Amid everyone's expectations, Zhao Mingde, Zhao Baoqian, Deng Xiaoya and his daughter rushed back to Hong Kong before his 70th birthday.

Cai Zhiliang went to the airport to greet him. Although Zhao Mingde didn't want to celebrate his birthday this year, after all, it was a birthday on the 10th, so the whole family decided that it should be fun.

After more than ten hours of flying, Deng Xiaoya looked sleepy and stumbled forward with half-closed eyes. Zhao Baoxian had no choice but to pick her up.

"A-Liang, you're so busy, just ask A-Cheng to pick you up." Zhao Mingde said as he walked away.

"I still have time to pick you up. My mother was coming, so I asked her to go directly to the house and wait." Cai Zhiliang smiled and said, "I'm worried that you won't come back until next month."

Zhao Mingde's birthday is on the 23rd of this month. Although Zhao Baoqian was with him, Zhao Mingde suddenly became stubborn and waited until his birthday was over before coming back.

"How did your mother arrange it?" Zhao Mingde sat in the car and asked.

"We don't have any arrangements. We just booked two banquet tables at the Regent Hotel." Cai Zhiliang said, "I counted the number of people in our family. There are 16 people in our family, which is almost exactly two tables."

Zhao Mingde said: "It's better to book a larger round table. Children like Lidan and others can't sit there. The two tables seem too empty. We will just squeeze in when the time comes."

"Okay, I'll go over and adjust it in the afternoon." Cai Zhiliang then pointed to Deng Xiaoya, who was already sleeping soundly, and asked, "Where does Xiaoya go to school?"

Cai Zhiliang meant that if it was difficult for Zhao Mingde to arrange it, he could arrange it for him.

"I'll arrange this." Zhao Mingde waved his hand and said, "It's the school where Aqiang goes to. The teaching quality is pretty good and it's close to me. I've already contacted Principal Lin before."

Cai Zhiliang nodded. He also knew about that school. Indeed, as Zhao Mingde said, the teaching quality was still among the best on Hong Kong Island.

"Just wait until the second half of the year to celebrate your mother." Before getting off the car, Zhao Mingde gave another reminder.

Cai Zhiliang curled his lips and said, "You can't even celebrate your 70th birthday. How can you celebrate your 50th birthday?"

After sending Zhao Mingde and Wang Dongqin home, Cai Zhiliang went to the Regent Hotel and replaced it with a large round table according to Zhao Mingde's wishes, but the location was not that good, so he was prepared with both hands.

"Mr. Burns, I heard that you are looking for investors for the Regent Hotel recently?" After seeing him this time, Cai Zhiliang naturally would not let go of this opportunity.

In the mid-1980s, United Airlines wanted to acquire Regent. At that time, both George Raphael and Adrian Zecha were interested in selling their shares, but Robert Burns did not want to give up, so he exercised his right of first refusal.

Bought out the shares of two partners, preventing United Airlines from taking control of Regent.

But as time went by, Robert Burns got older, and he started looking for a suitable successor at the end of last year. Cai Zhiliang had been paying attention to the Miramar Hotel at that time, and it was too late to get the news. The last appointment failed, but today he did it again

Met.

"Mr. Cai, I appreciate your kindness." Burns still had an impression of Cai Zhiliang and said: "Harunori Takahashi of Japan's eie company will soon become a partner of Regent Hotel."

"Takahashi?" Cai Zhiliang asked.

This surname represents a Japanese consortium. When Japan's economic development is at its peak, Robert Burns thinks it is a more ideal choice.

"Yes." Robert Burns nodded solemnly.

Cai Zhiliang didn't say much more, exchanged a few pleasantries and left. After returning to the company, he received a call from George Smith across the ocean.

"Mr. Cai, according to the current plan, "Pretty Woman" will start shooting at the beginning of next month. Director Marshall and actors will gradually join the crew later this month and begin to adapt..." George Smith gave a general introduction to the crew of "Pretty Woman"

situation.

Unfortunately, this is not the focus of Cai Zhiliang's attention. He asked: "Have you received the profits from "Rain Man"?"

"So far, we have received the first US$10 million in North American box office share, and we will receive the second US$5 million in European box office share before the end of this month." George Smith said: "The overseas box office is still being counted, and it is estimated that

It won't be received until July, and I will keep an eye on it personally, as well as the revenue from pay TV channels and video tape markets."

The North American box office of "Rain Man" is close to 150 million, but since it is released by MGM, it naturally takes the lion's share. With Bluebird Pictures' investment, the box office share is just over 10 million US dollars, which can barely recover the cost. And MGM

GM's revenue is indeed close to US$60 million. Excluding the US$20 million in publicity and distribution costs, the revenue is close to US$40 million, which is nearly three times MGM's investment costs.

This account is not immersive, a bit ugly, and too harsh on the production companies. This is also the key to the Hollywood Seven's ability to maintain its status. This is also the reason why North America must have its own distribution system, otherwise, it will only be at the mercy of others.

.

However, if it sells well at the box office and is supported by Oscars, pay TV channels can sell tens of millions of dollars and then transfer to the video tape market, which means it will take a long time to receive financial returns.

"There won't be any surprises at the Oscars, right?" Although it has been released globally, the Oscars' promotion of the film's online and offline markets cannot be ignored. Naturally, Cai Zhiliang does not want any surprises.

George Smith said: "'Rain Man' has already won the Directors Guild Award, the People's Choice Award and many other indicators. It has been praised all the way. There will be no surprises."

Before the Academy Awards were announced, there were other awards such as the Directors Guild Awards and the People's Choice Awards. Since the judges of these awards overlapped in large areas, they became the benchmark for the Oscars, and there were not many exceptions.

"Is there anything else?" You can't make a phone call from such a distance just to report these things.

George Smith smiled and said: "EMI Pictures can no longer support us. In addition to us, Carlock Pictures also has the intention to acquire it."

"How much funding is needed?"

George Smith said: "At least 30 million US dollars, including EMI's distribution system in North America and Europe. If we bid with Carlock, it may be even higher."

Cai Zhiliang frowned, the price was a little higher than expected, and said: "Isn't it already insolvent?"

"Half of it is to pay the due debts." George Smith said: "If you acquire EMI Pictures, you must bear the debts."

"What is the scale of Carlock Films?"

"It is naturally larger than Bluebird Pictures. After being acquired by Gao Lei Entertainment the year before last, it has merged with several film companies and established a complete distribution network. It is considered to be one of the top film companies among the seven major Hollywood companies." George Smith

Thinking that Cai Zhiliang was interested in Carlock Film Company, he reminded: "Carlock has no shortage of funds and no financial crisis."

"Instead of taking advantage of EMI Pictures, we might as well discuss with Carlock. We only need the distribution network, even if it is just the North American distribution network, and we can give up everything else." Although it is a pity, the North American distribution system, coupled with the

Anle's distribution in Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia is enough to maintain Bluebird Pictures' operations, while the European distribution system can be slowly developed.

"Try to reduce the cost to less than 20 million US dollars."

"I first contacted some Clarks from Carlock." George Smith couldn't hide his bitterness. He originally thought that Cai Zhiliang wanted to acquire Carlock Pictures, but now he only acquired the distribution network in North America. It really didn't match his ambition. It's hard work.

It took more than half a year but got stuck at the end.

"Take your time. If we cannot achieve profitability as soon as possible after acquiring EMI Pictures, it will be our turn to go bankrupt next." Cai Zhiliang naturally heard George Smith's emotions.

This is true. After EMI acquired Cannon Pictures, it couldn't handle the tens of millions of dollars of debt left over from the filming of "Superman VI" and "Chronicle" and went bankrupt.

We should still be cautious at this time. Even if we establish a global distribution network, it will be useless without film resources and resources will be wasted.

After hanging up the phone with George Smith, Cai Zhiliang met Zheng Yiming.

"The expansion plan of the Convention and Exhibition Center has been approved. We don't need to invest in the early stage, but we need to invest 10 million US dollars in foreign exchange in the later stage to purchase equipment." Zheng Yiming was naturally talking about the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center. After more than half a year of discussion and verification, it was finally passed.

Already.

"But it's been long enough." Cai Zhiliang took the document and asked, "When will the construction start?"

"Land acquisition will start next month, and the design plan will be discussed. It is estimated that construction will start around October. In the past six months, the economy has become more and more sluggish, and we still need big projects to cheer up. This will be passed." Zheng Yiming said: "We will wait for the convention and exhibition center.

Once completed, you can also invest in hotels and shopping malls, which are very convenient."

This was also the purpose of investing in the Convention and Exhibition Center in the first place. Since Shenzhen started auctioning land last year, it has become easier to obtain land.

Soon it was the 23rd, and it was a rare occasion for the four families to gather together to celebrate Zhao Mingde’s birthday. After blessing Zhao Mingde at home in the morning, everyone went to the Regent Hotel in the evening. Zhao Mingde also felt emotional that he had fled here, and now 50 years have passed.

, already full of children and grandchildren.

Cai Zhiliang looked at the time, stood up, walked over and opened the window near the sea, and said: "Grandpa, look..."

"Bang, bang..." The fireworks officially sounded at 8 o'clock in the evening, forming the words "70" in the air. This was prepared by Cai Zhiliang for Zhao Mingde.
Chapter completed!