Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 482 Facing reality
Early in the morning, the crew of "Joy of Life" was like a sophisticated yet noisy machine, running at high speed.

A subtle, unspoken atmosphere permeated a corner of the makeshift rest area on set.

The lead actress, Jing Tian, ​​had just finished having her assistant deliver a round of iced Americanos to the entire crew, and was now surrounded by several supporting actresses, chatting and laughing.

Dressed in a magnificent theatrical costume, with exquisite features and a bright smile, she listened to the slightly ingratiating teasing around her.

Since joining the cast, the female lead has been known for her generosity, bombarding the audience with coffee, milk tea, and desserts, showing a completely carefree attitude.

Coupled with those luxurious film and television resources, it's as if the words "nepotism" are written blatantly on their faces.

Not far away, a huge parasol cast a small patch of shade.

Li Xiaoran sat alone in a folding chair, with the iced Americano she had "benefited" from sitting on the table in front of her.

Born in 1976, she had just turned thirty-seven. Her makeup was exquisite and meticulous, but it couldn't hide the melancholy between her brows.

The character she played in "Joy of Life" was Princess Li Yunrui, the mother of Jing Tian.

This character is complex and ruthless, with great dramatic tension. It would be a great opportunity for any talented actor, but the huge difference in their generational status left her with mixed feelings.

My gaze inadvertently swept over the sounds of laughter and joy.

Although Jing Tian cannot compare to the "two Lius, Yangs, and Zhaos," the most promising actresses born in 85, she is still considered an outsider in that circle.

Now it is the era when actresses born in the 1980s occupy the top resources in the entertainment industry, and the living space of middle-aged actresses like her born in the 1970s is severely squeezed.

In the past two years, very few notebooks have been handed to me, and outstanding ones are even rarer.

It was only after her agent went to great lengths to get her into the massive project "Joy of Life".

Originally hoping to get a more important female peer role, she unexpectedly ended up with the title of "eldest princess".

If she were to continue, it would be tantamount to publicly admitting that she has entered the ranks of "mothers" and has to carry the sedan chair for young actresses, which would be too embarrassing for her.

Turn it down, but you can't bear to give up the exposure and generous pay of such a top-notch production.

After much deliberation, my ambition ultimately prevailed, and I accepted the role. But the resentment I felt has remained stubbornly inside ever since.

Especially seeing Jing Tian, ​​a young woman with a mysterious background and astonishingly good resources, being fawned over by everyone, her every move exuding the composure and nobility nurtured by wealth and power.

I couldn't help but think to myself: His acting skills are mediocre at best; he's just being promoted by someone behind the scenes. This kind of resource-backed star is infuriating.

Lost in thought, the executive producer led a young girl and a male actor past in a hurry.

She recognized the male actor; he was Zhang Yishan, a former child star.

The girl next to him was a complete stranger. She was very young, and her face still had a touch of youthful innocence, but her eyes were bright and lively, and she had a lively spirit.

Li Xiaoran raised her chin and nodded slightly in that direction, asking her assistant beside her, "Who is that young girl playing? She looks so young."

The assistant, well-informed, immediately whispered back, "Sister Ran, that's Chen Yao, a newcomer launched by Tangren Media this year. She plays the second female lead, Fan Ruoruo."

"The second female lead, Fan Ruoruo?" Li Xiaoran raised her slender eyebrows, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Heh, whose connections are you using now? Our production crew is practically a haven for nepotism."

The female lead, Jing Tian, ​​goes without saying; as for Zhang Ruoyun, it is said that director Ma Xin personally selected him as the male lead despite opposition.

But who in the industry doesn't know that his father is the famous producer and director Zhang Jian? She absolutely refuses to believe that there was no connection involved.

The assistant fell silent, lowering his head without daring to respond.

Li Xiaoran's mood worsened as a result, and a strange sense of unease lingered in her heart.

A thought suddenly popped into my head: I'll be having a scene later where I confront Jing Tian and her mother.

Perhaps, we could be a little more "serious" during filming and give this pampered young lady a real workout, letting her truly experience the pressure that acting skills bring.

Just then, her phone rang; it was her agent calling. Li Xiaoran moved to a quiet corner to answer it.

"Xiaoran, is everything going well on set?" Her agent, Sister Yao, asked with concern.

She knows the artist she manages all too well: good acting skills, exceptional temperament, but stubborn temper, and always causing some trouble every year or two.

I'm terrified that this auntie will cause some trouble again when I join the cast of "Joy of Life" to play the "Eldest Princess".

"What can I do? It'll just be the same." Li Xiaoran said listlessly, "Just be a good mother."

A soft sigh came from the other end of the phone, and Sister Yao softened her tone: "My dear aunt, please don't feel wronged."

Things are different now. Countless people would kill to get into this project. Think long-term; if the role of the eldest princess is played well, it will generate a lot of buzz.

She paused, then lowered her voice even further, "To be honest, you're not young anymore. People have to face reality."

Those actresses born in the 85s are all very young; the next few years will likely be their peak. Playing a 'mother' this time is just a way for them to get used to it.

Li Xiaoran gazed at the rising sun on the horizon, unwilling to admit that her youth was over, but every word Sister Yao said was a painful truth.

She pursed her lips, a hint of resentment in her voice: "It's just that I'm not satisfied. That Jing Tian and..."

Before he could finish speaking, Sister Yao interrupted him, her tone unusually serious: "We must maintain appearances with Jing Tian."

There are several versions circulating in the industry about who's behind her, but none of them are people we can afford to offend.

Sister Yao earnestly advised, "Think about it, 'Nan Shishi and Bei Tiantian' are known as the two most influential people in the industry, so you should understand her importance."

Don't be foolish enough to offend her; there's no harm in getting along with someone like her who has connections.

Look at Tangren Media, they're clinging to Liu Shishi's coattails, taking advantage of her fame and fortune...

"Alright, alright, I know," Li Xiaoran said impatiently, stopping her agent from lecturing her further. "I'm not a fool; I know my limits."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then the tone suddenly brightened: "Don't be upset, I have good news for you."

A glint of anticipation flashed in Li Xiaoran's eyes, and she unconsciously straightened up: "What good news?"

"I've got you a new role, the female lead." Sister Yao's voice was tinged with laughter. "It's an urban drama called 'Da Zhang Fu' produced by Tengda Culture, with Wang Zhiwen as the male lead. A pretty good opportunity."

"Really?" Li Xiaoran was overjoyed, her gloom vanishing instantly. The lead actress in a drama series produced by Tengda Culture is a hot commodity in the industry; countless people would fight tooth and nail for her.

"Guaranteed authentic! Yu Feihong and Tian Yu will also be in the cast."

Li Xiaoran was taken aback: "Why are they all from the 'Joy of Life' crew?" "Hmph!" the agent snorted, "Why do you think all the big names in the industry are coming to play supporting roles in 'Joy of Life'?"
Isn't it just to get on Tengda Culture's good side? Tengda produces so many movies and TV shows every year; if they don't establish a connection first, why would they think of you when there are good opportunities?

Sister Yao said earnestly, "Playing a mother is indeed a bit of a waste for you, but once you've established your connections, the resources will come, won't they?"

"Thank you, Sister Yao." Li Xiaoran had to admit that when it came to resource management, agents were still the most professional.

"I won't waste any more time with you. I just wanted to tell you the good news to calm you down."

After comforting her, Sister Yao changed the subject, "There might be some changes to the big-budget film from Xiaoma Pictures and LeTV Pictures recently. I'm currently inquiring about the situation."

"That film, 'The Crossing,' directed by John Woo and with a budget of 4 million?" Li Xiaoran's eyes lit up, and she asked curiously, "What's going on? Wasn't Zhang Ziyi cast as the lead actress?"

Sister Yao explained, "Zhang Ziyi's performance in 'The Grandmaster' didn't meet box office expectations, and coupled with her previous negative news, the investors weren't very satisfied with her and were worried it would affect the box office."

"I see." Li Xiaoran nodded. But even if Zhang Ziyi were replaced, she wouldn't get a chance to produce such a big-budget production; she was aware of that.

Seemingly understanding what Li Xiaoran was thinking, Sister Yao added, "A single move can have far-reaching consequences!"

If Zhang Ziyi is replaced, things will change, and the supporting roles might be affected as well. If we don't try, we definitely won't have a chance, but what if we do?

Li Xiaoran paused, then said solemnly, "Then I'll trouble Sister Yao to take good care of things."

After ending the call, the executive producer clapped his hands and announced, "Everyone, get ready! The next scene is the confrontation between the Princess and Lin Wan'er in her bedchamber! Teacher Li, Teacher Jing, thank you both!"

Upon hearing the sound, Li Xiaoran adjusted the hem of her dark purple palace dress with composure.

Jing Tian also heard the announcement, stopped talking, and walked towards the filming area. As he passed Li Xiaoran, he still politely nodded and smiled, saying, "Teacher Li."

“Miss Jing,” Li Xiaoran replied, her tone calm, even more composed than before.

······
On the 11th floor of the International Financial Center Building on Beiping Financial Street, two adjacent signs hang quietly: Huiwen Investment and Poetry Fund.

This is the office of Liu Shishi's newly established investment company.

Despite the lingering chill of early spring, Liu Shishi wore a light, long, coffee-colored trench coat, sunglasses covering her face. The crisp sound of her high heels echoed through the corridor as she walked with composure, radiating confidence.

Behind her, her two assistants, Lin Xia and Su Xiaoxiao, followed closely behind, the three of them overlapping, exuding the aura of a domineering female CEO.

While her husband was attending a national conference, she heard that Zhang Tong had reported that the company had made all the necessary arrangements, so she came to the company early in the morning to check on things.

Pushing open the glass door, a spacious and bright reception area comes into view. The combination of light gray and champagne gold tones exudes both professionalism and warmth.

Zhang Tong and several senior executives were already waiting at the door. Upon seeing the boss enter, they immediately stepped forward and greeted him with a smile: "Hello, President Liu."

The employees of Huiwen Investment all looked up and immediately recognized the top female star. They couldn't help but whisper among themselves, wondering if she was an important client of the company.

Zhang Tong's smile deepened as he introduced the woman to everyone in a loud voice: "Ladies and gentlemen, this is Ms. Liu Shishi, the founder and chairman of Huiwen Investment."

Everyone was taken aback at first, then their faces lit up with surprise.

Originally, I thought Huiwen was just a small startup company, but I never expected that it was personally run by the wife of the richest man. With such a strong background, I suddenly felt that the future was bright.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Zhang Tong accompanied Liu Shishi on a tour of the company. "This is the Investment Management Department, the company's core department; this side covers Risk Control, Compliance and Legal Affairs, Marketing and Branding..."

As we walked, I explained that although the company had just been established and had a team of less than thirty people, it was clearly divided into sections and had a well-organized workflow.

The open-plan workspaces are decorated with green plants and comfortable sofas, while the tea room is fully equipped with coffee machines, tea, and snacks, creating a warm and efficient atmosphere.

Liu Shishi walked through the office area and entered her office. The bronze plaque above the door that read "Chairman's Office" gleamed faintly.

Standing in front of the door, I felt as if I had returned to many years ago, to the day I first walked into the office of the chairman of Tengda Culture with my husband.

Now, in the blink of an eye, I've become the chairman of an investment company. Life's twists and turns are truly amazing.

After reporting on the company's basic situation, Zhang Tong left in a hurry. The newly established company had many things to deal with, and there were too many matters waiting for her to handle.

Liu Shishi sat down behind the large desk and carefully reviewed the materials left by Zhang Tong. Since she had decided to get into investing, she couldn't remain a novice. The financial world was too complex; she needed to get started as soon as possible.

I picked up a few listed companies' financial reports and read them carefully. The dense numbers and endless technical terms made my head spin.

Just as I was rubbing my temples, trying to catch my breath, the phone rang. It was Jiang Yuanyuan, the general manager of the studio, calling.

"Hey, Yuanyuan?" Liu Shishi leaned back lazily in her chair, taking the opportunity to catch her breath.

"Shishi, let me report to you on the progress of 'Red Sorghum' at Shandong Film Studio." Jiang Yuanyuan spoke quickly, yet with a sense of composure.

"You say it."

"Shandong Film & Television Group reduced the cost to 1.3 million yuan based on our suggestions. Among them, Zhou Xun's salary was reduced by 1000 million yuan, and the fees for other actors and screenwriters were also reduced by 1000 million yuan."

Liu Shishi was slightly surprised: "Didn't they say they didn't lack investment? Why are they willing to cut the budget?"

"It was director Zheng Xiaolong's strong insistence. He said he wouldn't film it if we didn't invest."

Liu Shishi raised an eyebrow: "Why?"

Jiang Yuanyuan chuckled: "Shandong Film Studio insists on using Zhou Xun because Director Zheng is afraid he can't control this three-time Golden Horse Award winner and the crew will cause trouble."

On the one hand, they insisted on having Qin Hailu join them as a check and balance; on the other hand, they insisted on bringing in studio investment, hoping to use our powerful investor status to suppress Zhou Xun's limelight.

"Old ginger is spicier," Liu Shishi sighed softly. "Director Zheng really knows how to keep these big shots who 'descend to earth' to make TV shows in check."

He paused, then asked, "Zhou Xun agreed so readily?"

"If they don't agree, we'll have to find someone else. She must have weighed the options in the end. A salary of 2000 million is already very high, and with everyone taking a pay cut, it's pointless for her to make a fuss."

“We shouldn’t have spoiled them in the first place,” Liu Shishi said calmly. “This has saved us a real 2000 million in budget.”

"Shall we vote?" Jiang Yuanyuan asked for instructions.

After a moment's thought, Liu Shishi made a decisive decision: "Since Shandong Film and Television has shown such sincerity and Director Zheng has been so insistent on inviting us, our studio will submit our application."

Jiang Yuanyuan replied, "Understood, I'll go and finalize the details with Shandong Film Studio right away."

After hanging up the phone, Liu Shishi looked out the window at the bustling traffic on Financial Street and gently raised the corners of her mouth.

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(End of this chapter)