Chapter 335: The First and the Second

When the first week box office figures of "Sister Exorcist" came out, many people looked at the number that directly broke 10 million, and they couldn't help but have a comparison in their minds: the highest-grossing single-film movie in Hong Kong this year is the Spring Festival blockbuster "Best Partner 3: Her Majesty's Secret Service" starring Xu Gujie, with a total of more than 29.28 million, once again breaking the single-film box office record of Hong Kong movies.

The "Best Partner" series is a major production that Zhen Yi Cheng must release every year. It is also a money-making tool that is used every year to reap a wave of box office revenue, breaking records and setting new highs every year. The reason why Zhao and Jiahe put aside their past grudges and worked together was largely because Zhen Yi Cheng's "Best Partner" series was invincible in Hong Kong.

As for the overseas market, it is undoubtedly Su Yun's world - "Grave Robbers 1: The Deceiver" was scheduled to be released on Christmas Eve, December 24 last year, and was taken off the screen on January 25. It beat "Best Partner 2: The Return of the Condor Heroes" with a box office of 25.35 million, beating the 23.27 million box office of "Best Partner 2: The Return of the Condor Heroes", becoming the box office champion of 1984. It also ranked second in the North American box office rankings in 1984 with a box office of 180 million US dollars.

Although this number is far from the 300 million of the top-ranked "Star Wars 3: Return of the Jedi", and more than half of the reviews say that this box office number is half due to marketing and half due to special effects, but how many relevant professionals have contacted Su Yun privately to cooperate on post-production special effects is a number that will make many people embarrassed...

Looking at that group of jealous people, Su Yun was actually in a good mood: she herself understood the positioning and quality of the "Grave Robbers" series very well, so she went for the box office and mass popularity from the very beginning.

The plot of the first part of "Grave Robbers" is actually a bit weak. The reason why it can get this number in the fierce box office battle is because of the super-modern visual special effects that are said to be "you can earn money just by seeing it" and the two protagonists of the "co-production" who please both sides, plus a little bit of the residual heat of the adventure treasure-hunting film, which created this typical commercial film that can be popular in both the Hong Kong local market and the overseas market.

Knowing that Su Yun is good at making commercial films, and now with Zhao Rifu's love for big-budget movies who is willing to spend money when he gets rich, Jiahe and Zhen Yicheng both took the initiative to avoid the Christmas schedule of "Grave Robbers 1: The Deceiver".

Jiahe already has a collaboration with Zhao, so Zou Yunhua would not do anything to pit his own people against each other; and Zhen Yicheng was also the same, releasing "Best Partner 3: The Queen's Secret Order" on January 26, the day after "Grave Robbers 1: The Deceiver" was released. On the one hand, it was to take advantage of the popularity of the 1995 Spring Festival, and on the other hand, it was to avoid the limelight of "Grave Robbers".

There is no doubt that this staggered release schedule has made True Art Presents' "Best Partner 3: On Her Majesty's Secret Service" the highest-grossing single film in 1985.

Although Jiahe's "Fast Food Trucks" just made over 20 million at the box office, it also copied Su Yun's "international co-production" approach, with a large number of foreign real-life shootings, wonderful action design, and the embellishment of the beautiful female lead who was the Miss Spain champion. It finally made a name for itself in the overseas market, washing away the old traces of Jiahe and Chen Xuanlong's confident entry into Hollywood but a disastrous failure. It is worth mentioning that "The Killer Trench", which directly caused Zou Yunhua and Chen Xuanlong to return to Hong Kong with losses, was a collaboration with Warner...

At that time, Su Yun went to see this movie under a false name: it was that stupid guy from Warner Bros. who insisted that Chen Xuanlong change his most humorous and funny style into the fierce martial arts of "the second Lu Shaolong". The result was incongruous, lengthy and boring, and many foreign Lu Shaolong fans complained that this was false propaganda.

Su Yun also gave some advice on the "Fast Food Truck" project: After all, Zhao Jiahe and Zhao Jiahe were working together, but she turned around and took away the heroine Lin Qingxia who was specially invited from Taiwan...

Although Jiahe, which also suffered heavy losses from "New Shushan Swordsman" at that time, had postponed Lin Qingxia's subsequent filming plans and turned to prepare Chen Xuanlong's "Plan A"; however, in order to win Lin Qingxia cleanly and maintain a good cooperative relationship with Jiahe, Su Yun would definitely have to help do something.

Besides, Jiahe and Zou Yunhua...have some old friendship and gratitude with her.

During a dinner at the Zhao family, the second brother Zhao Lizhong talked about this and sighed endlessly, saying that Su Yun was young and soft-hearted, and would be easily deceived in the future.

However, Zhao Rifu saw the true intention of Su Yun's action and gave Zhao Lizhong a few pointers, which basically meant that Su Yun's goal was no longer limited to Hong Kong, so her choice to help Jiahe open up the international market was not to cultivate enemies, but to strengthen herself.

After all, the old ones are the wisest. After being awakened by Zhao Rifu's words, the eldest brother Zhao Liming also remembered the goal that Su Yun had once told him: Su Yun said that she wanted to integrate the Hong Kong market, and then while consolidating the local market, join hands with compatriots to fight against the cultural impact of Hollywood films and the suppression of Hong Kong films by foreign capital markets. In the end, they would unite to promote the transformation of the entire Hong Kong region.

"So, do you think the box office of "Exorcist Sister" can beat "Best Partner" and become the annual box office champion this year?" Zhao Liming asked.

"Not necessarily. After all, 'Best Partner' is a family movie, while 'Exorcist Sister' is aimed at the young market." Su Yun smiled, "However, in the overseas market and surrounding markets, no one in Hong Kong can beat 'Exorcist Sister'."

"'The Exorcist' is actually a big-scale drama!" The Zhao sisters clapped their hands and laughed, then told everyone about the recent surge in sales of the clothing brand they collaborated with Su Yun. "The same clothes and the same colored contact lenses in the movie have been sold out several times in recent days. We have been busy urging the manufacturer to speed up the delivery. I finally squeezed out time to come back for dinner tonight!"

"This is the inspiration Mary got from the big IP series such as Star Wars." Zhao Liying, who is used to seeing Su Yun's peripheral market and has made a fortune in Japan by helping Su Yun with the TV series "The Thousand Faces of the Girl", is obviously not unfamiliar with this situation. "With the development of the economy and the improvement of science and technology, the entertainment methods in life are becoming more and more diverse, and the profits from the movie box office alone have been gradually weakened."

This is also the reason why Zhao Rifu agreed to Su Yun's plans of "reducing film output and improving film quality", "increasing investment in TV drama production", and "accelerating the development of peripheral products" - because Zhao Rifu could also feel that industries that could make more money than movies have gradually emerged.

As for the Hong Kong real estate industry, the Zhao family could not fit into that circle, and they were almost cheated by the Jianing Group once before. Zhao Rifu, who was afraid of the dark, turned his attention to the light industry recommended by Su Yun: after all, it was difficult to engage in heavy industry with Hong Kong's strength and policies, and the inland market was just taking off. At present, the light industry did have great potential.

The most crucial thing is that TBB has the largest output in Hong Kong and can promote a wide range of light industrial products to the entire region in a GG way. Moreover, its positioning is highly compatible with the consumption capacity of TBB's target group. Since the 1980s, the widespread popularity of television has led to the rapid development of television production, and the influence of television dramas is even showing a tendency to replace movies, and is expected to take over and become the traffic leader of this new era.

The Zhao family is still adhering to their ancestral business of film and television creation, but they will also adapt to the development of the times and go beyond simply engaging in film and television creation.

“In fact, strictly speaking, the main businesses of the Zhao family in Nanyang were amusement parks first and then cinemas.” When asked by his children why he adapted to the partial transformation of his industries so quickly, Zhao Rifu recalled leisurely: If it were not for his second brother’s outrageous move of stabbing his own brothers in the back, perhaps he would still stay in Nanyang with his third brother and others to run amusement parks and film distribution operations, instead of setting up camp in Hong Kong to take charge of production and distribution.

Looking back now, the "reform" proposed by Su Yun cannot even be considered a reform, but just a return to the old path.

Looking at the children who, after many twists and turns, finally sat neatly at the same table, Zhao Rifu felt both emotional and happy.

Perhaps it is because of the different positions that the way of thinking will also be different. When Lu Shaolong heard from Su Yun that Zhao Rifu dared to lead the transformation of some of his industries in his twilight years, he could not help but sigh.

By the way, it also reminded him of those unforgettable old times: "Sir Zhao back then was not so easy to talk to."

"Uh..." On one side was his biological father and on the other side was his master. Su Yun, sandwiched in the middle, could only remain silent like Xu Gujie, who was sitting on the sofa opposite him and listening.

The old friends who were so close in the past have now become awkward on their rare gatherings because of their respective positions caused by interests.

"That's not what your master meant." Xu Gujie smiled.

"That's right. When I first came back, I was young and hot-headed and didn't understand the rules behind the scenes, so I thought Sir Zhao was stingy and looked down on people." Lu Shaolong sighed, "After I opened my own company, I realized that the conditions Sir Zhao gave me back then were not excessive."

"The bigger the family, the slower the reaction to change." When Zhao Rifu cut his salary in half and refused to let him participate in the script production, he was so angry that he switched to Jiahe, which was compliant with his wishes in every aspect. Lu Shaolong used to have resentment in his heart, but now he begins to understand. "On the contrary, the reason why the newly emerging Jiahe agreed to my conditions is because of the word 'new'."

"Zhao's has been in business for many years and already has many people it supports. If they agreed to my request, would the treatment of others also have to change?" Lu Shaolong looked at Su Yun, "For example, Ti Lung and Jiang Dawei, who you just worked with, were the mainstays of Zhao's films at that time."

"We should not worry about the lack of wealth but the imbalance of wealth. This is the wisdom of our ancestors. Therefore, the Zhao family would rather let go of a new person with potential than launch drastic reforms because of this."

Su Yun nodded: This is just like the rules of some companies in later generations that prohibit discussing salaries. As time and policies change, the starting salary levels of old employees and new employees will become different. Once old employees find out that their salary after working hard for the company for many years is not as good as that of new employees, the company will definitely be in chaos.

Even if this is an immoral practice, many times, we cannot simply and quickly judge the right and wrong of it.

“The higher the position you sit, the more things you have to think about. I don’t agree with this, but I can understand it,” Su Yun concluded.

"You have been a smart child since you were young." Lu Shaolong touched her head. "I want to tell you more than this, but you need to experience the rest slowly by yourself."

"Master, you are becoming more and more like a philosopher..." Su Yun couldn't help but sigh when she thought of how Lu Shaolong had insisted on studying during the ten years of recuperation.

The reason why Lu Shaolong became a legend is not only because of his kung fu, but also because of his ideas and thoughts that transcend his time.

"However, I want to see your kung fu and weird screams more." Su Yun said, holding his head.

"It will be soon. The filming of the movie has been completed. During your time in Hong Kong, you have also helped me with the post-production special effects. Once the final production is completed, we can wait for the movie to be released." Lu Shaolong responded, "By the way, how is the progress of the competition for the filming rights of "Batman" that you mentioned before?"

"Don't mention it. Bill called me yesterday and said that Warner Bros. didn't think highly of the script I submitted and that my role as a fighting master was ridiculous. I plan to have a 'real-life PK' with them soon to show them how powerful Chinese Kung Fu is." Su Yun said this in a joking tone.

Knowing that Su Yun was planning to compete for the filming rights, Lu Shaolong encouraged her: "Go for it!"

He had appeared in the TV series "Batman" before, but unfortunately the social atmosphere at that time was not good and he was not given enough respect. If Su Yun can now compete and direct the production of the "Batman" movie, it can be regarded as a relief for her master.

"With Bill, one of the original authors, supporting me, my chances of winning will not be lower than others, please rest assured!" Su Yun clenched his fists, "Let's encourage each other - I look forward to seeing your work achieve good results, Master!"

"Hey, now that you have a master, have you forgotten your foster father?" Xu Gujie suddenly said.

"It's because I stepped down that Xu's comedy came into being!" Lu Shaolong was quite confident.

This time, it was the grandfather on one side and the master on the other. Su Yun, who was faced with a dilemma again, thought about it and decided to remain silent again.

"Things have changed over the past ten years, and you don't have to be happy so early. The box office and word of mouth will tell when the time comes." Xu Gujie continued.

Although Su Yun did not respond, now that it was a matter of grades, the old friend had no room for mercy.

"Mary's "Sister Exorcist" may break your record at the beginning of the year. You should not be too proud too soon." Lu Shaolong looked at Su Yun again, "Don't you agree, Mary?"

Su Yun took a deep breath and finally spoke: "Have you forgotten...when I finish the Batman thing and come back to Hong Kong, I will prepare to shoot the second part of Grave Robbery?"

Facing Su Yun's seemingly obedient but challenging look, Lu Shaolong and Xu Gujie were stunned for a moment, then simultaneously looked at the other party they were arguing with, and laughed at the same time.