novellhall Chapter 92 Each with their own plans
Chapter 92 Each with their own plans
It's absolutely true that it's human nature to like to teach.
Meeting Chen Minghua's puzzled gaze, Zhou Xiaobai thought to himself: It seems you guys weren't wrong to sell cassette tapes in the park before. Today, I, Teacher Zhou, will give you a proper lesson.
"Ahem!"
Zhou Xiaobai pointed to the empty teacup in front of him, waiting to clear his throat...
Chen Minghua was taken aback, but he didn't mind. He poured tea and put on a humble expression.
He knew Zhou Xiaobai was a shrewd businessman; his skillful negotiation skills from last time were still fresh in his mind.
Zhou Xiaobai took a sip of the water; it was a little hot. He exhaled, "As a bigwig in a record company, do you know how long it takes to shoot a movie? Have you ever heard of storyboarding?" Seeing Chen Minghua's still somewhat confused look, he continued, "If it's shot like a regular music video, you'll definitely understand. But for something with a complete storyline, do you understand the process?"
Chen Minghua's eyes flickered, as if he understood a little, yet also as if he didn't fully understand.
Zhou Xiaobai continued to explain: "Just think of the remaining eleven music videos as eleven mini-movies. From project initiation and casting to set construction, although the time is short and the number of characters is small, you can't skimp on any of the necessary pre-production work."
He counted on his fingers, throwing out questions one by one: "These eleven short films, aside from some specific roles, also require shooting on location and building interior sets. Can you calculate how much time that will take?"
He learned this explanation on the spot, and only understood it after cramming with the system recently.
"Snapped!"
Chen Minghua slapped himself on the forehead with such force that Zhou Xiaobai, who had just picked up his teacup, trembled.
"Look at my brain!" Chen Minghua exclaimed in frustration. "I was so focused on getting it filmed and making money that I completely forgot about this. Now that you mention it, the set design, stage construction, and all those odds and ends... it really won't be ready in less than two months!"
"That's for sure. The costumes will need to be custom-made, right? The sets will need to be built, right? And the outdoor scenes will need to be filmed on location, right? As for the actors, I plan to reserve two roles—"
At this point, Zhou Xiaobai paused, then held up two fingers, "One is around thirteen years old, and the other is an adult. These two roles will be filmed together with Xixi's scenes."
Zhou Xiaobai was referring to Fan Bingbing and Tong Liya.
They definitely have to be used in the music video for this album, otherwise it would be a waste.
He didn't intend to let those two freeload anymore; it was a decision he and Liu Qianqian had reached together—to make them work like slaves as soon as possible.
This trip, besides connecting with them, was mainly for fun. Of course, it was also necessary to plan something for the future.
"Who are they planning to recruit this time?" Chen Minghua wondered.
"Don't ask about that yet. Once the others arrive, I guarantee you'll be satisfied." Zhou Xiaobai shook his head and didn't continue.
Chen Minghua smiled and didn't press further, only teasingly saying, "You've got a lot of secrets going on." Anyway, he wrote the script, so he must know what's going on.
He suddenly stopped smiling, and his tone became serious: "By the way, kid, do you know how many copies have been pre-sold so far?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he casually picked up a document from his desk, waved it around, and then grinned and burst into laughter.
His face changed faster than turning the pages of a book.
"One million six hundred and eighty thousand, haha!" Chen Minghua laughed. "This time we've really turned the tables. The head office is arranging emergency production. We previously estimated around two million this year, but given the situation, I think it will be more than three million. Your idea of pairing Teacher Liu and her sister with us is really good."
"So many?" Zhou Xiaobai chuckled. It hasn't even gone on sale yet. If they can really achieve three million in sales by the end of the year, they can break into the top ten in annual sales in China.
"Of course, 'Good Morning Jiangcheng' also made a great contribution. Guess how many orders were placed in Jiangcheng alone?" Chen Minghua said with great enthusiasm, pausing deliberately to keep everyone in suspense.
Just as Zhou Xiaobai was about to ask, someone beat him to it—
"How many?"
At some point, Liu Qianqian, holding snacks, opened her mouth wide and came closer.
"Three hundred and eighty thousand copies, for just this one song!" Chen Minghua finally revealed the answer, and couldn't help but laugh out loud again. "Xiao Bai, your idea for promoting it at schools, shopping malls... is absolutely brilliant!"
The popularity of "Good Morning Jiangcheng" has long exceeded the song itself.
It's like a vibrant city anthem, sung throughout the streets and alleys, arousing curiosity and goodwill towards the city in countless people.
Local media rushed to report on it, and even the government gave it a thumbs up—this intangible reputation is more valuable than any GG (Golden Got).
As a record company rooted in Wuhan, Times Records didn't just focus on making money this time.
Here, Chen Minghua was the one who made the decisions, and he decided to give back to the local market in a different way: instead of adopting the common general agent model, he authorized ten large distributors with good reputations and stable channels in Jiangcheng.
The news had an immediate and noticeable effect.
These past few days, the company entrance has been almost constantly bustling with activity. The heads of the ten distributors have been arriving with bags full of money, signing contracts, making payments, and urging delivery in one go. The scene is as lively as a market.
"Back then, when you said you wanted to 'give back the local benefits and take root in the countryside,' I was a little skeptical," Chen Minghua said, his face beaming with undisguised joy. "Now, it seems like we really made the right move. We've made money, gained fame, and even won over many people's hearts."
"Congratulations!" Zhou Xiaobai offered his congratulations casually, then quickly changed the subject, "So... about the transfer next year?"
Chen Minghua lowered his voice, his eyes gleaming, and his tone was smug: "Thanks to you, as long as this album's year-end sales can squeeze into the top ten nationwide, this will be a success."
In his view, a top ten finish was already a sure thing.
Holding an album where every song is a smash hit, it would be strange if it still didn't go viral.
As someone who was once swept away by the tide, he was exiled to Jiangcheng, and the resentment he had been harboring for years had been building up inside him.
Early next year, a vice president of Times Records will retire, and he has been eyeing the vacant position for a long time.
Now, this promising performance is his bargaining chip for getting back to the poker table.
You have to get back up from where you were kicked down, with dignity and honor.
For Zhou Xiaobai, the great cause of immortality cannot be confined to a small corner.
Before the Changsheng Legion truly matured, he was certainly happy to have a powerful figure in the music industry to shelter him from the storm.
As a public institution, Times Records is not only one of the top record companies in China, but also a bridge connecting Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
Both the distribution channels and the network of contacts are extraordinary.
Before signing the album "Liu Yifei", he had done his homework thoroughly - choosing Era Records was inevitable for him now.
At that moment, their eyes met, and their unspoken thoughts were clearly intertwined in the air.
However, the atmosphere was completely taken aback by Liu Qianqian's sudden voice.