Middle age: leisurely life in the entertainment industry

Starting from mid-June, Yu Dongqing wrote intermittently for a month. I just finished writing the script for "Late Night Diner".

The TV series is divided into 8 units, consisting of independent stories. Each story is shot in 2-3 episodes, for a total of 20 episodes:

The conflict between urban management officer Lao Yang and the pancake seller

A heart-warming story about a female middle school student meeting at a stall

An unresolved love between a white-collar worker and her boss

The boss who is in debt and forced to have no choice has a sad ending

The story of the beggar and the stray dog ​​who waits for his dead owner every day

The finale is the daily routine of a retired veteran who refuses to admit defeat.

After the script was finalized, he immediately called his old partner Li Wan.

"Hey, Dongqing, do you really want to make a TV series?" Li Wan's tone was a little surprised.

"Yeah. It took me two months to finally write it. Do you want to take a look?"

"Hey, a famous director doesn't want to shoot for the big screen but instead plays TV dramas? You are really serious about it. Okay, you can send it to me for a look."

"OK!"

Two days later, Yu Dongqing received a reply from Li Wan: "The writing is very down-to-earth and interesting. No one in China has made a similar TV series. How about we meet and discuss it in detail?"

"Okay, come to my tea room for tea anytime and chat while you drink."

Unexpectedly, Li Wan said on the other end of the phone: "What kind of tea are you drinking? Of course, eating barbecue and reading the script will be enough. Treat me to barbecue. There is a barbecue on Huguosi Street. Let's go there."

"Which Huguo Temple are you going to? Come to my house and I will make it for you!" Yu Dongqing said with a smile.

“You know how to barbecue??”

"Hehe. To tell you the truth, in order to successfully film this TV series, I learned from a barbecue restaurant owner for two months."

"really?"

"really!"

"Okay, I'll try your craft tomorrow night."

"Okay." Yu Dongqing agreed readily.

Naturally, there were fewer people eating barbecue for the two of them. Yu Dongqing called and invited three of his buddies. Except for Du Hui, who took his wife and daughter back to his hometown for the summer vacation and had not yet returned, the other three readily agreed.

Of course there are not just a few old friends, but also Yu Dongqing’s family.

Yu Tongtong came back from the United States during the summer vacation. When she heard that her father was going to cook barbecue at home, she immediately jumped up with excitement.

I didn't sleep in the next day. I got up early in the morning and happily drove to the supermarket with my dad to buy various ingredients.

Meili, her nanny Xiaxia and her son Lele are preparing at home.

A complete set of barbecue stoves was also bought last month. Originally, Yu Dongqing was not allowed to buy it, saying that he was a retired person and eating these barbecue items was not good for his health.

But I figured it out later.

Don't be too strict with your husband. It's okay to have a meal once in a while, not to mention that he is preparing for filming a TV series.

At seven o'clock in the evening, it was getting dark, and several old friends arrived one after another.

The first one to come was Zhang Yang.

As soon as he entered the small courtyard, he shouted: "Holly, I didn't drive today, and I didn't eat dinner, but I have to chop it up quickly at your place. I won't come home until I'm drunk."

"Don't talk so much, come over and help." Yu Dongqing laughed and scolded.

Zhang Yang smiled, rolled up his sleeves, washed his hands and helped skewer the mutton.

Not long after, Li Wan and Liu Yimin also arrived one after another, and the yard became lively.

The barbecue grill was placed under the wisteria trellis in the small yard. There were two tables with cold beer and drinks beside them. Everyone, including the nanny Xia Xia, chatted while eating. The topic is naturally inseparable from the TV series that is about to start filming.

The script has already been sent to the group for a few old friends to read. Yu Dongqing wanted everyone to express their personal opinions.

In fact, Yu Dongqing has already solicited the opinions of his wife and old friends on many plots, and today he just took this opportunity to get together with everyone.

"Husband, my favorite is the script in the third unit. It's so heartwarming." Meiliang said first.

The three-unit plot is adapted from Du Hui's personal experience told by her wife. Yu Dongqing also specially designed a neighbor's little girl for the protagonist Hui Ge - call him uncle, who likes to come to his barbecue stall on weekends, and the story unfolds.

"I think the story between the urban management and the pancake shopkeeper is quite good." It was Liu Yimin who spoke.

"This kind of thing is so common in Sanlitun. It's easy for everyone." After finishing speaking, Liu Yimin sighed, picked up a glass of beer and drank it down in one gulp.

Li Wan was not so emotional.

As a professional producer, he needs to judge from his own professional perspective whether anyone will watch this TV series in the future, as well as the investment cost, whether it will lose money, etc.

He was holding a glass of beer, lost in thought.

The script is really a bit different.

It is neither the most popular ancient costume fairy tale nor urban romance. It is actually a food drama.

In fact, it’s not really gourmet food, it’s just about ordinary people’s trivial matters covered in gourmet food.

Will the audience enjoy watching it?

Li Wan was very suspicious.

Fortunately, Yu Dongqing's golden brand is still there, and his shooting skills are beyond doubt. As long as the shooting costs are controlled, it is estimated that the company can still break even.

The filming and post-production costs of this TV series are not high. How much does a shabby restaurant cost?

The most important thing is the actors.

It can be said that the actors' remuneration directly determines the cost of this TV series.

"Old Li, what are you thinking about? Why don't you say anything?" Yu Dongqing's words interrupted Li Wan's meditation.

"I'm thinking about the cost of this TV series." Li Wan raised his head and looked at him: "The biggest expense of this TV series is the actors' remuneration. I wonder which actors you want to hire? This directly determines the total investment."

Yu Dongqing pondered for a while before answering. Zhang Yang grabbed the topic and said to Li Wan:

"Hey, Lao Li, I've made a deal with Dongqing. I want to play the role of Lao Pao in the final unit script, and several of our buddies want to invest, so I have the money to join the team."

"Okay, the actor's decision is up to Dongqing, I don't care. Then you get zero pay?" Li Wan said seriously without joking.

"of course!"

At this time, Yu Dongqing said: "I have thought about it. I will play the boss, and the guy will let Lu Xiaoxi play. The female student Wan Xue said she is willing to play, and I will ask Liu Yi to see if he is willing to play the role of the down-and-out boss. Yes, Meili will be the assistant director and can also guest star in some roles. I will consider the rest and ask in private."

"Dad, I also want to play a role, okay?" Yu Tongtong next to him suddenly became interested after hearing this.

"You? Okay, be an extra." Yu Dongqing glanced at her daughter and said.

Yu Tongtong originally wanted to play the role of a female student, but after hearing her father's tone, she probably wouldn't be able to play the role, so she pursed her lips and said nothing more.

"Husband, don't forget, there is another member of our family playing a role." Meiliang suddenly said with a smile.

who?

Is your son happy?

Yu Dongqing was looking at her chubby son who was eating mutton skewers intently. If it was a girl, it would be okay to play a cameo as a girl kissing a female student.

But the little boy seemed disobedient.

"That's it!" Meimei pointed at Doumiao, who was shaking his head and wagging his tail, "Let him play the role of a stray dog."

Ah?

Almost forgot.

It's almost ready-made.

Everyone continued eating and chatting until ten o'clock in the evening before they dispersed.

Yu Dongqing is going to film a TV series!

The news was revealed for the first time on his Weibo.

Thanks to Old Bookworm Tudou and others for their monthly votes.