Hong Kong Entertainment: The King of Kung Fu

"Prison on Fire" is really excellent, and the performances of Liang Caowei and Zhou Runfa are also very brilliant.

But it still lost to "The Sword of Three Young Masters", lost to the... visual spectacle that does not belong to this era!
If a commercial film wants to win, the quality of the film itself is not the decisive factor. The most important thing is to stack the cast, create gimmicks, and create spectacles!
"The Swordsman" achieved the ultimate in this regard, combining live-action and ink-and-wash animation, and the romantic and freehand battle scenes caused a sensation in Hong Kong.

Everyone couldn't wait to go to the cinema to have a look, and after watching it, they were amazed.

In the 60th minute, the ink-and-wash characters appeared for the first time, and it was just a trial run.

In the final decisive battle, sword energy was everywhere and black clouds were rolling. It was obviously a one-on-one duel between two people, but it had the effect of a melee involving dozens of people.

After watching the film, Wong Jing and Ringo Lam were unable to calm down for a long time.

In the second half of this year, Baiyang Pictures released three special effects masterpieces, "A Chinese Ghost Story", "Terminator 2" and "The Young Masters' Sword".

"A Chinese Ghost Story" was popular in Asia, "Terminator 2" made a sensation in the world, and "Swordsman" was just released, and it amazed people with its visual effects that combined ink animation with real people.

Zi Qi Company’s special effects have reached a high level, and major film companies in Hong Kong can’t help but feel a sense of despair.

Wong Jing felt that he was alone and helpless, so he decided to consult his good friends Mai Jia and Shek Tim for countermeasures.

Although Mai Jia and Shek Tim accepted Wong Jing's invitation and sat with him to drink tea, neither of them was in the mood.

Ever since the internal strife among the three giants of Cinema City, they have split up and worked on their own. Although they are still under the Cinema City brand, they each shoot their own films.

Mai Jia was obsessed with stock trading, and the film was mainly directed by his favorite actor Ringo Lam, who was promoted by him.

With the rapid development of Hong Kong's economy, the stock market has also soared, making money much faster than making movies.

Unfortunately, the stock market crashed and Mai Jia almost lost all his pants. He has been in a very low mood recently.

As for Shek Tim, he was an actor by profession and had poor creative ability. After leaving Wong Jing and Mai Jia, every movie he made failed.

However, he was doing well in real estate speculation, but when his movies did not make money, he began to consider quitting.

Huang Baiming said: "Yangji's special effects are getting better and better. I called the two big guys here today to discuss with you how we should deal with it."

Shi Tian had lost so much money on the movie that he had no more energy left, so he admitted defeat: "Terminator 2 has grossed over million US dollars, making it the world's top box office this year. Yang Ye has already become the king of the world, so how can we fight him?"

Huang Baiming couldn't help but pause and said, "Yang Ye has the European and American markets, which we can't compete with, but we have always been able to compete with him in Hong Kong Island and Southeast Asia. And we have the Taiwanese market, which he doesn't have, which is our advantage."

Shi Tian said: "Although Yang Ye doesn't have the Taiwan market, he has the mainland market. The last news report said that Terminator 2 sold nearly million US dollars in the mainland. Yang Ye threw away the Taiwan market himself. He didn't care about it at all."

Huang Baiming thought to himself, "Why the hell are you always boosting others' ambitions and destroying your own prestige?" He was so angry that he didn't want to talk anymore.

Mai Jia said: "That's calculated based on the official exchange rate. The share from the mainland is low. If he wants to take his share back to Hong Kong, he'd be lucky to get two million US dollars."

Shi Tian said: "That's not a small amount!"

Mai Jia said: "We are doing well now. Ah Dong's Prison on Fire was shot very well, and Fa Zai brought out Wei Zai. Although the box office is not as good as Swordsman, it is still a big profit!"

Wong Jing became even more unhappy. That was all the money you made. What does it have to do with me?

Of course, since he is a small shareholder of Cinema City, he can still get a share of the money earned from the distribution.

Shi Tian seemed to realize that it was a bit stupid to keep praising others, so he buried his head in thought and said after a long while:

"In fact, there are only two ways to deal with it. First, if you can't beat them, join them and we will also make a special effects movie.

Yang Ye's Ziqi Company has been losing money, and he actually hopes that other people will also produce this kind of movie to help him stop the loss."

Mai Jia shook his head and said, "The risk is too great. Back then, Xu Ke lost a lot of money when he produced the movie "New Shushan Swordsman"?
Later, Yongsheng filmed a movie called "The Devil's Jade", asked Ziqi Company to do the special effects, and also invited Liu Hua to star in it.

As a result, Yang Ye was banned in Taiwan, which scared Yongsheng so much that he kept the film in the warehouse and has not released it until now. "

Wong Pak Ming said: "Hong Kong films now have to be bought out in overseas markets. Special effects alone cannot sell well, and you have to rely on powerful action movie stars.

However, all the powerful action movie stars are under Yang Ye's command. Even Hong Jingbao has recently ignored him and followed him to film "Mojin: The Lost Tomb". What can we do?"

After hearing this, everyone couldn't help but shake their heads. This was the most troublesome part. Cinema City's movies were very popular in Taiwan.

Especially when Yang Ji’s films could not enter Taiwan, they had no rivals and were invincible in Taiwan, making a lot of money.

If you want to learn from Yang Ji and make blockbuster movies, you have to invite Yang Ji's big stars. If you invite Yang Ji's big stars, you will be banned in Taiwan. This is a dead end and there is no solution.

Shi Tian said: "Then there is only the second method, they take their pictures and we take our pictures.

Yang Kee is good at making action blockbusters and romance movies, and Ann Hui’s art films are also pretty good.

But they are not very good at comedy, only one Happy Ghost series is pretty good.

Comedy is our biggest advantage, so we just need to play to our strengths.”

The second method mentioned by Shi Tian is feasible.

But the problem is that this is not a method at all, it is just doing things step by step.

As Yang Ji becomes more and more powerful, their living space will be gradually squeezed and they can only survive in the cracks.

After talking for a long time, it was like saying nothing, and Wong Jing felt it was boring.

The two brothers, Mai Jia and Shek Tim, one is obsessed with the stock market and the other is addicted to real estate speculation. They no longer have the enterprising spirit in the film industry.

Wong Jing decided to... find another way out!
The three of them didn't know that Yang Ye still had a super trump card in his hand.

Once this card is played, their siege in the comedy field will be instantly defeated and collapse!
……

"Pretty girl, I'll treat you to some Bigfoot ice cream!"

Yang Ye handed the ice cream he had taken a bite of to Li Jiaxin.

Li Jiaxin didn't feel disgusted, she aimed at the place where Yang Ye had bitten and took a big bite.

Yang Ye chuckled, hugged the little beauty and sat on the sofa, watching TV with her.

This sentence said by Yang Ye is a popular line in the recently popular TV series "He Comes from the Rivers and Lakes".

After "The Legendary Hero", under the suggestion of Yang Ye, Stephen Chow and Lee Lik-chi made another "He Comes from Jianghu".

It is crazier and more nonsensical than previous works. Many viewers laughed so hard after watching this drama.

And Zhou Xingchi and Wu Mengda gradually showed the feeling of a golden partnership.

"It's time!" Yang Ye said.

"What?" Li Jiaxin asked.

"Give me my cell phone!" "Oh!"

Li Jiaxin ran to get Yang Ye's phone obediently. Yang Ye made a call and said, "Zhizhi, help me make an appointment with Liu Zhenwei. I'll treat him to a meal!"

……

A few days later, at nine o'clock in the morning.

Zhou Xingchi walked into the ATV building carrying a backpack.

Many employees greeted him politely when they saw him.

The younger ones call him Brother Xing, and the older ones call him Xingzai.

Zhou Xingchi has been hosting with Deborah Lee at ATV and also filming TV series. He has good resources.

He is now a famous emcee and a popular TV star, but he has not made much achievements in movies.

Because Baiyang Company was banned in Taiwan in the past two years, the company does not have many film resources, so it is not his turn.

Other film companies in Hong Kong did not dare to hire people from Yang Kee to make movies.

It was not until the last six months or so that Yangji’s influence overseas further expanded.

Some overseas film producers began to ignore the Taiwanese market and went directly to Hong Kong to invest, and Yangji's artists began to get busy.

When Yang Ji was banned in Taiwan, Zhou Xingchi once thought about leaving.

But at that time he was just a nobody and no one looked up to him.

Later, with the successive hits of "The Twins" and "The Legendary Heroes", his fame gradually grew.

At this time, Liu Hua, Zhang Xueyou and others began to become popular in Asia, which made him feel excited.

Moreover, Deborah once hinted to him that the company planned to train him.

There are two women in ATV who have very superior status, one is Deborah Lee and the other is Man-ya Cheng. Even the director of the station is polite to them.

So, Zhou Xingchi calmed down, worked seriously, and waited silently for his opportunity.

"Lagu, morning!"

"Xingzai, good morning! Yuan Kui just called and asked you to meet him at his studio at 10:30."

Zhou Xingchi was stunned after hearing this. He looked at Deborah, as if confirming something.

Deborah smiled and nodded, "Your chance has come!"

"Thank you, Lagu. I'll be leaving first then!"

"Behave!"

"I will!"

Zhou Xingchi took a few steps back, turned around and walked away, faster and faster, and then he started to run. Faster and faster, the sound of the whistling wind was in his ears.

……

Forty minutes later, Stephen Chow walked into the film studio of Jet Li and Yuen Kwai.

The secretary politely led Zhou Xingchi into the conference room, poured him a cup of coffee and left.

Zhou Xingchi was surprised to find Wu Mengda there, and immediately greeted him with a smile, "Brother Da!"

Wu Mengda's eyes lit up: "Xingzai, it turns out that I am partnering with you this time!"

Zhou Xingchi said in surprise: "Brother Da, aren't you filming "Mojin: The Lost Tomb" with Young Master Yang?"

Wu Mengda said: "I am a supporting role, I don't have that many scenes, I just need to run around."

"Do you know what we are shooting this time?"

"I don't know what they're filming, but I know that Young Master Yang is personally directing it this time!"

"how do you know?"

Before Wu Mengda could answer, the door of the conference room opened and Lee Lik-chi walked in.

Zhou Xingchi was even more surprised: "Achi?"

"Brother Da, Axing, you are here too!"

Lee Lik-chi was very surprised. The three of them often filmed together, and this time they actually got together.

The three of them chatted for a while, and then a beautiful woman walked in.

Zhou Xingchi immediately understood why Wu Mengda said that Yang Ye was in charge of this task personally.

Because this beauty is... Rosamund Kwan.

Rosamund Kwan is famous in Hong Kong for her beauty. She has not starred in many movies, but she has collaborated with super stars such as Yang Ye, Chen Long and Jet Li.

Now that she's on stage, this shoot is sure to be a blockbuster.

The three of them hurriedly greeted Guan Zhilin politely. Guan Zhilin also responded politely, and then found a seat and sat down.

Not long after Rosamund Kwan sat down, Yuen Kwai and Liu Zhenwei finally walked in.

Yuan Kui said: "We have a new film that will start shooting soon. I will be the producer, Mr. Liu Zhenwei will be the director, and you, A-Chi, will be the assistant director. Sing Tsai will play the male lead, Jia Hui will play the female lead, and A-Da, you will be Sing Tsai's partner."

Zhou Xingchi's eyes lit up with excitement when he heard this. He used to act in movies and TV series, and this time he was promoted directly to the leading actor in a movie.

Moreover, this movie stars Ng Man-tat and Rosamund Kwan, and is produced by Yuen Kui, so it is definitely not an ordinary low-budget film.

Isn't this a step to heaven?
Yuan Kui continued, "This film was planned by Young Master Yang, and all of you here were hand-picked by Young Master Yang. Our goal is to compete for the Spring Festival slot, and I hope you will work hard!"

Spring Festival? Damn, that’s the company’s flagship movie!

Yuan Kui sent them the script and said, "Read the script first. If you have any questions, you can communicate with me and Mr. Liu!"

Zhou Xingchi took the script excitedly, and saw two big characters on the title page: "God of Gamblers"! (End of this chapter)