1982 Started from Hong Kong

Chapter 240

In early March, the news of the first death of an AIDS patient in Hong Kong's history made the front page and became the most watched public health hotspot.

Various unscrupulous media outlets gathered news from all over the world and launched panic-mongering propaganda, causing Hong Kong citizens to become terrified of AIDS.

"I saw on the news that there are viruses in those liquids, so you must wear a condom."

"No wonder the condom shelves were empty when I went to the grocery store this morning."

"Not only that! Remember to wear gloves and a mask when you go out. Who knows if the things you touch have been touched by other people with AIDS."

"I heard that if you're not careful about that, you're more likely to get this disease, both men and women."

"What does it mean to be indecent?"

"Promiscuous, look at those men hugging women everywhere every day, maybe one day they will get pregnant."

"Then the boss is..."

In the Jiuyi Entertainment Company building.

Several young girls from the finance and human resources departments gathered together and discussed health and safety related topics in a low voice.

Zhai Yuan walked in from outside humming a little tune.

Greet them in a showy way: "Good morning, girls~"

The girls stopped talking immediately and looked at him with strange expressions, without their usual enthusiasm. They just greeted him with a perfunctory smile and then dispersed as if they were avoiding the plague.

Zhai Yuan scratched his head in confusion. What's wrong with these women today?
"Mr. Zhai, Sister Meng came to the company to see you ten minutes ago and is now in the tea room."

Shi Nansheng heard the commotion outside and came out of his office to tell Zhai Yuan, "She also called Ah Xu and Liu Zhenwei in to explain the two films that were going to be filmed in mainland China."

When Zhai Yuan heard that Xia Meng was coming, he perked up a bit and walked towards the tea room.

In the tea room.

Xu Qi and Liu Zhenwei were introducing the two movies "Once Upon a Time in China" and "Mr. Vampire" to Xia Meng with the scripts and storyboard drafts.

Xia Meng wore a pair of reading glasses on her nose, and read the script carefully, asking a few questions from time to time.

Zhai Yuan pushed the door open and walked in. Xia Meng looked up at him, nodded in greeting, and then turned her attention back to the text.

"Everyone, continue."

Zhai Yuan smiled at Xu Qi and Liu Zhenwei, took out his large ceramic pot to make a cup of tea, and sat on the other side of the sofa to listen.

"Currently, traditional films featuring Wong Fei-hung still focus on choreographing different movements, even Chen Shilong's performance in 'Drunken Master' hasn't broken through."

Xu Qi spoke eloquently, "That's why Mr. Zhai asked me to be the director this time. He specifically told me to broaden my horizons. In addition to portraying positive characters, the villains shouldn't be limited to a single sect or martial arts master as before. I should pay more attention to depicting the late Qing Dynasty when Wong Fei-hung lived, the class contradictions among all walks of life, and the cognitive clash between China and the West, perfecting the spiritual core of the unity of wisdom and martial arts."

Zhai Yuan felt like he had found a treasure.

Although it was as if he hadn't said anything about benevolence, righteousness, and morality, Teacher Xia Meng obviously benefited from it. The story of Huang Feihong was in line with the publicity requirements of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles.

When it was Liu Zhenwei's turn, the effect was much worse.

In terms of ideological awareness, Patriarch Bodhi is not even close to Xu Qi. He has been shooting comedy films throughout his career, and he has been struggling for a long time but still can only stay at the story level of "Mr. Vampire".

Xia Meng said hesitantly, "I personally think there's nothing wrong with this movie, but will it have a bad impact if it's filmed in Yanjing City in the interior of the country?"

Zhai Yuan knew what she was worried about, so he took the initiative to say, "Sister Meng, actually, this is a science fiction film."

Zhai Yuan brought out the ideas from the previous script meeting, blurred the existing storyline, and told Xia Meng how this series of movies would develop in the future. It took some effort to finally get her to accept the core of Uncle Jiu's punishing evil and promoting good.

Xia Meng pulled out a stack of documents from her bag. "This is the filming permit issued by the mainland to 91 Entertainment for its move north. According to the rules, your script needs to be reviewed by the review committee first, but I'll give it to you in advance. Later, give me a copy of the script and I'll take it back to discuss it in detail with the review committee."

She paused and smiled helplessly, "Once Upon a Time in China doesn't seem to have any problems at the moment. Although you told Mr. Zombie in a fancy way, with Superman and Captain America, it's hard to say whether it can pass the review committee."

Zhai Yuan nodded in understanding. The last time a movie called "God of Gamblers" had its values ​​caused a lot of controversy, and this time even zombies were created, the problem was obviously more serious.

He said to Xia Meng in a serious tone, "Thank you, Sister Meng. If the review committee suggests any changes that need to be made, please let me know in advance."

Xia Meng frowned and asked, "Will you listen to them? That's not your style."

Zhai Yuan chuckled and said, "I mean that you should inform me in advance so that I can go to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand to select the filming locations in advance."

If you can't afford to offend, can you still afford to hide?

Xia Meng showed an expression of utmost respect and said with a smile, "I will try my best to help you pass the Hong Kong Review Committee first. The final decision will depend on the leaders of the mainland cultural department."

Zhai Yuan nodded and said to her, "I have two opinions. I'm not sure if they're correct. Sister Meng, can you analyze them for me? First, if the crew of 'Mr. Vampire' goes to the mainland, it can generate some revenue for local expenses. Secondly, if the film performs well after its release, the filming location may become a tourist attraction in the eyes of the audience, which will also promote cultural tourism in the long run."

Xia Meng looked helpless: "You are still the one with the most clever ideas. I will let the leaders consider this suggestion."

Zhai Yuan said obediently: "Thank you for your hard work, Sister Meng~"

There was very little he could do about censorship, but deep down Zhai Yuan still wanted to film "Mr. Vampire" in the mainland.

In the original timeline, the film was shot on the old street of Hukou in Taiwan. At that time, manpower and material resources were relatively expensive there, so the film was hastily finished after just a few scenes. The final effect of the entire film was still a bit crude. However, if the film could be set up in the mainland to build a town in the early Republic of China, it would definitely be low-cost and high-return.

It depends on whether the cultural and tourism departments are willing to accept this wave of traffic.

"Go out and print out a copy of the script first, and have Sister Meng take it away later."

Zhai Yuan asked the two directors to go out and do their work.

When he and Xia Meng were the only ones left in the office, he asked again, "Sister Meng, has there been any result regarding my becoming your disciple?"

"I was just about to tell you about this." Xia Meng said, "Pick a time and take teachers Yu Zhanyuan and Fen Juhua to the mainland and hold a banquet for them to become your apprentices."

Zhai Yuan asked: "So smooth?"

Xia Meng smiled and said, "The Peking Opera world is also a place of fame and fortune. You've set good conditions, so there are many people willing to make an exception and accept you as a disciple."

Xia Meng briefly explained the news from Yanjing City, and Zhai Yuan finally understood the general situation of his apprenticeship.

When the old artists in Yanjing City first heard that a twenty-year-old young man wanted to enter the Sheng class, they were all furious. Although the mainland is abolishing the master-apprentice system, it is still a tradition and rule in the hearts of the elderly.

Then the director of the Peking Opera Theater told Zhai Yuan the conditions he was willing to offer for his apprenticeship.

Gifts for festivals and birthdays were secondary; even a house or a car was a piece of cake for Zhai Yuan. There were two conditions that really moved the veteran artists.

The first is that as long as they are willing to give Zhai Yuan, Yu Zhanyuan and Fen Juhua the same seniority, this branch of the school will be able to appear frequently on local TV stations this year. He cannot get involved in the Spring Festival Gala, but he has sponsored a sum of money to promote the national quintessence to the local TV station. It is very easy for him to take out ten minutes every week to do a Peking Opera program.

The second is to make a Peking Opera-themed movie under the name of Jiuyi Entertainment, and the protagonist is naturally a member of this school who is willing to accept him as a disciple.

In the 1980s, the temptation of being on TV was already great enough. Because there were no other entertainment devices, people could only watch whatever the TV station broadcast. Many people were vying for an appearance on TV.

Making a movie is out of the question, unless there is a mission to be accomplished. Otherwise, the investor would be wrong to make a movie about Peking Opera.

After the news spread, the old artists were still reserved and hesitant, but their sons, daughters-in-law, and apprentices came to their doors to lobby them.

"Dad! The TV station said that as long as our family can get that investment, they will immediately arrange for me to work. If you don't think about me, you have to think about my daughter-in-law and the baby in her belly!"

Before long, the matter evolved from being sneered at at the beginning to some people secretly going to the leaders to sign up, and then they attacked and slandered each other, saying that their artistic level was not good enough and they were not able to accept this huge fortune.

Finally, a centenarian old man from the Shanhai Pass, Zhang Fuqi, a veteran artist from the Fu family, took the initiative to come out and accept the job in order to pave the way for his apprentices.

When the other veteran artists saw that there was no hope, they immediately turned against him and started mocking him.

"It's okay to have two Shanghai artists, but they even accepted a twenty-year-old young man. This is just ridiculous!"

"Zhang Fuqi is not good at art, he can only flatter others, he has lived to this age in vain."

"What a human being! I've never seen anyone do this since I saw Peking Opera!"

Thousands of words converge into four rather offensive words:
The underworld is in chaos!

Zhai Yuan listened to Xia Meng's account of the whole incident. Although he had not witnessed it with his own eyes, he could already imagine the chaos involved.

Alas! Capital!

…………

The development of Hong Kong's film industry is inseparable from the drama and martial arts industries.

Decades ago, Peking Opera martial artist Yuan Xiaotian and Hung Gar martial artist Liu Zhan entered the film industry and promoted the development of Cantonese opera films.

Pink Chrysanthemum Sun Ruixin and Yu Zhanyuan opened a drama school in Hong Kong to recruit students and provide talents for the film and television industry.

At that time, there were four so-called famous drama schools: Yu Zhanyuan's China Drama School, Fen Juhua's Spring and Autumn Drama School, Tang Di's Oriental Drama School, and Ma Chengzhi's Chinese Drama School.

It sounds high-sounding and often has the word "school" in its title, but in fact it is no different from a traditional opera troupe, and graduates do not receive any academic diplomas.

However, even so, there are still many poor people who send their children to learn opera, sign life and death contracts, and earn hard-earned money.

Unfortunately, with the decline of Peking Opera, drama schools were gradually replaced by regular colleges.

Now in the 1980s, of the four famous schools back then, only the Spring and Autumn Drama School of Fen Juhua is still in operation.

Ten o'clock in the morning.

Outside the old gate of Chunqiu Drama School.

Luo Jiaying got out of a taxi and walked into the school in a familiar manner.

Peking opera and Cantonese opera are two genres that are often encountered in Hong Kong. Luo Jiaying is a veteran Cantonese opera actor. In the early years, he often consulted and exchanged views with Peking opera masters such as Fen Juhua and Yu Zhanyuan on issues related to drama.

As Luo Jiaying walked along, students greeted him from time to time.

"Uncle Jiaying, long time no see."

Luo Jiaying nodded to the students, remembering the purpose of her boss Zhai Yuan asking her to come.

He casually pulled over a familiar-looking student and asked, "Is Master Sun in school?"

The young student pointed in a direction: "Master is giving a lecture in the classroom."

Luo Jiaying then walked towards the classroom.

Chunqiu is a traditional Peking Opera school that only teaches art and does not offer any cultural courses. The entire school is very small, with only two large classrooms and a dormitory building.

When Luo Jiaying arrived outside the classroom, there were only a few teenagers training in the classroom.

The 85-year-old Fen Juhua looks energetic. She no longer demonstrates the movements herself. Instead, she arranges for her senior brother Qian Yuesheng to teach and she gives instructions from the side.

Her skills are based on the art of fighting and horse-dan, and the most important thing is the posture and posture.

Luo Jiaying was outside watching a few primary school students practicing blanket skills. They were tumbling and falling, performing one difficult move after another. The teenagers were grimacing in pain, and the sound of "ouch" could be heard everywhere.

He couldn't help but sigh: "It's better to sing Cantonese opera, there are no so many body movements and no suffering."

"Master, Master Luo is here to see you."

Luo Jiaying originally wanted to wait until the training was over before entering the door, but she was seen by a sharp-eyed young student, who took the opportunity to stop stretching and slack off, pointing at Luo Jiaying outside the window and starting to shout.

Pink chrysanthemum Sun Ruixin was checking her homework with her hands behind her back. She looked in the direction of the voice and saw Luo Jiaying. A smile appeared on her serious face.

Immediately, his smile faded, and he instructed Qian Yuesheng, "Continue teaching them the movements. The students who were lazy just now will have an extra half hour."

There was a burst of cries of pain behind him.

"Xiao Luo is here." Sun Ruixin walked out of the training room, smiled at Luo Jiaying, and said in Mandarin: "Come on, let's talk in my office if you have anything to say."

The masters of the Peking Opera school do not speak Cantonese, nor do they allow their students to speak it in front of them. Sun Ruixin has always maintained the habit of speaking Mandarin over the years.

Luo Jiaying's Mandarin was barely passable. Upon hearing this, she smiled and said, "I won't bother you any more, Master Sun. I'm not here to discuss creation, I'm just here to deliver a message for you."

Sun Ruixin was slightly surprised, then gestured for him to sit on the bench outside the classroom and asked, "Is there a theater troupe performing recently and they want my help?"

Luo Jiaying shook her head and said, "I heard Master Sun mention it a few years ago. You've always regretted the lack of proper professional training in the Peking Opera world. We Cantonese Opera singers don't value this aspect, so we don't have a deep understanding of it. But I've been filming in mainland China a lot lately, and I heard that Fu Liancheng is reopening a class to accept apprentices. Master Sun, maybe you could give it a try."

Sun Ruixin was surprised when she heard this and said, "Fuliancheng is opening a class? Hasn't it been closed for many years?"

Luo Jiaying said: "I don't know the specific situation..."

Before he finished speaking, a slender young man with a happy face walked over. When he saw Luo Jiaying and Sun Ruixin, he paused, then returned to normal.

(End of this chapter)