Entertainment Reborn Rhapsody

Chapter 468: The New Generation of the Richest Chinese

Thanks to sufficient preparation, the Green Book crew had almost no running-in period and got into the right state from the beginning.

The heritage and perfection of the Hollywood film industry are truly awe-inspiring. From props and costumes to setting up locations and on-site management, every behind-the-scenes position is very smooth. All the director needs to do is make these people understand his intentions.

With the outstanding performance of the two leading actors, the shooting plan of "Green Book" was carried out accurately and efficiently under Shanhe's command.

Just when Shanhe lamented that there was still a big gap between the domestic film industry and behind-the-scenes talent, the domestic film market was booming.

"Nezha: The Devil Child Comes into the World" took nearly two months to break through 3 billion RMB, setting a new record for domestic movie box office and pushing the single-film box office to a new height.

Media across the country rushed to report the news, expressing their pride and confidence in the development of the Chinese film market and domestic films.

Entertainment and financial media from various countries abroad have also expressed their admiration for this, saying that China's consumer market has unfathomable potential. Judging from the movie box office alone, it is inevitable that China will surpass North America and become the world's largest movie consumer market in the future.

China Film Corporation immediately gained the favor of investors, and the stocks of various listed film companies increased to varying degrees. As the leader in the Chinese film and television industry, Chuhe Film and Television was reported and sought after by global entertainment media and film companies.

Many professional financial media have made special reports on Chuhe Film and Television, introducing in great detail this huge film and television empire created by Shanhe. What surprised the foreign public is that the system of this kingdom is even more complete than the Big Six in Hollywood, and is full of vigor and vitality, and has already taken shape as a global entertainment empire.

Amidst a chorus of praise, Chuhe Film and Television's valuation soared by nearly 30% in an instant, approaching 80 billion US dollars. Although it is still far from Disney, its rise is amazing.

Among them, Tudou, the only listed subsidiary of Chuhe Film and Television, benefited the most. Its stock price continued to soar. Within a few days, it soared from US$150 per share to nearly US$200, an increase of nearly 25%, becoming a veritable "monster stock" and was sought after by investors around the world.

Zhong Lifang and Tudou's senior management have begun planning a stock split in order to increase stock liquidity and the number of shareholders, provide shareholders and stock investors with more favorable information, and also reserve more room for Tudou's growth.

The wealth of Shanhe, the boss of Chuhe Film and Television, has skyrocketed. In the latest rich list released by Forbes, he even surpassed Larry Elson with assets of 58 billion US dollars, ranking fifth on the world's rich list.

Not only did he widen the gap with the former richest man in China, Wang Jianlin, but he also surpassed Li Ka-shing to become the richest Chinese in the world.

Global media coverage of Shanhe immediately spread from the film and television industry to the financial industry. Various media outlets reviewed Shanhe's life experience in great detail, with a variety of headlines.
"The legend of the rise of a young genius!"

"In fifteen years, he created two legends, an art palace and a business empire!"

"The pride of the new century! Please note that this pride has just turned thirty years old!"

...

Unlike other wealthy people on the rich list, Shanhe is not only young, but his field is neither real estate nor computer networks, but the cultural and entertainment industry. The rapid increase in Shanhe's wealth has attracted evaluations and discussions from all walks of life around the world.

Bill Gates, the world's richest man, mentioned this in an interview with Forbes.
"Qiu is an incredible person. His wealth and youth are not what I care about. I believe he doesn't care about these things. What's important is that he has a significant global influence at this age, and his field is at the cultural level. He is a talented writer and director, and at the same time a top power holder in the global cultural circle. This is really admirable. You must understand the importance of the cultural industry. Although technology can make society develop rapidly, culture can keep humans from being lost in technology and ignorance. Qiu is likely to become the next wise man leading the world!"

Elon Max, a young wealthy man known as "rocket maniac" who has been very popular in Europe and the United States recently, also expressed his admiration for Shanhe in a public interview.

"Qiu is younger than me, but I feel that we are the same kind of people, with extraordinary imagination and creativity, as well as extraordinary execution. I have always wanted to have a good talk with him. Maybe others will think I am arrogant and crazy, but he will definitely agree with my ideas. I even think he will join my plan. Exploring space is the limit of human imagination and creativity. Qiu will never lack these things, and it is easy to see this from his works!"

Li Jiacheng, who was replaced by Shanhe as the richest Chinese, also talked about Shanhe in an interview with the Singapore media.

"I met Shanhe in Hong Kong Island ten years ago. He was only in his early twenties at that time. He came to acquire Golden Harvest. Wen Huai and I made an appointment with him for morning tea at Lu Yu Tea House. He left a deep impression on me. It can be said that he was heroic, dignified and very charming. It took him less than fifteen minutes to convince my old friend and thus obtain most of the shares of Golden Harvest Cinema Line. The acquisition of Golden Harvest was the take-off point of Chuhe Film and Television. His vision and courage are unmatched among the younger generation. Unfortunately, I did not realize the importance of Golden Harvest at that time. Shanhe easily exchanged the shares of Golden Harvest from me. Now he has surpassed me to become the richest Chinese. This is not surprising. The history of China is always a generation of new people replacing the old. Maybe it's time for me to leave the stage!"

...

Different from the evaluation of other wealthy people, the Chinese public has become accustomed to the various miracles and achievements of Shanhe. Although the richest Chinese man sounds extremely awesome, everyone just exclaimed and started the daily gossip.

"I knew that Shanhe would replace Li Jiacheng sooner or later. Just look at the scale and development speed of Chuhe Film and Television. It's simply supersonic!"

"Less than 60 billion US dollars? I think it must be more than that. Huayi's market value is nearly 100 billion RMB. Chuhe Film and Television is at least ten times stronger than Huayi. Besides, Shanhe's personal income alone must be tens of billions of US dollars!"

"Chuhe Films is not listed, so the valuation is just an estimate. Just look at Tudou.com and you will know that 58 billion US dollars is definitely too little. The Seven-Colored Prism made tens of billions of RMB from a single movie, and there is also an entire Conferred God Universe to come. What do you think the Seven-Colored Prism is worth?"

"What a monster! He has made great progress in literature, film and business. His achievements in the most inconspicuous business field are so astonishing. Li Jiacheng's 16 consecutive years as the richest Chinese were ended by a man who is "not interested in money"!"

“Haha…I really want to listen to Shanhe’s interview now. I like to watch him pretend to be cool!”

...

In this wave of "wealth myth" created by Shanhe, the biggest profit was the distribution and promotion of "Operation Mekong". Since the beginning of April, China Film Group and Chuhe Film and Television have started a large-scale publicity campaign for the film, and this time Shanhe's title as the richest Chinese has maximized its effect. Needless to say, in China, with the strength of China Film Group and Chuhe Film and Television, the support of the country, the appeal of Shanhe and the craze of the newly-crowned richest Chinese, the news that "Operation Mekong" will be released during the May Day holiday has long been known to everyone.

What made China Film and Chuhe Film and Television happy was that the overseas publicity and distribution also reaped an unexpected dividend amid the media's hype about Shanhe's wealth.

The work of a newly crowned world's youngest super-rich director has doubled its appeal to movie fans. On the Internet in various countries, the click rates of the trailers of "Operation Mekong" in various languages ​​have skyrocketed, and the various imaginative gun fights, actions, explosions and car racing scenes have amazed audiences around the world.

Hua Xia Qiu has just become the fifth richest man in the world. Is he going to change his style? This is definitely a purely commercial action blockbuster. "Operation Mekong" has aroused the curiosity and expectations of movie fans. It is worth buying a movie ticket and going to the cinema to find out!
In terms of overseas distribution, Disney and its distributors in European countries immediately increased their publicity resources as soon as they saw the profitability, and European and American theaters also expanded their screening schedules.

Taking North American theaters as an example, "Operation Mekong" was originally released in less than 2,000 theaters and less than 3,000 screens. This was all thanks to Shanhe's personal appeal. Before that, European and American agents and theaters were not very optimistic about this Chinese theme film.

But Shanhe's luck was so good that half a month before the release, the hype of a wealth myth changed their views to a certain extent. In the West, rich people are successful, and super rich people are powerful!
They all understood very well the appeal of a newly-crowned top ten youngest billionaire among the general public, not to mention that this person was Hua Xia Qiu, who had a strong record in the past.

The number of North American theaters showing "Operation Mekong" increased to 3,000 within a few days, and the number of screens was approaching 4,000. The same was true in European countries. Theater managers would not miss the opportunity to make money.

Needless to say, the Asian countries, the Pan-Chinese cultural circle has become the basic foundation of Shanhe!

The coverage of Shanhe by Japanese, South Korean and Southeast Asian media is no worse than that by the Chinese media. The public discussion sparked by the title of the richest Chinese is no less than that by the Chinese media. Naturally, all theaters are looking forward to the film.

At this time, the domestic film industry has been speechless due to the strong blow from Chuhe Film and Television. Since November last year, the entire domestic film market has been dominated by Chuhe Film and Television. From "Charlotte's Troubles" to "Lost in Thailand", and then to "Nezha: The Devil Child Comes into the World", Chuhe Film and Television has been overwhelmingly leading the Chinese film box office.

"Nezha: The Devil Child Comes into the World" has just broken through the 3 billion ceiling, and Shanhe's "Operation Mekong" has followed suit.

What is frustrating is that Shanhe's luck seems to have no limit, and a wealth speculation has come unexpectedly. With Shanhe's appeal today, coupled with a big investment in a main theme commercial blockbuster, if nothing unexpected happens, this film will once again break the domestic box office record just created by "Nezha".

They are not worthy of being human beings. They don't even give us a chance to breathe. What's speechless is that in the second half of the year, Chuhe Film and Television still has "Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame" and "Ghost Blows Out the Light: The Lost Tomb of Dragon Ridge", two sequels of the hit series waiting to be released!

In 2015, Chuhe Film and Television's market share is estimated to exceed 40% of the national box office. This reality makes other Chinese film and television companies extremely envious, but they can do nothing about it!

The reason is simple. Chuhe Film and Television is a super freak in the Chinese film market and the absolute overlord of the Chinese film industry. Whether it is technology, talent, management or scale, it is far ahead of other peers.

Today, Chuhe Film and Television has formed a complete entertainment empire integrating production, publicity, distribution, screening and peripherals. Even if other film and television companies unite to fight against Chuhe Film and Television, it is difficult to compete with it. Once targeted by Chuhe Film and Television, no film and television company can withstand its suppression.

To be honest, Chuhe Film and Television already has the strength and qualifications to dominate the industry. If Chuhe Film and Television stomps its feet, the entire Chinese-language film industry will be shaken!
Shanhe is not only the richest Chinese in the world, but has also become the de facto boss of the Chinese-language film industry!
And this person in charge is completely unaware of this and is still busy filming a movie on the other side of the Pacific Ocean.

On April 30, after more than a month of intensive promotion, "Operation Mekong" held its premiere at the Great Hall of the People.

This was the first time that Shanhe's film premiered in this solemn place. Shanhe and his wife asked the crew for three days off and rushed back to the country to attend this grand premiere.

That night, almost all the celebrities from the entire Chinese film and television industry gathered in the Great Hall of the People, and being invited even became a symbol of status.

La Peikang from China Film Group and Zhong Lifang from Chuhe Film and Television became the hosts of this evening, and the guests attending the event were from all over the Chinese literary and art circles.

There are not only well-known older generation directors such as Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, Feng Xiaogang, Jiang Wen, and Xu Ke, but also middle-aged directors such as Ning Hao, Wu Ershan, and Xu Zheng. Of course, there is no shortage of representatives of the new generation of directors such as Guo Fan, Lu Yang, and Bai Yuxia.

There were even more actors who came. Almost all the first-line stars from mainland China, including Chen Daoming, Li Xuejian, Gong Li, Zhou Xun, Zhang Ziyi, Li Bingbing, Liu Ye, Hu Ge, etc., were present. Hong Kong stars, including Jackie Chan, Stephen Chow, and Tony Leung, also made a special trip to show their support.

In addition, there are many cultural celebrities from other industries among the invited guests, such as Ma Weidu, Tie Ning, Yu Hua, Mo Yan, Liu Cixin and other well-known novelists.

The entire Great Hall of the People was star-studded, making it a rare grand gathering of the domestic cultural circle!

There was no noisy red carpet ceremony as in the past. The guests walked into the venue in a normal manner. Although some reporters were invited to the scene, there was no endless questioning. Everything revealed a low-key splendor.

The premiere process in the Great Hall was also very concise, without long speeches. Three producers representing Golden Shield Films, China Film Group and Chuhe Films took the stage and briefly introduced the beginning, preparation and shooting process of the film.

Then, director Shanhe and the entire crew came on stage. They did not talk too much, but just thanked the guests for coming. The whole prelude lasted less than half an hour and ended with Shanhe's words.

"The theme of the premiere is watching movies. The protagonists tonight are not us, but the frontline police officers in the movie. We can live a peaceful life because they are carrying the heavy burden. The reality is far more difficult than the movies. They deserve to be praised!"

The movie premiered amid thunderous applause from the audience.

(End of this chapter)