Rebirth of Hong Kong - 1978

Chapter 179 The Rigid Studio System
"That's right. Mr. Lin is doing the right thing in dealing with people and putting faith first."

Run Run Shaw nodded, apart from a smile, there was no other expression on his face.

I don't know if he is talking ironically, after all, what he helped was Li's, and that was wireless's deadly enemy.

"Let's not talk about the TV station. In fact, I invited Mr. Lin over today because I have an idea and want to discuss it with you."

"Uncle Six, please tell me."

Compared with the TV station, Run Run Shaw obviously cared more about the movies.

After all, TVB has money and people at this time, with a lot of resources in hand, and it is backed by inertial ratings.

Even if Li's climbed up in a while, Wireless is absolutely sure that he can beat it down.

But it's different in the film industry. Golden Harvest has started to stabilize Shaw Brothers in the past few years, which makes Run Run Shaw very upset.

Moreover, since 1974, for four consecutive years, Golden Harvest has been taking the box office champion of local movies.

If Lin Daoqiu's "Master Qian" is not counted this year, it means that Golden Harvest has won the box office champion for five consecutive years, which makes Shaw's face change.

But compared to Xiangjiang's local box office champion, Run Run Shaw probably wants more than this.

"As far as I know, Mr. Lin's "Master Qian" has sold well at the box office in Taiwan and Southeast Asia. Have you considered going further?"

Lin Daoqiu pretended to be puzzled, and then looked at Run Run Shaw with a puzzled face, as if he didn't understand what the other party meant by this sentence.

Run Run Shaw pointed to the west.

"Hollywood, the dream factory of world movies, I wonder if Mr. Lin is interested?"

Shaw Brothers obviously has more resources in Hollywood than Golden Harvest.

It was with the help of Warner Bros. that he won "The World's First Punch" in Hollywood in 1973.

Run Run Shaw felt that if Lin Daoqiu was an ambitious person, he would not ignore this path.

After all, the opportunity to cooperate with Hollywood is not so easy to obtain.

What Run Run Shaw never expected was that Lin Daoqiu shook his head without even thinking about it.

"Thank you Uncle Six for your kindness, but I don't think I have the capital to gain a foothold in Hollywood."

Run Run Shaw obviously didn't expect Lin Daoqiu to refuse so simply, he was taken aback on the spot.

"Mr. Lin, why should you underestimate yourself? Since "Master Qian" can get a good box office in Southeast Asia, you can try it in Hollywood. After all, foreigners are still very interested in kung fu movies."

Fang Yat-hua's thoughts are entirely due to the influence of "The World's First Fist" and "Enter the Dragon".

But Lin Daoqiu doesn't think so, because in the eyes of foreigners, kung fu movies are just a novel genre to them.

If you really think that Kung Fu movies can become popular in Hollywood, you are very wrong.

And it won't be long before this kind of comedic kung fu movies will be gradually eliminated by the market and replaced by movies with a more contemporary flavor.

If it weren't for this, Jackie Chan would not have switched to filming "Plan A".

"In my opinion, these kung fu comedies can't be made for a few years. After all, this type of movie has been going on for many years, and the audience is tired of it."

Lin Daoqiu, who just won 800 million box office with "Master Qian", can say such a thing.

I don't know if Lin Daoqiu is telling the truth or just fooling himself.

"So this time Mr. Lin didn't make a kung fu comedy, but an urban romantic comedy?"

"That's not true, it's just because I couldn't find a suitable candidate for a while, so I just chose a genre to shoot."

After listening to Lin Daoqiu's words, Fang Yihua didn't know what expression to show on his face. Isn't this guy really playing tricks on himself?

However, compared to Fang Yat-wah, Run Run Shaw felt the same about what Lin Daoqiu said.

"I'm afraid that not only kung fu comedies, but even the costume martial arts movies that Shaw Brothers is currently making will be gradually eliminated?"

Lin Daoqiu didn't speak, but looking at him, it was almost as if he had acquiesced to what Run Run Shaw said.

In fact, Run Run Shaw himself is not aware of the current situation, but one is because he is old, and the other is because Shaw Brothers' studio system is like this.

Celebrities and directors can only earn dead wages no matter how popular they are, and there are no outstanding new blood willing to join Shaw Brothers.

After all, how could they be willing to be like Zhang Che Chuyuan and others, willing to serve as film-making machines for Shao Brothers.

Originally, Run Run Shaw wanted to recruit Lin Daoqiu to the Shaw Brothers film company, but now it seems that even if he said this, the other party would not agree.

Thinking of Shaw's predicament, Run Run Shaw seemed to be a little bit depressed.

As soon as Fang Yihua who was next to him saw Run Run Shaw's expression, he knew that he had given up the idea of ​​recruiting Lin Daoqiu.

Although the meeting was not enough to break up unhappy, in the end Lin Daoqiu and Run Run Shaw did not reach any agreement.

…………

"Why didn't you agree to Sixth Uncle? Even if you don't make kung fu comedies, you can make other types of movies. After all, you are so good?"

Zhao Yazhi, who was giving Lin Daoqiu a head massage, really couldn't understand why Lin Daoqiu refused such a good opportunity.

"You haven't tried it, how do you know I'm good?" Lin Daoqiu couldn't help but asked with a smile.

With a palm on Lin Daoqiu's forehead, Zhao Yazhi pretended to be angry.

"What nonsense are you talking about? They are talking about business with you."

"I'm also talking to you about business."

Pinching Lin Daoqiu's ears with her hands, Zhao Yazhi threatened, "You are continuing to mess around."

The ear was grabbed by the other party, Lin Daoqiu quickly raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

"The heroine is merciful, I won't mess around... I won't mess around anymore."

Seeing that Lin Daoqiu had surrendered, Zhao Yazhi moved her hands away from the other party's ears, and continued to massage him.

"The disagreement between Uncle Six and I is not about what kind of movies to make, but about the Shaw Brothers studio system."

If Run Run Shaw was willing to learn from Golden Harvest, accept independent producers, or let his stars set up a film company, he would not be in the situation he is today.

"Is there no solution?"

Although Zhao Yazhi asked this question, she actually already had the answer in her heart, and TVB copied the system of Shaw Brothers movies.

Right now, there is no TV station in Xiangjiang that can threaten TVB, otherwise, I believe TVB will follow in the same footsteps as Shaw Brothers.

"Uncle Six already knew the solution, but if he doesn't want to do it, what can I do?"

That is to say, Xiangjiang movies are really booming at this time, which is why Shaw Brothers can keep hanging on like this tepidly, otherwise, I am afraid that it will stop production soon.

When Zhao Yazhi heard what Lin Daoqiu said, she couldn't continue to ask, after all, the problem that neither Sixth Uncle nor Lin Daoqiu could solve would just add to her worries.

(End of this chapter)