Nobody knows movies better than me

Chapter 35 The Boss is Generous

On New Year's Day, Zhang Jun called his family to express his holiday greetings and mentioned that he had bought some local specialties to send back home.

"Why are you wasting money like this? Your father and I have enough to eat and drink; we don't need to buy these things."

Yao Xia complained, but she was secretly very happy.

Zhang Jun laughed and said, "Now that I'm working, you guys don't need to be so busy anymore. When you retire, you can consider traveling all over the world."

"Your father and I are very happy that you have this intention, but we have been teaching for half our lives, and what we can't let go of the teacher's platform is the most."

Yao Xia was still very excited when she talked about this, and told Zhang Jun about some things that had happened in the class.

Who can get into Tsinghua University or Peking University like him? Who got caught dating someone?

Finally, Zhang Linwan snatched the phone, and her younger sister excitedly asked Zhang Jun, "Brother, what gifts do you have for the New Year?"

"Of course! The gift is to encourage you to study hard!"

Zhang Linwan pouted, then heard Zhang Jun say on the phone, "Study hard, and after you finish your college entrance exam, I'll get you a complete electronic family bucket."

Zhang Linwan was delighted: "Then it's settled. You can't lie to me. Let's pinky swear."

"good!"

The two of them made a pinky promise in unison: "Pinky promise, a hundred years from now, never to be broken! If I lie, I'm a pig!"

It seems that the tacit understanding between Zhang Jun and Zhang Linwan is still there, which makes him, as a person from the future, feel less unfamiliar with this era.

Finally, there was Zhang Yuncheng, but there wasn't much of a long, drawn-out conversation between father and son.

Zhang Yuncheng first praised the movie "Little Miss Sunshine" and then told Zhang Jun that since he had chosen the directing profession, he should work hard.

"The big boss is willing to invest in you because he values ​​your abilities. But you need to constantly remind yourself not to let him down and to repay him by working hard," Zhang Yuncheng concluded.

"I understand, don't worry, Dad..." Zhang Jun assured him.

After exchanging pleasantries with his family whom he had never met and agreeing to return home for the Chinese New Year, Zhang Jun finally hung up the phone.

As 2005 began, the film market seemed to quiet down a bit.

There weren't many blockbuster films released in January, but one notable exception is Robert Zemsky's "The Polar Express," an IMAX 3D movie.

This film did not make much of a splash in the theatrical market because there were no cinemas in the mainland China at that time that produced the corresponding format.

At this time, some cinemas in Shanghai and Guangzhou will use dual-projector polarized light 3D systems or red-blue color separation 3D technologies to project on ordinary screens.

To be honest, the effect was just average, and it couldn't bring the same viewing experience as Avatar a few years later.

In mid-2004, the mainland welcomed its first commercial IMAX cinema. At that time, people were still unaware of the revolution that IMAX cinemas were bringing to the cinema market.

However, Zhang Jun noticed it very early on, or rather, he, from the future, was very clear about the important role that IMAX played in the development of cinemas.

Even though various projection technologies have made great strides forty years later, the IMAX format remains an important part of movie projection.

During the New Year's Day holiday, Zhang Jun was invited to visit Ye Xiaoyi's home and met his investor Ye Bingcheng again.

Ye Bingcheng personally cooked for Zhang Jun and praised his achievements generously.

Zhang Jun also expressed his gratitude and said that he was very happy living in the new house.

Ye Bingcheng was very satisfied with Zhang Jun, because the success of this film greatly boosted his prestige.

He had previously attended several business networking events, and when the topic of this film investment came up, his competitors and old friends all admired his boldness and vision.

That makes sense. If it were anyone else, no matter how eloquently Zhang Jun spoke, they probably wouldn't have invested a single penny in him.

So even though Guanzhi Pictures pocketed all the profits from the film's success, Zhang Jun wasn't jealous at all.

This is not a fictional world.

Moreover, even in wish-fulfillment novels, the premise that the protagonist can take most of the profits without spending a penny is bound to be criticized by readers.

Creativity can be valuable or worthless.

Even in Hollywood, countless brilliant scripts gather dust in script libraries. Most of these ideas never get a chance to be filmed, making them worthless.

Therefore, the most important thing for a beginner is to have opportunities to prove that their ideas can become reality and achieve success.

Only after achieving initial success can we consider what comes next.

Moreover, Zhang Jun also received a house in Xicheng District, which will be worth at least tens of millions of yuan in twenty years.

The big boss gave him another million-dollar bonus, which helped Zhang Jun's career take off.

After the meal, Ye Bingcheng took out his treasured fine tea leaves and demonstrated his tea ceremony.

During the tea session, Ye Bingcheng also talked about Chengxin Real Estate's cinema construction plan, intending to open cinemas all over the country along with Chengxin Plaza.

"What do you think we should pay attention to when building our cinema chain?" Ye Bingcheng asked.

This wasn't a test, but a genuine inquiry into Zhang Jun's opinion, as if he were being treated like Zhuge Liang.

Zhang Jun did not refuse and began to give his opinion: "In my opinion, Chengxin Real Estate should focus on the future and target the cinema market in second- and third-tier cities."

He explained his reasoning: "Mr. Ye must also know that the current domestic film market is mainly concentrated in first-tier cities, and the audience also mainly comes from first-tier cities."

But in my opinion, the potential audience in second- and third-tier cities is the real capital for the future development of the cinema market.

Zhang Jun took a sip of tea and continued, "In addition, I think we shouldn't miss out on first-tier cities."

Today, China Film Group's cinema chains occupy half of the domestic cinema market, and most of them are concentrated in first-tier cities.

To beat China Film Group's cinemas in first-tier city theaters, new technology is needed.

"What kind of technology?" Ye Xiaoyi asked curiously from the side.

"A new projection technology, a revolutionary technology."

Zhang Jun looked at Ye Bingcheng: "I wonder if Mr. Ye is aware of the IMAX format?"

Ye Bingcheng shook his head: "I don't know."

"It's okay."

Zhang Jun explained simply: "IMAX is a Canadian company that specializes in developing new shooting modes and projection formats."

Previously, this format was mostly used in educational films and documentaries, and its effectiveness was limited.

But Hollywood soon noticed the revolutionary impact this screening format had on the theatrical market, and creators began using IMAX cameras to shoot movies.

Cinema chains also began building IMAX theaters, leading to the growth of IMAX.

Ye Bingcheng became interested: "Do we have IMAX cinemas like this in China?"

"Of course there are."

Ye Xiaoyi, who was standing to the side, couldn't wait to show off her learning achievements to Ye Bingcheng: "There is an IMAX cinema in Shanghai. Zhang Jun told me about it."

Dad, if you're interested, you can go and take a look at Shanghai.

Zhang Jun concluded, "IMAX is actively entering the mainland market, which presents an opportunity. Mr. Ye might consider contacting them."

Ye Bingcheng was overjoyed to have obtained his Longzhong Plan.

"Thank you for the idea, Xiao Zhang."

Ye Bingcheng refilled Zhang Jun's tea: "Don't call me Mr. Ye anymore, it sounds too formal. Just call me Uncle!"

He looked at Ye Xiaoyi and smiled, "If Xiaoyi hadn't said herself that she only sees you as a friend, I would have wanted to set you two up."

Ye Xiaoyi, standing to the side, pouted in dissatisfaction: "Dad, why did you say that out loud?"

Zhang Jun said, "Xiao Yi is certainly good, but Uncle Ye should also know the temptations that a director like me faces in the entertainment industry."

To be honest, I can't resist. Xiaoyi isn't right for me.

"You are quite honest."

"I believe honesty is essential in relationships with partners."

"Well said!"

Ye Bingcheng immediately made a phone call and asked his secretary to come over and sign a check for 500,000 yuan for Zhang Jun.

"I'm not a stingy person, and I can't let you give me advice for nothing. Consider this money as payment for your advice," Ye Bingcheng explained.

This is the vision of a big boss. If all bosses were like Ye Bingcheng, why would employees not work hard?

Zhang Jun didn't stand on ceremony at all, stuffing the check into his pocket: "Then thank you, Uncle Ye."