Extraordinary Genius

“Manager Feng, it’s been a while. Are you looking for me to shoot a new commercial?” Zhu Simao shook Feng Yu’s hand enthusiastically.

Although Zhu Simao prefers artistic films, he was not a stubborn person. His contract with Feng Yu was a long-term contract, and every time he shoots a commercial for Feng Yu, he would receive a red packet and star treatments. Many people had told him that he was missing out on this contract, but he does not mind.

Feng Yu was willing to pay!

Zhu Simao had transferred from August First Film Studios to China Broadcasting Performing Arts Troupe. He also planned to further his studies abroad. He had asked Tai Hua Trading if there were plans to shoot a new commercial, as he only has time during the winter.

“New commercial? Not so early. The current commercial can last for a few months. Next Summer, we will shoot the new commercial. We will shoot the new commercial in the southern mountains. I am here for another matter. Have you prepared for your skit on Spring Gala Night?”

“It’s ready. We have started the rehearsals. Why?” Zhu Simao looked at Feng Yu. Why was Feng Yu so concern about his skit for the Spring Gala Night?

“Oh, it’s like this. CCTV will be hosting a Gala dinner on New Year’s Eve. I want to invite you and Baldy Chen to perform a skit. The theme is about contributing to China’s economy. Are you able to prepare a good script?”

New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner? Zhu Simao was wondering when did CCTV have a special program for New Year’s Eve? Just the Spring Night Gala had used up most of CCTV’s resources. How can they still manage a New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner?

Furthermore, does CCTV have the funds to host two major events within a short time? This was not a small sum. The stage for both events cannot be the same. It would be hard for CCTV to arrange for the performers too. How can they cope?

“Manager Feng, how come I have not heard of this New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner?” Zhu Simao was now one of China’s artiste and will receive invitations to perform on Spring Gala Night with Baldy Chen. He had a good relationship with CCTV, but he was not aware of this event.

Feng Yu briefly explained this New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner.

“Awards presentation ceremony Gala night? Why do you need so many programs for an awards ceremony? You are still inviting celebrities from Hong Kong and Taiwan? Their appearance fees are costly.”

“Don’t worry about that. They will be getting the same fees as our local artistes. I promised that they will not be paid more than our performers! Of course, this event is different from Spring Gala Night. Every program will get a red packet, and I guarantee that there will be at least a 5-figure amount in the red packet. This is to thank the hard work of the performers.”

5-figure amount. This was considered a lot. But for Zhu Simao, this was not a lot. After leaving August First Film Studios, he can accept other jobs and his fees was quite high. However, those jobs were for those nightclubs, etc. and he seldom accepts it.

He had even rejected jobs that will pay him more than 500,000 RMB. He felt that endorsing those products would affect his image. He was not short of money.

“Ok. Other than the theme of contributing to China’s economy, is there any more requirements?”

Feng Yu thought for a while: “Can your performance be related to the Machinery Company? About our Songjiang Motorcycle factory. After your performance, Direct Li will be going on stage to receive an award.”

“No problems. I will come up with the script this week, and we can start the rehearsals next week.”

“Ok. Then I will leave it with you. When you are studying aboard, and you need help, you can call me. Maybe I can help you with my overseas connections.”

………

“Mr. Wang, you should know how hard it was for this chance to come by. You should know Fei Xiang. After he had performed at CCTV Spring Gala Night, he was well known throughout China. I know her songs are very popular, and her albums are selling well. But how many albums did she sell in China? In China, many people listened to her songs, but how many recognized her? CCTV will be the best platform for her to show her face in China. This platform can be considered the biggest platform in the whole world. There will be a few hundred million viewers watching this program……”

Fu Guangzheng had followed Feng Yu’s script to speak to the boss of a Hong Kong’s Records Company. He wants to get his approval to let Chyi Yu perform in Beijing New Year’s Eve Gala dinner. She can sing two songs, one old and one new. But other than sponsoring her air tickets and expenses, there were no appearance fees!

The Records Company boss did not agree. Chyi Yu was one of the top singers at that time and charges more than 5-figure for one song. How can she just get sponsors for transportation and expenses only?

But the boss was also tempted by what Fu Guangzheng said. China was a vast market. He had always wanted to enter this market but failed. If his artistes can perform at CCTV like Fei Xiang, then maybe he can have a concert in China. Concerts can bring in lots of money!

In the end, Fu Guangzheng sponsored Chyi Yu, and an assistant’s expenses and the Records Company agreed! At the same time, Fu Guangzheng also bought the music rights from this record company.

Fu Guangzheng had also managed to invite Aaron Kwok. Aaron Kwok had just released his second album, and his popularity was soaring. But in China, he was the same as a lot of other Hong Kong’s singers. Their songs were popular, but no one knows about him. His albums were selling well, but the record company did not make any money. Those albums were all counterfeits!

It was the same conditions. The example used by Fu Guangzheng was Cheung Ming-man. Cheung Ming-man’s songs and dances cannot be compared to Aaron Kwok. But Cheung Ming-man’s fans in China was more than ten times than Aaron Kwok! This was because Cheung Ming-man had performed on China’s Spring Festival Gala Night. He had lots of fans in China and has played more than a hundred concerts there. This was an unbeatable record!

When Aaron Kwok’s company heard that Taiwanese Chyi Yu would also be performing, they agreed. Chyi Yu was more popular than Aaron Kwok at that time. Fu Guangzheng also wanted to buy the rights of most of their songs.

Actually, Feng Yu wanted to invite Theresa Teng from Taiwan. But Theresa Teng was not feeling well and seldom perform outside of Taiwan. In the end, Feng Yu can only ask the singer of , Chyi Yu.

Hong Kong’s Leslie Cheng and Samuel Hui had announced their retirement, and Feng Yu was not able to invite them.

Feng Yu had spent a lot of time to pick the performers. He had to consider their public image and their songs. Although China had started to open up, the performers cannot sing love songs at the Awards Ceremony. Feng Yu could not invite a lot of his favorite singers.

Feng Yu also invite some songs and dance artistes, acrobatics, magic, cross-talks, etc. from China performing troupes. There was a total of 12 performances, one for each award category.

Those local artistes agreed immediately when they heard that it was CCTV’s program. To them, it was an honor to receive an invitation to perform at CCTV!

Within a week, Feng Yu had settled all the performers. Although the cost was high, compared to the market value of those performers, this was nothing. If it were Feng Yu’s previous life, all these performers would cost at least a few million RMB. Now, Feng Yu had spent less than 1,000 RMB for each program!

Feng Yu received the run-down and frowned. This program was too dull.