1982 Started from Hong Kong

Chapter 316 A Small Thing, Philips Visits
No one in the Hong Kong film industry expected Zhai Yuan to come up with the idea of inviting audiences to watch his movies for free, which caused a huge uproar in the industry.

No matter how the media digs into the "dirty material" of Zhai Yuan selling VCDs by giving away discs, in the eyes of the public, at least the prodigy Yuan is willing to give them away, and if you can grab one, you'll make a profit.

Of course, there are also righteous people who curse as soon as they put down their chopsticks.

"1024 is trash. How can you be worthy of the investors by doing this? If everyone is like him, what will be the future of Hong Kong movies?"

"Bah! Malicious hype, cheap marketing. There are too few clear-headed people in Hong Kong. I am the only one who sees through the essence of this."

"Let me be fair. 1024's approach is indeed a bit excessive. This makes the film industry's peers very embarrassed. It would be better to change the strategy and only allow the audience to watch one-third of the content for free. After this special period, everyone can go to the theater to buy tickets. This will not only attract more topics, but also give enough respect to peers, and it will also benefit everyone. Do you think I am right?"

There was a long queue in front of Huaen Department Store.

When there are a lot of people, there are bound to be people who seek to attract attention.

After learning that they only received a free CD and did not receive a VCD, the sober people's comments became more outrageous than the last.

Soon, 1024 fans and normal people with louder voices launched a second round of attacks.

"Sorry to the investors? You are so stupid! Who doesn't know that Zhai Yuan is a tycoon? Do you think Jiuyi Entertainment needs to go out and call for hot money to attract investment like Jiahe does to make a movie? You are just pretending to be a big boss, you are shit!"

"Whether it's hype or marketing, has 1024 forced you to pay a penny from your pocket? And you still say you're sober? Did you blow your brains out when you were masturbating, brother?"

"Which genius just came up with the idea of letting the audience watch the one-third strategy for free? Wow, you are so smart. I hope you only give birth to one-third of your children in the future."

In a round of verbal battles.

Only the staff of Hua En Department Store who maintained order raised a megaphone and promoted the brand image without any emotion: "During the epidemic, please queue up in an orderly manner and avoid gathering. Hua En is a department store that wins the trust of customers. It currently has branches in Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Taipei City. The first floor has a special area for branded handbags and jewelry, the second floor has a special area for youthful casual wear and watches and accessories for men and women, and the third floor has..."

…………

"It's fine if the young man doesn't make a move, but once he does, it's really..."

Jiahe Office.

Zou Wenhuai, who looked thin and emaciated, bit his cigar, fiddled with some newspapers on the table, and sighed: "He has some ideas, and they are quite sharp."

He Guanchang and Cai Dusheng looked at each other and shrugged helplessly.

"The news said that Hua En Department Store bought out the entire set of "The Sex and Zen" for 1800 million yuan. Even if it was released normally, it would not get such a high box office."

Cai Dusheng folded his hands and recalled: "It's a bit like the tactics used by everyone to sell trailers in advance when the market was good, but he played it more thoroughly this time."

He Guanchang pounded his waist and sighed, "So I never believed the news about 1024's losses in the past two months. Since Zhai Yuan entered this industry, when have you ever seen him suffer a loss? On the contrary, there are always those people who speak ill of 1024 as if they had won a battle. How is it now?"

Cai Dusheng said: "In short, I have concluded that whenever I see earthquake-like entertainment news in Hong Kong, it is most likely a marketing trick of 1024."

“This can be considered a skill.”

Zou Wenhuai smiled and said, "I asked the servant to buy a VCD two days ago and put it in the house. It costs 4,000 yuan in Hua En Department Store, so the sale of the copyright of "The Sex and Zen" is nothing. Zhai Yuan's real profit comes from those machines."

Then, He Guanchang said something else: "The audience outside is very dissatisfied now. They compare us with 1024 and ask why Jiahe is unwilling to invite everyone to watch the show for free, but instead criticize 1024 in the newspapers."

There was silence in the office for a moment, and then the three old men's helpless laughter rang out.

It seems that I have to take the blame even if I don't want to.

"Liang Feng is now a member of the Overseas Chinese Election Committee of Formosa. I can't say much about some things. He wants to represent the Freedom Association and unite with the New Treasure Cinema Line to boycott 1024. This fire is bound to burn Jiahe."

Zou Wenhuai is a businessman after all. Even if he is dissatisfied with Manager Liang, he can only sigh now: "When the city gate is on fire, the fish in the pond will be affected! I heard that he is planning to sue Zhai Yuan for unfair competition. A man in his forties speaks like a child."

He Guanchang and Cai Dusheng were at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

Suing for unfair competition? You have to prove what you lost first.

"Manager Liang, as an overseas Chinese election committee member, is indeed conscientious in his duties." Cai Dusheng said sarcastically, and asked: "What do you think of the future environment? Let me first say that now LD record players can be bought for thousands of US dollars, while VCDs only sell for a few thousand Hong Kong dollars. In the future, the distribution of optical discs will definitely be a huge market."

He Guanchang pondered for a moment, looked up at Zou Wenhuai, and said, "I'm not flattering my godson. Right now, A-Long's biggest market is in Japan. The North American distributor of Police Stories is also very interested. If the Qvod disc can be sold overseas, the share of the film in this area may not be less than that of Formosa."

Zou Wenhuai hummed without comment.

He pondered for a moment, then took a deep puff of his cigar, puffing out a cloud of thick smoke.

Zou Wenhuai narrowed his eyes and said calmly, "It is better to be still than to move. We should be more cautious at times like this. It is just a minor incident. Don't rush to choose sides. Wait a little longer."

…………

1024 is causing trouble in Hong Kong.

at the same time.

At the Formosa Airport, a passenger plane landed slowly.

The cabin door opens.

Several tall, blond-haired, blue-eyed white guys got off the plane surrounded by a group of Taiwan officials.

"Let me introduce you. This is Mr. Manfred Philips, Managing Director of the Dutch Philips Company, and Gerard Klestri, Components Manager..."

A Taiwan translator introduced the executives of Philips to his companions in Mandarin, and then switched to Dutch to introduce the officials from Taiwan: "Gentlemen, this is Mr. Li Guodong from the Applied Technology Development Group of the Executive Yuan of our island, Mr. Sun Zhongmou, the president of the Industrial Technology Research Institute, and Mr. Zhao Tingyan, the chairman of the Taiwan Plastic Industry Group..."

The people from Taiwan who came to welcome Philips are all well-known scientific research talents on the island.

After a friendly meeting, the two sides arranged for the Dutch to stay at the largest Grand Hyatt Hotel in the north of the island.

Li Guodong, convener of the technical development team, walked out of the hotel, took a deep breath, and the smile on his face disappeared.

In a serious tone, he instructed the accompanying translator, "The Dutch have just arrived in Formosa. Let them rest for a night. We will pick them up at ITRI tomorrow morning. Also, have the police strengthen patrols nearby. If any gangsters dare to cause trouble in the next two days, send them directly to Guishan."

"clear."

The group returned by car. In the car, Sun Zhongmou and Li Guodong, who had just returned from the United States and were appointed as the dean of the institute, sat in the back seat.

Sun Zhongmou pushed his gold-rimmed glasses and asked with a smile, "Brother Guodong, can you tell me now why you are so anxious to transfer me back to China?"

"This was ordered by the boss himself. It has been kept secret until now. It's okay to talk about it now."

Li Guodong leaned back in his chair, put his arm around Sun Zhongmou's shoulders affectionately, and smiled: "But Zhongmou, you just came back these two days, and you have met so many talents in industrial research. I don't believe you can't guess what the country has planned."

Sun Zhongmou smiled and said, "I guessed a lot. In fact, in 74, the Ministry of Economic Affairs spent tens of millions of US dollars to transfer RAC technology. I knew there would be a big move, but I didn't expect it would take 12 years. This time it should be officially implemented, right?"

“Well, it’s the whole country’s effort!”

"What is the specific direction, lasers, transistors or semiconductors?"

“What industry did the principal propose to develop back then?”

Sun Zhongmou recalled the past briefly and nodded thoughtfully: "That's semiconductors."

"That's right." Li Guodong patted Sun Zhongmou on the shoulder and said earnestly: "You have also achieved a high position in American General Instrument Company. This time, I invite you to come back to take charge of the overall situation and give you sufficient compensation. In the future, you will be the first chairman of this company that we have invested in and established with Philips. As long as you ask for money and people, we will definitely give you enough support."

Sun Zhongmou, who is over 50 years old, smoothed back his gray hair and took a breath: "It sounds like a lot of pressure."

People from Formosa leave from the Plaza Hotel.

in the hotel.

The white guys from Philips in the Netherlands are also communicating with each other.

"Baodao wants to develop industry and signed a contract with us to establish a joint venture semiconductor manufacturing company. This time we came to investigate the business environment. The company's business is currently facing a period of transformation. If the other party really has the strength in this area, it may not be impossible to jointly build a factory here. In the future, Philips can also operate a semiconductor sales business."

Manfred, the managing director of Philips, glanced at the employees around him, smiled and said, "But before that, we have to make two preparations. Today, the company's main business is still home video recorders. Although the video tapes of the N1700 system can record a two-hour video tape, a new type of product has become popular in the market since this year. Gerard, you know the most about this aspect, please introduce it to us."

Gerard Klestri, who just turned 40 this year, is the newly appointed general manager of Philips' European components division.

"VCD and CD correspond to our VCR and videotape products."

Gerard introduced to his colleagues: "You may not know much in Europe, but when Sony's Betamax and JVC's VHS were still competing, this kind of new product appeared in the Hong Kong market. Now both companies have given up the competition and are extending an olive branch to this new company called Qvod Technology."

Then he introduced the advantages of VCD and CD to his colleagues.

The market has not yet opened up. Even though the two products have already made a name for themselves in the film and television circles, they are still unknown around the world.

When these white-skinned European researchers heard that someone had overtaken them and developed a new product with a better cost-effectiveness, a burst of discussion immediately broke out in the hotel room.

"More convenient than videotapes and only one-tenth the price? Are you kidding me?"

"I seem to have heard the name VCD when I was in North America, but I always thought it was a technological scam."

"Making VCDs in Hong Kong and semiconductors in Formosa? This is not the Chinese image I have."

Manfred and Gerrard looked at each other, both with helpless smiles on their faces.

"This is really hard to believe, if the marketing department hadn't imported a machine from Japan at a high price and brought it back to the headquarters."

Manfred spoke up personally to provide evidence, ending the meaningless questioning in the room.

Then he continued, "So this time I came to China, not only to discuss the joint venture business with Formosa, but I also want to arrange for someone to go to Hong Kong to meet the boss of Qvod. After all, Formosa's semiconductor is a very long-term project. If we can reach a cooperation with Qvod, we can still occupy the home screening market."

The managing director finished by stating the two purposes of this trip.

Jerad spoke first: "We will split into two groups. I have discussed this with the boss on the plane. I will take two people to the Kuaibo company in Hong Kong tomorrow. Is there anyone willing to go with me?"

Someone in the room raised his hand immediately. Rather than the unknown semiconductor, everyone wanted to see the mature product VCD.

Gerard pointed at two generals and said with a smile, "We'll ask the translators in Formosa to arrange tickets for us to Hong Kong later. But I heard that although Hong Kong has confirmed its return, Formosa still has its own stance. I don't know if there will be any conflict between the two regions. If the people in Formosa learn that we are going to Hong Kong and detain you as spies, you can only wish for the best."

……

There are naturally no conflicts or disputes between Hong Kong and Formosa.

But 91 Entertainment and the Freedom Association have almost become enemies.

The news that Gerard and his team were going to Hong Kong to visit Qvod Technology Company quickly spread outside the hotel.

Then the message went all the way to the Executive Yuan.

Then not long after.

Zhai Yuan’s information was placed on the desks of several bigwigs in Taiwan.

XXX XXXX XXXXX (all the things Zhai Yuan couldn’t mention)…

Any one of these sins would be enough to send this guy to spend the rest of his life in Turtle Mountain in Taiwan.

The big guys were very angry and started by scolding the News Bureau:

"What is the News Bureau doing? You have dozens of newspapers in Hong Kong, and spend a lot of money on Double Ten every year, but you can't even deal with a small-time scoundrel who makes movies?"

The News Bureau was upset.

He then called together the Freedom Association and reprimanded the key members including President Tong like training a dog:
"Fuck you! You insisted on setting up a Freedom Association and swore to me that it would be good for publicity. As a result, a lot of money was spent on supporting it every year, and the review standards were relaxed as you said. What's the situation now? You can't even handle a small 91 Entertainment, and you let the distinguished guests from Philips in the Netherlands pay attention to them. How embarrassing it will be if this matter spreads internationally in the future? Anyway, I don't care what method you use. As soon as the distinguished guests from Philips leave, you will immediately deal with this wrestler named Zhai Yuan! In addition, the donations from those film companies in Hong Kong have doubled this year. Don't tell me what difficulties they have. In order to save your broken association, I have vomited more than a dozen times just by drinking. Who am I doing this for?"

The game of big fish, small fish and shrimp ends in Treasure Island.

They would always call Hong Kong and start a second round of accountability.

"Commissioner Liang Feng, do you think you are worthy of the party and the country? You don't have to worry about Zhai Yuan's affairs. I will make other arrangements in a while. Notify all Hong Kong film companies that this year's donations will be tripled. It's not me who wants to take it, but the higher-ups want to take it. Don't tell me about the difficulties. In order to keep your position as an elected member of the Overseas Chinese Committee, I have drunk so much that I have vomited more than a dozen times in the past few days..."

(End of this chapter)