Hong Kong films: Starting with Crossover and Luen Shing

“Take Liu Piaopiao back and invite her boyfriend over.”

"I've invested in a movie and I'm going to cast him as the male lead!"

Liu Piaopiao was stunned for a moment, looking at He Yaozong and then at Changmao.

Her boyfriend, Yin Tianchou, is a complete drama fanatic.

Despite years of dedicated study in acting, he has only been able to get a few minor roles on set, sometimes not even able to get a boxed lunch.

He Yaozong immediately offered to cast him as the male lead. What kind of nonsense is this?

……

About half an hour later, Long Hair returned to the private room with a young man whose face was flushed with excitement.

After Chang Mao introduced Yin Tianchou to He Yaozong, the head of Wo Luen Shing, who was sitting on the sofa, Yin Tianchou became somewhat reserved.

He wiped his palms on his clothes to remove the sweat, then respectfully walked up to He Yaozong, bowed, and extended his right hand.

"Hello Mr. He, my name is Yin Tianchou, and I am a..."

"Alright, I know you're an excellent actor."

The reason I called you here today is to invest some money in a film and cast you as the male lead!

Yin Tianchou was startled, then glanced at Liu Piaopiao, who was standing at the door, equally delighted, and was momentarily at a loss.

Why would a powerful figure suddenly spend money to promote me? Could it be Liu Piaopiao...?

He Yaozong immediately waved to the long-haired man, signaling him to take Liu Piaopiao downstairs.

Then he spoke.

"Don't worry, I have no interest in you, woman."

The reason we invited you here is because we know you are a rare talent.

Let's polish it up carefully; what if it becomes a huge hit in Hong Kong someday?

"Mr. He, may I sit down and have a chat with you for a moment?"

Yin Tianchou scratched his head, but he was full of energy when the topic of movies came up.

"sit!"

"Thank you, Mr. He."

After sitting down, Yin Tianchou immediately spoke.

"Actually, I have different opinions on different movies."

As for Category III films, I've also given it quite a bit of thought. In my opinion, Hong Kong's current Category III films still lack something compared to Japanese tokusatsu films..."

"Who told you I wanted to cast you in an adult film?"

He Yaozong couldn't help but chuckle, and then continued.

"If you want to make Category III films, you'd better get your physique stronger first."

Yin Tianchou was taken aback.

In his view, he had neither fame nor formal professional training.

Suddenly, a triad boss invited him to act in a movie. Apart from Category III films, he couldn't think of any reason why the other party would invest in him.

But now that He Yaozong had spoken, he couldn't help but become even more excited.

"Mr. He, what kind of movie are you planning to have me make?"

Although I have not received professional training, I have never stopped studying how to become a professional actor over the years.

I have profound insights into the inner meanings of different characters. A great film must have characters with deep character arcs…

"Alright, alright!"

Seeing that Yin Tianchou was getting carried away and about to launch into a long-winded explanation of professional film terminology, He Yaozong waved his hand to interrupt his rambling.

"I want you to play a character with a guaranteed arc, and a real person. You can think of this movie as a biography of a family's rise to power."

The character isn't exactly a positive one, so I wonder if you're willing to put in the effort to develop him?

Yin Tianchou nodded solemnly: "The more villainous the character, the more carefully they deserve to be developed."

Mr. He, just tell me who I'd like to play, and I'll start preparing as soon as possible to fully understand the character's essence!

"This character has some awesome depth!"

He Yaozong laughed and said, "Listen carefully, the role I'm asking you to play is Li Xishen, the head of the Li family a hundred years ago!"

This movie tells the story of how he trafficked opium and how he helped foreigners exploit the Chinese community in Hong Kong to build their fortune.

If you act well, I'll take care of the relationships with theaters in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, and I guarantee you'll become an overnight sensation!

So, are you confident you can fully grasp this role?

Chapter 130 is about holding the fish head brand; in this business, it's best to grasp the Achilles' heel!

Yin Tianchou sat blankly on the sofa, the anticipation he had just expressed so freely gone from his face.

After a long pause, he finally spoke, albeit woodenly.

"Mr. He isn't joking, is he?"

Do I look like I'm joking with you?

He Yaozong patted Yin Tianchou on the shoulder and said.

"To get ahead, you have to pay a price."

Don't worry about retaliation. I'll sign a management contract with you, and from then on, I'll be your manager in Hong Kong. I'll protect you, so you don't need to worry at all."

Upon hearing this, Yin Tianchou shook his head.

"Mr. He, it's not that I'm afraid of retaliation."

Actually, I am a very pure actor. If you are willing to give me this opportunity, I will definitely not refuse.

However... I'm afraid no one on Hong Kong Island will be willing to provide a filming location for us, and when filming wraps up, I'm worried it will be difficult to secure theater distribution rights..."

As he spoke, Yin Tianchou looked at He Yaozong with a sincere expression.

"Mr. He, I don't want your investment to go down the drain."

"You don't need to worry about that. I admire you and am happy to help you fulfill your dream of becoming an actor!"

If filming locations on Hong Kong Island are difficult to manage, then we'll just shoot on location. I'll go to Taiwan and Macau to pull some strings for you.

If securing cinema chains on Hong Kong Island is difficult, then we'll secure as many as we can. If all else fails, I'll book theaters for you and arrange for video rental shops in various locations of Wo Luen Shing, then release them on DVD.

In short, I'm confident that this movie will make you a star!

As He Yaozong spoke, he grabbed Yin Tianchou's shoulder and pulled him over.

He whispered, "I even plan to have you write, direct, and star in this movie."

What you need to do most right now is to hurry up and get some money from me, then I'll arrange for a few people to send you flyers to polish the script within three days!

Yin Tianchou was greatly shocked.

He Yaozong's confident promises just now had made him feel somewhat uneasy.

It sounds like Ho Yiu-chung has gone all out to produce a big-budget production.

But is it a bit too much to ask an unknown nobody to write, direct, and act in a movie?

And the script has to be finished within three days!

Although there were precedents in Hong Kong's film industry at that time for starting filming on set and writing scripts on the spot, Yin Tianchou still had to be cautious.

He was afraid that if he made a mistake and ruined the movie, he would be sent to be drowned by Wo Luen Shing, and then it would be too late to regret it.

"Mr. He, may I ask how much money you plan to invest in this project?"

"Let's wait until you finish the script first. I'll have someone do the budget based on your script."

However, I'm only planning to set aside ten million as start-up capital for the project for now. If the budget falls short later, you can contact me for more."

Yin Tianchou suddenly felt a buzzing in his head.

Ten million, and that's just the initial funding for the project!

If the big shot sitting across from you isn't drunk and just chatting with you, then you must be hallucinating.

The Hong Kong film industry had reached a golden age in this era, but it was rare for a film to have an investment of ten million Hong Kong dollars from the outset.

Yin Tianchou felt that if the movie wasn't made well, he might as well just jump off a rooftop.

Before he could respond, He Yaozong stuffed a business card into his hand.

"Remember to come to the Wo Tai Tea House in Sham Shui Po at 10 a.m. tomorrow."

I will have someone draft an agency contract for you, and then introduce you to a screenwriter who will write the script.

Once the contract is signed, you can work with them to meet the deadline.

Once you've finished the draft, remember to send it to me for a quick look. I have only one request: the Li family's rise to power must be accurately portrayed; no embellishment is allowed!

……

After their conversation, Yin Tianchou went downstairs and was completely bewildered when he saw Liu Piaopiao looking at him with great anticipation, as if he had just come out of a dream.

"Piao Piao, how...how did you convince Mr. He to invest in my film?"

"What nonsense are you spouting? I never went to see Mr. He!"

As she spoke, Liu Piaopiao grabbed Yin Tianchou's arm and skipped out of the nightclub.

"Mr. He has agreed that I don't need to come to work anymore. Tian Chou, you must remember what you said: you were going to support me!"

Yin Tianchou merely chuckled in agreement, but had no interest in exchanging witty remarks with Liu Piaopiao at that moment.

After leaving the nightclub, Yin Tianchou did not hail a taxi, but instead led Liu Piaopiao for a stroll under the night sky at Tsuen Wan Plaza.

"Piaopiao, do you know what Mr. He just said to me?"

"I don't know, wasn't he going to invest in and promote your movie?"