Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 297 Resource Surplus
In Hengdian, at midday, the atmosphere in the rest area for the "Scarlet Heart" crew was exceptionally tranquil. Sunlight streamed through the semi-transparent roof, casting soft halos of light.

Liu Shishi, dressed in her costume, lay lazily on a recliner, listlessly flipping through the script in her hand, her gaze occasionally drifting towards the crew members in the distance.

At that moment, a crisp and energetic voice broke the silence.

"Senior Sister, I'm here again!"

Liu Shishi looked up and saw Guo Xiaoting rushing in from outside the shed, and couldn't help but smile.

"Xiaoting, slow down, don't fall."

Guo Xiaoting sat down next to Liu Shishi. She and the leading lady were old acquaintances, having previously co-starred in "Chinese Paladin 3" and had a very good relationship.

Catching her breath and resting for a moment, she smiled brightly and said, "Sis, I have something interesting to tell you."

Liu Shishi smiled slightly, adjusted her posture, and quietly became a listener.

Compared to the gentle and quiet Liu Xinyou and the mature and steady Li Chengyuan, she preferred chatting with the innocent and carefree Guo Xiaoting. The girl's innocence always made people feel happy.

"I just heard that two film crews almost got into a fight over who would film in the Imperial Garden of the Ming and Qing Palaces."

As Guo Xiaoting spoke, she gestured with her hands, her face displaying a wide range of expressions, showing great excitement.

"Which two film crews? And what happened next?" The actress tilted her head, curious. In the industry, people usually run into each other all the time, and it's rare to hear of two film crews making such a fuss over filming locations.

Guo Xiaoting spoke with great enthusiasm and animated expression about the information she had gathered: "One is the crew of 'Palace' and the other is the crew of 'Empresses in the Palace'."

With the recent surge in popularity of Qing Dynasty dramas, film crews have been extremely busy with their shooting schedules in the Ming and Qing palaces. For example, the morning was originally scheduled for filming of "Palace" in the Imperial Garden, but by noon the "Empresses in the Palace" crew was supposed to move in.

However, the production schedule for "Palace" was severely delayed, affecting the filming time of other dramas. The "Empresses in the Palace" production team was naturally unhappy about this. So the two production teams started arguing.

After listening, the top actress gave a very objective and fair comment: "From your account, it seems that the 'Palace' crew was unreasonable, they didn't manage the filming schedule well, and delayed the other crew. And then, a fight actually broke out?"

"No. The staff of the two production teams were arguing, and later the leaders from both sides came out to mediate, only to find out that both productions were actually invested in by Tengda Culture."

Since they were from the same production company, they both compromised and resolved the matter.

Liu Shishi was taken aback upon hearing this, and was slightly surprised: "They're all Tengda's dramas? How could Tengda Culture be filming so many Qing Dynasty dramas at the same time?"

"Sister, can I drink this water?" Guo Xiaoting didn't answer immediately, but picked up the bottled water on the table and asked her sister.

"Why are you being polite to me?"

In May, the weather in Hengdian was already getting hot and humid. Guo Xiaoting rushed over and talked a lot, and now she felt very thirsty.

He unscrewed the cap of the mineral water bottle, took a big gulp, and then answered the question posed by the eldest sister.

"Tengda Culture didn't directly produce these films; they just invested in them. I guess Tengda might be particularly optimistic about Qing Dynasty themes."

Liu Shishi couldn't help but feel a little worried. The competition among Qing Dynasty dramas was so fierce; she hoped it wouldn't affect the ratings of "Scarlet Heart".

After all, if the same theme appears in clusters, viewers will get tired of seeing it all.

"Sister, I've also found out a lot of interesting things. Let me tell you about them slowly." The little girl was charming and lively, like a cheerful lark, chirping incessantly.

"Empresses in the Palace is a pure palace drama with dozens of actresses. As soon as filming wrapped, the male lead, Chen Jianbin, would hide from everyone to get some peace and quiet. Every time filming started, the entire crew had to look for the male lead!"

Liu Shishi smiled and casually remarked that three women make a drama, and with dozens of actresses in a film crew, she could already imagine how lively the "Empresses in the Palace" crew must be. She guessed that Teacher Chen Jianbin must find those women too noisy.

"And another thing, Teacher Liu Xuehua plays the mother of Emperor Yongzheng in two different productions. She's busy running between the two, which is quite interesting."

"Then wouldn't we not even need to change our clothes?"

Recalling what she saw and heard while sneaking into the two film crews, Guo Xiaoting shook her head: "The costumes in the 'Palace' crew were all colorful and looked very rough."

"However, 'Empresses in the Palace' is a well-made production. From costumes and props to set design, it's comparable to our production. It will definitely be a formidable rival to 'Scarlet Heart' in the future!"

"Silly girl, we can just avoid scheduling it. It's produced by Tengda Culture, so I don't think 'Empresses in the Palace' will be bad."

We don't need to go head-to-head with "Empresses in the Palace" and end up with both sides suffering losses. Besides, I have confidence in "Scarlet Heart"; its ratings won't be bad.

“That’s true!” Guo Xiaoting nodded, seeing the leading lady’s radiant appearance, she understood that this confidence came from the high ratings of every drama she had participated in over the years.

"Anything else interesting?"

"There's one more thing!" Guo Xiaoting moved her stool closer to the eldest sister, grinning and teasingly asking, "Sister, guess who the female lead is in 'Palace'?"

"It's boring!" Guo Xiaoting pouted and muttered. Seeing Liu Shishi smiling without saying a word, just staring at her with interest, she knew that the eldest sister wouldn't guess.

So the answer was revealed directly: "The female lead is Sister Mimi!"

"MiMi!" Liu Shishi exclaimed in surprise, "That's not right! Just a few days ago she told me she was filming 'The Temptation of Going Home.' How could she possibly manage that schedule?"

Recalling the complaints from the crew of "Palace" (宫锁心玉), that the female lead still hadn't joined the production, Guo Xiaoting secretly clicked her tongue in amazement:
"She's filming three projects at the same time! Sister Mimi is amazing, she actually dared to film three projects simultaneously. I heard that in order to keep up with the schedule, she has to work non-stop every day, it's very hard!"

Thinking about Yang Mi's consistent style, Liu Shishi sighed helplessly: "Mi Mi really works herself to the bone. She had no choice in the past, and it was one thing to be exploited at Rongxingda."

Now that I'm at Tengda Culture, I have no shortage of resources, so why bother with this? Working so hard to make money for Boss Song makes me feel embarrassed.”

Guo Xiaoting pouted: "Senior Sister, you're being a bit too Versailles. In the entertainment industry, if you don't advance, you fall behind. It's right for Sister Mimi to take advantage of her popularity and take on more roles."

The young girl looked serious, her youthful face revealing a deep understanding of the survival rules of the entertainment industry.

Looking at Guo Xiaoting, who was the same age as Liu Yuqing and equally mature, Liu Shishi couldn't help but ask with concern:

"You're so young and you're already thinking about these things. Your top priority right now is to get into a good university. You'll have plenty of time to work in the entertainment industry later."

"Don't worry, sister. With my current academic performance, getting into Donghai Drama Academy shouldn't be a problem. I'll be a junior to Hu Ge and Yuan Hong from now on."

"As long as I'm confident, that's good." Liu Shishi suddenly remembered her sister-in-law who was going to attend the Beijing Film Academy.

I wonder how well my husband and uncle have done in persuading me. I sighed softly. Sure enough, every family has its own problems.

"Teacher Nie!" The girl's silvery greeting interrupted the sister's thoughts. She subconsciously looked up and saw that the male lead, Nie Yuan, had already entered the rest shed.

"Brother Yuan!" Liu Shishi quickly got up from the comfortable recliner. It was fine for her and Guo Xiaoting to be a little casual with each other in private.

But Nie Yuan is different. He is not only the male lead in the drama, but also a senior in the industry. It would be too impolite for him to just lounge on a recliner.

"Shishi, Xiaoting! I saw you two laughing and talking non-stop from afar, so I came over out of curiosity. I hope I didn't disturb you." Nie Yuan said with a kind smile and a friendly tone.

Guo Xiaoting, quick-witted and agile, promptly brought over two stools: "Don't bother me, I'm chatting with my sister! Teacher Nie, when is your Zhao Yun's entrance? I'm waiting to see your majestic and heroic figure!"

"It'll be a few more days before I can appear on screen." Nie Yuan beamed with joy upon hearing this. Yesterday, the new Three Kingdoms premiered, and he plays Zhao Zilong in the series, which has garnered much attention.

Liu Shishi slowly sat down opposite Nie Yuan, dressed in an exquisite ancient costume, with an elegant posture: "Zhao Yun is already quite popular, congratulations to Brother Yuan for having another classic role."

Nie Yuan waved his hand: "The old version of 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' is too classic. The audience will inevitably compare the two versions. Whether it is good or bad still needs to be judged by the audience. I am also under a lot of pressure."

"There is indeed such pressure in remaking. But pressure can also be a driving force. I believe that your Zhao Yun, Brother Yuan, must have extraordinary abilities."

"Thank you, thank you!" Nie Yuan thanked the eldest sister repeatedly for her praise. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he got down to business: "Shishi, I'm here to..."

"Brother and sister, you two chat, I'm leaving first." Before the two could react, Guo Xiaoting ran away like a gust of wind.

Nie Yuan remarked, "Xiao Ting is so young, yet she is so adept at understanding human relationships."

Looking at the girl's slender figure, Liu Shishi said with a doting expression, "Xiaoting has been working on film sets since she was 15 years old, and she knows a lot about things in the industry."

"Shishi, it's like this," Nie Yuan picked up where she left off, "I recently received a script called 'Revolutionaries Are Always Young,' where I'll be playing the male lead. The director is considering you for the female lead. What do you think?"

"A serious drama!" Upon hearing the title, Liu Shishi knew that this must be a serious drama with a revolutionary theme.

"Yes! It's a serious drama filmed to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China next year, and it will be broadcast on CCTV-1."

Being cast as the lead actress in a serious drama on CCTV is like winning the lottery. Other actresses would probably have accepted immediately, but the leading lady hesitated.

"Brother Yuan, to be honest, I've never acted in this kind of genre before. The company's development plan for me doesn't include taking on serious dramas like this for the time being. I'm sorry to disappoint you and the director."

"Shishi, the lead role in a serious drama is a rare opportunity. There's no need to rush to answer me. Think it over carefully."

Nie Yuan earnestly persuaded her, knowing how popular Tangren's top female star was, and that if she were to join "Revolutionaries Are Always Young," the positive impact on the show would be immeasurable.

Liu Shishi shook her head: "Brother Yuan, I have considered this carefully, and I haven't thought about changing careers yet."

Moreover, I'm not sure if I'll have the time. I've taken on a very important role in the second half of the year, and I must dedicate myself fully to it; there's no room for error.

"Shishi, have you taken on a new role?" Nie Yuan asked with a puzzled look. He had been hanging out with people from Tangren Media lately and had specifically inquired about the actress's availability, so he had come to invite her.

Do you know about "Building a Great Party"?

"I know, it's a tribute film produced by Huaying Film Studio. I just received an invitation to star in it yesterday." Nie Yuan said with a smug look on his face.

For any actor, getting a role in "The Founding of a Republic" is a great honor.

After a moment of joy, she realized, "Shishi, you received an invitation too! What role are you playing?"

Liu Shishi's gaze was intense, and her tone was very solemn: "Ms. Yang."

Yesterday, she received two scripts from the production team of "Building a Great Cause" for her to choose from.

After consulting with Mr. Song and careful consideration, she finally accepted the very important role of Ms. Yang.

Nie Yuan's mouth gaped open, speechless with shock for a long time. He never expected that Tangren's top female star had such powerful resources and connections.

Anyone with a modicum of common sense knows the importance and special significance of this role. To be able to play Ms. Yang in such a blockbuster is an amazing honor.

After hesitating for a long time, she slowly uttered, "Shishi, as far as I know, Ms. Yang's role shouldn't be too big, it shouldn't take up too many days of my schedule. Are you really not going to act in it?"

"No, thank you for your kindness, Brother Yuan, but I have other plans for the second half of the year." Liu Shishi smiled gently, but firmly declined again, as she had other plans for the second half of the year.

Filming "Scarlet Heart" left her physically and mentally exhausted. After filming wrapped, she needed to take a good rest and recuperate. So she planned to travel abroad with her husband during the summer vacation to relax.

Therefore, I don't want to take on any more roles in the second half of this year to avoid adding to my work pressure.

Nie Yuan looked regretful, secretly thinking to himself, "As expected, the nickname was right. There's a reason why netizens jokingly call Tangren's top actress 'Salted Fish Poetry'."

Any female artist with a bit of ambition would have accepted this excellent opportunity without hesitation, but Liu Shishi's repeated rejections surprised him greatly.

"Excuse me!" Seeing that there was no room for negotiation, Nie Yuan prepared to get up and take his leave.

Liu Shishi thought for a moment and then called out to him, "Brother Yuan, wait a minute. I'd like to recommend a female lead to you; she's perfect for this serious drama."

"Which one?"

"Lü Yi!"

"Lu Yi from Tengda Culture!" In an instant, a handsome face flashed through Nie Yuan's mind.

After thinking it over for a moment, he nodded: "Lü Yi is indeed quite suitable."

The top female star, with her impressive vision, spared no effort in recommending the artists from her husband's company: "Lu Yi is quite popular now. As far as I know, she has transitioned to serious dramas, and she is more adept at playing these kinds of roles."

Moreover, Tengda Culture's powerful publicity and distribution capabilities are well-known; their involvement will greatly help promote this drama.

After hearing Liu Shishi's words, Nie Yuan felt that Lü Yi was a perfect fit: "I will ask the director to contact Tengda Culture right away. I hope Lü Yi's schedule will not conflict with mine."

"Coincidentally, by the time 'Revolutionaries Are Always Young' starts filming, Lü Yi's current film crew should have finished filming, so his schedule is perfectly fine."

"That's great." After saying that, Nie Yuan gave a thumbs up, his face full of admiration: "Tangren's top female host is very generous and magnanimous. If things go well, Lü Yi will owe you a big favor."

(End of this chapter)