novelhk Chapter 243 Why make a movie if it doesn't make money? It's better to do charity!
Chapter 243 Why make a movie if it doesn't make money? It's better to do charity!
The film market was booming at that time.
The film market in Hong Kong Island is mainly dominated by Golden Harvest and Shaw Brothers.
Among them, the earliest one belongs to Shaw Brothers. The Shaw Brothers Company created by Shao Renleng has created generations of film and television superstars.
Its actor training classes have produced many movie kings and queens.
Just like Chow Yun-fat and Ti Lung in front of us.
Golden Harvest was a new film company that emerged later.
Its founder was Zou Wenhuai, who left Shaw Brothers midway.
That’s right! Shaw Brothers created generations of film and television superstars, but the money they could earn from Shaw Brothers was very little.
Even if they receive millions in film pay, actors, screenwriters, and even directors only receive a few thousand yuan in salary each month.
It was precisely because he was dissatisfied with the current situation that Zou Wenhuai left Shaw Brothers and founded the current Golden Harvest.
There is no doubt that the two film companies have always been in a state of opposition.
Everyone is working hard for their own box office.
It can be said that the feud between the two parties has lasted for as long as Golden Harvest Film Company was established.
However, the feud between the two sides was affected by the rise of a new force.
Whether it was Shaw Brothers or Golden Harvest, both sides enjoyed the fight.
But no one noticed that new forces were growing rapidly like mushrooms after rain.
That’s right! This new force is Cinema City.
Not long after the company was founded, it debuted with a blockbuster hit "Best Partner", which directly took in 2,600 million at the box office.
The box office revenue of 2,600 million alone was enough to lead to a collaboration between Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest.
This time, Chen Wen's initial investment alone has reached 1,000 million.
Calculated based on the current ideal box office, that is to say, Chen Wen must sell at least 5,000 million to make a profit.
But in the film market at that time, the 2,600 million of "Best Partner" was already a historical high.
It is almost an unattainable existence.
They can’t even reach 2,600 million, let alone the estimated 5,000 million?
It is for this reason that everyone is paying close attention to Chen Wen’s expectations for the box office.
"I have always kept my public and private lives separate. Investment is investment, and box office is box office."
"When others make a movie, they only consider the cost and whether they can make it back. But for me, Chen Wen, it doesn't matter whether I can make it back or not."
"I just want to make this movie well, so please do your best."
Chen Wen said directly to the people present with a smile on his face.
There is no doubt that the value contained in Chen Wen’s words is extremely high.
You know, the film industry at that time was indeed in a period of flourishing and diverse talents.
However, due to issues with theaters and investment, what movies can be made is still in the hands of a few people.
It is in this situation that Chen Wen's free expression seems particularly free.
"Mr. Chen, what you mean is that even if the box office of this movie doesn't meet the expected requirements, it's okay?"
Zhou Runfa asked subconsciously.
Apparently, even he himself is still bothered by the title of "box office poison".
That's why he confirmed it again and again.
"As long as you all here don't mind that you earn too little, then I have no objection."
Chen Wen said directly with a smile on his face.
But these words once again attracted the attention of everyone present.
Especially Sister Shufen, who was a real estate agent.
"Mr. Chen, what do you mean by this?"
"Since there are no expected box office requirements, there is no such thing as reaching or not reaching the box office."
“How will it affect the income of the actors?”
Sister Shufen immediately came up to Chen Wen and asked directly.
I have to say that these professionals do professional things.
The salary that Chen Wen mentioned is linked to the box office. Among so many directors and actors present, only Sister Shufen noticed it.
"Simple, this movie is the debut of New Hung Hing Films, so I don't mind whether it's good or bad, and you can go ahead and shoot it without any worries."
"As for your salary being linked to the box office, it's also very simple. I will share it with each of you based on the box office ratio. There is no expected box office."
"That is to say, as long as the movie is released, you will get a share of the box office. The higher the box office, the more you earn. Remember, you are working for yourself."
Chen Wen directly expressed his thoughts to everyone present in an orderly manner.
Obviously, Chen Wen's statement instantly attracted everyone's attention.
You have to know that the film market in Hong Kong was indeed prosperous enough at that time, but the salary systems were divided into only two types.
The first one is the fixed salary system represented by Shaw Brothers. That is to say, no matter how many millions or even tens of millions the box office sales are, the actors will only receive a salary of a few thousand yuan.
The other is the box office sharing system currently adopted by Golden Harvest. When the actual box office exceeds the expected box office, the entire crew can get additional dividends. The dividends are also divided differently from director to actor, and the amount everyone gets is also different.
But the dividend system proposed by Chen Wen this time is unprecedented.
Regardless of the box office performance, the actors and directors involved in the filming can receive a certain percentage of the profits.
This so-called ratio is only linked to the box office revenue.
For example, even if the final box office of this movie is only 100 yuan, the people present here will receive a portion of the box office dividends in addition to their original salary.
In short, Chen Wen’s dividend system is beneficial to everyone present, except Chen Wen himself.
For a moment, even Wu Baige, who had been trying to shirk responsibility, was completely shaken.
However, Dillon was still somewhat on guard.
"Mr. Chen, if you don't plan to make money from movies, why do you still make movies?"
Dillon subconsciously asked the question in his mind.
It can be said that this question is definitely not just Dillon's alone, but also the same for others.
After all, no one wants to do business at a loss!
"If I can't make money, then why should I make movies? I might as well do charity work!"
Chen Wen looked at Dillon and the others with a determined look.
There is no doubt that a system like Chen Wen's does provide great convenience to these actors and directors.
But in their eyes, this convenience would weaken Chen Wen's profits.
However, this situation would only happen to ordinary people. How could Chen Wen, who could control Hutchison Whampoa, be an ordinary person?
After finishing speaking, Chen Wen turned his gaze to Zhang Guorong next to him again.
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