On October 8, the Film Bureau of the Ministry of Culture, the Director's Office.

"Xiao Shen, have you finished watching?"

"Director Chen, I've finished reading it." Chen Chong stood up, and through the desk, he handed the documents back with both hands to Chen Bo, the director of the Film Bureau sitting opposite him. (Note 1)

After returning to his seat, he pretended to smile bitterly and complained to Fu Qi: "Uncle Fu, some time ago, I ran to the Great Wall every day. For such a big thing, you didn't even bother with the secret work. You did a great job! I have been in Beijing for so many days and have been kept in the dark. I really thought I was here to attend the preparatory meeting. You are obviously bullying the junior."

"Xiao Shen, you can't blame Manager Fu for this." Liao Yiyuan made a smooth move and said, "After all, you are not Changfengxin's person, and we don't know that the leader asked you to come to Beijing to participate in this matter."

"Yes." Fu Qi also cried out and said, "It was only after I arrived in Beijing that I realized that you had a share, but if you don't live with us, you won't see anyone during the day and at night. I can't find you even if you want to tell me."

"Yes, yes, I blame Uncle Fu for wrongly." Chen Chong sat on the chair, bowed and apologized to Fu Qi with a smile. "It's all my fault that I am greedy for the delicious food of the Beijing hotel and refuse to move to the guesthouse. I will definitely study hard, improve my awareness, and maintain a hard-working style, and only Uncle Fu will follow the lead."

Fu Qi didn't expect him to joke on such a formal occasion and explained to Chen Bo aw awkwardly: "Director Chen, this guy is like this when he sees everyone. He doesn't know what seriousness is. Don't be surprised."

"Where are there." Chen Bo waved his hand with a smile and said, "Young people should be a little more lively. If they are like us old guys, they have a bitter face every day, and they will never be able to live."

The identity of a time traveler allows Chen Chong to maintain a calm and calm attitude whether he is facing a respected senior or a high-ranking leader. This mentality allows him to be free and unrestrained in any occasion.

The more calm you are, the more you are valued. Looking at history, people who are young and who have the will of their will without breaking the rules are all amazing people.

Having a joke is just to gain time to digest the information disclosed in the document.

What he just read was a planning report - Great Wall, Phoenix and Xinlian, which applied to reorganize and establish a new film company after New Year's Day in 1980.

The butterfly wings were a bit outrageous, exceeding expectations...

In history, in 1981, Great Wall and Xin jointly established the "Central Plain Film Production Company" and filmed the legendary film "Shaolin Temple", which caused a sensation in the mainland and Hong Kong, swept Southeast Asia, Japan and South Korea, and made a big box office sales, allowing the managers of Chinese left-wing film companies to brainstorm and unite and cooperate. So in September 1982, the three companies were merged to establish Yindu Institution Co., Ltd.

And now, the merger plan has been ahead of schedule more than two years!

This caught Chen Chong a little off guard.

His original plan was to spend one or two years slowly penetrate and control the strongest Great Wall Film Studio. When the silver company was established, it would have a certain voice and open a convenient door for entering the mainland.

So he generously borrowed money from the crew of "The Legend of the White-Haired Witch"...

So he used the Great Wall to shoot "Burning Live"...

So he invited Great Wall employees from time to time to dinner...

But as soon as this plan was released, all the previous plans were wasted.

The three merged new companies will become the only Chinese-owned state-owned film company in Hong Kong, and their importance has increased significantly, and it is definitely not something that outsiders like him can touch it.

However, Chen Bo showed him the merger plan. Liao Yiyuan just said that his leader asked him to come to Beijing to participate in the merger. What does it mean?

"Comrade Xiao Shen." Chen Bo gently tapped the plan with his finger and asked, "What do you think of this plan?"

"Director Chen." Chen Chong smiled and complimented, saying, "Old Liao, Mr. Chen, and Uncle Fu, when I was in the film industry, I had not even released my mother's womb. They were knowledgeable, experienced, and made plans with all their efforts, which were of course excellent."

"Be serious!" Fu Qi looked at him sternly, said with a frown, and said seriously: "If you have something to say, don't bring the business style here."

"Yes, Xiao Shen, just say something." Liao Yiyuan also said: "The merger of the three companies is a big deal. If there is any problem with this plan, just say it, don't worry about our old face."

"Then I will just say a few things." Chen Chong no longer politely. The merger of the three companies is of great importance. You must make a fuss. Even if you offend others, you will not care about it. "Since the establishment of the three companies, they have been united and supported each other. Now they merge into one, sharing resources, uniting and cooperating, and becoming bigger and stronger, with a very good idea. However, I think that the merger of Great Wall and Phoenix is ​​enough, and Xinlian Company should exist independently."

When Liao Yiyuan heard this, he immediately asked: "Why?"

Liao Yi was originally the founder and general manager of Xinlian Company. The merger of the three companies was very contradictory. On the one hand, he was reluctant to let go of the company that had been working hard for decades. On the other hand, the few movies that Xinlian has barely produced in the past two years have all suffered losses and are unable to make ends meet, leaving only an empty shell. According to the high-level whim, after the establishment of the new company, he will be appointed as the first general manager. At that time, the position and power will be much stronger than the one who is wasting time in Xinlian.

This feeling of worrying about gains and losses made him particularly sensitive.

"Old Liao, as far as I know, Xinlian Company was established under the personal instructions and leadership of Premier Zhou, right?"

"Yes." Liao Yiyuan nodded. He squinted his eyes and said with a look of remembrance: "In 1951, Premier Zhou instructed that Hong Kong was the window for China to the Southeast Asia, Asia, Africa, and the Western world. Then he specially allocated funds from the central government to establish Xinlian Film Company. It was originally led by Premier Zhou himself. Later, the government affairs were busy, so he handed over to Marshal Chen Yi and then transferred it to Mr. Liao for responsibility." (Note 2)

"Prime Minister Zhou's far-sighted vision is admirable." Chen Chong praised sincerely, and then said: "The Great Wall and Phoenix are known for their Mandarin films. Xinlian is based in Hong Kong and specializes in Cantonese films. It attracts different audience groups respectively, which has a good effect on united front work. Now, if the three companies merge, how should the problem of the movie language be solved?"

"Isn't this a problem?" Fu Qi said: "Whether Mandarin or Cantonese is the director's choice based on the needs of the film."

"Uncle Fu, the tricks are very big." Chen Chong was familiar with him and was not worried about offending him. He said, and then explained: "Everyone knows, I have a magazine that often does market research and accumulates a lot of information. After analysis, we found that the current movie audience in Hong Kong is very polarized. Most young people under the age of 30 only watch Cantonese movies, not Mandarin, while viewers over 30 have more people watch Mandarin films."

"So what?" Fu Qi didn't react, and he said: "What does this have to do with the merger?"

"Oh?" Chen Boze thoughtfully, he lit a cigarette and said, "Comrade Xiao Shen, tell me in detail about the investigation results."

"Okay." These survey contents were specially arranged by Chen Chong to take advantage of the time traveler's advantages, and he was memorable naturally. He sat upright and said eloquently: "According to the survey, most viewers over thirty years old lived in Hong Kong during the war in the 1940s. They recognized Chinese traditional culture and had deep feelings for the motherland, so they liked to watch Mandarin movies."

"After Japan surrendered, Britain reoccupied Hong Kong, and had always been malicious and colonial rule. They implemented British education in schools, promoted English teaching, instilled Western values, deliberately divided the cultural ties between Hong Kong and the mainland, and intended to create an atmosphere of separation and opposition, so as to achieve the goal of long-term possession of Hong Kong. Because of these policies, young Hong Kong people born after World War II have a serious lack of traditional Chinese culture and historical knowledge and lack a sense of identity with the motherland. Surveys show that many young people think they are Hong Kongers, not Chinese, and even more so, they think they are British and have nothing to do with China."

“The British colonists are really abominable!”

"Movies are the best publicity tool, and young people like to watch Cantonese movies, so I think Xinlian Company should operate independently." Chen Chong raised his two fingers and said: "First, you can concentrate on shooting more and better Cantonese films, input the brilliant traditional Chinese culture into Hong Kong, and subtly cultivate the national pride and values ​​of the younger generation; secondly, the young generation of film directors in Hong Kong now like to shoot Cantonese movies. Xinlian Company operates independently, which is conducive to absorbing these new forces, guiding them, educating them, and allowing them to contribute to the great cause of the reunification of the motherland. After all, the movies made by the younger generation of Hong Kong themselves are more likely to resonate with young people, and the effect will be better."

Chen Bo was smoking a cigarette and speechless. After thinking for a while, he asked Liao Yiyuan, "Manager Liao, what do you think?"

"Xiao Shen said it also makes sense." Liao Yiyuan's face changed and said, "Merging has the benefits of merger, and independence has the benefits of independence. This matter is still coordinated by the central government, and I have no objection."

"Director Chen." Chen Chong saw Liao Yiyuan being slick, so he had to continue talking. He smiled and said, "Don't blame me for not knowing the height of the world. I want to say a few more words."

"you say."

"If a new company operates independently, it needs to meet two conditions. Otherwise, it would be better to merge into the new company."

“What two conditions?”

"First need sufficient funds, and second, there must be sufficient market." Chen Chong slightly adjusted his sitting posture and said: "The funding problem is not big. Xinlian has the support of the state, and Hong Kong is a commercial society. It has many financing channels. The main problem is market issues. In this regard, the central government needs support."

"Comrade Xiao Shen, your suggestion..." Chen Bo knew it. He frowned and said, "It is not an easy thing to let Hong Kong movies enter the mainland to be screened."

"Director Chen, the central government is now advocating reform and opening up, everything is possible."

"Okay, it's said that a newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger. I've seen it today." Chen Bo laughed and said, "Then tell me, how can you do it?"

"Hong Kong has a 'Hong Kong-Korean Film and Drama Freedom Association', which is a right-wing filmmaker organization controlled by Taiwan. Any movie that wants to be released in Taiwan needs to be registered there. They use their interests to win over Hong Kong filmmakers, fight against Chinese-funded film companies, and destroy united front work, resulting in local film companies and filmmakers in Hong Kong who are reluctant to cooperate with Changfengxin for the sake of their interests. Several seniors should have a deep understanding of this."

"Yes, local Hong Kong businessmen often make things difficult for their own interests."

"This freedom will always have a very bad impact."

The Great Wall, Phoenix and New Alliance are struggling in Hong Kong, which has a lot to do with the blockade of the Freedom Association. All three managers hate it and denounce it one after another.

"Taiwan has a population of more than 17 million, and the mainland has a population of 1 billion. Just open a little hole, so the temptation of Taiwan's interests can be lost." After a long time, Shen Chong's picture was revealed and expressed his ultimate goal: "Guangdong and Hong Kong are only separated by a river, and they are both places where they speak Cantonese. If Hong Kong movies with political correctness and healthy content can be allowed to enter Guangdong for screening, I believe that most Hong Kong films will defect to the mainland's arms and accept the leadership of Xinlian Company."

"Yes, Director Chen." Liao Yiyuan immediately put aside his previous hesitation and said excitedly: "Not to mention the entire Guangdong Province, as long as it can be screened in Guangzhou, Hong Kong filmmakers will be excited."

"As the saying goes, "He who is close to Zhu," Shen Chong followed suit and urged: "Hong Kong is a small land with a population of millions. The mainland is tens of millions of times its size and population. If Hong Kong and the mainland can communicate more, I think it will be completely integrated into China's melting pot of socialism in the future."

"This matter is very complicated and requires long-term planning." Chen Bo pressed the cigarette butt and said, "Let's do this, you can write another report and I'll leave it to the Ministry of Culture for discussion."

"Okay!" Shen Chong agreed firmly before Liao Yiyuan.

"Don't think too simple." Chen Bo looked up at him and said, "If Hong Kong movies want to be screened in the mainland, even if they are only screened in Guangzhou, they must first review them. How to review, how to release, how to screen, how to settle the box office, how to make up for problems, you have to write them clearly for me and come up with a detailed and convincing plan. Otherwise, it's better to go back as soon as possible to prepare for the merger."

...

"By the way, Director Chen." Before leaving, Shen Chong asked with a shy face: "I am not Changfengxin. What aspects of work should I participate in when the merger of the three companies?"

"I'm not very clear about this matter. Minister Situ said you have a lot of experience in running a film company. I'll show you the plan and help you with reference."

Shen Chong was speechless, what was the trouble?

He came to Beijing, thinking that he was attending the preparatory meeting. As a result, he was told that it was for the merger of Changfengxin, but now he said that Changfengxin merger was just to temporarily ask him to be a staff officer. So what was the purpose of going to Beijing this time?

——————

Note 1: Chen Bo served as director of the Film Bureau from 1978 to 1982.
Chapter completed!