Xiao Qian welcomed an unexpected but not unexpected guest.
Han Siping, the boss of China Film Group.
The two have met several times and are very familiar with each other, so there is no need to be too polite.
While Xiao Qian was pouring tea, Han Siping said everything he could.
"The higher-ups have given instructions this time, and the establishment of theater chains is inevitable. But you also know, brother, I have no experience. Moreover, China Film Academy is poor and cannot afford so much money. There are so many theaters, we have to deal with them one by one.
In the past, China Film had to close its doors."
While complaining, Han Siping was overjoyed.
Fortunately, when Dongying won the domestic screening rights of Korean films, he suppressed the opposition within China Film. Otherwise, the two families would be in trouble, and now he would not even be able to find anyone to ask for help.
This May, the domestic film industry was shaken again.
Just at the end of last month, the 1998 box office data was released and placed on Li Jianguo's desk.
This report was seen by many big bosses, and it is said that the No. 2 director even slammed the table.
Why?
The data is really disparate, and the disparity has reached a very strange level.
Data reports from the entire Chinese film market and other provinces show that the annual revenue is between 300 million and 500 million.
Seems like a lot, right?
Sorry, the box office data of the Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai regions that Dongying is responsible for is 3.5 billion. The total box office of one company is as much as the total of other regions.
Are people in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai richer?
Are ticket prices higher here?
Does Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai have a larger population?
None.
There are many regions in the country that can compete with Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai in terms of wealth, and the fares are the same, and the regions with the largest population are not Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai.
So what is the reason for such a disparity in box office data?
Everyone has a clear mind.
Box office data is falsified.
It's not Dongying that's cheating, it's other movie theater companies that are cheating.
This fraud alone causes a large loss of GDP in the film and television industry every year and damages the interests of many people.
No wonder Chief No. 2 slammed the table.
He personally ordered that the reform of movie theater chains must be carried out in depth. Anyone who dares to stop it will be dealt with seriously.
After seeing this box office data, Li Jianguo couldn't help but want to go to war. Now with the endorsement from above, it is equivalent to getting Shang Fang's sword, which can be used against all odds.
However, he did not lose his head and felt that he could go all out regardless of the cost.
In the final analysis, China's film industry is still too fragile. If it is acted too hastily, it will cause more harm than benefit.
Fortunately, what Xiao Qian did back then became the best reference.
At first, we drew a circle in the free shipping area and Dongying was born. So this time we drew a circle in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, and it is more controllable right under our noses.
If this second reform also achieves good results, then it can really be rolled out across the board.
If you want to reform movie theaters in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, China Film Group must take the lead.
This is China Film’s inherent sphere of influence, and its influence is unrivaled. Coupled with China Film’s official background, it can only take on this important responsibility.
Li Jianguo talked to Han Siping several times and handed over the task.
Of course Han Siping knew that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As long as it was done, China Film's strength would reach a higher level, and he would no longer have to worry about being overtaken by Dongying.
But the difficulties are also obvious.
money.
Without money, there is no way to reform.
The success of Dongying is not simply to annex those theaters and then be done with it, but to invest a large amount of money to upgrade all the theaters, build the first batch of high-end theaters in the country, and improve the service quality.
Only then will there be an explosion in box office.
Originally, Han Siping wanted to follow Xiao Qian's example and seek a bank loan, but was rejected.
Banks are not optimistic about China Film and do not think their reforms will be successful.
One of the bank representatives said something even more hurtful.
"Old Han, it's not that I don't want to lend you money. But the problem is, you are not Xiao Qian. You don't have the influence of Mr. Xiao. Even if you build the cinema well, will you have movies to show?"
The bank is public-owned, and China Film Group is also public-owned. Everyone understands what is going on, and they are even less willing to lend money.
When problems arise in operations, bank accounts will become a constant problem.
Unlike Dongying, although Dongying also has the government behind it, Dongying is a purely commercial group that is responsible for its own profits and losses. Even if Dongying does not perform well, banks can mortgage their assets.
Due to various factors, Han Siping had a bad start and was in dire straits.
However, Han Siping did not become a big boss in China's film and television industry for nothing.
Gritting his teeth, he immediately went south and sat in front of Xiao Qian.
Don’t you only recognize Xiao Qian?
Well, I'll invite the real Buddha.
"That's the thing. The reform of theater chains in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei is imperative. If this is done well, our Chinese film industry will have another stable market, which will be of great benefit to the overall development."
Xiao Qian listened quietly and nodded silently.
His appearance gave Han Siping a little inspiration and a little hope in his heart.
But what Xiao Qian said was completely opposite to the gesture of nodding.
"What you said is correct, but what good will this do to me and Dongying?"
Han Siping was anxious.
"This is your father's... plan from above, and if the theater chain reform is completed, the box office of your Starlight movies will be guaranteed."
Xiao Qian spread his hands, unmoved.
"Our Starlight movies are already guaranteed, and now the public recognizes our brand."
He waved his hand to stop Han Siping's argument and said first: "The theater reform is a matter of Dongying. Starlight is a film and television production company, not a theater company, and does not have this business. If you want Dongying to take action,
Then I have to convince other leaders. Without the right conditions, it will be difficult."
Han Siping sighed inwardly, feeling extremely helpless.
Asking for help is really difficult and uncomfortable.
But Xiao Qian finally didn't say anything and left a hint of hope that he was willing to help.
And since this was the case, Han Siping also knew that if he wanted to persuade Dongying to take action, he would have to give up some of his benefits.
"Mr. Xiao, what do you have to say?"
Xiao Qian had already thought about it and communicated with other leaders of Dongying.
"If you want to end Dongying, it has to become Dongying's own business. In my opinion, why not exchange some shares between Dongying and China Film? How about we cross-shareholding?"
"Um?"
Han Siping originally thought that the meat was about to be cut off, but he didn't expect that what came out of Xiao Qian's mouth was actually an exchange.
If Dongying and China Film have cross-shareholdings, doesn't that mean that Dongying is allowed to enter the film market in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, and China Film can also enter the film market in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai?
If we do this, China Film will not suffer any loss.
He looked over in confusion, wondering why Xiao Qian proposed such generous terms?
Of course Xiao Qian would not hide it from him.
"Although China's film market is very big, we, East Film and China Film, have joined forces to strategize. If there are Western Film, Southern Film, etc., the market atmosphere that is finally created will be difficult to achieve due to all kinds of things.
It will be chaos. I think both of you should take the responsibility of revitalizing Chinese films and play a leading role."
Han Siping was shocked, and when he looked at Xiao Qian again, he felt vaguely frightened.
This young man has great ambitions!
China's film market has always been fragmented, with each province having its own basic market. China Film was originally slightly more prominent, but its influence on the lower levels was also limited.
Later, Dongying suddenly emerged and completed the market unification of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai. It was regarded as the first one-stop film and television group in China.
But now, Xiao Qian's meaning is very clear.
He does not want such a one-stop large-scale film and television group to exist except in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, and Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei.
Suddenly, Han Siping understood Xiao Qian's thoughts.
Xiao Qian's idea is really correct. The domestic film market is indeed not suitable for having too many large-scale film and television groups. Especially film and television groups with local characteristics. If there are too many, wouldn't it lead to a situation where the princes are divided and do their own thing?
In that case, the national market will be in vain, and it will be impossible to mobilize the power of the entire industry to strengthen Chinese films.
Xiao Qian plans to use China Film and Dongying as the leaders to jointly build a first-level film market, coordinate distribution, and gather strength. Then, he will build a secondary film market below and extend the reach of the entire industry to every corner.
If it is really done by him, the domestic film market will take on a completely new look. With everyone performing their duties and gathering all the strength, it will undoubtedly bring Chinese films to a higher level.
At the very least, this can ensure the orderly and healthy development of the country's box office, and will no longer wantonly embezzle the box office and cause huge loss of profits as it is now.
There are not many good things like this.
"Mr. Xiao is so righteous, what else can I say? I have no choice but to follow him."
The two of them drank tea instead of wine, drank it in one gulp, and laughed.
In a quiet room, with just a few words, the two big guys completed the overall plan for the national film market.
