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Volume 3 Chapter 12 Academy Award 3

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    "Ah Chong, you want to take over the Hong Kong International Film Festival?" Chen Baisheng was a little confused. He hesitated and said: "It's not profitable to run a film festival." "Do you really think that I am like Lao Luo said, without any profit?  "Shen Chong smiled. He picked up a small metal colander and fished out the fish balls from the hot pot. He said, "I have some ideas to make the film festival bigger and stronger." "Come on, Boss Shen, Hong Kong International.  The film festival is not big." Luo Weiming dismissed it and said: "The Hong Kong government is very rich, but those gangsters have never looked down on our film industry. Bai Sheng, tell him that the first film festival will be held in 1977.  How much budget did the government give during the festival? ""10,000." Chen Baisheng smiled bitterly and said, "And the government stipulates that the ticket price must be recovered, otherwise it will be suspended."  It's to send beggars away." Luo Weiming put his arms on the table, leaned forward, and said unhappily: "Since it's called the Hong Kong International Film Festival, of course you have to buy some copies of foreign movies and play them before you can call it an international film festival.  Why? Buying copies, translating them, adding subtitles, making promotional brochures, and renting venues for screenings all cost money. At that time, if Bai Sheng and a few bad guys hadn't done voluntary labor for free, the film festival would have been a waste of money.  It died a long time ago. "The Hong Kong International Film Festival is still somewhat famous in later generations. I didn't expect it to be so difficult. This was the first time Shen Chong heard about it. He asked curiously: "It's so tragic?" "It's really tragic.  "Chen Baisheng took a sip of beer and said with some emotion: "The budget of 10,000 yuan is really not going to do anything. There are only three paid full-time employees in the entire organizing committee, and the rest are volunteers like me, Brother Shi Qi.  There, he was responsible for the translation work, and I was responsible for finding movies from the catalogs of some foreign film festivals, and then calling to order copies and asking them to mail them. I was so busy at the time that I worked overtime and stayed up all night, because the copies were all shipped.  It was mailed, and I didn¡¯t know exactly when it would arrive in Hong Kong, so I didn¡¯t come up with a program introduction until the opening of the film festival. I didn¡¯t have money to make posters, so I just printed a bunch of screening lists and distributed flyers everywhere. Fortunately, the audience was enthusiastic.  A ticket cost 5 yuan, and it was quickly sold out. In the end, I earned back 10,000 yuan, so that the film festival can continue. " "What about now?" Shen Chong finished eating the fish balls and asked, "How much is it now?  "Budget?" Luo Weiming shook his finger and said, "I don't know how much I can give you this year, but I know the budget for last year." "That's right, it's only 400,000. It's not as good as what you make in a day."  There's a lot of money." Luo Weiming took the wine glass and said, "How can we make it bigger and stronger with such a small budget every year? Of course, if Boss Shen is honest and has the heart to give back to the people and pay for it out of his own pocket, then that's another matter." "Lao Luo.  "Don't put a high hat on me. I have a big head and can't wear it." Shen Chong laughed and asked Chen Baisheng: "What is the purpose of your film festival?" "There are three main purposes.  To provide Hong Kong citizens with the opportunity to appreciate excellent films from around the world and experience increasingly sophisticated film production technology; secondly, to screen the works of local filmmakers and directors at the film festival to encourage them to strive for excellence and perfection.  "As one of the founders, Chen Baisheng knows the purpose of the Hong Kong International Film Festival very well. He kept saying: "The third is to organize some Hong Kong film retrospectives to give the public the opportunity to review the history and appreciation of the Hong Kong film industry.  Its achievement, in short, is to promote film culture and improve the level of film production and audience appreciation.  " "Brother Chen, you, Chief Editor Lin, and Lao Luo.  After hearing this, Shen Chong casually nodded at the three people present with his chopsticks and said, "You are all traditional Chinese literati at heart. You are too literary, too noble, and full of ideas to educate all people. I admire you very much, but  The idea is good, but the approach is undesirable. "What did Mr. Shen say?" Lin Niantong was the most bookish among these people. He asked puzzledly: "Aren't all countries in the world holding film festivals just for this?"  Promote film culture? " "The United States also says that they are the hope of mankind. How can we take it seriously?" Shen Chongsao laughed and said: "Film is different from other arts. It is a commodity and must follow the laws of business.  Hong Kong is a free port and adheres to liberal economic philosophy. In this environment, there is no future for forcibly promoting the so-called film culture. ""We are not forcibly promoting it," Chen Baisheng retorted: "We are just organizing movie screenings.  It¡¯s just that we neither forcefully sell movie tickets nor force the audience to enter the cinema. It¡¯s all voluntary.¡± ¡°The Hong Kong International Film Festival, Hong Kong¡¯s works and historical works are not the protagonists. The protagonists are the screening of excellent foreign films, right?  "You have selected all the movies in advance." Shen Chong put down his chopsticks and explained: "You have deprived the audience of their right to choose. They can only watch the movies that the organizing committee thinks are excellent, not the movies that the audience thinks are excellent."  Isn¡¯t this a problem?¡± Lin Niantong said: ¡°The movies we selected are all recognized as excellent films by the world.¡±bsp; "During the film festival last year, I happened to be in the Mainland and did not participate. However, I read the catalog and the list of participating films. The films you think are excellent are all literary films that focus on artistic connotation." Shen Chong finished speaking and pointed.  Pointing to the hot pot, he said: "Take hot pot as an example. For example, Lao Luo is the owner of this store. He likes to eat vegetarian dishes, so he only buys vegetables, tofu and other ingredients. Customers can only pick and choose among these things.  , those who like to eat meat will definitely not like to come, and those who like vegetarian food will also want to change their taste after eating too much. The current momentum of the film festival is acceptable, but in a few years, when the movie-watching group has stabilized, we will think about it again.  It will be difficult to develop." Chen Baisheng was thoughtful when he heard this.  Lin Niantong is also one of the veterans and organizers of the Hong Kong International Film Festival. While taking the cigarette from Luo Weiming, he asked: "What Mr. Shen means is that we should expand the types of film selections?" "It's not just that.  "Shen Chong said while adding vegetables to the hot pot: "There is nothing wrong with showing films currently produced in Hong Kong, but the third point is to hold a retrospective exhibition to allow the audience to review the history of Hong Kong's film industry and appreciate its achievements.  The short-sightedness will restrict the development of the film festival in the long run. Luo Weiming asked: "Why?  " "It's very simple.  Shen Chong said matter-of-factly: "Hong Kong movies lack foundation. How many achievements can we review?"  A total of just a few decades of history, twenty or thirty accomplished people, looking back last year, looking back this year, what about ten years from now, what about twenty years from now?  Should we do it all over again?  It has been going on for a long time, but it is useless. In short, I think the Hong Kong International Film Festival should not be run as it is now.  " Chen Baisheng and Lin Niantong looked at each other, and then asked in unison: "What should we do?  " "Before we talk about this topic, Brother Chen, tell me first, is there any chance of getting the right to host the Hong Kong International Film Festival?  " "I don't think there's any problem.  Chen Baisheng thought for a while and said: "Hong Kong is now fully committed to building an international financial center. The Municipal Council has no intention of organizing a film festival. If there are civil society organizations willing to take over, they will be happy to do so."  " "But Boss Shen, you have to think clearly.  "Luo Weiming smoked a cigarette and poured cold water on it and said: "The film festival is a cultural event. The Hong Kong government will never hand it over to a commercial company. Otherwise, it will be scolded by the media and the Legislative Council will not pass it. If the private sector wants to take over, the only possibility is  Charity, your movie company can't do it.  "That's no problem." Shen Chong said with a smile: "Don't forget, in addition to the film company, I also have the Hong Kong Film Cultural Center. The Film Cultural Center is an educational institution. It's no problem to apply in its name."  "Hong Kong Film Culture Center?" Lin Niantong asked: "That's the film training school that Shu Qi and the others set up two years ago?"  Pointing at him, he said: "Boss Shen, you acquired the Hong Kong Film Culture Center at the end of October last year and reorganized it and registered it as an educational institution. Did you have a premeditated plan?" Shen Chong laughed twice and said: "To be honest,  When I proposed the Hong Kong Film Awards, I was thinking about the Hong Kong International Film Festival.  "Boss Shen, what do you like about it?" "There is a poem that says that you should have a long-term view of things. Whether you are a person or a person, you must have a long-term view, and you can't just focus on the present."  He picked up a chopstick in his right hand and gestured: "This hand is the Hong Kong International Film Festival. I want to build it into a world-class film exchange platform. This hand is the Hong Kong Film Awards. I want to  Make it a grand event in the Chinese film circle, gather the energy of all Chinese filmmakers, and then go out through the window of the Hong Kong International Film Festival and sell it to the world. In this way, one domestic and one foreign, one China and one foreign, complement each other.  After both are completed, Hong Kong will be the film capital of the world." The three audience members were silent. After a while, Luo Weiming sighed in admiration. He clasped his fists and said, "Boss Shen, your ambitions are so great, Lao Luo.  I admire you, I really admire you." "It sounds like a daydream." Shen Chong put down his chopsticks and said, "But it's very hot-blooded, right?" "That's right." Lin Niantong and Shen Chong were not familiar with each other and had been calm and quiet at this time.  But he responded loudly. He picked up the wine glass and said: "Mr. Shen, I want to toast you, for this daydream." Chen Baisheng and Luo Weiming also stood up, raised their glasses, clinked them together, and said loudly: "For this daydream."  "Daydream" After everyone raised their necks and drank all the wine in their glasses, Lin Niantong asked first, "Mr. Shen, we already have plans for the Academy Awards. What should you do for this film festival?"  It's very simple, change the current way of playing." Shen Chong picked up the wine glass, asked Luo Weiming to pour the wine, and said: "We don't take the initiative to choose the movies for the exhibition, let the film companies send them over themselves." "A Chong, you are talking about the three major European movies.  Is that so?" Chen Baisheng questioned: "JiaNa, Venice and Berlin Film Festival, they have history and reputation, and the awards they award are authoritative and can drive the box office, so film companies will take the initiative to participate in the festival. Our Hong Kong International Film Festival needs to be famous but not famous, and it needs to be well-established but not rich.  , who will take the initiative to send videos to the exhibition?  " "And there is no money to hold an award ceremony.  Luo Weiming poured wine for everyone, then put down the bottle and joked: "The three major festivals in Europe are Prince Charming and we are Cinderella. These three major festivals have exclusivity regulations and do not accept films that have won awards at other film festivals. We are  Even if they want to organize awards activities, the film company will hide it and not bring it out.  " "Prince Charming plays like Prince Charming, and Cinderella plays like Cinderella.  Shen Chong didn't take it seriously and said: "They play with their Bai Fumei, and we play with our poor, short, and independent. Poor refers to small-budget movies, short refers to short films with a duration of less than one hour, and independent refers to short films with a duration of less than one hour."  are independently produced films.  " "Europe, not counting the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, only Western and Northern Europe, produced more than 300 movies last year. However, only about 50 of them were screened in cinemas, and the rest disappeared and became scraps.  " Shen Chong continued: "There are more movies that cannot be screened in theaters in the United States than this number. The same is true for us in Hong Kong. Last year, one-third of the two to three hundred movies were not sold.  " "If we turn the Hong Kong International Film Festival into a big market for film sales.  Shen Chong finally concluded: "Do you think the film company will take the initiative to deliver movies to your door?"  " "Boss Shen, your idea is not new.  "Luo Weiming said: "In addition to awarding awards, Berlin and Cannes also engage in film trading. They have a special European film trading market.  " "Lao Luo, you have to eat your food slowly, bite by bite.  Shen Chong ate the hot pot and explained: "Germany and France are in Europe. Air tickets are very expensive to go there, and there are many movies that cannot be released in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea every year. We can make Asian ones first."  Business, after a few years, we will have a backer behind us, and those Europeans and Americans will come over on their own initiative.  " "Backer?  Luo Weiming was stunned and asked: "What kind of backer?"  " "Mr. Shen is talking about the mainland.  "Lin Niantong has personally been to the mainland and has cooperated with mainland magazines many times. He said: "If the mainland can maintain the current number of moviegoers, as long as the economy improves and ticket prices increase, it will soon surpass North America and become the world's largest movie theater.  In the film market, Hong Kong has a special location and will inevitably become a transit place for film transactions.  " "That's right, I think the Hong Kong International Film Festival has a lot to do.  "Chen Baisheng knocked on the table excitedly and said, "Maybe it can be on par with the three major European film festivals by then.  ¡± Shen Chong smiled and said nothing. His Hong Kong International Film Festival plan is actually a combination of the Sundance Independent Film Festival and Alibaba HR creativity. On the one hand, it is to discover outstanding film talents in surrounding areas, and on the other hand, it is to create a complete film sales system.  The Internet will make it easier for Chinese-language films to go global in the future. However, it is not easy to implement this plan. If you want to build a large supermarket, the key is to see whether there are many customers and whether the market is big enough. If there is no transaction volume, the film festival will be a laughing stock.  , Shen Chong temporarily plans to focus on video tape distribution, supplemented by the theater market in Southeast Asia and Japan, and maintain a certain transaction volume. As for the mainland, although the prospects are promising, in recent years, there is no hope "But  " Lin Niantong pondered for a moment and said: "In this way, the Hong Kong International Film Festival has become a purely business exhibition and has lost the meaning of holding a film festival.  " "Chief Editor Lin, doing business and promoting film culture are not mutually exclusive.  Shen Chong explained: "Within ten steps, there must be grass. There are so many films that cannot be released every year, and there must be some leftovers among them. The Hong Kong International Film Festival can also be a competition unit to discover buried good films. Besides,  Yes, film is a very expensive art. It is generally difficult for newcomers to get high financial support. They can only make low-cost films and independent short films. We organize film festivals to discover those talented newcomers and provide them with them.  They provide necessary guidance and support, which is also a way to promote the film.  " " Then do you still want to do other activities?  Lin Niantong asked: "For example, cultural promotion activities such as Hong Kong film retrospective exhibitions and exhibitions of works of world-renowned film directors."  " "Do it, of course we do it, cultural exchanges are indispensable.  " Shen Chong nodded without hesitation. He looked helpless and said: "Editor-in-chief Lin, Lao Luo is a famous man with a long tongue. He gossips everywhere. Don't believe him. I am really not a mercenary person.  " Luo Weiming picked up the empty wine bottle and, ready to smash it, said: "Boss Shen, you are not only interested in profit. Tell me, have you ever done a loss-making business?  " "Why haven't I done it?  Shen Chong laughed and said: "You are a typical example. Tell yourself, how many issues of "Movie Times" have lost money?"  Did I give you a dime less in your salary?  "Luo Weiming put down the bottle, smiled awkwardly, and said: "When I first started, I did suffer a bit of a loss, but now that "Movie Age" sells 250,000 to 60,000 copies per issue, I can make up for the loss quickly.  ¡±  "Lao Luo, you must guard against arrogance and impetuosity and continue to work hard." Shen Chong said in an old-fashioned way: "Of the more than 200,000 sales, only 100,000 were sold in the mainland. You must know that the first issue of "Popular Films" sold 50,000  Now the print run of each issue starts at four million, and you are still far behind. ""Popular Films" has the right time, right place and right people, so it can't be compared." Luo Weiming waved his hand and said, "  As long as it sells more than "First Movie Review", I'll be satisfied. ""Lao Luo, thank you for your words." Lin Niantong didn't show any weakness and countered: "Although "First Movie Review" has only a sales volume.  It¡¯s over 100,000 yuan, but you¡¯ve never lost money, and why don¡¯t you compare with us in terms of reputation? Can "Film Times" become a designated magazine in the library of the University of Hong Kong? " Shen Chong looked at Luo Weiming's face with a depressed look, picked up the wine glass, and said.  : "Lao Luo, come and have a drink. I was joking just now. Don't mind. Editor-in-chief Lin, let's have a drink together. I'm very satisfied with the current situation of the magazine. You have worked hard and achieved great results." Luo Weiming drank up the wine and said fiercely: "Shen  Boss, by the end of this year, I will make the magazine sales exceed 400,000. If I can¡¯t do it, you will fire me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not possible,¡± Shen Chong said with a smile, ¡°I made a bet that I would give it to you for the rest of my life.  I work, how can I let you run away so easily?" Putting down the glass, Lin Niantong asked: "Mr. Shen, when are you going to apply for the right to host the international film festival?" "It's too late this year, maybe next year."  Shen Chong rubbed his cheek and said: "And I still have some supporting work that I haven't done yet. Brother Chen, you can continue to prepare for the film festival this year and help me with the preparations for the application." "No problem."
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