In the beginning, I just wanted to make money

The "talent discovery mechanism" in the film and television industry is actually very extensive - it mainly relies on interpersonal circles.

This is especially true for screenwriters.

They often communicate with each other in the social circles of the three major professional colleges.

There are no headhunters in this industry who use "performance data" to recommend suitable screenwriters to project leaders.

Even a more formal company only has a list of co-writers similar to a "supplier database".

For example, if a film and television company has a new project that is about to be launched, the project leader will use his own network to find a screenwriter...

If the person in charge of the project is a graduate of the Chinese Opera Department, then naturally most of the screenwriters he is familiar with are those who graduated from the Department of Theater and Literature of the Chinese Theater Company.

It is impossible to bid for something like literary and artistic works, which is difficult to quantify.

The person in charge only needs to recruit a few screenwriter teams, discuss the planning ideas symbolically, and then leave a quotation.

The rest of the decision-making power rests entirely with the person in charge - in the end, it is likely to be a price comparison. As long as the price difference is not large, the screenwriter team who is also a Chinese drama graduate with the person in charge will get the contract.

From this perspective, Shen Xudong is considered to have entered the industry, because he is a student of the Department of Theater and Literature of China National Theater!

The TV drama market has been booming in the past two years, and the requirement for prosperity is that scripts must be published quickly. 4

Let me give you some simple science: 90 years ago, our TV series appeared in various TV stations in a self-sufficient manner. At this stage, the TV series broadcast by each TV station are mainly produced by themselves, with a small quantity and a single style, mainly short plays or single dramas.

After the 1990s, TV dramas appeared among various TV stations in the form of "TV program exchange", and TV dramas were broadcast on various TV stations in turn in the form of exchange;

Then in 1994, the Chinese TV drama buying and selling market began to gradually take shape. First, it appeared in the form of advertisements with TV series or separate advertisements, which provided profit space for TV series production institutions and promoted the TV series production industry. More TV stations and cultural companies began to participate in the production and distribution of TV series;

The biggest change is that after 1998, TV stations began to purchase large quantities of TV dramas in the form of funds, which brought about the prosperity of China's TV drama market. The diversification of channels and the formation of three-level TV organizations such as city stations, provincial stations, and CCTV made TV stations’ demand for TV series is gradually increasing;

In 2000, the Director of Television simply issued relevant policies and regulations to support domestic dramas, which led to a rapid increase in market demand, a substantial increase in the production of domestic TV dramas, and further development of the Chinese TV drama market...

Under this premise, TV series that can easily reach forty or fifty people can no longer be completed by just one or two screenwriters.

Well, the person who takes over the job is usually a well-known screenwriter with certain works, but in fact he himself only needs to control the overall quality, and he also needs to find a large number of non-famous screenwriters or writers to complete the tedious desk work for him. .

"Purple Butterfly" is like that.

Generally speaking, the script creations that students in drama departments like Shen Xudong are exposed to are those who have already written the outline of the story...

You are not allowed to express yourself freely!

Even every plot point has been listed...

All they have to do is stuff content based on plot points.

Mainly the dialogue between the characters.

Shen Xudong originally thought it would be difficult, but...he completed his work and felt very relaxed...

It seems like it has been written countless times before!

After showing it to several people in the dormitory, they all thought it was good...

Zhao Linhai patted him on the shoulder and praised: "I just said Xudong has talent!"

Zhao Xin also said: "Yes, next time I go to have dinner with the seniors outside the school, bring him with me..."

"Dinner party?"

"It's just a meal..."

"Not so good... No money?"

"Well," Liao Gaoxiang said happily: "Let's get familiar with him first!"

Shen Xudong was a little embarrassed: "Is that convenient?"

"What's the inconvenience? Let me tell you, they won't mind if there are more than one person when writing a script. Besides, most of them also welcome new ideas from people with different experiences and ways of thinking. Just don't steal the show and just listen. Just be the boss. Being familiar with me first can create a positive impression on people, and it will be much easier for you to ask to work with them in the future."

"Exactly, otherwise why do you think the senior would ask us to write? There are thirty people in our class!"

"Okay...do I want to change it?"

"...No need to change it, just leave it here and we will submit it together next week!"

Shen Xudong was confused again: "Didn't we finish writing? Why don't we hand it in in advance?"

"Submit the manuscript early? Is it good for us?"

"Let me tell you, if you want to work in the industry in the future, the most important thing is: never submit your manuscript in advance!"

…

"Dad...I'm fine!"

"My classmates take good care of me. Let me tell you, I have already started writing a script..."

"It's called "Purple Butterfly", of course there's money for it..."

Shen Xudong is calling home...

He talked about being a screenwriter with some bragging.

The old man on the other end of the phone was also very happy and taught him to learn more from his classmates...

His father's name is Shen Mingguang, who is in the building materials business and contractor, and has a construction team under him.

It's also a bit of spare money.

Therefore, his living expenses are only 1,200 a month!

"I understand...where's my mom? School isn't out yet?"

"Make up the class...Okay, I understand...Well, I'll fail it first..."

Pulling out the phone card, Zhao Xin, who was accompanying him next to him, asked, "Is your mother a teacher?"

"Yes…"

"Then she makes up classes?"

"Just give extra lessons to the students. The teacher's income is too low. Give me some living expenses..."

"Are you the only one in your family?"

"Yeah, what's wrong?"

"It's okay..." Zhao Xin changed the subject: "Let's go, the second brother should be waiting at the door. By the way, I will see the senior later, so stop talking!"

Shen Xudong frowned: "Why?"

"...I guess this project is going to be dirty...Anyway, just stop talking!"

They made an appointment to treat the senior to a massage - after all, the senior gave him the opportunity...

…

At the tavern outside the school, four people from the dormitory gathered together and ordered food. Then the senior walked in with a sullen face. Liao Gaoxiang guessed what was going on at first glance. He looked at each other and greeted Zhao Linhai warmly: "Brother Zhang..."

"...I'm sorry for you, the project "Purple Butterfly" is gone!"

"Normal, nine out of ten items are yellow..."

"Your final payment..."

Liao Gaoxiang said cheerfully: "It's okay, we are only freshmen, the most important thing is to accumulate experience!"

Zhao Linhai: "...it's just that Brother Zhang wants to find us because he likes us. Besides, we have already taken the deposit!"

"Brother Zhang, let's eat!"

Shen Xudong wanted to say something, but Zhao Xin kept staring at him. Xudong wanted to speak several times, but kept silent...

He wanted to ask about the situation...

There was no need for him to say anything. After three rounds of drinking, Senior Zhang said it himself: "I heard that the boss of this company was being chased for debts and the capital chain was broken..."

"Debt collection?"

"Well, it seems that politics is involved... Anyway, "Purple Butterfly" is completely over!"

Later, they talked about popular themes in the industry. Shen Xudong didn't listen carefully. He was very frustrated...

Although he was only responsible for a small part of "Purple Butterfly", it was... after all, it was the first time he participated in a screenwriter's project, so... he was gone?