Short Is the Original Sin
Friends Bar.
Adam's words made Joey want to back out again.
The risks involved have always been Joey's biggest concern.
He has not forgotten the painful experience of playing a handsome doctor who was suddenly killed, then being unable to find work for a long time, and finally having to give up his 'star status' and start over from an unknown supporting role.
Back then.
Because his acting career was interrupted.
He even lost his medical insurance.
As a result, he developed a hernia and was in unbearable pain. However, because the out-of-pocket surgery was too expensive, he dared not go to the hospital for treatment. He waited until he found a job again and renewed his medical insurance before finally having the surgery.
That tangy, unforgettable experience.
"Joey, do you dream of becoming Al Pacino, is it for fame or for fortune?"
Adam became slightly concerned about the last single person in his circle of friends.
Emmm.
Although he was recognized by Chandler and his friends as part of their old circle of friends, and was currently single, Adam was never mentioned when Joey and his friends talked about single people.
"I don't know either."
Joey said blankly, "I think so."
"Um."
Adam nodded and said, "That's very honest. Since you 'Chasing Dreams in the Entertainment Industry for fame and fortune, I don't think you should follow Al Pacino's path."
"Why?"
Joey exclaimed in surprise, "You may not know this, Al Pacino is a senior idol in our entertainment industry. Many people dream of becoming the next Al Pacino."
"That's because your thinking has become rigid."
Adam reminded him, "You're Joey, not Al Pacino, are you? Besides, everyone else wants to do it, so why do you have to be the same as everyone else? You are Joey Tribiani, and you should find the path that suits you best."
"The best path for me?"
Joey asked, bewildered, "What road?"
"Of course, it's the American TV series route."
Adam laughed and said, "I know that in your industry, movie actors look down on TV actors, while TV actors envy movie actors and always feel inferior."
But is that really the case?
In terms of investment and production, movies certainly far surpass television dramas, and in a short period of time, they bring film actors far more fame and fortune than television dramas.
But you didn't notice.
A hit American TV series can go on and on, telling the stories of the main characters' personalities and growth from various angles; it's practically a vivid and legendary biography.
Can a movie achieve that in such a short time?
Ten or twenty years from now, when the new generation of viewers watches the exquisitely made movies of that time, they will only think that the picture quality is too poor and wonder who the main actors are.
I looked him up and found out he was incredibly popular back then. Then I just said "oh" and let it go.
Most people are too lazy to even bother to check.
No matter how superb the acting skills of film actors are, the aspects and dimensions they can show are severely limited by the plot and the length of the runtime.
Sometimes, brevity is the original sin.
And what about those super-long, blockbuster classic American TV series?
An inch longer, an inch stronger!
With ample runtime and a rich, realistic storyline (drawing inspiration from many of the hot topics of the time), it will remain captivating even ten or twenty years later, or generation after generation.
Even as a history textbook, showcasing the characteristics of that era, it is also a good source of visual material.
When the next generation sees this, they will be able to visualize vivid characters in their minds, and may even feel that these are real people who have lived their lives.
Many people would be interested in following these people's stories.
This kind of name completely blows away movie stars, doesn't it?
"Oh, it seems so."
Phoebe exclaimed, "So this is one of the benefits of making TV dramas!"
"That would have to be a classic American TV series."
Joey shook his head.
"No."
Adam laughed and said, "Classic American TV series won't do. Classic sitcoms are the best. Humor and comedy take much longer to fade into obscurity."
Moreover, classic sitcoms, which are about the Everyday Adventures in a TV Series of the main characters, are particularly good at enriching the three-dimensional image of the characters from various angles.
This is a typical example of a character-driven plot.
This is something that other classic American TV series with plot-driven characters do not possess.
Previously, I only mentioned that classic American TV series can bring you far more fame than movies from a broader perspective.
So what about the profits?
"Profit?"
Joey was taken aback. "You're not saying that acting in a classic American TV series can bring me far more money than movies, are you? That's impossible!"
Why is it impossible?
Adam countered, "In the entertainment industry, fame and fortune are intertwined. Fame brings fortune. Acting in a classic American TV series brings you greater fame over a longer period of time. Why can't that bring you greater fortune?"
"But..."
Joey still felt something was off; it really defied his traditional way of thinking.
How many sources make up your income?
Adam asked.
"Film fees, advertising, and commercial performances—these are the three main things."
"Joey said."
"No, you forgot about movie merchandise."
Adam cautioned, "All the fame and fortune we're talking about right now revolves around a classic American TV series, and that's what's most important."
Film salaries, advertising, and commercial performances are all temporary; only revenue sharing from film and television merchandise closely tied to classic American TV series can provide you with a continuous and substantial income.
"The surrounding area? Don't be ridiculous, that's impossible."
Joey laughed, "This is the most coveted piece of meat for film companies, how could they possibly share it with actors?"
Why not?
Adam laughed too, "Imagine a classic sitcom starts airing, and all the viewers fall in love with the main actors. After a few seasons, changing one actor could cause protests and a sharp drop in ratings. Changing two actors would make it much harder to keep the show going. But what if the main actors team up and force the production company to negotiate revenue sharing for merchandise?"
"Hiss!"
Joey gasped. "In that case, it'll either fall apart or the film company will have to give in, and it'll most likely be the latter, because nobody will turn down their profits. If all the main actors quit, the show will be canceled, and all the subsequent merchandise will be just empty talk."
"But the prerequisite is that the main actors can work together."
Chandler shook his head and said, "In this situation, film companies usually fall apart. Once you persuade one person, the rest will definitely disintegrate. Human nature is selfish, so it's very difficult!"
"This requires someone to be quick-witted."
Adam laughed and said, "Joey can explain the ins and outs to everyone, and even take a pay cut to unite everyone. Believe me, a temporary pay cut and long-term annual revenue sharing are not worth mentioning at all."
The revenue generated from peripheral operations of a classic sitcom each year is beyond your imagination.
Joey, you dreamed of becoming Al Pacino, probably because you heard that he earned tens of millions for just one movie, right?
However, if you follow this method and tie yourself to a classic sitcom, even if you don't work anymore, the revenue share from merchandise each year will completely surpass what those movie moguls you admire earn after a year of hard work.
And they still get exposed every year while lying down.
Those are the real winners in life!
"Impossible, right?"
Everyone looked over, dumbfounded.
"Trust me, you won't be wrong."
Adam smiled.
In the future, twenty years from now, can you imagine that each of the six members of Friends will still receive $20 million a year in revenue sharing from merchandise?
Back then.
How can Al Pacino be compared to Joey?
Who envies whom?
P. S.: Still only 1 chapter, 2 chapters tonight, please forgive me!