Chen Sicheng’s resilience in the entertainment world can be attributed to his strong professional standing and industry connections. As a director and business owner, he doesn’t solely rely on public favor to secure projects. Backed by the cinematic giant Wanda Pictures, Chen holds a reputation as one of China’s best commercial film directors.
- Transition from Actor to Director: Despite a limited talent in acting, with his most notable role in “Soldier Assault”, Chen Sicheng’s appearance and demeanor often restricted him from leading roles, particularly in romance, period dramas, and literary adaptations. Recognizing these constraints, he swiftly transitioned to writing and directing, launching films like “Beijing Love Story”, subsequently spotlighting the emerging actor, Liu Haoran.
- How Did He Become A Well-Resourced Director? With the listing of Wanda Pictures, Chen Sicheng was incorporated into their fold, receiving significant investments from Wang Jianlin and his son. This support enabled him to set up his own studio and courageously launch the “Detective Chinatown” series, which garnered immense success.
Despite his numerous publicized affairs, resulting in a declining public image and categorization as a “scumbag”, Chen Sicheng proactively changed his strategies:
- Bold Moves: He completely transitioned behind the scenes, channeling all his company’s resources into promoting Liu Haoran. This strategic pivot is seen as a diversification of brand representation.
- Building Alliances: To salvage his tarnished reputation, he heavily depended on the popularity of his wife, Tong Liya. His efforts to appease her, including buying her a mansion in Australia, aimed to shift public sentiment. As long as Tong Liya remains influential, Chen’s career seems to have a safeguard against complete downfall.
These tactics ensured that Chen Sicheng weathered the storm brought about by his personal controversies.
- Collaborations and Evolution:
- Capitalizing on his “Detective Chinatown” IP, Chen managed to earn revenues nearing 10 billion yuan. Among his contemporaries, only a few like Wu Jing and Shen Teng share similar success, with Xu Zheng possibly in the mix. But Chen didn’t stop there and continued to innovate.
- He ventured into the web series domain with the “Detective Chinatown” universe to test market responses. The audience generally appreciated its mysterious and darker themes.
- Adopting a cautious approach, Chen Sicheng adapted foreign detective films, setting their narratives in Southeast Asia for ease of approvals. This strategy led to successful films like “Sheep Without a Shepherd 1 & 2” and “The Yin Yang Master”.
Chen Sicheng’s projects, known for quick turnarounds and high-quality outcomes, have consistently performed well at the box office. Moreover, he has a knack for promoting talent, with stars like Xiao Yang, Chen He, Liu Haoran, Tong Liya, Zhang Zifeng, and Chen Yusi benefiting from his Midas touch. Source