Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 588, Section 586: The Next Step

The Los Angeles sun at the end of November has lost the scorching heat of midsummer, leaving only a rich warmth.

The curtain has fallen on the Chinese American International Film Festival, but its lingering influence remains.

In the following days, Wang Sheng did not immediately return.

His American partners, including the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, the California Film Commission, and even federal business and cultural departments, have successively awarded him several prestigious honorary titles, such as "Honorary Citizen of Los Angeles" and "Outstanding Contribution Award for California Film and Cultural Exchange."

These titles are less an award for him personally and more a formal acceptance and gesture of goodwill towards the emerging SAIFF platform and the Chinese market and capital it represents.

Wang Sheng accepted them politely, solidifying the official connections he had initially established at the film festival amidst well-timed flashes of light and applause.

He was also invited to give in-depth interviews to The Wall Street Journal Business Edition and The Hollywood Reporter.

Unlike the general discussions with the mass media during the film festival, the questions from these two media outlets were more pointed and in-depth, directly addressing SAIFF's sustainability, the openness of the Chinese film market, and Shengying Media's internationalization strategy.

"Mr. Wang, will the entry of SAIFF award-winning films, especially those independent productions from outside Hollywood, into the Chinese market become smoother as a result?" asked a reporter from The Hollywood Reporter.

Wang Sheng leaned forward slightly, his tone steady and certain: "One of the original intentions of SAIFF was to build a bridge for film selection and introduction. I can say with certainty that any film that performs well in the 'Golden Angel Award' competition section of this film festival, especially those that win major awards, will be subject to a fast-track evaluation process by Shengying Media and our partner, China Film Group, and will most likely be introduced to the Chinese mainland market. We have this intention, and we are gradually acquiring the capability and quota to do so."

He paused, then emphasized, "This is not only an award for excellent films, but also a substantial step in enriching the viewing choices of Chinese audiences and promoting cultural exchange."

These words spread rapidly through the media.

The fact that a film festival dominated by Chinese private capital can grant its award-winning works preferential access to the Chinese market undoubtedly greatly enhances SAIFF's status and appeal to independent production companies and art film directors worldwide.

Wang Sheng's role at this moment is no longer just that of the film festival chairman, but also a key gateway connecting creation and the market, and the West and the East.

His promises, based on Shengying Media's increasingly strong distribution capabilities and close cooperation with China Film Group, appeared reasonable and convincing in the context of the Chinese film industry landscape at the end of 2004.

……

a few days later.

Fan Xiaopang did not return to China with Wang Sheng.

After a tender farewell to Wang Sheng, she threw herself into the intense preparations for "Twilight Saga: New Moon".

She had already gained considerable international popularity for her role as "Bai Xiaochai," an Asian student studying abroad, in the first installment. In the second installment, she had a more demanding role and needed to undergo extensive makeup tests, script readings, and pre-production training in Los Angeles.

Before leaving, Wang Sheng visited the set of "Twilight 2" and had a brief exchange with director Katherine Hardwicke and several lead actors to ensure that Fan Xiaopang would receive the attention he deserved on set.

……

After a long flight of more than ten hours, Wang Sheng's private plane landed at Beijing Capital International Airport.

It was late November, and the cold air from the north had already taken over the city. The dry wind carried a biting chill, a stark contrast to the mild climate of Los Angeles.

Domestic media outlets have been eagerly anticipating this.

Back at the Jingxin Building, Wang Sheng gave a brief joint interview to several mainstream media outlets.

His discussion focused on the successful hosting of SAIFF and its profound significance.

"The success of the film festival lies not only in the awarding of a few trophies, but also in the establishment of a relatively fair selection mechanism that is recognized by the international mainstream."

Facing the camera, Wang Sheng calmly stated, "This means that in the future, outstanding films selected through the SAIFF platform will have their artistic value endorsed by multiple authoritative perspectives."

This is why we are confident in prioritizing the importation of these award-winning films into China. We want to show Chinese audiences high-quality films selected by top international filmmakers, not just blindly imported ones.

He linked the film festival's credibility to the standards for importing films into the domestic market, further enhancing the prestige of SAIFF.

After these interviews were published and featured on camera, they sparked renewed discussion within the industry. Many filmmakers who had previously held a wait-and-see attitude towards SAIFF began to truly realize that this overseas platform, created by Wang Sheng, possessed energy and potential benefits that far exceeded the scope of an ordinary film festival award.

Upon returning to the capital and taking a short rest, Wang Sheng plunged into a new work vortex.

With the end of November fast approaching, the promotional campaign for Shengying Media's year-end blockbuster, "Havoc in Heaven," has entered its final week of intense preparation.

The film is scheduled to be released simultaneously on December 3rd in China Film Grand Cinema Circuit and other partner cinemas nationwide, and various advertisements, trailers, and media articles have already flooded the market.

Three days before the film's release, Han Sanping invited Wang Sheng to drive together to the Zhongbeisheng Digital Cinema Base in Huairou.

When the foundation stone was laid in March, this was still a construction site with yellow earth exposed to the sky. Now, only eight or nine months later, the main structure of the core buildings of the first phase of the project—two large digital photography studios—has risen from the ground, the exterior curtain wall is more than half completed, and the construction site is bustling with activity as tower cranes stand tall and workers move about.

Wearing safety helmets, the two inspected the progress of the project, accompanied by the project manager.

"The progress is almost a month ahead of schedule." Han Sanping looked at the studio, which was beginning to take shape, with satisfaction in his voice. "The funding arrived on time, everything was given the green light, and the construction team was working day and night. At this rate, the first phase of the project will be put into use by the middle of next year, and then we will truly have a shooting and post-production base that can rival Hollywood standards."

Wang Sheng nodded, his gaze sweeping across the construction site: "Catching up in terms of hardware is relatively easy; the difficulty lies in the supporting software and talent. Once the base is completed, cooperation with universities must begin immediately, and targeted training programs and practical training bases must be established."

“That’s natural.” Han Sanping agreed, then changed the subject to a more macro topic, “Speaking of which, this year has been quite eventful for our industry. Your film festival has been a great success abroad, and domestically, quite a few films have been released, and the total box office seems to have increased, but upon closer inspection, the quality is uneven, and there are quite a few problems. The Lu Chuan incident… sigh, it’s a lesson to be learned.”

Wang Sheng knew that Han Sanping was referring to the plagiarism scandal surrounding "Kekexili" and the resulting industry upheaval.

He said calmly, "After eight years of unbridled growth, Shengying has driven the industry and reaped all the benefits. But it can't continue like this forever. With distribution channels expanded and content improved, internal rules need to be established."

Han Sanping looked at him: "You've been thinking about your 'industry rating system' all along, haven't you? And you want to take this opportunity to put it into practice?"

“It’s not just about ratings,” Wang Sheng corrected. The two walked and talked, leaving the noisy construction site and heading towards the relatively quiet temporary office area. “I want to promote a more transparent mechanism. Artists, directors, screenwriters, producers… every link should have a relatively clear talent promotion path, reasonable salary benchmarks, and continuous professional training.”

What's going on now? An artist can suddenly become a sensation because of just one film or one song, their value skyrocketing a hundredfold or even a thousandfold, making money at a rate comparable to a money-printing machine. Is this normal? The artist themselves can't control themselves, and the capital and teams surrounding them are even more profit-driven; how can all sorts of chaotic phenomena not arise?

He stopped and looked at the studio that was already visible in the distance. His tone became serious: "Teacher, the film and television industry is the mainstream of the entertainment industry and has a huge influence. If the internal affairs are always a mess, without transparent rules and a healthy ecosystem, and are only driven by capital and traffic, sooner or later there will be big problems. As the current leader, Shengying has the responsibility and the interest to try to establish this order."

Han Sanping was silent for a moment, then took out his cigarette case, lit it, and took a deep drag.

The smoke dissipated quickly in the cold air.

"This is a good thing," he said slowly, his brows furrowing slightly. "For the long-term development of the industry, it will definitely be more beneficial than harmful. It can regulate the market, reduce vicious competition, improve overall professionalism, and also curb the increasingly impetuous atmosphere. The higher-ups... actually have similar considerations and feel that the industry needs regulation."

But then he shifted his tone, pointing out the harsh reality: "In practice, it's extremely difficult. It's like taking away the interests of countless people. The existing power structure is deeply entrenched, and those companies and individuals who make money through opaque information and unclear rules will fight back fiercely."

How are the rating criteria determined? Who sets them? Who can guarantee absolute fairness? It involves too many complexities: personal relationships, connections, and exchanges of benefits. If handled poorly, it could create enemies on all sides, or even…”

He didn't even utter the word, but Wang Sheng understood his concerns—it might even backfire and touch some sensitive nerves.

"I know it's difficult."

Wang Sheng spoke calmly, "But if we don't do it, it will be even more difficult and chaotic later. Sheng Ying has already passed the stage where it needs chaos and disorder to expand rapidly."

What we need now is a healthier, more sustainable ecosystem. Only then can we ensure the long-term sustainability of the "Shengying Productions" brand and allow Chinese films to develop more steadily and further. There will certainly be obstacles, but as long as we have a clear vision, take steady steps, and leverage the resources we need, it's not impossible.

He paused, then added, "We can start with pilot programs within the Shengying Group and its close partners to build the framework and create a model. Once the results are apparent, we can then leverage official support to gradually roll it out across the entire industry. This is something that can't be rushed, but it also can't wait."

Looking at the student and business partner who was more than 20 years younger than him, and seeing the undeniable confidence and vision in his eyes, Han Sanping finally nodded and stubbed out his cigarette in the portable ashtray he carried with him.

"Now that you've thought it through, proceed with your plan. I'll try my best to coordinate and secure official support for you. However, be sure to proceed cautiously at every step."

"Understood." Wang Sheng nodded.

(End of this chapter)