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

The rainy season in Hong Kong is endless, and the humid air is like a thick, wet cloth, enveloping that small meeting room in Kowloon Tong.

The seven members of Cinema City sat around the old table covered with manuscripts, cigarette butts, and cold tea stains once again, the atmosphere even more somber than the rain-laden clouds outside the window.

The days of running around and setbacks were wearing down everyone's spirits like a dull knife cutting flesh.

They tried to bypass traditional theaters and find a way to revive "Desperate Dogs" through school and union screenings, but with little success.

The viewing experience and sense of ceremony on the big screen can never be replaced by a temporary outdoor screen or a school auditorium.

The invisible barriers from the market and film scheduling are more suffocating than the administrative orders of the Golden Horse Film Bureau.

“When we were promoting the workers’ night school in Kwun Tong last night, only three or five people came. The situation was very unsatisfactory and terrible.”

Shi Tian broke the silence, his voice hoarse. He stubbed out a cigarette with his fingers and pressed it down hard in the ashtray. "If we were to screen it there, it might not even cover the transportation and equipment costs."

He sighed, his back hunched, as if all his former energy had been drained away.

Raymond Wong pushed up his glasses, which had slipped down to the bridge of his nose, and said with a dim gaze behind the lenses, "Several university student unions are willing to cooperate, but they all require that the bulk of the box office revenue be used as their activity funds. We are practically doing volunteer work."

If that's the case, let alone breaking even, we won't even be able to cover the costs of subsequent advertising and printing flyers.

He flipped through the few sheets of on-site records on the table, the papers making a crisp rustling sound, each sound striking the heart.

A sense of oppressive despair permeated the air.

Eric Tsang fidgeted with his leg, Teddy Robin stared blankly at the rain outside the window, and Nansun Shi pressed the calculator button rapidly, the faint sound of the numbers ticking adding to her irritation.

Tsui Hark crossed his arms, leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowed, and remained silent.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, Raymond Wong looked up at Karl Maka, whose face remained gloomy, his tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of resentment:
“Brother Jia, if you had been a little tougher with Boss Lei back then, even if you had secured one or two more decent theater chains, we wouldn’t be in this situation now, running around like headless flies, doing nothing but thankless tasks.”

These words were like a needle, piercing through the composure that Mak Ka-ke was trying to maintain.

He suddenly looked up, his eyes sunken and bloodshot from lack of sleep and anxiety, staring intently at Raymond Wong: "I'm not tough enough? How can I be tough? Lei Juekun himself was so overwhelmed by that woman from the Jinma Bureau that he cut his carotid artery! Would it have been useful for me to bang on the table? Would it have been useful?!"

His voice suddenly rose, filled with resentment and helplessness at being misunderstood. He slammed his hand heavily on the table, making the teacups rattle.

Shi Tian couldn't help but join the fray, his tone tinged with bitterness: "If I had known it would be like this, I would have agreed to reschedule in the first place."

Now look what's happened! Stuck in the middle, the millions invested seem like they've been thrown into a saltwater ocean! If only I'd known this would happen, why did I insist on going against the tide in the first place?

"Reschedule? When will it be rescheduled? Until Lau Kar-leung and that northerner have completely forgotten about Cinema City?"

Like a firecracker that had been lit, Maka suddenly stood up, placed his hands on the table, leaned forward, but dared not look directly at Shi Tian and Huang Baiming, his two original business partners.

Instead, they suddenly turned to the previously silent Tsui Hark, Nansun Shi, Eric Tsang, and Teddy Robin.

He unleashed all his frustration and anger on them: "And you guys! Publicity! What kind of publicity is this?! The newspapers are just a few bland articles!"

"Where are the radio broadcasts? Where are the posters on the streets? Are you just going to slack off because the screening schedule is bad?! Especially you, Eric Tsang! Didn't you claim to have many friends and wide connections? How come you're completely silent when it matters?!"

And Tsui Hark, can your cinematic language and artistic pursuits put food on the table now? Can they help sell one more ticket?!

This indiscriminate rebuke was like ice water poured into a hot oil pan.

Eric Tsang's face flushed instantly. He opened his mouth, wanting to retort that it was already difficult to get any media coverage given the disadvantage in terms of screenings, but seeing Karl Maka's almost ferocious expression, he swallowed his words back and could only turn his face away indignantly, his chest heaving violently.

Teddy Robin opened his mouth, but in the end, it only turned into a helpless sigh.

Tsui Hark's face turned ashen. Shi Nansheng pressed down on his trembling hand, signaling him to calm down, but her own fingernails were already digging deeply into her palm.

The air in the meeting room froze. The vows made during the startup phase to share the good times seemed so pale and laughable in the face of harsh reality.

Just then, the meeting room door was suddenly pushed open, and Ah Zhong, who was in charge of collecting newspaper clippings, rushed in in a panic, waving several freshly printed newspapers in his hand, his tone alarmed:
"It's terrible! Brother Jia! Everyone! Look! That Cheng Xuemin... that northerner, he's spoken out in the newspaper!"

Maka snatched the newspaper, and the others immediately gathered around.

The entertainment section's headline prominently featured a lengthy interview with Cheng Xuemin, with a jarring title: "Screening Controlled, Internal Distribution Unfair: How to Resolve the Crisis of Cinema City's Golden Age?"

Cheng Xuemin's pen is sharp as a knife, precisely dissecting the festering sores beneath the glamorous exterior of Art City.

He began by commenting on Cinema City's current predicament with its film scheduling, pointing out incisively:
"Cinema City's past success largely relied on the support of cinema chains like Golden Princess. Once capital shifts, or supply shrinks due to external pressure as it is now, its creative output will be like a tree without roots or a boat without water."

The so-called seven-person creative team model proved utterly ineffective in the face of overwhelming advantages in distribution channels and capital. This demonstrates that completely entrusting one's fate to others is ultimately not a sustainable strategy.

He then went on to address the most crucial and sensitive issue for Cinema City: equity and profit distribution.

He even boldly speculated in the newspaper: "It is rumored that the shareholding structure of Cinema City is quite intriguing. The major shareholder, Mr. Karl Maka, and his financial backers may hold more than 80% of the shares."

While veterans Dean Shek and Raymond Wong may have had some share, the four who joined later—Tsui Hark, Nansun Shi, Eric Tsang, and Teddy Robin—were supposedly the core creators, but in reality, they may not have had any shares and were merely high-paid employees.

This structure of unequal pay for equal work and an imbalance of interests between the founding team and core creators is a major taboo in corporate governance and a potential major hidden danger!

Cheng Xuemin went further and asserted: "In the early stages of entrepreneurship, such a distorted structure may mask the contradictions due to brotherhood and uncertainty about the future."

Once the company expands and profits become substantial, the significant disparity in profit distribution will inevitably become apparent. The saying "one can share hardship, but not prosperity" is not an exaggeration.

If adjustments are not made in time, I dare say that Cinema City will not only fail to cope with the current crisis, but will likely collapse within three years due to internal divisions!

Finally, he posed a highly provocative and penetrating question, directly tagging Tsui Hark and Nansun Shi:
"Directors Tsui Hark and Shi Nansheng have made great contributions to your company. The success of the 'Chasing Girls' and 'Wrong Car' series is largely due to their efforts."

However, if I may ask, how much of the profit did Director Xu and Director You ultimately receive for your company's film which grossed over six million yuan during last year's Spring Festival?
Is there 30,000? Compared to the shareholders' returns, isn't that a drop in the ocean? This question may be impolite, but it reflects a problem that I hope your company's colleagues will seriously consider!

Every word was like a red-hot branding iron, searing into the hearts of everyone present.

Cheng Xuemin was like a brilliant detective, uncovering the most shameful and unspeakable secrets within Cinema City based solely on external signs and logical reasoning!
"Damn it! Talking nonsense! Trying to sow discord!"

After reading the newspaper, Mak Ka was so angry that he trembled all over. He slammed the newspaper on the table and cursed loudly. His face turned from red to green, and then from green to white.

He tried in vain to deny it, but his shifting eyes, filled with anger and a hint of panic at having his secret exposed, betrayed him.

Shi Tian and Huang Baiming were initially furious and joined Mai Jia in cursing Cheng Xuemin for being insidious.

But after the outburst, the two exchanged a glance, their eyes revealing a complex and indescribable emotion.

Cheng Xuemin's guess about the shareholding ratio, while not entirely accurate, is not far off.

They do own shares, but the percentage is vastly different from that of Maka.

What was once an unspoken understanding between everyone is now being exposed by outsiders, causing an uncontrollable sense of psychological imbalance.

In particular, Cheng Xuemin's statement that it was a drop in the ocean compared to the shareholders' gains lingered in their minds like a curse.

Tsui Hark's face had turned from ashen to deathly pale.

He pursed his lips tightly, his jawline taut like a stone. Shi Nansheng held his hand tightly, feeling the coldness of his palm and its violent trembling.

Cheng Xuemin's last question was like a poisoned dagger, precisely piercing the deepest thorn in their hearts.

The couple poured a lot of effort into last year's film, which ultimately grossed over six million yuan, earning the company at least three million yuan.

But what they actually receive, besides the fixed director's fee and production fee, is nothing more than a symbolic red envelope of less than HK$20,000! This is a world of difference compared to the potential share that shareholders like Karl Maka, Dean Shek, and Raymond Wong might receive.

This matter had always been a hidden pain in their hearts, and now it had been openly exposed by Cheng Xuemin, laid bare in broad daylight.

Eric Tsang and Teddy Robin exchanged bewildered glances, their faces grim.

They also had no shares, and Cheng Xuemin's words made them realize instantly that all their hard work might really be for someone else's benefit.

The meeting room fell into a deathly silence, broken only by the patter of rain outside the window and the slight creaking of the newspaper as Maka gripped it.

Suspicion, resentment, anger, unwillingness... all sorts of emotions fermented and surged in the silence.

Cheng Xuemin's move of striking from afar was extremely ruthless. He didn't need to directly confront Cinema City; he only needed to gently pluck the most vulnerable string within them to cause their collapse.

As Maka surveyed the expressions on everyone's faces, his heart sank lower and lower.

He knew that Cheng Xuemin had achieved his goal. A deep crack had been pried open from within the fortress of Xinyi City.

At this moment, he felt an unprecedented sense of isolation and helplessness.

The seven-person team that had previously fought together against the enemy now seemed to have developed significant rifts.

The newspaper was slammed onto the table with a dull thud.

The air in the conference room seemed to freeze, with only the patter of rain outside the window and the heavy breathing of each person.

Cheng Xuemin's report was like a poisoned dagger, precisely stabbing into the most vulnerable spot of Cinema City, exposing the bloody truth to everyone.

Mai Jia's chest heaved violently as he braced his hands on the greasy table, his knuckles turning white from the force.

He looked around and saw faces filled with doubt, grievance, and anger.

Tsui Hark pursed his lips, lowered his gaze, and stared at the cold tea stain on the table.

Shi Nansheng's fair fingers gripped a pencil tightly, her nails digging into the wooden barrel.

Eric Tsang fidgeted anxiously, his eyes darting around. Teddy Robin sighed deeply and turned his face toward the dense rain outside the window.

Even Shi Tian and Huang Baiming, who were the initial founders, avoided his probing gaze, their expressions complicated.

A chill ran up Mai Jia's spine.

He knew that if he couldn't stabilize the situation at this moment, Cinema City, the fortress he had painstakingly built, would truly crumble from within.

Cheng Xuemin's indirect attack was incredibly ruthless!

"Ahem!" Mai Jia forced down his surging anger and a hint of panic, cleared his throat, his voice hoarse from his earlier roar, "Guys, brothers!"

He emphasized the word "brothers," his gaze sweeping over every face. "We mustn't fall for that mainland guy's tricks!"

He grabbed the crumpled newspaper and shook it vigorously, the paper rustling loudly.

"This Cheng Xuemin, this northerner! Why did he jump out and say all this at this time? Huh? It's because he's afraid of our desperate measures! He sees that we're being choked by Jin Gongzhu, so he wants to add fuel to the fire, make us fight amongst ourselves! Make us lose without a fight!"

His voice gradually rose, carrying a deliberately indignant tone: "We at Art City have struggled our way up from a tiny struggling room to where we are today. What storms haven't we weathered?"

"When Shaw Brothers suppressed us, when Golden Harvest besieged us, did we collapse? No! The seven of us, united as one, fought our way out!"
Now, just because of a few divisive words from outsiders, are we going to let our own people doubt us?!

Huang Baiming looked up, adjusted his glasses, and said with a hint of weariness, "Brother Jia, it's not that we want to doubt you. It's just... Cheng Xuemin said some things that were too harsh."

"What 'high-class employee'? What unequal pay for equal work'... If word gets out, where will we put our faces?"

He glanced meaningfully at Tsui Hark and Nansun Shi.

"Bullshit!" Karl Maka slammed his fist on the table, making the teacup lid jump. "What do you mean, 'working class'? Which one of you here isn't a pillar of Cinema City? Which one of you isn't a key figure relied upon by the shareholders and bosses?"
Baiming, Tianzai, what did the three of us say when we signed the contract? We'll share the good times and the bad!

"Tsui Hark, Nan Sheng, Chi Wai, Robin, although you didn't sign the initial contract, in my heart, you are just like the three of us—the founders of Cinema City! You are brothers!"

He walked up to Tsui Hark and patted him hard on the shoulder, causing Tsui Hark to stiffen slightly.

"Old monster, have you forgotten the days when we stayed up for days and nights in the struggle room, eating cold bread and pondering the script?"
Back then, there was no such thing as shares. All we had was a shared passion to make a good film!

He then looked at Shi Nansheng: "Housekeeper, you handle all the big and small affairs of the company, production, distribution, publicity, which one is not handled by you alone?"

Tell me, when have I, Karl Maka, ever treated you unfairly in terms of resources? When have I ever shortchanged you by a single penny in box office bonuses?

Shi Nansheng's lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she didn't speak, and just turned her gaze to her husband.

Karl Maka took a deep breath, returned to the head of the table, placed his hands on the table, leaned forward, and adopted a heartfelt posture: "I know that everyone has been wronged by this film scheduling issue."

"Golden Princess is heartless, and Lei Juekun is unjust; they forcibly snatched our prime time slots and gave them to Lau Kar-leung. This is a calamity for Cinema City! But the more this happens, the more we must unite!"

His eyes gleamed with a mixture of calculation and sincerity: "I assure you all! As long as 'Desperate Dog Jumps Over the Wall' survives this time and carves a bloody path to success, once the box office revenue is distributed, I, Karl Maka, will absolutely not treat you unfairly!"
"At that time, not only will you receive your full share of the profits, but I'll also give out a huge extra bonus! Bigger than ever before! As compensation for everyone's losses and grievances this time!"

He deliberately avoided the most sensitive word, equity, and only repeatedly emphasized dividends and red envelopes.

In his mind, the company's shares were the exclusive property of him, Shi Tian, ​​Huang Baiming, and their financial backer Lei Juekun, and he would never give away even a single share.

No matter how talented Tsui Hark and his team are, they are merely his generals who make money for him, meritorious officials who can be richly rewarded, but they can never become his equals.

"What's the most crucial thing right now?" Karl Maka's voice deepened, carrying an undeniable determination. "It's to unite as one and do a good job of promoting and distributing 'Desperate Measures'!"
Even if it's just a few garbage scenes, we'll give it our all! Let the whole of Hong Kong see that we, the Cinema City Seven, are not so easily defeated!

"As long as the movie is good and word-of-mouth spreads, I don't believe audiences won't go out of their way to find our screenings!"

He looked at Eric Tsang: "Tsang, you have a wide network of connections. Try to find a way to generate some buzz in those tabloids and radio stations! It doesn't matter if it costs some money!"

Eric Tsang gave a muffled "hmm".

He then looked at Tsui Hark and Nansun Shi: "Old Monster, Nansun, you'll have to put in a lot of effort with the press releases and trailers. You're the experts on how to highlight the strengths of our film and how to attract the audience."

Tsui Hark nodded silently.

Shi Nansheng gave a soft "hmm," her expression unreadable.

“Tianzai, Baiming,” Maka said, turning to his original partners, “the three of us should visit those few theaters a few more times, talk to the managers, and try to get a few more advertising slots.”

Shi Tian and Huang Baiming exchanged a glance and nodded.

"Alright!" Maka clapped his hands forcefully, trying to dispel the heavy atmosphere. "Brothers united, their strength can break metal! Don't let that Northman laugh at us! Meeting adjourned! Everyone, get moving!"

Everyone silently stood up and left the suffocating conference room one after another.

No one said anything more, but an invisible barrier had already begun to spread quietly among the seven people, like a crack.

……

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