1979 Golden Age

On the hillside beside Clear Water Bay Road, there are several villas built in the 1960s. Each building has four floors, with views of the mountains on one side and the sea on the other.

This place is very remote, and few people know that Run Run Shaw lived here until his death, and it was later abandoned.

His ancestral home is Ningbo and he was born in Shanghai.

He is the sixth of eight brothers and sisters, so he is called Uncle Six. His eldest and second brothers both made movies, but they cheated on him and their relationship was not good. He only had a relationship with his third brother, Shao Renmei, and founded Shaw Brothers.

He was 78 years old this year and could live for a long time. He died at the age of 107.

This morning.

Chen Qi came to visit and met Fang Yihua first. Fang Yihua didn't look like he was at the company at home. He looked like a good concubine and a good mother, and said with a smile: "Come in quickly, we have been waiting for you."

"This house is really nice. Is it 10,000 square feet?"

"It's 15,000 square feet. When it was first built, it would be the most western-style building in Hong Kong. He missed the old days and refused to move after living there for 20 years."

“If it transfers and I can take over, wow, the swimming pool!”

Chen Qi saw a huge open-air swimming pool with rippling water among the trees. It was very stylish and he exclaimed: "All the female stars of Shaw Brothers have swum in it, right?"

Fang Yihua's face darkened, and he suddenly regained consciousness after saying a few words.

She led Chen Qi upstairs to the living room. The hanging crystal chandelier, large sofa, glass windows and the blank landscaping outside the window were all exquisite. A thin old man was already waiting.

He has a long face, wears glasses, and is very energetic. To show that he is serious about meeting him, he also wears a suit at home.

It's none other than Run Run Shaw!

Chen Qi looked at this figure who was inescapable in Hong Kong history. He received the British Knight Medal and donated money to the mainland after 1984.

He donates an average of 100 million every year, not only for education, but also for disasters and disasters in the mainland -"

The merits and demerits were clear, but Chen Qi was still willing to address you. He took two steps forward and said with a smile, "Mr. Shao, I finally meet you!"

"It's better to be famous than to meet him. Mr. Chen is young and promising!"

Run Run Shaw also looked at him in surprise. He was too young and said: "Please sit down, please sit down!"

A self-dressed woman wearing a blue cloth coat and black cloth shoes served tea, and Fang Yihua sat beside her to accompany them, greeting each other.

Run Run Shaw spoke slowly, holding a civilized stick in his hand, exuding the temperament of an old-school man, and said with a smile: "I am from Shanghai, and I heard that your wife is also from Shanghai. I have watched "Life is Beautiful" and won an Oscar for the country. It’s a shame that I couldn’t see it today.”

"She is pregnant and staying in the mainland to recuperate."

"Oh? This is a happy event. When the child is born, you must send me a letter to express your feelings."

"Then I'll thank you in advance."

After chatting with the family's children for a while, the atmosphere was harmonious. Chen Qi began to ask: "I heard that Shaw Brothers is reducing production. What are your plans for the future?"

"Shaw Brothers' recession is well known. Let's stop production after a few more years. My third brother died of illness and there is no one to take care of the theater chain, which is also a headache. Is Mr. Chen interested in taking over?"

"There are more than a dozen of your theaters, including ours, there are more than 30 theaters. If the film source is not available, I can't take over. But I am willing to take over some talents from Shaw Brothers, such as the one named Wang Zuxian."

"Wang Zuxian, think about it! Her manager is in my hands, you can ask her to film a movie." Fang Yihua said.

"I trained her for you to take a commission, right? I'll dig her over tomorrow."

"Ha! I raised the liquidated damages a long time ago just to be on guard against you!"

Run Run Shao looked at the two of them strangely. Fang Yihua always said that this kid could make people mad, but it turned out to be true.

Chen Qi continued: "It's a pity that you decided to stop production at Shaw Brothers, but I know you won't change your mind. The studio system of Shaw Brothers is outdated, so we just use this opportunity to move lightly and switch to TVB. The sky is brighter again."

Run Run Shaw's face was calm and noncommittal.

"I think the suspension of Shaw Brothers' production does not mean bidding farewell to the film industry. It can completely change its strategy and develop in another direction, such as theaters."

"You said investing in building a theater in the mainland?" Fang Yihua asked.

Chen Qi gave an infuriating look that was shocked but also a little relieved, and said with a smile: "You were absent from the previous talks in Beijing, so you have to make up for it now. Mainland China is studying to let Hong Kong films enter Guangdong, and Shaw Brothers will not make movies, so it's okay Do a theater!

Land is at a premium in Hong Kong, and it is not easy to acquire a piece of land. The land in mainland China is like picking it up for free, all kinds of resources are very cheap, and the audience is very enthusiastic about movies. Our ticket price is 20 cents, and last year Guangdong Province took in a total box office of 100 million yuan.

In addition to a theater, a film and television city can also be built.

Your film and television city is too small. It would be no problem to build tens of thousands of acres in the mainland.

And in the long run:

I’m not talking about movies. The movie industry is complicated. Let’s just talk about TV dramas. Mainland TV dramas are developing rapidly, with strong support from the state. Within five years, they will be everywhere and dominate the national audience. By then there will be more and more crews, and they can all come to our film and television city for filming.

With the crew, it is necessary to build a hotel and a series of service industry facilities.

Guangdong Province’s three-come-one-subsidy policy has absorbed a large number of factories in Hong Kong and can provide cheap and abundant small commodities nearby, which is another major advantage.

In addition to being used for filming, the film and television city can also be used as a tourist attraction. Guangdong Province is at the forefront of reform and attracts national attention. It has an incalculable floating population, so there is no need to worry about passenger flow.

If it can be successful, I dare not say in the long run, this will definitely be the largest and most prosperous film and television base in China within 20 years! "

Run Run Shaw pondered for a moment and asked: "Is this film and television base a joint venture?"

"Of course! The highest equity ratio of the joint venture model in the mainland is 51:49, but I am not asking you to invest alone. I want to unite Hong Kong film and television practitioners who are willing to participate to form a company for joint investment, including Mr. Qiu of ATV and Mr. Zou of Golden Harvest—"

Chen Qi paused and said, "You intend to donate to Zhejiang University, which is certainly a good deed, but you are the head of the Shaw Brothers film kingdom after all. It is a pity to bid farewell to the film industry so quietly.

It is not a bad idea to leave some traces of Shaw Brothers in the mainland, such as building a Shaw Brothers Museum in the film and television base?"

Run Run Shaw, who had been expressionless all the time, was finally moved. First, he had just made a donation plan, how did the other party know? Second, the Shaw Brothers Museum was indeed a bit cool.

When people get older, they all think about their affairs after death.

Anyway, they all donate to the mainland, so it is not bad to let Shaw Brothers continue in a different way.

He considered it again and again, and said: "This is a serious matter. You don't have clear information yet. Are you sure it will succeed?"

"Because it is a serious matter, the authorities are extra cautious. After they have brewed it, they will definitely start the second round of negotiations. Guangdong Province should participate by then, and we can discuss specific matters."

Run Run Shaw nodded and glanced at Fang Yihua. Fang Yihua said: "I will participate then."

"Okay!"

That's enough, Chen Qi said goodbye.

He looked back at the big villa standing on the hillside. In fact, there are only two owners and a few servants. Because of Fang Yihua, Run Run Shaw's children are all abroad and don't communicate with each other, but Fang Yihua herself has no children.

Run Run Shaw died in 2014, Fang Yihua died in 2017, and TVB also changed its owner, ending an era.

"Cherish the people in front of you. Fortunately, I have children, who can take over my class and stay in Hong Kong forever!"

Chen Qi made a crocodile-like sound.

(I have it——)