The birth of the Hong Kong Island family

Starting from New Year's Day in 1970, Golden Harvest Films began to vigorously promote the movie "Warlords", which made the media feel that the situation was different.

Since Golden Harvest Films was established a year ago, it has hardly promoted the movie. Even after Zou Wenhuai joined, it did not promote the movie much. It seemed that it knew that the box office would not be good, so it even saved the promotion fee.

In 1969, the number of films released by Golden Harvest Films was 7, almost all of which had a box office of hundreds of thousands; even the three films produced by Zou Wenhuai hardly made any waves.

Therefore, many media outlets have been badmouthing Golden Harvest Films, saying that Sir Lin, who has always been a god in business, is now also failing in the film industry.

During this period, there were also rumors that Golden Harvest Films had successfully signed contracts with Bruce Lee, and had also lured director Li Hanxiang back to Hong Kong from Taiwan at a high price. However, it is still unknown whether these two will become the "life-changers" of Golden Harvest Films. However, in order to gain attention, the media naturally Will talk down Golden Harvest Movies.

In early January, shortly after Lin Zhichao returned to Hong Kong, he came to the Media Building.

In a conference room, Lin Zhichao met the creative team of "The Great Warlord" - director/screenwriter Li Hanxiang, starring Xu Guanwen and others.

"Director Li, this is the first time we have met. Did I not receive you well?" Lin Zhichao smiled and extended his right hand and said humorously.

Li Hanxiang wore a pair of black-rimmed glasses and had a rough look. He said generously: "Boss Lin is so considerate in his hospitality. As soon as I return to Hong Kong, I don't need to worry about anything. I am grateful to Golden Harvest Films for taking care of me!" "

The high-end residential apartments and company-equipped cars in Causeway Bay all show that Golden Harvest Films attaches great importance to him.

As for the boss not coming forward, everyone knew in their hearts that the boss handed over Jiahe Films to Zou Wenhuai and Qiao Shan. He never went to the set or the office building of Jiahe Films. He would only listen to Zou Wenhuai and Qiao Shan in the media group building. Mountain report.

Lin Zhichao smiled and said: "As long as you are satisfied, we can cooperate for a long time and happily in the future."

Li Hanxiang responded: "It should, it should!"

Later, Zou Wenhuai introduced Xu Guanwen to Lin Zhichao.

"Hello Sir Lin!"

"Just call me Lin Sheng or Boss Lin. It doesn't matter if I'm a knight in the company! Haha!"

Everyone saw Lin Zhichao chatting and laughing when he came in, and they were relieved. This boss's position was really high - the leader of the Chinese in Hong Kong and the world's shipping king.

"Boss Lin"

Lin Zhichao patted Xu Guanwen on the shoulder and said: "I have seen your movie posters. You are definitely a late-blooming actor, very suitable for witty and funny acting."

Xu Guanwen didn't expect that the boss was so "knowledgeable", and he was immediately flattered and said: "Thank you boss, Director Li Hanxiang is willing to teach me, and thanks to General Manager Zou for the invitation."

Zou Wenhuai wanted to say that it was the boss who discovered you and found that Lin Zhichao had already taken the lead and said: "Gold will always shine!"

He then understood that the boss did not want these 'honors'.

Later, Lin Zhichao asked: "Why don't we see the heroine attending this meeting? I remember that Dina played the fourth concubine, right?"

Li Hanxiang said awkwardly: "During the filming, I captured her naked back, which made her angry. Dina stopped coming when she got angry."

Lin Zhichao said with a smile: "I believe Director Li will understand her pursuit of art sooner or later. I believe this shot will be very exciting and light up a bright light for Hong Kong's overly traditional atmosphere."

Everyone couldn't help but admire Lin Zhichao's reaction ability and attributed Li Hanxiang's extraordinary behavior to the pursuit of art.

As for Lin Zhichao, it was better not to meet the actress Dina, because as far as he knew, Dina already had some "Zuo Lengchan" tendencies, and later generations even publicly declared "bankruptcy" and separated herself from the bourgeoisie. Then in the mid-1970s, he returned to the mainland to do big things.

At this point, it is not suitable for the two of them to meet.

"Is there any publicity plan?" Lin Zhichao asked after sitting down.

Zou Wenhuai immediately said: "Yes. On the first day of release, Guan Wen will dress up as a 'big tiger', ride in a classic car, and conduct a road show in Hong Kong and Kowloon. If there is time, the road show will continue."

Lin Zhichao nodded. Xu Guanwen signed a contract with Jiahe Films for three movies. He was very happy because he was not famous at this time and did not even host "Double Star Announcement". So signing three movies means that Golden Harvest Films will support him in three movies, and he can get 5,000 Hong Kong dollars in remuneration for each movie.

There were no restrictions, and Lin Zhichao felt that there was no need to impose too many restrictions. It would be enough to finish three movies for Golden Harvest Films. If everyone can cooperate in the future, it will definitely be a priority. After all, are Shaw Brothers movies still willing to share the share?

"When do you plan to discuss the theater chain of Shaw Brothers?"

"We can talk about it two days after the release. This may give us some confidence."

Lin Zhichao said with a smile: "It seems that Golden Harvest Films turned around thanks to "Warlords", and I just wanted to wash away the atmosphere of being ridiculed."

Everyone laughed, and everyone could see that Lin Zhichao was full of confidence.

The idea for "The Great Warlord" came from Jiahe Films, not Li Hanxiang himself. What's more, Bruce Lee, a Hollywood actor, has been signed by Golden Harvest Films (only officially filming this year), and he is also a killer.

After a brief chat, the meeting ended. Lin Zhichao just got to know everyone before the screening.

Arriving at his office, Zou Wenhuai and Qiao Shan followed him.

"I have a good idea. The main audience for Western films in Hong Kong is the middle class in Hong Kong and foreigners in Hong Kong. Those theaters are located in downtown Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, such as the Jordan Road area and closer to various low-end theaters. Portland Street, Kimberly Street, Temple Street and Shanghai Street, where nightlife venues are concentrated, have always been home to all kinds of religions. There are 4 theaters showing Western films and only 3 theaters showing Chinese films, but every Saturday night It is extremely difficult to see the so-called middle-class people and ghosts at the midnight show, which is released at 11:30, so Western movies will not arrange night shows. I want you to make arrangements. First, let our movie "The Warlord" be moved a week ahead of time, this Saturday. Arrange a 'midnight show' and do a test screening."

Zou Wenhuai suddenly said in confusion: "It is scheduled to be held at midnight. If it is not an instant hit, it will be easily attacked by the media."

Lin Zhichao explained with a smile: "This movie is just a test screening for one night. Based on understanding the audience's reaction, the company and the director can even re-edit and change the dialogue. Everything is for the benefit of the audience. This is a kind of determination!"

Zou Wenhuai understood immediately and said: "This is indeed good. Through the reactions of these people from all walks of life, we can better understand the reaction of the movie."

Lin Zhichao added: "Not bad! This time we are planning a new concept of 'Midnight Show'. Whenever a new movie is released, we can do this as a 'touchstone'. In order to match this model, we can invite mobile vendors to sell sugar cane, Fried chestnuts, marinated beef offal, roasted corn, popcorn and other snacks. Because the audience of the 'Midnight Show' must be young people, men and women, hanging out with friends. If they are good, they are good, if they are bad, they are bad. He is a person of character.”

In a previous life, midnight screenings were just the beginning of Hong Kong movies in the 1970s. The vast majority of the audience at the midnight show were young people, men and women, gathering with friends. After entering and taking their seats, they chewed sugar cane while cheering or yelling. When they were dissatisfied, they would even throw the sugar cane at the screen. The midnight show audience was nicknamed the "Cane Biting Gang".

After Lin Zhichao's explanation, Zou Wenhuai and Qiao Shan immediately decided to seize this "marketing tool". There are still ten days before the movie is released, so everything is too late.

Peninsula Hotel.

"Spring Festival? This slogan is quite interesting. I just don't know if my Huangmei Opera director has made any breakthrough? If he continues to stand still, I'm afraid Hong Kong people won't accept his tricks!" Shao Laoliu said. .

Director Zhang Che, who was drinking tea with him, said with a smile: "Lemon made three movies at Golden Harvest Films, none of which made a million dollars; Director Li Hanxiang stumbled around in Taiwan for six or seven years, and finally got into a lawsuit. I had to go back to Hong Kong to film and pay off my debt. It seems that after leaving Shaw Brothers Movies, everyone's skills seemed to have weakened. It's a pity that they didn't understand this."

Zhang Che, who once scolded Shao Laoliu, has completely become Shaw Brothers' "loyal lackey". This scene seems to be a plan, first scolding the person he wants to defect to, and finally showing his loyalty and talent.

Shao Laoliu said: "Our Shaw Brothers film emphasizes teamwork and cultivating talents on its own, while Golden Harvest Films is a half-way monk and cobbles together a few people. I find it difficult! Moreover, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" will be released in Hong Kong on New Year's Day. This year was when 007 was very popular, so by choosing to release it at this time, Raymond seems to have forgotten his big taboo."

Zhang Che nodded and said: "Maybe it is an urgent proof, hoping to use the reputation of director Li Hanxiang to revitalize Jiahe Films. It is interesting to have the Queen's Secret Envoy on one side and the big warlord on the other. I hope they will not lose too badly."

Neither of them is optimistic about Jiahe Film's "The Great Warlord", and both of them think that Li Hanxiang still follows the Huangmei Opera style of the year, so they are even less optimistic about it.

Shao Laoliu added: "They suddenly launched a 'midnight show' again. They said it was a 'test screening' a week in advance, but it was only a 'midnight show' in a designated cinema, and it was only for one day, and many reporters were invited. Go. It seems that you are really confident, so as an audience, how about you go and see first!"

Zhang Che nodded and said: "To be honest, Lin Zhichao is really good at doing business. First it was the 'Lunar New Year Festival' and then the 'Midnight Show' preview. This marketing was one after another. But after all, movies are not just business, but also A technology.”

Shao Laoliu's eyelids were twitching. He regarded filmmaking as a 'business', so he was instinctively worried about businessmen investing in films. On the contrary, he was worried about artists and people who had drunk foreign ink investing in films. I just don’t think it’s that powerful.

midnight.

Portland Street is a famous red light district in Hong Kong, where three religions and nine streams gather.

A cinema that usually shows Western movies was particularly lively outside tonight, with young men and women and various vendors.

Tonight is the preview screening of "The Great Warlord", also known as the 'Midnight Screening'.

"I just can't understand why director Li Hanxiang doesn't return to Shaw Brothers?"

"How is it possible! When Shaw Brothers banned director Li Hanxiang, others worked hard in Taiwan for so many years. How could they return to Shaw Brothers?"

"That's right! Now two of Shaw Brothers' generals, Zou Wenhuai and Li Hanxiang, are in Golden Harvest Films. I wonder if the film company supported by this consortium can break the monopoly of Shaw Brothers Films?"

"It's difficult! But I'm still looking forward to tonight's "Warlord". After all, Golden Harvest Films has done so much promotion. If the filming doesn't go well, I'm going to go crazy tonight!"

"How are you going to get mad?"

"See, I bought so many snacks. If you are not satisfied when the time comes, I will throw him away!"

"Haha, what a great idea!"

As a large number of young men and women who like nightlife entered the cinema noisily, Zou Wenhuai, Li Hanxiang, Xu Guanwen and others who were mixed in the crowd couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Tonight's audience is obviously a group of energetic young people. If the filming is not good, they know that they are the main creative team; just like the boss said, don't reveal your identity when you go, otherwise you may be thrown out.

"Let's go! The quality of this movie is at least million-level." Zou Wenhuai encouraged everyone's morale and took the lead in following most of them into the cinema.

He is also very much looking forward to it. If Li Hanxiang defeats the Shaw Brothers movie, he will definitely be angry. It’s not that I’m leaving Shaw Brothers Movies alone, it’s that your Shaw Brothers Movies can’t retain talent.

"Let's go, if the photo is not good, I will be beaten or scolded. I am ready!" Li Hanxiang was also very proud.

He felt that this time, Jiahe Films took it very seriously and used all kinds of publicity channels. Coupled with his confidence in himself, he feels that a box office of 1 million Hong Kong dollars should be no problem!

The investment for "The Great Warlord" is 400,000 Hong Kong dollars, which is considered a reasonable investment. After all, there are many movies with an investment of 200,000 Hong Kong dollars; if the box office can exceed one million, it will be a steady profit. At present, Hong Kong cinemas’ share is only a little over 40%, and that of producers is 60%, because this era is dominated by producers.

What really makes money is the box office in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. After deducting theater and distribution expenses, it is almost pure profit.

In the cinema, "Warlords" officially started showing.

The previous cartoon description vividly explains how Pang Panghu became prosperous; and the first storyline is about scolding the Dragon King and artillery firing on the Dragon King.

"Haha, so funny! It's so funny!"

"This damn warlord is a warlord. If it were me, wouldn't I want to be the governor of the five provinces?"

"Awesome, who played this giant tiger? He did such a good job!"

Soon, the reviews were rave, and the laughter in the theater never stopped.

The next day.

“The midnight screening of ‘Warlords’ was a huge success and the audience couldn’t stop laughing!”

The media in Hong Kong began to report one after another, but no money was given this time. Originally, Oriental Daily conducted a column report, and other media obtained news materials on a voluntary basis.

"The Great Warlord is really as good as the media says?" Shao Laoliu immediately found Zhang Che and asked.

"It's quite funny, with a humorous and sarcastic style, and Dina's bold revelation. Xu Guanwen's performance is also very good-looking. The box office should be close to one million!" Zhang Che said conservatively.

To be honest, he was also laughed at last night. In his mind, this movie already has a box office of more than one million.

Shao Laoliu suddenly said in displeasure: "If you don't know how to cultivate talents, you only know how to poach others and cultivate them. You can't win in the long run!"

Zhang Che shook his head helplessly. He heard that Jiahe Films was engaged in a share-sharing system, and he couldn't help but want to jump over and give it a try.

In this world, who doesn’t love money?

A week later, "Warlords" began to be officially released in major cinemas.

Golden Harvest's theater chain is mainly powered by the original TV and Movie, especially "the theaters are good but there are few theaters". This is not because Lu Yuntao's financial resources are not as good as those of Shaw Brothers; on the contrary, Lu Yuntao is the son of a wealthy man in Southeast Asia, a proper second generation of super rich .

Just because Lu Yuntao studied abroad, his philosophy is different from that of the Shaw Brothers and the Shaw Brothers; his idea is to build a high-quality cinema chain, not only in Hong Kong, but also in Southeast Asia.

Therefore, it turns out that D\u0026M's theater chains in these two places are smaller than Shaw Brothers' theater lines, but the quality and service are better.

Golden Harvest's theater chain not only inherited the theater chain of China Telecom, but also invested in many theater chains in the past year, with a total investment of tens of millions; coupled with Lin Zhichao's personal connections, many Western films that were originally broadcast were Cinemas with Shaw Brothers Films are also included in the cooperative units of Golden Harvest Cinemas.

Therefore, Golden Harvest Cinema Line is not weak at all in Hong Kong.

Of course, Lin Zhichao still sent Zou Wenhuai to open up the theater cooperation of "Shaw Brothers and Sons".

Abandon the prejudices of clan and family!

This is the policy that Lin Zhichao first set when he was engaged in the film industry - internally, he will implement a profit sharing system with the backbone of the business, core directors, screenwriters, and actors; externally, Jiahe's movies are welcome to be released in major theaters, and Jiahe's theaters, Major producers are also welcome to show it.

Lin Zhichao’s ideal is to build Hong Kong into a ‘real Hollywood of the East’ without any gaps. Thus, it will drive Hong Kong’s tourism, culture and other economic improvements.

If it is for personal gain, it makes no sense at all. He looted the financial market and earned hundreds of millions of Hong Kong dollars and hundreds of millions of US dollars.

Even if there is personal gain, it is to make Hong Kong's economy more developed, and as a plutocrat in Hong Kong, he can also earn more.

As soon as "Warlords" was released, the theaters where it was released were immediately full, and business was very good.

Taking this opportunity, Zou Wenhuai found Shao Weiying, the leader of the 'Shaw Brothers'.

Shao Weiying is Shao Laoliu's nephew and the son of Shao Rundi, Shao Yifu's second brother. In fact, Run Run Shaw's name is "Shao Renlang". He changed his stage name to "Run Run Shaw" when he entered the film industry.

"Boss Shao, I came to discuss with you this time because I hope to cooperate!" Zou Wenhuai got straight to the point.

He and Shao Weiying are acquaintances.

Shao Weiying asked curiously: "The theater chain Zou Sheng mentioned? But as far as I know, Jiahe Film's theater chain is not weak, right?"

Zou Wenhuai said frankly: "Boss Shao, we at Jiahe hope to get rid of the prejudices of powerful families. The most important thing is that I won't bully you, and you won't lie to me. Everyone has a clear conscience. Isn't this a win-win cooperation?"

He didn't feel inferior to others. If Shao Weiying had that kind of enlightened idea, he wouldn't care; if he wasn't enlightened enough, nothing he said would be useful.

In essence, Shao Laoliu's theater chain is actually the largest in Southeast Asia, and the theater chain in Hong Kong is the property of his second brother. Of course, Shao Laoliu has also built some in recent years.

Shao Weiying thought for a while and said: "I have been thinking about using market-oriented methods to run the family business. Zou Sheng came to seek cooperation this time. I can see that he is full of sincerity. Your movie "Warlord" is very popular. , I am willing to try this cooperation. After that, we will slowly discuss future cooperation. What do you think?"

Without a blanket agreement, he needs to face his sixth uncle and consider the strength of Jiahe Film.

Zou Wenhuai said: "Of course there is no problem!"

With the successful release of "Warlord", Zou Wenhuai finally felt proud and proud.

He is finally going to complete his 'revenge' against the Shaw Brothers movie!

What grudge?

That is the hatred of ‘expulsion’!