Hong Kong students do not have winter vacation, but they do have Christmas vacation, New Year's Day vacation and annual vacation. The combined rest time is almost the same as that of mainland students.
As soon as the Christmas holiday came, Golden Harvest and Shaw Brothers took advantage of the good holiday period to launch another round of box office war.
The two companies are releasing blockbusters from all walks of life. Shaw Brothers is focusing on the erotic film "Jade" directed by Li Hanxiang and starring the stunning beauty Chu Xiangyun. Golden Harvest is led by Hong Kam-bo's "Lam Sai Wing".
The two sides fought for half a month. In Jiahe, Sammo Hung's "Lam Sai Wing" took in a box office of 3.94 million, ranking fifth on the local film box office list in 1979. "Jade" directed by Li Hanxiang only took in a box office of 1.69 million.
, ranking outside the 20th place on the annual box office list.
In terms of individual movies, Shaw Brothers seems to have lost for a while. However, although Shaw Brothers theater chain has 3 fewer theaters than Golden Harvest, it has more screenings than Golden Harvest (Jiahe's annual film production is only half of Shaw Brothers, and the theater chain
Many times movies from other partner companies are screened), so the movies from both parties are actually about the same in terms of total box office sales.
The Christmas holiday and New Year's holiday have passed, and the next highlight is the annual holiday.
Although Christmas and New Year holidays are statutory holidays, many companies do not take holidays, and students have become the main group of moviegoers. And during the annual holiday, everyone will take a holiday to celebrate the New Year. During that time, men, women, old and young all go to battle, and the audience base increases exponentially.
.
Both Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest are gearing up and preparing for another fight during the annual vacation!
The movie that Shaw Brothers is preparing this time is "Modern Countryman" starring Lin Zixiang and Jing Li. Jing Li is a long-standing and popular Shaw Brothers actress. Although Lin Zixiang is acting in a movie for the first time, she is a famous TV actor and singer.
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Jiahe is even more confident, because they released it during the annual holiday, which is Cheng Long's first movie after signing with Jiahe. Before that, Cheng Long's "Laughing Fist" had just won
It became the annual box office champion in 1979.
Just as both parties were about to launch a publicity offensive, news suddenly came out that Lydia Cinemas, which was busy with major renovations, invited dozens of media outlets in Hong Kong and Kowloon to hold a press conference, saying that they were going to announce important information.
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Time enters 1980.
Chen Bosen and Wang Zhonghan took a public bus to the Lydia Cinema. They were going to attend the Lydia Cinema press conference.
The two founders of "Film Fortnightly" were in very difficult economic conditions at this time, and they had spent all their savings in order to run the magazine.
In the entire Hong Kong magazine industry, "Film Fortnightly" can only be regarded as an inconspicuous little magazine. However, this little magazine has been very popular recently, firstly because it just selected the top ten Hong Kong films last year, and secondly because
It supports and promotes the New Wave movement in cinema.
"Film Fortnightly" has only been published for a year, but it has already become very famous in the Hong Kong film circle.
Of course, having a great name does not mean making money. Because this is a professional film magazine, its audience is only some movie lovers and filmmakers, and each issue sells less than 3,000 copies.
The two got off the bus at the station near the Lydia Cinema. After walking for a while, they saw the beaming Lydia Cinema in the distance.
I saw that the gate of Lisheng Cinema was renovated, and the old cinema was even equipped with neon lights. Not only that, couplets celebrating the New Year were posted on the door of the cinema, and big red lanterns were hung on both sides, full of the spirit of the New Year.
Good luck and joy.
After taking a closer look, the two were surprised to find that the signboard of Lisheng Theater had been replaced, and the new signboard was called "Golden Princess Theater".
Chen Bosen and Wang Daohan looked at each other, and both could see the shock in each other's eyes.
Lydia Cinema is the leading cinema of Lydia Cinemas Company. Once its name is changed to "Golden Princess Cinema", it means that Lydia Cinemas will also be renamed as "Golden Princess Cinemas".
Lydia Cinema is an old signature, and changing its name at this time shows that many major adjustments have been made within the theater chain, which may have a big impact on the entire Hong Kong film industry.
Entering the newly renamed Golden Princess Cinema, Chen Bosen and Wang Daohan could only sit in the middle and back seats. The press boxes in front were reserved for "Sing Tao Daily", "Oriental Daily", "Ming Pao", and "Business Daily"
", "Ta Kung Pao", "Ming Pao Weekly" and other major media prepared.
When the press conference was about to begin, Lei Juekun entered the stage with Chen Rongmei, Feng Bingzhong, Li Maowen and others. Kang Jianfei followed a few people like a passerby, with no sense of existence.
Passerby A felt like Kang Jianfei, because Chen Rongmei, Feng Bingzhong, and Li Maowen didn't want to see him, and they didn't give him a good look when they met today. Kang Jianfei didn't want to be hot-faced and cold-hearted to others, so he simply kept silent.
He didn't say a word at the beginning of the press conference.
Kang Jianfei didn't speak, but it didn't mean that the reporters below also regarded him as a passerby, because the one who could attend with Lei Juekun today couldn't be a minion.
"Media colleagues, welcome to take time out of your busy schedule to attend today's press conference..." A staff member wearing glasses acted as the host of the press conference. After the opening remarks, he introduced the character, "This is Li
Mr. Lei Juekun, Chairman of Lydia Cinemas... This is Mr. Chen Rongmei, Director of Lydia Cinemas... This is Mr. Feng Bingzhong, Director of Lydia Cinemas... This is Mr. Li Maowen, General Manager of Lydia Cinemas... Finally
This one is the great writer, famous screenwriter and songwriter Mr. Kang Jianfei..."
Kang Jianfei?
What is this guy doing?
Dozens of media reporters below looked at each other in confusion, wondering why Kang Jianfei, a martial arts writer, came to a theater press conference to join in the fun.
Before the press conference, few people had seen Kang Jianfei's photo, but Kang Jianfei's name was known to everyone present.
It is already a legend that a novel saved a newspaper and returned it to the top of sales volume. How could the reporters present, as insiders, not have heard of Kang Jianfei?
Not only have they heard of it, but many people have also deliberately inquired about Kang Jianfei’s specific information.
Lei Juekun's next speech immediately made these reporters forget about Kang Jianfei, and only heard Lei Juekun say: "...I announce that starting from today, 'Lysheng Cinema Line' will officially be renamed as 'Golden Princess Cinema Line'"
'. I exclusively own 71.2% of the shares of the cinema chain company, Mr. Chen Rongmei owns 16.6% of the company's shares, Mr. Feng Bingzhong owns 11.2% of the company's shares, and Mr. Li Maowen owns 1% of the company's shares... From now on, Golden Princess Cinemas
The theater guarantee system will be abolished and only the box office share between theater chains and cinemas will be charged. All producers are welcome to screen their films at the Golden Princess Cinema..."
"Wow..."
Before Lei Juekun finished speaking, the press conference was already in an uproar.
Princess Jin has abolished the theater subsidy system, which is going to change the Hong Kong film industry! And this is not only a matter of changes in the structure of the Hong Kong film industry, it will also have a profound impact on the production and release of Hong Kong films in the future.
Under the temptation of Golden Princess not charging theater reservation fees, countless producers must have risked offending Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest to have their films released in Golden Princess.
This has a severe impact on Golden Harvest. After all, Shaw Brothers all produces and sells their own films, and Golden Harvest Cinema Line needs a large number of independent films to expand its film sources. Once Princess Jin cancels the theater package, then Golden Harvest Cinema Line will start from the film sources.
There has been a major crisis in the past, and I am afraid that at a certain stage the theater package system will be abolished.
I think Shao Daheng would sneer with gloating when he heard this news - it's good that the guarantee system has been cancelled. I produce and sell by myself and I'm not afraid of anything. Princess Jin and Jiahe, your two dog-eating dogs, let's slowly and viciously compete!
Before the reporter's free Q&A session began, Lei Juekun dropped a third piece of news: "To celebrate the Lunar New Year, Golden Princess Cinema has designated a period of time before and after the New Year as a Lunar New Year slot. The movie "Happy Ghost" directed by Mr. Kang Jianfei
, will be screened in all 18 theaters under the Golden Princess Cinemas chain on February 9th!"
"boom!"
The press conference once again erupted into loud noises. No one expected that the last news announced by Lei Juekun would be this.
Didn't Kang Jianfei write martial arts novels? He later wrote a script. I heard that he also composed the theme song of "Shanghai Beach". But even so, why did he suddenly become a director again? And there are 18 theaters.
Joint screening!
Not everyone can enjoy the full-line screening. Even the great director Li Hanxiang's "Jade" some time ago was initially screened in 16 theaters of the Shaw Theater chain. However, due to low attendance, it was dropped after three days.
There were 11 joint screenings, and five days later it was reduced to 8.
How can Kang Jianfei be so virtuous?
Could it be that "Happy Ghost" could sell better at the box office than Li Hanxiang's "Jade"? It would be a big joke if it was screened in 18 theaters and the average attendance was less than 30%!
When the reporter's free question time came, dozens of reporters on the scene rushed to ask:
"Boss Lei, after the Golden Princess Cinema Line abolished the package system, is there any way to avoid theater operating risks?"
"Manager Li, what is a Lunar New Year movie?"
"Mr. Kang Jianfei, don't you write novels? Why are you making movies again?"
"During the annual holiday, there will be "Junior Brother" starring Cheng Long, and "Modern Countryman" starring Lin Zixiang and Jing Li. Mr. Kang, do you think your "Happy Ghost" can beat them?"
"..."
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I recommend a book. This book was written under the guidance and revision of Boss Qi Cheng, the author of "Industrial Overlord". Those who like industrial literature can take a look.