Depressive Screenwriter

On Sunday, after Friday and Saturday, nearly all of the dramas scheduled to air during the summer season in Xia Country had already premiered.

In the 'Ancient Love Song' crew, Su Yan and several others gathered to study the viewership data.

After all, these were their competitors.

"'Midnight Gourmet's' first episode garnered a viewership rating of 2.66%, currently ranked 13th among all dramas premiering this week in Xia Country."

"'Under the Azure Sky's' first episode garnered a viewership rating of 3.11%, currently ranked 7th among dramas premiering this week."

"'Night Cherry's' first episode garnered a viewership rating of 3.01%, currently ranked 10th in viewership ranking."

These productions were all produced by Sakura TV, so Su Yan and the others were naturally more concerned.

"'Midnight Gourmet's' performance is a bit poor," said Yumi Shinozaki, feeling somewhat distressed.

"'Midnight Gourmet' had an investment of 29 million, several million higher than 'Under the Azure Sky!' Yet its viewership rating is so much lower than 'Azure Sky,' and it couldn't even surpass the C-level drama 'Night Cherry'? At this rate, could 'Night Cherry' really sneak into the top ten for the season's viewership ratings?"

"'Night Cherry' officially has an investment of 15 million, but the actual crew configuration and promotional resources are those of a solid B-level drama. It's not too surprising that it could beat 'Midnight Gourmet.' However, for the first episode to only get a 3.01% viewership rating and still rank 10th, it shows that the quality of the dramas produced by various TV stations this season is generally mediocre!" Shi Peihua looked at the data on the report.

Sakura TV produced one A-level drama, two B-level dramas, and eight C-level dramas this season.

A total of 11 self-produced dramas, among which 'Ancient Love Song' ranked 9th within the TV station and 27th in the national viewership ranking.

In fact, this result already surprised many people within the TV station.

The Sunday midnight slot has consistently ranked among the worst two time slots for Sakura TV. If it weren't for the two competitors, Shanghai and China Summer TV, insisting on premiering some new dramas in this slot, Sakura TV would have canceled this slot long ago to avoid falling behind its competitors, replacing it with reruns of old, terrible dramas.

Premiering in such a lackluster time slot, and 'Ancient Love Song's' viewership rating isn't last place in the station?

Moreover, the first episode's viewership rating squeezed into 27th place nationally.

That's something.

"However, 'The Gilded One's' data is quite good. As expected, high investment leads to high returns!" Su Yan said.

"'The Gilded One' premiered on Saturday at 8 PM, with a first episode viewership rating of 3.89%, ranking second in the overall viewership ratings for dramas in the autumn season!" Yumi Shinozaki said.

"That's only temporary. We'll have to wait until Shanghai TV's 'Lone Doctor' premieres tonight to see if 'The Gilded One' is second or third in the first week's competition," Yumi Shinozaki said.

"Actually, based on the past few seasons, one or two A-level dramas from the three major TV stations usually break the 4% viewership rating mark upon premiere. But this season, until now, not a single drama has achieved such a result. It's true, as Director Shi said, the quality of the dramas premiering this season is indeed lower than usual."

As Yumi Shinozaki spoke, a smile appeared on her face.

"That's even better. If the viewership ratings of these competitors weren't so low, 'Ancient Love Song' wouldn't have squeezed into the top 30 with a premiere viewership rating of 1.38%. This is a good start."

"Don't forget, our goal is the top ten for the season! And the most important thing is to beat 'Night Cherry' and Kiyota Sanji. Right now, 'Night Cherry's' viewership rating is more than double ours..." Su Yan reminded.

"Yes, yes, yes, I know, you don't need to remind me all the time... Although I still don't know how 'Ancient Love Song's' viewership rating will increase, since you, the screenwriter, are so confident, that means the later scripts are full of surprises, right?" Yumi Shinozaki looked at Su Yan.

The three of them organized the information in their minds.

Among the dramas produced by Sakura TV:

The A-level drama "The Gilded One" is temporarily ranked second in the season's viewership ratings and first among the station's self-produced dramas.

The B-level drama "Under the Azure Sky!" is ranked seventh in the season's viewership ratings and second within the station.

The C-level drama "Night Cherry" is ranked tenth in the season's viewership ratings and third within the station.

And "Ancient Love Song" is ranked twenty-seventh in the season's viewership ratings and ninth within the station.

This result wasn't something to be happy about for Su Yan, who aimed for the top ten for the season.

But for the entire "Ancient Love Song" crew, it was definitely worth celebrating.

During the afternoon filming process, Su Yan could clearly feel the excitement of the surrounding crew members.

"Ancient Love Song" didn't need to compare with the dramas broadcast during the station's golden time slots.

Compared to the dramas in the same Sunday midnight slot in previous seasons, "Ancient Love Song" clearly had a much higher premiere viewership rating than those "predecessors."

Moreover, compared to the new dramas in the same Sunday midnight slot from China Summer TV and Shanghai TV, "Ancient Love Song" had the highest viewership rating during the same time period.

Judging from this situation, perhaps the station would even issue a small bonus after "Ancient Love Song" finished broadcasting?

On set, Su Yan was giving Gu Qingyuan martial arts instructions.

"Teacher Su Yan, what do you think the viewership rating for the second episode of 'Ancient Love Song' will be at midnight tonight?"

Gu Qingyuan, while putting on her filming armor, looked at Su Yan opposite her and asked curiously.

She also knew that there was no answer to this question, so what she actually wanted to know was whether Su Yan, after knowing the results of the first episode's premiere, remained unchanged in his expectation that 'Ancient Love Song' would squeeze into the top ten in the season's viewership ratings.

"The second episode?" Su Yan thought for a moment.

"Ancient Love Song" actually followed a certain mysterious three-episode law.

That is, the node where its early foreshadowing ends and it completely begins to look good is the third episode.

The first episode buries a big pit, and the second episode continues to bury small pits, and even sets up many confusing settings.

From the third episode onwards... is when the drama's mystery is unraveled.

How Lu Yuan met Shen Buyan.

Why she clearly liked Shen Buyan but ultimately became the infamous Empress Lu Yuan in history.

Why Li Yong, as prime minister, would betray the country.

Why Li Yong and Lu Yuan ultimately became enemies.

What role did Shen Buyan play in this?

How did the story of Shen Buyan and Lu Yuan move towards extreme depression and heartbreak?

"No one can predict the specific viewership rating. But the viewership rating for the second episode will definitely increase."

"And what I can be sure of is that after Sakura Online launches the first episode of 'Ancient Love Song' next week, its word-of-mouth score and paid views... should exceed the imagination of many people at the TV station," Su Yan said with a smile.

Sakura TV's premiered dramas are usually launched on Sakura Online a week later, providing those viewers who want to re-watch with a multi-watching channel.

It's just that normal viewers, after watching a drama on TV, won't spend more money to re-watch it on online video platforms.

Unless it's those truly explosive A-level, or even S-level, dramas, even if they are launched on online broadcasting platforms later, they can still achieve paid views of more than ten million per episode.

Because after the drama explodes out of the circle, many viewers who haven't watched the drama before can only enter the pit through video websites, which will naturally increase the paid data.

As for "Ancient Love Song..."

Su Yan could be very sure that no matter what level the drama ultimately reached.

There would be many people who would re-watch "Ancient Love Song" on Sakura Online at that time.

Because this drama must be watched a second time to grasp its essence.

Especially the first episode...

If you watch the first episode after watching the fourteenth episode of "Ancient Love Song", you will understand how sad Lu Yuan was in the first episode, and with what courage and determination she met Shen Buyan, who didn't know her at all, for the last time in her life.

"Then, until now, do you still think that 'Ancient Love Song' can ultimately increase its viewership rating to enter the top ten for the season?" Gu Qingyuan asked directly.

"Of course it can," Su Yan said with a smile.

"I am the screenwriter of this drama, and I have 10,000% confidence in its plot."

Su Yan's words stopped there.

He changed the topic, guiding Gu Qingyuan's attention to the martial arts action.

"Okay, stop talking nonsense and focus on business."

"Gu Qingyuan, straighten your hands a little, raise them a little higher, yes, that's right, watch me demonstrate it once, then directly exert force from your waist, and you can rotate and land in the air like this."

Gu Qingyuan was directly stunned by Su Yan's spinning and fluttering landing posture.

Her thoughts were indeed guided by Su Yan in another direction.

What waist strength and core strength is this?

"How can you jump so high?"

"Don't be afraid, you'll have a wire hanging from you at that time, it's very simple," Su Yan said with a smile.

Gu Qingyuan's eyes were strange.

Why can you always say such things so lightly, Su Yan?

The movements that we need to use wires to make, you can do them freehand. Are the things that are very simple for you the same for us?

From childhood to adulthood, Gu Qingyuan has considered herself a clever person among her peers.

But after filming with Su Yan for a few months, the sense of frustration that there are people beyond people is unprecedentedly high.

How does Su Yan usually study and improve?

Flute playing, Konghou playing, martial arts, screenwriting, composing, songwriting...

How can he do everything?

What hasn't he revealed yet?