My Animation Era

  Chapter 3 Children's Channel

  Jiangchuan TV Station.

  As an old provincial TV station, Jiangchuan Satellite TV has multiple sub-channels, among which the comprehensive channel is the most famous and has the most extensive audience base.

  The rest of the channels are so-so.

  For example, news channels are equivalent to regional TV stations. Except for Jiangchuan locals, there are not many viewers in other regions.

  As for the children's channel...

   "What the hell, Jiangchuan TV Station also has a children's channel? As a Jiangchuan person, why don't I know?" Facing the reporter's interview, Mr. Meng, a citizen, said with a look of surprise.

   Well, pretty miserable.

  Compared with children's channels in other provinces, Jiangchuan Children's Channel does have a weak presence, and even the locals don't like to watch it very much.

  This can be discerned from their actual positions in charge.

  As the chief person in charge of a sub-channel, Minister Wang didn’t hold the position of “Deputy Director” and didn’t have an exclusive office. Needless to say how low his status is?

   "Nice to meet you!"

   When meeting for the first time, Gu Miao had a pretty good impression of Minister Wang.

   Very pragmatic person!

   After learning that Gu Miao was a representative sent by the "animation company" to negotiate business, he hurried back without even finishing lunch.

   This is what pays attention to people!

  Compared to the cold reception he received on the integrated channel, and the embarrassment of not seeing the person in charge after waiting for a whole morning, Minister Wang's attitude moved him very much.

   But being moved is moved, when the two of them talked about serious matters, some conflicts inevitably arose.

   "Investment is impossible."

  Minister Wang said that Jiangchuan Children's Channel has no tradition of self-produced and self-sold, and usually focuses on "external purchases", and occasionally goes abroad to find some outdated old animations to broadcast.

  He can't break the rules.

   "Rules? Where did the rules come from?"

  Gu Miao sneered and said, "Look at the Shonan Children's Channel, the Beijing Children's Channel, and even the Shanghai Children's Channel next door. Which one doesn't have its own animation?"

   "That's why they have money!"

   "Their annual advertising expenses can cover our ten years. We don't have that much advertising income, and the station doesn't allocate funds to support it. How can we have the confidence to make self-made films?"

   Speaking of this, Minister Wang had a slightly bitter expression.

   It can be seen that he is also very dissatisfied.

  It is his long-cherished wish to make the children's channel bigger and stronger. However, Jiangchuan Children's Channel is not good at all. No matter what he does, he can't avoid the word "lack of money", which makes him a little helpless.

  Gu Miao smiled.

  He guessed this was the reason, so he specially prepared a project budget before coming, and handed it to Minister Wang together with the plan.

   "Minister Wang, look at this."

   "The tentative name of this animation is "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf". It tells a story about a wolf catching a sheep on the green grassland..."

After introducing the outline of the story, Gu Miao took a sip of hot tea and said to Minister Wang who was looking down at the planning book, "I can understand your concerns about making a self-made film, but "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" really doesn't need much investment. A million is enough!"

"one million?!"

   "Yes, a million!"

  Gu Miao nodded.

  Before this, he originally wanted an investment of 3-5 million. That was enough money to get the project off the ground and develop the storyline into "Weird World Wars."

   But now he has changed his mind.

  No way, Jiangchuan Children's Channel is too poor! If they open their mouths and ask them to pay three or four million yuan, it is estimated that Minister Wang will be scared away directly. If they say less, the chance of success will be higher.

   As expected.

  After learning that "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" only needed an investment of one million yuan, Minister Wang was moved.

  How much is this money?

   Really not much!

  In the field of animation production, why is one million enough? This amount of money is not even enough to plug the teeth! If "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" is really that cheap, then you can try it.

  Jiangchuan children are poor, and this money is still affordable.

   Just…

  Looking at this flimsy proposal, Minister Wang began to wonder if Gu Miao was a liar.

  This story is too simple!

  The outline of the whole story can be summed up in one sentence—

   Big Big Wolf tried his best to catch the lamb, and Pleasant Goat rescued his companion with clever tricks.

  It's so simple and rude, can it work?

  Compared to live-action film and television works, animation does not have very high requirements for "plot", but it must also be kept above the passing line.

  Excellent plots can cover up many shortcomings and deficiencies in production, and poor plots can also ruin excellent original paintings.

  Minister Wang can't imagine, even the main plot is so rough, what will happen to the original painting? What about animation effects?

   "This is outrageous..."

  He spoke the truth with hesitation.

   It's like a child's play, he can't think of an animation made according to this plan, who will like to watch it after it airs?

   He doesn't like it anyway.

   “Kids don’t think about it that much.”

  Gu Miao explained with a smile: "For them, animation animation, as the name implies, is enough to move. As long as the story is interesting, these are trivial matters."

   "But your plot..."

   "This is just the outline of the story!"

  Before Minister Wang finished speaking, Gu Miao reminded: "The story structure of "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" is similar to the unit dramas in TV dramas. Each episode has a small story."

   Mainline?

  Who cares about the main thread!

   Big Big Wolf has caught thousands of sheep, but in the end he has become friends with the lambs. The main story, to be honest, just watch it.

   "Unit drama?"

  When Minister Wang heard this, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.

  He didn't give Gu Miao a direct answer, but told him to go back first and wait for him to think carefully before making a decision.

  Gu Miao didn't feel disappointed.

  Willing to think about it shows that Minister Wang is already moved. This is undoubtedly good news for him, and it shows that "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" can still move people.

   It also gave him confidence.

  After leaving Jiangchuan TV Station, he did not choose to go home and wait for the news, but took a taxi to the industrial park in the suburbs.

   There, there is another talk.

   This is an arrangement he made in advance, no matter what the outcome of the TV station is, he will go to the toy factory.

  If the TV station is willing to contribute, then communicate with the toy factory about the licensing of derivative products. The TV station refuses to invest, so it can also introduce investment in the toy factory, they must be very interested.

   Anyway, he has no shortage of spare tires.

  When Gu Miao arrived at the industrial park and had an interview with the general manager of a local toy factory, the cell phone in her pocket suddenly rang.

  A call from Minister Wang.

  He finally made a decision and was willing to take a gamble with the meager advertising expenses in the stage and invest in "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" with Gu Miao as the chief director.

  However, he also has requirements.

   After the production of "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" is completed, the first round must be exclusively broadcast on Jiangchuan Children's Channel, and the rights to follow-up broadcasting will be exclusive to them.

   Correspondingly, they will also give a golden schedule and arrange advertising matters.

  (end of this chapter)