Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 248 Where Does the Gap Lie?

Unlike the continuous rain in February, the weather in Beiping in March was sunny and spring was in full bloom.

A gentle breeze carrying the tender scent of the South blows into this ancient city, lightly brushing against the newly green willow branches lining both sides of Chang'an Avenue.

On March 5th, the day of the Awakening of Insects, the atmosphere in the spacious and bright conference room of Tengda Culture in the Zhongao Building was slightly serious and oppressive.

Senior representatives from three major film and television companies—Huaying Group, Emperor Entertainment, and Tengda Culture—along with renowned director Jiang Wen sat on either side of a long table, in front of stacks of detailed investment analyses and budget reports.

The investment negotiations surrounding the film "Let the Bullets Fly" had been going on for several hours, and Jiang Wen sat there, feeling utterly helpless.

Even though he is a renowned director in the industry, and even though he has an extremely strong personality, he still had to compromise when faced with joint pressure from the three major companies in the industry.

With a soft sigh, she said, "130 million it is!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhao smiled and exchanged a glance with Emperor Entertainment CEO Li Yabo and Huaying Group Vice Chairman Jiao Hongfeng.

After several hours of back-and-forth negotiations, the three parties joined forces and finally got Jiang Wen to agree.

Jiang Wenyi made a concession, and the four parties quickly reached an agreement: the total investment for the film "Let the Bullets Fly" was 1.3 million yuan.

Tengda Culture led the investment with 6500 million yuan, holding 50% of the shares, while Huaying and Emperor Entertainment each invested 25%. The film will be jointly distributed in mainland China by Tengda Culture and Huaying, while Emperor Entertainment will handle the distribution and promotion in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

After Jiang Wen finally signed the letter of intent for investment, Jiao Hongfeng clapped his hands and laughed, "Director Jiang, with this powerful alliance, I believe 'Let the Bullets Fly' will definitely become a classic."

Jiang Wen squinted at the three investors. These shrewd guys had managed to squeeze out 2000 million of his budget.

Fortunately, Jiang was no pushover either. He had made a generous budget with room for maneuver, and with careful spending, the 1.3 million yuan was enough to finish the movie.

This was the first time Tengda Culture had invested such a large sum of money. Zhang Zhao was both excited and nervous, as success or failure hinged on this moment.

But after all, 6500 million yuan of real money has been invested, so it's inevitable that there are some concerns and worries: "Director Jiang, I'm entrusting 'Let the Bullets Fly' to you. If there's anything you need, as long as it's within Tengda's power, we will definitely provide full support."

Since he was the investor, Jiang Wen didn't mince words and immediately gave Zhang Zhao his assurance, reassuring him: "Mr. Zhang is so straightforward! Rest assured, I'm always a professional when it comes to making movies, and I won't let the investors down."

Zhang Zhao nodded slightly, adhering to the principle of trusting those he employs. Since he had made up his mind to invest in the "Let the Bullets Fly" project, he had to trust Jiang Wen's abilities.

"General Manager Jiao, General Manager Li, Director Jiang, it's already this late, let's all have a meal together. I, Zhang, will do my part as the host."

"Mr. Zhang, you've gone to so much trouble. It would be impolite of me to refuse." Upon hearing the invitation, Li Yabo was overjoyed; he couldn't have asked for more.

Before heading north, Mr. Yang specifically instructed that since it was a rare opportunity to cooperate with Tengda Culture, it was essential to establish a connection with the top giant in Beijing's entertainment circle and maintain a good working relationship between the two parties.

Jiao Hongfeng readily agreed, and Jiang Wen couldn't refuse; how could he not accept an invitation to dinner from such a powerful patron? The atmosphere in the meeting room became harmonious and pleasant, with everyone enjoying themselves.

At this moment, in the artist director's office, Wang Luodan sat opposite her agent Zeng Jia, her ten fingers curled upwards as she casually examined her newly done manicure and asked:

"Sister Jia, I heard that Jiang Wen and people from Huaying and Emperor Entertainment came to the company today. The company is going to invest in a big production worth more than 100 million?"

Zeng Jia, dressed in a smart white suit and looking radiant, looked down at the documents and said, "Yes, we should be almost done talking by now."

Wang Luodan leaned forward slightly, her eyes full of anticipation, and asked eagerly, "Sister Jia, with such a big production, are there any suitable roles for me?"

"Don't count on this movie. Jiang Wen directed and starred in it, with Zhou Runfa and Ge You as the main actors. It's definitely a male-centric movie. Qiao Zhengyu only got a small supporting role. There's no suitable role for you."

Wang Luodan was greatly disappointed: "That's such a pity."

Zeng Jia closed the document in his hand and handed it to Wang Luodan: "This is a list of scripts we have received recently. The company has already screened them for you."

The remaining scripts are all of decent quality, and the characters are quite close to your personality and temperament. Pick one that interests you for your next project.

"Sister Jia, I've been working overtime on set all Chinese New Year, and I'm really exhausted lately. I want to take some time to rest." Although Wang Luodan was making excuses, she still subconsciously reached out and obediently took the documents.

"There's no rush to get a new role; just choose carefully. Your main task right now is to work with Xinbaoyuan to promote 'My Youth, Who Decides?' If this show can maintain the success of 'Struggle,' you can solidify your position as a top-tier star."

Zeng Jia's eyes were fixed on Wang Luodan, who was just one step away from becoming a top-tier artist. If she succeeded, she would have two ace artists under her management.

In this way, she can be considered an extremely successful agent in the industry. Even though the reason is that she is backed by Tengda Culture, no one can deny her contributions to artist training and career planning.

At this crucial juncture in her career, Wang Luodan nodded solemnly: "I value 'My Youth, Who Decides?' more than anyone else!"

Zeng Jia was satisfied with Wang Luodan's attitude and said no more. He knew that no artist would neglect their acting career.

"Sister Jia!" Wang Luodan's expression suddenly turned extremely serious: "This Weibo selection of the Four Little Actresses is a huge event. Can the company guarantee that I will be selected? If I am selected as one of the new Four Little Actresses, it will be a huge boost to my status and fame."

On March 1st, Weibo, in conjunction with major mainstream media outlets in the entertainment industry, comprehensively considered multiple indicators such as popularity, influence, quality of works, and activity level.

The "Post-80s New Generation Entertainment Stars" event was held, using a weighted formula of 30% for media votes and 70% for online votes, to select the four new leading actresses and four new leading actors.

As of last night, Wang Luodan's performance in this Weibo poll left her feeling uneasy. She ranked only fifth in the media personality vote, fourth in the online poll, and fourth overall.

However, Huang Shengyi, who is right behind her, is very close in votes and could overtake her at any time. This makes Wang Luodan very anxious and stressed. She urgently hopes that her company can provide support to help her rise to the top.

"What's the rush? It's only the fifth day of the twenty-day voting period. Besides, you're in the lead. What's there to worry about?" Zeng Jia said calmly, feeling that Wang Luodan was being overly anxious.

If she lacked experience, that would be one thing, but Wang Luodan's roles in the recent hit dramas "Struggle" and "Air Hostess" have garnered her considerable popularity. Given a fair election, she is absolutely qualified to be selected as one of the new "Four Little Actresses." Furthermore, Tengda Group is the organizer of this event, and it's likely that various media outlets will give the group some face. In terms of media voting, it's highly probable that Wang Luodan will be among the top four.

Thinking of this, Zeng Jia opened her Weibo homepage to check the latest voting rankings, and the latest situation was just as she had guessed.

"Congratulations! You've just entered the top four in the media personality vote, and you're gradually widening the gap with Huang Shengyi behind you. If you keep this up, getting selected shouldn't be a problem."

Upon hearing this good news, Wang Luodan breathed a sigh of relief and a smile spread across her face.

However, I still couldn't completely relax. I was thinking about finding some connections to help me garner votes, because I couldn't let my guard down until the very last moment.

After reassuring his own artists, Zeng Jia carefully checked the rankings.

In the ranking of the four most popular young actresses, Liu Yifei leads by a wide margin, ranking first. Liu Shishi and Yang Mi follow closely behind, ranking second and third respectively.

The voting process has only been going on for five days, but these three have already clearly pulled ahead of the others in terms of votes. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, their selection as one of the new "Four Little Actresses" is practically a done deal.

The following actresses, such as Wang Luodan, Huang Shengyi, Lü Yi, and Sun Li, are also outstanding new actresses. Each of them has had one or even several breakout works, and their strength should not be underestimated. They are vying for the last spot.

Seemingly aware that Zeng Jia was looking at the rankings, Wang Luodan actually had a good idea of ​​the top three, but still couldn't help asking again, "The top three haven't changed, have they?"

"What do you think?"

Wang Luodan curled her lip, full of resentment towards one of them: "What's so great about being a resource-backed celebrity?"

At the beginning of the selection, she was ambitious and wanted to compete with Liu Shishi, but reality dealt her a heavy blow, and Tangren's number one actress left her far behind.

"Sister Jia, I feel that my achievements in recent years are no less than Liu Shishi's, so why is there such a big gap between my votes and hers?" Wang Luodan asked with a puzzled look.

Upon hearing this, Zeng Jia rested his chin on his hands and began to think seriously. Now, upon closer reflection, he realized that Wang Luodan's achievements were definitely no less than Liu Shishi's.

From her early starring roles in the Youth Trilogy and the Zhenhua Trilogy, to the wildly popular "Struggle" and "Living with an Air Hostess," every single one of her works has achieved excellent viewership ratings.

Moreover, Wang Luodan has five brand endorsements, placing her in the top tier among the new generation of female celebrities.

Seeing her agent deep in thought, Wang Luodan didn't urge her. She was also eager to know exactly where the gap between herself and Liu Shishi lay.

She believed that she was no less capable than her opponent in terms of work achievements, commercial success, or number of fans. The vote difference between the two should not be so large.

"It's her image! Or the public's impression of her!" Zeng Jia suddenly exclaimed, feeling as if he had suddenly seen the light.

Wang Luodan hurriedly asked, "Sister Jia, what do you mean? Tell me quickly!"

Zeng Jia paused for a moment, organized his thoughts, and then explained the key point he had just figured out: "Luo Dan, what is your impression of Liu Shishi? Don't be angry, just say it objectively and fairly."

Wang Luodan frowned slightly, raised her head, and thought seriously for a while before slowly speaking: "She is as gentle as a chrysanthemum, with good temperament and demeanor."

Although she was very resentful, she had to admit that Liu Shishi's demeanor was unparalleled in the entertainment industry.

Every time she attends an event, she exudes elegance and exceptional charm; the unique allure she radiates from within is truly captivating.

"This is the image she has presented to the world for so long! This is the fixed impression she has formed in your mind!"
Think about it carefully. You yourself are a big star and a popular young actress. Even you have this kind of opinion about Liu Shishi. What do you think ordinary netizens will think of her?

Zeng Jia paused slightly before elaborating further: "I now understand that in the entertainment industry, mere beauty is not rare. Audiences often take it for granted that female celebrities are good-looking."

Although Liu Shishi was pretty and gentle, she didn't have an absolute advantage in appearance compared to other actresses. Therefore, Tangren Media has taken a different approach in recent years, focusing its publicity and promotion on her unique temperament, demeanor, and other distinctive aspects.

Over time, netizens naturally formed the impression that she was gentle and unassuming, with an elegant and refined demeanor. This positive impression not only improved her public image but also garnered her considerable goodwill from the general public.

So even though your film and television works have similar achievements, her votes are far ahead because many casual viewers voted for her.

Even Liu Yifei is similar; titles like "Fairy Sister" and "Celestial Beauty" have left a distinctive and positive impression on the public.

Zeng Jia's eyes were extremely bright at this moment. He became more and more excited as he spoke, and his thoughts became clearer and clearer. It was as if he had achieved a qualitative leap in his philosophy and methods of cultivating artists in an instant.

I secretly admired him. Tangren Media truly deserves its reputation as the leader in period dramas. Cai Yinong certainly has a unique talent for cultivating artists.

Take Liu Shishi and Hu Ge for example. One is one of the four little actresses, and the other is one of the four little actors. Tangren Media has a place in both of the selections, and its popularity is unparalleled. It is almost on par with Tengda Culture. This time, it has really made a big splash in the industry.

Wang Luodan listened to Zeng Jia's analysis thoughtfully, vaguely understanding its deeper meaning. The image that celebrities present under the spotlight and to outsiders is often completely different from their true selves in private.

Although she didn't know what Liu Shishi was like in private, after Zeng Jia's guidance, she realized that Liu Shishi was indeed exceptionally elegant and poised in front of the camera, making the most of her strengths.

Learning from others' strengths and making up for one's own weaknesses is the way of a wise person. Although Wang Luodan could not be called a wise person, she was not an ordinary person either. She immediately seized the opportunity and humbly asked for advice: "Sister Jia, what kind of distinctive image do you think I should establish?"

Zeng Jia was stumped by the question and couldn't come up with a good idea for the time being. The images that Liu Shishi and Liu Yifei presented were clearly carefully crafted to suit their own strengths, and couldn't be explained in just a few words.

Having no clue for the time being, I can only deal with it for now: "Look at you, in such a hurry! Let me think about it carefully. Image is a double-edged sword. Once the audience's opinion is fixed, it is difficult to change it later."

Therefore, we must not rush things. You should go back first, think carefully about your own strengths, and we can discuss this topic again next time.

"Sister Jia, I'll head back now." Wang Luodan nodded, realizing she had indeed been too hasty. She then stood up to say goodbye.

Zeng Jia watched Wang Luodan's departing figure, not really understanding her image, but she did have some thoughts about Yang Mi, who was about to join her team. She felt that the "workaholic" persona suited her very well!
(End of this chapter)