Chapter 280: Please Advise Me for the Rest of My Life

A few days later, Lu Sijia reported that there was a good script that she planned to buy. The price was not expensive, and the other party only asked for 180,000. If she bargained, she could lower it a little.

Out of curiosity, Chen Feng went to take a look. It was a modern romance drama with not many words, only two to three hundred thousand words.

The content of the script was very simple. It was about a third-year female college student whose father was hospitalized with cancer, and then she met and fell in love with her father’s chief surgeon. Of course, there were also some love triangles and quadrangles that everyone liked to see.

The story was relatively flat and not very novel. Chen Feng spent more than an hour, reading ten lines at a glance from beginning to end, and really didn’t find this script to be very outstanding.

However, he was an amateur in terms of scripts and film and television production. He asked Lu Sijia if she was very optimistic about this script. Lu Sijia gave an affirmative answer, so Chen Feng didn’t struggle anymore. He immediately said that he would buy it. As for whether to start the project, it would be decided after everyone had a collective discussion.

Lu Sijia’s actions were still very fast. The next day, she spent 150,000 to buy the script called “Please Advise Me for the Rest of My Life,” and then immediately began the project of the TV series.

For this reason, the company’s senior management held a project establishment meeting. Chen Feng, the boss, and Zhao Guoqing, the consultant, also attended. In addition, all those at the manager level and above also participated.

Although Chen Feng was sitting in the main seat, this meeting was presided over by Lu Sijia, the general manager. She first spoke and directly threw out the theme of this meeting.

Liu Ying was the first to ask, “How much is the budget for this project?”

Lu Sijia said, “The project has not been established yet, so of course there is no budget. After the project is successfully established, we can estimate how much the budget is and make a budget table.”

Liu Ying frowned and asked, “You initiated this project. You should have a rough idea of the budget, right? If the budget is too large, I suggest we give up this project. Our company has just been established, and we can’t invest too much money in the first project.”

Wu Mengting also said, “It’s true that our company’s first film and television project should not have too much investment. However, I am personally quite optimistic about this ‘Please Advise Me for the Rest of My Life.’ Because it is a modern drama, as long as we don’t hire those too famous traffic stars, the investment should not be too much.”

Lu Sijia nodded and said, “That’s right. Chairman Chen told me before that the cost of the first TV series produced by our company should be controlled within 10 million. So, I chose this one among many scripts. Because just looking at the script, this modern drama has no big scenes, and the costumes, props, and scenery don’t cost much. As for the actors, the leading roles will definitely be chosen from our company first. Some unimportant roles don’t need to be paid high, so the production cost can be completely controlled within 10 million.”

Sun Xiaorui said, “I read the script yesterday. I think it’s very good, very touching and sweet. The male lead is cold on the outside but warm on the inside. He’s very warm, and he’s also a young and handsome doctor. From the perspective of an ordinary female audience, I would also like such a male lead doctor. Of course, the actor who plays the male lead must be handsome, and his acting skills are also an assessment item. I think the two young male artists in our company are quite suitable in terms of appearance.”

“Then you mean you agree to the project?” Lu Sijia asked Sun Xiaorui.

“Of course. I think this drama has the potential to be popular if it’s filmed well.”

“What about the others?” Lu Sijia looked at the others.

The personnel and administrative manager, Xu Haixia, followed up and said, “I also agree to the project.”

As soon as she spoke, the two managers of the publicity department and the planning department also spoke up and expressed their approval.

“Although I’m not very optimistic about this drama, after all, the investment is not much. We can give it a try,” Wu Mengting said without surprise and agreed.

Hu Rui also said, “The advantage of this drama is that the cost is not high. We can give it a try. In addition, the company must give priority to our company’s artists to play the leading roles.”

In the end, besides Chen Feng, only Liu Ying and Zhao Guoqing had not expressed their opinions. Everyone’s eyes were on them.

Liu Ying spoke first, “I think the cost of this drama should be controlled within five million. If it exceeds that, it will be a bit risky.”

Hearing this, Lu Sijia frowned slightly, but she didn’t say anything. She just turned to Zhao Guoqing and asked, “Old Zhao, what do you think?”

Zhao Guoqing was undoubtedly the most experienced here. After all, he had been in the film industry for decades and had been a director for twenty or thirty years. He had filmed many film and television dramas.

Zhao Guoqing slowly said, “To be honest, the quality of this script is not very high. Of course, it can’t be said to be very bad. It can only be said to be on the passing line. You spent 150,000 to buy it, which can’t be said to be expensive. It’s a market price. As for filming it into a TV series, there is definitely a certain risk. Of course, before the film and television drama is released and sold for money, no one can guarantee that it will definitely make money. We can only try our best to reduce this risk.

“If this TV series is to be carefully produced, even if we don’t hire those stars with high salaries, it will cost at least 10 million. Otherwise, the picture, costumes, props, and so on will definitely be unsatisfactory. But do we really want to risk investing 10 million, or even more, to film this seemingly mediocre modern drama?

“I think we should be more cautious. At least look at some other scripts before making a decision. Of course, if CEO Lu insists on filming it, in order to reduce the risk, we can bring in other investors to share the risk with us.”

After hearing Old Zhao’s words, Lu Sijia said, “Okay, since everyone has expressed their opinions, I will also express my own views. The reason why I am optimistic about this drama is for two reasons. The first is that there are relatively few modern romance dramas of this type on the market at present, but last year there was a similar TV series that was a big hit. You should have seen it, it’s called ‘Dear You.’ It achieved very good ratings and a very high rate of return. The second is that the cost of this drama is relatively low. I have roughly calculated it before, and the maximum budget is 8 million. So, I think our company can completely produce this drama independently and use it to make a good start. Of course, whether this project can be established in the end still depends on the boss.”

After Lu Sijia finished speaking, everyone’s eyes turned to Chen Feng, who was in the middle of the main seat.

Chen Feng was very calm in the face of everyone’s gaze. After all, he had been through several years of workplace experience. What’s more, he was now the company’s boss, so he was even more confident.

However, he didn’t put on the airs of a boss, nor did he deliberately keep them in suspense. He said very directly, “I agree to the project. Since Fengmang Film and Television has been established, we must produce our own film and television works as soon as possible. Otherwise, our company will have no meaning of existence. As for the risk, there is definitely some, but I believe in Sister Lu’s vision. So, this risk is worth taking. I can provide 10 million in funds. The production must be excellent. If it’s not enough, I can consider adding more. But the first guarantee is that the quality must be good.

“This project is fully handed over to Sister Lu to be responsible for. Uncle Zhao, if you are interested, you can take the title of art director for this project. Mengting, you will be the financial director of this project. Sister Lu’s side, together with the planning department, should make a proposal as soon as possible, and then, together with the finance department, make a budget table.

“Alright, the focus of everyone’s work next is to do this project. The whole company must work together to do it well. This is our company’s first official project, and it must be done well. It must be a hit.”

After hearing this, everyone cheered up and nodded in agreement. It was true that, as Chen Feng said, this was the company’s first project and it must be done well. This was related to the company’s future development and everyone’s vital interests, so it could not be sloppy.

After the meeting, Chen Feng and Lu Sijia stayed behind alone.

“Thank you, boss, for your trust. I originally thought you had concerns.”

Lu Sijia spoke first. She was a little moved by Chen Feng’s trust in her. Especially since Chen Feng had expressed to her before that this script was to his taste and he didn’t find it interesting.

As a result, he didn’t expect Chen Feng to be so supportive.

“Although I don’t like this script very much, I’m not a professional after all. And you are the professional. Since I chose you to be the general manager of the company, I must give you enough trust. Let’s start with this TV series.”

“Okay, boss, I will definitely not let you down.” Lu Sijia promised with a serious face.

Chen Feng smiled, “Don’t be so serious. I’m leaving you alone to talk to you, mainly to tell you my suggestions for the male and female protagonists. If there are no accidents, the male protagonist will be Gong Yi, and the female protagonist will be Luo Yingying. These two will be the ones our company will promote in the future. The other three will have to be put on the back burner, especially that Wang Shujuan. Her contract will expire in a few months. If she wants to leave, let her go. Also, although our company doesn’t really need to supplement some artists at the moment, if we really find some good seedlings and good candidates, we don’t have to hesitate to sign them. In this regard, you and Hu Rui can communicate.”

“Okay, boss,” Lu Sijia quickly agreed.

Chen Feng then chatted with her for a while about some company matters, and then ended this private conversation with her.

He was indeed very trusting of Lu Sijia at the moment. The main reason was simple, that is, he believed in his own luck.

Since God had let him find her to be the general manager of the company by luck, then she would definitely not let him down.

This was not his confidence in himself or in Lu Sijia, but his confidence in God and his own luck.

After the meeting, Chen Feng did not plan to stay in the company.

He came out of the conference room and walked through the public office area. Along the way, the employees of the company stood up one after another to greet him respectfully.

Chen Feng also smiled and nodded at them with great affinity.

When he was working before, it was also like this, but he didn’t expect that his identity would change so quickly.

Chen Feng was not unaccustomed to this. Different stages of life have different circumstances. It’s good to face it calmly and not be happy with things or sad with oneself.

Although he was only thirty years old, he had also experienced life and death. His mentality had become similar to that of a seventy or eighty-year-old. In addition, he was rich, so his temperament and temperament naturally improved.

Chen Feng walked out of the company with a relaxed expression. It was about ten o’clock in the morning. He was not in a hurry to go back, so he went out of the International Trade Building and walked to the side of the East Lake.

The International Trade Building was not far from the East Lake. However, the East Lake was very large, and there were many commercial circles along the lake. The distance from Red Villa Bay was more than ten minutes by car.

Chen Feng had not been here much before, but the scenery along the lake was also very beautiful, so he planned to just stroll around and have a look. The only fly in the ointment was that at this time, he was not accompanied by a beauty. The three women with whom he had an intimate relationship were all working for him in the company at this time.

Thus, it was rare for him to be single for a while, which made him feel relaxed and unrestrained.

With a happy and relaxed mood, Chen Feng walked to the side of the East Lake, looking at the scenery along the lake, watching the pedestrians and tourists coming and going, talking and laughing. Even though it was a cloudy day today, it still made him feel the beauty of the world.

…

About ten minutes ago, Yang Wenqi was interviewing for the position of media editor at Fengmang Film and Television. The salary was 6,000 and above, and there was also five insurances and one housing fund. The most important thing was that there was also a meal allowance and accommodation. This was what she needed most at the moment, and it was also a relatively suitable profession.

She was a major in radio and television. She originally had a plan to be a host. After all, she was so beautiful and had a great advantage. Unfortunately, her professional course scores were very average, and her grades in the four years of university were not very good. In the end, she barely graduated.

Of course, if she was willing to sacrifice a little of her beauty, it would be relatively easy to find an internship at a TV station or something. But she was not that kind of superficial and short-sighted woman. She had always protected herself well. Of course, it was impossible to sell herself for a mere internship opportunity.

She had repeatedly rejected the “help” of those men who had been coveting her beauty. In the end, she could only keep interviewing for some jobs that were slightly related to her major, and at the same time, she had to avoid being subjected to the unspoken rules or even being forced.

Thus, she had received her graduation certificate for two or three months, but her job was still not settled.

What made her even more miserable was that her father’s company went bankrupt and his whereabouts were unknown. Her mother, as a housewife, could only hide in her mother’s house and wash her face with tears every day. She suddenly had no financial support from her family. Her second uncle, who had always loved her since she was a child, was still concerned about her and would occasionally give her some living expenses. Otherwise, she would not even have the basic living expenses.

Several times, she almost gave up her principles and found a rich second generation. For example, the few who had pursued her in school before. She could completely choose one who looked relatively pleasing to the eye, and then talk to him about love, and then she would have no worries about food and clothing.

But in the end, she still persisted, because she knew that as a beautiful woman, what was most precious was not to sell herself cheaply to a rich second generation just because of a temporary difficulty. At least, she had to find a good buyer who was willing to pay a high price.

In fact, while she was looking for a job these days, she was also silently waiting for a possible good buyer to appear.

For example, the Lehman Cafe where Chen Feng had met her last time was a place she went to every few days. Her purpose was not really to drink coffee, but to imitate Jiang Taigong fishing, and the willing would take the bait.

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(End of chapter)