1982 Started from Hong Kong

Chapter 131 Situation

Zhang Guorong's first movie was a Category III film, "Spring in the Red Mansion", which still appears from time to time in Zhai Yuan's video hall.

Wu Siyuan paid him more than 6,000 yuan in salary, which was a very high price at the time.

In just five years, Zhang Guorong had become a little famous and his pay also increased accordingly.

"I used to act too much. I took on a lot of roles I didn't like just to make money. So now I would rather increase my pay and read the script in advance so that I can get better roles."

Zhai Yuan and Zhang Guorong dismissed the outsiders and bargained for a while in the conference room.

The final agreed price was 400,000 per play, with a monthly salary of 8,000.

At this time, the price of a martial artist is a minimum of one hundred yuan a day, and an additional fifty yuan if there is dialogue.

The price of a martial artist is at least 300 yuan a day, and with various dangerous moves, it can exceed 1,000 yuan a day.

Zhang Guorong's asking price is much higher than before. Last year, his salary for filming "Youth in Flames" was less than 100,000 yuan, and he has not yet received the final payment.

But as a singer, his profit point lies in concerts.

Usually, he could earn enough for a movie by holding three or five concerts in a venue in Taiwan that could hold 1,500 people.

Once signing with Zhai Yuan's 91 Entertainment, it would be equivalent to giving up the opportunity to hold a concert in Taiwan, including releasing records.

So Zhai Yuan had to make up the money.

"Can I write a few songs for you for a cheaper price?"

Zhai Yuan had a plan in mind, wanting to use his famous song to offset his film pay.

"Don't think that just because Sister Fang didn't follow me, you want to trick me."

Zhang Guorong looked down at the script of A Better Tomorrow on the table and said, "Brother, I have been in the industry since 78 and have filmed Category III films. You are still a little young, handsome boy."

"Have you heard of Monica?" Zhai Yuan was silent for a moment and suddenly asked.

"Which Monica?" Zhang Guorong looked up at him curiously.

Ten minutes later, Zhang Guorong's pay was reduced to 200,000.

The prerequisite is that Zhai Yuan must write two songs that he is satisfied with every year.

Zhai Yuan didn't care, the wool came from the sheep anyway.

So just like that, Zhang Guorong got the agency contract with his first film company.

Jiuyi Entertainment Company bought out all of his future ten films for two hundred thousand yuan.

…………

In the early 1970s, the elderly residents of a nursing home in Hong Kong often saw Justin Run Run Shaw passing by the door in his expensive Rolls-Royce.

So the nursing home took the liberty of writing a letter to Uncle Six, hoping that he would do good deeds and donate some money. Afterwards, they received a check for 500 Hong Kong dollars from Uncle Six Shao.

The nursing home felt humiliated by the mere 500 yuan, so they returned the check and took the initiative to spread the matter, thus confirming Uncle Shao's identity as a miser, which caused many people to laugh at him.

Perhaps in order to restore his reputation, Uncle Six established the Shaw Foundation the following year and began to devote himself to local charity work. Unfortunately, with the development of the film and television industry, everyone focused their attention on his stingy and harsh treatment of his employees, and rumors of him being a miser increased instead of decreasing.

At this time, this film industry giant, who is full of humorous anecdotes, was being interviewed in his residence in Clearwater Bay Building.

He has a thin body, a gaunt face, a high forehead and a crane-like neck.

Seventy-six-year-old Run Run Shaw still looks energetic. Wearing a simple blue cloth coat, he talks freely in front of the camera.

The media that interviewed him was "Film Biweekly".

Last year, this magazine promoted and hosted the first Academy Awards, but it was not well-known. So this year, in addition to inviting Sing Tao Newspaper Group, it also hopes that Shaw Brothers will join in co-hosting the second awards ceremony.

"Uncle Six, as far as we know, Shaw Brothers has rarely hired Japanese directors since the 1970s?"

Shi Qiuyi, one of the owners of "Fortnightly", placed a tape recorder on the table, hoping to get closer to Justin Shaw by talking about movies.

Shao Yifu smiled and nodded, his tone amiable. "When we hired Japanese directors, we were attracted by their developed film industry. But later, our people became outstanding directors by assisting Japanese directors, such as Gui Yehong and Xu Zenghong. Moreover, actors like Qin Ping and Cheng Peipei also returned from studying abroad at the Japanese Performing Arts School, so we no longer have to rely on Japanese people."

When Shi Qiuyi saw Shao Yifu talking eloquently, he felt relieved, knowing that he had chosen the right topic.

So he continued to flatter him, "That's true. Back then, many Japanese films were shown in Hong Kong, but gradually, only Shaw Brothers remained. What do you think of Japanese films, Uncle Six?"

Run Run Shaw thought for a moment and said, "In the past, we often selected Japanese films as the top ten foreign films. Japanese films such as Gosha Hero, Watanabe Yusuke and Nomura Yoshitaro were very popular. The most popular films at that time were Bushido films. However, later we started to shoot the "One-Armed Swordsman" series, and the Japanese films gradually lost their market." Shi Qiuyi looked down and flipped through the question book, then asked, "Besides Shaw Brothers squeezing out the living space of Japanese films, do you think there are other reasons for the decline of Japanese films in Hong Kong?"

This question left Run Run Shaw silent for more than ten seconds before he slowly answered: "Although I have now shifted my focus to TV dramas, looking at the film industry, I still feel this is not a good development. Shaw Brothers' success in the past was due to its absorption of advanced creative experience from overseas. Now the market is stagnant, which is not conducive to development."

Shi Qiuyi looked up suddenly, with surprise in his eyes.

I just wanted to make an ordinary visit, but I got some unexpected gains?
"I rarely give interviews all year round. Since you've come to me, please report what I said. Artistic creation can be interfered with, but I don't support a blanket ban."

Shao Yifu chuckled a few times and remained calm.

The amount of information in this sentence exceeds all the questions in tonight's interview combined.

Shi Qiuyi licked the corner of his mouth, his expression showing a hint of excitement.

Exclusive news! It seems that Uncle Shao really doesn't plan to stay in the film industry. He suddenly expressed his support before retiring. Did he hear some rumors?
"Uncle Six, I won't disturb you to rest. This month, our magazine and Sing Tao News will jointly host the Academy Awards ceremony. I wonder if you can attend it then?"

Shi Qiuyi felt that the remaining questions in the interview were dull, so he simply asked the purpose of his visit.

“Is there any award for me?”

Shao Yifu smiled and made a joke.

Shi Qiuyi hurriedly said, "Whether you are here in person or not, we have prepared the Hong Kong Film Lifetime Achievement Award to thank you for your contribution to the film industry."

Shao Yifu smiled and said, "Okay, I'll find time to go."

"Thank you, Uncle Six!"

As soon as Shi Qiuyi left, Fang Yihua pushed the door open and walked in.

At this time, Fang Yihua was 49 years old and had been with her Sixth Uncle for many years. Although she had no name or status, many people had begun to call her Sixth Aunt in private.

"Uncle Six, why did you suddenly say that? You are still the honorary president of the Freedom Association.
Fang Yihua handed the ginseng tea to Shao Yifu. After he drank a cup, she quietly put away the teacup, acting like a docile and virtuous wife.

"The British will go to Yanjing next month to discuss territorial issues. News has already been sent back from above, and we must reach an agreement on everything this time."

Shao Yifu took off his glasses and hung them around his neck, rubbing his eyebrows. Fang Yihua immediately walked around to the back of the sofa and massaged his shoulders and neck.

He went on to say, "I placed a big bet on Formosa before because I still have the movie business to run, but in my opinion, TV dramas are the future of the current market. I have thought about it for you. Once the territorial issue is settled, even if only one tenth of the one billion people in the mainland have TV users, it will be far more promising than Formosa. From now on, you can focus on running the wireless business."

"Also, once the foreigners retreat, the knighthood I was awarded will no longer be valuable, so we need to establish contact with the mainland as soon as possible. However, these matters have nothing to do with you. You just need to take care of Hong Kong for me."

"I have an appointment with a few charity foundation officials for tea tomorrow morning. I need to go to bed early tonight. Do you have anything else to do?"

At the end of his speech, Shao Yifu turned his head and glanced at Fang Yihua.

Fang Yihua hesitated for a moment, but still spoke up: "Shen Dianxia and Huaxing Records' manager Chen Shufang are outside. They are having a conflict, and they want to ask you to judge."

"Ridiculous."

Shao Yifu shook his head in surprise and stretched out his hand, and Fang Yihua handed him a piece of cut ginseng slice.

Pressing the ginseng slice under the root of the tongue means that he will not say another word tonight.

Shao Yifu walked straight into the bedroom with his long and slender legs.

"You said the wrong thing. Be more careful next time."

Thinking of the important things that Shao Yifu talked about, and comparing it with the conflict between Shen Dianxia and Chen Shufang, Fang Yihua slowly let out a breath.

As soon as my sixth uncle said that he would hand over the wireless business to me, I asked a stupid question.

I must never speak like this again, otherwise he will think that I can't distinguish the important from the unimportant.

As for the conflict between Shen Dianxia and Chen Shufang, it is not worth Uncle Six's effort at the moment. I should take the initiative to resolve it and then report to him.

Fang Yihua stood alone in the living room for a moment, reflected on herself for a moment, and then tiptoed out.

"Uncle Six is resting now. If you two have anything to say, come back to the company with me first."

When Fang Yihua walked out of Uncle Shao's house, she was still holding a bag of garbage in her hand. Shao Yifu didn't like to use a nanny, so he asked her to take care of his daily life.

After glancing at Shen Dianxia and Chen Shufang standing outside the door, Fang Yihua resumed her vigorous and decisive attitude, bossing people around, with no trace of the docile look she had when facing Shao Yifu.

Shen and Chen, two of Shaw's most powerful celebrities outside, now became like docile little chickens in front of her.

(End of this chapter)