Regardless of whether the popularity of American TV series in China in his previous life was accidental or inevitable, that model was very good, especially when it came to expanding the user base. The user base was very important to any enterprise. They were like the fans of actors and singers. The more loyal they were, the easier it was to make money from them.
To give a simple example, the reason why Fried Dough Twist had been criticized by countless people in his previous life was that, apart from a whole bunch of reasons, it had a large user base. Even if the users were disgusted by its unscrupulous behavior — for example, they could only copy others, but others could not copy them, or enjoyed high profits while enjoying state subsidies — everyone on the Internet used QQ. Even if they switched to other instant messaging software, it would be useless. In the end, they could only pinch their noses and accept it.
It was probably because of this that even though Fried Dough Twist had been badly abused in terms of copyright, it still clung to the newly developed instant messaging software called YY. In addition, the Chinese government had never allowed foreign investors to control their own media tools, so they gave it a certain amount of support. Perhaps it could rise again.
This was not a big deal. The package Adriaan had given Huayi also included an operation plan for an instant messaging software. They would either develop a new one or move ICQ over to be published by a China company. This was also a rule. If a Western foreign language magazine wanted to be published in China, it had to be published by a Chinese company and not run by the magazine itself. As long as the framework was set up, it could copy some of the painful memories from his previous life. Even if it did not make up the majority in the future, it should still have a place.
This was the way to attract users in the New Era. It was not complicated. First, it was easy to get started. Second, it was free. Not to mention the ease of getting started, it could attract users to use it immediately. In his previous life, ICQ had made many mistakes in this area. It had many features, but they had ended up annoying users. Of course, it had to be easy to get started, but it also had to be difficult to master. Moreover, they had to constantly introduce new tricks to keep users fresh. This was something Apple had done very well.
But the most important thing was that it was free. Free sharing on the Internet was about to destroy the traditional recording industry. In the future, traditional print media would be destroyed as well. Even in a place like the United States, where countless laws had been passed down, there were still countless people secretly downloading songs on the Internet.
Of course, if it was not done well, it could easily backfire. Take Microsoft for example. Even though it had relied on piracy to occupy the Asian market, it had not been able to turn much profit. Wanted to charge fees? The intense reaction of hundreds of millions of users was not something they could afford. Although they could use all kinds of methods to earn back profits from the peripherals, it would still be embarrassing. In this aspect, they were not as good as Apple, which was taking the high-end route.
This was also the reason why Adrian was in such a hurry to come up with a comprehensive plan. If he was a little slower, all kinds of copycat shows and TV series would be released one after another. It was not that counterfeiting was bad. Most countries had counterfeited and pirated developed countries' products during their development. Adrian remembered an example from the United States. It was probably in the 19th century. When Charles Dickens visited the United States, he was surprised to see his works being sold in the streets and alleys of the United States, and not a single cent of royalties was paid to him. When he protested to the United States government, the government actually said that paying royalties to a great writer like him was an insult to him.
They were really thick-skinned. China was the same now. So what if it had joined the WTO? They would definitely protect their interests. Even though Adriaan had applied for many copyrights in China through various connections, it would be troublesome if the other party was thick-skinned enough to make counterfeits. Instead of letting others make counterfeits, it was better to give them the rights at a low price. Although the direct profits were not much, they could occupy the market and regulate it.
Take agents as an example. Many actors' agents in China were their family members or friends. This was normal. It was the same in the United States. However, most of these agents were only responsible for the stars' lives and various communications. The specific arrangements were left to people who had received professional training. But here, they were pointing fingers at things they were not familiar with. There was no professional team to provide advice, so it was inevitable that there would be all kinds of scandals.
If it could be regulated and guided by professionals, there should be fewer shitty things. Adriaan's agency could also occupy a place here. The same was true for other companies. Counterfeiting without innovation would only follow others forever. It was good to teach them some ideas.
Of course, like the package plan, the control of these companies would not be in the hands of AC Media. But it didn't matter. Just like the package plan, AC Media had to invest in all the companies, but not as a major shareholder. In this way, the low-key accumulated water would become a pool, and the final influence would be huge.
"What else can be more influential than helping them establish a new and standardized entertainment industry? And the companies that benefit from it will be tied to us. Even if the Chinese government thinks it's inappropriate, as long as it doesn't touch their bottom line, they can only pinch their noses and accept it. Murdoch's approach is the stupidest. " That was how Adriaan convinced Claude. This was also the reason why the Wang Brothers took the gamble.
Back to the TV series. The first item in the package plan was a reality show and a TV series. Huayi had a good relationship with Mango TV, and with the memories from his previous life, it was completely possible to let them promote "China Idol." As for the latter, due to various reasons, they did not have the conditions to replicate the one in his previous life. But that didn't mean there was no room for maneuver.
If they did not have the conditions, they could create them. There was more than one way to promote an American TV series. For example, they could use a native China actor to play an important role. For the Chinese, who yearned for international recognition, this was something to be proud of. If the TV series also won a few awards at the Emmy Awards, it would be even more exciting.
However, the TV series had to be chosen carefully. Otherwise, "Garrison's Death Squad" would be a bad example. Although there were not many American TV series that were imported in the past decade, most of them were "Everybody Loves Raymond," which was a family-friendly TV series. "Friends," which could have been aired, was abandoned because it had too many dirty jokes. However, this kind of TV series could not compare to the local TV series of the same genre in China. This was not the China where "Growing Pains" was aired.
However, suspense, horror, crime, and other types of TV series could not pass the censorship for various reasons. "Prison Break" was completely basked in the popularity of the internet. After thinking about it, only sci-fi was suitable. It was fast-paced and suspenseful. It was not difficult to attract people's attention. Also, "The Man from the Bottom of the Atlantic" and "Ranger," which were the first to be aired in China, were sci-fi.
It just so happened that Universal had the rights to this sci-fi series, and according to Adriaan's memory, it had a good reputation. There was also an Asian actress who had a lot of scenes. The only problem was that it was a bit religious, and there were a lot of scenes where she sold her body. That was not a problem. He just needed to remind them during production and then re-edit the TV series when he handed it over to China. Anyway, considering the different ways of broadcasting in China and the United States, it was necessary to extend the length of the series appropriately.
If that was the case, why couldn't he give it to the woman he liked? It was not that Adriaan wanted to put Gao Yuanyuan in his collection. It was just that it was rare to find half a white lotus root in a muddy pond that was not that bad. It was inevitable that he would be interested in it. Moreover, she had a good personality. Frankly speaking, the Chinese actresses who became popular in the first three or four years of the 21st century had their own characteristics and personalities. They were not like the ones who became more and more unified in the later years. All that was left was hype, and the hype was very poor.
Therefore, Adrian gave this opportunity to her. As for the future, it would depend on her performance. If she was tactful, although it was not bad for her to make a name for herself in Hollywood, it would not be a problem to support another Chinese actress. Moreover, she could also play the role of buying a horse's bones with a thousand gold coins, just like Yuji Hui. Acting skills were not a big problem. As mentioned before, this could be trained and learned. Even if the current A-list actresses in the mainland went to Hollywood, they would not be able to do well without guidance and support.
Although Gao Yuanyuan did not give a definite answer in the end, she only said that she needed to discuss it with her parents and agent. But when they were in bed that night, her body completely betrayed her heart. That kind of contradictory, struggling, and enthusiastic feeling made Adriaan very ecstatic. He even used a few slightly more embarrassing positions that he had not used before.
Western slang said that a woman's lower body was a shortcut to the soul. In Adriaan's understanding, this did not mean that a woman would rely on you if you had too much sex. Although there were indeed people who completely conquered a woman by relying on their lower body, it was definitely not a common phenomenon. He understood this saying in this way. When a woman was in bed, when they were ruled by physical pleasure, her heart would be unguarded. Whether she loved you or hated you, whether she was contradictory, whether she was confused, whether she was submissive or doubtful, was completely reflected in her body. As long as you carefully studied it, you could easily find out their true thoughts.
The second trip to China came to an end for the time being. Although there were still some regrets and some ideas could not be realized, he was not in a hurry. Therefore, Adriaan returned to Los Angeles. There were still many things waiting to be dealt with, such as comforting Ivanka. During the few days in the mainland, he basically spent almost every day with Gao Yuanyuan, and only communicated with Ivanka about work. Although she did have a job there, and she was very clear about her work and personal affairs, it was impossible to say that he did not have any dissatisfaction.
In fact, after the plane took off, she sat in front of him and teased, "Did you have fun?"
Her slightly stingy look made Adriaan laugh for a while, and then he held her on his lap to comfort her. If it weren't for Allie, Elisa, and Ingrid, he might have done Ivanka on the spot.
In addition, there was also Julia who needed to be comforted. It was almost six months since she was pregnant, and her belly was very obvious. Unlike Kate, Monica, Sophie, Jessica, and Blanchett, when they were pregnant, they were either not very famous, or it was easy to divert the attention of the reporters. Julia, on the other hand, had always been America's sweetheart. The love quintet made her the representative of American women, and she had won an Oscar just over a year ago. It was still a long time before the limelight faded. No matter where she went, she was the object of pursuit of the reporters.
In this case, it was not easy to keep it a secret. Photos had been taken when her lower abdomen was slightly protruding. Fortunately, at that time, the reporters did not think that she was pregnant. They only ridiculed her in the report, saying that the America's sweetheart now had a lot of fat on her lower abdomen, but it was enough to sound the alarm for Adriaan and Julia.
Although Adriaan did not mind, once the gossip involved him, most reporters still knew what they could and could not report. However, in this way, the pressure would be on Julia. No star would like those reporters who only focused on gossip, and Julia was no exception. She did not intend to bear such pressure, so naturally, she kept it a secret.
However, in the beginning, she could attend all kinds of activities. Later, when her belly gradually bulged, it was not good for her to appear in public, but she could still play around, as long as she was careful of the reporters. However, later on, her belly became so big that she could not walk around as she pleased. Most of the time, she had to move around in the secret villa. On top of that, although Adriaan cared for her as always, he could not be around all the time after all, so it was inevitable for her to feel frustrated.
Regarding this, Adriaan did not have a good solution. In the end, after thinking about it, he could only send her to the island near Hawaii that he sold to recuperate. Other than the manor in the United Kingdom, Adriaan had also bought many properties around the world in the past two years, such as the hilltop manor in France in the Riviera region, the luxurious villa in Saint Bart Island in the Caribbean Sea, and a small island near Hawaii. When Julia's belly was slightly protruding, the reporters did not dig too deeply into it. This was also one of the reasons why they took turns to live in these mansions when they were traveling around the world.
"So, from now on, just stay here obediently. If you feel bored, go to the sea and have a stroll, or go to Honolulu or Hilo. Of course, even though this is Hawaii, you still have to be careful." In the villa on the island, Adriaan comforted the pregnant Julia. "Although I can't be by your side every day, Kate can."
As he spoke, he gave Zeta Jones who came along with him a look.
"That's right. I'll always be with you, Julie, at least until the premiere of 'Chicago'," Zeta Jones, who was sitting next to him, immediately replied.
"How depressing," Julia, who was dressed in loose clothes and had a protruding belly, muttered.
"Alright, let me hear if the little fella is kicking mommy's stomach again." Adriaan knew how to change the topic. As he spoke, he squatted down and put his ear on her belly.
"Don't even think about it! I'm not going to let you hear it!" Julia immediately turned around and snorted like a little girl. Then, she stroked her lower abdomen with a loving expression. "I'm sleeping."
Adriaan smiled and then looked at Zeta Jones. Although she was peeling the avocado very seriously, her eyes would glance at Julia's belly from time to time.
"Do you want one too?" That night, after a good time in bed, Adriaan stroked Zeta Jones' well-maintained body and asked softly in her ear.
Zeta Jones did not answer immediately. She just buried her head in his arms and panted. After being caressed and kissed for a while, she said with some confusion, "I don't know."
Adriaan did not say anything else. He knew what she was hesitating about. It was normal. Women were often affected by their emotions. Even if they knew that they did not have many choices, they could not help but fantasize, especially at times like this. Moreover, she was a woman with brains. If Adriaan had not hooked her up with a deal, it was hard to say whether the "past" would have happened again. As for now … the deal had not been completed yet.
"How about we do it again?" He kissed her lips and then thought of something with a smirk. "Or shall we go to Julie's room? She must be very lonely alone. "
Every woman had to be tasted by him after they got pregnant. How could Julia be an exception? In fact, he had tasted her before. It was just that Adriaan missed the threesome of Monica and Sophie with big bellies. That was probably the most comfortable time, so he wanted to find that feeling with Zeta Jones.
The girl hesitated for a moment, then raised her leg and clamped it around his waist. She showed her signature charming smile. "It's too late now. Julie must be asleep. If you want, you can go back a day later."
Wasn't it very smart? Not only did she satisfy Adriaan's request, but she also left a good impression in front of Julia because she asked him to stay — even though they were inseparable in bed now. Unfortunately, this sentence could be considered to have exposed her true subconscious thoughts. Want to leave? That was already impossible.
After returning from Hawaii, Halloween was just around the corner. After that, it would be Thanksgiving and Christmas. Many movies would be ready to be released. However, before that, Adriaan had to go to school to fulfill his duties as a father. That was because Lily had beaten up a boy at school.
"… Then, Miss Kewell pushed Mr. Nielsen to the ground and went forward to kick him. Mr. Nielsen then immediately burst into tears. Basically, that's it." In the principal's office, sitting behind the desk, Principal Anthony Miller, who was already in his fifties, had finally finished the whole story.
Sitting in the chair, Adriaan had been frowning the whole time. Only now did he turn to look at his daughter. "So, you won?"
"Of course!" Lily spread out her hands with a relaxed look on her face.
"Ahem, Mr. Kewell!" Principal Miller could not help but cough dryly.
"Alright, Principal." Adriaan smiled at him and then asked his daughter, "Do you think what Mr. Principal said is the truth?"
"Yes, Dad, except for one thing. Before this, Andy Nielsen had maliciously ridiculed and harassed my friend Vivian Reed several times. Vivian had warned him several times, and I had also reminded him several times. I also advised Ms. Waltz to pay a little more attention to him. However, not only did he not make any changes, but he also became more and more outrageous. He even stuck Vivian's books with glue, so I taught him a lesson! "Lily sat up straight and showed a serious expression, like a little adult, very stylish.
