Chapter 176: Recording
“Alright, that’s all for today’s Happy Holidays. Thanks to…”
The live recording of a new episode of the studio variety show Happy Holidays ended with the host thanking the program’s sponsors.
However, after the audience had all left, the host, permanent cast members, and guests for this episode returned to their seats below the stage, still in full hair and makeup.
On stage, a group of staff members wearing work badges of a different color from Maize TV (the platform for Happy Holidays) were urgently setting up a stage. On one side of the stage stood the nine members of Endless-9, who had changed into their stage outfits.
“Sigh, what do you think the Endless-9 team is thinking?” A Maize TV staff member below tilted his chin, gossiping with those around him.
“They must look down on our scenery and photography,” one person curled their lip, sounding quite disgruntled.
Turning around, wasn’t that the very stage photographer who claimed to be looked down upon? No wonder he sounded so sour.
Someone guessed the reason for Yishang Entertainment’s actions: “Yishang Entertainment trained a team that can rival overseas music promotion stages. After Idol 101 finished recording, they couldn’t just let them sit idle while getting paid, so they’re using them again.”
“Their stage scenery looks expensive at a glance.” Others looked at the nearly finished stage on the platform, estimating how much money this stage would cost.
“Let me tell you, this information is absolutely reliable—their Endless-9’s recent schedules will be just like ours here, and every single stage scenery will be different.” This person was very well-informed and shared what he knew.
Endless-9 had been popular nationwide since their survival show. Since their debut, variety show invitations had been endless. Now that Yishang was willing to let them out to record variety shows, their schedule must be packed.
If every show followed today’s level, the group of gossiping staff members looked at each other in shock. “My god, how much money is that going to cost?”
“That’s why artists and people like us all want to jump ship to Yishang Entertainment. They’re wealthy and powerful, and they can give everyone a bright future.” One person clicked their tongue in admiration while sighing.
When it came to planning artists’ development, what entertainment company didn’t put in effort? But there were very, very few like Yishang Entertainment that were willing to spend money in every aspect.
At this time, the stage scenery was finished. All Yishang staff were already at their posts, and the nine members of Endless-9 had also struck their opening poses on stage.
“Alright, stop chatting! We still need to record the reactions of the artists and guests below the stage!” Before the stage lights dimmed, the director’s assistant came over to shout at the gossiping crowd.
As the music started, the nine people on stage danced in unison, exuding charm in front of the camera, capturing hearts.
The guests and artists below the stage watched the performance on stage with excitement and focus. Maize TV’s cameras recorded everyone’s reactions one by one.
Above the audience seats in the Happy Holidays recording hall, two people stood, watching the powerful song and dance on stage.
“Endless-9 truly deserves to be created personally by General Manager Tong; they have both strength and looks,” one person praised. It was Gong Tianfeng, the head of Maize TV.
“Our nine Endless-9 members have soaked in the practice room until their debut stage for this first album is flawless. That’s why I took on today’s schedule for them.” Tong Shenwu nodded with satisfaction as she watched their “knife-group” dance (perfectly synchronized dancing), and the live singing and dancing in her ears were also no problem.
Tong Shenwu mentioned that Endless-9’s new song would debut on Maize TV. Hearing this, Gong Tianfeng laughed heartily, clearly very pleased with this statement.
“General Manager Tong, your company is famous for its excellent stage scenery and artist hair and makeup. Seeing it today, it truly deserves its reputation!” Immediately after, Gong Tianfeng changed the subject and continued, “Today’s look is the one on the poster?”
Hearing this, Tong Shenwu nodded with a smile. “That’s right.” She knew in her heart that the reason Gong Tianfeng asked this was actually a hint that he was paying quite a bit of attention to Endless-9.
So, taking this opportunity, Tong Shenwu asked, “I presume you’ve seen the professional level of my company’s team. Regarding the music promotion stage cooperation we just discussed, what is your intention now?”
Gong Tianfeng frowned slightly, and after some thought, he replied, “The TV station is not something I can decide alone, and those requirements you proposed, General Manager Tong, do indeed carry some risks.”
However, despite what he said, his heart had already softened. “How about this—let’s wait until this episode of Happy Holidays is successfully broadcast, and then let everyone in the station watch the broadcast effect before we decide.”
Before he finished speaking, Tong Shenwu noticed that Gong Tianfeng was no longer as adamant as before. She naturally wouldn’t miss this excellent opportunity to strike while the iron was hot. “Our Yishang Entertainment is very sincere; investment and funding have never been a problem.”
Gong Tianfeng’s brow twitched. This Yishang really uses money to clear the way wherever they go. Now that they were at Maize TV, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t tempted.
He heard that someone—Tang Tiantian from Friends at the Party—had also jumped ship to Yishang. If they really cooperated with Yishang, Maize TV would just need to provide a broadcast slot and could basically step back.
It sounded quite good.
Tong Shenwu and Gong Tianfeng reached a preliminary agreement. Without waiting for Endless-9 to finish recording, she left first with her assistant; she was busy.
While Endless-9 was busy with schedules, recording variety shows, and filming music promotion stages for the title track of their first album, time flew by. The day the full album MV was released arrived.
The release of the first album, the release of the MV, and the first stage of the new song Colosseum were all on the same day.
At ten in the morning, Endless-9’s official accounts on all platforms uploaded and released the MVs for the two pre-release tracks and the one title track in sequence.
Fans who had set their alarms early and were waiting anxiously immediately clicked to watch as soon as they refreshed the page.
The pre-release tracks Jianghu Guest and Shackles were as expected, just like the finals night stage—one was an ancient-style MV, and the other was a supernatural/eerie-style MV.
The title track Colosseum was unexpectedly not the ancient Roman Colosseum that most people guessed, nor was it a Western fantasy myth style. Every frame of the footage showcased a future fantasy style.
[Endless-9] Colosseum MV
[Fù Jǐn — Version of Accompanying Mirror Group to the Top]: Here is the storyboard analysis — As a cosmic crisis is about to break out, nine beast-tribe teenagers from different planets are chosen by their tribes. They represent their respective tribes and enter a time machine to travel through worlds, solely to find a way to save and resolve the crisis.
Every one of them is one in ten thousand, having defeated countless people before meeting here. The nine of them have different personalities, abilities, and tribes. Through round after round of training, they gradually cooperate with perfect chemistry and become each other’s support.
But there is a scene in the middle of the MV where all nine people are fighting inside a crystal ball. As the camera zooms out, there is more than one crystal ball. I suspect this is a foreshadowing by the planners.
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