Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 222, Section 220: Old Han Has Gone Mad
In early May 1999, a meticulously restored old Beijing street scene was seen in Huairou, a suburb of Beijing.

"Crack!"

As Wang Sheng's steady and powerful voice rang out, the final shot of the TV movie "Red Flag" was completed—the actor playing engineer Lin Heng looked up at the five-star red flag rising for the first time in the morning light, accompanied by the national anthem, his eyes filled with tears and pride.

"I hereby announce that filming for 'Red Flag' has wrapped!"

After a moment of silence, the scene erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers.

After a month of intense filming, this project, which carries special significance, has finally wrapped up filming successfully.

……

Time has quietly slipped into mid-May.

That afternoon, Wang Sheng was reviewing the filming progress report of the "Liu Laogen" crew in his office when his phone suddenly rang.

The caller ID showed Han Sanping.

"Uncle Han," Wang Sheng answered the phone.

On the other end of the phone, Han Sanping's voice sounded unusually serious, even with a hint of tension that was barely perceptible: "Shengzi, is it a convenient time to talk?"

Wang Sheng's expression hardened, and he waved to Li Tingting, who was giving a work report, to leave first, then closed the office door.

"It's convenient, please tell me."

"Things have changed."

Han Sanping said in a heavy tone, "The higher-ups have issued an order to suspend the approval and import of all imported films indefinitely."

Wang Sheng's heart skipped a beat.

"Is the news accurate?" Wang Sheng asked in a deep voice.

"It's absolutely true. China Film's import division is currently in a state of near shutdown."

Han Sanping affirmed, then changed the subject: "But the market can't be empty, and the people can't be without movies to watch. The ministry and the group held an emergency meeting and decided that we must fill this gap with high-quality domestic films as quickly as possible to stabilize market sentiment and make our own voice heard."

He paused, then lowered his voice: "The group has decided that I will temporarily take over and coordinate the distribution of domestic films, prioritizing resource allocation to ensure the supply and screening of high-quality domestic films."

Wang Sheng immediately understood the deeper meaning behind Han Sanping's phone call.

"Uncle Han, what do you need me to do?" Wang Sheng asked directly.

"From last month to this month, pick ten TV movies that have been completed or are nearly completed!"

Han Sanping spoke faster: "It must be shot using a 16mm film camera, and the image quality must meet the basic requirements for theatrical screening! There are no restrictions on the subject matter, but the content must be excellent and able to attract audiences to the cinema!"

Upgrading TV movie projects to fill the gaps in theaters is the fastest way to produce films.

While 16mm film may not be as good as 35mm in terms of image quality, it is far superior to magnetic tape and is barely usable on a movie screen.

“Understood, Uncle Han. Give me a day, and the list and documents will be delivered to your office on time tomorrow morning.” Wang Sheng agreed without hesitation.

After hanging up the phone, Wang Sheng immediately pressed the internal call button and said, "Li Tingting, notify Su Yang, the head of the TV and Film Division, and all production managers and core directors in Beijing to attend a meeting in the main conference room in one hour! Emergency meeting!"

An hour later, the atmosphere in the conference room was heavy.

Wang Sheng didn't waste any words and directly conveyed Han Sanping's message and urgent task: "Ten TV movies shot on 16mm film, with excellent content, suitable for theatrical release."

Wang Sheng's gaze swept over each of the core members present: "Su Yang, immediately retrieve the list of completed films and films about to be completed from the last two months."

The meeting room remained brightly lit for the next few hours.

The group discussed, selected, and weighed the films one by one from the list.

The final decision was made to select ten films:

*Warm Sunshine in the Hutong*: A heartwarming comedy. It tells the story of several long-time neighbors, their conflicts and reconciliations, on the eve of the demolition of a Beijing hutong in the late 1990s, focusing on the warmth of everyday life and neighborly support amidst changing times. Director: Huo Zhuang. (Key highlights: Beijing-style humor, nostalgia, and the shining moments of ordinary people.)
*The Vanishing Sound of the Accordion*: A suspenseful drama. An accordionist mysteriously disappears the night before an important performance. His friends (including a mechanic and a primary school teacher) launch a city-wide search within 24 hours based on fragmented clues, uncovering a long-buried past and revealing heartwarming moments. Director: Wu Yiyi. (Key highlights: a tightly woven suspenseful search, a panoramic view of the city, and the preciousness of friendship.)
*The Nth First Love*: A youth romance film. A couple who repeatedly meet and develop feelings for each other on a university campus, only to be prevented from being together by various twists of fate, repeatedly encounter each other after graduation, seemingly trapped in a cycle. Finally, amidst the restlessness of the late 20th century, they realize their true feelings for one another. Director: Zhang Yang. (Key highlights: A refreshing and romantic cyclical setting, the atmosphere of a 1990s campus and society, humorous and touching.)
*Touch of the Light*: A sports-themed inspirational film. Based on a true story, it tells the tale of a rural boy with a mild visual impairment who, with his extraordinary talent and unwavering perseverance, overcomes difficulties and strives towards his dream of sprinting, all with the help of a disillusioned track and field coach. Directed by the Xi'an Film Studio team. (Key highlights: Passionate struggle, inclusion of people with and without disabilities, inspiring and uplifting.)
*The Last Substitute Teacher*: A realistic drama film. The only substitute teacher at a remote mountain school faces dismissal. To ensure the last school-age child in the mountains can continue their education, a deeply moving story unfolds between him, village officials, and the child's grandmother. Director: Huo Jianqi. (Key highlights: Heart-wrenching, focusing on rural education, showcasing the brilliance of humanity.)
*The Chef's Demon*: A legendary drama film. Set during the Republican era, a gifted chef with a troubled past endures hardships in Tianjin. Using his unparalleled culinary skills, he navigates the complexities of various factions, protecting traditional food culture and ultimately comprehending the true meaning of "the way of cooking." Directed by the Tianjin Film Studio team. (Key highlights: A spectacle of Chinese cuisine, a legendary tale set against a backdrop of chaos, and tales of chivalry and betrayal.)
*Tomorrow's Call*: A soft science fiction drama. In 1999, an ordinary office worker accidentally receives a series of mysterious calls from the "future." The fragmented information seems to foreshadow his and those around him's fate. Amidst panic and curiosity, he attempts to change the future, triggering a series of chain reactions. Director: Jinling Film Studio team. (Key highlights: relatable science fiction setting, suspenseful atmosphere, and reflections on the future.)
*Northern Outpost*: A military drama. In winter, at a remote outpost on the northern border of China, several young soldiers are stationed in extreme conditions, battling loneliness and bitter cold. Through their interactions with an elderly Evenki hunter near their post, they come to understand the meaning of guarding the border. Directed by the Changchun Film Studio team. (Key highlights: Showcasing the dedication of border guards, the magnificent scenery of northern China, and deep national sentiment.)
*Starlight Photo Studio*: A nostalgic period film. Set in the late 1970s, a veteran photographer at a state-run photo studio in a small town uses his lens to record the joys and sorrows, weddings and funerals of ordinary families during the early stages of China's reform and opening up, reflecting social changes and the warmth and coldness of human relationships. Directed by the Pearl River Film Studio team. (Key highlights: A rich nostalgic atmosphere, slices of memories from that era, and a heartwarming narrative.)
*Silent Testimony*: A legal drama. A righteous young prosecutor, while handling a seemingly ordinary criminal case, discovers a complex web of vested interests and local protectionism. He withstands the pressure, pursues the truth, and upholds judicial fairness. Director: Huo Zhuang. (Key highlights: Battle between good and evil, courtroom intrigue, the spirit of the rule of law.)
These ten films cover a wide range of genres, including comedy, suspense, romance, inspirational, realistic, legendary, science fiction, military, nostalgia, and legal films. They are diverse in type, combining entertainment, thought-provoking content, and artistic merit, aiming to satisfy the tastes of different audience groups and also meeting the need to promote mainstream values.

Once the list was finalized, the entire TV and film division of Shengying Media sprang into action overnight, retrieving master tapes, checking quality, and preparing relevant materials.

The next morning, Wang Sheng personally brought copies of ten films and detailed information to Han Sanping's office at China Film Group.

Han Sanping carefully reviewed the list and introductions, a hint of relief appearing on his tense face: "It's fortunate that there are TV movies to provide the source material, otherwise we would only be able to show old movies... those bastards in Hollywood."

Wang Sheng asked with some doubt, "What if the cinemas downstairs secretly show imported films?"

Han Sanping put down the list and, meeting Wang Sheng's probing gaze, explained: "Currently, China Film Group has six regional branches responsible for distribution: North China, East China, South China, Central China, Southwest China, and Northwest China, forming a nationwide distribution network. The core teams of these six companies are all former China Film Group personnel."

After taking on this task, I drew upon employees from the former distribution and publicity departments of the Beijing Film Studio, as well as employees from the former distribution departments of various film studios in the film studio alliance, to form hundreds of inspection teams. I also assigned deputy managers to oversee the domestic film distribution business of the major regional branches, instructing them to coordinate the inspection teams to patrol cinemas across the country. If any cinema was found to be secretly showing imported films, after obtaining evidence, it would be immediately shut down. As for further penalties, those would need to be negotiated.

With China Film Group monopolizing the import and distribution of films, and supported by the "Notice on Carrying Out Activities to Combat Film Smuggling" (Wen Shi Fa [1999] No. 3), it was reasonable for them to send inspection teams.

i wipe...

Wang Sheng thought of three words: Embroidered Uniform Guard.

In the original timeline, Lao Han did indeed do just that, taking this opportunity to enter the distribution business controlled by China Film Group. Yu Dong was one of the executors and performed the best.

After the establishment of China Film Group, it was mainly divided into two factions: one was the original China Film Company, and the other was the original Beijing Film Studio.

Now, with the support of the Beijing Film Studio's massive slush fund and the film studio alliance, the manpower and resources that Han Sanping can mobilize will only become more outrageous.

"Shengzi..."

Han Sanping looked at Wang Sheng meaningfully.

Wang Sheng sat up straight, his eyes pure and without a trace of ulterior motive, and said, "Uncle Han, please speak."

Han Sanping narrowed his eyes slightly: "Without imported films, the total box office of the mainland film market this year will definitely drop significantly. I need you to make more movies to fill this gap. Are you confident?"

Meeting Han Sanping's earnest gaze, Wang Sheng simply nodded: "Okay."

Afterwards, the two discussed in detail how they would cooperate.

Han Sanping stated that Wang Sheng could bring together filmmakers from Hong Kong to make films together, and he would handle the co-production qualifications and censorship.

However, if we're going to make a co-production, we also need to make a domestic film...

In short, producing ten movies shouldn't be a problem, right?

Old Han, you really think I'm being used like Xiangzi?

(End of this chapter)