Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 522: Battle Spirit

February 23, 2004, afternoon, Jingxin Building, Shengying Media Group Chairman's Office.

The winter sun shone through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, making the interior bright and warm, a stark contrast to the still biting cold wind outside.

The office is simply yet modernly furnished, with several movie posters hanging on one wall—"Night at the Museum," "Spy Kids," "The Pursuit of Happyness," "Kung Fu Hustle," and more.

They silently tell the story of the miracles created by the owner of this office over the past few years.

On the other side, there is a wall of bookshelves, which, in addition to books on business management and film theory, also prominently display several gleaming trophies, including the Oscar statuette for Best Visual Effects.

Wang Sheng sat behind his large desk, not processing documents or listening to reports as usual.

Sitting across from him was an old acquaintance—Zhang Jianwei, a senior reporter from China Youth Daily.

Two cups of tea sat between the two, steam rising gently from them.

This is Wang Sheng's first in-depth interview since the Hurun Rich List announced him as China's richest man, and it comes just before he is about to fly to Los Angeles to attend the 76th Academy Awards.

When the news broke, countless media outlets envied the China Youth Daily's exclusive interview, but Zhang Jianwei was well aware of its significance.

"Chairman Wang, congratulations again."

Zhang Jianwei turned on the recorder, his tone familiar yet solemn, "'China's youngest richest man' and 'the first billionaire in the cultural industry.' When these titles were truly bestowed upon you, how did you personally feel? Did you feel... like you've climbed to the top of a mountain and looked down at all the other mountains?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Sheng smiled and leaned back in his chair, relaxing his body.

He was wearing a dark gray cashmere sweater today, looking more mature than his actual age, but his eyes were still sharp, showing no sign of complacency or self-satisfaction.

"The mountaintop?" He shook his head slightly, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable force. "Reporter Zhang, if I had to use mountain climbing as a metaphor, what I felt wasn't the comfort of standing on the mountaintop, but rather the feeling of having just climbed an important ridge. The view was wider, but I also saw more, more majestic, and more precipitous peaks ahead."

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and continued, "The title of 'richest man' is a label given by the capital market and the media. It is a summary of Shengying's efforts over the past eight years. I accept it, but I will not regard it as a burden or the end point."

To be honest, my biggest feeling when I saw the list that day was... well, not bad. At least they didn't embarrass us in the cultural industry, proving that this path is not only viable, but can be quite promising.

Zhang Jianwei quickly took notes and pressed on: "From working on wedding video production at the Beijing Film Studio in 1996 to now owning a film and television empire worth tens of billions of yuan and controlling a business spanning production, distribution, theaters, and even international collaborations."

Looking back on these eight years, do you feel like it's been a lifetime? Was there ever a moment that felt particularly difficult, when you even considered giving up?

"It feels like a lifetime ago?" Wang Sheng raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of reminiscence flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a stronger light. "Not really. I made every step myself, and I remember every bump and pothole."

Of course, there were tough times, quite a few. In the beginning, we couldn't even raise enough money to shoot commercials; when forming alliances, we were stabbed in the back for being a "one-man show" by people saying that the Beijing Film Studio was going to have a "one-man show"; the special effects budget for "Night at the Museum" almost collapsed, but we gritted our teeth and filled the gap ourselves; when negotiating with Hollywood, they initially looked down on us as "nouveau riche" from China…

He made some artistic embellishments.

"As for giving up?"

Wang Sheng smiled and said, "I've never thought about it. It's not that I'm particularly strong, but I've always believed in two things: First, Chinese audiences need good domestic films, and this market has huge potential."
Secondly, as long as we do well enough, we can earn respect, both domestically and internationally.

With these two beliefs in mind, when faced with difficulties, the thought isn't to give up, but rather how to overcome them.

Zhang Jianwei sensed the strong confidence in Wang Sheng's words and steered the conversation to a deeper level: "You mentioned belief. To many, your success has a strong legendary quality, even a sense of 'destiny.' How do you view this assessment? What do you think is the core driving force that has propelled you all the way?"

“Destiny’s will?” Wang Sheng chuckled. “That’s something you only see in novels. I, Wang Sheng, am just an ordinary person. I’m just a little bolder, a little more insightful, a little luckier, and a little more proactive.”

He suppressed his smile, his gaze becoming profound: "The core driving force? It's very simple, it's the three words 'not being convinced'. At first, it was because the children of factory workers had no future, and I wanted to lead my brothers to make a living; later, it was because I was convinced that domestic films were being suppressed by imported blockbusters, and I felt that we could make good things ourselves; and then it was because I was convinced of Hollywood's rules, and I felt that we Chinese could also succeed in it, and even succeed better."

"This kind of 'unconvinced' is not about blaming others or fate, but about turning it into action of 'I can do better.' When you see a gap, you learn, catch up, and surpass it. If the market rules are unreasonable, you push for their change. If others think it's impossible, I'll just have to try."

His tone gradually became more impassioned, and a restrained fighting spirit began to permeate the air.

"So, you ask me how I feel looking back on the past eight years? I have neither the time nor the interest to wallow in sentimentality or be filled with endless emotions. For me, the past eight years have been a series of battles! Battles against the market, battles against the system, battles against prejudice, battles against powerful opponents! When we lost, we learned from our experiences, got up, and fought again; when we won, we took a short breath and set our sights on the next target to continue fighting!"

Wang Sheng stood up, walked to the wall with movie posters, and gently ran his finger over the posters for "Night at the Museum" and "Kung Fu Hustle".

"The Museum won an Oscar for technical excellence, and Kung Fu Hustle is about to break 450 million at the box office. It seems like they've won. But is that enough? Far from it!"

He turned around and looked intently at Zhang Jianwei. “Our film industry system has only just begun to take shape, and we still rely on others for core technologies; our cultural exports are still in the early stages of borrowing resources to go global; our storytelling ability is far from truly touching global audiences; and the resilience of our entire industry is still very weak!”

"The richest man?" He scoffed softly. "This is just the beginning. Shengying went public and raised over 5 billion yuan. This money isn't for me to rest on my laurels and collect interest."

It's ammunition, it's fuel!

The "100 Cities, 100 Hospitals" plan aims to solidify distribution channels; the "Zhongbei Sheng Digital Base" will strengthen the industrial foundation; and cooperation with Disney and New Line Cinema will broaden the path to internationalization… The battles to come will only be bigger and tougher!

Zhang Jianwei was impressed by Wang Sheng's undisguised ambition, and he quickly adjusted the direction of the question: "Speaking of internationalization, you are about to go to Los Angeles to attend the Oscars ceremony."

Your two films received a total of eighteen nominations, setting a record for Chinese directors.

However, industry insiders generally believe that *The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King* has a significant advantage. What are your expectations for winning an award? If... the final result is not as expected, will it affect your confidence and future plans?

Wang Sheng returned to his seat, his expression returning to calm, even with a hint of understanding.

"Eighteen nominations is a victory in itself. It shows that the 'Shengying Production' and 'Director Wang Sheng' brands have gained entry and considerable respect in the mainstream Hollywood circle."

He spoke calmly, “The Oscars have their own rules. Besides artistic judgment, connections and timing are also very important. As the final epic, ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ has both sentimental value and industrial achievements, so it is indeed the biggest favorite.”

He paused for a moment: "But if you think that we will be disappointed or affected because of this, then you are making a big mistake."

We go to the Oscars not only to compete for awards, but also to showcase our abilities, exchange ideas, learn from each other, and expand our collaborations.

Winning an award is icing on the cake; not winning one won't bring the sky down. "Spy Kids" has grossed nearly $400 million worldwide, and "The Pursuit of Happyness" has enjoyed a long run in North America with strong critical acclaim. These are real achievements, more reliable than an Oscar to give us the confidence to keep going.

“My confidence has never been based on any particular award. It is based on Shengying’s ability to consistently produce high-quality content, on our ever-expanding market and channels, and on our judgment and planning for the future trends of the cultural industry.”

Wang Sheng stated firmly, "After the Oscars, none of the projects that need to be pushed forward will stop. 'Havoc in Heaven' aims to become a new benchmark for Eastern fantasy."

We need to be deeply involved in Disney's *Zootopia*, taking control of the technology and creative direction; we need to further deepen our cooperation with New Line Cinema… There's a long road ahead, and we don't have time to worry about short-term gains or losses.

As the interview drew to a close, Zhang Jianwei asked one last question: "Chairman Wang, you just said, 'Being the richest man is just the beginning.' So, in your opinion, after this 'beginning,' what are your personal goals and Shengying's ultimate goals? Or, what do you ultimately hope to leave behind for Chinese cinema and the Chinese cultural industry?"

Wang Sheng remained silent for a moment, then turned his gaze back to the window, as if piercing through time and space.

The office quieted down, with only the sunlight streaming in.

"The ultimate goal?" he said slowly, his voice not loud, but each word clear and carrying immense power. "I hope that one day in the future, when people all over the world talk about movies, Hollywood will no longer be the only center."

I hope that films made in China can become an indispensable, widely loved, and respected part of the global cultural consumption market.

"I hope that Shengying will not only be a company that makes money, but also a platform that can incubate creativity, cultivate talent, and promote industry progress."

I hope that the path we've explored—a path that combines cultural confidence, a market economy, industrialized production, and international cooperation—will prove to be feasible and can be inherited and developed by future generations.

He turned around to face Zhang Jianwei, his eyes gleaming with a blend of idealism and pragmatism.

"As for what to leave behind... I don't pursue a place in history. If I had to say, what I hope to leave behind is an industry ceiling that we have personally raised, a confidence that makes those who come after us think, 'Wow, we can be this awesome too,' and a healthier, more prosperous, and infinitely possible ecosystem for the Chinese film industry."

“And this,” Wang Sheng concluded, his tone resolute and brimming with fighting spirit, “requires us to continue fighting and conquering.”

(End of this chapter)