Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 155 Film Festival

In late April, the lighting was soft in a styling studio in Beiping.

Liu Shishi looked like a fairy who had stepped out of a painting, wearing a gorgeous red evening gown, with a graceful figure and elegant temperament.

The exquisite fabric shimmered with a delicate light under the lamp, as if draped in a dreamy veil.

She carefully adjusted her dress in front of the full-length mirror, turned slightly, and cast an inquiring glance at Cai Yinong beside her, her eyes filled with both anticipation and a hint of nervousness.

"Sister K, what do you think of this?" Miss Liu's voice was as gentle and melodious as a clear spring.

The film she starred in, "Nightclub," received two nominations at the 14th College Student Film Festival in 2007: Best Feature Film and Most Popular Director among College Students.

Director Xu Zheng invited several of the film's main actors to attend the film festival's awards ceremony and closing ceremony, so she will be walking the red carpet today.

This was her first time attending such a large-scale event as a film festival, so she was inevitably feeling anxious and was struggling to decide which dress to wear.

Cai Yinong stood to the side, nodding slightly, his gaze focused intently on Liu Shishi's exquisite and shapely figure.

Liu Shishi is going to attend a film festival soon. She attaches great importance to this kind of event, which is the first appearance of Tangren's leading lady, and she must leave a perfect impression on the media.

On the clothes rack in the styling room hung several evening gowns that she had specially rented for Liu Shishi. Each one was exquisite and exuded a unique charm.

Cai Yinong shook his head and offered his advice: "This bright red outfit is too flamboyant and eye-catching, and may be too ostentatious. It doesn't quite match your temperament."

Liu Shishi quickly and shyly agreed, "I also think this outfit is bad, it's too revealing."

The dress she's wearing is beautiful, but the strapless design exposes her shoulders and part of her back, making it feel too revealing.

Mr. Song would probably be angry if he wore this outfit. This young man is very particular about his clothing and doesn't like to wear anything too revealing.

"Then try the black one, but the color is too dark and a bit too formal, it doesn't seem suitable for your age." Cai Yi Nong gestured, trying to help the star make the best choice from various angles.

"Sister K, there's no need to change anymore. I've decided to wear the white one." Liu Shishi's gaze fell on the first white evening gown on the clothes rack.

Unlike the other dresses that were rented, this one was specially made for her by Song Ci, who knew she was going to walk the red carpet at a film festival. It was a gift from her boyfriend.

She had just tried them on and liked them very much, but Sister K rented a few more sets, and she couldn't refuse such a kind offer, so she tried on a few other pieces.

Cai Yinong was taken aback by what he heard, then smiled understandingly: "Your heart has already strayed! Try that outfit on for me again."

Liu Shishi stuck out her tongue playfully, smiled, picked up the dress, and went into the fitting room. A moment later, she appeared in the white dress that Song Ci had meticulously tailored for her, slowly entering everyone's view.

Moving to the mirror, Liu Shishi examined herself closely and nodded in satisfaction. Indeed, Mr. Song understood her best.

The pure white dress, as flawless as frost and snow, perfectly complements her gentle and pure temperament.

Delicate lace trim extends along the hem and cuffs, exquisite yet understated, adding a touch of romance and fantasy to the overall look of the dress.

"Sister K, how's the result?"

Cai Yinong walked behind Sister Liu, looked in the mirror, clapped his hands and praised, "It fits perfectly, you look so good!" After saying that, he gently reached out and gathered up Miss Liu's waterfall-like black hair.

As Cai Yinong held strands of hair in his hands, the exquisite face of the "Queen of the Seas" was gradually revealed.

Her arched eyebrows, bright eyes, pert nose, and slightly upturned lips—every feature seemed like a masterpiece sculpted by heaven. Her elegant neck, graceful as a swan's, shone with a captivating luster under the light.

Cai Yinong tilted his head slightly, carefully examining Miss Liu in the mirror. After a moment's thought, he said:
"Shishi, I think you can tie your hair up with a hairband. It will better highlight your gentle and beautiful temperament. Imagine, on the red carpet, you'll look pure and innocent in white, with the hairband fluttering in the wind. You'll definitely become the focus of everyone's attention."

"Sister K, let's do it your way!"

Liu Shishi closed her eyes and imagined the scene described by Sister K. The fluttering hair ribbon was like a prompter depicting the final details in a beautiful painting. Tonight would surely become an unforgettable page in her acting career.

Once the dress was chosen, Liu Shishi began her makeup routine. A professional makeup artist was carefully applying exquisite makeup to her face.

Ms. Liu closed her eyes, looking relaxed, and occasionally chatted with Ms. K, who was sitting next to her, through the mirror.

"Don't wear too much makeup, a fresh and natural look is best," Cai Yinong instructed the makeup artist, holding a warm cup of coffee in his hand.

"Sister K, how is Lao Hu doing now? How is his recovery going? I've been so busy lately that I haven't been able to contact him."

Taking a sip of coffee to perk himself up, Cai Yinong said happily, "The recovery is going very smoothly. I estimate I'll be able to work in another month or two."

"So the 'Legend of the Condor Heroes' production team can resume work?!" The lead actress's voice was clear and melodious, revealing a hint of love and joy. She was still eagerly anticipating the role of Mu Nianci!

"Yes, we're about to resume work. Director Li is coordinating Lin Yichen's schedule," Cai Yinong said with a sigh of relief.

The production of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" has been delayed for a year. During this time, Tangren Media experienced numerous setbacks and even almost went bankrupt.

Now, things have finally taken a turn for the better. With the return of the leading actor and the booming career of the leading actress, and with Mr. Jin Yong's generous help in resolving the copyright issues, "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" is about to resume production, and the company is finally back on track.

"Then my schedule might clash!" Liu Shishi said with distress.

Cai Yi-nong recalled the resources that Yi-jie received last year: "Are you going to film Tengda Culture's 'Hello, Old Times'?"

"Yes!"

When will you turn it on?

Cai Yinong attaches great importance to this drama. Tengda Culture's Youth Trilogy and Zhenhua Trilogy are now well-known, with the first five installments achieving good ratings and accumulating a large number of loyal viewers.

"Hello, Old Times," as the final installment of the Zhenhua Trilogy, is arguably the most important. Building on the popularity of the first two installments, it has already garnered high expectations from Zhenhua series fans even before filming began. With their own leading lady playing the female lead in "Hello, Old Times," it's highly likely that her popularity will soar after the drama's release, and her career will undoubtedly take a significant leap forward.

"Filming will begin in early May!"

Cai Yinong breathed a sigh of relief: "The schedules don't conflict. The earliest the 'Legend of the Condor Heroes' crew can resume work is the end of July. Three months is enough to finish filming a campus drama. Even if the schedules of the two dramas conflict, I will communicate with Director Li and ask him to adjust your scenes."

Hu Ge's career was interrupted for a year, during which time many newcomers emerged in the entertainment industry. For example, Chen Xiao, a newcomer from Tengda Culture, became a minor sensation with his role in "Orange Born in Huainan".

The entertainment industry is always about new faces replacing old ones. After Tangren's top male star made his comeback, it remains to be seen whether he can develop smoothly in the future. However, the top female star is about to gain momentum, and Cai Yinong has asked the entire company to focus on Liu Shishi.

"It's good that the schedules don't conflict, thank you, Sister K." Liu Shishi smiled and said, she couldn't give up either of the two films.

According to Mr. Song's career plan for her, next year "Hello, Old Times" and "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" will be broadcast, and she will play the lead role in another blockbuster movie.

Her career will then take off, and she will definitely be able to secure a second-tier celebrity status. She can also take on brand endorsements next year.

"Shishi, I came to Beiping this time not only to have you help me with the film festival, but also to meet your boyfriend."

Cai Yinong said softly that as the career prospects of the top female star become brighter, she has to plan ahead, because once a celebrity's relationship is exposed, it will have a serious impact on her career.

She no longer hopes to break up with Liu Shishi; now she just wants to meet with the man and talk about how to keep the relationship a secret as long as possible.

Liu Shishi was stunned. Cai Yinong's request caught her off guard: "Sister K, you want to meet my boyfriend?"

"Yes, didn't you say before that you could introduce me to someone?"

"This! But he's been very busy lately and hasn't had time! He brought this up so suddenly today, I wasn't prepared at all. See you next time, Sister K. Just let me know in advance and I'll make the arrangements."

Liu Shishi was in a dilemma. She wasn't lying; Mr. Song really hadn't had time lately.

She knew that Song Ci was preparing to graduate from Peking University early this year, and with only two months left until graduation, time was tight. Her boyfriend was finishing his final coursework, preparing for his thesis defense, and on top of that, he was extremely busy with work, so he definitely wouldn't have time to see Sister K.

"Shishi, sigh!" Cai Yinong sighed and stopped mentioning the matter, assuming that Yijie was just making excuses to avoid it.

He secretly analyzed that there were only two possibilities: one was that Miss Liu had no status with her boyfriend, her words carried no weight, and he couldn't even summon her.

Another possibility is that the couple is actually an older man and a younger woman, and all the previous claims about them being from a highly educated family were lies. The young woman was too embarrassed to let outsiders know the details, so she kept it a secret.

In either case, she was not optimistic about Liu Shishi's relationship and felt that it had no future.

After about an hour of work, the makeup artist finally finished her beautiful makeup. Liu Shishi lifted her skirt slightly, turned around calmly, and asked with a smile, "Sister K, am I beautiful?"

Cai Yinong looked up and saw that Liu Shishi, with her makeup on, was even more charming. Her clear, watery eyes were even brighter and more captivating, and a gentle smile graced her lips. She was elegant and beautiful.

Hearing her narcissistic words, I couldn't help but chuckle: "Vanity."

"The fans all praised my Xin Shisi Niang's stills, saying she looks like a beautiful fairy! I'll post the photos of today's dress on the forum and the Shiwu Pianpian official website later so the fans can enjoy them."

Liu Shishi tilted her head back and said proudly, her tone full of love and gratitude for her fans.

"Okay, okay, you're the most beautiful, alright? Go take the photos, I'll arrange for someone to take care of the photos and press releases later."

Cai Yinong urged her on while nodding in admiration, saying, "I must say, Miss Liu's makeup and styling today are indeed very beautiful, she's sure to attract a lot of fans."

Our own leading lady really has a good public image. Of her works that have already been broadcast, apart from the movie "Nightclub" which is somewhat commendable, the TV series "Young Warriors of the Yang Clan" and "Moon Shadow and Lotus" haven't made much of a splash.

Although she hasn't had any breakout works yet, she already has quite a few fans, and some loyal fans have even created an official website for her called "Poetry and Dance". Her fan base is developing in a way that rivals that of some big-name celebrities.

After taking dozens of photos at the photo studio, it was almost time for her to walk the red carpet at the film festival, so Liu Shishi hurried to the film festival venue.

Before leaving, Cai Yi-nong gave a few more words of advice: "Pay attention to your demeanor, maintain your composure, don't be nervous when interviewed by reporters, and be careful with your words and actions."

The College Student Film Festival was hosted by Beiping Normal University and Beiping Broadcasting and Television Bureau, and co-organized by several official units including Huaguo Film News, National Film Foundation, and Beiping Television. It has a profound impact on the film, education, and culture sectors.

This year, a total of 66 domestic films that were eligible for theatrical release in 2006-2007 were submitted to the film festival, and 35 were ultimately selected, including commercial films such as "Nightclub", "So Young", and "A Battle of Wits" as well as art films such as "Mei Lanfang Again" and "The Knot".

The College Student Film Festival has 20 awards, including the Most Popular Actor, Actress, and Director awards. Online voting accounts for 25% of the total, while on-site voting by college students accounts for 75%.

This year's film festival also hosted the "Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Hong Kong's Return to the Motherland" Chinese-language film national university tour, making it even more grand and lively than in previous years.

In addition to mainland artists such as Xu Jinglei and Chen Kun, Hong Kong stars and directors such as Zhang Weijian, Wang Jin, and Chen Kexin also attended, making it an unprecedented and star-studded event.

As night fell and the stars twinkled, Liu Shishi arrived at the red carpet waiting area of ​​the main venue of the College Student Film Festival. Many glamorous figures had already gathered there, each dressed up carefully, ready to leave their mark on this grand film festival.

Liu Shishi, dressed in a dazzling white evening gown, was both elegant and fashionable. She walked slowly towards the area where the "Nightclub" crew was located. From afar, she could see director Xu Zheng chatting and laughing with Yan Ni and Zhao Yingjun.

"Director Xu, Sister Yan, Brother Yingjun!" Liu Shishi greeted everyone politely and modestly.

Yan Ni, dressed in a black evening gown, excitedly stepped forward and took Liu's arm upon seeing her, her enthusiasm overflowing.
"Shishi, you're finally here! You look so beautiful today." She knew about Liu Shishi's relationship with Song Ci, the big boss of Tengda Group. This man was a super powerful figure, and she had to stick close to him.

Xu Zheng, dressed in a well-tailored black suit, with his signature bald head gleaming, smiled and nodded when he saw Liu Shishi arrive.

Zhao Yingjun waved his hand and exclaimed in a funny way, "Shishi and Sister Yan, the black and white roses, have me mesmerized."

Liu Shishi wore a shy smile. Despite her boastful attitude in front of Cai Yinong, she was still a little socially awkward in front of outsiders.

Looking around, he noticed that one of the main actors was missing and asked, "Hasn't Brother Yu arrived yet? The film festival is about to start."

(End of this chapter)