Chapter 334: Bragging Without a Script

Now Fang Hong's entire industry is facing the risk of tight capital, and if the conflict with Wanda intensifies, if they come at him like this,

the Jade Rabbit side of the film business would take a hit.

It's just that the ability to bear risk is too weak, development was too fast, lacking capital accumulation, so any little disturbance feels agonizing.

Take Chang'e Technology for example — whenever there's a problem with the games, it's as if the capital chain is about to snap.

If he had capital accumulation, he wouldn't bother with Wanda; if films don't work, the TV, Variety, Animation Department, and Best Special Effects sectors could hold things up.

So this is why Fang Hong must diversify and support several industries to get them all off the ground.

But right now only films are the most profitable; the other sectors are either just starting out, or still in the planning stage, or currently being pushed forward — none of them are mature yet.

Additionally, the online seat-selection feature on Rabbit Tickets can also be used to throttle Wanda's cinemas and counter Wanda Film.

Once Chang'e Technology develops further, in the internet sector it can hold the entire film and television industry in check, including the gaming industry.

Because the traffic channels are in his hands.

For now Fang Hong is just buying time with a delaying tactic, dragging it out for a month or so before deciding; he'll definitely meet them, but meeting them a bit later is fine too.

It shows that he also went through a lot of trouble, and isn't easy to get a meeting with.

On May 5th, Legend of Lu Zhen premiered to a strong start, with ratings of 1.43% and market share of 3.06%, quickly climbing to first place on the national Satellite TV ratings chart.

At the same time, it ranked first among both provincial Satellite TV and city network ratings.

This rating is 0.1 percentage points higher than in the previous life, the reason being that Chen Xiao, thanks to "Star You," continues to be on fire non-stop.

On the second day, when the third episode aired, the ratings were still as high as 1.394, with market share rising to 3.65%, still first in ratings and first in market share.

And on May 7th, the third day, the national ratings broke 2.2%, market share 6.6%, continuing to climb at first place, with no sign of dropping.

And this drama, being Zhao Xiaodao's female-lead drama, quickly made her blow up across the internet, her popularity rising steadily, with her Weibo follower count skyrocketing.

On the recently released new-media celebrity index chart, Chen Xiao ranked first with a popularity score of 9.44.

Zhao Xiaodao was second with 9.09.

Other celebrities all fell behind — Da Mimi fifth with 8.58; Yaya eighth; Huang Xiaoming twelfth; Liu Sisi seventeenth; Liu Tianxian is playing dead, she hasn't shown up for a month or two.

One can imagine just how hot these two have been recently.

This popularity index is a comprehensive score based on data performance across various video platforms, Baidu Search, social networking sites, etc., with a maximum of ten points.

Previously Zhao Xiaodao was in a dormant state — she had roles to act, but the films she was in didn't get strong responses; that's just how it is with small supporting roles.

Films don't make people famous, TV dramas do — Zhang Songwen has acted in so many films yet still doesn't seem that famous, and that's exactly why.

Take Huang Bo for example — he's not even on the popularity chart.

Recently Chen Xiao and Zhao Xiaodao have often been doing joint film Propaganda Department together, attending some show interviews, which inevitably led to some dating rumors about the two of them.

They neither confirm nor deny, letting the outside world guess.

On Happy Camp, Zhao Xiaodao was asked by several hosts: "Did you ever think it would air this hot?"

"At first I probably didn't have that much confidence, but later on I gradually gained confidence," Zhao Xiaodao said.

"Eh, why?" He Jiong was puzzled.

"Because this was a project the Principal personally designated, it passed through his hands — looking at it now, he's never lost, you think about it, he's never lost, how could I lose?" Zhao Xiaodao pointed at herself.

Chen Xiao beside her and the others all chuckled lightly.

"That is true, the Principal is quite a legend — so how did you end up acting in this drama? Is it convenient to share the story between you and the Principal?" He Jiong spoke very nicely.

"Back then I think I was filming 'Bad Genius,' and on set the Principal found me and said I was extraordinarily talented, suited for acting in TV dramas," Zhao Xiaodao said with a hand covering her mouth, laughing.

That was two years ago, quite a long time ago, what exactly was said back then is also forgotten, anyway it was roughly that meaning.

This remark made the several hosts on site and Chen Xiao all laugh, and the audience in the venue also clapped and cheered with "pa pa pa."

Zhao Xiaodao added: "Anyway, back then he told me a lot of big talk, saying he'd make me famous and all that, I just felt the Principal really loves to brag, he brags without even drafting a script."

"But if you felt he was just bragging, why did you still get on his boat?" He Jiong said.

Meaning why she still signed with Jade Rabbit.

"I thought at the time, he's bragging so seriously, I'll just give him this chance," Zhao Xiaodao said with a "hehe" laugh.

This interview segment was very interesting, drawing continuous laughter on set — it was an entertainment show after all.

"You really aren't afraid the Principal will see this clip?" Xie Na said, holding the microphone.

"Isn't this pre-recorded? You can cut it out, right?" Zhao Xiaodao said, looking blank.

"Hahaha!"

The whole place burst into laughter, the audience sitting below also laughed nonstop, with continuous applause.

Zhao Xiaodao is still quite an interesting girl, with a straightforward personality, quite likable.

Of course, what she's like in private? That's unknown.

This episode aired as scheduled, and many viewers, after seeing it, had a different impression of this celebrity Zhao Xiaodao, and took a liking to her.

"Ying Bao is really outspoken!"

"Xiaodao is just too cute, too real, hahaha!"

"Dying of laughter, born with comedic talent."

"."

She has only just become famous now, and people's impression of her is still very good.

Those '85 celebrities have new challengers again, no longer limited to staring at Liu Tianxian — of course she's also under the Principal's protection, which is quite uncomfortable.

Fang Hong didn't see this show, and even if he had, he wouldn't care.

Besides, he has no grudge with Mango TV; even the matter with Zeng back then was only targeting Zeng himself, not targeting Mango TV.

So no one will have any conflict with him over Zeng's matter — Zeng was just a small fry, giving up on him is giving up on him.???? Cooperate where cooperation is due, do what needs to be done.

This year is also Mango TV's leadership transition year, when new leaders will take office, probably around September.

Director Ouyang has already retired in January.

Recently, because of Zhao Xiaodao's sudden rise to fame, she gained a huge wave of fans, and commercial endorsements and event invitations came pouring in like snowflakes.

Endorsements like Bingo Xiaoxiaoxiao, Dove, Mabuda Fruit, Glico, Mikou Lipstick, tissue paper, and over a dozen other random brands were all arranged for her, with nonstop ad shoots.

During this period, she earned the company a whopping fifty million.

Equivalent to recouping the fifty million annual fixed marketing budget that Fang Hong had previously allocated.

Of course Chen Xiaozhuan earned even more, having brought the company around two hundred million so far, and the lingering heat of "You Who Came from the Stars" has not faded.

Fan Xiaopang earned a bit less, just over a hundred million.

Of course, earning this much doesn't mean that's the profit — the artists have to be provided services.

Escorting and protecting them, whether it's offline personal safety, event arrangements, or online public opinion — all of it needs to be covered.

These are the obligations of a talent management company.

It's not that once they earn money they're done — other stars also need to be given corresponding treatment. Even if they haven't created value, their livelihoods must be guaranteed. The money keeps flowing out.

Fang Hong called Zhao Xiaodao and Chen Xiao over to participate in an episode of a Chang'e Video exclusive interview.

Chang'e Video is now live and already broadcasting "Legend of Lu Zhen," but since it's a new platform, many people don't know about it yet, so the two of them are needed to promote it a bit.

In the recording studio, the equipment was already set up. The host doesn't show their face — they only provide questions. The two of them just face the camera.

"Hello, friends of Chang'e Video, I'm Zhao Xiaodao, I'm Chen Xiao."

The two greeted the camera.

Fang Hong, along with leaders Zhang Nan, Zhang Lidong, and others, watched from off-camera, with the host providing questions.

"Do you feel your life has changed after the drama aired?"

"No change. At most they call me Lord Lu — that's what they called me in the drama." Zhao Xiaodao said.

"They still call me Xiaoxiao." Chen Xiao said.

"Then what are you like in daily life? How do you get along?" the host asked.

"We usually joke around. She's also a very fun, very cheerful person." Chen Xiao gestured at Zhao Xiaodao.

"With such a good foundation of affection, could you develop it further outside the drama?" the host asked.

"Let's just let it happen naturally!" Zhao Xiaodao said.

"I also think let it happen naturally. Our relationship is already very good now. I don't want the outside world saying we must be a CP, must do this or that — that might actually make our relationship worse than before." Chen Xiao said.

"."

The interview basically just asked gossip questions — talking about the drama is boring, people like watching gossip, but there's a line to it: just don't confirm, don't deny.

After the interview ended, Fang Hong said, "Thanks for your hard work."

"Big boss, you took up our time — remember to pay us an appearance fee!" Zhao Xiaodao joked.

"Is that going to hurt our feelings?" Fang Hong said.

"Huh? Do we already have feelings between us?" Zhao Xiaodao said, looking blank.

"You're the one who brought up money!" Fang Hong said.

"Hehehe!"

Everyone present laughed. The Principal's point was — don't talk about money and there's no feelings, talk about money and there are feelings. The exchange between these two was quite amusing.

But both of them were just joking.

After chatting casually for a bit, Zhao Xiaodao and Chen Xiao said goodbye to Fang Hong, needing to rush to their next event.

They had been invited to help promote Chang'e Video, and had squeezed in the time on short notice. Both were very busy recently, running around to various events, and didn't have that much time.

But to help the Principal to the end, both of them @'d Chang'e Video on Weibo.

And posted: ""Legend of Lu Zhen" online broadcast platform, free to watch."

The netizen fans below began to discuss.

"What platform is this? First time hearing about it?"

"Chang'e Video, a long-form video app spun off from Bilibili, just like iQiyi."

"No membership needed, you can watch for free!"

"No pre-roll ads either, the interface is very simple, click in and you can watch."

"."

Zhao Xiaodao's follower count had grown to nearly ten million; Chen Xiao's was close to twenty million.

Although the two had overlapping fans and some inflated numbers, they were currently very popular, so as long as either of them said something, the reach was still very wide.

This is the effect celebrities bring — the benefit of resources from a fully integrated industry chain.

This interview was posted on Chang'e Video, and also on Bilibili, as well as other video platforms.

Plus the "Partner" trailer was also going up on Chang'e Video — the newly launched Chang'e Video had various channels driving traffic from day one.

Clicking the "Legend of Lu Zhen" banner ad on Bilibili, or any TV show or movie, would jump straight to Chang'e Video.

There was also precise ad placement on social media like Weibo, Qzone, Tieba, Douban, and others.

Precise ad placement means only putting ads in places where people discuss celebrities and TV dramas — other places aren't targeted because the conversion rate is too low.

Money has to consider the input-output ratio too!

(End of chapter)