Mysterious Assistant of the Washed-Up Queen

Otherwise, what if a major capital investor has a higher stake than you? Whose directions would you follow then? What if they want to install a few actors—do you agree or not?

Or suppose the other party has too high a stake, and they suddenly withdraw their investment, what would you do? What if they start giving absurd orders?

So he had to be cautious.

An investment of two or three hundred million. Not too much, not too little. It definitely couldn't compare with those big-budget commercial films. After all, Hollywood blockbusters with investments of over a billion Dollars are not uncommon.

His two or three hundred million was just small fry in comparison.

But in China, it was still considered a significant investment, so it had to be approached with care.

"In that case, Uncle Wei's creative team will have to work hard. I won't interfere. When the crew is set up, Uncle Wei can ask Yichuan for help, and try to use people from our company."

There was no other way; nurturing a film company meant valuing not only the actors and artists but also the importance of the staff behind the scenes.

Take, for example, the filming of *The Wandering Earth* in his previous life; an entire movie like that wasn't something that could be made just on a whim.

Whether it was coordination and scheduling or the professionalism of the behind-the-scenes staff, the demands were entirely on a different level.

Making commercials and making films, frankly speaking, are both about shooting things, capturing the image.

But aside from basic experience and ability, what both sides do is completely different.

It's like comparing a small workshop to a modern, high-tech, automated factory—the technology is generations apart.

Therefore, Chu Tian was consciously cultivating his own professionals.

"Of course, that's no problem. I'll arrange it."

As for the filming, Wei Chuan was the professional, so there was really no need for excessive worry.

"Alright then, Uncle Wei, start preparing for now. As for the funds, I'll give Yichuan a heads-up, and they'll be transferred in installments."

After the two had finished discussing, the film was preliminarily set.

After the creative team was confirmed, Chu Tian would need to show up again to meet them.

The so-called 'creative core' actually referred to a small team of several key personnel in the early stages, with no fixed members.

For example, if a director wanted to make a film and felt there were a few technical challenges where he needed collaboration, he would have to call people over first to see if it was feasible.

If high-quality visuals were required, they would find a skilled director of photography. If high-level acting skills were needed, they would seek out a top-tier actor or a seasoned thespian. If the crew was large or the investor significant, a producer would be added.

Generally speaking, the only fixed core members are the director and the producer. These roles are indispensable: one is in charge of filming, and the other manages logistics and external liaisons, covering both offense and defense.

The rest could be flexibly assembled in many ways.

If the director had an idea, he would take the lead to gather people to form the team.

If an actor wanted to film something, they would propose their idea and then discuss it with a director they knew and the financier to see if it was viable.

In other words, currently Chu Tian and Wei Chuan could both be seen as part of the creative core. Wei Chuan was the director, while Chu Tian took the role of the investor. Subsequently, his spokesperson would enter the team with the title of producer to exercise his powers on his behalf.

After finalizing their agreement, Wei Chuan rushed off hastily.

Seeing Wei Chuan's urgency, even greater than his own, Chu Tian couldn't help but find it amusing. However, he didn't laugh for long before he, too, left in his car, driving away briskly.

His girlfriend's soft hands were waiting for him; he had no time to waste here.

「...」

After purchasing the plane ticket, Chu Tian landed in Shanghai that same evening, heading straight to Xu Qingqiu's hotel.

Upon reaching the hotel, he sent a message and found out that the room was already prepared; it was Yiyi who came down to receive him.

"Where's Qingqiu? Has she come back yet?"

It was already past nine in the evening by the time he arrived at the hotel. On seeing Yiyi, Chu Tian immediately asked about Xu Qingqiu, concerned she might still be busy.

"Sister Qiu has already returned and is in the room removing her makeup."

"PHEW, that's good. Did she just get back?"

"Yes, we shot a lot today and even went to the seaside to endure the chilly sea breeze all afternoon. It was so cold. We only got back less than half an hour before you did."

Half an hour? So, they had been shooting until after eight in the evening?

Hearing this, Chu Tian couldn't help frowning, his expression displeased as he said, "This late? Is there any work that needs such a rush?"

Seeing his displeasure, Yiyi was also not too happy.

"We had no choice. It's for a cosmetics advertisement, barely international first-tier. Sister Hua had quite a struggle to secure it, and the client was in a rush."

"Moreover, Sister Qiu still has a variety show to record next, so she has to work overtime."

In the elevator, after listening to Yiyi, Chu Tian was frowning, seemingly deep in thought.

To clarify the most important aspects of a celebrity's status tier, endorsements are unquestionably one of them.

It's not to say that if you're a veteran or have great fame and high status, you will necessarily have good endorsements.

Currently, the most high-end and persuasive endorsements include only a few types, like luxury cars, designer watches, high-end clothing and bags, and top-brand cosmetics, among others.

A top-tier endorsement not only represents status, recognition, and popularity but also signifies huge earnings. In other words, money!

Many might bear the title of King or Queen like Xu Qingqiu, but top resources are limited and not available to everyone.

Or rather, top-tier endorsements don't look at whether you're a King or Queen, but at your popularity and influence.

In recent years, such top-tier endorsement resources have consistently leaned towards the top-trending celebrities.

Actors or Singers with real talent can only get them if they are extremely popular. The rest, without exception, all go to the young top-trenders.

Because they are more popular, have more traffic, are more well-known, have greater appeal, and are more likely to help brands accumulate wealth.

For Qingqiu to secure a first-tier endorsement now, it at least showed that her popularity had started to match those strategically managed top-trenders.

On one hand was talent, and on the other was popularity. She might temporarily not compare to the top-trenders, but stars who possessed both were definitely rare.

Even with this one point alone, the current top-trenders wouldn't dare act presumptuously in front of Qingqiu.

Even if they held top-tier endorsements, they still had to respectfully address her as Sister Qiu.

This was the confidence that came with real strength.

After all, what do top-trending stars have other than fame? How much value will remain in a few years when they are past their prime?

Having strength is different; even if you fade from the limelight, you can still live well.

Having both strength and popularity is an entirely different story. Not only can you live well, but you can even dominate those top-trenders.

This was the path that Chu Tian and Sister Hua had designed for Qingqiu, and it seemed they had initially achieved their goal.

But this path was destined to be more exhausting, the pressure even greater, and what had been done was still not enough.

At the very least, a first-tier brand dared to arrogantly urge Qingqiu to hurry up.

Pushing down the displeasure in his heart, Chu Tian felt a growing sense of urgency.

Talking about it now was useless, and getting angry was just impotent fury.

All he could do was accompany his girlfriend properly and then silently exert effort to place her upon that high altar as soon as possible.

He also needed to turn Unlimited Entertainment into a behemoth in the film and television circles.

When he lacked neither fame, strength, nor capital, and held top-tier stars, top-tier IP, and a wealth of top-tier resources, then everyone—be they artists, film companies, or sponsors wanting to advertise—would have to speak to him respectfully.

Those who give money are the bosses now, and sponsors are the 'fathers,' but once you have sufficient strength, what are sponsors? I'll have the most popular stars, the variety shows with the highest national popularity and most explosive ratings, the most profitable film and television IP, the most capable production teams, and enormous funds. Sponsors? What are they? You want to advertise? Speak nicely, and I'll give you a chance to show your face. Don't speak nicely? Well, when you see your competitors' ads all over my programs, won't you panic?

In other words, your standing is equivalent to your strength. When you lack strength, your standing will not be high.

But once you have strength, your standing cannot be low even if you wanted it to be.

Chu Tian had long thought all this through, but the process of climbing up made the fickleness of human relationships all too clear.

DING-DONG.

With a notification sound, the elevator arrived at the designated floor.

"Brother Chu, we've arrived. Let's go."

"Alright, give me the luggage. Don't bother, it's not much."

After some polite exchanges, they left the elevator.

"Sister Qiu's room is 2020, yours is right next door, 2018. Put down your things first; I'm going to check on Sister Qiu."