America 1982

There are not many employees at BT TV station. Even including the cleaning workers, there are only about 40 people. This is Tommy's serious attitude in setting up a TV station. If he followed the example of the cartoon TV station with NBA stars next door, the number of employees would be about Only four to eight people are needed.

The reason why there are not many employees is mainly because the American television industry has been taught by the American film industry. In other words, the giants who control the television and film industries have all the profitable businesses in their hands.

The American television industry has a series of unique television program restriction bills. This bill was the product of the major Hollywood film companies in the 1970s who paid a lot of money to hire several major lobbying companies to publicize the entire U.S. Congress. It took several years to finally pass it.

The most bizarre item in the TV Program Restriction Act is that TV networks and TV stations are not allowed to independently produce non-news and interview programs.

In other words, in addition to broadcasting news and talk show interviews, if BT TV wants to produce any reality show or an American drama, strictly speaking, it cannot be produced in the name of BT TV.

Instead, you need to register a BT Film and Television Production Company. Even if it is a shell company, the program must be under the name of that company. Then, if BT TV wants to release this reality show, it needs to purchase it from BT Film and Television Production Company. in the name of purchasing the TV rights to the program.

Maybe it sounds like you don’t quite understand why Hollywood studios spent tens of millions of dollars and continued to lobby the U.S. Congress for several years just to help the television industry come up with such an idea that seems to be just a left-handed bill that reverses the right hand. It’s completely true. It harms others but does not benefit oneself.

But in fact, on the day this bill was introduced, American media people unanimously believed that the film industry defeated the television industry and successfully dismembered the television industry.

Because this bill means that hundreds of television stations in the United States must register hundreds of program production companies if they want to produce their own programs. First, the film industry has split the television industry into two groups. One group is called a television station or a television network. A buyer's market is called a seller's market in program production.

Secondly, not all TV stations will register their own program production companies. They prefer to purchase directly from other production companies. Hollywood film companies, when promoting the bill, have already established various TV program production departments and welcome all Domestic TV stations, TV network door-to-door cooperation.

You would think that all TV stations would be left-handed and right-handed. In fact, only the three major TV networks with strong financial strength would do this. Most other TV stations have become long-term customers of the TV program production departments of Hollywood film companies.

The reason is very simple. The programs produced by film companies are of a higher standard than those of small companies registered by TV stations themselves, and the cooperation methods are very diversified. If the TV station has a lot of money, of course it can complete the purchase at a fixed price. If funds are tight, the film company will investigate After the TV station has a prospect, you can also choose to share the subsequent advertising expenses, video tape sales, etc. In short, no matter whether the TV station as the buyer has money or not, the film company will always considerately complete the cooperation in a way suitable for the TV station.

This bill is tantamount to forcing the television industry to open its doors, allowing the film industry to rush in to grab the jobs of television industry practitioners and make money from them.

Therefore, most of the exciting reality shows and popular American dramas that audiences can see on the market today are film companies. Cross-border outsiders who should have been regarded as enemies by the same enemies in the TV industry have now become popular in the industry. Several major companies Television networks are vying to cooperate with them to develop high-quality programs and try to use their power to seize audience groups.

It's ridiculous and cruel. The moment that bill was introduced, all the TV stations and networks had already lost. Only the movie giants were counting their money and laughing out loud.

Old Money in the film industry taught New Money in the television industry an expensive lesson.

Maybe some TV stations will think that it doesn't matter, we have good enough ideas, we can form our own team, control costs, and don't rely on big companies, we can still produce programs that attract audiences.

Unfortunately, in fact, only talk shows, which can be run in small studios, have the opportunity to stand out without relying on big companies. This is why many independent television stations' signature programs are talk shows.

Because as long as your show requires a slightly larger studio, slightly more actors, or a more unique scene, or outdoor work, you will find that there is no way to avoid the blood sucking of those big companies.

To give a simple example, you want to shoot an outdoor reality show and choose a venue with great scenery. Then the program producer of your TV station goes to contact the venue and hopes to rent the venue to shoot the show. The owner of the venue will tell you You, maybe Warner Pictures, maybe Columbia Pictures, in short, a company big enough has priority to use it. If you want to rent it, you must first contact the other party to see if the other party is willing to lend it to you.

The film industry started decades earlier than the television industry. It has much more experience in how to restrict and suppress others than those in the television industry. In the end, you either want them to have the opportunity to make money from you, or you Don’t think about finding a suitable venue near your own TV station at a low cost.

BT TV station is no exception. Except for a news program, a weather program, and a black talk show, all programs are prepared to cooperate with the television program production departments of major Hollywood studios.

However, the result of the first contact was somewhat unexpected, at least beyond Rick and Tommy's expectations, because it was not that they did not choose the production company, but that the production company refused to cooperate with them.

"I met with about four TV program production companies this week and talked about our program needs, including venues, personnel, and the concepts we want to convey through the program." Rick sat opposite Tommy with a complicated expression, a little confused. He let out a depressed breath:

"Then all four companies said that they would think about it and give us an answer if they were willing to help with the production. Tommy, this was a tactful way of telling us that they were not interested in making money from us."

Tommy looked at Rick with an innocent face: "Why? Because they only make expensive money, and every penny of mine is full of blood and sweat, and they can't bear to exploit me?"

"On the contrary, first, the total production cost we gave was too low and they were not interested. Second, they didn't want to tarnish their reputation." Rick rubbed his face and looked at Tommy.

Tommy slowly widened his eyes and asked Rick: "Don't want to ruin their reputation? How will it ruin their reputation by helping BT TV host a reality show?"

"Actually, what I said was euphemistic, but the actual words the other party said were even more hurtful." Rick said softly.

Tommy said nonchalantly: "Don't worry, I can bear it, tell me what they said."

"They said they would rather help Live Color make a small movie than make our reality show that is full of malice towards black people." Rick looked at Tommy: "I hope you don't mind."

"Did you say some racist words to them? Rick? We are a black TV station. We speak for black people and work for the social equality of black people! Being born equal is a value that is deeply rooted in the bones of everyone in our TV station! What the fuck? Calling our reality show malicious to black people!" Tommy was stunned for a moment, then asked angrily.

Rick looked at Tommy with a complicated expression, and said hesitantly: ""Looking for Dad America," right? It's a long-distance location reality show that you named yourself. This kind of program with a production workload that sounds scary must be We asked a big company to help us co-operate in the production. Unfortunately, they were not interested. After analysis, their staff believed that BT TV was selling the ugly side of black people to the audience as a gimmick. They did not want to be boycotted by the black audience and cause trouble. Once they were When black people target them and accuse them of being racist, competitors in the industry will immediately add fuel to the fire and take the opportunity to attack them. They don't want to bear the possible consequences, and they don't think that the so-called humanistic care can appear when a black father reunites with his wife, son and daughter. On the other hand, you clearly just want the comic effect of tearing black people’s wounds open and making the audience laugh.”

Tommy opened his mouth first, then lowered his head and was silent for a few seconds. Finally, he couldn't hold it in anymore and raised his head to look at Rick: "Do you think that when we meet again, the strong American humanistic care will be reflected?"

"There is no need for the prefix "strong". It has nothing to do with humanistic care at all. We all know that black wives and children cannot find their husbands and fathers because he ran away and abandoned them. One party does not want to reunite at all. The appearance of the scene will only make the audience excited to see the man's crazy expression, just like those production companies who rejected us said, it is an unscrupulous comedy show that just tears the other party's wounds and makes the audience laugh." Rick said with certainty. said.

"Do you think I'm that superficial, vulgar bastard? Rick? Look directly into my eyes, hey! Look directly into my eyes! Look at me!" Tommy knocked on the table in dissatisfaction, motioning for Rick to look at him .

Rick sighed and looked up at his boss, who was absolutely malicious towards black people: "So? Boss, if you want me to see something noble, profound, holy or something like that in your eyes, I might have to ask him first God will punish you and please you again.”

"You guys are obviously superficial, and then you maliciously speculate that other people are the same as you. If your club is broken, it doesn't mean that other men in the world can't stand up. Rick, remember this sentence, Then convey this sentence to those company leaders who rejected us." Tommy's chest rose and fell several times, as if he was really irritated by Rick's words. He closed his eyes for a moment to relax, then opened his eyes again and looked at Rick seriously. said:

"I don't deny that the program I designed has a certain comedy effect. Black people like comedy and conflicts. We have to give them what they want to see. If I come up and tell them what humanistic care is, do you think they are thanking me for giving them When they are in class, they still curse at the screen and say, "What is this stupid TV station doing?" and then change the channel? So, we must first give them what they want to watch and give them a sense of expectation. What do they expect? They want to see women and children. I found my husband and wanted to see the expression on that unlucky husband’s face. Until this point, I don’t deny that the drama outweighed other factors, but I’m not finished yet.”

“But generally if a program reaches this point, it’s considered to be the end.” Rick said.

"Yes, the few words before the end are the embodiment of humanistic care. BT TV station will contact the cooperative bank to provide an interest-free loan to the husband who is willing to return to the family to support him in finding a job and raising children. To get through the initial difficult period, interest-free loans, maybe 5,000 yuan, maybe 10,000 yuan, we will even tell him directly on the show that it doesn’t matter even if he can’t pay it back, because the TV station can repay it on his behalf. Tell me, this Doesn’t this count as fucking BT TV’s humanistic care for black people! Those politicians and big shots who call for racial equality all day long, is anyone willing to spend real money to help those poor black people? No! But we will! We will help They reunited their families and gave them $10,000, tell me, is this our unscrupulous ridicule to black people?"

"You never said that the show would have bank cooperation...and be willing to provide interest-free loans."

"Because I thought that was not an issue that should be considered by the program production, and there was no need to make it clear to the production company, but now, if they feel that we are full of malice towards black people, then tell them, fuck it, BT TV station is better dressed than them The *sons of Suits understand humanistic care better than us, and no one understands humanistic care for black people better than us.”

At the end, Tommy looked at Martin, who was helping Page style his beard on the sofa in his office: "Martin, do you think it's me, a black family, who pays ten thousand dollars to care, or a politician telling them on TV that I will Helping black people fight for more power for a lifetime is called caring?”

Martin did not answer immediately, but first made sure that the old Paige next to him would not take out the electric shock baton to give him a shock, and then said to Tommy:

"If politicians don't pay me as much as you, the boss, and you don't give 10,000 yuan to black families, I will say you are right. Of course, if you give the other party 10,000 yuan, the other party will praise you with me. , we black people are so simple.”

"Did you hear that? The humanistic care in the eyes of black people is so realistic... no... it's so simple and unpretentious." After Tommy got the answer, he looked at Rick: "You may have made too many small movies. After all, you don't need to make that thing. Find a reason, but I am different, Rick, whatever I do, I will first find a great, correct reason that can give me a sense of honor, and use this great reason to motivate me to complete this no matter what. No matter how dangerous the road is, go on without hesitation."

"What you call humanistic care... is actually giving money to poor black people. In fact, this is still a kind of discrimination. Do you understand, boss? Middle-class or higher-class black people are very disgusted with this stereotyped way of helping black people. They may They won't watch your show, but they might give you trouble." Rick thought for a while and couldn't help but remind Tommy that his so-called humanistic care is still a racial stereotype in the eyes of high-level black people. discriminate.

Tommy turned to look at Martin: "Martin, did you hear what Rick said about the middle-class or rich black people? They think we shouldn't use money to help poor black people. I think I need you to scold me now. them."

Martin did not live up to Tommy's expectations. He looked at Rick angrily: "Those idiots are idiots controlled by white people! Their black skin was painted on with fucking paint! They themselves refused to help their compatriots, and they didn't Allow others to help them, why! Because if us poor dudes get rich, there's no way these guys can continue to brag about their success to us! They're the bastards who betrayed all black people! They're the white man's dogs!"

"Write this sentence down. Every time you curse in public, your salary will increase by ten dollars." Tommy nodded with satisfaction and said to Martin: "If you curse enough times, you may one day become the richest black man."