Chapter 494: Persistence

Chapter 494: Persistence

Chapter 494: Persistence

In the current film industry environment that is highly competitive and full of opportunities, Galaxy Group is undoubtedly standing at a crossroads of strategic choices.

For a company that is large enough to compete with some Hollywood film and television companies, co-productions are undoubtedly better projects.

Especially those co-production projects that are precisely positioned for overseas markets, relying on the current global audience base of the [Galaxy Cinematic Universe], Galaxy Group's co-productions can bring rich returns in US dollars.

According to the group company's business data analysis, the company's film and television business has also shown a significant trend in recent years:

That is, even if some co-productions are not directed by the internationally renowned director Wang Hao, the economic benefits they bring often exceed those of Wang Hao's works created specifically for the mainland market.

For example, the movie "Wolf Warrior 2" he directed before had a box office of 21.73 billion Chinese yuan in the mainland, which was the number one box office in the mainland at that time and directly broke the record. However, its global box office was only 33 billion Chinese yuan, which is only more than 6 million US dollars.

In comparison, the currently popular "The Drive" has easily surpassed "Wolf Warrior 2" in global box office and is approaching the 10 billion mark.

Although part of the profits will certainly be shared with Hollywood companies such as Columbia and Sony, it is impossible for Galaxy Group to take all of the domestic box office revenue.

Moreover, box office revenue is only part of the story. For example, Wang Hao's classic work "Inception" not only brought hundreds of millions of dollars in box office revenue to Galaxy Group, but the wealth created by the subsequent sale of screening rights and licensing of peripheral products has continuously injected vitality into the group company.

Under these sharp contrasts in data, two different voices naturally emerged within Galaxy Pictures.

A large number of them firmly believe that Galaxy Group should not hesitate to shift its core business toward co-productions and fully enter the overseas film and television market.

These people all believe that the company should fully meet the aesthetic preferences and cultural needs of overseas audiences in the shooting, production and storyline of its works.

The grand narrative model based on Chinese local culture, such as that which Wang Hao likes to adopt, is often difficult to arouse emotional resonance among foreign people. After all, there are huge differences in the understanding and expectations of movies among audiences from different cultural backgrounds.

This is slightly stronger in Wang Hao's "Gravity". After all, it is a space science fiction theme, with visual wonders and special effects to cover up the problems in the plot, so its performance in the overseas market is acceptable.

But his most recent "Wolf Warrior 2" was not doing well. Although it set off a viewing craze in China, it was neglected in overseas markets. Not only did it receive mediocre response in the European and American film markets, but even in Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia, which had been cultivated by Galaxy Group for some time, it failed to reap the expected market feedback.

The difference in benefits caused by the difference in subject matter and content will naturally affect the views and decisions from top to bottom within a large company.

Compared with the overseas or co-production factions, the voice within Galaxy Pictures advocating for in-depth development of the mainland film and television cultural market seems very weak.

The huge gap in economic benefits is like a mirror, clearly reflecting the absolute advantages of co-productions in commercial returns.

Although calls for developing the local film industry can often be heard during internal company meetings and discussions, when faced with real financial interests, most people within the company will unconsciously tip the scales in favor of co-production projects when it comes to actual project decision-making.

It's not just co-productions. Now, as the group is able to extend its reach overseas, other companies within the group are also eyeing overseas markets.

Xingyue Chinese website wants to export its online literature overseas, Xingdou Culture wants to sign overseas artists, peripheral companies want to develop foreign trade industries and sell toys to overseas customers, and Xingkong Video also wants to enter the overseas streaming media market.

Even the group's asset management department submitted suggestions and plans for purchasing fixed assets overseas.

After all, in the logic of business operations, the pursuit of profit maximization is the instinct for the survival and development of an enterprise. In the face of huge profits, few people can easily resist the temptation.

If you don’t make money, you’re a bastard!
Not only many people within the company, but even senior leaders of Huaying, Moying and Wanda Pictures have advised Wang Hao of this.

The Galaxy Group ate meat overseas, and naturally took them to drink soup overseas. Now they all have their own investments overseas. They may not be big, but they have definitely tasted the sweetness.

For example, Wanda Group is currently waving its money overseas to acquire cinema assets. At the same time, they are also in contact with Legendary Pictures, and seem to have the idea of ​​acquiring this film company.

If we really have to say who in the group supports Wang Hao in deepening his presence in the mainland film market, it is actually only Zhang Yang and Li Kui, two good brothers who have been by his side all the way.

Oh, by the way, there is also Guo Fan, who also firmly believes that Chinese films should be developed rather than catering to the Western market.

This view was further reinforced after he attended a training course for exchange and study in Hollywood.

In this regard, Wang Hao also has a full view of all the disputes and undercurrents within the company surrounding the future strategic direction.

At times like this, he would often show his tough and stubborn side, which is rare.

In the past, he was often able to accept good advice and weigh the pros and cons on many matters of the group company. After all, he was still a director, and many internal affairs of the company would be delegated to the people below, and he maintained full trust in them.

But this time, he used an extremely oppressive and overbearing attitude to suppress all the different voices that were rising and falling inside the group company.

His attitude can be summed up in a nutshell:
Overseas business can be moderately explored and developed within the business scope of Galaxy Group, but this cannot and should not become the core pillar and key development direction of the company.

Since its inception, Galaxy Group has been an enterprise deeply rooted in China. From the past to the present, and looking to the future, this identity imprint originating from China will never change.

Even if the company has the potential to grow into an international giant in the future, it must not forget the core ideas they expressed in the campus classroom ten years ago.

“Regardless of success or failure, we can leave a commentary on Chinese science fiction films for future generations.

I only hope that we and our descendants can see the bright future of the golden age of Chinese science fiction films.

I only hope that the passion will be with our Chinese filmmakers!"

This is the foundation for the Galaxy Group to thrive to its current state. A company will not last long if it does not have its own corporate culture and core philosophy.

Even if it becomes more successful, it must not forget where its roots are, nor can it easily abandon its unique Chinese background.

Therefore, Galaxy Group must unswervingly continue to deepen its presence in the mainland film market and devote all its efforts to vigorously develop China's cultural industry. This is an established policy that cannot be questioned by anyone and can never be changed.

Wang Hao's decision certainly caused quite a stir within the company. It is said that governing a large country is like cooking a small fish. In fact, managing a large enterprise is not much easier than governing a country.

There are tens of thousands of employees in the Galaxy Group now, and it is impossible for everyone to have the same high awareness as Wang Hao, so naturally a considerable number of people are dissatisfied with this, and deep down they think that Wang Hao's views are too one-sided, even a little too conservative and old-fashioned.

"Why can't we develop overseas business first, and then use the profits from overseas business to feed back to domestic business? We should allow some departments to gain more benefits and profits, so that those with more profits can drive those with less profits."

"Galaxy Group is now in the first echelon of domestic business development. At this time, if we continue to expand in China, there will undoubtedly be marginal benefits, and the input-output ratio will become lower and lower. It is better to actively explore new markets."

"Developing overseas markets is also part of the process of exporting culture. It is a major event in promoting Chinese culture and is equally important."

……

Noisy voices like this are particularly evident in several key business segments that involve overseas markets.

There are many voices not only from within the company but also from outside.

After all, as a listed company, Galaxy Pictures not only has to accept the overall management of Galaxy Group and follow the group's overall strategic planning, but it must also be responsible to its numerous shareholders and the majority of investors.

Every move of Galaxy Group, as well as its strategic planning and future development, are related to the vital interests of many investors.

From an in-depth analysis from the perspective of capital operation and business development, actively expanding overseas business is undoubtedly the best choice to improve the company's performance and give back to shareholders and investors in the short term.

And when those Hollywood companies that call the shots in the global cultural industry and the giants on Wall Street who control huge amounts of capital keenly set their sights on the rapidly growing Galaxy Group, a silent yet extremely fierce game quietly began.

They value the Chinese market and know that cooperation with Galaxy Group is an inevitable choice, but they will not give up the initiative easily.

These guys began to deliberately try to exert all-round influence on the Galaxy Group from multiple dimensions such as finance and interests.

In fact, this influence had already begun when Wang Hao won an Oscar for "Inception" but refused Hollywood's recruitment.

However, because Galaxy Group's external development strategy was very conservative and its overseas business mostly relied on Columbia and Sony, those Hollywood interest groups mainly used blockade measures against Galaxy Group.

But now that the performance of "The Boom Boom" has become more and more impressive, those people have become more and more unscrupulous and unscrupulous in their methods.

Share acquisitions, shareholder lobbying, and stock market manipulation are just routine operations.

Not only that, they also blatantly offered various temptations of benefits, throwing out "baits" such as high cooperation shares, extremely attractive project investment opportunities, etc., trying to lure Galaxy Group into the trap.

Even at some higher national levels, they have mobilized their powerful personal connections and social influence to try to influence the decision-making direction of the Galaxy Group.

However, despite their best efforts and endless means, the final result was very little.

Wang Hao was always clear-headed. Even though he was in the center of the storm and under pressure from all sides, his heart was still as calm as a calm lake.

After all, he is a time traveler with foresight and experience of later generations. He knows that if Galaxy Group chooses to go overseas and attempts to become a large multinational entertainment company, it will inevitably end in failure. The future outcome of Wanda Group is very representative of this.

Don’t think that Wang Hao has memory of the future and can rest easy by avoiding projects with pitfalls.

This is no longer a question of personal ability, but a general trend.

It is now 2015, and half of the year has quietly passed. In another year, the brief honeymoon period between China and the bald eagle will come to an end.

By then, the global situation will surely usher in unprecedented violent turbulence. Against such a volatile backdrop, no one will be able to do anything.

If Galaxy Group rashly adjusts its strategic direction at this time and focuses entirely on overseas markets, it would undoubtedly be making a wrong choice at the wrong time.

You should know that the Galaxy Group is mainly engaged in the cultural industry. In the field of culture, each country has built up thick barriers based on its own history, traditions, values ​​and other factors.

It is nothing short of a pipe dream to want to break down these barriers and achieve unimpeded access for the cultural industry in the international market by relying solely on the power of a single company.

Wang Hao knew very well that Western countries such as Europe and the United States had been pursuing cultural hegemony and cultural exports for so many years, and it was absolutely impossible for them to just sit back and watch the Chinese company, Galaxy Group, conquer the international market.

Whether for the purpose of protecting its own cultural industry or competing for the right to speak in the global cultural market, Hollywood and the capital behind it will never give Galaxy Group a chance easily.

Even cultural enterprises, not to mention other Chinese enterprises, find it difficult to gain benefits from overseas expansion.

Wang Hao had witnessed in his previous life that Huawei's overseas business was suppressed by the Bald Eagle, chip imports were restricted, and it was banned from participating in overseas communication construction projects due to so-called "national security." Even the company's top executives were imprisoned for several years by those guys for arbitrary reasons.

There is also Brother Dong, who is just the boss of an e-commerce platform, but he was also put into the police station and faced the situation of losing power in the company.

Not to mention that in the future, the overseas version of Douyin, TikTok, will face a series of policy restrictions in the United States and other countries, and will be unreasonably accused of having data security issues.

Even though ByteDance has proven its innocence many times, it still finds it difficult to escape the predicament of being suppressed.

They just want to bully you and force you to sell your overseas businesses. What can you do?

Therefore, with these real examples, Wang Hao would certainly not be misled into thinking that Galaxy Group could dominate overseas with the "Galaxy Cinematic Universe".

For him, the political and public opinion environment in overseas markets is complex and changeable, with many uncontrollable factors. If Galaxy Group wants to develop better, it should stick to the mainland market and concentrate its resources on deepening its domestic business.

Besides, the domestic market is not bad either. The fact that "Nezha 2" can earn 140 billion yuan at the box office is enough to show that there is still great potential to be tapped in the Chinese film market.

(End of this chapter)