Chinese Entertainment: Directors Start with the Fairy Sister

Chapter 104: The Female Lead is Predetermined (Including the Reason I'm Liu Yifei's Boyfriend)

October 25th, opening ceremony!

When the day finally arrived, I realized just how desolate this year's Hundred Flowers Film Festival was!

The organizers spared no expense, aiming to rival the Hollywood Oscars by creating a red carpet that cost a fortune. However, the number of media reporters and spontaneous fans present was even greater than the number of celebrities.

Of the nominees for the Hundred Flowers Awards, Zhang Yimou, Liu Dehua, Cheng Long, Stephen Chow, Zhang Ziyi, Li Lianjie, Feng Xiaogang, Zhao Yanxi, and Liu Yifei were among those who attended, with the exception of the couple.

"The filming of 'Assembly' is about to begin, and I really can't leave."

"I'm too busy with the Olympic opening ceremony, so I won't go this time, but I'll definitely go next time..."

"I really can't make it back in time..."

With so many excuses, the media reporters reacted with exceptional enthusiasm when Zhao Yanxi led Liu Yifei, Zhou Yang, and their entourage onto the red carpet!

"Director Zhao, Yi Fei, congratulations on your nominations for Best Actor and Actress respectively!"

Thank you (thank you~)

"Director Zhao, is post-production complete for 'Painted Skin'? When will it be released?"

The film festival is a promotional platform, and there's no need to worry about stealing anyone's thunder, so Zhao Yanxi naturally wouldn't hold back anything.

"It should be ready by January, and we'll try to meet everyone around May Day next year."

"Fairy Sister!"

"Shen Jiayi—"

"Sissi, Sissi, I love you!"

"Little Water!"

The spontaneously arriving fans cheered, and Liu Yifei greeted everyone with a smile. Zhou Yang never expected to hear his own voice under these circumstances.

She waved excitedly, saying, "Thank you, thank you!"

Zhu Yawen and Luo Jin exchanged a helpless glance and sighed resentfully. Male celebrities like them, who were neither famous nor unknown, had no human rights.

I'd rather not come to this red carpet!

Hearing their sighs, Zhao Yanxi and Liu Yifei exchanged a smile and quickly walked forward.

The staff on the side were extremely anxious. There were only one or two big names, and if they didn't slow down, the red carpet would become even more meaningless.

Liu Yifei found it quite novel to leave her handprint on the Avenue of Stars, and felt that pressing it with one hand was not enough.

Zhao Yanxi laughed and said, "Getting a massage here is boring. In a couple of years, I'll take you to the Oscars!"

"Really?" Liu Yifei smiled, her eyes crinkling.

"Of course it's true!"

"Hehe, I'll wait for you then~"

Having walked the red carpet, it wasn't appropriate to leave the opening ceremony early.

Zhao Yanxi witnessed the most shabby opening ceremony in history. There were no big names or glamorous costumes, but only hundreds of artists from twenty-six ethnic minorities.

They presented a series of refreshing and elegant songs using a unique, original performance style.

It was somewhat original, but it looked more like a company's Mid-Autumn Festival gala than a star-studded film festival that should be part of the entertainment industry!

The cast and crew of "You Are the Apple of My Eye" gathered in Hangzhou, adding glamour to the red carpet at the Hundred Flowers Awards!

[Mainland director Zhao Yanxi revealed that the film "Painted Skin," co-produced by Yan Yue Film & Television, China Film Group, and other companies with an investment of 160 million yuan, is nearing completion of post-production and is tentatively scheduled for release on May 1, 2007.]

Liu Yifei and Zhou Yang appeared on the Hundred Flowers Awards red carpet, where fans spontaneously cheered for their idols!

The biggest advantage of the dimming of star power is that the media can only focus on "You Are the Apple of My Eye" and Zhao Yanxi and Liu Yifei.

Otherwise, the huge Hundred Flowers Film Festival can't just report on the hundreds of artists from those twenty-six ethnic minorities, can it?

"Wow, an entire film crew has taken over the whole film festival opening ceremony?"

"Isn't there some shady dealing involved? Was Liu Yifei already pre-selected for the lead role, or was Zhao Yanxi already pre-selected for Best Director?"

"It must have been decided beforehand, otherwise why would everyone else skip it and only they go?"

Where there is attention, there is bound to be controversy, and the news of pre-arranged decisions at film festivals is nothing new.

Yang Siwei said that there were Juli's online army involved, but he didn't see a large-scale mobilization of Huayi, although a small group overlapped with Juli's.

Other random comments, I don't know if they are spontaneous haters or paid trolls, I need to consult with Mr. Wang again.

Wang Changtian is the real head of the online trolls. There are online troll teams on the market that he doesn't know about, but there aren't many!

"Let them go."

Zhao Yanxi didn't care, since she was unlikely to win the award anyway.

Once the award results are announced, everything will become clear; if I actually win an award, it's no big deal if I get a few comments.

No one who wins an award can escape criticism!

On the second day after the opening of the Hundred Flowers Awards, Liu Yifei and Liu Xiaoli were to fly to Changsha.

"I should have bought a ticket and gone too," Zhao Yanxi said regretfully.

Why didn't I think of that before!

"You can drive there!" Liu Yifei joked with a grin.

"That's a good idea. Shall I go pick up a car that's available now?"

"Stop fooling around," Liu Xiaoli couldn't stand the young couple's flirting anymore: "If we don't get into the station soon, we'll be late."

"Hehe," Liu Yifei said without any shyness, waving her hand and saying, "Yan Xi, see you the day after tomorrow~"

See you the day after tomorrow!

Meanwhile, Yang Siwei met Fan, who had come to visit, at a private club.

"I heard Huayi Brothers has blacklisted you?"

"Yeah," Fan Jia nodded, sounding a little frustrated, "Wang Zhonglei is so petty. I just said I needed to think about it, and he cut off all my resources and even tried to completely blacklist me."

"So you came to see me because—" Yang Siwei smiled, "You don't mean you want to sign with our company, do you? Our boss doesn't seem to have any plans to sign any artists for the time being."

"There's no need for a contract," Fan Jia shook his head. "I want to discuss a business deal with Director Zhao."

"What kind of business?" Yang Siwei asked with interest.

"After leaving Huayi, I have no intention of signing with any other company," Fan said solemnly. "I've decided to set up my own studio and be my own boss."

"so what?"

"I hope Director Zhao can invest in my studio. I am willing to give up 20% of the shares."

This was a strategy that Fan Taotao and her agent, Mu Xiaoguang, had discussed beforehand.

Mu Xiaoguang was a well-known agent in Taiwan. After coming to the mainland to develop his career, the two hit it off immediately.

In her view, the so-called "Four Dan and Two Lin" are nothing more than working for others;

If Fan Tao wants to truly surpass them, she must take a different path: establish her own studio, take control of her career, gradually invest in film and television, and eventually become a true capitalist.

Mu Xiaoguang has connections with capital in Taiwan, and also has connections with Hung Kam-po and Emperor Group in Hong Kong. Bona Film Group in mainland China has also expressed interest in investing in him.

However, while Bona Film Group has money, its resources are limited; if it could also partner with the currently booming Yanxi Films, it would be equivalent to gathering resources and capital from both sides of the Taiwan Strait and Hong Kong.

By then, what will a mere Huayi be worth?

"You do have ideas," Yang Siwei said softly.

Few people know that during the six months she interned under Wang Jing, the person she got closest to wasn't one of the new actors, but rather the already famous Fan.

Even Fan's decision to stay at Huayi instead of leaving with Wang Jing was suggested by Yang Siwei.

As it turns out, this choice was correct. Huayi controls the core resources of the industry, while Wang Jing's "nanny-style" brokerage model, although it can maintain emotional ties, is far from enough in the competition for resources.

In fact, when Yang Siwei came to Yanxi Film and Television for the audition, he must have had the idea of ​​"gaining experience and creating a world together with Fan Tao in the future".

She just didn't expect Zhao Yanxi to develop so quickly and value her so much, not only putting her in charge of publicity but also handing her over the position of general manager.

A man will die for one who understands him, and so will a woman.

This trust allowed her to fully commit to working for Yanxi Film & Television.

But she didn't expect that Fan Taotao would decide to start her own business so early.

"Isn't it too early now?" Yang Siwei pondered. "According to your original plan, you should have signed a three-year contract to accumulate resources and capital before making a move. Even if you have more partners now, you will still be essentially at their mercy."

"It's different," Fan said firmly. "As long as we are the largest shareholder, we hold the power in our own hands. Mu Xiaoguang once said that this is called 'leveraging influence.'"

"The prerequisite for leveraging someone's momentum is that you yourself must be able to handle that momentum." Yang Siwei looked at her, "Do you think you can handle it right now?"

"I can." Fan said earnestly, his eyes burning with determination, "Siwei, I need your help!"

-

Seven reasons why I am Liu Yifei's boyfriend:

1. Liu Yifei has never said that I am not her boyfriend. 2. Liu Yifei's boyfriend is a man, and I am a man. 3. Liu Yifei can play the piano, and I can listen to piano music. 4. Liu Yifei and I have never appeared together. Celebrity relationships need to be hidden. 5. Liu Yifei is from Wuhan, and I am also from Wuhan. 6. Liu Yifei speaks multiple languages, and I also speak English and Japanese. 7. I have no shame!

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