Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 69 Celebration Banquet

"My Old Classmate is not the key. The company will officially enter the big screen in the second half of the year, and the male lead of the first film is the core. You must win him over."

Zeng Jia, being the artist director and based in the headquarters, was better informed.

"Movies!" Qiao Zhengyu exclaimed, his ambition growing. No actor wouldn't yearn for the big screen.

Zeng Jia reminded him: "There are some things you need to be clear about yourself. It's true that you are currently the top guy in the company, but the company's movies don't necessarily have to cast you as the male lead."

If you don't step up, Wang Kai will, and others might overtake you by taking the lead. It's not impossible. You must communicate more with President Wang, President Liu, and President Jiang.

Unlike Tangren Media, Tengda Culture doesn't have any absolute core artists; some opportunities are equal for all the company's artists.

"Of course." To develop one's career better and obtain more resources, one definitely needs the support of the company's senior management, a principle that Qiao Zhengyu naturally understands.

Zeng Jia, who works at Tengda Culture, hung up the phone. What she had just said was somewhat blunt and straightforward, and it seemed to be forming cliques. But that's how the entertainment industry is. The pie is only so big. If others take a bigger bite, you can only take a smaller bite.

Since the company has tied Qiao Zhengyu and her together, their interests are intertwined; if one suffers, the other suffers; if one prospers, the other prospers. Naturally, she has to offer advice and strategies to Qiao Zhengyu.

Seeing the conflicted expression on the girl's face, Zeng Jia frowned and asked, "What's with that expression?"

Wang Luodan quickly composed herself and timidly replied, "President Zeng, I just feel that we are all from the same company and shouldn't do this."

Zeng Jia snorted irritably, "You shouldn't do that! You shouldn't be fighting for roles and resources! If you have such naive ideas, then I suggest you take advantage of your youth and beauty and marry a rich man. The entertainment industry is not suitable for you."

"President Zeng, that's not what I meant," Wang Luodan quickly explained. She had only recently joined the company and couldn't afford to offend the artist director, especially since she wanted to become famous.

Seeing that the time was right, President Zeng patted Wang Luodan's hand and comforted her, "Luodan, since the company has assigned you to my group, I will take good care of you. Of course, all of this is on the premise that you have to follow my arrangements."

Wang Luodan immediately replied, "I will definitely listen to you."

Seeing that Wang Luodan was so cooperative, Zeng Jia nodded in satisfaction. This blockhead was not worth her effort.

"Although the company currently only has four artists and the competition is not very fierce, we still cannot be careless."

Lü Yi will be joining the cast of "The Little Fairy" in a few days. During her absence, you must secure the lead role in "My Old Classmate".

I'll help you try, but you also need to be proactive. Since you've chosen the path of acting, you should give it your all.

Wang Luodan seemed to be deep in thought, her expression gradually becoming serious. She said firmly to Zeng Jia, "I want to become famous. Please, Mr. Zeng, help me."

"She's teachable." Zeng Jia was secretly pleased with Wang Luodan's statement; she liked actors with ambition.

She had originally planned to recruit Yang Mi from Rongxinda to Tengda Culture, but now it seems there's no need for that. Wang Luodan in front of her is also a promising and ambitious young talent.

The two chatted for a few more minutes before Zeng Jia got up to see her off. "You need to be more aware of the company's affairs. I need to report to President Wang later. You can go ahead now." She needed to discuss the time for the "So Young" crew to appear on Happy Camp for promotion.

After watching Wang Luodan leave the office, Zeng Jia returned to her seat and closed her eyes to ponder. She had been with the company for almost half a year and had basically sorted out the various matters within the company.

Aside from the elusive and rarely seen boss, the company has only three senior executives in charge: General Manager Wang Jing, who is in charge of film and television projects; Assistant General Manager Jiang Tiantian, who manages internal affairs and administration; and Vice President Liu Rong, who is in charge of the cinema chain in the south.

She had inquired through connections and learned that Tengda Southern Cinema Line was making great strides in several provinces along the southeast coast, and had been aggressively acquiring cinema chains, gaining increasing influence in the large-screen industry.

Unfortunately, I haven't met Liu Rong many times yet. The company is going to make a movie in the second half of the year, and Liu Rong is in charge of the distribution and release. I need to find a way to get in touch with her.

Time flies, and it's almost the end of January. Tengda Culture held a celebration banquet for "So Young" at the Beiping Hotel, mainly to celebrate the successful completion of the company's first self-produced drama, and at the same time to reward the staff and thank them for their hard work.

Last week, the final episode of "So Young" aired on Beiping Satellite TV, and the ratings barely broke 2%. The TV station received all the first-run purchase fees, and the company was elated.

With a first-run viewership rating exceeding 2%, the broadcast rights for the second and third runs can be easily sold. Including revenue from advertising, DVD rights, and merchandise licensing fees, Tengda Culture is expected to earn around 1800 million yuan from the drama "So Young".

Because it was an exclusive project of Tengda Culture, the celebration banquet didn't invite many outsiders. Apart from Tengda Culture's internal employees, there were only the director of the production team, a few actors, agents, and a few leaders from the TV station.

At the banquet, Wang Jing held a wine glass, beaming with joy and exuding confidence.

As the producer and executive producer, she was instrumental in the production of "So Young" from its preparation to its broadcast. Its success is undoubtedly due to her efforts.

Although the company's previous investments in films like "The Yang Family Generals" and "Chinese-Style Divorce" were profitable, nothing compares to the sense of accomplishment from a project like "So Young," which they developed themselves.

"Mr. Wang, please take good care of my Yuanyuan in the future! Yuanyuan, please toast Mr. Wang." Yu Xinchong, the representative of Gao Yuanyuan's agency, winked at his artist and said with a smile.

After a period of adjustment, the team behind Tengda Culture has taken shape and is now a company with production and distribution capabilities. It is clearly a rising small giant in the industry, and its peers cannot help but take it seriously.

"Mr. Wang, I'll drink this in one gulp. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to play the lead role." Gao Yuanyuan smiled broadly, raised her wine glass with both hands, and toasted Wang Jing.

After the broadcast of "So Young", her popularity soared. Coupled with the foundation she built as Zhou Zhiruo in "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber", she can be said to have firmly established herself as a second-tier star.

"Yuanyuan, you're too kind. It's all about cooperation. If the company has any suitable projects in the future, we'll definitely invite you again." Wang Jing took a sip of champagne and replied gently, though she felt a little regretful.

"So Young" was a special case; the company didn't have any female artists at the time. Tengda Culture will never again give away such an important resource as a female lead for nothing.

Wang Jing had considered poaching Gao Yuanyuan back then, but failed for various reasons, and it's even less likely now.

Furthermore, Tengda Culture has decided to focus on cultivating Wang Luodan and Lü Yi, and no longer plans to poach established actresses.

"Thank you so much." Although Gao Yuanyuan could tell that Wang Jing was just being polite, she still thanked her repeatedly.

(End of this chapter)