Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 346 Northwest Circle

Zhang Jiayi's words clearly carried a hint of resentment, which Liu Shishi naturally noticed.

"Teacher Zhang!" Sister Yi's lips parted slightly as she softly called out, "In the Internet age, things are changing rapidly."

I'm sure your fans are eagerly anticipating your Weibo account, hoping you'll share snippets of your life and interact with them.

Liu Shishi paused slightly, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes, and said firmly, "On behalf of my husband, Mr. Song, I sincerely invite you to join Weibo and experience the charm of online social networking."

I think if you were willing to open a Weibo account, your follower count would soon surpass mine.

The leading lady turned the tables on him, and Zhang Jiayi immediately became flustered. He had been in the industry for 21 years, working hard and enduring hardships to achieve his current status and success in the film and television industry.

However, nowadays, internet capital, represented by Tengda Group, has begun to fully intervene in the film and television industry, forming a casting and production logic that is driven by traffic.

This has led to a more superficial and impatient atmosphere in the industry, with a growing disregard for professional ethics. Whoever has more fans or higher popularity can obtain higher pay and more resources.

Even the most authoritative and professional Magnolia Awards, one of the three major awards for television dramas, has had to follow the trend and add awards with questionable value such as "Most Attractive" and "Highest Click Rate".

This made Zhang Jiayi indignant, so he deliberately mentioned to the wife of the chairman of Tengda Group that he did not have a Weibo account, just to express a small protest.

However, at this moment, Liu Shishi brought up her husband and publicly extended an invitation on a stage in front of everyone in the name of the richest man, which put him in a dilemma and made him feel very uncomfortable.

After the ceremony, not opening a Weibo account would be disrespectful to Song Ci and Tengda Group, with obvious consequences. However, if Zhang Jiayi obediently opened a Weibo account, he couldn't swallow his anger and felt uneasy.

However, being a seasoned veteran in the entertainment industry, Zhang Jiayi weighed the pros and cons and still dared not refuse Liu Shishi's invitation in public.

She forced a smile: "Thank you for the invitation, Professor Liu. After the ceremony, I will open a Weibo account to experience the world of young people."

"Please announce the most-watched TV series first, Teacher Zhang." Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Zhang Jiayi softened his stance, and Liu Shishi, seeing that she had gotten away with it, sneered inwardly.

The eldest sister is perfectly clear-headed and knows why Zhang Jiayi is acting this way. It's nothing more than a powerless resistance against the encroachment of internet capital on the traditional film and television industry. But in her view, such behavior is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

An actor dares to put on airs in front of her? No matter how unwilling he is, he still has to obediently follow the trend of the times.
Zhang Jiayi suppressed his anger, his face expressionless, and mechanically read out the list of winners: "Most-watched TV series, *Tie Lihua*."

Liu Shishi immediately smiled broadly and announced into the microphone: "The 17th Magnolia Award for Most Attractive TV Series, 'Before Dawn'! Congratulations to both of you!"

The two award-winning directors went on stage to accept their awards with beaming smiles. In this era where commercialism reigns supreme, the weight of popularity awards has long since diminished.

Investors only care about popularity and profits. As for artistic value? In the eyes of capital, it's nothing more than a dispensable decoration.

After the awards ceremony, Zhang Jiayi returned to his seat expressionlessly.

Beside her, Jiang Wenli turned slightly to the side and sighed softly: "Why did you say those things to Liu Shishi on stage just now? Did you expect to get away with offending her?"

"I made a fool of myself!" Zhang Jiayi said with a straight face, feeling a pang of regret for his impulsiveness.

The strong intervention of internet capital in the film and television industry has left veteran actors facing market difficulties and their living space shrinking.

Young audiences idolize glamorous young male and female celebrities, while veteran actors who rely on their acting skills seem out of place in an era where popularity reigns supreme.

Getting a good script and a role with depth is incredibly difficult. She certainly deserves hatred, but offending Liu Shishi is completely unnecessary.

"You must open a Weibo account after the ceremony!" Jiang Wenli urged her old friend.

Zhang Jiayi said weakly, "I understand."

Seeing Zhang Jiayi's state, Jiang Wenli feared he might act impulsively in the heat of the moment, so she earnestly advised him:
“You’re over forty years old, why are you arguing with a girl in her twenties! Even if you don’t think about yourself, you should think about the brothers and sisters in the Northwest circle.”

"The Northwest circle! It's just a disorganized mess. What can it possibly use to compete with the Beijing and Shanghai circles?" Zhang Jiayi's expression grew increasingly bitter. "Even two big directors from Xi'an Film Studio, Yi Mou and Kai Ge, don't want to take the lead. Are they counting on us?"

Xi'an Film Studio is the core incubation base of the Northwest Film Circle. Since the 80s, Xi'an Film Studio has become the cradle of China's fifth generation of directors, cultivating master-level figures such as Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, and Wu Tianmin.

"I have news that Director Yi Mou and Zhang Weipin have completely fallen out, and he's about to leave New Pictures Company."

Jiang Wenli's eyes gleamed. "I intend to invite Director Zhang back to establish a film and television company based on the old team from Xi'an Film Studio. We don't need to be on par with the Beijing and Shanghai film and television circles, but at least we need to have a place in the industry."

The works of the Northwest Circle have always been rooted in the land and focused on reality, winning numerous international awards. The only thing they lack is commercial operation.

However, directors like Zhang Yimou and Jia Zhangke are well-known, and their film projects can still attract capital and the market.

With proper management, it's not impossible to get a share of the pie in today's glamorous entertainment industry.

Zhang Jiayi was taken aback upon hearing this. He turned to look at Jiang Wenli, surprised that this woman was so ambitious. She actually wanted to integrate the Northwest Film Studio and start anew on the basis of Xi'an Film Studio.

Jiang Wenli, in high spirits, pointed out: "The Northwest circle is full of talents, including my husband Gu, director Zhang Yimou, and Director Jia."

"We have you, me, and Yan Ni as actors; we have masters like Lu Wei and Cheng Zhongshi among screenwriters and writers. Our abilities are not lacking, so why should we be subservient to others and depend on the Beijing and Shanghai film circles for our livelihood?"

Zhang Jiayi was very tempted by Jiang Wenli's words. After carefully considering his own resources, he realized that the Northwest circle was indeed rich in resources. If they could unite, they might be able to create a film and television giant.

But then he said with concern, "I support you in principle. Although our production team is not weak, we lack theaters and distribution channels."

Small-scale operations are fine, but to integrate the Northwest film and television industry and establish a large-scale film and television company that can rival the Beijing and Shanghai film and television industries, without its own theater chains and distribution channels, it will ultimately be at the mercy of others.

Jiang Wenli said confidently, "I've already thought about this. We can bring in Wanda or Tengda as strategic investors to help the company get started. As long as the first few projects are profitable, we won't lack investment in the future."

“Wanda is indeed a good fit! They have cinema chains, but their production capabilities are weak.” Zhang Jiayi said thoughtfully, “As for Tengda, they are the leading company in the Beijing film industry. Can we really rely on Tengda?”

"Don't forget that back then, Ningbo Film Studio was barely alive, on the verge of bankruptcy. It was only with the support of Tengda Culture that they were able to turn things around with just one film, *Painted Skin*."

Jiang Wenli's eyes shone brightly, "If Ningbo Film Studio can do it, why can't we?"

Jiang Wenli's plan was meticulous and well-reasoned, which made Zhang Jiayi's heart burn with excitement. He had artistic pursuits, but that didn't stop him from making money.

On stage, the lights shone brightly. As the winners of Best Screenplay and Best Director were announced, the awards ceremony reached its most exciting moment: the announcement of the Best Actress at the Magnolia Awards.

As introduced by the host, award presenters Huang Haibo and Cai Qing took the stage.

After a humorous exchange between the two, the electronic screen began to play clips of the five nominated actresses' outstanding performances in their respective TV dramas.

The five nominees—Chen Shu from "Iron Pear Blossom," Deng Cuiwen from "Heroine," Sarina from "My Children, My Home," Liu Shishi from "Du Lala's Promotion," and Yang Mi from "Palace"—sat in the audience, unable to hide their inner turmoil.

The clip quickly ended, and the director split the camera into five segments, focusing on the five Best Actress nominees. Each of them had a different expression, some excited, some nervous, and some calm.

After making a few witty remarks to lighten the tense atmosphere before the awards were announced, Huang Haibo solemnly opened the list of winners: "...Best Actress winner, Chen Shu, for *Tie Lihua*!"

A wave of applause erupted from the audience. Chen Shu stood up in surprise, hugged the director, and walked onto the stage.

The newly crowned TV Queen wore her hair in a high bun, and her white off-shoulder dress was adorned with a black belt, exuding charm.

Chen Shu bent slightly to accept the heavy trophy, and delivered an acceptance speech with great excitement, his voice trembling slightly.

"Before this award was announced, I kept reminding myself to stay calm, but now that I've actually received the Best Actress award, I realize that I'm more excited than I imagined."

This isn't the first time I've won an award for "Iron Pear Blossom," but I value the Magnolia Award very much because it's considered more professional, impartial, and authoritative.

Chen Shu was in high spirits, his cheeks flushed with excitement, and he sincerely thanked the organizers and the judging panel for their fairness.

There were rumors that Liu Shishi had already been chosen as the Best Actress at this year's Magnolia Awards, and that she had already given up hope of winning the award.

After all, behind that top star is not only a wealthy family worth hundreds of billions, but also the entertainment industry behemoth, Tengda Group.

Given her already high popularity and her previous international outreach to bring back national treasures, her influence is unprecedented. It is perfectly reasonable to award the Best Actress award to Liu Shishi.

Unexpectedly, the judging panel withstood the pressure and awarded the Best Actress title to themselves.

Liu Shishi sat in the audience, her expression unchanged. Although she was a little disappointed after the award was announced, she was generally calm and not sad.

Before attending the ceremony, Cai Yi-nong had already analyzed with her that the chances of winning the Best Actress award on her first nomination were slim. Moreover, she had an even more popular drama, "Scarlet Heart," to compete for next year. If she won the Best Actress award this year, what would she do next year?
Moreover, psychologically, she herself hopes that Ruoxi from "Scarlet Heart" will win an award next year, as that is the role she has poured her heart and soul into and most hopes to gain recognition for.

Tong Dawei, who was standing nearby, was afraid that Liu Shishi would be upset, so he carefully comforted her: "Shishi, you are still young. It is already very impressive that you were nominated for the Magnolia Award for Best Actress at the age of 24."

Tong Dawei kept rambling on and on, and Liu Shishi couldn't get any peace and quiet. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore and said, "Brother Dawei, do I look sad to you?"

Tong Dawei was taken aback. He carefully examined the woman and found that she looked calm and composed, without a trace of sadness.

Then I thought about it again and realized that I might have been overthinking it. While actors may need to win awards to boost their status and commercial value, and to pursue artistic achievements, the gain or loss of an award may be insignificant compared to the billions or tens of billions of assets of a top star.

Following the announcement of the Best Actress award, the Best Actor award was presented. Zhang Jiayi won the Magnolia Award for Best Actor for his superb acting in "Borrowing a Gun," which impressed the jury.

When Zhang Jiayi took the stage again, the somber mood on his face vanished, and he delivered a passionate acceptance speech.

By this time, Liu Shishi's attention was no longer on the awards ceremony. She had originally hoped that her mentor, Li Xuejian, would win the Best Actor award, but now she just hoped the ceremony would end soon.

Today is the Dragon Boat Festival, and her husband, Song Ci, has specially flown from the East China Sea to reunite with her. Nothing could be more anticipated than this.

As night falls, in the bedroom of Tomson Riviera in Donghai, the crystal chandelier casts enchanting light and shadow on the walls.

At this moment, the purple Gucci haute couture pieces were scattered on the floor, looking somewhat messy.

The woman in the dress lay languidly on the edge of the bed, her silky black hair cascading over her husband's chest, the blush still lingering at the corners of her eyes.

Unconsciously, her fingertips traced her husband's heart as she playfully complained, "Song Yiyi, you were so rough just now, you tore my clothes."

The richest man looked refreshed: "If they break, I'll just buy a few more."

"Hmph!" Liu Shishi pouted, "You're going against the wishes of women."

Song Ci's hands started to wander again, and she chuckled, "Really? Wasn't someone quite proactive just now!"

Liu Shishi stopped her husband from continuing his mischievous hands and pleaded in a sweet voice, "Okay, Yiyi, I can't take it anymore. Let me rest for a while. You go take a shower first."

Song Ci embraced his beloved wife and whispered, "Let's have a chat."

"Mmm." Liu Shishi closed her eyes, enjoying the warm moment between husband and wife.

"I'd like to hold our wedding next year after your three-year mourning period is over."

Liu Shishi looked up instantly, her previously hazy eyes brightening like stars, and she looked at her husband with immense joy: "Great! How about we set the date for New Year's Day? The proposal, the marriage certificate, and the wedding all on the same day, how meaningful that would be!"

Song Ci's expression was strange: "Shi Bao, why did you arrange the wedding on my birthday?"

"Hehe!" Liu Shishi drew circles on her husband's chest with her slender fingers. "Isn't this easy to remember?"

"Okay, that's easy to remember. We can celebrate my birthday and any anniversaries together!"

"Honey, where do you think we should have our wedding?" Liu Shishi asked with great anticipation. "In China or abroad? And what kind of wedding dress should I choose..."

"I want to have a Chinese wedding, but I don't want a Western-style wedding." Song Ci's eyes were bright as she solemnly declared, "I want a Chinese-style wedding! The parents' command, the matchmaker's words, the three letters and six betrothal gifts, the eight-stage sedan chair, the phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, and the ten-mile-long red bridal procession."

Upon hearing this, Liu Shishi was stunned. It took her a long time to recover. Her eyes sparkled with affection: "I'll listen to you, Mr. Song!"

Song Ci stroked his wife's shoulder blades, then suddenly rolled over, trapping her in the shadows: "Now we should discuss whether or not there's a 'teasing the newlyweds' ritual in a traditional Chinese wedding..."

(End of this chapter)