Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 526-524: Premiere (Part 1)

Los Angeles time, February 28, 2004, evening.

Although the grand celebration of the Oscars ceremony is scheduled for the following day, Hollywood stars have already begun to gather in advance.

The area in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard was bustling with people and flashing camera lights, like a mini warm-up match.

This is the North American premiere of "Kung Fu Hustle," a fantasy martial arts epic directed by Stephen Chow and with extensive involvement from Sheng Ying Media, hosted by New Line Cinema.

New Line Cinema has high hopes for "Kung Fu Hustle" in the North American market. After all, its predecessor, "Shaolin Soccer," enjoyed a long run in North America thanks to word-of-mouth and ultimately grossed nearly $100 million, proving that Stephen Chow's unique "nonsensical comedy + real kung fu" style has the potential to transcend cultural barriers.

This time, "Kung Fu Hustle" has been upgraded in terms of production quality, action design and visual effects. New Line Cinema has also invested a considerable amount of marketing budget, intending to replicate or even surpass the success of its predecessor.

Although the premiere wasn't Oscar-level, New Line Cinema, with its deep connections in Hollywood and the inherent buzz surrounding "Kung Fu Hustle" and Stephen Chow and Wang Sheng, successfully invited a group of high-profile guests, making the red carpet dazzling with stars.

Both sides of the red carpet were filled with cameras and microphones.

In addition to regular Hollywood entertainment media such as Entertainment Weekly, People, and US Weekly, professional film media such as Variety and The Hollywood Reporter are also paying more attention to the market prospects and artistic value of Kung Fu.

Media outlets from Asia, especially those in Chinese-speaking regions, were on high alert, with logos of organizations such as China News Service, Phoenix TV, and Hunan TV's entertainment channel visible everywhere.

Most notably, CCTV-6 (China Central Television's movie channel) set up exclusive camera positions and interview areas on the red carpet, marking a new stage in Chinese media coverage of top Hollywood entertainment events.

The audience area was even more enthusiastic.

There were loyal fans of Stephen Chow holding up posters of "Shaolin Soccer"; there were ordinary viewers full of curiosity about Eastern kung fu; and there were also a large number of Chinese Americans and international students waving small five-star red flags, their faces beaming with pride and anticipation.

One by one, the guests walked the red carpet as the emcee announced their names, eliciting cheers from the crowd.

The first to appear were the senior management team of New Line Cinema, including CEO Robert Shea, COO Michael Lynn, and President of Production Toby Emmerich, demonstrating the company's full support for the project and its deep friendship with Wang Sheng.

They walked with ease, waving to the media and audience, and then paused briefly in front of the backdrop for the media to take photos.

Following them were some filmmakers who had interacted with Stephen Chow or Wang Sheng, or who were simply interested in the film.

Quentin Tarantino, the Hollywood "genius" director known for "Pulp Fiction" and the "Kill Bill" series, and a fan of Hong Kong films, walked the red carpet with great enthusiasm, wearing his signature black-rimmed glasses and a casual leather jacket.

He made no secret of his admiration for Stephen Chow. In a brief interview with CCTV's movie channel, he said in his characteristic exaggerated tone, "Stephen Chow is a genius! He has broken down the boundaries between comedy and action! 'Shaolin Soccer' made me laugh until my stomach hurt, and I believe 'Kung Fu Hustle' will be even better! I can't wait to see it!"

His appearance caused a stir among the media, with the density of flashes instantly soaring.

Johnny Depp, who had just risen to A-list status with "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," also made a surprise appearance.

He had a unique style and waved to the audience with a slightly shy demeanor.

When asked why he came, he said succinctly but sincerely: "I heard that the visual effects and imagination of this film are amazing. Stephen Chow is a unique artist, and I am looking forward to it."

His arrival undoubtedly added more international star power to the red carpet.

The appearance of Adrien Brody, who won the Oscar for Best Actor for "The Pianist" and is known for his serious acting, was somewhat unexpected, but it also shows that "Kung Fu Hustle" may have an artistic appeal that transcends a simple entertainment film.

He had a serious expression, but maintained a polite smile in response to questions from the media.

Harvey Weinstein, the famous Hollywood producer and founder of The Weinstein Company, also appeared on the red carpet.

He was large and had a commanding presence as he chatted with familiar filmmakers.

It is well known that Weinstein had a keen sense for projects with Oscar potential and filmmakers with international influence.

Among the Chinese-American film stars, Michelle Yeoh, who has established herself in Hollywood after playing a Bond girl in "Tomorrow Never Dies," appeared in an elegant gown. She has a good personal relationship with Stephen Chow and came to support him.

Similarly, John Lone, who has worked in Hollywood for many years, also showed up to show his support, and his appearance evoked memories of "The Last Emperor" for many movie fans.

In addition, some well-known film critics, such as Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times (although he did not attend in person, his team was present), as well as senior film critics from The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times, also appeared in the media area or the guest seats. Their comments will greatly influence the subsequent word-of-mouth of the film.

Of course, what Chinese media and audiences are most looking forward to is the film's core creative team and the Chinese tycoon who has stirred up a storm in Hollywood.

When the host loudly announced, "Let us welcome Mr. Wang Sheng, Chairman of Shengying Media Group, internationally renowned director and producer! And Ms. Fan Xiaopang, the female lead of the Twilight series!" an unprecedented roar erupted from both sides of the red carpet, especially in the Chinese area, where the cheers almost shook the sky.

Wang Sheng, accompanied by Fan Xiaopang, calmly stepped into the spotlight. Wang Sheng wore a dark blue striped suit without a tie, and the top button of his shirt was casually undone, maintaining a sense of formality while retaining his unique casualness and assertiveness.

Facing a forest of cameras and deafening cheers, he walked steadily and exuded confidence.

And Fan Xiaopang, who was holding his arm tightly, was undoubtedly one of the most dazzling figures on the red carpet tonight.

She wore a gown custom-designed by a top domestic designer, blending Eastern elements with modern aesthetics.

The main body of the dress is made of bright red brocade fabric, with an exquisite embroidered phoenix pattern on the bodice. Western-style tulle and sequins are cleverly incorporated into the cuffs and hem, which not only highlights her graceful figure but also showcases a unique oriental charm.

Her makeup was radiant, her eyes sparkled, and her face radiated a confident and charming smile. Every step she took was full of grace, firmly capturing the attention of all the media.

"Mr. Wang Sheng! Look here!"

"Miss Fan! Over here!"

"Mr. Wang, what are your expectations for the North American box office of 'Kung Fu Hustle'?"

"Ms. Fan, how does it feel to attend a Hollywood premiere of this caliber for the first time?"

"Could you two please stop for a brief interview?"

Questions in both Chinese and English were asked together.

Wang Sheng maintained a smile, occasionally nodding to familiar media outlets, but was not in a hurry to accept interviews.

His focus was more on bringing Fan Xiaopang to the center of the camera.

He skillfully adjusted his pace and angle to ensure that Fan Xiaopang was always in front of the most cameras, and when she interacted with the media, he slightly turned to the side, giving her the initiative.

When a reporter asked Fan Xiaopang a question in English, Wang Sheng would even whisper in Chinese to remind her of the key words, or after she answered, he would add a sentence in fluent English, emphasizing that her performance in "Twilight" was worth looking forward to, subtly building momentum for her.

Fan Xiaopang understood immediately and tried his best to respond in English, which he had practiced for a long time. Although he had a slight accent, he had a sweet smile and a generous attitude.

"I am very excited to attend the premiere of 'Kung Fu Hustle'. Director Stephen Chow is a senior I greatly respect."

"Twilight is a fantastic movie, and I'm honored to have been a part of it. I hope you all enjoy it."

The combination of the two—one a Chinese business tycoon who controls an empire worth tens of billions and a rising Hollywood director, and the other a rising star from the East poised to make a splash in the global market with a big-budget production—is inherently highly topical and visually appealing.

As they walked the red carpet, they seemed like a moving focal point, attracting the vast majority of attention.

When signing autographs and taking photos in front of the backdrop, Wang Sheng gentlemanly let Fan Xiaopang occupy the center position, while he stood slightly to the side and behind, like a solid support.

This scene was captured by countless cameras, foreshadowing the official launch of Fan Xiaopang's international stardom, under the protection of Wang Sheng.

At the end of the red carpet, Stephen Chow stood with New Line executives, waiting to make his grand entrance.

Seeing the sensation caused by Wang Sheng and Fan Xiaopang, Zhou Xingxing smiled with satisfaction.

Wang Sheng stepped forward and shook hands firmly with Zhou Xingxing, Robert Shea, and others.

"Stephen, are you ready? Let Hollywood see what real 'kung fu' is!" Wang Sheng said to Stephen Chow with a smile.

Stephen Chow nodded vigorously, his eyes sparkling with pride and anticipation for the work: "I definitely won't let everyone down!"

With all the main cast members present, the red carpet ceremony reached its climax.

The media were satisfied with the ample material they had gathered, especially the images of Wang Sheng and Fan Xiaopang appearing together, as well as the support of big-name stars such as Quentin Tarantino and Johnny Depp, which should ensure that the cultural and entertainment section, in addition to the Oscars, will also have plenty of highlights tomorrow.

Guests and media began to enter in an orderly manner. Inside the Grauman Chinese Theatre, the lights gradually dimmed, and the huge screen lit up.

Everyone is eagerly anticipating what kind of Eastern frenzy "Kung Fu Hustle" will unleash in this hall of fame that has witnessed countless cinematic legends.

(End of this chapter)