Back to 80: My Literary Life

The negotiations between the two parties took place three days later at the CCTV building. The person who received Song Tangtang and the others was still the deputy director surnamed Zhu.

"Mr. Song, we organized relevant experts to watch this TV series. The filming was quite good. The novel, screenwriting and production are all top-notch. You people from Qin Province made good movies, but I didn't expect that the TV series was also quite good." Director Zhu said.

"Thank you, Director Zhu." Song Tangtang smiled reservedly: "Then can we discuss cooperation now?"

"sure."

In fact, there are only two key points in this kind of negotiation. The first is whether the TV series will be broadcast exclusively by CCTV, or whether the broadcasting rights will be sold to other TV stations.

Another one is price.

Song Tangtang made it clear that our company will sell the rights to broadcast this TV series to other TV stations, but as it is the first broadcast on CCTV, Shengshi Film and Television will ensure that the TV series is completely broadcast before letting other TV stations broadcast it.

"Since it is not exclusive to our TV station, then we have to lower the price." Director Zhu spoke crisply.

"How much does one episode cost?"

"fifty thousand."

fifty thousand? !

Song Tangtang raised her eyebrows and cursed in her mind: Are you sending me away like a beggar? !

Of course, she is still very ladylike on the surface.

"Director Zhu, by giving this price, are you going to bankrupt our Shengshi Film and Television? You are so insincere."

"What does Mr. Song mean?"

"Three hundred thousand per episode."

"Three hundred thousand?!" Director Zhu almost jumped up when he heard this: "Do you think you are filming "Journey to the West" or "Dream of Red Mansions"?!"

"I admit that "Journey to the West" and "A Dream of Red Mansions" produced by CCTV are both classics, but our "Ordinary World" is not far behind. The novel itself has a broad mass base, which will be converted into TV audiences. And you’ve also watched the TV series, so I won’t say more.”

Of course what Song Tangtang said makes sense.

Director Zhu is interested in this TV series. On the one hand, the filming is really good, and on the other hand, there are many readers who like this novel in China, and these are all potential audiences.

"But, Mr. Song, three hundred thousand per episode is too expensive!" Director Zhu frowned and expressed his opinion.

Song Tangtang smiled slightly after hearing this: "What if the novel "The Ordinary World" wins the prize?"

"Award? What award?" Director Zhu was stunned, but when he saw Song Tangtang's slightly mysterious smile, he suddenly thought of something: "You mean you won this year's Mao Dun Literature Award?!"

The list of winners of the third Mao Dun Award will be announced soon. The literary world is already in a commotion, and he, the deputy director of CCTV, has also heard about it.

Director Zhu was slightly moved when he thought of these. If "The Ordinary World" can really win the Mao Dun Award, then once it is announced, it will definitely attract the attention of readers, and the sales of the novel will set off another wave of climax!

If a TV series is launched at the right time at this time, why should we worry about the ratings?

"But, how do you know that "The Ordinary World" will definitely win the award?" Director Zhu asked his question again.

"How can such a good book, a novel with widespread social influence, not win the award?" Song Tangtang maintained a faint smile on his face.

"Of course, I know, Director Zhu, you are still skeptical. After all, the winning works have not been announced yet, so I am just guessing." Song Tangtang continued:

"Let's do this. Let's set a dual price. If the novel wins the award, each episode will be priced at 300,000 yuan. If it doesn't win, how about 200,000 yuan per episode?"

"Mr. Song, your approach is good, but it's still too high." Director Zhu expressed his opinion.

"Then how much did you say? Please don't mention fifty thousand episodes again."

"Winning 200,000 yuan, not winning 100,000 yuan!"

"A novel that won the Mao Dun Award, and a TV series produced by the best screenwriters and directors in China, only cost 200,000 yuan per episode? It's so worthless." Song Tangtang sneered, and said: "300,000 yuan, I It won’t be cheap.”

After some intense bargaining, the two parties finally reached an agreement: if the novel won the award, the award would be RMB 280,000 per episode; if the novel did not win the award, the award would be RMB 100,000 per episode, a difference of nearly three times!

Both parties finally signed the contract, signed and stamped with the seals of their respective units.

“Happy to work with!”

“Happy to work with!”

Song Tangtang held out his right hand very reservedly.

After coming out of the CCTV building, Song Tangtang still returned to the General Political Courtyard. He couldn't wait to call Fang Minghua on his grandfather's home phone and briefly explained the negotiation process to him.

"Not bad, 280,000 per episode, 30,000 more than we expected." Fang Minghua smiled on the phone: "Congratulations, Mr. Song!"

"Here we go again," Song Tangtang muttered, his tone becoming a little worried:

"But if we don't win the award, each episode will only cost 100,000, so we won't make much money."

Because the original budget of 3 million turned out to be overspending, and in the end the total cost was 3.6 million.

Calculated this way, including the advertising fees at the end of the film, the total earned does not exceed 2 million.

Fang Minghua laughed loudly after hearing this: "Don't worry, you will definitely win the award. Also, Tangtang, have you bought the book I asked you to buy?"

"I bought it, I'll bring it back to you."

"Okay, come back quickly, the New Year is coming soon."

The Spring Festival of 1991 came as scheduled.

Of course, we still make dumplings, eat New Year’s Eve dinner, set off firecrackers and watch the Spring Festival Gala.

The 1991 Spring Festival Gala was pretty good.

Zhao Benshan performed the skit "Xiao Jiu is Old", Chen Peisi and Zhu Shimao performed "Police and Thief", and Huang Hong and Song Dandan performed "Hand in Hand", all of which were very good.

As for the songs, Taiwanese singer Pan Meichen, dressed in black and like a boy, sang the classic song "I Want a Home" and won applause from the whole audience.

Principal Alan Tam was also invited to perform on the Spring Festival Gala stage for the first time and sang his representative work "Flower in the Water", of course in Mandarin.

In fact, Fang Minghua prefers to listen to his other song "Hard to Part".

This year (1990), Alan Tam released his Mandarin album "Hard to Part", and the title song of this album immediately became a popular song of the year as soon as it was released.

Unfortunately, when this album was released, Alan Tam had already announced that he would no longer accept awards, so it did not become one of the top ten golden songs in Hong Kong this year, which is really a pity.

Celebrating the Spring Festival is of course lively and happy, but Song Tangtang seems to have some thoughts.

"Minghua, when will the Mao Dun Literature Prize be announced?"

"I called the Chinese Writers Association to ask for you, and they said they would announce it after the Chinese New Year." Fang Minghua answered patiently.

"After the Chinese New Year, they didn't say a specific day, really," Song Tangtang muttered.

Fang Minghua shook his head and said nothing more.

Whether this "Ordinary World" can win the Mao Dun Literature Prize has become something that the entire Shengshi Group, including Shengshi Books, is looking forward to.

Shu Bin in Haikou redesigned the book cover and added the words "Winning Works of the Third Mao Dun Literature Prize".

Once the work wins the prize, the third printing will be started immediately: 1 million copies!

After the Spring Festival, Fang Minghua continued his typing work, striving to use another month to complete the first part of "Twilight", "Twilight".

That afternoon, the sun was shining, and Fang Minghua sat alone in the yard to bask in the sun. The puppy Dou Miao was nestled at his feet, and the cat Dou Ya was once again occupying his arms.

On the small coffee table next to him were thermos and tea, and a four-speaker tape recorder, playing Alan Tam's "Hard to Part"

I can't bear to part with you in the spring rain and apricot blossoms

My smile

The years are passing by in the rain and wind

In a dream

Fang Minghua squinted and hummed along with the tape recorder.

At this time, she suddenly heard the gate of the yard being pushed open, and saw Song Tangtang hurriedly walking in with a happy face.

"Minghua! The third Mao Dun Literature Award has been announced, and "Ordinary World" won the award!"