However, he was unaware if such a genre would have a small market.
After all, there had been no real blockbusters in this genre before, and while the fee of fifteen million seemed not high, the current Su Nan Television was not the same financially robust station as before.
Currently, their copyright department only had over twenty million for copyright acquisition, so they had to be extremely careful when purchasing copyrights.
If they bought another flop, his position as director would likely be gone.
"Director, I think we can really give it a try. We can contact this company first and see their finished product then!"
Seeing the director's expression, Jiang Ye immediately wanted to seize the opportunity and said quickly.
"Alright, you go and gather information first, try to get a clear understanding of this team's background. Our station cannot afford another failed drama right now."
The director stroked his chin and said thoughtfully to Jiang Ye.
He was under immense pressure. For the entire year, the station had been operating at a loss.
They had purchased several so-called big-budget dramas, spending hundreds of millions, but they barely recouped a fraction of the cost.
Even the deputy director in charge of film and television had been dealt with. If this copyright transaction also failed, he really didn't know if he would be dealt with as well.
However, high-quality film and television dramas were now basically monopolized by Mo Du Television. The financially powerful Mo Du Television had already pre-purchased those production teams with slightly better levels.
This was why they had had hardly any good works throughout the year, causing their viewership ratings to plummet to the bottom.
Currently, apart from the military-themed "Soldier Assault" that Jiang Ye had just submitted, which caught his eye, the dramas submitted by others were mostly outdated types.
Especially the female employee named Qi Qi, who submitted only romantic dramas starring young idols. Not only were the scripts clichéd, but the acting was also terrible.
He couldn't bear to watch them.
"Director, should I also go and communicate with these production teams in advance?"
The girl named Qi Qi, seeing the director asking Jiang Ye to communicate with the production teams, her eyes immediately lit up, and she looked at the director with anticipation.
"Not yet. Your dramas do not quite meet the requirements!"
The director directly rejected her and looked at her sternly.
"Mine don't meet the requirements? That's impossible. This type of drama is the hottest right now!"
Qi Qi was very confused and didn't understand what the director meant.
"Go down and look again. We can't just blindly follow the crowd. If we do that, we'll always be behind others."
The director shook his head helplessly and waved his hand to signal her to leave.
Qi Qi pouted and walked out of the director's office with displeasure.
"Director, I'll go and contact this company right away and find time to inspect their company's situation!"
Jiang Ye also stood up and said to the director.
After the director nodded, he turned and walked out of the office.
After leaving the office, Jiang Ye returned to his workstation and dialed the contact number from the email.
Meanwhile, at Long Island Film City.
To celebrate the successful wrap-up of their first drama, Wang Shu went all out and invited all the company employees out for hot pot.
At this moment, a call came directly to Zhang Yimou's phone.
Zhang Yimou stood up to answer the call, and his expression immediately became very excited.
"Boss, our drama has been noticed by Su Nan Television. They want to come and inspect it!"
Zhang Yimou directly said to Wang Shu.
"That's great, we welcome them!"
Wang Shu said directly.
Afterward, Zhang Yimou walked out of the room and had a detailed conversation with Jiang Ye outside about the inspection.
The next day, Jiang Ye and the director of the copyright department, He Jiaye, arrived at Long Island Film City.
When the two found the location of Wang Shu's company according to the address, their hearts sank.
"This office is too shabby!"
He Jiaye stood outside the office door with some doubt and said.
"You said, we weren't tricked, were we? With their conditions, what good can they produce?"
He Jiaye continued to ask.
"I also find it a bit strange. Director, should we just go back?"
Jiang Ye said with some embarrassment as he looked at the dilapidated storefront in front of him.
He had been full of confidence in this company, but he didn't expect the office environment to be so poor.
With such an office environment, how much money could they have to shoot films?
It was possible that the sample they received was the company's most expensive project.
Just as the two were about to leave and return, the company's rolling shutter door was pulled open.
Zhang Yimou looked at the two people standing at the door with confusion.
"Excuse me, who are you?"
Zhang Yimou asked doubtfully.
"We are from Su Nan Television, and we would like to ask if this is Shu Ying Group?"
Jiang Ye asked softly.
"Yes, we didn't expect you to arrive so early. Please come in quickly, boss, people from Su Nan Television are here!"
Zhang Yimou rubbed his eyes when he heard it was Su Nan Television, then hurriedly welcomed them and even woke up Wang Shu, who was still sleeping in.
As Director He and Jiang Ye walked into the so-called Shu Ying Group's main entrance with awkward smiles,
they saw Wang Shu emerging from a room, looking groggy.
"Wang Shu?"
Jiang Ye was slightly stunned and called out in surprise.
"You know him?"
Director He looked at his subordinate with confusion.
"I've heard his songs, I'm his fan!"
Jiang Ye said excitedly.
"Hello, I am Wang Shu, the head of Shu Ying!"
Wang Shu walked up to the two of them and introduced himself.
"Hello, I am He Jiaye, Director of the Copyright Department of Su Nan Television, and this is Assistant Jiang Ye."
Director He directly introduced himself.
"Welcome, I didn't expect you to come so early. Yimou, quickly make some tea for our guests!"
Wang Shu immediately said to Zhang Yimou.
"Our purpose in coming this time is to understand the filming progress of your current drama 'Soldier Assault'."
Director He directly got to the point and asked.
"We have already finished filming and are now in the final editing stage."
Wang Shu replied directly.
"Already finished filming?"
Director He was clearly slightly stunned and asked in surprise.
"Yes, we happen to have the first rough cut. If you don't mind, you can take a look!"
Wang Shu then directly led the two to the screening room and played the rough cut version for them.
"It's incredible. The actors and the shots in this film are all excellent. It doesn't look like a work from a small studio at all."
Looking at the rough cut of "Soldier Assault" on the big screen, Director He was full of amazement.
Just now at the entrance, he had thought it was just a small studio trying to trick them into investing.
He didn't expect that a company that looked like a small studio could produce a work far superior to many professional large companies and production teams.
"Director, this drama is good, isn't it? It looks much better than the sample now."
After watching several episodes continuously, Jiang Ye couldn't help but say to the director.
"It is good. If they hadn't told me it was a rough cut, I would have thought it was ready for broadcast!"
He Jiaye nodded without hesitation.
Because this drama had completely exceeded his expectations.
After the viewing, it was already noon.
The two had unknowingly watched the entire rough cut version of "Soldier Assault."
"Mr. Wang Shu, I think your drama is very good, so we plan to discuss the specific terms of cooperation with you directly!"
As they walked out of the screening room, Director He said to Wang Shu with a smile.
Because he already had an idea, he felt he had to give this drama a try.
Although it might be a bit risky, it was much better than continuing to buy those low-quality romance dramas.
Because he knew that those low-quality, low-budget romance dramas had almost no chance of becoming blockbusters, and ninety-nine percent of them were flops.
On the contrary, this "Soldier Assault," although all the actors were new faces, the plot was unconventional, and the filming techniques were excellent.
Furthermore, the various scenes were very professional, and some of the equipment even seemed to be real military equipment.
And the most important point was that this production team was clearly capable of enduring hardship.
They rented a small broken storefront as their company, but the scenes and shots in the drama were meticulous and rigorous.
The props alone must have cost a lot of money, which showed that these people were filming with their hearts.
With such a spirit, the quality of the work would not be too bad.
Moreover, he was more willing to cooperate with such a team that had attitude and pursuit.
"The terms you gave us yesterday were fifteen million in cash plus a twenty-one percent share of the profits, right?"
Since it was noon, Wang Shu directly took the two and Zhang Yimou to a small restaurant nearby to discuss the contract terms.
"Yes, do you think these terms are not suitable?"
Wang Shu couldn't help but ask.
"Your price is not excessive, because I see that the investment in your drama should be considerable, so fifteen million is not excessive. However, our television station is currently in great difficulty, and it is still difficult to come up with fifteen million!"
He Jiaye deliberately frowned and said, because he really didn't have much extra funds to purchase copyrights at the moment, so he wanted to negotiate and see if he could get the drama at a lower price.
"Then how much can you offer?"
Wang Shu couldn't help but frown and asked He Jiaye. He had never heard of a television station being short of money before.
"We can offer at most ten million!"
He Jiaye replied directly.
"Ten million? My cost is more than ten million, it's too much of a loss."
Wang Shu heard this and immediately said with a cold face.