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

The news that Mohen Asset Management's first private equity fund had completed its fundraising was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples in certain circles.

While a scale of 580 million is not large in the top capital circles, its unique LP composition has attracted considerable attention.

The leaked list includes several entertainment industry figures, led by Cai Yinong and Wang Changtian, as well as a number of emerging internet celebrities.

"Have you heard? Cai Yinong of Tang Ren personally invested 15 million into the new Inkmark Fund."

"I heard that Wang Changtian of the fiber optic company also invested 20 million!"

"They're quite shrewd; they're trying to tie themselves to Shen Mo's cause, aren't they afraid of losing everything?"

"A 400% return in six months, who wouldn't be tempted? The only question is whether this fund can maintain this performance."

……

The doubts persist, but there is even more of a restless wait-and-see attitude.

In Shen Mo's office at Mohen Capital.

Zhao Feng stood in front of Shen Mo, his expression a mixture of unprecedented solemnity and excitement.

"Mr. Shen, the funds have all been secured."

Shen Mo nodded. "Okay, I'll suggest a few directions for you to focus on."

"In September, the first aircraft carrier was launched, which is a landmark event. You should pay close attention to stocks in the defense industry."

"During this period, the global financial crisis has basically subsided, and financial stocks such as banks and securities firms are bound to undergo reforms and rebound. This is an area that deserves close attention."

"We can continue to follow up on our previous investments in mobile internet; the hype won't die down anytime soon."

"I'll compile another list of stocks I'm optimistic about for you later, and you can make decisions based on the specific market conditions."

"Is everything alright?" Shen Mo looked up, his tone indifferent.

Zhao Feng's eyes burned with fighting spirit. "Don't worry, President Shen, this is the stage I've been waiting for. For the first profit sharing, I will definitely deliver a result that leaves all the LPs speechless."

Shen Mo nodded: "Remember, we're not gambling; we're executing a proven strategy. Stay calm and proceed according to plan."

"clear!"

After Zhao Feng left, Chen Zhixi came in with the latest updates on "The Journey of Flower," a relaxed smile on her face.

"President Cai has been very cooperative. The contract for director Lin Yufen has been finalized, and filming is expected to officially begin next month."

"The filing process is underway, and the first draft of the adapted script has been completed."

"Apart from the roles played by our company, Director Lin said she would take care of the other roles during this period."

"President Cai said that Hu Ge, Liu Shishi, and Nazha could make a brief cameo appearance to strengthen the cooperative relationship between the two sides."

Shen Mo nodded, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

After discussing "The Journey of Flower," Chen Zhixi took out another document.

"Lost in Thailand is scheduled for release on December 12th. This is the publicity plan formulated by the public relations department. Please take a look, Mr. Shen."

Shen Mo took the document, looking at it as he asked, "Have you been in contact with Wang Changtian (the fiber optic company owner)? What are their promotional plans like?"

"The fiber optic connection has already been activated."

Chen Zhixi had clearly done his homework. "President Wang personally took the lead, and their terrestrial distribution network and traditional media resources are a powerful supplement to ours."

"The initial plan is to combine online and offline elements, focusing on the concepts of 'the strongest comedy of the year' and 'a sincere work by director Xu Zheng.' The strategy will be adjusted based on the pre-sales and preview screenings."

She paused, then added the key points.

"Mr. Wang specifically mentioned that he hopes to leverage our marketing experience, especially our ability to generate buzz among young people."

"They are responsible for traditional channel coverage and cinema presence, while we take the lead in online buzz and fan interaction, forming a multi-dimensional offensive."

Shen Mo nodded slightly, which was also the reason why he chose to cooperate with fiber optics in the first place.

"Okay." Shen Mo signed his name on the proposal.

"Tell Lin Wei to go ahead with the online portion and give her the green light on the budget."

He looked up at Chen Zhixi and said, "In addition, communicate well with Xu Zheng and the crew. The roadshow and interviews should be coordinated with the publicity rhythm, highlighting the inheritance and upgrading of this film from 'Lost in Thailand'."

"Yes, Mr. Shen."

Chen Zhixi took back the signed document and strode out of the office.

She took two steps, then stopped.

"Mr. Shen, there's something I think you should know. Feng Xiaogang's '1942' from Huayi Brothers might be released at the same time as ours, so Huayi might be competing with us again."

Shen Mo nodded, a bold idea suddenly popped into his head, and he called Zhao Feng over again.

On October 25th, a set of boldly designed and brightly colored subway posters quietly appeared on major commuting routes in various cities.

On the poster, Xu Zheng has a ferocious expression, Wang Baoqiang has yellow hair, and Huang Bo has a face covered in soot. The huge "囧" character, along with the caption "12.12, laugh out loud like a goose," instantly catches the eye of passersby.

A series of meticulously edited and "addictive" trailer videos were released online simultaneously, spreading virally across various platforms.

Hashtags such as #Lost on Journey 2.0#, #Lost in Thailand Release Date#, and #Who is the Most Awkward Person# have been trending on social media, with the buzz continuing to grow.

On Shen Mo's desk, two promotional materials with very different styles were placed side by side.

One of them is "Lost in Thailand," with bright colors, exaggerated character expressions, and a carefree joy.

Another one, "1942," from Huayi Brothers, features a dark brown poster that conveys the weight and sorrow of history.

Feng Xiaogang's "1942" was officially scheduled for release on November 29, the day after "Lost in Thailand" was scheduled for December 12. Although it was almost two weeks earlier, the overlap between the two films was still extremely high.

If "Back to 1942" becomes a box office hit, the long-tail effect could potentially impact "Lost in Thailand".

Chen Zhixi stood to the side, his tone somewhat solemn.

"Huayi has mobilized all its resources this time, and all resources are being poured into '1942'."

"Some media outlets have pointed out that this is the 2.0 battle between Mohen and Huayi, bringing the struggle between the old and new forces to the forefront."

Shen Mo looked up at Chen Zhixi and said, "Ignore these voices. Han Sanping's warning is still there. Huayi won't dare to go too far."

"From a publicity perspective, we are not directly competing; in fact, you could say we are competing in a different area."

"They are heavy epics, we are lighthearted comedies."

"But it is precisely because the styles are so extremely contrasting that they create a natural contrast and generate discussion."

"This is a battle between 'heavy' and 'light'."

"We can't avoid it, and there's no need to avoid it. They're releasing their film the day after us; they're definitely targeting us."

Shen Mo stood up and tapped his fingers on the somber poster of "1942".

"The film 'Back to 1942' is coming on strong. With its star-studded cast and relentless promotion, it will inevitably dominate the screenings and media coverage in the early stages of its release."

"However, its problem is equally obvious: it will inevitably leave audiences with a heavy feeling of 'being educated' and 'reflecting on history' as they enter and leave the theater."

"And this may be the opportunity for 'Lost in Thailand'."

Shen Mo's gaze toward Chen Zhixi sharpened.

"Zhixi, our advertising must emphasize the core concept of 'simple happiness' even more."

"They reflect on history, we rescue people from unhappiness."

"They emphasize artistic value, while we emphasize the viewing experience."

"It's just to make you laugh and relax."

Entering November, the promotional strategy shifted to in-depth penetration and word-of-mouth building.

Inkmark, in collaboration with Fiber Optics, launched advance screenings covering fifty key universities across the country.

On campus, students with movie tickets lined up in long queues, and laughter echoed throughout the screening room, almost lifting the roof off.

Almost simultaneously, a special screening for key film critics and media was held quietly.

After the preview screening, a large number of positive reviews from enthusiastic fans flooded various social media platforms.

[Laugh until your abs hurt! Xu Zheng, Wang Baoqiang, and Huang Bo are an amazing combination!]

[It's better than I expected!]

[This isn't an awkward laugh, I genuinely laughed until my stomach hurt!]

[Year-end pressure is high, and we desperately need a movie like "Lost in Thailand" to recoup our losses!]

[I've already recommended it to the whole dorm!]

……

At the same time, Huayi Brothers' "1942" also held a preview screening.

As the lights dimmed, a long scroll depicting the suffering of a nation unfolded on the screen.

The refugees, their gaunt faces, the desolate land—all captured in Feng Xiaogang's cinematic language, possess an almost brutal realism that leaves one breathless.

The following day, praise from major media outlets and film critics poured in like a tidal wave.

"Feng Xiaogang's masterpiece, an epic destined to be recorded in the history of Chinese cinema!"

"Unprecedented courage and responsibility in confronting national wounds; its historical significance far exceeds its entertainment value."

"A milestone in the Chinese-language film industry, with impeccable production quality and collectively legendary performances."

"This is not a movie for you to 'enjoy,' but a movie for you to 'think' and 'remember.'"

The praise was almost unanimous.

Within the professional field, the author's latest work, "The Shura Field of Chinese Entertainment: Young Actresses All Want to Rise to the Top," is exclusively released for the first time, depending on the author's mood! "1942" has received extremely high praise and is regarded as a model of the perfect combination of artistry and thought.

Soon, astute media outlets began to discuss these two stylistically different films together.

An article issued under the direction of Huayi Brothers, titled "The Two Extremes of the Lunar New Year Film Season: The Heavyness of '1942' and the Lightness of 'Lost in Thailand'", has sparked widespread discussion.

This December, Chinese moviegoers will face an interesting choice: go to the cinema to experience the solemn and painful baptism of national suffering in "1942," or choose "Lost in Thailand" for a thoroughly carefree and hilarious feast of laughter?

"Back to 1942 is like a bottle of aged liquor, with a strong aftertaste, testing the audience's tolerance and depth of thought. On the other hand, Lost in Thailand is like a bottle of ice-cold cola, refreshing and invigorating, satisfying the audience's most direct entertainment needs."

"This is not just a competition between two films, but more like a clash between two cinematic philosophies and two different audience mindsets. During the most important Lunar New Year film season, do audiences need historical lessons or pure entertainment?"

Divergent opinions have also begun to emerge within the industry.

Some people insist that "1942" has higher artistic and social value and deserves the respect and reward of the market.

Others pointed out that "Lost in Thailand's" precise genre film approach and grasp of market sentiment may have greater commercial potential, especially in the Lunar New Year film season which is based on the themes of "reunion" and "celebration".

A subtle atmosphere was spreading.

While praising "1942," many people privately muttered, "It's a good film, but it's too heavy. Watching this during the Lunar New Year...it's a bit depressing."

Shen Mo returned to the trading room of Mohen Assets once again.

What is Huayi's current stock price?

"15.5 yuan!" Zhao Feng replied, standing next to Shen Mo.

Shen Mo had asked him to keep an eye on Huayi's stock for several days.

Shen Mo turned to look at him, "Do you know how much was invested in '1942'?"

In response to this question, Zhao Feng replied immediately, "According to the data they have released, it is 2 million."

"That's right! It's going to cost 2 million to create an epic masterpiece."

Shen Mo turned his gaze back to the candlestick chart, a wicked smile playing on his lips.

"Feng Xiaogang, all 12 films that Huayi invested in him previously were profitable."

"What do you think will happen if 'Back to 1942,' which cost 2 million, doesn't break even at the box office?"

Zhao Feng's eyes widened suddenly, and his mind instantly cleared up. His previous question about why Shen Mo was paying attention to Huayi was now answered.

"I'll go do it now!" Zhao Feng immediately got to work without Shen Mo even needing to remind him.

"Go! Let's make this the first battle for the Ink Trace Fund No. 1!"

On November 30th, the box office figures for "1942," which had been in theaters for one day, were released.

2600 million!

What does this mean?

Based on this, major media outlets and organizations estimated the total box office to be around 5 million yuan.

Compared to the investment of 2 million, this figure can be described as a huge loss!

The Huayi Brothers' office, however, felt like a frozen cave.

"Bang—crash!"

Wang Zhonglei smashed a teacup on the ground, sending shards flying everywhere.

"It's only the second day!"

"The first-day box office figures have just been released!"

"Who the hell calculated my projected total box office?"

"Who contacted the PR team?"

Why are almost every website and newspaper advertising the projected total box office for "1942" today?

"Have your brains been eaten by pigs?"

The executives, heads bowed and silently enduring the scolding, exchanged glances, their eyes revealing a sense of bewilderment.

"I suspect it's dried ink!"

After a long silence, Vice President Yang Lei finally spoke up, shifting the blame onto Shen Mo.

"Ink stains, ink stains, all he ever does is talk about ink stains. Is Shen Mo bored out of his mind? Spending money to promote us? Even if I lose everything, what does he gain?"

Wang Zhonglei launched into another tirade, "Does he have money to burn? He's too busy promoting 'Lost in Thailand,' and he wants to promote us?"

"Even if it were him, tell me, what could he possibly do with millions of dollars besides disgusting me?"

"Get out! Immediately contact them to re-establish public relations, inflate the box office estimate, and improve the word-of-mouth publicity."

Putting aside Wang Zhonglei's furious outburst, Shen Mo was sitting in the trading room of Mohen Asset Management.

"This green waterfall is so refreshing!"

"It's just a bit short."

Lin Wei knocked on the door of the trading room, and when Shen Mo came out, she handed him an iPad.

"Mr. Shen, it seems that Huayi Brothers discovered our marketing efforts, and they changed the estimated total box office to 8 million in a separate document."

"Huayi is also increasing its guidance in the areas of 'national suffering' and 'remembering history'."

Shen Mo looked up at her and smiled slightly, "As expected, but it's not of any use."

"The media's tone has changed, and conflicting data will only confuse the market and make it more skeptical of the data."

"Furthermore, at the end of the year, will consumers who have endured a year of 'suffering' choose to go to the cinema to watch another 'suffering' movie?"

"However, we still need to continue publishing the articles we are supposed to publish. This time, let's lower our expected figure to 4 million."

"More numbers make it more fun!"

On Saturday, December 1st, the box office of "1942" rose to 30 million.

This gave Huayi a glimmer of hope; the "suffering" marketing strategy seemed to be working.

Meanwhile, the impact was even more evident in the stock price, which rebounded by more than half of the previous trading day's decline, and the entire Huayi Group was filled with a joyful and peaceful atmosphere.

December 2nd, Sunday, yesterday's box office was 34 million!

December 3rd, Monday, yesterday's box office was 40 million!

The box office totaled 1.3 million yuan in the first four days.

What does this mean?

Zhao Feng made a call to Shen Mo. "Mr. Shen, Huayi's stock price has hit the daily limit down."

Shen Mo pursed his lips and smiled. "That's normal; the capital market always reacts the fastest."

"The box office in the first week is usually the highest."

"This movie has seen some growth, but the figures aren't particularly impressive. Based on the current box office of '1942,' I think our estimate of 5 million yuan is a bit too high."

"It's Monday today. Let's check today's box office figures again tomorrow morning. There's going to be a good show soon."

Tuesday, December 4th, yesterday's box office was 12 million! A 2000% drop!

Huayi, hit the daily limit down!

December 5th, Wednesday, yesterday's box office was 18 million!

Huayi, hit the daily limit down!

……

On Monday, December 10th, the total box office for the following week was 80 million yuan!

Huayi, hit the daily limit down!

The following week, seven days, 80 million, VS. the opening week, four days, 130 million.

Complete defeat!

"Alright, let's harvest the crops!" After a week, I'm back in the trading room.

"The market operates on expectations, and the expectations for this film have basically been met. We can't wait until the very end to act."

"Furthermore, in the next few days, Huayi should also realize this and release some news to boost the stock price."

Immediately, orders to close positions flooded the trading floor, causing the stock to fluctuate wildly and the turnover rate to rise continuously.

After a long while, Zhao Feng stood next to Shen Mo and said, "The liquidation is complete."

"Vegetable sales reached 1.15 million."

"Based on our entry and exit prices, Huayi's market value has evaporated by about 13 billion yuan in this wave."

Immediately, orders to close positions flooded the trading floor, causing the stock to fluctuate wildly and the turnover rate to rise continuously.

After a long while, Zhao Feng stood next to Shen Mo and said, "The liquidation is complete."

"Vegetable sales reached 1.15 million."

"Based on our entry and exit prices, Huayi's market value has evaporated by about 13 billion yuan in this wave."

Shen Mo patted Zhao Feng on the shoulder, "You've worked hard."

"See? I told you I wouldn't let him get away with this!"

After saying this, Shen Mo laughed loudly and went out.

An even more ingenious move followed.

"Bang—crash!"

At Huayi headquarters, the ear-piercing sound of a teacup shattering echoed once again from the chairman's office.

Wang Zhonglei's face was ashen, his chest heaving violently, and at his feet were the shards of the expensive teacup he had just swept to the ground.

He stared at the brief financial news flash on his tablet, his jaw clenched and veins bulging on his forehead.

[Huayi's "1942" a box office flop! Ink Trace No. 1 Fund strikes with precision and reaps hundreds of millions in profits]

"Shen Mo...!"

He squeezed out the name through clenched teeth, his voice filled with a furious sense of being manipulated and a feeling of helplessness.

"They're laughing at my box office performance and profiting from my misfortune."

"Fine! If you don't post it, how will anyone know?"

"Why did you post this! Are you trying to embarrass me and make me lose face?!"

"Since you're going to play like this, don't blame me for going all out!"

"Someone come here!"