diymy Chapter 5 What she lacks is not exposure
Chapter 5 What she lacks is not exposure
Yang Mixue Studio is located opposite Xinghe Building.
Two streets away, the glass curtain wall reflected the afternoon light, and there were not many eye-catching signs at the entrance, only the metal letters behind the reception desk were quietly lit.
When Shen Yan arrived, Liu An was already waiting for him in the conference room.
Shen Teng is right.
Liu An is indeed difficult to talk to.
He was in his early forties, wearing a gray shirt with his watch tucked under his cuffs. Before speaking, he would look at people for a few seconds, as if judging whether the other person was worth wasting time on.
There was an untouched cup of coffee on the table.
Shen Yan had just sat down when he spoke:
"Brother Teng said you're not a liar."
Shen Yan placed her laptop bag at her feet.
"Thank you to him."
"But that doesn't mean your project is reliable."
Liu An opened the folder beside him, which contained project materials that Xinghe Video had temporarily handed over.
It's very thin.
It's so thin that you can tell at a glance that the project hasn't been officially approved yet.
"Low-cost studio-based variety show, pilot program, no formal investment promotion, the directing team is not yet complete, and the platform resources are uncertain."
Liu An looked up at him.
"You're approaching Yang Mi Xue with this kind of project?"
The tone was not harsh.
But every word is very real.
Shen Yan did not rush to explain.
He knew he wasn't here to sell dreams.
Yang Mi Xue is neither Bai Lulu nor Shen Teng.
Bai Lulu needs an opportunity to shed the label of "only knowing how to laugh"; Shen Teng, though not lacking in work, is also slowly being worn down by the "formulaic" evaluation.
Yang Mi Xue is different.
She remains popular.
Even if her new drama flops, even if she's surrounded by haters, her name can still dominate trending topics, brands, galas, and interviews.
She has no shortage of exposure.
She also has no shortage of people inviting her.
Shen Yan's first words were:
"Professor Yang can no longer participate in regular interviews."
Liu An paused for a moment as he flipped through the documents.
There was a half-second of silence in the conference room.
He closed the file and leaned back in his chair.
"continue."
Shen Yan turned on his computer, but did not immediately upload the proposal.
The first thing that appeared on the screen was a few screenshots of public opinion.
[Did Yang Mi's "The Wind Rises" suffer a setback at its premiere, causing her strong female lead persona to crumble?]
[The interview is more interesting than the actual show; is Yang Mi Xue really suitable for playing a strong person?]
[It's the same old "clear-headed and independent" rhetoric again; the audience is tired of hearing it.]
[Marketing Powerhouse, the Actual Content is Like a PowerPoint Presentation]
Liu An's expression didn't change much.
He must have seen these things countless times.
Shen Yan switched to the next page.
This time it was an invitation from several talk shows.
"Celebrity Face to Face"
Her Answer.
"Night Talks on the Wind"
All of these are projects that were recently submitted to Yang Mi Xue's team.
"These programs are all very good; the platforms are strong, the hosts are reliable, and they have enough popularity."
Shen Yan said.
"But if she were to sit on the sofa now and explain why she took on the role in 'Long Wind Like a Blade,' why she understands the character, how women grow up, and her original intention in creating the film—the audience wouldn't listen."
Liu An looked at him.
Shen Yan continued:
"They'll just wait to cut out her facial expressions and then add a caption: 'They're starting their PR again.'"
Liu An finally smiled.
The smile didn't reach his eyes.
"Planner Shen, you did a lot of research before you came."
"Of course."
"Then you should also know that at this time, we would never let her participate in a show where celebrities suspect each other, lie, and vote."
Liu An leaned forward slightly and placed his hands on the table, folded together.
"I've roughly looked at your model. Celebrities take ID cards, enter the crime scene, probe each other, and finally vote to find the murderer."
"That sounds like a gimmick."
"But for Yang Mi Xue, the risk is very high."
He held up one finger.
"If she doubts others, the gossip accounts will say she's oppressing her juniors."
The second finger.
"If someone doubts her, her haters can create a bunch of scheming memes."
The third one.
"If she wins, some people will say she's too calculating."
The fourth one.
"If she loses, people will say she's pretending to be smart."
Liu An looked at Shen Yan.
"So tell me, why would she take that risk?"
This is a very sensitive question.
They are also very professional.
Shen Yan felt a little relieved.
Only someone who truly understands the risks of being an artist would ask this question.
What I fear is not rejection.
What I fear is that the other party can't even see the potential advantages and disadvantages of the program.
Shen Yan turned the computer towards Liu An.
A character identification card appears on the screen.
[Producer Yang]
You were the last person the missing producer saw before his death.
You and he had a disagreement over control of the new program.
You possess a crucial call log, but this log also makes you the prime suspect.
Liu An glanced at it.
"You really intend to make her a suspect right from the start?"
"right."
Why?
"Because Yang Mi Xue can't pretend to be innocent on this show."
Liu An paused for a moment.
Shen Yan said:
"The more innocent she pretends, the more she seems like a PR person. The more she rushes to explain that she's fine, the more the audience will think she's acting."
"So what do you want her to do?"
"Admit that you're not someone to mess with."
The meeting room fell silent.
Liu An did not respond immediately for the first time.
Shen Yan continued scrolling down.
The screen displays a simulation of the first round of group discussions.
Producer Yang was suspected by three people.
The wine glass was pointed at Assistant Bai.
The call logs point to Producer Yang.
Old Shen interjected with jokes and banter.
Assistant Bai tried to direct the criticism at Producer Yang.
Producer Yang did not rush to clear his name.
She listened first.
After Assistant Bai finished speaking, she only asked one question:
You just said you haven't been to the office since 9 PM.
Why did this lipstick only appear on the wine glass after 9:27?
"This is not about letting her win."
Shen Yan said.
"This is to let her take control."
Liu An stared at those few lines of text.
"Controlling the situation?"
"right."
Shen Yan looked at him.
"What the audience dislikes now is not her intelligence. Intelligence itself is not the problem."
"What they hate is that many programs, which clearly want to showcase her intelligence, insist on packaging it as her being wronged, clear-headed, independent, and misunderstood."
"Then don't package it."
"Have her sit on the table and ask her directly."
Liu An remained silent.
Shen Yan continued:
"She doesn't need to prove she's harmless on the show. She's not suited for that."
"She's suitable to be the dominant player in the first phase."
"Others are responsible for panicking, she's responsible for making others panic even more."
Liu An looked down at the document.
It's clear he doesn't dislike that statement.
But that doesn't mean he'll agree.
"Oppressive type of player." Liu An slowly read these words aloud. "If this isn't cut properly, it can turn into a scheming woman."
"Therefore, the camera must give full play to the rules."
Shen Yan said.
"It's not that she personally oppresses others, it's that the case allows her to oppress others."
"She asked questions not because she wanted to bully anyone, but because she had clues."
"As long as the rules are in place, aggression will become part of the entertainment."
Liu An looked up.
"You're very eloquent."
"I'd rather film it."
Shen Yan said.
"Bai Lulu and Shen Teng have agreed to participate in the internal audition. During the audition, I will first verify whether this rule can be implemented. If it cannot be implemented, I will not waste time presenting it to Teacher Yang."
Liu An finally showed a hint of surprise.
"Shen Teng agreed?"
"Internal test recording."
"Who made the connection?"
"Bai Lulu".
Liu An looked at him again.
This information is far more useful than any of the concepts Shen Yan mentioned earlier.
Bai Lulu's willingness to try shows that this project is not just empty talk.
Shen Teng's willingness to try shows that it has at least some value recognized by veteran variety show producers.
Liu An opened his phone, seemingly to confirm the message.
A few seconds later, he looked up.
"Brother Teng said you let him play a little trick on you."
"Yes."
He said he almost broke out in a sweat during Bai Lulu's interrogation.
That's an exaggeration.
"He may be exaggerating, but the fact that he's willing to mention it a second time means he genuinely finds it interesting."
Liu An put his phone face down on the table.
"But Yang Mi Xue is neither Shen Teng nor Bai Lulu."
"So I'm not here today to ask for a formal commitment."
Shen Yan said.
"I just want you to know that she has a place in this organization."
Just as Liu An was about to speak, the conference room door was suddenly pushed open.
A woman stood in the doorway.
She wore a black shirt, her long hair was simply tied up, and she didn't wear heavy makeup. She looked thinner and calmer than she did on screen.
Yang Mi Xue.
She was holding a cell phone, probably having just finished a conference call next door.
Liu An frowned slightly.
"Mi Xue, don't you still have—"
"I heard halfway through, so I came to check it out."
Yang Mixue walked in, her gaze falling on Shen Yan.
"Planner Shen."
Shen Yan stood up.
"Teacher Yang."
She glanced at the identity card on the screen and sat down next to Liu An.
"You mean, I shouldn't try to clear my name, but just play the villain?"
The moment those words were spoken, the temperature in the conference room seemed to drop a little.
Liu An did not interrupt.
He also wanted to hear Shen Yan's answer.
Shen Yan sat back down.
"Not being a bad person."
"What is that?"
"Acknowledge aggression."
Yang Mi Xue looked at him.
Shen Yan said:
"The audience already perceives you as calculating, good at controlling the flow of the show, and skilled at marketing. Going on interviews now and saying you're sincere won't be effective."
Yang Mixue's gaze remained unchanged.
But Liu An glanced at Shen Yan.
This is even more direct than before.
"so what?"
Yang Mi asked Xue.
Shen Yan calmly continued:
"So why not try a different approach? In an interview, aggression can be jarring; in a detective agency, aggression is a skill."
Yang Mi leaned back in her chair.
"Do you know that right now, I absolutely cannot cut this kind of thing for anyone else?"
"Know."
"Knowing all this, why did you still dare to design it this way?"
"Because what you lack right now is not security."
Shen Yan looked at her.
"You have too many safety cards up your sleeve. Safety interviews, safety quotes, safety makeup and styling, safety press releases. They won't go wrong, but they also won't change the audience's minds."
Yang Mi smiled.
The smile was faint.
"You're quite bold."
"I'm too timid to see you today."
Liu An frowned, but Yang Mixue raised her hand to indicate that he didn't need to say anything.
She picked up the documents on the table and flipped through two pages.
"You just said that what the audience dislikes is not my intelligence, but that I portray my intelligence as something aggrieved."
Shen Yan nodded.
That's a pretty harsh statement.
"Um."
"But it's somewhat accurate."
Yang Mi Xue put the documents back on the table.
"Then let me ask you a question."
"Please speak."
She pushed the phone in front of Shen Yan.
A popular comment appeared on the screen.
Yang Mi is best at feigning composure, but in reality, she's calculating everything. Every interview sounds like a pre-rehearsed crisis management speech.
Yang Mixue looked at Shen Yan.
"If I were a guest on your show, how would I handle this comment?"
Liu An remained silent.
This question wasn't asked casually.
It tests whether Shen Yan truly wants to make a program or simply wants to use Yang Mi Xue's controversy as a topic of discussion.
Shen Yan glanced at the comments and quickly pushed the phone back.
"No action will be taken."
Yang Mi raised an eyebrow.
"Not going to do anything?"
"This is not a clarification announcement."
Shen Yan said.
"The more you try to deal with it, the more it seems like you have a guilty conscience."
Yang Mi Xue did not speak.
Shen Yan continued:
"I will give the audience a new clip so they won't have time to share the old one."
"What slices?"
"Yang Mi Xue forced out the killer's timeline with three sentences."
"How imposing is Yang Mixue when she's not smiling?"
"Yang Mi Xue was the real controller of the first episode."
Yang Mi Xue looked at him.
Shen Yan said:
"This slice doesn't explain things to you. It just shows the viewer another thing that's happening."
"They can continue to say that you're cunning."
"But if you can win by calculating within the rules, then that becomes something to watch."
Liu An finally spoke:
"You're using the negative aspects in a negative way."
Not all negative points can be used in reverse.
Shen Yan said.
"Some are fatal flaws, some are misinterpretations, and some are simply characteristics of being placed in the wrong context."
"Bai Lulu's laughter would be criticized as noisy in a slow-paced variety show. But in a mystery drama, it could be considered a cliché."
"Shen Teng's witty remarks would be considered cliché in a regular variety show. But in a mystery-solving show, they can be seen as disruptive."
"Professor Yang's ability to control the situation and her shrewdness would be described as having a strong public relations style in an interview. But in the context of a mystery game, it can be interpreted as a sense of oppression."
He paused here.
"My job isn't to wash away these things for celebrities."
"It's about changing the perspective and allowing the audience to reinterpret them."
The meeting room fell silent.
Yang Mi Xue looked at Liu An.
Liu An did not immediately express his opinion.
He was thinking.
Shen Yan didn't urge him.
The bigger the team, the less likely they are to agree to something after just a few words.
They consider not only the show's effect, but also subsequent public opinion, fan acceptance, co-hosts, editing rights, broadcasting platform resources, and brand attitude.
Today, it's enough to get the other party to continue watching the sample videos.
After a while, Yang Mi asked:
When will Bai Lulu and Shen Teng audition?
"If Xinghe gets the sheds, the earliest would be the day after tomorrow."
"You haven't even booked a booth yet?"
"It hasn't been officially approved yet."
Yang Mi Xue actually laughed this time.
"Planner Shen, this project of yours is even more amateurish than I imagined."
Liu An also rubbed his temples.
Shen Yan did not deny it.
"It is now."
"You're honest, aren't you?"
"Honesty saves time."
Yang Mi Xue closed the document.
"I can't agree to the official recording right now."
"understand."
"Cut out the internal test recording and give it to Liu An first."
Shen Yan looked up.
Yang Mi Xue continued:
"If Bai Lulu and Shen Tengzhen can achieve the effect you described, I can give you half an hour."
Liu An added:
"Showing us sample footage doesn't mean we're making a commitment."
That's enough.
Shen Yan put away her computer.
Yang Mi Xue looked at him.
"Shen Yan".
"Um?"
"You'd better not make Bai Lulu look like a tool in your film."
This statement surprised Shen Yan.
Yang Mi Xue slowly said:
"She's not brainless."
"She's just sometimes too eager to make others feel at ease."
Shen Yan nodded.
That's why I contacted her.
Yang Mi Xue didn't say anything more.
When Shen Yan left the studio, Liu An personally escorted him to the elevator.
That doesn't count as enthusiasm.
But it's much better than at the beginning.
Before the elevator doors opened, Liu An said:
"I've given Brother Teng face, and you've heard Mi Xue's attitude."
"Don't come to us with any more ideas."
"Get the complete film."
Shen Yan said:
"clear."
"besides."
Liu An looked at him.
"Don't go around saying those things you just said."
Which sentence?
"She shouldn't have pretended to be innocent."
Shen Yan smiled.
"rest assured."
"I still want to finish recording the show while I'm still alive."
Liu An smiled as well.
The elevator doors closed.
Shen Yan had just reached the first floor when his phone rang.
Zhou Qiming.
As soon as the call connected, Zhou Qiming's voice came through.
"Shen Yan".
"What exactly did you talk about outside?"
There were sounds of turning over documents in the background, and it sounded like Zhou Qiming had been pacing back and forth in his office several times.
"Shen Teng Studio just asked us when the internal test recording will be scheduled."
"Yang Mi Xue's studio also asked us to cut up the sample footage and send it over."
There was a two-second pause on the other end of the phone.
Zhou Qiming seemed to have finally lost his temper.
"Was your low-cost interview even an interview at all?"
Shen Yan stood at the entrance of the studio building, the wind blowing in from outside carrying a hint of evening coolness.
On the big screen opposite, a promotional video for Yang Mi Xue's new drama was playing.
In GG, she was dressed in red, standing in the wind, her eyes sharp.
Shen Yan looked at that face and smiled.
"President Zhou."
"I said it from the beginning."
"It's an interview, of course."
Zhou Qiming sneered:
"Which interview requires internal pre-recording? Which interview requires identification cards? Which interview makes celebrities suspicious of each other?"
Shen Yan walked down the steps.
"This time is a bit special."
"What's so special about it?"
"Everyone has to lie first."
There was a half-second silence on the other end of the phone.
Then, Zhou Qiming cursed.
"Go back to the company immediately."
"Explain this to me clearly."