Rebirth in Hong Kong: From Dessert Shop to Industrial Empire

Chapter 42 Siyuan Pictures (Please add to your favorites, vote for monthly tickets, recommend this book, and keep reading!)

"Ah Hai, well done!" Chen Bingwen patted Gao Zhenhai's shoulder forcefully. "This information is invaluable!"
Ask your friend again if they can find Wu Siyuan's contact information, or a reliable intermediary to speak with him! The sooner the better!

After saying that, Chen Bingwen took out a thousand Hong Kong dollars and handed it to Gao Zhenhai, saying, "Treat your friend to a good meal, and if it's not enough, just ask me for more!"

"Understood! I'll take care of it right away!" Gao Zhenhai perked up, took the money, and rushed out.

Gao Zhenhai is extremely efficient.

Less than a day later, a slip of paper with Wu Siyuan's office phone number was handed to Chen Bingwen.

I'd also like to share some information about Wu Siyuan's activities.

Wu Siyuan will meet with a potential investor at Cinema Tea House in Kowloon Tong at 3 pm tomorrow.

Yinghua Tea House is not far from Kwun Tong Factory, only a ten-minute drive away.

After weighing the options, Chen Bingwen decided to "hijack" the deal directly.

Although the total investment for "Drunken Master" in the previous life was only HK$500,000, if a butterfly effect occurred and someone was willing to invest, then everything would be lost.

At 2:30 p.m. the following afternoon, Chen Bingwen arrived at the teahouse ahead of time and chose a quiet spot by the window.

He ordered a pot of Longjing tea, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping across the doorway.

At 2:50, a middle-aged man with a refined demeanor, wearing a beige jacket, walked in.

This man was Wu Siyuan, and behind him was a young man who looked like an assistant.

Wu Siyuan looked around, seemingly searching for the person he had arranged to meet.

Chen Bingwen stood up and walked straight over.

“Mr. Wu, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Chen Bingwen extended his hand with a perfectly timed smile. “I am Chen Bingwen.”

Wu Siyuan was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting to encounter a stranger here.

He quickly sized up Chen Bingwen; he was young and composed, and didn't seem like a movie fan.

He hesitated before extending his hand: "Mr. Chen? We...know each other?"

"We've never met, but we've known each other for a long time," Chen Bingwen said casually. "The film 'Snake in the Eagle's Shadow' was absolutely brilliant, and Mr. Jackie Chan has a bright future ahead of him."

Having heard that Mr. Wu is preparing for his new film "Drunken Master," I waited here specifically to discuss an investment with him.

A hint of surprise flashed in Wu Siyuan's eyes, followed by wariness.

The person he had arranged to meet hadn't arrived yet, but the young man in front of him seemed to know everything about his project.

“Mr. Chen is very well-informed. However, I've already made an appointment…”

“I know.” Chen Bingwen interrupted him, his tone calm but with an undeniable confidence, “but I think the terms I can offer Mr. Wu may be more generous than those of that other gentleman, and more suitable for the play ‘Drunken Master’.”

He gestured for him to sit down and talk: "Mr. Wu, why don't you sit down and we can chat?"

A cup of tea won't delay your important business.

If you can't reach an agreement, you can wait for your guest.

Looking at Chen Bingwen's determined eyes, and thinking of the tight budget and the difficulties in financing "Drunken Fist", Wu Siyuan hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Okay, Mr. Chen is a straightforward person, let's talk then."

The two sat down in the same spot where Chen Bingwen had been sitting.

The assistant tactfully stepped aside.

"Mr. Chen, what industry are you in? Are you interested in film investment?" Wu Siyuan asked directly.

“Food,” Chen Bingwen said succinctly. “Mr. Wu may have heard of Chen’s Dessert Shop on Hong Kong Island?”

A look of realization flashed across Wu Siyuan's eyes, followed by a hint of doubt.

I feel like I've seen the name Chen's Dessert Shop somewhere before, but I can't quite place it.

But a dessert vendor suddenly wants to invest in movies? That's quite a leap.

Wu Siyuan pretended to be familiar with him and said, "I've heard of him. Mr. Chen is young and promising."

However, film investment carries considerable risk, especially kung fu comedies, where the market is booming but competition is fierce.

Why is Mr. Chen optimistic about "Drunken Master"?

“I have high hopes for you, Mr. Wu, and also for Jackie Chan.” Chen Bingwen looked directly at Wu Siyuan. “The success of ‘Snake in the Eagle’ proves your vision and Jackie Chan’s potential.”

I heard that "Drunken Master" is based on the story of Wong Fei-hung's youth, and incorporates humorous fighting and everyday life.

The subject matter is novel, and I believe it's a very worthwhile investment. Therefore, I'd like to ask Mr. Wu if you could consider investing in this project.

Wu Siyuan smiled wryly: "Mr. Chen hit the nail on the head. To make this subject matter work, it does require a lot of funding, which is why I've been looking for money everywhere."

“I can invest HK$200,000,” Chen Bingwen calmly dropped the bombshell.

Wu Siyuan and his assistant gasped in shock.

Two hundred thousand!
The budget for filming "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow" was 800,000.

The filming of "Drunken Master" was a last-minute decision, and with only 500,000 yuan in investment so far, we are indeed facing some financial constraints.

The investors Wu Siyuan met today originally had investment intentions, but the maximum was only HK$50,000.

The fact that this young man in front of him was asking for 200,000 Hong Kong dollars was truly unbelievable to Wu Siyuan.

"Mr. Chen, is it true?" Wu Siyuan's voice trembled slightly.

“Absolutely true.” Chen Bingwen nodded. “Moreover, I don’t interfere with the creative process, I don’t assign actors, and I don’t meddle in the filming.”

The script, casting, and filming will all be based on your and Jackie Chan's opinions.

Wu Siyuan was overjoyed; this was like a pie falling from the sky!
But he quickly calmed down; there's no such thing as a free lunch in business.

"Mr. Chen is so generous, surely he must have something in mind?"

“Of course.” Chen Bingwen smiled slightly. “What I want is the exclusive advertising placement rights for the movie ‘Drunken Master’ and the right to share the box office revenue according to the investment ratio.”

"Product placement?" It's standard practice to share box office revenue proportionally with investment, but Wu Siyuan was somewhat unfamiliar with the concept of product placement, which was still extremely new in 1978.

"Simply put, it means naturally incorporating elements of my Chen's Dessert into the scenes, props, or lines of the movie."

Chen Bingwen explained, “For example, when the protagonist gets tired from practicing his kung fu, he can drink a bowl of Chen Ji’s tangerine peel red bean soup at a roadside stall;
Or, in the background of a scene, our Chen's Dessert Shop's signboard appears;

You could even have a character say something like, "After the fight, let's go to Chen's for a bowl of sweet soup to soothe our throats."

It should feel natural, not abrupt, and become part of the story.

Wu Siyuan frowned.

He pursues the purity and artistry of film, and instinctively rejects the cramming of advertisements into movies.

“Mr. Chen, this might affect the viewing experience of the movie, and the audience will be taken out of the movie.”

“Mr. Wu is overthinking it.” Chen Bingwen was prepared. “The background of ‘Drunken Master’ is the urban life in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China. Roadside stalls and dessert shops were common elements of that era.”

A bowl of steaming hot, hearty sweet soup not only showcases the everyday life of ordinary people, but also provides a relaxing and heartwarming break after a tense fight scene, enriching the film's layers.

The key is to design it cleverly and naturally, so that it serves the plot and characters, rather than being a rigid billboard.

I believe that with Mr. Wu's skill, this is by no means difficult.

He paused for a moment: "With an investment of 200,000, if the product placement is effective, Chenji can become a long-term partner of Siyuan Pictures in the future."

Wu Siyuan fell into deep thought.

The offer of a full investment of 200,000 yuan, no interference with the creative process, and only "product placement" and box office revenue sharing is too tempting.

Although he had some concerns about product placement, Chen Bingwen's point was valid: if handled properly, a bowl of sweet soup could indeed be the finishing touch to everyday life.

Moreover, the other party made it clear that they would respect the creative process and that everything would be integrated naturally into the storyline.

He was intensely weighing his options internally.

On one hand, there is a huge sum of money to solve the immediate crisis and the possibility of long-term cooperation; on the other hand, there is the commitment to the art of filmmaking.

Financial pressure and the urgency of the summer movie season ultimately prevailed.

“Mr. Chen, I need to think about it and also discuss it with the director and lead actors.” Wu Siyuan did not agree immediately.

“I understand.” Chen Bingwen handed over his business card. “Mr. Wu can contact me anytime. However, time waits for no one, and the summer movie season window is very short.”

I believe that Chen Ji's involvement will make "Drunken Master" even more exciting.

He didn't say anything more, got up and took his leave.

Wu Siyuan was left staring at that simple business card, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

　Thank you everyone for your support!! A huge thank you to Brother Tiger KK and Brother Kai_eB for their generous and long-term donations!!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)