novellhall Chapter 55 The first step in filming is, of course, to scam people.
Chapter 55 The first step in filming is, of course, to scam people.
It's not difficult to find scripts for idol dramas, especially in 2012.
Without even thinking, I know which one to choose.
"You Who Came From The Stars"
This drama can be described as a milestone in the history of idol dramas, sweeping the entire Asian television drama market.
Using this drama to subtly promote... ah, no, I mean cultural export, is absolutely perfect.
What was the state of the TV drama market in 2012? The most popular drama this year was "Empresses in the Palace". The rest were either fighting the Japanese, or mother-in-law and daughter-in-law quarreling, or some other things that didn't even make a splash.
Idol dramas are almost entirely fantasy romances, and audiences have long been tired of them.
The release of "My Love from the Star" at this time is a complete game-changer, completely crushing all the other mediocre shows airing at the same time.
More importantly, localization is easy.
Unlike some Korean dramas that require major changes to the background setting, the core of "My Love from the Star" is aliens, a modern city, and love. Changing the city or the lines doesn't affect the overall framework.
By replacing them with domestic cultural symbols, they not only gain commercial value but also achieve cultural export, killing two birds with one stone.
It's practically a perfect idol drama prepared for Lin Yu; I really can't think of any reason to refuse.
"My Love from the Star" has only 21 episodes, which is a breath of fresh air compared to the often bloated 40 or 50 episodes in domestic dramas.
If we cut down the padded parts at the end, it could probably be finished in about ten episodes. However, Lin Yu plans to add some personal touches, so the number of episodes probably won't decrease.
Lin Yu had already finalized the overall framework of the script during the month he was on the run. He had clearly outlined the core plot lines, character relationships, and key turning points; the rest was up to Director Tian to find someone to fill in the details.
Lin Yu wasn't worried that the people in charge of the follow-up work wouldn't take it seriously, since he credited everyone who participated in the screenwriting.
If the script is really bad, you can revise it while filming. When Goryeo was filming this drama, the script was not finished when filming started. In the end, they wrote it while filming, and it still became a hit across Asia.
Lin Yu's most important task now is to figure out how to raise some money to film this TV series.
There are plenty of people who want to invest, but given Lin Yu's personality, he just doesn't feel right if he doesn't swindle some money from others.
Lin Yu thought about it for a long time, and finally set his sights on a group of people.
These people wield pervasive influence in the domestic film and television industry, and it can be said that they have been secretly controlling certain areas of the entertainment industry.
They share a common characteristic: they are descendants of the old regime, come from wealthy families, and have an almost obsessive love for a particular dynasty.
They are genuinely willing to spend money as long as you can meet their specific emotional needs.
Especially after "Empresses in the Palace," there have been rumors that the authorities will tighten the review of Qing Dynasty time-travel dramas, which has further reduced their options.
Too much won't be enough to fill the hole, but a little less is fine.
Lin Yu is a man of action; getting these people to spend real money will require some effort.
He used subtle and euphemistic language to design a script outline, emphasizing the "specialization" of the male protagonist, an alien who fully experienced that dynasty, and whose life scenes in the Qing Dynasty can be shown through flashbacks.
He then meticulously designed several sets of costume concept images related to that dynasty, labeling them "for reference only".
Finally, he drew several storyboards that particularly captured the feeling of the Qing army's "bravery and skill in battle".
In conclusion, everything written down is true and will appear in actual filming. As for the reference images, they are only for reference.
As for how it will ultimately turn out... well, that's hard to say. After all, it's artistic creation, and adjustments have to be made based on the actual circumstances, right?
After Lin Yu finished organizing the materials, he excitedly took them to find Han Sanping.
Although China Film Group's main business is film investment, it also invests in television dramas, so going to them is definitely the right choice.
After receiving Lin Yu's call, Han Sanping specially set aside an afternoon for Lin Yu.
Lin Yu handed the materials to Han Sanping, then familiarly opened the small refrigerator in his office, took out a can of Coke, and started drinking it.
This mini-fridge is meant to entertain guests and keep you cool in the summer, but it's mostly filled with cola.
Han Sanping flipped through the script, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper, occasionally glancing up at Lin Yu.
"Uncle Han, the wrinkles on your face could trap a fly." Lin Yu said helplessly, "What kind of relationship do we have? Just say what you want to say."
"Nephew," Han Sanping carefully considered his words, "the script's premise is quite novel, and in my opinion, it should be very popular with the market."
At this point, Han Sanping stopped and glanced at Lin Yu.
Lin Yu laughed. "But what's the 'but' part?"
"But..." Han Sanping put the materials on the table, "Our status isn't suitable for filming this type of TV series."
"I know we can't film it," Lin Yu laughed cheerfully. "So this is just a plot outline, and it's hard to say what the final product will be like."
Looking at Lin Yu's smile, Han Sanping felt a sense of familiarity. He stared at Lin Yu for a while, and suddenly remembered.
This is how he laughed last time when Lin Yu discussed the copyright of "Twelve Citizens".
"So..." Han Sanping put down the materials, leaning forward slightly, "who is this script meant to fool?"
"Isn't it written very clearly in the notebook?" Lin Yu's smile faded, and he looked at Han Sanping seriously. "Uncle Han has been looking at it for so long, he must understand."
Han Sanping was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed, "How much are you planning to swindle?"
"The more the merrier." Lin Yu said, taking another sip of cola. "What does Uncle Han think?"
"Slow and steady wins the race or a one-off deal?" Han Sanping quickly caught up with the question.
"I don't think we can scam them for long. We'll take what we can." Lin Yu looked at Han Sanping with satisfaction. Han Sanping had completely caught up with Lin Yu's pace.
"What about the scale of the investment?" Han Sanping asked tentatively.
"The official figure is 200 million," Lin Yu said, leaning back in his chair. "The actual figure should be around half."
"They should have arrived, but they haven't." Han Sanping tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "They might not believe two hundred million."
"Between 80 million and 100 million," Lin Yu reported a concrete figure. "Big production, full special effects, all-star cast."
"Who were chosen for the male and female leads?" Han Sanping asked, still worried.
"Don't ask, he's a top-tier celebrity." Lin Yu looked at Han Sanping.
"We can give it a try." Han Sanping leaned back in his chair. "They'll definitely send someone to the site since they're investing. How do we handle it?"
"Sigh, it's their fault for investing," Lin Yu waved his hand. "They had to 'donate' to us."
After investing, they would have to share the profits. Given the future popularity of this drama, even a 20% share of the 50 million investment would be enough to make a fortune. Lin Yu didn't want to give them a single penny.
"That makes things a bit too difficult," Han Sanping frowned again. "They're not all idiots."
"A sense of crisis, an information gap." Lin Yu clapped his hands. "I have a fairly complete plan here."
Tell me about it.