Chapter 117: Second Class Private, Hurry Up and Let Your Stockings Cheer
If the fans knew this news, they’d probably lord it over the fans of Zhou Bichang and Li Yuchun, saying: “Corns, Biqin, lift your heads, look my eyes, speak!”
The Chinese Music Scene has seen countless heroes over the decades, but no one has ever done this before.
This is an unprecedented first.
Once this news is announced, it will definitely cause a collective sensation in the Entertainment Circle, and who knows what those singers will think.
Even those actors will be envious.
This group of actors has struggled in the television industry for years without breaking into the film circle, and you, a newcomer to the Music Scene, are making an MV with the scale of a movie. What are you trying to do?!
Comparing people is enough to make you angry.
Zhang Liangying could imagine what Gao Yuanyuan would think upon hearing this news. She would surely hug her and say: “Ahhh, Liangying, you have Shen Qing, that’s so great! Can you take me along? I’ll settle for a Supporting Actress role!”
…
Shen Qing: “Liangying, Liangying? What are you smiling about?”
Meeting Room.
The Meeting had not yet concluded, but Zhang Liangying was smiling foolishly with her head down, her face flushed, clearly delighted by Shen Qing’s proposal.
At this moment,
Hearing Shen Qing call her name, Zhang Liangying snapped back to reality, “Ah, it’s nothing, I just think this idea is great. When do we start filming?”
Zhang Lu: “If we shoot it in the style of a movie, the time span won’t be a week or two, but at least three months. Writing the script, submitting for approval, finding a production company, finding a director, assembling the crew, casting, scouting locations – there are too many intricacies involved.”
Zhang Liangying: “Ah? That troublesome?”
Zhang Lu nodded, “Of course, if we’re going to do it, we have to do it well!”
Shen Qing: “I think so too. I plan to release the Album around October, but this ‘movie’ will have to wait until the end of the year.”
Zhang Lu: “Making a movie isn’t like shooting an MV. We need to find a good director. Who should we find? We definitely can’t afford Zhang Yimou; firstly, he’s too expensive, and secondly, he’s about to join the Olympic Opening Ceremony organizing committee, so he probably won’t have time to direct a movie.”
Chen Liang suddenly interjected, “How about Feng Xiaogang?”
Zhang Lu stroked his chin, “That’s a good option. Feng Xiaogang isn’t cheap, but he’s not prohibitively expensive either. Moreover, he’s one of the core figures in the Beijing Circle and has many connections. He can handle script approval, locations, the dragon logo, and other matters.”
Feng Xiaogang excelled at comedy films.
However, he later transitioned to more serious films.
Next year, he will begin transforming and preparing to shoot *Assembly*, and later he will have works like *Back to 1942*, *Aftershock*, and *Youth*, all of which were well-received.
His path to fame began around 1997-1998.
At that time, he consecutively won the domestic box office championship for two years with *The Dream Factory* and *Be There or Be Square*, establishing his position as a commercial blockbuster director.
Later, seeing Zhang Yimou take off with *Hero*, he couldn’t resist the urge and made *The Banquet*, which was scheduled to be released in October of this year.
Previously.
Feng Xiaogang had contacted Taihe Rye Music, hoping to invite Zhang Liangying to sing the theme song *I’ll Repay All My Love* for *The Banquet*.
The song has already been composed and will be recorded soon.
We can take this opportunity to contact him. If he can come to direct, the quality of the work should be fine.
…
However, the movie-style MV that Shen Qing wants to shoot this time isn’t just one segment, but like *My People, My Country* and *My People, My Parents*, it will be composed of several segments.
One segment, one director!
Zhang Lu and the others found it too troublesome. Why couldn’t one director handle it, which would save money and ensure a unified style?
Shen Qing didn’t want a unified style; he wanted something different.
Moreover.
Having several directors work together would create even more buzz!
Even good wine needs good marketing; any business requires constant promotion, promotion, and more promotion. Releasing an album is no different.
Even though Zhang Liangying’s previous album sold explosively, she couldn’t afford to relax – the album market has been on a downward trend for years.
To make the sales of her second album explode!
This time, the promotion must be pushed to the extreme.
At that time.
Once the news of shooting a ‘movie-style MV’ is released, the outside world will surely explode.
Then, invite some media outlets to write some shocking articles, such as:
Zhang Liangying’s second album’s title song *Wish* has an ultra-long MV filmed with a budget of 15 million, possibly to be screened in cinemas.
Five major directors support Zhang Liangying, Shen Qing’s grand gesture shocks everyone.
…
This will surely shock all artists in the Chinese entertainment industry, and the Liangfen fans will undoubtedly go wild.
Even casual fans will be interested.
After all, this is an unprecedented first.
…
As for other directors…
Who should be chosen?
The name Chen Kaige suddenly popped into Shen Qing’s mind!!
“No, no, besides having a young wife, he’s terrible at making movies. He hasn’t learned a bit of his father’s essence.”
Shaking off the image of Chen Hong from his mind, Shen Qing thought of others, such as: Guan Hu, Ning Hao, Jiang Wen, Lou Ye, Wang Xiaoshuai. The first two participated in the creation of *My People, My Country* in his previous life.
Guan Hu is a good friend of Huang Bo. His representative works include *The Rise of the Slums*, *Cow*, *Bullshit*, and *Mr. Six*.
In *My People, My Country*, he directed the *The Eve* segment, which tells a small story before the flag-raising ceremony of the founding ceremony in 1949. Huang Bo starred in it.
Ning Hao’s representative works include *Crazy Stone*, *No Man’s Land*, and *Crazy Alien*.
He directed the *Hello Beijing* segment, which is related to the Olympic Games and has a distinct personal style.
This segment is the only story in the entire movie that can evoke both laughter and tears from the audience. The chemistry between Ge You and Ning Hao is excellent.
Additionally, the *Encounter* segment is also a favorite of Shen Qing’s. It tells a small story about an ordinary person during the time China developed its first nuclear bomb. Zhang Yi had no lines, but he and Ren Suxi delivered a divine performance.
These three chapters are what Shen Qing wants.
Of course, the *Return* and *Win the Championship* parts are also not to be missed.
However, both of these parts have minor flaws.
They need to be revised during scriptwriting.
These five segments are what Shen Qing wants to shoot, and they will definitely add up to two hours.
It doesn’t matter if it can’t be released then; we can just record it as a CD and sell it. If fans buy the album and listen to *Wish*, can they resist watching the movie?
They absolutely can’t~
But it would be even better if we could get the dragon logo.
This work can be considered Shen Qing’s touchstone for entering the film industry. If he has more money in the future, he can delve deeper into the film world.
After all, with so many classic works in his mind, once the domestic film market takes off, he can casually pull out a few big IPs and make billions per film, which is very appealing!
…
The name of this movie-style MV is the same as *Wish*.
It’s very fitting.
Shen Qing decided to have Zhang Lu find a famous screenwriter, and then he would dictate the story, and the screenwriter would write the script.
The Meeting continued for another hour, discussing the issues of screenwriters and directors.
Afterward.
Zhang Lu brought up the matter of holding a concert.
This is something many singers do one or two years after their debut.
However, to hold a concert in China, one needs to report to the local government, which is not a simple matter.
Why are famous singers keen on holding concerts?
Besides making money, it’s also a declaration of their Status!
Concerts are the best opportunity to showcase a singer’s strength to the public. How strong you are isn’t really proven by charts; the number of concert attendees is the best proof.
Some singers’ tickets sell out instantly; while others can’t sell tickets even with price reductions.
At this point, you know who the real stars are.
Currently, Liangying has released 23 songs. At 4 minutes per song, that’s only a meager 92 minutes, far from enough for a concert.
If the first concert only features that many songs, it would be too disappointing for the fans.
Not long ago, Jay Chou’s “Unrivaled” World Tour from October 2004 to February 2006 averaged over 30 songs per show, lasting 3-4 hours each, and was packed every time.
And sometimes he sang over 40 songs.
Old Chou in his prime was incredibly strong.
…
That evening, Zhang Lu arranged for Shen Qing to meet the editor-in-chief of Sina Entertainment at a hot pot restaurant by the Second Ring Road for a meal.
When he heard Shen Qing’s idea, he was stunned, thinking he misheard, “Making a movie for the title song? What kind of absurd idea is that?”
But upon realizing it was Shen Qing who wanted to do this, the editor-in-chief felt relieved.
Who is Shen Qing?
The youngest Music Genius in the country; anything he does is reasonable!
Shen Qing laughed heartily, “Manager Wu, please have one of your company’s best writers help us write a sensational article tomorrow.”
Manager Wu took a sip of beer and smiled, “Ah, no need for anyone else to write it. I’ll personally handle it. The click-through rate will surely explode.”
Returning home.
Shen Qing, blushing, lay on the sofa, “Second Class Private Ying, this Officer has had a meeting and written songs today. Quickly change into a lace nightgown and give me a back rub.”
Zhang Liangying stood at attention and saluted, “Yes, Officer!”
Shen Qing took off his T-shirt and rolled over to lie on the sofa.
Soon.
The sound of footsteps on the wooden floor approached.
Doo doo doo~
Judging by the sound of Zhang Liangying running, one could tell how excited and happy she was. She climbed onto the sofa and began to step on Shen Qing’s back with her stocking-clad feet.
Shen Qing: “Ying, I told you to use your hands to press, not your feet!”
Zhang Liangying: “Officer, I’ve disinfected these stockings after buying them and washed them by hand. They are absolutely safe!”
“Damn it, Ying, your answer satisfies me completely!”
The stockings moved back and forth on his back, ticklish~
Unbearable.
Shen Qing rolled over and saw that Zhang Liangying was also wearing two stockings on her hands.
Hmm?
Wearing stockings on her hands, what does she want to do?
“Second Class Private Ying, tell me now, why are you wearing stockings on your hands? What do you want to do to the Officer?”
“Reporting, Officer, it’s to give you a massage and make you happy.”
“Happy? With what kind of happiness!?”
“With this~”
“Then why didn’t you put one on your mouth!!”
“Wow, Officer, you truly are an Officer. That idea is so novel, I’ll go do it right away.”
“Come back, Second Class Private Ying. Start with your stocking-clad hands. This Officer has never experienced it before. Show me your skills, don’t let me look down on you!”
“Yes, Officer! I will try my best!”
“Hiss… Second Class Private, damn it, you’re doing a fantastic job! Keep going, don’t stop! I’m bursting with inspiration right now… another title song… is about to emerge.”
“Hurry, let your stockings work hard…”
