Back to 1997, I became the originator of online literature

Chapter 545, Zhang Long: If you don't object, I'll take that as your tacit consent.

In a car heading to Cheng Long's residence, Chen Ziqiang had a laptop on his lap, and the screen was displaying the script for "Chinese Zodiac".

He is Jackie Chan's agent.

But he is more than just an agent.

He has earned the industry title of "superstar promoter".

In 1980, while working at Golden Harvest, he founded a film and television talent agency, which represented not only Jackie Chan, but also dozens of artists such as Maggie Cheung, Suet-Yau Cheung, and Cherie Chung.

His status within the industry is self-evident.

However, even though he has a host of superstars under his wing, Jackie Chan remains his trump card.

Therefore, he was most concerned about Jackie Chan's career.

Recently, not only is Jackie Chan waiting for Cao Sheng's script, but Chen Ziqiang is also waiting. Ever since he learned that Jackie Chan had asked Cao Sheng to write a script, he has been waiting.

Jackie Chan hasn't filmed a movie yet this year, and he's even more anxious than Jackie Chan.

Although Jackie Chan sings quite well and releases albums, which he thinks are good, is Jackie Chan still a global superstar if he doesn't act?
He was naturally aware of Cao Sheng's reputation.

Cheng Long had previously received Cao Sheng's script.

For example, the upcoming Hunger Games, which will be released this year.

He originally thought that Cao Sheng had written a script similar to "The Hunger Games" for Cheng Long.

did not expect……

After finally finishing reading the script for "Chinese Zodiac," he lowered his head, closed his eyes, and remained motionless for a long time.

He was born in Malaysia, earned his master’s degree in economics from the University of Hawaii, and later settled in Hong Kong. He doesn’t really know much about mainland China, nor does he have a deep connection to it.

Although he is Chinese.

However, because he had never lived in mainland China from childhood to adulthood, he didn't have much patriotism.

but……

The script for "Chinese Zodiac" seems to have awakened the Chinese blood within him.

As he was reading the script, he experienced a series of emotions, from initial anticipation to surprise, anger, and humiliation, which constantly impacted his mind.

Logically speaking, at 61 years old, he should have long passed the age of being full of passion.

However, the emotional build-up in this script is too captivating.

It's like a bottle of strong liquor; a 17 or 18-year-old will get drunk from it, and a 60 or 70-year-old will get drunk from it too.

Anyone who drinks it will get a headache.

As a Malaysian Chinese, he grew up in Malaysia and pursued his master's degree in Hawaii, USA, where he met many foreigners.

Looking back now, I realize I've met so many foreigners over the years, especially the white people from the United States...

He hadn't thought much about how white people treated Chinese people like him before, because he was used to it, but now that he thought about it...

He opened his eyes and looked at the script on his notebook through his glasses. He suddenly understood why so many overseas Chinese, knowing that their motherland was beyond saving, were still willing to donate money and supplies, and even go bankrupt to support their motherland's self-salvation when the country was on the verge of collapse.

Because that is the root of every Chinese person.

If our motherland were to collapse, every Chinese person would become a rootless duckweed, and even overseas Chinese would become the lowest class in the world.

"The twelve animal heads..."

He muttered it to himself.

The script says that the animal heads of the twelve zodiac animals represent the three souls and six spirits of every Chinese person, but he felt that the concept of the three souls and six spirits was a bit mystical.

He had also heard of the concepts of three souls and seven spirits, or seven souls and six spirits.

He felt that the animal heads of the twelve zodiac animals represented the dignity of every Chinese person.

In the late Qing Dynasty, we lost the dignity of our entire nation and country.

Finding these lost animal heads is like finding the dignity we once lost.

Even if we recover them all, it doesn't mean we've regained all our dignity.

but……

He felt that every animal head recovered meant that we had regained a bit more dignity.

The car stopped slowly.

Driver: "Brother Qiang, we've arrived."

Chen Ziqiang, sitting in the back, looked up out the car window and realized that the car had already arrived at Cheng Long's residence.

He closed his laptop on his lap, casually placed it on the seat, opened the car door, got out, and walked towards the gate.

……

"You want to make this movie?"

in the living room.

After Chen Ziqiang sat down, he first asked Cheng Long for his opinion, while keeping an eye on Cheng Long's expression.

Jackie Chan's face was devoid of its usual smile, and his expression was somewhat serious. Upon hearing this, he nodded without hesitation and said, "You've already read this script, haven't you? Now that this script is in my hands, I feel that if I don't make it into a film, I'm not qualified to be an actor! And even less qualified to be a Chinese person! What do you think?"

Chen Ziqiang stared intently at Cheng Long, and Cheng Long stared back at him.

Whether or not Jackie Chan wants to make the film is his business.

How many resources can be mobilized to film this movie largely depends on whether Chen Ziqiang is willing to give it his all.

Suddenly, Chen Ziqiang smiled and exclaimed, "Then let's film it! I fully support you!"

Upon hearing this, Jackie Chan smiled and said, "Thank you! Thank you!"

Chen Ziqiang glanced at Cheng Long and said with dissatisfaction, "What are you thanking me for? Do you think you're the only Chinese one? Although I was born in Malaysia, I'm still Chinese, okay? My ancestors have lived on the mainland for generations. You think you have a responsibility to make this kind of movie? Don't I have the same responsibility?"

Cheng Long was stunned for a moment.

He then quickly clasped his hands in apology and apologized repeatedly.

A moment later, Chen Ziqiang suddenly said, "By the way, Ah Long, I personally think that if we could change the ending of this script, it would be even more touching. I wonder if you'd like to hear my opinion?"

Cheng Long picked up his teacup, about to take a sip, when he heard this. He looked at Chen Ziqiang in astonishment, thinking: You want to revise Zhongyuan Yidianhui's script? Do you know what you're saying? You're the agent! You're the boss! Do you think you can write scripts better than Zhongyuan Yidianhui?

"Really? Go ahead! I'm listening!"

Cheng Long spoke very humbly, appearing to be all ears.

Chen Ziqiang: "I think it would be more touching if your character in the final scene of the script could die from his injuries after successfully seizing the animal heads."

Cheng Long was stunned.

Chen Ziqiang smiled and said, "However, I know your godfather set a rule for you a long time ago—you can't die in the play, right? So, you can pretend I didn't say anything. Speaking of which, the ending of this script is pretty good, isn't it? Hehe."

Cheng Long stared at him blankly, but remained silent.

He slowly frowned, pondering the ending of the script.

In the finale of the script, the male protagonist retrieves the third beast head. Although he is severely injured, he does not die.

Chen Ziqiang's suggestion just now seems to be more touching.

If, at the end of the movie, when the male protagonist is about to die, the film quickly recounts his earlier life from his perspective—those carefree and unrestrained days—coupled with his dying smile and the bloodstained beast head he holds in his arms, it seems... indeed more touching.

However, there were some rules my godfather set for me years ago...

For a moment, Cheng Long frowned and remained silent.

He was frequently injured while filming back then.

Some of the injuries nearly cost him his life.

His family and godfather were very worried about his safety. His godfather, as the boss of Golden Harvest, gave him two rules, but one of them is widely known: he was not allowed to take on roles where the lead actor would die in the film.

Another rule is: he is not allowed to cut his hair short.

In particular, the rule that he was not allowed to take on roles where the lead actor would die reflected his godfather's concern for him, and he knew that this rule could not be broken easily.

Because his godfather, Ho Kwun-cheung, passed away in 1997.

How could he easily break the rule that his godfather set for him before his death?

……

Days passed by.

Golden Harvest and Chen Ziqiang are both preparing for "Chinese Zodiac". Golden Harvest is in talks with Hollywood companies to co-produce "Chinese Zodiac".

Chen Ziqiang is also using his personal connections to find various resources for this film.

In addition to practicing his skills every day to improve his physical condition, Cheng Long also takes time to repeatedly read the script of "Chinese Zodiac".

In addition, he also discussed and designed some of the special effects shots needed for the film with the martial arts masters of the Cheng family every day.

Moreover, he and Chen Ziqiang have recently been in contact with Yuan Heping.

Yuen Woo-ping is hailed as the world's number one action choreographer. He collaborated with Jackie Chan many times in his early years, and the two worked together seamlessly. Jackie Chan also had great trust in Yuen Woo-ping's action design abilities.

For this film, "Chinese Zodiac," he wanted to invite Yuen Woo-ping to be the action choreographer.

Let the Yuan family team and the Cheng family team design the action for this movie together.

purpose?

All for the sake of presenting the best action effects in this movie.

Half a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

Golden Harvest has finalized a collaboration with New Line Cinema.

We have already identified a potential director, and we are also working hard to select and contact potential actors for the main roles in the film.

This afternoon.

Cheng Long brought some wine and food and came to his godfather He Guanchang's tombstone.

Several bodyguards in black stood not far away, not approaching.

Cheng Long, dressed in a black Tang suit, squatted in front of the tombstone, took out the wine and dishes he had brought and arranged them, lit three incense sticks and placed them in the incense burner in front of the tombstone.

After doing all that, he looked up at the black and white photo on the tombstone.

Looking at the photo of my godfather.

He looked at it for a while, then knelt down, stretched out his right hand, wiped the dust off the photo with his sleeve, and smiled, "Godfather, I've come to see you again. It's been quite a long time since I last visited you. Are you angry with me?"

The godfather naturally wouldn't respond.

Cheng Long bent down, picked up the already opened bottle of wine, and poured it horizontally in front of the tombstone.

While pouring the wine, he said, "Godfather! There's something I'd like to discuss with you. Recently, a very talented writer has emerged in mainland China. He's a very young man, and many people say he's the top screenwriter in Chinese-language films, while others say he's the top young writer in mainland China. He's really amazing! It's a pity you left us too soon and didn't get to see such a brilliant young man make a name for himself in the industry..."

After a moment of silence, he continued, "Godfather, this young man recently tailored a script for me called 'The Twelve Zodiacs,' a patriotic script. I used to think that being hostile to foreigners was a narrow-minded nationalistic sentiment, because I have many foreign friends, and many of the roles in my plays are played by foreigners. At that time, I thought that foreigners and us were just different in appearance, and many of them were quite easy to get along with, especially foreign girls... Hehe, you know, I'm a bit weak-willed in this regard, but you can't entirely blame me. After all, some foreign girls are really beautiful, and the key is that they are very proactive and really easy to get!"

He paused, his smile fading, and sighed, "However, after reading the script for 'The Twelve Zodiacs' recently, I've been thinking a lot."

For example: "There are so many Chinese people, but in the film and television industry, it seems like I'm the only one who has reached my level. Therefore, there are some things I should do, and some responsibilities I should shoulder."

Speaking of which.

He lowered his head and remained silent for a long time before revealing a complicated smile and saying in a low voice, "Godfather! I used to think that many foreigners were easy to get along with, but now I think it's not because they are really easy to get along with, but because I am Jackie Chan. Among so many Chinese people, how many Chinese people would be kind to besides me?"

In short, I want to make this movie, and make it well!

He slowly raised his head and looked into the eyes of his godfather in the photo on the tombstone.

She said softly, "Godfather! I came here today not only to visit you, but also to discuss something with you. If you don't object, I'll take that as your consent, okay?"

"Yes, yes, I want to die once at the end of this movie, just this once! Is that okay?"

After he finished speaking, he looked at his godfather in the photo.

After watching for a while, he suddenly smiled, stood up and said, "Godfather, since you don't object, then I'll take that as your tacit consent. Thank you, Godfather! Goodbye, Godfather!"

(End of this chapter)