The cartoons imported from abroad in recent years are indeed too strong and have compressed the domestic cartoon space a lot.
Nowadays, children in China are watching cartoons such as "Saint Seiya", "Chibi Maruko-chan", and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". Last year, the "Slam Dunk" broadcast in some areas also received a very good response. This year, more and more people have watched it. It's coming to more and more TV stations and should soon become nationally known.
In addition to these cartoons, children are now most fascinated by Ultraman.
If China still has some room for survival in the field of animation, then in the field of tokusatsu films, China has no experience at all, and the entire market belongs to Ultraman.
Zhou Yan remembered that in the last century, Shanghai Animation Film Studio also initiated reforms in order to seek vitality, and spent a lot of manpower, material resources and time to produce China's fifth feature-length animated film "Lotus Lantern".
The production line-up of "Lotus Lantern" is very strong. The director is animation master Chang Guangxi, and the dubbing team includes Cui Jie, Lei Kesheng, Ma Jingwu, Ding Jiali, Jiang Wen and others. Many of the post-production staff are veterans of feature films.
The animation took three or four years to be made, with a cost of 12 million. The final profit was pretty good, with a box office of 25 million.
In fact, this cartoon does not lose money at the box office. After all, in addition to box office, cartoons have many other benefits.
As China’s fifth animated feature, “Baolian Lantern”’s income from TV is definitely quite considerable.
But I'm afraid it can only be said that it is not losing money, and it is not making any money at all.
The current IP operations in China are not commercialized and cannot be monetized at all. In the future, they can basically only rely on TV broadcast income.
It can be said that this cartoon gave hope, but it was not enough. Shangmei Factory was not saved because of this cartoon. In fact, after this battle, the original sigh of relief disappeared.
The reason is also very simple. Shangmei Factory wants to reform, but it is still locked in the system. What they produce cannot adapt to the current animation economic form.
Their reform was aimed at commercialization, but what they produced was not a truly commercial work.
"Lotus Lantern" is indeed a success, but its success is almost impossible to replicate.
If it's because of the name of Shangmei Factory and it's not a gimmick for China's fifth animated feature film, why would famous actors like Jiang Wen, Xu Fan, and Ning Jing come to dub you? There is simply no way for Shanghai Film Studio to pay these actors a salary that matches their fame.
There are also those excellent production personnel that only Shangmei Factory can recruit and pay relatively low wages.
If the producer were to change, I am afraid that the production cost of "Lotus Lantern" would have more than doubled.
This is why "Baolian Lantern" is not a commercial work at all. There is no trace of commercialization in the entire production process.
The real commercialization should be when SMI takes the script to investors, and the investors see the commercial potential of the script and decide to invest.
Then they use the money to find people and give each participant a corresponding remuneration.
After such a process, even if the cartoon does not make any money, it actually doesn't matter. As long as it doesn't lose a lot of money, there is hope.
Because the model is easy to copy, as long as you are willing to continue investing, you are very likely to succeed next time.
The model of "Baolian Lantern" cannot be copied, and it takes a very long time, so it cannot be a good way to save Chinese cartoons.
Others have no way to hire a group of big names like Shangmei Factory without spending a few dollars, and those big names can't always generate electricity for love.
Just one "Baolian Lantern" is enough. If there are other similar projects in the future, if we don't give money, people may not be willing to come.
If you want Chinese cartoons to develop in the long term, you must find an "industrial assembly line" to ensure the continuous production of high-quality cartoons - even if you cannot guarantee high quality, you must ensure that the quality is stable.
Of course, this is just a premise. In addition to ensuring the production of excellent works, we must also ensure that these works can make money. This requires creating a mature commercial chain to support the realization of IP commercial value.
Zhou Yan had no intention of discussing Shangmei's situation and just said with a smile, "I still don't know much about animated movies."
Seeing that Zhou Yan was not very interested in this topic, Xu Feng nodded and stopped talking about the topic. Instead, he asked about today's party, "What programs are there tonight?"
“It’s just singing and dancing.”
"Who else is dancing in your studio?" Xu Feng asked unexpectedly.
"I am a student of the Chinese Opera. The studio has a school-enterprise cooperation with their school. They also produced a program for this annual meeting, including dance."
Xu Feng smiled and said, "It will be convenient for you to choose actors from now on. Just go and pick them up."
"That's what I think." Zhou Yan nodded and added, "I'm also planning to establish a school-enterprise cooperation with Yanjing Film Academy to develop some short film projects every year."
"No wonder China Theater is willing to cooperate with you in school-enterprise cooperation. It seems that you told them about the short film project, right?" Xu Feng immediately understood the crux of the problem.
"The one who knows me is Sister Feng." Zhou Yan laughed, "This short film project is very attractive to them."
"Of course, for these students of Chinese Opera, the appeal of short films may be stronger than that of regular feature films. If the first and second grade students can make a few short films to practice their skills, it will be of great benefit to them. And compared to the students in the acting department, I guess the directing department will be more interested. But if you help others train students, you are not afraid that they will not be used by you.”
Zhou Yan shrugged and said, "It doesn't matter. I didn't expect to tie students to our company through school-enterprise cooperation. In fact, I don't lack those actors either."
This is Zhou Yan's real thought. He is cautious about the future stars of Chinese operas, because he feels that whether an actor can become famous depends not only on their own ability, but also on opportunities.
As long as the studio can maintain the ability to produce excellent works, actors are the most indispensable. Relatively speaking, what he wants to recruit more are excellent behind-the-scenes personnel.
In Zhou Yan's view, no actor is irreplaceable.
"You sound quite crazy." Xu Feng smiled, "But it seems reasonable and reasonable from your point of view. Of course you are not short of these actors. On the contrary, these actors all want to film your scenes."
Zhou Yan's movies have been a hit at the box office for several consecutive years, and his popularity is unparalleled. Not to mention these students who have not yet graduated, even among the already famous actors, there are not many who don't want to participate in Zhou Yan's movies.
Even Gong Li said when she had a phone call with Zhou Yan before that she wanted to cooperate with Zhou Yan again if she had the opportunity.
It could be heard that she was not joking, but was talking about this matter very seriously.
After separating from Zhang Yimou, there are not many directors in China that Gong Li can work with.
After "Shake, Shake, Shake to Grandma Bridge", Gong Li took on two dramas, one was "Feng Yue" and the other was "Chinese Box". The former was directed by Chen Kaige and the latter was a foreign director.
Under current circumstances, only domestic directors such as Zhou Yan and Chen Kaige can collaborate with her.
It's not that Gong Li is a snobbish person who only chooses great directors, but at her position, it's difficult to work with ordinary directors. Let’s not talk about the level of ordinary directors. Ordinary directors cannot get good investment, it is difficult to guarantee production, and they cannot afford Gong Li.
If she wants to go further, she must keep cooperating with these directors who hope to go abroad.
Therefore, apart from these two movies, Gong Li has not taken on other movies yet, and the frequency of filming is very different from before.
In the past few years, she basically filmed two or three movies every year, and she spent most of the time in the group throughout the year.
Among the well-known directors in China nowadays, Gong Li most hopes to cooperate with Zhou Yan. After all, the two have a very good relationship.
Zhou Yan also really wants to cooperate with Gong Li again, but there is no good opportunity for the time being.
While the two were chatting, Yu Hua pushed Shi Tiesheng over.
"Hey, Mr. Xu is here." Yu Hua said with a smile.
Because of Zhou Yan, Xu Feng often saw Yu Hua and Shi Tiesheng, and they were considered acquaintances with each other.
"Teacher Yu Hua, Teacher Tiesheng, do you have any ideas to contribute a program on stage today?"
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Yu Hua chuckled, "I would like to show off my shame, but I don't have any talent at all."
Shi Tiesheng also laughed and said, "We were discussing beforehand whether we should practice a chest-breaking boulder in advance and go on stage today to cheer everyone up. However, after thinking about it, I still feel that it is almost the Chinese New Year and it is not appropriate for everyone to see blood."
Normally Shi Tiesheng doesn't like to joke. Today, he suddenly heard Shi Tiesheng joking. Xu Feng was immediately amused. She asked with a smile, "I don't know, who did you two plan to let lie down and who to swing the hammer?"
"That must be me, Tiesheng has trouble with his legs and feet."
"Although my legs and feet are inconvenient, they do not hinder the hammer."
"You can swing a hammer, but how can you put a big stone on my chest?"
"It doesn't matter, you can hold the stone and then lie down, saving me the trouble of lifting the stone."
The two of them were talking to each other and bickering happily. Xu Feng listened with great joy.
Zhou Yan also smiled, it was rare to see Tie Sheng so happy.
In the past two years, Tiesheng's mood has become much better, and his health has also improved a lot. Yu Hua often takes him to walk around the studio, which makes him feel better.
A few people were chatting, and there were more and more people in the factory. The teachers from the Chinese Theater Company also came, and Zhou Yan was busy entertaining them.
When Yu Hua and Shi Tiesheng saw that Zhou Yan was busy, they didn't bother him anymore. Yu Hua pushed Shi Tiesheng toward the auditorium. He wanted to see in advance where he would sit when the performance started.
Shi Tiesheng was in a wheelchair, so it was easy to get in. He had to sit in the first row, but he couldn't sit in the first row. Many times he would find an open space in the aisle to park his wheelchair.
But when Yu Hua walked to the edge of the auditorium, his eyes lit up, he pointed to a gap in the middle of the first row and said, "Hey, there happens to be a gap here where you can park your wheelchair."
Shi Tiesheng looked in the direction of Yu Hua's finger. There was a gap in the first row on the left side of the auditorium. It was about the same size as a seat. This location was indeed very suitable for parking a wheelchair.
Before Shi Tiesheng could speak, Yu Hua pushed the wheelchair over.
When they reached the gap, Yu Hua turned the wheelchair upside down and pushed directly into the gap.
After the wheelchair is parked, there is about ten centimeters of space on both sides, which can be said to be very suitable.
On the left side of the gap, there were two seats. Yu Hua walked directly to the side and sat down. From the back, it looked like they were both sitting on the seats.
Seeing that he was wrapped in the first row of gaps, Shi Tiesheng looked in the direction of Zhou Yan, with a strange look in his eyes.
Of course he had already guessed that this gap was specially left by Zhou Yan for him to make it easier for him to come to the show.
Of course Yu Hua also guessed it, but he didn't say it out loud.
This is the cleverness of Yu Hua. He usually never avoids topics related to Shi Tiesheng's legs. Just like when they were arguing just now, he could very naturally say that Shi Tiesheng's legs were not good.
It was precisely because of his lack of shyness that Shi Tiesheng felt at ease and comfortable when he was with him. On the contrary, it was the caution with which others around him looked at him that made him feel uncomfortable.
However, Yu Hua knew that he could talk about Shi Tiesheng's legs without hesitation, but there was no need for him to remind Shi Tiesheng that Zhou Yan had paid for Shi Tiesheng. This would not only put pressure on Shi Tiesheng, but also put pressure on Zhou Yan.
Just keep the relationship between them in mind.
At this time, Yu Hua just said with a smile, "When we come to watch the show again in the future, Zhou Yan and I can be your guardians."
Shi Tiesheng smiled and said, "I don't know how often I can come here in the future."
The band usually rehearses in the practice room or recording studio, and probably won't come here specially. Therefore, in Shi Tiesheng's opinion, except for such big days, they probably won't see any performances.
"You are totally wrong. I heard that they have a school-enterprise cooperation project with the Chinese Theater Company. In the future, students from the Chinese Theater Company may come here to perform in dramas and other programs. There is also an orchestra, sometimes There is more than one program being rehearsed, and the orchestra and folk band are separate, so someone will definitely come here to rehearse.”
Shi Tiesheng felt that what Yu Hua said made sense, so he nodded: "Well, that's right."
"Of course, that's right. Don't you know Zhou Yan? Although he is rich, he is not a person who wastes money. Since he spent money to build this small theater, there will definitely be many opportunities to use it later, maybe in addition to rehearsals. , there will also be a formal performance.”
If Zhou Yan heard what Yu Hua said, he would definitely give him a thumbs up, because that's what Zhou Yan thought.
The small theater has been built, and there are hundreds of seats in it. If it stays like this all year round, Zhou Yan is not willing to do it.
So Zhou Yan planned to hold some activities in the future, such as a music club for new recruits signed by companies like Wang Lihong, and regular concerts.
Hearing what Yu Hua said, Shi Tiesheng was also very happy. His legs and feet were inconvenient and he couldn't travel far away. Nowadays, besides reading books and newspapers, his favorite thing is to hang out in Zhou Yan's studio.
Here, he can not only read books, but also listen to music. It will naturally be more comfortable if he can often see other performances in the future. (End of chapter)