Huayu: Starting from the top talent show

Chapter 566 A Tribute to the Executive Vice President?
The news topics related to Billboard's year-end chart dominance and LV's global advertising campaign continue to generate buzz on the global internet.

The videos on Douyin (TikTok) were flooded with related content.

Alovers around the world were in a frenzy. Not only did many fans share their stories of following Shen Juan, but many industry peers, especially minor stars and idols from the three East Asian countries, also started revisiting Shen Juan's past musical works, ostensibly to revisit the path that Emperor Juan had taken.

The Asia-Pacific region is a decadent territory.

They don't even need to do any deliberate marketing or hype anymore.

This group of people will naturally treat him like a father.

Billboard's official website directly titled it "Alex Shen: I am Pop," indicating that Shen defined the 2020 pop era.

Rolling Stone points out that while Michael Jackson conquered the world with his tours in the last century, Shen Juan today is using a cross-platform, cross-domain content matrix (music + film + advertising + social media) to achieve more efficient and comprehensive global penetration. They also quoted his previous AMA acceptance speech, suggesting that he is standing on the shoulders of giants and looking up at the future.

The Los Angeles Times focused more on the business logic, stating that LVMH's choice of Shen Juan was a double bet on the rejuvenation and globalization of luxury brands. They said that the exposure brought by Shen Juan's fans far exceeded that of traditional Hollywood stars, and believed that the domineering declaration in the advertisement, "My radiance will not fade," accurately hit the aesthetic demand of global audiences for an idol with a stable core and strong spirit, making it a textbook example of a mutually beneficial business cooperation.

The Guardian commented that since Michael Jackson, no artist has been able to simultaneously achieve the triple peak of "chart dominance, fashion discourse power, and global empathy." Shen Juan's coronation is not a claim, but a fact. At the same time, it also over-interpreted the monologue "Monarchy is a thing of the past" in a way that neither LV nor Shen Juan had considered when designing the copy, believing that it to some extent dismantled the traditional authoritative narrative of stars being high above others and constructed a new idol paradigm for equal dialogue with Generation Z.

In addition, a large number of mainstream media outlets and authoritative websites from various countries have reported on this event.

Undoubtedly, with the joint efforts of Starlink, Universal, and relevant national departments, Shen Juan's fame and influence have once again broken through boundaries, successfully expanding from a vertical focus on music and fashion to a broader public eye covering diverse groups, achieving a leap from quantitative to qualitative change.

This not only made more and more people who had not previously paid attention to the music scene or entertainment industry aware of his achievements, but also allowed his personal star power and cultural influence to take root in a broader social context, making the name "Alex Shen Juan" gradually transform from a "popular music superstar" into a "cultural symbol known to all."

Why is Jackie Chan so awesome in the country?
The main reason is that everyone knows him.

Everyone acknowledges his achievements and influence.

Even if all the movies he's made over the years flop, it won't affect his past accolades or his current status.

So why is he so awesome abroad?

The main reason is that, to some extent, he changed the industry ecosystem and filming model of Hollywood action films.

He propelled the development and progress of the entire industry.

Shen Juan is currently doing just that.

I was woken up by my alarm clock the next morning.

After making an appointment with the still sleepy Miao Zong to meet again when they returned to the capital, Shen Juan began his work for the day.

Today is the day for filming the music video for "DAISIES".

Given that the main content of the MV is the daily life of a young couple, there will definitely be plenty of scenes of the two of them being affectionate at home.

Therefore, the first filming location was chosen to be an apartment that the crew had decorated very warmly, serving as the love nest for the male and female leads.

And what about the filming crew this time?
They're all our own people.

From the director and screenwriter to the cinematographer and lighting technician, the entire team is Starlink's preparation for future self-produced film and television projects.

Whether it's "Grandma's Grandson," whose script has been polished and is currently undergoing pre-production and casting, or "The Obsession Remover," which is currently only in the planning stage and whose own participation is still uncertain, or "Reboot Life," a modified version with two female leads specially tailored for Sister Tian Xiaoye.
This series of film and television projects that can be exported overseas embodies Starlink's ambitions in the field of content creation.

Therefore, making it ourselves is undoubtedly the optimal solution.

It can only be said that Starlink may be small, but it has lofty ambitions, and every step it takes is accumulating strength to grow into an industry giant.

Admittedly, it's easy to just invest and ride the wave of trends.

Anyone with connections and the qualifications to participate can do so.

However, if you want to take the initiative in the entire entertainment industry chain, no longer rely on external teams, and avoid being held back by competitors in the production process in the future, and make the revenue environment more stable, then building and training your own professional team in advance is a crucial step that must be taken.

Only by mastering independent manufacturing capabilities can we have more confidence in our future development plans and avoid being controlled by others.

On the way to the filming location.

Yangyang Jin and Shen Juan discussed matters related to the music video.

"I have to attend the Beijing premiere of 'The Hurt Locker 2' on the evening of the 17th, and the Tencent Video All Star Awards will be held in Shenzhen on the 20th, so we set the specific filming time for the 18th and 19th. So, have you decided to give Li Yitong the female lead role in the music video for the song 'Kill Bill'?"

"Otherwise what? I've already spoken to her about it."

This is another lead single from AS4.

"But I remember in the original movie, the female lead was supposed to take revenge on the male lead, right? Why was it changed like this?"

"That's right, but don't you think gender swapping is interesting? The movie plot is that the female lead kills the male lead, but the MV is the opposite. After the male lead is dumped by the female lead, he takes revenge and kills her. Then the other settings are paid homage to the original movie. The female lead is the daughter of a gang leader, and the male lead is a retired assassin."

After saying that, Shen Juan added, "Of course, if we want to avoid controversy about attacking women or domestic violence, we can set the MV world view as a matriarchal world. At that time, it might even cause the women's community to over-interpret it and think that I am subtly expressing my views and supporting them in this way."

Yangyang Jin pursed her lips. Although she vaguely felt something was strange, she didn't say much. After all, that's how creation is. The thought processes of genius creators are sometimes indeed different from ordinary people. Only in this way can they create imaginative and excellent works. So she continued to calm down and talk about the work arrangements for the next step.

“Xu Yuezhen contacted me yesterday.”

Why did she contact you? Does she have another script?

"They want to use your influence to compete for the Olympics."

"Award nomination? Best Foreign Language Film or Best Picture?"

"Of course it's Best Foreign Language Film, unless you think 'Better Days' can be compared to 'Parasite,' which swept the Oscars this year."

Parasite won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars this year, which can be said to have made history for Asian films. It was not only unparalleled at the time, but also helped director Bong Joon-ho successfully break into Hollywood and find Robert Pattinson to make No. 17.

But to be honest
Given that some white people believe that modern civilization was built by them and subconsciously separate yellow people from modern developed society, if a film is made depicting the prosperity of modern society from a Chinese perspective, it will not only fail to resonate with them, but may also make them feel uncomfortable or even reject it.

On the contrary, stories that focus on the suffering of the underprivileged and show the struggles and hardships of ordinary people in East Asian society are more likely to cater to their stereotypical imagination of East Asian society. It is as if only such narratives can fit into their reasonable framework of cognition and are more likely to gain the recognition and favor of the award ceremony organizing committee.

(This is not intended to be a critique of veteran filmmakers.)
Don't say anything else.

If Shen Juan, with his current star power and influence, were to make a film on this subject, reflecting the suffering of East Asian society...

As long as the quality isn't too bad, it's definitely a good chance of winning an award.

Lao Mei really wanted Shen Juan to do this!
But this is no different from selling out one's country for personal gain.

Shen Juan is certainly not a rare occurrence.

I don't work for the country, nor do I want to be an American.

"But I don't know anyone in Hollywood."

"You have so many friends in the US, and some of them must have connections."

"We'll see. I think a nomination is enough; there's no need to win, because it doesn't really benefit me much."

Although he does have a way.

For example, Guasi's father is the director of Star Wars, so perhaps you can get in touch with those deep-rooted connections in the award-winning world through him.

But if too many people are involved, it will be a losing proposition, and the Hong Kong capital represented by Xu Yuezhen is clearly not worth it for him to do this.

"Then there's Hennessy. We're going to Paris in late January next year, and they want to shoot a global ad for you called 'The Decision.' Basically, they want you to announce on social media that there will be something important to announce at a certain time, and then push the ad across the entire internet on time."

Upon hearing this, Shen Juan instantly lost his composure.

Isn't this just a tribute to the secondary goat?

But they used the possibility of announcing their retirement and going on tour as a gimmick. What am I supposed to use? Pretend to be releasing AS4?
What if fans are eagerly anticipating the release of AS4, only to find out it's just an advertisement for Hennessy to sell their wine?
What would they think?
Will they feel disappointed or even angry?
Is the war game over?

Shen Juan didn't even dare to think about how his rivals would use this to attack him and stir up trouble if he really did it.

Therefore, it was immediately rejected.

"I don't think so."

"why?"

Don't you think it's weird and embarrassing?

"Well, yes, it does feel a bit like they're playing with the fans."

"Yes, so I definitely won't do that kind of thing."

"Then should we cancel it and replace it with a proper advertisement?"

"sorry to bother you."

After discussing work, Shen Juan took out his phone and looked at the map, discovering that he was less than a five-minute drive from his workplace.

So I bypassed the Great Firewall and opened Instagram.

Yesterday, in collaboration with Starlink's South Korean branch, he used his Instagram account, which boasts over 100 million followers, to retweet the debut teaser for the five members of NewJeans, stating that this is Starlink's first self-developed idol girl group and hoping for everyone's support. This quickly garnered attention from fans and netizens worldwide. [Introduction: NewJeans]
Company affiliated with: Starlink Korea (owner: Shen Juan)
They are scheduled to officially debut on January 10, 2021.

① Chanelle, born in 03, is of mixed American and Korean descent (with stunning mixed-race beauty, and reportedly a former soccer player).
② Sullyoon (薛伦娥/雪允), born in 04, is the second oldest in the group. She is from South Korea and looks somewhat like the daughter of Sana and Tzuyu.
③ Minji (Kim Min-ji), born in 04, is the third child in his class. He is from South Korea and has an exceptionally handsome and youthful appearance.

④ Danielle (Mou Zhihui), born in 05, is of Korean and Australian descent (the most recognizable mixed-race beauty).

⑤ Haerin (Kang Hae-rin), the youngest member born in 06, is Korean (she looks a lot like the cat Angela).

[Haha, I can already sense the signs that this group is about to become a huge hit. I declare this a group of perfect visuals, and I don't think anyone will object, right?]

This band is really big, generating about five times more buzz than Aespa. It feels like they'll take off just from having a good song.

[Minji! My destined little puppy~ Minji, with your gentle face and sweet puppy charm! NewJeans, may your path be filled with flowers!]

Alright, the visual center has been decided. Although we don't yet know the members' abilities and personalities, Seol-yoon's face is definitely on par with the fifth generation of top visuals.

[Shen Juan's amateur talent development program—who knows how many brothels these five underage trainees have had with him in private?]

[Can you please get lost, you disgusting Korean man whose brain is full of lewd nonsense? I can smell the stench just by looking at your comments.]

Most fans said they would continue to follow this story.

A small number of fans even go so far as to spoil the idol out of love for him.

Especially the Alovers of the Asia-Pacific region, who are of similar skin color, treat these girls, whose average age is less than 16, like their own daughters. In their eyes, Shen Juan is a successful father, and they are gentle and kind mothers. This group of NewJeans has undoubtedly become the fruit of their love.

It can only be said that the treatment and attention NewJeans received are unprecedented in the entire history of K-pop.

No idol group has ever received so much attention and been given such high expectations before their debut.

So, the K-pop princess?

Emmm, why doesn't that count?
Shanghai, the filming location for the music video "DAISIES".

Zhang Ruonan is currently considered the top female star at Enlight Media.

It's a bit strange that a top female celebrity is being ranked in a company whose main business is film and television investment and production, and which doesn't even have many artists.

However, with Ren Min's Dao Heart shattered by the backlash from Shen Juan's fans, she is currently the one with the best development in the entire company.

A list of her works that have been broadcast or released so far
"River Flows to the Sea of ​​Sorrow", "Everyone Longs to Meet You", "Please Respect Yourself, My Lord" and "If the Voice Doesn't Remember".

It's not that amazing.

Aside from "The Tragic Rebellion," which garnered a billion yuan at the box office thanks to Shen Juan and achieved some minor breakthroughs, the rest of his works are relatively unknown.

But on second thought, for a new actress who was originally a Taobao model, being able to play the leading role in every film and television production after only a few years in the industry is a treatment that far exceeds that of many of her contemporaries.

What's even more remarkable is that despite having so many resources and a smooth career path, few people criticize her for being a "resource-backed" person.

Because of her pure and innocent appearance, as well as her increasingly solid acting skills, she is considered outstanding among the few female artists in the company.

Excellent people deserve high-quality resources, which is only natural and expected in the industry.

No one expected that, despite having filmed many dramas and dealt with various work scenarios, Zhang Ruonan still had unprecedented expectations for the work she was going to participate in today.

The joy and seriousness in his eyes were even stronger than when he was a newcomer.

the reason is simple.

My shooting partner today is Shen Juan.

The most sought-after superstar in the world right now.

Shen Juan, who was known as the Son of Shanghai.

In fact, she and the world-renowned Se-il had known each other since 18 when they were filming "Cry Me a Sad River".

Although Shen Juan had already become a top star and started to break into the US market, he had only released a few pre-release singles and had not yet released a full-length album that could help him truly establish himself in the European and American markets.

So when Zhang Ruonan had just left her Taobao modeling career and entered the entertainment industry, even though she admired this senior who was two years younger than her, she kept her feelings quite restrained and limited. She did not feel that he was an unattainable figure, nor did she have that sense of distance that made him "unattainable and only someone to look up to".

They usually interact and talk normally.

They're not as distant as outsiders make them out to be.

But now?
As time went by, Shen Juan went further and further, releasing album after album, each one breaking records and making history; his exposure was also far ahead of others, not only frequently dominating news headlines and trending lists, but even appearing multiple times on the news broadcast, which is something that ordinary celebrities can only dream of.

She knew that whether it was her or anyone else in the entertainment industry, a significant gap had already formed between them and him.

Just like how Runtu called his childhood friend Lu Xun "Master" after many years, a sad, thick barrier has already separated us.

However, based on her personal experience during her guest appearance in "Love Like a Bouquet," she found that Shen Juan didn't seem to have changed much.

At least his attitude towards these old acquaintances remained gentle, without a trace of arrogance arising from his soaring fame.

And that's exactly what she wanted to do.
Let's not talk about rekindling old flames.

After all, there was no romantic relationship between them to begin with. Ren Min did like Shen Juan, but that didn't mean she liked him too.

In fact, she simply wanted to get closer to Shen Juan and try to become friends with him that they could talk to in private.

Beautiful things always attract people to get closer.

Even though Shen Juan's private life was indeed very chaotic, in the hearts of many girls, he was still a pure and beautiful existence, like a white moonlight.

Therefore, for this shoot, Zhang Ruonan read the MV script over and over again, and even fell asleep for several nights in a row by simulating the specific shooting scenarios in her mind.

She was holding back a lot of energy.

I must perform my best today!
We absolutely cannot let Shen Juan down!
At nine o'clock in the morning, the male and female leads met on the film set.

With mixed feelings of unease, Zhang Ruonan had just arrived at the filming location when she met Shen Juan's gaze. Her breath caught in her throat, and she quickly rallied herself to greet him in the gentlest and sweetest voice she could muster, "Good morning! Teacher Shen Juan, what brings you here so early?"

After confirming the shooting details with the director of photography, Shen Juan had a slight smile on his face, looking quite pleased with himself, and his tone was particularly relaxed: "Maybe it's because there was no traffic on the road today? How's everything prepared on your end?"

"I'm ready! I've been reading the script every day this week!"

"It's just a few scenes, there's no need to be so serious."

“That won’t do! After all, I’m acting alongside you, Teacher Shen, and I can’t let you down!” Zhang Ruonan said frankly. “Besides, at least ten million people around the world will watch this music video. If I perform well in it, it will also benefit me. When my fame increases, I can ask for a higher salary.”

Shen Juan glanced at the seriousness in her eyes and chuckled softly, "Don't be nervous, just keep the same attitude we had when we were filming."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ruonan's lips unconsciously curled up, realizing that her judgment of Shen Juan was indeed correct.

Not everyone who achieves success and fame will have their character altered by the glitz and glamour of the world, and will look down on their former friends.

He's still as cold on the outside but warm on the inside, and approachable as ever!
However, rekindling the small flame should be done gradually.

We shouldn't rush things.

So she smiled and nodded lightly: "Then I'll go over there and get into the zone first. When we start filming, you can just have someone come and call me! We'll try our best to get the most perfect result."

"Okay." Shen Juan replied, watching her turn and walk towards a quiet corner where no one was around before turning his gaze away.

I just felt that this partner seemed quite dedicated.

At least she was sincere and honest.

Perhaps because her initial goal in entering the industry was to make money, she generally doesn't use empty polite phrases.

To some extent, this already surpasses the vast majority of their fellow artists who love to use high-sounding words to package themselves.

(Fun fact: Zhang Ruonan was already doing very well on Taobao before filming "The Grief-Teller". So when she first received the script invitation, she was not too keen on going. She was invited several times by the producer or casting director before she reluctantly agreed. Thus, she found a faster way to make money - acting.)
After adjusting for a short while, I started working.

Because all the footage had to be shot within a single day.

Therefore, the MV shooting was quite tight.

The first scene was filmed precisely for the first line of the lyrics.

Petals are scattered, and divination is being performed.
Do you love me? Or do you not love me?

Shen Juan sat on the left, tossing flower petals to divine the future, while Zhang Ruonan sat on the right, arms crossed, looking away with an arrogant expression.

Today she wore an oversized white knitted sweater, exuding a clean and gentle aura. Her long, smooth, black hair was not styled, but simply hung casually over her shoulders. A few wisps of hair gently brushed against her cheeks as she slightly raised her chin, the soft touch resembling fluffy down.

Just then, a few rays of sunlight slanted in through the windows of the film set, gently falling on her face and giving her slightly pouting lips a warm glow. Although she was pretending to be aloof, her little glances at Shen Juan revealed her feigned aloofness, exuding an adorable charm that made people want to coax her, so sweet that it was impossible to look away.

Without a doubt, Zhang Ruonan at this moment could absolutely fulfill most men's longing and beautiful yearning for the image of their first love.

(End of this chapter)