1982 Started from Hong Kong

Chapter 121 First Meeting with Wu Yusen

The filming of the MV went smoothly.

Although Zhang Guorong is not a good person, his professional skills are impeccable.

Or it could be said that the professional level of most Hong Kong stars in this era was just okay, and the change had to wait until the popular stars led by Anita Mui ushered in the era of traffic, and then the phenomenon of actors overshadowing directors appeared.

At this time, the director can still curse and the screenwriter can ban the actors.

An unknown writer and screenwriter named Gu once forced an unknown actor named Cheng to hide in the toilet and cry.

"That's great. When I was a screenwriter, the cleaning lady would give me suggestions when she passed by. I can't get this kind of treatment."

Zhai Yuan was bossing the Third Prince of Central around, but he couldn't help but feel moved by the other party's professional attitude of doing whatever he was told to do.

In less than three days, all the scenes of "Secretly Obsessed" were filmed.

"Brother Master, I still don't know your last name?"

As they were about to part, Zhang Guorong asked a soul-searching question.

"Zhai Yuan."

"I've got it in mind. When your MV is finished, remember to send me a copy. I'll ask you to sing a song when I have the chance."

"Okay, I'll contact you next time if I start a new play."

Zhai Yuan remembered that he would soon have Wu Yusen joining the team, and thought that he should also find a few presentable actors to play the leading roles, and think about what kind of movie to make first.

In 1983, Zhang Guorong's reputation in his hometown was pretty good, not as bad as it was in 1986. If he was willing to join, he might have been able to film "A Better Tomorrow".

He didn't know that Zhai Yuan had targeted him. Instead, Chen Shufang, who was standing next to him, was stunned when she heard the word "Zhai Yuan". She vaguely remembered where she had heard this name before.

Zhai Yuan noticed the change in Chen Shufang's expression and smiled indifferently.

We have already filmed everything that needs to be filmed. It is too late for you to regret now.

Farewell!

The next step is to edit the MV.

He found a nearby printing house to develop the film, and Zhai Yuan contacted a production company under the Yindu Organization and rented a film editing room.

When all else fails, there are always bright spots in the west. Although the conflict with Princess Golden and Golden Harvest was a bit awkward, it received support from Gloria Entertainment and Western Film Cinemas, so it can be said that it has found an organization.

In the editing room, Zhai Yuan met director Wu Yusen for the first time.

At the age of thirty-seven, although his hair was combed meticulously, his hairline had moved back a lot, his eyes were swollen and narrowed, he had a flat nose, thin lips, and his face looked a little haggard.

This was his first impression of Wu Yusen.

"Director Wu just came back from Thailand. I asked him to come and see you right away."

Peng Jiayan winked at Zhai Yuan and introduced him to Wu Yusen, "Director, this is Zhai Yuan, the boss of Jiuyi Entertainment."

"Boss Zhai."

"Director Wu."

After a few simple greetings, Zhai Yuan originally planned to leave the editing work to the editor and take the director out to find a food stall to sit down and talk slowly. However, Wu Yusen became interested in the raw film and took the initiative to sit down and communicate with him.

"I heard from Jiayan that Boss Zhai is very talented. He learned how to act in a short time and even directed a movie. Is that this one?"

He and Pang Ka Yin had known each other since the Wei Film Club, and they were both teachers and friends, so Pang Ka Yin was able to easily invite him over this time.

Upon hearing this, Zhai Yuan looked at Peng Jiayan in surprise.

Sure. He usually chatters a lot at the airport, but I didn't expect that he would praise me in front of outsiders. I'll put chicken legs in his lunch box next time.

Peng Jiayan noticed his gaze, snorted, and turned her face away proudly.

Tsk! Zhai Yuan rolled his eyes, then looked at Wu Yusen again and explained to him that the previous movie was "This Man From Earth", which has ended, and the music video for "Secretly Obsessed" is being edited now.

"It seems that I have been isolated from the news and have been ignorant during my time in Thailand. I didn't even know that there was such a new director in this country." Knowing that Zhai Yuan's low-budget movie had been a big hit both at the box office and on video tapes, Wu Yusen thought of his own experiences in the past few years, from being benched to being fired, and couldn't help sighing.

After a few more commercial exclamations, Zhai Yuan watched the editor sort out the rough film while chatting with Wu Yusen.

"Has Sister Jiayan ever told you that she hopes you can come to work in my company?"

"Yes, but I heard that Boss Zhai had a disagreement with Formosa Market?"

"Yes, but you don't have to worry about the market. I can contact two American and Canadian cinema chains, as well as the local Zuofang Cinema Chain and the Western Film Cinema Chain. Even if there is no Formosa, there are still Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. If you can direct a blockbuster film, you may be able to enter the Japanese and Korean markets."

Listening to his seemingly clear ideas, Wu Yusen felt a little puzzled.

It's not that easy.

"After Bruce Lee's death, it seems that no one except Cheng Shilong can enter the Japanese and Korean markets."

Wu Yusen reminded him.

“So we need to change our thinking. Why is it that only Chengshilong can enter the Japanese and Korean markets?”

What Zhai Yuan said was not only to cater to the audience's interests, but also to expose the common problems facing Hong Kong films today.

"The box office of 'Best Partner' in Taiwan and even in Taiwan can surpass that of Cheng Shilong, but it cannot make it abroad. It is beaten by Cheng Shilong's movies in the overseas market. Isn't it because the audiences of comedy and action movies are naturally different?"

"Especially local comedies, which have too much Hong Kong flavor, are incomprehensible to overseas audiences even when translated into foreign languages. But action movies are different. Everyone can understand the thrilling kung fu fighting scenes. Moreover, Cheng Shilong is a brave fighter, so his films will certainly be accepted by the mass market."

"So I think if you want to open up the Japanese and Korean markets, or even the North American box office, you can't continue to make those comedy movies you made before. You should go the route of action movies. Cheng Shilong uses fists, and we use guns. He films Young Master Long of the Qing Dynasty, and we film modern lone killers!"

After a few words, Wu Yusen was almost in tears.

That’s what I fucking said to Golden Harvest back then, but Boss Zou felt that he had the Jacky Cheung and Hung Clan and didn’t need me to make action movies, so he just asked me to copy Princess Golden’s comedies to stabilize the local box office.

It doesn’t matter how many soulmates you have, one is better than ten!
In fact, everyone can see that if Hong Kong films want to go abroad, the only way out is action films.

No one even cites a unique big shot like Cheng Shilon as an example.

Movies shot by second-tier action stars like Hong Xinbao and Yuan Biao can sweep the local comedy box office overseas.

However, except for Golden Harvest, most other local companies do not have any outstanding action stars. It is useless to just know how to fight and risk your life. You cannot design beautiful moves like others. Even if you are beaten to death in front of the camera, no one will watch.

So what about borrowing Cheng Shilong from Golden Harvest to make a movie?
Of course it is impossible. Regardless of whether Golden Harvest was reluctant to let him go, he received a film salary of 480 million from Zou Wenhuai in the late s. According to the standard of doubling the salary in the circle, the salary he had to pay just to lend him to shoot a movie was as high as the maximum production cost of the entire movie "Best Partner".

And if you borrow Cheng Shilong, of course you also have to borrow his Cheng family martial arts team, and the price will be sky-high.

"So Director Wu, we can't afford Cheng Shilong, let alone the Cheng family team, so we can only make an action movie of a different style!"

Zhai Yuan looked at Wu Yusen with a determined look: "I think gunfight movies are very suitable for the current market environment. I wonder if you are interested?"

Wu Yusen nodded excitedly.

After so many years, someone finally asked me this question.

There are people in Hong Kong making gun-fight films, such as Li Xiuxian's police and gangster-style films, but in Wu Yusen's eyes, they are just plain and simple.

He opened his mouth and was about to speak when Zhai Yuan's voice rang out again.

"I think Li Xiuxian's style doesn't suit you. You are more suited to roles with violent masculine temperament, just like your teacher Zhang Che's style. If you replace cold weapons with long guns and short cannons, and add brotherly grudges, it should be a good movie."

Wu Yusen looked at Zhai Yuan in surprise, feeling that this young man seemed to be able to see through his thoughts.

"Yes, this is the style I've always wanted to do."

Zhai Yuan nodded. Judging from his appearance, there should be no problem.

The new question now is whether the director’s fee can be lowered further.

"In fact, I already have a more mature script in mind, which fits this violent and masculine style very well."

Zhai Yuan threw out another trump card, intending to play the card of "A Better Tomorrow", so he continued, "If Director Wu has time, why don't we go somewhere else and talk slowly?"

(End of this chapter)