Chapter 47

After lunch, the three Mongolians held their second closed-door meeting to discuss the company's development direction again.

Since they had decided to enter the television industry, the focus and direction of their work would inevitably need to be adjusted.

Xiaoyu Mai was very confident that the favor gained from "Ten Years" with Su Youpeng would help Liu Tao enter the television industry.

As a result, the company's manpower would be insufficient.

Shooting TV dramas was not as simple as shooting advertisements, and while the agent could temporarily be played by Xiaoxing Bie, assistants were indispensable!

At least two, one male and one female.

When Liu Tao joined the production team, they would assist her in handling trivial matters, take care of her daily life, and solve all her worries, ensuring she could fully devote herself to the TV drama production.

Recruit new staff?

After a brief discussion, the three quickly reached an agreement—select two out of the remaining four talent scouts to serve as Liu Tao's assistants, and then recruit more talent scouts.

This also served as a promotion mechanism for employees.

The salary of an artist's assistant would definitely be higher than the base salary of a talent scout. As for the talent scouts having commissions, the assistants would also receive bonuses!

At the same time, it would inject fresh blood into the company, allowing them to assess employees' character, work ability, and loyalty through their talent scout work. In the future, when the company signed new artists and needed assistants, they could select from these employees.

After this matter was settled, they continued to discuss the career planning for Xiaoxing Bie and Xiaquan Zhang.

Since Mengren was no longer just Mengren, they needed to fully exploit Xiaoxing Bie's directorial expertise and Xiaquan Zhang's photography skills.

Xiaquan Zhang was easier to handle.

This guy refused to be a photography assistant again, being bossed around by others. He preferred to shoot advertisements for Shengshi first, refining his photography skills, and then directly join a production team as a photographer when the time was right.

Xiaoxing Bie was more complicated.

Graduating from a directing program, he had a lot of theoretical experience, but only two and a half advertisements in practical experience. Directly shooting TV dramas or films was clearly unrealistic. No production team would be willing to use a completely inexperienced newcomer, and Mengren Film & TV currently lacked the capability to produce TV dramas or films on their own.

Even if they did, Xiaoyu Mai would not agree to let him direct, as it would be too risky.

He was currently temporarily serving as Liu Tao's agent, with not much work, but eventually, he would hand it over to a professional agent.

To become a signature director for Mengren Film & TV in the future, he needed to find opportunities to join production teams and hone his skills. Assistant director, director's assistant, executive director... gradually accumulating practical experience, learning how to control a production team, and ultimately becoming a renowned director.

"Do you have any opportunities with your classmates?" Xiaoyu Mai asked.

Xiaoxing Bie smiled wryly: "They're not as good as me."

Graduates from the directing program were quite unfortunate. Even those from top three art schools rarely got to direct right after graduation.

His classmates either changed careers, continued their studies, or ran errands and did odd jobs in the industry.

Those who did relatively well worked as assistant directors, director's assistants, or in similar roles in theater groups, advertising companies, TV stations, or film production teams. The best of them might get to shoot a few advertisements for small companies. They were far from the level of Dove, let alone Ice Garden.

This wasn't entirely due to seniority; no investor would dare use a newcomer as a director without at least three to five years of experience in the entertainment industry, learning the ins and outs of production teams.

"Forget it, I'll find a way. I'll look for a production team and get you into the director's group. You need to seize this opportunity."

Xiaoxing Bie nodded eagerly, his eyes shining: "Boss, you have such connections?"

Indeed, not long ago, Xiaoyu Mai had met a friend, Director Sun!

Currently, Director Sun's "The Courtesan Swordsman" had already started filming, and the director's group was already set. Xiaoyu Mai couldn't easily insert someone in the middle. After "The Courtesan Swordsman" wrapped, when Director Sun started a new project, he could make a call and arrange for Xiaoxing Bie to join as an assistant director, which shouldn't be a problem.

The meeting ended, and they entered the chatting and joking phase.

"Yuer, when did you learn to write songs?" This question had been on Xiaquan Zhang's mind for a long time, almost causing him internal injury.

"Brother Cha, the boss is professional at everything. He can arrange for me to join a production team as an assistant director, so writing a few songs isn't surprising."

"You're an idiot, I don't want to talk to you. Yuer, that song is pretty catchy. Did you study music before?"

"Brother Cha, you're overstepping." Xiaoyu Mai said.

According to the tenth rule of the Mai Clan's fraud code: members must not pry into each other's backgrounds.

Xiaquan Zhang laughed and was promptly teased by Xiaoxing Bie. Xiaoyu Mai explained: "A friend gave it to me."

"Is your friend named Yuer?" As soon as the words were out, Xiaquan Zhang realized his mistake, "Damn, I spoke out of turn."

"Ten Years."

Composer: Yuer.

Lyricist: Yuer.

Their chatting and joking ended when Liu Tao knocked and entered the office.

Xiaoxing Bie and Xiaquan Zhang went out to inform the employees of the company's latest decisions and arrange their respective tasks. Liu Tao brought Yang Mi into the office.

"Uncle, you guys shot the Dove advertisement!" Yang Mi exclaimed excitedly.

Xiaoyu Mai frowned, and Liu Tao quickly explained: "She wants to join the company, so I brought her over."

"No problem. The company has decided to assign you two assistants, selected from internal employees. Go find Director Bie to discuss the candidates."

"Assign me assistants?"

"We're shooting a TV drama, and you can't do it without assistants."

"I want to act in a TV drama too!" Yang Mi shouted.

Xiaoyu Mai ignored her and continued: "Spend more time improving your acting skills. I'll go to Yan Film to find a teacher for you."

"Thank you, Mr. Mai. I'll go find Director Bie now."

After saying goodbye to Yang Mi, Liu Tao left happily.

Yang Mi raised her small hand and waved it in front of Xiaoyu Mai: "Uncle, I want a private lesson from a Yan Film teacher too!"

Xiaoyu Mai swatted her hand away, irritated: "What do you want now, little fox?"

"Don't call me little fox!" Yang Mi pouted, leaning on the table and looking at Xiaoyu Mai, "Uncle, I want to join your company, I want to shoot advertisements like Sister Liu Tao, and I want to act in TV dramas."

"Why should I let you?"

"You made me suffer so much, shouldn't you compensate me?"

If it weren't for you, how would I have slipped up?

How would my parents have known I went to a bar?

How would I have been grounded for so many days?

"So you wanted to get me drunk last night to see me make a fool of myself?" Xiaoyu Mai laughed.

"No, I was the one who got drunk last night!"

"Little fox, haven't you heard that people tell the truth when they're drunk?"

"Ah? Did I say a lot when I was drunk and tell you everything?" Yang Mi stuck out her tongue playfully, "Then we're even, right?"

"I carried you home last night, you were so heavy."

"Liar, I'm not heavy at all! Besides, you scared me this morning. I woke up and was so scared, I thought... I thought..." Yang Mi's face turned red before she finished her sentence, "Anyway, you have to compensate me!"

"Do you really want to join our company?"

"Um-hum!" Yang Mi nodded vigorously.

"Alright, the membership fee is ten thousand yuan..."