novelhk Chapter 97 Preparing to Invest in the Entertainment Industry
Chapter 97 Preparing to Invest in the Entertainment Industry
The afternoon sun slanted through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the top-floor office of Zhonghua Group, casting a warm golden hue on the mahogany desk and the several documents laid out on it.
Lin Zhou leaned back in his leather office chair, an unlit cigarette between his fingers, his gaze falling on a document on the corner of the desk marked "Nintendo Inc. Infringement Matters," his brows slightly relaxed.
Just half an hour ago, he had summoned the head of the legal department to his office and slammed this document in front of him. "If Nintendo's legal department dares to come to Hong Kong and cause trouble, don't hold back. We'll deal with them according to our rules." His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable certainty. "Patent certificates, market research reports, and teardown comparison data of their handheld products—get everything ready. I want to see them unable to move an inch in Hong Kong."
After seeing off the head of the legal department, Lin Zhou picked up another stack of documents awaiting approval on the table and tapped them lightly on the cover with his fingertips. These were all trivial matters in the group's daily operations, from applications for expanding production lines to adjustments to employee benefits plans, each requiring his signature as the boss. Normally, he might have patiently read through them one by one, but today, he felt inexplicably irritable.
Perhaps I've been too tense; it's time to take a break.
Lin Zhou stood up, walked to the office door, gently turned the lock, and hung the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the doorknob. Only after doing this did he breathe a sigh of relief, turn back to his desk, close his eyes, and a thought crossed his mind.
The next second, he disappeared from the office.
In its place is a spacious and bright three-bedroom, two-living-room apartment. The living room is decorated in a simple yet elegant style, with a beige sofa, an extra-large projection screen, and a projector standing against the wall, all of which exude a sophisticated charm that is out of step with the times.
Ever since he transmigrated to this 1960s setting in the movies, the house that accompanied him has become his biggest secret. Inside are not only his stored supplies and collectibles, but also movies, music, and books he had saved from his previous life. In this era, these things are undoubtedly a priceless treasure.
After meeting the Lou family, Lin Zhou confirmed that he had transmigrated to the world of the Siheyuan (courtyard house). He thought that he would arrive in a world of Hong Kong movies and TV shows, just like other transmigration novels. However, he has been in Hong Kong for several years and has not found any characters or plot points. It seems that Hong Kong is still developing in the same way as his original world. It seems that he was just overthinking things.
Lin Zhou, disregarding his image, kicked off his leather shoes and stepped barefoot onto the cold floor, walking straight to the computer in the corner of the living room. He pressed the power button, and the screen lit up, revealing the familiar operating system interface. He expertly connected it to the projector, pressed a button on the remote, and a white screen, as large as a wall, slowly rose in front of the living room.
"What should I watch?" He rubbed his chin, his gaze falling on the densely packed movie folders on his computer's hard drive. In his previous life, he was a self-media creator and a huge movie buff, watching almost anything from classic Hollywood blockbusters to Hong Kong's martial arts masterpieces. Now, reborn, watching these movies again evokes a completely different feeling.
With a light tap of the mouse, he selected a comedy film that had been a huge hit in his previous life. The projector projected the image onto the screen, and cheerful background music flowed out. The witty dialogue and the actors' exaggerated performances gradually relaxed Lin Zhou's tense nerves. He nestled into the sofa, casually grabbed a can of ice-cold cola from the refrigerator, pulled the tab, and with a "hiss," bubbles rushed out, carrying a sweet coolness.
Time slipped away quietly amidst the shifting light and shadow of the film. Before they knew it, the movie reached its end, and the credits slowly rolled. Lin Zhou, however, did not get up. Instead, he stared at the images on the screen, lost in thought.
In his previous life, this movie achieved a box office miracle of hundreds of millions, making a group of actors famous, and even the director became a hot celebrity in the industry. But now, this movie only exists in his mind and on his computer hard drive.
A thought exploded in his mind like lightning.
"Yeah, why can't I start a film company?"
Lin Zhou sat up abruptly from the sofa, his eyes gleaming with excitement. In Hong Kong during the 1980s, while the film industry had reached a certain scale, it was far from the flourishing golden age it would later enjoy. The film market at that time was still dominated by a few established film companies, with relatively limited subject matter and a lack of innovation.
His space contained countless movie scripts that would become huge hits in later generations, ranging from comedies to tragedies, from martial arts to science fiction. He didn't need to rack his brains to create original works; he could easily create blockbuster movies simply by "copying homework."
Starting a film company not only makes money, but also allows you to leave your mark on this era. Moreover, the influence of the entertainment industry is far greater than imagined. Once the film company grows strong, he can then expand into music, television, and other fields, building an entertainment empire for the Zhonghua Group.
Once the idea took hold, it grew like wildfire, impossible to suppress. Lin Zhou became increasingly excited, itching to put it into action immediately. He turned off the projector, strode to the entrance of the space, and with a thought, returned to his office.
The sky outside the window was already getting dark, the afterglow of the setting sun painting half the sky red. Lin Zhou walked to his desk, picked up the internal phone, and dialed the secretary's office number.
"Secretary Chen, please come to my office."
Secretary Chen on the other end of the phone was a capable young woman. Upon hearing Lin Zhou's voice, she immediately replied, "Okay, Mr. Lin, I'll be right there."
Not long after, there was a gentle knock on the office door. Lin Zhou responded with a "Come in," and Secretary Chen pushed the door open and entered, carrying a notebook and a pen, a professional smile on her face: "Mr. Lin, what can I do for you?"
Secretary Chen's real name is Chen Man. She was personally selected by Lin Zhou. Not only is she meticulous and thoughtful in her work, but she also has a certain understanding of various industries in Hong Kong. She is an invaluable and capable assistant.
Lin Zhou gestured to the chair in front of his desk, indicating for her to sit down: "Secretary Chen, I'd like to ask you something. How much do you know about the current Hong Kong film market?"
Upon hearing the words "film market," Secretary Chen paused slightly, clearly not expecting Lin Zhou to suddenly ask about it. She composed herself, gathered her thoughts, and said methodically, "Mr. Lin, the Hong Kong film market is currently mainly dominated by Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest, along with some smaller production companies. Last year, the total box office revenue was roughly between tens of millions and one hundred million Hong Kong dollars, with fewer than fifty films released."
She paused, then continued, "Moreover, there are relatively few cinemas in Hong Kong now, mainly concentrated in bustling areas like Central and Causeway Bay, totaling only about twenty. Many films, after being filmed, can't even find enough cinemas to screen them and can only be sold to television stations at low prices."
Secretary Chen's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Lin Zhou's head. The excitement on his face gradually faded, replaced by a trace of disappointment.
He only considered how good the movie scripts in the space were, but ignored the objective conditions of the current Hong Kong film market. The market size was small, and the number of cinemas was limited, which meant that even if he made a blockbuster film, it would be difficult to maximize box office revenue.
"So, it's not the right time to enter the film industry yet?" Lin Zhou leaned back in his chair, his tone tinged with helplessness.
Secretary Chen nodded and said truthfully, "Yes, Mr. Lin. Unless there is sufficient funding to build cinemas on a large scale, it will be difficult to gain a foothold in the film market. Moreover, audiences' tastes are relatively fixed now, and it will take time to cultivate their acceptance of innovative themes."
Lin Zhou fell silent. He knew Secretary Chen was telling the truth. Building a movie theater required a significant amount of money and time, and couldn't be accomplished overnight. While Zhonghua Group could afford the costs, it was clearly not the optimal choice. After all, the group's main business was electronics, and investing heavily in the film industry would be too risky.
It seems that the plan to start a film company will have to be put on hold for the time being.
Lin Zhou sighed softly, his sense of disappointment indescribable. He had originally thought this was a golden opportunity, but reality had dealt him a harsh blow.
However, he was not discouraged. In business, it's all about assessing the situation and acting accordingly. Since the film industry was temporarily out of the question, he could start with other areas.
His gaze returned to the direction of the space. There, he found not only movie scripts, but also countless songs that had become widely popular in later generations.
If movies don't work, let's start with music.
In Hong Kong during the 1970s, the music industry was also in its developmental stage. Although Cantonese songs had begun to gain popularity, they had not yet formed the kind of wave that would later sweep the Chinese music scene. At that time, the music market was rife with pirated records and lacked original music talent, making it a blue ocean waiting to be explored.
He could start a record company, sign promising singers, and then use the songs in his library to create albums tailored specifically for them. Once the record company has grown and accumulated enough capital and connections, entering the film industry would be much easier.
Thinking of this, Lin Zhou's eyes lit up again. He looked at Secretary Chen, a smile playing on his lips: "Since the film market is temporarily struggling, tell me about the Hong Kong music market. What's the situation there right now?"
Seeing Lin Zhou's spirits lift again, Secretary Chen breathed a sigh of relief. She quickly turned to another page in her notebook and said, "The Hong Kong music market is currently dominated by Cantonese pop songs. Singers like Sam Hui, Teresa Teng, and Alan Tam have already achieved a certain level of fame. However, the record companies these days are relatively small, and many songs are covers of Japanese or Western songs..."
Listening to Secretary Chen's introduction, Lin Zhou had already sketched out a clear blueprint in his mind.
The layout of the entertainment industry begins with music.
He seemed to already see, in the near future, one popular song after another would spread from his record company throughout Hong Kong and the entire Chinese-speaking world. And the entertainment empire he had built would take root, sprout, and flourish on this land.