Chapter 00293: Dissecting Cinema City
# Dissecting Cinema City
Chapter 293
Novel: 1979 Golden Age
Chapter 293: Dissecting Cinema City
Evening.
A suite at the Peninsula Hotel.
This was a room long-term reserved by Raymond Chow, lent to Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan for discussions.
The two were still a bit uneasy, touching this and that, afraid there might be hidden devices.
After searching for a while, Jackie Chan felt their actions were rather silly.
"Are we idiots? What are we doing? No matter how capable that guy is, could he really hide cameras in this room?"
"Not necessarily. He has imperial bodyguards around him, coming and going without a trace..."
Sammo Hung also felt it was foolish and gave up on the childish behavior.
Sitting on the sofa, he opened a bottle of imported liquor, poured a glass, and downed it in one gulp.
With a sigh, he asked, "How’s your year been? Any plans?"
"Nothing much! Taiwan invited me, so I’ll go. Japan has a film asking me to guest star, so I’ll go too. It’s all about connections. I don’t have any ideas for my own films yet. What about you?"
"Same here, no ideas at all."
At the beginning of the year, during the Lunar New Year season, Golden Harvest suffered a crushing defeat.
Jackie Chan hadn’t yet recovered from the failure of *Dragon Lord*, while Sammo Hung had *Carry On Pickpocket*, which did decently but couldn’t compete with Cinema City.
Golden Harvest operated under a satellite company system, with Michael Hui, Sammo Hung, Yuen Woo-ping, and others establishing their own companies.
This model supported Golden Harvest’s vast ecosystem, and the works they produced could all be considered part of the Golden Harvest lineup.
Yet, even so, they couldn’t beat Cinema City.
Especially Sammo Hung.
He was supposed to have *The Dead and the Deadly* this year, but Chen Qi gave it to Yuen Woo-ping instead.
Golden Harvest was saving it for the summer season to join forces with Shaw Brothers against their common enemy.
As the two chatted, the time soon arrived.
Right on schedule, there was a knock at the door.
Sammo Hung went to open it, and in walked Chen Qi, holding a gift box.
"Am I late?"
"Right on time, come in, come in!"
"A small gift, nothing much!"
Chen Qi handed the gift box to Sammo Hung and shook hands with Jackie Chan.
Jackie Chan, 28 years old, was at the peak of his physical fitness.
His slightly long, wavy hair matched his look in *Dragon Lord*.
He had already gotten double eyelid surgery, and his prominent nose was unmistakable—the familiar image from later years.
"Mr. Chen, I’ve long admired your reputation!"
The two exchanged pleasantries while Sammo Hung opened the gift box, pulling out a bottle of red wine.
"I thought you’d bring Maotai."
"Maotai wouldn’t suit. This is an ’81 Lafite, excellent quality. Once this year’s grapes are harvested and turned into wine, you can also collect some—genuine ’82 Lafite. It’ll appreciate in value."
He made an inside joke only he understood.
Jackie Chan thought he was genuinely discussing wine and laughed.
"Mr. Chen, you’re really different from the mainlanders I’ve imagined. You seem more like an American."
"Hey, don’t say that carelessly. I’ll get in trouble when I go back."
Sammo Hung had already opened the wine and ordered some snacks.
They drank as they talked.
Jackie Chan had long wanted to meet him and was endlessly curious.
"Mr. Chen, ever since you came to Hong Kong, your words have been earth-shattering. You’ve even written articles in newspapers making predictions, and it seems you’ve never been wrong. May I ask, are you really, uh..."
"Oh, first of all, this isn’t superstition. I just draw conclusions based on analyzing various materials."
Chen Qi knew what he was asking.
He pretended to think for a few seconds before staring at Jackie Chan.
"For example, you—you’ll have a son this year!"
Huh?
Jackie Chan was stunned and wanted to ask more, but Chen Qi laughed heartily.
"Just kidding, don’t take it seriously. Let’s talk business!"
The business, of course, was Cinema City.
"Everyone knows Cinema City makes money, but no one analyzes why they make money, let alone conducts market research—who is their audience? Hong Kong’s film industry seems prosperous, but it’s actually too crude."
"Then why don’t you enlighten us, Mr. Chen?"
"It’s actually very simple!"
Chen Qi didn’t hold back and began lecturing like a sage.
"First is genre. Cinema City’s films can be called modern luxury comedies—modern in their fashion, luxury in their investment. Their protagonists aren’t the pitiable, laughable underdogs of small-time comedies but are instead stylish, elite, hedonistic, and steeped in pop culture. Your *Dragon Lord*—what’s it about? Gang fights in the late Qing and early Republic era! Their *Aces Go Places*—what’s it about? Interpol agents battling jewel thieves, with a cameo from a mafia boss, dazzling high-tech gadgets, and extravagant big-budget scenes. How can you compete with that? You’re hopelessly outdated!"
"You—!"
Jackie Chan clenched his fists but had no rebuttal.
This guy’s most annoying trait was this.
"Second is the role of female characters. In your films, women are just decorations, forgotten as soon as the audience leaves. But will the audience forget Sylvia Chang in *Aces Go Places*? No, because she’s a real female lead. Cinema City’s works are filled with romance, jealousy, and playful flirtation. There needs to be interaction between men and women—that’s what audiences love. Third is the audience. Now, audiences are skewing younger. Teens and young adults aged 15 to 25 are the main consumers. You’re completely ignoring market changes, clinging to your comfort zones. No wonder you’re flopping! Lastly, story structure. Their 90-minute films are divided into nine reels. The first reel must grab attention, the fourth must have a major climax, the seventh must set up another climax, and the ninth must deliver the biggest climax as the finale. At the same time, they balance action, humor, romance, and special effects, meticulously distributing them across each reel to ensure every scene has a hook, maintaining density and rhythm. That’s already Hollywood standards. Can you match that?"
"..."
Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan fell silent.
Before, they hadn’t understood—they’d just lost inexplicably.
Now they realized they truly couldn’t compete.
They fell short on every point.
"In my opinion, if you want to break through, you must first increase investment—make big films, no more small-scale, penny-pinching productions. You need big stars, big scenes, big spending! For example, why don’t the two of you collaborate?"
Huh?
The two were taken aback.
They’d only worked together early in their careers, as extras and stuntmen.
After that, they went their separate ways.
Even though they remained close, they’d never considered it.
After all, they were both big stars who could carry films on their own.
There was no need.
"These are extraordinary times. Cinema City has beaten you to a pulp. Why cling to pride? Of course you should join forces. The impact of both of you in one film—do you even realize how huge that would be? It’s a natural selling point, and you’re not using it? I don’t get what you’re thinking!"
Chen Qi lectured them with an unreserved, "I’m only saying this for your own good" attitude.
"Besides you two, get a few second-tier stars to form a main team—each with distinct personalities and unique traits. Then find a beautiful female lead, create lots of interactions and jokes. Don’t shy away from risqué humor—the raunchier, the more audiences love it. Weave in a main plot—treasure hunting, solving cases, catching thieves, adventures, whatever. Just make it modern. No more late Qing or Republic-era stuff—that’s ancient history!"
He didn’t hand them a script outright but explained the theory.
These two would definitely get it.
Don’t let their stuntman backgrounds fool you—they were rare all-rounders in Hong Kong cinema, capable of producing, directing, writing, choreographing action, stunt driving, editing, you name it...
Films like this model were plentiful—*Winners and Sinners*, *Wheels on Meals*, *My Lucky Stars*, *Millionaire’s Express*, etc. Most were directed by Sammo Hung and did well at the box office.
He didn’t mind doing them a favor.
After all, *Winners and Sinners* would come out next year anyway.
Telling them now just moved things up a bit...
The two exchanged glances, both intrigued.
After a moment, Jackie Chan asked, "Mr. Chen, after all this, do you really think we can take down Cinema City?"
(End of Chapter)