EFB Chapter 87 I trust you to lead the men
Chapter 87 I trust you to lead the men
Yanjing, Life Story Studio.
Wang Li arrived ten minutes earlier than the agreed time.
She took out a mirror at the door to touch up her makeup and straightened her collar before pushing the door open and entering.
Ren Pingsheng was sitting in front of a simple tea table, warming the teacups.
"Sister Wang, please have a seat."
"Director Ren, you're too kind."
Wang Li smiled and sat down, but as soon as her bottom touched the chair, she became tense.
The drunkard doesn't mean wine.
This is her assessment of today's invitation.
If it's just about the role, I can give a general overview over the phone; there's no need for her to make a special trip.
That is, there is something more important to discuss—Ren Pingsheng wants to buy out Ya Ya's contract.
The thought came to mind almost instinctively.
Logically speaking, most directors wouldn't sign artists themselves.
Signing a contract means you have to support, promote, provide resources, and take risks—it's a thankless and arduous task.
For directors, they can simply choose the actors they want from the market; why tie themselves down?
But Ren Pingsheng clearly does not belong to this category.
Wang Li had done her homework; this person's four works since his debut have all used almost the same production team.
This habit is exactly the same as that of Li Shaohong, Zhao Baogang, and Gao Xixi.
Without exception, these bigwigs are all directors and bosses who own their own companies and sign artists.
He took a liking to Ya Ya and wanted to sign her.
Wang Li was certain in her heart that although Ya Ya was not famous at the moment, her looks and temperament were still there, and she was young. How could she let go of her?
If Ren Pingsheng knew what Wang Li was thinking at this moment, he would probably only sigh and say, "The process was all wrong, but the result was all right."
Is it because he doesn't want to use other actors?
If he weren't so broke, he wouldn't even bother going to the film set.
He knows his own limitations. Relying on the "favors of predecessors" and his ability to assess the situation more than a decade ahead of the times, directing and filming short web dramas and micro-movies is already his limit.
If we really want to make higher-quality TV series or theatrical films in the future, then we should leave the professional work to the professionals.
He sees himself as the ultimate goal of becoming a producer who oversees the entire project.
"Sister Wang, you must be quite busy lately?" Ren Pingsheng pushed the teacup towards her. "I heard from Ya Ya that Sister Zhenni's new drama has good ratings. Congratulations!"
Wang Li smiled and said, "It's alright. It was in the top three in its time slot during the first week of broadcasting. The station is quite satisfied."
"Sister Zhenni is indeed a good actress. She can play any role convincingly. Ya Ya is also good. Sister Wang has a good eye. Both of her girls are promising talents."
These words made Wang Li feel relieved, but she did not let her guard down.
"Director Ren, you flatter me. It's all thanks to the children's hard work."
Ren Pingsheng took a sip of tea and asked casually, "What are Sister Wang's plans for the two of them? Are there any projects being discussed in the second half of the year?"
Wang Li paused for a moment, holding her teacup. "As for the next steps..."
She forced a smile. "I've looked at a few books so far, and I'm still choosing. You know how hard it is to find good books, so I want to pick out a suitable one for them."
That's vague.
Ren Pingsheng nodded without asking further questions. "This collaboration with Ya Ya went exceptionally smoothly. She has a strong understanding of the character and doesn't dawdle on set. I really like this kind of actress."
Wang Li's heart skipped a beat, but she remained expressionless.
"So I want to continue working with her on my next project."
really.
But he said cooperation; was he testing the waters?
"That would be great," Wang Li replied with a smile. "Ya Ya has mentioned it to me several times, saying that she can learn a lot from filming with you."
"However..." she paused at the opportune moment, "Yaya's upcoming schedule depends on the specific dates. If it clashes with other projects..."
Before she could finish speaking, she felt guilty.
What other projects?
Where did these other projects come from?
Wang Li picked up her teacup to cover up her embarrassment.
The truth is, ever since she switched from Pengcheng Vanke Film & Television to Happiness Blue Ocean at the end of last year, her resources have been severely limited.
Although Vanke Film & Television is a small company, it shouldn't be too difficult for them to get roles for Tong Liya and Guo Zhenni.
But Happiness Blue Ocean is different.
The series covers everything from building the Party and sending educated youth to the countryside to poverty alleviation—all serious dramas.
It doesn't fit the two actors' acting styles at all.
When Wang Li switched jobs, she thought she could benefit from the support of Jiangsu Media Group, but she soon discovered that the land under its shade belonged to other companies.
She managed to get the role in "The Legend of Zhong Kui" by leveraging her existing connections.
What's next?
she does not know.
Looking at the excessively young director opposite her, Wang Li felt a mix of emotions.
She certainly hoped Ya Ya could continue working with Ren Pingsheng, but the problem was, what if Ren Pingsheng really wanted to poach her...?
Wang Li unconsciously gripped the teacup tighter.
Ya Ya was trained by her. Starting from the year she graduated from the Central Academy of Drama, she accompanied her to hundreds of auditions, big and small.
Guo Zhenni is the same.
These two girls are her biggest asset, and her only asset, in this industry.
If someone poachs her, she'll have nothing left.
The moment this thought crossed Wang Li's mind, her back tensed up.
An agent who doesn't have any artists is worse than a dog.
"Sister Wang?"
Ren Pingsheng's voice brought her back to reality.
Wang Li snapped out of her daze and quickly smiled, "Sorry, I just realized I had a notification for Ya Ya that I hadn't confirmed yet."
She picked up her teacup and took a sip, already mentally preparing herself for bargaining.
If Ren Pingsheng really proposes to buy out Ya Ya's contract, she must hold firm on the price and not let herself end up losing both her money and her possessions.
However, Ren Pingsheng's next words completely shattered all her preparations.
"Sister Wang, I didn't come to you today to poach Ya Ya."
Wang Li was stunned.
Not digging up Yaya?
"I would like to invite you to come to Life's End, and bring Ya-Ya and Sister Zhen-Ni with you."
Wang Li opened her mouth, but for a moment she didn't know what to say.
She had imagined a thousand different scenarios of being robbed by this young director, but she never expected that he would actually take her down with him!
"Director Ren, you mean..."
"Ren Pingsheng has production capabilities, distribution channels, and a stable cash flow," Ren Pingsheng said, counting on his fingers, "but he lacks an agent."
He didn't just make empty promises. "The total viewership of the ten episodes of 'Report to the Boss' has exceeded 60 million, and the net profit from product placement and platform revenue sharing has exceeded three million. 'Old Boy' hasn't even been released yet, but the copyright has already been sold for two million."
Wang Li's eyes widened slightly.
"We will continue to produce content, and our goal for this year is no less than four works," Ren Pingsheng continued. "Each of these works requires a large number of actors, and I have a habit of using my own people."
Wang Li understood.
Stable output means stable film contracts.
"After you come here, you will be in charge of the agency business. The contract terms for Ya Ya and Sister Zhen Ni will remain unchanged. I guarantee they will have roles to play."
He paused for a moment, "Besides those two, Shengping Vision also has Bai Ke, Xiao Ai, and Qiao San, plus Yin Zheng and Zhang Xiaofei, whom we just worked with. You will also be responsible for managing the affairs of these people."
"After Dapeng terminates his contract with Sohu, you might not be able to handle everything by yourself."
Wang Li's breathing became noticeably rapid.
Six people?
Including Ya Ya and Zhen Ni, there are eight?
One agent manages eight artists, all of whom have established works to their name.
This pancake... no, this isn't a pancake.
Wang Li fell silent.
She looked down at the tea leaves floating in the teacup, two voices arguing in her head.
A voice said, "Go."
You have no access to the resources of Happiness Blue Ocean; staying here will only make you more and more passive.
Ren Pingsheng's company may be small, but it's incredibly powerful.
Another voice said, "Don't be impulsive."
You've only been job-hopping for three months. If you switch jobs again, what will the industry think of you?
Moreover, no matter how much money Shengpingshi makes, it's just a small workshop making online content, and it's miles behind Jiangsu Media Group, which is behind Happiness Blue Ocean.
There is an even more hidden voice, concealed deep within.
If they go to Ren Pingsheng's place, Ya Ya and Zhen Ni will become Ren Pingsheng's people.
If they only recognize Director Ren and not her, she will be abandoned after being used.
Wang Li's fingers tapped unconsciously on her knee.
Ren Pingsheng observed the changes in her expression but did not urge her.
He picked up his teacup, took another sip, and then stood up.
"Sister Wang, there's no rush."
Wang Li looked up at him.
"Go back and think about it, and discuss it with Ya Ya and Sister Zhen Ni. After all, this is a big deal, and I can't just make a decision on my own and then you jump in."
He chuckled. "Just give me a call when you've made up your mind."
Wang Li loosened her grip on the teacup.
She stood up, took a deep breath, and a smile returned to her face.
"Okay, I'll go back and think about it carefully."
"Director Ren, may I ask you a question?"
"you say."
"Why don't you just talk to Ya Ya directly?"
That's a very direct question.
Wang Li knew very well that she wasn't the kind of top-notch agent with all the connections and influence, and couldn't offer Ren Pingsheng anything.
Given his past experience and the current situation, he could easily find a more capable agent, bypass her, and directly use resources to overwhelm YaYa.
Anyway, there was no exclusive contract between her and Ya Ya, so as long as Ya Ya nodded, Wang Li didn't even have the right to stop her.
Ren Pingsheng leaned against the window frame, his hands in his pockets.
"It's rare to see an agent willing to take the production company to court to protect their artist."
Upon hearing this, Wang Li's throat tightened, and a trace of bitterness flashed in her eyes.
He was talking about the cover of "The Wet Nurse".
Last year, the TV series "Wet Nurse" starring Guo Zhenni was a hit. As a result, Jiuzhou Audio-Visual, in order to attract attention, photoshopped her picture onto the body of a naked woman and used it as the cover.
This sparked much speculation among viewers, and even led some websites to classify the show as an adult film.
Because of this, Wang Li not only took Jiuzhou Audio-Visual to court despite the pressure, but also clarified everywhere that the breastfeeding scenes in the drama were all done by a body double.
She even publicly "sabotaged her own career" in an interview, reminding female artists how to avoid traps in contracts and calling on management companies to protect the rights of female artists.
This incident caused quite a stir, with many people feeling that Wang Li was troublesome and didn't know the rules.
Ren Pingsheng smiled and said, "Because of your protective instincts, I feel at ease having you brought in to lead the team."
In this calculating circle, ability has never been his standard for hiring; bottom line is.
If you encounter a manager who will stop at nothing to get ahead, or who will push their artist into a fire pit for a pit of fire for a little bit of profit, you'll get yourself into trouble sooner or later.
But Wang Li is different; she prioritizes protecting her artists over gaining popularity.
Insufficient ability?
It doesn't matter. As long as he's leading the way, even a dog can be carried along.
But Ren Pingsheng would never do something like planting a landmine in his own backyard.
Wang Li stood at the door, her lips moved, but in the end she said nothing.
She nodded, opened the door, and went out.
In the corridor, the sound of high heels clicking on the floor echoed through the passageway.
Stepping out of the building, a cold wind hit her face. Wang Li wrapped her coat tighter and stood by the roadside waiting for a taxi.
She took out her phone, found Tong Liya's number, and then found Guo Zhenni's number.
My finger hovered above the screen, but I eventually withdrew it.
Think again.
Think again.