Run Run Shaw, formerly known as Shao Renleng, known as Shaw, is the most famous entertainment tycoon in Hong Kong, because he ranks sixth among the eight brothers and sisters of the Shao family.

Shaw Brothers Film Company was founded in Hong Kong in 1958 and has shot more than 1,000 Chinese-language films.

Hong Kong's city labels, such as "Oriental Hollywood", "Entertainment City", "Tourist Resort", etc., are mostly inseparable from Run Run Shaw's contributions.

Shen Chong has a lot of respect for such a character, so in this interview, he personally went out, firstly, to see the true face of the legendary character and satisfy his obsession as a movie lover, on the other hand, he wanted to see if Shaw Brothers could rescue him again.

If Shaw Brothers can conform to the trend of the times, reform the rigid production department, regroup, and fight again, instead of withdrawing from the film market after a few years, it will be of great benefit to Shen Chong's future plan - there are seven major film companies in Hollywood, and Shen Chong does not ask for more, one Shaw Brothers and one Golden Harvest, and if they can hold on, it will be help.

The interview went smoothly, and Run Run Shaw gave Shen Chong and Rover an hour of interview time in his office at Shaw Cinemas in Tai Po Chai, Clear Water Bay.

The content of the interviews drawn up by the editors was all ordinary topics, without any risk and sensitivity, and Shen Chong had no interest in answering these questions that had long been predestined, so he simply let Rover be the main interviewer, and he played a supporting role, sitting quietly on the side and taking notes.

It may be because of many contacts, Rover did not have stage fright or nervousness, and the interaction with Run Run Shaw was very natural, and the details such as changing the topic and guiding the answers were quite well mastered, and it took about 4o minutes to complete all the booked interview content.

When Shaw finished answering the last question, Rover looked at Shen Chong and asked for his next move.

Shen Chong gently bowed his chin to express his satisfaction with his watch, then closed the notebook, coughed lightly, and said, "Sir Shao, can I ask you a few questions?" (Note 1)

"Please." Run Run Shaw has been in a high position for a long time, and there is a sense of calmness in his speech.

"These issues are sensitive." Shen Chong turned off the recorder and said, "Sir Shao, don't worry, if you don't agree, our magazine won't show it." ”

Run Run Shaw nodded slightly, signaling that he could ask questions.

"Sir Shaw, Shaw Brothers' box office last year was very unsatisfactory, and its market share in the Hong Kong film market continues to decline, in the face of such a situation, what measures will Shaw Brothers take to revive the box office?"

"There's an old saying that it's better to be still than to be still." Run Run Shaw didn't care too much, "I've been in the production business for almost half a century, and I've long seen it clearly, the film industry, like stocks, has ups and downs, it's normal, the key is not to panic, as long as it is stable, there will be no big problems." ”

Alas, it's good to be steady, but if you stick to the rules, you won't be able to......

Shen Chong lamented in his heart, and then asked the next topic: "In the past two or three years, the film market has become increasingly hot, independent production companies have poached people everywhere, and the Shaw Brothers has lost talent. ”

"These independent production companies are black sheep who just want to make a quick buck and don't care about the rules of the industry!" Run Run Shaw hated independent production companies, and he said with some excitement: "Driving three or four times the salary, poaching people, getting some unpopular machines, building some messy sets, and the quality of the films made is poor, and after the release, the box office is not good, and they run away immediately, the boss runs away, and what about the guys who are waiting for money to eat?" ”

After pausing and resting for a while, Run Run Shaw continued: "Our Shaw Brothers have world-class equipment and equipment, a one-stop production process, although the salary is not high, but the victory is stable. ”

However, in recent years, more standardized independent producers have begun to rise, such as Wu Siyuan's Siyuan Film Company, Sammo Hung and Mak Jia's Garbo Film Company, the level of production is quite good, and the box office is also a big profit, and it will not be long before more independent producers have sprung up, thus changing the entire Hong Kong film industry.

And the situation of Shaw Brothers is not as breezy as Shaw said, in the case of crazy poaching by independent production companies, Shaw Brothers had to start raising salaries in order to ensure the start of production, and the production cost has risen sharply, and many films have lost money.

However, Shen Chong was interviewing to the bottom, not to debate, he let go of this question, then took out two forms, stood up, handed them over across the desk, and said: "This is a questionnaire survey done by our magazine, which shows that among young people aged 15 to 25, more than 70% of them feel that the Chinese film of the indoor set is outdated and cannot keep up with the times; Another survey shows that the Shaw Brothers movie audience is mainly middle-aged, and as we all know, young people are the main consumers in the film market. ”

"I don't know Cantonese, but there's no problem with making Cantonese movies, and our Shaw Brothers produced "Seventy-two Tenants", and even Bruce Lee was crushed." Run Run Shaw pressed the table with a paperweight, didn't look at it carefully, and said: "For the specific situation of making a movie, I have to ask the production director, I am old now, and I don't interfere much in these things." (Note 2)

Seeing that Run Run Shaw did not attach importance to the results of the investigation, Shen Chong was a little regretful, "Seventy-two Tenants" is Cantonese, but it is also an indoor set film......

"Among the older generation of directors, Zhang Che's production and quality have declined recently, Li Hanxiang heard that he was going to the United States for heart surgery, and Shaw Brothers only left Chu Yuan to support the overall situation, and now there are many newcomers and new directors in the film industry, does Shaw Brothers have a plan to recruit them?"

"Yes, yes." Run Run Shaw nodded and said, "I like to cultivate talents the most, and Shaw Brothers also needs fresh blood." ”

"Is there a specific candidate?"

"We'll have to see this again." Run Run Shaw thought for a while and said, "I have also watched that "Solangeine", which is indeed new, but it is not mature enough to meet the current requirements of Shaw Brothers. ”

Shaw Brothers has been founded for more than 20 years, and it has long been dull, and it has long lost the pride and courage that it used to dare to fight - you must know that at the beginning of the business, Shaw dared to invest millions of Hong Kong dollars on Li Hanxiang, who was still a newcomer.

Shen Chong shook his head secretly, and then asked the next question: "Sir Shao, you are the managing director of TVB, I heard that the chairman of the board of directors of TVB, Li Xiao and Mr. Li, are not in good health, if Mr. Li wants to step down, are you interested in joining TVB?" ”

"Mr. Li is a good friend of mine, and I helped him when he founded TVB." Run Run Shaw said slowly in a Zhejiang Mandarin: "I have always been interested in the TV industry, and I have been increasing my shareholding in TVB in recent years, and Mr. Li also supports me, so if I have the opportunity in the future, I will consider becoming the chairman of the board of directors of TVB." ”

"As far as I know, one-third of the studios of Shaw Brothers Studios are currently rented to TVB to shoot TV dramas, if you become a TVB, how will you handle the relationship between Shaw Brothers' film production business and TV business?"

"Of course, it's movies, it's TV, and it's going hand in hand." Although Shaw is over 7o years old, his mind is still very agile, "Cinema is our Shaw Brothers tradition, and television is the future of the entertainment industry. ”

"Sir Shao, you are a businessman first, and a filmmaker second, I say that, don't you think so?"

"Yes, yes." Shaw smiled and said, "Yes, I've always said that, I'm a businessman, a businessman who makes money from movies. ”

"TVB is the No. 1 TV station in Hong Kong, occupying an absolute monopoly position, which can be described as a steady profit, but the film industry is fiercely competitive and the market is changing rapidly, if the film production continues to lose money, will you, as a businessman, divest and resell this business and invest all your resources in TVB?"

After thinking about it for a while, Run Run Shaw slowly replied, "I don't know, maybe." ”

……

After leaving Shaw Studios, Shen Chong threw the notebook to Rover and said, "You can write this interview article, since Sir Shao said that it can be listed, then it is all good." ”

"Okay." Rover was very excited, after he moved the car, he said: "Brother Chong, you are still amazing, you asked such a hot content, it is difficult for the magazine to be popular now, Run Run Shaw actually wants to sell the film production industry!" ”

"He said maybe, but he didn't say sure." Shen Chong held the top of his head with both hands and made a gesture of stretching his waist, "Don't be grandiose, write according to Run Run Shaw's original words." ”

"I know." Rover turned the steering wheel, reversed the car out of the parking lot, and said, "We're Yan Sù's professional magazine." ”

"It's good to know." Shen Chong snorted, and after a while, he ordered: "Go back and let the editors urge Luo Ka and Shi Qi again, these guys, one by one, promised to write the manuscript, but they haven't handed it over until now." ”

"Every day, there is a reminder." Rover laughed; "It is said that Roca is afraid to answer the phone now."

"Huh." Shen Chong sneered, "These code words, if you don't squeeze them hard, they won't be in stock." ”

"Just like a sponge?"

"The sponge is hairy, it's cleavage!" Shen Chong joked angrily: "It's like a woman's cleavage, no matter how small the cup is, there will always be a groove if you squeeze it hard." ”

……

It seems that Run Run Shaw has focused most of his attention on TVB, and the Shaw Brothers production industry is difficult to turn back, and the future of the film market is worrying, but this is expected, and Shen Chong doesn't mind too much, he is in a good mood, and on the way back, he is humming a song in a mess - the magazine is finally on the right track, and the busy days can come to an end.

"Film Times" has been out of three issues so far, the first issue of Shen Chong hid his selfishness and used Zhang Aijia as the cover star, and then for the harmony of the crew of "Crazy Robbery", he used public weapons for private purposes, and the second issue made Zhao Yazhi on the cover, anyway, they are all palace-level stars, and the magazine is not at a loss.

Zhao Yazhi was obviously more popular than Zhang Aijia, and the second issue of the magazine sold more than 1ooo copies.

In the third issue, Shen Chong let it go, and the editors used Jackie Chan to make the cover through the relationship between Guò Shuqi and Jiahe, and the popular fried chicken was extraordinary, and it was only half of this week, and the magazine's sales had exceeded 10,000 copies......

Several entertainment reporters recruited from "Ming Pao Weekly", "Southern Film" and other magazines with high salaries are very professional and well-informed, the content source of "Film Times" is stable, the style has been formed, and the sales are rising, so there is no need for Shen Chong to put too much energy into it.

After the crossing, in addition to the crew of "Crazy Robbery", Shen Chong's "First Film Review" consumed the most effort, more than the Rubik's Cube.

Fortunately, the hard work was not in vain, and now the inaugural issue is finally about to be completed.

The content that has been determined by "First Film Review" so far includes an interview with Run Run Shaw, Yu Muyun's film history column "Oral History", Shu Qi's "Shooting Record of "Night Train", and Shen Chong's column "Hong Kong Film Industry Investigation Report", as well as the manuscripts promised by senior film critics such as Rocca.

Using the inaugural issue as a benchmark and model, the editors have a template for reference, and Shen Chong can let go a little in the future, and he no longer needs to work hard and do everything like now.

Back at the magazine, Shen Chong hurriedly explained some matters before leaving - "Crazy Robbery" was completed yesterday, and tonight he was going to feast the main members of the crew at the Jumbo Seafood Restaurant on Wan Chai Bay.

However, instead of going directly to the Jumbo Seafood Restaurant, he went to the Mandarin Hotel in Central first.

Shen Chong usually dresses very casually, but sometimes people dress not only to decorate themselves, in more formal occasions, if they dress too casually, it will not only look frivolous, but also make others feel that they are not respectful enough.

The last time he was drinking with Zhang Aijia at the Mandarin Hotel, Shen Chong noticed that there was a clothing store there that looked very good, so he was going to go over and buy a set of regular clothes.

He didn't have much research on clothes, he originally planned to ask Zhang Aijia to help choose, she is a famous family, and her good taste is recognized by everyone, but since the kiss on the forehead, Zhang Aijia has avoided him a little, Shen Chong didn't find a chance to invite, so he had to go alone, and finally bought a suit that is said to be designed by a certain master in Europe under the construction of the clerk.

Opened in 1976, Jumbo Seafood Boat in Wan Chai is one of Hong Kong's famous food meccas, with a length of 76 meters, a width of 22 meters, a height of 28 meters, a displacement of 33oo tons, and can accommodate more than 2ooo guests at the same time.

Since the Jumbo Seafood Restaurant is named after seafood, the specialty is naturally seafood, this feast, you can see the bright night view of Victoria Harbour, you can eat the refreshing taste of fresh seafood, it can be said that it is both a feast for the mouth and a feast for the eyes, the guests and hosts are happy, until the night is dark, before the feast.

When the banquet was about to be held, Shen Chong began to divide the red bag one by one, he was still very satisfied with the crew of "Crazy Robbery", each red package was 5o% of each person's salary, Shen Chong felt that this price was more appropriate, not only did not seem to be wronged, but also won a reputation for generosity.

Every red envelope, Shen Chong will say some polite words such as continuing to cooperate in the future, of course, it is not all scene words, some people, such as Xu Anhua, Chen Yunwen, Zhao Yazhi, Zhang Aijia, Zeng Jiang These outstanding talents will definitely cooperate a lot in the future.

When Zhang Aijia took the red envelope, she just rolled her big eyes and glanced at Shen Chong, but she didn't say anything, which made Shen Chong feel a little lost.

However, after stepping off the Jumbo Seafood Restaurant, when everyone was separated, Zhang Aijia walked to Shen Chong's side and whispered: "I will go back to Taiwan the day after tomorrow, do you want to go with me?" ”

"Go, of course." Shen Chong replied without hesitation.

……

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Note 1: In 1977, Run Run Shaw was canonized a knight by Queen Elizabeth II, becoming the first person in the Hong Kong entertainment industry to receive the title of "knight".

Note 2: "Seventy-Two Tenants" was originally the signature show of the Shanghai Burlesque Troupe, which was adapted into a film by the Pearl River Film Studio in 1963, and in 1973, Shaw Brothers bought the copyright from the Pearl River Film Studio, and Chu Yuan directed it into a Cantonese film, which became the top box office in Hong Kong, overpowering Bruce Lee's "Enter the Dragon".

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