How can you become a star without money?

Chapter 191 Brother, save me! [10,000-word update, please subscribe]

Xu Zheng opened his mouth, but found himself at a loss for words.

Fortunately, there was a knock on the door of the private room, and Li Man, who had dressed up carefully, peeked in with a smile on her face. "I'm so sorry, my flight is delayed."

Xu Zheng felt as if he had seen a savior and breathed a sigh of relief. The atmosphere at the dinner table was too tense with four men, and they needed a woman to ease the tension.

The main problem was that Wang Yao was putting too much pressure on him.

But when he saw Li Man sit down next to Wang Yao and greet him intimately, he suddenly realized what was going on.

Oh, no wonder Ren Quan took the initiative to help promote "Lost in Thailand".

So that's where the root of the problem lies.

I thought you were genuinely helping your senior out of friendship, but it turns out you're just doing all the work for someone else.

But isn't Li Man an artist under Yangzi Company?

Strange, first Huang Shengyi, then Li Man, why is Wang Yao specifically promoting Juli's people? Could it be that he has such a good relationship with Yang Zi?
"Brother Zheng, we're trending again, but this time it's not for good reasons. They're saying our script was plagiarized," Li Man said with a laugh.

"Huh? There's no plagiarism, at most it's just borrowing and paying homage." Xu Zheng panicked.

Plagiarism is a major scandal in the industry.

"Don't worry, senior brother, we're already handling it," Ren Quan said, indicating that everyone should remain calm.

Plagiarism discussions are part of the marketing campaign. After all, road movies are still a niche genre in China and lack relevant endorsements. The marketing plan was designed to bring in Western films as endorsements to expand the film's audience.

Seeing Ren Quan's confident demeanor, Xu Zheng breathed a sigh of relief.

"We don't even need PR to step in; I see the viewers in the comments section are helping us explain things." Li Man smiled broadly, the gloom that had been on her face for the past few months had dissipated considerably.

“Since this topic exists, we can also take it overseas and hype it up. Maybe we can even get some box office revenue in the Southeast Asian market. It’s a pity that our cinemas don’t cover Europe and America. Otherwise, the Spring Festival travel theme and style of ‘Lost in China’ would be quite in line with foreigners’ stereotypes about us.” Upon hearing this, Wang Yao took out his tablet and looked at the trending topics.

It's clear that this was instigated by the media, not by Huayi Brothers, and there's no need for excessive audience involvement.

"President Wang, you have such great vision, I toast you." Xu Zheng raised his glass again.

“He doesn’t drink, so I’ll drink for him,” Li Man chuckled.

"Why is Manman even drinking for President Wang? Aren't we family?" Wang Baoqiang scratched his head in confusion, which made everyone laugh.

I don't know if it was genuine naiveté or divine intervention.

Wang Yao didn't say much, but after a few casual words, he got to the point: "Brother Zheng and Brother Qiang both have their own studios now, right? Are you interested in joining our company?"

Xu Zheng has always maintained his own studio. Wang Baoqiang previously collaborated with Huayi before leaving before the company went public. He has maintained a working relationship with Song Zhe, the publicity manager of Huayi at the time. It was only after the release of "Lost in Thailand" this year that he established his own company with Song Ximen and Ma Jinlian. He is currently still a freelancer.

Before attending the banquet, the two had anticipated that Wang Yao would extend an olive branch. Naturally, neither of them was willing to accept it, since Kanpianer.com was a new company and not a professional film and television production company, which did not seem to be of much help to their career development.

But after having dinner together and learning about the current changes in the industry, as well as the two companies under Wang Yao, Tianhuo and Xinghuo, each had their own thoughts.

If, as Ren Quan suggests, the way the industry divides its profits changes in the future, companies like Kanpianer.com, which can dominate both marketing and box office operations, will become an insurmountable obstacle for artists who want to pursue a film career.

“I know about Mr. Wang’s company. Their variety show ‘Fairy Robe’ is very popular. My wife tells me about it every day. If I were to join them, I wonder what the cooperation would look like?” Xu Zheng asked with a smile.

“Being affiliated is just a formality. We generally don’t actively interfere with the development of artists who are not directly under the company. We mainly cooperate on a project-first basis. For example, after ‘Lost in Thailand’ became a hit, there will definitely be a sequel. We can help you solve problems in terms of funding, channels, publicity, etc. You only need to transform and polish the script and character design,” Wang Yao explained.

Xu Zheng's eyes lit up upon hearing this. If it really was this level of 'freedom,' it would be like having a super nanny. He could completely delegate the business operations that he wasn't good at.

"However, the prerequisite for cooperation is that the project investment company must take the lion's share," Wang Yao added.

Xu Zheng smiled knowingly and said, "That's for sure. Those with money will contribute money, and those with strength will contribute strength. We'll allocate resources according to need."

“If it’s a direct contract, then the company usually has a guaranteed revenue contract. Both of them are established artists, so I guess they won’t consider it. The company will also give priority to cooperating with them on other commercial endorsements and other activities,” Wang Yao said with a smile.

"Mr. Wang, to be honest, I was actually thinking of starting a company with my wife this year." Wang Baoqiang scratched his head.

"Brother Qiang, don't misunderstand. It's just a suggestion and won't affect our future cooperation. But to be honest, your business path is basically fixed. If you want to break through again, you'll need to aim for awards. That doesn't really test the agency's ability, but rather the ability to choose scripts." Wang Yao offered a suggestion.

Wang Baoqiang is a rare talent in China, a versatile and useful supporting actor.

"By the way, I heard that Brother Zheng's daughter is two years old?" Wang Yao changed the subject.

"Oh? Right, right, my wife has temporarily retired from acting to take care of the children. To be honest, I still really need some planning and guidance on my business path," Xu Zheng said with a smile.

“Bernard and I have just started preparing a parent-child variety show. If you don’t mind, you can record a trial episode to build up your popularity for your comeback. After ‘Lost in Thailand,’ your commercial value will definitely skyrocket, and it’s time to benefit your family,” Wang Yao said with a smile.

"A parent-child variety show?" Xu Zheng scratched his head, somewhat bewildered.

Ren Quan then introduced the program format and guest lineup.

Xu Zheng was astonished after hearing this. This setup for a variety show? It's too expensive! He once again reassessed Wang Yao's abilities.

He also has a close relationship with Bernard.

"What about me?" Li Man rubbed her foot against Wang Yao's leg under the table.

"Didn't we say we were going to prepare a dance program? It's already started, and you'll be paired with Tan Yuanyuan," Wang Yao said with a light laugh.

"Tan Yuanyuan?" Xu Zheng perked up upon hearing this.

For men in Shanghai of this era, mentioning this name is practically an stimulant.

"You actually did it?" Li Man's eyes widened upon hearing this.

"Of course, I look forward to your performance on the show. If you do too badly, you might be replaced at any time," Wang Yao said with a smile.

Xu Zheng inquired about the format of the variety show and was shocked once again upon hearing about the pay and the model.

Filming can last up to two months, and you can earn almost the same income as a movie actor. All things considered, it's more lucrative than a TV series. The key point is that it doesn't require much effort; you just need to eat, drink, have fun, and showcase your acting skills.

It feels even easier to make money than doing gigs before. More importantly, "Fairy Robe" made Huang Shengyi and Zhang Meng famous, which is equivalent to providing another channel for all artists who can't make it in the TV/film industry.

Has the entertainment industry really changed drastically?

"That sounds interesting," Wang Baoqiang said, intrigued.

"By the end of this year or early next year, we're also preparing several career-themed reality shows, such as celebrities experiencing military/firefighter jobs. Brother Qiang can participate then," Wang Yao said with a smile.

"Okay, okay." Wang Baoqiang nodded with a simple smile, his eyes gleaming.

Although he has become very popular in recent years, he has not earned much money in the commercial endorsement field because he is honest and cherishes his reputation. His movie salary is only at the second-tier level, and his TV drama roles are relatively narrow, so he has not earned much money.

He's willing to do variety shows if it's legitimate and allows him to make money without affecting his career plans.

In the entertainment industry, a veritable melting pot, after two years, no one dares to say they aren't interested in money.

"The economic situation is expected to be good in the next few years, which will increase the demand for travel. Road trips like 'Lost in Thailand' are the most suitable genre for integrating travel content. We are preparing another travel variety show, 'Sister Flower,' and have chosen Hong Kong as the location."
"If Zheng Ge decides to sign with us, the company plans to immediately launch the sequel 'Lost in Hong Kong.' The two films working together might just bring another box office surge. The key point is that sponsorships are easy to secure, and the two actors' salaries will also see a significant increase, solidifying their star power," Wang Yao continued, throwing out the bait.

Xu Zheng and Wang Baoqiang exchanged a glance. Although they felt emotionally that making a sequel to "Lost in Thailand" so soon after its box office success seemed like a cash grab, they were also very rational. They knew that the next sequel would definitely have a chance to break 100 million yuan at the box office, just look at the "Ip Man" series.

And most importantly, Wang Yao's claim of a pay raise is really tempting.

"If my senior brother's salary for his next movie breaks ten million, he will become the first actor in mainland China to earn over ten million in salary." Ren Quan threw out another bait.

He understands Xu Zheng's needs better than Wang Yao does.

It is recognition, status, and respect; his years of seclusion in his early years have instilled in him a deep-seated longing for these.

Sure enough, Xu Zheng's eyes reddened upon hearing this. The first mainland Chinese film star to achieve a box office of tens of millions, surpassing Ge You.

"I'll go back and discuss it with my wife. She'll definitely be interested in that parenting reality show, being able to exchange baby care tips with so many new friends." Xu Zheng swallowed hard, forcing himself to remain calm as he changed the subject.

Having experienced the lowest point in life, one should remain cautious when faced with temptation.

The group then chatted for a while about the post-production promotional arrangements for "Lost in Thailand" and variety show projects before ending the dinner.

Xu Zheng and Wang Baoqiang still hope to avoid major conflicts with people in the industry, after all, they both have a reputation for being nice guys.

Ren Quan, being very perceptive, saw the two off, leaving only Wang Yao and Li Man in the private room.

"Where are you going? I'll give you a ride," Wang Yao said with a smile.

"Wouldn't it be embarrassing for you if Mr. Wang didn't interview and test my dance skills?" Li Man smiled charmingly and bent down to demonstrate.

“I saw it in the office before,” Wang Yao said with a smile.

"That was just a basic demonstration. I still have some professional pieces to perform for President Wang," Li Man said with a charming laugh.

Wang Yao sighed; it seemed he would have to work overtime tonight.

"Let's go on."

Feng Xiaopao waited all night but didn't receive an official online response from "Lost in Thailand," nor did he get an offline exchange with Xu Zheng and Wang Baoqiang. This feeling of being ignored really annoyed him.

What's wrong with the entertainment industry? Don't they even know what respecting teachers and elders means anymore?!
Xu Zheng is just a junior. He not only disparaged his seniors without informing them, but now that things have blown up, he's not even going to come forward to explain.
Don't they have any manners at all?

"If you ask me, you're just bored. It's good that Xiao Xu's box office is high; it shows that there's still a market for comedies," Ge You said, drinking with him.

"High box office? Fifty million is considered high box office? Not to mention that he's just fooling outsiders, how did he get these box office figures? Do you think he can hide it from me?"

"That brat Ren Quan spent a lot of money on him. Buying movie tickets and getting free milk, what a genius! He can even come up with this kind of promotion. From now on, the box office won't be called 'watered down,' it'll be called 'milk-added'!" Feng Xiaopao laughed and cursed.

"The audience isn't stupid. Do you think they'd buy a movie ticket for 40 or 50 yuan just to save a few dollars?" Ge You rolled his eyes.

Feng Xiaopao is a good person in every way, except that he is too petty. Even at his age, he is still like an angry young man, finding fault with everything. With the world changing so much, his personality will offend people sooner or later.

"It's because there are so many idiots in China that trashy movies run rampant. Ever since the Lunar New Year, those two terrible movies by Wang Jing have been touted as masterpieces. This unhealthy trend is wrong. That bastard Ren Quan wants to ruin Chinese cinema!" Feng Xiaopao angrily denounced.

“Sigh, you can say this to me, but you can’t say it out loud. If Chinese cinema can be ruined because of one person, then it has no reason to exist. The earth can keep turning without anyone. I’m telling you, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. The future of Chinese cinema does not belong to you or me,” Ge You advised gently.

"If we elders don't set good rules, our descendants will go astray!" Feng Xiaopao said angrily.

Ge You clicked his tongue, thinking to himself, "You don't seem that pretty either."

"No matter what, the movie streaming website has indeed made a significant contribution to the box office market. Look how convenient it is to sell tickets now. Our film 'Tang Zhen' is coming out next month, so don't cause any trouble at this time," Ge You said in a deep voice.

"What do you mean by stirring up trouble? I'm calling this setting things right. Besides, we pay them for publicity and distribution, would they dare to pull any dirty tricks behind our backs? Even without publicity, our movie's box office wouldn't be bad, because it's a good product," Feng Xiaopao sneered.

“Yes, yes, we’re filming something good,” Ge You chimed in.

"Tsk, sigh, will we ever have to put up with these lousy ticket sellers one day?" Feng Xiaopao suddenly frowned.

"I don't think so. As long as the film is good enough, no one will turn down money. Besides, you should hope that these theater chains will do better and better and expand overseas, so that we can try our luck abroad," Ge You said with a smile.

"No, that's not how it works. Cinemas and ticket sellers should depend on us for their livelihood. Now it's all reversed. The core of the film industry should be the works themselves, right?" Feng Xiaopao slammed his hand on the table, his intoxicated expression clearing up.

Ge You was startled, wondering what kind of trouble he was up to now.

"I'm planning to team up with some of the best directors in the industry and learn from the unions in Hollywood. From now on, good films will be made based on who's in charge, so that these theaters and ticket sellers will know who's the boss!" Feng Xiaopao's tone was calm and deliberate, yet it had a hint of madness.

"Don't be silly." Ge You rolled his eyes.

I think Feng Xiaopao's mental state is very abnormal.

When did it start?

Oh, it seems to have been since the last time I was criticized by hundreds of thousands of netizens.

The internet is really harmful.

June 6.7th is the National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao), the second most important day in China after National Day.

With a great commotion of gongs and drums, Uncle led the way.

Early this morning, major social media platforms were dominated by various reports related to the college entrance examination. Under such a major event, news related to "Lost in..." had to be postponed.

Amidst a flurry of trending topics such as "Students forget their admission tickets, and acts of kindness are passed on," "Parents braved the rain to take their children to the exam site during a regional downpour," and "The first high school graduate to leave the exam hall," the search results were filled with similar stories.

A news article was published in a local print media outlet in Yuzhou.

'Mixue College Entrance Exam Support Station: A local tea brand in Yuzhou, offering free support stations outside hundreds of exam venues throughout Yuzhou, providing Mixue lemonade and ice cream to parents waiting outside.'

This news initially only spread locally in Yuzhou, sparking considerable discussion, because there are over 900,000 students taking the college entrance examination in Yuzhou this year, meaning Mixue Gas Station is essentially losing tens of thousands of yuan every day doing charity work.

This local brand, which originally developed stealthily in a small street shop, appeared for the first time as a "nouveau riche" brand among parents and students in Yuzhou.

The newly designed Snow King IP is adorable, and coupled with the affordable products, it quickly became a local bestseller, with Mixue's franchise inquiry hotline being overwhelmed with calls that day.

During the three days of the college entrance examination in Yuzhou, the large mascot of Xue Wang accompanied the parents for three days. Although the popularity of the mascot attracted many elderly people who wanted to eat and drink for free, the original budget of several hundred thousand yuan was reduced to nearly one million yuan.

However, there is no doubt that Mixue has indeed made a name for itself in the local area.

After the National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao), the "Gaokao Season" campaign spearheaded by Kanpianer.com gave a strong boost to the national box office. "Lost in..." broke 10 million yuan in box office revenue on the same day, surpassing "Gun King" to become the third highest-grossing film on the day, after "Steel 2" and "Leaf 2".

The low-budget film "Lost in Thailand" has really put its peers on edge after grossing over 20 million yuan in just 5 days.

Amidst a flurry of trending topics related to the college entrance exam and those surrounding the movie "Lost in...", a new trending topic has emerged.

Why is there no Mixue (a popular Chinese beverage) near my school?

The trending topic originated from Gulnazar, who is hailed as the most beautiful college entrance exam taker, forwarding news from Mixue's college entrance exam support station on MSN.

She already had a certain fan base because of "Fairy Robe", and this time she took advantage of the college entrance examination to directly attract the attention of students. Michelle's news quickly spread to various student platforms such as Tieba, Renren.com, and Penguin Space.

At first, the students were just envious of the good treatment of the candidates from Yuzhou. The candidates from Yuzhou did not expect that they would also gain a sense of superiority from this. They started to share the taste of Mixue products online. The 2-yuan ice cream cone, the 3-yuan lemonade, and the 5-yuan fruit tea made the candidates from other places drool.

This topic resurfaced, but the cinemas under the Kanpian.com network also benefited. Out of curiosity about the taste, netizens from other regions went to taste it offline and also watched a movie called "Lost in...".

In the early days when the internet was not yet sensitive to sponsored content, the effectiveness of this advertisement was undeniable. Mixue, which was originally only a small hit in Yuzhou, suddenly became a nationwide sensation, and the Mixue company was overwhelmed with franchise inquiries.

In the end, Zhang Hongchao had no choice but to ask Wang Yao for help, and temporarily borrowed a large number of customer service staff to alleviate the pressure of business development.

Mixue's first flagship store was still under renovation, and even though the starting franchise fee of 20 yuan deterred many people, there were still hundreds of people who wanted to pay the franchise deposit. Zhang Hongchao now understands why Wang Yao took the franchise recruitment so lightly back then.

Although they spent millions on marketing, it feels like they could earn it all back with just one wave of franchise profits. That's why they're able to build such a large company.

Because Michelle's trending topic was an isolated incident, it was pushed down by other topics in less than half a day, but it was enough to recoup the cost.

Wang Yao's focus remains on managing the aftermath of the variety show and "Lost in Thailand".

Just as I was about to have another chat with Jobona, I suddenly received a call from Naza.

"Brother, help me!"

(End of this chapter)