Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 285 Da Mi Mi's Concerns
Some people are happy and some are worried!
With the huge success of "The Myth," which became a hit across the country, Liu Shishi, Hu Ge, and others, as well as the three production companies, were overjoyed.

Only the female lead, Jing Tian, ​​did not enjoy the glory and joy that should be expected of the leading lady after her character, Princess Yu Shu, appeared on screen. Instead, she remained sullen and unhappy.

It turns out that when the supporting female character is too outstanding, it's an epic disaster for the female lead.

Liu Shishi's legendary status in the "eight episodes" left countless viewers with a sense of injustice, completely overshadowing the female lead and making her seem almost invisible.

In the quiet of the night, in the ancient city of Chang'an, Jing's mother passed by her daughter's room and saw a faint light shining through the crack in the door. She knocked on the door and said, "Tian Tian, ​​can Mom come in?"

Jing Tian's voice came from inside the room soon after: "Okay, I haven't gone to sleep yet, Mom."

Jing's mother gently pushed open the door and entered, only to find her daughter still online, looking haggard, which made her feel a little sorry for her.

"Tiantian, it's getting late. You have to catch a plane to register at school tomorrow. Get some rest."

Jing Tian turned slightly and forced a smile at his mother: "I'll look at Weibo for a bit, then go to sleep."

Seeing her daughter forcing a smile, Jing's mother stepped forward to her side, gently stroking her hair and repeatedly comforting her: "Don't read the comments from netizens, they're all nonsense."

Jing Tian hung his head, looking preoccupied, and asked softly, "Mom, did I really act badly?"

Jing's mother sighed. She had also watched the TV series. To be fair, her daughter's acting in "The Myth" was indeed just average, but it didn't deserve such a fierce backlash from netizens.

Ultimately, it's because the supporting actress was too outstanding, completely overshadowing the lead actress and making the daughter's performance seem lackluster in the drama.

"Tian Tian, ​​really, you acted alright, but the role wasn't very outstanding. It turns out that Tengda Culture's productions are indeed excellent, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're suitable for you."

“But ‘Myth’ is already a rare high-quality resource.” Jing Tian pouted, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed.

In the same drama, Liu Shishi won all the flowers and applause, while she became a laughing stock. It would be a lie to say that she wasn't jealous.

"Your dad, your agent, and I have discussed this and we feel that the competition in the TV drama industry is too intense right now. The popularity of the four little actresses is skyrocketing, and it's unrealistic to think that we can surpass them in a short period of time through TV dramas."

Jing Tian looked up at his mother thoughtfully, then asked expectantly, "What should I do next?"

"Let's move to the big screen!" Jing's mother said confidently, planning her daughter's future.

"The threshold for making movies is relatively high. Apart from a few leading actresses, most of the young actresses have not yet entered the big screen. You can focus on making movies later and develop in a different direction."

Upon hearing this, Jing Tian's eyes lit up: "Making movies is good, then I won't make TV series anymore."

Seeing her daughter finally regain her spirits, Jing's mother was finally relieved: "In a few days, Sister Han will go to communicate with Tengda Culture to invest in a movie specifically for you. Just stay at school these few days and don't think too much about 'The Myth'."

Jing Tian nodded obediently: "Thank you, Mom!"

After the Lantern Festival, the lively Spring Festival comes to an end, and we welcome the warm spring and blooming flowers of March.

Yang Mi, a workaholic in the entertainment industry, has been on set for a week now.

As dusk fell, Yang Mi finished a long day of intense filming and dragged her tired body to the dressing room, wanting nothing more than to quickly remove her makeup, wrap up work, and get some rest.

"Sis, have some water."

Taking the water cup handed to her by Tao Yue, the company's newly assigned personal assistant, Yang Mi took a few sips. The dryness in her mouth gradually subsided, and she regained some energy.

"Xiaoyue, what are some trending topics on Weibo today?"

The assistant shook her head: "Sis, it's the same as always, all the trending topics are about 'The Myth'."

Yang Mi revealed a knowing look: "This crappy drama has been trending for over ten days now, how come there's no new hot topic to overshadow it?"

Tao Yue muttered, "Anyway, 'The Myth' keeps trending in all sorts of ways. Today's trending topic is that Zhang Shi, who plays Zhao Gao, has received acclaim for his acting skills, and Hu Ge was completely overshadowed in their scenes together."

Upon hearing her assistant mention her ex-boyfriend, a fleeting hint of unease vanished from Yang Mi's eyes, and she calmly replied:

"Hu Ge's acting skills are passable, but there is indeed a gap between him and some veteran actors. However, I think that acting skills are just enough, and there is no need to exaggerate the role of acting skills."

Hearing the subtle protectiveness towards Hu Ge in Yang Mi's words, Tao Yue belatedly realized that her mistress and Hu Ge had once been a sweet couple, and even if they had broken up now, they probably still had some feelings for each other.

"Oh, right, sis, while you were filming, a Mr. Yu Zheng contacted you and asked you to call him back after you finished work," Tao Yue suddenly remembered and quickly said.

"Screenwriter Yu is looking for me?" Yang Mi was taken aback, then ordered, "Give me your phone quickly."

Tao Yue then hurriedly reached for her mistress's phone, nearly knocking over the cosmetics on the table.

Looking at her assistant's flustered state, compared to Liu Shishi's assistant Jiang Yuanyuan's methodical approach, Yang Mi shook her head helplessly. Her newly appointed assistant still needed some training to keep up with the work pace.

After waiting a while, Yang Mi took the phone and saw a missed call, so she immediately called back.

The call was connected within seconds.

"Teacher Yu, I just finished work. Did you need something?"

Hearing Yang Mi's unique Beijing accent and sweet voice, Yu Zheng chuckled: "There are a few things I want to discuss with you."

Yang Mi glanced at the makeup artist and assistant, then stepped back to a quiet corner: "Please speak!"

Yu Zheng got straight to the point: "The release date for 'Beauty's Rival in Palace' has been set, and we'll need you to take some time to participate in the promotion."

"It's my duty. If you need my cooperation, please let me know a few days in advance, and I will definitely make time for it. By the way, when will 'Beauty's Rival in Palace' air?"

"It will be broadcast directly on Hunan Satellite TV in late April." After announcing the release date, Yu Zheng sighed slightly.

"It was originally scheduled for late March, but Liu Shishi's 'Du Lala's Promotion Diary' was moved up to the end of the month."

After much deliberation, I decided to avoid direct confrontation and negotiated with the TV station to postpone the broadcast by a month. Sigh, Tangren's top actress is just too popular these days.

Yang Mi sensed the deep sense of powerlessness in Yu Zheng's words, but she also felt that it was the right choice. Liu Shishi was at the height of her popularity, and there was no need to pit "Beauty's Rival in Palace" against "Go Lala Go!"

To put it bluntly, Liu Shishi is currently riding high on the wave of fame with her "Lu Su" aura. Even if she and that Lin Gege were combined, their popularity and influence wouldn't be enough to rival the top star.

After a long silence, Yu Zheng continued, "Mimi, I'm planning to start a new movie and I'd like to invite you to be the female lead."

Yang Mi was overjoyed when she heard this. She was open to any leading role and the more roles the better.

"Thank you for thinking of me, Teacher Yu. May I ask what kind of drama your new drama is?" Yu Zheng introduced, word by word: "It's a Qing Dynasty drama with a time-travel theme."

Yang Mi was taken aback. Suddenly remembering the big-budget production that Tangren Media had just announced a few days ago, she blurted out, "Scarlet Heart?"

Yu Zheng was quite frank, and said with a smile, "My story does have some plot references to 'Scarlet Heart,' but the overall plot is still a bit different."

Reference! Yang Mi's lips twitched slightly as she thought to herself, "If it's plagiarism, just say so! Why be so euphemistic about it?"
I wanted to take on the lead role in this drama, but when I thought about how "Scarlet Heart" was a female-centric drama tailor-made for Liu Shishi by Tangren Media, I suddenly had a lot of concerns.

Anyone with eyes can see that "Scarlet Heart" is a masterpiece carefully selected by Tangren Media to elevate their leading lady. Your blatant plagiarism and attempts to ride on her coattails are just asking for trouble. Do you really think the richest man's wife has no temper?

After much hesitation, Yang Mi shook her head and reluctantly declined, saying, "Teacher Yu, thank you for your kind offer, but I'm afraid I can't act in this drama."

Yu Zheng was very surprised; he hadn't expected Yang Mi to refuse.

In his memory, Yang Mi was a very career-oriented person who actively sought out all kinds of opportunities. It was completely out of character for her to refuse the offer this time!
"Can't you schedule it?"

"It's not a scheduling issue."

Yu Zheng was even more puzzled and earnestly persuaded her: "Mi Mi, look how popular 'The Myth' is now. You can tell how popular this kind of time-travel theme is with the audience. As long as you play the female lead, I am confident that this drama will be a huge hit."

"Teacher Yu, I'm sorry to disappoint you, I really can't act."

Yang Mi was also upset, after all, this could have been the lead role in a potentially hugely popular drama, but after weighing the pros and cons, she had no choice but to give it up.

"Can you tell me why you refused to act?"

Yu Zheng had no choice; his new drama was going head-to-head with Tangren's "Scarlet Heart," whose female lead was Liu Shishi.

His leading lady obviously can't be too far behind Tangren's top actress in terms of status and fame, otherwise she simply won't be able to generate enough viewership, and the ratings won't be good.

After much thought, I felt that Yang Mi, who is also one of the "Four Little Flowers" (a term referring to four popular young actresses), would be the most suitable for the female lead.

Faced with Yu Zheng's questioning, Yang Mi had no choice but to speak her mind. She couldn't just say that this drama was plagiarized from someone else's, because she was afraid of offending Tangren and the top female star, and didn't want to be retaliated against by the chairman's wife in the future.

After thinking for a moment, I could only offer a subtle reminder: "Teacher Yu, it's never a good idea to borrow plot ideas from others. If we end up having a dispute with Tangren Media, it's not worth it. Why should we create big trouble for ourselves?"

"So that's what you're worried about." Yu Zheng suddenly realized, chuckled lightly, and didn't seem to care at all.

“There’s no need to worry about the future when it comes to creative matters. If Tangren has any objections in the future, they can sue me. The lawsuit will take at least a year and a half. By then, the drama will have already aired, so what can Cai Yinong do to me?”

Yu Zheng was full of confidence. In matters of literary creation, the definition of plagiarism is inherently vague, and lawsuits are also time-consuming.

By then, his new drama "Scarlet Heart" will air first. Once it's aired, it will be too late for Tangren to cause trouble.

Yu Zheng's inexplicable self-confidence left Yang Mi speechless. Now that she was part of Tengda Culture, Tangren and Cai Yinong were nothing special in her eyes. What she really cared about was the top female star.

"Teacher Yu, let me be frank with you. I'm not afraid of Tang Ren or President Cai. What I'm really worried about is Liu Shishi. She has powerful backers."

Upon hearing this, Yu Zheng was taken aback, and the relaxed expression on his face gradually faded: "I understand what you mean."

Although Yang Mi didn't say it explicitly, the fact that she was so cautious shows that the person behind Tangren's top female star is not simple. Yu Zheng decided to reconsider, but giving up was absolutely out of the question.

"Honey, my new drama is really suitable for you. I think you can seriously consider it again."

To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, I decided to get Hunan TV to invest. Once filmed, it would be broadcast directly on Hunan TV. With the support of a TV station, what can anyone do to me?

As for your concern about Liu Shishi, I think there's always a way to resolve it. Think about it some more and give me an answer within a week.

Yang Mi stared at her phone, which had already ended the call, her expression shifting.

She had a vague feeling that if she gave up Yu Zheng's new drama, she would miss a major opportunity, and this sudden impulse made her hesitate.

As the saying goes, one person's plan is short-sighted, but two people's plans are long-sighted. Yang Mi thought about it alone for a long time but still had no clue. She decided to discuss it with her agent, Zeng Jia, and hear what she thought.

Leaning against the wall, Yang Mi recounted everything that had just happened to Zeng Jia, wanting to hear her advice.

Zeng Jia is currently riding high, as the group has issued an appointment document, officially making her the deputy general manager of Tengda Culture, in charge of the company's TV drama production and artist management business.

"Yes."

The agent's immediate answer surprised Yang Mi greatly: "But what about Shishi?"

"You'll need to handle Liu Shishi's side yourself. You two are both among the Four Little Actresses, and your dramas are of the same type. If they air at the same time, you can go and provoke her."

Do you think Liu Shishi, given her personality, will try to sabotage things, or will she openly compete with you for viewership ratings?

Listening to Zeng Jia's analysis, Yang Mi recalled her best friend's personality and gradually came to some conclusions: "Shi Shi is gentle on the outside but strong on the inside, with an indomitable spirit in her bones."

I would never stoop to underhanded tactics; with both shows airing at the same time, she'll definitely want to defeat me fair and square.

Zeng Jia further stated, "I can have Tengda Culture invest in Yu Zheng's drama. If the company makes money and its own artists become popular, the chairman won't say anything."

Yang Mi suddenly felt a sense of clarity: "Shi Shi is very arrogant. If my drama becomes a huge hit and helps Tengda make money, there won't be any problems."

Given her inherently arrogant nature, even if "Scarlet Heart" was indeed affected, she wouldn't bother to make things difficult for me; she would only be thinking about surpassing me in her next project.

Zeng Jia laughed and said, "That's what you call a gentleman who knows how to deceive. The person Liu Shishi cares about most is the chairman. As long as we act in Tengda's best interests, she definitely won't target you."

"Sister Jia, I understand. I'll finalize things with Yu Zheng in a bit."

"MiMi!" Zeng Jia suddenly called out Yang Mi's name heavily, his tone very serious, "You need to become more famous quickly so that some of my ideas can be implemented."

Yang Mi's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, and she asked curiously, "Sister Jia, what are you thinking?"

Zeng Jia's tone was low but full of strength: "Mimi, no one wants to work for someone else their whole life. The film and television industry is booming like never before."

Huayi Brothers' successful IPO ignited passion throughout the entertainment industry, with film and television companies springing up like mushrooms after rain. "If others can do it, why can't we?"

Hearing Zeng Jia's ambitious aspirations, Yang Mi's heart also burned with enthusiasm, and she murmured, "Yes, if others can do it, why can't we?"

(End of this chapter)