Chapter 158: MV Shooting Planning (Part 3) (Monthly Votes Wanted)
Due to an earlier, less-than-pleasant experience, Lin Tian now knew that if something wasn’t his area of expertise, it was best not to force it. On a typical day, he just handled the lighting, fixed the camera in place, and started recording. But actually shooting an MV involved a ton of knowledge—lighting, set design, camera movement—all needed consideration. It wasn’t as simple as having an idea bounce around in his head and then just going for it.
So, it was high time to consult a professional.
Lin Tian quickly arranged a meeting with He Zhi Chen via WeChat, agreeing to meet the next day at noon at a bubble tea shop in the city. Being a professional music agent with his company “Le Yun” that also distributed records, He Zhi Chen was no stranger to this stuff.
However, since He Zhi Chen had a day job, Lin Tian could only meet him during lunch or in the evening. Fortunately, Lin Tian didn’t have to worry about burdening He Zhi Chen during his break; after all, he coughed up a “consultation fee,” around four thousand bucks a month. For a gig where they hardly met and most questions were sorted out via WeChat, that price was a steal. Plus, it was a friendship discount, thanks to Gao Zhen Yang.
According to Gao Zhen Yang’s off-the-record gossip, this seasoned music agent’s annual salary was no less than 400k. With that cash in hand, Lin Tian felt a tad more empowered and decided to propose the meeting location himself. Unlike Gao Zhen Yang, who went out of his way to set up Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu’s lovey-dovey shenanigans, Lin Tian usually had to chase Gao Zhen Yang down at university.
After settling on time and place, Lin Tian waved goodbye to Gan Yan Yu and opened his phone to check if Zhang Dong had responded to the post he made earlier. To his surprise, he didn’t see Zhang Dong’s comment but stumbled upon a new video titled:
“My Confession”
The catchy and explosive title had Lin Tian clicking it instantly.
“Hello everyone, I’m Uncle Dong, originally named Zhang Dong. If you’re watching this video and wondering what I’m talking about from the title, in short, it’s a summary of my recent phase—a reflection and confession.”
Zhang Dong sat in front of the camera looking unnaturally serious, speaking each word with care:
“The recent flow has led me to reflect on my live streams and video format. It seems I’ve been too obsessed with traffic and show effects, losing my footing as a performer and becoming too restless. In short, I sincerely apologize to Moonlight Brother and Cat! I’m so sorry; it was Moonlight Brother who helped me realize myself again! Regarding Moonlight Brother’s invitation, I’m truly flattered. If it’s not too much trouble, I promise to practice diligently on my violin and not let Moonlight Brother’s trust down. In conclusion, once again, I apologize to Moonlight Brother and Cat!”
Next, Zhang Dong stood up from his chair, took two steps back ensuring his entire body was in frame, and bowed deeply.
Bow after bow.
Is he being too serious?!
Lin Tian felt a cold chill in his legs.
What’s with the scary vibe?!
He didn’t even feel mad; he was more in a spectator’s mood. If the guy apologized in the comments, Lin Tian would give him a break. That was it! But filming a video and bowing in real life was rather exaggerated.
Soon, the news of a top-tier content creator dropping a confession video sent Bilibili into an uproar.
Though Zhang Dong was dead serious, netizens’ comments were wildly divided.
Some jesters were having a ball:
“Should add this to the classics.”
“What a quick change of heart; looks like someone got chewed out tonight.”
“Hahaha, saw Moonlight Brother’s invitation and bowed quickly to pledge loyalty!”
There were also some sympathetic folks commenting:
“Moonlight Brother is really your savior. Without him forgiving you, you’d seriously be half-baked by now!”
“Alright, if you do end up with Moonlight Brother, be sure to help him out and strive to sh**t the coolest MV! That’s the only way to win everyone back!”
“.”
While it did feel a bit cruel to think that way, Lin Tian couldn’t help but feel thrilled at the soaring traffic. With that apology video out, who knew how much buzz it would generate for the upcoming MV?
Since Zhang Dong was so sincere, Lin Tian decided to drop the act. He immediately followed him back on Bilibili and sent him a WeChat message with a simple phrase:
“Wait for my message.”
First things first though; Lin Tian had to get all the parts figured out.
The next day, Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu headed out together.
At the bubble tea shop, they met He Zhi Chen, who had come over during his lunch break, looking sharp in a suit with his hair slicked back—a true business elite.
He, too, clutched a tablet like a lifeline. After listening to Lin Tian’s needs, He Zhi Chen fell into deep contemplation.
Then he asked, “So, Lin Tian, what kind of scale are you thinking for the sh**t?”
“Scale?”
“Let’s be straightforward—are you aiming for the quality of short videos that cater to Douyin users, or do you want to aim for commercial MV quality?”
An MV, in simple terms, was just “music video,” “music film,” “music footage,” “music recording.” Any of these forms could be labeled as an “MV.” However, from a commercial standpoint, an MV couldn’t just be a simple form.
“The essence of an MV is ultimately to promote music records. If it’s merely for users on Douyin or Bilibili to watch, then there’s really no need to spend excessively.”
To elaborate further, He Zhi Chen went on to break it down for Lin Tian.
“If you want to produce a commercial MV quality, even without releasing a record, we’ll need to divide it into four aspects: pre-production, music recording, production and mixing, and video shooting. Honestly, I believe money shouldn’t be an issue for you. With the current commercial value of Moonlight and Cat, finding sponsors for a new work shouldn’t be too challenging.”
“The key is whether you want to invest such high energy—just to cater to short video audiences.”
“.”
After hearing He Zhi Chen lay it all out, Lin Tian really felt he made a good point.
Actually, following Lin Tian’s principle of “either do it or do it right,” if he was going to sh**t, it had to be the best production.
But if it was just for Douyin, it honestly felt like “using a cannon to sh**t a mosquito.”
Then, He Zhi Chen said, “How about considering this opportunity to release your first music album with Gan Yan Yu?”
(End of Chapter)
