In an office building next to Jiahe Films is Debao Film Company, a partnership of Pan Disheng, Hong Jinbao and Cen Jianxun.
Two rooms, five tables and six people constitute the entire Debao Film Company.
Hung Kam-bo had other important matters and did not come. Michelle Yeoh, the company's only contracted actress, was in Malaysia. At this time, there were only Pan Disheng, Shun Jianxun, Gao Zhisen, Chen Guanzhong gathered together for a meeting, as well as a female clerk and an errand boy.
My little brother is taking a nap outside.
Among the four people, Pan Disheng is responsible for making financial decisions, Cen Jianxun is the boss and planner, and Gao Zhisen is the only contracted director. As for Chen Guanzhong, who has long hair, he is the founder and editor-in-chief of "Outside" magazine.
Pan Disheng was brought over to write the script.
"Once Upon a Time is very popular, the box office will exceed 30 million." Cen Jianxun said with a heartless smile.
Pan Disheng shook off his cigarette ashes with some depression and said: "The schedule of "Happy Adventure" has been squeezed out, and it can only be released at the end of September at the earliest."
"Didn't we agree that after "Police Story" is released, our "Happy Adventure" will be released? Why does Zou Wenhuai change at his own word!" Gao Zhisen said angrily.
"Happy Adventure" is the second film directed by Gao Zhisen after joining Debao Film Company. It tells the story of a teacher who takes a group of female school students on a trip, but ends up being stranded on a desert island in an accident. Together with the police and male students on the same boat,
A story about a student and a big pervert fighting pirates on a deserted island.
The movie continues the theme of the youth comedy "Happy Ghost". In fact, it moves the place where the story takes place to the island, and adds adventure action and other elements. Pan Disheng even specially invited Li Lizhen, Wen Bixia and Wu Junru.
Be the lead actor.
As for the fact that DreamWorks artists were banned from Taiwan, it does not matter to Debao Film Company. Because they do not have any distribution capabilities in Taiwan, and after the Taiwan authorities reduced the quota of films imported into Taiwan, Golden Harvest was the first to distribute its own films.
How to control the life and death of small companies?
Since Debao Film Company's film cannot be sold in Taiwan, it doesn't matter whether it is banned or not. On the contrary, several well-known beauties have been invited to star in the film, which can greatly increase the box office of the film in Nanyang and Hong Kong.
"Happy Adventure" is headed straight for the summer season. Both the screenwriter Chen Guanzhong and the director Gao Zhisen have tried their best to come up with new tricks.
It's a pity that this summer, there are "Summer" and "Police Story" to be scheduled, so low-cost comedies like "Happy Adventure" can only be put on the sidelines.
At first, Pan Disheng and Zou Wenhuai discussed that after "Police Story" was released, they would star in "Happy Adventure" and maybe catch it on the tail end of the summer season. Unexpectedly, Jiahe went back on their word and decided to reschedule it at the last minute.
Jiahe Satellite Company's film.
There is no one to blame for this. Debao Film Company was founded by Pan Desheng alone. It is not as friendly as Jiahe Satellite Company.
It seems that the schedule is only moved back more than half a month. But with this move, the box office of "Happy Adventure" will be reduced by at least half. Because this film follows the route of a youth comedy and is specially made for students to watch.
If it is released at the end of the month, students will all go back to school, and they will still make a shitty amount of money!
Pan Desheng was put in a position by Jiahe, and he said without saying a word: "I called everyone here today. The main reason is to discuss whether the company should change to a cooperative cinema line?"
Pan Disheng is still very generous. When Gao Zhisen and Chen Guanzhong made movies for Debao, they received a fixed salary plus a share of the box office. Regarding his own income, Gao Zhisheng actively commented: "Mr. Pan, when Princess Jin forced DreamWorks to leave
At that time, Kang Jianfei relied on temporary theaters to survive."
"You mean, let's show our movies in temporary theaters?" Pan Disheng frowned. As a son of a wealthy family, he looked down on temporary theaters formed by small retail theaters.
Ever since Kang Jianfei established the Oriental Cinemas, most of those small theaters showed movies from small companies and independent companies because they didn't have good film sources. Pan Disheng didn't want his company's movies to be shown in that kind of place.
Cen Jianxun offered advice: "How about we build a theater chain ourselves."
Cen Jianxun has mentioned this matter many times, and this time Pan Desheng was already a little moved. He asked: "How much investment is needed to build a medium-sized theater chain?"
Cen Jianxun nodded silently and said: "Now that Hong Kong's property market has picked up, rents have also risen. If we rent movies to build a new theater, a medium-sized theater chain with 10 theaters, if the location is better, will require at least an investment of more than 100 million."
More than 100 million is not a small amount for Pan Desheng. Although he can get it together quickly, he still has difficulty making up his mind: "Let's talk about organizing our own theater chain. Contact those small theaters first."
…
"Mr. Chen, Mr. Feng, Princess Jin and Xinyi City are about to die. Why do you need to bury Boss Lei with you? The world of Hong Kong movies is just right now. It's better for you two to break away from Princess Jin and reorganize a new theater chain. Let's win over a few more theaters.
Independent film company, you are responsible for the box office in Hong Kong, and I am responsible for Taiwan and Nanyang, wouldn’t everyone be happy in this way?”
At Fulinmen Restaurant, Cai Songlin, who is as elegant and handsome as a young university professor, is holding a cup of tea and smiling as he instigates the rebellion against the two shareholders of Princess Golden Cinema.
In another time and space, Chen Rongmei and Feng Bingzhong only broke away from Golden Princess in 1988 and formed Xinbao Cinema Line. The reason for this is nothing more than two points, one is the decline of Xinyi City, and the other is the prosperity of the Hong Kong film market.
Now, due to the variable Kang Jianfei, the decline of Xinyi City has accelerated a lot. This year's summer sales have been bombarded one after another, causing Golden Princess Cinema to lose a lot of money.
As theater shareholders, Chen Rongmei and Feng Bingzhong were naturally extremely dissatisfied with Princess Jin's current situation, but they had been undecided to break up with Lei Juekun.
Chen Rongmei asked: "Mr. Cai, to run a theater chain, you need film sources. Although New Art City has not performed well recently, at least there will be no shortage of films to release. If you want us to set up another theater chain, where can we find film sources?"
"Hahaha..." Cai Songlin laughed and said, "Do you know what is happening now? Once a movie is a hit in Hong Kong, it will definitely collect huge box office in Nanyang and Taiwan. Therefore, although the box office in Hong Kong is not large, it has become
A barometer of blockbuster sales. The current situation is that the blockbuster Hong Kong films are dominated by the three major theater chains: Golden Harvest, Oriental and Golden Princess. Many businessmen from Taiwan and Nanyang want to invest in Hong Kong films to get a piece of the hot pie, but they are suffering from the difficulties of several major theaters.
Give up the monopoly of the line."
Feng Bingzhong nodded and said: "That's true, but even if we set up another theater chain, we won't be able to produce good movies."
Cai Songlin laughed and said: "Where do good films come from? From film companies. How many film companies are there in Hong Kong now? More than 200! There are at least 20 independent film companies capable of producing good films. Do you think
Those satellite companies of Jiahe don’t want to break away from the control of Jiahe Cinema Line? Wrong, it’s not that they don’t want to, but they don’t have such an opportunity. And we can create opportunities for them!”
Chen Rongmei thought faster: "You said we should win over powerful independent film companies?"
Cai Songlin nodded approvingly: "Yes, since the day Hong Kong films were born, film companies have been devoured by theater chains. From a marketing point of view, it is because there are many film companies and few theater chains, and theaters are a scarce resource.
The entire film market is dominated by a few theater chains. As long as there are more theater chains in Hong Kong, independent theater chains will have room for choice and will break away from the shackles of theater chain companies. If you are Hong Jinbao, Cheng Long is willing to work hard.
Want to make money for Zou Wenhuai? As long as the number of theaters increases, Golden Harvest will definitely not be able to retain people. Maybe we will have the opportunity to cooperate with Hong Jinbao and Cheng Long. You two, the business we are discussing now will change the entire Hong Kong film industry.
The current situation is creating the history of Hong Kong movies!"
Feng Bingzhong was a little moved by Cai Songlin's words, but Chen Rongmei replied: "Don't say such empty words, come with something concrete."
Cai Songlin took a sip of black tea. He smiled confidently and said: "I have already contacted Zeng Zhiwei, the film production manager of DreamWorks, and provided money to establish a joint venture with him, Good Friends Film Company. He will persuade Hong Jinbao and Makka to co-produce a film.
Movies, with stars and directors, the movies produced will definitely be very popular. You two are responsible for the promotion and release of the movie in Hong Kong, and I am responsible for the distribution in Taiwan and Nanyang. As long as Good Friends Film Company can make a name for itself
If we win, we can attract more independent film companies to cooperate, and the snowball in the entire market will start rolling.”
Feng Bingzhong rubbed his teeth and said: "Zeng Zhiwei is from DreamWorks, Hong Jinbao is from Jiahe, and Makka is from Xinyi City. Moreover, these three people are either managers or company bosses. They will make a little money for a little filming.
Just come out and cooperate?”
Cai Songlin said with a smile: "It's not a matter of a little money. Zeng Zhiwei works as a film production manager in Xinyi City, with salary, bonus and commission. How much money can he make in a year? If he works alone, he only needs to make one movie.
It’s more money than he earns in a year. Hong Jinbao’s movies have such high box office, but most of them are taken by Zou Wenhuai. Does he have any idea? There is also Mecca. Although he is the boss of Xinyi City, he has nothing to do with Huang Bai.
There have been serious differences between Ming and Shi Tian, and they have not participated in film production for more than half a year. It seems difficult to bring these three people together, but it is actually very easy."
Chen Rongmei asked again: "It seems that your Scholar Pictures only has distribution capabilities in Taiwan. Can you sell it in Nanyang?"
Cai Songlin had a faint smile on his face: "Don't forget, you two, that the Shaw Brothers (Nanyang) Cinemas, the largest theater chain in Nanyang, is about to close due to lack of film sources after Shaw Brothers ceased production.
I wish that there would be blockbuster Hong Kong films to be released. And I have already contacted Nanyang Shaw Cinemas. Hong Kong films that will be released there in the future will be exclusively distributed by Scholar Films. Moreover, Hong Kong’s TVB and Nanyang Shaw Cinemas
We are all relatives. The independent film companies we will support in the future can definitely hire actors from TVB to star in them, and we don’t have to worry about star actors being controlled by a few major companies."
Cai Songlin's plan was comprehensive and watertight. Chen Rongmei thought for a long time but couldn't find any flaws. Finally, she extended her hand and said, "Mr. Cai, happy cooperation!"
"Happy cooperation!" The smile on Cai Songlin's face became even stronger.
After walking out of Fulinmen Restaurant, Cai Songlin stretched himself in the sea breeze. Facing the beautiful Victoria Bay, he felt that the sun was so bright today.
As one of the major blockbusters in Taiwan today, it only took a few years for Scholar Pictures to develop to its current scale. However, all the partners who started the business were squeezed out by Cai Songlin. Scholar Pictures is now owned by Cai Songlin.
People have the final say.
In the past two years, Scholar Pictures and Longxiang Pictures jointly distributed DreamWorks movies in Taiwan and made a lot of money. Unexpectedly, DreamWorks' movies were suddenly blocked, which caused Scholar Pictures' annual profit to drop by 4%.
Chengdu.
As the Taiwanese authorities reduced the quota for Hong Kong films, Scholar Pictures' income was even less, and it even suffered a loss last quarter.
Film sources are what Scholar Films lacks the most, so he personally came to Hong Kong to find people to cooperate with and support the film company.
As for the Taiwan authorities' policy of reducing quotas for Hong Kong films, it is estimated that it will not last long, because it infringes upon the collective interests of Taiwanese cinema and film producers. The Information Bureau has already been in trouble, and it will be restored before Christmas at the end of the year at most.
Even expanding the Hong Kong film quota.
Not far from the hotel where he was staying, Cai Songlin whistled on the street for a walk and went back. He bought a copy of "Ming Pao" from a roadside stall. There was an article in it that analyzed "Once Upon a Time" and "Police Story" together.
“‘Once Upon a Time’ and ‘Police Story’, a costume kung fu film and a police action film, may seem completely unrelated, but in fact they convey the same meaning, which is justice and chivalry.
What is a hero?
You don't have to be able to kill people with a knife or shoot someone to be a hero. The real hero lies in the spiritual level.
The screenwriter of "Once Upon a Time" has taken great pains to create a perfect image of a chivalrous man. Different from traditional kung fu movies where you just fight when you meet, Huang Feihong is able to do nothing without taking action from beginning to end, and he must be reasonable even when facing bad guys.
, even except for saving people at the last moment, none of the bad guys in the film were killed by him.
The same is true in "Police Story". As a police officer, police officer Chen Jiaju faces heinous bad guys and uses the law to uphold justice after catching him...
In the kung fu movies of the 1970s, a certain hero or villain would kill non-stop as soon as he appeared on the scene. He was a murderer, not a knight. The real knight lies in justice. Kang Jianfei and Cheng Long broke through the past stereotypes and incorporated Chinese action
The style of the film has been elevated..."
Cai Songlin finished flipping through the newspaper in the hotel and threw it aside. He couldn't help but laugh in his heart. His plan can allow independent film companies in Hong Kong, large and small, to get rid of the control of theaters. For the bosses of those film companies, he is
The savior, he is the hero who incarnates justice. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian () to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile phone users please go to m.