Against the Current Hong Kong 1979

Chapter 168 Box Office Revenue Sharing Has Arrived (2 Updates, Please Subscribe)

next morning.

Chung Chu-hung got up early and made breakfast for Zhang Shuai-an.

Do you have work today?

Zhang Shuai'an asked while eating breakfast.

Chung Chu-hung, sipping her porridge, said, "There's a movie I need to film, and I also need to cooperate with Struggle Pictures' publicity efforts."

Zhang Shuai'an looked at her: "Is it that movie that copied the style of 'Chasing Girls'?"

"Yes, 'The Madwoman of the Ghostly Valley' is directed by bald-headed Mike.

Chung Chu-hung nodded and added a few more words: "The male leads are Shek Tim and Tsang Chi-wai, and the female leads are me, Lin Feng-jiao, and Liu Lan-xi—the story is pretty much the same, it's about how to pursue a girl."

Zhang Shuai'an asked, "What do you think of the quality?"

"The quality should be pretty good, right?" Chung Chu-hung thought for a moment, then answered seriously, "The script was written by Wong Pak-ming, and both the plot and the jokes are plentiful. Many scenes, although they sound vulgar, are indeed to the liking of Hong Kong audiences."

After saying that, she added, "However, it definitely can't compare to your 'Chasing Girls'. I feel it might only gross around seven million."

Zhang Shuai'an murmured, "That's not low either."

The movie "Chasing Girls" that Mai Guangtou and his crew filmed in the original timeline had a total box office of over 9.4 million.

In this timeline, Zhang Shuai'an took the lead, and their copycat work earning seven million was already a remarkable achievement.

There's something I don't know if you know.

When they were almost finished with breakfast, Chung Chor-hung suddenly spoke up.

"What's wrong?" Zhang Shuai'an had finished his porridge and was drinking milk.

"A few days ago, director Tan Jiaming and screenwriter Chen Yunwen held a press conference."

Chung Chu-hung said slowly, "Ostensibly, it was to promote their new film 'Love Kill,' but at the press conference, they had some complaints about you, especially that screenwriter Chen, who said some very—well, in short, not very pleasant things about you."

Zhang Shuai'an curled his lip and said disdainfully, "They're just trying to ride my coattails. Their movie is unlikely to be a big hit, so don't bother with them."

Chung Chu-hung looked at Zhang Shuai-an with a smile. She loved his confident and in control attitude; it was simply irresistible.

"I'll go to the company first to take care of some work-related matters."

After finishing his meal, Zhang Shuai'an put on his coat and said to Zhong Chuhong, "Could you please tell Sister Zi and the others that we'd like to have dinner together tonight? You can decide the time and place, and just let me know when it's time."

"Okay," Chung Chu-hung nodded in response.

When he went downstairs, Ling Zhijian was already waiting for him.

"Brother Jian, how long have you been waiting?" Zhang Shuai'an asked with a smile after getting into the car.

Ling Zhijian replied, "I just arrived too."

"Where's Jiajia?" Zhang Shuai'an asked, not seeing Yu Sijia in the car.

Ling Zhijian said with a smile, "That kid is very diligent. He left home an hour early and drove my old car to the company."

This secretary is indeed very hardworking.

Along the way, Zhang Shuai'an asked Ling Zhijian about some things in the company and learned some confidential information from him.

When Zhang Shuai'an arrived at the company, he found that the receptionist at the door had been replaced by a pretty girl.

"Good morning, boss!" The pretty girl obviously recognized Zhang Shuai'an and greeted him with a slight bow.

Zhang Shuai'an looked at the girl's face and felt it looked familiar, so he asked, "What's your name?"

"Boss, my name is Wu Jiali," the pretty girl said with a bow and a smile.

(Wu Jiali, born in 1963, is best known for her roles in "The First Cocoon" and "The Heart of a Man". She is a familiar face but has never been a very famous actress.)

Zhang Shuai'an pointed at her and said, "You're probably not an adult yet, are you?"

"I'm already 17 years old." Wu Jiali was clearly dissatisfied with this question: "There are plenty of people who start working at fourteen or fifteen years old. I came here to apply because I saw you in 'Shanghai Bund' at school."

"Boss, could you sign my autograph? I'll borrow a camera so we can take a picture together, okay?"

"Let's talk about it after get off work. Focus on your work now." Zhang Shuai'an nodded, didn't say anything more to her, and went straight into the company.

As they passed by Fatty Wang's office, Zhang Shuai'an instructed, "A-Jing, go and inform everyone that we'll have a meeting at the conference room at ten o'clock."

"Okay, Brother An." Fatty Wang nodded.

Zhang Shuai'an walked towards his office and saw Yu Sijia busy processing documents at the door.

He tapped on Yu Sijia's desk and said softly, "Jiajia, please tell Miss Shi to come to my office."

"Okay, boss." Yu Sijia looked up at Zhang Shuai'an and nodded.

Entering the office, Zhang Shuai'an sat down in the boss's chair, let out a long sigh, and murmured, "It's still more comfortable sitting in this position."

Before long, Yu Sijia brought Shi Nansheng to knock on the door: "Boss, Director Shi is here."

"9

"Okay, please let her in," Zhang Shuai'an replied.

Shi Nansheng took some documents and walked into Zhang Shuai'an's office.

Zhang Shuai'an smiled and said to Shi Nansheng, "Sister Nan, you look even more radiant than before, after more than two months apart."

"Speaking of style, who can compare to you, boss?" Shi Nansheng replied with a smile.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two got down to business.

"The box office revenue sharing for the movie 'Chasing Girls' has been settled."

Shi Nansheng took out the documents in her hand, turned to the key pages, and reported to Zhang Shuai'an: "Among them, Golden Harvest Cinemas has a total of 19 theaters, which have been showing for 31 days and have earned a total of more than HK$1598 million in box office revenue. After deducting the theater chain's 50% share, various taxes and costs, the company's net profit is HK$637 million."

"Golden Princess Cinemas has 18 theaters. After 26 days of screening, it has earned a total of over HK$865 million in box office revenue. After deducting miscellaneous expenses, the company's net profit is HK$356 million."

"And then there's Mr. Jiang Zuyi. He partnered with seven independent theaters, and the film ran for 22 days, earning a total of 210..."

After deducting corresponding commissions and expenses from revenue of HK$10,000, the company's net profit was HK$670,000.

「637万加上356万再加上67万，公司的税前总收入为1060万港币。接着要扣除10%的电影税、还有拷贝製作、宣传分摊、行政开支等杂费，最终的纯利润是906.3万港币。」

After listening to her read out this string of information, Zhang Shuai'an fell into deep thought.

It seems that to become a leader in the film industry, one must have their own cinema chain.

Of course, at present, he does not have the capital to build his own cinema chain.

However, we can prepare gradually, buying one or two theaters each year. When Shaw Brothers closes down, we can simply buy the entire Shaw Brothers theater chain.

Then he can slowly compete with Golden Harvest Cinemas and Golden Princess Cinemas, and ideally, slowly devour them as well, becoming the film industry overlord who owns the only cinema chain in Hong Kong.

After reporting on other work, at ten o'clock, Zhang Shuai'an, along with his secretary Yu Sijia and director Shi Nansheng, went to the conference room.