It's reasonable for me to be a three-time Golden Horse Award-winning director and an all-around

Chapter 218 The initial trial was rejected? Goal: Help Han Sanping rise to power and raise the dragon! (Seeking monthly votes)
Ruixing Cinemas was quietly established; Warner Cinemas' investments in China were completely taken over; and Lü Rui officially entered the cinema market...

In mid-to-late June, these messages gradually spread within the industry, quickly attracting the attention of many industry insiders.

The Shanghai Film Group, in particular, reacted the most strongly!
Ren Zhonglun took a private jet directly to the capital and went straight to Lü Rui's office upon landing.

"So, we're going to have a deeper collaboration on the cinema business from now on?"

When he said these words, his feelings were as complicated as a crumpled piece of paper.

Shanghai Film Group was originally negotiating with Warner Bros. about retaining its remaining shares, hoping to completely acquire the two partner cinemas.

Unexpectedly, Lü Rui intercepted the deal halfway through.

In any other company, he would have already had his team activate the competition contingency plan.

But his opponent was Lü Rui, and he secretly felt a surge of excitement.

After all, Shanghai Film Group and Ruishijie are currently cooperating very well in film production. If they can form an alliance again in theatrical release, it would be like tightening the "production + distribution" chain even more, which would be a double blessing!

Seeing his conflicted expression, Lü Rui laughed and said, "Haha, Chairman Ren, we'll have to rely on Shanghai Film Group's support for the cinema business from now on."

“It’s not really about mentoring,” Ren Zhonglun shook his head, his expression still complicated. “The shares and the power of the company are all on your side. Whatever your plans are, Shanghai Film Group will fully cooperate. At most, it’s just a matter of us making progress together.”

"Great! Let's make progress together!"

Lu Rui reached out and shook his hand, his tone resolute.

In fact, Ruixing Cinema Line does not plan to make any major moves in the short term.

At the very least, we need to wait until the team has fully taken over Warner's business, streamlined the operational processes, established the distribution network, and laid a solid foundation before proceeding.

This process will not be too short, but it will certainly not be too long either.

His current plan is to focus on basic operations in the second half of this year to ensure the normal operation of cinemas, while finalizing a detailed expansion plan.

We will fully promote development in 07 and 08, that is, the next two years.

He was already making longer-term plans in his mind.

The stock market is currently in a bull market, and major investors have plenty of funds. Cooperating now can provide them with both money and resources.

When the global stock market crash comes in the future, investors will definitely tighten their purse strings.

When that time comes, he can then acquire the cinema shares that are eager to be sold, and at the same time, buy back more established, bankrupt, and poorly managed cinemas at bargain prices, which can be described as killing two birds with one stone.

Wanda Cinema Line's future growth and strength will be supported by its own commercial real estate.

Lu Rui, on the other hand, plans to take a different path through "mergers and acquisitions + transformation".

He plans to find a suitable opportunity to acquire those old, dilapidated cinemas and theaters, and carry out a series of upgrades and renovations.

Do as much as you are capable of.

If you have money, buy more; if you're short on funds, get financing or slow down the pace. At the same time, try your best to own your own properties.

Only by taking a steady and solid approach can we remain invincible in the cinema market.

After listening to his general plan, Ren Zhonglun's conflicted look gradually faded, replaced by a hint of approval: "Your thinking is sound and far-sighted."

"As for Shanghai Film Group, I will fully cooperate with you in terms of connecting with local resources and coordinating screening schedules."

"With Chairman Ren's words, I feel even more confident."

Lu Rui smiled and poured Ren Zhonglun some fresh tea.

The two then spent the entire morning discussing the specific details of their collaboration with the cinema chain.

That afternoon, Ren Zhonglun hurriedly returned to Shanghai by private jet.

The clouds outside the porthole rushed by. He leaned back in his seat, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the armrest, his mind replaying his conversation with Lü Rui that morning.

The more I thought about it, the clearer a bold idea became!

Ruixing Cinemas' low-key entry into the market may seem quiet, but it actually reveals its ambitions.

He knew perfectly well that among the 36 cinema chains in China, Ruixing was just starting out and ranked outside the top ten. In terms of experience, it was far inferior to established chains like China Film Group and Shanghai Film Group, and in terms of scale, it couldn't compete with the rapidly growing Wanda.

However, industrial development is never just about looking at the immediate future.

Speed ​​and slowness, strength and weakness, often depend on the leader's strategy, long-term plan, and solid financial strength.

At such a young age, Lü Rui has managed to make Rui Vision a resounding success, with each film, from "The Prestige" to "Taken," becoming a box office hit. The methods and vision behind this success are truly remarkable.

As for funding, the continuous box office revenue from Ruishijie is sufficient to support the basic expansion and development of Ruixing Cinema Line.

Based on this calculation, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Ruixing Cinema Line will inevitably rise to the top among the 36 cinema lines and become a new giant in the industry.

With the powerful combination of production and theater chains, this is already taking shape as an industry behemoth!

Thinking about this made Ren Zhonglun's feelings even more complicated.

Shanghai Film Group and Ruixing are currently allies who can achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, but in the future they will most likely become formidable rivals who are evenly matched.

Currently, cooperation can lead to mutual benefit and win-win results, but once Ruixing truly grows stronger, competition between the two companies in terms of market share and screen allocation resources will be inevitable.

This situation, where "we must cooperate side by side while also keeping a watchful eye on each other," made him both look forward to the sparks that could be ignited by future collaborations and feel a sense of melancholy for the future of Shanghai Film Group.

But now that things have come to this, there's no point in thinking about it anymore.

He sighed softly, gazing at the darkening sky outside the window, and thought to himself, "This Lü Rui is truly a young man who makes one both lovable and fearful!"

...

Ren Zhonglun had only been gone for two days when Han Sanping came knocking on his door.

China Film Group was originally in talks with Warner Bros. to acquire a share of four cinemas, but Lu Rui suddenly appeared and snatched the deal away. This matter had already been widely discussed in the industry.

"Is Chairman Han here in such a menacing manner to question my crime?"

Seeing that his expression wasn't good when he entered, Lü Rui deliberately smiled and joked, trying to ease the atmosphere.

"Asking for a crime?" Han Sanping was taken aback for a moment, then waved his hand. "What crime am I asking you about? The acquisition of cinema chains is the business department's responsibility; I have no say in that."

He is currently the vice president of China Film Group. If he really wants to take overall control, he will have to wait until he sits in the chairman's position to have enough authority.

Lu Rui raised an eyebrow, a look of suspicion on his face: "So you came all this way for something else?"

"It's about 'Dying to Survive'." Han Sanping's tone turned serious. "It failed the initial review and was sent back. There are a few parts that need to be revised."

"..."

Lu Rui fell silent for a moment, and after a few seconds he said, somewhat devastated, "You might as well ask me about my crime!"

Compared to other troublesome issues, the real headache is when a film gets stuck in censorship.

The thought of his hard-earned finished film being drastically altered filled him with frustration and resentment.

"Don't be too discouraged, this is normal," Han Sanping comforted him instead. "This is only the first time you've been rejected. Back when Lou Ye and Jia Zhangke were making films, which one wasn't rejected dozens of times before it passed censorship?"

Lü Rui has always been good at self-regulation and quickly calmed down.

Actually, he was mentally prepared, since getting a realistic film approved is never a smooth process, and making a few revisions is not a big deal.

Moreover, it's a film with a taboo subject like "Dying to Survive." How could the higher-ups possibly approve it without making several revisions?

As for the practice of sending films to foreign film festivals without any editing or modification, like some directors do, he wouldn't dare to do that.

Let's not even mention Jiang Wen; Lou Ye from a while ago is a typical lesson.

He submitted the uncensored version of "Summer Palace" to the Cannes International Film Festival without authorization, violating the "Film Management Regulations," and was directly banned from filming for five years.

In contrast, Jiang Wen's film "The Sun Also Rises" won an award at Cannes without any mishaps.

Lou Ye later became so angry that he cursed the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, and simply went abroad to make films.

But Lü Rui doesn't need to take this path.

He has overseas resources, so it would be easier for him to develop his business abroad than for others.

But going against his superiors would bring him no benefit whatsoever, and he was also unwilling to give up the domestic market.

Since it's been rejected, we can just slowly revise it. At worst, we can work our way up until it meets the requirements. There's no need to rush things and ruin the way forward.

Having figured this out, Lü Rui looked at Han Sanping: "Thank you for making the special trip. Do you know exactly which parts need to be changed? I'll make the adjustments as soon as possible."

Han Sanping said, "I've had my men compile the revision suggestions and will send them to you in a bit. They mainly concern a few details related to drug transactions and the handling of the ending. Just a slight adjustment to the scale is fine; it's not a big problem."

"Okay, I understand." Lu Rui breathed a sigh of relief, then abruptly changed the subject, asking with a hint of probing, "By the way, Chairman Han, regarding the cinema acquisition, China Film Group... shouldn't be deliberately targeting me afterwards, right?"

That's not without reason.

Despite investing over 2 million yuan in the cinema chain and potentially making further investments in the future, Ruixing Cinema Chain is still just a fledgling "little brother" compared to China Film Group.

To some extent, he even had to rely on China Film Group for his livelihood and act according to their wishes.

Many people only know that China Film Group has cinema chains, invests in films, and has strong distribution channels, but they don't realize that its greatest strength is actually its official background.

It's important to understand that a significant proportion of current film policies and industry standards must be formulated by China Film Group Corporation before they can be implemented.

They also firmly hold the power to review and approve imported films.

No matter how powerful the theater chains are, or how much the major film companies support them, they still have to consider the attitude of China Film Group.

Take screening rights as an example. China Film Group has considerable say in both domestic and imported films.

In its previous life, "I Am Legend" could not enter the mainland market at all. Its successful release in this life is due to the coordination of China Film Group.

This is the true value of China Film Group.

What Lü Rui is thinking right now is that if China Film Group gets angry because it lost the competition to him, then Ruixing Cinema's film scheduling and Ruishijie's film approval may encounter obstacles everywhere, which would be a big problem.

"Hahaha!" Han Sanping suddenly burst into laughter, looking at Lü Rui's tense expression, and asked in return, "Why are you being targeted?"
You're currently a rising star in the Chinese film industry, your films are both critically acclaimed and commercially successful. China Film Group is eager to support you, why would they be foolish enough to suppress you?

Upon hearing this, Lü Rui secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and a genuine smile appeared on his face: "I'm relieved to hear you say that."

If China Film Group can maintain this attitude, he will be able to fully unleash his potential in expanding Ruixing Cinemas without worrying about being hampered from behind.

This put him at ease more than resolving the revision issues of "Dying to Survive".

At this moment, Han Sanping changed the subject again, adding a touch of sincerity to his tone: "Not only will I not target you, but if you need any help, feel free to come to me."

Whether it's coordinating local resources or connecting with partners, I can arrange for someone to help you make connections. I'll also inform you immediately of any favorable policies for cinemas.

He wasn't just being polite; he meant it sincerely.

In recent years, the film market has been heating up, but capital and film companies are only willing to spend money on the front end, chasing stars, promoting famous directors, and investing in popular themes, single-mindedly trying to grab the dividends of "upstream production", with few people paying attention to the cinema chain, the downstream terminal that determines the overall market.

It's like a group of people eyeing a gold mine, but no one is willing to make a pickaxe first.

Everyone wants to make a fortune with movies, but they forget that if cinemas can't keep up with the hardware, even the best films won't have a place to be shown, and the market will never take off.

But Lü Rui was different.

In an environment where private companies are crowding into the upstream sector, he deliberately invests heavily in cinemas and still manages to produce blockbuster films.

This kind of insight, which understands both the upstream and downstream, is extremely rare among the younger generation!
Han Sanping even felt that with someone like him driving things forward, the domestic cinema market might be able to avoid taking a few more detours.

"At present, the market lacks good movies, but it lacks even more cinema chains that can support the overall market."

Good movies can cultivate audiences and open up new opportunities, but if the development of cinemas is slow, it's like a road that hasn't been properly repaired; no matter how fast a car runs, it's useless.

Only when the upstream and downstream industries work together, and both software and hardware keep up, can the film market truly prosper. That's why I sincerely support your decision to establish a cinema chain; it's a good thing for the entire industry..."

Han Sanping has worked in film production and distribution for many years, so he is very clear about the industry's pain points.

More and more capital is willing to invest in movies, but fewer and fewer are willing to get involved in theatrical releases.

Otherwise, a country as large as China would not only have 36 cinema chains.

More importantly, the major cinema chains at present are either state-owned enterprises or have state-owned backgrounds, and there are very few large-scale private cinema chains.

Lu Rui's Ruixing Cinema Line has now emerged out of nowhere, and coupled with Wanda's impressive presence, it can gradually make up for this shortcoming.

These words practically laid their "support" card out on the table, instantly boosting Lü Rui's confidence.

He knew better than anyone that Han Sanping would definitely become the chairman of China Film Group in the future.

With the support of this future leader of China Film Group, the approval of Ruishijie's films and the expansion of Ruixing Cinema Line are essentially guaranteed by an extra layer of reliable security.

With that in mind, he had already made a plan.

We absolutely must help Han Sanping secure that position!
Because only if he goes up there can Ruishijie and Ruixing Cinema Line be less constrained.

After all, if it were someone else, who knows if new troubles would arise?
"Then I thank Chairman Han in advance." Lu Rui stood up and poured tea for Han Sanping, his tone sincere. "If I encounter any problems that I can't solve later, I will definitely ask you for advice as soon as possible."

Han Sanping smiled and waved his hand: "Don't be so polite. It's all for the good of the industry. Just focus on revising 'Dying to Survive'. If there's any news from the theaters, just let me know."

"Row."

Lü Rui nodded, then opened his desk drawer, took out the script he had prepared beforehand, and handed it to Han Sanping.

Han Sanping subconsciously reached out and took it, and his eyes lit up the moment his gaze fell on the cover!
The four bold characters of "Pacific Rim" stood out like a light suddenly shining in the dark night, instantly warming his heart.

He hadn't even had time to open the script before looking up at Lü Rui, his tone urgent: "Is it finished?"

"Yes, it's just been finalized," Lü Rui nodded in response.

"Haha, great! That's wonderful!" Han Sanping slapped his thigh excitedly, picked up his teacup and drank the rest of the water in one gulp. He then got up and walked towards the door, his steps even faster than when he came in.

"Don't worry about getting the script approved, I'll keep an eye on it! You just need to get the project proposal done as soon as possible!"

Lu Rui watched his retreating figure disappear through the door in a flurry, shaking his head with a wry smile.

This person's dedication to big-budget films is almost to the point of "obsession".

Rumors had been circulating in the industry for some time that China Film Group was going to invest in Wu Yu's "Red Cliff," but it hadn't been confirmed yet.

But recently, a big-budget film project called "The Warlords" has suddenly emerged, which is also reportedly controlled by China Film Group.

Han Sanping's current focus is on being able to "make waves," and he wants to hold onto every major project he can get his hands on—his enthusiasm is quite insane.

But this is good too. With him overseeing the script's approval, Lü Rui can focus on perfecting the project proposal for "Pacific Rim".

After all, this is a crucial step in his plan to tap into the international market, and he cannot afford to be careless.

……

After handing over the script for "Pacific Rim" to Han Sanping, Lü Rui didn't sit idle.

During the day, he would work on the computer to refine the project proposal, meticulously handling everything from selecting the special effects team to allocating the budget.

In the evening, he meticulously refined the lines of "Dying to Survive" word by word, referring to the revisions made by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television.

Details involving drug transactions should be toned down, the ending should be more emotionally mild, and several potentially controversial shots need to be readjusted…

Although revising the manuscript was extremely tedious, he patiently worked on it bit by bit.

Since I was mentally prepared, I didn't feel annoyed.

As July draws closer, another major event for Vision has been put on the agenda.

The new drama "Soldiers Sortie" has begun its pre-release promotion on both television and Tudou.com.

Since the TV series "Crossing the Guandong" became a nationwide hit at the beginning of this year, the market has had high expectations for the dramas produced by Ruishijie.

Therefore, as soon as the promotional posters for "Soldiers Sortie" were released, they attracted the attention of many viewers.

Lu Rui vaguely remembered that in his previous life, this drama had mediocre ratings when it premiered on television.

It was only through secondary dissemination on online platforms that it truly became a viral sensation.

Therefore, this time, he specially arranged for the simultaneous launch on two platforms. This way, he could reach a wider audience by leveraging the coverage of the TV station, and also generate buzz through the interactivity of Tudou.com, which might lead to an earlier explosion than in his previous life.

Meanwhile, news also frequently came from the "Lust, Caution" film crew in Hong Kong.

After several rounds of selection, a group of actresses have gone to Hong Kong to participate in group training.

According to Hong Kong media reports, from physical appearance and dialogue to etiquette during the Republican era, these actresses had to undergo systematic training in order to determine who was the most suitable to play the female lead.

Lu Rui remembered very clearly that in his previous life, the actress who ultimately won the lead role was from the Central Academy of Drama. He just didn't know if things would change this time.

Meanwhile, what has drawn even more attention within the industry is that the Hundred Flowers Awards and the Venice International Film Festival have both opened their registration channels.

Venice has attracted many art-house directors.

Jia Zhangke, Wang Xiaoshuai, and others have all submitted their new films for consideration, hoping to win international awards.

Meanwhile, for the Hundred Flowers Awards, Lü Rui arranged for someone to take the materials for "Taken" to the organizing committee, while Shen Ao and Zhao Peng participated in the selection with "Click" and "Sunny Sisters" respectively.

It's worth mentioning that there's a new change in this year's Hundred Flowers Awards.

Like last year's Golden Rooster Awards, the Hundred Flowers Awards have also expanded their selection scope to include Hong Kong and Taiwan.

This means that mainland actors will soon be competing on the same stage with Hong Kong and Taiwan artists again.

Now we'll see if the Hundred Flowers Awards can hold the line.

If, like the Golden Rooster Awards, it becomes a tool to be used at will by certain people, then Lü Rui will have to say goodbye to the Hundred Flowers Awards just as he said goodbye to the Golden Rooster Awards…

(End of this chapter)