Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

What level is Chapter 476?
Liu Shishi's slender fingers hovered over the project budget summary column, her fingertips lightly tapping the shocking numbers, her brows furrowing suddenly.

"The total investment was 1.5 million, but the main creative team took away 8200 million..." He repeated this softly, then raised his eyes and didn't bother to look any further.

He looked intently at Jiang Yuanyuan and said, "Yuanyuan, explain to me the details of this 8200 million, item by item."

Jiang Yuanyuan was well-prepared and reported clearly: "Shishi, this includes the 1000 million yuan copyright adaptation fee for Mr. Mo Yan."

As China's first Nobel laureate in Literature, *Red Sorghum* is his masterpiece. While the price is high, it is commensurate with his literary stature and is widely recognized within the industry.

Liu Shishi nodded slightly, her tone softening a bit: "Mo Yan's copyright fee of 1000 million is reasonable. Good works are the foundation, please continue."

“Director Zheng Xiaolong’s salary is 1200 million yuan,” Jiang Yuanyuan continued. “With a phenomenal work like ‘Empresses in the Palace’ preceding it, the market recognition is extremely high, and this price is the standard rate among top TV directors today.”

Liu Shishi nodded again: "Director Zheng's ability and appeal are the key guarantees for the quality of the series."

"1200 million is a lot, but if it can replicate the success of 'Empresses in the Palace,' the returns are worth anticipating. I agree to this fee."

The conversation abruptly shifted, and a follow-up question was posed: "What about the remaining 6000 million?"

Jiang Yuanyuan spoke a little faster: "The lead actress Zhou Xun received a salary of 3000 million yuan, the total salary for other main actors and supporting actors was about 2000 million yuan, and the screenwriter's adaptation fee was 1000 million yuan."

"Heh." Liu Shishi's cold laugh was exceptionally clear.

"In other words, excluding copyright fees and Director Zheng's fees, the actors' salaries and screenwriters' fees alone will take up another 6000 million? Zhou Xun 3000 million, other actors 2000 million, and screenwriters 1000 million?"

The eldest sister tapped her fingers on the table, each tap revealing her dissatisfaction: "Mr. Mo Yan's original work is the foundation, and Director Zheng's control determines success or failure! This is the core value!"
While actors and screenwriters are certainly important, they are a form of re-creation built upon the foundations laid by the former two. The current pricing of *Red Sorghum* is completely putting the cart before the horse!

Looking at Jiang Yuanyuan, his eyes were sharp as a blade: "How could Shandong Film Group come up with such a plan that has an unbalanced allocation of funds and pushes all the risks onto the investors?"

Jiang Yuanyuan looked embarrassed and quickly explained, "Shishi, this is indeed the abnormal state of the current market. Since the capital poured into the entertainment industry at the end of last year, the bubble of actors' salaries, especially those of top stars, has been growing bigger and bigger."

Zhou Xun is one of the four leading actresses, holding numerous film awards. When she "descends to earth" to film TV series, her asking price is naturally astonishing.

Screenwriter fees have also risen accordingly, and Shandong Film & Television might also feel they are too high, but Zhou Xun and this screenwriter seem to have agreed on the terms early in the project, possibly indicating a contractual relationship.

“Bundling?” Liu Shishi’s tone was even colder. “Awards and ratings are never the same thing.”

My husband often says that the entertainment industry today operates on an internet-driven mindset, emphasizing cost-effectiveness and return on investment. Is it really worth betting 3000 million on a film actor's appeal in the television drama field?
Besides, Zhou Xun is almost 40 years old. Is it appropriate for her to play an 18-year-old girl? It's unreasonable to let the investors bear all the risks while they reap the profits first.

The top woman leaned forward slightly, exuding an aura of authority: "Yuanyuan, if it's going to be this plan, let me be clear, I'm not voting!"
My money, if given to employees, can increase their loyalty; if donated to charity, it can accumulate blessings; even if I throw it into the water, I can still hear a sound.

Investing in this project, if it fails, will not only result in a loss of real money, but will also likely earn you the reputation of being a "foolish spender" and a "failed investment." What's the point?

Jiang Yuanyuan tried to persuade her: "Shishi, I completely understand your concerns. But Shandong Film Group also said that the combination of Zheng Xiaolong and Zhou Xun has no shortage of investors."

They approached us because they value the studio's reputation and your large fan base, hoping to combine our strengths to boost viewership..."

"Not lacking in investment?" Liu Shishi immediately interrupted, her smile tinged with sarcasm. "Aren't you willing to seek out a 'powerful' partner like me because you value the publicity resources and viewership base I can bring?"

Want to use the studio's resources to cover the risks of inflated costs? Cooperation is possible, but it must be based on reasonable grounds.

After a brief pause, he decisively ordered: "Tell Shandong Film and Television that I accept Mo Yan's 1000 million yuan copyright fee and Zheng Xiaolong's 1200 million yuan director's fee."

However, actor salaries and screenwriting fees must be significantly reduced, and the overall cost must be lowered!
If they can't do it, let them find those 'suckers' willing to pay for the inflated bubble. My studio won't play along."

Seeing that her boss's attitude was firm and his logic was hitting the nail on the head, Jiang Yuanyuan knew there was no room for negotiation, so she immediately replied solemnly:
"I understand, Shishi. I'll go and communicate with Shandong Film & Television Group right away to try to reduce costs, control risks, and come up with a more rational cooperation plan."

"On matters of principle, we will not back down. There are plenty of good projects on the market." Liu Shishi waved her hand, indicating that the matter was temporarily put to rest, pending the outcome of further negotiations.

After Jiang Yuanyuan left, the office returned to silence.

After efficiently finishing the remaining documents on the table, Liu Shishi leaned back slightly in her comfortable chair.

I habitually pick up my phone and open Weibo to see what's new today.

As expected, it appeared at the top of the trending search list:

Topics such as "Selection of the New Four Little Actresses", "Yang Ying's votes reversed and entered the top four", "Yang Mi and Zhao Liying", and "Ni Ni, the Four Little Actresses" were prominently featured.

Intrigued, I clicked in and saw that the selection process was in its final hours, with fans voting like crazy and the vote count on the leaderboard refreshing almost every minute.

The current situation is very clear: Yang Mi, Yang Ying, Zhao Liying, and Ni Ni are far ahead in votes, leaving the others far behind. If there are no surprises, they will be the new "Four Little Actresses".

Seeing this lineup, Liu Shishi's lips curled into a faint smile. She had withdrawn from such competitions since last year.

The formidable "Little Lion" has long declared that his idol's film achievements, TV ratings, and commercial value are all in their own league!
She is capable of being on par with or even surpassing the "Four Great Actresses," so how could she lower herself to compete with the new generation for the title of "Little Flower"?
She even threatened to attack the voting website if the organizers dared to ride on the popularity of the top female star.

The organizer, City Entertainment Daily, was well aware of Liu Shishi's influence and the power of her fan base, so it wisely did not include her in the candidate list.

Interestingly, when the "Number One Sister" stopped playing, Liu Yifei's fans immediately followed suit.

They claimed that their idol debuted early and should be on par with top actresses, and shouldn't "condescend" to participate in the selection, jokingly calling it "not helping the poor."

Helpless, the City Entertainment Daily had no choice but to remove Liu Yifei from the list of candidates.

Liu Tianxian's fans were finally satisfied. In their view, the "two Lius" standing out among the new generation of actresses must be maintained and must not be broken.

When Liu Shishi first heard the news, she even laughed.

The "Four Little Actresses" selection is essentially a means for the media to create topics, attract attention, and increase their own popularity and traffic. However, being selected is indeed a good thing for female celebrities.

This title is like a shining business card, an efficient form of "packaging" and "positioning" that can quickly simplify market perception and reduce promotion costs.

To some extent, it provides a "betting" reference for the market and capital, making it easier for selected candidates to access high-quality film and television and commercial resources.

It's a pity he didn't run!
Just as my thoughts were drifting away, the vote count on the screen changed dramatically again.

The top-ranked woman snapped out of her daze and took a closer look. She raised an eyebrow slightly. Yang Ying's votes had surged rapidly in a short period of time, surpassing Yang Mi and Zhao Liying who were previously in the lead, and temporarily taking the top spot!

He shook his head slightly, his eyes showing a knowing look, as if he were watching a show.

This familiar vote-rigging battle instantly reminded her of the fierce competition she faced when she ran for office years ago.

Years have passed, and the entertainment industry's pursuit of popularity and fame remains the same old recipe and flavor.

In her opinion, these four aspiring actresses each have different levels of prestige.

Yang Mi goes without saying; she's a top star who fought her way up through her achievements. Her popularity, media attention, and commercial value are all extremely impressive, making her a well-deserved leader in this year's competition.

Although Zhao Liying is slightly inferior to Yang Mi in terms of fame and commercial endorsements, she has two hit dramas, "Legend of Lu Zhen" and "Legend of Chasing Fish", plus her previous works, so her rise to the top is reasonable.

The other two, however, are somewhat "unworthy of their titles".

I witnessed firsthand how regrettable Yang Ying's acting skills were when we were filming "The Founding of a Republic".

In the past two years, there hasn't been a truly blockbuster drama series to support her, and most of the buzz has revolved around her relationship with Huang Xiaoming. The fact that she's now ranked first in the votes speaks volumes about her "effort."

Ni Ni looks even more "hydrated".

"Zhang Yimou's Girl" started from a very high point, but since her debut, the only representative work that people can remember is "The Flowers of War".

The fact that she was able to join the ranks of the "Four Little Actresses" based solely on her role as the female lead in one movie is a result of the sudden increase in her votes, which is clearly due to the strong support from her agency, LeTV Pictures.

They really went all out to promote this leading lady.

"It's really becoming more and more like a game of capital and traffic," Liu Shishi murmured to herself, her tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible sigh and a sense of distance.

She no longer needs such a title to prove anything; her battlefield lies on a larger capital chessboard and at the production level.

Liu Shishi frowned as she watched Yang Ying's votes suddenly surge to the top on the screen.

In a daze, I recalled the time I spent with Yang Mi on the set of "Chinese Paladin 3" and the pleasant collaboration on the set of "Goodbye Mr. Loser".

Although the two occasionally competed, their friendship, forged in humble beginnings, was more of a bond.

Zhao Liying was a close confidante and a bridesmaid who stood beside her at the wedding.

"Angel Baby? What level of contestant dares to step on Mimi and Liying's heads?"

A hint of displeasure crossed his mind. "If it weren't for Huang Xiaoming, who would know you? Now that your votes are so badly manipulated, you're just making yourself a laughing stock."

With a thought in mind, I lightly tapped the screen and cast my vote for Yang Mi and Zhao Liying without hesitation.

Feeling that wasn't enough, she quickly edited another Weibo post: "Supporting my friend! @YangMi and @ZhaoLiying are both down-to-earth and good actors who let their work speak for itself."

Little lions, if you have the energy, please cheer for these two talented and popular sisters! [Voting Link]

This Weibo post was posted casually, yet it felt like a boulder being thrown into the fan community.

The highly capable "little lions" immediately sprang into action, flooding the voting page, and Yang Mi and Zhao Liying's votes began to rise rapidly at a visible speed.

Just after posting on Weibo, Cai Yinong's loud roar, interspersed with faint sobs, could be faintly heard from the president's office next door.

Liu Shishi paused slightly, then got up and walked over. She knocked on the door, and after receiving a response, she pushed the door open and entered.

The atmosphere in the office was heavy. Guli Nazha stood to the side, her eyes red-rimmed, tears still wet on her fair cheeks, full of grievance and resentment.

Cai Yinong's face was ashen, his chest heaving slightly, clearly still angry. He only managed to calm down when Liu Shishi entered.

"Sister K, what's wrong? Why are you so angry?" Liu Shishi asked calmly, her gaze sweeping lightly between the two of them.

Cai Yinong took a deep breath and pointed at Nazha with annoyance: "Ask her! She's gotten too big for her britches and doesn't obey the company's arrangements anymore!"

She came to me complaining that all the good resources were being given to the newcomer Chen Yao, and that the company was being unfair to her!

She grew angrier and angrier, her tone becoming increasingly agitated, "Doesn't she even look at what she's done before! Do you think she'd even have a chance if given one?"

Upon hearing this, Gulinaza moved her lips as if to defend herself, but ultimately dared not utter a sound, and her tears fell even more fiercely.

Upon hearing this, Liu Shishi understood.

Naza had indeed been less obedient to K-sister's plans due to issues such as her relationship, which cost her a lot of popularity and reputation.

The company's decision to temporarily shift its focus to Chen Yao, a more promising and obedient newcomer, is a perfectly normal business decision.

Naza's current disturbance shows a complete lack of understanding of the situation.

Cai Yinong seemed still angry, and with a hint of provocation, he sneered at Nazha and said, "Nazha, didn't you want resources?"

Shishi is right here. Her studio's projects are all big-budget productions. You want to act in movies, right? Here's your chance, just tell her yourself!

Provoked by this, Gulinaza stomped her foot and, as if she were going all out, raised her tearful face to look at Liu Shishi, her voice trembling with sobs yet unusually clear.

"Senior Sister... for the movie 'The Breakup Guru' that your studio invested in, can I... can I play a supporting role?"

Liu Shishi was taken aback when she heard this. She didn't expect this girl to be so direct and impulsive, actually asking for resources in front of Cai Yinong.

He subconsciously looked at Cai Yinong. Although the other man still had an angry expression on his face, his eyes were somewhat evasive, and he didn't dare to meet his gaze.

The eldest sister suddenly realized. Cai Yinong was genuinely angry, but he was probably also disappointed in Nazha.

Naza's appearance is top-notch in the entertainment industry, and she has accumulated a certain degree of popularity after starring in "Xuan-Yuan Sword". It would be a real pity to give it up completely.

Even if they don't break into the top tier, maintaining a stable position in the second tier is still a valuable "asset" for Tangren Media. Moreover, newcomer Chen Yao is still young, and her future achievements are unknown.

K-sister probably got too angry a while ago, but now that she's calmed down, she's remembered how good Naza is and what potential he has, and she can't bear to really give up this cash cow.

Today's performance of "one playing the good cop and the other the bad cop" was probably a tacit agreement between the two of them, staged for her without being explicitly stated.

The goal was to use her to give Naza a chance to restart her career, without letting Cai Yinong break the rule of "neglecting Naza".

Having figured this out, Liu Shishi revealed a playful smile, her gaze shifting back and forth between Cai Yinong and Guli Nazha, making Cai Yinong increasingly uncomfortable.

After a moment, she made up her mind. No matter what, Naza was ultimately an artist under Tangren Media, and she didn't want the benefits to go to outsiders.

Moreover, "The Breakup Guru" definitely needs a pretty "vase" character to embellish the film, and Naza's appearance is more than enough.

So, meeting those tense yet expectant gazes, Liu Shishi slowly nodded: "Alright!"
There's a supporting female character in "The Breakup Guru," her role isn't very large, but she's quite memorable. If you're interested, give it a try.

Gulinaza could hardly believe her ears. Overwhelmed with joy, all her grievances vanished instantly. She quickly bowed, her voice leaping with delight.
"Thank you, Senior Sister! Thank you! I will definitely perform well! I will absolutely not let you down!"

Seeing this, Cai Yinong secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and the tense lines on his face finally softened a bit.

Just as Liu Shishi predicted, after the falling out with Nazha, especially after Nazha broke up with her Super Boy boyfriend, she did indeed consider starting a new relationship.

They just didn't want to directly contradict their previous decisions, so they used the top female star to achieve their goal.

Looking at Nazha, who had stopped crying and started laughing, and Cai Yinong, whose expression had softened, Liu Shishi chuckled to herself: Life at Tangren Film and Television is truly never boring.

“Alright, Yuanyuan will handle the details with you later.” After saying this to Nazha, Liu Shishi turned to Cai Yinong, “Sister K, if there’s nothing else, I’m going back to Beiping.”

"Okay, thank you for your hard work today," Cai Yinong nodded in response.

Liu Shishi turned and left gracefully, thinking to herself: the resources have been given, now it's up to me whether I can make the most of them.

(One update today, two updates tomorrow)
(End of this chapter)