Hong Kong Entertainment: The King of Kung Fu

Yang Ye said at the hotel door that "Terminator 2" would cost million Hong Kong dollars. When he walked into the hotel, people from Bai Yang Company also knew about it and couldn't help but whisper.

"Hey, have you heard? "Terminator 2" is about to start shooting, with an investment of million."

"Three hundred million, that's impossible, right? How can we spend three hundred million?"

"What the Condor Hero said just now, can it be false?"

"Yes, I also heard that digital technology should be used to create stronger visual effects than "Superman"."

"Damn it, Juxia Yang is getting really bad!"

Soon, the table in Xu Ke’s studio also heard about it.

Xu Ke asked John Woo in surprise: "Is this true?"

As the deputy director, John Woo naturally had a comprehensive understanding of this project. He nodded and said: "This movie was actually prepared a few years ago. We have been experimenting with technology and cultivating talents. Although the movie has not started shooting yet, it has already been spent." It’s tens of millions.”

Xu Ke was even more surprised: "What kind of movie is it that makes it so awesome?"

John Woo said: "On the one hand, the story takes place in the United States, and the whole process was shot in the United States, which is very expensive. On the other hand, the special effects have been fully upgraded, and the new robots are definitely eye-catching, but I can't say too much!"

"All right!"

Xu Ke sat for a while, unable to taste the food and feeling itchy, so he couldn't help but run to find Yang Ye.

Yang Ye smiled and said: "It's hard to explain clearly. If you are interested, you can take time to visit the class."

Xu Ke said: "Okay, by the way, my "Dao Ma Dan" will have its premiere in two days. Can you come and support it?"

Yang Ye said with a bitter face: "Let's forget it, I'm having a hard time now."

Xu Ke secretly laughed. He saw it when filming "Daoma Dan". Lin Qingxia and Zhu Lin couldn't deal with each other. This was obviously because of Yang Ye.

Xu Ke judged others by himself, thinking that Yang Ye probably didn't want to face Lin Qingxia and Zhu Lin at the same time. Otherwise, if the two tigresses got angry, there would be no good juice to eat.

But he also really admired Yang Ye. These two women were so beautiful, and Yang Ye managed to take care of them both. He also allowed them to film together, and the whole process went smoothly.

It’s so awesome, he is truly worthy of being the Condor Hero!

Alas, if my Nan Sheng and Qian Wen could do this, I would die laughing.

In fact, what Yang Ye means is: I finally made a big move and diverted a wave of media attention, so it is not appropriate to show up for the time being.

Yang Ye said: "By the way, what's your next movie?"

Xu Ke said: "Today's Hong Kong movies have too many comedies and too few movies that show romantic feelings between men and women. This time I plan to make a love story."

Yang Ye said: "Hey, I just planned a movie. It's a fantasy romance movie. I asked Johnnie To to make it, starring Ah Rong and Cui Zhenshi!"

Xu Ke couldn't help but be stunned after hearing this.

Yang Ye asked: "What's wrong?"

Xu Ke said: "The movie I planned is also a fantasy romance film, and I also plan to ask Zhang Guorong to be the leading actor."

Yang Ye said: "Oh, then you can only wait for his schedule."

After a pause, he said again: "What story? Why don't you tell it to me?"

"Last time, the film "A Better Tomorrow" from the 1960s was put on the big screen, and it was very successful. I hope that this time, "A Chinese Ghost Story" from the 1960s can also be put on the big screen..."

Xu Ke gave a rough explanation, and Yang Ye said: "A costume film, it's okay. What I want to shoot is a fashion film, so it doesn't count against genres."

Xu Ke breathed a sigh of relief, and Yang Ye asked again: "Is there any candidate for the heroine?"

Xu Ke said: "No, I plan to audition new people!"

"Consider my Xiaoxian!"

Wang Zuxian was eating happily next to Yang Ye, and couldn't help but be stunned when he heard this.

Xu Ke was also stunned for a moment. He had actually considered asking Japanese actress Akina Nakamori to play Xiaoqian.

I came here to get close to Yang Ye, and maybe I wanted to invite Nakamori Akina to come to Hong Kong to shoot a movie through Yang Ye.

As we all know, Yang Ye and Nakamori Akina have an unusually good relationship.

Unexpectedly, Yang Ye opened his mouth to recommend Wang Zuxian. Since Yang Ye has spoken, he still has to give face. Xu Ke smiled and said: "Then make an appointment and let Xiaoxian come to my studio for an audition."

……

It should be mentioned here that Akina Nakamori is not the first choice for Xiaoqian as is rumored on the Internet.

The portrait of "Xiaoqian washing her hair" in the movie is not based on Akina Nakamori.

Akina Nakamori does have a photo that is very similar to this painting, but that photo is from a photo album in 1987, and "A Chinese Ghost Story" started filming in 1986.

So what is the prototype of the portrait of "Xiaoqian washing her hair"? It is a Japanese ukiyo-e that Xu Ke borrowed from. Hashiguchi Goha’s 1920 masterpiece "Hair Combing Woman" (Woman Combing Hair)

……

Illustration: Comparison of Xiaoqian's portrait (detail) and "The Girl with Hair Comb" (detail).

……

At the beginning of the project of "A Chinese Ghost Story", they had two considerations.

One is to invite Japanese actresses to perform in order to open up the Japanese market.

First, a local actress will play the role, but a newcomer will be auditioned.

When looking for a Japanese actress to act in this project, the most suitable one was naturally Akina Nakamori, because she was the most popular at the time. But this idea was rejected by Shi Nansheng because the budget was insufficient. Some people may say that Japanese artists are not expensive! It's weird if it's not expensive. The world's second largest film market, how can it be that it's not expensive and make people look stupid?
Artists get less because offices get more!

……

However, Wang Zuxian was indeed not the first choice, and was not even considered at all.

At that time, the more dominant candidates were Ni Shujun and Luo Meiwei. These two beauties were both contracted artists from New Art City and were very pure and beautiful.

They both wanted to play the role, but Shi Nansheng still preferred to find someone new.

Shi Nansheng just wants to save money. She feels that Zhang Guorong's box office appeal is enough.

There is nothing wrong with Shi Nansheng's idea, because at that time, the success of Hong Kong films relied on male stars, and female stars were just supplements.

Who would have thought that Wang Zuxian would become famous because of Xiaoqian and become one of the representatives of Hong Kong stars.

The following is the original words of New Art City boss Huang Baiming in an interview: "In "A Chinese Ghost Story", Shi Nansheng planned to play the male lead Zhang Guorong with a newcomer. Unexpectedly, Wang Zuxian thought the drama was good, so she approached Shi Nansheng and said that she wanted to Starring as the heroine, Shi Nansheng said she couldn't afford her salary..."

At that time, Joey Wong's salary was about 200,000 Hong Kong dollars, which he couldn't afford, so he asked Akina Nakamori to do it.

After Wang Zuxian was declined by Shi Nansheng, he still called Xu Ke and said she wanted to audition.

The following is Xu Ke’s original words: “At that time, I was looking for the heroine of “A Chinese Ghost Story” and looked everywhere for suitable candidates.

Then one day, Wang Zuxian called me. She said, can I come to the audition?
I thought at the time, why didn't I think of her? She is a modern-looking girl.

So I called our art director Xi Zhongwen and said that Wang Zuxian was a candidate for the heroine with great potential.

Xi Zhongwen designed some costumes for her and asked her to try them out.

It was so funny because she looked so perfect in those costumes! "

Why is it that "A Chinese Ghost Story" is obviously a period film, but Xu Ke thinks Wang Zuxian's appearance is very modern, thinks she has huge potential, and immediately asks her to audition?
Because Xu Ke believes that although the movie is set in ancient times, the core is a modern story.

……

Finally, there are Wang Zuxian's original words in an exclusive interview with "Eastern New World" in 1992: "It's only that one time to take the initiative to look for opportunities. Hee hee, I won't have such a need in the future!"

After Wang Zuxian became famous with Xiaoqian, others begged her to act, and she still needed to find a chance.

……

In fact... Xiaoqian is a pervert, and she wants to seduce men for her grandma.

When Xu Ke asked screenwriter Ruan Jizhi to write the script, he asked him to write it in the direction of an erotic film.

The scene at the beginning of the movie where the female ghost seduces the scholar.

The original setting was...ten men and Xiaoqian having a sex scene together.

After Xu Ke saw Wang Zuxian's Xiaoqian style, he suddenly felt... this was so disgusting.

So ten men became one, and all erotic things were deleted.

In the end, there was only one erotic expression left, and that was...feet.

Those who have read classical literature know what a woman’s feet represent.

There are more than one close-up of Wang Zuxian's feet in the film, which is actually a kind of erotic expression.

Damn it, fortunately Xu Ke stopped at the brink.

If according to the original script it was filmed as a bed battle between ten men and Wang Zuxian...

……

After the local box office of "God of Gamblers" exceeded 30 million, it is still in theaters. It will take at least 20 days to be released. It will be no problem to make another 2 to 3 million.

The next step is to release it overseas. Due to the strong performance of the local market, even if Yang Ye didn't work hard on the film, film companies from all over the world are still rushing to get it.

The strangest thing is... the movie "Lover" originally had no hope of doing anything in the North American market.

United Artists thought it would be ridiculous if they could make four to five million dollars.

Who knew that because of Madonna's arrogance, the popularity of this movie was inexplicably aroused.

In the end, it sold more than 18 million US dollars at the box office in North America.

Madonna also called Yang Ye and said that it was her fault that the movie was a hit in North America and asked for a share of the money.

Yang Ye actually asked Xie Yi to write her a check for one million, which was considered as her commission.

Madonna was very happy and asked Yang Ye when he would go to the United States. She would also fight him for 300 rounds.

Yang Yexin said, let’s count the balls!

It’s okay if the criticism doesn’t hold the door, but the mouth doesn’t hold the door either. He said everything without hesitation, which made my wives almost run away.

Can't afford it!
The huge sales of "God of Gamblers" has created two trends in society. One is that citizens have suddenly become addicted to cards. After watching the movie, their hands are so itchy that they have to touch two cards when they go back.

If you can’t stop being addicted to playing cards, you have to go to Macau!
Another thing is that many people fall in love with chocolate, and it must be dark chocolate like Lindt.

Before playing cards, you should imitate Yang Ye, eat a piece of it, and enjoy the luck of the God of Gamblers.

This caused Lindt's sales to increase significantly in Hong Kong for a while.

Considering that Yang Ye himself is a world-famous Kung Fu superstar, Lindt and Sprüngli decided to offer a sky-high price of three million US dollars to invite Yang Ye to become the global spokesperson of Lindt!
In addition, Yang Ye was also invited to be the director to shoot a brand new promotional advertisement for them, and the money was calculated separately. (End of chapter)