ZHAO BENSHAN, 55, may have been born into a poor farming family in Northeast China and orphaned at the age of 6, but today the comedic actor, director and successful businessman is widely hailed by audiences across the country. His rustic appearance and focus on rural life bring a unique element to his performances in TV programs and movies, which has helped him build a commercial empire in the cultural industry.

‘Liu Laogen’ the trump card

Zhao’s empire started in 2002 with the premiere of Liu Laogen, a soap opera starring Zhao as the lead actor. The series quickly became a national sensation and made Liu Laogen a famous brand. Zhao registered the first Liu Laogen Theater in Shenyang of Liaoning Province the following year.

With business booming, the theater soon opened seven branches in Changchun (Jilin Province), Harbin (Heilongjiang Province), Tianjin and Beijing.

The Beijing branch has flourished since its first day of operation. With prices ranging from 380 to 8,800 yuan (US$59-1,378) for tickets, the shows often sell out rapidly. According to the Benshan Media Group, the parent company of the theater, Zhao is planning to set up more branches in southern provinces.

Errenzhuan, a genre of folk singing and dance from Northeast China, is the specialty of the Liu Laogen Theater.

Students a core asset

Zhao’s commercial success is due in part to the contributions of his students. Zhao currently has 53 students, including almost all of the famous errenzhuan performers of Northeast China.

In addition to performing at the Liu Laogen Theater, the students also take part in TV series and films produced by Zhao. With high audience ratings, some of Zhao’s students are now celebrities, further increasing ticket prices for the theaters. Xiao Shenyang is one example, a comedian who became an overnight sensation after the CCTV New Year’s gala in 2009.

Real estate for balance

Realizing that an empire cannot rely on intangible things such as TV shows and movies, Zhao began investing in real estate in 2006 to strengthen his commercial portfolio. That year, Zhao invested 80 million yuan to establish a film base in Qipanshan of Shenyang, Liaoning Province. Many movies and series have been shot there since, driving the base’s market value up to about 700 million yuan.

Zhao also bought 800 mu (132 acres) of land in Sanya, Hainan Province, which is valued at 1.5 billion yuan at least. According to Zhao’s plan, the land will be used for another film base and a new branch of the Liu Laogen Theater. (SD-Agencies)