Chapter 6 : Speak Too Much, Lose Much
Chapter 6 - Speak Too Much, Lose Much
The program that needed to be redone was a news program.
The reason it had to be redone was primarily due to poor ratings.
At its root, it was because there wasn't enough differentiation from the 'Zhaonan News Simulcast' aired on Zhaonan Satellite TV; the content overlapped.
Everyone went to watch the satellite channel, so the public channel's news program seemed a bit redundant.
Before Chen Ran arrived, following discussions among the editors and directors, the program content was mostly finalized. The materials currently in Chen Ran's hands contained the introduction.
A news program needs to have differentiation from the 'Zhaonan News Simulcast'...
Chen Ran looked at the materials, thinking slightly.
After looking for a long time, he felt that the new program didn't seem to have any changes.
The focus was still on some leaders and policies, with a bit of local livelihood news mixed in between, but the length wasn't much.
Even though they tried their best to distance themselves from the 'Zhaonan News Simulcast', the format was still more or less the same.
“This...”
Chen Ran rested his chin on his hand, considering whether or not to offer some suggestions.
Personally, he felt that if they really prepared according to the program materials, the ratings wouldn't look any better when the program aired.
The overall feeling it gave him was a sense of changing for the sake of change.
But he had just arrived at the production crew, so offering suggestions was a bit inappropriate.
If he were an old hand, it would be fine, but he was just a newcomer who had only recently passed his internship. To come in and say this or that wasn't offering suggestions; it was looking for trouble.
Wait a bit first; I'll talk to Uncle Zhang when the time comes and let him say it.
Thinking of this, Chen Ran sighed. There was no way around it since his seniority was too shallow. If he could independently produce a program, his right to speak would change.
But as a newcomer who had just joined the workforce, where was the hope of making a program?
Even if he were more capable, he had to take it step by step.
At the production crew, everyone knew he was Director Zhang's nephew, so they were all very enthusiastic and didn't make things difficult for him.
Under deliberate guidance, it was easy for Chen Ran to integrate.
The preparation for the news program had a much lower work intensity than the previous program, and there was no need to work overtime until midnight.
By comparison, he had been a bit miserable for the month or so prior.
He had already been in the new production crew for two days.
During lunch, Director Zhang asked, “How do you feel in the production crew?”
Chen Ran said, “Quite good. It's more relaxed than 'Beautiful Zhaonan', and people are quite enthusiastic.”
“It's good that you can handle it.” Director Zhang asked again,
“Do you have any views regarding the program?”
Chen Ran pondered for a moment and asked back, “What views do you have, Uncle Zhang?”
“It's a news program; compared to before, there are some changes, and it's also different from the 'Zhaonan News Simulcast'. It's considered fairly conventional,” Director Zhang said.
The program had to be approved by him. In his eyes, this was just an ordinary news program.
Everyone was like this; he couldn't see anything extraordinary coming from it.
Speaking up to here, Director Zhang realized, “Do you have some kind of opinion?”
He looked a bit energized. Chen Ran had many novel ideas and had his own set of views on programs and matters. Many times, hearing them felt greatly beneficial.
News program formats were just like this; he also wanted to see what kind of things Chen Ran could say.
Chen Ran weighed his wording before speaking.
“I feel this program is just as you said, Uncle Zhang—too conventional. Compared to before, there are only some differences in content; it doesn't even count as a revamp, let alone grandly announcing a ‘redo.’ It feels a bit like ‘great thunder but little rain.’”
Director Zhang nodded slightly. Thinking carefully, although what Chen Ran said wasn't entirely the case, it wasn't far off. But news programs were generally like this; even if you changed it, you couldn't make something extraordinary out of it, right?
“How do you think it should be changed?” Director Zhang asked.
Chen Ran said slowly, “Our program needs to pull away from the 'Zhaonan News Simulcast' in terms of differentiation. I think the change should come from the format...”
“For example, regarding provincial policy changes and leadership movements, these parts of the content overlap with the 'Zhaonan News Simulcast'. I think they can be simplified somewhat.”
“Secondly is the livelihood content. This part can have its length appropriately increased. We are a public channel. The difference between us and the satellite channel is that our channel's audience consists only of viewers within the province. Everyone is more willing to care about things happening around them…”
“Aside from this, there are hot-topic news. Doing news should keep pace with the development of the times, interpreting some hot-topic news and anecdotes, or putting forward hot-button issues to interact and discuss with the audience...”
“......”
Chen Ran spoke seven or eight points in one breath without even a pause.
Director Zhang initially thought Chen Ran just had a single idea, but hearing Chen Ran get halfway through, he was slightly astonished; this kid had come prepared.
His logic was clear, he was even able to cite some data to flesh out his viewpoints, and he proposed seven or eight points in one breath without any repetition. In these two days, Chen Ran had probably spent all his time pondering this program, hadn't he?
Chen Ran saying this whole string of things was definitely not just a load of nonsense.
Director Zhang had also made programs in the past, and from the moment Chen Ran started speaking, he had been thinking constantly.
He discovered with amazement that if they followed Chen Ran's line of thought, the program would be completely transformed.
The content would undoubtedly be much richer, and it would be even more different from the 'Zhaonan News Simulcast', completely breaking away from the dull impression of news programs.
Director Zhang glanced at Chen Ran. Previously, he felt he thought highly of this kid; now it seemed he had been underestimating him all along.
“Uncle Zhang, this is just my personal opinion, and the suggestions I've put forward are just some things I pondered myself. Whether they can be done or if they're allowed, I don't know any of that, so please don't laugh at me.”
Chen Ran spoke a long time later; once Director Zhang had processed it all, he finally said this with a smile.
Director Zhang looked at Chen Ran and said crossly,
“It's just us uncle and nephew, no outsiders here, so why are you acting so modest? Come, come, come, talk to me some more. How should this livelihood content be done to be popular, and what was the consideration behind the idea for hot topics and audience interaction...”
Chen Ran wasn't polite either and began discussing with Director Zhang.
The lunch break ended, and the two of them still hadn't stopped.
When they came to their senses, they discovered with astonishment that they had been too focused; they hadn't eaten much of the food, and now it was all cold.
At this moment, Chen Ran understood why there was the old saying "Do not speak while eating." "Speaking too much leads to loss"—is that what's happening right now?
Director Zhang smacked his lips, still relishing the discussion with Chen Ran.
“The program is still only in the early stages of preparation, so there's still time for everything. The content we just discussed—make it into a proposal and hand it to me. It's best to have it organized within two days.”
Chen Ran said, “Uncle Zhang, I've said everything that needs to be said. My seniority is too shallow, and I don't know how programs should be made. Why don't you think about it yourself, and just add in what can be done.”
Director Zhang shot him a look and said, “Don't try to play dumb with your uncle. If I tell you to do it, just do it.”
Chen Ran could only nod. In his heart, he thought that he had just been thinking he wouldn't have to work too late and it would be much easier than 'Beautiful Zhaonan'; now it seemed he'd likely be staying up late these next two days.
Director Zhang was about to leave when he suddenly said another thing:
“Right, Zhizhi's blind date last time failed; she didn't take a liking to the person. Today your Auntie Yun and I have invited another one to the house. Do you want to come over and take a look?”
“Ah?” Hearing this, Chen Ran felt it was bizarre. What would I go over to see?
Watch Zhang Fanzhi's blind date?
As if I have nothing better to do!