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

Chapter 115 Amazing Theoretical Knowledge (Two chapters combined, please vote with monthly tickets and recommendations)

March 31, 2013, Westin Beijing Chaoyang Hotel.

At 2 p.m., the hotel was packed with reporters and fans, with rows of cameras and flashes going off one after another, making it hard to open one's eyes.

The Westin's lobby has always been grand, and today it was decorated in a dazzling gold.

The hall was filled with brightly lit flowers and a champagne tower.

The registration area was filled with media gift bags, each bearing the logo of Huanrui Century, containing press releases, artist information, and a meticulously crafted contract signing manual.

"Big stars, big production, grand vision"

Nine large characters were displayed on the backdrop of the main stage!

Backstage in the dressing room, a stylist is touching up Yang Mi's lip makeup.

"Is everyone outside here?"

"Almost there," the assistant said, flipping through the schedule. "Liu Kaiwei has arrived and is resting next door. Tang Yan, Ming Dao, He Chengming, Du Chun, and Jia Nailiang have all arrived. Ruby Lin is still on her way and might miss the opening."

"Um.

"Sister Mi, Sister Zeng asked me to remind you to emphasize your role as a producer when you speak later. The media has already been informed that they will ask you about your studio's plans."

"understood."

Today is a very important day for her.

Her contract with Mei Ya expired at the end of 12, after which she established her own mini studio.

Zeng Jia and Zhao Ruoyao also came out!

Huanrui Century recently launched a new development model "star-led and producer-centered".

In essence, Huanrui wants to transform celebrities from "employees" into "partners." Their studios are affiliated with Huanrui, which provides resources, funding, and distribution channels. In return, the celebrities repay Huanrui with their fame and their work.

This model was a novelty in the industry at the time, and Huanrui wanted to use it to get ahead of its competitors and seize the production rights of top stars.

It can be considered a win-win situation.

The press conference officially began at 2:30 p.m.

The hosts were Xie Nan and Da Zuo. As soon as they came on stage, they heated up the atmosphere with their jokes and banter, making the reporters in the audience laugh continuously.

"Mimi," Xie Nan handed her the microphone, "As the representative of the first batch of signed artists and the studio's producer, what would you like to say on this occasion?"

Yang Mi took the microphone and said, "To be honest, I've been thinking about this plan for a long time."

"Many people ask me why I started my own studio? Do I want to be a powerful businesswoman?"

She smiled and said, "I'm not a superwoman. I just feel that, at a certain stage, the acting profession requires looking at things from a different perspective."

"Before, I only focused on playing the role well. Now I hope to be involved more, from the script to the production, from casting to post-production. I want to use a broader perspective to do something truly good."

Applause erupted from the audience, and the reporters scribbled furiously.

"Well said!" Da Zuo clapped. "So, Mimi, could you tell us what the studio's first project is?"

"The youth urban fashion drama 'Love in the Micro Era' is currently in preparation. We will let everyone know as soon as it is confirmed."

"Does signing this contract today mean that your cooperation with H&R Century Pictures will become deeper?"

"Of course," Yang Mi nodded, "Huanrui has given me a lot of space and support, and I am very grateful. We will work together on more great projects in the future."

The interview lasted for twenty minutes, with questions coming one after another, ranging from studio planning to her love life. Yang Mi handled them with ease and without leaving a trace.

After the press conference, there was a signing ceremony and a group photo session.

Seven artists took turns going on stage, signing their names on the backdrop, then holding up their signing certificates and smiling at the camera.

At 8 p.m., the press conference ended, the banquet ended, the reporters left one after another, and the artists also dispersed.

Yang Mi leaned against the sofa by the French windows in the room. Tang Yan walked over, sat down next to her, and let out a long sigh: "I'm exhausted. I've been wearing these high heels all day, my feet are about to break."

"Who told you to wear such high heels?"

"It makes my legs look longer." Tang Yan kicked off her shoes, sat cross-legged on the sofa, and said, "Honey, your speech today was really good. I was so moved."

"Come on."

"Really," Tang Yan looked at her earnestly, "you've changed so much in the past year. I almost don't recognize you anymore."

Yang Mi didn't reply, but just looked at the night view outside the window.

The night sky over Yanjing was devoid of stars, only the city lights.

"Tangtang," she suddenly spoke, "were you asleep that day?"

Tang Yan paused for a moment, then asked, "Which day?"

"You called me on the day of Ah Chen's concert, and I saw that you hadn't hung up."

Tang Yan blinked, then exclaimed "Ah!" in sudden realization: "Oh—that day. Yeah, I fell asleep."

Yang Mi breathed a sigh of relief.

She was tormented all night, and when the call ended, she found the call screen still lit up, which made her feel terrible.

"However, it seems that Shishi had insomnia that day."

"----ah?"

"I vaguely remember seeing her in bed late at night, making some kind of noises, like—uh-huhs and groans, I don't know what she was doing."

"She had huge dark circles under her eyes the next day. When I asked her why, she said it was nothing, she just hadn't slept well."

Yang Mi: "————"

The two chatted for a while, with Tangtang subtly trying to find out about Jiang Chen.

"You didn't do anything that night, did you?"

2

"Mimi, you're getting older, and your needs are higher, which I understand. But he's still a college student, so you need to be careful and moderate your desires."

"Don't hurt them!"

Yang Mi: "————"

"Are you really my best friend?"

"Yeah, that's why I'm telling you the truth. I wouldn't have said anything to anyone else, who cares if her boyfriend is tired or not."

"I don't have a boyfriend!"

"Oh, right, you haven't gone public," Tang Yan nodded, giving him a knowing look. "Then you need to be even more careful. Secret relationships are inherently exciting, and young people are prone to losing control. You have to think about him—"

Yang Mi began to regret why she had asked Tang Yan to stay and chat with her that night.

"By the way, Mimi," Tang Yan changed the subject, asking in an extremely casual tone, "when are you planning to break up?"

Yang Mi was stunned: "What?"

"Let's break up. Didn't you say that we women should prioritize our careers? That dating is a waste of time, that men are unreliable, and that we should be independent and self-reliant? You said all of that, right?"

"I think you're absolutely right!"

"Candy."

"Um?"

"Are you single and can't stand seeing others happy?"

"I'm just concerned about you!" Tang Yan said righteously. "I'm afraid you'll get too caught up in men and neglect your career. Look, you've just started your own studio, what a great opportunity! You should focus all your energy on your work, how can you let romantic feelings hold you back?"

Yang Mi was completely speechless.

She stood up, walked to Tang Yan, bent down, reached out, grabbed her arm, pulled her off the sofa, and kicked her in the butt.

Go for it!

After her best friend left, she immediately called Jiang Chen.

"Big producer, is your moment in the spotlight over?"

"Glamorous my foot!" Yang Mi slumped onto the bed. "I'm exhausted. I stood all afternoon, smiled all afternoon, my face is stiff."

"Then why did you video call me? Shouldn't you get some rest?"

"I can't sleep. There's too much to do today, and my mind is still racing."

"Switch to what?"

"Forwarded—Forwarded, why didn't you message me today?"

Jiang Chen: "————"

"By the way, is there an actress named Xinjiang in your new drama?"

"Oh, what's this? Our superstar Jiang is so busy, yet she still has time to care about the actors in our little drama crew?"

"Just asking."

"Just asking?" Yang Mi sat up straight, leaned closer to the screen, and narrowed her eyes. "There is one, a junior at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, in the same year as you, and a great beauty."

"Call her Dilraba!"

"You like younger women? How about I arrange for one to be sent to your bed?"

Jiang Chen remained expressionless: "That's not necessarily a bad thing."

97

"Go to hell!"

"Alright, alright, let's get serious."

"You actually have anything serious to say?"

"Yes," Jiang Chen said, his smile fading. "Mimi, sign her."

Yang Mi was stunned for a moment: "What?"

"Dilraba," Jiang Chen repeated, "sign her."

"Don't worry about it," Yang Mi pouted. "Zeng Jia really thinks highly of her and is preparing to sign her through her studio."

"You didn't understand what I meant. It wasn't Zeng Jiaqian who signed, it was you who signed."

Yang Mi frowned: "What do you mean?"

"Mimi, your current affiliation with H&R Century Pictures is probably just a transitional phase. You'll be starting your own company later, right?"

Yang Mi was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Yes, that's the idea. Otherwise, Zeng Jia wouldn't have come out with me."

"Then you should prepare now. In any case, the company must be in our hands, as must the artists' contracts."

Yang Mi didn't say anything, she just looked at him.

"Zeng Jia came out with you. I know she's capable and has connections," Jiang Chen continued. "But capability is one thing, and contracts are assets to whoever holds them. If you let Zeng Jia sign people now, whose contracts will they belong to? The studio, Huanrui, or you, Yang Mi, personally?"

Yang Mi's brows furrowed more and more tightly.

"What are you trying to say?"

"I want to say that you should separate yourself from the company now. Being affiliated with Huanrui is a temporary measure, but your core team..."

Your core artists must be in your own hands. Not in Zeng Jia's hands, not in Huanrui's hands, but in yours.

"You mean—" Yang Mi's voice trailed off, "that we'll fall out with Huanrui?"

"It's not about turning against you, it's about planning ahead. Huanrui is nice to you now because you have value. But value is something you might have today, but not necessarily tomorrow. You can be affiliated with them today, but you can be independent tomorrow. When you're independent, what will you have? How many films? How many artists? How many core team members?"

"Honey, in the entertainment industry, today they call you Teacher Yang, tomorrow they can call you Miss Yang. You need to have your own business, your own team, something that no one can take away from you."

Yang Mi leaned back on the sofa, lost in thought.

She has never been one to settle for the status quo. She accepts what others say about her being realistic and ambitious.

In the entertainment industry, a place of fame and fortune, if you don't have some ambition, do you really think it's just child's play?

Outsiders only see the glamorous public image and the huge profits celebrities make, but those who truly understand the industry know that the most stable people in this circle are never the artists, but their agents who have connections and resources.

Many celebrities want to start their own businesses after they become famous, but in the end, all their efforts are in vain, and their managers end up becoming the real bosses.

There's nothing they can do; their connections, channels, and resources are all in their hands. No matter how famous an artist is, they're just a facade on stage.

"Nadilreba————"

"First, sign her to your personal account and sign her to your contract. Then, if you see any promising talents later, do the same. Once your own company is established, these people will be your first core team."

"Over with Zeng Jia—"

"Use Zeng Jia as needed, and delegate power as appropriate, but you have to keep control of the core assets. You are the boss, and she is the manager; their positions cannot be confused."

"What if she doesn't want to?"

"Then let her leave!"

"But—this way I—"

"You still have me."

Yang Mi remained silent for a long time.

"—When did you start thinking about these things?"

"I've always wanted to say it, but I just didn't. Today you've officially listed, and I feel it's time to say it."

Yang Mi looked at him and suddenly smiled.

That smile contained helplessness, doting affection, and a touch of indescribable complexity.

"Jiang Chen, have you been planning all along to turn me into part of your business empire?"

"Not just a part," Jiang Chen shook his head, "it's all of it."

"."

""

"Trust me, Mimi, I won't let you lose!"

"----I see!"

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Chen was quite emotional.

Jiaxing Media is set to be established next year!

How to put it? This company, the boss Yang Mi led the charge, and was so exhausted she almost vomited blood.

Top performer Reba is not to be outdone; she's so busy she's practically depressed.

But they're all working for their agents now.

Whether it's because there's something to hide, or because they're afraid that scandals involving celebrities might affect the company's stock price on the New Third Board, they had Zhao hold the shares on their behalf.

But in the end, despite using numerous methods, Yang Mi was forced to sell her shares at a low price, leaving her with nothing.

You could say they entrusted the wrong person!

I'd rather work for him.

The production team of "My Love from the Star" filmed at a very fast pace.

The production crew built several interior sets at the Huairou Film and Television Base, mainly for the male and female leads' bedroom and study.

They were busy filming from morning till night.

Chen Zhixi was originally a very anxious person, but she found that Jiang Chen was even more anxious than her. Jiang Chen would voluntarily work overtime every day. He was simply a role model for actors and a workaholic.

-

"Sister Chen, I don't have many hobbies, it's just work." Jiang Chen said righteously.

Mao Xiaotong, listening from the side, felt utterly hopeless.

The most despairing thing in this world is not that others are more outstanding than you, but that those who are more outstanding than you are so stubborn that there is no hope of catching up at all.

Actually, Jiang Chen had no choice.

The production team held a sales conference before the main and supporting actors were even confirmed, just to create hype.

Normally, a TV series can take months or even years from its initial planning to casting and filming, but he doesn't have that kind of time.

He needs to get the show released this summer, and after filming, he still has to do post-production. If he doesn't make it in time...

The Korean version aired at the end of December, but thankfully they only started filming in December, so they filmed and aired simultaneously.

There's enough time.

The filming was rushed, and some supporting roles were completed as filming progressed.

Liu Haochun was recommended by him. The production team had contacted the training class and selected several girls, but they were not very satisfied with any of them.

Before his rebirth, he was watching the drama "The Protagonist" starring Liu Haochun and thought that the girl had a great talent for acting.

Unfortunately, I was reborn after watching only 26 episodes.

Liu Haochun was still somewhat confused after arriving.

She was a 14-year-old girl who studied dance, and she was completely unprepared for her first time joining a film crew.

Jiang Chen gave her a lesson that ignited her passion for art.

The main reason is that she's short of money lately; something happened at home, and she's quite happy to earn some money through her own efforts.

When Lin Yu first met Liu Haochun, he was somewhat dismissive of him.

Is it someone with connections?

She'd seen far too many people being forced into these kinds of roles.

After trying out a scene, she was completely dumbfounded.

This little girl may be a blank slate, but she has a lot of talent.

She felt that he acted much better than Jing Tian.

Jing Tian is also quite troubled.

She is actually very serious about filming. She arrives early every day, holds a script and reads it. She doesn't put on airs. She is just like the kind of student who tries hard to improve but is not capable enough.

But I just can't seem to get into the zone.

Having exhausted all other options, Lin Yufen mysteriously approached Jiang Chen.

"Ah Chen, what do you think of Da Tian Tian?"

"Great."

"Why don't you go and try to woo her?"

"————???"

"Sigh, she's not in the right state of mind. Try to find a way to get her into character."

Lin Yufen sighed, her face serious. "I'm not joking. You two are a couple in the play. If she doesn't have feelings for you, how can the audience believe it when it's filmed? Just help her out, talk to her more, spend more time with her, and try to find that — that feeling."

Jiang Chen looked at her: "Director, do you want me to sell my skills or my body?"

"Selling your skills is fine, I don't care if you sell yourself." Lin Yu waved her hand dismissively. "Anyway, you figure something out."

Jiang Chen glanced at Jing Tian, ​​who was engrossed in reading the script in the distance. Her brows were furrowed and her lips were muttering to herself, as if she were reciting a text.

He sighed.

We really need to think of a solution to this.

However, before they could come up with a solution, Wang Sicong, the eldest son of the family, came to visit the set.

On one hand, he wanted to support his good friend Lin Gengxin, and on the other hand, he also wanted to get to know Jiang Chen.

A large fleet of cars arrived, including Porsches, Land Rovers, and Mercedes-Benz G-Class vehicles, and lined up at the entrance of the film set, like a car show.

The accompanying staff unloaded things from the trunk: fruit, coffee, snacks, milk tea, piling them all over the table.

They were just short of saying, "All expenses will be paid by Young Master Wang."

Wang Sicong, dressed in a black trendy T-shirt and limited-edition sneakers, strolled in, glanced around, and finally fixed his eyes on Jiang Chen.

"Jiang Chen?" He raised an eyebrow. "He's more handsome than on TV."

"Young Master Wang, you're too kind," Jiang Chen said with a smile, shaking hands.

"Don't mention it," Wang Sicong waved his hand. "Lin Gou mentions you to me every day, saying you're an interesting person. I've come to see just how interesting you are."

"Lin Gou, make some arrangements for dinner tonight, it's my treat."

"No," Jiang Chen interjected, "I have a night shoot tonight, I can't go out. How about—we'll just make do here for now?"

"Sure, right here. Is there internet?"

"have."

"That's settled then."

Wang Sicong took out his phone. "I'm calling two people to play together tonight. Lin Gou, you call Jiang Chen, let's do a five-man squad and get a kill."

After finishing work in the evening, Lin Gengxin's room became a temporary internet cafe.

Wang Sicong sat in the middle, her hands flying across the keyboard: "Jiang Chen, what position are you playing?"

"Let's play support."

Jiang Chen was a little unsure of their abilities, so he figured it was safer to play along with a slacker.

And he really hadn't played games in a long time; last time, he was beaten so badly by a little girl that his Daoist heart almost broke.

"————Okay, then you support me, I'll be the ADC, and I'll carry you."

PDD's voice came through the earpiece, thick with a Sichuan accent: "Principal Wang, can you please not be so aggressive with your positioning? My jungler can't keep up!"

"It's your problem if you can't keep up," Wang Sicong retorted. "What's wrong with my positioning? My positioning is the best in the world."

"The world's number one hammer," Lu Benwei's voice chimed in, "If I hadn't flashed to save you just now, you would have died eight times over."

"Eight times? Did your math and PE teacher teach you that?"

"So what if my math teacher was the PE teacher?"

Jiang Chen, wearing headphones, listened to the three of them arguing, mechanically healing and shielding Wang Sicong, and couldn't help but laugh.

These people are more invested in their insults than in acting.

At the end of the game, Wang Sicong's score was 2-8, and he only won because PDD and Lu Benwei carried the team.

He took off his headphones, lit a cigarette, and said, "Jiang Chen, your support role has potential."

"Principal Wang, you flatter me."

"No need for praise, you're a reliable player. You don't steal kills or lane minions, you just protect me. Unlike Lin Gou, who was sleepwalking the whole time, this kind of quality is rare."

,2”

Actually, he's just a scoundrel.

"Let's play together often from now on," Wang Sicong patted him on the shoulder, "My friend list is missing someone as reliable as you."

The fight lasted until 2 a.m. before the five of them dispersed.

When Wang Sicong left, he added Jiang Chen on WeChat and casually introduced PDD and the others to him as well.

"Let's get together sometime," he said. "Next time I'll organize a game, and I'll invite all the IG guys, Zz1tai, XiaoXiao, and Kid, ten of us, an internal battle."

"it is good."

The friendship between men can sometimes be that simple: they can have fun together.

Filming continued in the days that followed.

After thinking about it for two days, Jiang Chen decided to talk to Jing Tian about acting skills.

As for the director's task, he decided to talk to him first, just in case he suddenly understood something while talking.

After finishing work, he knocked on the door of Jingtian RV.

"Enter."

Jing Tian was curled up on the sofa reading a script, with a pile of snacks in front of him.

Seeing that it was Jiang Chen, Mo Mian felt a little embarrassed.

"Junior? What brings you here?"

"I just wanted to have a chat with you."

"Oh." Jing Tian quietly pushed the chocolate box behind him. "These aren't mine. I don't usually eat them."

Jiang Chen smiled, reached out and pulled out the potato chips she had hidden, tore open the packaging: "It's okay, if you don't eat them, I will."

He picked up a piece and put it in his mouth. With a crunch, he found it quite delicious.

Jing Tian looked at him, hesitated for a moment, and then asked softly, "Jiang Chen, tell me the truth, have I gained a little weight recently?"

Jiang Chen looked up and gazed at her, carefully examining her from head to toe. "She's fine, not fat at all."

This is from the heart.

He doesn't really like those girls in the entertainment industry who starve themselves to the point of being skinny just to look good on camera; they're all bland and lack any charm.

More importantly, many female celebrities don't eat in order to maintain their figure!

They take medicine every day, which ruins their stomachs and makes them have bad breath.

A girl should be like this: round and full, with curves in all the right places, that's what makes her attractive.

Jiang Chen tried to bring up acting as a topic, which unexpectedly ignited the senior's enthusiasm.

"Do you know Stanislavski? The core difference between the Method, Expressionist, and other performance systems lies in—"

"Senior," Jiang Chen tried to call Jing, "our drama is a romance drama, it doesn't need to be so deep—"

"What's wrong with idol dramas?" Da Tian Tian glared at him. "Idol dramas also need to have logical characters! Do you know Tchaikovsky's..."

Swan Lake?

"----Know."

"Look, the White Swan and the Black Swan, the same performer, but two completely different body languages. The White Swan is restrained and introverted; her love is silent. The Black Swan is flamboyant and extroverted; her love is aggressive. This is how the inner essence of a character determines its outward presentation!"

She spoke with great enthusiasm, from Tchaikovsky to Brecht's alienation effect, then to Mei Lanfang's freehand syndrome, and finally to the method school's praise of emotional memory recall.

Jiang Chen sat on the simmering stool, holding a cup of coffee that had gone cold, and remained silent.

Da Tian Tian's theoretical knowledge is terrifyingly strong!

"Furthermore," Jing Tian said, getting more and more excited, "you may not know that the tragic emotion in Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony is actually quite similar to the emotional layers in a performance."

"He doesn't simply express sadness, but rather breaks it down into disappointment through the rise and fall of musical phrases and the shifts in harmony."

Reminiscence, resentment, and acceptance—each layer builds upon the last. This is the structure I considered when creating the character of Jing Yiren. What do you think?

Jiang Chen fell silent.

What does he think?

He felt like all he wanted to do right now was go back and memorize his lines.

"Senior, what you said makes a lot of sense." He stood up. "I'm going back now; I have a show tomorrow."

"Hey, don't go," Jing Tian grabbed his sleeve, "I haven't finished yet. Do you know how Mr. Mei Lanfang understood the relationship between opera and technique? He—"

Jiang Chen could no longer hear.

Jing Tian isn't incapable of acting; she's just been incapable of it for far too long.

Filming continues.

After that, Ding Tian, ​​Jiang Chen, and Jing Tian had more and more scenes together.

From the study to the living room, from the living room to the balcony, from day to night.

Jing Tian was always very serious. He knew the script by heart, his blocking was perfect, and his lines were all correct. But Lin Yufen, sitting behind the monitor, frowned more and more as she watched.

Jing Tian was completely on edge, like a taut string.

The character she played, Jing Yiren, should have been a big star, flamboyant, willful, and a bit crazy at heart. But Jing Tian portrayed her as dignified, proper, and like someone walking the red carpet.

It's not open!

"Attention all departments, the afternoon's filming schedule has been adjusted."

The assistant director ran over: "Director, what are we shooting this afternoon?"

Lin Yufen glanced at Jing Tian, ​​then at Jiang Chen, and took a deep breath.

"Kissing scenes."

The assistant director was taken aback: "Huh? Wasn't the kissing scene scheduled for the last week?"

"It's been changed," Lin Yufen said calmly, "this afternoon."

"Makeup team, touch up makeup. Lighting team, adjust the lighting. Filming starts promptly at 2 PM."

She put down the walkie-talkie, leaned back against the wall, and crossed her legs.

This old maid has no other choice but to resort to her ultimate move.

Let you be close.

It's urgent to get into the mood for intimacy.