Hong Kong: Starting with 10 billion

Chapter 68 Release and a Good Start
The box office of Hui's comedy "The Contract" released in early August reached 8 million Hong Kong dollars.
This is second only to the HK$76 million box office revenue earned by the three brothers for the film "Eight Taels" in 853.

It can be said that from the mid-70s to the early 80s,
The comedy films of the Hui trio are unrivaled in Hong Kong.

If Drunken Master was still released as it was originally,

This year's box office champion is definitely "The Contract".

But as the opening film of DreamWorks Films,
During the filming, they encountered gang riots, and later encountered difficulties in the negotiations with the theater chain.

It can be described as twists and turns.

Many people want to see Fang Hexuan make a fool of himself.

In addition, after Fang Hexuan acquired "Da Huang Toys" and changed its name,
Although its share price has risen from HK$0.47 to HK$1.35,

But it was still far from Fang Hexuan's expectations.

Therefore, even if it is to boost the share price of DreamWorks Entertainment,

This first film must not only not fail, but also win great acclaim.

Fang Hexuan also hoped that the box office champion in 1978 would go to DreamWorks.

To this end, he provided a distribution budget of 200 million Hong Kong dollars for the movie "Drunken Master".

You Bingwen advised Fang Hexuan more than once to be frugal with his spending.

Now we have to spend another 200 million to promote the movie, which is more than the production cost.

With such lavish spending, there is less than 2000 million Hong Kong dollars in the bank account.

I'm afraid he can't withstand half a year of nagging.

Zhou Liangsuyi also disagreed with this approach.

But Fang Hexuan said, "Why are you in such a hurry to spend my money?"
He immediately blocked her words of advice.

Fang Hexuan is not wasting money.

In my previous life, I was involved in venture capital, and during those years when domestic films were booming, capital poured in like crazy.

Fang Hexuan has studied and heard from industry insiders that,
For Hollywood blockbusters, the distribution costs are generally almost the same as the production costs of the finished film.

A movie that costs hundreds of millions of dollars to produce will also cost hundreds of millions of dollars for its subsequent distribution and marketing.

Of course, such blockbusters are basically distributed and promoted globally.

So, in comparison, Fang Hexuan's 200 million Hong Kong dollars is already very luxurious.

He only needs to do a good job of marketing and promotion in Hong Kong. Once the movie sells well at the local box office,

Southeast Asia and Japan will naturally flock to it.

With so much money invested, the two TV stations on Mount Wutai

The trailer for Drunken Master was broadcast on all major channels for three consecutive days.

The two radio stations broadcast radio interviews with Jackie Chan and other crew members for five consecutive days.

Almost all newspapers with a certain circulation in Hong Kong, even Fang Hexuan's enemy "Oriental Daily News", had a prominent page.
Advertisements for the release of "Drunken Master" also appeared for five consecutive days.

Not only that, DreamWorks also organized people to distribute "Watch a movie and win a prize" event flyers in all communities in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.

Even in more remote areas of the New Territories, such as Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Tai Po, Sai Kung and Lantau Island, DreamWorks rented trucks to travel back and forth to broadcast event broadcasts.

Do you think that's all?

Fang Hexuan also organized Wanda's real estate elites to accompany DreamWorks' promoters to negotiate with the largest supermarkets in Hong Kong.
Conduct a joint marketing campaign together——

That is, if you spend a certain amount of money, you will receive single, couple, or family tickets for the movie "Drunken Master", as well as small gifts such as popcorn and cola.

Fang Hexuan felt that all his current tricks were child's play.
But in the eyes of Chow Selina, Lau Tin-chi, Lo Kwok-chum, Jackie Chan, Yuen Woo-ping and others,

There are so many different kinds of tricks, never heard of before.

In the eyes of later mainland marketing geniuses, these were indeed crude techniques.

However, in 78, it cannot be said to be unprecedented, but it is certainly unprecedented.

The promotion of the movie "Drunken Master" was well known in Hong Kong.
Even the wife of Hong Kong Governor Murray MacLehose said that she was lucky enough to get two movie tickets when she went shopping at the supermarket.
She even said seriously that she was going to take her darling to have a look.

Endorsement from the highest levels of the Hong Kong government,
Instead, it made many Hong Kong citizens who used to be indifferent start to show some interest in watching "Drunken Master".

This series of actions by DreamWorks also opened the eyes and shocked other film companies including Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest.

The issuance fee of HK$200 million is something that only this new startup company is willing to invest.

This large-scale, wide-ranging, multi-channel distribution method was included in the curriculum of the newly established Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts a few years later.

It has inspired batch after batch of Hong Kong professionals to join the film and television industry.

On October 10, Drunken Master was officially released in three major cinema chains, and the crowds queuing to buy tickets filled the streets where the cinemas were located.

The Hong Kong Police Force had to send personnel to the scene to maintain order and direct traffic.

TVB also sent a news crew to do several on-site reports.

It also surprised Hong Kong citizens watching TV at how popular this movie is.

······
October 10, Hilton Hotel, Central.

Last night I was a man who had sex seven times in one night.

No matter how young you are or how good your physical fitness is,
Fang Hexuan also felt a little tired.

At eight o'clock in the morning, Fang Hexuan, who was still in a deep sleep, was awakened by Li Leshi.

Watching this woman playfully playing with the stick,

He was helpless.

Isn't it said that a man is as strong as a tiger at 26? How come he is already at his peak at ?

Even he, an 18-year-old young man, was a little overwhelmed, but the other party was still full of energy at this moment.

Everyone only slept for three or four hours, okay!

Li Leshi saw Fang Hexuan's somewhat tired look and said with a smug smile:
"Wake up, lazy bum! I asked the waiter to bring breakfast and some newspapers. They have the latest box office report of Drunken Master!"

When Fang Hexuan heard this, he suddenly didn't feel tired anymore. He stood up and reached out to take the newspaper.

"DreamWorks' first film Drunken Master grossed over HK$60 on its first day, setting a new record for the first-day box office in the local film market!"

Fang Hexuan looked at several other newspapers and found that the contents were similar.

He nodded with satisfaction, took the coffee brought by Li Leshi and took a sip, with the corners of his mouth slowly rising.

This result is indeed quite good, considering that the current movie ticket price is less than HK$10.

In addition, Hong Kong movies are usually released for about a month, and the prime screening time is only about 20 days.

In other words, this movie, if nothing unexpected happens, is certain to be a big hit.

Moreover, yesterday was Thursday, so the next two days are even more worth looking forward to.

"Ah Xuan, you are so awesome!"

"Oh, what's so great about it?"

"They're all great!"

"Then do you want to try again?"

"Hate!"

"Then I'll go?"

"You obviously know what I mean!"

"I'm still young and I really don't understand. Sister, you have to explain it clearly so that I can understand!"

"Little pervert!"

“Haha, I wonder who was shouting so excitedly last night?”

"Oh, stop talking!"

"You woke me up so early in the morning, and I'm still standing there, what do you say I should do?"

"You think of it yourself!"

"You dare to set the fire, but you don't want to put it out. You are such a bad woman!"

"Hehe, do you like me, a bad woman?"

"It depends on your performance!"

"Then go take a shower first."

"Wash your ass, don't you all like stinky men?"

Before Li Leshi could refute, Fang Hexuan had already thrown her onto the big bed.

······
　Thanks to Feixiang Feicui and Yijidao for their recommendations!

(End of this chapter)