Traveling back to 1966, starting by living in a cowshed.

Chapter 165 Preparing to Invest in Cinema Chains

As soon as Lin Zhou entered his personal space and saw the projector and projection screen in the living room, he suddenly seemed to realize something, slapped his forehead, and looked annoyed, cursing himself for being foolish.

He's been so busy managing the TV station lately that he completely forgot about such an important matter!

That is, he has not yet established a film market presence in Hong Kong, and more importantly, he has not yet set up a cinema chain!

In the future, television and film will be two complementary sectors in Hong Kong's film and television industry.

To truly establish a foothold in Hong Kong's film and television industry, and even become an industry leader, relying solely on television stations is far from enough; the film market is an area that must be entered.

Moreover, the influence and commercial value of movies are far greater than those of TV series. A blockbuster movie can bring in huge box office revenue.

It can also enhance brand awareness, cultivate outstanding actors and directors, and provide high-quality talent and content to television stations, forming a virtuous cycle.

More importantly, cinemas are the lifeblood of the film market.

No matter how well a movie is made, without the support of theaters, it cannot be released, and all of that is just empty talk.

Hong Kong's cinema market is currently monopolized by a few established cinema chains. They control most of Hong Kong's cinema resources and have enormous bargaining power, making it extremely difficult for outsiders to enter the market.

But that's precisely why developing a cinema chain is so important.

Only by controlling cinema resources can one take the initiative in film release.

Whether it's a film produced by their own company or an imported foreign film, they can have more screening opportunities and gain an advantage in market competition.

Moreover, cinemas are very profitable, with revenue from box office receipts, as well as derivative income from merchandise such as GG and snacks, making it a sure-fire way to make money.

When Lin Zhou was working in social media in his previous life, he was very knowledgeable about the history of Hong Kong cinema and knew that Hong Kong cinema would usher in a golden age in the next twenty years.

It has produced countless classic films and outstanding filmmakers, creating one box office miracle after another.

However, the Hong Kong film market will also experience ups and downs, and competition among cinema chains will become increasingly fierce. Many established cinema chains will be eliminated in the competition, while emerging cinema chains will seize the opportunity and rise to prominence.

Hong Kong's film market is currently in a phase of rapid development, and the curtain has just been raised on its golden age, making it the perfect time to make strategic moves.

If we don't seize the opportunity now to enter the film market and establish cinema resources, it will be much more difficult to enter the market later when it matures and competition intensifies.

Thinking of this, Lin Zhou felt a strong sense of urgency, but also a surge of excitement.

The television station's strategy has begun to show results, and now it's time to focus its efforts on the film market and embark on a new journey.

He left the space and returned to his desk in the study, sat down, closed his eyes, and began to think seriously.

What should be the first step in establishing a presence in the Hong Kong film market? Should one start by setting up a film company and producing movies, or by establishing a theater network and controlling distribution channels?

Logically, the first step should be to establish a film company, produce a few blockbuster movies, accumulate reputation and resources, and then gradually expand into theatrical distribution.

But Lin Zhou didn't think so. He believed that distribution channels were king, and that controlling the cinemas meant controlling the initiative in the film market.

Instead of making a film first and then begging for theater screenings, it's better to establish a theater network first and then set up a film company. This way, the films you produce will have an absolute advantage in terms of screenings and gain a competitive edge in the market.

Moreover, although Hong Kong's cinema market is currently monopolized by a few established companies, it is not invincible.

With the rapid economic development of Hong Kong, the entertainment needs of citizens are constantly increasing. The existing cinema resources can no longer meet the market demand, and many new business districts are emerging, which urgently need supporting cinema facilities.

This is a golden opportunity to take advantage of the development of the business district, build a number of modern cinemas, and create our own cinema brand.

Of course, setting up a cinema chain requires huge financial support. Building new cinemas, purchasing equipment, recruiting staff, and marketing all require a lot of money.

But this was not a problem for Lin Zhou.

Thanks to the operation of Zhonghua Industrial Park over the years, although he made money while investing, he still managed to save a considerable amount of money over the years.

Including the profits from other parts of Zhonghua Group, as well as his investment income in the stock market and real estate market, his current net worth is already quite substantial, enough to support his plan to expand into cinema chains.

In addition to funding, a professional management team is also needed.

The operation and management of cinema chains involves many aspects, including cinema construction, film scheduling, marketing, and customer service, and requires professional personnel to manage them.

Although Lin Zhou has the vision and experience of a later generation, he still needs to rely on a professional team for specific operations and management.

Therefore, the first step is to find a group of talents with rich experience in cinema operation and management to form a core team.

Then, it's time to select a site and build the cinema.

Although Hong Kong's core business districts such as Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok, and Central are commercially developed, cinema resources are already saturated and rents are expensive. Moreover, Lin Zhou does not own any properties in these areas suitable for cinemas.

Instead, we should turn our attention to some emerging business districts, such as Sha Tin, Tuen Mun, and Yuen Long. These areas are densely populated, have huge consumption potential, relatively low rents, and urgently need supporting entertainment facilities, making the prospects for building new cinemas very promising.

At the same time, the construction of cinemas should adhere to high standards and modern concepts to create a viewing experience that is completely different from that of established cinema chains. For example, the most advanced projection equipment and sound systems should be introduced.

We emphasize the environmental design of the cinema, creating a comfortable, stylish, and welcoming viewing environment.

Provide high-quality supporting services, such as drinks and snacks, convenient ticket windows, and attentive customer service, impressing audiences with details and building your own cinema brand.

While establishing a cinema chain, preparations for the film company can also proceed simultaneously.

A film company's positioning should balance commercial appeal and artistic merit. It should produce commercial blockbusters that meet market demands and achieve excellent box office performance, as well as art films with depth and meaning to enhance the brand's reputation and image.

In terms of scripts, Lin Zhou has a unique advantage. Countless classic films from later generations can serve as his source of inspiration. With just a little adaptation, he can make films that suit the tastes of audiences in this era.

In terms of actors and directors, Hong Kong's film and television industry is full of talent, including experienced veteran actors and well-known directors, as well as many promising newcomers.

Zhonghua Records, its management company, and the television station collaborated to establish a talent development system for actors.

At the same time, we will recruit talented individuals and attract outstanding directors and screenwriters from the industry to join us and build a strong production team.

With this in mind, Lin Zhou suddenly felt enlightened, and a clear plan gradually took shape in his mind.

First, establish a cinema chain and control the distribution channels; then, set up a film company and create content; finally, achieve synergistic development between the cinema chain and the film company.

Then, an integrated film and television industry chain of "production-distribution-screening" was formed, occupying a place in the Hong Kong film market.

It's not impossible for him to become the industry leader by leveraging the resources of future generations within Lin Zhou's space...

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