The Entertainment Industry in Turmoil: Young Actresses All Want to Rise to the Top

Chapter 103 Playing a Big Game

After more than half a month of intensive communication and multiple rounds of negotiation.

Mohen Capital ultimately offered 500 million RMB, plus a complete set of customized initial marketing strategies, as its bargaining chip.

They successfully completed their angel round investment in Didi Chuxing, acquiring a 20% stake.

In Shen Mo's eyes, this investment far exceeded the amount of the investment itself.

What pleased him even more was the execution of this investment deal.

Aside from personally reviewing and confirming the final investment plan, Shen Mo almost completely handed over the reins to Chen Jun, from the initial contact and consultation on the details of the plan to the difficult valuation negotiations and finally the signing ceremony.

This future investment whiz, whom he had been deeply impressed by in his past life and who had spared no expense to recruit in this life, has not disappointed him and has begun to shine.

As Mohen Capital continues to expand, there will be more and more complex battles in the future. It is impossible for Shen Mo to be at the forefront all the time, so the training of Chen Jun is imperative.

After the signing ceremony, Chen Jun walked quickly to Shen Mo's side, still with his calm and capable demeanor, but with a hint of confidence and sharpness in his eyes after being tempered by real combat.

"President Shen, I have accomplished my mission."

Shen Mo stood up, patted his shoulder with a light but firm touch, conveying complete affirmation.

"You did a great job, even better than I expected. When you get back, you'll write the project summary yourself; I want to see the details."

in addition,"

He paused, his tone ordinary yet profound.

"Get ready, the next target won't be any easier than Didi."

Chen Jun's spirits lifted, and he showed no fear of difficulties. Instead, he was like a soldier who had heard the bugle call to charge, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.

Back in his office, Shen Mo had just taken off his suit jacket and hadn't even settled into his large office chair when a crisp knock came at the door.

"Enter."

Chen Zhixi walked in with a brisk pace, carrying a document in his hand.

"President Shen, the audience voting channel for the Hundred Flowers Awards nominees is now open."

She gently placed the document on Shen Mo's desk and got straight to the point.

"Do you have any specific plans regarding 'Love is Not Blind'?"

She paused, then added.

"This film was invested in before I joined the company. I would like to hear your opinion on the application strategy, the amount of resources to be invested, and the main focus."

Chen Zhixi's question was very professional and hit the nail on the head.

Applying for awards, especially the prestigious Hundred Flowers Awards in China, is far more complex than simply filling out and submitting a form.

This involves the allocation of public relations resources, the use of personal connections, and the investment of real money.

Whether the focus is on participation or on aiming for a specific award, different goals mean completely different costs and effort.

Shen Mo leaned back in the soft chair, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the smooth tabletop.

The success of "Love is Not Blind" is undeniable, achieving both box office and critical acclaim, making it a phenomenal dark horse.

However, he has a clearer understanding and a longer-term perspective when it comes to awards.

He looked up at Chen Zhixi, his gaze calm and pragmatic.

"Let's see where the public voting is going, and then we'll try our best to get as many nominations as possible for all the awards we're likely to be nominated for."

His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable determination.

"As the fourth highest-grossing domestic film in 2011, this is the attitude we should have."

He paused slightly, his gaze sharpening as he looked at Chen Zhixi, before clearly shifting his focus to the core issue.

"But ultimately, resources should be prioritized. Concentrate our efforts on winning the Best Actor award."

Behind this decision lies a cool-headed business calculation.

"The recognition of Shen Mo's celebrity status as 'Ink Trace Capital needs Shen Mo' at mainstream awards will greatly enhance my personal brand value and credibility in the capital market."

"At the same time, Mohen Media is just starting out and needs a significant award to establish its position in the industry. There is nothing more impactful and brand-enhancing than winning Best Actor."

Chen Zhixi quickly took notes; she understood the business logic behind it.

The third thought that flashed through Shen Mo's mind carried a hint of unyielding sharpness, but he did not utter it aloud; his gaze only deepened.

Moreover, in his previous life, the original author, Wen Zhang, won this award for this film.

In this life, the character Wang Xiaojian, portrayed by Shen Mo, has received consistently high praise from the market, audiences, and the character has been well-received.

If he ultimately fails to be selected, wouldn't that indirectly prove that he is inferior to Wenzhang?

This has nothing to do with personal feelings, but rather he absolutely cannot allow Mohen's first major film and television project to be considered weaker than the trajectory of his previous life in any dimension.

This is about dignity, and even more so about the very foundation of his self-confidence.

"Do you understand?"

Shen Mo snapped out of his thoughts and regained his usual calm tone.

"Other awards will proceed according to the normal process."

"Understood, Mr. Shen."

Chen Zhixi closed his notebook, his eyes resolute.

"I'll personally oversee this matter."

Chen Zhixi did not leave immediately; she pushed another document in her hand in front of Shen Mo.

"Mr. Shen, the second thing."

"The script for 'A Little Reunion' has been finalized, and all approval procedures, including project registration, approval for filming, and other related documents, have been issued."

She reported the progress in a calm tone, and then got to the core issue.

"Can we officially begin pre-production work? And what are your initial thoughts or instructions regarding the cast?"

She specifically mentioned "actor," her gaze falling on Shen Mo with a questioning look.

As the boss and the company's top artist, his intentions are crucial, as they determine the direction of project resources and the basic pool of talent for casting.

Shen Mo leaned back, tapping his fingertips lightly on the smooth tabletop, instantly recalling all the information about "A Little Reunion" in his mind.

This is a realistic family education drama focusing on the topic of high school students studying abroad. It is likely to resonate with the public and is the first work in his planned "mini series," so it cannot afford to fail.

"Preparations can begin immediately."

He first affirmed the progress of the project, his tone decisive.

"This film will be produced by you, with Li Yitong as the executive producer."

"Regarding actors, the principle is to prioritize our own talent, with external talent as a secondary option." He clearly stated this tone.

"The core characters of the three families, especially the young actors, were selected from our own trainees."

"Tian Xiwei, Wang Churan, and Liu Haocun are all suitable in terms of appearance and age. This is the first practical test to examine the effectiveness of our trainee system."

But Shen Mo didn't finish his sentence; a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

"There aren't any suitable roles for Li Yitong and me in this drama; a simple cameo appearance will suffice."

He concluded by emphasizing, "For other important roles, especially for adult actors, we can contact Huang Lei and Hai Qing. You should conduct your own research and submit the list to me."

"Understood." Chen Zhixi quickly jotted down all the key points.

Chen Zhixi unlocked his tablet and pulled up another report, his expression more cautious than when they discussed "A Little Reunion".

After all, "My Love from the Star" is the first major TV series that Mohen Capital has independently produced in a truly meaningful way, and its success or failure is related to the company's foundation in the entertainment industry.

"Mr. Shen, the third thing is about 'My Love from the Star'."

She turned the screen toward Shen Mo, which listed the initial contact information with several mainstream TV stations and video platforms.

"Currently, Hunan TV, Hunan TV, Tomato TV, as well as Tencent Video, Kuzi, Tudou and other platforms have expressed their interest."

"I would like to hear your guidance and suggestions regarding the selection of satellite TV broadcasting platforms and cooperation models with online platforms."

"This relates to our final revenue model, the scope of the series' influence, and subsequent IP development, so we need to set the tone as soon as possible."

Shen Mo tapped lightly on the tablet screen with his fingertips, his sharp eyes scanning the information on various platforms.

He shook his head when he saw Hunan TV's schedule.

"Mango TV is not suitable."

He looked up at Chen Zhixi, his tone resolute.

"They have already scheduled Yu Zheng Studio's 'Bounty Hunter' for our expected broadcast time slot."

"If 'My Love from the Star' chooses Hunan TV, it can only be scheduled later, which will disrupt our overall publicity rhythm and business plan."

He paused briefly, then turned his finger to another document.

"We're giving priority consideration to Tomato TV."

"They have consistently maintained a high standard and good reputation in the urban drama genre, and their audience base is solid. More importantly—"

Shen Mo's gaze was deep. "Broadcasting through Tomato TV will be more beneficial for us in our competition for next year's Magnolia Award."

Chen Zhixi immediately understood that the Magnolia Awards were very important for Mohen Media to establish a professional reputation in the industry.

"As for online platforms," ​​Shen Mo changed the subject, his thoughts becoming clear.

"We're abandoning the traditional exclusive licensing model; we're going to broadcast it jointly."

A hint of surprise flashed in Chen Zhixi's eyes.

Exclusive licensing usually translates to higher prices per episode.

Shen Mo noticed her confusion and explained.

"My Love from the Star was our first big hit, and at this stage, expanding our influence is more important than maximizing revenue per episode."

"The joint broadcast model allows the series to reach the widest range of online users in the shortest time, creating a wave of online discussion, which is crucial for quickly establishing brand awareness of 'Mohen Productions'."

He further specified: "We can choose Penguin and Pants."

"When negotiating with them, we can make appropriate concessions on the price, but we must guarantee important promotional resources such as homepage recommendation slots and bullet screen prompts."

"At the same time, we asked them to cooperate with our marketing rhythm and carry out joint promotions."

Finally, he came up with a more forward-thinking idea.

"In addition, the publicity campaign for the ex-wife on platforms such as Toutiao, Weibo, and Renren can also begin."

"We aim to create a comprehensive communication matrix that combines television and online platforms with social media engagement."

"Besides Penguin and Pants, you guys should also try to get in touch with Netflix."

"6

He stated firmly: "The production quality and innovative subject matter of 'My Love from the Star' have full international potential."

1

"What I want is not just a domestic hit, but a global cultural feast."

Chen Zhixi quickly took notes.

She realized that Shen Mo was playing a long game.