Back to 80: My literary life.

Chapter 770 Mine 1997
July 1997 was a day that Chinese people could be proud of - Hong Kong's return to China was celebrated by the whole country. Even the school where Fang Minghua's two children attended held a cultural performance to celebrate the return of Hong Kong.

Ai Jing's popular song, "My 1997 has finally arrived"

A large number of people left Hong Kong, but more people from the mainland poured into Hong Kong.

Fang Minghua is going to Yanjing.

After returning to Yanjing, Jia Zhangke and the crew members started intensive post-production. It took only two months to complete the post-production of the film. The next step was to submit the film for review. Fang Minghua received a call from Jia Zhangke in Yanjing, hoping that he would come to Yanjing soon.

Fang Minghua agreed.

Song Tangtang, the CEO of Shengshi Film and Television, the producer of the film, of course knew about this matter. After dinner, the two of them went out for a walk and talked about it.

"Minghua, the Xi'an Film Studio almost refused to submit this movie for review together with us," said Song Tangtang.

"why?"

"Their director was afraid that the film would fail the review and be criticized by his superiors. Director Liu even called me to complain, saying that I had let him down badly."

"Haha, always shooting banned films?" Fang Minghua laughed.

"Yeah." Song Tangtang sighed.

Although Shengshi Film and Television is now in its heyday in China, not to mention that it has produced several hit TV series in succession, it has also replaced the Xi'an Film Studio in the film industry and become a well-known award-winning company.

But we are faced with a very embarrassing reality:

As a private film and television company, it does not have the qualifications to distribute films independently and can only produce films jointly with state-owned film studios!
The Xi'an Film Studio is the unit with the most cooperation.

On the one hand, both companies are located in Xijing and everyone is familiar with each other. On the other hand, the Xi'an Film Studio is now facing difficulties, and the provincial leaders hope that through cooperation between the two parties, they can "help" the Xi'an Film Studio, which is almost unable to pay wages.

"Why did Director Liu agree in the end?" Fang Minghua asked.

"I said I would go to Yanjing specifically for the film's review." Song Tangtang replied: "Also, I agree to give them an additional 20 management fees."

The so-called management fee is the OEM fee that Shengshi Film and Television pays for purchasing the dragon logo from Xi'an Film Studio.

"So the management fee you paid to Xi'an Film Studio for this movie is more than 50? It's higher than the cost of making the movie?!" Fang Minghua said in surprise.

"What can we do?" Song Tangtang sighed, "Who told Shengshi Film and Television to be run by a stepmother?!"

After hearing his wife's angry words, Fang Minghua couldn't help laughing.

"Okay, stop complaining. Haven't you been fighting for this?" Fang Minghua comforted.

"It's difficult, mainly because of policy restrictions."

"Don't worry. The country is now striving to join the WTO. The government will change next year and may introduce a new series of reforms. Maybe private film and television companies will be able to make movies on their own," Fang Minghua explained.

"I hope so."

Eventually, the country relaxed the rights of private film and television companies to produce and distribute films, but Fang Minghua could not remember the exact year.

"Minghua, when you go to Yanjing this time, Director Zhao of the Film Bureau is a key figure. He is the kind of person who does not hold a prominent position but has great power. You should go directly to him." Song Tangtang reminded.

"I see."

"If you have any questions, go to Liao Yawei in the office. He was put in this position so that he could get to know these people."

"Huh? Tangtang, you don't trust me to do the job?" Fang Minghua asked.

"Of course not, my husband is very capable." Song Tangtang said with a giggle.

Why does it sound a bit perfunctory?
Two days later, Fang Minghua took a train to Yanjing with his luggage. He first stayed in a hotel in Chaoyang Quli, and then called Liao Yawei in the office to ask him to send a car over.

After everything was ready, Fang Minghua drove the Audi sent by Liao Yawei to find Jia Zhangke the next morning.

At this time, Jia Zhangke had already graduated from Yandian University and was hired as a teacher at the Experimental Art Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts.

Fang Minghua met Jia Zhangke in the single dormitory of the Academy of Fine Arts. "Is everything ready?" Fang Minghua asked.

"Everything is ready." Jia Zhangke said as he took out four reels of film from the box.

"Let's go to the State Administration of Film," said Fang Minghua.

Jia Zhangke simply carried the box downstairs with Fang Minghua, put the box in the trunk of the car, and the two got in the car and drove east.

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television is located in an alley in Dongsi. Fang Minghao has been here before, but he just passed by and never went in.

This was Jia Zhangke's first visit. When he got off the car, he saw the gate of the courtyard house from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Although it was very old, it was still majestic and imposing.

The sign with black letters on a white background with the words "State Administration of Radio, Film and Television" is even more eye-catching.

Jia Zhangke suddenly became nervous.

This feeling is even more nervous than when I entered the examination room for the college entrance examination.

Fang Minghua noticed Jia Zhangke's uneasiness and patted his shoulder without saying anything: "Come on, go in."

"it is good."

The two entered the gate, first registered at the message room, and then walked inside.

There was a deep courtyard with pavilions and towers everywhere, which made Jia Zhangke stunned.

"This place used to be the former residence of Liu Yong from the Qing Dynasty," Fang Minghua explained as they walked.

"Liu Yong? Is he the Liu Luoguo in the recent TV series "Prime Minister Liu Luoguo"? " Jia Zhangke asked.

"Yes, that's him."

"Teacher Li Baotian acted very well." Jia Zhangke couldn't help but smile when he thought of Li Baotian's funny look in the TV series.

"That is.."

As the two talked, Jia Zhangke's nervous mood calmed down a lot.

Fang Minghua did not wander around, but went straight to find Director Zhao that Song Tangtang mentioned. Soon the staff took him to an office. He knocked on the door and went in. A middle-aged man was working inside.

Seeing someone coming in, the man stopped working.

Just as the staff was about to introduce him, Director Zhao stood up and said with a smile, "No need for introductions. Who doesn't know Minghua? Hello, Chairman Fang."

"Hello, Director Zhao." Fang Minghua smiled and stretched out his right hand and looked at the other person.

Why do I feel that Director Zhao looks a bit like an older Winston Chao?
The two shook hands and sat down. The staff poured them tea and left.

Director Zhao said, "Chairman Fang, you are a rare guest. Why are you here?"

"Not long ago, I served as the producer for a film called "Xiao Wu". Now the film has been completed, so I sent it over for review with director Xiao Jia," Fang Minghua replied.

"Haha. Yes, yes. A few months ago, I saw the film project application form submitted by Shengshi Film and Television and found your name. Was it arranged by Mr. Song from Shengshi Film and Television?" Director Zhao asked with a smile.

"Yes, we have to listen to our wife." Fang Minghua also echoed.

The two chatted for a few minutes and then turned to the main topic. Director Zhao looked at Jia Zhangke, who was sitting on the side and feeling a little awkward.

"Are you Jia Zhangke from Yandian?"

"Hello, Director Zhao, I'm Jia Zhangke, and I just graduated this year." Jia Zhangke said hurriedly.

"Alas, you Yandian, the directors you have trained in the past few years are really a headache for us." Director Zhao sighed.

Jia Zhangke's heart became nervous again.

(End of this chapter)