Huayu: King of Kung Fu

PS: Some readers questioned the risks of exploiting "Infernal Affairs" in 1998, so I added a section in Chapter 53 to specifically explain this matter. Readers who haven't read it can go back and take a look.

……

The Tokyo International Film Festival is the largest film festival in Asia, and it often attracts internationally renowned directors.

This year's most anticipated guest is the renowned French director Luc Besson.

His films, "The Big Blue" and "Léon: The Professional," are both classics.

In 1997, he became a top-tier commercial director with "The Fifth Element," which grossed $2.7 million worldwide.

Luc Besson's appearance at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Film Festival immediately made him the target of media attention.

However, this guy was smitten with Japanese actress Ryoko Hirosue, and upon meeting her, he praised her, saying, "This is the first time I've met an actress as radiant as you."

He even boasted that he would create a movie tailored for Ryoko Hirosue and take her into the international market.

Ryoko Hirosue was overjoyed, and the two hugged and kissed intimately in front of the media.

Lin Hu, who was still a nobody at the time, saw this scene from the crowd and shook his head.

Ryoko Hirosue is going to be ruined by Luc Besson, that LSP.

However, it's not uncommon for directors to have affairs with female celebrities.

Lin Hu suddenly thought, "If I had the fame of Luc Besson now, would I also ruin Ryoko Hirosue's reputation?"

Holy crap, that's so perverted!

……

Lin Hu bought a GG slot in the Dongying Film Festival's program booklet, applied for an exhibition hall, printed some "Ong-Bak" promotional leaflets, and hired two people to help distribute them.

Zhou Xun and Huang Yiyun also came to help.

Ong-Bak was a self-funded exhibitor with no media exposure resources, so it had to rely on itself.

Although the film festival mainly featured art films, kung fu movies were still very appealing to passersby and tourists, and many people bought tickets with flyers in hand.

Lin Hu was busy when a plump, beautiful woman walked over.

Upon seeing Lin Hu, she greeted him familiarly, "You're here!"

Lin Hu turned his head and was very surprised to see that it was Liu Xiaoqing.

Liu Xiaoqing can be considered a benchmark figure among actresses in mainland China's film industry. She has superb acting skills and has won the Hundred Flowers Award for Best Actress three times and the Golden Rooster Award for Best Actress once.

Lin Hu was both surprised and puzzled, and said, "Hello, Sister Liu... Sister Xiaoqing, what brings you here?"

As Lin Hu spoke, he called Zhou Xun, who was handing out flyers not far away, to come and meet Liu Xiaoqing.

Zhou Xun was also pleasantly surprised to meet Liu Xiaoqing, who is considered the pinnacle of mainland Chinese actresses and a role model for Zhou Xun.

Liu Xiaoqing smiled and shook hands with Lin Hu and the others, saying, "When I was in Beijing before, I heard from Director Han that you made a very impressive movie that was a huge box office success in Hong Kong. I've always wanted to see it."

I was invited to be a jury member at the Tokyo International Film Festival this year, and I heard you were also participating, so I came specifically to check it out!

"That would be an honor!"

When will the first screening be held?

"2:30 PM!"

"Okay, I'll bring my friends to see it!"

In the afternoon, when "Ong-Bak" started playing, Liu Xiaoqing indeed brought a large group of friends over.

Luc Besson, Takeshi Kitano, Jeremy Thomas...

Lin Hu was stunned; so many big directors!

With so many big-name directors involved, the media naturally flocked to the scene, snapping photos in droves.

Lin Hu didn't attract much attention in the morning, but by the afternoon he had become the center of media attention.

Lin Hu didn't know what to say. After a long pause, he only managed to say two words to Liu Xiaoqing: "Thank you!"

Liu Xiaoqing said with a smile, "Actually, you already received a lot of attention when you were in Busan; you weren't an unknown person!"

……

There weren't many ticket buyers to begin with, and the theater wasn't full.

Liu Xiaoqing brought a group of famous directors to support the event, which in turn attracted a group of media reporters, making the screening room very lively.

The movie started playing soon after.

Lin Hu nimbly navigated the crowded and narrow streets, his various aerial gymnastics-like movements keeping the audience on their toes.

In contrast, Huang Bo's numerous clumsy attempts, yet his ability to escape danger at the most perilous moments, are all hilarious.

The audience was amazed and burst into laughter.

What followed was a series of tense and exciting fights, with the scenes escalating and keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.

As an action movie, the most important thing is to make the fighting exciting, and Lin Hu's "Ong-Bak" undoubtedly achieved that.

After the film ended, renowned Japanese director Takeshi Kitano exclaimed, "I haven't seen such amazing kung fu in a long time!"

Takeshi Kitano is extremely famous in Asia, and his praise made Zhou Xun and Huang Yiyun, who were standing next to Lin Hu, very happy.

Zhou Xun said it was because her boyfriend received praise from a famous director.

Huang Yiyun's task this time was to help Lin Hu negotiate copyrights with Japan and South Korea.

With Takeshi Kitano's words, negotiations with Japanese film companies went more smoothly.

Lin Hu felt a pang of emotion upon hearing Kitano Takeshi's words.

Because in the original timeline, Takeshi Kitano had a cameo role in Tony Jaa's original "Muay Thai".

He played a cigarette vendor at an underground boxing gym, and after seeing Tony Jaa's move, he said to the camera, "I haven't seen such good kung fu in a long time."

Lin Hu never expected that, despite the change of time and space, these words would still come from the old man's mouth.

The other directors then shared their opinions.

Luc Besson was very excited. He said, "Meeting Ms. Ryoko during this trip to Japan was a great surprise."

This guy brought Ryoko Hirosue to the movies; he's got a knack for picking up girls.

Ryoko Hirosue smiled happily when she heard Luc Besson mention her name.

Luc Besson continued, "But the biggest surprise is here! Lin, your agility and ferocity are truly amazing, just like the title suggests, like a tiger in the jungle."

Tony Jaa's original Ong-Bak movie, known in Thai as องค์บาก, is transliterated into Chinese as 翁巴克, which means the name of the Buddha statue in the movie.

The name "Ong-Bak" is a Hong Kong translation; Hong Kong people love to use names with words like "god," "saint," and "tyrant."

Neither the original Thai name, Ongpak, nor the Chinese translation, Quanba, is suitable as the English title of the movie; a new translation is needed.

Tony Jaa's Ong-Bak was translated as "The Thai Warrior" when it was released in Europe and America.

Lin Hu named his version of Ong-Bak "The Jungle Tiger".

I also took the opportunity to choose an English name for myself, which is Tiger Lin.

(Author's note: For ease of narration, the film will continue to be referred to as "Ong-Bak" in the following text, and the title "Jungle Tiger" will only be used in specific contexts.)

Luc Besson wasn't just making empty praise; after his compliment, he stated directly, "I hope to bring 'Ong-Bak' to France for a theatrical release."

Luc Besson truly loved Ong-Bak. In the original timeline, he not only brought Ong-Bak to France for a theatrical release, but also personally wore a shirt with an Ong-Bak poster to support the film at a French film festival.

He also said he wanted to sign Tony Jaa to star in his new film, but Tony Jaa was signed by another company first, and Luc Besson chose to work with Jet Li instead.

Then, Tony Jaa's career was short-lived, quickly fading into obscurity, and there was no follow-up.

With the support of a host of renowned directors, the enthusiastic vote of many viewers at film festivals, and the impressive box office figures in Hong Kong, the rights to "Ong-Bak" were sold very smoothly.

The Japanese rights were sold to Toei for $120 million, and the Korean rights were sold to Samsung for $60.

Luc Besson wasn't joking; he bought the French rights for $50.

He also plans to submit Ong-Bak to the upcoming Deauville Film Festival in France to promote the film's release there.

At that time, Ong-Bak can take advantage of the situation to sell its European rights again.

As a newcomer, if Lin Hu wants to make money and attract attention, he has no choice but to work hard and participate in exhibitions all over the world.

Just as Lin Hu was busy selling the film rights, the film festival was drawing to a close, and the list of winners was released.

In her hotel room, Zhou Xun received a phone call and stood there stunned for a while before hanging up.

"Little Tiger!" she stammered, "I...I won a prize!"

"Best Actress?"

"Um!"

"Hahaha, Xun-ge, you're awesome!"

Lin Hu was overjoyed and carried Zhou Xun around the room several times.

From this moment on, because he came to this time and space, many things have undergone tremendous changes.