Zhao Yun had two reasons for this visit: first, out of curiosity, and second, to seek funding for his new documentary, which he planned to focus on education.
"Teacher Zhou, I want to track the transition from junior high to senior high in Shanghai, covering the academic pressure on junior high students and their分流 (tracking) situation. If possible, I'd also like to follow them through senior high and even the college entrance exam," Zhao Yun said, laying out his ideas as he sat there.
"That's a great topic. The only issue is whether you can coordinate with the schools and the students," Zhou You replied. Filming this type of documentary often involves the toughest negotiations with schools and official bodies, as they see no benefit and prefer to avoid trouble—most won't allow it.
"Don't worry about that. I've already made preliminary arrangements. After all, I'm still affiliated with the TV station," Zhao Yun said with a smile. This was one advantage of working within the system—it lent some credibility.
Zhao Yun then outlined his plans. The biggest drawback was that this was purely a personal project; the TV station wasn't investing, so all expenses would come out of his own pocket. The equipment wasn't expensive—he already had it—but he might need to hire a few people for post-production work. The main cost was time, as he'd need to follow the subjects for at least a year, using his spare time. The biggest concern was that the finished product might have no distribution channel.
"Right now, I don't have a fixed theme. I'm not sure what will emerge during filming—it could be positive energy or just common realities. If the TV station won't take it, I'll have to release it online," Zhao Yun admitted, voicing his biggest worry.
Zhou You understood this well. It was the documentary's fatal flaw: no way to sustain a cycle of reinvestment. Many social and cultural topics couldn't be filmed because they'd either be too politically sensitive to air or too niche to attract viewers, resulting in failure.
"No problem. If I'm investing, I'm prepared for that. But my money doesn't grow on trees, so we'll need a proper agreement to prevent anyone from exploiting the documentary angle to scam me," Zhou You said honestly.
"Exactly. The documentary industry is already tough, and a few bad apples can ruin the whole market. Then no one can work," Zhao Yun agreed.
They chatted and ate, with Wang Fangfang occasionally playing hostess, refilling their drinks.
"What's your estimated total budget?" Zhou You asked.
"Not sure yet. Roughly 200,000 to 300,000 yuan, including post-production and distribution. The filming costs should be manageable," Zhao Yun replied.
"So, how big is your funding gap?" Zhou You cut to the chase.
Zhao Yun laughed. "It could be huge, or it could be small. It depends on your investment, Teacher Zhou. This might be a money-loser, so we'll see who loses more."
Zhou You laughed too. It was rare to meet someone so honest. Most people would spin a grand tale to get the money first, without a care for the consequences. Meeting a documentary filmmaker with genuine passion was a rarity.
"Alright, I'll start with 150,000 yuan. We'll see how it goes from there. I'll set up an investment company, and we'll sign an agreement," Zhou You said sincerely, knowing the money was likely a loss.
Zhao Yun was stunned. He hadn't expected Zhou You to actually invest. At most, he'd hoped for a few thousand yuan for expenses, given they'd just met.
"Alright, Teacher Zhou, you're a man of passion," Zhao Yun said.
Sensing the mood was right, Zhou You asked, "Do you know anyone at CCTV's documentary department? Could you introduce me? I'd like to see if I can get involved."
Zhao Yun paused and advised cautiously, "I can make the introduction—we talk often. But their projects are big. The funding gap is at least one to two million yuan, since it's not personal."
He held back, implying that losing 150,000 yuan was different from losing a million or two. Even with money to spare, it wasn't worth wasting.
Zhou You smiled, thinking, *If this were my first time, I'd hesitate. But I know this documentary will be a hit. I don't know how much CCTV will make, but they won't lose money.*
"Thanks for the heads-up. I'm just testing the waters. I might not invest—it depends on their project. Besides, there aren't many good documentaries in China right now. If I can help, why not? Who knows, it might become a hit," Zhou You said.
Zhao Yun was amazed. He hadn't expected such a pleasant surprise from a casual outing. Was this guy naive and rich, or genuinely passionate? He couldn't figure it out, but it was good news for him. Connecting Zhou You with CCTV would be a huge win for them, given the documentary industry's funding drought.
"Alright, no problem. I'll reach out when I get back. I can't guarantee anything, but with your sincerity, Teacher Zhou, I think we can at least arrange a meeting. Even if this doesn't work out, there's always future collaboration," Zhao Yun said, careful not to make promises since it involved an institution, not an individual.
Zhou You wasn't bothered. Forcing a deal wasn't the way. There were plenty of good documentaries ahead, but this one offered the best value. Whether it worked out was up to fate.
After the meal, Zhao Yun left, planning to contact Zhou You once his preparations were ready for the funds to be transferred.
Zhou You then rushed to set up his investment company, Xincheng Investment Culture Co., Ltd., with the motto "May Your Wishes Come True."
This broadened his vision. He could invest in blockbuster movies or TV shows, then use the returns to fund more documentaries, creating a virtuous cycle. He could also initiate projects aligned with his interests, like tracking various industries in China.
Take a simple fruit shop, for example. From site selection and setup to sourcing, from distributors to producers, he could trace the entire supply chain. Or vegetables—everyone knows they're cheap at the farm but expensive in stores. He wanted to follow the chain to see where the costs piled up and why.
In short, he had many ideas and curiosities about this world, one step at a time.