This celebrity is overly enthusiastic!

Chapter 144 Shan Cai looked like a country girl in comparison.

The third installment of "My Fair Princess," titled "Heaven and Earth," premiered exclusively on Hunan TV in early July.

As a national-level TV series that launched the careers of Zhao Yanzi, Lin Xinru, and Fan Binbin—three of the most popular actresses in China today—the sequel is naturally eagerly anticipated by countless TV viewers across the country.

However, the results after the broadcast were not satisfactory. It's not that the ratings were bad; on a local station like Hunan TV, it achieved an average viewership rating of nearly 12%, making it a shoo-in for the annual championship.

However, with the exception of a few main actors, the entire cast was replaced, and the plot style shifted from the heartwarming and humorous tone of the first two installments to a more tragic and heart-wrenching one.

The critical reception was highly controversial, and it couldn't compare to the first two installments at all. For a filmmaker with the influence of Qiong Yao, this was essentially a disappointing ending.

Yang Mi really disliked "Heaven and Earth" because it was too heart-wrenching and tragic.

I don't know how the plot was written. The righteous and righteous Xiao Yanzi became submissive and miserable. He Shuhuan married Zhihua as a concubine, which almost made her die of anger.

But I still watched the whole show that my mom both loved and hated, while she cried every day. After getting through this tough time, we were finally able to eat something delicious!

The mainland version of "Meteor Garden," starring Huang Shengyi, a rising star heavily promoted by the Yuan Universe, and An Zhijie, titled "Let's Watch the Meteor Shower Together," has been promoted by Hunan TV for almost half a month.

In fact, it's not just many fans of Huang Shengyi and An Zhijie, as well as drama fans who don't mind a remake of "Meteor Garden," who are looking forward to it.

Many industry insiders are also keeping an eye on this series from the Metaverse.

Youth idol dramas are a weak link in current mainland Chinese dramas, and their development faces multifaceted pressures and challenges.

Mainland Chinese film and television production has a long tradition of realism, and the social culture is relatively cautious about accepting overly fantastical or unrealistic narratives.

Although shows from the 90s like "Seventeen Years Old Don't Cry" and "Love Will Carry On" tell stories of young students played by a group of young actors, these dramas are all realistic in nature.
It can be called a youth drama, but it is still somewhat different from youth idol dramas.

However, the market for youth idol dramas is indeed huge. Currently, the industry mainly draws on the creative concepts, production standards, and business models of idol dramas from Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, which have already achieved success in this field.

Metaverse was one of the first film and television companies in mainland China to experiment with youth idol dramas after the turn of the millennium.

However, "Love Courtyard" is a very special TV series that brings together all the elements of a youth idol drama.

I don't know where Metaverse got such a group of amazing screenwriters; they've mastered almost all the essence of the classic American sitcom "Friends."
It also incorporates the lives and growth of young people in China, as well as popular online jokes and anecdotes.

Initially, its influence was not apparent, but with repeated reruns of "Love Courtyard," it has now gained popularity and acclaim among young people.

This drama is not very useful for reference. Many film and television companies have tried to create something similar, but they have been stuck on the scriptwriting stage.

I wonder if there are any particularly shameless translation groups that directly translate the plot of "Friends" and film it.

Several domestically produced youth idol dramas have indeed emerged this year.

In early April, CCTV-8 broadcast "A Match Made in Heaven" starring Lu Yi and Lin Xinru, which achieved the highest ratings in its time slot.

There's also "Red Apple Paradise," which aired in July. Although it was a poor imitation of "Meteor Garden," it still managed to get some viewership.

The film and television industry values ​​the metaverse of "Meteor Shower" the most.

In terms of fashion and styling, Chen Yuan's abilities have always been convincing. Back in 99, he was able to revive Fan Binbin's popularity with just one advertisement.

In "Legend of the Seven Swords," he used various tricks to show off his girlfriend and his aesthetic sense in makeup to the national audience, just like a peacock.

The published "Seven Swords Makeup and Styling Manual" has indeed benefited many costume drama production teams in the industry. By copying it, they only need to make some simple modifications and change some accessories to achieve good results.

Perhaps this drama can also bring some replicable fashion elements to the industry.

Of course, what people want to learn is not just Chen Yuan's aesthetic sense and makeup.

"Meteor Shower" is an authorized remake, not a sitcom that is impossible for anyone to copy.

The product placements brought in tens of millions of yuan from hundreds of manufacturers, which has long since recouped the production costs several times over.

Everyone is truly envious of the prestigious position that Metaverse holds in the minds of business owners.

Other shows can't be copied, but "Meteor Shower" is different from "Seven Swords Legend". Surely other shows can't completely avoid copying the product placement methods used in this urban idol drama?

If you can learn one or two tricks and get the support of a few advertisers, the difficulty of filming a TV series will be greatly reduced.

Yang Mi took the initiative to wash the pot so that her mother wouldn't nag her while she was watching TV. Holding the remote control, she eagerly awaited the premiere of "Meteor Shower".

She wasn't a fan of "Meteor Garden." Dugu Hu was handsome, but he wasn't her type.

Yang Mi simply likes Huang Shengyi, but it's not the kind of liking a fan has for their idol.

Yang Mi simply imagines herself as Huang Shengyi, receiving the company's attention, being given heavyweight resources, and being escorted and promoted to become a big star. Whenever she has such a dream, Yang Mi feels lightheaded.

The harsh reality is that the magazine where I work as a print model doesn't even qualify me to enter the Metaverse Gate.

Yang Mi wanted to see how much Huang Shengyi could improve through this currently popular drama.

After the commercials ended, Yang Mi perked up and stared intently at the television screen.

The theme song is very similar to that of "Meteor Garden," both featuring a duet sung by the four male leads, and it's quite catchy.

Wow, Huang Shengyi looks so good in this school uniform and her side ponytail! She's even more eye-catching than Lin Wanyu in "Love Courtyard"!

The plot is rather clichéd; you can basically guess how the story will unfold just by watching the first half.
But the handsome men and beautiful women, the refreshing visuals, and the pleasant music all give you plenty of motivation to keep watching.

The two episodes finished playing quickly. Yang Mi stood up and stretched, still feeling a bit unsatisfied. Urged by her mother, she went to wash up.

Thinking of this pure and innocent girl in her exquisite and gorgeous Japanese school uniform, Huang Shengyi, how much help can Chu Yuxun give to your career!

"Meteor Shower" achieved a 2.4% viewership rating on its first day, slightly exceeding expectations, but this is understandable. "Love Courtyard" has a large fan base; many people joined in the fun when Lin Wanyu and Lu Ziqiao were dating, and quite a few people criticized it.

As a result, it was much more popular than other TV dramas that premiered at the same time. Aside from the abstract discussions among fans of "Love Courtyard," viewers and media were discussing the differences between this drama and "Meteor Garden."

This is not a remake at all, but a complete adaptation. There are both criticisms and praises, but since it just started airing, the majority of people are criticizing it.

Then there's the comparison of the cast. It's no exaggeration to say that the average looks of the actors in "Meteor Shower" completely outshone those in "Meteor Garden"!

Chu Yuxun in her yellow holy robes made Barbie Hsu's Shan Cai look like a country girl.

Moreover, the further the TV series goes, the more stark the comparisons become.

It's not that Huang Shengyi is prettier than Barbie Hsu; Barbie Hsu is only 27 this year. Okay, she is a bit older, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
The reason why Shan Cai's fans were also upset by the comparison is simple: the production standards of the two TV series are not on the same level.

The filming equipment for "Meteor Shower" was more advanced and expensive than that for "Meteor Garden," and the cinematographer and lighting technicians were veterans who had honed their skills alongside Chen Yuan since "Legend of the Seven Swords."

Even if the costumes in "Meteor Shower" were criticized in a previous life, it's still a 09 drama.
Inspired by Chen Yuan's senior stylists, the look in the TV series was transformed and upgraded, making it incredibly stylish and not at all out of place in Japan or South Korea!

The discussion surrounding the four male protagonists, each with distinct personalities and appearances, is quite heated, especially that of An Zhijie, whose public image has undergone a significant turnaround!

Even now, television stations are still broadcasting "The Legend of Seven Swords," and his portrayal of the beastly clown Dugu Hu in the series is deeply ingrained in people's minds.
When explaining the phrase "human-faced beast," you don't need to say much; just pointing to his face is enough to be convincing.

"Love Courtyard" did indeed change his image in the eyes of young viewers, but the transformation from a wolf in sheep's clothing to a dissolute playboy can only be said to have had some effect, but the effect was limited.

Now that he's playing the role of Murong Yunhai, a rebellious rich young master, there's finally hope for him!
While filming "The Book and the Sword", An Zhijie felt energized even when filming tough action scenes after learning that "Meteor Shower" was a hit!

With the TV series airing in August during the summer vacation, many parents watched "Meteor Shower" with their children and got hooked, causing the ratings to soar. After a week of airing, it even climbed to a high of 5%!
The viewership share reached 24% during the same period, and media discussion grew day by day!

More and more people are realizing that Metaverse has produced yet another hit series!

Chen Yuan, who was working hard filming at Columbia Pictures studios in Carver, California, also noticed the developments in China and casually gave the news about Yi Yi 30,000 to 50,000 views.

Although Chen Yuan didn't pay much attention to this drama, he specifically reminded the project team to optimize a large portion of the problematic parts of the original drama.

Luxury cars, watches, and other luxury goods—those that can attract sponsorships—can be secured. Even if there aren't any sponsors, Chen Yuan's connections allow him to obtain top-tier luxury items to lend to the production team as props.

Furthermore, the more exquisite costumes and props, along with the fashionable styling that was ahead of its time, made "Meteor Shower" just as high-quality as Japanese and Korean idol dramas of the same era.

As for the plot, Chen Yuan was powerless to do anything. The ridiculous lines could be replaced with more appropriate words, but the plot of idol dramas always deviates from real life.

There are indeed complaints online about the exaggerated plot and pretentious dialogue of "Meteor Shower," but they don't generate any real buzz.

Whether something is outrageous or not depends on the era. 2003 was a time when Chinese TV dramas flourished, with all sorts of bizarre and outlandish series.

Television viewers have seen a limited number of good shows, and their capacity to accept various genres of dramas is quite high.

"Ahhh, Yiyi, you're so beautiful!"

"Yiyi, you look better in ancient costumes than in modern clothes!"

"These drinks and snacks are a small token of our appreciation. They're all delicious. Yiyi, you can try some when you're resting!"

After taking photos with fans who came to visit the set of "The Book and the Sword" in Hengdian, Huang Shengyi...

Waving goodbye to the young girls who had been ruthlessly driven away by the film crew's stuntmen, I felt exceptionally good.

"I'm sorry, Director Xu, for causing you trouble. Brother Jie, could you please distribute these snacks and drinks to everyone?"

Xu Ke chuckled and said, "No trouble at all. In all my years of acting, this is the first time I've ever seen a fan bring such a huge pile of snacks to visit the set."

Xu Ke initially had some reservations about the female lead being forcibly inserted into the metaverse, but since she was someone the sugar daddy was promoting, he had already gotten used to this kind of operation.

However, when it came to actually filming, Huang Shengyi's action scenes, despite never having filmed action scenes before, did not hold her back; her dance skills were outstanding.

Her acting skills are also acceptable. She is able to portray Huo Qingtong's youthful beauty, martial arts prowess, heroic spirit, and intelligence.

Now, a metaverse-themed idol drama has boosted her and An Zhijie's popularity, which is very beneficial for the film's promotion and final box office performance.
He naturally wouldn't care about such trivial things as fans visiting him on set.

"Hehe, these fans are so cute."

Huang Shengyi smiled modestly, but she felt a sweet warmth in her heart.

These fans did indeed come to visit the Hengdian film crew on their own initiative, but the claim that it was 'spontaneous' is debatable.

This is one of the methods that Brother Yuan taught his agent, Sister Juan, to manage the fan club, which can both increase exposure and solidify the fan base.

Although I imagined myself becoming as famous as Barbie Hsu, who played Shan Cai, while filming,

But when the reality actually arrived, Huang Shengyi still found it unbelievable.

Chu Yuxun is completely different from Lin Wanyu. She has now become a nationally renowned star, and her youthful, stubborn, and innocent image has deeply impressed people.

Sure enough, as long as I do what Brother Yuan has arranged and listen to him, he can achieve what I want even more!

Although Huang Shengyi had long been following Yuan Ge's arrangements and doing things according to this idea, when the unexpected rewards came his way, he couldn't help but think of how good Yuan Ge was.

The thought of Fan Binbin and Yuan Ge filming a blockbuster in the United States made Huang Shengyi feel discouraged, but he quickly cheered up again.

You only had the advantage of going first. I've never admitted defeat like that good-for-nothing Tang Yan!

(End of this chapter)