1991: The Era of Hong Kong Dramas

Lau Ching-wan is still a senior extra at TVB.

Tonight, he had just finished filming a nighttime movie called "Dancing with My Lover," and with nothing else to do, he went to the Golden Sparrow Tower for drinks.

This is actually Lau Ching-wan's first time playing a leading role since he entered the industry in 83.

Even the male lead's salary was pitifully low.

The Hong Kong television industry is now completely controlled by Shaw Brothers. Old-timers like him, who have accumulated seniority but haven't yet made it big, are the easiest to exploit, earning only about HK$9000 a month.

They're just barely alive.

Seeing Huo Sheng hand over the wine, Liu Qingyun took it with a grin and greeted him, "Ah Sheng, you're really something. If it were anyone else, they would at least leave 20% air in my glass."

"You are welcome,"

Huo Sheng sat down on a chair nearby. "This isn't my business."

"Did you sit down?"

"Chatting with customers is also a part of the job."

"For this job, it would be better to hire one of the prettiest girls from your shop."

"That'll be a different price."

Liu Qingyun smiled after hearing Huo Sheng's words.

He had been with TVB for a long time, eight or nine years, and he paid special attention to people like Huo Sheng who were good at appearing on camera. Every time Huo Sheng came, he would take the initiative to chat with him. Over time, he became one of the few customers that Huo Sheng could be considered familiar with.

Although he didn't have much to say about the waiters at the Golden Sparrow Restaurant, pretty girls wouldn't patronize his seat. Having company was always a good thing for him.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Huo Sheng noticed that Liu Sheng's glass was almost empty before getting down to business, "Mr. Liu, I'm afraid I'll have to take up some of your time."

"Um?"

"There's something I'd like to ask you for help with."

Hearing this, Liu Qingyun became curious and turned to look at him. "What is it?"

Instead of answering directly, Huo Sheng asked, "I heard that Mr. Liu is planning to leave TVB to make movies?"

How did you know?

Liu Qingyun gave him a strange look, wondering how he knew, but it wasn't a secret, so he smiled and admitted, "It's true, what's wrong?"

It was the early 90s, and Hong Kong films were booming at the box office and producing a lot of movies. It had become a mainstream trend for TV actors to switch to movies. Film companies needed more actors, and this was a rare opportunity that Lau Ching-wan didn't want to miss. Besides, it had been seven or eight years since TVB had started promoting new talents, but he had never been able to get good resources.

Many people share his thoughts; it's not surprising at all.

Huo Sheng speculated, based on the current popularity of Hong Kong films, that Lau Ching-wan, who was sitting on the sidelines at TVB, must be thinking about leaving TVB – a sentiment shared by many TVB actors.

Seeing that his guess was correct, Huo Sheng asked with concern, "Mr. Liu, if you switch to a film company, won't you have to start all over again?"

Lau Ching-wan's image is not good, and he is vastly different in terms of physical attributes from actors like Andy Lau and Tony Leung who left TVB. He also lacks connections, so leaving at this time is practically the same as starting over.

Hearing his question, Liu Qingyun's smile faded, and he hesitated before saying, "It's a matter of enduring a few more years, but we should at least try our luck."

It's the perfect time!

Huo Sheng took a deep breath, looked intently at Liu Qingyun, and said seriously, "Perhaps, I can help you."

"you?"

Lau Ching-wan was taken aback, and for a moment he forgot to drink the wine he had just picked up—did this young waiter have connections in the film company? Or was he some kind of protégé of a powerful female boss?

A certain older sister noticed my appearance and wants to take me in as well?

Is it Leung Lee Siu-ha of Pearl City Film Company or Kwan Ka-chun of Baijiafeng Film Company?

Xuan Jiazhen is the most likely candidate; I've heard that she has a particular fondness for handsome young men like Huo Sheng.

Maybe tastes have changed now, and they might like someone like me who looks honest...

In an instant, Lau Ching-wan became excited. He came from an ordinary background and had no famous works to his name, so he was worried about not having any connections to support him. He immediately asked, "What do you mean by 'helping'?"

"You mean this," Huo Sheng said, seemingly oblivious to Liu Qingyun's train of thought. As he spoke, he pulled a stack of papers from his uniform pocket—folded in half, with slightly wrinkled edges, but neatly folded—and slowly pushed it in front of Liu Qingyun.

Liu Qingyun looked down and asked curiously, "What is this?"

"A TV drama script."

"..."

Liu Qingyun was immediately disappointed. His beautiful fantasy of marrying into the eldest sister's family with Huo Sheng was instantly shattered. He had no intention of opening the book at all and said with exasperation:

"Ah Sheng, what kind of script would you, a waiter, write? Besides, I want to work in a film company, what's the point of giving me a TV drama script?"

"Since you're not famous yet, why not film another TV series? That would be a better way to transition into the film industry?"

Huo Sheng smiled.

"Filming a TV series isn't child's play!"

Lau Ching-wan took a swig of his drink, feeling frustrated, and said in a muffled voice, "Besides, becoming famous isn't that easy. The most important thing about making a movie is a good story. With that foundation, actors can showcase their acting skills and be seen by the audience. And that also requires a good role. I'm just a perennial extra..."

"Didn't you already have a lead actor in one?"

"A five-episode short drama, what kind of lead role is that!"

Lau Ching-wan smiled wryly and continued, "Besides, TVB doesn't accept scripts from outside anymore. Even famous martial arts and comics are mostly adapted by our own scriptwriters. Why don't you try your luck at ATV?"

Huo Sheng nodded repeatedly. Of course he knew that what Liu Qingyun said was true. If he didn't know, he wouldn't have needed to change the ashtrays at Jinquelou for two months.

However, although the Hong Kong television industry is now known as the era of a two-horse race, with only TVB and ATV being free-to-air channels, TVB holds 70%-80% of the market share, while ATV only holds 20%-30%, and that share is continuously declining.

Going to ATV now is not a good choice.

Huo Sheng didn't explain in detail to Liu Qingyun, but smiled and said, "My TV drama script is a good story, and there happens to be a role that is very suitable for you. It has a lot of screen time, enough for you to show off your acting skills."

"And since we've talked for so long, even if you don't believe me, it wouldn't hurt to spend a little more time looking at my script. At worst, I'll buy you another drink."

After saying that, Huo Sheng poured himself another full glass of whiskey, pushed it forward half an inch along with the script, and said, "Just treat it as drinking while reading the story."

Lau Ching-wan was stunned for a moment, then slowly picked up the script.

If this were a complete stranger, he'd probably just give a few perfunctory words and that would be the end of it. But he knows the person, and the drinks have already been poured...

Besides, since things have come to this point, it would seem pretentious not to read it. I'm not some super busy person who doesn't even have time to flip through a few pages.

However, he didn't take it too seriously. Huo Sheng's situation is not uncommon. In recent years, most of them are young people who are unhappy with their lives. They think that being a screenwriter is a very simple thing. They imagine a vague story and then fantasize that they can soar to the sky.

After seeing it so many times, you become numb to it.

Lau Ching-wan sighed, casually flipped through the pages, and prepared to give the young man a quick look before reminding him that screenwriting is not an easy job. Every screenwriter in TVB's production department has been working their way up for decades. You are not even twenty years old yet, how could you possibly create works that move people's hearts?

Focus on reality and work hard at Jinquelou!

While muttering to himself, Lau Ching-wan opened the script that was printed with the words "The Greed of Man".

But as he looked at it, he couldn't take his eyes off it.