"So, with the rules covered, let's talk about the benefits!" Huang He said with a smile. "First, upon successful contract signing with our Tangren, you will receive a signing bonus of 400,000 yuan. Every two years thereafter, there will be an appraisal. If you pass the appraisal, you will receive another signing bonus after re-evaluation. If you fail the appraisal, the contract will revert to a free state, and you may choose to terminate the contract freely or remain with the company until the contract term of less than 10 years expires."
"However, those who fail the appraisal will not receive additional signing bonuses. The specific amount of the additional signing bonus and how it is evaluated will be at the final discretion of our company."
"Secondly, it is our company's promise to you. Any actor who signs with our company will be guaranteed an opportunity to play a lead role in a TV series or movie within two years. Here, 'lead role' refers to the number 1, 2, or 3 actors. In addition, there will be two supporting roles."
"You don't need to worry about this at all, because our company plans to shoot 10 TV series within the next 2-3 years, and these series will almost exclusively use our contracted talents. Your opportunities are limitless."
"These are the basic benefits of signing with us, and what I can hard-guarantee you. As for other more opportunities, more exposure, and more performance chances, there will be plenty."
"As long as you sign and focus on honing your acting skills and working hard on every project, I guarantee you will receive much more than what I've just mentioned."
"Alright, I've said what I needed to say. If any of you are not satisfied with our company's conditions, you may leave now. Those who are satisfied, please stay. However, I will consider your continued presence as tacit agreement to our contract terms, which will save us both time!"
"Chairman Huang, may I ask a question?" a student asked, raising his hand.
"Please do!"
"If we pass the assessment after two years, but don't want to stay with the company, can we leave?" the student inquired.
"Yes!" Huang He nodded, and many faces lit up with joy. But in the next second, Huang He added, "The contract will clearly state that anyone wishing to leave will have to pay a penalty equivalent to five times all the income they have received from Tangren as a breach of contract fee. As long as you pay, you can leave. I have no objections."
The joy instantly vanished.
"Alright, I'll give you 10 minutes to consider. Let's take a break!" With that, Huang He left with a few judges, leaving the room full of students.
"Hey, what do you guys think of these conditions? Should we sign?" The students immediately began to discuss.
"I don't want to sign. A ten-year contract upfront. I'm already 20 years old, and in ten years I'll be 30. My most youthful decade will be handed over to a company. I don't feel secure. What if this company is a scam?"
"Yeah, and the treatment Tangren offers is too low. The payment isn't fixed in advance, and they're doing this three-way profit sharing. If their TV series fail, won't we only receive a meager basic salary each month?"
"However, if they really can release 10 TV series in two to three years, then our opportunities are quite significant!"
"Pfft, I think that's just bragging. What company can produce 3-4 movies on average per year? It's all a scam to lure us into signing."
"Old Tong, you're our elder brother, what do you think?" a discussing student nudged a classmate beside him and asked.
"I think, at first glance, these conditions seem bad, but upon closer consideration, they're not too shabby!" said Old Tong.
"Oh? What do you mean?" everyone asked curiously.
"Firstly, based on the experiences of our seniors who have already graduated, except for those with exceptional conditions or support from influential figures, it's difficult to even get a supporting role within 2-5 years after graduation. You have to gradually hone your skills in this circle and slowly gain opportunities."
"Even worse, many can barely make ends meet."
"You all know our senior Liao Fan. He was so impressive in school. Everyone knew his acting was the best, and his grades were the highest. Yet, he's been a background extra in film crews for a year since graduation. A friend of mine even saw him working as a security guard for a company, just barely surviving!"
"Although some have become very successful after graduation, like Ren Quan and Lu Yi, who became popular right after graduation, they have the looks and the connections. Do we have those?"
"I've done a statistic, and 70% of our seniors cannot make a living through acting in the years after graduation. Even 50% of them have quit the industry and changed careers!"
"So I think this contract is still pretty good. At least you get a 400,000 yuan signing bonus, and a basic salary every month. This way, you won't starve in Shanghai and can live a pretty good life. More importantly, it guarantees you a lead role and two supporting roles. It's hard to find such opportunities even with a lantern."
"When we go out, we need to ensure our survival first, and then consider other issues!"
"Is that so!" Hearing Tong Dawei's words, everyone's thinking began to shift. However, some remained uneasy and asked, "What if they are lying and don't give us these acting opportunities?"
"What's there to be afraid of? These things will all be written down in black and white in the contract. If they don't give us opportunities, then they are the ones breaching the contract, not us. They would have to pay us liquidated damages. What's there to fear?" Tong Dawei chuckled.
"What if we become popular?" someone else said. "Many seniors became famous overnight with one TV series, their value multiplying tens or even hundreds of times. If we become popular with one TV series, but still get only that small signing bonus and salary, and have to work like slaves for them, wouldn't that be too exploitative?"
"This is a potential issue, but Tangren, if they have any brains, shouldn't do such a thing. Firstly, it's beneficial for both sides if Tangren helps us become famous. They wouldn't be unaware that shortchanging us would lead to alienation and eventual separation. I believe Tangren will give us appropriate treatment!"
"Also, if Tangren can indeed fulfill their promised three-way profit-sharing system, then our earnings won't be much less than with other companies. I've carefully considered this system, and the more I ponder it, the more I realize Tangren is not simple. Their system is geared towards creating high-quality TV series and movies. Their vision might be greater than we imagine. If Tangren can truly achieve an all-around high-quality production... no, even if only half of them are high-quality TV series, our benefits will be greater than under normal circumstances!"
"But these are all your speculations. What if Tangren is just a stingy scammer?" someone grumbled.
"Then we'll terminate the contract. The less Tangren gives us, the less we need to pay as a termination fee. If we become popular, there will be plenty of companies willing to pay a high price to buy out our contract."
"In conclusion, I think this contract has both benefits and risks, but the benefits far outweigh the risks. At least we have nothing now, but Tangren is giving us a solid 400,000 yuan. Only a fool would refuse such a contract!" After saying this, Tong Dawei stopped analyzing.
Not many of these actors were fools. They all began to seriously consider the pros and cons and make their decisions. Meanwhile, in another lounge, Li Youbin remained lost in thought.
"Mr. Li, do you have any concerns?" Huang He asked with a smile.
"Oh... I was just thinking, is my TV series also subject to the three-way profit-sharing system you mentioned!" Li Youbin said.
"I see. You don't need to worry about that. You are not a contracted artist of our Tangren, so this rule doesn't apply to you. We will sign with you according to normal market rules. As for your salary, we have plenty of time to discuss it slowly!" Huang He replied.
"No, my intention is not to take a salary. Instead, I want to participate in this three-way profit-sharing system. I wonder if Mr. Huang is willing?" Li Youbin said with a smile.
"So..." Huang He was taken aback by Li Youbin's words. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "But this is a system implemented only for internal employees. If you are willing to join our Tangren..."
"No, I have been with Changchun Film my entire life. I will not join any other company. I just feel that this three-way profit-sharing system is excellent. It's a great innovation in our industry, a great innovation that can rectify many of the current unhealthy trends in the industry!" Li Youbin said with some excitement.
"I don't know, but nowadays there are more and more bad TV series and bad movies. It feels like our industry has regressed by 10 years. Fewer and fewer people are able to calmly and diligently refine a good piece of work."
"So I, Old Li, think your profit-sharing system is very good. I believe that everyone in the entire crew, from top to bottom, should execute this profit-sharing system so that we can all work together to create good works. Even external personnel like myself should be included in this system. What do you think?" Li Youbin said sincerely.
"Alright!" Huang He pondered for a few minutes and felt that what Li Youbin said made a lot of sense. If there were two different profit-sharing methods within a crew, there would definitely be conflict between them, which is a potential problem.
However, the problem is that not everyone can see the issue as clearly as Li Youbin.
"How about this: for all external personnel, I will give them a choice before they join the crew. How they choose is their own business, and we will have done our utmost." Huang He said. "However, to join this system, one must at least become a partner of Tangren Film and Television. Their position will remain with their original unit, but they will have an additional cooperative relationship with Tangren, considered as one of Tangren's people. They will be prioritized for invitations for future work, but besides the profit sharing, Tangren will not provide any basic salary."
"Good!" Li Youbin nodded. This condition is actually quite good for outsiders like them. At least they have half of an organization.
After Huang He and Li Youbin reached an agreement, the 10 minutes were almost up. Everyone returned to the venue and found that about one-third of the original 100-plus students had left, leaving about two-thirds in the classroom.
Although Huang He felt a slight regret that some familiar faces from later generations had left, those who were willing to stay were those who intended to speak through their work.
Of course, not all of them would be signed. Huang He still had to select from them.