It's reasonable for me, a stuntman, to live a crazy life, right?

Chapter 1434 Youku – The Become Industry Leader!

"Deepest condolences! The news of Zhou Haimei's passing has been confirmed. 'The Most Beautiful Zhou Zhiruo' will become an eternal classic!"

"This morning, 'Blossoms Shanghai' was launched on Youku, officially kicking off Wang Jiawei's audiovisual feast!"

"The cast of the action/war film 'Operation Jiaolong,' produced by Bona Film Group and with an investment of 5 million yuan, has been announced. A massive naval battle scene is about to make a stunning debut!"

...

Filming on the set of "The Three-Body Problem" has entered a critical stage.

The scene where Liu Yifei, playing Ye Wenjie, has her first dialogue with the Trisolaran civilization at the Red Coast Base had just been filmed. Chen Fei was staring at the monitor, reviewing the details of the footage, when he suddenly heard the hushed whispers of the crew members beside him:
"I just saw the news, it seems that actress Kathy Chow has passed away..."

"Really? I saw her sharing her daily life videos just a couple of days ago!"

"How old was she? Why did she leave so suddenly?"

"..."

These words made Chen Fei pause, and as he frowned, a strange feeling of unease settled over him.

He casually picked up his phone, opened the trending topics, and saw that the hashtag #Zhou Haimei's Passing Away# was already at the top of the list, followed by the eye-catching word "hot".

Several authoritative media outlets reposted the obituary released by his studio:

Actress Kathy Chow passed away today at the age of 57 after failing to respond to emergency treatment for a sudden illness.

Chen Fei stared at the text on the screen for a few seconds, then a wave of emotion suddenly washed over him.

At 57, an age when he should still be shining in front of the camera, he suddenly passed away.

The image of Zhou Zhiruo, the bright-eyed, white-toothed, and enigmatic character from "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber," subconsciously surfaced in his mind.

Dressed in white, her eyes held a stubbornness and a deep longing; that was the image of the "most beautiful Zhou Zhiruo" in the hearts of countless people, and also Zhou Haimei's most memorable role.

Unfortunately, we will never see this teacher, who brought so many wonderful memories, again.

At this moment, others also received the message one after another, and the noise on the set instantly subsided.

Many people sighed softly:

"This is too sudden. She said she was taking care of her health just a while ago. How could it be so fast?"

"I grew up watching her shows. Her portrayal of Zhou Zhiruo is truly a classic that cannot be surpassed."

"Alas, life is unpredictable! That's life; you never know when you'll be gone..."

Online discussions have already exploded, with topics ranging from the cause of death to stories about his life flooding social media platforms.

Regarding the cause of death, some netizens speculated that it was due to long-term lupus and poor health.

However, some insiders revealed that it was a sudden heart attack, and it was too late when he was taken to the hospital.

Although no definitive conclusion has been reached, they all point to a "sudden accident".

Many others, however, are reminiscing about her acting career.

From Li Hua in "Looking Back in Anger" to Cheng Jia Hui in "At the Threshold of an Era" and then to Consort Yang in "The Empress of China", the characters she portrayed have connected the memories of a generation of viewers.

"I used to think that Zhou Zhiruo, whom she played, was both beautiful and ruthless. But after watching her interviews, I learned that she is actually very easygoing in real life and often helps stray cats."

"She did a live stream last year, saying she wanted to try a suspense drama, but I never expected... we'll never see her new work again."

"It's such a pity that he was 57 years old. May there be no pain in heaven. May Teacher Zhou rest in peace."

Chen Fei scrolled through the comments and quickly turned off his phone.

That's how the film and television industry is; there are always people who leave a classic impression on the screen, only to suddenly leave at some unexpected moment.

He looked up at the actors on set who were preparing for the next scene and sighed softly.

Perhaps, making every film well and ensuring that the characters are remembered by the audience is the best way to show respect for this profession and to commemorate those deceased predecessors.

"All departments, get ready! Next scene, filming!"

Chen Fei composed himself and shouted into the walkie-talkie.

The sound of the cameras on set resumed, but in everyone's heart, there was a quiet longing for the "most beautiful Zhou Zhiruo".

……

The speed at which internet news changes is always astonishing.

In just a few days, the news of Kathy Chow's passing gradually faded from the trending topics list. Only her family was quietly handling the funeral arrangements, fans were silently mourning her on social media, and there was almost no discussion in the entertainment industry.

Instead, the entire internet's trending topics were completely dominated by the hit drama "Blossoms Shanghai".

This period drama, which has been in preparation for many years and is directed by Wang Jiawei, has already surpassed 10000 in popularity within just 3 days of its release on Youku, setting a new annual record for Youku drama popularity and becoming the undisputed blockbuster of the end of 2023!
Behind the show's instant popularity is the overwhelmingly positive feedback from viewers.

The acting skills of the actors in the drama, in particular, have been praised to the point of being considered "godlike"!

Hu Ge's portrayal of A Bao progresses from a naive young man arriving in Shanghai to a powerful figure in the business world, with his ambition and forbearance growing layer by layer in his eyes.

The line, delivered in a Shanghainese accent, "In business, you have to learn to lose," perfectly captured the character's江湖 (jianghu, a world of martial arts and chivalry) spirit and insightful understanding.

Xin Zhilei plays Li Li, the proprietress of Zhizhen Garden. With her red lips, curly hair, and cheongsam, she exudes an aura of "keep away" from the moment she appears.

However, the ruthlessness in business battles and the subtlety in dealing with emotions add a sense of fragmentation to the character, leading viewers to comment that "every look in his eyes is like acting!"
Tang Yan completely shattered the "naive and sweet" label, portraying Miss Wang as vibrant and passionate. Her tenacity while running her business in her braided hair and work clothes, and her tearful yet defiant demeanor when criticized, made many viewers exclaim, "I never expected Tang Tang to portray the charm and stubbornness of a Shanghai girl so well!"

What captivates the audience most is the use of Shanghainese throughout the series.

Whether it's the conversation between Boss Bao and Uncle, or the bickering between Miss Wang and her colleagues, the authentic Shanghainese accent not only restores the sense of the era but also exudes a strong sense of daily life.

Suddenly, social media platforms were filled with short videos imitating the Shanghainese dialect in the TV series "Blossoms".

Some people imitated Li Li's cool and aloof lines, while others mimicked Miss Wang's charming and innocent tone. Even Shanghai snacks like "cifantuan" and "lanhumian" became popular again.

Chen Fei would also take time to watch the TV series "The Three-Body Problem" while filming.

He especially liked Xin Zhilei's portrayal of Li Li, and would often say to Liu Yifei in private, "Xin Zhilei really brought the character of Li Li to life."

The seemingly aloof yet subtly story-filled quality she exudes is something few actors can capture; it blends feminine charm with a businesswoman's shrewdness, creating a remarkably multifaceted character.

Liu Yifei also agreed with his words.

Of course, while she agrees, it doesn't change the fact that she prefers "Miss Wang" to "Li Li".

On the contrary, although Ma Yili's character, Lingzi, had a significant role, her character lacked depth and was easily overshadowed by Tang Yan and Xin Zhilei.

In Chen Fei's opinion, the character Lingzi lacked a sense of everyday life and "street smarts".

In contrast, Miss Wang's "vibrancy" is more likely to resonate with the audience, which is a crucial point. Furthermore, You Benchang's portrayal of the uncle has been hailed by netizens as the "pillar of stability" of the entire series!
At 88 years old, You Benchang's acting skills remain solid. With just a glance and a gesture, he perfectly conveyed the old man's shrewdness and his sincere advice to A Bao.

One viewer commented very directly:
"The scene where Uncle teaches Abao how to do business is full of wisdom without a single wasted word. Teacher You Benchang just stands there and he is the epitome of an old Shanghai gentleman."

Of course, this show is not without its flaws.

Some viewers felt that Wang Jiawei's cinematography was too artistic, with too much use of slow motion, which made the plot's pace too slow.

Some people also complained that some side quests were slow and didn't keep up with the main storyline's pace.

Overall, however, these minor flaws do not affect the overall quality of the series.

Many viewers commented, "Wang Jiawei has been acting for six years, and he certainly hasn't disappointed. Whether it's the exquisite costumes, props, or the character portrayal, he deserves the word 'stunning'!"

However, as the series gained popularity, interviews with the actors were released one after another, allowing the audience to know how much effort the actors had put in behind this "amazing work".

In an interview, Hu Ge said, "The most painful thing about filming 'Blossoms Shanghai' was director Wang Jiawei's 'stream of consciousness' shooting style. I often didn't know what I was acting."

Today we're filming scenes from episode 10, but tomorrow we might suddenly be filming scenes from episode 25. The lines are also improvised on the spot; it's all about improvisation.

Tang Yan also laughed and said, "I filmed for 3 years, and I never read the script completely before filming wrapped. The director always said that I didn't need to know the ending, just follow the character's feelings. At first, I was really overwhelmed, but I gradually got used to it."

Xin Zhilei even stated frankly: "The director told me to keep the character of Li Li hidden and not to express my emotions outwardly."

There was a scene that I filmed more than 20 times, but the director was not satisfied with any of them. Finally, he said, "Just think of yourself as a stone in Zhizhen Garden. You have no emotions, but you can see through everything." Only then did I suddenly find the feeling.

Looking back now, I feel that the 'suffering' experience was absolutely worth it.

As soon as these interviews were released, netizens immediately thought of the "time-consuming masterpieces" that Wang Jiawei had previously directed.

Immediately, everyone started listing the works and actors he had "polished" in the comments section.

When filming "Days of Being Wild" in its early years, the main actors, including Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung, filmed for 10 months. The script was revised as filming progressed, and in the end, Tony Leung's scenes were significantly cut, but this unexpectedly led to the classic "solo dance scene" at the end of the film.

Filming "2046" spanned five years! Actors like Zhang Ziyi and Gong Li came and went, and some actors only discovered their scenes had been completely cut after six months of filming!

Zhang Ziyi later recalled with a joke: "Filming Wang Jiawei's movies is like opening a blind box; you never know what will happen next."

What impressed netizens the most was "The Grandmaster".

It took a full 12 years from the preparation to the release of this film.

Tony Leung secluded himself for three years to practice Wing Chun, and Cheung Tsz-yee also practiced Baguazhang diligently. Towards the end of filming, she even forgot her original character setting.

Wang Jiawei's film crew is like a time black hole; you go in as a young actor and come out as a senior.

Chen Fei completely agreed with these words!
He clearly remembers seeing news reports that Zhang Zhen learned Bajiquan for the film "The Grandmaster," but only made a few appearances in the film.

There's also Takeshi Kaneshiro who ate over 30 cans of pineapple until he vomited while filming "Chungking Express"...

It's no exaggeration to say that actors who can withstand Wang Jiawei's filming have truly exceptional mental fortitude.

While the entire internet was abuzz with discussions about Wang Jiawei's "slow and meticulous work," Youku emerged as the biggest winner.

Thanks to the immense popularity of "Blossoms Shanghai," the platform not only saw over 100 million views in a single day, but also experienced a geometric surge in new members.

According to third-party data, within a week of the series' release, Youku gained over 800 million new members, setting a new record for the highest membership growth driven by a TV series in recent years.

What followed was a surge in stock price!

Shares of Youku's parent company have risen for three consecutive trading days, with a cumulative increase of over 15%, adding nearly 10 billion yuan to its market value!

As Youku's largest shareholder, Chen Fei undoubtedly made a fortune.

Although he was focused on filming "The Three-Body Problem" and didn't pay special attention to the stock price, the data reported by his assistant every day was enough to tell the whole story.

"Chairman Chen, according to the internal analysts' assessment, Youku's leading position in the video platform market has been officially established."

"it is good!"

Chen Fei nodded in satisfaction.

Longxiang Cinema + Youku + Maoyan + Douyin...

With this combination of punches, who can stop it?
However, Youku's success has put enormous pressure on its competitors such as iQiyi, Tencent Video, and Mango TV.

Especially iQiyi.

The two films that were the main producers of the Lunar New Year film season have both been declared box office flops, causing the stock price to continue to fall.

Seeing Youku achieve a double harvest of memberships and stock price with just one drama now makes it look even more pathetic in comparison.

An industry insider analyzed that: "iQiyi is now in a 'content shortage'. It has neither top-tier dramas like 'Blossoms Shanghai' nor a film business. It has also suffered frequent setbacks and lost a lot of users. It will be difficult for it to catch up with Youku in the short term."

These remarks undoubtedly triggered another round of sharp declines in iQiyi's stock price.

Even worse off than iQiyi is Bona Film Group.

Previously, when the cast of "Operation Jiaolong" was announced, Yu Dong specially arranged a publicity plan, hoping to use the "main theme + naval warfare theme" to generate a wave of popularity and create momentum for the subsequent start of filming.

But plans can never keep up with changes.

First, the news of Kathy Chow's passing dominated the trending topics, disrupting the publicity schedule.

Following the release of "Blossoms Shanghai," the entire internet's attention was completely drawn to it.

Even though Bona Film Group subsequently announced the start of filming for "Operation Jiaolong" as planned, it was like a stone sinking into the sea. Not only did it not trend on social media, but there was also very little coverage from industry media.

At this moment, in Bona's conference room, Yu Dong looked at the deserted startup news page and was so anxious that he almost slammed his fist on the table:
"What kind of mess is this! We put so much effort into building the roster, and we didn't even make a splash!"

The publicity manager next to him looked helpless: "President Yu, it's not that our publicity is ineffective, it's just that the popularity of 'Blossoms Shanghai' is too strong. Netizens are only concerned about the subsequent plot, and no one is paying attention to the naval battle theme at all."

Yu Dong sighed heavily, leaned back in his chair, his tone full of grievance and anxiety: "From the preparation of 'Operation Jiaolong' until now, we've been finding screenwriters to revise the script and coordinating the actors' schedules, but now we haven't even received any news about the start of filming..."

If this continues, how will Bona survive this year?

Marketing Director: "..."

"Ugh!"

Yu Dong sighed again, looking out the window. He suddenly recalled the grand occasion when Chen Fei started filming "The Three-Body Problem," and his heart was filled with mixed emotions...

The trends in the film and television industry change too quickly; if you can't keep up, you'll be left far behind.

Bona is now facing not only the issue of a film's popularity, but also how to regain its footing in an era where "content is king".

As for the IPO plan that should have been implemented, it has long since become a pipe dream, a mirage...

(End of this chapter)