I really didn't intend to make a living based on my looks.

Chapter 112 The Press Conference and Betting Agreement of "My Love from the Star"

The press conference has officially begun.

The host was Li Shen, a leading lady from Yanjing TV, dressed in a bright red suit and skirt, with her signature smile.

Yanjing TV and Wanda Pictures have a long-standing strategic partnership. Li Shen hosted the press conferences for three key Wanda projects last year, earning him the nickname "Wanda's go-to host" in the industry.

"Dear media friends and distinguished guests, today we are here to announce an original drama series."

"The script for 'My Love from the Star' was originally written by Jiang Chen. The first draft was completed in August 2012, and it was registered with the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television in September."

The reporters in the audience paused, their pens poised, and all looked up.

Li Shen glanced at his cue cards and continued, "This story tells of an alien who has lived on Earth for four hundred years and encounters a woman who looks exactly like the girl he saved four hundred years ago. A loneliness that transcends time, a destined encounter, an unspeakable secret—"

She turned her head to look at Jiang Chen: "Teacher Jiang, how did you come up with this story in the first place?"

Jiang Chen took the microphone. "In 2011, I was filming 'Swords of Legends' in Hengdian. I would finish work early in the evenings and write. At that time, I always wondered, what would it feel like if someone lived a long life, saw many things, but couldn't hold onto anything?"

"Then I thought, maybe he will meet someone. That person doesn't have to do anything, just appearing will make him feel that his four hundred years of life have not been in vain."

There was a moment of silence in the audience, then the sound of camera shutters exploded.

Lin Yufen took the microphone: "Last year, Jiang Chen sent me the script. After reading it the first time, I called him and said that the story was very lonely and very romantic."

He said, "Yes, it's loneliness. I've lived for four hundred years, seen everything, and held onto nothing, until I met someone."

""

She glanced at Jiang Chen and said in a relaxed tone, "I thought to myself, this kid is only in his early twenties, how can he write about loneliness so clearly? But after meeting him, I realized that he really does think more deeply than his peers."

Chen Zhixi picked up the conversation and continued, "The script is very well designed. The male lead is set to come to Earth during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. Jiang Chen's reasoning is that the clothing aesthetics, etiquette system, and cultural depth of the Ming Dynasty can better support a time span of four hundred years, and the audience can also feel more immersed in it."

She glanced at Jing Tian, ​​a smile playing on her lips: "The reason the female lead is set as a top actress is because Jiang Chen said that only someone who has truly experienced the world of fame and fortune can portray the feeling of someone who seems to lack nothing on the surface but is terribly lonely at heart. As soon as Jing Tian heard that, he said he wanted to give it a try."

Jing Tian lowered his head and adjusted his fox fur shawl, without replying.

She actually really wanted to explain to the media that the script was written specifically for her by her junior!

Tailor-made!

But—never mind—

Too high-profile —

The Q&A session with the media has begun.

"Mr. Chen Zhixi," a bespectacled male reporter stood up, "Lost in Thailand just broke box office records. As the producer, why did you choose to take on a television series?"

Chen Zhixi smiled: "Because the script Jiang Chen brought showed me another possibility. Television dramas offer a larger narrative space and more complete character arcs. And—"

She glanced at Jiang Chen. "Someone presented me with a story I couldn't refuse."

Can you disclose the size of the investment?

"The total investment is 100 million RMB." She blinked. "For specific allocation details, ask our investors."

"Ms. Jing Tian," a female reporter stood up, "you've primarily focused on film roles before. Does this shift to television dramas signify a major adjustment in your career plans?"

Jing Tian took the microphone, "First, let me correct a misunderstanding: I don't just make movies. In the second quarter of this year, I also made *The Great Biography of Sun Tzu*."

It will air on Jiangsu TV. "As long as there's a suitable script, a suitable team, and a suitable role, I'll take the job."

She glanced at Jiang Chen, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Besides, this role is very interesting. A top actress meets a mysterious man at the peak of her career. This kind of setup is different from any of my previous roles. When Jiang Chen was writing the script, he said that this character is outwardly proud but inwardly lonely. I want to try and see if I can portray that kind of depth."

The previous interviews were all normal, until a male reporter stood up.

"Mr. Jiang Chen, I heard that your fee for this episode is one million yuan. Is that true?"

The entire room fell silent.

The shutter clicks stopped, the scratching of the pen stopped.

Everyone was staring at Jiang Chen.

One million episodes.

What does 2013 mean?

The topic of actors' salaries dates back to around 04.

Previously, the main producers of TV dramas were CCTV, local TV stations, and state-owned production studios. They did not rely on selling dramas to make money, and actors' salaries were strictly controlled.

After 2004, private capital such as Huayi, Hairun, and Tangren entered the market in full force, and satellite TV stations began to "buy dramas and compete for ratings." Capital is profit-driven and is willing to spend money to increase actors' salaries.

At that time, the highest-paid actors in China for TV dramas were Chen Daomin and Xiao Yanzi, with 10 yuan per episode being an astronomical sum.

In 2008, Li Youbin, who became a sensation with "Bright Sword", raised the price per episode to 15 yuan, making many investors tremble with fear.

After 2008, the salaries of TV drama actors skyrocketed like a flood.

In 2010, Hai Qing and others earned a record price of over 30 yuan per episode.

By 2012, male and female stars, represented by Sun Honglei and Yao Cheng, had raised their per-episode fees to 60 and 40 respectively.

Million.

The rumor that Jiang Chen is spreading this time is that it costs one million per episode!

What is this?

This is an astronomical price.

It's an exorbitant price that breaks industry rules!

Jiang Chen held the microphone, his expression calm, and glanced at the group of reporters below the stage who seemed eager to stir up trouble.

What's there to get excited about!

How much is the pay for this?

"One million," he denied, "that's inaccurate."

The reporters' pupils constricted.

Inaccurate?

Is it too low?

Is it still too high?

Everyone instinctively leaned forward, and the sound of camera shutters clicked rapidly again, instantly tensing the atmosphere.

Just as everyone held their breath in anticipation, Sun Zhonghuai chuckled, took the microphone, and calmly accepted all the attention to make the official announcement.

"Since everyone is so curious, I will officially disclose the contract terms of the main creators of 'My Love from the Star'."

"Teacher Jiang Chen, the original screenwriter and core male lead of this drama, receives a script fee of 1.2 million RMB per episode."

"The rumored one million is indeed an understatement."

boom!!!

The entire venue erupted instantly!

"One million two hundred thousand?"

"Is he crazy?"

"This industry is doomed!"

Sun Zhonghuai placed the microphone on the table, looked at Brother Song, and said with a smile, "Mr. Song, would you like to say a few words?"

Brother Song took the microphone.

"Don't think this is an exaggeration. With a total investment of 100 million, we are willing to give the best treatment to Teacher Jiang, who is the soul of the entire series. This price is the result of joint discussions among Wanda, the investors, and the entire project team."

The audience erupted in uproar.

Lin Yufen turned her head to look at the calm and composed young man beside her, her eyes filled with amazement.

A faint smile also appeared on Jing Tian's lips.

He deserves it.

It was worth it far more than anyone expected.

Whether it's the concert or this cross-industry marketing campaign, Jiang Chen's ultimate goal is to increase his own leverage and secure greater profits for the drama!

My Love from the Star!

This is an absolute bestseller!

He will certainly try his best to secure the greatest possible benefit for himself.

After multiple rounds of negotiations, Jiang Chen, Wanda, and Tencent finally reached an agreement that seemed insane to outsiders!

Let's talk about this drama first. The original version has 21 episodes, but the standard production time for Korean dramas is 60 minutes per episode, while the standard time for our domestic dramas is 45 minutes per episode.

Converted, it's 28 episodes. Jiang Chen added some content to the script, so it's 30 episodes in total!

He mentioned that his final salary was 100 million per episode, which is 3000 million!

In addition, he was the only original screenwriter for this series, and was paid 200,000 yuan per episode, which is equivalent to 6 million yuan for 30 episodes.

The actor's salary plus the screenwriter's fee totaled 36 million.

The total investment for the entire series was publicly stated to be 100 million yuan.

In other words, Jiang Chen's remuneration alone accounted for 36 percent of the total investment.

Any actor would cling to this fixed remuneration.

Whether the show becomes a hit or not, these 36 million are all dead money that's already in our pockets.

But Jiang Chen was definitely not happy about it.

He voluntarily gave up his fixed salary of 36 million and instead signed an extremely demanding but fair betting agreement with Wanda and Tencent.

The rules are simple, and they are divided into three levels.

First, if this drama flops, the investors won't even get their money back, and Jiang Chen won't get a penny of his salary, meaning he'll have worked for nothing.

Secondly, even if the series receives a lukewarm reception, all revenue will be prioritized for Wanda and Tencent until the two investors fully recover their actual investment of 64 million yuan in cash.

Before this, Jiang Chen still couldn't get his pay.

Third, if a show becomes a huge hit, then the algorithm will be different!

The total revenue will be returned to Wanda and Tencent in cash for the first time, and then Jiang Chen's 36 million yuan reward will be returned.

Once all three companies have recouped their costs, Jiang Chen will take 40% of every penny of profit thereafter, while Wanda and Tencent will split the remaining 60%!

The show flopped, and Jiang Chen is the one who suffered.

The drama fizzled out, and the investors broke even.

Only if the drama becomes a hit can Jiang Chen receive a huge profit far exceeding the original 36 million.

But it was precisely this seemingly unequal agreement that left Wanda and Tencent with no reason to refuse.

They no longer need to pay 36 million in fixed costs in advance, which greatly reduces the risk to their principal.

They can also take a big gamble by leveraging Jiang Chen's popularity and the hit script he brings.

For them, this was a deal that could only make them money.

For Jiang Chen, this is maximizing his profits!

Of course, there is another very important point.

If it's an actor's salary, it will be calculated according to individual income tax, which means 45% needs to be paid.

However, when converted into investment income, it is subject to the business income tax rate or dividend tax rate, which is usually much lower than 45%.

He can still make a lot more money.

This certainly cannot be considered exploiting a loophole. He has tied the project's risks to his returns, borne the consequences of the bet's success or failure, and enjoyed the tax rate on his investment returns. This is a legitimate consideration with risk commensurate with risk.

After the press conference ended, online discussions exploded.

#Jiang Chen's salary is 120 million yuan per episode#

#My Love from the Star invests 100 million#

#Jiang Chen's exorbitant salary#

The battle began simultaneously on four platforms: Weibo, Douban, Tianya, and Zhihu.

Entertainment Weekly published an article in the early hours of the morning titled "120 million per episode, what makes Jiang Chen stand out?"

The article lists the salary increases for TV drama actors over the past five years, from Chen Daomin's 10 yuan to Sun Honglei's 60 yuan, and concludes by questioning: "A popular star who debuted three years ago has seen his salary double that of the industry's top stars. Is this a market phenomenon or a bubble frenzy?"

Southern Metropolis Daily followed up with: "One-third of a 100 million yuan investment goes to the male lead. When will this distorted ecosystem of the film and television industry end?"

The question arises: "Why would investors be willing to invest such a large proportion of their budget in a single actor? Is there any possibility of improper transfer of benefits?"

A thread on Douban's entertainment group asks: "A deep dive into Jiang Chen's salary structure: Did his dual role as screenwriter and lead actor result in a hidden pay increase?"

The original poster analyzed each point: "The screenwriter's fee is 20 yuan per episode, the lead actor's fee is 100 million yuan per episode, and the package price is 120 million yuan. It seems reasonable, but in reality, it's just money being transferred between the two parties. Who is responsible for the quality of the screenwriter?"

Zhihu question: "What do you think of Jiang Chen's 120 million yuan per episode salary?"

A highly-rated answer stated: "In 2012, Yao Chen was criticized for charging 40 yuan per episode, which was considered an exorbitant price. Now, Jiang Chen is charging 120 million yuan. The industry has gone mad."

A post on Tianya Gossip Forum titled "A Marketing Retrospective of Jiang Chen's Team: From Concerts to Press Conferences, a Carefully Designed Deification Campaign" analyzes Jiang Chen's path to breaking into the mainstream, concluding with: "Capital is using hype to kill him, fans are celebrating, and only the industry is footing the bill. Wait until the drama flops, then let's see how he handles it."

The most scathing post came from a well-known music critic on Weibo: "An artist who relies on backing tracks for singing, dubbing for acting, and photo editing for looks, is now a screenwriter, lead actor, and marketer all in one, charging 120 million per episode. This isn't an actor; this is a financial product. I suggest the China Securities Regulatory Commission regulate it."

with full force!

These are basically smear articles bought by various companies in the entertainment industry, meant to smear them to the extreme.

There's no way around it, Jiang Chen is just too popular lately!

This guy is like an unkillable cockroach, the more he fights, the stronger he becomes.

If he isn't killed soon, or if this show becomes another hit, then he'll really be a force to be reckoned with!

But soon they all shut up.

Because capital taught them a lesson.

March 15, 2013, Yanjing, Wanda Sofitel Hotel.

Promotional event for "My Love from the Star".

The banquet hall, originally intended for 300 people, was crammed with more than 400 people.

People were standing in the corridor, and there was a queue at the door. The registration desk was pushed to the side twice.

Mengniu, Yili, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Coca-Cola, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, OPPO, VIVO, Lenovo,

Haier, Estée Lauder, Lancôme, Chow Tai Fook, Casio —

According to rumors, a fight almost broke out that day.

The investment promotion conference ended after four hours.

Chen Zhixi stood on the stage, her hair disheveled, her makeup ruined, and only one of her high heels was left; the other one had been stepped into the gap in the stage by someone.

She held the final statistics sheet in her hand, her hands trembling.

"At this investment promotion conference, 43 brands have reached cooperation agreements for product placement."

"The highest bid came from WeChat, at 1000 million! As a communication tool between men and women, it's a recurring theme throughout the entire series!"

"GG's total revenue is 5380 million RMB."

The news caused an uproar in the entertainment industry.

A TV series has already recouped half of its costs before filming even started!

This is Jiang Chen.

This artist, who was looked down upon in the industry and labeled as a mere "traffic star," is now displaying a terrifyingly powerful appeal.

Ordinary netizens just treat it as entertainment, something new to watch.

However, astute investors and brands have already made their choices.