The Red Era: Living in Seclusion in a Siheyuan as a Boss

Chapter 805 The Number One Entertainment Star in Mainland China!!!
The first rule in the "Miss Chinese International Pageant Selection Manual" circulating in the industry is: "When judging a person, look at their eyes first. An artist with a sparkle in their eyes can't be too bad, no matter how bad they are."

It is this almost intuitive ability to recognize people that allows Wang Jinghua to always find true gems among the masses.

In late 02, Wang Jinghua spearheaded the establishment of the "Liu's Artist Internal Training Academy," systematizing her star-making philosophy.

The academy adopts a "mentorship" training model, where each newcomer receives one-on-one guidance from a senior artist.

What's most amazing is that she requires all students to study traditional culture courses, from calligraphy to tea ceremony, from Peking Opera to Kunqu Opera.

"An actor who lacks knowledge will only produce empty characters." This statement later became the golden rule of the academy.

At the same time, Liu's Entertainment Group's industrial chain layout is also constantly deepening.

At the beginning of this year, the group acquired Digital Domain, a top domestic film and television special effects company, and introduced Hollywood-level production technology to China.

In the same year, a strategic partnership was reached with a South Korean entertainment company, pioneering a new model of multi-party co-production dramas.

The success of the Tokyo University version of "Full House" greatly increased Liu's Entertainment's brand awareness in the Southeast Asian market.

Wang Jinghua keenly recognized the potential of the fan economy and took the lead in launching the "Celebrity Membership System" at the group meeting. Through exclusive fan communities, limited-edition merchandise, and other means, the commercial value of artists was developed to the extreme.

This model was later widely imitated in the industry, completely changing the traditional profit model of artist management.

With the combined vision of Liu Yiming and the execution capabilities of Wang Jinghua, "Liu's Entertainment" Group has gradually built a complete ecosystem encompassing "content production, artist training, IP development, and derivative monetization."

While other companies are still struggling with individual projects, "Liu's" has already begun developing the entire industry chain, from novel IPs to film and television dramas, from variety shows to mobile games and related products.

Liu's Entertainment Group has also launched an "Artist Incubation Fund" program.

Each artist who passes the assessment will receive 200-1000 million yuan in start-up capital to be used for the initial operation of their personal studio.

"Artists need to learn to manage themselves, instead of relying on the company forever," Wang Jinghua said emphatically at the board meeting.

Her innovation resulted in an artist retention rate of 85% for "Liu's Entertainment," far exceeding the industry average.

With the rise of the "Guochao" (national trend) concept, Liu Yiming keenly seized this opportunity.

Liu's Entertainment Group integrates traditional opera elements into modern pop music, creating hit singles such as "Qingyi" and "Nishang".

During the filming of the music video, "Liu's" insisted on using real sets and spent millions to restore the Tang Dynasty palace scene. This meticulous attention to detail has earned the work numerous international awards.

Liu's Entertainment Group is preparing to launch a "New Director Support Program," with company executives such as Liu Yiming and Wang Jinghua serving as judges.

Director Wang Jinghua particularly values ​​the director's embodiment of humanistic concern, saying, "Technique can be learned, but sentiment is innate."

The new generation of directors cultivated by this program later became the backbone of Chinese films.

In the field of artist management, Wang Jinghua pioneered the "lifecycle management" model.

We tailor a complete plan for artists at different stages of their development, from nurturing newcomers to transitioning into directors and producers.

She said, "An artist's value should not be defined by age. We should help them find the most suitable way to shine at each stage."

In today's rapidly developing entertainment industry in mainland China, "Liu's Entertainment", Huayi Brothers, and Enlight Media are undoubtedly the three most representative giants.

They not only occupy a pivotal position in the mainland entertainment industry, but also lead the trend of the entire industry.

"Liu's Entertainment Group" was established in the early 1990s and was the earliest private entertainment company established by Dongda University.

After more than a decade of development, "Liu's Entertainment" has become a leading enterprise in the mainland entertainment industry, with businesses covering multiple fields such as film, television series, artist management, advertising, variety shows, education and training, and film and television cities.

The millennium was the first year of the 21st century.

This was a wonderful and fruitful year. It nurtured and gave birth to many famous figures who continue to influence our daily lives to this day.

They organized and created many wonderful television programs later on.

A Yenching University student received a 50 yuan taxi fare subsidy, which prompted him to quickly register for the "Liujiazhuang Cup" National Television Host Competition held every year in the millennium.

Later, this young man in his twenties, surnamed Sa, won the championship and remained active on screen ever since. No one knew he would shine so brightly in the future.

That year, the TV series "Princess Pearl," co-produced by "Liu's Entertainment" and YTV, became a huge hit.

Zhao Wei and Lin Xinru, who became famous overnight, were invited to perform on the Spring Festival Gala stage.

"Little Swallow" is quite busy, hosting, singing, and making guest appearances in skits;
"Princess Ziwei" sang a duet with Grandpa Cui called "The Slippery Girl".

Zhang Ziyi, who will soon celebrate her 21st birthday, sang "Welcome Spring In" at the opening of the Spring Festival Gala. This year, she has indeed ushered in the spring of her career.

Zhang Ziyi is a key figure under Wong Jing-wah. Her film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was released, and director Ann Lee won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film for it.

At this year's Berlin Film Festival, Zhang Ziyi's film "The Road Home" won the Silver Bear Award. The 21-year-old Zhang Ziyi appeared without makeup, wearing a simple belly-band dress, attracting countless eyes.

That same year, Gong Li, another actress promoted by "Liu's Entertainment," became the president of the 50th Berlin International Film Festival.

This marks the first time a student from Southeast University has served as the jury president at a major Western film festival, symbolizing the world's recognition of Chinese-language actors.

That year, Hollywood welcomed a new Chinese action star – Jet Li.

Jet Li is a mainland star promoted by Asia Pacific Film Group. He starred in his first Hollywood film, Romeo Must Die, in which he played a smart and skilled "gangster" Han Xing.

That year, the King Terminator was 20 years old, and the Queen was 31 years old.

They walked hand in hand in front of the crowd, and the Queen released the album "Fables". The song "Laughing and Forgetting" is still popular today, and she won almost every award for most popular female singer.

That same year, Mr. Chan made his film debut and released his self-titled EP, "Mr. Chan," earning him a nomination for "Best New Performer" at the Hong Kong Film Awards and the Hong Kong Record Sales Awards' Highest Newcomer Award, thus beginning his rise to fame in the entertainment industry.

This year was absolutely fruitful for Zhou Xun, an artist under "Liu's Entertainment". The film "Suzhou River" was released in Hong Kong. Zhou Xun not only won the Best Actress Award at the 15th Paris International Film Festival for her role in the film, but also found love during filming and became lovers with the male lead Jia's ex-husband.

"Palace of Desire," starring Zhou Xun, premiered on CCTV. The quirky Princess Taiping unveils the mask of a Kunlun slave in the crowd, and her life is ruined at first sight with Xue Shao.

Li Guanpeng also encountered a turning point in his career that year, when he was suddenly notified to replace Shao Bin in the role of "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer".

That year, Liu's Entertainment Group also did something that shocked the industry - it invested 5 million yuan to create Asia's first all-star concert.

At the first audition, some veteran artists also performed on the same stage as popular singers, and the audience was extremely excited.

In the realm of variety shows, the pilot episode of "Who's the Murderer" was quietly released.

This new type of program, which combines reasoning and reality TV, was personally planned by Liu Yiming and adopts an "immersive script murder mystery" mode.

No one expected that this variety show, which initially only aired on a provincial TV station, would become a national variety show that remained popular for more than a decade.

The group's artist training center welcomed a special student—Yang Xiaomi, a recent graduate from the dance academy. This girl with bright, expressive eyes impressed the judges with her impromptu performance of a selection from "The Peony Pavilion" during her entrance exam, showcasing the boundless possibilities of blending classical and modern elements.

A few years later, the fantasy drama "Three Lives, Three Worlds" starring her broke online viewership records, making her the group's new generation "ratings queen".

Speaking of Mandarin pop music, "Liu's Entertainment Records" can be said to be one of the most important music labels in the Mandarin music scene.

"Liu's Records" was established after acquiring the famous music label "UFO Records", and it has only been around for a short ten years.

However, during these ten years, UFO Records launched superstars such as Wang Jie, Zhang Yusheng, Su Rui, the "Big Tigers", and Lin Zhiying, and helped singers such as Huang Yingying, Jiang Yu, Yi Nengjing, and Zheng Zhihua achieve the pinnacle of their personal music careers.

At the same time, the Mandarin albums produced for Hong Kong singers such as Lam Tsz-cheung, Lui Fong, Lam Yat-lin, Yip Ching-man, and Chung Chen-tao not only gave these singers greater recognition in the Chinese-speaking world, but also contributed to the creation of countless hit songs by "Liu's Entertainment Records" in the case of Kwok Fu-cheng, who became one of the "Four Heavenly Kings".

However, starting in the early 1990s, "Liu's" record company gradually entered the Asia-Pacific market.

Leveraging the resource advantages of "Asia Pacific Film & Television Group" and its capital advantage in developing singers, it quickly established its leading position in the Mandarin pop music market through continuous acquisitions.

The Chinese music scene in 2000 was a vibrant and diverse place.

The album "Fables" released by Wang Fei, a singer under "Liu's Records", created a sales legend. Songs such as "The Book of Laughter and Forgetting" and "A Love Letter to Myself" are still popular karaoke hits.

Newcomer Zhou Jielun, who had just signed with the company, subverted traditional pop music with her album "Jay," perfectly blending R&B with Chinese style. Songs such as "Starry Sky" and "Black Humor" quickly swept across major music charts.

In terms of film and television production, the epic production "Hero," invested by mainland "Liu's Entertainment" with 3 million yuan, has officially started filming.

This film, directed by Zhang Guoshi and starring Li Lianjie, Liang Chaowei, Zhang Manyu, and other superstars, ushered in a new era of commercial blockbusters for Dongda University.

At the same time, the animated film "Mulan," a collaboration between Asia Pacific Films Group and its Hollywood subsidiary, was also released globally. The collision of Eastern and Western cultures led to the film's unprecedented success.

In terms of artist development, Liu's trainee program has welcomed a new batch of fresh talent.

Sun Li, who had just graduated from Yenching Dance Academy, passed the selection with excellent results, while Deng Xiaochao, who was still studying at the Central Academy of Drama, also stood out in the campus selection.

No one could have imagined that this bickering couple would later become a model couple in the entertainment industry.

That year, Liu's Entertainment also accomplished a landmark feat—establishing "iMusic," Asia's first digital music platform, thus pioneering the era of digital music.

This seemingly forward-thinking decision laid a solid foundation for the group's future development in the digital entertainment field.

The early 2000s were destined to be a historic year for the mainland entertainment industry.

In the realm of television dramas, the hit series "The Eloquent Ji Xiaolan," produced by "Liu's Entertainment," made the "iron triangle" combination of Zhang Guoli, Wang Gang, and Zhang Tielin deeply ingrained in the public's mind.
Zhou Jie's portrayal of Bao Zheng in "Young Justice Bao" has become a cherished memory of youth for a new generation.

The music market is equally vibrant and diverse.

Na Ying's album "Conquer" swept major award ceremonies, while Tian Zhen's "Persistence" resonated throughout the country. The "battle for the top spot" between the two divas became a hot topic in the media.

In Hong Kong, Xie Tingfeng reached the peak of his career with "Because of Love, So Love", and his "Faye-Nicholas romance" with the princess caused a sensation in the entire Chinese entertainment industry.

The film industry is ushering in a new opportunity for development.

Wang Jiawei's "In the Mood for Love" shone brightly at the Cannes Film Festival, and Tony Leung won the Best Actor award for his performance in the film.

Feng Shaogang's "A Sigh" pioneered a new model for urban romance films in mainland China.

It is worth mentioning that the internet began to influence the entertainment industry that year.

Xinlang.com was the first to launch an entertainment channel, and discussions about celebrities on online forums were in full swing.

No one could have imagined that this emerging mode of communication would completely change the landscape of the entertainment industry in the future.

In this environment, "Liu's Entertainment" continues to expand its territory.

Liu's Entertainment Group not only acquired the prime-time advertising rights of several local TV stations, but also invested in the construction of Asia's largest film and television shooting base.

These forward-looking plans have given wings to the Group's soaring development in the new century.

In recent years, a wave of change has quietly swept through the mainland entertainment industry.

In recent years, Liu's Entertainment has not only consolidated its advantages in traditional fields, but also keenly seized the opportunities of the digital age.

The group’s newly established digital music division has begun to digitize classic old songs, a move that has breathed new life into many forgotten hits.

Among them, the digital version of the rearranged "Tomorrow Will Be Better" exceeded 10 million downloads in just one week after its release, setting a new record for digital music.

This is also thanks to the popularization of the Internet in recent years, and Internet cafes are an important driving force behind the popularization of the Internet.

Internet cafes were arguably the most important places for most people in China to explore the new world of the internet in its early days.

Wang Dabao is a 17-year-old boy who stepped into the world of the internet for the first time this year.

At the end of last year, a new internet cafe called "Judian" opened next to their school.

Although this internet cafe is small, less than 100 square meters, and has a simple environment, the more than 40 computers in the lobby attract countless young people.

They sat in front of their computers, awkwardly but enthusiastically communicating with strangers on QQ, occasionally opening web pages to browse the dazzling array of information in the forums.

Wang Dabao was thus opened up to a new world; he realized how wonderful the internet world was.

Playing online games, watching videos, listening to music, reading online novels, browsing web pages, forums, social networking...

In the field of film and television production, "Yoo Entertainment" has partnered with South Korea's SBS television station to co-produce the international drama "Winter Sonata".

This romantic drama, which blends East Korean culture, made its lead actors, Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo, rapidly popular throughout Asia.

Meanwhile, "Crazy Stone," a low-budget film invested in by "Liu's Entertainment" Group, unexpectedly became a box office dark horse, with director Ning Hao's dark humor style giving audiences a refreshing experience.

The music sector has achieved a new breakthrough.

Zhou Jielun's second album, "Fantasy," continues her innovative style. Among them, "Nunchucks" perfectly combines traditional Chinese martial arts with hip-hop music, sparking a nationwide imitation craze.

Meanwhile, "The Most Beautiful" by Yu Quan, a newly signed duo under "Liu's Records," has captured the hearts of countless young listeners with its fresh and natural musical style.

It is worth mentioning that "Liu's Entertainment" has also launched the "New Star Project" to select potential new talents from major art colleges across the country.

Tang Wei from the Central Academy of Drama and Huang Xiaoming from the Beijing Film Academy, who later became top stars, all emerged from this program.

At an internal meeting, Liu Yiming proposed the strategic policy of "content is king, talent is fundamental," which pointed the way for the future development of the entertainment industry.

(End of this chapter)