Chapter 00182: Superintendent of the Eastern Depot
# Superintendent of the Eastern Depot
Chapter 182
Novel: 1979 Golden Age
Chapter 182: Superintendent of the Eastern Depot
Chen Qi was all too familiar with the director's office.
He walked in, plopped down on the sofa, poured himself a cup of tea, and glanced at Wang Yang with a smile.
"You seem to be in high spirits. Something good must have happened."
"Actually, it's your good news!"
Wang Yang picked up a stack of documents and handed them to him.
"I've been in meetings all week, discussing your arrangements. We've finally come up with a preliminary plan."
"Well, you've worked hard. Why don't you explain it to me? The documents are a bit too abstract."
"Sure, some things can't really be put into writing."
Wang Yang gathered his thoughts and began, "The Ministry of Culture has a bureau for international cultural relations, responsible for cultural exchanges with Hong Kong, Macau, and overseas. We're planning to set up a company under this bureau. You'll have the authority to produce films independently, distribute them overseas, and collaborate with leftist groups in Hong Kong!"
Chen Qi took a sharp breath, feeling a surge of excitement.
This was exactly what he had been hoping for!
But he quickly calmed down and asked, "Can you be more specific? Are there any restrictions?"
"Haha, you're sharp as ever!"
Wang Yang took a drag from his cigarette and continued slowly, "For the production side, you'll need to use the name of the Beijing Film Studio. You can use their resources or find your own. No one will interfere with what you shoot or how you shoot it. You'll have full control."
"I have a condition. I can use the Beijing Film Studio's name, but I also want to include the company's name. So, there will be two production credits, with yours first and mine second."
From this moment on, the relationship between Chen Qi and Wang Yang had changed.
Wang Yang had helped him too much, and Chen Qi felt a sense of gratitude.
Under the right conditions, he was willing to give the Beijing Film Studio some benefits.
"Agreed!"
Wang Yang nodded.
"The Ministry of Culture will allocate two quotas for you each year, meaning you can produce two films annually."
"That's too little!"
"Kid, you're a one-man army. Two films a year isn't enough?"
"Come on, I can handle five or six films a year without breaking a sweat!"
"Cut the crap! Start with two, and if you need more, you can apply later. Third, the domestic distribution of 'Tai Chi' will be handled by China Film Group. The revenue from the copies will go to you as startup funds."
"Deal!"
Chen Qi knew that the number of copies for 'Tai Chi' would surely set a new record.
If the Ministry of Culture were to allocate funds, it might not even be as much as this.
"The company's finances will be managed by the higher-ups. Any foreign earnings will go directly into the national treasury and then converted into RMB at a certain ratio before being allocated to you."
"The company can distribute films overseas, but only those it produces itself. You can collaborate with leftist groups in Hong Kong, and co-productions won't count against your quota. You can negotiate the specifics. Lastly, it will be much easier for you to travel abroad in the future. That's about it. Do you have anything else to add?"
Chen Qi thought for a moment and asked, "Can I explore other sources of income?"
"What do you have in mind?"
"Give me a publication license. I want to start a magazine. Or allow me to take out loans from banks or raise funds from other sources."
"We'll need to look into that."
Wang Yang made a note in his notebook and asked, "Anything else?"
"Who will be on the team?"
"We'll send someone down to act as the administrative head, along with a financial officer and you. That makes three. You'll handle the specific operations and can recruit your own team."
"That's not bad. Otherwise, I'd really be a one-man army."
"If there's nothing else, let's talk about the company name. Our suggestion is to avoid anything too commercial, something that screams capitalist. Keep it low-key and subtle."
"Low-key and subtle, huh..."
Chen Qi pondered for a moment and said, "How about China International Cultural and Artistic Exchange Co., Ltd.?"
Wang Yang smacked him and scolded, "Dream on! A national-level name? That's not for ordinary companies!"
"Then Beijing International?"
"Still no!"
"How about Oriental Culture and Arts Co., Ltd.? That's as low as I can go. I can't name it after some alleyway, can I?"
"We'll think about it!"
Wang Yang and Chen Qi went over all the details, and as they finished, Wang Yang lit a cigarette and sighed, "Kid, you once told me we'd make foreign currency together. Now we've done it. I always wanted you to join the Beijing Film Studio, but you said you wanted to do your own thing. Now you've succeeded."
"Don't say that. I feel bad. You've helped me so much, and I will repay you! Actually, you should think of it this way: with our current setup, we'll have an even closer relationship than before, right? Plus, I'll still be using your office and your name. Nothing's really changed!"
"Still trying to take advantage, huh? Alright, get out of here!"
Wang Yang waved him off, and Chen Qi took a couple of steps before turning back to ask, "By the way, how did your talks with China Film Group go?"
"Hah! China Film Group is in a real mess right now. All the other studios are coming to Beijing, trying to take advantage and snatch the distribution rights."
"..."
Chen Qi hesitated but then advised, "Old Director, this might not be the right time to say this, but I don't think now is the best time to fight for domestic distribution rights. If you really want to fight, aim for overseas. If we all go overseas and test our mettle, it'll benefit everyone. We can talk more about this later."
Wang Yang was taken aback, but by the time he looked up, Chen Qi was already gone.
...
A few days later.
The matter was finally settled: Oriental Culture and Arts Co., Ltd. was established, with Chen Qi in charge of film production.
He was also allowed to start a magazine, and everything else followed the regulations Wang Yang and he had discussed.
Chen Qi had fulfilled his boast—he now had his own operation!
Though there were still many restrictions, given the current environment, it was as open as it could get.
He understood that he was part of a reform pilot, but that didn't matter.
As long as he could get things done, he was fine with it.
This company, like China Film Group, was under the Ministry of Culture.
In terms of scale, it couldn't compare—just a small team.
Even the administrative head sent over was a retired official named Li Mingfu, a kindly old man who clearly understood his role.
Chen Qi chatted with him and found him agreeable.
Given his young age, Chen Qi couldn't hold a high position, which was a disadvantage.
But it also meant he didn't have to deal with administrative hassles and could focus solely on his work.
For now, the company existed only in name.
It would take some time to get everything in place, which gave Chen Qi the opportunity to recruit his team.
The industry had caught wind of the news, and all the studios were buzzing, rushing to Beijing to challenge China Film Group for distribution rights...
But Chen Qi knew that in the mid-to-late 1980s, the industry had indeed opened up.
At that time, there were options like agency distribution, one-time buyouts, and revenue-sharing agreements.
The studios were thrilled, but the new system only lasted two years before reverting to the old copy-selling model.
The domestic environment was unique, and Chen Qi had successfully navigated around it.
He could now travel relatively freely to Hong Kong and overseas, openly collaborating with leftist groups.
This was crucial.
He wasn't planning to rely on the mainland while establishing himself in Hong Kong.
Instead, he aimed to establish himself on the mainland and conquer Hong Kong!
If the studios were smart, they'd come knocking, seeking joint productions and letting Chen Qi lead the way, rather than endlessly bickering with China Film Group...
"The weight of two capitals and thirteen provinces—half of it rests on my shoulders!"
(End of chapter...)