In addition to these three major theater lines, there is also a special large theater line - Lianhua Cinema Line. There is also an Anle Cinema Line that specializes in showing European and American films. This was later the first foreign-funded cinema in mainland China - Pengcheng Nanguo

The theater is invested by Anle Pictures.

Jiang Zhiqiang, the boss of Anle Business, is the undisputed number one figure in the Chinese film industry after 2000. He is known as the driving force behind Chinese films and was called the Hero of Asia by Time Magazine.

In the 21st century, if Chinese-language films want to be sold in Europe and the United States, they must seek help from Jiang Zhiqiang for distribution, otherwise they will not be able to arrange good theater lines and schedules. He single-handedly created the blockbuster era of Chinese-language films, and has a thorough knowledge of the eight major Hollywood film companies and overseas distribution

Chinese first.

In addition, there are several small and medium-sized cinema lines, as well as independent cinemas dotted here and there. These cinemas include luxury cinemas such as the Benefit Stage, as well as rural and neighborhood cinemas that specialize in providing film services to villagers and neighbors.

In Bai Zirui's view, the waiting hall of a theater is actually the best place to place an arcade machine. Most people who like to watch movies are young people, and those who like to play arcade games are also young people. This is a high degree of overlap.

When young people are buying movie tickets and waiting for admission, if they can pass the time with an arcade game next to them and spend 50 cents to entertain them for a few minutes, why not do it.

Cinemas do not need to increase manpower and space. In addition to the income from selling movie tickets, popcorn and drinks, they can also add an additional financial resource. Isn't this a killing two birds with one stone?

Bai Zirui's idea was good, but the actual situation was not optimistic. He first approached Golden Harvest Cinemas and Shaw Brothers Cinemas, but ended up being rejected without even a chance for an interview.

So Bai Zirui set his sights on Anle Pictures. Jiang Zhiqiang was 28 years old at the time. He returned from abroad last year and became addicted to horse racing. He lost millions of Hong Kong dollars in less than a year. He wanted money but no money, and he wanted status but no status. Jiang Zhiqiang’s

Life is extremely dark.

At this time, his father had a conversation with him and told him about the hardships of starting his own business. Jiang Zhiqiang suddenly realized that continuing like this was not an option, so he started working in his father's company and urgently needed to prove himself through performance.

Having spent time abroad, he has a broad mind and should be able to accept this kind of business model of a cinema plus a game arcade. Bai Zirui found Jiang Zhiqiang, who was working as a manager at a cinema in Anle Pictures, through someone.

Compared with theater managers who focus all their attention on arranging films, theater managers are obviously more aware of the important contribution of miscellaneous income other than box office to the overall profitability of the theater.

When Bai Zirui saw Jiang Zhiqiang, he introduced himself and said, "Hello, Manager Jiang! I am Bai Zirui, the general manager of Dingtian Technology Company. Nice to meet you."

After Jiang Zhiqiang shook hands with Bai Zirui, he asked curiously: "Mr. Bai, hello! I wonder why Mr. Bai wants to see me?"

Bai Zirui said with a smile: "Manager Jiang is an elite who has returned from studying abroad. Have you ever played arcade games?"

Jiang Zhiqiang replied: "Mr. Bai is talking about machine games like "Space Invaders", "Little Bee", "Pac-Man", and "Donkey Kong". I also played several of these with my classmates when I was abroad.

Several games, these games are very popular in Europe and the United States, and they are quite fun."

Bai Zirui said: "Manager Jiang, as long as you have played arcade games, our Dingtian Technology Company has developed a Great Wall Cube arcade game and wants to cooperate with our cinema."

Jiang Zhiqiang asked: "Mr. Bai, our cinema seems to be incomparable with arcade games. How can we cooperate?"

Bai Zirui said: "Manager Jiang, this is wrong! You must know that most people who like to watch movies are young people, and those who like to play arcade games are also young people. There is a high degree of overlap between the two of us in this aspect.

When young people buy movie tickets and wait for admission, if they can pass the time with an arcade game next to them, they don't mind spending 50 cents to entertain themselves for a few minutes.

Cinemas do not need to increase manpower and space. In addition to the income from selling movie tickets, popcorn and drinks, they can also add an additional source of income. Isn’t this a killing two birds with one stone?”

After Jiang Zhiqiang heard Bai Zirui's words, he looked thoughtful and weighed the pros and cons in his mind. The game console business in Europe and the United States was very hot, but he was afraid of experiencing it personally.

If the Great Wall Cube Game Machine produced by Bai Zirui's company can make money, then he will undoubtedly open up a new source of income for the theater. With this performance, he can prove his talents to his family members.

Let Bai Zirui provide a few Great Wall Cube game consoles for free to test the waters first. If the game consoles cannot bring income to the theater, you can ask Bai Zirui to take away the machines in a few days. The theater will not suffer any loss. This is a big deal.

The empty-handed business.

After weighing the pros and cons in his mind, Jiang Zhiqiang said in a deep voice: "Mr. Bai, do you think this is okay? Your company will first provide two Great Wall cube game consoles for free and install them in the waiting hall of our cinema.

Let’s talk about actual benefits. If these two game consoles can make money for our cinema, then we can sit down and talk about arcade game cooperation!”

After Bai Zirui heard Jiang Zhiqiang's suggestion, he also thought about it in his mind. The cinema where Jiang Zhiqiang is located is the leading cinema of the 12 cinemas under the Anle Cinema Line. The cinema is in a good location and has a large area. It has six screens that can show different movies at the same time.

, is one of the cinemas with the highest online attendance in Anle Cinema, with thousands of people coming to watch the movie every day.

Bai Zirui thought for a moment and said cheerfully: "Okay! Just do as Manager Jiang said, I will arrange for people to transport the machine over immediately."

The next day, November 11, 1981, there was no such thing as Singles' Day at this time. Bai Zirui came to the door of On Lok Cinema in Kowloon and was immediately startled by the lively scene in front of him.

I saw two long lines of people extending from the entrance of the cinema, stretching forty or fifty meters on the street outside. People kept coming out of the cinema in twos and threes and joining the queue directly.

Bai Zirui walked into the movie theater ticket hall, which was bustling with people. The two arcade machines shipped by Dingtian Technology Company yesterday were crowded with people, and bursts of regret and cheers could be heard from the crowd from time to time.

When Liu Weitao saw Bai Zirui coming, he squeezed through the crowd sweating profusely and asked curiously: "Bai Sheng, are you here! How many caretakers have you hired? The scene created is too big.

Bar!"

Bai Zirui glanced at him noncommittally and said angrily: "Weitao, there are at least four to five hundred people here. Where do you think I can hire so many people to act as caretakers?"

Liu Weitao said happily: "Bai Sheng, so the Great Wall cube arcade game we developed is a success!"

Bai Zirui answered the question and said, "Have you bought today's newspaper? Let me read it first!"

From the moment the two arcade machines were transported to the ticket hall of Anle Cinema, Bai Zirui secretly planned a marketing campaign. He asked Hu Jishu, the white fan of Heshengtang, to find hundreds of clever boys and let them line up in the cinema.

Insert coins to play games, and make some noise from time to time to attract others' attention.
Chapter completed!