Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 539 Taking a Risk

On the summer solstice, the sun blazed down on Hengdian World Studios.

The crew of "Swords of Legends" was overjoyed. After nearly half a year of hard work filming, they finally wrapped up.

The staff and actors congratulated each other, took photos together, and laughter filled the air.

In a corner of the film set, Yang Mi, dressed in a heavy costume, had sticky sweat on her forehead and temples, but she didn't seem to care.

He was pulling his agent and partner Zeng Jia along, pointing to a tall figure not far away who was helping to tidy up props.

"Sister Jia, look, it's him!" Yang Mi said excitedly, her words carrying a hint of the thrill of discovering a treasure.

"Gao Weiguang is a graduate of the Central Academy of Drama's acting department. I've been quietly observing him for the past few months, and he's a very down-to-earth person who is willing to work hard and is also a good actor."

Most importantly, his height and mixed-race features make him very recognizable. I plan to sign him to the company.

Zeng Jia looked in the direction Yang Mi pointed, his gaze cautious and professional.

The young man was bending over and moving a wooden box. His profile was striking, and his outstanding presence was undeniable amidst the chaotic crowd.

He nodded slowly, agreeing, "Good looks and temperament, a good prospect."

Since you have this idea, then contact them as soon as possible and finalize the contract. Jiaxing Media does indeed need to sign a few male artists.

“I sounded out him beforehand, and he seems quite interested in Jiaxing.” Yang Mi’s eyes crinkled with a smile as she saw Zeng Jia agree.

"Honey, please take good care of the artist management business." Zeng Jia patted her arm, his tone trusting.

The two strolled slowly along the sparse shade of the trees around the film set, avoiding the noisy crowds.

"Sister Jia!" Yang Mi changed the subject, showing concern for the company's core structure, "How's the Jiaxing production team coming along?"

Upon hearing this, Zeng Jia's face showed a hint of relief and exhaustion, yet also mixed with the boundless enthusiasm of someone starting a business:
"It wasn't easy. We spent months recruiting and hiring people, and finally got the basic framework up and running."

Although it's still a makeshift operation, it's fully functional and can run projects now, without having to rely on anyone else!

"That's great!" Yang Mi's beautiful eyes lit up instantly, sparkling with anticipation. "Then... can we start preparing for 'Zhu Xian'?"

She paid a considerable price to acquire the development rights to this popular IP.

I promised H&R Century Pictures that when "Swords of Legends" is released next year, I will cooperate with Li Yifeng to carry out a series of "CP" marketing activities to raise the status of this "number one brother" that H&R Century Pictures is promoting.

Zeng Jia remained calm and shook his head: "No rush!"
The world of "Zhu Xian" is vast, and the difficulty of filming it is no less than that of "Joy of Life". The initial estimate of the production cost is at least 300 million yuan.

"Such a large undertaking is beyond Jiaxing's current size and experience; launching it rashly would be too risky."

Upon hearing this, the flame that had ignited in Yang Mi's heart because of "Zhu Xian" dimmed slightly. She realized that Zeng Jia's words made sense, so she suppressed her eagerness and asked, "Then in your opinion, when would be a more appropriate time to start?"

"At least wait until Jaywalk's production team is more mature, has independently managed one or two successful projects, and has accumulated some experience."

Zeng Jia hesitated for a moment, glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention, and then lowered his voice to say:
"My idea is that we shouldn't produce 'Zhu Xian' independently for now. It would be best if we could get a large company like Tengda Culture or Huace to co-produce it."

On the one hand, it's about sharing the risks; on the other hand, and most importantly, it's about learning from industry leaders how to handle such top-tier fantasy epics.

"I understand, let's proceed cautiously and steadily," Yang Mi echoed softly, her words revealing her understanding.

She used to admire how her seniors in the industry set up their own businesses and achieved great success.

It wasn't until I actually embarked on this path that I truly realized how complex and multifaceted running a film and television company is. Funding, resources, channels, and connections—each one requires immense effort and energy.

She sighed softly, a mixture of confusion and longing in her voice: "Sigh, is there really no other way to quickly amass wealth in this industry besides Liu Shishi's path to instant success?"

Upon hearing this, Zeng Jia chuckled softly, with a detached air of worldly wisdom: "Liu Shishi's path? That's far more difficult than becoming capital!"

In the entertainment industry across Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, spanning decades of ups and downs, she's a unique case; perfect timing, favorable location, and harmonious relationships—all three were indispensable.

His laughter ceased, his expression suddenly turned extremely serious, and he looked sharply at Yang Mi, saying each word clearly:

"Yes! There is a universally acknowledged shortcut: a betting agreement. This is the most direct, yet also the most ruthless, way to quickly cash out and achieve a leap in capital."

"Like what Huayi did to Zhang Guoli and Feng Xiaogang?" Yang Mi's heart skipped a beat. In the industry, a bet symbolizes a huge opportunity, but it also means unimaginable pressure.

“Yes, that’s it,” Zeng Jia affirmed.

"But I heard that the performance pressure is extremely high, and achieving it is as difficult as climbing to the sky." Yang Mi frowned, revealing her worry.

"Difficult?" Zeng Jia glared at her, then gave a wry smile. "Honey, unless you're at the top tier, investors won't even give you a second glance. You don't even have the qualifications to sit at the table. There are so many people who want to gamble but don't even have that opportunity!"

Yang Mi sighed softly, with a hint of awe: "That's true. Zhang Guoli and Feng Xiaogang are top figures in the industry, only they are qualified to be noticed."

Zeng Jia's expression was complicated, but his words revealed his great ambition: "It's difficult because relying solely on celebrity salaries and endorsement fees to achieve profit targets of hundreds of millions is nothing short of wishful thinking."

But there's a reason why it's not difficult!
"As long as you invest in producing a film or television series, you can create a phenomenal hit! The revenue from just one hit is enough to cover most of your goals."

Yang Mi was stunned upon hearing this, her beautiful eyes widening in astonishment, and her voice unconsciously rising a few decibels: "Sister Jia, you mean... you want to make a bet?"

Having said all that, Zeng Jia had no intention of hiding anything and simply laid out his plans: "Mimi, my plan is that 'Zhu Xian' will be Jiaxing's trial project and a cornerstone for accumulating experience."

If the market response is positive, proving Jaywalk's production capabilities, I will immediately replicate this successful model, select another popular IP of the same level, quickly launch it, and scale up production.

This is the core logic I learned at Tengda Culture: in the internet mindset, success can be replicated, and the same applies to film and television production!

Yang Mi's face was full of struggle. Although she was a popular actress and a top-tier celebrity, her ambition had not yet swelled to the point of competing with capital giants.

The term "betting agreement" represented extremely high risk and uncertainty to her, making her instinctively feel fear and awe.

Seeing Yang Mi's hesitant expression, Zeng Jia knew he had to persuade her. As a partner and key figure in the company, the attitude of Jiaxing's top female executive was crucial.

From the day she founded Jaywalk Studio, her goal was very clear.

Her experience as vice president at Tengda Culture was a valuable asset in her career, allowing her to witness the formidable strength and efficient operating model of internet capital.

This also made her unable to be satisfied with the traditional path of gradually developing and expanding Jiaxing over eight or ten years.

“Honey!” Zeng Jia’s tone softened, but became even more persuasive. “This is a high-stakes gamble: exchanging future time for present money, and then using the present money to bet on an even bigger future.”

Have you ever considered how quickly the entertainment industry changes? Especially for actresses, whose artistic careers are even shorter. Market tastes change in an instant, and new talents emerge constantly.

If you don't take advantage of your current popularity to quickly build barriers and transform from an actor into a investor and boss, you'll likely be replaced by newcomers in a few years.

After saying that, he patted Yang Mi's shoulder heavily, the force carrying both encouragement and determination: "Mi Mi, you're in your early twenties, the golden age for building your career and daring to take risks! Sometimes, you have to be tough on yourself and push yourself! Give it your all now, secure core resources, and make the company bigger and stronger, so you can rest easy in the future and control your own destiny!"

Yang Mi was caught in a fierce internal struggle. Zeng Jia's words struck her heart like a heavy hammer.

Suddenly, I recalled the hardships I had endured along the way, the helplessness of being chosen and passively waiting, and the exhilaration of having a voice...

The risks are enormous, but the opportunities are also unprecedented.

Finally, the indomitable spirit and daring to take risks that were ingrained in their bones prevailed.

Life offers few chances to take a gamble. Betting against capital is certainly difficult, but Yang Mi might just be able to win!
Having made up her mind, she raised her head, her large eyes shining brightly in the dazzling sunlight, as if burning with two flames:

"Sister Jia, I understand your good intentions and foresight. I don't object to betting, but we must be cautious and never rush blindly."

Zeng Jia smiled and said, "Don't worry! I'm the company's major shareholder. If we lose the bet, my losses will be greater than anyone else's. This bet will definitely be carefully planned."

The selected investors must be large institutions with strength, resources, and channels; every step must be carefully considered!

Seeing that her partner had thought things through carefully and that it wasn't an impulsive decision, Yang Mi felt a little more at ease, and her unease was gradually replaced by an excitement about facing the challenge ahead.

“But Mimi.” Zeng Jia changed the subject, returning to pragmatism, “Betting is a future strategy, but right now we still need to be down-to-earth and take each step carefully.”

I've had a preliminary discussion with Mr. Zhong of H&R Century Pictures, and Jiaxing Media could first independently produce a low-budget urban drama to hone the team and gain experience.

"Is it the movie 'Micro Era of Love' that we mentioned before?"

"Yes! President Zhong suggested that you take on the role of producer. This is part of Huanrui's 'Grand Production Plan' and a great opportunity for your personal career transition."

"Producer?!" Yang Mi's eyes lit up again. This was a completely new field for her, full of challenges and appeal.

“Sure! My schedule isn’t too tight in the second half of the year. Micro Era has a small budget and a relatively lighthearted plot, which is perfect for me to learn how to be a producer.”

“That’s what I was thinking too.” Zeng Jia nodded in agreement, then inquired about her work arrangements, “By the way, any news from Director Guo? When will ‘Tiny Times 3’ start filming?”

"It's settled, I'll be joining the crew in August." Yang Mi sighed helplessly, recalling the subtle atmosphere on set during filming.

"It was exhausting to work with those guys. They always had to compete for everything, from screen time to stage position. I reckon the fans will be arguing like crazy again after the movie is released."

Zeng Jia understood and reassured him, "Don't worry. Ni Ni has Director Zhang's backing and is aiming for the film industry. Her career path doesn't directly compete with yours."

As for fans, it's not good for them to be idle. Some controversy and buzz aren't entirely bad; they help maintain interest and cohesion.

"So, does that mean Ni Ni is on the same track as Liu Yifei?" Yang Mi asked thoughtfully.

Zeng Jia shrugged and analyzed, "For TV dramas, especially those with a strong female lead, the actress's ability to carry the show is key."

But movie box office performance is highly unpredictable, and this path is not easy. Liu Yifei has been working on the big screen for several years now.

Several of his films had barely made it to the box office, but his career development was always lackluster, and he had hit a bottleneck.

In the next few years, in the television drama field, the only direct competitor you will face is Zhao Liying!

"A round face!" Yang Mi was taken aback, then remembered that Zhao Liying's popularity and reputation had soared in the past two years thanks to Tengda Culture's high-quality resources.

He nodded slowly, a hint of envy and wariness flashing in his eyes. "With Tengda Group as her backer, she gets a constant stream of good scripts and productions, and her status has indeed risen rapidly."

Zeng Jia stopped and said firmly, "Mi Mi, the mountain that's been blocking all the female celebrities in the entertainment industry is about to be gone! You must seize the golden opportunity that's about to arrive."

"What mountain?" Yang Mi asked instinctively.

"That top star is already twenty-six!"

Yang Mi blinked, not quite understanding at first: "You mean Shishi? Twenty-six... What's wrong? Isn't that in her prime?"

A hint of helplessness flashed across Zeng Jia's face, as if saying, "Why don't you understand?" He took a half-step closer and said, "My silly darling, twenty-six years old is not young for a family like hers!"
Looking across the world, which wealthy family doesn't value having children? She's been married for a while now, and there's still no sign of her pregnant. Do you think she and the Song family aren't worried?"

"Give birth... a child!" Yang Mi suddenly realized. These three words were like a pebble thrown into a lake, instantly creating ripples.

She was a year older than Liu Shishi, and her parents' urging words still echoed in her ears: "A girl should eventually find someone to rely on," and "When are you going to bring a boyfriend home to meet us?"

In the past, she had always used the excuse of "prioritizing her career" to brush things off, but now that it was laid bare before her, Yang Mi felt a subtle sense of anxiety and confusion.

"I've noticed she's intentionally reducing her workload. Giving birth to an heir for the Song family is the most important thing, above all else. Otherwise..."

“Yes, family is more important to Shishi.” Yang Mi nodded slightly, understanding the unspoken meaning in Zeng Jia’s words.

No matter how close Liu Shishi and the richest man were as childhood sweethearts, in the face of trillions of assets, an heir is not only the crystallization of their feelings, but also the foundation for the transfer of power and the inheritance of wealth.

Without children, her dazzling position as the wife of the richest man in the world is ultimately unstable.

Zenga's eyes burned with shrewd calculation: "The crown has fallen, and the stars are vying for power."

Liu Shishi is the leading actress on television. If she were to return to family life, it would leave a huge void in her career. Honey, don't miss this opportunity!

Yang Mi fell into deep thought. The coveted high-end brand endorsements and jewelry and watch collaborations that Liu Shishi held in her hands might all be transferred to other top-tier actresses.

More importantly, the top female star herself is an absolute guarantee of traffic and attention.

Her absence means that for some time to come, entertainment headlines, fashion magazine covers, and prime spots at awards ceremonies will be largely empty.

This is a crucial window of opportunity for all top-tier, near-top-tier, and even aspiring female celebrities, enough to change the trajectory of their careers.

It is foreseeable that all ambitious and capable female stars and their teams will readjust their strategies as a result.

After figuring out the interconnected chain reaction, Yang Mi sighed, "The entertainment industry is probably about to witness a major battle among top female stars."

“Yes!” Zeng Jia sighed with emotion, “The ‘post-Liu Shishi era’ is about to begin. In the short term, there will no longer be a universally acclaimed number one star, but rather a landscape where multiple female stars vie for supremacy.”

Yang Mi stopped and looked back at the bustling film set, a mix of emotions welling up inside her.

There was excitement about the opportunity, vigilance about the competition, and a touch of inexplicable emotion.

Liu Shishi, this actress who stood at the pinnacle of her career, chose to retire at the peak of her career and shift the focus of her life.

It shows all the top female stars a seemingly perfect path, but in reality, it is full of thorns and difficult to replicate.

This also made her, for the first time, clearly consider the question of her future while striving in her career:

Should one seek a "home" like Liu Shishi, or devote everything to building oneself into a "wealthy family"?
(End of this chapter)