Yep, I'm pretty sure SIL was an example of where Esther being first billing was used against her when it didn't…
SIL wasn’t a big hit as some of her other dramas, but still ended in the top 12 dramas for Youku for 2025 and made money for them so I guess it wasn’t too bad! In general they want someone with track records of hits to be first bill and there is no guarantee that the drama will automatically a big hit as many other factors involved. Being first bill is prestigious in CEnt but that all comes with burden of shouldering all blames if the drama doesn’t perform well. Actors and their agency will make the decision to take on a project they feel will work for their star.
Slightly off track but the article below is so interesting and informative. A lot of projects fall over due to billing issue.
Instead of whining over billings. Might as well learn "How Billing System in C-ent Works?
Majority of the time, Billing is decided by an actor’s industry status, market value, and ability to attract investment. sometimes by the drama’s plot or who has the most screen time but ofcourse, the Production will try to give the Major Role to a Bigger Name first.
In C-ent, top billing is about money and risk, not feelings. Actors with proven box office or viewership results are the ones the investors will trust to carry a project. Their names help secure funding, sponsors and distribution. When millions are on the line. Billing reflects who the industry believes can actually make the project survive.
That’s why productions whether male-led or female-led. They always start by locking in a bankable lead. Once a major name signs on, financing becomes much easier. If NO top tier actor/actress is available or accepts it. Billing expectations will get adjusted just to get the project approved and moving. It doesn't matter if the actor who plays the major role gets a Lower Billing. That’s Reality.
First or Second billing it doesn’t change who the lead is. If you’re the lead, the success (or failure) of the drama is still tied to you. Billing doesn’t erase your role importance in the plot. it just shows where you stand in the market. its already a huge blessing to play a Major Role in a good project despite 2nd billing for a not so well known star.
And right now, the market is brutal. In 2024, around 230 dramas were produced. This year, production dropped by 30-35%, down to roughly 150 dramas. The number is expected to shrink even more next year due to the ongoing “cold winter” in C-ent or the Economic Downturn in General. There’s less money, fewer projects, and zero room for gambling.
So yes, traffic/big stars with proven results are getting the major projects & top billed. While lesser known stars are losing opportunities. its better to settle as a supporting role, if lucky as a 2nd Billing lead. The industry simply can’t afford risks anymore.
At the end of the day, Billing isn’t about fairness or screen time. It’s about who can bring in money. The industry doesn’t run on vibes, and It Definitely Doesn’t Do Charity for your favorites.
When you realise they had such a scene on first day of shoot 😳🤭
You can’t fall for everyone you work with! Beside every kissing scene they have about 20 people surrounding them, it’s not very romantic 😆it is romantic after the edit 🤣
Can we talk about how he kissed her? Like... he ate her alive. THIS is how you kiss a girl. Someone please teach…
I think you just need to secretly drop links of those kissing scene to his text, or go on his insta or whatever social platform he is using and create the algorithm that leads to those scenes 🤣🤣🤣
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Instead of whining over billings. Might as well learn "How Billing System in C-ent Works?
Majority of the time, Billing is decided by an actor’s industry status, market value, and ability to attract investment. sometimes by the drama’s plot or who has the most screen time but ofcourse, the Production will try to give the Major Role to a Bigger Name first.
In C-ent, top billing is about money and risk, not feelings. Actors with proven box office or viewership results are the ones the investors will trust to carry a project.
Their names help secure funding, sponsors and distribution. When millions are on the line. Billing reflects who the industry believes can actually make the project survive.
That’s why productions whether male-led or female-led. They always start by locking in a bankable lead. Once a major name signs on, financing becomes much easier. If NO top tier actor/actress is available or accepts it. Billing expectations will get adjusted just to get the project approved and moving. It doesn't matter if the actor who plays the major role gets a Lower Billing. That’s Reality.
First or Second billing it doesn’t change who the lead is. If you’re the lead, the success (or failure) of the drama is still tied to you. Billing doesn’t erase your role importance in the plot. it just shows where you stand in the market.
its already a huge blessing to play a Major Role in a good project despite 2nd billing for a not so well known star.
And right now, the market is brutal. In 2024, around 230 dramas were produced. This year, production dropped by 30-35%, down to roughly 150 dramas. The number is expected to shrink even more next year due to the ongoing “cold winter” in C-ent or the Economic Downturn in General. There’s less money, fewer projects, and zero room for gambling.
So yes, traffic/big stars with proven results are getting the major projects & top billed. While lesser known stars are losing opportunities. its better to settle as a supporting role, if lucky as a 2nd Billing lead. The industry simply can’t afford risks anymore.
At the end of the day, Billing isn’t about fairness or screen time. It’s about who can bring in money. The industry doesn’t run on vibes, and It Definitely Doesn’t Do Charity for your favorites.
Source: @cdramacharts on X