Against the Current Hong Kong 1979

Chapter 128 Inviting them to play the role of an adulterous couple? (2nd update, please subscribe)

the next day.

Zhang Shuai'an arrived at Zou Wenhuai's office with a script in his hand.

"Anzai, you've finally arrived! I've been waiting for you for ages!"

Upon seeing Zhang Shi'an walk in, Zou Wenhuai couldn't help but burst into laughter and even went up to hug him.

Jackie Chan went to the United States and won't be back until at least next year. Now, Zhang Shuai'an is the mainstay of Golden Harvest.

Although this pillar of the industry wasn't as obedient as Jackie Chan, his films were even more profitable in Hong Kong than Jackie Chan's!

Such a person should naturally be cultivated and won over.

Zou Wenhuai smiled and patted him on the shoulder, then asked, "At the celebration banquet, you said you had some progress on your next project. Tell me about it."

Zhang Shuai'an said, "My company's new film has been approved. It's a copycat of 'Chasing Girls,' called 'Thirty-Six Strategies for Chasing Girls,' but I won't be acting in it."

"I didn't ask that." Zou Wenhuai shook his head, pointing at Zhang Shuai'an, "I asked you, what's your next film?"

"Next, I want to make a film that's a little more profound."

Zhang Shuai'an tentatively stated, "It's neither a comedy like 'Chasing Girls' nor a kung fu film like 'Young Master,' but a film that focuses on plot and art."

Upon hearing this, Zou Wenhuai frowned and stared at Zhang Shuai'an with a puzzled look for several seconds.

He slowly walked back to the boss's chair, silently took a cigar, and handed it to Zhang Shuai'an.

Zhang Shuai'an shook his head; he had absolutely no interest in tobacco or alcohol.

"Anzai, you're still young, it's understandable that you have these unrealistic ideas."

Zou Wenhuai cut off the end of his cigar, heated it with fire, and slowly began to smoke. At the same time, he advised, "In Hong Kong, there is no market for art films; it's a thankless task. Even if you sell them to Taiwan, you won't make much money."

Zhang Shuai'an sat on the sofa and replied with a smile, "I know that. That's why my initial target wasn't the Hong Kong and Taiwan markets."

"Huh?" Zou Wenhuai paused, then sat up straight. "Where do you want to sell it?"

Zhang Shuai'an said, "I want to make a film that can win awards at international film festivals, and then use this film to see if I can open up distribution channels in Europe and America."

"I have distribution channels in Europe and America, namely Jiatong Company."

Zou Wenhuai explained to Zhang Shuai'an, "If you want to distribute your film in Europe and America, that's easy. I'll just introduce you to Chen Xikang, the vice president of Jiatong Company."

Jiatong Film Company is a film company founded last year by Chow Wen-huai, specializing in the production and distribution of Western films, with its main distribution areas being Southeast Asia and North America.

Zhang Shuai'an doesn't want a distribution channel; he wants to gradually build his own distribution network.

Of course, this cannot be said to Zou Wenhuai at the moment.

Zhang Shuai'an put it another way: "My main goal is to make a name for myself internationally and leave my mark. I want to make a film and enter it in the main competition at the Cannes Film Festival; it would be even better if I could win an award."

These days, there's a real sense of admiration for Europe and America; the Hollywood market is the place that the entire film industry aspires to.

The three major European international cinemas have remained highly regarded since around the year 2000.

However, as more and more mediocre awards were won and the appreciation level of domestic audiences improved, the so-called sacred halo of these awards gradually faded away.

"you----"

Zou Wenhuai wanted to say a few more words to Zhang Shuai'an, but he swallowed the words back.

He really wanted someone under his management to win a major international award, but that path was just too difficult.

Hong Kong's film industry has developed for so many years, but very few films have truly made a splash at the three major international film awards.

In recent years, the only film that can be mentioned is King Hu's "A Touch of Zen".

Several of Tsui Hark's films have been submitted to the three major European film festivals, but he has never won any significant awards.

The only film to have been nominated for the main competition at the Cannes Film Festival was Li Hanxiang's "A Chinese Ghost Story" in 1960.

"Um."

Zou Wenhuai remained silent for more than half a minute, carefully considering the feasibility of this matter.

He suddenly stopped smoking his cigar and asked, "You have a script?"

"Yes, it is. Mr. Zou can take a look." Zhang Shuai'an handed over the script he had just redeemed last night.

When Zou Wenhuai took it, he saw that the cover read "Blood Maze".

Judging from the title, it sounds more like a crime horror film than an art film.

The script was naturally inspired by the Coen brothers' directorial debut, Blood Simple, which was also the blockbuster film that made them famous.

Zhang Shuai'an adapted this work for the local audience.

Zou Wenhuai carefully flipped through the script, and the more he read, the more shocked and even incredulous he became.

He originally thought Zhang Shuai'an's talent was already amazing, but he never expected that he had underestimated him.

This script is very Western, but it also has a certain universality, so audiences everywhere won't find it difficult to understand.

The story is very simple: a wealthy man hires a private investigator to investigate his cheating wife, which leads to a series of misunderstandings and ultimately several tragedies.

There aren't many characters in the story; the main characters are four: the bar owner, the owner's wife, the wife's lover, and the private investigator.

It's such a simple story, yet it takes an unparalleled approach to storytelling.

It is precisely because of this narrative technique that the whole story is filled with dark humor and irony, as well as unexpected twists and turns.

"You're... a bit like Hitchcock."

Chow Wen-huai, who also has a good eye for film, said admiringly, "An-zai, have you taken any film-related courses?"

Zhang Shuai'an naturally brought up his fabricated experience: "I did study at the Shanghai Film Academy for two years."

"No wonder the script is so solid." Zou Wenhuai nodded, then said, "If it's this script, it's worth a try. When do you plan to film it?"

"Let's wait until my company finishes filming 'Thirty-Six Strategies for Chasing Girls'."

Zhang Shuai'an replied earnestly, "By then, the box office revenue sharing from 'Chasing Girls' should have arrived in my account."

After a moment's thought, Zou Wenhuai said, "The settlement with Golden Harvest Cinemas usually takes 1 to 3 months. I can ask them to expedite things for you."

Then he asked, "What about the actors? Do you have anyone in mind?"

"have."

Zhang Shuai'an had indeed seriously considered this question. "For the bar owner, Madian, I think Xie Xian is more suitable. For the bar owner's wife, Aisha, we can just ask Debona. I'll play the lover, Lei Li. As for the private detective, we can ask Zeng Mang, and also—"

Zou Wenhuai suddenly laughed: "You're really something, managing to get Xie Xian and Di Bona, the newlyweds, to play a couple having an affair?"

Zhang Shuai'an said earnestly, "They are all professional actors, they shouldn't mind this, as long as the pay is sufficient."

Zou Wenhuai nodded and said, "Okay, we'll do it your way. I'll invest in this film."

With those words from him, Zhang Shuai'an naturally felt much more at ease.

Although Golden Harvest's overseas distribution channels are limited, they are already the largest in Hong Kong.

"You should polish the script a bit more."

Zou Wenhuai handed the script back to Zhang Shuai'an and said earnestly, "I feel that this script is very much to the tastes of foreigners. If we film it well, it might actually win an award."

He then suggested, "However, Westerners still have quite a bit of prejudice against us Asians. Why don't you replace the actors with Westerners?"

"No need," Zhang Shuai'an said earnestly. "I still want to use our own actors and make a film that can win awards."

Zou Wenhuai didn't insist: "Then it's up to you."

After returning from Zou Wenhuai's visit, he went back to his office and once again sorted out and adapted the story of "Blood Simple".

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