Chapter 365: Site Selection for Film and Television Base
"Changhe, how long will you finish writing?"

After Zhu Lin entered the room, she said with a little dissatisfaction.

She had been bored in the bedroom for a long time, but Li Changhe didn't come back.

"Hmm? I don't write anymore."

"Have you finished reading it?"

Li Changhe asked curiously at this time.

"I've finished watching it a long time ago. Xiaoxue has already taken a shower and gone to bed."

These days, ten o'clock is considered very late, and many people go to bed at eight or nine o'clock.

"I didn't even notice. Let's go to bed!"

Li Changhe then got up and returned to the bedroom with Zhu Lin.

In the following days, Li Changhe studied step by step at school, and the Film Bureau was indeed making rapid progress on this matter.

The document regarding "The Film Association's application to establish international film awards and promote new explorations in the film and cultural industry" was soon handed over to the top leaders.

The senior management, who had anticipated this, naturally would not hold back and quickly approved the decision with the words "allowed to try".

Yes, try, not pass.

To put it bluntly, this thing is nominally an exploratory test field.

However, even with this approval, Li Changhe was not in a hurry to transfer the money, because the joint venture company between the two parties had not yet been established. Issues including where to set up the awards and where to locate the film and television city all needed to be discussed.

Of course, there is actually no need to discuss it. Since he was planning to do it, Li Changhe had already considered it a long time ago.

Currently, there are actually very few areas in China that are suitable for building film and television cities. The reason is very simple: the urban construction is too poor.

Just like the previous life’s film and television base Hengdian, it was only the 1980s and it was still a very dilapidated small city, and the roads were probably not well repaired.

Secondly, when organizing a film award, it is impossible to choose a small city. In the early stage, you must choose a well-known city so that it will have style. Especially for some people overseas, if you choose an unknown small city, they may have never heard of it, which is very detrimental to united front work.

So all in all, there are actually only three suitable cities in China: Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

However, Li Changhe first ruled out the capital city because there were too many ancient buildings here, which somewhat overlapped with the function of a film and television base.

Secondly, this is a political center, and many times, it is not suitable for large-scale crews to come here.

Finally, the winter is too cold. If it were in Beijing, the climate would have a great impact on the operation of the film and television city.

Therefore, Li Changhe’s choice is between Guangzhou and Shanghai.

After thinking about it, Li Changhe also ruled out Yangcheng, although it is close to Hong Kong Island.

But precisely because it is too close, it is actually not a good thing. Hong Kong has the Academy Awards, and Li Changhe estimates that the most likely award set by the Federation of Literary and Art Circles this time is the Golden Rooster Awards.

Sitting here, it feels like a contest, which seems too petty.

Therefore, after comprehensive consideration, the most suitable area for the film and television city is still in Shanghai.

First of all, the Magic City is well-known, especially for many Hong Kong people, the Magic City is the white moonlight in their hearts. And with the foundation of the Magic City, it is enough to support the title of an international award.

Secondly, there are many foreigners there, and many of the international flights currently open in China are not allowed to fly directly to Beijing, but instead fly directly to Shanghai, and then from Shanghai to Beijing.

It can be said that today's Shanghai is the first metropolis open to the international community, which is conducive to the film and television city earning foreign exchange.

Finally, the third point is that the entire Magic City is connected to Suzhou and Hangzhou, and the scenery is very well matched, including the magnificent West Lake, Suzhou gardens, Jiaxing's ancient town, and Li Changhe's film and television city.

This entire area can be integrated into a high-quality filming location in the country.

At night, at Zhang Guangnian's home, when Li Changhe told several bigwigs about the geographical location he had decided on, they all fell into deep thought.

"It's possible in the Magic City, but we need to talk to the government there to see if they are willing to do so."

Chen Huangmei said thoughtfully at this time.

For such a large project, even if the decision is made from above, where to place it depends on the will of the local government.

Some will fight for it, some will refuse, and some will take the opportunity to raise conditions, especially in a city like Shanghai, which has a high status and a lot of say. It doesn't mean that the other party will definitely agree if you build a film and television city there.

"They must agree that we have funds left over from the film and television city."

“So my idea is to use it to build roads!”

Li Changhe said seriously at this time.

"Hmm? Road repair?"

"are you serious?"

"And this kind of thing, can you decide what to do?"

Yu Min asked Li Changhe in surprise at this time.

Hearing this, Li Changhe smiled and said, "Of course, the other party has basically entrusted this matter to us. After all, they don't know much about the domestic situation."

"Film and TV companies are not their main business!"

Li Changhe spoke decisively.

After hearing this, several people looked at each other, thinking about something.

So, this money is a token of investment from a certain overseas company?
I don’t know which company is so generous.

Li Changhe then continued, "Tell the Magic City government that we can build a road from the airport to our film and television city." "We'll build it for free!"

Anyway, the money can’t be spent on a film and television city, so why not build a road at the same time?

"From what you said, you have a specific address? Where in the Magic City do you plan to put it?"

Xia Yan asked at this time. He had been in the Magic City for many years and was very familiar with the place.

"I plan to put it in Songjiang."

"Once a film and television base is built, it will remain unchanged for more than ten or twenty years or even longer, so we can't be near the Magic City area. If the other party expands the city in the future, it will be a problem for us."

"Besides, I looked at the map and found that the distance from Songjiang to Jiaxing and Suzhou and Hangzhou is not far. From the perspective of filming, our film and television city can actually include all the gardens and landscapes in Suzhou, Hangzhou and Jiaxing. This way, we can shoot both cultural and natural landscapes, which is also an advantage for us."

"Finally, Songjiang is not far from Hongqiao Airport. I roughly calculated it on the map and it is about 30 kilometers away. We have enough funds to build such a road."

Li Changhe then expressed his estimate.

The cost of building roads was not high in this era, and what Li Changhe was building was not a highway. It was a road of more than 30 kilometers, and Li Changhe's budget was about 50 million.

Of course, this amount is not absolute and depends on the mileage planning and construction level of the highway.

"If you use this condition to negotiate with the government of Magic City, I think you will be able to reach an agreement."

Xia Yan said with a smile at this time.

"It's hard for me to discuss this. It's better to package this project into a cultural project, such as the film and television base and awards, and discuss it with the other party together."

Li Changhe said seriously at this time.

Seeing that some people were a little surprised, Li Changhe immediately explained: "In foreign countries, awards are actually a kind of resource."

"Many European film awards are called film festivals because they attract many tourists when the awards are given out. Therefore, many cities are vying for the venue of each film award, because tourists bring them accommodation, food and even transportation tips, which promotes local tax revenue."

“Although we don’t talk about this in our country right now, we must take this advantage into consideration and sign an agreement with the Magic City government, such as a 20- or 30-year agreement, to ensure our voice.”

"Otherwise, after we settle in Shanghai, if they suddenly tell us that we must give an award to a certain film from Shanghai Film Studio, what should we do?"

"So, we need to take advantage of our overall project and negotiate terms with the Magic City government. Then we need to sign a contract and write everything into the agreement. This is called settling accounts clearly between brothers."

"In this case, it is of course safer for Wenhuabu to step in. Otherwise, if we were to sign a contract with the government alone, there might be a lot of problems."

"This kind of project is actually called a cultural tourism project in Europe and the United States, and is also a type of cultural industry."

“Since we’ve done it, we might as well give it a try.”

Li Changhe simply said to the few people.

A few people were stunned when they heard it.

These people are in charge of cultural direction because of their qualifications and standards. You can say they are literati or you can say they are politicians, but they just don't understand economics.

“Is this turning the film and television base into a cultural industry, just like book publishing?”

Xia Yan asked curiously at this time.

"Almost. Of course, this requires a mass base. We don't have that tourism base for now, but it's better to be prepared."

"I think it's best to put this kind of thing on paper and make it a document, which can also help cultivate the spirit of contract in our government."

"In Western business, the spirit of contract is very important. This is in great conflict with our society based on personal relationships. We have to slowly get to know each other. I think with the knowledge of the Magic City, they can understand this."

Li Changhe said with a smile.

"This is the result of your study of economics. Cultural industry is really a new term."

"Comrade Changhe, why don't you come work at the Ministry of Culture after you graduate? You understand economics and you're a writer, so our job is perfect for you."

"If you're willing, I'll talk to Peking University and assign you here. How about that?"

Chen Huangmei said to Li Changhe with a smile at this time.

After listening to this, Zhang Guangnian shook his head.

"Don't even think about it. There are so many people who want to take advantage of him. I wanted to transfer him to the Writers Association long before. Do you know what they said?"

“The Writers Association can’t even get a number.”

"I don't think there's a chance in the ministry."

"That's right. Someone like him would be popular no matter where he is."

"Anyway, I don't have the ability to bring in $200 million in foreign exchange for the country right now."

Chen Huangmei also said with a smile at this moment.

At this time, Li Changhe could only smile and remain silent. After all, what else could he say?

The following days were easy for Li Changhe.

The Film Bureau has already organized people to go to Shanghai to negotiate with the Shanghai government.

Li Changhe was at school, studying hard and preparing for the exam.

In the blink of an eye, it was mid-June, at the Beijing Railway Station.

Tian Zhuangzhuang, Chen Kaige and others got off the train exhausted.

"The Horse Wrangler" is finally finished!
(End of this chapter)