Chapter 672: Spin-off

This is the reason why Lu Yan He brought out the script for *Red Eye*.

For Jiang Yuqian, starring in a film that doesn't rely on her to carry the box office, has a star-studded cast, and grosses over a hundred million in the US—like *Doomsday*—is far less beneficial to her career than a film with a production budget of around ten million that ends up grossing over fifty million in the US.

Because for Hollywood, Jiang Yuqian is still a foreign actress who has never carried a box office.

Compared to betting big, betting small carries less risk and generates more buzz.

The smaller the project, the greater the dividends for the person carrying the box office.

Just like *The Mist* was for Lu Yan He.

If the director of *The Mist* hadn't been Mu Ken, but rather an unknown director with no prior successful works, Lu Yan He might be even more sought after in Hollywood right now.

Even so, Lu Yan He starring in *The Mist* was a very typical example of effective leading.

Because everyone attributed a large part of the film's success to Lu Yan He.

"You take *Doomsday* for others to see; it's to tell everyone that in the eyes of major studios, you are also an actress capable of starring in A-list productions."

That is exactly what He Heng said to Jiang Yuqian.

"But you take *Red Eye* for yourself. Whether *Doomsday* succeeds at the box office or not, in the industry's eyes, it has little to do with you. But if *Red Eye* succeeds, it's because of you; if it fails, it's also because your drawing power is insufficient."

Jiang Yuqian understood the logic behind this.

He Heng said, "It is said that Green Valley still intends to find a moderately famous male actor to play the villain; they don't intend for you to carry the box office alone. But you can see from the script that you are actually the primary lead. Yan He prepared this script specifically for you; there is no script more suitable for you to break into Hollywood."

Jiang Yuqian took a long breath.

"Sister Heng, after our contract with the company expires, aren't we planning to open our own studio?"

"Yes, isn't that what we agreed on long ago? Have you changed your mind?" He Heng asked.

Jiang Yuqian said, "Let's hang our studio under Linghe. Yan He has left so many projects for me; although we are friends, it is clear that for the next few years, I need—and he will continue to provide me with—some excellent projects."

He Heng pondered for a moment and said, "Yuqian, we waited a very long time to finally reach a point where we could be independent and run our own studio."

"I know. I don't intend to let Linghe become the company that manages us; I just want to use this opportunity to deepen our connection with Linghe," Jiang Yuqian said. "So that both Linghe and Yan He can receive a return from my work."

He Heng said, "I know. You are actually very grateful to Lu Yan He in your heart and don't want to take too much advantage of him, right? So you want our studio to hang under Linghe, that way Linghe can rightfully enjoy the earnings of our studio. I don't care about anything else, but independence—once our studio is truly hung under them, in the eyes of others, we will be deeply bound to Lu Yan He."

"Aren't we already deeply bound?" Jiang Yuqian said.

She did not expect He Heng to have a different opinion on this.

He Heng said, "Yuqian, it's not about anything else. It's that, perhaps in your view, hanging our studio under Linghe won't affect our actual operations. Indeed, in my view, Linghe certainly has no interest in interfering with our studio's specific business. But Yuqian, don't forget, a few years ago we clearly had the opportunity to act in a film, but because of Star Entertainment's arrangements, we had to give up that film and act in a television drama for a partner."

Jiang Yuqian: "That kind of thing cannot happen now; the autonomy to accept roles is in our own hands."

"I'm just giving you an example," He Heng said. "Linghe is not Lu Yan He's Linghe alone. Even if Lu Yan He has the final say, I ask you: in the future, if two opportunities are placed in front of you—one is the lead in a top-tier Hollywood film project, and the other is the lead in a low-budget film by Lu Yan He—and they both come to you at the same time, and you can only choose one, which one do you choose?"

Jiang Yuqian: "I would tell Lu Yan He that I would choose the Hollywood one."

"What if at that moment, Linghe falls into an operational crisis and desperately needs you to act in this project, and only if you act can this project successfully secure investment and start filming?" He Heng asked.

Jiang Yuqian: "Do you think that if Linghe were in such a situation and needed my help, I wouldn't help even if I hadn't hung my studio under Linghe?"

"Better safe than sorry. What if at that time you weigh the pros and cons and decide you can't help? What if, in this process, our studio has been unknowingly infiltrated by Linghe, and we don't even know when we've been set up, forcing you to give up that better opportunity?"

"I think making such assumptions is meaningless, because I'm not saying we should hand over the operational authority of our studio. When we negotiate with Linghe, this point will be stated clearly, and it will be even more so in the contract," Jiang Yuqian said. "I dare not speak for how many years into the future, but as long as Lu Yan He has the final say, he will absolutely not cheat me on these contracts. Of course, we should still be careful and have lawyers review them, but if we don't open this studio just because we are afraid of being set up by Linghe, we might as well not open it at all. Once this studio opens, we will still need investors and need to cooperate with others and sign all kinds of agreements. If we can be cheated by Linghe, then we are destined to be cheated by others."

He Heng fell silent.

Jiang Yuqian: "I said before, otherwise I would just lower my salary a bit on Yan He's projects and take a little less, but you didn't agree, saying we only charged market price and didn't charge extra. Yan He and his team don't care about these salaries, and I didn't say anything. Indeed, if I take less salary, everyone's income decreases; I understand that. But my career over the past two years has been supported entirely by Yan He. Honestly, for a film like *Red Eye*, if it weren't for Yan He, how could there be such an Asian female role left for me to play?"

He Heng: "I admit, I have my own selfish motives for not wanting our studio to hang under Linghe; I am selfish. But I don't think there is anything wrong with that. Lu Yan He has indeed provided you with many excellent opportunities, but isn't this mutually beneficial? You are also a top-tier star; in China, is there any actress more popular than you?"

Jiang Yuqian: "Before *Squid Game*, I was almost about to fall out of the top tier; we both know that."

"When making *Squid Game*, he needed you more than you needed him. He used Jiang Jun, who wasn't known to anyone at the time, as the male lead; he needed an actress with popularity and national recognition who could carry the drama," He Heng said. "Yuqian, yes, he has helped us a lot, especially in your career development, but these are two different things. We can thank him, and if they are short on funds for a certain play, we can lower our salary to act in it—that's all fine. But let our studio hang under Linghe? Sorry, I don't agree."

Many things, many decisions, are absolutely not something an artist can make alone.

Often, people wonder: why would an artist accept a certain job?

That job looks like visible garbage, lowers their status, and doesn't help their career at all.

However, this is just like when you are at work and you and your team encounter two projects: one can bring a return of ten thousand yuan, but if done well, it might help your team enter the next stage; the other can bring a return of fifty thousand yuan, but it is just a quick-money job that might even make people feel it lowers your team's status.

At this time, which one do you choose?

Many people say, stars aren't short of money, why be so short-sighted? Of course, choose the first one.

But what if you are a member of this team? Your boss isn't short of money; they have an annual salary of millions. What about you? You have a job that pays five thousand yuan a month; which project do you hope they choose? Your income is directly linked to these two projects.

Can a boss ignore the life and death of team members and only consider their own thoughts? If you lead a team like this, everyone knows what the result for the team will be.

What's more, many artists are not the boss of this team, but just the person pushed to the front to shout and sell.

Jiang Yuqian's thoughts are very simple, and He Heng's thoughts are also very simple.

Neither of them is a short-sighted person who only cares about money.

However, why is He Heng so open-minded and transparent about other things, yet strongly opposes this matter that is clearly very beneficial to Jiang Yuqian?

Because the two of them are standing from different perspectives.

Jiang Yuqian has many cards she can play. Even if her cooperation with Linghe doesn't go smoothly, she can still choose to leave after the contract expires or consider other options.

But in He Heng's view, Jiang Yuqian is the only card in her hand.

She certainly hopes Jiang Yuqian does well, and she is not the kind of agent who only plans to work with Jiang Yuqian for a few years, make some quick money, and then walk away.

However, she does not want to see Jiang Yuqian get closer and closer to Lu Yan He—especially in terms of agency work.

This is already getting close to her own jugular vein.

The development of Shi Huo is unstoppable.

This agency, built by Chen Ziyan and Lu Qingzhen, has now become one of the largest agencies in the country.

Especially their practice of not requiring exclusive full contracts from artists, which makes many artists willing to sign their business and film contracts with them.

These two items are also Shi Huo's strengths.

He Heng does not want Jiang Yuqian to sign over, just to prevent all these possibilities.

Indeed, perhaps He Heng doing this, in Jiang Yuqian's view, is a bit small-minded. But Jiang Yuqian is the only card in He Heng's hand; once Jiang Yuqian leaves He Heng, she is already a top-tier star, and she has nothing to worry about.

He Heng cannot think this way.

"When an agent reaches a certain level, it is impossible to part on good terms with their artist."

Lu Qingzhen smiled slightly at Jiang Jun and said, "However, at Shi Huo, we want to change the traditional agency model. Although it is difficult, we still try our best to make the company a centralized supply place for resources, to help artists achieve better career development—even if it is only phased cooperation. So, although nominally, externally, your business is handled by me, if you have an agent you work well with, including a team, you can bring them all over. Our positioning for ourselves is very simple: we are a logistics service team, especially for actors like you who have already made it."

After Jiang Jun's contract with his previous agency ended completely, the contract came to Shi Huo.

He did not bring the agent he had worked with for a long time over.

It is said that his relationship with that agent was not handled well. Of course, what the problem was, no one knows.

Jiang Jun said, "I didn't work very happily with my previous agency. To be honest, I don't want to have any more dealings with them. However, my assistant has been following me, and I do intend to bring them over."

"Fine." Lu Qingzhen nodded, "Then I will arrange an executive agent for you, responsible for all your agency business. Since you have an assistant, I won't make other arrangements. The company has assigned you a full-time driver, who also serves as your bodyguard. When needed, the company will also dispatch relevant personnel to you. You don't have to worry about logistics; we are professional and experienced. However, Teacher Jiang, your future career planning—although I am your nominal agent, it is actually handled by Ziyan. The reason for this distinction is that your overseas agency is signed with CAA, but Ziyan has an unpredictable relationship with Williams. Furthermore, Hollywood knows that Yan He is her client; if you are also her client, there will be some competitive trouble in the US, which is why this split was made."

"Okay, understood." Jiang Jun nodded.

Lu Qingzhen: "But if you have any matters, you can contact me at any time. Ziyan and I—I handle the internal affairs, she handles the external. Generally, your services and needs in all aspects are handled by me."

Jiang Jun asked, "Earlier you said the company would arrange an executive agent for me; can I meet them first?"

(Content check!)

"Of course." Lu Qingzhen nodded, "If you are not satisfied, we can adjust at any time. It is best if you have your own suggested candidates. We all know the importance of an agent to an artist. If you cannot trust them, many tasks are actually difficult to advance. Shi Huo is a new company for you, and there must be a process of adaptation and familiarity. If you have a familiar candidate to fill this position, it will also facilitate our communication with each other."

Jiang Jun said with a smile, "Although I just signed over, many of my tasks have long been handled by you, so I trust you very much; that goes without saying."

Lu Qingzhen: "I also promise you that we will not betray your trust."

The second season of *Seventeen Layers* began airing.

Lu Yan He held a live stream, inviting the creators and actors of the second season of *Seventeen Layers* to come to his channel to chat.

He just didn't want to participate in some of the supporting promotions for Beijing TV, but that didn't mean he didn't want *Seventeen Layers* to do well.

Especially since Lu Yan He learned a lot from director Lian Bei and screenwriter Feng Qiyue while filming this drama.

Lu Yan He asked Lian Bei what his plans were next.

Lian Bei said he was revising the script for the third season of *Seventeen Layers*, striving to start filming next year.

Lu Yan He immediately said with a smile, "No worries, write slowly. Even if you finish writing, I might not have time to film next year; I have several dramas to film next year, and my schedule is very tight."

Lian Bei laughed, "Then I still have to write the script first so I can coordinate schedules with you. Otherwise, I might not even be able to catch your schedule for the year after next."

"That's true." Lu Yan He nodded, "Director Lian, after you finish *Seventeen Layers*, do you have any other plans?"

"I have quite a few projects on hand, but they are all still in the development stage; I haven't thought about what to do next," Lian Bei said. "Let's focus on finishing *Seventeen Layers* first. Why, if I look for you to act in my next project, will you come?"

"If it's a project I'm interested in, I'll come. The key is, for your next project, I imagine actors will be fighting tooth and nail to get in, right?" Lu Yan He laughed. "Don't you want to work with people you haven't worked with before? We've already filmed three seasons of *Seventeen Layers* with you; aren't you tired of us yet?"

"Tired? I won't get tired of filming with you all," Lian Bei shook his head. "With a cast like *Seventeen Layers*, I don't think there will be any other drama in my life that will exceed this lineup."

"The main thing is that it's really hard to get Sister Bige to star. How long has it been since Sister Bige acted in a TV drama, and she acted in three in one go," Lu Yan He laughed. "After filming *Seventeen Layers*, who knows when she will act in a TV drama again."

Lian Bei: "What about you? Will you act in TV dramas later?"

"Of course, I film one season of *Friends* every year, without fail," Lu Yan He sighed. "However, before *Friends* and *Seventeen Layers* end, I probably won't accept any more TV dramas. There are too many projects to film every year; even if I split myself into two people, it wouldn't be enough. Right now, the hardest thing for me to coordinate is my schedule, and the most precious thing is time."

Lian Bei: "You have too many successful series. It's a good thing you didn't star in *Squid Game* and *My Own Swordsman*, otherwise, I imagine you wouldn't even have a chance to catch your breath."

"I think so too," Lu Yan He laughed. "I say every year that I want to accept fewer dramas and give myself more time to rest, but there hasn't been a year where I could really rest for more than a month. Basically, I'm just spinning between different film crews."

"Acting in more dramas is quite good," Lian Bei said. "Doesn't everyone say that? If you open one less project, we have one less good work."

"That's too much praise," Lu Yan He laughed and waved his hand.

When this live stream ended, a topic about Lu Yan He and Beijing TV had already hit the trending list:

What exactly is the relationship between Lu Yan He and Beijing TV?

The relationship between Lu Yan He and Beijing TV is simply too confusing.

One moment they are falling out, the next they are making up, then they aren't doing so well again...

Even Lu Yan He's fans are confused.

This time, with the airing of the second season of *Seventeen Layers*, Lu Yan He did not participate in any related promotional trips like the other leads. But whether it's on social media or this live stream event, Lu Yan He doesn't seem to be cutting ties with this drama either.

Moreover, during the live stream, Lu Yan He clearly stated that he would participate in the third season.

If Lu Yan He really had a falling out with Beijing TV, why would he still participate in the *Seventeen Layers* series?

This is indeed confusing.

Many so-called insiders have stepped forward to respond and interpret the relationship between Lu Yan He and Beijing TV.

Their views are also different.

So much so that the level of attention and discussion on this matter even exceeded the content of the drama itself.

Some even say that in recent years, apart from *Friends* and *Seventeen Layers*, Beijing TV hasn't produced any other dramas with this level of influence. If Lu Yan He really doesn't cooperate with Beijing TV in the future, what will Beijing TV do?

One *Friends*, one *Seventeen Layers*—they are still Beijing TV's kings of investment attraction.

Now *Friends* has been renamed *Friends* and moved to Yuehu TV, with Beijing TV enjoying a share of the revenue.

*Seventeen Layers* makes one season every two years.

Beijing TV's advertising revenue has plummeted this year, down by who knows how much compared to previous years.

Conversely, Yuehu TV has always relied on its broad market to defend its position while Beijing TV was thriving. After Lu Yan He brought *Friends*, *My Own Swordsman*, and the Jump Up Theater, it further pushed Yuehu TV's ratings to increase. Now, among local stations, no one can challenge Yuehu TV's position.

Like this year, Yuehu TV is preparing to put *Friends* and *My Own Swordsman* together to start the year—

Originally, they wanted to put the second season of *My Own Swordsman* in the summer to boost summer ratings. However, because both dramas are sitcoms and it coincided with the New Year, many brands are promoting the concept of a "New Year Goods Festival." For this period, brands are more willing to spend money, so the second season of *Friends* started airing in December, and the second season of *My Own Swordsman* started airing during the Spring Festival.

Compared to Yuehu TV, Beijing TV appears exceptionally desolate.

Little did everyone know, while they were discussing it, Beijing TV suddenly announced a piece of news.

*Seventeen Layers* will develop a spin-off, and this spin-off will star Chen Pinhe. (End of chapter)