1982 Started from Hong Kong

Chapter 482 Lin Qingxia's Predicament
Years later, you might come across a short video like this.

A video account, speaking in the tone of a marketing account, loudly proclaims:

"Holy crap! I can't be the last one to find out, can I? It turns out that Tuan Tuan snacks and Yuan Yuan beverages are from the same company, and together they form the word 'reunion' (团圆). And behind this lies a wish from the three founding shareholders: that compatriots across the Taiwan Strait and Hong Kong could be reunited. I have to say, the older generation of entrepreneurs were truly remarkable..."

Well……

Zhai Yuan imagined the scenario, and the plan worked!
Of course, the most important thing is not to create a persona of someone who only spends 50,000 yuan a year.

Otherwise, you won't even be able to afford condoms, and you can imagine the trouble you'll cause.

In the next two days,

The screen at the 1024 Theater lit up and then went out again as "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer" was shown one after another. Audiences walked out of the theater in a bustling manner, their conversations full of enthusiasm.

"This drama is called 'The Smiling, Proud Wanderer,' but it doesn't seem to have anything to do with Jin Liangyong's novel, does it?"

"As a screenwriter, why would a prodigy like Yuan simply copy Jin Liangyong's story? Of course, he just bought the name for publicity!"

"I never expected that Brigitte Lin, who used to be just a pretty face, would be so sharp in this movie."

"A vase? You're so old-fashioned! How old are you? When Qingxia was a star of Qiong Yao dramas, even your own mother didn't know your father!"

Lin Qingxia, wearing a hat and sunglasses, sat under a parasol at the theater entrance, listening to the comments of passersby about "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer".

The era of "Qiong Yao Girls" is over. As a veteran in the entertainment industry, Brigitte Lin knows that if she can't break through her acting style at her age, she will fade into obscurity in a few years at most. With more and more sweet and beautiful young women emerging, her opportunities are becoming fewer and fewer.

"The worst thing for actors is when the audience mentions you and still talks about the glory of ten or twenty years ago. In their memory, you are still a youthful figure in your early twenties. But once you seriously make a movie and it is released, most of these old viewers will only pay for the nostalgia once. When they realize that you are different from the image in their memory, they will no longer support you."

Lin Qingxia pulled her hat down further, took Shi Nansheng's hand, and said with a sigh, "As for those new viewers, some young people just called me a 'pretty face,' which immediately comes to mind as someone who grew up watching Chen Shilong's movies. If I continue to rely on my past roles, why wouldn't people go to see Maggie Cheung and Joey Wong?"

Shi Nansheng patted the back of her hand to comfort her. As her best friend, she knew about the difficulties Lin Qingxia had faced in her career in recent years.

Of the four leading actresses from Taiwan, Hu Yinmeng and Lin Fengjiao are now married, leaving only Brigitte Lin and Sibelle Hu still in the film industry. In comparison, Sibelle Hu is more well-known because of her "action star" label, while Brigitte Lin can only appear in some comedic films. Her niche is gradually being squeezed out by the generation of actresses like Chung Chu-hung, Rosamund Kwan, and Maggie Cheung.

As the top actress of 91 Entertainment, Chung Chu-hung's current salary is close to one million Hong Kong dollars, which is comparable to that of male actors such as Alan Tam and Leslie Cheung, who are close to the top tier.

Anita Mui has recently held several concerts, resulting in a surge in popularity and her film fee exceeding 600,000 yuan.
Brigitte Lin, Carol Cheng, Sibelle Hu, and Pat Ha are in the third tier of salaries, which is quoted at 300,000 to 500,000, but in reality, they can usually be hired for as low as 300,000.

What level is the fourth tier of actresses currently earning 300,000 yuan per film?
Wang Zuxian, who starred in "A Chinese Ghost Story," could get the role; Maggie Cheung, who starred in "The Silence of the Lambs," could easily get it; and Rosamund Kwan, who starred in "Once Upon a Time in China," also dared to ask for this price...

Not to mention actresses like Lydia Shum, who usually keep a low profile but whose film salaries rival those of Anita Mui.

"Sister Nan, if there's no future for 'The Smiling, Proud Wanderer,' the only option left is to go back to Taiwan and take on some variety shows or TV dramas."

Lin Qingxia held Shi Nansheng's hand and said half-jokingly, "But I think my acting skills have never been bad. It's just that times have changed. If there are art films like 'Red Sorghum' and 'Farewell My Concubine' in the future, I can give it a try. Look how lucky young girls are now. That girl named Gong Li made a masterpiece that we could never make in our entire lives as soon as she debuted. If I can win an award, it will be worth it to have worked in the film industry for almost 20 years."

Shi Nansheng frowned, sensing from Lin Qingxia's words that she wanted to retire from acting. He said with displeasure, "I know you've been under a lot of pressure lately, but it's best not to say things like that. 'Swordsman' has only just been released, and judging from the current trend, the domestic box office is definitely not a problem. If you don't trust me, do you think you can trust Zhai Yuan? He's got the Midas touch!"

Lin Qingxia sighed and said dejectedly, "When we went to the mainland to film, it was pouring rain in the middle of the night. I was shivering with cold. I asked Ye Quanzhen and Zhang Min, 'Are you cold?' They said, 'No.' I wanted to exchange feelings about being cold with them, but they weren't cold at all. The feeling of bewilderment was indescribable... My physical strength is not as good as that of young people. At that time, I was filled with emotion, and it was pitch black."

Shi Nansheng felt he couldn't handle the woman in front of him and wanted to change the subject but didn't know where to start.

Work? Since returning from filming in mainland China, she has gotten drunk countless times, each time collapsing onto herself and sobbing uncontrollably.

As for relationships? They were even worse. Last year, when she was recruiting film producers in Taiwan, she met with a few friends before leaving. Qin Han, whom Lin Qingxia had a crush on, was also there. Wang Zuxian, after reading a few gossip articles, didn't know her place and started interrogating Qin Han, asking him when he would marry Lin Qingxia. Qin Han was embarrassed and didn't know how to answer. Lin Qingxia was extremely disappointed. Although she didn't explode on the spot, she later learned from her mother that Lin Qingxia had a mental breakdown after returning home and was hospitalized, needing to be injected with sedatives every day to stabilize her emotions.

"How about we go shopping to relax? Have you ever been to Jurassic Park? It's not open yet, but it's actually finished. Can I sneak you in for a visit? Great! If all else fails, I'll skip work and take you on a trip to another country for a few days!"

Shi Nansheng tried to distract Lin Qingxia, and finally persuaded her, "It's no use for you to stand guard at the theater entrance like this. We will collect the box office data every day and deliver it to you, okay?"

Lin Qingxia looked apologetic, but still shook her head and said in a coquettish tone, "Sister Nan, just stay here with me and calm down."

Shi Nansheng sighed in frustration: "Okay, but I'm going to the restroom first. Please don't cry anymore. I'll be right back, otherwise it'll be a real hassle if those tabloid reporters take pictures of us!"

Lin Qingxia nodded, and although she was wearing a mask, a smile could still be seen on her face.

Shi Nansheng turned around and went inside the theater.

Turning the corner, she immediately pulled out her phone and called Zhai Yuan, her voice filled with helplessness: "Mr. Zhai, I'm in dire need of help..."

After half an hour,
Zhai Yuan, wearing sunglasses, got out of a taxi.

Looking around the theater entrance, I spotted Shi Nansheng and Brigitte Lin's familiar figures by an outdoor booth in the corner, and slowly strolled closer.

"How was it? I heard that Dongfang Bubai turned into Xianglin's Wife, so I came here specifically to see for myself."

Avoiding the crowd, Zhai Yuan slipped away and plopped down between two women, his first words carrying a cynical tone.

Lin Qingxia was initially startled by the sudden appearance of President Zhai. Upon hearing this, she looked at him and Shi Nansheng, both amused and exasperated, and said, "Sister Nan, are you letting Mr. Zhai come to laugh at me?" Shi Nansheng waved her hands repeatedly, glared at Zhai Yuan, and whispered, "What a nagging old woman! You think the fire isn't big enough already?"

"What's going on?" Zhai Yuan leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and smiled at Lin Qingxia, "Hey, I really didn't know that the actors are more concerned about the fate of a film than the investors. Those actors in the Film Association are only responsible for collecting money and making films; no one has ever considered us, the bosses. They should all learn from you, Sister Qingxia, in this respect!"

Lin Qingxia, in front of Zhai Yuan, composed herself and said with a smile, "Not only that, I'm also in charge of advertising for your soda brand, Mr. Zhai. Shouldn't the Hong Kong Film Awards give me the Most Dedicated Actress award this year?"

"You might not be the most dedicated actor. What actor claims to be dedicated while simultaneously criticizing the shows they make?"

Zhai Yuan joked with a smile: "I am qualified to be the most dedicated boss. Not only do I put in the work, but I also have to come and comfort the female lead when the movie is released. Of course, the most important thing is that I will never be pessimistic about my own company's movies."

Lin Qingxia's expression shifted slightly, but she remained silent.

Zhai Yuan's tone became more serious as he said, "Sister Nan told you not to feel too much pressure. She judged from her experience that this film would at least not lose money. But what I want to say is, it doesn't matter how much money this 'Invincible East' makes. Even if it loses money, you'll still be the big winner."

Lin Qingxia took off her sunglasses and looked at Zhai Yuan with a puzzled expression.

Zhai Yuan rested his hands behind his head, looking at the huge poster hanging on the outer wall of the theater from the reflected perspective.

The character of Hui Kwan-kit from the first film was not used, nor was Li Lianjie played the role in this version.

This version of "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer" promotes Brigitte Lin, dressed in red, as the main character, occupying two-thirds of the screen. Li Lianjie, in the center position, is followed by actors such as Zhang Min, Ye Quanzhen, Li Zixiong, and Ren Shiguan on either side.

The promotional poster only had one sentence: "From Qiong Yao heroine to bewitching demon king."

“Because this image of the leader of the Sun Moon Cult has broken all your past acting styles, and no actress has ever tried this before.” Zhai Yuan leaned back in his chair and said slowly, “One reason for the decline of martial arts films is that the characters are too simplistic. This time, Dongfang Bubai has made a change. I think for a long time to come, you shouldn’t worry about not having any roles to play, but rather you should worry about the scripts that the production companies bring you. Nine out of ten of them will ask you to continue playing this cross-dressing role.”

Indeed, this is the case. In a parallel universe, after filming "Swordsman," Brigitte Lin experienced a second spring in her career. In the dozen or so films she took on afterward, almost all of them were cross-dressing roles where she played a woman disguised as a man.

However, not many films left a strong impression on Zhai Yuan, except for one called "The Six-Fingered Demon".

“I also hope to break out of my acting range.” Brigitte Lin shook her head, her tone lacking confidence: “But all the film critics in the newspapers are saying I’m ruining my image, as if I’m desperate and grasping at straws…”

"Nonsense, it's easy for these film critics to make sarcastic remarks. Otherwise, what would you do? According to them, you should continue to play gentle and virtuous literary girls, victims of love, or decorative vases in comedies."

Zhai Yuan chuckled and said to Lin Qingxia, "Let me tell you, film critics are all as loose-lipped as a prostitute's trouser pocket. As long as they're paid, they'll say whatever they want. If you're unhappy about that, the company will send some money over tomorrow, and I guarantee they'll change their tune immediately. But I don't care. Let them say whatever they want."

Zhai Yuan pointed to the audience coming and going behind him and said with a smile, "You need to understand that these are our real users. You can continue sitting here if you want, but I think if a woman is feeling down, the best way is to find a man, have a couple of whiskeys together, listen to some records, and have a deep conversation about the true meaning of life... What a coincidence, I have plenty of time tonight and am available anytime. Think about it, Sister Qingxia?"

…………

Under Zhai Yuan's teasing guidance, Shi Nan, fearing that her friend might act impulsively, ultimately dragged Lin Qingxia away from the 1024 Theater.

On July 6, nearly a week after its release, "Swordsman" saw its box office grow at a slow pace, showing no signs of significant growth.

On the same day, Tsai Sung-lin's Scholar Film Company obtained a copy of the film and, through a collaborative production promotion, officially launched the film in Taiwanese cinemas.

During this period, Jiahe's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" had a strong early growth due to its abundant comedic elements, and gradually surpassed "Swordsman" in domestic box office.

Just as Jiahe and Jiuyi were vying for dominance during the summer movie season.

Xinbao Cinema Alliance suddenly pulled its currently showing film "Devil Cop" and instead launched a major promotional campaign for "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," joining the fray. Overnight, the entire city was plastered with giant posters of Harrison Ford running with the Holy Grail.

In just three days, it surpassed "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" at the box office.

Meanwhile, the box office trend of "Swordsman" is still rising steadily.

In the office of 91 Entertainment, Shi Nansheng and the heads of other departments scratched their heads in bewilderment.

"The data doesn't show any problems at all, so why is the box office growth so slow?"

"It's mostly a matter of the subject matter. Audiences are tired of martial arts films. Actually, this movie has a very good reputation."

"We lack a new direction for promotion; otherwise, given this momentum, it will be difficult for the final box office to exceed 1500 million."

Shi Nansheng listened to the discussions around him and felt somewhat worried.

If "Swordsman" only grosses a few million at the box office, it will be a true loss-making film, considering that the production cost exceeded ten million.

On the other hand, if this film flops, it will undoubtedly be another blow to Brigitte Lin.

Just then, the phone on the table rang.

Shi Nansheng answered the phone listlessly, then his furrowed brows gradually relaxed and his eyes lit up.

On the other end of the phone, Cai Songlin's voice, barely containing his excitement, came through: "Ms. Shi, I hope you can bring five more copies of 'The Smiling, Proud Wanderer' to Taiwan and add a few more screenings in theaters... You don't know, Brigitte Lin's portrayal of Dongfang Bubai is a sensation in Ximending, even more popular than those Category III films... I'm right outside the theater right now, and I'm not kidding, there's a long line of people waiting outside. This isn't just a comeback for her, it's a complete resurgence!"

(End of this chapter)