Started as an independent producer in 1988

Chapter 328: So what if you steal or rob!
In a studio inside China Film Group, technical experts from various factories across the country gathered together.

In front of them were twelve digital video cameras, a set of motion capture equipment, three sets of projection equipment and twenty of the most advanced digital cameras currently available.

Chen Shiping stood in front of the equipment, looked at the experts and said, "I am glad that you can come to this technical seminar."

"As for the purpose of this technical seminar, everyone should be clear about it."

"This year is a critical year for the digital camera industry. Four popular megapixel digital cameras have been launched, and foreign manufacturers are focusing on digital camera research."

"Next year, the digital field will definitely see another big explosion, and by then, digital cameras will inevitably begin to fully occupy the market."

"Of course, cameras are only one aspect. Two years ago, Sony successfully launched a mature digital camera, and this year it has developed even more mature products. Perhaps next year digital cameras will replace traditional film cameras."

"The Hollywood film industry is also working hard to develop digital technology. This big guy is their motion capture system."

"Everything revolves around two key points: electronic digital and photosensitive components."

“Whether it’s a digital camera or video camera, or a motion capture system or digital special effects, these things are indispensable.”

"All factories are now at the end of their rope. If they don't work hard to catch the last train of digital electronics, they will be completely eliminated!"

"Factory 358 is almost unable to sustain itself, right? It will go bankrupt and be liquidated in two years at most."

"The products of Shanghai Camera Corporation are starting to become overstocked and unsalable. Have they switched from manufacturing to acting as an agent for foreign products?"

Chen Shiping talked about each factory one by one. He had already fully understood the conditions of these factories.

Few of them developed well, and some started to make losses or were on the verge of bankruptcy.

Many factories invested heavily in traditional camera production lines in the past few years, and the imported equipment was sold at a very cheap price at that time.

Many factories are very happy. The production lines have only been in operation for less than two years, but suddenly people are starting to play with digital products!

Damn, the foreigners transferred their obsolete equipment to me at a low price!

This is the problem of not keeping up with the market vision. You think you are getting a good deal, but in fact you are just recycling other people's waste at a high price.

Use your money to develop new technology, and then come back to beat you to death!
The equipment and production lines of Factory 358 are the largest in the country, but they are of little use and no one buys what it produces.

Later, when the bankruptcy liquidation occurred, those equipments became very embarrassing. Ninety percent of the equipments were left lying there with no way to deal with them.

The wheel of time is rolling forward and cannot be stopped. We can only find ways to be the one who pushes the wheel, and not be the one who is crushed by it.

Chen Shiping pointed at the equipment and said, "These are products from the world's top fifteen companies: Sony, Canon, Kodak, Fujifilm, HP, Nikon, and Casio."

"At last year's International Photographic Equipment Expo, many top manufacturers began to promote digital electronics. One year later, there is still no movement in China."

"I'm anxious, aren't you anxious too? The factory is about to close down, and you're not anxious either?"

Chen Shiping said jokingly: "I am a filmmaker but I am more anxious than you. There is no reason in the world for customers to worry about businesses."

Many technical experts from the factories blushed at this point. In fact, many people had thought about making changes, but each factory had many problems and the ship was too big to turn around.

Chen Shiping sighed and said, "This is also the reason why we invited all the experts to the meeting. China Film hopes to take the lead in establishing the country's top digital photography research institute. All manufacturers will work together to share technology and achievements, and China Film will provide funding!"

"As for your original production line and products, I will help you sell them. Many third world countries cannot afford digital cameras. Two hundred dollars can kill them."

The eyes of many factory managers lit up at this moment. Technological reform or something like that was not as exciting as this news!

Talk about technological reform, that is a matter of future development. The key is whether these factories can survive now.

There is no way to talk about technology without solving the current dilemma.

Chen Shiping naturally knew this truth, so he needed to worry about them.

Let’s dump products at low prices, at least let the factories survive first, it doesn’t matter whether they survive well or not.

Let’s wait a few years and see.

Chen Shiping coughed lightly and said, "This is not a simple matter. I will communicate with your factory leaders later.

Now, experts, please study these devices. Whether or not they are included in the final decision, this can be considered a technical exchange.”

After saying this, Chen Shiping gave the space to the experts.

They don't need to worry about the development of the factory, just focus on the technology.

China is really strong in the field of optics. Chen Shiping is not worried about technical issues in this regard. It’s just that these things will eventually involve semiconductors and chips.

Chen Shiping even began to worry whether he would go into semiconductors in the future.

But it shouldn't be necessary. The chips in cameras and camcorders are not that advanced, so Chen Shiping doesn't need to worry about it.

The experts went to study the equipment and new technologies, but Chen Shiping was stopped by the factory leaders.

They all wanted to know if Chen Shiping could help them expand their sales.

“China Film has channels in many parts of Asia, but those big Western companies don’t look down on it, and those countries also have low spending power.

I can't afford a digital camera for $100, but I can still grit my teeth and buy a film camera for $20.

If we can control the price and sell at a low price, this is a good direction. Don't always think about going to the high-end market in Europe and the United States. If you can take over Asia, Africa and Latin America, you will win."

After Chen Shiping finished speaking, he suddenly thought of a manufacturer in the future who specialized in making low-end mobile phones. They were doing very well in Africa and making a lot of money.

The market, which even big companies don't care about, was swallowed up by others in one go. Even though the profits are high, they can't withstand the large volume.

This has been the trend of corporate development in China in recent years. It is considered awesome to cooperate with European and American companies, even if you are just working as a contract manufacturer for them.

But when it comes to cooperating with African countries, even if we are in a dominant position, we are embarrassed to mention it.

It is important to humble yourself.

However, it’s not that these factories are unable to lower themselves, they simply don’t have the channels.

Chen Shiping can now provide them with some channels, but whether they can succeed depends on what they do next.

Chen Shiping chatted with these people for a while and then left.

Each of them should first make a detailed report on their own production and product conditions before they can discuss cooperation.

The key is that Chen Shiping still needs to see whether these experts can come up with a good idea for development.

Helping these enterprises develop is not Chen Shiping’s main goal. He is the general manager of China Film Corporation and he is not here to help them develop.

If the experts in these factories can't figure it out, Chen Shiping would rather invest in various universities.

Save resources and focus on research and development.

If these experts can make something of themselves, Chen Shiping would be doing a good deed by spending his time and energy helping them.

You can’t have the mind of a saint, otherwise Chen Shiping will be exhausted to death.

It's good enough if you can do your own part well. There's no time to be a savior.

Give the experts some time and check back in a few days.

In Chen Shiping's office, he dealt with the company's affairs and then took the documents to the municipal government.

The construction of the digital base in Huairou required the help of the municipal government. The municipal government was very supportive of China Film Group. Mr. Tong had done all the work to build the relationship. Now that we have a better project, they are more welcoming.

Chen Shiping said it well, high-tech industries are in line with the development positioning of the capital.

A film and television base sounds very low-end. How can Beijing have the same positioning as Chengde?

With China Film Corporation providing funding and the municipal government taking the lead, the procedures were completed very quickly!
After obtaining the formalities, before Chen Shiping took the next step, many people came to him hoping to become contractors to build this digital base.

The companies that come to inquire have bigger backgrounds than the others.

Chen Shiping is so annoyed, I haven’t even started bidding yet!

And we have our own construction company!

We will leave it to you and not develop our own real estate company!
I just renamed the group’s building and am getting ready to show off my skills!

China Film Group Construction Co., Ltd. is the predecessor of the Beijing Film Studio's Set Design Department.

In the past two years, we have built many houses in Chengde and Beidaihe, so we have sufficient construction experience.

Chen Shiping gave them a task: to produce the design drawings and determine the construction plan within three months, and start construction in the early spring of next year!
If development goes well, we can start cultural and tourism real estate projects next year.

Amusement parks, hotels, and shopping malls are all necessary.

These will be the most profitable industries for China Film Group in the future.

These things are very troublesome to do, and the prospects do not seem very clear at the moment. Many people are not optimistic about cultural and tourism real estate.

I feel that this project is difficult to develop. It is better to develop residential housing than cultural tourism. Welfare housing has just been cancelled and real estate is very hot now.

However, there are also large companies that are very interested in this and want to cooperate with Chen Shiping.

Poly was very interested and contacted Chen Shiping to seek cooperation.

However, Chen Shiping did not agree, and he certainly could not agree now. The last time he reported to his leader in Huairou, the leader revealed a very important piece of news to him.

China Broadcasting Group is to be established!

By incorporating all group companies such as CCTV, China Film Group, and China Broadcasting Corporation, there will be a total of six main units to form a super media group.

Chen Shiping now has to ensure that the group's overseas investment and equity penetration will not affect the subsequent establishment of the group.

Poly has a lot of money. If they invest heavily, there will be problems with many equity shares, which will be very troublesome.

Moreover, Poly also plans to set up a cultural company, and things will become unclear by then.

Chen Shiping didn't have much hope for China Broadcasting Corporation, and it was actually not much different from now.

However, there was always some hidden meaning in what the leader said last time. Chen Shiping has been too busy recently and really didn't figure out what it meant.

The newly established super group will set up a management committee. Can I, the general manager, be included in it?

Logically speaking, it should belong to Mr. Tong.

Chen Shiping thought about it for a while and stopped thinking about it. Why think about it?

Is it possible that I can become the director of the management committee in the future?

Then the person in charge must be the top leader, and the leader who leaked the news to him is now the leader.

If you want to get the position of director of the management committee, you have to go to D school at least twice and study for two years.

Chen Shiping doesn't have the time to study now. It's an important time when a hundred boats are competing with each other. How can he have the time to care about these things?

However, if you can really reach that position, you will have the opportunity to be sent out as a senior executive in the future.

You can’t think about it, Chen Shiping rubbed his temples. He didn’t want to spend his time thinking about this. It would make him exhausted.

As for life, where does it end?

If I can build China Film Group into a super giant in the future, I can retire happily.

Chen Shiping rejected Poly's cooperation and reorganized the group's equity. After making sure there were no problems, he refocused his work on technology.

China Film Group provided a special studio for those experts to use as a research room.

Now that several devices have been dismantled, Chen Shiping saw a pile of parts when he went over.

A dozen experts were whispering about photosensitive elements, optical systems, optical viewfinders, operating systems, and high-resolution analog and digital signals.

Chen Shiping squatted there and listened for a long time. He only understood a few familiar terms, but didn't understand the rest at all.

He couldn't help but coughed and asked, "Experts, I've been listening to you for a long time. Isn't this thing quite simple?"

Expert: “???” Where did you hear that?

Chen Shiping was embarrassed for a moment and changed his words to ask, "Is it difficult to imitate?"

"It can be copied with some effort."

“Is it difficult to copy and then develop your own technology?”

"Assembly is not difficult, but production is difficult. Lenses and color separation films are not difficult either. The key is the photosensitive film, which is the key to converting into electronic information."

Chen Shiping was a little disappointed and asked again: "Do we have to rely on imports?"

"Not really. It's just that this is something that can only be accomplished by the optoelectronics and computer industries working together. You can't tell me anything just by asking me."

Chen Shiping said, "Where are those computer experts from Peking University and Tsinghua University? Why can't I see them?"

"I took some components back to school and haven't come here for the past two days."

Chen Shiping nodded, chatted with a few experts for a while, and then went to Peking University and Tsinghua University.

After running back and forth twice, Chen Shiping got the answer that it was not difficult to imitate, but it would take time to understand it.

After hearing this news, Chen Shiping felt much more relieved.

Having the ability to imitate means having the opportunity to transform it into your own technology and then develop it slowly.

Chen Shiping really didn't understand these professional technologies. He could only nod his head while people explained what electromagnetic transmission and digital signal image processing and analysis were.

This thing is similar to listening to the book from heaven. Anyway, Chen Shiping only has one question: can it be done?

The final answer is yes, the current technology has not been so disrupted that people cannot catch up.

China is doing well in the field of optoelectronics and has always been in the first echelon in the world.

After all, this thing is related to military industry and has been developed for decades.

It’s just that we’re a little bit behind in computers, but foreign technology is not so far ahead that it makes people despair.

Take it slow, first copy to lay the foundation, then develop slowly, China is the best at this!
Otherwise, you won’t be able to plagiarize and will have to start over.

What's the big deal about plagiarism? As long as you can do it, what's the harm in stealing or robbing!

(End of this chapter)