Chapter 1000: Side Story: Yan Liang

"This is an old Hollywood promotional strategy."

Chen Ziyan said: "The male and female leads in the movie already have ambiguity and sparks; spreading rumors about the leads at this time is very helpful for driving the movie's topic."

Lu Qingzhen: "Did Yan Liang and Lily Williams really not have any sparks? I look at the look in their eyes in the movie, it makes me fall into it a bit."

"You've been in this industry for so long, how can you still be deceived by the images in the movie."

"I've been in this industry for so long, and I can still be deceived by the images in the movie; that's the point." Lu Qingzhen said, "That's why I'm curious if they really got together in private."

"As far as I know, they haven't." Chen Ziyan shook her head, "Yan Liang is different from Yan He and Li Zhibai; he is the most rational of the three. You have to know, the more rational a person is, the harder it is to fall in love."

"Yan Liang was rolled to this point by Lu Yanhe and Li Zhibai." Lu Qingzhen said, "To be honest, if we really talk about the support of time, place, and people for an artist, Yan Liang is the one who benefited the most. Relying solely on his own efforts, he really couldn't have reached this position."

"You can't say it like that; everyone's success is achieved under the circumstances of time, place, and people. This is something that cannot be quantified, so, very realistically, you can only judge by the final result." Chen Ziyan said, "Are those who won the Best Actor and Best Actress trophies the best at acting? Should their status in the film industry be the highest? Not necessarily, but the rules are just like that. You say Yan Liang couldn't have reached this position today relying solely on his own efforts; could Lu Yanhe and Li Zhibai have? Actually, not necessarily, including ourselves as well."

Lu Qingzhen: "I understand what you mean, and I agree with it. What I actually want to say is—how should I put it, it's just, I'm not saying Yan Liang doesn't deserve his current achievements, I feel that, conventionally speaking, for him to achieve his current results, it means he has to make greater sacrifices. He can't just rest whenever he wants like Yan He, nor can he be like Li Zhibai, almost defying the fans' wishes by officially announcing he's dating Jiang Yuqian. His background determines that he is more cautious and even less likely to simply be himself and make decisions based on his own thoughts. Dating is especially like this."

Chen Ziyan: "Yan Liang is also almost thirty years old; he no longer needs to maintain a single persona to solidify his fans."

"That's what is said, but you have to let Yan Liang realize it himself, let Yan Liang approve of it himself."

Zhou Ping'an didn't expect that Yan Liang wouldn't let him go back to be his agent, but only an operation director of his studio.

However, to some extent, Zhou Ping'an himself understood.

Yan Liang, of course, couldn't invite him back to be his agent.

That was impossible.

Yan Liang became globally popular because of *Speed of Life and Death*—

The fan base accumulated by *Friends*, and the international popularity brought to him by *Flypaper* before, with the box office explosion of *Speed of Life and Death*, brought his career to a new peak.

As soon as Zhou Ping'an took over, he began to face various sudden growth businesses.

This point was immediately reflected in media interviews and brand contacts.

An actor, in fact, is very difficult to balance commerciality and artistry.

Therefore, some people are very curious why Jennifer Lawrence's status in Hollywood is so high; it's because she is the only one among the young generation of actresses in Hollywood who has achieved this.

*Winter's Bone* made her get an Oscar Best Actress nomination at a young age, and *Silver Linings Playbook* directly made her the second youngest Oscar Best Actress winner in history.

And the *X-Men* and *The Hunger Games* series made her global popularity and commerciality full. Unlike Scarlett Johansson, the *The Hunger Games* series was her big-female-lead movie.

Yan Liang is not an actor who is very outstanding in acting.

But relying on the experiences of several movies like *Gold Rush* and *The Summit*, he was shaped by the media into an actor who could make huge sacrifices for acting. This gave him a certain legendary quality as an actor. Especially his image in the first *Gold Rush* movie, to this day, is often taken out and spread and praised on social media.

Therefore, when *Speed of Life and Death* once again showed his side as a tough guy and masculine sexiness, the public and fans fell in love with his appearance, while the critics and the industry gave a very high evaluation of his shaping ability.

"When *Friends* had almost set his image, he could still refresh the public's impression of him relying on *Speed of Life and Death*; this is a very scarce ability."

"Yan Liang showed his greatest charm since his debut in *Speed of Life and Death*. Before, he relied on various characteristic characters to show his ability as an actor. Finally, his friend Lu Yanhe tailored a movie for him, fully showing his own charm. *Speed of Life and Death* is a work that marks his transition from a well-known actor to a big-name star."

……

Zhou Ping'an said to Yan Liang: "You should strike while the iron is hot and take another Hollywood blockbuster."

Yan Liang said: "I have already accepted my next movie, it's a drama."

Zhou Ping'an was stunned.

"A biographical story about a Chinese genius living in the United States." Yan Liang said, "So, in a short time, I can't take another Hollywood blockbuster."

Zhou Ping'an: "This—"

Yan Liang said: "Brother Ping'an, regarding the development of my career, I have my own ideas, so don't worry about it. You just help me manage the team well."

Zhou Ping'an sighed helplessly.

"Alright."

Yan Liang trusted Zhou Ping'an's ability and his vision, however, at his current stage, he no longer needed Zhou Ping'an to plan his career.

No matter how strong Zhou Ping'an's ability was, his vision could no longer keep up.

He had never been a star with international popularity like Yan Liang, nor did he understand the world film industry.

In this regard, Zhou Ping'an chose to put his time and energy into Shijin Entertainment.

Therefore, when so many actors in China were "going to sea," and even the domestic agency system was constantly aligning with the international one, Zhou Ping'an remained in place.

Regarding the direction of Yan Liang's next movie, Lu Yanhe had already told Yan Liang.

Yan Liang shouldn't position himself as an action superstar in commercial films and blockbusters, but should continue the image of a dedicated professional actor he accumulated in the early stage.

Blockbusters, small films, action films, or dramas can all be accepted.

He has a larger range of choices than Li Zhibai and Lu Yanhe—

In terms of bearing box office failure.

The films starring Yan Liang, even if the box office is not very successful, including art films, have little impact.

Lu Yanhe has a miracle of "box office winning streak" that needs to be maintained. ===== CHAPTER 1001 =====