1998 October.
The Asian financial crisis intensified and affected the entire Southeast Asia region.
The impact on Hong Kong was also huge.
Since July, foreign funds led by Soros have frequently launched short-selling attacks on the Hong Kong dollar.
Under this sniping, the stock market plummeted and countless people lost everything overnight.
The fall in the stock market has even affected ordinary people.
Prices are soaring, housing prices are plummeting, and money is worthless...
Zhou Ziheng's Hengyu Cinemas was also affected.
This year, fewer and fewer people come to the cinema to watch movies.
Even if Hengyu reduces the price of movie tickets to a certain level, it will not be able to save the audience.
Seeing that the market had suffered such a huge impact, Zhou Ziheng immediately took measures.
It’s not really a big measure, it’s just to reduce the amount of filming as much as possible.
This is also the measure taken by other theaters.
During this period, the entire market shrank tremendously.
It doesn't mean that if you make a good movie, it will be a box office hit.
Due to the economic crisis, moviegoers have no money. No matter how good your movie is, it will be useless if no one watches it.
However, Zhou Ziheng did not just reduce filming, he also began to gradually shift the focus of Hengyu Films to Beijing.
In other words, Hengyu Film’s headquarters will gradually move to Beijing.
Of course, this relocation is not a one-off.
Hengyu Film will gradually reduce the number of films it invests in Hong Kong and increase the number of films it invests in on the mainland.
……
"Mr. Zhou, long time no see!"
In Beijing, Hengyu Films has selected a new company address here.
Not combined with Hengyu Film and Television.
Zhou Ziheng plans to separate the two companies, with Hengyu Film mainly responsible for movies and Hengyu Film and Television focusing on TV series.
On September 3rd, Zhou Ziheng had just arrived at the company for a short while when he heard the front desk say someone was looking for him.
Not a stranger yet.
The person who came was Wang Zhongjun.
When Wang Zhongjun saw Zhou Ziheng, he immediately came forward to greet him warmly.
"Please take a seat, Mr. Wang!"
It has to be said that the future success of these two brothers is indeed a big deal.
Even though he had snatched Feng Xiaogang away from them, they actually contacted Chen Kaige this year.
Huayi Brothers was established as usual.
"Boss Zhou suddenly moved the business back to Beijing. Is there any inside information?"
Wang Zhongjun sat down, looked around, and went straight to the point to ask Zhou Ziheng for information.
Hearing this, Zhou Ziheng immediately understood his purpose.
Perhaps it was because he suddenly moved Hengyu's business back to Beijing that he felt that Zhou Ziheng knew some inside information that he didn't know.
Zhou Ziheng certainly knew the inside story, but how could he possibly tell Wang Zhongjun.
"What inside story could there be? Hong Kong was affected by the economic crisis and it was very difficult to make movies. I moved back to preserve my strength."
Zhou Ziheng said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Wang Zhongjun didn't believe it.
"Everyone knows Mr. Zhou's connections. Mr. Zhou's sudden move of the business back here is probably not just a matter of preserving strength!"
After a pause, Wang Zhongjun said: "Our mainland's film and television industry is still far behind Hong Kong and Taiwan.
If you have any inside information, please let me know." Zhou Ziheng looked at him deeply and nodded, "Yes, I will let you know if there is any news."
After Wang Zhongjun didn't hear any news from Zhou Ziheng, he left quickly.
After seeing him off, Zhou Ziheng returned to his desk and sat down to ponder.
He really knows some inside information.
In the past two years, he has been actively contacting people to promote the privatization of cinema chains.
Recently, this has begun to loosen up.
前世，从2002年6月1日首批30条院线成立，到2005年民营资本相继投资入驻。
From 2010 when various websites started group buying movie tickets, to 2015 when movie ticketing platforms began to get involved in film promotion and marketing on a large scale.
From the official establishment of the National Art Film Screening Alliance in 2016 to Bona and China Media obtaining theater licenses after "Document No. 2019" in 4.
From the number of movie screens nationwide officially exceeding 2021 in 8, to China Film Group and others trying more new projects in 2022... the reform and development of China's cinema chain system has never stopped in the past 20 years, laying the foundation for China to move from a film power to a film powerhouse.
In this life, he actively contacts people to promote development in this area.
This process may have to be brought forward.
The reason why Zhou Ziheng moved Hengyu back to Beijing during this period of time was that the market in Hong Kong had indeed fallen to a very ugly level due to economic reasons.
Another reason is the relaxation of the policy on privatization of cinema chains.
He is confident that he can obtain the first batch of private cinema operating licenses.
As soon as he gets the license, he will immediately start building cinemas in major cities across the mainland.
To this end, he has concentrated most of his liquid funds in one place.
In the past few years, he has accumulated about 500 million US dollars from various incomes such as records, movies, companies, endorsements, and investments.
He plans to invest half of it into the construction of the cinema chain.
As for the remaining half, some will be used for some sound business investments.
A portion of it will be used by Zhou Ziheng to invest in an online video playback platform.
Well, it’s like iQiyi and Tencent in later generations.
Speaking of Tencent, Zhou Ziheng remembered that Tencent seemed to be established at the end of this year.
He has arranged for his investment fund managers to follow this news.
As long as Tencent releases news of financing, he will immediately invest.
……
In October, after the National Day, there was definite news about the privatization of cinemas promoted by Zhou Ziheng.
The privatization of cinema chains has been officially approved.
Zhou Ziheng's Hengyu Cinema Chain became one of the first private enterprises to obtain an operating license.
As soon as he got the license, Zhou Ziheng immediately took action.
He gave priority to planning the construction of cinema chains in first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou.
He did not intend to build a large number of cinema chains in one go, but instead prioritized planning and building 33 cinemas in first-tier cities.
Wait until these cities gradually become saturated, and then slowly develop towards second-tier and third-tier cities.
This process does not happen overnight.
Zhou Ziheng plans to complete Hengyu's nationwide layout within fifteen years.
If he were to open Hengyu branches in all the major and small cities across the country, Hengyu would instantly become the most powerful entertainment company in the country.
Because there are already a few cinemas in China, and some of them are located in good locations, Zhou Ziheng acquired 21 old cinemas at one time at the end of October, and after a simple renovation, he officially incorporated them into the Hengyu Cinema Line.
This also means that Hengyu Cinemas has officially started operations.
The first movie shown in the cinema was Zhang Yimou's "Not One Less".
This drama achieved very good results internationally and won many awards.
Although the box office may not be satisfactory, Hengyu currently does not have any suitable movies, so it would be nice to use it as the opening work.
When Feng Xiaogang's Never Ending is completed in December and this movie is released, that will be the time to really make the cinema famous. (End of this chapter)
The Asian financial crisis intensified and affected the entire Southeast Asia region.
The impact on Hong Kong was also huge.
Since July, foreign funds led by Soros have frequently launched short-selling attacks on the Hong Kong dollar.
Under this sniping, the stock market plummeted and countless people lost everything overnight.
The fall in the stock market has even affected ordinary people.
Prices are soaring, housing prices are plummeting, and money is worthless...
Zhou Ziheng's Hengyu Cinemas was also affected.
This year, fewer and fewer people come to the cinema to watch movies.
Even if Hengyu reduces the price of movie tickets to a certain level, it will not be able to save the audience.
Seeing that the market had suffered such a huge impact, Zhou Ziheng immediately took measures.
It’s not really a big measure, it’s just to reduce the amount of filming as much as possible.
This is also the measure taken by other theaters.
During this period, the entire market shrank tremendously.
It doesn't mean that if you make a good movie, it will be a box office hit.
Due to the economic crisis, moviegoers have no money. No matter how good your movie is, it will be useless if no one watches it.
However, Zhou Ziheng did not just reduce filming, he also began to gradually shift the focus of Hengyu Films to Beijing.
In other words, Hengyu Film’s headquarters will gradually move to Beijing.
Of course, this relocation is not a one-off.
Hengyu Film will gradually reduce the number of films it invests in Hong Kong and increase the number of films it invests in on the mainland.
……
"Mr. Zhou, long time no see!"
In Beijing, Hengyu Films has selected a new company address here.
Not combined with Hengyu Film and Television.
Zhou Ziheng plans to separate the two companies, with Hengyu Film mainly responsible for movies and Hengyu Film and Television focusing on TV series.
On September 3rd, Zhou Ziheng had just arrived at the company for a short while when he heard the front desk say someone was looking for him.
Not a stranger yet.
The person who came was Wang Zhongjun.
When Wang Zhongjun saw Zhou Ziheng, he immediately came forward to greet him warmly.
"Please take a seat, Mr. Wang!"
It has to be said that the future success of these two brothers is indeed a big deal.
Even though he had snatched Feng Xiaogang away from them, they actually contacted Chen Kaige this year.
Huayi Brothers was established as usual.
"Boss Zhou suddenly moved the business back to Beijing. Is there any inside information?"
Wang Zhongjun sat down, looked around, and went straight to the point to ask Zhou Ziheng for information.
Hearing this, Zhou Ziheng immediately understood his purpose.
Perhaps it was because he suddenly moved Hengyu's business back to Beijing that he felt that Zhou Ziheng knew some inside information that he didn't know.
Zhou Ziheng certainly knew the inside story, but how could he possibly tell Wang Zhongjun.
"What inside story could there be? Hong Kong was affected by the economic crisis and it was very difficult to make movies. I moved back to preserve my strength."
Zhou Ziheng said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Wang Zhongjun didn't believe it.
"Everyone knows Mr. Zhou's connections. Mr. Zhou's sudden move of the business back here is probably not just a matter of preserving strength!"
After a pause, Wang Zhongjun said: "Our mainland's film and television industry is still far behind Hong Kong and Taiwan.
If you have any inside information, please let me know." Zhou Ziheng looked at him deeply and nodded, "Yes, I will let you know if there is any news."
After Wang Zhongjun didn't hear any news from Zhou Ziheng, he left quickly.
After seeing him off, Zhou Ziheng returned to his desk and sat down to ponder.
He really knows some inside information.
In the past two years, he has been actively contacting people to promote the privatization of cinema chains.
Recently, this has begun to loosen up.
前世，从2002年6月1日首批30条院线成立，到2005年民营资本相继投资入驻。
From 2010 when various websites started group buying movie tickets, to 2015 when movie ticketing platforms began to get involved in film promotion and marketing on a large scale.
From the official establishment of the National Art Film Screening Alliance in 2016 to Bona and China Media obtaining theater licenses after "Document No. 2019" in 4.
From the number of movie screens nationwide officially exceeding 2021 in 8, to China Film Group and others trying more new projects in 2022... the reform and development of China's cinema chain system has never stopped in the past 20 years, laying the foundation for China to move from a film power to a film powerhouse.
In this life, he actively contacts people to promote development in this area.
This process may have to be brought forward.
The reason why Zhou Ziheng moved Hengyu back to Beijing during this period of time was that the market in Hong Kong had indeed fallen to a very ugly level due to economic reasons.
Another reason is the relaxation of the policy on privatization of cinema chains.
He is confident that he can obtain the first batch of private cinema operating licenses.
As soon as he gets the license, he will immediately start building cinemas in major cities across the mainland.
To this end, he has concentrated most of his liquid funds in one place.
In the past few years, he has accumulated about 500 million US dollars from various incomes such as records, movies, companies, endorsements, and investments.
He plans to invest half of it into the construction of the cinema chain.
As for the remaining half, some will be used for some sound business investments.
A portion of it will be used by Zhou Ziheng to invest in an online video playback platform.
Well, it’s like iQiyi and Tencent in later generations.
Speaking of Tencent, Zhou Ziheng remembered that Tencent seemed to be established at the end of this year.
He has arranged for his investment fund managers to follow this news.
As long as Tencent releases news of financing, he will immediately invest.
……
In October, after the National Day, there was definite news about the privatization of cinemas promoted by Zhou Ziheng.
The privatization of cinema chains has been officially approved.
Zhou Ziheng's Hengyu Cinema Chain became one of the first private enterprises to obtain an operating license.
As soon as he got the license, Zhou Ziheng immediately took action.
He gave priority to planning the construction of cinema chains in first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou.
He did not intend to build a large number of cinema chains in one go, but instead prioritized planning and building 33 cinemas in first-tier cities.
Wait until these cities gradually become saturated, and then slowly develop towards second-tier and third-tier cities.
This process does not happen overnight.
Zhou Ziheng plans to complete Hengyu's nationwide layout within fifteen years.
If he were to open Hengyu branches in all the major and small cities across the country, Hengyu would instantly become the most powerful entertainment company in the country.
Because there are already a few cinemas in China, and some of them are located in good locations, Zhou Ziheng acquired 21 old cinemas at one time at the end of October, and after a simple renovation, he officially incorporated them into the Hengyu Cinema Line.
This also means that Hengyu Cinemas has officially started operations.
The first movie shown in the cinema was Zhang Yimou's "Not One Less".
This drama achieved very good results internationally and won many awards.
Although the box office may not be satisfactory, Hengyu currently does not have any suitable movies, so it would be nice to use it as the opening work.
When Feng Xiaogang's Never Ending is completed in December and this movie is released, that will be the time to really make the cinema famous. (End of this chapter)
