Chinese entertainment: What's wrong with actresses wanting to improve?

Chapter 603 Guest Selection

"Brother Chao has been the captain of Running Man for so many years, so his experience in leading a team is not a problem."

He has an outgoing and cheerful personality, can quickly get along with any type of guest, and knows how to mediate when disagreements arise.

In terms of ability, he is the most suitable candidate.

Fu Yibai circled the question mark.

"But there's one problem: Brother Chao is too timid."

Zhou Ming couldn't help but chuckle.

"Don't laugh, this is a real problem."

If you put Deng Chao in the secret room, he'd probably cower behind his teammates the whole time, too scared to move. Forget leading the team, it would be a miracle if he didn't break down.

Fu Yibai drew a branch line next to Deng Chao's name.

"So we need to prepare a backup option—He Jiong."

"He Jiong?"

Wang Peng raised an eyebrow slightly.

"He's a pillar of Hunan TV, and regarding his schedule..."

"I know it's difficult to coordinate."

Fu Yibai nodded.

"But if Brother Chao really doesn't want to take the job, He Jiong is the most suitable replacement on the market right now."

Having worked on "Happy Camp" for so many years, his ability to control the flow of the show and his affability are top-notch. In a scenario like an escape room where it's necessary to soothe the emotions of teammates, his advantage is actually greater than Deng Chao's.

"Don't rush to set the dates; let's talk to Brother Chao first."

Fu Yibai moved the pen to the second square.

"Two people will be assigned to be the comedic relief: Da Zhangwei and Xue Zhiqian."

These two guys can have a lot to talk about when they're together, so their reactions when they encounter an unexpected situation in a locked room must be even more interesting.

Da Zhangwei is quick-witted and dares to say anything. The rambling and sarcastic remarks that come out after he gets scared are just for the sake of the show.

Xue Zhiqian excels at improvisation and can relieve pressure on his teammates in tense situations.

Wang Peng nodded: "They haven't been too busy lately, so we can give them some extra work."

"The third position is for achieving results."

Fu Yibai wrote Zhang Ruoyun's name in the third square.

"Ruoyun is even more timid than Deng Chao, so her reactions when she is frightened will be very realistic, and the audience will be able to empathize with her."

"Ruoyun is indeed suitable."

Zhou Ming looked up, a smile still lingering on his lips.

"I have a very deep impression of his performance in that horror special episode of Running Man last time."

Fu Yibai wrote Jing Tian's name in the fourth square.

"As for the female guests, Jing Tian has already signed up with me."

The inspiration for this variety show came from her.

She's quite brave for a girl, but not as reckless as boys. She gets scared when she encounters something truly frightening, and this contrast is quite endearing.

Moreover, she herself is an escape room enthusiast, and her passion for this type of game is genuine, which the audience can feel.

The two didn't ask any further questions, and nodded to indicate that they understood.

"We need to add one or two more female guests."

Fu Yibai tapped the fifth square.

"If Jing Tian is the only female guest, she won't have any same-sex partners to talk to in the escape room, which will diminish the show's appeal."

In addition, this is also a good opportunity to mentor newcomers.

Compile the information of several new actresses in the company, pick two or three with potential for variety shows, and have Tian Tian take them on a show together.

Don't put too much pressure on them with the camera; just be themselves. The main purpose of the show is to increase their exposure.

Zhou Ming put down his pen.

"This is a good idea."

In an escape room setting, the interaction between newcomers and veterans feels natural, unlike studio-based variety shows where it can easily feel contrived.

The newcomer's screams of fright, hiding behind the senior student, and occasional flashes of inspiration while solving a puzzle—these genuine moments are far more captivating than deliberately designed scenarios.

"That's basically the structure of the guests."

Fu Yibai pushed the paper with five squares drawn on it to the middle of the table.

"You can offer better suggestions regarding specific candidates, but the core framework should remain as described."

Wang Peng asked, "What about the theme for the escape room? How many sessions do we initially plan to have?"

"The first season will consist of twelve episodes, with six themed escape rooms, each of which will be broadcast in two parts."

The themes should be diverse, including old houses, hospitals, prisons, and sci-fi labs. Different types of scenes offer different levels of horror and puzzle-solving logic, ensuring a fresh experience each episode.

Fu Yibai put the pen back in the pen holder.

"Once your market research report is ready, we'll talk to a few leading escape room design teams about collaborations."

Tell them this is the first escape room variety show in China, and whoever collaborates with us will see their brand influence jump to a new level thanks to the show's popularity.

"clear."

Zhou Ming stood up and stuffed the notebook into his briefcase.

"I will immediately arrange for people to start market research when I get back, and strive to have a preliminary research report on your desk within a week."

"Wang Peng, stay behind."

Fu Yibai nodded to Zhou Ming, who then pushed open the door and left.

Fu Yibai picked up his teacup, took a sip, and looked at Wang Peng.

"This project will be broadcast directly on Xingyun Video, a pure online variety show format."

The target audience for escape rooms is predominantly young, which highly overlaps with the user demographics of Nebula Video. airing such content on traditional television would actually alienate core viewers.

"clear.

I will immediately contact Nebula Video after the meeting to confirm the broadcast schedule and promotional resources.

Wang Peng stood up and paused at the door.

"Mr. Fu, regarding Deng Chao, should you speak with him personally, or should I handle the communication?"

"I'll do it. He's timid, so I'll talk to him. He won't be able to refuse."

Wang Peng smiled, shook his head, and went out.