Hong Kong was originally an important British colony. After its return in 1997, it became one of China's Special Administrative Regions, retaining its original political system and social structure, which would remain unchanged for fifty years.
Next year marks the 50th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland.
The past five decades have also been fifty years of economic prosperity and growth for Hong Kong. With finance and trade as its pillar industries, Hong Kong's per capita GDP has long ranked among the top in the world, producing numerous world-class tycoons.
However, its distinct political and cultural background has also shaped a social atmosphere quite different from that of the mainland. In recent years, this international metropolis has shown a posture of aloof independence, instinctively resisting political, economic, and cultural influences from the mainland. The social climate is highly complex.
Hong Kong's entertainment industry is likewise a self-contained and relatively closed circle. Although there are exchanges with the mainland's entertainment industry, the two remain clearly delineated, like two wells whose waters do not mix.
Local Hong Kong residents usually focus only on local artists and show little interest in mainland celebrities. Hong Kong media also tends to selectively ignore entertainment news from the mainland, reporting instead on local gossip, along with news from Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Europe, and the United States.
All of this reflects that same sense of aloof independence, even as more and more entertainment professionals seek opportunities for development in the mainland, and more Hong Kong artists appear on mainland television and movie screens.
The Hong Kong government, in collaboration with relevant mainland authorities, has introduced new policies to support Hong Kong's film industry. These policies encourage any film production company registered in Hong Kong to apply for incentives and preferential treatment, allowing them to share both the mainland and Hong Kong film markets. On one hand, this aims to revitalize the once-declining Hong Kong cinema; on the other, it seeks to break down barriers.
As for how effective these measures will be, only time can tell.
As one of the first "crab eaters" to register and establish a film and television studio in Hong Kong, Lu Chen's Workshop cannot rely solely on preferential policies to develop smoothly here.
After decades of growth, Hong Kong's film and television industry has formed its own established rules and operational models, naturally creating barriers against outsiders. Breaking through them is no easy task.
Therefore, filming a movie in Hong Kong is not as simple as hiring a few cameramen, script supervisors, and sound engineers to assemble a crew. The first step is to understand, become familiar with, and ultimately learn how to work within, or even leverage, the local rules.
Chen Wenqiang's suggestion was straightforward: co-produce the new film with a strong local film company.
This is the fastest and easiest approach. However, deciding which company to partner with is far more complicated.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Hong Kong had countless local film companies. The number of movies and TV dramas produced each year was astonishing, with a steady stream exported to the mainland and Southeast Asia.
Although the glory days have faded, "a lean camel is still bigger than a horse." Large companies such as Jinrong, Wang's, and Baolida still firmly control the market and hold significant influence within the industry.
Chen Wenqiang did not hold these old-established companies in particularly high regard. Despite their glorious pasts, if Lu Chen wanted to secure stable distribution access to the mainland market, going solo or casually partnering with a third- or fourth-tier company would pose serious problems.
The new issue is that major companies like Jinrong, Wang's, and Baolida are difficult to negotiate with. As a newly established outsider enterprise, Lu Chen's Workshop would face very demanding, if not harsh, conditions even if cooperation were possible.
This was precisely the problem giving Wan Xiaoquan the biggest headache.
If this first step was not handled properly, the road ahead would become extremely difficult.
Lu Chen could see Wan Xiaoquan's deep concern. Since Wan had persuaded him to come to Hong Kong, this was likely one of the reasons.
So Lu Chen comforted him, "Don't worry for now. We'll think of a solution step by step."
Now that Lu Chen had come, he was here to work and help. Although he was unfamiliar with Hong Kong, through connections such as Chen Fei'er, Tan Hong, and others, he could still get in touch with several people in the entertainment industry.
Chen Wenqiang remained silent. Film collaboration involved high-level negotiations, and while he was familiar with the mid- and lower-tier circles of the industry, he had no standing to speak about the upper echelons. Naturally, he would not make careless remarks.
The group discussed matters in the meeting room for two hours, drafting a preliminary follow-up plan and work schedule.
After the temporary meeting ended, Chen Wenqiang said to Lu Chen, "Boss, since it's your first time in Hong Kong, would you allow me to host dinner tonight? I'd like to treat you to some Hong Kong cuisine, consider it a welcome banquet."
Lu Chen smiled. "If you're hosting and I'm paying, then no problem!"
It was their first meeting, how could he possibly let a subordinate foot the bill?
Of course, Chen Wenqiang's goodwill had to be acknowledged.
Chen Wenqiang was momentarily stunned. Wan Xiaoquan burst out laughing. "Alright then, it's settled. Let's go!"
He reached out and patted the still slightly bewildered Chen Wenqiang on the shoulder. "Brother Qiang, there's no need to save money for the boss. He charges millions just to write a song for someone else!"
"Ah!"
Li Zhen, sitting nearby, let out a soft exclamation. When she looked at Lu Chen again, her eyes were practically sparkling like stars.
Millions for writing a single song?
Wouldn't that mean that just writing a few dozen songs would be enough to buy an apartment in Hong Kong?
Even Chen Wenqiang found it hard to believe. As far as he knew, even Hong Kong's top-tier lyricists and composers only charged two to three hundred thousand per piece. Was Lu Chen really worth several times that?
Lu Chen was indeed exceptional at original music, but that price tag was astonishing!
Lu Chen didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Uncle Qiang, don't listen to Director Wan's exaggerations. Let's go eat."
The place Chen Wenqiang brought Lu Chen to was a typhoon shelter in Causeway Bay.
Including Li Zhen and Zhang Xiaofang, the five of them dined aboard a specially outfitted boat. As they enjoyed the stunning night view of Victoria Harbour, they savored top-quality fresh seafood, an authentic local experience that left even Lu Chen full of praise.
After the lavish seafood feast, Chen Wenqiang asked, "Boss, which hotel are you staying at tonight? Have you booked a room?"
Lu Chen replied, "I'm not staying at a hotel. A friend lent me a house in Repulse Bay. Later, Brother Zhang will take me there first. After that, please arrange accommodation for him."
A house in Repulse Bay!
Chen Wenqiang couldn't help but sigh inwardly. That was one of Hong Kong's most upscale residential areas, where luxury mansions worth hundreds of millions were everywhere.
He wondered which friend of Lu Chen's had lent him such a property.
He quickly responded, "No problem. I'll wait here for Xiaofang to return, and then I'll take him to the staff apartment. The rooms have already been prepared."
(End of Chapter)
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