Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 428 Jiaxing
The morning light, as sweet as honey, filtered through the gaps in the velvet curtains, casting several pale golden streaks on the bedroom floor.

A gentle voice came from outside the door: "Madam, are you awake?"

Liu Shishi's eyelashes fluttered, and she yawned with the languor of someone who had just woken up, her voice still slurred with sleepiness: "Sister Li, I'm awake. I'll be downstairs for breakfast in a bit."

"Okay ma'am."

I stretched, my joints cracking softly, and reached for my phone on the bedside table. "Oh dear, it's past 9 o'clock!"

I was scrolling through Weibo until after 1 a.m. last night when I saw Dong Jie being condemned by the entire internet. The matter was finally settled, and my pent-up frustration dissipated before I could finally fall asleep.

As for the subsequent ban, Jiang Yuanyuan will be in charge, so she doesn't need to worry about it at all.

The daylight was perfect, and Liu Shishi felt relaxed and happy. She swiped her finger across her phone screen and saw several WeChat messages from her husband, Song Ci. She quickly opened them.

"Oh, it's the installation package! WeChat has updated again?" Having had the experience before, Liu Shishi skillfully completed the WeChat update and found a new feature at the bottom of the chat box: "Red Envelope"!
Just as I was wondering whether I should try out the new feature, my phone suddenly vibrated.

On the WeChat chat interface with her husband, a delicate orange box popped up with the words "Wishing you prosperity and good fortune" written on it, and four small words in the lower left corner: "WeChat Red Envelope".

Curious, I clicked on it, and a gold-plated red envelope pattern spun and unfolded on the screen, accompanied by the crisp sound of copper coins. The page then displayed: "Husband's Red Envelope", 520 yuan.

Before she could react, her phone vibrated again, and another red envelope arrived. Following the same pattern, she accepted it, this time for 1314 yuan.

Liu Shishi was taken aback at first, then smiled knowingly, her eyebrows curving into crescents. Her fingertips unconsciously traced the two special numbers on the screen as she murmured softly, "Mr. Song is using this new feature to coax me again!"

The WeChat video call notification sounded at just the right moment, and Liu Shishi immediately answered it. Her husband's handsome face appeared on the screen.

Although Song Ci hadn't slept all night and looked tired, her eyes were exceptionally bright: "Sister Li just told me you were awake, so she sent you two red envelopes. It's a new feature on WeChat."

"This is a really interesting new feature." Liu Shishi rested her chin on her hand, her gaze gentle. "Honey, you didn't get any rest all night, did you?"

"Mission accomplished, time to go back and rest." Song Ci chuckled, "I want to give you the world's first official WeChat red envelope!"

Liu Shishi felt a warmth in her heart and gently urged, "Husband, go and rest! Have you been in the East China Sea these past few days?"

"Yes, I'll be staying for a few days."

Liu Shishi had a sudden inspiration. Her husband was away from Jingyuan these past few days, so she could start preparing a gift: "Then I'll fly to Donghai this afternoon to keep you company. How about we stay at Tomson Riviera for a few days?"

"I can't ask for it."

After exchanging a few tender words, the couple ended the call.

Liu Shishi's heart was still warm, and she was eager to give her husband two red envelopes in return to express her deep love.

She tried entering 520 and 1314, but both resulted in an error message saying the amount exceeded the limit. She could only send a maximum of 200 yuan, and immediately complained angrily, "Song Yiyi is so annoying! She only allows herself to do what she wants!"

The sun was shining brightly outside the window. She ran barefoot to the dressing room and began to carefully select her dress for the trip to the East China Sea.

In the crew of the TV series "Under the Zhengyang Gate" in Beiping, Zhao Liying had just finished filming a scene with Zhu Yawen and was about to take a break when the production assistant suddenly came to inform her that someone was looking for her.

When we arrived at the rest area, we saw a middle-aged man waiting there.

Upon seeing her enter, the other person stepped forward to greet her, speaking with a familiar and friendly tone: "Hello, Liying, I'm Ge Maoliang, your new agent!"

Upon hearing the other party's name, Zhao Liying immediately recognized him. The person was the former assistant director of "The Voice of China" and now the new artist director of Tengda Culture.

He nodded politely and said, "Hello, Mr. Ge. What brings you to the film set?"

"I heard you were filming 'Under the Zhengyang Gate' here, not far from the company, so I came to check it out."

After exchanging pleasantries, Ge Maoliang got down to business: "Liying, President Liu has already explained the company's situation to me. From now on, the artist management business will depend on you and Wang Kai. Yang Zi's status is still relatively low, and she needs time to grow."

Zhao Liying responded modestly, "President Ge, you're too kind."

Ge Maoliang was sincere: "I came here today mainly to talk to you about my recent work and future plans, and we can exchange ideas."

Agents and artists are inherently a community of shared interests; I will fully cooperate with your development.

"Thank you, Mr. Ge!" Zhao Liying felt the other party's goodwill and said seriously, "I have a new drama called 'Legend of Chasing Fish' that will be broadcast on TV at the end of the month. This is the first TV series produced by Liu Shishi Studio. The studio and Tangren Media are very enthusiastic about it."

"I understand. We will arrange publicity and distribution resources to follow up and fully cooperate with the production company."

"This is the only urgent task at hand right now. As for future plans, it depends on the company and General Manager Liu's arrangements for me."

Ge Maoliang said after careful consideration: "President Liu and I have discussed this and hope that you will first take the route of a popular celebrity, establish yourself in the top tier, and then gradually transform your career path."

“I have no objection.” Zhao Liying nodded and sighed softly. “The competition among female stars is too fierce these days. It’s true that only by taking the traffic route can one become popular quickly. This is determined by the market.”

Ge Maoliang analyzed: "Your current status is at the top of the second tier, but you're still a bit short of being a regular first-tier star."

I've read the script for "Under the Zhengyang Gate." It's a period drama with solid production, and it's definitely a good resource. However, the female lead's character isn't very likable, so it won't help you increase your popularity much.

I can't speculate on the ratings of "The Legend of Chasing Fish." In short, the fastest way for aspiring actresses to become popular stars is still to act in idol dramas or dramas featuring strong female leads.

"President Ge is absolutely right." Zhao Liying smiled helplessly: "The female lead Su Meng in 'Under the Zhengyang Gate' is quite eccentric and not very likable. But after all, it's a big-budget serious drama. As long as the ratings aren't bad, it will be very helpful for accumulating experience."

After several conversations, Ge Maoliang discovered that Zhao Liying had a clear understanding of her own position. He liked to work with smart people because it saved him a lot of trouble!

"The film 'The Continent,' a collaboration between the company and Han Han, will begin filming early next year, and General Manager Liu has already cast you as the female lead."

The debate between writers Han Han and Guo Jingming over their career transitions has garnered much attention. This film is very popular and represents a good opportunity; you could consider taking it.

After filming this movie, you could consider taking on idol dramas or leading roles in dramas next year. That's my advice for you next year; after that, it depends on how your career develops!

Zhao Liying was very satisfied with her new agent's thoughtfulness and responsibility: "Thank you for your trouble, Mr. Ge."

Ge Maoliang smiled and said frankly, "You want to rise to the top and strive for a leading position, and I, being new here, also need to achieve results to gain a foothold in Tengda Culture and seek better development. I hope we can cooperate happily and achieve mutual success in the future."

Zhao Liying smiled sweetly: "President Ge, it's a pleasure to do business with you!"

At the same time, the "Tiny Times" film crew, which was shooting at Tunghai University, also welcomed visitors.

On set, Guo Jingming sat leisurely in the director's chair, surrounded by several assistant directors.

The monitor showed that a scene had just finished filming. An assistant director nodded to Guo Jingming, who understood and picked up the walkie-talkie, announcing with a smile, "That's a wrap! Everyone take a break."

Yang Mi breathed a sigh of relief in front of the camera, just then she heard the crew member calling out, "Ms. Yang Mi, someone's here to visit the set."

Da Mimi arrived at the rest area with some curiosity. Upon seeing the person, she greeted them with a smile: "Sister Jia, what brings you here?"

As he spoke, his gaze fell on the young and beautiful woman beside Zeng Jia.

The girl was extremely beautiful, with a pretty face that combined exotic charm with modern flair. Her oval face and delicate chin gave her a charming yet playful look, making her a truly lovely lady.

"Mimi, let me introduce you. Her name is Dilraba, and she is studying at the Donghai Drama Academy."

Yang Mi immediately understood. Zeng Jia had been looking for promising talents recently, and the person in front of her must be the first artist the company had signed.

The young girl was poised and confident, showing no stage fright: "Hello, Sister Honey, I'm Dilraba."

Yang Mi responded with a gentle smile: "Hello, Dilraba."

The three sat down in the rest area, and Zeng Jia said in high spirits, "Mimi, I submitted my resignation to Tengda Culture yesterday."

Our company has been officially established; it's called Jaywalk Media! Dilraba is the first artist signed by Jaywalk.

A hint of surprise flashed in Yang Mi's eyes. After more than ten years of struggling in the entertainment industry, she finally had her own film and television company. This was her first step towards capital.

At this moment, Da Mimi was beaming: "Dilraba, welcome to the company! From now on, you, me, and Sister Jia are all family."

Dilraba breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, finally feeling at ease. Previously, when Zeng Jia approached her, she had signed the contract with some skepticism.

Seeing that even the famous actress Yang Mi was a member of the company, all my worries vanished, leaving only anticipation for the future. With Sister Mi guiding me, maybe I could make a name for myself soon.

"Mimi, when will Tiny Times 2 finish filming?"

"Judging from the progress, filming should be completed before New Year's Day."

"Your contract with Tengda Culture expires in two months. It's not advisable to sign any new films during this time. Focus on finishing filming 'Tiny Times 2'."

Zeng Jia pondered for a moment, then changed the subject, "By the way, how's your deal with Huanrui Century for that drama going?"

Yang Mi replied, "The project for 'Gu Jian Qi Tan' is basically finalized, and we plan to sign the contract next year."

“It’s all arranged properly.” Zeng Jia nodded. “Who is the director of this drama? Huanrui Century has no experience in producing large-scale period dramas and lacks a director who can carry the show. We definitely need to hire outside help.”

"Huanrui spent a lot of money to hire Liang Shengquan, the director of Tangren Media."

“Just as I thought.” Zeng Jia’s eyes lit up. “Mimi, when you’re filming, try to get to know Director Liang better and see if you can recruit him to Jiaxing.”

Yang Mi shook her head helplessly: "Sister Jia, I'm afraid this won't work. Huanrui had also considered poaching her before, offering generous terms, but Director Liang rejected them all."

He didn't even think much of Huanrui, so why would he switch to Jaywalk Studio? After director Li Guoli finished filming "The Imperial Doctress," he retired from directing and will no longer be a director. At that time, director Liang will be the top director of Tangren Media.

He still holds shares in Tangren Media, which is aiming for an IPO. He couldn't possibly give up his shares in a listed company to join a fledgling company like Jiaxing Media.

Yang Mi knew perfectly well that Jaywalk Studio was still a makeshift operation, and its only valuable "asset" was herself. These conditions were of no appeal to established directors, and even offering more shares would be useless.

"Well, the matter of directing can only be discussed in the long run," Zeng Jia said regretfully.

She knew that Jiaxing didn't have any advantages at the moment, but she still couldn't help but have designs on Liang Shengquan. After all, a good director is crucial for a film and television company to develop rapidly.

Tangren Media started with Li Guoli, Huayi Brothers had Feng Xiaogang to back it up, and even Tengda Culture has been cultivating directors, including Teng Huatao, Ma Xin, Xu Zheng, and new collaborators Han Han and Xue Xiaolu.

Yang Mi remained calm: "Let's take it one step at a time, Sister Jia. First, we need to build up the company team and establish a reputation before we can attract talent."

"I was too hasty," Zeng Jia said, adjusting her mindset. "I forgot to ask, could you arrange a role for Dilraba in 'Swords of Legends'?"

“No problem.” Yang Mi patted her full chest. “This drama depends on me to carry the ratings. It’s just a supporting role. Huanrui Zhong will definitely give me face.”

Upon hearing about the resources, Dilraba was both surprised and delighted: "Thank you, Sister Honey! Thank you, President Zeng!"

“Dilraba, Jaywalk Studio only has two artists, and all of the company’s resources will be directed towards you in the future.”

Yang Mi smiled brightly. She felt that the young girl, like Gulnazar from Tangren Film and Television, had a unique exotic charm and great potential.

Two days later, a guest arrived at the president's office of Tengda Culture.

On the guest sofa, Liu Rong smiled and raised her hand: "Director Guo Fan, please sit down."

"Hello, Mr. Liu." Facing the president of Tengda Culture, a giant in the film and television industry, Guo Fan was a little reserved. After all, he was just a director with no reputation and no works to speak of.

Liu Rong got straight to the point: "Director Guo, the company has done its research, and both Wanda Pictures and Wong Jinghua's company want to sign you."

And your successful passing of the Tengda Director Training Program assessment demonstrates your talent. Tengda Culture always welcomes talented directors and is willing to provide them with a large enough platform.

"Tengda Culture has strong capabilities, which is evident to everyone in the entertainment industry," Guo Fan said, offering a compliment.

That's true. Film directors like Teng Huatao, Ma Xin, and Xu Zheng were indeed brought into the industry by Tengda's resources.

Liu Rong didn't beat around the bush and directly extended an invitation: "Tengda Culture wants to sign you to a 5-film directing contract, are you willing?"

Guo Fan pondered for a moment: "Mr. Liu, what kind of resources and support can Tengda provide me?"

Liu Rong confidently stated, "Tengda Culture has ample funds, good scripts, and a mature production team, and will give you the opportunity to direct a major film."

Once you've proven your talent and ability like Teng Huatao and Ma Xin, the company will help you set up your own studio.

"I've long heard that Tengda Culture is generous in its dealings, and seeing it for myself today, I can confirm it lives up to its reputation." Guo Fan was satisfied, and a look of anticipation appeared on his face. "With such conditions offered, I really have no reason to refuse!"

"Welcome to Tengda Culture!" Guo Fan's choice was exactly what Liu Rong had expected. She then picked up a script from the coffee table and handed it to him.

"Director Guo, this is your first film, adapted from 'My Old Classmate,' one of the three youth trilogies that is the foundation of Tengda Culture. I hope you will seize this opportunity."

"Don't worry, Mr. Liu, I will definitely not let you down." Guo Fan's expression turned serious as he solemnly accepted the script with both hands.

Having transitioned from law to the film and television industry, he had waited so many years for this opportunity, so he naturally cherished it all the more.

(End of this chapter)