Later that morning.
Zhang Ye's Studio, which had been quiet for more than three years, was back in operation.
On Weibo, quite a few people were discussing this topic.
"Zhang Ye has really made a comeback!"
"I miss Face-smacking Zhang so much."
"Could that fellow be trying to stir up trouble again?"
"But in this day and age, isn't he no longer in control?"
"Yeah, any male idol these days is more popular than him."
"Let's see what he takes on."
"Yeah, I wonder what Teacher Zhang's net worth is now."
"If I were Teacher Zhang, I wouldn't have made a comeback. He was so popular back then, and so many people were crazy about him. But it's different now. After so many years, what if Zhang Ye comes back and doesn't even get a third of the endorsement fees of a B-list male idol? How embarrassing would that be? He might as well retire and leave the entertainment industry as it is becoming younger, more attractive, and more idolized. Teacher Zhang doesn't fit that description. He was never an idolized celebrity from the start, so it'll be even more difficult for him to survive now."
"I'm not too optimistic about it either."
"Hai, Face-smacking Zhang is really getting old."
There were all sorts of comments.
Most of the people were skeptical.
…
At the studio.
Everyone was busy.
Ha Qiqi was making a call.
"Director Yan."
"Director Ha, has Teacher Zhang really made a comeback?"
"Yes, he's making a comeback today."
"Then let's arrange an endorsement deal with Teacher Zhang."
"Sure."
"We have a new beverage brand that will be launching soon. It's the new product that Teacher Zhang endorsed for us a few years ago. Are you guys interested in working with us?"
"Yes, we can discuss it. How about the endorsement fee?"
"Why don't we do it this way? Let's sign it for a year at 3 million RMB. How does that sound?"
"3 million RMB?"
"Director Ha, that's already quite a lot."
"If you're not sincere, there's no way we can discuss it."
"I'm sincere. This is the market price. Director Ha, I know you might think it's too little, but times are different now. Back then, Teacher Zhang's endorsement fee was 30 million RMB a year, and we wouldn't even bargain. But times are different now. You should know better than me about Teacher Zhang's situation. We're taking a huge risk by getting Teacher Zhang to endorse our product, so you can't let us suffer a loss, right? Besides, the price we're offering Teacher Zhang is still very high. I believe that after some time, when the hot topic of a Heavenly King's return dies down, and when the hot topic of humanity's victory over PeterGo dies down, the price will definitely drop even more. "
Over there.
Zhang Zuo was also contacting a merchant.
"A commercial performance?"
"Right, can Teacher Zhang accept it?"
"What price?"
"You guys drive."
"If it's a large-scale ribbon-cutting ceremony, three million per event."
"How much?"
"3 million? That's not a lot, right? Teacher Zhang has never taken on any commercial performances before. Now that he needs funds to reopen his studio, he decided to make this offer."
"That's too expensive. It's only about three or four million for us to hire a little fresh meat. That won't do. The most we can pay is six hundred thousand. We can't go any higher. Brother Zuo, we worked together in your previous company, right? You've been in the entertainment industry all these years, so you should know the market better than me, right? If it were four years ago, let alone 3 million, even if Teacher Zhang were to offer 5 million, it would still be a great bargain for us. How many companies in the industry could invite Zhang Ye to do business? But now--are you kidding me? Teacher Zhang isn't even on the popularity rankings anymore, so how can there still be such a price? "
The other side.
Little Wang was also on her cell phone.
The entire office could only hear Little Wang flipping out.
"What did you say? Five hundred thousand? "
"Yeah."
"Director Chen, 500,000 yuan to hire Teacher Zhang to act in a movie? Are you alright? "
"Little Wang, Teacher Zhang isn't the main character in the movie. He's only going to be a guest star with only two scenes and one line. 500,000 yuan is quite a lot, isn't it?"
"We don't take guest roles!"
"You guys want to take on the lead role?"
"Yeah, and we still have to look at the script."
"Hur hur, then go and ask someone else. Our production team doesn't have any. Little Wang, let me say something else. Ask around in the industry and see if there are any big-budget TV series or movies that don't hire a little fresh meat for the lead role. Without them, where would the box office earnings come from? Where would the viewership ratings come from? "
An hour later.
The studio's staff found nothing.
Zhang Ye was playing with his child.
Ha Qiqi came over and said, "The advertising endorsements these days are too little!"
Zhang Zuo sighed. "My side can't do it either. They're not sincere at all."
Little Wang said angrily, "Don't even mention the production team that I contacted. What kind of people are they! Hiring Director Zhang to be a supporting role? No, not even a supporting role. It's just a guest role and they only offered 500,000 yuan! "
Zhang Ye asked, "How much are the others offering?"
Ha Qiqi hesitated.
Zhang Ye smiled. "Tell me the truth."
Only then did Ha Qiqi say, "Two months ago, the advertising endorsement fee for the little fresh meat, Guan Zhaohua — I think the media reported it as 50 million yuan a year."
Zhang Ye asked, "What about me?"
Ha Qiqi said angrily, "They offered 3 million yuan."
3 million yuan?
50 million yuan?
The difference was more than just a zero!
Zhang Ye laughed. "That's normal."
Little Wang exclaimed, "How is it normal? This isn't normal at all!"
Zhang Ye smiled and said, "Four or five years ago, do you remember when I told you guys that the entertainment industry would be dominated by little fresh meats in the future? That's why I told everyone at that time that we had to reach the top within a year. Otherwise, it would be even more difficult in the future. Look, the current entertainment industry is exactly the same as I mentioned back then. There's nothing surprising about it."
Zhang Ye had already experienced such a situation back in his previous world, so he wasn't surprised and was already mentally prepared for it.
Zhang Ye took out his cell phone. "Let me make a call."
He had just changed his SIM card today and could already use it.
The number in the card was still there. He wondered if his old friend from back then had changed his phone number. If he had, he really wouldn't be able to contact him.
Du du du.
The call connected.
Famous film director Li Ke said: "Zhang 'er?"
Zhang Ye smiled and said: "Director Li, you still have my number?"
Li Ke said in surprise: "You didn't change your number either? I tried calling you yesterday, but I couldn't get through. "
"I changed my SIM card today. I can't use my old SIM card anymore, but I've kept my number." Then Zhang Ye said: "I heard that you've been preparing for a new movie recently? I just came back, so I'm looking for a job for an old friend? "
Li Ke said: "That's why I called you. Did you think that I didn't keep you in mind? When I found out that you were coming back, I knew that you wouldn't be able to stay idle. At that time, there was an unfilled supporting male role, so I mentioned it to the investors, but — "He sighed." The investors weren't willing. "
Zhang Ye asked: "Is it about the pay?"
Li Ke said: "It's not about the pay. They're just worried that you'll affect the movie's release. After all, the incident back then had a huge impact. You were removed from the popularity rankings because you were a banned artist. Even though it's been three or four years, they're still afraid that something might go wrong. They're also afraid that there'll be any disputes in the future. You might not know this, but after you went to jail back then, many of the projects that you worked on were affected. The investors are always looking for profits, so they definitely have their concerns. So this morning, the production team skipped me and chose a B-list male idol to join the cast.
They didn't even ask for my opinion. "Zhang Ye said in amusement:" Old Li, you've been in this industry for so many years and are one of the most famous directors in the country. Why are you regressing? "
Li Ke said helplessly: "The environment has changed, the times are different, and I'm getting old. The few movies that I've starred in haven't received high reviews, so they're no longer as influential as they used to be. This is the era of the male idols. Do you know why the investors like them so much? Although the pay is high, and more than half of the 200 million RMB investment in a movie has to be used to pay the male idols, they're still willing to do it. That's because they can break even. A male idol can bring in a large group of fans. It's like the box office and viewership ratings have already been set before the movie has even started filming. "
Zhang Ye said: "Is it really that exaggerated?"
Li Ke told him: "It's just how things are these days. Some of the movies starring male idols have really bad reviews, and the ratings are so low that even the industry insiders can't bear to watch them. But when they see the box office earnings, everyone will be dumbfounded. 500 million RMB. Can you imagine that?"
Zhang Ye said: "Then help me find a reliable investor. I'll shoot the movie myself."
Li Ke asked: "You'll direct and act it yourself?"
"That's right."
"Will it be a TV series or a movie?"
"Either is fine."
"I don't think there's a chance. Who's going to invest in it for you? Be it a movie or a TV series, you've never acted in either of them before. Would the investors trust you? Nowadays, as long as it's a big investment, there will always be male idols in the cast. Relying on acting skills? Relying on qualifications? That was out of date long ago. Do you know why Ning Lan retired? It's not because she got married, but because the last two movies she starred in after her marriage only grossed around 10 million RMB at the box office. That's Ning Lan we're talking about, an A-list superstar and a Best Actress. What do you think a box office earnings of 10 million RMB is? Can you imagine? "
The call ended.
Zhang Ye shrugged.
Endorsements?
Commercial appearances?
Acting?
Director?
All the paths seemed to have been cut off by him.
Ha Qiqi rubbed her forehead. "Even Director Li can't help?"
Zhang Ye laughed and said: "Old Li has no choice now. He's not having it easy either."
When Chenchen, who was playing with Sisi, heard this, she said: "Zhang Ye, so you're really past your prime?"
This was the entertainment industry.
The cruelest place in the world.
Sisi panicked. "Daddy isn't past his prime! Daddy is amazing! "
Zhang Ye smiled and picked up his daughter to give her a kiss. "That's right, it's their fault for not having good taste."
Sisi nodded heavily. "Daddy is the most amazing superstar!"
Zhang Zuo was tickled by this. "That's right, your daddy is the one and only celebrity in the world. You won't be able to find another like him."
Ha Qiqi also came over and patted Sisi on the head. She said with a sigh, "It's been four years. A lot of people seem to have forgotten about your daddy's almighty days. Since they've forgotten, let's make them remember it. No one thinks highly of your daddy, so let's forge our own path and make them remember your daddy's name again!"
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