Huayu: Starting from managing the Mahua FunAge Theater Troupe

"Baidu's 2004 performance market box office exceeded 5 million yuan, ushering in the strongest carnival at the end of the year."

Cultural consumption upgrades: Beijing residents "spend money to have fun" during the New Year.

"Kung Fu Hustle Raks Off Over 6400 Million in Opening Weekend, Followed Closely by 'A World Without Thieves,' Making the 2004 Lunar New Year Film Season a 'Duel of Two Titans'"

The stage comedy "Lost in Thailand" enjoyed a box office boom in its opening week, with tickets still in high demand despite simultaneous performances in five theaters.

Beijing's year-end performance market: Tickets for Jacky Cheung's "Snow Wolf Lake" are in high demand, while Shen Teng's "Lost in Journey" is full of laughter.

Is the era of "free tickets" over for Beijing Jockey Club's live shows? Young audiences are starting to pay for their own tickets.

The three mainstays of the Lunar New Year film season: the movie "Kung Fu Hustle," the musical "Snow Wolf Lake," and the stage play "Lost in..."

Annual Summary: Per Capita Cultural Consumption Expenditure in Beijing Increased Significantly in 2004

In the last few days of 2004, the culture sections of local newspapers in Beijing were filled with all sorts of good news.

The performance market is booming.

Happy Twist is busy.

12 month 30 day.

Shen Teng and others, with their piece "Today's Happiness," stumbled through the fifth round of review for comedy sketches at the 2005 CCTV Spring Festival Gala.

The regular review process for language-based programs involves five rounds.

However, passing the fifth round of review still doesn't guarantee a spot on the Spring Festival Gala.

There's a final review and a rehearsal coming up.

It's quite normal for a show to be canceled during rehearsals.

Only when we hold out until New Year's Eve will things finally settle down.

The final hearing is expected to take place around January 10th.

Before the final review, Shen Teng was busy leading his team in performances.

December 31st - January 6th.

12月31日是跨年夜，1月1日-1月3日是元旦假期，都是散客观演高峰期。

The performances from January 4th to January 7th were a private event booked by Nokia for its employees.

Last winter, a public relations company in Shanghai contacted Yu Kai and booked several performances of "Want to Eat Fried Dough Twists? We'll Twist Them for You Now".

It wasn't until just before the show started, when Yu Kai saw the theater that had been rearranged by a public relations company, that he realized the major client who had booked the entire theater was Nokia.

This happened before Shen Feiyang's acquisition. Although the venue rental didn't make much money or revitalize the project, it at least stabilized people's morale, and Yu Kai has always remembered this kindness.

Nokia approached them again this year, and after discussing it with Yu Kai and Shen Feiyang, they arranged a time slot for Nokia.

After Nokia booked the entire venue, a trend started that "only companies with real power would book out entire venues to show their employees Happy Twist performances."

In a short time, the PR manager of the agency that represented Nokia in booking the venue received numerous inquiries from large companies headquartered in Beijing, as well as from many large companies in Shanghai.

Then the PR manager called Yu Kai three times a day.

For any match featuring Shen Teng, an extra 100,000 per match is acceptable.

The venue and schedule were booked three months ago, so where can Yu Kai coordinate with them?

This bustling situation became a topic of conversation for Yu Kai as he poached talent.

……

1 month 2 day.

It was a little after 3 p.m.

Yu Kai met his old classmate Liu Hongtao in a teahouse in Xicheng District.

Liu Hongtao graduated from the Chinese Department of Peking University in 84.

Yu Kai was one grade below him.

The two participated in and organized many cultural and artistic activities together when they were in school.

It's been almost 20 years since we met.

After graduating, Liu Hongtao joined China News Service, where he currently serves as the director of the film and television department and also as the legal representative and general manager of BJ Nanhai Film Company, a subsidiary of China News Service.

At the level of a division chief, that's not a low rank.

Yu Kai and he drank tea and chatted about some fun things that happened during their college years.

After laughing for a while, Liu Hongtao couldn't help but feel a little sad and sighed, "After struggling for twenty years, I feel like I haven't accomplished anything. There are too many things that are beyond our control within the system. If you waste your precious three to five years, they will pass in the blink of an eye."

After listening, Yu Kai remained silent for a while before speaking: "What you said, senior... I actually feel quite a bit for you. Last year, I left the system and started a business with someone else, doing stage plays. At the worst point, we only sold seven tickets for a show. Later, we were lucky enough to meet a young man who acquired the company and turned things around."

Yu Kai paused for a moment and then said, "So I understand what you mean by wasting time in the system. But my experience after leaving it is that sometimes it's not a lack of ability, but a lack of platform or a clear direction. Changing places might make a difference."

"The young man you're talking about is Shen Feiyang, right?" Liu Hongtao asked with a hint of curiosity.

"That's right." Yu Kai nodded: "Although President Shen is only 19 years old, he is the most quick-witted person I have ever met. While we were still wondering how to survive, President Shen was already thinking about how to expand his business nationwide, and he turned it into a reality in less than a year."

Yu Kai followed up, "In addition, under President Shen's leadership, we are also actively developing our film and television business. We have established a separate film and television company, launched a TV series project, and have another film project in preparation."

Liu Hongtao had heard a little about the TV series.

This was the first time Liu Hongtao had ever heard of Happy Twist making a movie.

A stage play + film format?

Liu Hongtao asked with interest, "Is your film project about turning a stage play into a movie?"

"That's one way to understand it."

Yu Kai nodded and explained, "This film project was originally a serious play script. The original author wanted to adapt it into a movie script and make it into a film. President Shen bought it and adapted it into a stage comedy, which is 'Crazy Stone.' The first round of national tours sold nearly 30 million yuan at the box office. After the market validated it, President Shen decided to turn it into a movie to expand its influence and give back to the stage play performances."

The model of adapting stage plays into movies is not uncommon.

Many Broadway musicals have been adapted into movies.

There have been some cases in China as well.

What surprised Liu Hongtao was that Mr. Shen had figured out this business model in less than a year, finding a second profit growth point outside of stage plays, and now all that was left was to verify whether it could succeed.

Liu Hongtao remained silent and began to think quietly.

Yu Kai picked up his teacup and took a few sips.

After a long pause, Liu Hongtao finally spoke again: "What is the total investment for your project? Does it require further investment? Does it need a third party to manage the project?"

Yu Kai was overjoyed.

Liu Hongtao was tempted.

However, Liu Hongtao still had concerns.

He is open to changing jobs, but he must bring a solid track record with him. The new company cannot be worse than his current one; at the very least, it must be a rising star with great potential.

Liu Hongtao wanted to personally oversee this project, make it a success, leave something for his former employer, and prove his abilities to his new employer.

Yu Kai responded quickly: "The total investment is ten million, with our company bearing half of the investment share. The remaining investment share is open to external parties. Currently, we have confirmed two partners, Benshan Media and Huanle Media, who will invest a total of 30%. The remaining 20% ​​is yet to be determined. If no new partners join, we will bear the remaining 20% ​​ourselves."

As Liu Hongtao listened and calculated, he nodded slightly: "That means there is still a two million external investment share. Nanhai Film Industry can contribute one million, but I want the position of the project's chief person in charge."

Yu Kai scratched his brow: "The person in charge of the project hasn't been decided yet, but President Shen emphasized that only the director and screenwriter have the right to interfere with the content, and no one else does."

Have reverence for the content.

Liu Hongtao, on the contrary, felt it was more reliable.

He nodded and said, "That's normal. I don't interfere with the content; I only manage the project."

Yu Kai readily agreed: "Then I'll go out and call President Shen. Let's have dinner together tonight and discuss the details."

Liu Hongtao nodded: "Okay."

Yu Kai went out to make a phone call.

……

Yu Kai explained the situation.

He couldn't find a suitable person in charge of performing arts, but he did find a suitable person in charge of film and television, who had been working in the industry for many years.

After Yu Kai finished explaining the matter,

Shen Feiyang was quite satisfied.

He had heard of Liu Hongtao.

Liu Hongtao is the mastermind behind Happy Twist's future film business. Films such as "Goodbye Mr. Loser" were all brought to the big screen through his efforts.

Another great general.

Shen Feiyang: "Then it's settled. I'll go over tonight."