Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 496 A Cautious and Prudent Response

Time flies, and it's already late April.

As dawn broke, the dressing room of the "The Continent" film crew in Donghai was filled with the scent of hairspray and foundation, mixed with a faint aroma of coffee.

Zhao Liying sat in front of the large dressing mirror, the weariness in her eyes particularly noticeable under the light.

Filming late into the night for days on end left her almost asleep the moment her head hit the pillow, and the exhaustion from the non-stop work was written all over her face.

Stylist A-Zheng carefully styled her long hair, his fingertips deftly moving across the curling iron, the strands of hair wrapped around it emitting a faint warmth.

Taking advantage of the rare quiet, Zhao Liying picked up her phone and opened Weibo.

Yesterday, she was busy filming and missed the release of the 2013 Forbes China Celebrity List. Only now has she been able to calm down and take a closer look.

Ah Zheng glanced at the rankings interface out of the corner of his eye, and without stopping his work, he said with a smile, "Congratulations, Teacher Zhao, you're on the list!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Liying's face lit up with joy, and her weariness was somewhat dispelled by this sudden happiness. She was indeed ranked 78th on the list, with an annual income of 2600 million.

Being on the list is like a shining medal, bringing a sense of accomplishment from being recognized by authority, indicating that she has firmly entered the top of the industry and her status has changed from then on.

As Ah Zheng combed his long hair, he exclaimed in admiration, "Our crew is really amazing!"
Director Han Han, actress Qiao Zhengyu, and actress Hu Ge are all on the list! One film crew has four names on the list—that's impressive!

Zhao Liying smiled and nodded, then looked back at the screen.

Liu Shishi topped the list with an income of 20700 million; Fan Bingbing was second with 11000 million; and Zhou Jielun was third with 10420 million.

His gaze lingered on the name of the top female star for a moment, and he asked in confusion, "Huh? It seems that Liu Shishi's income is much lower than last year?"

The assistant immediately came over to explain: "Sister, Forbes changed its algorithm this year, eliminating investment income and company profits, and only counting labor remuneration such as film and television fees, endorsements, and commercial performances."

"I see."

"Shishijie doesn't do commercial performances. Apart from the 1000 million yuan salary for the film 'Silent Notes,' all her other income comes from top brand endorsement fees."

Zhao Liying was filled with envy upon hearing this. Being a global ambassador for high-end luxury brands is not just about income, but also a symbol of fashion status and global influence, a peak that every actor aspires to reach.

Scrolling down further, we saw Yang Mi in eighth place, with an income of 5370 million. The post-85 actresses have secured a significant position on this year's celebrity list.

By the time her makeup and hair were finished, it was already dawn, and the noise from the film set could be clearly heard. Zhao Liying got up to stretch her stiff neck and headed to the set with a good mood.

Outside the photography studio, Hu Ge saw the person who had arrived and jokingly said with a smile, "Oh, Ms. Forbes is here? Congratulations!"

Qiao Zhengyu chimed in, "Yes, Liying, you'll have to treat us this time. You're the only lady from our crew to make the list, this is a great occasion."

Zhao Liying blushed slightly at the joke and retorted with a smile, "Both of you senior brothers are ranked higher than me, so you should be the ones to invite me first. I'm just here to tag along from the bottom of the list."

The atmosphere was relaxed as the group chatted and laughed.

Just as filming was about to begin, the assistant rushed over in a panic, her face pale and her voice trembling: "Sister Ying! Something terrible has happened!"

Zhao Liying's heart sank: "What's wrong? Tell me slowly."

The assistant, panting, said, "An earthquake struck the southwest! It was just reported on the news; it's very serious, a major disaster!"

The moment the word "major disaster" was uttered, the dark memories of 2008 surged back, leaving everyone with a solemn expression.

Zhao Liying took the phone, her fingertips icy cold. Hu Ge and Qiao Zhengyu also gathered around, their eyes glued to the screen.

The once vibrant and colorful trending topics page is now a somber gray, with bold headlines that are startling to behold.

The brief news report and blurry photos conveyed the devastation and life-or-death crisis thousands of miles away.

The lightness and joy that came from being on the list were overwhelmed by a huge sense of sadness and powerlessness, which weighed heavily on everyone's hearts.

A somber atmosphere filled the set for a moment. Everyone suppressed their shock and grief, realizing that this was not the time to wallow in their emotions.

Zhao Liying took a deep breath and looked at Qiao Zhengyu, the most senior person present: "Senior brother, what should we do?"

My thoughts drifted back to 2008, when she was just an unknown actress who, despite her good intentions, felt powerless in the face of a major disaster.

Now, things are completely different. As a top-tier actress, every move she makes is magnified under the spotlight.

In special times, the words and actions of celebrities are not only personal behaviors, but are also regarded as a social barometer.

Good intentions may be misinterpreted, delays may be criticized, and any minor mistake may be pushed to the forefront of public opinion and become the target of public criticism.

Qiao Zhengyu composed himself and said in a low voice, "Stay calm, don't act on your own, follow the company's arrangements."

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhao Liying's phone rang urgently. The screen displayed the name of her agent, Ge Maoliang. She quickly answered the call and subconsciously turned on speakerphone.

Ge Maoliang spoke very quickly, suppressing his nervousness: "Liying, is Zhengyu with you?"

"Yes, Mr. Ge, I'm here," Qiao Zhengyu replied immediately, leaning closer.

Ge Maoliang cut to the chase and gave clear instructions: "The situation is urgent. You two must immediately ask the crew for leave and take the next available flight back to the company."

"Okay," they both said in unison, without the slightest hesitation. The call came quickly and ended abruptly, leaving no room for further questions; the situation was urgent.

Zhao Liying and Qiao Zhengyu exchanged a glance and were about to go find the director to explain the situation when they saw that Han Han had arrived there at some point.

"I've approved the leave! Due to the special circumstances, the crew will suspend filming for a few days."

Seeing this, Hu Ge immediately stepped forward and said earnestly, "Director, I also need to go back to the company."

Han Han nodded understandingly and waved his hand: "Go ahead, all of you. Be careful on the road and keep in touch."

Meanwhile, in Reykjavik, Iceland.

It was past 11 p.m. local time, and outside the window was the unique tranquility of the Arctic and the faint glow of the aurora borealis.

Song Ci and Liu Shishi, who were on their honeymoon, had just finished a day of sightseeing and were about to fall asleep in each other's arms when Song Ci's phone on the bedside table suddenly rang, breaking the silence of the night.

Liu Shishi was startled awake by the ringing of the phone. She turned to look at the screen and gently nudged her husband: "Yiyi, it's Sister Jing calling. It must be something urgent so late."

As the group's chief operating officer, Wang Jing would never disturb the chairman, who is on his honeymoon, at this time unless it was an extremely urgent matter.

Song Ci instantly snapped out of her daze, a sense of foreboding washing over her. She immediately swiped to answer the call: "Sister Jing?"

On the other end of the phone, Wang Jing's voice was unusually calm, but her speaking speed revealed the seriousness of the situation: "Chairman Song, I apologize for disturbing you so late at night. There has been a sudden emergency in the country. An earthquake struck the southwest, the disaster is severe, and the public outcry has exploded."

Song Ci frowned, all sleepiness vanished, and her mood instantly became extremely heavy: "I understand."

The group immediately activated its emergency response plan; the primary task was to control public opinion and guide positive attention. I'm returning to China immediately.

When Liu Shishi saw her husband's expression change drastically after answering the phone, she immediately sat up and asked with concern, "What's wrong, honey? What happened?"

Song Ci put down the phone, sighed heavily, briefly explained the disaster situation, and then held his wife's hand.

“With this happening in China, our honeymoon has to end early. We’ll head back home immediately, traveling light, and have our assistant pack and ship all our belongings later.” He then picked up his phone and dialed his assistant: “Apply for flight routes immediately, coordinate with air traffic control in Iceland and China, and get the plane ready as quickly as possible. Shishi and I will go to the airport right away. Yes, back home.”

Liu Shishi, equally concerned for China, nodded silently without any hesitation and immediately got up to pack the necessary documents and simple luggage.

In Beiping, at Tengda Culture, an emergency meeting was underway. President Liu Rong sat in the main seat, his face grim.

Vice President Liu Zhijun, Wang Qiang, and artist director Ge Maoliang, along with other core management members, were seated on either side.

"President Ge, has the notification been delivered? All artists must speak with one voice and act in unison."

Ge Maoliang quickly replied, "President Liu, the urgent notification has already been sent out. Yang Zi is in the United States and cannot return for the time being."

Everyone else has received instructions and is returning to the company as quickly as possible to await further orders.

“In these extraordinary times, this is necessary.” Liu Rong emphasized, then glanced at the entire room, “No one in the company is allowed to express personal opinions on any platform, let alone take any private actions, especially regarding donations.”

This situation is completely different from the past. The public has always had high expectations and strict demands of celebrities, believing that because celebrities earn high incomes, they should bear more social responsibility.

He paused, then emphasized, "Normally, whether celebrities donate a lot or a little, it's all a kind act of kindness. But just yesterday, the Forbes China Celebrity List was released, and the whole society is discussing the astonishing income figures of celebrities."

At this critical moment of a major disaster, the donations made by celebrities will inevitably be magnified and interpreted. Donating too little will certainly draw criticism; donating too much will also present challenges.

The competitive behavior of some extreme fans, or the inherent negative views some netizens hold towards celebrities, will make this public opinion extremely complex.

“Mr. Liu is right,” Wang Qiang echoed, his face showing concern. “Now public opinion is not only concerned with whether celebrities ‘donated or not,’ but also with ‘who they donated to’ and ‘how they donated.’”

The key is whether the money is actually used for disaster relief!

Even if celebrities donate money, if the receiving charity subsequently makes any mistakes, public anger could easily be directed at the celebrity who donated.

Liu Rong sighed softly: "If I donate too little, I'll definitely be criticized for being rich but heartless; but if I donate far more than the industry standard, I'll inevitably seem high-profile and offend the whole industry."

After a moment's thought, he turned to the CFO: "Director Zhao, the company's stance must be made clear immediately."

"Get it done immediately. In the name of 'Tengda Culture,' urgently allocate 2000 million yuan in cash for donation. Be quick!"

Director Zhao hesitated slightly before asking, "President Liu, do you mean that our subsidiary should act independently, separate from the group's donation?"

Liu Rong nodded firmly: "I've discussed it with COO Wang, and this is her idea."

Being in the entertainment industry, a special field, we are more sensitive to public opinion and must demonstrate a positive attitude as soon as possible to avoid being passive in the face of public opinion.

The group-level donation policy is decided by senior management, and that will be a separate matter. Our donation represents the stance of 'Tengda Culture'.

Director Zhao then pressed for a crucial detail: "President Liu, to whom will this 2000 million be donated? Will it be donated directly to the group's charitable foundation?"

Liu Rong immediately shook her head and rejected the idea, saying, "No. President Wang specifically instructed that although the group has its own foundation, and its operations are very standardized..."

However, the subsidiary's money, especially the huge donations during such a sensitive period, is best donated 'outside'.

Prioritize official charitable organizations with strong national backing and high credibility, such as the China Charity Federation or the China Poverty Alleviation Foundation.

We must avoid any suspicion of impropriety and absolutely not give outsiders the wrong impression of money circulating within our own pockets or being transferred between different hands.

"Understood! I'll get right on it." Director Zhao immediately grasped the deeper meaning, got up, and quickly left the conference room to carry out the order.

The atmosphere inside the meeting room was somber. After discussing the company's main donation, Liu Rong paused briefly before continuing with the arrangements.

"Mr. Liu, please organize a team immediately to purchase a batch of urgently needed supplies such as tents, sleeping bags, drinking water, and convenience food."

Sending these directly to the disaster area is the most practical thing right now; it's more useful than just money.

Liu Zhijun replied in a deep voice, "Understood!"

"Mr. Wang, please take the lead immediately and issue a statement in the name of the company. The content should be sincere and concise, expressing our deep condolences to the victims and our concern and support for the people in the disaster area."

And it clearly outlined all the aid measures just agreed upon, including the company's donation amount, as well as details and the whereabouts of these emergency supplies.

Wang Qiang quickly jotted down the key points in his notebook. Upon hearing this, he looked up and hurriedly replied, "Don't worry, Mr. Liu, I will send you the draft statement for your review as soon as it is ready."

With the most urgent matters arranged, the tense atmosphere in the meeting room eased slightly.

Liu Rong let out a soft sigh of relief, just as she was about to announce the adjournment of the meeting, when the screen of her phone on the conference table suddenly vibrated weakly and rapidly several times.

He quickly picked it up to check, his brows furrowing slightly before relaxing. He swiped his fingers rapidly, forwarding the important information he had just received to several core executives present at the meeting.

Almost simultaneously, the cell phone in artist director Ge Maoliang's pocket also started buzzing.

Upon taking it out, he saw that the sender was none other than President Liu Rong.

The news includes donation information released by several top celebrities in the entertainment industry:

Chenglong: 1000 million

Zhao Benshan and Benshan Media: 500 million

Jay Chou: 200 million

……

The list is short, but it contains a wealth of information.

The amounts range from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions, but a clear unspoken rule is evident: a person's status, fame, and ranking on the Forbes Celebrity List are almost directly linked to the amount of donations.

This is clearly much higher than the "market price" for similar events in previous years. It seems that peers in the industry, especially those top stars who are currently popular and have high net worth, are all secretly weighing the pros and cons.

With particular concern for the surging public opinion following this disaster, no one wants to be branded as "heartless rich" at this critical juncture.

Liu Rong looked past her phone at Ge Maoliang: "President Ge, do two things immediately."

First, issue an order to all artists to repost official rescue information and prayer posts on Weibo; they must make their voices heard.

However, it is crucial to remember that you must absolutely not publish any unverified information from the scene.

"Understood. Public opinion control is the top priority. I will issue unified guidelines immediately."

"Secondly, regarding personal donations. Apart from Yang Zi's donation of 50 yuan in her personal capacity, which was very kind and the amount was appropriate, there's no need to make any further changes."

All other artists should donate two million each. They need to be professional and quick. After donating, they should submit the receipts to you for compilation.

Ge Maoliang understood immediately; 200 million was the top-tier price. He replied, "Okay, Mr. Liu. I'll contact them one by one to finalize things after the meeting."

Liu Rong glanced around the meeting room, and seeing that there were no further objections, she waved her hand decisively: "If there's nothing else, the meeting is adjourned. Everyone should focus on their work, maintain communication, and make way for disaster relief."

(End of this chapter)