Chapter 110: This Is How Value Is Built
Shen Qing only charged a nominal fee for this song, not asking for an exorbitant amount.
Compared to money, Shen Qing valued Zhang Yimou more. Although he couldn’t compare to capital, his status in the entertainment circle was still not to be underestimated.
At this stage, Shen Qing was just a budding young man. The tens of millions from the profit sharing of his first album hadn’t arrived yet, and his influence was still weak. Making more connections with industry bigwigs like Zhang Yimou wouldn’t hurt.
However, seeing that Shen Qing didn’t charge much, Old Mozi liked Shen Qing even more, but he put on a stern face and said, “Little Shen, it’s absolutely not okay to not charge anything. You must take the copyright fee of 2 million!”
Good heavens!
He was unhappy even when not being paid!
And, he offered 2 million right off the bat!
But Shen Qing understood after thinking about it carefully.
Anyone in Old Mozi’s position would probably do the same.
Why?
Because Zhang Yimou was a high-level employee of capital; he wasn’t the boss himself and was also someone who took money to make movies.
This 360 million investment had already been secured by Zhang Weiping and Zhang Yimou. It had to be spent, otherwise, the investors would take it back.
Any director in his position would likely try to spend it all, even if some of the expenses were unreasonable.
For example, Chow Yun-fat’s 40 million salary, and Gong Li and Jay Chou’s combined salary of nearly 20 million. If Zhang Yimou’s own director’s fee was added, it would not only wipe out the remainder of the 360 million but wouldn’t even be enough.
In addition, one dragon robe cost 1.25 million, over 20,000 extras, 100,000 pots of chrysanthemums, and a one-to-one scale replica set – all of these items were incredibly expensive.
But it was clear that 360 million yuan wouldn’t be spent…
So.
The remaining money was spent on publicity and promotion.
Because publicity and promotion expenses are difficult to quantify…
For example, is Chrysanthemum Terrace worth 2 million? It’s hard for others to judge, and even if they did, it wouldn’t matter much, because as long as Zhang Yimou says it’s worth it, then it is.
The benefit of doing this was not just to spend the money, but also to send a signal to the outside world: I, Zhang Yimou, the top commercial film director in China, and the general director of the Beijing Olympic Games opening ceremony, anyone who cooperates with me will not only gain immense fame but also receive top-tier compensation.
This, is the spirit of me, Zhang Yimou, as a great director!
He was clearly using the opportunity of making a movie to boost his own and the actors’ value, unique in China.
Were the actors happy?
Of course, they were happy.
It was difficult for them to earn 5 million in salary elsewhere, but here they were getting 20 million or even 40 million, and their value immediately increased.
For Shen Qing, with his current fame, composing an album of 10 songs for another singer would cost at most 5 million.
But now, one song alone sold for 2 million, and others would have to reconsider asking him to write songs, as his value had increased.
In contrast was another great director – Stephen Chow.
He was essentially half an investor himself, so every penny he saved was a penny he earned.
Many famous actors who collaborated with him basically did so once to gain some fame, and their salaries were minimal.
…
Almost on the same day, news broke that Shen Qing had written the theme song for Curse of the Golden Flower.
Zhang Yimou generously paid 2 million to music genius Shen Qing for a song.
Shen Qing: I had a lot of inspiration at the time and finished it in less than half an hour.
Jay Chou: This song will be included in my album to be released in September. Please look forward to it.
In an instant, Shen Qing’s fame soared once again.
Calls and emails requesting songs from him poured in, from superstars to newcomers, everyone wanted a song from Shen Qing.
Zhang Tian’ai, who had worked as an extra for a day, went home and read the newspaper repeatedly, even cutting out the page with Shen Qing’s picture and pasting it above her bed.
After taking a shower, lying on her simple single bed, Zhang Tian’ai quietly looked at Shen Qing’s picture, her heart pounding. At this moment, she suddenly wished Shen Qing would also “bump” into her.
…
Shen Qing sneezed, his throat ticklish. “Could it be that Yuanyuan misses me? I’ll find her to practice singing next time!”
Clearing his mind of random thoughts, Shen Qing patted the microphone. “Zeng Yi, we’re starting the recording now. Let’s go out for a late-night snack later.”
Zeng Yi smiled broadly. “OK, Teacher Shen.”
They were currently recording My Sky.
Phoenix Legend had been waiting in Beijing for Shen Qing’s summons for the past few days. As for the parts by Pan Weibai and Jay Chou, they would be recorded tomorrow.
“In the endless night”
“Everything is about to be destroyed”
“…”
“It turns out the dawn’s beginning”
“Is within my heart”
“…”
Zeng Yi sang the part originally sung by Zhao Chenlong, the lead singer of ‘Nanzheng Beizhan’ – rough, high-pitched, and shouting, with some rap elements. His vocal was the source of the song’s incredible infectiousness.
Zeng Yi’s voice had explosive power.
Shen Qing was very satisfied.
As for Jay Chou and Pan Weibai, based on their vocal characteristics, Shen Qing had arranged different rap parts for each of them.
Some say that the rap in My Sky is just adding icing to the cake, but Shen Qing disagreed.
In this song, the combination of the lead vocals and rap created the final feeling. Without either, the soul would be lost, just like the GALA Band would have no reason to exist without its lead singer Su Duo.
On the other side.
Linghua and Zhang Liangying were chatting outside the recording studio.
Linghua’s envy was almost palpable in the recording studio. “Liangying, who in the industry doesn’t envy you now? You’ve surpassed veteran Heavenly Queens since your debut. Your future achievements are unimaginable.”
“Sister Linghua is too kind. I was just lucky to meet Teacher Shen Qing. Without him, I’d still be singing in a bar.”
“The fact that you can gain the favor of the Music Genius is a testament to your skill.”
“Hehe, Sister Linghua, you’re too good at complimenting people~”
“Ah, I really wish Zeng Yi was as amazing, but he just hums and yelps, hahaha…”
“Not at all. Zeng Yi is quite capable. Shen Qing just praised his rap as better than many singers.”
“Then I’ll have him sing a few more lines next time, so he doesn’t get too idle and neglect his singing skills~”
“Haha, Zeng Yi would probably cry if he heard that.”
Linghua and Zeng Yi met in a dance hall in Shenzhen in 1998. At that time, they formed their first group: Crazy Band.
That’s right, it was that abstract.
Their turning point came in 2003.
At that time, music producer He Muyang was looking for a female singer to perform a song he wrote about fighting the epidemic. He happened to find Linghua, and subsequently composed Moon Over the Sky for her.
With this song, Linghua and Zeng Yi appeared on CCTV’s Star Way, competing with singers like A Bao.
They recorded until 10 PM. Shen Qing and Zhang Liangying, along with Phoenix Legend, the recording engineer, and others, went out for a late-night snack.
The next day.
Pan Weibai also came to record.
His new album, Turn Around the Earth, was due to be released in a few days, and he was extremely anxious. Seeing Zhang Liangying, he bowed and said, “Fairy Liangying, bless my album to sell well, breaking 1.5 million copies across Asia.”
Zhang Liangying smiled wryly. “Bowing to me won’t help. You should bow to the great god Shen Qing!”
“Haha, that’s right. Shen Qing is the true great god. I beg the great celestial being Shen to lend me a hand!”
Shen Qing calmly calculated with his fingers. “Your album will have a significant impact and elevate your career to the next level.”
Pan Xiaoshuai eagerly asked, “What about the specific sales figures?”
Shen Qing: “Excellent! Over 1 million copies across Asia.”
Pan Weibai jumped up excitedly. “Haha, I’m finally going to break through.”
Shen Qing: “Pirated copies exceeded 3.5 million.”
Pan Weibai: “Ahhh, damn pirate merchants.”
Zhang Liangying: “You should look at it from another angle. If it weren’t for the pirate merchants promoting your new songs, your popularity would have dropped by several levels.”
That’s true~
Pan Xiaoshuai felt much better.
Without pirate merchants, the popularity of singers like them would indeed drop significantly.
Piracy isn’t entirely bad.
Pan Weibai: “The company promised me my first solo concert if I sold over 400,000 copies in the first month. I’m so looking forward to it! Liangying, if I have a concert, I’d like to invite you…”
Zhang Liangying smiled. “Okay, of course, no problem. I’ll sing Turn Around the Earth with you then.”
Pan Weibai laughed heartily. “No, it’s better to sing your songs. I really like your Agony. We’ll sing it together then.”
Junjie Lin, more than ten years later: ???
…
An hour later, Jay Chou, who rushed over from the set of Curse of the Golden Flower, also joined the recording session. My Sky was completed by 2 PM.
They listened back a few times, and the effect was very good.
After resting for the afternoon, they began recording Chrysanthemum Terrace in the evening. Zhang Liangying and Jay Chou cooperated well, and it was finished by a little past 10 PM.
After a late-night snack, Jay Chou and Pan Weibai suggested playing Mahjong.
Shen Qing didn’t know many people in Beijing. After thinking for a while, he called Na Ying. Na Ying was very excited upon hearing this and immediately contacted Wang Fei.
Five people playing? What a joke!
Shen Qing, as the host, let the other four play.
Watching was quite interesting.
Especially Wang Fei and Na Ying, the two elder sisters, who were both experienced Mahjong players and very talkative. During a game, Jay Chou and Pan Weibai would laugh at least twice.
This was also Shen Qing’s first time seeing Wang Fei. What kind of magic did this Heavenly Queen, who made Nicholas Tse unable to extricate himself, possess?
Shen Qing didn’t examine her closely. He felt she wasn’t as radiant as Gao Yuanyuan, nor as youthful as Zhang Tian’ai, and certainly not as sexy as Liangying—he just couldn’t understand it.
Around 1 AM, they ran out of cigarettes. Shen Qing went to the convenience store outside the residential complex to buy some packs.
As soon as he stepped out, he bumped into a lonely woman.
“Ah, Teacher Shen Qing, it’s you… What a coincidence!”
“What are you doing sneaking around late at night?”
“I, I live nearby. I couldn’t sleep, so I wanted to go out for some fresh air.”
