It hasn’t been long since Eternal Love of Dream aired earlier this year, but it looks like we may be lucky enough to see Dilraba Dilmurat again. Rumors say that her modern drama with Johnny Huang Jingyu might end up taking over Serenade of Peaceful Joy’s time slot on Hunan TV after it ends in May.
Incidentally, Love Advanced Customization 爱情高级定制 which has wrapped filming since last year chose this time to finally kickstart promotions. Each of the cast uploaded their individual poster on Weibo which was then shared on the show’s official account. Producer Xu Li also posted the same 8 posters featuring Johnny Huang Jingyu, Dilraba Dilmurat, Viann Zhang Xinyu, Yi Daqian, Hu Bing, Zhang Doudou, Wang Yiming and Cai Guangtai.
However, Dilraba fans have been expressing their frustrations against the production and even stated that they won’t be supporting the drama with the reason stemming from unclear top billing. Dilraba’s official fan club released the statement, “In lieu of the production’s prolonged deception of fans, until we receive a definite answer: Dilraba Fan Club and its affiliates will not cooperate with the online and offline promotional activities for Love Advanced Customization. We are always Dilraba’s support, we stand with Dilraba fans forever. @LoveAdvancedCustomization @JaywalkStudio @JaywalkDilrabaStudio”
Fans are unhappy as they claim that Dilraba received top billing when the drama was in the beginning phases. Fans also accused the production of using the issue over top billing to create buzz. Furthermore, the film crew allegedly indulged paparazzi photos. Previously, photos of the Dilraba and Johnny leaked online and sparked dating rumors which fans from both sides have denied.
As the new posters dropped yesterday, it seems that production is steering clear of the top billing issue by simply sharing the posters without listing any names even though Johnny’s poster seems to come first. It’s certainly not the first time that this happened. Something similar happened to Yang Zi and Kris Wu’s The Golden Hairpin where the drama dropped a poster without writing down the names of the cast.
Love Advanced Customization is a modern drama that follows a fashion designer and an e-commerce boss. They start out hating each other before falling in love. Frankly, it sounds a little too cliche for my taste, but I do love both leads. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Johnny Huang since Moonshine and Valentine, which ended up being such a gem. He had another hit last year with The Thunder. And if it’s a sign that he picks good dramas, hopefully this will be good too.
Source: 1
Lioona
What is the top billing?
Anonymous
the person who earns the most money.
Anonymous
usually top billing is when one of the leads is paid more than their co-star.
ErisFerris
I was gonna comment on the top billing but I'm really charmed by the posters. So nice ~~
Anonymous
Once the salary cap is in place there will be no more top billing commotion~
Anonymous
Top billing issue aside, I hope they stick to the book. The two leads have a friends(?) with benefits kind of relationship that develops into romance…
neen
what's the obsession with top billing with fans?? should that info even be available for fans to fight over?
Lil
I stand by equal pay for equal work. Both are leads and no one is greater than the other.
kiwilove
Well, in terms of acting I'd give Johnny the top billing.
I didn't even recognized that was Viann. I always see her in long flowy hair!!
Anonymous
Doesn't the male lead usually get top billing? I too am getting tired of these modern dramas anyway – they've all been the same lately. Young lady wants to make it in some industry, male lead has some kind of psychological problem that the female helps him get over. At first they hate each other then fall in love as you said. They live happily ever after. But, but – I love Johnyy Huang, so there you go. Will they have amazing chemistry??
rafaella
gosh what undeniable explosive chemistry but Dilraba fans hated Johnny!!! why?!?
Anonymous
No matter what, as a fan of both Reba and Jingyu, I will definitely support the drama. I've seen a little snippet of the drama and their chemistry is really not a joke. They both are on fire.
And my well wish goes to the rest of the team as well. Good luck!
Anonymous
Omg Viann looks so hot!
Anonymous
Uh oh, don't tell me it's another one of those…….. poor Cinderella who couldn't even do her job, but only talk so big? And then she acts so proud but would only chase after ignorant rich CEO instead of somebody her level and cared more about her. Then, the CEO never works but stalks her all day?
If that's the case, poor Dilireba, another bad drama choice.
Anonymous
The project is over, the bills been paid! Why are the fans not supporting their idols dramas? What kind of fans are they? The heck?
Anonymous
I agree with the above comment. As a Dilraba fan I'm going to watch this drama to support her. How are they supporting her by not watching her drama?
I like Johnny Huang. He's handsome and from the teaser they seem to have great chemistry. Dilraba accepted the drama and role so why are fans creating such a fuss. I agree with the fans though that the production should not create fake rumours about the leads dating just to create hype and buzz for the drama. Those are cheap tricks and make you question the quality of the script. It also created fanwars and unnecessry hate and cyber bullying by fans of both sides. However there's no proof that the production was behind that and the best way to deal with such stuff as a fan is to ignore that and wait for offical announcements instead.
Ari
Yeah lol. I was confused too … like are you sure you're fans?
Unknown
Top billing is when your name is listed first in the promotional material and in the credits. It doesn't have anything to do with pay.
Unknown
Agree with Johnny for top billing, he's an excellent actor! Also it was in his contract, so there shouldn't be arguments about it, he was connected with the project first.
Unknown
I agree with you! I also want to say that Johnny was attached to this project before Dilireba. And for some reason, she never appeared at the boot-up ceremony, only Johnny did. Additionally there is no reason to believe the production was involved with leaking pictures/videos of them together, where did that come from? The production only just released info about the project in their announcement. But I'm very much looking forward to this drama. It looks great!
Unknown
Romantic comedies are never original in the plot. What makes a good romantic comedy is the chemistry the leads have today, and Johnny and Dilireba have tons of chemistry together! So this drama looks really good to me! Johnny has excellent taste in scripts and he's a great actor, I think audiences will see a side of him they aren't used with here. All the more reason to look forward to it! Regarding the top billing thing, Johnny was attached to this project before Dilireba was. Johnny was at the boot-up ceremony and she wasn't, I don't know why. It's logical that Johnny have top billing. Billing positions are usually negotiated as part of thr contract, so Johnny most likely had specified first billing in his contract that's how he got first billing. No scandal. Just a contract stipulation.
Anonymous
In regard the acting i would give Johnny the top biling over dilibra… He is not the most perfect actor but atleast he is better than her!!
Anonymous
Yes not a fan of her acting either. I think she is just casted for traffic for the drama. Viann can't get the views, she is also another beauty, her acting is also meh, a lil better than Dilreba, but just not as popular.
Anonymous
I cannot believe I failed to recognized Guhai. Lol, I thought he was Shawn Duo. Good luck to this drama, hope the plot is good.
Anonymous
Top billing is not about whose acting is better. It's about the actor's status in the industry and how much they can carry the popularity of the show. I agree that Johnny is a better actor than Dilraba in the acting department but the later has more status and popularity than him. That's the reason her fans are angry at the production team.
If you're following the c-entertainment news, you guys would remember what happened with The Golden Hairpin team over top billing. Yang Zi is obviously a great actress but Kris' fans still fought over it because his popularity is greater as an idol than the actress.
Anonymous
It has nothing to do with the pay, but the usually the MAIN lead for the project and 1st list on credit and come 1st in all promotional material.
The suceess or failure of the drama affect the 1st bill the most. If the drama is successful the 1st billed get ALL the credit or most of it. If the drama failed, the 1st bill usually get the most blamed or criticized
It's in important for actors and actresses especially in movies
But sometimes the 1st bill doesn't have to be the leads because it's usually the most successful, senior actors of the projects. For example the lead actress in Yanxi was 4th billed. But she got the most benefit out of the drama popularity as the female lead so it works well for newcomers who don't care about 1st billing as lead too
Anonymous
1st billing has nothing to do with salary…
Anonymous
Learn about it first to know why fans fight over? It might not important to fans but to artist.
Success and failure of the drama are on 1st bill. If the drama is a success the 1st bill would get MOST of the credit.
Anonymous
Once again, 1st bill has nothing to do with pay
It'd be another fight if it get exposed since men tend to get higher pay than women
Anonymous
Did he get better? I remember he can't even emote in drama with Victoria
Anonymous
You clearly know nothing. Do you see YangMi FBB ZLY or any big popular actress 2nd billed in their dramas? unless the male lead is a senior…
More than often actresses are often 1st bill in Chinese dramas because the actress are usually the biggest star and their character is also the MAIN character
Anonymous
It has nothing to do with pay but the credit of the drama
Ugh people are so dumb
Anonymous
He has a strong backup rather than taste in scripts…. LOL
Don't make me laugh
Anonymous
I agree with everything you said except he is a better actor
He is lucky to have good backup to give him amazing resouces. Have you seen his movies?
But he hardly has any memorial role from his successful projects. At least Reba had her breakthroughs as supporting roles and people can link to her directly. Him? maybe that gay role?
Anonymous
Yeah lol. I don't want to be super feministic or anything but usually the main girl will be the main, MAIN role. Yep there's always a main couple or a friend duo but usually it is the girl who is more important.
neen
I do know what its about I just want to know why and how fans have such a say in it if this is information negotiated among the artist and producers? I don't see a reason for fans to have any say in it. How do these fans even know their artists are affected when really we are the outsiders here…
Anonymous
Why do fans even care about these things? Do their idols pay them money?
Anonymous
Unknown 1.c and Anonymous 1.d You guys make no sense at all. So Top Bill has nothing to do with money? For real? Then why the heck are these dumb fans arguing for?
"Promotional material"
Does that involve money? Who promotes it get paid??
Seriously, if no money is involved, really? People would cry over something this dumb? And the production team is seriously that stupid to only make 1 person promote? What is the harm in letting everyone volunteer and promote? What the hell???????????? Isn't the more people volunteering to promote then the better?
So, just because they pick one person to promote that means that person is the most famous just because everyone else was forbidden to do promotion?
Very silly, but fame is not what others entitled onto you, it's what the audience will say about you.
"If the drama is successful the 1st billed get ALL the credit or most of it"
Could you please explain more? What do you mean by credit? Is credit money? If credit is like getting all the flattering and good opinions from the public then that make no sense.
How are they supposed to enforce what people will say? It's possible that viewers will flatter a supporting character if supposing that they performed better or better looking or somethings. So if people start crediting (flattering) somebody else then what will happen? The Top Billed title is going to change to that supporting guy (automatic or naturally?). The main actor that is supposed to be Top Bill gets criticize, but what if it was somebody else fault for dragging down the drama pretend it's a villain in the show stealing 90% of the screen time. So who is suppose to be "TOP BILL" at this point? The villain? They are top billed because they get those criticisms?
This make no sense, if this top bill is just a silly title, basically, "top performer" or "poorest performer" then these words should be more direct and those titles are not even predictable until the show is over because it's the audience free choice to judge who performed better at the end.
Can somebody please explain?
Anonymous
Anon 11.b
Could you please explain what is credit in an intelligent way?
Anonymous
@Anon 1.e You can read for yourself.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billing_(performing_arts)#Top_and_above-title_billing
Anonymous
Anon 8.d I feel like you are trying to pick a fight by making sarcastic questions like these. Fans care about their idols not because they receive money or anything. It's just simply because they love them and want the best for them in everything. You can choose not to Stan anyone, but you can't insult a person's affection for another with these kinds of questions.
Anonymous
Uh…when you say can't insult person's affection for another that is so wrong. Fans always love their idols in the wrong way. Like those dramas we watch where the evil woman do everything to kill the FL and steal ML, fans are always like the evil woman. Your love is in the wrong way. These top bills things have nothing to do with you or fans, it's all what their agencies can do for them. Even the actors themselves don't have the rights to fight over it. People are either attacking Johnny, if not him, then DLRB. But it's not the actor's fault in these things. In this case, either actors not getting top billed is not going to make one of them turn poorer or less popular.
Anonymous
@8.5 PREACH!!
Anonymous
I always saw Huang Yingyu name infront of Dilireba on the official promotion material. He obviously had good backing in entertainment circle. but I feel that Dilireba is more famous and she should be billing title. I will watch the show because of her.
Golden Hairpin is another issue. Female role is obviously lead role in the novel. When Kris's team took project he should know already that male lead is not leading role. Also, Yang Zi's popularlity in China nowadays is consider better than Kris and she has much more acting creadibilty in TV circle than Kris as well.
His team allowed fans fighting for billing title is seem like they want to rob credit from other. Promotion on official event (show on CCTV or Hunan TV) always place Yang Zi name infront of Kris, while some place Kris name infront of Yang Zi but said they list per alphabetical order.
His oversea fans may thouht he still famous idols. But now in China, there are many actors/singers who more famous and had better acting skill than him. I can named Xiao Zhan or Wang Yi Po, as example.
Anonymous
Anon 17.b it's the agency's fault. Kris works with ZLY's old boss, forgot his name but he is well known and competitive. The actors themselves can't do anything if their boss choose to fight for those titles.