Run Run Shaw, whose original name was Shao Renling, was named Yi Fu. He is the most famous entertainment tycoon in Hong Kong. Because he ranks sixth among the eight brothers and sisters of the Shao family, he was called "Shao Laoliu" in the old Shanghai era. After his success in Hong Kong, he was respected as "Uncle Six".

Run Run Shaw established Shaw Brothers Film Company in Hong Kong in 1958 and filmed more than a thousand Chinese-language movies. The slogan "Shaw Brothers is a good product" is well-known in the streets of Southeast Asia. His classic film works are popular and are a collective memory of a generation of Chinese.

Most of the city labels in Hong Kong, such as "Oriental Hollywood", "City of Entertainment", "Tourism Resort", etc., are inseparable from Run Run Shaw's contribution.

Chen Chong respects such a character very much, so in this interview, he personally took action, one to see the true appearance of the legendary character and satisfy his obsession as a movie lover. On the other hand, he wanted to see if Shaw Brothers could save him again.

If Shaw Brothers can adapt to the trend of the times, reform the rigid production department, regroup, and fight again, instead of withdrawing from the film market in a few years, it will be of great benefit to Shen Chong's future plans - Hollywood has seven major film companies, Shen Chong does not require too much, one Shaw Brothers and the other Jiahe, can hold on, it will help.

The interview went smoothly. Run Run Shaw gave Shen Chong and Rover an hour of interview time in the Shaw Cinema office in Tai Po, Qingshui Bay.

The interview contents drawn up by the editors were all stable and stable topics, without any risk or sensitivity. Chen Chong had no interest in these questions that had long been destined to answer. He simply asked Rover to serve as the main interviewer, act as a supporting role, and sat aside to keep records quietly.

Perhaps because of the many contacts, Rover did not feel stage fright or nervous. The interaction with Run Run Shaw was very natural, and he mastered the details of changing topics and guiding answers very well. It took about 40 minutes to complete the entire booking interview content.

When Run Run Shaw answered the last question, Rover looked at Shen Chong and asked for the next move.

Chen Chong nodded gently to express his satisfaction with his performance. Then he closed the shorthand, coughed gently, and said, "Sir Shao, can I ask you a few questions?" (Note 1)

"Please say." Run Run Shaw has been in a high position for a long time, and he has a calm smell when he speaks.

"These questions are quite sensitive." Chen Chong turned off the recorder and said, "Don't worry, if you don't agree, our magazine will not publish it."

Run Run Shaw nodded slightly and signaled that he could ask questions.

"Sir Shaw, Shaw's movie box office was not ideal last year, and its share in the Hong Kong film market continued to decline. Faced with such a situation, what measures will Shaw take to revitalize the box office?"

"There is an old saying that one move is worse than one quiet." Run Run Shaw didn't care too much, "I have been in the production business for almost half a century, and I have seen it clearly. The film industry is like stocks, with both ups and downs. It is normal. The key is not to panic. As long as it can be stable, there will be no big problems."

Alas, it’s good to be stable, but if you stick to the rules, it won’t work…

Chen Chong lamented in his heart, and then asked the next topic: "In the past two or three years, the film market has become increasingly popular, independent production companies are poaching people everywhere, and Shaw Brothers' talent loss is serious. How can Shaw Brothers prepare to solve this situation?"

"These independent production companies are all black sheep, just to make quick money, and do not care about the rules of the industry!" Run Run Shaw hated independent production companies. He said excitedly: "Promote three times and four times the salary, poach people, make some inconvenient machines, and make some messy sets. The quality of the movies made was poor. After the release, the box office was not good, so he ran away immediately. The boss ran away. What should the guy who was waiting to pay for the meal? "

After stopping and resting for a while, Run Run Shaw continued: "We Shaw Brothers have world-class equipment and one-stop production process. Although the salary is not high, the victory is stable. They suffered losses and realized that Shaw Brothers is good and will come back."

Independent producers do have the problems mentioned by Run Run Shaw. They make shoddy and make money. However, in recent years, more standardized independent producers have begun to rise. For example, Wu Siyuan's Siyuan Film Company, Sammo Hung and Mai Jiao Film Company, the films produced are quite good and the box office is also a big profit. Not long after, more independent producers have sprung up like mushrooms after a rain, thus changing the entire Hong Kong film industry.

Moreover, Shaw's situation is not as bland as Run Run Shaw said. With the crazy poaching of independent production companies, Shaw had to start increasing its salary in order to ensure the start of construction, and the production cost increased significantly, and many movies have already lost money.

However, Shen Chong was interviewing and not here to debate. He let go of this question, then took out two forms, stood up, handed it over through the desk, and said, "This is a questionnaire conducted by our magazine. It shows that among young people aged 15 to 25, more than 70% of people think that the Mandarin films with indoor sets are outdated and cannot keep up with the times. Another survey shows that Shaw's movie audiences are mainly middle-aged people, and as we all know, young people are the main consumer force in the film market. Will Shaw cater to the tastes of young people, change the production style, and shoot Cantonese movies in real scenes?"

"I don't understand Cantonese, but there is no problem in making Cantonese movies. Shaw Brothers has produced "Seventy-Two Tenants", and even Bruce Lee was pressed down." Run Run Shaw used paperweight to press the form, but did not look closely, and said: "The specific situation of filming a movie, I have to ask the director of the production. I am old now and I don't interfere in these matters anymore." (Note 2)

Seeing that Run Run Shaw didn't pay attention to the investigation results, Shen Chong felt a little regretful. "Seventy-Two Tenants" is in Cantonese, but it is also an indoor set film...

"Among the older generation of directors, Zhang Che's production quality has declined recently. Li Hanxiang heard that he was going to the United States for cardiac surgery, and only Chu Yuan left Shaw Brothers to support the overall situation. Now there are many new people and new directors in the film industry. Does Shaw Brothers have plans to recruit them?"

"Some, some." Run Run Shaw nodded and said, "I like to cultivate talents the most, and Shaw also needs fresh blood."

"Is there a specific candidate?"

"I have to look at this again," Shaw thought for a while and said, "I have also read "Jiali Coffee". It is indeed innovative, but it is not mature enough and does not meet Shaw's current requirements."

Shaw Brothers has been founded for more than 20 years and is in a state of great despair. It has long since the heroic spirit and courage that he dared to fight before. You should know that at the beginning of his business, Shaw dared to invest million Hong Kong dollars on Li Hanxiang, who was still a newcomer.

Chen Chong shook his head secretly and asked the next question: "Sir Shao, you are the managing director of TVB. I heard that Mr. Li Xiao and Li, the chairman of TVB, are in poor health. If Mr. Li wants to step down, are you interested in taking over TVB?"

"Mr. Li is my good friend. I helped him when he founded TVB." Run Run Shaw said slowly in a speech in Zhejiang Mandarin: "I have always been very interested in the TV industry and have been increasing my stake in TVB in recent years. Mr. Li also supports me, so if I have the opportunity in the future, I will consider becoming the chairman of TVB's board of directors."

"As far as I know, one-third of Shaw Cinema's sets are currently rented to TVB for TV series. If you join TVB, how will you deal with the relationship between Shaw film production and TV business?"

"Of course, movies are needed, and TVs are also needed, and they go hand in hand." Although Run Run Shaw is in his 70s, his thinking is still very quick. "Movies are our Shaw Brothers tradition, and television is the future of the entertainment industry."

"Sir Shao, you are a businessman first, and then a filmmaker second. I say that, do you think it's right?"

"Yes, yes." Run Run Shaw smiled and said, "Yes, I always say that. I am a businessman, a businessman who makes money from movies."

"TVB is the number one TV station in Hong Kong, occupying an absolute monopoly position, and can be said to make a profit without losing money. However, the film industry is fierce and the market is changing rapidly. If film producers continue to lose money, as a businessman, will you divest and resell this business and invest all your resources on TVB?"

After thinking for a while, Run Run Shaw slowly replied: "I don't know either, maybe it will."

...

After leaving Shaw Brothers Cinema, Chen Chong threw the shorthand to Rover and said, "You can write this interview article. Since Sir Shao said that he can publish it all, then you can publish it all."

"Okay." Rover was very excited. After starting the car, he said, "Brother Chong, you are still good. I asked such exciting content. It's hard not to be popular in the magazine. Run Run Shaw actually has the intention to sell the film production industry!"

"He said maybe, but he didn't say sure." Chen Chong hugged his head with both hands and made a stretching move, "Don't be sensational, write according to Run Run Shaw's original words."

"I know." Rover turned the steering wheel and poured his car out of the parking lot, saying, "We are serious professional magazines."

"It's good to know." Chen Chong snorted. After a while, he ordered: "Go back and ask the editors to urge Luo Ka and Shi Qi and other guys agreed to write the article one by one, but they haven't handed it over yet."

"There are urging again every day." Rofu smiled; "It is said that Roka doesn't dare to answer the phone now."

"Haha." Chen Chong sneered, "If you don't squeeze these words hard, they won't have any goods."

"It's like a sponge?"

"The sponge is a cleavage!" Chen Chong joked unhappily: "It's like a woman's cleavage. No matter how small the cup is, you will always have a cleavage when you squeeze it hard."

...

It seems that Run Run Shaw has focused most of his attention on TVB. Shaw's production industry is difficult to reverse, and the prospects in the future film market are worrying, but this was expected, and Chen Chong didn't mind it too much. He was in a good mood. On the way back, he hummed a song in a mess - the magazine was finally on the right track, and the busy days could come to an end.

"The Movie Age" has been released for three episodes. The first episode converged and hid selfishness, using Sylvia Chang as the cover star. Then, for the harmony of the crew of "Crazy Job", he used the public utility for personal use. The second episode gave Zhao Yazhi the cover. Anyway, they were all palace-level stars, and the magazines did not lose.

Zhao Yazhi is obviously more popular than Zhang Aijia, and the second issue of the magazine sold more than 1,000 more copies.

Chen Chong let go of the third issue. The editors found Jackie Chan as the cover through Shu Qi's relationship in Jiahe. The popular chicken is extremely powerful. It's only half of this week, and the magazine's sales have exceeded 10,000 copies...

Several entertainment journalists poached high salaries from magazines such as Ming Pao Weekly and Nanguo Movies are all very professional and well-informed. The content source of "Movie Age" is stable, the style has been formed, and sales have continued to rise. There is no need to invest too much energy to pay attention to it.

After traveling through time, in addition to the crew of "Crazy Job", Chen Chong's "First Movie Review" consumed the most effort, which was more attentive than the Rubik's Cube.

After all, my kung fu was not in vain, and now the first issue is finally about to be completed.

The contents that have been confirmed at the moment include Run Run Shaw's interview, Yu Muyun's film history column "Oral History", Shu Qi's "Shooting Record of "Night Car"", the column "Hong Kong Film Industry Survey Report" hosted by Chen Chong himself, and the manuscripts agreed by senior film critics such as Roca. It is a genius and a gimmick, and it is considered a precursor.

Using the first issue number as a benchmark and template, editors have reference templates, and Chen Chong can let go in the future. He no longer needs to do everything himself and work hard like now.

After returning to the magazine, Chen Chong hurriedly explained some matters and left - "Crazy Jones" was completed yesterday. Tonight, he will host the main members of the crew at the Treasure Seafood Flood on Wanchai Bay.

However, he did not go directly to the Zhenbao Seafood Boat, but went to the Mandarin Hotel in Central first.

Chen Chong usually wears casually, but sometimes people don’t just dress up for themselves. In more formal occasions, wearing too casually will not only make you look frivolous, but will also make others feel that they are not respectful enough.

Last time I was having a drink with Chang Aijia at the Mandarin Hotel, Chen Chong noticed that there was a very good-looking clothing store there, so he planned to go over and buy a set of regular clothes.

He had no research on clothes. He originally planned to ask Chang Aijia to help choose. She was a descendant of a famous family and was recognized by everyone. However, since the incident of secretly kissing her forehead, Chang Aijia has been avoiding him a little. Chen Chong didn't find the opportunity to invite him, so he had to go there alone. Finally, at the suggestion of the clerk, he bought a suit that was said to be designed by a certain European master.

Wan Chai’s Zhenbao Seafood Floor was opened in 1976. It is one of the famous food holy places in Hong Kong. It is 76 meters long, 22 meters wide, 28 meters high, with a displacement of 3,300 tons. It can accommodate more than 2,000 guests at the same time. The entire boat is designed with a dragon theme. The lobby, hall, hall, porch, pavilion, and is decorated in imitation of the Emperor Garden everywhere. Climbing onto the Zhenbao Seafood Floor is like walking into the ancient Chinese palace, carving dragons and paintings of phoenixes everywhere, gilding and colorful, and magnificent.

Since the Zhenbao Seafood Restaurant is famous for seafood, its specialty is naturally seafood. At this banquet, you can see the dazzling night view of Victoria Harbor. You can eat the refreshing taste of fresh seafood with chopsticks. It can be said that you can enjoy both the food and the eyes. The guests and the hosts are happy until the night is dark and the banquet is over.

When the banquet was almost over, Chen Chong began to distribute red envelopes one by one. He was still very satisfied with the crew of "Crazy Job". Each red packaged 50% of the salary of each person. Chen Chong felt that the price was more appropriate, and he did not seem to be a sucker, but could gain a generous reputation.

Every time he sends a red envelope, Chen Chong will say some polite words like continuing to cooperate in the future, and of course it is not all scenes. Some people, such as Anh Xu, Chen Yunwen, Zhao Yazhi, Zhang Aijia, and Zeng Jiang, will definitely cooperate a lot in the future.

When Zhang Aijia took the red envelope, she just turned her big eyes and looked at Chen Chong, without saying anything, which made Chen Chong feel a little disappointed.

However, after walking down the Zhenbao Seafood Boat and everyone parted their own separate ways, Sylvia Chang walked to Chen Chong and whispered: "I'll go back to Taiwan the day after tomorrow. Do you want to go with me?"

"Go, of course." Chen Chong answered without hesitation.

...

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Note 1: In 1977, Run Run Shaw was named a lower-level jazz by Queen Elizabeth II of England, becoming the first person to win the title of "jazz" in the Hong Kong entertainment industry.
Chapter completed!