I became famous in the entertainment industry by burning incense

Fang Jie's words only made Jinli more curious about his publicity methods.

After all, this is a movie, which is quite different from a TV series.

In film promotion, roadshows and promotional events make up a large part of the process.

Some top-tier film and television production teams will frequently have their actors participate in various magazine photoshoots, just to promote the film.

Jinli did the same thing; she would cooperate as long as it helped promote the movie.

However, she has been too busy in the past year, and her popularity has fallen far behind that of other actors, so it would not be appropriate for her to participate again.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have refused the director's request.

Jinli guessed, "Is this director more skilled at online promotion than offline promotion?"

Sui Lingfang nodded with a smile: "Director Xu's luck can be described as good or bad."

He started his career by making youth films, and has already made several. The actors he's worked with are mostly top stars, so he seems to be quite lucky.

But as you know, top celebrities have very busy schedules. Even if a movie is about to be released and needs promotion, they may not be able to find the time to do so.

Moreover, some top celebrities only treat making movies as a test to see the audience's reaction, and are not very willing to take the lead in box office performance, nor do they put much effort into promotion.

Unless it's a drama that even top stars themselves highly recommend, but that's rare, after all, they know they're newcomers, it's their first drama, and their acting skills aren't up to that level yet.

Jinli nodded. As a former top star, she could understand the concerns of these top stars.

In recent years, the film industry has leveraged the influence of top celebrities, attempting to use idol stars to drive box office success.

In reality, because the idol's acting skills were so poor, only the fans paid the price, resulting in losses for several large investment projects.

Moreover, if the box office performance is poor, the acting skills of top stars will be brought to the forefront and repeatedly criticized by investors, directors, crews, and netizens.

The public outcry was so intense that some people believed it was the top star who caused the show's box office failure.

But is this really the case?

In a film, actors are the vehicles for expression. If their acting skills are poor, they will indeed be unable to convey the emotions of the film.

However, the composition, lighting, plot transitions, editing... these are not things that actors can do well simply by having superb acting skills.

Therefore, a film's box office failure is definitely not just a problem with the actors' acting skills, but rather a result of many factors.

But top stars have more appeal, higher salaries, and greater influence.

If the film fails at the box office, the crew will push him out to take the blame and bear all the criticism.

Those top stars were so badly exploited in those years that subsequent rising stars were more cautious about entering the film industry.

Even if someone wants to try a transformation, it's just a small trial, and they'll never say anything like "strongly recommend" again, lest they be pushed out to take the blame.

Sui Lingfang said, "Because many top celebrities are not very active in promotion, Director Xu has specifically studied how to boost online promotion."

Even without the top celebrity making an appearance, they can still leverage their popularity to generate buzz for the film.

Jinli asked, "For example?"

Sui Lingfang smiled meaningfully and then posed a question.

"Do you know what kind of TV series Director Xu directed before he officially entered the film industry?"

Jinli shook her head. "I only know that he is an authority in youth inspirational films. He is one of the more outstanding directors in this genre in recent years. Otherwise, investors would not have chosen him."

Sui Lingfang revealed the answer: "This Director Xu actually directed documentaries before."

It is precisely because his documentaries, whether about animals or people, have a certain aesthetic appeal in their visuals and shots, with netizens praising their composition, that he was noticed by others and cast in film.

The investment for Director Xu's first film was actually secured by fans of his documentaries.

Jinli was somewhat surprised, "They're actually making a documentary."

Sui Lingfang was also surprised: "I saw that you had a good relationship with Director Xu on set. He often chatted with me on WeChat, asking me about how the film could enter the overseas market. He seemed to know you very well. How could you not know?"

Jinli smiled, her eyes crinkling slightly: "When he was on set, he was probably only thinking about how to torment me."

Sui Lingfang: ?

Jinli said calmly, "I communicated with him a lot on set, but it was all about how to act out this scene in different ways."

As you know, he's quite insecure about the conditions I set for him. He discusses them with me from time to time, afraid that I'll replace him.

Aside from that, we didn't talk about anything unrelated to the script, so I didn't know he came from a documentary filmmaking background.

Sui Lingfang recalled the scene when she and Jinli came to their door, and the astonishment on the screenwriter and director Xu's faces when they heard the conditions they proposed.

Well, in that context, it might have been quite terrifying and difficult for them to understand.

They probably had never encountered an actor like this before, who, in turn, urged the director to be more serious and responsible.

Jinli didn't care about such things.

Being on a film set is all about making movies. As long as the filming goes smoothly and everyone works together, it doesn't matter what the director did before.

Following the information Fang-jie had given her, she pondered it, and a thought flashed through her mind, and she said:
"Could it be because he comes from a documentary background that he enjoys making all sorts of documentaries in addition to making movies, thus accumulating a lot of material for our filming?"

Is Director Xu planning to edit these materials together and release them segment by segment as promotional material?

Sui Lingfang exclaimed in admiration, "I knew I couldn't hide it from you. That's exactly right."

"I checked Director Xu's information and how he promoted the box office of his previous youth films. He used the method of releasing behind-the-scenes footage."

Using behind-the-scenes footage for promotion is common, but the footage he released was particularly different.

To keep the audience interested, he never shows behind-the-scenes footage related to the film's content, but instead shows the actors' daily lives.

He has a knack for capturing beautiful scenery and composing stunning shots, so the behind-the-scenes footage he takes is all gorgeous. Many viewers, after watching these clips and feeling a unique connection between the two actors, decided to go to the cinema to see their story.

Jinli suddenly thought of something and asked hesitantly, "His behind-the-scenes footage, could it be that he's so beautiful that netizens think it's a music video?"

Sui Lingfang snapped her fingers and said definitively, "That's right, that's exactly it."

"Moreover, because the behind-the-scenes footage he edited was so beautiful, even though the top star knew he was just trying to hype up the movie, he let it go because the behind-the-scenes footage was really beautiful."

The viral spread of behind-the-scenes footage also serves as publicity for top celebrities.

Jinli, upon hearing this, simply watched with a gossipy attitude and didn't think much of it.

But the next second, Fangjie changed her tone, saying with some concern:
"The behind-the-scenes footage edited by this director is as beautiful as a music video. I'm not worried that he's fallen short of his standards in this editing, but I'm worried that he's edited you and Gu Cheng too beautifully, causing the CP fans to get too obsessed."

Your CP (couple) fanbase is already quite large. Even though you haven't officially announced it, those CP fans have already assumed you're together.

Even though you two just live in the same apartment building, they all assume you're living together.

Jinli coughed a few times. The topic was still a bit sensational for her.

Her relationship with Gu Cheng was so innocent; at least they never lived together.

Sui Lingfang glanced at Jinli's reaction; her face was already a little red. She sighed inwardly.

Perhaps she has the mindset of a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law; the more she looks at Gu Cheng, the more displeased she becomes.

She said, "Fortunately, this director only promoted the event online and didn't really require the celebrities to participate in offline activities."

"You and Gu Cheng have great chemistry. Zhang Guang and I are trying our best to avoid having you two attend events together, because we're afraid that if your chemistry is exposed, it will make netizens and reporters overthink things."

Jinli whispered, "There's an event for Yajun Watches tomorrow, and Gu Cheng, as the national spokesperson, will be attending."

Sui Lingfang smiled slightly: "I know, so I communicated with the director of 'Leisurely Slow Life' in advance."

"You two will be attending a brand event tomorrow, and he'll be filming and following you the whole time. Having the cameras on will also serve as a reminder to pay attention to your image."

Jinli nodded confidently and said, "Don't worry, he should be very busy tomorrow and probably won't have time to contact me."

At this moment, Jinli completely forgot that Gu Cheng had told her to stay by his side and introduce her to the senior executives of Yajun Watches.

Jinli forgot, but Gu Cheng did not.

The following day, as one of the most prestigious brand ambassadors for Yajun Watches' "Gift" series, he arrived at the event venue very early.

He will be spending the entire day at the brand's event venue.

But Jinli only needs to stay for two hours before she has to attend the next brand event.

Therefore, the two of them don't have much time to meet, and their schedules are always very busy.

Sui Lingfang and Zhang Guang's idea was actually quite good; no normal person would think that doing so would go wrong.

They were worried that Jinli and Gu Cheng might become too familiar and tacit in public, which might reveal something, so they specially asked the director of Youman to film them.

With cameras on, it can at least serve as a reminder.

But what they didn't expect was that the leisurely director would actually lead the way in shipping the couple!

The most extreme betrayal comes from a teammate's backstabbing!

After leisurely following and filming the three members of March Sky and Pink Girl, I keenly discovered that there were three pairs of them with subtle chemistry.

Although he has never filmed a dating reality show, people's perception of beauty is the same.

The subtle emotions between them, the thoughtful and considerate gestures, the coordination and tacit understanding in their actions... all of these are a kind of beauty!

So when he arrived at the scene, Gu Cheng didn't even need to actively look for Jin Li.

Instead, as soon as Jinli arrived, the director spotted her first and immediately reminded Gu Cheng to hurry up and pick her up.

After picking them up, the director teased, "Why did your greeting sound so stiff? Didn't you two meet at school before and attend a class together?"

"I get it, you guys are deliberately avoiding the camera, right? No way! We're filming a slow-paced variety show, we need to show the audience your close friendship and camaraderie. Come on, get a little closer!"

Jinli had remembered Fangjie's instructions, but after the director's interruption, she basically forgot them all.

The director, not one to shy away from a good show, suggested, "Why don't you two hug each other to break the ice?"

Jinli/Gu Cheng: ...

Only someone who truly believed your lies would hug me!
Gu Cheng turned to Jinli and said, "I'll take you around and introduce you to some friends."

Jinli thought Gu Cheng was introducing a high-ranking executive of Ya Jun, since he had mentioned it before, but when he actually took her to other places, she realized that he was introducing his friend.

Moreover, none of his friends are celebrities.

Gu Cheng said: "It's enough to be friends with the other members of March Band. Living with them every day is so lively, I don't have the desire to communicate with other celebrities."

Moreover, celebrities are too busy with work, and they have very few people they can truly confide in. Even when they do encounter a few who seem willing to open up, they tend to assume they have ulterior motives and are deliberately trying to get close to them.

Jinli greeted Gu Cheng's friends in real life one by one, and then he took her to another place, intending to introduce her to the senior executives of Ya Jun.

When Gu Cheng said it was just to say hello, he really only took her there to say hello.

Jinli didn't even get to exchange more than a few words with those people before Gu Cheng took her away.

The speed was so fast that Jinli was a little bewildered.

"So how did you make these friends in real life? They're not celebrities, but they all seem like successful professionals."

Gu Cheng nodded: "Some of them work in the fashion industry, some are accompanying their wives to brand events, their wives are loyal fans of Ya Jun Watches, and some have spent a lot of money at Ya Jun, so they were invited here."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Actually, you've encountered them at the brand events you've been attending these past few days."

They know you, but you don't know them. They wanted to say hello, so they kept urging me to introduce you.

Gu Cheng chuckled: "These people aren't people I met after I became a star. They're all my elementary, middle, and high school classmates. I have a pretty good relationship with them, and my parents also get along well."

Jinli suddenly realized and smiled, "No wonder, I felt for a moment that you had a similar vibe to them."

Gu Cheng asked curiously, "How is it similar?"

Jinli: "They are all rather noble, with the air of young masters from aristocratic families."

Some people's temperament gives them this unique feeling.

This is something you can feel in everyday life, and it's different from the feeling that celebrities put on.

When a celebrity exudes a certain aura, they enhance it through makeup, setting, and clothing, creating a strong visual impact on the audience and establishing a preconceived notion of that aura. As the story progresses, the character becomes clearer and clearer.

This process is also a process of taming the audience's senses.

But Gu Cheng's friends were different.

Their refined and noble demeanor emanates from their very being, a refinement and nobility cultivated through years of luxurious living, interpersonal relationships, and countless successes.

Gu Cheng disagreed, "They just had a high starting point given to them by their families. They're not as good as you say. In my eyes, your temperament is much more noble than theirs."

Jinli smiled gently.

After the two left, Gu Cheng's friends started discussing them.

"He just said hello, introduced himself, and then Gu Cheng took her away?"

"Has it been three minutes?"

"no!"

"Tsk, Gu Cheng, that evil dragon, that miser!"
I haven't even told Jinli I'm a fan yet! This person heard I've liked Jinli for years, and wouldn't even give me her autograph! How awful! (End of Chapter)