Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 359 It’s a worthwhile trip
The National Stadium in Beiping was brightly lit, and the backstage area of ​​the 28th Feitian Awards for Television Drama was bustling with activity.

More than 40 film crews and over 300 celebrities gathered here, with greetings rising and falling outside the red carpet, creating a dazzling spectacle.

With some time to spare before the ceremony began, the stars gathered in small groups, catching up or chatting.

Among the crowd, Liu Shishi, who was attending the ceremony as a guest of honor, was chatting with her master, Li Xuejian.

"Master, is it possible to win a prize tonight?"

"It's difficult!" Li Xuejian shook his head, his voice low and hoarse.

Although his acting in the nominated work "Destiny" was still superb, its ratings and influence were slightly inferior to those of popular dramas such as "Teahouse" and "The Road to Awakening," which put him at a slight disadvantage in the competition for "Outstanding Actor."

Seeing this, Liu Shishi gently comforted her, "With your status, you no longer need awards to prove yourself."

Li Xuejian smiled and looked at the flashing stage lights in the distance: "The Feitian Award is, after all, the highest honor in the television industry. Which actor wouldn't be tempted by it?"

Liu Shishi jokingly said, "Master, how about we work together again?"

He does not mean that.

Li Xuejian's heart stirred. He had solid acting skills and a good reputation, but his recent works had focused on depth and lacked market popularity.

The female apprentice in front of us is a true "traffic queen," boasting 30 million followers on Weibo, making her a guarantee of high viewership.

If they can join forces, they might just be able to create a critically acclaimed and commercially successful work, vying for a major award.

Seeing her master's expression shift slightly, Liu Shishi pressed her advantage: "I'll have Mr. Song personally handle the script and tailor it to your needs."

Upon hearing that Liu Shishi wanted to invite Song Ci to be the screenwriter, Li Xuejian was even more eager, as everyone in the industry knew about the richest man's screenwriting skills.

If he were to create another classic like "Lurking," it wouldn't be impossible for Li, the "TV King," to even dream of it.

The master and apprentice were discussing the details in hushed tones when a loud voice interrupted: "Shishi! Teacher Xuejian!"

Liu Shishi turned around and saw Xu Zheng's shiny bald head standing out in the crowd. The director, dressed in a black suit with an exquisite bow tie at the collar, approached with a beaming smile.

"Director Xu, it's been a long time. What have you been up to lately?"

“We’re filming Tengda Culture’s new drama, ‘The Big Man Gets Married,’” Xu Zheng replied, then glanced at Li Xuejian, seemingly wanting to say something but stopping himself.

"You young people chat, I'm going to meet some old friends." Li Xuejian observed that Xu Zheng seemed to have something to talk about with Liu Shishi, so he took the initiative to leave.

After Li Xuejian walked away, Xu Zheng immediately lowered his voice and got straight to the point: "Shishi, after filming wraps up for 'The Bachelor', I'll be starting to prepare for a new movie. Are you interested in investing in it?"

Liu Shishi raised an eyebrow, showing interest. Her previous investment in "Lost in Thailand" had earned her several million yuan, and she was quite optimistic about Xu Zheng's film: "Of course, we had a very pleasant collaboration last time."

Xu Zheng's smile widened: "The new film is a sequel to 'Lost in Thailand,' tentatively titled 'Lost in Thailand,' with a total estimated investment of 3600 million yuan."

Tengda Culture was the main investor and was responsible for publicity and distribution, accounting for 50% of the total investment; I took 10% of the profits as the director and lead actor, and then personally invested 400 million yuan for 10%.

Do you want to take the remaining 30% share?

Xu Zheng was full of confidence. The success of "Lost in Thailand" had made him a rising star among directors, and he had no shortage of investment.

But Liu Shishi is not only a top-tier celebrity, but also brings with her a wealth of resources and a high level of public attention. Bringing her into the project undoubtedly provides double insurance for the film.

Without hesitation, Liu Shishi immediately agreed: "I'll invest all the remaining shares."

Having successfully recruited the top female star, Xu Zheng seized the opportunity to make a request: "Lost in Thailand failed to break 100 million yuan at the box office last summer due to fierce competition."

I plan to release "Lost in Thailand" during the Spring Festival. I would appreciate your help with the screening schedule then.

"Don't worry about that." Liu Shishi nodded, understanding that this was the condition for investing in "Lost in Thailand": "Leave the release schedule to me, and I also hope that 'Lost in Thailand' can achieve better box office results."

"Then it's settled! I'll go back and prepare the contract details right away." Xu Zheng rubbed his hands excitedly, as if he could already see the crown of "director with a hundred million yuan" beckoning to him.

"Hey, isn't this Director Xu? What are you chatting about with Shishi? You're laughing so happily?"

A lazy, teasing female voice came from behind. The two looked in the direction of the voice and saw Yan Ni walking gracefully towards them, her light steps carrying a hint of drunken charm.

"Shishi, let's talk in detail later!" Xu Zheng nodded to Yan Ni and then hurriedly left.

Looking at Yan Ni's appearance, Liu Shishi couldn't help but tease, "Sister, with that brisk walk, you haven't had a few drinks again, have you?"

“It’s just my nature, I can’t change it!” Yan Ni’s gaze lingered on Liu Shishi’s exquisite cheongsam. “But if we’re talking about something truly captivating, it has to be your cheongsam. You’re the most dazzling person in the whole place.”

Liu Shishi smiled gently, saying that not being nominated or winning an award was not important; beauty was what mattered for a lifetime.

The modified cheongsam she chose today features a light, elegant color base, adorned with gold embroidery and sequins, which not only accentuates her graceful figure but also exudes a dignified and sophisticated air.

“Now all the women in the industry are following your lead!” Yan Ni continued with a smile. “Ever since your show showcased Eastern aesthetics in Europe, female celebrities have started wearing cheongsams.”

Especially that horse-face skirt in front of the Louvre, it has a unique oriental charm, I want to try it on sometime.

The eldest sister knew perfectly well that the fourth episode of "Divas Hit the Road" aired last night, officially kicking off their trip to France.

Oriental aesthetics in front of the Louvre have attracted the attention of foreign photographers, once again going viral online and further boosting the popularity of the program and herself.

"You're watching 'Divas Hit the Road' too?"

"I watch every episode!" Yan Ni's eyes gleamed with longing. "Watching it makes me so envious; I really want to experience it myself."

This reality show about seven people traveling together in Europe, although only four episodes have aired, has already produced countless memorable moments: "Huang Xiaming, the master of impartiality," "Yang Zi, the pushover," and "Liu Tao, the all-around virtuous wife."

What viewers find most fascinating is the unintentional happiness that the leading lady exudes, making countless netizens and female celebrities envious.

“If you’re really interested, I can help you connect with Director Liao. He’d be more than happy to do so,” Liu Shishi suggested enthusiastically.

Yan Ni waved her hand and laughed, "We'll see. I don't even know how my schedule will be arranged next year."

Liu Shishi and Yan Ni chatted and laughed. The two became friends while filming "My Own Swordsman" in 2005 and have maintained contact and a very good relationship over the years.

"Yan Ni, so you're here! I've been looking for you everywhere. It's almost our turn to go in."

When Yan Ni met her partner for the evening, she affectionately took Liu Shishi's arm and warmly introduced her: "Shishi, let me introduce you. This is Sarina, the outstanding actress of last year's Feitian Award."

With a charming smile, Liu Shishi gracefully bowed and greeted the senior in the industry: "Hello, Ms. Sarina. I've seen your performance in 'Crossing the Guandong,' and it was truly excellent, amazing." Sarina dared not accept Liu Shishi's greeting, bowed slightly, and humbly replied: "Ms. Liu, you're too kind. Producer Hou and Director Kong have both mentioned you to me, and we look forward to the opportunity to work together in the future."

"You flatter me, just call me Shishi."

"Alright, alright, don't be so polite. It's really uncomfortable to see you two so reserved." Yan Ni interrupted their formalities with a smile and suggested, "Let's walk the red carpet together as a group later."

Liu Shishi was taken aback: "Is this alright?"

Yan Ni explained, "The red carpet show at the Feitian Awards isn't as elaborate. Usually, it's a group of film crews making an appearance, followed by the award presenters and guests. It's not as formal as the Magnolia Awards and the Golden Eagle Awards."

"I see." The eldest sister suddenly understood and gained some new knowledge.

I was secretly delighted that I had made a great deal tonight: not only did I finalize a collaborative project with my mentor and invest in a movie, but I also met some influential seniors. It was definitely worth the trip.

As the host announced the winners, the award-winning film crews walked the red carpet one after another.

Liu Shishi observed this unique scene with great interest. The director, along with the lead actors and supporting actors, were in groups of three or five. Small crews had seven or eight people, while large crews had more than ten people. The atmosphere was lively and cheerful, completely different from the red carpet ceremonies she had attended before.

Soon it was Yan Ni and Sarina's turn to appear. As the winners of the Best Actress Award last year, they would announce the winner of this year's Best Actor Award.

"Now approaching us are the famous actresses Yan Ni and Sarina." The host paused briefly, noticing Liu Shishi in the middle, and immediately added:
"And also a representative of Eastern aesthetics, the popular young actress Liu Shishi. Welcome to the three of you at this year's Feitian Awards ceremony!"

Once all the guests had entered, the ceremony officially began.

Liu Shishi, who was seated next to Li Xuejian, deeply felt the solemn atmosphere of the Feitian Awards as the highest honor in the television drama industry.

From the venue's scale to the caliber of the guests, everything was extraordinary. Even the ceremony's hosts were CCTV's top male and female hosts, Li Yong and Dong Qing.

The awards were announced one by one, and finally the main event began.

Li Yong exclaimed with great enthusiasm: "Next up is... the Best Director Award!"

Dong Qing said with great emotion: "Please welcome our award presenters, renowned director Gao Xixi and renowned actress Zhu Yuanyuan, to the stage."

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhu Yuanyuan, dressed in a black dress, walked arm in arm with Gao Xixi from the rising platform to the center of the stage.

Zhu Yuanyuan, with her humor and wit, enlivened the atmosphere of the scene and joked with Gao Xixi: "Director Gao, before I served as an award presenter, the organizing committee made two promises to me."

The first is that the director who presented the award with me will tailor-make a film specifically for me. Director Gao, would you be willing?

Gao Xixi chuckled and, in front of the audience, readily agreed: "I do."

Zhu Yuanyuan continued with a satisfied smile, "The second promise the organizing committee made to me is that the winning director will also commission a film for me."

These witty remarks drew laughter from the entire audience.

Below the stage, Li Xuejian turned slightly to the side: "Girl, what do you think of Zhu Yuanyuan's performance?"

Looking at the witty and charming female guest on stage, Liu Shishi pondered for a moment before replying, "Relaxed and natural, giving people a joyful feeling."

Furthermore, she skillfully leveraged her position to secure resources for herself, demonstrating a remarkable sense of proportion.

Li Xuejian said earnestly, "You have no shortage of resources, but you will have many more opportunities to appear on such prominent stages in the future."

You also went on stage for the Magnolia Awards last time, but you seemed too reserved, unlike Zhu Yuanyuan who was so natural and poised. You should learn from her strengths; presenting an award is a great opportunity to showcase yourself.

As Liu Shishi humbly accepted her master's teachings, the Best Director Award was announced. Immediately afterwards, Yan Ni and Sarina were invited onto the stage to present the Best Actor Award.

On stage, Sarina spoke eloquently, covering everything from performing arts to professional responsibility. Beside her, Yanni simply nodded, remaining silent.

“Honey, I’ve been talking for so long, why don’t you say something? What are your thoughts?” Sarina felt like she had run out of things to say, so she turned to look at her partner.

Yan Ni remained calm and chuckled lightly, "I want to pause because my heart is surging right now, and all I want to do is be a lovesick fool!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Shishi couldn't help but burst out laughing, joking with her master, "Sister Yan Ni feels like she's been drinking half a jin of Erguotou every day."

Li Xuejian was amused: "Yan Ni is one of a kind in the film and television industry, which is a unique feature that others cannot imitate. It is a completely different style from your dignified elegance."

As the two female guests clicked on the electronic screen, two envelope icons appeared.

Liu Shishi could clearly sense that her mentor and the other nominated male actors sitting in the same row were unconsciously getting nervous.

The audience held their breath, completely silent, as the winner of the Feitian Award for Outstanding Actor was announced amidst great anticipation.

"Congratulations, Huang Zhizhong!"

"Congratulations, Chen Baoguo!"

Li Xuejian's eyes darkened. Although he was mentally prepared, he still felt a sense of loss when the award was announced.

However, being a seasoned veteran actor, he quickly composed himself, gave the two newly crowned "Flying Apsaras TV Kings" a friendly hug, and sincerely congratulated them.

“Master, let’s compete again at the next Feitian Award. When I get back, I’ll have Song Yi write the script. Master and apprentice will work together.”

Li Xuejian laughed and scolded, "Girl, do you think being nominated for the Feitian Award is like cabbage, something you can just get whenever you want!"

Liu Shishi pursed her lips, keeping some things to herself for fear of being scolded by her mentor, a veteran artist. She dared not boast of winning an award, but she felt that Mr. Song could definitely secure a nomination.

After Huang Zhizhong and Chen Baoguo delivered their acceptance speeches, Dong Qing took over, speaking warmly: "...On this road, which is full of both flowers and thorns, fly bravely."

Next, we will announce the last award of this year's Feitian Awards: the Best Actress Award!

Li Yong enthusiastically stated: "The nominees are... Let's wait and see which of these six talented actresses will ultimately receive this honor?"

Amidst enthusiastic applause, Zhang Guoli, the guest presenter for the draw, took the stage: "I would like to express my special thanks to the organizing committee for giving me this opportunity to present the draw on my own. But they don't know me. At my age, I would be much happier if I had a beautiful female guest by my side."

The camera panned across the six nominated actresses in the audience, and they were all beaming with joy.

Zhang Guoli deliberately put on a stern face and said in a serious tone: "Actually, giving out awards is a job that offends people."

No matter who you present the award to, the other five people will definitely be unhappy. Therefore, I'd like to choose a female guest from the audience to come up on stage and present the award with me, so we can "offend people" together.

(End of this chapter)