up his mind that if he really wants to make a Sino-US co-production, he will organize a grand audition session to hype up the popularity of the film in advance.

Wang Jinhua's face darkened a little when she heard this. She had many artists under her, but no resources to spend, so she really wanted Wang Shu to only audition her artists.

However, she also understood why Wang Shu only used her artists.

Then he responded, "I feel relieved with what Director Wang said."

After that, he complained, "After leaving Chengtian, I realized how hard it is to be an artist manager." "Without film and television resources, even if I have a lot of artist resources, I can't use them up."

"Not only can we not consume them, but we also have to take care of their emotions."

"After much thought, I think Director Wang's Yikeshu Company is the perfect partner because it not only does not manage artists, but is also well-known."

"It's just that now that Director Wang has gone to Hollywood, Yikeshu Company has produced very few film and television projects."

"So, if Director Wang ever returns to China to film and needs an artist, just give me a call. I have a lot of artists for you to choose from."

After listening to Wang Jinhua's words, Wang Shu felt a little emotional.

To be honest, Wang Jinhua's nanny-style agency is similar to the model of current artist agencies in Hollywood.

In other words, Wang Jinhua copied the Hollywood model.

Under this model, the interests and rights of artists are greatly protected.

It is also because of this that Wang Jinhua was able to leave Huayi and Chengtian and always have a large number of artists following her.

However, the film companies are not happy with this model.

Film companies sign artists themselves, and a contract can not only restrict the artists and make them obedient, but also make huge profits through the artists.

However, with Wang Jinhua's model, not only can the film companies not restrict the artists and make them obey, they can also only make small profits through the artists.

For film companies, a small profit means a loss, so they are naturally unhappy.

In addition, they are also unhappy about not being able to control the artists.

Naturally, Wang Jinhua will be kicked out.

The Hollywood nanny-style agency is possible because if a film company unifies production, theaters, and artist management, it will violate monopoly laws and will be subject to legal sanctions.

In addition, union representatives collectively fought against the film companies, which not only made artist management independent, but also evolved into a nanny-style service for artists.

In China, there are neither relevant laws to restrict monopolies nor the environment to protect the rights and interests of artists.

Yang Wei was listening to the conversation between Wang Jinhua and Wang Shu and couldn't help but complain in his heart.

What does it mean that there are many artists for Wang Shu to choose from?
How come it’s like selecting a concubine?
Wang Shu smiled and said, "Don't worry, Sister Wang. If you have any needs in this regard, I will definitely call you."

Wang Jinhua knew that Wang Shu had been talking for a long time, but all he said was polite words. However, she had no choice but to ask, "When is Director Wang free? How about having dinner together?"

"I'll call the artists I have over to show them to Director Wang."

The purpose of these words, in addition to inviting Wang Shu to dinner to deepen their friendship, was also to create opportunities for his artists to gain Wang Shu's favor based on their own abilities.

If it were any other director, Wang Jinhua would certainly not do this.

But Wang Shu is different. He is the youngest Oscar-winning Best Director in history.

These are not the point.

The point is that Wang Shu can now help people step onto the international stage just like Li An.

Wang Jinhua believed that if there was such a dinner party, as long as she told her artists, a bunch of people would rush to go.

Because everyone knows that being favored by Wang Shu may not only make you the next Zhang Ziyi.

In fact, he could even go further than Zhang Ziyi.

In addition, Wang Shu’s Yikeshu Company does not engage in artist management and will only conduct external casting.

In other words, as long as Wang Shu favors you, you will actually have such an opportunity, rather than just trying to get something for nothing.

Ruoruo Yikeshu Company is an artist agency and has signed artists under it.

So in the eyes of people in the circle, even if there is such an opportunity, Wang Shu will give it to the artists of Yikeshu Company, not to outsiders.

Yikeshu Company does not manage artists, which means Wang Shu can only select actors from outside.

In this case, anyone has a chance!
"Uh," Wang Shu pretended to hesitate for a moment, then said, "Sister Wang, I just took a break from my busy schedule today to have a midnight snack with Yang Wei. My actual schedule has always been very full."

"But since Sister Wang has invited me so kindly, I will see if I can squeeze out some time."

Wang Jinhua knew that what Wang Shu said were all excuses, but her artists had difficulty in getting film and television resources, especially big-name artists who lacked excellent film and television resources. She urgently needed to find a partner to solve this problem.

Looking at the entire entertainment industry, only Wang Shu can not only help her solve this problem, but his film and television resources are even better than those of Huayi and Chengtian.

So, she really didn't want to give up.

Knowing that Wang Shu was trying to prevaricate, he still said with a thick face and a smile: "Then Director Wang, please see if you can make time. I am available anytime."

Wang Shu heard this and did not solve the problem directly, but continued to say politely: "Don't worry, Sister Wang, I will take a look when the time comes."

If he remembered correctly, Wang Jinhua left Orange Sky. Although she took many artists with her, it was much less impressive than the time with Huayi.

Many veteran and well-known artists did not leave with her.

However, Li Xiaolu, one of the most famous and popular TV actors at the moment, left with her.

Wang Shu couldn't help but wonder, if he agreed to go, would he meet Xiaolu again?
(End of this chapter)