Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

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Gu Qing... has a job to do!

With the release of the official media video, it has become clear who the biggest winner is in this "grain replenishment" campaign.

While other celebrities were struggling with back taxes and their public image was plummeting, Gu Qing stood firm like a breath of fresh air, firmly positioned at the forefront of the trend.

No, he is the wind itself.

An official media invitation was delivered to Gu Qing on this day.

Instead of going through the company or layers of intermediaries, a formally worded invitation letter bearing a red seal was delivered directly to his team.

Without any hesitation, the team acted swiftly and booked a flight to the capital that very afternoon.

……

As the plane passed through the stratosphere, an endless sea of ​​clouds stretched out outside the window like cotton wool, while the sunlight poured in unhindered, illuminating the cabin with a golden and clear glow.

Gu Qing leaned back in the soft first-class seat, took off the steam eye mask, but her eyes were clear and she was not sleepy at all.

He took a sip of the warm water that the flight attendant had just handed him. The warm liquid slid down his throat, but his thoughts drifted further away with the almost imperceptible, subtle vibrations of the aircraft.

After this incident

He has undoubtedly been gilded with a true "golden body".

It's not the kind of empty fame built on traffic and maintained by trending topics, but a real, officially endorsed, and publicly recognized "get-out-of-jail-free card."

This halo, though not dazzling, is thick enough to shield him from many unnecessary attacks in the storms of the future.

This reminded him of a true senior figure in the industry—Uncle Jackie Chan.

Over the years, the eldest brother has always been a man of great virtue and integrity, loving his country and society and actively engaging in charity. He has long been a vibrant symbol of China on the world stage.

Therefore, even with some minor flaws and slight controversies, its foundation has never been shaken.

This is a higher-dimensional talisman, stemming from social value and public trust that transcends the performing arts career itself.

of course,

Gu Qing would never be so foolish as to take advantage of this to act recklessly.

He was known for his clean reputation within the industry.

As an actor

He devotes most of his time to his roles, and his life off-screen is so simple that it's almost boring.

When filming, I only date the female lead with whom I empathize with the character. As for who the female lead is, don't ask.

Even if a scandal were to break out someday, it wouldn't be a big deal. In fact, they might even be praised for their "dedication" and "immersive acting."

And now,
Holding this newly acquired "trump card," Gu Qing is more concerned with how to play his pieces in the longer-term game.

In his eyes, the company was already a mere formality; he was just one step away from completely breaking free.

The relationship between the two sides had already reached its lowest point due to repeated disagreements on ideology and conflicts of interest.

As long as the matter is smoothly delayed until the final tax payment deadline of this "grain replenishment" campaign, Gu Qing is fully confident that he can buy out the remaining contracts himself, taking advantage of the company's current tight cash flow and predicament of being unable to take care of itself.

He believes that the management team, backed into a corner, would never refuse a sum of cash that could solve their immediate crisis.

At that time, breaking free from constraints and establishing a personal studio entirely of one's own, thus gaining complete control over the direction of one's career, is a natural progression.

But problems also became clear.

The biggest advantage of setting up a personal studio is that the profits from film and television projects can go into your own pocket to the greatest extent, without being taken by the company.

But the wheels of policy keep turning, and starting next year, the much-anticipated "salary cap" will officially take effect.

Celebrity salaries will be strictly regulated within a clear red line, with top-tier salaries not exceeding 25 million.

The reason he is able to get a revenue-sharing contract that is rare in the industry is that the salaries of top-tier actors are ridiculously high.

With asking prices often reaching 60 to 70 million, or even over 100 million, such enormous cash expenditures inevitably squeeze production costs, leading to a decline in the quality of the series.

This is a vicious cycle that investors also do not want to see.

Therefore, they were willing to relinquish some of the risks and benefits and negotiate a profit-sharing arrangement with him.

This is actually a win-win gamble: if the show becomes a hit, Gu Qing will get a larger share.
But the investors who control the distribution channels and issuance earn more;

Even if it doesn't become a hit, it can save astronomical upfront costs in terms of actor salaries, reducing potential losses.

But once the salary cap was introduced, the rules of the game completely changed.

When top-tier celebrities' salaries are forcibly compressed to the "reasonable" range of 25 million,
For investors and platforms that have projects in hand, why would they bother to negotiate complicated revenue-sharing agreements with an independent studio?

With the same budget, they could easily assemble three or four A-list stars, and just by piling up star power, they could create a show with a higher level of buzz and a greater safety margin.

By then,
Will such generous revenue-sharing contracts be so easy to obtain now?

The answer is most likely no.

The massive capital and platform system will not easily allow an artist who has broken free from control and comes from an independent studio to easily take away their core profits.

The options before them may become cold and direct: either sign a new bundled contract, handing over all control over the next few films;

Or it might be a cold, dismissive statement: "Twenty-five million, industry standard price, do you want it?"

Gu Qing is clear about his own value; he has market appeal and can drive box office and viewership ratings.

However, if investors are to offer 10% or even higher of the net profit, given the salary cap,

Platforms and investors would rather use this expected revenue share to exchange for more personal favors, assemble an all-star lineup, or invest in artists who are more obedient and "safer."

This aligns better with their pursuit of stable returns and control.

This is also why many big-budget films later on often feature a dozen or even dozens of well-known actors making "cameo appearances" or "special appearances".

When the "premium" space for individual actors is compressed, piling up star power and buzz through sheer numbers becomes the new strategy.

In the face of massive capital and distribution channels, artists don't seem to be as "irreplaceable" as they once were.

The benefits of the salary cap are obvious: it effectively curbs the inflated bubble in artists' pay.

This will allow more production funds to truly flow to the core aspects that determine the quality of the content, such as the script, costumes, props, and post-production.

In the long run, this will benefit the healthy development of the industry.

But the downsides are equally profound: companies that control broadcasting channels, distribution networks, and funding sources will have unprecedented power.

Artists who lack independent production capabilities, especially those working in their own studios, are more likely to become pawns in project selection and revenue distribution, with their bargaining power significantly reduced.

This also partially explains why the era of internet traffic began in 2014.

Those early top stars and rising actresses who became famous with phenomenal works are still able to maintain their distinctive characteristics, and even dare to challenge their companies and negotiate prices based on their popularity.

After 2018, with the maturation of the idol talent show industry, mass-produced "idols" began to flood the market.

They come from the same training system, wear similar makeup and styling, and act out similar character scripts.

Want to stand out? The most direct path seems to be spending money on marketing.

Viewers often complain that they have "face blindness" and can't tell who is who.

Fans, however, always retort: ​​"It's just a fetish for older people. Each generation has its own aesthetic of youth. You're just out of touch with the times."

But in reality, there is no such thing as an insurmountable generation gap.

However, many artists who came after were too similar from the start:

Male celebrities all have the same hairstyle: bowl cut, slightly parted bangs, Korean-style makeup, and are tall and thin.
Female celebrities, however varied, all revolve around the core of "sweet girl"—cute sweet girl, cool and sassy sweet girl, dark sweet girl, sarcastic sweet girl, silly sweet girl...

It's not just pink that means tender, it's not just white that means youthful.

After so many years of twists and turns, seemingly with a constant stream of new talent and bustling activity, in the end...
The core audience base in the television drama field and the audience trust in the film industry are still firmly held by the "85 Flowers" who are approaching their forties, leaving newcomers breathless.

To know,
In today's context, the actresses born in the 85s, who were around the same age as the "95 Flowers" back then, were all under thirty years old.
With a series of hit works and distinctive personal characteristics, she has broken through the previous generation's superstar pattern of "Four Dan and Two Bing" and established her own era.

nowadays,
The title of "Four Dan and Two Bing" is not as well-known as that of Yang Mi, Zhao Liying, Liu Shishi, and Tang Yan.
The "Four Little Actresses" have long been a mainstream force in the market for watching movies and TV series.

Gu Qing and his generation of "Four Top Celebrities" dominated an entire era of internet traffic.

How many new viewers still remember the former "Four Little Fresh Meat"?

Most of them have long since packed up and faded from the mainstream view, and they have to beg directors for a chance to act.

This is the cruelest reality of the entertainment industry: without continuous, fresh, and irreplaceable works and personal charm, even the most popular celebrities will eventually be submerged by the rapidly evolving tide.

To escape the fate of being controlled by capital,

To avoid becoming a standardized product on an assembly line, there is fundamentally only one solution: become a player, not just a piece.

The artists in the variety show track are often the first to break through.

How did Teacher He and Chef Huang manage the production of "Back to Field"?
"Five Ha" is a film created by Chao Ge and Chen He after they left "Running Man".
They were all deeply involved in the planning, investment, and production, holding multiple roles—each additional role meant more income and more autonomy.

Artists in the film industry are much rarer.

Uncle Huang, Uncle Shen, Brother Chao, and others have all tried to invest in and produce their own shows, using their personal connections to invite actors.
However, they inevitably face hidden industry exclusion: limited screenings, blocked marketing and distribution, and unwarranted attacks on reputation, making the risks extremely high. Once losses occur, they could wipe out years of accumulated wealth.

This is why the relatively safe and stable entertainment industry is always crowded with artists eager to "make it" to the entertainment world.

Low risk, short recording period, stable exposure – making money while playing games, who wouldn't want that?

But Gu Qing didn't want to completely immerse herself in the comfort zone of variety shows.

While variety shows are safe, they are too damaging to "actors".

The poor box office performance of Zhao Liying's later films and the poor reviews of several of his works are undoubtedly related to his long-term overexposure in popular variety shows and his fixed comedic image.

Audiences are used to seeing him joking and laughing on variety shows, so it's easy for them to feel disconnected and have difficulty immersing themselves in the story when they see him deliver a heartfelt performance of joys and sorrows in the theater.

"Film and television investment, especially directing and starring in films and television series, offers the greatest potential for profit and control over the business."

Gu Qing pondered silently, her fingertips unconsciously tracing a line across the porthole.

He did indeed learn a lot from the crew.

I learned some storytelling tricks and genre fusion techniques from Brother Sicheng. I also often squatted behind the monitor for half a day at a time to observe how the director directed the shots, guided the actors, and controlled the rhythm of the whole scene.

But directing a film is far more complex than simply "knowing how to shoot." Managing a film crew is akin to running a large company, involving personnel scheduling, resource allocation, time management, and even dealing with unexpected industry "unspoken rules" and unforeseen circumstances…

Each step involves a profound and unfathomable amount of knowledge.

Bao Qiang's "Havoc in India" serves as a cautionary tale.

Even with excellent audience appeal, solid acting skills, and a sincere attitude, a lack of systematic experience and overall control as a director can still lead to a critical and commercial failure, resulting in a heavy price to pay.

A prudent approach

Let's start with investment to familiarize ourselves with the entire process of capital operation and project management.

At the same time, practice with low-budget, high-style works to gradually establish your own voice in the creative process.

"At least for now, there's a possibility of investment..."

Gu Qing closed his eyes, and the script outline and preparation status of the new project appeared in his mind.

Once he finishes his official schedule, he should join a new film crew.

That will be his first time simultaneously serving as both a lead actor and an investor, a crucial trial run that will not only affect his earnings but also how far and how stable he can go in the future.

……

The plane landed smoothly at Beijing Capital International Airport.

Gu Qing had been to the Capital Television building many times before, recording galas and participating in interviews, so she knew her way around easily.

But this time, the response was completely different.

As soon as the car came to a stop, not only did familiar directors and hosts from the station come out to greet him warmly, but even several leaders in management positions whom he had only seen on the news camera made a special trip to the door to shake hands and exchange pleasantries with him.

"Little Gu is here. You must have had a long journey."

A kind-faced leader shook his hand firmly.

"Young comrade, you are in good spirits and have been performing very well recently, generating a very positive social response. Keep it up and continue to spread positive energy to society."

The other leader spoke concisely, his smile revealing clear appreciation.

A few simple words of greeting, when viewed by those who were paying attention, conveyed a weighty signal of approval.

The leaders were busy and left after a brief stay, but that short encounter was enough to set the tone.

Then,

The enthusiastic young men and women from the station then surrounded him, as usual, signing autographs, taking photos, and exchanging pleasantries.

Gu Qing, as always, wore a perfectly measured shy smile, signed her name crisply, and cooperated well for the photo.
However, he resolutely refuses to answer any probing questions.

After a long and arduous journey, we finally arrived at the studio for the interview.

Receiving the interview script was beyond Gu Qing's expectations.

He originally thought the focus would be on this "grain replenishment" campaign and his personal attitude towards paying taxes, since these are currently the biggest hot topics.

Unexpectedly,

The outline of questions handed over by the director was almost entirely about his personal career development trajectory and reflections.

The change in style from recently released musical works

When asked about the recognition and pressure of being labeled a "powerful actor" after the huge success of "Nirvana in Fire,"
Further explore the profound impact of "Detective Chinatown's" box office record on his personal career planning...

The questions were detailed and insightful, but none of them touched on taxation.

What's even more noteworthy is that the interview was conducted by a senior female host known for her intellectual and gentle demeanor.

Throughout the interview, she referred to Gu Qing not by his full name, but by his stage name – “younger brother”.

"Little brother, what were your considerations when you decided to try this style of music?"

"After 'Nirvana in Fire,' everyone says you have both good looks and talent. What do you think of this assessment, little brother?"

Her expression was gentle, and her tone affectionate.

The message conveyed by using such a tone and attitude to treat a young artist in an official interview with state media is all too clear.

This is almost a declaration to the outside world: We value and cherish this young man.

The implication is clear: those who might have ulterior motives should "think carefully before acting recklessly."

Their deep affection and care were evident in their words and on the screen.

Gu Qing was thrust into the spotlight of the "food replenishment" movement, enjoying overwhelming praise from the outside world, but inevitably attracting complex looks and even resentment from her peers in the industry.

Everyone else is disheveled and has suffered heavy losses, while you alone are glamorous and have gained both fame and fortune. This contrast itself can become a kind of "original sin".

In the fiercely competitive entertainment industry, sabotaging others behind their backs and resorting to underhanded tactics is almost the norm.

Especially during this period,
Gu Qing's fans have compiled his remarks from various interviews over the past few years into a montage and posted it online.

Such as:

"What do you think is the most important thing for an artist? — To walk the right path."

“I earn a lot, but I also pay a lot of taxes, which is fair.”

These clips were widely circulated, and combined with current events, he was jokingly called a "prophet" and a "wise man" by netizens.

These "archaeological" remarks, at this critical juncture, are tantamount to rubbing salt into the wounds of many colleagues.

Jealousy and resentment quietly fester in the shadows.

At this delicate juncture, state media personally invited Gu Qing to give an exclusive interview, conducting the interview in such a kind and caring manner.

Anyone with a bit of industry sense and common sense understands this.

What does it mean to be so red it's almost purple?

This is what you call truly "red to the point of being purple"!
Fine, I guess I'll just have to accept it.

If we can't afford to offend them, can't we at least "lick their boots"?

The wind direction became clearer in an instant.

What surprised people the most was that this "care" for Gu Qing seemed to have only just begun.

……

Even without official media interviews to set the tone, Gu Qing's hometown folks have already spontaneously become his strongest support.

"It's not easy for our family to have such a promising child who brings honor to our hometown, so of course we have to protect him with all our might!" This is the simple and sincere thought of many people in Anhui Province.

Not to mention,
Gu Qing, an artist from Anhui Province, ranked high on this year's tax payment list, bringing honor and prestige to his hometown.

The villagers felt proud and their desire to protect the area was at an all-time high.

Sure enough, Gu Qing had just finished an interview with the official media when his phone received several special invitations forwarded by his team.

What these invitations have in common is that they come with zero appearance fees and are purely "out of love".

The Anhui Provincial Tax Bureau sent an invitation.
He was appointed as the "Anhui Provincial Tax Service Ambassador" and was tasked with filming a public service announcement video.
The Anhui Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League extended an invitation to him to serve as the "Anhui Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League Publicity Ambassador" and to record an encouraging video for young students.
The Anhui Provincial Bureau of Culture and Tourism extended an invitation to him, appointing him as the "Anhui Provincial Tourism Image Ambassador" to promote the natural landscape and cultural heritage of his hometown.
The Anhui Provincial Department of Culture extended an invitation to him, appointing him as the "Ambassador for the Promotion of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Anhui Province" to participate in related cultural heritage projects...

What is meant by comprehensive, three-dimensional defense?

That's it.

If Zhang Yixing is Changsha's "little pride,"
At this moment, Gu Qing is truly the "great pride" of Anhui Province, and a role model for the new era of youth that his hometown is striving to cultivate.

This comprehensive approach covers almost every area of ​​public welfare that a positive role model like an artist can be involved in, from policies and regulations to youth leadership, from tourism economy to cultural heritage.

What this reveals is the comprehensive and unwavering recognition and support from their hometown.

The villagers seemed to be glaring at each other, shouting to the entire circle: I want to see which blind bastard dares to mess with our Gu Qing!
……

Faced with the heavy trust and care from the authorities and her hometown, even Gu Qing couldn't help but feel warm inside.

This support may not directly bring him a specific role or commercial benefit, but it builds an invisible yet powerful moat.

This is the long-term benefit of artists carefully managing their personal image and actively contributing to their hometown and society.

In terms of career, it may not be able to directly help you soar to the top.

But when storms are brewing and hidden dangers are hard to guard against, this foundation and recognition are the most reliable safe haven.

The people in his hometown were also very considerate of Gu Qing, and made a special mention of it in emails and communications.

The on-site filming of the tourism image and intangible cultural heritage promotion ambassadors does not need to be rushed and can be arranged after the New Year when their schedules are more flexible.

After all, it would take at least ten days to half a month to film in various cities and regions.

The publicity content for the tax authorities and the Communist Youth League is relatively easy to produce; the filming team can come directly to the capital, shoot on location, and complete the work efficiently.

Three days later, Gu Qing, in cooperation with the professional team sent from his hometown, efficiently completed the filming of a tax promotional video and a video encouraging young people.

In the video, he is wearing an official uniform, standing tall and straight, with a handsome and dignified face and clear eyes.
When explaining the significance of paying taxes according to the law and the responsibilities of youth, his tone was sincere and infectious, requiring almost no guidance from the director.

Just from this image being broadcast,

Many directors in the industry were immediately impressed.
This also laid a deep foundation for Gu Qing's future roles in mainstream film and television works.

Once all official schedules have come to a temporary end.

Gu Qing returned to her hotel room, where the dazzling night view of the capital city was visible through the window.

The noise and glamour were temporarily shut out.

Gu Qing didn't rest for long.

He picked up his phone, found a number in his contacts, and dialed it without hesitation.

The beeping sound of the receiver waiting to connect was particularly clear in the quiet room.

A few seconds later, the call was answered, and a lively, surprised, and delighted female voice came through.

"Oh my, what a rare guest! Second Master, have you been missing this humble woman?"

Gu Qing walked to the window, looked at the dazzling scenery flowing outside, a smile appearing on her lips, and said:
“Niu Aihua, you should change how you address her.”

……

...(End of chapter)