It's reasonable for me to be a three-time Golden Horse Award-winning director and an all-around

Chapter 194 Getting things done is no easy feat, but causing trouble is all too easy! (Seeking monthly votes)
Despite its small size, the Hong Kong film industry has become a diverse and eclectic mix of people and factions over the years.

Especially during its heyday in the 1970s and 80s, it was known as the "Hollywood of the East," producing an astonishing number of films annually and radiating its influence throughout Southeast Asia!
But precisely because of this, the saying "a small temple has a lot of evil spirits, and shallow water has many turtles" is frequently seen in the industry.

In their quest for market share, major companies and factions are locked in a fierce battle, both openly and covertly, over everything from vying for actors and scripts to securing theatrical releases.

In fact, upon closer examination, the Hong Kong entertainment industry can be broadly divided into two factions.

One group follows the trend of the times and actively embraces the mainland market; Yinghuang is a representative of this group.

The other faction is obsessed with past glories and always holds a conservative and xenophobic attitude, such as Win's Entertainment and many other established film companies.

Even though the latter is extremely envious of the former's huge profits in the mainland market, they always maintain a haughty attitude, often putting on an air of "Hong Kong films are the only true ones," showing contempt and alienation towards the mainland market and audiences.

To put it bluntly, they want to make money in mainland China, but they can't let go of their so-called "status," which is very contradictory.

Yinghuang emerged from such a precarious situation.

They started by producing and distributing records and publishing music, and later gradually expanded into areas such as artist management and concert production, gradually establishing themselves in the industry.

Artists signed under its wing, such as Nicholas Tse, Joey Yung, and Twins, have become wildly popular in mainland China and Hong Kong, becoming the "golden brand" of Yinghuang.

This year, Yinghuang seized the opportunity to establish Yinghuang Xingyi (Capital) Cultural Development Co., Ltd., marking its official entry into the mainland market.

In industry jargon, this investment is Yinghuang's "pledge of allegiance" to China Film Group, demonstrating its sincerity and opening the door to the mainland film and television industry.

However, as Yinghuang's business continued to expand into the mainland, Yang Shoucheng was not content with this and gradually set his sights on Ruishijie.

He knew in his heart that although Jiang Wen was talented, he could not be considered a pure commercial film director.

Most importantly, Jiang Wen's filming pace is slow and his style is more artistic, so it's unrealistic to expect him to quickly seize the market.

But Vision is different.

From "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" to the record-breaking "Taken," their projects have always been fast and high-quality, achieving both box office and critical success, making them clearly more suitable for long-term cooperation.

If Yinghuang can leverage Ruishijie's production capabilities to create high-quality content and benefit from its resources, it will undoubtedly greatly boost its development in the mainland market.

So, as soon as he landed at the Capital Airport, upon hearing that Jiang Wen and Han Sanping were both on the set of "Dying to Survive," Yang Shoucheng didn't linger and drove straight over.

If you want to cooperate, you have to show people your sincerity.

He always felt that other capital in Hong Kong was too aloof.

What time is it? Where the hell are you still putting on airs?

Can't you really see that the glory days of Hong Kong cinema are over? Or are you just indulging in a dream you don't want to wake up from?

Driving through the Huairou Film and Television Base, looking at the filming locations on both sides of the window, Yang Shoucheng was filled with envy.

It's better to have a larger territory, unlike Hong Kong, which is a tiny place where you can only film a few scenes back and forth.

The car quickly drove into the film set of "Dying to Survive".

Lu Rui had just finished filming a scene when he announced a pause.

After getting out of the car, Yang Shoucheng quickly stepped forward and greeted them with a smile: "President Han, Director Jiang, Director Lü."

Although he is over 60 years old, he is still in good health and his legs and feet look very nimble.

"You're here," Han Sanping greeted him.

Lü Rui also stepped forward and shook hands with him.

"Haha, Director Lü, it's been a long time! You're still as charming as ever!"

"Chairman Yang, too, looks increasingly younger."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Jiang Wen stayed by Yang Shoucheng's side and talked with him, while Han Sanping returned to the film set to continue filming his cameo scenes.

More than 40 minutes had passed since the scene was filmed.

Lu Rui immediately announced that filming for the day was over, allowing everyone in the crew to leave early and return to their hotel.

When friends come from afar, we should naturally treat them well.

Today's dinner was hosted by Jiang Wen's group, and the group followed him to the restaurant.

Tonight's gathering is purely for "Buddhist monks" (a term referring to people who are not female companions), as none of us brought female partners.

After all, many of the things discussed at the dinner table are things that outsiders shouldn't hear, as it could easily cause trouble if they got out.

Upon arriving at the private room, the dishes had just been served, and before they had even taken a few bites, Jiang Wen raised his wine glass and handed it to Yang Shoucheng: "Chairman Yang, let me toast you first. The success of 'The Sun Also Rises' is all thanks to your help."

His tone was clearly filled with gratitude.

After all, Yinghuang invested tens of millions of RMB without hesitation, successfully solving his urgent need for filming.

Although there were other reasons, this amount of money was not small, and the favor had to be accepted.

Yang Shoucheng smiled, raised his hand to clink glasses, and drank it all in one gulp: "Director Jiang, you're too kind. I believe in your talent, and this investment will be worthwhile."

After three rounds of wine, five flavors of food...

About half an hour later, seeing that the atmosphere was about right, Jiang changed the subject, speaking in a tone somewhat like reporting to the production company:

"Mr. Yang, I've already had 'The Sun Also Rises' submitted to Cannes for review, and now we're just waiting for the nomination news."

"Great!" Yang Shoucheng's eyes lit up, and he immediately picked up his glass. "Then I wish Director Jiang all the best in winning a big prize!"

Han Sanping, who was standing next to him, suddenly remembered the failure of "The Promise" to win an Oscar. A trace of depression flashed across his face. Before anyone could persuade him, he picked up his wine glass and took a sip.

Lu Rui saw it all but said nothing.

The film "The Promise" was highly anticipated, but it didn't even get an Oscar nomination, so Han Sanping was inevitably disappointed.

Jiang Wen also noticed Han Sanping's expression and, without beating around the bush, said directly to Yang Shoucheng, "Chairman Yang, there's something I'd like to trouble you with..."

Yang Shoucheng put down his wine glass: "What is it? Tell me."

"Isn't the Cannes Film Festival jury president Wong Kar-wai? You have a lot of connections in the Hong Kong film industry, see if you can... pass him a message?"

He phrased it tactfully, but his meaning was clear: he wanted Yang Shoucheng to help with public relations to boost the film's chances of being nominated and winning awards.

"No problem! Leave it to me."

Yang Shoucheng did not hesitate at all.

With Yinghuang's substantial investment in "The Sun Also Rises," if it wins awards, subsequent copyright sales and overseas distribution will be smoother. Why not take advantage of it?
In fact, when he was investing, he found out about one of Jiang Wen's major "bad habits" in mainland China.

I love to go over budget when filming!
He had even prepared to "lose money to gain favors," but now that he has the opportunity to recoup his losses by winning an award, he is naturally happy to lend a hand.

Wang Jiawei's side is actually quite easy to communicate with.

Although that guy's filming speed was infuriating, even slower than Jiang Wen's, and his style was more stream-of-consciousness, he was quite good at interpersonal relationships and understood the rules of the industry.

Jiang Wen might not succeed if he tries to save face on his own, but things will go much more smoothly if he does it in Yinghuang's name.

Seeing that Yang Shoucheng agreed, Jiang Wen breathed a sigh of relief and raised his glass again: "Thank you for your help, Chairman Yang!"

Lu Rui listened quietly from the side, occasionally interjecting to smooth things over.

He knew in his heart that with Yang Shoucheng's help in lobbying Wang Jiawei, the chances of "The Sun Also Rises" winning at Cannes had undoubtedly increased.

Seeing this, Han Sanping also raised his glass with a smile: "If we can really win an award, it will be a great honor for Chinese-language films. I'll drink with you too."

The atmosphere suddenly became exceptionally lively.

The tension from the serious conversation quickly dissipated, and the group began chatting about all sorts of things.

Jiang Wen drank another glass of wine and talked enthusiastically about his future plans: "Next, I want to make a film that combines art and commerce."

I don't want to lose my own style, but I also want to make it more accessible to a wider audience, avoiding the overly artistic approach I've taken before.

Han Sanping picked up the conversation and analyzed the trends in the Chinese film market: "Now, mainland audiences are increasingly recognizing high-quality content. As long as the story is good and the production is up to standard, the box office will generally be good."

China Film Group will also promote more co-productions to further expand the market. Films from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan are very welcome, as long as they conform to socialist values.

Yang Shoucheng nodded repeatedly, his face full of envy: "Sigh, it really can't compare to the mainland. The decline of the Hong Kong film market is truly unstoppable."

He sighed and spoke of the plight of Hong Kong actors, saying, "Middle-aged actors are still being carried by a few like Lau Tak-wah, Leung Ka-fai, Cheung Ka-fai, and Leung Chiu-wai."

Among the younger actors, there wasn't a single one who could carry the show. Jackie Chan was getting older and was clearly struggling with action scenes, while Li Lianjie was embroiled in controversy and couldn't carry the show like he used to.

He paused, then added, "The industry is now pinning its hopes on Donnie Yen, hoping he can take over the mantle from Jackie Chan and Li Lianjie and revive the 'kung fu film' brand."

Last year's "Seven Swords," "SPL: Sha Po Lang," and "Dragon Tiger Gate," plus this year's "Flash Point," he's been given plenty of resources. It's just a question of whether he can handle it and lead Hong Kong cinema to another surge…

These words were full of helplessness. Unlike other Hong Kong capital firms that kept boasting to the media that "Hong Kong films are still going strong," Yang Shoucheng had a clear understanding of the current state of Hong Kong films and was particularly pessimistic.

"Zhen Zidan?"

Lu Rui pondered the name in his heart and quietly shook his head.

He knew all too well what would happen to this person next!
In her past life, Donnie Yen did indeed become popular for a while thanks to several kung fu movies.

However, the subsequent controversies surrounding his "drama tyrant" image, the Zhao-Zhen feud, his endorsement of a brand that insulted China, coupled with rumors of diva-like behavior and ostentatious displays, caused his reputation in mainland China to plummet, ultimately leaving him with almost no mainstream resources.

If it weren't for these unexpected troubles, with his kung fu skills, he might have been able to catch up with the achievements of Li Lianjie and Jackie Chan.

But he was too arrogant, always thinking of himself as a "big shot from out of town." He put on airs and caused trouble in the mainland market where he needed to restrain himself, so it was only a matter of time before he stumbled.

……

The dinner ended an hour and a half later.

Jiang Wen was drunk and had to be helped back to the hotel by his assistant.

After saying hello, Han Sanping got into the car and headed straight home.

After seeing the two off, Yang Shoucheng turned to look at Lü Rui, who was still sober, with a hint of expectation in his eyes: "Director Lü, it's still early, shall we find a place to have a cup of tea?"

“Okay.” Lü Rui nodded with a smile; that was exactly what he was thinking.

He didn't actually like tea, but he was happy to listen to Yang Shoucheng talk about the inside stories of Hong Kong's entertainment circle.

Especially those old stories from more than ten years ago, how can online news be as truthful as what insiders say?

In the teahouse, as soon as the tea was served, seeing that Lü Rui was in high spirits, Yang Shoucheng began to reveal some of the inside stories he could:

"Liu Dehua did indeed experience having his film reels stolen back then, and he was even forced to enter a film set at gunpoint. The gunman was sent by Cai Ziming, Li Lianjie's former manager..."

He had no good feelings towards Washington and spoke bluntly, "Cai Ziming is on the same path as the Xiang family; they both associate with the Dutch."

When Li Lianjie broke up with Golden Harvest, he took the opportunity to intervene and became their agent. He even used his connections to force Golden Harvest to terminate the contract and return Li Lianjie's salary, which forced Xu Ke's second "Once Upon a Time in China" to be suspended.

Later, it was Wu Siyuan who mediated and a compromise was reached, allowing Li Lianjie to finish filming the movie…

This shows that, in the end, everyone is after money. Once the interests are agreed upon, things are actually quite easy to handle.

"So Cai Ziming was shot because he was too arrogant?" Lu Rui pressed.

“That’s right.” Yang Shoucheng nodded. “He was shot in front of the film company he founded and died on the spot. When Li Lianjie heard the news, he was so frightened that he returned to the mainland and hid for half a year…”

As he spoke, he suddenly changed the subject, "Back then..."

Lü Rui replied, "He's still in elementary school."

"Haha, you're really young." Yang Shoucheng laughed, his tone filled with reminiscence. "Back then, I had just acquired Ye Zhiming's Fitto Records. Four years later, when you were in junior high school, I officially established Yinghuang Entertainment."

Lu Rui took the opportunity to praise, "Chairman Yang has taken solid steps. Yinghuang's current scale is all thanks to your accurate vision."

However, these words struck a chord with Yang Shoucheng.

He sighed and shook his head slightly: "It's not possible now. Yinghuang Entertainment is in trouble right now! The Hong Kong film market is visibly declining. We want to go all out to the north, but the mainland market is too complicated. Without a reliable partner, we can't move an inch."

Lu Rui remained calm and continued to negotiate: "Going to the mainland is the right thing to do, and it's always right to follow the trend."

“I understand the principle, but it’s too difficult.” Yang Shoucheng’s tone was full of helplessness. Seeing that Lü Rui did not respond, he finally couldn’t help but bring it up, “Director Lü, to be honest, Yinghuang has actually wanted to cooperate with Ruishijie for a long time, but there has never been a suitable opportunity before.”

Now that we're officially entering the mainland market, we sincerely hope you can offer us some support in the future. Whatever your terms, just name them!

Seeing that he had taken the initiative to reveal his secrets, Lü Rui smiled and said, "What a coincidence. I just happened to have an idea recently, and I'd like to test the waters of the Hong Kong market. If Chairman Yang is willing, we can cooperate."

Looking across Hong Kong, the only suitable partner he could find was Yinghuang.

Besides the relationship with China Film Group, Yang Shoucheng also helped Liu Yifei when she changed her nationality, which is also a favor.

However, Yang Shoucheng looked completely bewildered.

Hong Kong capital is now trying its best to move north, so why is Lü Rui heading south instead? What kind of move is this?
Seeing that he still hadn't reacted, Lü Rui continued to explain: "It's not just going south, it's making a co-production between the mainland and Hong Kong."

I have some new directors in my company, and I want them to practice by making some low-budget films, targeting both the mainstream and niche markets. Even if they lose money, the costs will be within a manageable range.

Yang Shoucheng suddenly realized, his eyes lit up, and he was overjoyed: "No problem! Yinghuang will definitely give its full support!"
We can provide all the necessary resources for publicity, distribution, and production in Hong Kong; we guarantee everything will be arranged perfectly for you!

At this point, both sides had essentially laid their cards on the table.

Lu Rui smiled and said, "Then let's leave it at that for now. The script is still being written. I'll have my team contact you when we have more information."

Yang Shoucheng quickly picked up his teacup, offering tea in place of wine: "Then let me first toast Director Lü, wishing our cooperation a smooth success!"

"Great, the cooperation went smoothly."

The two chatted for a while longer, and the conversation gradually turned to the Hong Kong Film Awards in April.

Lu Rui casually complained, "Speaking of which, it seems like the Hong Kong Film Awards have blacklisted me; my previous films haven't received any attention."

Yang Shoucheng was both amused and exasperated: "That's understandable. After all, people in Hong Kong circles naturally distance themselves from you when they realize they can't get any benefits from you. Whether or not you give a reward depends on personal relationships and interests."

Lu Rui's eyes darted around, and he pressed on, "So, it seems there's someone behind the scenes who can decide who gets the award?"

Yang Shoucheng didn't say it explicitly, but just smiled and used an analogy: "It's actually quite similar to the Golden Rooster Awards in mainland China."

All crows under the sky are black!

Lu Rui thought to himself, but continued aloud, "It seems there's a mainland Chinese actress nominated for this year's Hong Kong Film Awards?"

“There is someone named Zhou Xun.” Yang Shoucheng assumed he wanted to help Zhou Xun, and tentatively asked, “Are you quite familiar with her? If you need any help…”

"We're not very familiar with each other, and in fact, we have some conflicts. I was quite surprised when I noticed the nomination list."

Lu Rui spoke calmly, stating his position but omitting any details.

However, Yang Shoucheng immediately understood and said, "Director Lü, don't worry, I understand what you mean."

In Hong Kong, getting something done is not easy, but preventing something from being done is all too easy for Yinghuang.

……

After finishing his tea, Lü Rui sat in the car on the way back, closed his eyes, and secretly planned his next steps.

He had long ago decided to give those arrogant capitalists and circles in Hong Kong a taste of their own medicine.

Using film projects to seize the Hong Kong market and causing their projects to repeatedly fail is undoubtedly the most direct and satisfying way.

The reason I showed Lu Yang Hong Kong movies before was actually to prepare him for this.

Zhao Peng and Shen Ao are both established directors; it's pointless to have them do these kinds of things.

But Lu Yang is still a newcomer and needs to test his skills with some projects, so we can let him try it out.

As for the script, Lü Rui already had a rough idea in mind.

He can't speak for other things, but "localizing" high-quality overseas scripts to suit the local market is definitely one of his strengths.

His first target was the South Korean film "New World," which would later be compared to "Infernal Affairs"!
He actually felt quite emotional when talking about Korean films.

The market there is surprisingly open; many extreme and sensitive topics can be filmed with almost no restrictions.

It's quite amazing that the film and television industry can so freely criticize these conglomerates and satirize the dark side of society, even though the economy is firmly controlled by a few large conglomerates.

The script for "New World" tells the story of an undercover agent who initially wanted to remain "white," but struggled in a dark gang environment, using gang rules and methods, and was eventually completely corrupted by the gang.

This story definitely couldn't be filmed in mainland China; the subject matter is too sensitive.

However, if the scale is toned down slightly, it would be perfectly feasible to film it in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong films are good at gangster and undercover themes, and audiences buy into them.

Moreover, the restrictions on Hong Kong films being imported to the mainland are relatively relaxed. With some effort, we can try to get them released in the mainland and earn more box office revenue!
Of course, this is just an additional goal.

His core objective was to give Lu Yang practice, so that he could quickly familiarize himself with the process by leveraging Hong Kong's resources and accumulate experience in real-world situations, thus growing up as soon as possible.

More importantly, the production team can include more mainland actors and crew members, with veteran Hong Kong actors playing supporting roles!

Lü Rui found it amusing to think about those Hong Kong professionals who usually act with their noses in the air, now having to work alongside mainland actors.

This will definitely disgust them and serve as a kind of "show of force".

Thinking about this, he couldn't wait to see those people's expressions of frustration, breakdown, and helplessness...

(End of this chapter)