1978: Female educated youth, don’t want an illiterate husband

The film screening at China Film Group was still going on, but the distribution results of "The Horse Herder" and "Loess Plateau" had already come out, so Wang Yang, Xu Sangchu and others did not stay on the scene for long.

"The Wrangler has sold 37 mm copies, which is a record that has been set for more than a decade at China Film. Old Wang, shouldn't your Yan Film Studio hold a celebration party to celebrate?"

Over at the China Film Group guesthouse, Xu Sangchu, the old director of the Shanghai Film Studio, joked with his old rival, Wang Yang of the Yan Film Studio.

"We must have a celebration party!"

"But I still say the same thing, Old Xu. If China Film Group doesn't give us the right to distribute the film independently, what's the point of breaking any record?"

"Just for those few prize tickets?"

The number of copies of The Wrangler released broke the record of more than ten years. As the producer, Wang Yang of Yanying Studio was of course very happy.

But when you think about it, Yan Film Studio didn't make a penny from this movie and almost lost money.

What about China Film Group?
Nothing was done, no effort was made, and even the funds for filming came from fiscal allocations from the cultural sector.

Anyway, China Film Group didn’t contribute any money, didn’t contribute any effort, nothing at all.

As long as you have the distribution rights in your hands, you can make money by just talking and organizing film companies from all over the country to watch a movie!

For the movie "The Horse Wrangler", 37 mm copies alone were sold, which amounted to more than million yuan in revenue.

Plus two or three thousand 16mm copies and 8.75mm copies.

The total sales volume is heading towards four or five million.

But as the producer, Yanying Studio didn't get any share of the profits at all. Wang Yang got angry just thinking about it. This record-breaking honor suddenly didn't seem so good anymore.

"What do you mean, Old Wang?"

Xu Sangchu nodded. As the director of a Shanghai film studio, he actually had a deeper understanding of the matter than Wang Yang.

After all, the shooting volume of their Shanghai Film Studio has always been higher than that of Yan Film Studio, and the total distribution volume is also much higher than that of Yan Film Studio.

But the special funds they could get in the end were not more than those of Yanying Studio. Sometimes, Yanying Studio was even closer to the water and got the upper hand, and received much more resources than their Shanghai film studios.

So, if we talk about feeling unbalanced, it is the Shanghai film studios that feel the most aggrieved.

"What else could it mean?"

"Just keep making trouble with them!" Wang Yang said angrily. Still not satisfied, he suddenly looked deeply at Xu Sangchu, the only person in the room.

"Noisy?"

"It's no use. How many times have we quarreled before?"

"Every time the higher-ups try to smooth things over, they keep delaying... If it weren't for Old Wang, why are you looking at me like that?"

Old Wang was speaking in anger again. Xu Sangchu shook his head and said to comfort him.

But as he was talking, he saw Wang Yang looking at him so deeply, thinking that he was about to make a big move, so he immediately asked in a low voice: "Old Wang, did you hear anything?"

"Did your little Cheng talk about something before being called away by Mr. Wu?"

"You're not going to do his job, are you?"

Xu Sangchu thought that the people at China Film Group had been trying to get Old Wang to say something this morning, because they thought that Old Wang was sitting closest to Old Wu and must have heard something!
Moreover, if Yanying Film Studio could convince Cheng Xuemin, a pioneer of reform and opening up, and bring him to their front line, the significance would be completely different.

"I did hear some things!" Wang Yang nodded, and added, "But we'll have to wait until Xiao Cheng comes back from Mr. Wu to find out the details!"

Mention Cao Cao and he will appear. People are just like that, they don't need to be mentioned.

Cheng Xuemin signed a military order with Mr. Wu and was determined to compete with China Film Group for the distribution rights.

Of course, before the fight officially begins, China Film Group must not be alerted.

To this end, Mr. Wu reached a consensus with Cheng Xuemin and others that they would not reveal a single word to the outside world until the results came out. They just asked Cheng Xuemin to go back and do the most basic and specific work first.

In the final analysis, it all comes down to letting Cheng Xuemin come up with the script for Tai Chi first.

After receiving this task, Cheng Xuemin did not stay in the lake for long and was sent back to China Film Corporation by Wu's driver.

If the car had not been parked at the China Film Corporation, Cheng Xuemin would not have planned to come back here. After all, they had become rivals, but the China Film Corporation didn't know about it yet.

Like now, Ding Daming from China Film Group Corporation warmly entertained him, making Cheng Xuemin feel that he was not very genuine.

He actually shot someone in the back.

But we have to do it without shooting from behind!
If Cheng Xuemin wants to obtain overseas distribution rights, he will have to fight with China Film Group sooner or later.

If we really have to come to the surface and fight head-on with real weapons?

Yanying Studio, Shanghai Film Studio, August 1st Film Studio, Changchun Film Studio, Xiying Film Studio, Emei Film Studio and hundreds of other film studios, large and small, joined together to challenge China Film Group, but none of them were able to get even the slightest bit of independent distribution rights.

Can Cheng Xuemin, who can fight alone, defeat China Film Group?

Moreover, because of the issue of distribution rights, Mr. Wu did not dare to stand on his side blatantly. He just asked him to come back and make solid preparations for the early stages, and he would meet with Mr. Liao first to see what Mr. Liao's attitude was.

Before that, let Cheng Xuemin go back and do the specific work well.

"Comrade Xiao Cheng is indeed worthy of being the hand-picked pioneer. If he doesn't take action, it's fine. But once he takes action, it's like an autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves, unstoppable!"

"It's amazing!"

Ding Daming, the head of China Film Group, waited for Cheng Xuemin to arrive and directly welcomed him into the best reception room of their China Film Guesthouse, where he started praising him wildly.

Cheng Xuemin was really embarrassed, and he kept saying modestly: "It's mainly because the leaders have led well. I'm just a small soldier who has contributed at most. I dare not take credit for it!"

I thought to myself, it seems that the circulation of "The Shepherd" is quite good today, otherwise the high-ranking China Film Group would not have given me such a high-level reception.

Even Ding Daming came to toast in person.

"It's all thanks to you, Xiao Cheng, the author of the original novel, the producer of Yan Film Studio, and the director Xie Jin of Shanghai Film Studio for filming. All of them have contributed to this!"

"As the head of China Film Group, I, Ding Daming, will definitely set up this table for you and toast you with a glass of wine!"

"Come on, Lao Wang, Lao Xu, Lao Xie, Xiao Cheng, and all the factory managers, I'm happy today, I toast to you!"

Ding Daming picked up the teacup in his hand, first praised Cheng Xuemin for a while, then called out the names of the directors of each film studio one by one, and then started drinking.

Just as Ding Daming said, I’m happy today!
But although he was happy, the directors of the local film studios were not happy!
Because, all the money was earned by China Film Group, and they were just supporting roles, not even a hair, so how could they be happy?

And from beginning to end, Wang Yang from Yanying Studio had a gloomy face.

Again!
If the Wrangler hadn't broken the record today, Lao Wang might have felt better, but after breaking the record, he felt uncomfortable no matter how he thought about it.

“How much did this sell for?”

Seeing Ding Daming toasting constantly, Cheng Xuemin muttered something to Xie Jin beside him. He was called into the box as soon as he arrived at the China Film Group, so he didn't have time to inquire about the sales volume of The Wrangler today. "Our The Wrangler alone sold more than 4 million. How can we not toast constantly?" It can be seen that Xie Jin was also very happy. He drank several glasses of Maotai, and the words he muttered to Cheng Xuemin were full of excitement.

"More than four million?"

"is it a lot?"

Cheng Xuemin thought it was the number of sales, but it turned out to be only over 4 million, which is nothing compared to the box office of "Shaolin Temple" which was over 100 million.

Just like this, Ding Daming from China Film Group can be so happy?

"is it a lot?"

"Can you remove that word?"

Xie Jin's eyes widened. He really didn't know how ignorant this kid was. That was more than four million!

Do you know what more than four million copies mean?

"Let me tell you this!"

"The total circulation of China Film Group last quarter was less than 7 million!"

"But what about this quarter?"

"Just you, Cheng Xuemin, have achieved a circulation of 7 million. Don't you think that's awesome?"

Xie Jin, drunk, settled the account with Cheng Xuemin directly. Now it's simple and clear, right?
But Cheng Xuemin was confused and asked, "Didn't you say more than 4 million just now? How come it's 7 million again?"

"Doesn't the film 'Yellow Earth Plateau' you gave to Xi'an Film Studio count?"

"I've already watched 'Loess Plateau' this morning, and the votes cast on site have a circulation of nearly three million!"

"All together, it might be over seven million!"

Have you seen the Loess Plateau?

Cheng Xuemin nodded secretly when he heard this. It seemed that Cheng Xuemin's work was given priority this morning.

Although I’m not too impressed by the circulation of millions!
After all, from the very beginning, he was deeply ingrained with the idea that if he didn't break the box office record of Shaolin Temple, it wouldn't be considered a record-breaking movie.

Of course, "Shaolin Temple" is still in the preparation stage. It will take another three or four years for it to set a box office record.

But the box office of 100 million, Cheng Xuemin remembers this number very clearly!
Of course, that was the first martial arts film in China. The reason why it caused such a sensation was that after decades of dead silence, an atomic bomb was suddenly dropped!
Therefore, Cheng Xuemin did not expect the Wranglers to be able to reach that height on the Loess Plateau.

But I haven't even reached one-tenth or one-twentieth of that, which makes me feel a bit disappointed psychologically. I think I need to work harder on Tai Chi.

"Xiao Cheng, what do you think next?"

"Everyone can see that Mr. Wu attaches great importance to your film creation!"

Before Cheng Xuemin and Xie Jin could understand more, after Ding Daming toasted everyone, his eyes returned to Cheng Xuemin and he became even more concerned about Cheng Xuemin's next move.

After being asked this by Ding Daming, everyone in the studio looked at Cheng Xuemin.

This kid set a record today!

If he has any ideas next, he will try his best to get them no matter what the production studios say.

Because everyone knows that the work produced by this pioneering young player is guaranteed to be distributed in copies.

If a work has a certain number of copies distributed, it means that the funding from above is biased, which makes it difficult for the production studios that rely on funding to make a profit to not pay attention.

Especially Wang Yang from Yan Film Studio, Xie Jin from Shanghai Film Studio, and Wu Tianming from Xi'an Film Studio, they all slapped their thighs and secretly regretted that on the way here, they were so focused on trying to get answers from Chen Wen from Hong Kong that they had indeed forgotten such an important matter.

Now, we have to compete with film studios all over the country for talent.

"Director Ding, I do have a script in my hand!"

Following Cheng Xuemin's affirmative words, Wang Yang, Wu Tianming and Xie Jin's thighs became even redder, he actually had it!
"Xuemin, this isn't the one we booked, is it?"

Before Cheng Xuemin could continue speaking, and before Ding Daming could ask further questions, Wu Tianming from the Xi'an Film Studio, who was sitting next to Cheng Xuemin, asked anxiously in a low voice.

Because their Xi'an Film Studio had indeed booked a script with Cheng Xuemin in advance.

It is "The Ordinary World" published in Yanhe Literature. Yanhe Literature has published two issues in a row, and only the last issue has not been published.

However, Xi'an Film Studio had already discussed the production of the film with Cheng Xuemin. Since they were close to the film, they would be the first to get the film. The script would also be adapted by Cheng Xuemin, the original author.

Although we agreed that it would be after National Day, we will try to hand over the official script to their Xi'an Film Studio before the New Year!

But now more than a month has passed. Considering Cheng Xuemin and his tentacle monster, could it be that the script has already been written?

So the script he is talking about now couldn't be "Ordinary World" produced by their Xi'an Film Studio, right?

"Xuemin, you promised me first that I should bring a notebook back so that I could report to Old Xu!"

Xie Jin also became anxious when he heard this, because Cheng Xuemin had promised him that before "The Shepherd" was completed and officially released, he would let him bring a script back to the Shanghai Film Studio to report to the old director Xu Sangchu.

Now that Cheng Xuemin said this, he was also afraid!
They were afraid that after Cheng Xuemin said this, everyone would rush to fight for it, but in fact, when everyone heard that it was true, they were all eager to try.

"Xiao Cheng, Xiao Cheng, let's talk about this after we get back to the factory!"

"Come on, let's drink first. Old Xu, do you have a fish in your cup? Come on, let's clink glasses first!"

as predicted!

After Cheng Xuemin said this, the first person who couldn't sit still was Wang Yang from Yan Film Studio. After a brief moment of surprise, he quickly picked up his glass of wine to interrupt, and was the first to attack Xu Sangchu from Shanghai Film Studio, who was in the room just now, secretly plotting.

I have to interrupt and change the subject.

Now Cheng Xuemin can be considered a half-staff member of Yanying Studio. If he has a good script, he will definitely be the first to be selected by Yanying Studio.

Now, with that damn Ding Daming's interference, everyone is staring at them. This is just to seduce the production studios!
Because this morning, who the hell wouldn’t be jealous of Yanying Studio for breaking the record!
Although they did not get any share of the distribution money, with such a record-breaking result, their Yanying Studio would have to take up at least one-third of the production quotas in the department next year.

The one who helped Yanying Studio to establish such a large presence was the young pioneer Cheng Xuemin.

Therefore, whoever gets Cheng Xuemin will get half of the film production quota. Who wouldn’t be jealous and fight for it?
Although Wang Yang couldn't stand the fact that China Film Group Corporation was monopolizing the distribution business, he couldn't afford to lose Cheng Xuemin's reputation, especially since he was watching him lose it right under his nose.

So I have to interrupt and change the subject first, and then we can talk about it slowly in private!
But who among the others was not a veteran fox? They could not help being diverted by Wang Yang. Before Xu Sangchu could even pick up his glass of wine, the topic was interrupted by the person in charge of another production studio.

Xu Sangchu could only shrug his shoulders. It wasn't that he didn't want to accept your suggestion, Old Wang, but everyone was a smart person. In fact, Xu Sangchu didn't want to bring this up on the table.

Because I heard from Xie Jin that their Shanghai Film Studio has already decided on a script for Cheng Xuemin, so maybe what he is talking about now is the script for their Shanghai Film Studio.

Can this be brought to the table so that everyone can compete fairly?

...(End of chapter)