Chapter 289 Who dares to fight Harry Potter?
In the conference room, the executives of Xiaoxiang Entertainment gathered together.
"Normally, we should sign all the contestants who advance to the national finals. Only in this way can we maximize the benefits from the "Fast Boys" program." One of them said.
"But as far as I know, there is a very popular contestant who is himself the champion of other talent shows and has also signed a contract with Universal Music. Universal Music has also invested a lot of resources in him." Another person He spoke.
“We can negotiate with Universal Music to let him terminate his contract with Universal Music and sign a contract with us. If Universal Music wants to expand its business in the mainland, it will inevitably use our resources. We and Universal Music We can cooperate." The leader said, setting the tone.
"There is another one, the champion of the Nanjing Division. When he heard that he was going to sign a contract with us, he immediately withdrew." Someone else said.
"Find a way to persuade him to come back, or at the worst, give him another spot in the finals. After all, as long as the regional champion appears in the national finals, he can at least guarantee ratings." The leader said.
“I have learned about this contestant. He is already thirty years old. He is relatively old and has his own business. He is the domestic regional agent of a famous international alcohol brand. This kind of player has already made his way into society. Players who have been playing for many years have a certain accumulation and connections. We have to lower the contract requirements to impress him.”
“Then let’s lower the contract requirements slightly. In short, people have to find a way. Stay, if someone quits because they are dissatisfied with the contract, if this spreads, it will affect our reputation, and the audience will think that we are squeezing artists."
"Leader, do you think we should give him a contract to inform the artists? Can it be done?" someone asked.
"Notify the artists." The leader thought for a while and said, "Yes, but you have to sign for at least three years!"
Notification artists refer to artists who make a living by participating in various programs and activities. . The income of this kind of artist mainly comes from event notification fees. To participate in an event, another notification fee is paid. Without activities, there is no income.
This is equivalent to those who work part-time among artists. They have the same nature as the labor force squatting at the door of the labor market waiting for work. They have no fixed income and no employer to pay social security and medical insurance. Today, if you work, you will have food. If you have no work to do, you can only rest on your laurels.
In the labor market, those who do odd jobs are at the bottom, and the same is true in the artist circle. Notification artists are even at the bottom.
Don’t confuse announcement artists with the kind of big stars who go around. Although many big stars have not signed with an entertainment company, although they still make a lot of money by taking jobs, they have their own studios. After all, he can be regarded as a self-employed person in the entertainment industry.
However, announcing artists also has the advantage of announcing artists, which is freedom and not being restricted by the company.
Even if the company gives you a notice and you don’t go, the company can’t force you. This is just like those who do odd jobs. If they encounter a job they don't want to take, they just don't take it.
If you sign a contract with an entertainment company, it will be like the majority of workers. You have to do whatever job the leader assigns to you. You cannot bargain.
Of course, some advertising contracts will also stipulate that artists must participate in a certain number of activities every year, or they must participate in a certain type of activities. The specific circumstances vary.
In short, for those artists who do not want to be bound by the company, signing an announcement contract is a situation acceptable to both parties, but the income will definitely be affected.
Music Department Director Hu Li continued: "Also, the champion of the Beijing Division has not been signed."
"I remember his name is Zhang Wei, right? The name is easy to remember, and he is also an original singer. , the songs he wrote are all very good, and they are considered to be top-notch among Chinese songs. Why didn’t you sign him? Could it be that Zhang Wei has already signed with another company?” said a man in his forties in a questioning tone. .
"Zhang Wei has not signed a contract with other companies, but he is not willing to sign a contract with us." Hu Li replied.
"Why? Our company has such good resources, why didn't he sign?" The man frowned, and then said; "Director Hu, did you not explain it clearly to Zhang Wei?"
Hu Li didn't want to say that she had failed to bluff people, so she said innocently: "I have already made it clear. I have told him all the resources that the company can provide him. This is Zhang." Greatness does not know how to praise!
You don’t know that he actually asked me for a signing fee. He is an amateur singer, and he doesn’t know where he got the courage to ask for a signing fee from us. He really thinks of himself as a big star! "
" Asking for a signing fee is indeed a bit excessive. Even famous singers, few dare to ask for a signing fee. "The other person nodded and said, which was a relief for Hu Li.
Hu Li continued to add insult to injury: "Not only that, this Zhang Wei wants us to guarantee him the championship! ”
“Too much! Another person slammed the table and said angrily, "What do you think of our competition?" It’s not like other players don’t have sponsorship fees, so how can they get his turn if they’re recommended to win the championship! "
"Ahem..." Someone immediately coughed and reminded him to stop talking nonsense. Things like the shady story of the show can only be discussed in private and cannot be discussed on the stage.
The man also realized that his mouth was too big, so he smiled awkwardly, and then Zhiqu closed his mouth.
The leader asked: "What is Zhang Wei's background? Have you checked it?"
"He is a student of Tsinghua University and is a sophomore. He is one of the top ten in the competition. At that time, he needed to fill in detailed registration information. At that time, he took out his student ID card from Tsingta University. It was true. "
"He is still a top student!" The leader nodded slightly and then asked. He said: "Have you found out your family background?"
"We tried to contact Tsingta University. Tsingta University said that student information is personal privacy and refuses to disclose it." The man paused for a moment. , and then said: "I think the attitude at Tsingta University is not very good. When I called, they seemed to be coaxing me, and hung up the phone after just a few words."
"What do you mean? You look down on our "Fast Boys"! What's so great about it. If someone from other schools can enter our national finals, they will be eager to publicize it and increase their popularity!"
"That's it! Tsingta University really has the right to look down on us. If nothing else, even our provincial administration of radio, film and television is one level below others!”
“Yes, Tsingta University really doesn’t care about our program. They don’t need us to increase their publicity.”
Everyone fell into silence for a few seconds. These talent shows run by Xiaoxiang Entertainment are quite popular, but in front of a top university like Tsinghua University, there really is no sense of superiority at all.
Principal Gu was extremely reluctant about Zhang Wei's participation in the talent show. He was afraid that Zhang Wei would really run away and become a star, so he had already made arrangements for this matter. Things should be kept low-key, no matter how low-key, publicity is absolutely not allowed within Tsinghua University. If outsiders come to interview, they will be rejected directly and ignore those reporters.
So when people from Xiaoxiang Entertainment went to Qingdao University to inquire about Zhang Wei through formal channels, Qingdao University was extremely uncooperative and almost kicked the person away.
After everyone in the conference room was silent for a moment, Hu Li finally asked; "Then Zhang Wei, do we still want to sign it? How about we also give a notice of the contract?"
"He As a student from Tsinghua University, there must be no shortage of options. He may not be able to sign the notice contract!" The leader pondered for a moment and said:
"Let's try it with the notice contract first. Try, if he is willing to sign, then sign it. If he doesn’t sign, let’s eliminate him in the first game of the finals! Since he is not an artist of our company, there is no need for us to waste our exposure on him! ”
……
Hu Li dialed Zhang Wei's number, and it took more than ten seconds to get through.
After another half a minute, Zhang Wei answered the phone.
"Hello, I am Zhang Wei..." Zhang Wei's tone was as if he had been woken up from his sleep.
"It's broad daylight, why do you look like you're sleeping? I don't know where you went to have fun last night, young people today!" Hu Li sighed silently in her heart, and then said: "I'm Hu Li from Xiaoxiang Entertainment." "Director Hu, do you have anything to do with me?" Zhang Wei said sleepily.
"It's still about the contract. I reported it to the leader. If you don't want to sign a contract with us, you can also sign a notice contract first, so that you will have more freedom. We can cooperate for a while first, if it is suitable for both of us. If so, then it will be converted into an artist contract."
Hu Li said and explained to Zhang Wei what an announcement contract is.
"Thank you, Director Hu, for caring so much about me. But I can't sign it now!" Zhang Wei said.
"Zhang Wei, the company is willing to give you a notice contract, which is already a great deal of sincerity."
"Director Hu, don't get me wrong, what I said about not being able to sign is true. I can't sign it. I'm not in the country right now, so even if there is a contract, I can't sign it," Zhang Wei said.
"You are not in the country? Then where are you? Can you come back to sign the contract?" Hu Li asked immediately.
"I'm in the United States, Los Angeles." Zhang Wei replied.
"Uh..." Hu Li was suddenly speechless.
Zhang Wei is on the other side of the world, so don’t mention coming back to sign the contract.
The next second, Hu Li suddenly realized that day and night were reversed between China and the United States. No wonder Zhang Wei's voice sounded sleepy. It turned out that it was late at night for him and it should be bedtime now.
After working on it for a long time, I still disturbed Zhang Wei’s rest!
……
Zhang Wei was jet lagged and slept until noon the next day.
After lunch, Zhang Wei took a manuscript and went to Amazon for publishing, where he met his old acquaintance Evans.
"Mr. Zhang, I originally invited you here because I wanted to talk to you about the third part of "The Thirst Game". I remember you said before that the third part should be the finale, right? ”
Zhang Wei nodded: "Yes, I have already written it."
"Mr. Zhang, you are such an efficient writer." Evans praised first, and then said: " However, after studying the market, we still recommend that you wait until next summer to publish the third part of "The Thirst Game"."
"Is it because of the finale of Harry Potter? He mentioned it to me before." Zhang Wei asked.
"Yes, JK Rowling will publish the last part of the Harry Potter series this summer, which is also the finale of the entire novel."
Evans nodded. , and then said: "You don't need to introduce me to the popularity of the Harry Potter series. You must have heard about it, not to mention that this is the finale of the entire series of novels.
It is no exaggeration to say that any novel that encounters the finale of the Harry Potter series is unlikely to have high sales. Although your "Game of Thirst" series is the best-selling book after the Harry Potter series, according to our evaluation, if we really encounter the last Harry Potter book, I am afraid that the sales will be greatly reduced. .
In addition, although the Harry Potter series is published by Xuele Group, this time Xuele Group has also reached a cooperation with Amazon in order to boost sales. By then we will also have to publish Harry Potter series. A special finale and more resources will be invested, which will inevitably affect your "Thirst Game".
So I sincerely suggest that you wait for a year, avoid Harry Potter first, and wait until next summer to publish the finale of "The Thirst Game". By then, we at Amazon can also concentrate our resources. Promote your book. "
"Evans, what you said makes sense. "Zhang Wei showed an expression of deep approval.
The influence of the Harry Potter series is indeed the No. 1 among young people's novels. Especially in Anglo-Saxon countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States, it has created Sales myth.
After the accumulation of the first six parts and the promotion of the movie, by the time the Harry Potter series reaches its finale, there are already hundreds of millions of book and movie fans around the world.
On the day this novel was released, 8.5 million copies were sold in the United States, 2 million copies were sold in the United Kingdom, and even BJ sold 10,000 copies of the original English book.
Later, when People's Literature Publishing House published the Chinese version, the first printing was one million copies, which was also the record for the first printing of literary and artistic books at that time.
In the end, the global sales of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" exceeded 100 million copies. The sales volume of the then tenth edition of "Xinhua Dictionary" was not as good as that of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" .
As a reborn person, Zhang Wei is naturally very aware of the power of the Harry Potter series. Although the "Hunger Games" series is also the top bestseller in the United States, compared with the Harry Potter series, it is still one step behind. Grade. There’s no need to go head-to-head with the Harry Potter finale.
"Evans, I have no objection to the publication of the finale of "The Hunger Games" being delayed for one year. However, when I came this time, I also brought another novel, which I would like you to read." Zhang Wei said from the bag A stack of manuscripts was taken out from inside.
"Zhang, you have another new work? Is it a young adult novel this time, or a science fiction novel?" Evans looked curious.
“No, this should be considered a romance novel!” Zhang Wei said with a smile.
"Romance novels?" Evans frowned. These things are usually written by female writers. I don't know that Zhang Wei is a young man who can also write romance novels.
Zhang Wei continued to add: "To be precise, this should be a romance novel with a strong taste."
"Romance novels? Are they heavy on taste? It sounds like they are colorful! Could it be the kind of novels that are colorful? This Chinese seems to be gentle and gentle, but unexpectedly he is also a slut!"
Evans thought to himself, then took the manuscript from Zhang Wei and took a look at the title of the novel: "Fifty Shades of Grey"!
"Zhang, does this title have any special meaning? There are fifty shades of gray." Evans asked.
“This Gray is a personal name.” Zhang Wei explained.
“Oh, I got it, Fifty Shades of Grey!” Evans nodded with sudden realization.
The male protagonist of this novel is called Christian Grey. Gray’s English name is Grey, so it should be translated into Chinese as "Fifty Shades of Grey".
Since Gray also means gray, the Chinese translator gave this book a more artistic name: "Fifty Shades of Grey".
In the United States, if any book can compete with "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", it is probably "Fifty Shades of Grey"!
(End of this chapter)