Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 562, Section 560: Above the Rules

The afterglow of the celebrations had not yet faded inside the Athens Olympic Stadium.

The image of Liu Xiang draped in the national flag, roaring to the sky on the track, has been transmitted around the world via satellite signal and is deeply imprinted in the hearts of everyone who followed the game.

Wang Sheng slowly left the scene with the excited crowd, his heart also surging with emotion.

Witnessing history firsthand is a completely different experience from watching news reports afterwards. The sense of national pride intertwined with admiration for the individual's fighting spirit is enough to move even the most composed heart.

He originally intended to leave discreetly, rejoin the observation group, and return to his hotel to process the impact of the experience.

However, he underestimated his "value" in the eyes of the media.

As soon as he stepped out of the VIP passage, reporters from several media outlets who had been waiting there quickly surrounded him like hawks spotting their prey.

Among them were not only reporters from Beijing newspapers accompanying the observation group, but also the on-site reporting teams from CCTV's sports and news channels. A barrage of cameras and microphones were instantly aimed at him, the blinding lights illuminating his surroundings as if it were daytime.

"Chairman Wang Sheng! Please wait!"

"Chairman Wang, you have just witnessed Liu Xiang make history. What are your thoughts at this moment?"

"Chairman Wang, as a representative of China's cultural industry, what is your view on the significance of this competition?"

The reporters bombarded him with questions, their voices filled with urgency and anticipation.

They knew all too well that this young business tycoon and Oscar winner, though more behind the scenes, never hesitated to make groundbreaking remarks, and every time he spoke, he could spark widespread discussion, making him an absolute "traffic magnet."

At this historic moment of Liu Xiang's victory, obtaining Wang Sheng's exclusive commentary would undoubtedly be the icing on the cake, and could even generate more discussion.

Wang Sheng stopped, a helpless yet knowing smile on his face.

He knew that it was no longer possible to leave quietly at this moment.

He straightened his slightly wrinkled suit jacket, faced the camera, and quickly regained his usual composure and calmness.

"Thoughts?" Wang Sheng's voice came through the microphone clearly, carrying an undeniable power. "I think all Chinese people feel the same way at this moment—pride! Unparalleled pride!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the expectant faces before him, and continued, "Liu Xiang's performance tonight was not just about breaking a record and winning a gold medal."

He broke the long-standing monopoly of European and American athletes in straight-track sprint events, and he also broke the world's inherent perception of Asian athletics and Chinese speed!
This proves that in the pursuit of human limits, no one is born a king, and people of Asian descent can also stand at the top of the world!
This is a victory in sports, but more importantly, it's a demonstration of national confidence!

His words were powerful and inspiring, prompting the surrounding reporters to nod in agreement.

A CCTV reporter immediately followed up with the question: "Mr. Wang, what deeper impact do you think this match will have, besides the sport itself? Is it possible that it will be related to the film industry you are involved in?"

That's a very important question.

After a moment's thought, Wang Sheng said, "Sports and culture and art have always complemented each other, together shaping the spiritual outlook of a nation."

Wang Sheng spoke slowly, a wise glint in his eyes, “Liu Xiang’s story tonight is itself excellent material for an inspirational movie. It contains dreams, perseverance, sweat, pressure, and the ultimate explosion and joy of success. This kind of real event with great dramatic tension and emotional impact is hard to match by any fictional script.”

He then changed the subject, his tone becoming cautious and respectful: "Of course, true heroes deserve the utmost respect. If... I mean if, in the future, we have the opportunity to obtain the consent of Liu Xiang himself and his team, the State General Administration of Sport, and other relevant parties, Shengying Media is very willing and capable of bringing this legendary journey to the big screen with the utmost professionalism and respect, so that more people, especially the younger generation, can feel the power of this fighting spirit through film."

He didn't make any definitive statements, leaving plenty of room for interpretation, but he had already personally introduced the concept of a "Liu Xiang biographical film."

The reporters instantly erupted in excitement!
Wang Sheng personally confirmed the possibility of making a biopic about Liu Xiang!
This is absolutely explosive news!

This is enough to share tomorrow's front page with Liu Xiang's championship victory!
"Thank you, Chairman Wang! Thank you!"

The reporters were satisfied and quickly recorded this valuable statement.

……

Due to the time difference, while Athens is shrouded in darkness, China is experiencing its golden hour of countless lights shining brightly.

That evening's prime-time news program, for the first time ever, dedicated nearly 50 seconds to reporting on Liu Xiang's victory, capturing every exciting moment both on and off the field.

At the end of the report, the scene switched to Athens, showing a clip of Wang Sheng being interviewed by a CCTV reporter.

His impassioned speech on "national self-confidence" and "breaking the monopoly," along with his cautious outlook on "making a biographical film about Liu Xiang," were clearly conveyed to countless households through China's most influential media platforms. "Wang Sheng, Chairman of Shengying Media Group, stated that Liu Xiang's victory is a manifestation of national self-confidence..."

Wang Sheng revealed that if conditions are right, Liu Xiang's story may be adapted into a film...

These few short sentences contain a wealth of information.

Wang Sheng's name is once again closely linked to a high-profile event that has garnered nationwide attention.

The following day, all major media outlets across the country, whether official newspapers or metropolitan newspapers, reported on Liu Xiang's victory on their front pages or in prominent positions. Wang Sheng's interviews were almost invariably published as important derivative news, further amplifying the event's influence.

The China Youth Daily even published a special commentator article in its culture section, titled "From Liu Xiang to Wang Sheng: Confidence and Responsibility of China's New Generation".

……

Amid this nationwide sports craze, undercurrents are quietly surging in the film market.

The film "New Police Story," scheduled for nationwide release on September 24, has entered its promotional period.

This action blockbuster, co-produced by Jackie Chan's Emperor Motion Pictures, China Film Group, and Shengying Film, with Shengying Film in charge of publicity and distribution, naturally focuses its promotion on "Jackie Chan's return to hardcore action" and "the most anticipated police and gangster film of the year".

Jackie Chan has also reversed his somewhat sluggish performance during his Hollywood period, and is now promoting his work in multiple cities in mainland China, showing renewed vigor and full of confidence.

Besides Jackie Chan's golden brand, another key focus of the film's promotion was the actor who played the villain "Ah Zu".

The role originally played by Wu Yanzu is now being played by Huang Xiaoming.

The press release emphasized how Huang Xiaoming broke through his previous image to play a cold and twisted villain, a role completely different from his previous sunny image, and how his acting skills were highly praised by Jackie Chan and director Benny Chan.

Those in the industry with a keen eye understand that Huang Xiaoming's ability to land this important role with so much room for development is a direct reflection of the influence of the "Shengying Group".

In fact, starting in the second half of 2003, with the listing of Shengying Media, its capital strength and channel control expanded rapidly. An unwritten rule quietly formed within the industry and gradually became an ironclad law.

For any Hong Kong-funded or co-produced film to successfully enter the mainland market and receive preferential treatment in terms of screen time, at least one of the leading roles with prominent billing must be an artist from the "Shengying Group".

This is not an explicit document stipulation, but rather an unspoken understanding among all parties involved in project initiation, submission for review, and even subsequent scheduling negotiations.

Sometimes Shengying invests directly and designates the project, and sometimes the production company actively invites the project to please the distribution channels.

The female lead in "New Police Story," played by Cecilia Cheung, is also a product of this rule.

Although her agency contract is not directly under Shengying, she has a close relationship with Wang Sheng and is regarded as an important force on the periphery of the "Shengying Group".

Some people in the Hong Kong entertainment circle complained privately: "This is even harsher than the original rules for co-productions! At least co-productions allocated actors based on investment ratio and role suitability."

Now, things are even worse. They've laid down the rules: important roles must be filled by their people. This is practically a monopoly!

Despite the complaints, no one dared to openly question the reality.

The reason is simple: under Wang Sheng's "100 Cities, 100 Theaters" plan, which spared no expense in investment, the total number of screens controlled by "China Film Grand Cinema Circuit" officially exceeded 1,000 in the summer of 2004, accounting for a quarter of the total number of screens in mainland China!

This doesn't even include other cinema chains that have deep cooperation with "China Film Group" and follow its lead in scheduling screenings.

Distribution channels are the absolute guarantee of box office success.

In today's Chinese film industry, regardless of whether you come from the "Beijing circle," "Shanghai circle," "Northwest circle," or "Hong Kong circle," if you want your project to proceed smoothly and your box office to be guaranteed, you cannot avoid the investment of "China Film Group" or "Shengying Film Group," or you must accept actors from the "Shengying Film Group" to play important roles.

The rules set by Wang Sheng are the rules that the industry must follow right now.

As the old saying goes, fortunes change every three years.

The entertainment industry is full of ups and downs, and few people can stay at the top for long.

Whether Wang Sheng and his empire will face changes in the future remains unknown.

But in the summer of 2004, under the glow of the Olympic flame in Athens and with promotional posters for "New Police Story" plastered all over the streets, the entire Chinese film and television industry had no choice but to obediently follow the rules set by Wang Sheng and the "regular army" he represented.

(End of this chapter)