Lei Juekun felt a little regretful. He never dreamed that Xinyi City could be so awesome.
But although New Art City is awesome, it faces the problem of competing with Baiyang Company for popular schedules.
Although there are few films produced by Baiyang Film Company, Yang Ye, Chen Long, and Hong Jingbao are all monster-level.
Once you bump into schedules with them, your vitality will be seriously damaged, so New Arts City tried its best to encourage Lei Juekun to form another theater chain.
Yang Ye wants to stop Lei Juekun from forming another theater chain. The easiest way is to buy all the theaters of Jiahe and Shaw Brothers.
But it's difficult. It's not a matter of money. Golden Harvest hasn't given up yet, and Run Run Shaw is not short of money at all. He has a deep obsession with movies. Even if the Shaw Brothers Cinemas line was taken over by Dickson Poon a year later, Run Run Shaw will only Not for sale.
Moreover, having more theaters is not a good thing. Operating costs will increase exponentially. In order to reduce costs and increase profits, the best way is to close theaters in duplicate locations.
But if you close these theaters...people who want to do this business will come out and build theaters again.
For example, Lei Juekun, as well as Zou Wenhuai and Shao Yifu who are unwilling to give up, this horse riding is basically a matryoshka doll!
So Yang Ye chose to form a cinema alliance and make money together!
After meeting Zou Wenhuai and He Guanchang, Yang Ye went to meet Run Run Shaw without stopping, and he said the same thing.
Lei Juekun originally felt like he was in control of everything, but suddenly, Yang Ye gave him a trick that would cause him to lose his temper.
Once the theater alliance is formed, there is no need for him to form another theater chain.
Yang Ye invited Lei Juekun to have a meal again. He didn't mention anything about Lei Juekun's intention to run away. He just explained his original intention of establishing a theater alliance.
Then, if the shares are exchanged, it will be in the form of a company, which means that Lei Juekun can also obtain profits from Golden Harvest and Shaw Brothers theater chains.
After hearing this, Lei Juekun had no objection. For him, this result was even better than his plan to lease Jiahe Cinema Line.
All in all, all parties reached a win-win situation.
Since there was no objection to the distribution of equity, we began to draw up the detailed rules.
There are three main aspects:
First, the number of movies released in each theater will increase greatly in the future. How to schedule so many movies?
In this regard, Baiyang and Lisheng had already drawn up a plan when they merged. There has been nothing wrong with the cooperation in the past few years, so just follow it and implement it.
In short, it is to ensure the overall profit of the theater chain. As for the profit of the film company, it depends on your own ability.
It’s useless to blame others if it can’t beat the box office.
Second, after the alliance was formed, the number of theaters exceeded 80, and many theaters were crowded together. Of course, the popular locations did not matter, but the unpopular locations were considered a waste.
After negotiation, the three theater chains each made concessions and a total of twelve overlapping theaters in poor locations were converted into second-run theater chains.
The so-called second-run theaters, as the name suggests, are movie theaters that screen movies at a discounted price after the movies have been released from the first-run theaters.
Generally, the ticket price is cheaper than that of ordinary theaters, and one ticket can be used for unlimited entry and exit on the same day. You can eat and go shopping in the middle. You can enter whichever hall you want to watch movies, no matter where you are.
Third, open to join! Theoretically, all theaters in Hong Kong can apply to join the theater chain alliance, but the alliance will consider the location of your theater and the facilities of the theater to confirm whether you are qualified to join.
The franchised theaters will be eligible to screen new films from major film companies, but must pay a franchise fee to the alliance every year.
On December 12, 1983, Bai Yang, Shaw Brothers, and Golden Harvest jointly held a press conference. Run Run Shaw, Chow Wenhuai, Yang Ye, and Lei Juekun attended and announced the formation of the Hong Kong Cinema Alliance. All movies produced by the company can be screened in theater chain alliances, without distinguishing between theater chains.
This was an earthquake-like event in the entertainment industry, attracting hundreds of media outlets to report on it.
Many filmmakers also expressed their opinions. Of course, most of them happily sent blessings.
In fact, most of these filmmakers are half happy and half worried. They are happy that their movies can be released in more theaters, but they are worried that theaters now wear a pair of trousers. If there is a monopoly, the producers The company has no ability to resist.
On December 15, "Yin Yang" produced by New Art City became the first movie to be released in the theater alliance, with a box office of 16.6 million, making the new director Lin Lingdong an instant success and becoming Entered the hall and became a famous director in the golden age of Hong Kong films.
This box office is more than two million more than the original time and space, which is naturally the effect brought by the joint screening.
A week later, on December 22, Chen Long's "Plan A" was released and grossed 23.3 million at the box office, nearly 3 million more than the original box office.
"Plan A" was also released in Japan at the same time, grossing 3 billion yen at the box office, bringing Chen Long's popularity in Japan to its peak.
His jump from the bell tower, which nearly cost him his life, was not in vain.
……
ATV, New Year’s Eve concert, Girls’ Generation will make their first appearance tonight!
Nine little girls, dressed in very festive red costumes, are making final preparations backstage!
Fu Mingxian was not selected and sat depressed in the audience with her parents watching the show.
Shi Hui comforted: "Lingzhi, don't be upset! Aye said that when you reach the age of sixteen, you will be allowed to film on the TV station."
Fu Mingxian forced a smile, Said: "I know!"
Shi Hui is an old-school person and is not impressed by the girl group that Yang Ye created. Yang Ye did not let her daughter join the group, but she was very happy and felt that Yang Ye Very sensible.
For Yang Ye, the relationship between Fu Mingxian and Xia Meng is too close. From this perspective, she is equivalent to Yang Ye's niece and will inevitably be excluded from the girl group.
The mother and daughter were chatting. After the emcee on the stage said New Year's greetings, the first program was about to begin.
Debora smiled and said: "Xingzi, do you know who is the first person to sing on stage this year?"
"Lagu, you are asking the right person. I just said I took a peek in the background, wow, my eyes were wide open!"
"What did you see?"
"The super invincible beautiful girl in the universe!"
"Isn't that too exaggerated?"
"It's not an exaggeration at all, and it's not one, it's nine!"
"Nine So many?”
“Dear viewers, next, ‘Girls’ Generation’, composed of nine super invincible girls in the universe, will present a song to you..."You are the most popular"!"
The two emcees came off the stage, and the sound of gongs and drums suddenly sounded on the stage, creating a festive atmosphere.
Nine beautiful girls in festive red costumes jumped onto the stage, dancing and singing.
"Congratulations! You are the most favored! Career and love are all organic! Create the current situation, become popular in the sky and the earth, and the world turns around you!"
......
Somewhere in Kowloon, inside a residential building.
Several student girls brought various snacks and drinks and sat in front of the TV chatting.
A little girl named Chen Yaxian asked: "Caini, your daddy and mommy won't be back tonight, right?"
Another little girl named Yang Caini replied: "They You’re back in Taiwan, why are you here?”
“That’s great. I wanted to watch ATV’s New Year’s Eve concert last year, but my grandma wanted to watch it on wireless. I was so angry!”
A friend said: "What's so good about TVB? You can see Mr. Rong on ATV, he's so handsome!"
"What's so good about Young Master Rong? I want to see Young Master Yang!"
"How about Young Master Rong being more handsome?"
"Young Master Yang will kick your Young Master Rong away!" "
"Violent maniac!"
Yang Caini asked: "Stop arguing, Yaxian, I heard that you are going to make a movie, is it true?"
< br>
Chen Yaxian replied: "Yes, my dad knows Shi Tian, the director of Xinyi City. They need a young actor to make a movie, so Shi Tian uncle asked me to go."
Several friends suddenly felt envious. .
Yang Caini squeezed her little fist and said, "I will also make movies in the future."
"It's starting!" While they were chatting, the concert started.
“Lagu is such a pretty girl!”
"Hahaha, Xingzai's expression is still so funny!"
"The super invincible beautiful girl in the universe? Is she as beautiful as me?" Chen Yaxian said disdainfully.
While talking, nine lovely girls jumped on the stage, dancing on the stage specially arranged for the New Year's Eve concert, and sang enthusiastically:
"Who can You have the best hand skills, you can tell all the nonsense, and Wangdan City is so popular!"
"No one can be as majestic and brave as you, and the best in everything you do!"
The nine beautiful girls are full of youthful vitality, singing festive lyrics, and their overflowing enthusiasm and smiles infect everyone in front of the TV.
While singing, they also gathered together to say auspicious words: "Congratulations! Congratulations! We Girls' Generation wish everyone good luck in the New Year!" "Hahaha, so happy!"
Yang Caini couldn't help but jump up along with the TV. As soon as she took the lead, all the little girls jumped along with the TV, and they were so happy.
Unfortunately, joy is always short-lived. One song lasts only a few minutes. After singing, Girls' Generation stepped down.
Chen Yaxian was still confused and said: "Who are they?"
"It seems to be called Girls' Generation!"
"I've never heard of it!"
"They should be new debutants. Yes!”
“I know the one in the middle. Last time I went to see Young Master Yang’s concert, she sang on stage. What was she called... Vivian?”
Yang Caini remembered and said: "Yes, I watched it too. She is so beautiful!"
"Every one of them is so beautiful!"
......
This night, many teenagers were scratching their heads at home anxiously, eager to know everything about "Girls' Generation".
Many students even secretly called ATV without telling their parents to inquire.
ATV is also very considerate. At 6pm the next day, ATV's entertainment program "Fans Entertainment" invited "Girls' Generation" as a guest!
“Hello everyone, I am Vivian Zhou Huimin of Girls’ Generation, I am from Hong Kong!”
“Hello everyone, I am Joey Wang Zuxian of Girls’ Generation, I am from Taiwan!”
< br>“Hello everyone, I am Amami Yuki from Girls’ Generation, I am from Japan!”
……
The members introduced themselves one by one, and the friends in front of the TV were stunned.
These nine little girls are actually from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea. They are a serious international group.
Moreover, they all speak Cantonese seriously. Except for the two Japanese girls who have some accents, the others all speak very authentic Cantonese.
Especially Cui Zhenlin, she doesn’t say she is Korean, it’s impossible to tell.
Actually, among the nine little girls, only two of them, Zhou Huimin and Qiu Shuzhen, were born and raised in Hong Kong.
Zhang Min is from Shanghai and came to Hong Kong when she was 11 years old. It has only been five years. On the contrary, Cui Zhenzhen has been in Hong Kong longer than her.
The content of this "Fans Entertainment" is also relatively simple, just chatting, playing games, and finally singing.
The chat is about telling the origins of their group, the games are about being cute, and finally singing is the highlight.
After several years of hard training, their singing and dancing skills have become very good. Of course, the TV station broadcasts lip-synching and recordings.
The nine girls came up and sang the signature song "GEE" of "Girls' Generation".
This song was once ranked first among the "100 Greatest Songs in K-POP History" by "Rolling Stone" magazine. The MV has more than 100 million views on YouTube, making it a global hit.
"Gee" is an English interjection with meanings such as "oh" and "scared me". It is a fast-paced dance song that expresses the cute expression of a girl who is just starting to fall in love and is overwhelmed. .
Its characteristic is that it deliberately adds lyrics "GeeGeeGeeGeeBabyBabyBaby" with a lot of "Gee" to attract the listener's interest.
The repetitive and unique rhythm of the lyrics, combined with the brisk melody used in the chorus, makes this song highly toxic and very brainwashing!
It originally had two versions, Korean and Japanese, and Yang Ye wrote the lyrics for a Cantonese version.
Singing is the next best thing, but dancing is the key. Nine girls wore colorful tights and performed the "crab dance" with a strong rhythm, which immediately attracted the attention of countless people.
From this day on, all the boys and girls in Hong Kong seemed to be possessed. Every night at six o'clock, they all gathered in front of the TV to watch ATV, and then learned to dance the "Crab Leg Dance" along with the TV.
Even Huang Zhan wrote in a column, saying that he is a loyal leg fan of Girls' Generation, cross it out, fan!
He also praised Yang Ye for doing a great thing, making him several years younger. Listening to Girls' Generation has the effect of rejuvenating him.
As soon as the song became a hit, the record naturally became a big seller. The first album "You Are the Most Popular" was sold out as soon as it was released!
Boys and girls rushed to the record store like crazy. They had no money and they had to buy it with the money they stole from home.
A record like this naturally has a MV.
In the MV, Girls' Generation transformed into small and exquisite dolls, showing their fashionable, lively and cute charm.
Yang Ye not only directed it himself, but also performed in person, appearing in the MVs of two songs, "Gee" and "You Are the Most Popular".
It is the winter vacation at this time, and karaoke in Hong Kong is very exciting. Students go to karaoke in groups to sing, just to enjoy the MV in the album.
Clothing factories in Hong Kong also saw the business opportunities and took the opportunity to launch the colorful tights worn by Girls' Generation in the music video, and sales soared in minutes.
The hairstyles and outfits of girlhood have become the objects of imitation by girls.
Radio Hong Kong, Hong Kong Commercial Channel, "Gee" was even more popular, and other songs in the album also received a lot of hits.
"Chengdu", which Yang Ye had been on the list for more than a month, fell off the list instantly after the release of Girls' Generation's album.
……
In addition to singing, the promotion of the movie is also on the schedule.
Starring in "Happy Ghost", Zhou Huimin, Xiao Qiang, Tianhai Yuxi, Zhang Xueyou and Li Ming appeared on ATV programs to build momentum for the new film.
“Remember Ming Tsai in “Alien”? He has grown into a handsome boy now!”
Seventeen-year-old Ming Ming is so tender that he can squeeze water out of his mouth. Captured the hearts of countless girls.
The girls also discovered that Li Ming was the male protagonist in the MV of a song called "Girls' School Boys" by Girls' Generation.
Lai Lai was the leading actor in the first movie to hit a global box office of over 1 billion Hong Kong dollars, and now he's grown up.
Three girls, Zhou Huimin, Xiao Qiang, and Tianhai Youxi, are super celebrities who have just emerged less than a month ago.
Faced with such a lineup, the Seven Monsters of New Art City were a little panicked.
Especially Xu Ke, his last movie "New Shushan Swordsman" was so bloody that New Art City didn't care and gave him the company's trump card to direct.
If he fails again this time, he may no longer have a foothold in the Hong Kong film industry.
Mai Jia took a puff of cigarette and said: "Don't worry, Lao Xu made this movie very well. That Mingzai is just a child star, and those little girls have only been popular for half a month, what's there to be afraid of?"< br>
Shi Tiandao: "Yes, there is also the director Mai Dangjie. This is his second movie. His last movie "Naughty Schoolgirl" didn't sell well either!"
Xu Ke said dryly: "The box office in Hong Kong is not that good, but we have sold in more than a hundred markets around the world."
Shi Nansheng shook her boyfriend's hand and said: " That’s because Yang Ji’s channels are great!”
Huang Baiming said: “Actually, I don’t think there is anything to panic about. This is not a movie starring Yang Ye and Chen Long. Even if it is a movie starring them, it will be released during the Spring Festival. We at "Best Partner" are not afraid either.”
This is true. "Best Partner" has dominated the Spring Festival season for two consecutive years. It's not like Chen Long and Hong Jingbao have never been there before, and it's not like it doesn't work. As for Yang Ye, these guys basically work during the summer vacation.
Sylvia Chang said: "In fact, with the current theater alliance, one movie will be screened in more than 80 theaters in Hong Kong, which can fully accommodate two movies."
This is what everyone said. I agreed, and finally Maijia said: "Even so, there is no need to squeeze together. How about we move the date to January 26th?"
The Spring Festival in 1984 was Thursday, February 2nd, Maijia said The stall is open until Sunday, January 26th, so you can earn one more week.
This is a good idea. Everyone nodded, and then we had to discuss how to promote it.
The schedule has been moved forward, so people need to know it, and now there are less than ten days until the 26th.
While everyone was discussing, Huang Baiming ran out to answer the phone and came back and said: ""Happy Ghost" will be released in three days."
Everyone looked confused:
"How is that possible? Hasn't "Happy Ghost" been promoting its release on the first day of the Lunar New Year?"
"The premiere will be three days later, right?"
Huang Baiming said: "There is no premiere, what they are doing this time is... a screening!"
"What is a screening?"
Soon, the Seven Weirds of New Art City Now you understand what on-demand screening means, "Happy Ghost" will be screened on a small scale in some theaters half a month before its release, and Girls' Generation will be there in person to communicate with the audience.
“Isn’t this just putting the midnight show in the daytime?”
“It’s no different from the road shows Yang Ye did before!”
Huang Baiming said: "Their movie is mainly aimed at students, and now...it's the winter vacation!"
As soon as these words came out, needles were heard in the struggle room, and everyone understood the subtlety of this move. ! (End of this chapter)