Although he has been famous for more than ten years, Shangguan Xiaobao will only be 40 years old for a few months, and he can barely be considered a young talent. However, compared with Huang Yulang, Shangguan Xiaobao is really not enough to read. His painting skills and fame are comparable to Huang Yulang, and he is far more diligent and down-to-earth than Huang Yulang. Unfortunately, his business mind has been thrown out several streets by Huang Yulang.
The Eight-Erge Painting Club is not far from Fulinmen. Shangguan Xiaobao put away the manuscript he drew today and drove to Fulinmen Restaurant in less than ten minutes.
"How many sirs?" asked the waiter at Fulinmen.
Shangguan Xiaobao said, "Mr. Kang invited me to come."
"It turns out to be Mr. Kang's guest, please come with me!" The waiter took Shangguan Xiaobao to a private room.
There was no one in the private room, so Shangguan Xiaobao could only sit down and drink tea and wait. When there were two or three minutes left before 7 o'clock, Kang Jianfei finally came to the banquet with his followers.
Kang Jianfei shook hands with Shangguan Xiaobao and said politely: "Hello, Mr. Kuang, I'll take the liberty to invite you, I hope you can forgive me."
Shangguan Xiaobao smiled and said, "Mr. Kang, you are polite. I, Mr. Kuang, can't be too late to be happy."
The two chatted for a while and waited for the food to be served. Kang Jianfei and Shangguan Xiaobao had a cup before turning the topic to the comic: "I have also read Mr. Kuang's "Bruce Lee" and it is very well drawn."
"I am also picking up people's wisdom, and it is hard to get Mr. Kang's eyes." Shangguan Xiaobao said modestly.
Shangguan Xiaobao is not humble, but to be honest. He is a very conservative and passive person, which is completely opposite to Huang Yulang. Shangguan Xiaobao's comic creation is also in accordance with the rules. Back then, Bruce Lee was popular in Xiangjiang, so Shangguan Xiaobao has painted "Bruce Lee" until now. Since then, Huang Feihonghuo has painted "Huang Feihong" and Fang Shiyuhuo has painted "Fang Shiyu". Anyway, he has followed the trend without worrying about sales.
In the 1990s, Shangguan Xiaobao's son Kuang Shijie inherited his father's style and took the opportunity of "The King of Fighters" to withdraw from the "The King of Fighters 96" comic. After making a big profit, he successively released "The King of Fighters 97" and "The King of Fighters 98".
Kang Jianfei smiled and said, "It is also a skill to be able to pick up people's teeth. Mr. Kuang was able to withstand the pressure of Yulang International and gain a foothold in the comics industry. It is really admirable."
"Haha, I can't compete with Huang Yulang." Shangguan Xiaobao smiled a little reluctantly. He and Huang Yulang were a pair of enemies. When one was developed, the other would inevitably be unlucky.
Now Huang Yulang is about to reach the peak of his career. In addition to pictorials and comic journals, he also runs 5 magazines and 3 newspapers. The 25-year-old "Tiantian Daily" was just acquired by Huang Yulang a while ago.
After chatting for a few words, Kang Jianfei suddenly asked: "What do Mr. Kuang thinks about the future of comics?"
This question was asked seriously. Shangguan Xiaobao thought about it carefully and said: "The comics in Japan are getting bigger and bigger. They have penetrated into Hong Kong, Taiwan and Nanyang. All aspects from creation to distribution are worth learning from Hong Kong comics. Otherwise, they will be successfully seized by Japanese comics sooner or later."
Shangguan Xiaobao obviously hasn't finished his words. It is natural that he could not have been able to get to Kang Jianfei for the first time when he met. He can just comment one or two sentences from a macro perspective. What he said is not a unique opinion. The Hong Kong comics industry can feel the threat of Japanese comics. Huang Yulang's assembly line reform of comic creation is actually to imitate and learn from the industrialization process of Japanese comics.
"Yes, Japanese comics are very good." Kang Jianfei sighed and said, "So I think Hong Kong comics should mature quickly and have rich themes. We cannot always rely on kung fu comics to support the store."
Shangguan Xiaobao was not sure what Kang Jianfei was looking for him, but now he has some clues and asked tentatively: "Mr. Kang is very interested in the comics industry?"
"I'm a little interested," Kang Jianfei did not directly talk about the acquisition of the 82 Painting Club, but expressed his thoughts on Hong Kong comics. "The biggest drawback of Hong Kong comics is that the market is too narrow, Taiwan's strict censorship is difficult to sell, and the distribution of the Nanyang area is relatively difficult. In addition, young people now have more entertainment options, and the comic market has shrunk by more than half compared to ten years ago. For example, "Dragon and Tiger Gate", "Bruce Lee", and "Chinese Heroes" are all the best, but it's not guaranteed whether other comics can make money."
To form an industry, the first thing is that the market must be large enough. Only with the market can there be profits and attract talents to join this industry. The huge reserve talent group can promote the prosperity of this industry. This is a virtuous cycle.
As the market shrinks in Hong Kong comics, a large number of comic talents have been lost. Many young people with talent can only help Huang Yulang and Shangguan Xiaobao, and the chance of getting ahead is as slim as if they are typing at Qidian to become a great god.
Shangguan Xiaobao also knew this truth? He said with emotion: "The market shrinkage is the general trend, what can I do?"
Character determines how to act. Faced with the cruel current situation of the Hong Kong comic market, Huang Yulang's approach is to reform the assembly line of Hong Kong comics, and rely on several famous comics to carry out diversified management of comics, magazines and newspapers. Now it has become very popular. Shangguan Xiaobao is much more conservative. When he sees something more popular, he follows the trend and draws it into a comic, so that he can make money without losing money.
If Kang Jianfei wants to choose a collaborator, Huang Yulang is the best candidate. Unfortunately, Huang Yulang likes to eat alone like Kang Jianfei. In another time and space, his Yulang International suffered a stock market crash. In order to avoid being acquired, he even took the risk to make fake accounts and ended up in prison.
"Hong Kong has only so many people. If Hong Kong comics want to develop, they have to go out like Hong Kong movies and sell comics to Nanyang and Taiwan. I heard that Huang Yulang is planning to launch Yulang International. Maybe he can take advantage of the launch to sell "Dragon and Tiger Gate" throughout Nanyang." Kang Jianfei deliberately mentioned Huang Yulang to stimulate Shangguan Xiaobao.
Shangguan Xiaobao was indeed stimulated. His "Bruce Lee" and Huang Yulang's "Dragon and Tiger Gate" were once sold to Malaysia and Singapore. Unfortunately, due to more than ten years of creation, the stories of the two comics were stink and long, and fewer and fewer overseas readers, and eventually overseas publishers no longer helped publish.
However, "The Hero of China", which has become popular in the past two years, has sold well in Singapore, and its author Ma Rongcheng is the apprentice of Shangguan Xiaobao, but is now helping Huang Yulang. Kang Jianfei deliberately mentioned Huang Yulang's preparation company to go public, how can Shangguan Xiaobao be calm?
"Huang Yulang is always whimsical. It's still a little bit whether Yulang International can be listed." Shangguan Xiaobao said sourly.
Kang Jianfei smiled and said, "Let's go public just to facilitate fundraising and raising money. I have some spare money in my hands and I am ready to invest in comics."
Shangguan Xiaobao's heart beat a few times. He did not have Huang Yulang's ambition and spirit, but just wanted to make money by drawing comics honestly. If a rich man like Kang Jianfei invested in the Eighth Painting Club, Shangguan Xiaobao would have to wake up in a dream.
"If I invest 1 million in the Baer Painting Club, how many shares can I get?" Kang Jianfei asked straight to the point.
A rich man is a rich man!
Shangguan Xiaobao smiled bitterly and said, "It's more than enough to buy the entire painting club."
The broken machines of the 82 Painting Club are not worth much money. The most valuable ones are the "Bruce Lee" series of comics that have been famous for more than ten years, as well as the copyrights of more than 20 other comics, as well as several comic masters trained by Shangguan Xiaobao. Among them, Niu Lao, who was only Shangguan Xiaobao's disciple at this time, but his future representative work "Young and Dangerous" was made into a movie that was very popular. In addition, Ma Rongcheng, who painted "Chinese Heroes", was also taught by Shangguan Xiaobao, but unfortunately he was attracted by Huang Yulang and did not leave Yulang International with him.
Kang Jianfei asked again: "I heard that the Baeri Painting Society has two shareholders?"
"Tongde Shu Newspaper and Yousheng Printing Company, the former is responsible for the distribution of comics, and the latter is responsible for the printing affairs," said Shangguan Xiaobao. "The bosses of both companies are my old friends, and they each own 10% of the shares of the painting club."
Kang Jianfei thought for a while and said, "Do you think this is OK? I will buy all the 82 Painting Club and its comic copyright for 1 million yuan."
Shangguan Xiaobao asked, "What will Mr. Kang do to deal with me after he bought the painting club?"
Kang Jianfei smiled and said, "I will also buy the comic club of my brother Shangguan Xiaowei. At that time, I will merge another new painting club and give you a reasonable new painting club shares."
Shangguan Xiaobao really didn't expect Kang Jianfei to buy his brother's painting club, and he asked, "Mr. Kang is really going to enter the comics industry to show off his strength?"
"So, the new Painting Society has become a subsidiary of Oriental Culture and Entertainment Group, and can obtain the copyright of movies and TV series comics at low prices. At the same time, the copyright of my novel adapted comics will be handed over to the Painting Society." Kang Jianfei explained his thoughts, "Because Mr. Kuang, you are not good at operating, the general manager of the Painting Society has another person. Your position is the creative director of the Painting Society. Tongde Shu Newspaper and Yousheng Printing Company, their shares in the 82 Painting Society will be acquired by me, but in the future, the printing and distribution business of the Painting Society in Hong Kong will still be handed over to them."
Shangguan Xiaobao asked: "How many shares can I get from Xinhua Society?"
"A maximum of 10% of the shares, but you can get 1 million yuan in cash at one time. It is considered that I bought the money you have in the Baeri Painting Society. I will give additional shares to the two other shareholders of the Baeri Painting Society. I will give additional money to the shares of the Baeri Painting Society. Is it still satisfying, right?" Kang Jianfei said.
Shangguan Xiaobao was very content. He thought about it and quickly replied: "Document!"
Kang Jianfei smiled and said, "Then Mr. Kwong is ready to move the painting club to Tseung Kwan O Film and Television City. In addition, "The Journey of Ethereal" is ready to be comic-making. I hope you can organize and plan the adaptation work. I will ask someone to help you promote and hype."
Chapter completed!