As early as when Ma Qianyou was preparing to invest in Linghui Studio, Xiao He began to consider taking advantage of this opportunity to transform their studio into a company.
Although the initial studio operation model was relatively casual and more free, the small workshop-style operation ultimately had many drawbacks. As the studio expanded, personnel management became more complicated, and a standardized organizational structure and management model became imperative.
Most importantly, the studio will expand its business further and participate in more projects like "The Imperial Decree," which will increase the risks it faces in the future. After all, not every work can be 100% profitable. If it continues to operate as a studio, the personal risks will increase infinitely, and the person facing the greatest risk is undoubtedly Xiao He, the boss.
Although everyone is now partners who share weal and woe, and have a close relationship and trust each other, money is a tempting prospect, and Xiao He wants to provide security for himself and everyone else.
Therefore, the transformation of the studio into a company is an inevitable trend in Linghui's growth.
When Xiao He and Liu Rulan brought up the matter, Liu Rulan readily agreed and began to prepare for it.
So during this period, everyone has been busy with company matters...
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In the afternoon, Xiao He and Liu Rulan interviewed two professional managers together.
Professional managers generally refer to professionals with experience in enterprise management and industry. They are responsible for ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) the company's daily operations and management, managing the company on behalf of Xiao He, the real boss.
The two interviewees are both highly experienced professional managers with outstanding management skills. They have worked for many years in large companies and have extensive relevant experience.
What caught Xiao He's attention was a man named Lin Cheng.
Lin Cheng wore a pair of somewhat bulky black-rimmed glasses. Although his clothes were very proper, the badly worn watch strap inadvertently revealed his embarrassment.
Nevertheless, during the interview, he still displayed the confidence and composure expected of a professional manager.
In contrast, his other competitor was dressed much more expensively, with watches on his wrists that cost at least tens of thousands of dollars. He also exuded an undisguised sense of superiority and arrogance during their conversation, displaying the haughtiness of someone from a large company condescending to work for a small one.
Xiao He wasn't judging people by whether they were rich or poor; he just subconsciously disliked that feeling.
"So what were your reasons for leaving your previous company?"
Liu Rulan sat in the middle of the seat and was in charge of asking questions.
Lin Cheng pushed up his glasses, his eyes flickered, and he gave his reason: "The previous work rhythm was not well-matched with my personal state at the time, so I chose to resign and adjust, and re-plan my career direction."
Another person gave the reason: "My professional philosophy is incompatible with the company's, so I chose to resign voluntarily."
As we all know, the most sophisticated lies people tell during job interviews are designed to please the company and conceal their problems and flaws.
So what is the real reason?
Xiao He leaned back lazily in his seat, his fingers deftly tapping on the keyboard—
Lin Cheng is indeed very talented, but unfortunately, he didn't work in an entertainment company before; he worked in a technology company. During his tenure as president, he managed the company very well. Unfortunately, he later became a victim of internal strife and was ousted from the company.
However, his wife fell seriously ill last year, and there was a baby at home who needed to be cared for. Lin was unable to attend to everything, so he simply returned to his family to take care of his wife and child.
However, medical treatment is a money pit, and after a year of perseverance, the burden of family responsibilities led him to choose to return to the workforce.
He chose an entertainment company because he had been blacklisted by his previous industry circle.
As for the other one—
Xiao He raised an eyebrow and nudged Liu Rulan with his elbow.
Liu Rulan glanced at the computer in front of Xiao He, and then her expression changed slightly.
This other interviewee was fired because he had cheated at his previous company.
The company's decision not to call the police and arrest him, despite the claim of "incompatible professional values," is considered a sign of the company's magnanimity.
"Okay, I understand."
Liu Rulan gave Xiao He a look.
Soon, both interviewees left.
"Then Lin Cheng?" Liu Rulan asked Xiao He for his opinion. "Does he have any problems?"
"Okay, let's go with him."
Xiao He didn't say much, and simply nodded.
"good."
And so Lin Cheng made the decision.
Before we knew it, the end of the month had arrived.
...
After weathering the storm of public opinion for the rest of the period, "The Imperial Decree" swept the entire summer season like a dark horse, becoming the undisputed blockbuster of the summer and bringing huge profits to all parties involved.
"Low cost" and "blockbuster" have become its defining characteristics.
At the same time, this low-budget production is not the kind of crudely made, fake, and cheap web series in the true sense. Rather, it is because most of the cast members are newcomers with very low participation fees, and more funds are spent on set design and makeup to strive for perfection.
Furthermore, under the scrutiny of "microscope" viewers, they discovered that there were indeed "experts" in the production team of "The Imperial Decree".
The empress's antique bed looks exquisite, but in reality, all the parts are the same as those on Pinduoduo. The production team bought their own tools and wooden bed, and pieced them together. Moreover, only the front is visible; the wooden boards from other angles are not even painted.
In the drama "Royal Decree", Consort Qiao always appears in a magnificent manner, with a full range of headdresses and jewelry. However, upon closer inspection, sharp-eyed netizens discovered that the large gold hairpin on her head was made by stringing together nails, spraying paint, and gold beads, and then wrapping them with gold wire.
To be honest, Xiao He was also stunned when he saw this trending topic.
He even glanced at the "Consort Qiao" who seemed perfectly natural in the storyline, and then looked at the screenshots that netizens had singled out, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.
No, are all the prop masters on film sets this imaginative?
As for the fact that the thumb ring the Empress Dowager was playing with in the background was actually a dyed emerald green nut, that's truly outrageous.
Xiao He couldn't understand how the production crew could be so frugal that they didn't even have a fake thumb ring to replace it.
—Don't get me wrong, they didn't spend any money on these nuts. They were leftover materials from the set construction, which they then reused.
But if you say they didn't spend money, well, there's no such thing as a free lunch. They certainly didn't skimp on the elaborate sets and costumes.
All I can say is...
"They are all talented people."
Willing to help save money, they are practically the ideal worker for capitalists.
Xiao He immediately asked Lin Cheng, who had just taken over the company, "Have we signed contracts with this team?"
This is the first team in their company capable of independently creating projects.
Once the company stabilizes, we can start new projects.
"Yes, we've signed most of them, but the director had some contractual disagreements with us and ended up taking some people with him."
Lin Chenggang took over this matter, but he didn't handle it very well, so he was somewhat cautious when talking about it.
Xiao He frowned: "Where are the screenwriter and the prop master?"
"They're here; the director mainly took the cinematography and post-production teams with him..."
"That's alright."
Xiao He breathed a sigh of relief.
Looking at the entire "Royal Decree" project, the few people who left were not the most important factors for its success.
He was relieved that the key personnel hadn't left.
“However, I think there’s something you might need to look into, boss,” Lin Cheng continued. “The people who poached the director and the others were from Xingchen Entertainment.”
On one side is Xingchen Entertainment, backed by a large conglomerate, and on the other is a newly established small company. These graduates, who have achieved great success right after graduation, are bound to be restless and choose a better future.
Xiao He felt this was only human nature.
But wow, it's Xingchen Entertainment...
Xiao He clicked his tongue a few times: "How did it have to happen at this time? They're going to be in trouble."
