The only sun in Huayu

Chapter 13 Broken Filter
Shen Shandeng needs to give Da Mimi a good talking-to.

"Xiao Yang, tell me loudly, what's the most important thing when you're out here in the world?"

"Yes, sir!" Da Mimi stood at attention and saluted, then gave a witty remark: "When you're out in the game, the most important thing is to get out here."

Shen Shandeng looked at her speechlessly: "Do you think you have a good sense of humor?"

Da Mimi couldn't help but giggle.

"When you're in the game, connections are the most important thing!"

Shen Shandeng said, "The biggest background of a celebrity is not their circle of friends, but the country they live in!"

"To succeed in the entertainment industry, you have to be in the spotlight and be at the center. Only a large territory, a large economy, and a great power status can cultivate big stars."

"At the same time, the style of a country determines the style of its stars."

"The activity of Hong Kong and Taiwan stars is only a product of a special era, and that era has passed."

Da Mimi looked incredulous and clearly objected: "Nowadays, singers and actors, leading ladies and rising stars, are mainly from Hong Kong and Taiwan. Idol dramas and urban dramas are also exclusive to Hong Kong and Taiwan. We can only act in period dramas and war dramas."

Shen Shandeng explained: "That's what makes them special. Because they are small, urbanization is easier for them than for us. In addition, they have a special location and special external support. They intend to put Hong Kong and Taiwan on par with the mainland, but this is difficult to maintain."

Seeing that Da Mi Mi still didn't believe it, Shen Shandeng felt it was necessary to shatter her illusions.

"What kind of behavior do you think it is for a celebrity to be involved in two or three fields?"

Without hesitation, Yang Mi said, "It means he's a big star. Basically, once you reach a certain level of fame, you'll do both acting and singing."

"wrong!"

Shen Shandeng laughed and said, "Your current understanding is nothing more than a distorted form of communication, turning a funeral into a celebration."

"Amphibious and triple-threat are basically part-time jobs. If a singer's main job doesn't earn enough to support their family, they have to act. If acting doesn't earn enough, they have to sing."

“Even artists who excel in their main profession may take on side jobs due to the harsh industry environment and uncertainty about the future, trying every possible way to maximize their fame.”

“In mature markets, apart from idols, it’s rare to both sing and act. And haven’t you noticed that we rarely have people who both sing and act here? We don’t count those who sing one or two songs occasionally.”

Shen Shandeng's knowledge is a bit obscure; Yang Mi's brain isn't quite up to the task.

“Our place is too big. Take singers as an example. An album is not a songwriting machine. They don’t need to rack their brains to create. The company is responsible for collecting songs. The artist only needs to produce and practice singing, which takes two or three months.”

"For promotion, you have to go to first-tier cities. Appearing on TV shows, signing books, meeting up with fans, and performing at commercial events, you have to go through one process in one city, which takes at least one or two weeks."

“It takes almost two months to travel through just one first-tier city. And then it takes several more months to travel through second- and third-tier cities.”

"And this is just the initial stage of making money from a best-selling album. After the charts are over, the real money comes from concert tours. After touring first, second, and third-tier cities again, half a year will have passed."

"During holidays and festivals, there are invitations to shows, galas, and private banquets. All these holidays combined can take up a whole month."

“We’re quite nostalgic here, it’s not that brutal. What’s outdated in first-tier cities might still be popular in fourth- or fifth-tier cities, and you can still make money there.”

"In a few years, those who were fans back then will grow up and be able to make a fortune again."

"If you want to make money, you can work from the beginning of the year to the end, without a break all year round. You can work yourself to death."

"On the other hand, Hong Kong and Taiwan singers have no choice in terms of objective factors."

“Hong Kong Island is the worst off. The market is small, and most singers can't sell their work outside the city. They're stuck in one city. For an album, promotion is limited to gigs, and it's over in a month or two.”

"Wan Island is a bit bigger, but it will only take three or four months at most."

“Hong Kong singers need to release three or four albums a year, plus one or two compilation albums, just to fill their schedules. Five or six albums a year, what kind of workload is that?”

"Wandao releases two or three albums a year."

"This is a privilege only enjoyed by a few singers who can sell albums. Album production and promotion also have costs. What about singers who can't sell albums?"

Shen Shandeng passed the question to Da Mimi.

Shen Shandeng analyzed from the perspective of basic economic principles that people need to eat, and artists also need to earn money.

If you don't make money, you'll starve.

Secondly, if making money is easy, no one will make things difficult for themselves.

Da Mimi: "So, I can only do it part-time?"

"Yes, it can only be done part-time."

Shen Shandeng said, "Dual-occupation shouldn't be called dual-occupation; it should be called doing two jobs, or doing odd jobs out of necessity!"

"Artists can't support themselves through their main profession, so they have to do odd jobs everywhere. Singers become actors, and actors become singers."

"It was originally a helpless situation, but when it came to us, it became an honor." Seeing that Da Mimi was in a daze, Shen Shandeng asked her to clean up the tableware.

The plates and bowls that needed washing have been washed.

This kind of thing, which may seem to be just a concept, is ultimately a matter of narrative standards.

If we take the US alliance system as the standard in Western narratives, then everything in Hong Kong and Taiwan should be more advanced than that in mainland China.

Even in the future, as long as it's not the rise of social media, if beautiful people sell their blood to drink coffee or work three jobs a day, it will be a virtue, a trend, and it's definitely not a problem with the system.

The spirit of questioning and criticism that some people verbally advocate is never directed at those in power within this system.

Not only that, but when someone questions them, they will yell and break down.

After Da Mimi finished washing the dishes and all the chores, she finally realized what was happening.

It seems we've been led astray again.

"But the Hong Kong entertainment circle still controls a lot of resources, doesn't it?"

"Look, I'm in a hurry again." Shen Shandeng wanted to get some exercise, so he patted his thigh.

Da Mimi just stared at him silently, without saying anything.

Shen Shandeng was a little disappointed, so he said to himself, "What I just said is actually more important to you. We are in a period of change, and with the development of the Internet, the most important thing is to position ourselves and occupy the high ground in the industry."

"Dual-threat or multi-threat, one or two songs occasionally is fine, but don't put your energy into this aspect."

"When you go to another industry or even another place, you are cultivating someone else's land and putting in your efforts there. Once you leave, your own land will be cultivated by someone else, and you can't come back even if you want to."

While eating fruit, Shen Shandeng subtly dispelled Yang Mi's idea of ​​entering the Hong Kong entertainment circle, and continued slowly, "You need to look beyond the surface and see the essence. Have you watched Super Girl? Have you seen the popularity of Li Yuchun, Zhou Bichang, and Zhang Liangying?"

"It's not just them, but also people like Guo Jingming, have you noticed?"

Da Mimi asked innocently, "What?"

Shen Shandeng didn't keep us in suspense: "The post-90s generation is no longer interested in Hong Kong and Taiwan stars. Popularity is always an exception for cities and young people. Even if some people or stakeholders blame a generation and label mainstream singers as non-mainstream, they can only influence, not distort."

"This world still follows basic economic laws and material principles."

"Those born in the 90s like local young people. It's no longer about what Hong Kong and Taiwan are doing and what era we're in. We can do it too."

"I am certain that this phenomenon will become even more prominent after the Olympics next year."

The ceiling for celebrities is closely related to their background.

It should be said that it is closely tied to the strength of the country or region of origin.

It's not real strength, but the strength shown.

Hard power also needs packaging and self-image building.

The ceiling for Zhou, Lin, Wang, Tao, and other Taiwanese, Hong Kong, Singaporean, or overseas Chinese is, to some extent, determined by how young people on the mainland perceive the image of the regions behind them.

Kurosawa Chiling, also known as Taiwan's number one beauty, can rise to the top by stepping on established actresses, despite having virtually no acting skills or works.

Later generations couldn't promote Taiwan no matter what they wanted, and even being called the number one beauty wouldn't help.

Later on, she tried to break into the mainstream as a Go prodigy, but it only made a splash and her breakthrough seemed a long way off.

Shen Shandeng didn't just talk the talk; he was responsible: "Your current task is to build up basic popularity. The dominance of Hong Kong and Taiwan will continue for a while, but the more you suppress them, the more severe the final explosion will be."

"In two years, I'll arrange an idol drama for you, and you'll gain a huge following."

The immense popularity of "Palace" is also related to the historical context.

In two years, Shen Shandeng should be able to organize events.

This is a sure-fire way to make money.

Shen Shandeng has always believed that if you're going to criticize someone, you must be able to cover for them; otherwise, he won't do it.

Da Mimi was extremely touched.

Shen Shandeng was extremely satisfied.

It was almost 8 a.m. the next day.

Da Mimi was in a daze when she suddenly remembered, "The movie project? The role?"

She found herself alone in bed. Where was everyone?
(End of this chapter)