Even if the Japanese can provide the right LCD screen, Activision Games has no experience and ability to develop hardware. It will start from scratch by recruiting talents and establishing laboratories. According to David Crane's estimate, the R&D cost of handheld consoles will be at least 10 million US dollars.

Although the cost is not expensive, Chen Chong decided to start construction immediately. As long as the R&D is successful, with the power of the combination of Tetris and GAME-BOY, the R&D expenses will be earned in minutes.

In addition to making money, Chen Chong did this to enter the computer hardware manufacturing system and lay the conditions for the development of digital movie systems.

For example, CD, DVD, Blu-ray, and other carriers that are closely related to movies are inseparable from PS game consoles.

Now, LCD displays, CCD image sensors, core components of digital cameras, digital optical processing chips DLP, etc. are all in the bud, and it is time to take the lead.

But it is not that easy to take the lead...

According to the information James found in the RCA laboratory, in 1969, before George Helmeyer resigned, he mentioned in the report that in order to achieve the same effect as the current CRT monitor, the R&D cost would be at least 100 million US dollars. This figure made RCA company hide and give up the development of LCD technology.

LCD monitors did not start to be widely used until the late 1990s. Chen Chong felt that this research and development figure would have to be added at least two zeros... or three zeros at the end.

CCD image sensors can only provide 10,000 pixel resolution at present, while digital movie cameras require at least tens of millions of pixels, so the gap is not too big...

The digital optical processing chip DLP has not even appeared.

These are closely related to large-scale integrated circuits, and everything related to integrated circuits is astronomical.

In addition to these, CPU, memory, graphics cards, sound cards, hard disks, etc. all require leapfrog development before digital movies can meet the conditions for promotion. Even if he gives two golden fingers to make him run around for twenty-four hours, he will not be able to play so many high-tech things.

So I can only find someone to cooperate...

Manufacturing game consoles can easily contact major computer giants. Once sales increase, the voice will increase. At that time, there will be excuses and bargaining chips for cooperating in the development of new technologies.

Digital films have a long way to go and there will be no breakthrough in the short term. Chen Chong had to turn his attention back to the traditional film production field.

After the experience of "Crazy Calamity" and "Burning Live", Chen Chong has a comprehensive understanding of Hong Kong's current film industry chain. He feels that the weakest link is film printing.

The equipment of Hong Kong's printing companies is old, the employees are low in professionalism, and they try every means to cut corners to reduce costs, resulting in poor printing results.

Although Shaw Brothers claims to be one-stop from photography to printing, they will be sent to Japan for printing by investing in big investments and productions.

The same is true for Jiahe. The previous Bruce Lee movies and the current Jackie Chan movies were all sent to Japan for printing.

Therefore, the low-cost films produced in Hong Kong in the 1980s and 1990s generally have poor picture quality, gray, dark colors, and lack texture.

Which link is the weakest, start from which link. Chen Chong plans to invest in and build a high-level printing factory in Hong Kong, and then use low-priced and high-quality services to defeat other competitors, monopolize the industry, and expand his power in the Hong Kong film industry. If anyone is disobedient, he will beat him up and go to Japan.

According to the current market conditions, a movie with an investment of 1 million yuan is priced at around 50,000 yuan in Hong Kong, while it costs at least 100,000 yuan to go to Japan, which does not count round-trip air tickets and food and accommodation... For independent filmmakers with tight funds, the difference between the price cannot be ignored. (Note 1)

Under Orwitz's mediation and leadership, Shen Chong visited two post-production studios in Paramount and Universal in Los Angeles, consulted about the market for printing equipment. After he came out, the aura of rich people with hundreds of millions of funds disappeared and returned to the terrifying state...

If you choose all the best equipment at present, a printing workshop consisting of tablet presses, tablet washing machines, film cleaning machines, optical distribution machines, chip connectors and other equipment will be priced at up to US$30 million!

Movies are truly one of the most expensive industries in the world...

...

October 20, Los Angeles.

Shen Chong leaned against the carriage of a van, looked at Lily, who was standing at the gate of Universal Studios and holding a microphone to explain, and asked a middle-aged man next to him in Mandarin: "Secretary Zhou, how do you see this equipment?"

The man was shaved with a buzz head and wearing a suit with good material but very old style. He squinted his eyes and stared at the camera on the shoulder of the man opposite Lily, saying, "This system seems to be specially designed for news interviews."

"Secretary Zhou is worthy of being a technical expert, and he is really keen." Chen Chong explained with a smile: "This system is called the electronic news collection system, referred to as ENG. Most TV stations in the United States now use this news interviews, which is known as the revolutionary equipment in the history of TV news."

"The Americans' skills are indeed very good." Section Chief Zhou sighed and said: "Our CCTV still uses photography equipment eliminated by the Bayi Factory. It is heavy and inconvenient, and basically does not have the ability to go out for interviews. This system only has a small camera and a video recorder, which is light and small. If you encounter breaking news, you can run away. Moreover, the sound and the picture are recorded simultaneously, which is convenient and practical to edit. "

"Some time ago, I met Master Wang in Beijing and heard him talk about it." Chen Chong said lightly: "CCTV is short of equipment, and even film has to beg for alms from Beijing Film Studio. Is it true?"

Section Chief Zhou laughed twice and said a little embarrassedly: "The country is not rich now, and resources are indeed a bit tight."

At this time, a young woman with short hair with ears and a little rustic clothes trotted over. She said excitedly: "Secretary Zhou, come and try this machine, study it, and see if it can be copied after returning."

"Okay." Section Chief Zhou nodded and walked over.

China and the United States officially established diplomatic relations on New Year's Day. After Deng Gong visited the United States, civil exchanges between the two countries quickly heated up. These people are members of the Chinese Film and Television Technology Delegation. At the request of the American Film and Television Engineers Association, they came to Los Angeles to attend the association's annual meeting and conducted friendly visits. (Note 2)

Before leaving Beijing, Chen Chong learned about the delegation's itinerary from the Film Bureau, so he stayed in Los Angeles for an extra day to entertain them.

At this time, there was no corruption in the mainland. All those who could visit the country were good people with real materials and members of the delegation were the top technical talents in China's current film industry. Although they may not be world-class due to unrest and technical blockade, they are not very old and have a high room for future development - whether administratively or technically.

Section Chief Zhou is named Zhou Chunrong, and he is the technical backbone of CCTV. CCTV was reorganized by Beijing TV in 1978. It has very shortage of talent and equipment, so it can be said that it is poor and empty.

The electronic news collection system that Chen Chong got was prepared for CCTV.

TV stations are strategic resources that a film empire must have. In the mainland, there is no possibility of private TV stations, so Shen Chong can only make the idea of ​​Hong Kong TV stations. However, Hong Kong's culture and natural resources are limited and cannot support the content that Shen Chong needs. They will inevitably go to the mainland to produce programs frequently in the future. If they provide timely assistance and establish a good relationship with CCTV, there will be many benefits in the future.

The woman who called Chief Zhou away was named Ling Wanjun. She was a researcher at the China Institute of Film Science and Technology. She looked 23 or 24 years old and was the youngest in the delegation. She was fluent in English. She was a scarce talent in the mainland.

"Miss Ling, how do you feel about Los Angeles?"

"It's very prosperous." Ling Wanjun learned to rush to the sun and leaned against the carriage and said, "The United States is so developed, with cars everywhere and tall buildings everywhere."

"It won't take long, we will have these things in China." Chen Chong smiled and asked, "Ms. Ling, you are so beautiful, why don't you go to a film factory to be an actor but study film equipment?"

The mainland is at this time, and Ling Wanjun obviously cannot adapt to Chen Chong's praise. She lowered her head, her face turned slightly red, and after slashing the hair in her ears, she said: "My parents are both engaged in scientific research. I have learned from them since I was a child. Of course, I will do this when I grow up."

Chen Chong saw her face getting redder and redder, and couldn't help but want to laugh. Such a simple girl had long been extinct in later generations. In order to eliminate the awkward atmosphere, he coughed lightly and asked, "By the way, what topics do you usually study?"

“My job now is to study stereo.”

When Chen Chong heard this, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

Among all the elements of the movie, sound is the easiest and earliest to be digitalized. Chen Chong is also ready to start from this field, but he cannot get involved in the world-famous Dolby Laboratory.

Dr. Rui Milton Dolby, the founder of Dolby Laboratories, has always been known for not accepting capital injections. It was not until 2005 that he had put Dolby on the market. Because it was not listed, after his death, as a private company, his family would have to pay huge inheritance taxes that would make the company bankrupt.

By 2005, the daylily was cold. Since Dolby Lab couldn't do it, then I'll start a company that researched digital sound systems. In this world, Dolby is not the only genius in Dolby. When Spielberg was filming "Jurassic Park", he just made a DTS...

I just don’t know if Ling Wanjun is a genius?

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Note 1: The Hong Kong printing fee figure here comes from "Hong Kong Centennial Light and Shadow".

Note 2: See "A Brief History of the Development of Chinese Film Technology".
Chapter completed!