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

In the last week of October, Mohen Animation officially announced a piece of news.

The first animated film produced by its team, "Monkey King: Hero Is Back," is scheduled for release during the Lunar New Year holiday, on November 30th nationwide.

In the official poster, Sun Wukong, wearing a tattered red robe, sits alone atop a cliff, with a blazing sunset behind him.

A line of small print at the bottom of the poster reads: "This winter, the Monkey King returns."

The poster's design style is unlike any other domestic animated film before. It lacks childish, rounded lines and bright, glaring colors, instead conveying a sense of weighty, age-old texture.

After the release date was set, related press releases began to appear online.

The marketing direction is clear: "Domestic animated film for all ages".

The press release repeatedly emphasized that this is not an animated film just for children, but a work that can move adults sitting in the movie theater as well.

However, the market's reaction was colder than the north wind in winter, and in the comments section, doubts surged like a tide.

[Can't Inkhen just focus on making his own movies? Why does he have to burn money on animation? Is that something he can handle?]

This comment was pushed to the top, and the number of likes quickly exceeded 50,000.

[Does Shen Mo really think he can succeed smoothly in any industry?]

Aside from "Boonie Bears" and "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf," I haven't seen any other domestically produced animated films that have made money.

Which Hollywood animated film doesn't take years and hundreds of millions of dollars to make? Would Inkhen dare to say how much he spent? Are you trying to fool kids?

[Mohen is getting too cocky! He's made a few profitable movies and now he thinks he's Disney?]

To be honest, the poster looks alright, but for domestic animation, trailers and the actual film are never the same thing.

Do you even know what "all ages" means?

Is this going to be another "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" or "Boonie Bears" movie? Do you expect us adults to watch this?

[Mohen should go back to filming idol dramas; that's what you guys are good at.]

The criticism was overwhelming, with negative comments about "Monkey King: Hero Is Back" appearing in almost every corner, from Weibo to WeChat official accounts.

An industry insider made a subtle statement during an interview.

"The audience base for domestic animated films is not mature enough. The concept of appealing to all ages works in Hollywood, but it will take time to cultivate in China."

Furthermore, some competitors were speaking to them behind their backs.

"Mohen is probably going to suffer a major setback this time. Animated films are a bottomless pit; no matter how much you invest, you lose money. It's better during the Spring Festival season, at least there are parents taking their children to see them. During the Lunar New Year season, children are in school during the day, and no parents are willing to take them to the movies at night."

Even some film critics who have always been optimistic about Mohen have begun to waver.

"Mohen's achievements in live-action films are undeniable, but animation is a different field. Shen Mo has taken this step a bit too hastily."

On the internet, a well-known film critic with millions of followers posted a long Weibo post titled: "Monkey King: Hero Is Back? I think it's Monkey King who flopped."

The article states, "It's not that I don't have a positive outlook on Mohen, it's that I don't have a positive outlook on the domestic animated film genre."

"This market has never proven itself to be capable of representing the term 'all ages'."

"Parents take their children to the cinema for only two reasons: the IP (intellectual property) and the price."

"The reason why 'Boonie Bears' and 'Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf' can make money is because they have an audience base built up by TV animation, and they can directly use the modeling of TV animation, so the production cost is low."

"But Mohen spent several years and tens of millions of dollars to make an animation without an audience base. Although we are all familiar with 'Journey to the West,' precisely because we are familiar with it, we have no sense of anticipation."

"This isn't making a movie, it's gambling, and the likely outcome is a loss."

This Weibo post was forwarded tens of thousands of times, and the comments section was filled with agreement.

In the office of Mohen Animation, Wang Jing sat in front of her computer, the screen filled with these comments.

She looked at each one one by one, her brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

The animation director leaned over cautiously and asked, "Mr. Wang, should we respond?"

Wang Jing was silent for a few seconds, then shook her head. "No need."

She closed the webpage, opened her work document, and decided to let her work speak for itself.

Her voice was calm, but her fingers tightened slightly as she gripped the mouse.

In Shen Mo's office, he was also reading these comments.

But his expression was calm, even with a slight smile.

"You'll be proven wrong when the movie is released."

Chengcheng knocked on the door of Tian Xiwei's office at Chenxi Media.

"Mr. Tian, ​​will you be attending the premiere of 'Monkey King: Hero Is Back'?"

Tian Xiwei looked up from behind the computer screen and took the invitation. It was a familiar invitation format: plain white background with gold lettering.

She casually placed it on the table, her tone nonchalant, "Why not go?"

In the entertainment industry, you're bound to run into each other all the time. With Mohen's current scale, it's impossible to avoid them. He just wants to go solo and prove himself; they're not enemies who want to cut ties and never see each other again.

After a moment of contemplation, Tian Xi decided to bring Zhang Ruonan and Zhou Ye along as well.

The reason for taking Zhang Ruonan is very simple.

After Han Tian signed a contract to direct the film, "Your Wedding" has officially started filming, and Zhang Ruonan, as the female lead, needs to be revealed.

This kind of occasion, with many reporters, media outlets, and industry insiders, presents an excellent opportunity to make a public appearance.

As for Zhou Ye, Tian Xi's lips curved slightly. She had already brought Zhang Ruonan, so she didn't mind bringing one more, otherwise the little girl might have a grudge.

Moreover, if she were to run into Bai Lu and Meng Ziyi there, and those two girls didn't care about the occasion and started causing trouble for her, it would indeed be a bit troublesome for her to handle it alone.

It's not that I'm afraid, it's that I don't want to personally confront them. The ones I should be facing are at the level of Li Yitong.

As for Bai Lu and Meng Ziyi, Zhang Ruonan and Zhou Ye can handle it for me.

She picked up her phone and sent a message in the group chat.

[You two are coming with me to the premiere of "Monkey King: Hero Is Back" tomorrow night. Oh, and dress nicely, but don't be too flashy and steal the spotlight from the organizers.]

Zhang Ruonan replied instantly: [Received, President Tian!]

Zhou Ye replied after about ten seconds: 【Me too?】

Tian Xiwei: [Don't want to go?]

Zhou Ye: [I want to go!!!]

The string of exclamation marks that followed conveyed a palpable sense of excitement, even through the screen.

September 11, evening.

Winters in the capital city get dark early; by six o'clock, it's already completely dark.

But the entrance to the Imperial City Cinema was brightly lit, with a huge poster of "Monkey King: Hero Is Back" hanging from the rooftop, and Sun Wukong's red robe fluttering in the lights like a burning flag.

The red carpet was packed with media and fans, with rows and rows of cameras and flashes that illuminated the night sky.

The backstage area of ​​the premiere was even more lively than the front hall.

Wang Changtian of Enlight Media, dressed in a dark blue suit, stood next to the sofa in the rest area.

"Mr. Shen, this film is quite good."

Wang Changtian's tone carried a hint of emotion.

"To be honest, I was a little hesitant when you first approached me about co-producing a film."

"Domestic animation... as you know, the market has never really taken off."

Shen Mo leaned back on the sofa armrest, a slight smile playing on his lips. "And now?"

Wang Changtian laughed and shook his head: "Now I realize that I lacked foresight."

He paused, looking intently at Shen Mo, "Now I have even more confidence in the prospects of our collaboration, 'Big Fish & Begonia'."

Sun Zhonghuai from Tencent Pictures walked over and raised an eyebrow.

"Mr. Wang, isn't that a bit premature? The box office figures aren't even out yet."

Wang Changtian glanced at him: "Mr. Sun doesn't believe me?"

Sun Zhonghuai smiled but didn't answer directly. He turned to Shen Mo and said, "Of course I trust President Shen's judgment. Otherwise, I wouldn't have invested in this film in the first place."

"But!" He paused, his tone becoming serious.

"The domestic market has never validated the genre of animated films for all ages. It's not that I don't believe in 'Monkey King: Hero Is Back,' it's that I don't believe in the market."

Shen Mo said casually, "Then let it prove it."

On the other side of the rest area, Li Yitong was being chased and beaten by Yang Mi.

"Li Yitong, you stop right there!"

Yang Mi, wearing a light yellow T-shirt and denim shorts, and ten-centimeter high heels, chased after Li Yitong, reaching out to tickle her.

Li Yitong laughed so hard she almost fell over, dodging and crawling behind the sofa.

"I'm just stating the facts! Why are you running away!"

"Facts my foot!"

Yang Mi finally caught her and started tickling Li Yitong's waist with both hands. Li Yitong laughed so hard she couldn't stand up straight and kept begging for mercy.

"I was wrong, I was wrong, Honey!"

Yang Mi then stopped, put her hands on her hips, and glared at her, panting.

"I'll teach you to talk nonsense again."

Li Yitong straightened her disheveled clothes, her crescent-shaped eyes full of smiles.

"How did I say anything wrong?"

"The first three 'Tiny Times' movies together grossed 1.2 billion yuan, making you a true 1 billion yuan box office heroine. If 'Tiny Times 4' does well, you could even reach 2 billion yuan."

Yang Mi rolled her eyes and flicked her forehead.

"You're just teasing me. All my combined box office earnings don't even equal your single 'Monster Hunt' movie. A single film broke 2 billion, and you're telling me this?"

Li Yitong covered her forehead and hissed, but she couldn't suppress the smile on her lips.

"That's just good luck."

"Lucky?" Yang Mi rolled her eyes at her. "Why don't you say I'm lucky?"

The two looked at each other and smiled at the same time.

After laughing, Yang Mi's expression became a little serious, and she lowered her voice.

"By the way, Yitong, I've basically thought through what you analyzed for me last time. When can I talk to your Shen Mo about it in detail?"

Li Yitong thought for a moment, then smiled slightly. "Okay, tomorrow will do."

Yang Mi nodded, "Okay!"

At the other end of the corridor, Tian Xiwei was walking towards the rest area, her steps were quick and efficient, and she exuded a powerful aura.

Following behind were two people: Zhang Ruonan, wearing a white Chanel-style top and a plaid skirt, and Zhou Ye, wearing a plaid top and a black skirt. One was as gentle as tea, and the other as cold as a knife; they complemented each other perfectly.

As the three of them turned into the lounge, they bumped into Bai Lu and Meng Ziyi. Bai Lu was wearing a black dress, while Meng Ziyi wore a black short skirt with a leather jacket. The combination of innocence and coolness created a strong visual impact.

The air seemed to freeze instantly. Bai Lu's gaze lingered on Tian Xiwei's face for a second, and then a half-smile slowly spread across her lips.

"Yo—" she drawled out, with a strange, sarcastic tone.

"Isn't this our General Manager Tian? It's amazing that he's here too."

Tian Xiwei paused for a moment, her gaze sweeping across Bai Lu's face before landing on Meng Ziyi's.

Meng Ziyi crossed her arms over her chest, her chin slightly raised, her expression indifferent.

You can't tell what specific emotions are going on, but there's anger, grievance, and a hint of guilt in those eyes.

Tian Xiwei's lips curved slightly, a very faint smile. "Sister Mengyan, are you trying to kick me out?"

"Get out of here? I wouldn't dare!"

As she said this, Bai Lu took a step forward, "I thought President Tian was so principled that he wouldn't come back after leaving."

Tian Xiwei's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Sister Mengyan is joking. I am indeed quite principled and magnanimous. Personal conflicts do not affect official cooperation."

Bai Lu pursed her lips slightly. When did this little girl become so sharp-tongued?

To say she's magnanimous is just a veiled criticism of my own pettiness, isn't it? To say that personal conflicts don't affect official cooperation is just an implication that I'm being unreasonable, isn't it?

Bai Lu's expression changed slightly, and she was about to speak when Meng Ziyi spoke first.

"Xiao Tian'er." Her voice was neither warm nor cold, but carried a hint of scrutiny. "I hardly recognize the way you're talking now."

Tian Xi turned her head to look at her, the curve of her lips deepening slightly.

"Sister Meng, you're right. I'm still me, I just have Chenxi to manage now."

She paused, her gaze lingering on Meng Ziyi's face for a second.

"As one's status changes, one's way of speaking must also change; otherwise, how can one gain the respect of the masses?"

Meng Ziyi was taken aback, her brows furrowed, and just as she was about to speak, Zhou Ye's voice drifted over from the other side.

"Before, you could call me whatever you wanted and no one would complain, but now you have to call me General Manager Tian."

Meng Ziyi turned her head and met Zhou Ye's gaze.

Zhou Ye stood there, his expression indifferent, his chin slightly raised, his eyes fixed on her without flinching.

She came to the event with her boss, and now that her boss has been criticized, how can she just stand by and do nothing? It's shameless of two people to target one person!

Moreover, Shen Mo had already told her to pay more attention to Tian Xiwei, and they had even become friends. She would definitely listen to what her brother Mo said.

As for the two people in front of him, although they are big stars in Mohen, he is not familiar with them. Besides, he is not necessarily worse off than them in the future.

What are you afraid of? Let's do it!

Meng Ziyi was taken aback by her words. She recognized the person as Mohen, a trainee she had seen at the company, but why was she following behind Tian Xiwei?

"Why are you interrupting us when we're talking?"

"Xiao Ye, watch your voice." A soft, gentle voice came from behind Tian Xiwei. "You should respect your elders."

Meng Ziyi was stunned for a moment, her face flushed red, and her gaze went past Tian Xiwei's shoulder and landed on Zhang Ruonan's face.

Isn't this just implying that she's old? How old could she be? She's only a little over two years older than Tian Xiwei, and she's in the prime of her life.

Bai Lu, unable to bear watching any longer, took another step forward.

"Is this how President Tian manages Chenxi's artists? He hasn't managed them well at all!"

Tian Xiwei's lips curled up slightly, revealing a classic, subtly fake smile. "Sister Mengyan, are you planning to switch jobs and give this a try?"

"you--"

"Yume-yan".

A familiar voice came from the end of the corridor, and everyone turned their heads at the same time.

Shen Mo stood there, wearing a black suit, his lips pursed, his expression indifferent, revealing no emotion.

Li Yitong stood next to him, a helpless smile in her crescent-shaped eyes. "Why are you all standing? The premiere is about to start, come in and sit down."

Bai Lu and Meng Ziyi both shrank back. Shen Mo's gaze swept across their faces, but he didn't say anything. He just slightly raised his chin, indicating that they should go in first.

Bai Lu bit her lip, glanced at Tian Xiwei, turned and left, with Meng Ziyi following behind, her pace much faster than when she arrived.

As Bai Lu passed by Shen Mo, she pouted and whispered, "Brother Mo, I didn't mean to."

"I know," Shen Mo interrupted her. "Let's go inside."

His tone was very soft, but Bai Lu felt an extremely low pressure. She nodded, lowered her head, and walked away.

Meng Ziyi followed behind, glancing at Shen Mo as they passed by, and muttered to herself, "I didn't say anything..."

Shen Mo glanced at her, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "Go inside."

Meng Ziyi pouted and obediently followed Bai Lu.

The corridor fell silent. Tian Xiwei stood there, looking at Shen Mo, and Shen Mo looked back at her. They stared at each other for two seconds without saying a word.

Li Yitong stepped forward, put her arm around Tian Xiwei's shoulder, and said with her crescent-shaped eyes, "Let's go, President Tian, ​​I've arranged a seat for you."

Tian Xiwei withdrew her gaze, a slight smile playing on her lips. "What location?"

"A great spot," Li Yitong said with a mysterious smile. "I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

Tian Xiwei was pulled forward by her without looking back, while Zhang Ruonan and Zhou Ye followed behind and disappeared around the corner.

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