Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 400 The Battle for Top billing
May, a month with gentle sunshine and a perfect breeze, a month of falling petals and lush greenery.

At this time, the filming of "Silent Notebook" was nearing its end, and it would be completed in about ten days.

Outside the film set, a luxury RV gleamed in the sunlight.

After finishing her morning shoot, Liu Shishi dragged her tired body into the RV to rest for a while.

"I'm exhausted!" The woman kicked off her high heels and slumped onto the soft sofa.

Although "Silent Notebook" is set in the Republican era and does not have complicated and tiring martial arts action, the dramatic scenes are a great test of the actors' emotional explosiveness. She needed to devote herself wholeheartedly to the role of Song Hongling, which was quite exhausting.

"Sis, have some warm water and rest!" The assistant quickly handed over a thermos. Considering that her sister was on her period these past two days, Su Xiaoxiao was very thoughtful.

Liu Shishi took the thermos, took small sips to relieve the dryness in her mouth: "What are some trending news stories online this morning?"

Su Xiaoxiao immediately perked up and replied with a gossipy look: "It's still about 'Painted Skin 2'. Zhao Yanzi and Zhou Xun have completely fallen out!"

"Are you still arguing about billing order?" Liu Shishi looked surprised. "It's been going on for a week, dominating the trending topics every day."

"Both teams personally engaged in a bitter battle, with the media adding fuel to the fire, making the situation extremely intense..."

Before he could finish speaking, there was a knock on the door of the RV.

Su Xiaoxiao leaned to the window and peeked out: "Sister, it's Hu Bingqing and Yuan Bingyan, they're here again."

"Let them in!"

Su Xiaoxiao opened the car door, and the two girls entered the car, looking at the luxurious interior with envy.

"Sister, did Bingyan and I bother you?" Hu Bingqing asked with a sweet smile and an affectionate tone.

Not long ago, she was spotted by Cai Yinong, who came to visit the film set, and successfully signed with Tangren Media. Now she is considered a junior sister of the top actress.

"Sit wherever you like." Liu Shishi nestled lazily on the sofa, used to the two girls coming to rest in her RV.

"Thank you, sister." The two were overjoyed. The sister's RV was much more comfortable than the simple public rest shed outside.

Liu Shishi ignored the two of them, picked up her iPad, connected to the car's Wi-Fi, and started browsing Weibo's trending topics.

The topics that immediately catch the eye are all about Tengda Culture's upcoming blockbuster film "Painted Skin 2":

"Painted Skin 2 Promotion"

"Reporter interviews male lead Qiao Zhengyu"

"Zhao and Zhou's Battle for Top billing"

The related messages on Weibo were overwhelming, a jumble of truths and falsehoods, leaving Liu Shishi completely confused.

Suddenly, the eldest sister remembered a current affairs commentator in the entertainment industry who had been recommended by her sister-in-law, Liu Yuqing.

She had previously watched the videos posted by this blogger. Although some of the information was unsubstantiated, the analysis of hot topics in the entertainment industry was generally clear and well-organized, and quite interesting.

This blogger certainly wouldn't miss a major entertainment event like "Painted Skin 2".

Liu Shishi searched Weibo and found that the latest video was indeed a review of this matter. She couldn't wait to click on the newly released video.

"Hello everyone, this is your old friend Xiao Bei! Today I'm going to talk about the hottest topic in the entertainment industry recently, 'Painted Skin 2'."

The eldest sister sat up slightly, propped her head up with one hand, and watched the video with great interest.

"Compared to the current crop of actresses born in the 85s, who tend to let their fans have a say first when something happens, the leading actresses personally get involved when it comes to a feud, which has a certain江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) vibe!"
Let me first summarize the widely circulated story of Zhao and Zhou kicking the stool. However, there's something I need to correct: netizens say that Zhao and Zhou have fallen out, officially igniting the first major battle for top billing in the Chinese entertainment industry!
NO NO NO, the first major battle over billing order in the Chinese entertainment industry was actually the movie "The Message"! The dispute between Zhao Wei and Zhou Yongkang in "Painted Skin 2" simply brought the issue of billing order to the forefront.

Let's get back to the main point. Rumors say the conflict between Xiao Yanzi and Xun Gongzi started with an incident exposed by Hong Kong media involving a kicking chair; some even claim the two physically fought, which is a huge exaggeration.

The sounds coming from the iPad piqued Hu Bingqing and Yuan Bingyan's curiosity. The two stood up, went behind the host, and craned their necks to look at the screen.

Liu Shishi didn't mind and simply straightened the screen so they could watch it together.

The video continues its analysis: "First of all, let me state that whether the kicking of the stool is true or false, nobody knows."

All the information comes from Hong Kong media's written descriptions, some of which even include animations, or from rumors that someone on set leaked the information. In short, there are no photos or other concrete evidence.

According to Hong Kong media, Xiao Yanzi and Xun Gongzi were resting on a stool when Zhao Zhetian kicked her stool away after Zhou Xun left.

Zhou Xun was very unhappy to see this and questioned Zhao Zhetian about why he did this. Xiao Yanzi retorted that the stool was blocking the way and that Zhao Zhetian wasn't even there!

Then there were rumors that Zhou Xun told Xiao Yanzi to stand up, and then kicked her chair away in return.

The atmosphere immediately turned icy, and staff from both sides quickly separated the two individuals.

Hu Bingqing looked at him with a gossipy expression: "Sis, do you think this rumor is reliable?"

"Who knows? Hong Kong media have always loved to publish fabricated reports to grab attention."

On the screen, the blogger spoke eloquently: "The Hong Kong media described it vividly, but after the news spread, many netizens questioned the authenticity of the event."

Moreover, Zhou Xun was the first to step forward and respond directly, saying that they were both almost 40 years old, how could they be so childish? Subsequently, their agents also stated on Weibo that this was fake news.

When interviewed by reporters, the film's male lead, Qiao Zhengyu, responded to the matter with the phrase "making trouble out of nothing." Ms. Yang, the artist director of Tengda Culture, the publicity and distribution company, also stated that she did not want to get involved in such pointless hype.

Furthermore, a crew member revealed that Xiao Yanzi and Zhou Xun actually have a good relationship in private and would even play badminton together after work. Therefore, Xiao Bei concludes that the incident of kicking the chair was probably fabricated.

Hearing this, Liu Shishi pouted and said, "It's all baseless nonsense, there's not a shred of real substance to it."

Blogger Xiaobei then changed the subject: "As for why the two are so on bad terms now, there's a rather outrageous rumor that Zhou Xun and Xiao Yanzi both disliked Yang Mi, who joined the cast later, so they joined forces to suppress her."

Yang Mi was not one to be easily bullied, and her attempts to sow discord successfully escalated the conflict between the two.

It's hard to say whether this is true or not, but judging from all the signs so far, it's a fact that the two are at odds and dislike each other. During the recent promotional period for "Painted Skin 2," the two clashed multiple times.

The first point of contention is who was first confirmed by the "Painted Skin 2" production team, as everyone wanted to use this to prove their popularity and industry status.

The second point of contention revolved around pay. Rumors circulated that Zhao Zhetian received 450 million yuan, while Zhou Xun only received 400 million yuan, giving Xiao Yanzi a slight edge. Zhou Xun's agent immediately stepped in to refute this rumor.

The third point of contention is that since the film's promotion began, the two have avoided each other and have yet to appear on stage together.

The blogger paused briefly, then gave a sly grin: "Here's a little surprise for you all: when the movie was being promoted in Taiwan, a local version of the poster was released."

Zhao Yanzi's position was slightly more prominent than Zhou Xun's, but just one day later, in the new poster, Zhou Xun's hair suddenly grew longer, covering Zhao Yanzi's entire right arm.

This meant the two now occupied roughly the same amount of space on the poster. Netizens, always eager for a spectacle, shared the story on Weibo, sparking a heated discussion. Therefore, in conclusion, even without the incident of kicking the chair, their relationship was already completely over.

Liu Shishi finally understood the whole story and couldn't help but sigh, "Top-tier resources are so limited. Top actresses compete fiercely for awards and endorsements, making it almost impossible to maintain a friendly relationship."

"Even if the leading actress herself doesn't care about the order of billing, her staff and fans won't easily give in, since it involves interests."

During the peak of their careers, coupled with various external factors, tensions inevitably arise among the leading actresses. Perhaps one day, when the external pressures disappear, these actresses will find themselves appreciating each other's talents.

After all, they fought alongside each other in the same era and both reached the pinnacle of female artistry in the entertainment industry. Perhaps years later, when they meet again, all those past conflicts can be laughed off.

Liu Shishi nodded slightly, deeply agreeing with the blogger's point of view.

If I don't get the lead role in the TV series, it would be a disgrace to Mr. Song, which is absolutely unacceptable.

So unless it's a guest appearance, she always plays the lead role in a TV series.

In his concluding remarks, the blogger pointed out incisively: "The battle over billing order among celebrities is essentially a vivid portrayal of the resource competition within the entertainment industry."

Their methods are not limited to on-stage contract negotiations, but extend to behind-the-scenes psychological warfare, involving multiple parties such as artist teams, fan groups, and production companies.

With the production companies Tengda Culture and Huayi Company, two industry giants, and Huang Jianxin, the president of the Directors Guild, overseeing the production of "Painted Skin 2," Xiao Yanzi and Xun Gongzi only dared to tear each other apart and dared not easily involve the investors and the production team.

However, not every film and television project can be like "Painted Skin 2." According to Xiao Bei, some celebrity teams explicitly require detailed billing order clauses in their contracts, including name order, number of promotional materials, proportion of screen time in posters, and individual poster rights.

Hu Bingqing and Yuan Bingyan, both newcomers to the entertainment industry, were dumbfounded and stammered, "Senior Sister, is the battle for top billing really that complicated?"

Su Xiaoxiao chuckled lightly, "This is nothing. Nowadays, some celebrities even bring their own screenwriters to the set to forcibly increase their personal highlight scenes."

Demanding dedicated dressing rooms and separate rest areas from the production crew during filming—these subtle competitions and displays of ostentation are all manifestations of vying for top billing.

Hu Bingqing was stunned for a moment, feeling that the complex entertainment industry had only just begun to reveal itself to him: "Miss, wouldn't this behavior be considered as being arrogant and offending the production crew?"

Su Xiaoxiao raised her head, adopting the air of a seasoned veteran in the entertainment industry: "Some production teams would love for the lead actors to fight each other to boost the popularity of the film and television series."

However, those who dare to openly compete for top billing must at least be second-tier stars. They need to have the leverage to negotiate with the rest of the cast and other main actors.

However, generalizations shouldn't be made. For example, in a production with a senior female lead, who would dare to challenge for top billing?

The leading lady said calmly, "The billing order is just a passing cloud; only classic roles last forever. Back then, I played Long Kui, who was only the third female lead, but she was my husband's favorite role."

Hearing these words, Hu Bingqing secretly complained, thinking to herself, "Sister, you're now the top female star in China's entertainment industry. You can play any leading role if you want, but I'm still an unknown newcomer in the entertainment circle. I need a role to enrich my resume."

Yuan Bingyan, who had been listening quietly, asked softly, "Miss, everyone is so focused on billing order these days, what's the inside story?"

"Of course there's a reason for it! If there were no benefits, who would bother to fight for top billing!"

The ranking of a celebrity is a core indicator of their status in the industry. Brands often use the number of stars ranked first to assess a celebrity's influence, which directly relates to the amount of their endorsement fees.

There is also a resource siphon effect, where production companies tend to give priority to actors with extensive experience in big productions. The more works a star has, the faster their salary increases.

There are also many benefits from the fans' side. Su Xiaoxiao stopped there, not revealing all the deeper details.

While the two newcomers were deep in thought, Liu Shishi continued to browse Weibo. A new trending topic quickly entered the top ten of the list: "2012 Forbes China Celebrity List".

Although she had already made it onto the rich list, the celebrity list didn't seem to matter that much to her. But Liu Shishi still clicked on it out of curiosity and focused intently on checking her ranking.

This morning, May 3rd, Forbes magazine released its 2012 list of Chinese celebrities.

榜单综合考量华国内地、香江及台岛地区名人在2011年3月至2012年2月期间收入与曝光率，最终评选出100位最具商业价值的名人。

"Second place, not bad." The top female star focused her gaze, and her name was clearly visible on the second line of the list, second only to Jay Chou at the top.

细看数据，其中收入以2亿7150万天价，力压天王张学有1亿7050万、周杰轮1亿6130万。

She ranked second in both online and television exposure, second only to Yang Mi; her newspaper exposure was slightly lower, ranking 24th, and she ranked second overall on the list.

My gaze slowly moved downwards, past Andy Lau, Fan Bingbing, Wang Fei... The top ten on the list were all superstars from the entertainment and sports industries.

"Mimi's ranking is rising really fast."

With her works such as "Palace" and "Temptation of Going Home", Yang Mi jumped from 93rd on the list last year to 14th this year.

Meanwhile, actors like Nie Yuan and Feng Shaofeng saw their value increase significantly due to the hit dramas. Among the top 30 most interacted celebrities on Weibo, 18 were from mainland China. It's clear that television dramas and Weibo have become key avenues for celebrities to gain fame.

Hu Bingqing glanced at the list on the screen and was stunned. He had a clear understanding of the value of being number one: "Sister Shi, you are amazing. More than 2 million in income, second on the celebrity list."

Yuan Bingyan, standing to the side, also looked on with envy. Being listed on the Forbes Celebrity List means that one's "earning ability" has been recognized by international authorities, and one's film remuneration and endorsement fees will rise accordingly.

Moreover, the higher the ranking, the easier it is to attract cooperation from top international brands, and the benefits are self-evident.

"Actually, the actual amount received is not that much. This is the pre-tax figure, and it doesn't even include the brokerage company and team's share," Liu Shishi explained with a smile.

She roughly estimated that last year, she earned 127 million yuan from endorsements with three major brands: Gucci, Omega, and Porsche, and about 30 million yuan from endorsements with other brands.

The actor's salary for TV series and movies was not much, only 1000 million yuan; Tangren Media's shareholders received 2000 million yuan in dividends, and the investment in "iPartment 3" yielded a profit of about 8000 million yuan.

There are also some scattered incomes that are negligible, but the total income is about 270 million, which is a fairly accurate figure based on the Forbes Celebrity List calculation.

However, after deducting taxes and brokerage commissions, less than half is actually received.

Upon hearing this, Hu Bingqing's eyes shone with longing, and she murmured to herself, "If I could earn even a fraction of what you give me, I would be content for the rest of my life."

In the novel, Jiang Yang is reborn in 2015 and awakens the Little Flower Nurturing System. By cultivating Little Flower's various abilities, he can multiply the corresponding attributes for himself.

Yang Chaoyue's pronunciation of retroflex and alveolar consonants in Mandarin was improved, and Jiang Yang's vocalization was raised to the level of a senior voice actor.

By training Zhang Ruonan's physical posture and demeanor, Jiang Yang was able to successfully master more than a dozen different types of roles.

Jiang Yang's nurturing of Tian Xiwei's acting skills and his profound and insightful performance resonated with the public.

Training Meng Ziyi to sing... Jiang Yang was exhausted, let's switch to Bai Lu.

Training Zhou Ye, Zhao Lushi, Chen Duling, Zhao Jinmai, Li Yitong, Gulnazar, Dilraba Dilmurat, Liu Haochun...

At the Oscars ceremony, Jiang Yang accepted the Golden Globe Award. Under the host's persistent questioning, and facing the multi-camera setup, Jiang Yang clarified the rumors: "I'm not pretending anymore. The rumors about them and me are all true. I'm laying it all out on the table. Aren't you angry with me?"



(End of this chapter)