Huayu: This celebrity doesn't follow the rules.

Chapter 110 The 7th National Drama Awards: Most Popular Web Series

If we go back to the beginning of the 21st century, the "Golden Rooster, Golden Horse, and Hong Kong Film Awards" were indeed the three highest awards in the Chinese film industry, and also the benchmark of honor for the domestic entertainment industry and the entire Chinese film circle.

However, after the 2010s, with changes in cross-strait relations, the decline of Hong Kong films, and the strengthening of the mainland market's dominance, the influence of the Golden Horse Awards gradually declined, while the Golden Rooster Awards further consolidated its status as a top mainland award through reforms, and the Hong Kong Film Awards became more of a "private domain" for Hong Kong films.

By 2015, the award's influence had diminished further.

Although in 2015, the box office revenue of mainland China was 15 times that of Hong Kong and Taiwan combined, and the online viewership of TV dramas accounted for more than 90% of the Chinese-language market, capital and talent are concentrated in the mainland.

However, the influence of the awards is becoming increasingly weak!

Moreover, 2015 was the year the "young and handsome" concept exploded.

The rise of popular celebrities like Lu Han and Wu Yifan has led to a significant decline in the prestige of professional awards, with audience-voted awards such as the Hundred Flowers Awards and the Golden Eagle Awards being heavily influenced by capital. The results, where popularity outweighs ability, have sparked controversy.

The 7th China TV Drama Awards, which Jiang Ye brought his crew to this time, was hosted by Anhui TV and mainly competed for TV dramas.

Similar awards include the Feitian Award, the Magnolia Award, the Huading Award, and the Directors' Committee Annual Award.

The Feitian Award is the most prestigious, followed by the Magnolia Award.

That afternoon, the Yanjing Conference Center was already gleaming with decorations.

This hall, which carries countless honors and dreams, has now been transformed into a star-studded stage for the Chinese TV drama industry.

The red carpet area was already set up, and both sides were crowded with enthusiastic fans who held up support signs and shouted the names of their idols. The sounds rose and fell like a surging wave.

Security personnel were on high alert, maintaining order at the scene. LED screens on both sides of the red carpet played clips of various celebrities and popular dramas, adding to the festive atmosphere of the event.

The staff on site were extremely busy, some checking the red carpet setup, others adjusting the lighting equipment, ensuring that every detail was perfect.

As time went on, luxury cars slowly drove into the venue, pushing the atmosphere to a climax.

"The crew of 'Nirvana in Fire' is here! Hu Ge! Hu Ge!"

The fans' shouts nearly blew off the roof of the makeshift media area.

Director Kong Sheng, Li Xue, and Brother Hu smiled and waved to both sides. Behind them were Liu Tao, Wang Kai, and others. The entire crew was like a moving luminous body, instantly becoming the focus of the entire scene.

Not far away, Fan Xiaopang, dressed in an Elie Saab haute couture gown, had crystals on the skirt refracting like the Milky Way under the spotlight.

She gracefully blew a kiss to the media area, triggering another frenzy of camera shutters.

At the end of the red carpet, in front of the main backdrop, Huo Jianhua and Tang Yan posed intimately for the media to take photos.

The two became the hottest CP of the year due to "The Journey of Flower" and "Diamond Lover". Huo Jianhua's line "Tangtang is the actress who can cry the most" made Tang Yan playfully slap his arm, and this scene immediately became a trending topic on Weibo.

The three lifetimes of love between Xu Changqing and Zi Xuan in Chinese Paladin 3 are the white moonlight couple in many people's hearts.

Now, 2015 has been a year of great success for all of them, thanks to the combined influence of nostalgia and popularity, making them the undisputed hottest couple of the year!

Why can't we walk the red carpet?

Jing Tian tugged at her nude-colored Dior early spring collection dress, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Da Tian Tian is unhappy...

She had styled her hair in a retro updo today, and the diamond earrings on her earlobes swayed gently with her disgruntled movements. "Didn't we say we won an award? How come we don't even deserve to walk the red carpet?"

Bai Lu lowered her head, adjusting her red Valentino skirt, and lightly kicked her black Doc Martens on the ground: "Yeah, it's such a waste that I spent so long on makeup."

She looked up at the starlit scene outside the window, a hint of envy flashing across her young face. "Does the traditional TV drama industry look down on us web drama producers?"

Jiang Ye looked up from his phone screen. He was wearing a navy blue three-piece suit today, and the subtle pattern on his tie was faintly visible in the dim light inside the car.

“Don’t rush,” he said calmly, “today is just the beginning.”

Jiang Ye had two hit shows last year, "Princess Promotion" and this year, "Si Teng," but this is his first time participating in a television awards competition.

Because web dramas have not yet gained true recognition within the industry.

This year's National Drama Awards also marked its first reform, establishing an award for the most popular online drama, which was given to "Si Teng" and "The Lost Tomb" in an effort to attract viewers and boost ratings.

But these two unfortunate film crews didn't even qualify to walk the red carpet...

Moreover, other awards, such as the Top Ten Most Influential TV Series of the Year and Best Actor, were all won by traditional TV dramas, while web dramas were not included in the core selection categories.

Not only at the National Drama Awards, but also at the Feitian Awards on the 28th, they don't even qualify to participate.

But Jiang Ye had no choice but to come!
The inclusion of web dramas in the awards for the first time at this year's National Drama Awards is a signal to the entire industry.

Web series are no longer marginal content, but rather a content format on par with traditional TV dramas.

This recognition greatly enhances the industry status of web dramas, and it also helps to improve Jiang Ye's industry status.

The black van bypassed the red carpet area and drove directly to the side entrance of the conference center.

Staff members rushed over, checked the invitations, and led them through a long, narrow corridor.

Jiang Ye noticed posters of previous ceremonies on the wall, including "Empresses in the Palace" in 2013 and "No War in Beiping" in 2014, both of which are benchmark works of traditional TV dramas.

"This way, please," the staff member said, pushing open a side door. "The web series section is located in section F."

The interior of the venue was even more magnificent than I had imagined.

A crystal chandelier hangs from the 20-meter-high dome, illuminating the fan-shaped venue that can accommodate a thousand people.

The main stage unfolds in the shape of a seashell, with a huge LED screen playing exciting clips from the shortlisted dramas.

Section A, near the stage, was already filled with casts from big-budget dramas like "The Empress of China" and "The Legend of Mi Yue," but they were being led to the far left corner.

There are basically no cameras in this position!

"You can't even see the stage from this spot, can you?" Jing Tian muttered to herself, her high heels making a dull sound on the thick carpet.

She was initially in high spirits when she arrived, after all, although Jing Tian has been in the industry for a long time, she hasn't really received any awards.

However, this time the experience was a bit disappointing...

Jiang Ye's gaze was drawn to a group of people who were already seated in Section F.

That was the crew of "The Lost Tomb". Director Luo Yongchang was talking to the producer with his head down. Li Moufeng and Yang Yang were wearing sharp suits and were still dazzling in the dim light.

"Director Jiang!" Luo Yongchang stood up to greet them when he saw them.

When the two directors shook hands, Jiang Ye could feel the pressure from their palms. "I never thought that my web series brothers would be exiled to the same frontier."

Jiang Ye chuckled: "At least they arranged seats for us, so we didn't have to stand for the whole show." The two film crews introduced themselves and exchanged pleasantries.

Jing Tian and Li Moufeng had met briefly at a brand event, while Bai Lu excitedly asked Yang Yang for an autograph.

Jiang Ye knew that this good-for-nothing girl used to be a fan of celebrities, and she liked quite a few male stars.

Lu Han, Yang Yang...

Luo Yongchang chatted with Jiang Ye, "It's not easy. The status of online dramas is still a bit low."

Jiang Ye didn't care. "Let's take it slow. The audience's word of mouth is more important than anything else."

He glanced at the cast and crew of "The Journey of Flower" taking their seats in Section A. Zhao Liying's pale yellow dress stood out in the crowd. "However, traditional TV dramas do have their advantages: production budgets, broadcasting platforms, award channels..."

"An awards ceremony?" Luo Yongchang scoffed, pointing to the huge posters hanging on both sides of the stage. "Look at those judges, which one of them isn't from a TV station? Do they even watch web dramas? Today's 'Most Popular Web Drama' award is just a way to give face to the investors."

Jiang Ye remained noncommittal, saying that these traditional television figures wouldn't be around for long.

Once iQiyi, Youku, and Tencent Video rise to prominence, they won't have much of a chance anymore.

The lights in the venue suddenly dimmed, leaving only the spotlight on the stage.

Hosts Jin Xing, Lu Yu, Zhou Jun, and Yu Sheng made their entrance to music, officially commencing the ceremony.

"The 7th China TV Drama Awards: Paying tribute to craftsmanship and reshaping quality!" The host's voice resonated throughout every corner via surround sound.

The big screen began playing an annual review video, and when classic scenes from dramas such as "The Disguiser," "Nirvana in Fire," and "The Journey of Flower" appeared, the audience erupted in applause.

Jiang Ye noticed that there wasn't a single scene from a web series in the video.

The first award presented was the Audience's Favorite Newcomer Award. When the host announced Dilraba's name, the girl, who had just entered the public eye with her role as "Gao Wen" in "Diamond Lover," was clearly stunned for a moment, and then quickly stood up from her seat.

She wore a light pink short dress with delicate lace trim at the neckline and a small bow tied at the waist, which made her already slender figure look even more youthful.

Her shoulder-length curly hair was casually draped over her shoulders, with a few stray strands falling beside her cheeks. Her bright eyes, framed by light makeup, were tinged with a nervous, watery glow. She was completely unlike the flamboyant and domineering "Gao Wen" in the drama, and instead resembled a girl next door who had just received a pleasant surprise.

He was so excited while speaking on stage that he almost choked up.

This 90s girl, dressed in a pink dress and looking a little nervous, quietly ushered in the rise of a new generation of actors with her most innocent and youthful demeanor.

The awards ceremony proceeded as scheduled.

When Hu Ge won the "Best Actor" award for his role as Mei Changsu, the entire audience stood up and applauded.

He stood in front of the microphone, his voice choked with emotion: "When I was in the car accident in 2006, my mother told me that I could lose my physical appearance, but I couldn't lose the soul of an actor..."

The camera panned across Liu Tao and Jin Dong wiping away tears in the audience, a scene later dubbed by the media as the most touching moment of the year.

When Fan Xiaopang went on stage to accept the Person of the Year and Best Actress awards, he specifically mentioned the controversy surrounding the censorship of cleavage in "The Empress of China": "True acting should not be bound by any form."

Her pointed remark elicited cheers.

As the presenter for the Best Actress award, Jin Xing shared a "reconciliation hug" with Fan Xiaopang on stage.

The two had a deep-seated grudge, especially Jin Xing, who had cursed at him countless times.

In 2011, Jin Xing forwarded Fan Bingbing's Cannes dragon robe photo and mocked her, saying, "Bingbing has something special. Don't forget that acting skills are the real skill."

This year, she even made a triple appearance on "The Jin Xing Show".

In July, people criticized Fan Bingbing for creating quality works instead of constantly showing off his horse and cow poses.

In August, she publicly called out on the show: "Bingbing, no matter how many commercials you take, you'll still be Jin Suo. Hurry up and leave the audience with a representative work!"

In September, a netizen asked, "Is Fan Bingbing a good actress?" Jin Xing sneered, "Does she need an agent to answer that question?"

This hug was just a publicity stunt orchestrated in advance by the National Drama Awards.

Because after Fan Xiaopang got into trouble, Jin Xing started cursing again...

"Next up is the award for the most popular web series!"

Golden Gorilla's voice suddenly rose eight octaves, seemingly filled with curiosity about the newly established award.

Clips from "The Lost Tomb" and "Sito" finally appeared on the big screen, but their playback time was significantly shorter than that of other awards.

Jiang Ye and Luo Yongchang exchanged a smile and stood up at the same time.

When the two stood on the stage, the lights made Jiang Ye squint slightly.

He could see clearly what was happening in the audience. Most of the big-name celebrities in Section A were looking down at their phones, and only a few were clapping politely.

"Thank you to the organizing committee for giving web dramas this opportunity," Luo Yongchang said in a concise and powerful statement. "I hope that next year there will be no need to set up a separate web drama category."

When the microphone was handed to Jiang Ye, he cleared his throat and said, "To be honest, standing here is much more nerve-wracking than filming 'Si Teng'."

A few scattered laughs rang out from the audience. "After all, we web series directors usually hide behind the monitor, so we don't need to wear such formal suits."

He put away his joking expression and his tone gradually became serious: "When I first entered the industry last year and started making web dramas, a senior colleague patted me on the shoulder and said, 'Xiao Jiang, web dramas are just made for young people to pass the time, and they can't be considered real film and television works.'"

The venue fell silent, with only the spotlight shining on him. "But standing here today, I want to raise this award a little higher, to tell that senior, and also to all those who question web dramas."

"After the release of 'Si Teng,' some viewers commented that it was the first time they had seen such exquisite costumes and props in a web series. Some netizens analyzed the symbolism of the plants in the scenes frame by frame, and some mothers watched the series with their daughters and discussed women's growth."

"These real feedbacks tell us that wherever the audience is, that's where the show is. Content made with care deserves to be seen, no matter which platform it's broadcast on."

"This award doesn't belong to me alone. It's for all the creators who believe in the quality of web dramas, for the screenwriters who stay up all night revising scripts, for the cameramen who brave the cold wind to shoot on location, and for every viewer who is willing to stop for good content."

Finally, he smiled and bowed to the audience, his tone returning to its relaxed state: "From now on, we web series directors may need to prepare a few more suits, after all, our stage has only just begun."

When he finished speaking, the applause from the audience was exceptionally enthusiastic, and even the golden gorilla smiled and gave him a thumbs-up.

This is Jiang Ye's first time speaking under the spotlight at a mainstream event, and I believe there will be many more times like this in the future.

However, those actors in the audience who didn't clap were immediately blacklisted by him...

As the ceremony ended and the crowd surged toward the exit, an unexpected person blocked Jiang Ye's way.

"Director Jiang," Dilraba walked over quickly, lifting her skirt, her eyes sparkling, "I really like 'Sito,' can I have your contact information?"

Jiang Ye paused for a moment, then smiled and handed over his business card.

Perhaps, tonight's gains are far more than just an award.

(End of this chapter)