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

Tian Xiwei recalled watching "Your Wedding" in her previous life and crying her eyes out in the movie theater.

At that time, she didn't know who the director of the movie was. She just thought it was really well made. The details, the emotions, and the breathtaking moments were all so real.

Later I learned that the director's name was Han Tian, ​​a director who was famous for making youth films. He was recognized in the industry as a "detail-oriented person who is extremely picky about emotional details," demanding of actors, and highly valuing the professionalism of the production team.

In his previous life, he was able to make this film well because the investor was Fiber Optic Pictures, which had a professional team supporting it. The investors were large companies, the producers were experienced, and the distribution channels were mature. Everything was readily available.

But now, there's nothing.

Dawn is a new company that has only been established for three days. She is a rookie producer who has just turned eighteen, and the actors are two newcomers who have never acted in a movie before.

From her own perspective, she could almost guarantee that she would replicate every detail exactly as it was on the original.

However, from Han Tian's perspective, it's normal to refuse.

Who would entrust a movie to a group of children?

She took a deep breath and suppressed her agitation.

While I was lying in bed, Xu Yinuo called again, this time a little more cheerfully.

"Mr. Tian, ​​Director Han has agreed to talk again."

"He said he has some free time near the Beijing Film Academy tomorrow morning, and we can meet. But he said he doesn't have much time, maybe half an hour at most."

That's enough.

The next day, before dawn, Tian Xiwei was woken up by her alarm clock; her phone screen showed 6:30.

She reached out and turned off the alarm clock, lay on the bed for a few seconds, then turned over and sat up.

The sky outside the window was still gray. She sat on the edge of the bed, barefoot on the carpet, and stared blankly for a few seconds.

After washing up, she walked to the wardrobe. Three suits—a black suit, a dark blue suit, and a light gray suit—were hanging on the outside. She had chosen them the night before.

She stood in front of the mirror, first putting on the dark blue outfit, but it was too old-fashioned, so she took it off and changed into the light gray one, but it was too soft and didn't suit her, so she took that off too.

Finally, I put on the black outfit, which had a clean cut, straight shoulders, and a perfectly fitted waist.

The person in the mirror looks quite presentable, capable and professional.

He picked up the bag on the table, which contained the script and project proposal for "Your Wedding".

She read the script again last night, and it was covered with annotations, densely packed.

She wrote the proposal herself, revising it seven times, repeatedly confirming every detail from layout to wording.

After all, in her previous life, she had made PowerPoint presentations to ask directors for roles. While making this proposal, she felt as if she had returned to that time when she was unknown.

When she went downstairs, her assistant Chengcheng was already waiting. She followed her out of Mohen, holding a cup of coffee. When she saw Tian Xiwei come out, she quickly went to greet her.

"Good morning, Mr. Tian."

"morning."

Chengcheng opened the car door, Tian Xiwei got in, put her bag down beside her, started the car, drove out of the parking lot, and merged into the sparse traffic of the early morning.

Chengcheng glanced at her in the rearview mirror and cautiously asked, "Ms. Tian, ​​have you had breakfast?"

She had been following Tian Xiwei for over a year, and Tian Xiwei had always given her the impression of being a carefree young woman. However, in the past few weeks, Tian Xiwei had become increasingly unfamiliar and had a stronger presence, to the point that she no longer dared to call her Weiwei and could only address her as President Tian.

I'm not hungry.

"Would you like something to drink?"

"Need not."

Chengcheng shut up and focused on driving.

Bored while sitting in the car, Tian Xiwei took out her phone and, as usual, opened Weibo to check today's trending topics.

But when the first trending topic popped into her eyes, her brows furrowed immediately, and she almost thought she was seeing things.

#Tian Xiwei Leaves Inkmark#

Her finger hovered above the screen, as if frozen.

Then the second one: #Tian Xiwei's Betrayal#

Article 3: #ChenxiMedia#

The three trending topics were neatly arranged in the top three of the list.

She clicked on it, and the top trending Weibo post was from a marketing account with a million followers, and the wording was extremely sharp.

According to sources, Tian Xiwei has recently terminated her contract with Mohen Capital and taken away several scripts from two of its artists.

Mohen single-handedly made her famous, from "A Little Reunion" to "Take My Brother Away," she was showered with resources.

He just turned eighteen and went solo, and even stole things along the way.

Calling him an ingrate wouldn't be an exaggeration.

The news breaking during the morning rush hour caused a frenzy in the comments section among onlookers and fans.

[Verified! Ungrateful wretch.]

[Want to be a boss like Shen Mo? At least Shen Mo didn't start working until after graduating from university. You're only 18 and you want to go solo? Are you kidding me?]

Without Mohen, she is nothing!

[I heard they also took away Mohen's script and artists. Isn't that like raiding their base?]

[If Mohen hadn't offered her the role of Fang Duoduo, could she have played it? Not only did she leave, but she also poached other actresses and took the script. Tsk tsk tsk, impressive!]

[Just because Mohen praised them, they actually think they have the ability!]

[Just waiting for her to slink away in defeat!]

The comments section refreshed incredibly fast; the onlookers clearly weren't afraid of anything going on.

She slid down, letting out a soft chuckle.

From the moment she decided to leave Mohen, this was destined to happen.

Unless she's willing to let Mohen publicly announce that Chenxi is a subsidiary or branch of Mohen, but if she were willing to do that, why would she run off on her own?

Therefore, he'll probably have to bear the label of traitor for a while.

Until his own movie was released, he silenced all doubters with its success.

Chengcheng glanced at her in the rearview mirror and asked cautiously, "President Tian, ​​what's wrong?"

"It's okay." She placed her phone face down on her lap and took a deep breath.

However, even though she had expected it, her heart still raced when she actually saw these comments.

She picked up her phone again and went into her own hashtag.

Why did Xiaotian leave Mohen?

Did you and Shen Mo have a falling out?

I don't believe it; there must be some misunderstanding.

What she did was really unfair... Mohen was really good to her.

[The person upstairs is probably a fan of another group pretending to be someone else!]

Can't we just trust Xiaotian? She must have her reasons for terminating the contract!

[Don't you want to see Xiao Tian'er's career develop better? Being a small-time actor is nowhere near as good as being your own boss!]

Tian Xiwei turned off her phone, took out the plan, flipped to the pages she had marked with a highlighter, and read it again.

Instead of worrying about online opinions, we should focus on preparation. As long as the movie is well-made, everything else will be fine.

Although she is not a professional producer and has never made a movie, she has produced quite a few TV series, so she is familiar with the basic business and processes of a producer.

Today's meeting is very important. She has staked everything on these two movies. If she can't reach an agreement with the directors, the whole thing will fall apart from the start.

If she were to change directors, she really didn't know who would be suitable, or whether she could achieve the same level of success as in her previous life.

If that's the case, and he slunk back to Mohen, even more people will probably laugh at him.

She closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, her expression had returned to calm.

She needs to win over Han Tian first.

We'll talk about the rest later.

Han Tian arranged to meet his graduate advisor at eight o'clock at a coffee shop next to the Beijing Film Academy, as he was also there to visit him and didn't want to waste too much time.

This cafe has been open for many years. The decor is old-fashioned American style, with wooden tables and chairs, dim lighting, and a row of black and white photos hanging on the wall, including many photos of past stars from the Beijing Film Academy.

The air was filled with the warm, comforting aroma of coffee beans and toasted bread.

As Tian Xi pushed the door open, the bell at the door rang.

Several tables of guests looked up and their eyes fell on her face. After all, it was rare for a woman in a suit to appear at the entrance of the Beijing Film Academy. In less than a second, someone recognized her.

A girl with her hair in a bun opened her mouth, quickly stood up from her seat, holding her phone in her hand, her face showing uncertain surprise.

"Excuse me... are you Tian Xiwei?"

Tian Xiwei took off her mask, her lips curving slightly to reveal a standard polite smile.

"Hello there."

The girl's eyes lit up instantly: "It really is you! Can I take a picture with you?"

"sure."

The girl quickly raised her phone, moved closer to Tian Xiwei, and made a peace sign.

With a "click," the photo was taken. She looked down at it, and her smile became even brighter.

"Thank you, thank you! I knew I'd run into celebrities here. I really love your portrayal of Fang Duoduo!"

Tian Xi smiled and nodded: "Thank you."

Two girls at the next table also stood up and quietly asked if they could take a photo together.

She agreed to each one, smiling, standing, and making similar hand gestures, taking one picture after another.

When taking photos, her gaze went over the heads of the crowd and landed on the innermost corner of the cafe.

Han Tian sat there, wearing a dark blue jacket, with a half-finished Americano in front of him.

But Tian Xiwei knew he must have noticed them. Their eyes met briefly in the air, though they were separated by half a coffee shop.

She nodded slightly, but Han Tian did not respond and continued to look down at his phone.

Tian Xiwei withdrew her gaze and smiled at the last girl in the group photo.

"Excuse me, I have something to attend to."

The girl quickly stepped aside: "Okay, okay, I won't bother you anymore."

Tian Xi turned slightly and walked towards the corner.

The girls who were happily taking photos with her just moments ago are now pointing at her and discussing the trending topics online.

Tian Xiwei pulled out a chair and sat down, placing her bag on the seat next to her. "Hello, Director Han, I'm Tian Xiwei from Chenxi Media."

Han Tian put down his phone, looked up at her, and said, "Hello, Ms. Tian."

Without any small talk, preamble, or formalities, Tian Xiwei opened her bag, took out the script and project proposal, and neatly arranged them on the table. Then she looked up and met Han Tian's eyes.

"Director Han, I would like to ask you to direct 'Your Wedding'."

Han Tian glanced down at the script on the table but didn't reach for it.

"Mr. Tian, ​​Ms. Xu from your company spoke with me before. The script is good; it's a script by Mohen, so the quality should be guaranteed."

He paused, shifting his gaze from the script to Tian Xiwei's face. "But please forgive me, I don't really want to take this role."

As expected, Tian Xiwei's expression remained unchanged. "Director Han, if you have any concerns, please feel free to speak up, and we will find a way to resolve them."

Han Tian leaned back in his chair, picked up his coffee and took a sip, as if he was organizing his thoughts or hesitating whether to be too blunt.

"Mr. Tian, ​​how old are you this year?"

Tian Xi paused for a moment, then said, "Eighteen."

Han Tian nodded. "Eighteen years old, what a wonderful age!"

"Morning Light Media was established for only three days and it already planned to make a movie. According to Ms. Xu, the investment is at least 50 million yuan, and the script is from Mohen. I believe all of that."

"It is indeed very tempting, after all, Mr. Li's notebooks are recognized as good in the industry."

"But if it's a really good script, how could Mohen allow others to film it? You know, Mohen has always kept these things under his control."

"On the other hand, you terminated your contract and left Mohen to start this company. Although I don't know what conflict you have with Mohen, we are in a very sensitive situation right now, and I don't really want to get involved for the time being."

After all, if there really was a conflict, and Tian Xiwei had obtained these two scripts through some unknown means, if he rashly took them over, he might offend Mohen. He didn't want to be an accomplice of a traitor; that wasn't what he wanted.

He paused for a moment and looked at Tian Xiwei.

"Besides, Dawn is, after all, a new company. Although you are famous, you are too young as a producer."

"Making movies isn't just about having money."

Han Tian spoke calmly, as if he were giving a lesson to a student.

"Building teams for directors, cinematographers, prop masters, lighting designers, art directors, and post-production requires connections and experience."

"Do you know which photography team has a suitable style? How far in advance should you book a good director of photography?"

"Do you know how much time can be wasted in a day if the lighting and art departments don't coordinate well?"

"Do you know what happens when the director and producer argue during post-production editing? Who gets to decide?"

Tian Xi paused for a second, then smiled slightly, "That's why we need a director like you to join us."

Han Tian smiled as well, "President Tian, ​​I'm not making excuses."

"I'm saying this because I don't want to waste my time."

"Besides these."

His tone hardened. "I would rather spend time and effort making a movie only to find that it can't even get into theaters because of distribution, marketing, or scheduling issues."

"I've seen this kind of thing too many times. New company, new producer, new actors—it's too risky for a movie."

Tian Xiwei's fingers tightened slightly. "Name your price, we can afford it."

Han Tian looked at her, the corners of his mouth curving into a deeper smile. There was no mockery, but rather a hint of regret. "It's not about the money."

"Mr. Tian, ​​if you were to act in it yourself, I might consider it. After all, you are a brand name yourself, and that brand name can solve many of these problems."

"But Zhang Ruonan only has one supporting role in a TV series; she can't carry the whole show."

Tian Xi nodded slightly. "I understand your thoughts, but I'm not suitable for this role. Zhang Ruonan is more suitable."

"Furthermore, we have many ideas and plans for this film; you might want to listen to them."

Han Tian glanced at the time on his phone, shook his head, and slowly stood up.

"Mr. Tian, ​​the reason I agreed to meet with Ms. Xu is because I didn't want to disappoint you for your repeated invitations, but I really don't want to accept this offer."

"I need to visit my teacher this morning, so I won't take up any more of your time."

After saying that, he nodded and turned to leave.

"Director Han—"

Han Tian stopped and looked back at her.

Tian Xiwei stood up and handed the script and proposal to Han Tian, ​​then opened her mouth, "Why don't you take a look at the details and consider it?"

Han Tian nodded, turned and left.

The bell at the door rang again, and then the café fell silent again.

Tian Xiwei sat in the corner, looking at the empty seats opposite her.

There were two cups of coffee on the table. She hadn't touched the latte she ordered since she sat down.

She chuckled softly, shook her head, picked up her latte, and took a sip.

It's so bitter. I ordered a latte, which should be sweet, but all I taste on my tongue is bitterness and astringency.

She stepped out of the coffee shop, the sunlight outside was so bright that she squinted.

Chengcheng's car was parked on the side of the road. Seeing her come out, she quickly got out and ran over. "President Tian, ​​why are you out so soon? How did it go?"

Tian Xi looked at her, a slight smile curving her lips. "Not bad."

That evening, Zhang Ruonan sat on the bed with the script of "Your Wedding" spread out on her lap and her phone in her hand.

She's been staring at this page of the script for almost twenty minutes, without reading a single word.

The screen showed her chat box with Shen Mo.

Remembering what Xu Yinuo had told her today, she hesitated for a long time before starting to type.

[President Shen, President Tian met with Director Han Tian today.]

She was rejected, but she acted completely normally; you couldn't tell at all.

After sending it, she stared at the screen, her heart beating a little faster than usual.

Shen Mo's reply came quickly: 【I understand.】

Zhang Ruonan's fingers paused for a moment. She had thought Shen Mo would ask more questions, but his answer was simple, as if he were talking about something completely unsurprising.

She typed another line: "[Would you like me to go and comfort Mr. Tian for you?]"

This time, Shen Mo replied a little slower, about ten seconds later.

No need, just focus on preparing your role.

As Zhang Ruonan looked at these words, an indescribable feeling welled up inside her.

【it is good. 】

She had just placed her phone next to her pillow when another message notification popped up.

If she's in a bad mood, spend more time with her; she's very sensitive.

Upon seeing this reply, Zhang Ruonan's lips suddenly curled up, and she quickly opened the chat box.

【receive! 】

[Mission guaranteed to be completed!]

After posting, she couldn't sleep, so she opened her Moments and unexpectedly found a photo that Shen Mo had posted a minute earlier.

The photo shows a cup of milk tea with a bold strawberry cheese filling, and water droplets clinging to the cup.

Bai Lu commented below: 【Brother Mo, I want to drink it too!】

And Meng Ziyi's: 【I want an iced Americano!】

And Li Lin's comment: "Drinking an iced Americano so late at night? Are you crazy?!"

There are also many messages from celebrity friends added during the ink-stained period.

However, Zhang Ruonan did not see Tian Xiwei.

Could it be true, as the rumors suggest, that they've fallen out?

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It's the beginning of the month, so as usual, I'm asking for your monthly votes!

However, there are double monthly passes at the end of this month. If you can hold back, you can give them to me at the end of the month!

If you can't hold back and want to submit yours, feel free to give it to me! Hehe, thanks!

Don't get lost while following the story; bookmark it and read "The Shura Field of Chinese Entertainment: All the Young Actresses Want to Rise to the Top" anytime.