novelslam 25. Marina Alexandrova
25. Marina Alexandrova
As soon as Li Xiang and Dalia left, Kulistikov called his former employer, Gusinsky.
"Who did they choose?" Gusinski asked.
Marina.
Marina Alexandrova joined NTV during the "Gusinsky era," but she was still young at the time and only became truly famous after Gusinsky's downfall.
Strictly speaking, Kulistikov also had the kindness of recognizing Marina's potential.
After NTV entered the era of state ownership, Kulistikov was fortunate enough to be promoted to general manager. In order to secure his position, he personally supervised the production of a large number of high-quality, non-political films and television programs to maintain the channel's image.
Marina's face possessed an untamed, classical beauty, and it was during this period that she entered the public eye.
"Why did you choose her?"
If you want to transfer assets through endorsement fees, the higher the price, the better. You need to find a top star. At present, Marina can only be considered a second-tier star in Russia.
He has a certain level of fame, but his acting skills have not yet been recognized, so he can only make a living in the television industry.
"The decision was made by that Chinese guy; well, he's a man, so this outcome isn't surprising."
Gusinski commented, "Another idiot who only thinks with the half of his body."
Kulistikov said with a smile, "I arranged for Marina to meet with them. Let them go and talk to me first. If they run into a wall, they can come back to me for help, and then I'll step in and help them."
Gusinski asked, "Have you already spoken to Marina?"
"No need. Marina is much smarter than you when it comes to taking sides. Khodorkovsky's men asked her to film a 'GG' (a euphemism for taking sides), how could she possibly agree?"
Kulistikov changed the subject, saying, "I'll help you this time, but this is the last time. Let's avoid contacting each other in the future if possible."
Gusinski said sarcastically, "You're my best friend for life, how could I possibly forget you?"
"I really hope you go to hell soon," Kulistikov said without any attempt to hide his feelings.
Gusinsky's laughter came through the microphone: "There are plenty of people who want me to go to hell. Everyone in the Kremlin wants me dead soon."
"I'll never be able to go back to Russia in this lifetime, but I have to live well and take good care of my health. Only by living long enough can I see the end of this drama!"
-
Marina was filming and didn't have time, so Dalia got impatient and went back to the hotel first.
Finally, the director let us have dinner.
Marina and Li Xiang found a random spot on set and started eating and chatting.
Are you a foreign brand?
Kulistikov didn't explain things clearly to Marina, only saying that two friends from St. Petersburg wanted her to be their spokesperson.
With Dalia gone, only Li Xiang's East Asian face remained, and Marina instinctively assumed he was a foreign investor.
"Yes," Li Xiang admitted.
Is it a Japanese brand or a South Korean brand?
In Russia, the highest-end products are European goods, followed by Japanese goods. South Korean brands are considered mid-to-low-end, while mainland Chinese goods are simply cheap products with no brand premium; only quality matters.
"SnowFlying is a Chinese-owned brand that makes down jackets."
Li Xiang's choice of words is very precise: it's not a Chinese brand, but a brand owned by Chinese capital.
"Never heard of it."
Marina Alexandrova | 24 years old | Actress
[Emotion: Disappointment]
[Key Information: Mu Qiang | Career Ambition | Dilemma of Choice]
[Core Anxiety: Uncertainty about the Future]
[Choice 1: Whether to join the Moscow Modern Theatre]
[Choice 2: To accept Alexander Domogarov's advances]
Although NTV has been nationalized, as a "legacy of a former oligarch," it is still largely composed of remnants and has been gradually marginalized, with limited room for development.
Marina has only two options for advancing further: either align herself with the state or with the oligarchs.
He aligned himself with the state and joined the Moscow Modern Theatre to enter the system. Within the system, success is at the mercy of fate; resources aren't determined by popularity or acting skills, but by who is closest to power.
Aligning with oligarchs is relatively more commercial, but Gusinski is a historical stain she can't shake off.
Alexander Domogarov is twenty years older than Marina and is recognized as the leading "tough guy" in Russian cinema. Accepting his advances would also give Marina access to his industry resources, which is exactly what Marina desperately needs.
Marina's anxiety stemmed from her stagnant career.
Li Xiang said, "Our endorsement budget is very high, $200,000 for two years."
"That's really quite nice." Marina was starting to get interested.
According to information provided by Kulistikov, Marina's current endorsement fee is $5 to $7 per year.
"Your TV series 'Love in Petersburg' was introduced to China and was very popular with the audience. When we were looking for a spokesperson in the Russian-speaking region, you were the first person we thought of."
Li Xiang had never seen "Love in Petersburg" before. He only found out that the show had been introduced to China when he was idly Googling information about Marina online.
"I'm quite well-known where you are."
"You're the only Russian female celebrity I know." This time, Li Xiang told the truth.
"It's probably because you don't usually pay attention to our local films and TV shows. I'm just a second-tier artist." Marina felt embarrassed for Li Xiang; how could he say such flattering things?
Li Xiang pressed his advantage, saying, "If you have no objection to the 200,000 yuan endorsement fee, let's find a time to sign the contract as soon as possible."
"So fast?" Marina paused for a moment, then asked to confirm, "You think you can make that decision?"
Li Xiang quickly replied, "Yes, I can take full responsibility."
"Then let's sign it. As long as it doesn't interfere with my filming, I'm available anytime."
Money delivered to your door is free money, so why not take it?
Marina was also worried that Li Xiang might change his mind after learning about the state of the Russian entertainment industry, so she wanted to finalize the contract as soon as possible.
Li Xiang said with a smile, "I have a small request."
"I knew it! Endorsement fees don't come for nothing." Marina asked quite generously, "What are your requirements?"
Li Xiang said, "I'd like to invite you to dinner."
"Is it just a meal? Nothing else?" Marina asked to confirm.
"Just eating."
"Okay, I'll wait until I'm done with work." Marina grinned.
"What time is it?"
"I can't say for sure, it depends on the director." Marina looked at Li Xiang with a smile and asked, "Don't want to wait? You can leave if you don't want to wait, we can reschedule for another day."
Li Xiang felt like he had been fished out.
He became a monk after Natasha became pregnant, and even when watching "Animal World," he thought the Bengal monitor lizards in it were quite handsome.
Marina glanced at him; he was able to control himself, but his little brother was starting to take the bait.
"I'll wait no matter how late it is. I'll contact a lawyer now to draft the contract, and if things go smoothly, we can sign it around dinner tonight."
Marina, who was used to seeing powerful older men in the world of fame and fortune, found Li Xiang to be a big boy and quite novel. She teased him, saying, "You're too fast. A man shouldn't be too fast."
In Russia today, taking sides is a very serious matter. If it's domestic capital, Marina will definitely investigate the other party's background before deciding whether to cooperate.
SnowFlying also did research; a quick online search revealed...
Chinese brand Snowflake.
-
Marina didn't get off work until 2 a.m., then she signed a letter of intent, had dinner, and chatted.
It was already past eight in the morning when Li Xiang returned to the hotel.
The TV in the suite was still on, and Aunt Dalia was asleep on the sofa.
Li Xiang covered her with a blanket, and Dalia, a light sleeper, woke up with a start.
"How did the talks go? Did she agree to sign a dual contract with us?"
Li Xiang was exhausted and yawned, saying, "I didn't mention the dual contracts to her."
Dalia stood up, grabbed Li Xiang's ear, and said, "With so many big names out there, why did you have to choose her? I told you you were just blinded by lust and forgot all about the important stuff!"
Li Xiang tried to dodge but failed, never expecting that Dalia would get really angry and hit him so hard.
"Let go, let me explain."