Hollywood starts with an agent

Chapter 559 The Year of Rise
Disney Fantasy Studios is a design and engineering team within Disney, responsible for designing and building Disney parks and resorts worldwide, creating live entertainment, fireworks displays, and parades within Disney parks, developing Disney real estate such as Disney theaters, and Disney Cruise Lines, among other things!
After arriving in Hong Kong, Tom Williams went straight to the Mid-Levels Villa to meet with Aaron. "The Disney team that came this time is quite large. It seems that their negotiations with the Hong Kong government went very smoothly."

Aaron rubbed his temples. "Universal Studios isn't doing badly either. Let's hear what terms the Hong Kong government is offering."

"Disney has always been incredibly arrogant and will definitely ask for an exorbitant price. With our competition, the Hong Kong government at least has another option."

"Hong Kong is definitely suitable for building a theme park, both in terms of its geographical location and economic development!"

Tom Williams nodded. "Next, I will meet with the Hong Kong Cultural and Tourism Bureau and conduct an inspection based on the actual situation in Hong Kong."

Hong Kong International Airport is already in operation and is located in the outlying islands area. Obviously, the new theme park that Hong Kong is going to build will not be too far from the airport!
Because in Hong Kong, Wang Zhuxian and Yang Gongru were both busy with their own careers, while Aaron took Li Zhi to South Korea.
After all, Aaron has a large investment in South Korea.

Starting this year, South Korea officially implemented a film rating system, and when Aaron came over, he encountered the "bald head movement" in the South Korean film industry!
In protest against South Korea's opening of the foreign film quota system after joining the WTO, which required each theater in South Korea to screen domestic films for 146 days a year, the quota was changed to 73 days.
Film industry professionals in South Korea launched large-scale demonstrations, with many male filmmakers even shaving their heads and staging sit-ins in places like the National Hall and Gwanghwamun Gate in Seoul.

Because shaving one's head is an extremely strong form of protest in South Korea, it is known as the "Baldness Movement"!
This "bald head movement" attracted almost all of South Korea's film and entertainment industry personnel, and garnered significant attention from domestic and international media.

In the bedroom of the Sheraton Walkerhill Hotel, Aaron rolled off Li Zhi. "I really didn't expect South Korea to have such a big reaction?"

South Korea's film quota system is definitely a policy to protect domestic films. Currently, domestic films only account for 35% of the box office in the South Korean market.

Compared to the early 1990s, when Hong Kong cinema was booming, South Korean films only accounted for about 27% of the market.

Li Zhi laughed and leaned against Aaron, "It's all because Hollywood movies are so amazing, they're invincible in every country!"

Aaron shook his head. "This time, the South Korean entertainment industry has caused too much of a stir. The South Korean government will likely maintain the existing film quota system."

"South Korea has just implemented a film rating system, and a number of competitive South Korean films will emerge soon."

Li Zhi was taken aback. "Could it be that Korean films are even better than Hong Kong films?"

Aaron thought for a moment, "It will take time. Korean films are about to enter a period of growth, while Hong Kong films are continuing to decline."

"But Hong Kong cinema has a deep-rooted heritage. Even if it can maintain its current state, it will definitely get worse in the future." "Moreover, South Korea's slogan of building a nation on culture is not just empty talk. Look at how booming South Korea's entertainment market is now!"

South Korea's "idol culture" has taken off.

Moreover, as far as Aaron knows, Samsung invested in and produced a South Korean blockbuster last year called "Shiri," which cost 60 billion won, or 500 million US dollars.
It is currently the most expensive film ever made in South Korea, and it broke the box office record set by "Titanic" in South Korea.

When Titanic was released in South Korea last year, it attracted more than 570 million viewers, and based on a ticket price of around 5000 won, the box office exceeded 280 billion won!
"Shiri" will be released next month, and it will become a revival of Korean cinema. This year will also be a year of rise for Korean films.

Aaron looked at Li Zhi in his arms and stroked the woman's soft skin. "You can have a good time sightseeing in Seoul these next few days!"

Aaron is going to meet with Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee, after all, Haihua Investment owns a considerable number of shares in Samsung;
In addition, we should also keep an eye on Aaron's other investments.

As for the Seoul Multiplex, a collaboration between Dawn International Cinemas and CJ's CGV Cinemas, Aaron certainly didn't have time to pay attention to it!
At the same time, MP3 music players began to become popular in the market.

Originally, the first MP3 player was the MPman F10, launched by Sehan Corporation in South Korea. It was the idea of ​​a former manager of Samsung Electronics. The MPman F10 was launched by Sehan Corporation last year, but it did not cause a great sensation because it was initially expensive and targeted at paid music. Sehan Corporation also did not take any promotional measures.
At the end of last year, Diamond Entertainment, an American company, also launched its own MP3 player, the Rio 300. Not only did it support free music downloads, but it also became smaller and more portable, which directly led to the Rio 300's booming sales and boosted the development of MP3 players!
Aaron stayed in South Korea until late January before returning to Los Angeles, just in time for the 56th Golden Globe Awards ceremony.

The biggest winner was undoubtedly "Saving Private Ryan," which won Best Motion Picture – Drama, and Steven Spielberg also won the Best Director award.
"Chicago" won Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, John Travolta won Best Actor – Musical or Comedy, and Catherine Zeta-Jones won Best Supporting Actress.

Jim Carrey was thrilled to win Best Actor in a Drama for "The Truman Show";
Cate Blanchett commented that Elizabeth won Best Actress in a Drama Series.

Jennifer Connelly, who starred in "Chicago," lost to Meg Ryan, who starred in "You've Got Mail," in the Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy category.
That evening, at the celebration banquet at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, Aaron hugged and kissed Catherine Zeta-Jones for a while, then joked, "Did Jennifer know she couldn't win, so she didn't come to the Golden Globe Awards banquet?"

Catherine Zeta-Jones was delighted to receive her first award, even though it was for a supporting role. "No way," she said, "Jennifer's mother is sick, and she's in New York with her!"

“Oh, is that so?” Aaron pinched the woman’s waist. “Chicago has already grossed over $4000 million at the North American box office.”

"If this positive word-of-mouth continues, it's a sure thing that the box office will break $100 million by the time of the Oscars."

(End of this chapter)