Chapter 61 On the Importance of Personal Connections
On the first day of returning to the capital from Shishi, Xu Kun had a farewell dinner with Liu Weiwei alone and took a bath together.
Since it’s a farewell dinner, the quality can’t be too bad.
Then, Xu Kun was left with only 2,700 of the 4,200 yuan he had just received for the film - after deducting the expenses in Shi City, his net income for these three months was about 1,800 yuan.
This is actually the norm in the current film and television industry. Actors cannot make a lot of money simply by filming, but as long as they gain some fame through their roles and then go out to perform to make money, they can easily earn tens of thousands of yuan a month, and it is not difficult for those who are famous to earn six figures.
Of course, performing for money also has risks, and there are many cases where people lose both their money and their lives.
As for the real bigwigs, they mainly make money through advertising endorsements.
Xu Kun has not yet reached the stage where he can make money by performing for money, but fortunately his reputation as a "killing machine" is becoming more and more famous. Although many small crews are stingy and reluctant to spend money on the male and female leads, it is not a problem for them to grit their teeth and hire Xu Kun for a high price for two or three days.
Especially since August, the first batch of anti-Japanese dramas in which Xu Kun starred have finally reached the distribution stage with difficulty. On average, almost two out of ten dramas are shown on local TV stations.
Don’t think this is a very bad result. In fact, because everyone rushed to launch new dramas at the end of last year, the current TV drama release rate has dropped to about 1/5.
As for the analogy of low-cost anti-Japanese dramas, the proportion needs to be further reduced, and it is estimated that only 1/7 or even 1/8 will be able to be released.
This increased the screening rate by several percent, which is a huge temptation for those small crews who produce shoddy products.
So in the second half of August and the whole of September, Xu Kun took Bao Qiang to work around the clock every day, leaving crew A and joining crew B. They filmed the Japanese invaders countless times without knowing how to do it.
After a month and a half, I had steadily earned 600 yuan, with an average daily income of over yuan. The daily salary exceeded the monthly income of many people.
Baoqiang's salary also rose with the tide. From time to time, he could get two wages: one as an extra and the other as a stunt double. His total income was more than 8,000 yuan.
This is probably the legendary siphon effect, or winner takes all.
However, since October, Xu Kun has stopped participating in the film. Firstly, they have been working non-stop for more than 40 days and both of them are almost exhausted; secondly, although this thing makes money quickly, it does not help much in improving acting skills, and being addicted to it may even have a counterproductive effect.
And the most important thing is that the drama that Lv Liping mentioned earlier has finally come to fruition.
This is another Qing Dynasty palace drama, but it does not tell the story of the late Qing Dynasty or the most common Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong, but the story of the first emperor after the Qing Dynasty entered the Pass, the story of Emperor Shunzhi Fulin.
The story begins shortly after Dorgon's death, when Fulin officially takes power under the auspices of Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang [Dayuer]. Through the right and wrongs inside and outside the palace, and the grievances between the Manchus and the Han people, the story tells the confused and short life of Emperor Shunzhi.
Of course, there are also a group of beautiful and charming young women who all have tragic and sad endings.
…………
2002 10 Month 3 Day.
Xu Kun pushed open the door of the rental house, poked his head in and shouted to the neighbor next door: "Baoqiang, where is my copy of Red Spider 2? Is it in your room?"
Following Xu Kun's instructions, Baoqiang rented the house next door in July. According to the rules, he had to pay one month's deposit and one month's rent in full. Baoqiang felt very painful when he paid the 1300 yuan.
That's why Xu Kun took him to watch anti-Japanese dramas for a month and earned enough money to cover half a year's rent and living expenses.
Hearing Xu Kun's shout, the sound of rummaging through boxes and cabinets came from the next room. A moment later, Bao Qiang came out of the room scratching his head and said, "No, I searched twice but couldn't find it."
"Hey, this is really weird!"
Xu Kun was so anxious that he kept scratching his head. "Blind Shaft" and "Conquer" had not been released yet, and he was too embarrassed to ask Li Yang and Gao Qunshu for the original copies. At the moment, apart from the selected clips from "Killing Machine", "Red Spider 2" was the only thing he could show.
The drama was aired on Guangdong Public Channel on August 8. It is said that the ratings are very good and it will definitely be broadcast on satellite TV in the second round.
So Xu Kun specially asked someone to get a set of discs of "Red Spider 2" and prepared to bring them with him as a stepping stone.
"correct!"
Baoqiang suddenly thought of something at this moment, and slapped his thigh and said: "Didn't Mrs. Lin say a few days ago that she wanted to take a few discs back to watch? Let her choose by herself..." Before he could finish his words, Xu Kun had already rushed out of the courtyard gate.
After a lot of chaos, the stepping stones were finally ready.
After exiting the alley and getting into Chen Xuebin's van, Xu Kun fastened his seat belt while commanding in a rhythmic voice, "Xiao Binzi, follow me to Nanluoguxiang."
"嗻~"
Chen Xuebin cooperated by lengthening his voice.
This time he took the initiative to volunteer to be Xu Kun's driver, with the purpose of trying to see if he could squeeze into Liu Heng's crew.
Because this is the first time that screenwriter Liu Da has crossed over to become a director, many people in the industry are not very optimistic about this drama. However, in the eyes of group leaders like Chen Xuebin, this is a good opportunity that is hard to find even with a lantern.
Who is Liu Heng?
He is the winner of the first Lu Xun Literature Award, the first Lao She Literature Award, and the screenwriter of many classic film and television dramas. His usual social circle is full of great scholars and many close friends.
If he could rely on his relationship with Xu Kun to squeeze into the crew and get a position, even if the show ended up being a failure, it would be a big win as long as he could become familiar to Liu Heng.
Arriving at Nanluoguxiang, the two followed the address given by Lv Liping and wandered around until they found a quiet and elegant three-courtyard courtyard.
The white walls and green tiles, the sycamore trees, the grape trellises, and the small pond. If it weren't for the sign of the "Young Emperor" crew erected at the door and a dozen young people queuing up inside waiting for auditions, Xu Kun would have thought he had come to the wrong place.
"Tsk, the boss is the boss."
Xu Kun couldn't help but be amazed. His first two auditions were both in restaurants. This was the first time he had ever encountered such a place and it was so formal.
Chen Xuebin looked around for a while and was a little scared, so he said decisively: "I won't go in for now. If you can get an important role, I'll try again. If it's someone else... then let's not rush in and embarrass ourselves."
Xu Kun naturally understood what this meant. If the crew didn't value him at all, it would be a pipe dream for Chen Xuebin to rely on nepotism.
He patted Chen Xuebin on the shoulder, then walked in with his head held high.
All the young actors in the theater, either explicitly or implicitly, focused their attention on Xu Kun, as if they were analyzing how threatening he was.
Xu Kun also took a quick look and found that there were no familiar faces among them. They were obviously newcomers in the film and television industry - but judging from their demeanor, they all seemed to be professionally trained.
Considering that this was in Nanluoguxiang, just a stone's throw away from the Central Academy of Drama, Xu Kun no longer found it strange.
Seeing a table outside the living room door and a staff member sitting behind the table, Xu Kun walked up and introduced himself, indicating that he was invited.
The staff member stroked the form beside him, then said "Wait a minute" and went to the west wing.
Soon he led the woman out from the west wing again.
This time it was finally a familiar face, the Thirteenth Aunt in "Young Huang Feihong". Xu Kun watched the replay specifically because of Lü Liping, so he remembered the other person's name.
People in later generations know her more because of Qin Huairu in the Siheyuan.
"Are you Ms. Hao Lei who played the role of Aunt Thirteen?!"
Xu Kun feigned surprise and called out. These days, the word "teacher" has not been abused yet, and is generally used to address seniors in the circle.
Hao Lei's lips curled up slightly, and then she said carelessly: "Why call me teacher or not? I should be two years older than you, you can just call me sister. We are both recommended by Teacher Lu, and we have to take care of each other in the crew in the future."
Then he said, "Come on, I'll take you to meet some seniors in the crew first. Director Liu is busy right now, and it will probably take a while before he's free to see us."
"Then I'll trouble you, Sister Lei."
Unexpectedly, Lv Liping not only recommended the crew, but also found a guide. Now it is much easier to integrate into the crew.
(End of this chapter)
