Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 344, Section 342: Minor Success in Internal Strength

March 20, 2001, morning.

Spring sunlight streamed through the slightly weathered windows of the China Film Group building, casting dappled shadows on Han Sanping's large desk.

Office reception area.

Wang Sheng sat on the sofa opposite Han Sanping. On the coffee table in front of him was a thick, beautifully bound project proposal with the words "Night at the Museum" in handwritten script on the cover. Next to it was a stack of photocopies of the script.

He didn't rush to speak, but quietly watched Han Sanping carefully flip through the project proposal page by page, sometimes frowning slightly, sometimes pausing his fingertips on a certain budget figure.

The office was quiet, with only the rustling of papers turning and the faint sounds of city noise coming from outside the window.

Time passed by minute by minute.

Han Sanping examined everything very carefully, from the project overview, core concept, and plot synopsis, to the astonishingly detailed budget breakdown, special effects plan, production team composition, and even risk control and market expectations.

His expression remained serious throughout, revealing little emotional fluctuation.

Finally, he closed the last page of the project proposal.

Han Sanping leaned back in the large leather seat, raised his hand to rub his temples, then looked at Wang Sheng. His lips twitched, as if he wanted to laugh, but didn't quite manage it, ultimately settling into a meaningful sigh:

"You've got quite the ambition, Shengzi."

Upon hearing this, Wang Sheng's face revealed a calm smile that he had anticipated. He leaned forward, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and spoke in a calm tone that carried an undeniable certainty:
"Teacher, since we've decided to compete with, or even surpass, Director Zhang's blockbuster 'Hero,' we can't be petty."

The scale, the creativity, the technology—everything has to be top-notch. We now have the opportunity, and we have the confidence to do so.

He put down his teacup and tapped his finger on the project proposal: "Over the past few years, we've started with wedding films, then moved to a TV movie alliance, and finally established the 'China Film Prosperity' cinema chain. We've achieved a closed loop in terms of production, distribution, and screening. I wouldn't say it's a monolithic entity, but it's certainly a complete internal system. It's like we've honed our skills for several years and have achieved some success."

He paused for a moment: "In other words, even if we take a step back and rely solely on the domestic market, with our current channel control and audience base, we still can't afford to lose money. At the very least, we can recoup most of the costs and gain some recognition."

But what if... we could leverage Jackie Chan's global appeal to open up the North American market, or even the global market?

Wang Sheng raised his voice slightly, filled with an infectious anticipation: "What we'll earn won't just be box office revenue. It will be real US dollars, cultural influence that allows us to stand tall internationally, and the capital ammunition we desperately need for our next stage of development!"

He looked at Han Sanping with burning eyes: "Teacher, think about it, with this money, is what we talked about before—building a truly modern digital film shooting and production base—still just a pipe dream?"

When the "digital film base" was mentioned, Han Sanping's expression shifted, clearly indicating that his thoughts had been stirred.

Wang Sheng knew the time was right, so he continued to delve deeper into the topic:

"This isn't just wishful thinking on my part. Teacher, you certainly know better than I do. The future of film technology is inevitably digital. From digital cameras during filming to non-linear editing and CG effects in post-production, and then to digital cinemas at the projection stage... this is an inevitable trend."

Combining his knowledge from his past life with the information he had access to now, he analyzed: "In Hollywood, George Lucas's Industrial Light & Magic, as well as the Star Wars prequel series, have already demonstrated the power of digital technology. What about in China? It seems that Shanghai Film Studio is already preparing to set up a digital technology center, but its scale and foresight are still insufficient."

"If we can take the lead and invest heavily to establish a digital film base that integrates pre-production shooting, post-production, special effects research and development, and even talent training, then the significance will be immense."

Wang Sheng's voice carried the clarity of a strategist: "First of all, it can greatly reduce the production costs and timelines of high-quality films. Movies like 'Night at the Museum,' which rely heavily on special effects, will no longer need to hand over large sums of money and control to overseas teams."

Secondly, it can act as a magnet to attract domestic and international projects to China for production, driving the upgrading of the entire industry chain. Finally, it also serves as a reserve of content and technology for the future full-scale deployment of digital cinemas, giving China a voice in setting industry standards.

Han Sanping listened quietly without interrupting.

He was well aware of the importance of digital technology, but...

“Shengzi, the national level isn’t unaware of what you’re saying.” Han Sanping sighed, picked up his slightly cooled teacup, and said with a hint of helplessness and the weight of reality, “The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television’s ‘Film Technology Development Plan for the 15th Five-Year Plan’ also mentions promoting film digitization. But, there’s no money.”

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the bustling traffic below: "There are too many places in the country that need to spend money now, infrastructure construction, people's livelihood, scientific and technological research and development... which one is not a money-devouring beast?"

The film industry, in many people's eyes, is still 'culture and entertainment,' not a top priority. Expecting large sums of government funding for forward-looking projects like digital cinema bases and digital theaters is unrealistic.

He turned around and looked at Wang Sheng with a complicated expression: "Otherwise, why do you think I, at my age, could so quickly obtain real power to promote industry reform within China Film Group, like riding a rocket?"
"Isn't it because the higher-ups saw that in recent years, without much government support, we've managed to forge our own path, proving that market-oriented reforms can succeed, make money, and revitalize resources!"

Han Sanping's words carried a subtle hint of感慨 and self-deprecation. His rapid promotion was certainly due to his personal abilities and connections, but the deeper reason was the Chinese film industry's struggle for survival at the turn of the century, facing the impact of WTO accession and a sluggish market.

The reform practices represented by the Beijing Film Studio Alliance and Shengying Media, which opened up the market through TV movies such as "Family Harmony Brings Prosperity" and reshaped the distribution channels through "China Film Prosperity Cinema Line", have proven that even within the state-owned system, the introduction of market mechanisms and the embrace of private capital can revitalize the economy and even create huge benefits.

This successful experience perfectly aligns with the top leadership's desire to promote film industry reform without increasing the financial burden too much.

Han Sanping, as one of the core promoters of this model, was naturally given greater authority and became a "vanguard" in implementing reform policies.

This power is an opportunity, but also a heavy responsibility and pressure.

"So, we still have to rely on ourselves." Han Sanping walked back to his seat and sat down heavily. "Self-reliance leads to abundance. The words of our ancestors are still relevant today."

The topic returned to the "Night at the Museum" project.

"Tell me, how are you planning to handle this huge project?" Han Sanping pointed to the thick project proposal. "Funding is the key."

Wang Sheng was prepared and asked directly, "Teacher, how much can China Film Group and Beijing Film Studio contribute?"

Han Sanping did not answer immediately, clearly calculating in his mind.

After a while, he finally spoke:

"Beijing Film Studio has indeed made a lot of money in recent years by following your projects."

But you have to understand that the group has its own rules. A portion of the profits must be handed over and distributed uniformly. This is one of the reasons why I was able to get the support of other factions within the group and successfully implement the reforms. After all, the benefits should be shared.

The remaining profits at Beijing Film Studio were mostly reinvested in equipment upgrades and talent acquisition at its production base. After all, our internal capabilities can't just remain on paper.

He paused for a moment, then gave a figure: "The most I can use is... fifty million. That's the limit, and it still needs to be discussed at the meeting."

Wang Sheng nodded, not surprised by the number.

State-owned enterprises have their own inherent procedures and limitations in their operation. The fact that Han Sanping was able to squeeze out 50 million yuan already demonstrates his great support and courage.

“Fifty million…” Wang Sheng pondered, “It’s an important cornerstone.”

Han Sanping looked at him and continued, "Besides this 50 million, I can think of other ways."

For example, you could take your theme and idea of ​​"promoting Chinese civilization" and try to persuade several other state-owned enterprises that are closely related to the cultural sector to see if you can attract some investment.

Additionally, the broadcasting authorities or the publicity department occasionally provide special subsidies or policy support for some key projects with cultural export potential. Although the amounts aren't large, it's still a supplement. I can try to try and get some.

Wang Sheng understood that this was where Han Sanping's value and power lay as a leader within the system; he could leverage resources that Wang Sheng, as a private company, could hardly access directly.

"Then I'll trouble you to ask around and scout things out first, teacher." Wang Sheng readily agreed. "As for the final investment ratio and specific plan..."

He paused for a moment: "Next month, Jackie Chan will come to Beijing after he finishes filming 'Rush Hour 2,' and we have arranged to discuss it in detail."

Then, listen to his specific intentions, his views on the project, and the resources he can bring, including possible overseas investment or profit-sharing terms.

"It's safer to finalize the financing structure and secure funding from all parties once he's revealed his hand."

Upon hearing this, Han Sanping nodded in agreement: "Yes, it's better to be cautious. Jackie Chan is an international superstar after all, and the way and conditions he joins will directly affect the project's cost and risk structure. It's not too late to make a final decision after he arrives and we discuss it face-to-face."

The two also exchanged views on other details of the project, such as the progress of liaison with Hollywood special effects teams (such as Industrial Light & Magic) and the coordination of technical capabilities among various domestic film studios.

Before we knew it, a whole morning had passed in this in-depth conversation about investments worth hundreds of millions and the future landscape of the industry.

The sunlight outside the window grew increasingly intense, indicating that the warmth of spring was gradually dispelling the last vestiges of chill.

When Wang Sheng got up to leave, Han Sanping personally escorted him to the office door, patted him firmly on the shoulder, and said in a serious tone:
"Shengzi, go for it! This is a tough battle, but it's worth fighting. I'll cover for you on the domestic front. Let's work together and see if we can really make a name for ourselves with this 'museum'!"

(End of this chapter)