Feature Shows Extravaganza - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Is He Serious?

Translator: Henyee Translations

Editor: Henyee Translations

After the opening ceremony, Mr. Old Meng left the shooting site with an excuse that he was a busy businessman.

Before he left, he made a promise to Meng Lang.

The factory would provide Meng Lang with the yo-yos during the shooting, free of charge. As for whether or not they would keep making large quantities of yo-yos after the shooting would depend on if Blazing Teens could sell its broadcast rights.

Meng Lang wasn’t a bit concerned about selling the broadcast rights.

He had never planned to make profits from selling the broadcast rights, which was why he decided to copy what the original version did and give out the broadcast rights for free in the hope that the TV channel could broadcast the show at prime time, getting more opportunities to make yo-yos an “it” thing.

For the original Blazing Teens, after Aofei Anime finished the work, they found a local children’s channel and gave them the broadcast rights for free.

The children’s channel couldn’t believe the windfall and took it without hesitation. Meanwhile, they removed a program from prime time and replaced it with Blazing Teens!

Was Blazing Teens a well-made show?

Not at all! Judging by Meng Lang’s standard, the original version’s plot was filled with holes, the script was embarrassing, and the actors and actresses all had deadpan faces…

One could say the original Blazing Teens was filled with loopholes. Apart from the novelty of the yo-yos, it was worse than the soap operas that were filled with tropes.

Then, what made the show so popular?

One had to praise the prophetic vision of Blazing Teens’ production company, Aofei Anime.

Aofei Anime had long determined the strategy of “anime+toy” and made “buy the toy, get anime for free” their selling point. They released the show first, then took the market and seized the profit with the peripheral products. Even in the original world where knock-offs were everywhere, Aofei Anime still earned a fortune with that strategy.

Blazing Teens gave its broadcast rights for free and the TV channels loved free stuff.

That was the result the TV channels wanted. They didn’t care if the audiences liked the show. Since it was free, they would broadcast it.

Blazing Teens was on almost 24/7 and it was like a brainwashing advertisement. One didn’t have a chance not to watch.

If they didn’t have any choices, they had to watch this one.

Once that happened, nearly all boys grew interested in yo-yos.

And with that preference in mind, when they went to the mall the next time and saw all the “Power Silver S”, “Silver Wolf”, “Sprinting Meteor”, and “Fantastic Ring”…

Who could say no to them?

What boy wouldn’t tug at his mother’s sleeve and ask softly, “Mommy, buy me a ‘Fantastic Ring’, will you?”

Those people weren’t messing around when they gave the anime for free, if one bought their toys!

Meng Lang’s plan was to copy the successful model of Aofei Anime in the previous world and use it in this one.

Aofei had made a fortune with that strategy and even in a world ridden with piracy, Meng Lang was convinced that he could get rich the same way in this world where intellectual property rights were well-protected!

Go Blazing Teens!

Go Silver Dragon from Wonderland!

…

The shooting took place in a summer camp somewhere in the city of Jiangchuan. The camp had been rented by the crew and the actors and actresses were all playing with their yo-yos.

As an experienced player of yo-yo, Meng Lang didn’t know that many moves, but he knew enough to give instruction to these actors and actresses.

As the one playing the leading role, He Yifan had to play yo-yo in a lot of the scenes, which meant he had to master the elementary and advanced moves to some extent.

The elementary moves were easy to master. One would have next to no difficulty in learning stances such as “sleeping” and “walking the dog”.

But more advanced stances would require more time to practice.

After receiving his own yo-yo, He Yifan started working on the usual stances he used in the show right away.

Right now, He Yifan had gotten used to the “Flashing Strike” and said to Meng Lang confidently. “Director, I’m ready!”

Meng Lang, who was instructing the cameraman to take a long-distance shot of the camp, heard He Yifan’s reply and immediately fetched the makeup artist to prep He Yifan. He said to the youngster, “Let’s have one take as a trial run.”

After that, Meng Lang summoned an extra who played Mike, Li Fei’s old enemy, and gave the latter his instructions. “Exaggerate your movements later. Don’t worry about overacting. Make sure you look fierce when you raise your hand…”

Once he was done and the crew was ready, the camera was moved next to the bridge.

Because there was a crane shoot to take, Meng Lang had also used a drone in a popular model.

Once everything was ready and He Yifan’s makeup was done, He Yifan, wearing his red uniform, went in front of the camera.

“Action!”

The crew started working at the command. He Yifan and the extra who played Mike walked onto the bridge and looked at each other from across the bridge, 10 meters apart.

The close-up shot was an easy one. All that had to be done was to take the expression on the two actors’ faces.

“And that’s a pass!”

Meng Lang called out, then made the crew get ready for the next scene.

The next scene could be the most problematic one. It was a scene where the two actors duelled with yo-yos.

“Action!”

He Yifan was in this role almost right away. After all, he was a professional actor. Even if he wasn’t that good an actor, he was nothing if not professional.

The scene started off with neither of them having any lines. They looked into each other’s eyes and began to play yo-yos in an embarrassing manner.

The actual yo-yos moves would depend on the post-production editing. After all, in reality, one couldn’t just pat their belt and have the yo-yo jump into their palms.

During the actual shooting, both of their yo-yos were directly placed in their hands.

With the yo-yos in their hands, the two people started off with Flashing Strikes right away.

Flashing Strike was a simple stance and was one of the elementary moves of yo-yo. To perform it, one had to keep their hand perpendicular to the ground and hold the yo-yo in their hand with the palm facing backward. They would then toss the yo-yo forward and then the yo-yo swayed back to the inside of their arm, turning the wrist to toss the yo-yo out again. Then, one would repeat the entire process.

Although it was an elementary move, Meng Lang worried that these two would fail repeatedly.

Although the imperfections could be corrected with post-production slow motion and light effects, he would like the actual shooting to be as perfect as possible.

Luckily, they didn’t disappoint Meng Lang.

The shooting of the Flashing Strike was soon finished. It was time for the two of them to toss the yo-yos high up in the air and say their silly lines.

Meng Lang didn’t change the original scripts. Although he also found the lines embarrassingly silly, kids loved it!

The adults found it embarrassing? But they weren’t the ones buying the toys, so the hell with them.

Looking through the camera, Meng Lang saw He Yifan toss the yo-yo high up in the air and raise his right hand, shouting, “Red Holy Light!”

The extra playing Mike made the same move, but his line was “Eagle Wings!”

There was silence!

Li Fei said affirmatively, “I’m going to surpass you one day!”

Mike said indifferently, “To the world, my western fast strike is the strongest!”

The others didn’t say a word.

The crew remained silent.

Li Wanbo, the cameraman, listened to this as the corner of his mouth twitched. He stole a glance at the satisfied director and heaved a sigh.

What the hell was that?

Was he serious?

Does this ignorant youth know this is the real deal, not some make-believe children’s game?