1979 Golden Age

Chen Qi took Bob Shea around the set.

There are photo studios, post-production rooms, canteens, office buildings, and even a few dedicated dormitories. "It reminds me of MGM from decades ago..."

Bob Shea was curious about everything and sighed: "This big studio system is a product of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Now it has disintegrated. The giant companies have formulated new ways of playing, and everyone has to follow it.

There are a thousand times more Hollywood losers than winners, all of whom have failed to adapt to the new rules. So you are really great, a Hong Kong movie can take over 20 million at the box office. ""It's a Chinese movie! "Chen Qi corrected.

"OK! Chinese movies."

The two of them went up to the main building and entered the office. As soon as the door was closed, Bob Shea said immediately: "I solemnly apologize to you. We didn't have a pleasant conversation in Los Angeles. I felt anxious and uneasy about my rudeness, so I Coming to Hong Kong, I hope we can talk again.”

"Have you figured out the business we want to do?" "Have you figured it out!"

"Please sit down!"

Chen Qi stretched out his hand and asked with a smile: "Then why don't you come and listen?" "OK!"

Bob Shea had already prepared a plan and said calmly: "New Line is a small company and does not have the ability to fully distribute. If you are an outsider, it is difficult to get involved. If we release well-made high-quality movies, it will It's very wasteful, and the best thing for us is a B-movie.

I used this time to investigate the videotape market, which is already worth more than a billion dollars and is growing year by year. We can do small theaters and video distribution. Only B-movies.

I have inquired about it, and found that for a good B-level movie, the video distributor's purchase price starts at $400,000. We first find publishers, ask them to order and pay, and we take the money to shoot, while slowly establishing our own distribution channels. "

"Yes, you understand the business we want to do." Chen Qi smiled.

"The key is the cost of filming. Can it be reduced to enough profit margin?" "How much does it cost to make a film?"

"An average of 300,000 US dollars!" "What about the time?" "About a month."

"Which expenditure is the largest?"

"Actors' pay is very low, technicians are relatively expensive, and things like film, location, food, clothing, housing and transportation are also very expensive. We shoot location shoots all in Latin American countries, which are cheaper."

*..."

Chen Qi pondered for a moment and said with a smile: "We have reached an agreement on our intentions, but since it is our first time to collaborate and we don't trust each other, I think we need to make a film first to establish friendship." "I have the same idea!"

"Okay, I can make a B-level movie. You can distribute it first, and I'll give you 15% of the agency fee. If we both feel good about it, we can collaborate in depth later." "Is it the action movie I just watched? ?”

Bob Shea was suddenly very excited, but unfortunately he was poured cold water on it. Chen Qi said: "I will sell overseas copyrights for that film, including video rights, and it will not be released in drive-in theaters."

"Okay, then I'll follow what you said. I hope we can have a happy cooperation!" "Thank you for making the trip to Hong Kong. You might as well spend a few days before leaving!"

From beginning to end, Chen Qi wanted a share of the U.S. box office.

But those big companies would not share the profits with him, and would rather pay a higher price to buy out the copyright. He can only start from a small company and develop his own distribution channels. New Line Cinema is still a small business, and Bob Shea is also a nobody.

After the man left, Chen Qi sat in the office and thought.

There are only two new films confirmed to be released next year, "Happy Ghost 2" and "Fatal Express". "Mr. Zombie" has nothing to do with Dongchang.

This year's foreign exchange earnings exceeded 10 million U.S. dollars. It is impossible next year with just these two films. However, Chen Qi is not planning to make any more U.S. dollars. He will take it slow for now and concentrate on the Hong Kong market. Next year, 1984!

On December 19, the Chinese and British governments signed the "Joint Statement on the Question of Hong Kong" in Beijing, confirming Hong Kong's return in 1997. This is a great opportunity. He wants to take advantage of this trend to kill the rightists in one go!

"Tsu Hark has "The Working Emperor", Xu Xiaoming is preparing "Mirage", and Zheng Zeshi has "The Broken Married Dad". There are five dramas in total. There are 2-3 more dramas, and one of them is going to be a big hit."

"Oh, I have to write a script again!"

Creative talents are scarce. In the past, all the scripts were written by Chen Qi. Now everyone can share some of the responsibility, and he is very relaxed. He officially came to Hong Kong in 1981 to develop, and the original goal he set was to "have a stable Hong Kong in three years"!

The time is just right. Shanghai, Caojiadu.

Mainland China and Hong Kong have completely different styles of painting. As the National Day approaches, everything is lively. The neighborhood committees have already put up banners.

Not far from the neighborhood committee, there is an old alley. The piles of various debris squeeze the already narrow passage even narrower. There were people on the second floor all around, twitching their heads and looking excitedly, all focused on one person.

"Ta-ta-ta!" "Ta-ta-ta!"

Gong Xuesu was facing the sky, wearing a light gray corduroy jacket, revealing a section of the collar of a white shirt, and was using a sewing machine to make clothes. She's not just pretending, she really does it. Not many lesbians these days can’t use a sewing machine.

She also has the skills of a fitter. She used to be a fitter. Well, her sister is also very versatile.

While she was stepping on the sewing machine, her mind suddenly wandered. She thought of the loving words in the letter Chen Qigang sent, and couldn't help but purse her lips and smile. "stop!"

Director Bai Chen shouted and said helplessly: "Gong Xue, I know you are newly married, but your character must be sad and restrained. Why do you always laugh?" Sorry, director, I was distracted! "

"Do it again, remember, sorrow!"

Gong Xue blinked sheepishly, lowered his head, and then raised it again, he was already in a sad little white flower state. Later, the leading actor Guo Kaimin came over and said a few lines. Guo Kaimin was originally the male protagonist of "Romance in Lushan Mountain". He is gone now, but he is a young actor trained by Shanghai Film Studio and is still famous.

He is five years younger than Gong Xue, and he also co-starred in the film "A Better Life".

This man was very talkative and would say anything, but now he didn't dare to face Gong Xue. He acted honestly. After filming one scene, Bai Chen shouted: "Okay, it's over! Take a rest and prepare for the next scene." !”

As soon as these words came out, the crew suddenly felt like they were facing a formidable enemy.

Gong Xue also immediately leaned against the wall, with four Dongchang fans guarding him on the left and right. The onlookers took advantage of the slightest gap to run over and swarmed in this direction. "Comrade Gong Xue, can you sign your name for me?"

"Can we take a photo together?"

"This is a letter I wrote. Please accept it. Our whole family likes you very much!"

This era has its own way of chasing stars, but the nature is basically the same. Three consecutive Hundred Flowers Awards is not a guarantee, which is enough to prove her mass influence, not to mention that this is her hometown of Shanghai.

"Okay, okay!" "Thank you for your like!" "I will read your letter!"

Gong Xue responded hurriedly and calmly, always with a smile on his face. The four Dongchang fans and the crew tried their best to maintain order without driving the crowd away too much. Who dares to drive away the crowd these days?

"What are you doing? What are you doing?"

While there was a commotion, two aunts wearing red sleeve bands squeezed in, and at first glance they were from the neighborhood committee. The aunts in Beijing are very powerful, but the ones in Shanghai don't give in much. They scolded: "Comrade Gong Xue finally returned to his hometown to film a movie. You guys are polite. Why are you crowding? Get out of my way!"

"You won't let me, right? Let me tell you, the neighborhood committee is over there, and the police station is not far away. I'll convict you of being a gangster and not run away!" Hiss!

These three words instantly frightened everyone into silence.