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

On December 10th, a grand premiere was held at the Legendary Times Cinema in Beijing.

When Shen Mo and Chen Zhixi walked side by side on the red carpet, the atmosphere instantly reached a climax.

As the producer of "Lost in Thailand," he should have entered the scene discreetly, but as one of the most popular stars at the moment, he couldn't afford to waste such immense popularity.

His appearance immediately triggered a deafening roar of cheers from fans on both sides of the red carpet.

"Shen Mo! Look here!"

"Brother Mo! Ahhh!"

"Brother Mo, I knew you'd come today!"

……

The flashes of light, like a dense barrage of lightning, enveloped his tall, imposing figure.

He was dressed in a well-fitting dark suit, without much accessories, and waved calmly.

His unique charisma, somewhere between a business elite and a top star, instantly made him the undisputed focus of the entire event, even overshadowing the main actors.

Chen Zhixi, who was walking beside him, as the core producer of the project, wisely lagged behind by half a step.

At the entrance to the venue, Xu Zheng was talking with Wang Baoqiang and Huang Bo. When he inadvertently caught sight of the familiar figure walking in surrounded by the media, he was clearly stunned for a moment.

His face immediately lit up with immense joy, and he was even somewhat at a loss for what to do.

He strode forward to meet him, his voice rising slightly with excitement.

"President Shen! You...you came in person? Zhixi, why didn't you tell me beforehand!"

As he spoke, he looked at Chen Zhixi with feigned reproach.

Chen Zhixi smiled elegantly, "I was thinking of giving Director Xu a surprise. President Shen has always been very interested in 'Lost in Thailand'."

"You came without prior notice, Director Xu won't be upset, will you?" Shen Mo smiled and shook hands with Xu Zheng.

"A surprise! It's definitely a surprise!"

Xu Zheng nodded repeatedly, but Shen Mo still keenly caught the complex emotion that flashed across his smile.

Xu Zheng's feelings were indeed complicated. He was grateful to Shen Mo for investing in the film, and he also admired Mohen's precise marketing of "Lost in Thailand".

But deeper still, there was a sense of awe and trepidation.

After all, this young man had just recently clashed head-on with industry giant Huayi.

Xu Zheng couldn't help but feel a little uneasy, fearing that he might accidentally get dragged into a struggle of that level.

He's still just an actor. Even if he has some representative works, what use are they in a battle of this level?

However, no matter how turbulent his heart was, he remained enthusiastic on the surface and began to introduce the main creative team behind Shen Mo.

"President Shen, this is Baoqiang, this is Huang Bo..."

Just then, Wang Changtian from Fiber Optics also walked over and stretched out his hand from a distance.

"President Shen!"

He gripped Shen Mo's hand tightly. "Mohen's recent actions have truly been an eye-opener!"

What made him happiest these past two days was not only the collaboration with "Lost in Thailand", but also the return on investment at Mohen No. 1 Private Equity Fund, which had soared to 70% in just over a month.

What terrifying earning power!

Shen Mo shook hands with him, his expression remaining calm.

"Mr. Wang, you flatter me. We can learn from each other."

"Lost in Thailand is of excellent quality, and I believe we can make a big profit together this time."

As he said this, Shen Mo smiled and looked at Xu Zheng.

Xu Zheng nodded quickly, "Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Shen. 'Lost in Thailand' is sure to be a huge hit."

Wang Changtian reached out and patted Xu Zheng on the shoulder, "Director Xu, this movie depends on you guys to help me get some scraps."

"I originally thought my marketing skills were pretty good, but compared to Mr. Shen, I should just go back to doing distribution, hahaha."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Shen Mo and Wang Changtian left and sat down in the viewing area in front.

After all, today is Xu Zheng's home turf, so it's not good to disturb them too much.

The screening began, and the thousand-seat theater was packed.

Shen Mo could clearly feel the genuine, carefree joy of the audience around him. Even he was amused by a few of the scenes, which brought a smile to his face.

The film is packed with jokes, cleverly designed plot, and the amazing chemistry between the "囧神" trio, creating a truly powerful viewing experience. Laughter has been non-stop since the very beginning of the film.

Hearing someone next to him slapping their thigh in laughter, he couldn't help but smile, while keenly realizing what this level of "comedic effect" meant in the market.

This is more than just a decent comedy; it's a phenomenal work that has generated strong word-of-mouth and has the potential to explode at the box office.

Although Li Yitong had described the film's success in his previous life, he was finally relieved to see Xu Zheng present it in person. He realized that the two butterflies hadn't affected the film.

On December 12, "Lost in Thailand" officially premiered in theaters nationwide.

Despite its booming pre-sales and high popularity, "Lost in Thailand" only had 22% of screenings at the start, failing to attract much attention from traditional media, in the face of the formidable "1942" and its 35% share of screenings on the first day.

Many people still believe that this is just a passable comedy that "accompanied" other films in the Lunar New Year film season.

However, the market's response gave a completely different signal from day one.

The comment section of "Lost in Thailand" was almost flooded with "hahahahaha", and phrases like "laughed until my stomach hurts", "no dull moments", and "the best way to de-stress at the end of the year" became frequently used.

In stark contrast, the comments section for "1942" was filled with comments such as "too heavy," "it made me feel suffocated," and "I need to take a break."

After midnight that night, Chen Zhixi's excited call finally reached Shen Mo's phone.

Her voice trembled slightly: "President Shen, the opening day box office was 3650 million, higher than '1942's' 3500 million, but their screenings were 15% more than ours."

"Opening day attendance: 48.7%! Almost double that of '1942'!"

According to conventional market patterns, box office revenue on the second and third days after a film's release will be lower than the opening day's revenue, which includes midnight screenings and weekend pre-release promotions, resulting in a natural decline.

But "Lost in Thailand" broke this pattern.

The following day, despite a slight increase in screenings to 25%, "Lost in Thailand" not only did not see a drop in daily box office revenue, but instead rose by 5% against the trend! The occupancy rate remained at an astonishing 45% or higher.

On the third day, the miracle continued.

Astute cinema managers quickly increased the screening rate to 30%, which is why "Lost in Thailand" saw another day of box office growth, increasing by nearly 8%!

A two-day consecutive decline is an extremely rare phenomenon in the film market, which usually means that the film has extremely strong word-of-mouth and spontaneous audience sharing effect.

Theater managers are the most pragmatic; they clearly see that the theaters for "Lost in Thailand" are packed with people, filled with laughter and a sense of satisfaction.

In contrast, the theater for "1942" felt somewhat empty and dull.

The balance of screen time began to tilt toward "Lost in Thailand" at a visible speed.

On the fourth day, the number of screenings for Lost in Thailand increased to 35%.

After its opening week, the final box office figures were like a bombshell, shaking the entire Chinese film industry.

The first week box office for "Lost in Thailand" was 3.5 million RMB!

This number not only far exceeded the expectations of Light & Ink, but also overwhelmingly left "1942," which earned 1.2 million in its first week, far behind!

The market has completely gone mad!

The media's previous discussion of "epic vs. comedy" has instantly turned into a study of the "Lost in Thailand phenomenon".

"A dark horse emerges! 'Lost in Thailand' surpasses 3 million yuan in its opening week, setting a new record for domestic comedies!"

"A huge success on a small budget, the '囧' god descends!"

"Lost in Thailand's positive word-of-mouth has propelled it to new heights, igniting the Lunar New Year film season!"

"The Power of Laughter: How Did 'Lost in Thailand' Defeat a 'Heavy Epic' with 'Simple Joy'?"

The media's reaction was pragmatic, shifting from previous praise for the artistry of "1942" to in-depth analysis of the market success of "Lost in Thailand".

The analysis focuses on its precise genre positioning, perfect grasp of the mood during the release period, efficient marketing strategies, and most importantly, the viral spread of positive word-of-mouth among audiences.

The reactions from movie fans and general audiences were even more direct and enthusiastic.

On social media, topics related to "Lost in Thailand" have consistently topped the charts.

Countless enthusiastic fans spread the word, enthusiastically recommending it to their friends and family.

You'll regret not listening to me! Go watch "Lost in Thailand" right now, I guarantee you'll laugh your head off!

Highly recommend "The Shura Field of Chinese Entertainment: All the Young Actresses Want to Rise to the Top"! Click to enter the story world.

I've watched it three times already! Every time I watch it, I still laugh until I'm crowing!

I went once by myself, once with my parents, and once with my girlfriend. I highly recommend it!

……

"Lost in Thailand" is no longer just a movie; it has become an emotional outlet that brings simple joy.

Long lines to buy tickets for "Lost in Thailand" have become the norm in cinemas, with screenings in short supply.

Inside Huayi Brothers, Wang Zhonglei stared at the glaring box office comparison report, his face turning ashen.

He simply couldn't understand how a serious epic with a huge investment, top-notch cast, and industry acclaim could lose to a low-budget, purely comedic film.

If the last encounter was a draw between Mohen and Huayi, with both sides gaining something, then this time Huayi's "1942" can be described as a complete defeat.

At Mohen Capital, Shen Mo received a barrage of calls from Wang Changtian, whose voice was hoarse with excitement.

"President Shen! We've created a legend!"

"Thank you, Mr. Shen, for getting me on board! Our fiber optic stock has hit the daily limit for two consecutive days because of the movie 'Lost in Thailand'."

The current situation of fiber optics is infinitely better than that of Huayi, which has experienced consecutive limit-down days.

For Mohen, the success of "Lost in Thailand" is more than just a victory for a single film.

It signifies Mohen's efficient marketing system and its continuous investment vision in high-quality products.

This also means that the names of Mohen Capital and Mohen Media have once again resonated throughout the industry.

The 3.15 million in the first week is just the beginning.

On December 19, Shen Mo returned to the trading room again.

Because we have now reached a very critical moment.

After closing out his short positions in Huayi Securities on December 10th, Shen Mo gave Zhao Feng another instruction.

[Buy Huayi shares with all your might!]

"Mr. Shen, if you buy any more, we'll have to raise our paddle!"

"Then it won't be able to be hidden anymore."

Zhao Feng could understand the short selling of Huayi in the past, since it was a competitor.

However, if you buy more today and the shareholding exceeds 5%, you will have to disclose your ownership and will be unable to trade for at least six months.

Zhao Feng was puzzled. Aren't they rivals? Is it necessary to hold them for the long term?

"Raise it!"

"What I want is to hold up a sign!"

Shen Mo's gaze was incredibly firm, his eyes brimming with confidence.

"We made such a huge profit off them, even though we didn't cheat them, but Wang Zhonglei has completely lost face."

"I can already imagine that he's probably trying to find ways to hinder us, such as adjusting the screening ratio of 'Lost in Thailand,' delaying the revenue sharing process, and launching media attacks, etc."

"Once I raise my sign, it'll be Wang Zhonglei's turn to live in fear and seriously consider what I'm really planning to do!"

At 10:14 AM, a brief announcement on the Mohen Asset Management website instantly ignited the entire capital market and entertainment industry.

[Announcement Regarding Mohen Asset Management's Acquisition of Shares in Huayi Brothers]

The content is concise yet carries immense weight: Mohen Asset Management has acquired 5.01% of Huayi Brothers' total shares through secondary market transactions, triggering the disclosure threshold.

After the announcement, Huayi's stock price, which had been fluctuating slightly, skyrocketed. Trading volume surged, with buyers flocking in and the stock price soaring. Within just ten minutes, the price rose by more than 7% and quickly hit the daily limit!

Market sentiment was completely ignited, and investor forums were buzzing with excitement.

"Holy crap! Mohen is holding up a sign for Huayi?! What kind of unbelievable turn of events is this?"

"He just made a killing shorting, and then immediately went long and bought in massively? Shen Mo's moves are too slick!"

"A hostile takeover? A strategic investment? Or simply a financial investment? I don't understand, but I'm deeply impressed!"

"Has Huayi been 'attacked' by the enemy? Wang Zhonglei must be furious!"

"Where's the logic? Can anyone tell me the logic? Our arch-rival has become a major shareholder?"

Major financial media outlets immediately followed up, pushing the news to their top headlines.

[What is the purpose of Mohen Asset Management's acquisition of a stake in Huayi?]

[Former short sellers reverse course and go long; is Huayi facing a "barbarian"?]

[Shen Mo and Wang Zhonglei: From a War of Words to a Shareholding Ties?]

The analysts from various securities firms, who were in their morning meeting on Monday, were also stunned by the news.

"Raising a sign means being locked up for at least 6 months. What is Shen Motu doing?"

"Board seats? Influence on company decisions?"

"Should we tell Huayi to stop targeting Mohen?"

"Or... is it simply to go and slap Wang Zhonglei in the face?"

"No way! He can't be that naive, can he?"

"Is there some big move we're unaware of?"

The atmosphere in Wang Zhonglei's office at Huayi Brothers headquarters had reached a freezing point.

"Bang!"

A beautiful ceramic teacup was smashed to the ground again, shattering into pieces.

In just two weeks, Wang Zhonglei has already gone through three teacups in his office.

Wang Zhonglei's face was ashen, his chest heaving violently. He pointed at the glaring announcement on the computer screen and roared at the silent executives in front of him.

"How dare he?! What gives him the right?!"

"That little bastard Shen Mo! He's practically riding on my neck and defecating!!!"

Vice President Yang Lei cautiously stepped forward.

"Mr. Wang, calm down... According to the regulations, he can't sell within six months of making a bid. This... this might be a good thing, indicating that he's optimistic about our company's long-term development?"

Even he himself didn't believe it when he said that.

"Bullshit!" Wang Zhonglei laughed angrily.

"You're bullish? He just made a hundred million by shorting our stock!"

"He's now taking the money he made from us and turning himself into a shareholder! This is blatant humiliation! This is provocation!"

He turned around abruptly and stared at Wang Sui, the director in charge of capital markets.

"Investigate! Find out immediately when he started buying them and what the cost price was!"

"Yes, Mr. Wang!" Wang Sui, sweating profusely, quickly replied.

Yang Lei took a deep breath and opened his mouth with a worried expression.

"Mr. Wang, Mohen has now become a major shareholder of our company. According to the articles of association, they have the right to nominate directors and participate in company decision-making..."

"Won't we be facing his people every day in the boardroom from now on?"

"He can forget about it!" Wang Zhonglei's eyes were sinister.

"Want to join the board of directors? Not so easy!"

"Contact our allies immediately and stabilize the other major shareholders! We absolutely cannot allow Shen Mo's influence to extend into Huayi's core!"

He took a few deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down, but his voice still carried barely suppressed anger and a hint of... doubt.

What exactly is he trying to do?

"Should we continue our operation against him?"

Wang Zhonglei closed his eyes, leaned back in his chair, and pondered for a long time before finally calming down.

"Let's pause for now and figure out what he's trying to do."

Panic and uncertainty spread like a plague within Huayi's senior management.

They had just suffered a setback in terms of public opinion and resource blockade, and before they could fully adjust their strategies, Shen Mo directly used the most direct and ruthless capital methods to bring the flames of war to their doorstep.

They even gained access to their homes and became "one of their own" whom they had to face.

This move of "raising the pawn" completely disrupted Huayi's plans.

Shen Mo used real money and the shackles of rules to forcibly bind Hua Yi and himself together, putting Wang Zhonglei in a dilemma where he had to be cautious and unable to move forward or backward.

It wasn't until this moment that people in the entertainment industry finally realized that Shen Mo was a pure financial capitalist, and being an actor was just a superficial identity.

This also made everyone realize that the war between Mohen and Huayi has escalated from an undercurrent of competition in the entertainment industry to a close-quarters battle at the level of capital and equity.

Whether Shen Mo's powerful punch was for making money or to seize the initiative by replacing defense with offense, a big seed of doubt was planted in everyone's mind.

However, this serves as a reminder to other potential rivals in the industry, prompting them to consider whether they can withstand their enemy suddenly sitting in their shareholder seats.