This director is so innocent.

Chapter 99 Red-hot

"How did you learn about me? From your books? From your movies?"

"No, we started liking you after watching your TV dramas."

"A TV series? What TV series?"

"The TV series 'Struggle'! Don't you know it?"

Su Jin was slightly taken aback. She had been so busy lately that she had even forgotten that "Struggle" was airing on Shanghai TV.

Before the premiere of "Struggle", a press conference was held, but he was filming at the time, so he just recorded a short video clip.

Then I went to Cannes, but I got so busy that I forgot about it.

The show aired on May 16th, the day after he went to Cannes, and it's almost at the finale now.

As for the specific data, it is not yet clear.

However, judging from the fact that these fans spontaneously came to pick up the show at the airport, the show's popularity should be no less than that of the original timeline.

"This is a pedestrian walkway, we can't block it here. Let's talk over there," Su Jin said, pointing to an open space not far away.

After saying that, he turned and walked in that direction.

Once the young fans saw that their idols had left, they naturally stopped lingering there.

Soon, a group of people followed Su Jin to the open space.

"Master Jin".

Upon arrival, a girl of about seventeen or eighteen years old excitedly held up a bouquet of flowers and offered it to Su Jin.

When Su Jin heard this address, the corner of her mouth twitched slightly.

What kind of nickname is this? It's so cringeworthy!

"I'll accept the flowers, but please don't call me 'Master Jin' anymore, it's too much," Su Jin said as she accepted the flowers.

"Why? We all think 'Master Jin' suits you perfectly. He's both domineering and gentle. We spent a long time discussing it before we came up with this idea," the girl said persistently.

Su Jin shook her head and smiled. Oh well, let them be!

"Do you need autographs?"

"Yes!" The girls, hearing that they would be given autographs, pulled out notebooks, photos, Su Jin's novels, and other items from their bags.

Some of the bolder ones even took out their bras.

Su Jin signed autographs for them one by one, saying as she did so, "The weather is terribly hot, so please don't come to pick me up at the airport anymore."

"That won't do! If you don't pick them up at the airport, it'll make you look like you're not famous!"

You've really thought this through.

"It's okay, I let my work speak for itself, these things are just formalities. Just support my work more in the future."

"We will support your work, and we will also accept your invitations."

"I feel so sorry for you coming to pick me up in the sweltering heat! What if you get heatstroke or something happens to you? How can I face your parents?"

These words deeply moved the young fans, who felt that their idol was so kind and cared so much for them.

However, the things they said were still very unpleasant.

"Master Jin, don't worry about us, we'll take good care of ourselves."

"Yes! We'll be careful on the road."

"Exactly, what we do is none of your business; all you're responsible for is making it look good."

The little fan is really stubborn.

Su Jinzhen really wanted to say that idols should pay the price for their fans' actions.

If any of them gets into trouble because of their idol worship, and their rivals hype it up, their reputation will definitely be severely affected.

Our fan site administrator got dragged into this mess because fans reported the website!

Of course, information is not readily available now, so even if something happens, one can return to work after a few months of rest.

But he didn't want such a stain on his life!

Twenty minutes later, the signatures for fifty or sixty fans were done, except for the bra.

To commemorate her first time being greeted by fans at the airport, Su Jin took a group photo with them.

Afterwards, Xiaoying took them to the nearby convenience store to buy water, drinks, and popsicles.

By this time, Zhang Guoli and Yu Nan had already left.

Seeing that Su Jin was signing autographs, he didn't disturb her and greeted Huang Jiaqiang.

Zhong Li went straight home.

Su Jin and the others returned to the company and rested for a while. In the afternoon, he went to China Film Group to report the situation in Cannes to Zuo Shandiao.

Then he went to Xinbaoyuan to find out about the situation of "Struggle" and talked with Ding Xin for two or three hours. He finally understood the situation.

He's really become famous this time, not just among middle school students, but nationwide.

If you walk down the street and randomly pick ten young people, all ten will know him; even a hundred will know him; and a thousand will still have nine hundred people who know him.

After "Struggle" premiered on Shanghai TV, its ratings were only average for the first three days, remaining at around 3%.

The TV series "Struggle" caused a huge sensation just one week after it aired. If you have Zhihu now, you can ask questions on it.

If you were to ask which TV series was the most popular in May, a bunch of answers below would tell you it was "Struggle".

After the premiere of "Struggle", the ratings for the first three days were not particularly good, only average, remaining at around three percent.

This is normal; any TV series without big stars will not have high ratings when it first airs.

A week after the show started airing, many netizens began discussing it online, especially on Tianya Forum, where the discussion was very lively.

It received both praise and criticism, making it a mixed bag.

The viewership ratings for "Struggle" continued to climb amidst the heated debate between the two sides, rising from an initial 2.7%.

From the current 7.8%.

During the middle of the run of the second and third rounds of broadcasting of "Struggle", the doorstep of Xinbaoyuan was overwhelmed by television stations vying to buy the rights.

According to Ding Xin, the second round of sales was sold to five television stations, totaling 120 million yuan per episode. "Struggle" has 32 episodes, totaling 38...

40 million.

The tricycles were sold to provincial TV stations that were not doing well, such as those in Jiangxi, Northeast China, and Shandong.

It sold to 13 stores in total, with each episode selling for 80 copies, which is 2560 million.

This is the earning power of a drama king.

After that, those local TV stations will probably also sell 200,000 copies per episode.

Some memorable lines from the TV series "Struggle" have become popular internet phrases.

"If I were poor my whole life, would you still love me?"

"All I know is that I felt most satisfied when I was completely fooled by you."

"A person may forget many good deeds he has done in his life, but when he gets old, he will really remember the bad deeds he has done."

Some of the behaviors depicted in the show have even become popular in real life.

For example, Zhongnanhai cigarettes have become the most popular cigarette among young people.

Polo shirts must be worn with the collar popped up.

Of course, with the show becoming a hit, the actors naturally became famous as well.

Su Jin's salary went from 20,000 yuan per episode to 120,000 yuan per episode, making her a highly sought-after but unavailable talent.

His name ranks first on Baidu's daily celebrity search list, far ahead of the competition.

The other lead actors also quickly rose to the top of the list of popular male and female stars, and Commander Ma received a ton of film offers, so many that she couldn't choose them all.

The other main actors were in a similar situation. Luo Jin, who was relatively unknown, became widely known thanks to his role as Hua Zi, and experienced the feeling of being famous.

It's said that the rest of his classmates were incredibly envious, calling him to ask him out for meals, and even a female senior student approached him wanting to exchange ideas about art.

Su Jin became a hit, and the sales of her novel also soared.

The novel "Struggle" sold over 2.6 million copies, and the sales of the other novels also increased significantly.

The first volume of the new book "Psychological Crime", released on May 1st, is a huge hit.

The first print run was one million copies, of which half a million were sold, making it the number one best-selling social science book in China.

Upon seeing this, Shen Haobo immediately notified the factory to urgently print an additional 500,000 copies.

His personal Baidu Tieba followers surged from over 30,000 to 130,000, and the number continues to rise daily.

There were also a bunch of scripts, gigs, endorsements, and commercial performances. Semir offered a two-year endorsement contract worth 1500 million yuan.

The currently filming series "W - Two Worlds" has attracted inquiries from more than a dozen TV stations, with the deep-pocketed Hunan TV offering a sky-high price of 70 yuan per episode.

However, Su Jin did not agree. Firstly, the post-production work would probably be completed by late October, which would give him enough time to further boost his popularity.

Secondly, he wanted to sell a drama on four different channels to become a top star.

The scriptwriter also wrote a new script based on "Struggle" called "Who Decides My Youth", and wanted Su Jin to star in it.

They also said that the pay was negotiable, the investment was negotiable, and they could even put people in the deal.

However, he still refused.

"My Youth, My Choice" had good ratings, peaking at 9.8% and averaging 6%, and was broadcast on CCTV-1.

But acting in these kinds of youth dramas is pointless. I'd rather use that time to act in an idol drama.

Although the actors' contracts were not agreed upon, Ding Xin, in order to deepen his relationship with Su Jin, still had him invest 30% and included Luo Jin and Lu Fangsheng in the cast.

Luo Jin played the role of Zhu Yuchen, and Lu Fangsheng played Gao Qi, the doctor.

A 30% investment share is already quite good; projects with a grand outline are always highly sought after by people in the industry.

Moreover, in such highly profitable projects, the owners usually take more than 50%, leaving only 30% or 40% for outsiders.

For example, in this project, Xinbaoyuan took 50%, Jianmu Media took 30%, and the last 20% went to its long-term strategic partner, Shanghai Film Group.

Besides Su Jin, the biggest beneficiary of "Struggle" is none other than Ge Meimei, who is even more popular than the female lead, Commander Ma.

From being relatively unknown figures in the entertainment industry, they became household names overnight, truly achieving fame and recognition across the land.

The character of Mi Lai is very likable.

She's radiant; she forgave her best friend who stole her boyfriend, and she forgave the man who abandoned her.

She's not stubborn or pretentious; her openness, generosity, and tolerance are rare qualities, and she's also quite beautiful!

It fulfills all of a man's fantasies about a rich, beautiful, and successful woman.

So, you guys must eat really well!

Why do I think Ge Meimei isn't pretty?

Ge Meimei's ability to land the role of "Qian Xiaoyang" in "My Youth, My Choice" is largely due to her role as "Mi Lai".

Because Qian Xiaoyang is a carbon copy of Mi Lai, equally carefree, straightforward, and naive—

However, Qian Xiaoyang's background is not that of a rich girl, but rather that of an ordinary girl from a regular family.

Ge Meimei also became the most popular star in 2009 with the role of "Qian Xiaoyang", and thus became the "Golden Eagle Goddess" the following year.

"Sample probiotics, I am a sample, this is who I am."

This summer, another TV series also generated tremendous buzz.

That is "Soldiers Sortie," which was initially ignored but was then broadcast a second time by Beijing TV.

It not only made Wang Baoqiang the cover figure of the 2007 Women's Day magazine, but also boosted the military-themed genre.

2007年第四季度至2008年1月共4个月的时间内，备案的军旅题材作品就有23

unit.

Then came a series of great shows such as "My Chief and My Regiment", "Chinese Brothers", and "I Am a Special Forces Soldier".

Olive green has also secured a firm foothold on the sand table of China's film and television industry.

"Struggle" had similar popularity to "Soldiers Sortie" and was several times more effective at creating stars, but its scope was smaller.

No matter how popular it becomes, it's still a youth idol drama, unlike "Soldiers Sortie," which is inherently politically correct.

Various official media outlets and Party newspapers personally stepped in to promote "Soldiers' Assault," leaving no stone unturned.

CCTV's recruitment segment used footage of Xu Sanduo's憨笑 (a simple, honest smile) to describe the process.

However, if we're talking about the highest viewership ratings, we have to look at "Golden Wedding," which is scheduled to air in September; that's truly phenomenal.

It swept across both northern and southern markets, achieving a peak viewership of 20% and an average viewership of 13%.

Is Su Jin happy?

Nonsense, who wouldn't be happy to become famous?

I've worked myself to the bone for four or five years, all for fame and money!

Don't call it art, it's vulgar.

His sole purpose in entering the entertainment industry was to make money, make money, and make money again.

Of course, the art of communication is also part of it.

However, we must not be arrogant.

He's only currently experiencing a surge in popularity; if his subsequent works are inconsistent, his popularity will inevitably decline.

The next day, the film crew.

-

The sun was shining brightly, a gentle breeze was blowing, and the air was filled with the faint fragrance of flowers and the scent of grass.

Su Jin appeared on set in casual clothes, smiling with an irrepressible smile in her eyes.

"Hey—our great director and superstar are back!"

As soon as Su Jin stepped onto the set, he heard a teasing voice. Looking up, he saw Gao Yuanyuan walking towards him with a smile.

Gao Yuanyuan wore a white dress today, with her long hair flowing down her shoulders, her makeup exquisite, and her smile bright and charming.

She walked over to Su Jin, gently patted Su Jin's shoulder, and teased, "I heard that when you got off the plane yesterday, you were surrounded by fans."

"It's an exaggeration to say it was packed to the brim, but those fans were really enthusiastic—" Su Jin said with a smile.

That's the downside of being famous; you lose all your privacy.

When he got out of the car, he saw many reporters and paparazzi waiting at the entrance of the film set, as well as some fans.

"You really don't know how lucky you are! Look at me, I've been acting for so many years, but I haven't had as much success as one of your dramas." Gao Yuanyuan's tone was tinged with envy and emotion.

Despite having been in the industry for many years and having starred in one or two blockbuster works, she is still a force to be reckoned with.

But in terms of popularity, she really isn't as popular as Su Jin now.

During the period when "Struggle" became a hit, Su Jin's fans surrounded the entrance of the film crew every day.

And what about hers?

Almost none.

"Sister Yuanyuan, I was just lucky, a blind cat stumbled upon a dead mouse," Su Jin replied humbly.

After all, his life was like a cheat code, so there was really nothing to be proud of. "Was 'The Coffin in the Mountain' just a lucky break?" Gao Yuanyuan looked at Su Jin with a half-smile, her tone tinged with mockery.

It's really —

Why block someone out of their speech?

Su Jin shrugged, spread her hands, and said confidently and calmly, "Okay! I admit, I am a genius."

Upon hearing this, Gao Yuanyuan was taken aback. She gently patted Su Jin's shoulder and scolded her playfully, "Get lost."

"Ouch." Su Jin took a few steps back, pretending to be in a lot of pain.

Just then, Luo Jin, Lu Fangsheng, and two staff members ran over with handheld firework tubes and started firing them at Su Jin.

Fireworks soared into the sky, startling Su Jin.

"A warm welcome to Director Su Jin, returning with honors."

The main cast and crew members spoke loudly, and thunderous applause rang out on set.

Su Jin shook her head helplessly and smiled bitterly. Who put all this together?

It's kind of awkward.

That's what he was thinking, but he still clasped his hands together and bowed slightly to express his gratitude.

After all, it's everyone's good intention, so we can't spoil everyone's fun.

After the lively atmosphere, the main members of the production team stepped forward, offered their congratulations, and exchanged a few pleasantries.

Then, Su Jin and Wang Ying went to the monitor to learn about the filming situation over the past ten days.

During his absence, filming proceeded normally without any unexpected incidents, and everything was filmed according to plan.

In the afternoon, Huang Jiaqiang and Zhao Shan arrived.

"Boss, you're really dedicated! You just got back and you're already back at work without even taking a break," Huang Jiaqiang said.

"I'm taking a break, so you're paying me!" Su Jin retorted irritably. This had already taken thirteen or fourteen days, and with a few more days of rest, filming would probably wrap up in mid-to-late July.

"Speak! You two came here together, what do you want with me?"

"The release date of 'The Coffin in the Mountain'! There's a lot of interest in 'The Coffin in the Mountain' right now. Shouldn't we take advantage of this buzz and set a release date?" Huang Jiaqiang said.

"What time do you think would be good?"

"September, or the National Day holiday."

"What's the reason?"

"In June, July, and August, there's a Hollywood blockbuster released every month. If we want to get good box office results, we can only release it after September."

What happened to the promised "domestic product protection month"?

What is Zuo Shandiao up to?

Su Jin pondered for a moment and then asked, "Which Hollywood blockbusters are included?"

「6月12号《加勒比海盗3》上映，7月11号《变形金刚》上映，8月10号《哈利波特5》上映。」

Su Jin frowned. Two film series and one big IP, each box office over 100 million yuan, and the key point is that they are all concentrated in the middle of the month, which is completely leaving no way for domestic films to survive.

What movies are showing during the National Day holiday?

"Currently, three films have been scheduled for release: Jiang Wen's 'The Sun Also Rises' will be released on September 14th, Tsui Hark and Du Qifeng's 'Triangle' will be released on National Day, and Jiang Guomin's 'The Sniper and the Strategist' will be released on October 19th."

"The Sun Also Rises" had great momentum, but it was a money-loser. It cost 50 million to produce, but only grossed 18 million at the box office.

"Triangle" is alright, but that's about it; nothing to worry about.

"The Sniper and the Strategist" is a terrible movie, a money-loser, nobody watched it, and it didn't even gross 300 million at the box office.

"Our film will be released on October 1st."

OK.

Su Jin looked at Zhao Shan and asked, "Zhao Shan, what do you want to see me about?"

"Boss, these are the scripts the company has received recently, all of which are for you to star in." Zhao Shan handed seven or eight scripts to Su Jin.

Su Jin took the script, glanced at it, and immediately frowned. "My Struggle," "Youth,"

"Blooming Youth" and "Fleeting Time" —

It's all just copycat works; not a single one is good.

"Anything else?"

"No, these eight are the ones I selected." Zhao Shan quietly put the scripts away and then started talking about the endorsement.

"Boss, Santana wants you to be their spokesperson, as do Pantene, Head & Shoulders, and Tissot watches—"

Su Jin listened for a while and then realized something was wrong. Why were they all from China?

"Aren't there any international or top luxury brands?"

"Boss, you're just a sudden sensation right now. In terms of actual popularity, you should be at the peak of the second tier. These brands will only come knocking on your door once you reach the first tier."

Su Jin thought about it and felt that it made sense. After all, this is not the era of traffic now, so it is normal for those brands not to care about him.

We still need to work harder!

"Get me a clothing endorsement, something expensive, preferably ten million a year. Nothing else for now."

"What about Semir, Yishion, and Jeanswest?"

"Can."

"OK, I'll contact them when I get back." Zhao Shan added, "Boss, quite a few magazines want you to shoot their covers, what do you think—"

"Will you pay?"

"Ah!" Zhao Shan was a little confused.

Su Jin could tell from her expression that she wasn't going to pay. "If you're not going to pay, then I'm not filming."

He's busy with his schedule lately, writing novels and screenplays, so he doesn't have time to film this junk; it's completely useless.

Unless Time magazine asks him to be photographed.

"Alright, is there anything else? If not, go back and prepare the promotional plan for 'The Coffin in the Mountain', and show it to me in a week."

"That's all." The two shook their heads, stood up, and said, "Boss, we'll head back now. You can continue filming."

"Okay, go ahead!" Su Jin said, then suddenly remembered something and called out to the two of them.

"Come over again tonight, let's have dinner together, I have something to tell you."

"What is it, boss? Can't you tell me now?"

"It's hard to explain in a short time." Su Jin saw Xiao Ying coming over and stood up, saying, "Alright, you guys go back first! I have to go filming."

Huang Jiaqiang and Zhao Shan exchanged glances, and Huang Jiaqiang spoke up, "Zhao Shan, what do you think the boss wants to talk to us about?"

"I don't know, but judging from the boss's tone just now, it's probably something big."

Huang Jiaqiang fell into deep thought, wondering what important matter could have made them both come all this way.

"Don't think about it anymore, you'll find out tonight."

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