Not long after, Alibaba officially announced: "It invested 6.24 billion Hong Kong dollars in a Hong Kong listed company [Cultural China], accounting for 60% of the shares. Dong Ping, the former chairman of the board of directors, resigned and served as a consultant.
[Cultural China] will be renamed [Alibaba Pictures]!”
As soon as the news came out, it showed that 9BAT has entered the entertainment industry.
Baidu has iQiyi, Tencent has Tencent Pictures and Video, 99 needless to say, Alibaba is the latest.
Companies acquired by Alibaba have a tradition of killing entire families, but Alibaba Pictures is one of the few companies that has survived and developed well. Because the film and television industry is special and backed by large companies, there are many opportunities for trial and error.
This drama is a hit, and the next drama may be a big hit. It keeps coming back and forth, and it always finds its rhythm.
Take 2023 as an example, "The Lost She", "I Love You", "Super Family", "Chang'an 30,000 Miles", "Hot", "The Meg 2", "Desperate", etc., all have Alibaba's investment.
The monopoly in the film and television industry is even clearer. There are only a few companies capable of making blockbusters, and hundreds of movies are released every year. Casting a wide net to catch more fish, the success rate is very high.
…………
"My previous failed marriage was a shadow in my life, right? But it is also a part of my life!"
"You are now in the shadow of your life, but the shadow is also a part of your life. Why can't you get out?"
In a post-production studio in Beijing, Huang Bo and Xu Zheng were adding some dubbing for "Heart Blossoms on the Road".
There is a trace of stitches removed on Huang Bo's left brow bone. This was when he was accidentally hit by an extra who played Shen Teng's younger brother during the filming of the conflict scene between him and Shen Tengqi, and he needed 20 stitches.
Yes, there is Shen Teng in this film, but many people may not have noticed that he plays the bar owner.
"That's it, this part is OK!"
Ning Hao was also there, speaking into the microphone: "That's it for today, rest."
The two people came out of the dubbing studio and drank some water. Xu Zheng asked, "Have you set a schedule?"
"No, Mr. Yu has never given me any confirmation. I guess it's either National Day or Lunar New Year."
"It's okay to put this film anywhere. I know it well as I act, and it will definitely be good at the box office!" Huang Bo said.
"Not bad? Can you catch up with "囧囧"?"
"That's not certain. The market is changing rapidly. Next year there may be a movie with a box office of 2 billion."
"Hey, is your movie "Dear" scheduled to be released?"
"Maybe in the second half of the year. It's not in the Lunar New Year period anyway. Mr. Yu said that such a heavy film is not suitable for the Lunar New Year. "1942" has learned from the past!"
Huang Bo considered his words and said: "Mr. Yu values "Dear" very much. I don't know the details. Just do whatever you ask."
The three of them were very familiar with each other, so they rested and chatted.
Everyone has their own busy schedules. Huang Bo has two films "Dear" and "Beautiful Heart" released this year, and is also preparing for "The Secret of the Dragon". Xu Zheng is preparing for "Hong Kong" and Ning Hao is in post-production.
"Heart Blossoms on the Road" is a great drama, a highly completed commercial film.
Many people have misunderstandings about commercial films, thinking that they are about killing and killing, indiscriminate bombing, big stars, and great special effects... They are totally wrong! These are just appearances.
First, you have to tell an easy-to-understand story;
Secondly, express an easy-to-understand value;
Finally, it is when these superficial elements are used to package the story and values, and the audience accepts and likes it, that this is a successful commercial film.
For example, the value of "Spider-Man" is "With great power comes great responsibility". The whole story serves this theme, and the audience feels complete, smooth and comfortable after reading it.
However, many domestic creators still rely on the appearance of commercial films. The story and values are separated, and the look and feel is not smooth.
If the audience watches a commercial film and evaluates it as "good-looking and meaningful", that is the highest praise - such as "Zootopia".
Ning Hao is probably the best director in China.
The story of "Beautiful Heart" is very popular. Huang Bo is about to get divorced, so his good friend Xu Zheng takes him on a trip. During this period, he encounters many funny things. The theme is closely related to how Huang Bo walks out of the shadows and embraces a new life...
The audience thinks it looks good, and oh, it also has some connotation.
Commonly known as "taking away the kidneys and taking away the heart"!
"It's already dinner time, let's go have a meal?"
After chatting for a while, Huang Bo looked at the time and took the initiative.
"Let's go another day, I have something else to do later."
"I'm busy too, I'll treat you to another day!"
"Oh, that's okay..."
Both of them refused, so they went back to their respective homes. When the group dispersed, Huang Bo looked at Xu Zheng and hesitated to speak, but finally did not say anything.
As mentioned before, he was not sure about "囧囧" and only invested a few hundred thousand, which made him regret it. Now that he is preparing for "囧囧", he wants to participate in the investment again, but Xu Zheng is so smart, he has been vague and refused to agree.
.
What Huang Bo didn't know was that Ning Hao and Xu Zheng drove away, turned a few streets and entered a hotel, as if they had already made an appointment.
"Hello!"
"this way please!"
The two of them went in and were guided by the waiter to an exquisite private room. There was a man who had been waiting for a long time. He was in his early 50s, but he looked very young. He immediately stood up to greet him.
"You two are finally here. I am sitting here with great anxiety, for fear that you may not look down on my little temple."
"I was busy at the end just now, please forgive me!"
Xu Zheng and Ning Hao quickly explained, calling themselves "Mr. Dong".
This is none other than Dong Ping, the former chairman of Cultural China that Alibaba just acquired!
He is from Inner Mongolia and graduated from Capital Normal University. He started working in film and television in the 1990s and was one of the first batch of qualified private enterprises in the mainland. He has participated in "Speak Well", "The Devil Is Coming", "Peacock" and "Let the Bullets Fly".
He was the main driving force behind Zhang Yimou's "Man Jiang Hong".
Dong Ping is not well-known among the big guys, but he is actually very flexible. His media industries include Beijing Times, Securities Daily, Travel TV, etc., and he has a large number of shares.
What he is best at is changing shells.
Choose a not-so-good listed company, invest in it or acquire it, and then use various means to raise the stock price and cash out.
"Come on, order!"
"I am honored to meet two of the country's leading directors today!"
Dong Ping's speech was very beautiful, and he maintained the atmosphere very well. He quickly changed glasses and started eating and drinking.
Halfway through the meal, he asked: "Director Xu's "囧" has caused a sensation in the industry. All parties are paying attention to the new film. I wonder how the preparations are going?"
"There are a lot of things that need to be prepared. I am not very satisfied with the script and it is still being polished. The actors have not been finally selected, but the general framework has been determined. It will be shot in Hong Kong and we will perform "Hong Kong"."
""Embarrassed in Hong Kong"? What a good name, it's a gimmick as soon as you hear it."
Dong Ping nodded and asked again: "I would like to ask, how is the investment situation now?"