Chapter 716 Big Production

Kai Tak Airport.

Gu Weili sent off the group of people from the film studio on behalf of Chen Qi. "Sweetheart" and "Shock Wave" have been filmed, and the first batch left first. Everyone's face was complicated, happy and sad.

The happy thing is that except for the unlucky Sun Changrong, everyone else got the money, which was really about 1,200 Hong Kong dollars. The sad thing is that they have to accept investigation and write reports when they go back, and they don't know if they can come next time.

Zhang Jianya didn't get Chen Qi's confirmation, so he thought about contacting Zhang Yimou when he went back to ask for help.

He came to Hong Kong and saw clearly that the food in Dongfang Company was really good!

His wife left, and he was alone. Now he only had one idea to transfer to Dongfang. He thought he was qualified. Zhang Junzhao, Zhang Yimou, plus himself, make up three!

"I'm sorry for causing you trouble during this period!"

"You're welcome, welcome again, we still have the opportunity to cooperate!"

Gu Weili shook hands with everyone, and watched them pass the security check, and he was relieved. She now understood how big a problem it would be if she lost someone in Hong Kong, and after sending the person off, she hurriedly got in the car and immediately headed for the next destination.

As Chen Qi's assistant, she was also very busy every day.

The car drove all the way and soon arrived at the New Town Plaza in Shatin. The multi-hall theater officially opened today after more than half a year of renovation.

Because it was inside the mall, it was inconvenient to hold a grand ceremony, so only some reporters were invited to interview, and the stars of the Oriental Company came to help. Chen Qi saw her and waved, "Hurry up, hurry up, cut the ribbon!"

Gu Weili hurried over and stood beside the boss. On the left and right were Jiang Zhiqiang, Li Lianjie, Liang Jiahui, Li Saifeng, Qiu Shuzhen, Zhang Guorong, Wan Ziliang, Zheng Zeshi and others.

Chen Qi took a pair of big scissors and cut a piece of inlaid red silk. Applause rang out, and reporters took pictures.

The name of this theater is "Oriental Theater", which temporarily belongs to the Shuangnan Theater Line of Yindu. There are 5 halls with a total of 1,300 seats. Because the screening halls have to be built according to the conditions of the shopping mall, there are relatively large restrictions.

Chen Qi personally led the reporters to visit and walked around each hall.

The official screening will start tonight, with five films showing at the same time, two of which are Western films, one Japanese animation, one leftist film, and one mainland Chinese film. Such a format and scale is unique in Hong Kong.

The reporters were also very interested and held an interview meeting in a screening hall.

"I still hold the same view that it will take at least ten years for multi-hall theaters to gradually become popular in Hong Kong. We are not in a hurry to expand. We must ensure sufficient funds and build one theater after another."

"Will you break away from Silver Metro and set up your own theater chain in the future?"

"No! We will have more advantages together."

"I heard that you played a role in facilitating talks between the Hong Kong film industry and the mainland. How is the progress?"

"We have had initial contact and reached a consensus on certain issues. When the time is right, we will have a second round of communication."

At this time, a reporter suddenly asked: "Taiwan's blockade of Hong Kong films has caused Hong Kong films to lose their largest market, resulting in a cold market and lack of confidence. Many films have already reduced their budgets, and it is said that even the salaries of stars will be reduced. What do you think?"

"Is this true?" Chen Qi didn't quite understand.

"It's true. Yesterday, a friend complained to me that he used to invest 2 million, but now he can only invest 1.5 million, and the quality has to be guaranteed. Everyone is miserable."

"I think it's like this..."

Chen Qi thought for a while and said, "First of all, the two places are actively negotiating, just to further integrate. The base of 1 billion people in the mainland is by no means comparable to any other market.

From another perspective, as a filmmaker, you still have to maintain your fighting spirit and enterprising spirit, and don't always think about making bad money. Cost reduction will help the survival of the fittest and improve quality. An industry without pressure will not last long."

"Then don't you think that in the long run, Hong Kong films will lack the courage to make big productions and only dare to shoot small-budget films?"

"It's normal for small companies to shoot small-budget films and large companies to make big productions. The so-called lack of courage is just a lack of strength. We are preparing for a big production."

"Oh?"

The reporters became interested and asked one after another.

Chen Qi called Li Lianjie over and said with a smile: "The tentative title of the film is "Black Mask", directed by Tsui Hark, starring Xiao Li, an urban action film. The budget is 30 million Hong Kong dollars!"

He boasted nonsense, and everyone was shocked.

"30 million?"

"Can you guarantee a profit?"

"It seems that you are going to gamble on overseas copyright?"

"No, no, I plan to find a Hollywood company to distribute this film, and officially release it in American theaters, and also distribute videotapes at the same time."

At this time, Cheng Long's salary was 8 million, and the cost of the film must have exceeded 10 million, the most expensive in Hong Kong.

Chen Qi shouted out 30 million, which naturally attracted people's attention. He said: "Big production is the most effective way to establish an industrial system. I have said countless times that Hong Kong films are too workshop-like. If they fail, the industry will eventually wither. We hope to give it a try."

"What if it fails?"

"Whether it succeeds or fails, someone has to do it, and we are willing to take the lead!"

The reason why Chen Qi is legendary in Hong Kong is that all the boasts he has made have come true, and he always looks at the overall situation and takes a high-level view when he speaks. As time goes by, local people will also think, why are other companies so petty?

The reporter asked a lot of questions about "Black Mask" and pestered Li Lianjie for a while.

Li Lianjie was quite comfortable dealing with the media, but he was very depressed. Cheng Long's salary was 8 million, how much did he get? He didn't dare to disobey the rules set by Chen Qi now, and only hoped that other companies would find him to film, hoping to make more money.

Historically, his salary soared to 20 million per film in the 1990s.

In fact, it was a bit high. At that time, Li Zhi owed a lot of debts in her business, and he had to help others pay off the debts, so he had to ask for such a high salary. Fortunately, he has a market overseas, so he didn't ask for an exorbitant price.

In short, the first multi-hall theater in Hong Kong was born today.

The reporters collected a lot of materials and left with travel expenses. The group of actors from the Oriental Company held Chen Qi in a circle, and Qiu Shuzhen shouted: "Master, when are you going to shoot such a big movie? Why didn't you tell me? Am I the heroine?"

"I can be a villain!" Liang Jiahui said.

"I can play the father of the decent and the villain!" Zheng Zeshi said.

"I can fight, too. Jie Ge and I have performed on the Spring Festival Gala and we have a tacit understanding!" Said Moon Lee.

Leslie Cheung and Anthony Wong have just joined. They are very friendly and also come to join in the fun to ask for roles.

Chen Qi broke free from the encirclement and said, "I said 30 million to deceive people and to attract attention. Don't take it seriously. In fact, this is just a small film. 3 or 4 million is enough. Let's go!"

"I don't believe you!"

"3 or 4 million is not a small film. I can still do it!"

…………

The reporters are well-informed and know that the data is exaggerated, but it is a gimmick to say so!

The next day, the newspapers were full of shocking news.

"The film market is sluggish, and the leftists are all in for 30 million to make a blockbuster, led by Tsui Hark and Lee Hyun-sik!"

"The leftists are gambling on Hollywood, and they will die if they don't succeed!"

"It is revealed that "Black Mask" should be an urban action film with special abilities or superman-type. The subject matter is very suitable for the taste of the American market. You can look forward to the follow-up..."

When the news came out, no one believed it.

Who in Hong Kong would spend 30 million to make a movie in the 1980s? What's wrong with their brains?

But Chen Qi's words proved that the investment in "Black Mask" must be huge, and it must be a major film, so everyone became curious.