Who doesn’t love a good school romance? A Love So Beautiful and Put Your Head On My Shoulder are among the recent Chinese dramas in the genre that have grown in popularity outside China. Both are adapted from novels by author Zhao Qianqian that was published in 2015 and 2017 respectively. Her newer work The Sweet Love Story published in 2018 was also adapted into a drama entitled The Love Equations 致我们甜甜的小美满 in 2019.
Korean and Thai Remakes of Zhao Qianqian Novels
Zhao Qianqian’s works are also known as the xiao (small) series since the Chinese titles for her books all have xiao in it. Given the popularity of the drama adaptations, it’s not surprising to hear that other countries will be acquiring the rights to remake the story. In fact, it was confirmed that WEi’s Kim Yo Han and So Joo Yeon are starring in the Korean remake of A Love So Beautiful from 2017. Put Your Head On My Shoulder is also reportedly getting a Thai remake.
You would think that the author will be making bank because of this but Zhao Qianqian recently took to social media to say that she has not received any money.
I Was Young, Ignorant and Blindly Signed the Contract
She writes, “A Love So Beautiful 致我们单纯的小美好 is getting adapted into a Korean drama. Put Your Head on My Shoulder 致我们暖暖的小时光 is getting adapted into a Thai drama, but I actually didn’t receive a single cent for both (was young, ignorant and blindly signed the contract), but I still hope that everyone can give them a lot of attention so that they can get popular. Why? Because it’s an honor and also a selfless way to love my work and everything that comes with it? No, it’s because of the chance that it can drive book sales, I am a cultured person who loves money.” She also griped that she has fallen for every trick in the book that an author can fall for.
While Zhao Qianqian merely cited contract issues as the reason and did not elaborate further, some netizens assume that the contract she is referring to is with domestic platforms who are the ones with the rights to license the dramas internationally.
Source: 1
lil
damn! that is sad.
HL
Read your contract….It is not uncommon to have such clause for new authors. Often, they are excited to be approached and be paid a agreed some to sell their story for dramations. In turn, the agreement will also include the list of use for the company and often time frame too.
It may be sad. I am certain she would have gotten her own independent legal advice before signing the agreement. If she thinks it is still unfair, she can sue her previous lawyer for bad advice… All negociation is down before signing any contract. She had within her rights to negotiate before the agreement is drawn and signed.
To be honest, her situation is common and known to the industry. If she fight unjust, she can fight her case. Otherwise, she can choose never to sell her future stories to the same company.
Sunny
It’s very unfair but happens a lot. That’s why it’s so important to read your contract or get your own legal representation to go through it before signing so you at least you understand what you are signing for. I appreciate her honesty especially about hoping adaptations drive up book sales haha!
tsevca
On one hand I feel for her. Being young and making a mistake like this sucks. But this statements sounds like complaining and given to what I have seen, attempt to make fans push for new contracts in her favor.