The world begins with Hong Kong movies

Chapter 337 Everyone Needs to Take Responsibility for Their Choices
"That's just a basic subsidy!"

Zhou Ye hurriedly said, "According to the terms used in Hong Kong, it's just the basic salary. You only get such a low subsidy during the initial adjustment period when you first arrive!"

Seeing that his wife didn't believe him, he couldn't help but chuckle.

He got up and went to the refrigerator to get two cans of Jianlibao. While enjoying the cold sports drink, he talked at length: "Speaking of this, we staff members who were seconded from the mainland have a rather unpleasant feeling!"

"For the same technical position, the basic salary for an assistant lighting technician in Hong Kong Island is at least HK$4,500 a month, while the basic salary for an assistant photographer is over HK$5,000. Who can we complain to?"

"Why is there such a big difference?"

The wife was somewhat surprised and asked curiously, "Isn't the TV station boss afraid that you'll be dissatisfied?"

"There's nothing I can do about it!"

Zhou Ye said helplessly, "After all, they are temporary staff, not really our own people. Nobody knows if they will be able to stay in the end!"

"As you know, technical talents in film and television production, once given sufficient practical opportunities, can actually improve their skills very quickly, provided their foundation is solid enough!"

"The same goes for actors. Fortunately, I adapted to the environment later and gradually participated in the filming of TV dramas. There were also filming subsidies, otherwise the gap would be even greater!"

At this point, he lowered his voice and chuckled softly, "I get paid 800 Hong Kong dollars per episode for this TV series I filmed!"

Seeing that his wife hadn't noticed the bombshell in his words, he said directly, "My role is in about eight episodes, which means I'll get six thousand four hundred Hong Kong dollars!"

"This doesn't even include the various subsidies during filming, which easily add up to more than seven thousand Hong Kong dollars!"

"This TV series has about twenty episodes and a filming period of one and a half months, which means that my total income for one and a half months reached more than 10,000 Hong Kong dollars!"

His wife's eyes widened suddenly, her face filled with disbelief.

"You just said, how much do you want to earn, ten thousand Hong Kong dollars a month?"

"That's natural!"

Zhou Ye said smugly, "I told you before, the TV station boss is very generous, and I'm currently in the prime of my career!"

"I have a good relationship with several directors at the TV station. The key is that my image and acting skills are very suitable. It won't be long before I get the opportunity to play a leading role. At that time, the salary per episode can easily exceed one thousand!"

“I’ve calculated it; with all the subsidies, I can earn nearly HK$20,000 a month. What does that mean?”

My wife felt a little dizzy and unreal.

Although she knew her husband's salary was very high during his secondment to Hong Kong Island, otherwise the older colleagues in the factory wouldn't have been so envious and wanted to snatch up the secondment slot.

But she never expected that her husband's salary would be so high, earning tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars a month!
In the past, she would never have dared to think like this, there were just too many possibilities.

But now, seeing her husband's radiant and confident demeanor, it's clear that this is no exaggeration.

At this moment, her heart was pounding, and she felt a sense of unreality, as if her brain was about to explode. Yet, her thoughts were stronger than ever before: she absolutely could not miss such a great opportunity to make a lot of money.

As for the previous concern that once the husband chooses to resign, there is no turning back, is that still a problem?

As long as the husband's salary doesn't drop and he saves diligently for two or three years, that's an astonishing figure of over 300,000 Hong Kong dollars.

There are even more, I really can't imagine.

"So, I've made up my mind to stay!"

Leaning back on the sofa, Zhou Ye said confidently, "If things go well, I'll be able to buy a house in Hong Kong Island in just a few years!"

He harbored a secret ambition, though he never voiced it. In fact, he wanted to make movies!

He hopes to join Fengrui Film Company, become a proper film actor, and then become a big star like those movie stars.

However, he did not say these things aloud.

If we can achieve this in the future, that would be best. But if we can't, wouldn't we become a laughing stock?

Clearly, after this detailed discussion, his wife strongly supported Zhou Ye's decision to be busy, because he was earning too much money.

Even on Hong Kong Island, an income of over ten thousand dollars a month is definitely considered high income.

As for the mainland film studios, there's no need for them to resign for the time being.

It's not too late to take action when the secondment period is almost over and most of our mainland colleagues start thinking about their future.

For the next few days, Zhou Ye spent all his time with his wife.

Whenever he has free time, he takes his wife for a stroll through the bustling streets nearby, allowing her to gain a deeper understanding of Hong Kong Island.

At this time, the prosperity of Hong Kong Island was indeed very deceptive.

In addition, since his wife had not yet made a name for herself in the mainland's arts and culture scene, she was naturally quite fascinated by the prosperity of Hong Kong Island and even considered developing her career there.

Unfortunately, her looks and temperament are more suited to the mainstream films in mainland China at this time. It's not that she has no potential for development in Hong Kong, but she will probably have to struggle for a long time.

In comparison, it is obviously easier to succeed if you develop your career in mainland China.

Fortunately, at this time, ATV had collaborations with many arts and culture organizations in mainland China, so there was still a chance for them to develop their careers in Hong Kong Island in the future.

During this period, through Zhou Yemang's introduction, I got to know many mainland staff members who were seconded to ATV.

"Do they go out every night?"

After spending a few days on Hong Kong Island, my wife gradually became familiar with the environment. In the evening, after having dinner with Zhou Ye, who was off work, at a tea restaurant downstairs, she couldn't help but ask him something out of curiosity.

Some things cannot be hidden from those who are observant.

Zhou Ye was so busy that many of his colleagues on temporary assignment in the mainland would go out to play at night, which aroused his wife's suspicion.

"Hey, they're all adults, they'll take responsibility for their actions!"

Zhou Ye was too busy to say much, and could only say, "Anyway, I won't get involved recklessly, you don't understand..."

Then, he briefly recounted the warning message that Wu Feng had previously given to employees seconded to the mainland through members of the triad, his face full of embarrassment.

"It seems the TV station owner really values ​​you guys!"

The wife was stunned and exclaimed, "This kind of cautionary training is really necessary. I never expected the Hong Kong triads to be so extreme!"

"Hehe, according to the TV station owner, Hong Kong Island has always been influenced by the atmosphere of the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, and some problems are quite serious!"

Zhou Ye wasn't very interested in that, so he changed the subject, saying, "There's a meeting for mainland colleagues coming up soon, and everyone there is from the arts and culture scene. You happen to have some time, would you like to attend?"

"Sure, this is a good opportunity for me to meet the mainland artists and cultural figures on Hong Kong Island!"

His wife readily agreed, her face beaming with smiles: "Who knows, we might even have some friends we know!"

(End of this chapter)