Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 2747 Journey to the West (First Update, Please Subscribe)
When people think of Kuching, the first thing that comes to mind most of the time is "the Hollywood of the East".

After years of development, film has long become the city's most well-known calling card, while local industries and other technology companies have not attracted much attention.

From Universal Studios to the star-studded Marina Bay Sands, these are all well-known locations for movie fans from around the world. The former is the birthplace of most Kuching films, while the latter is a celebrity hotspot that attracts a large number of movie fans every day.

However, not all celebrities are willing to live in a seaside estate. In contrast, luxury apartments located in the heart of Kuching are the preferred choice for many. Among these luxury apartments, penthouses are the most expensive.

After nightfall, the penthouse offers a superb view, with panoramic city views right outside the window. Although there is a constant flow of traffic and people downstairs, it does not disturb the tranquility of the apartment.

Li Yiyang, holding a copy of "Journey to the West," is telling a story to his two children. His son, Li Hanmo, is just five years old and wearing a blue T-shirt, while his daughter, Li Ruojie, is six. The two children sit on either side of their father, listening to his story.

When Li Yiyang recounted Sun Wukong's havoc in the Heavenly Palace, wielding his golden cudgel and routing the heavenly soldiers and generals, Li Hanmo clenched his small fists, his eyes widened, his face filled with excitement, and he couldn't help but whisper:
"Sun Wukong is so powerful! He's so awesome!"

Li Ruojie couldn't help but nod, a faint smile playing on her lips, her eyes filled with longing:

"Yes, Sun Wukong is not only powerful, but also... and also..."

Looking at the children's excited expressions, Li Yiyang smiled.
"Don't rush, there's more to come, and every part is very interesting."

As he spoke, he continued, seemingly transported back to his childhood by the captivating story. His favorite childhood story was also "Journey to the West," but because his mother couldn't read Chinese characters, he always listened to his father tell the tale. Since his father didn't visit often, it took him a long time to finish hearing the whole story.

And now, when he tells this story to his children, he always thinks of his father.

Just as Li Yiyang continued telling the story, Li Hanmo suddenly looked up, his big eyes fixed on Li Yiyang, his little face full of confusion:
"Dad, don't you have your own film company? Why can't you make a 'Journey to the West' movie? That way we can see Sun Wukong in the movie theater."

Li Yiyang was taken aback by his son's question. The book in his hand froze in mid-air, and his eyes were full of surprise. He had obviously not expected his son to ask such a question.

He opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know how to answer, and could only stare blankly at his son.

Unlike his siblings, Li Yiyang loves movies, perhaps influenced by his mother, Ava Gardner. But it's mostly a personal hobby; he genuinely enjoys watching movies, and it's this love that fuels his passion for film.

During his summer vacation when he was nineteen, he accompanied a friend to an audition. His friend didn't get the role, but he became the male lead in a low-budget film called "Newcomer to the Army." Unexpectedly, the film became a box office hit. In the following years, thanks to his handsome appearance, Leon Gardner became a hot star in Kuching.

Later, he started making his own movies, and finally became famous with the movie "Terminator". Now he owns his own film company - DreamWorks!

Of course, this is not just his company, but a gift from his father.

This company produces dozens of films every year, including big-budget productions, comedies, action films, and romance films, each of which has achieved good box office results and critical acclaim.

In Kuching's film industry, he is not only a well-known director but also a successful businessman. He is quite famous.

But he never thought of filming a work like "Journey to the West". In his opinion, such a well-known classic is too grand and too complicated, and it is not so easy to film it well.

Of course, more importantly, his film company rarely makes this kind of film; he prefers blockbusters, which are more easily accepted by domestic and international markets.

Journey to the West, on the other hand, is a traditional classical novel from the East, and its market audience is largely limited to people from the Tang Dynasty.

Seeing her father stunned, Li Ruojie quickly said to her younger brother:

"Hanmo, don't be silly. A TV station made a TV series about Journey to the West before, but it wasn't very good. The plot was also changed into a mess, and not many people watched it. Dad must know about this."

She spoke with a serious expression, clearly having seen that failed work and being deeply impressed by it.

But Li Hanmo shook his head, his little face full of expectation as he looked at his father, his tone tinged with stubbornness:

"I don't care. Just because others can't make a good film doesn't mean Dad can't! Dad's movies are all so good, Dad can definitely make a good 'Journey to the West,' right, Dad?"

Looking at his son's face, Li Yiyang could see his son's expectation and, of course, his trust in him.

At this moment, the wife, who was holding the third child, quickly spoke up to help her husband out of the predicament:
"Xiao Mo, be good. Making a movie is a very complicated thing. It's not something you can do casually."

"It's just a movie, what's so complicated about it?"

Li Yiyang reached out and ruffled his son's hair, saying in a tone tinged with affection:
“You’re right, little one. It’s just a movie, nothing complicated. But it’s not something we can’t rule out.”

Upon hearing this, Li Hanmo's eyes lit up instantly. He clapped his hands and shouted excitedly:
“Really? Dad! You’re really going to consider making ‘Journey to the West’? That’s great! That’s great!” His cheerful laughter echoed throughout the apartment.

He then told the children a story from "Journey to the West" for a while until they gradually became sleepy and fell asleep in his arms. Only then did he carefully carry the children back to their room, gently cover them with blankets, and then return to his own bedroom.

It was late at night, and his wife was fast asleep. Li Yiyang lay in bed, but he couldn't sleep at all. He stared at the ceiling with his eyes open, unable to sleep all night.

His son's suggestion kept echoing in his mind. One moment he felt that filming *Journey to the West* was a bold attempt; if done well, the market returns should be considerable, and it would also fulfill his son's wish. The next moment, he felt it was too risky, with a large investment and high risk. The market... the market potential should be considerable, after all, there are over 200 million people in Southeast Asia...

If this film succeeds, it could even spawn a major IP, like "The Terminator" or "Star Wars," which could form the basis for a series of films. After all, it builds upon a complete Eastern mythology system, which itself contains a wealth of Eastern mythological stories.

But will such Eastern mythology be accepted by the international market?
That night, Li Yiyang thought about it all night long.

After a quick wash and breakfast, Li Yiyang drove to the film company. Like most film companies, DreamWorks Pictures is located near Universal Studios and may not seem particularly eye-catching, but it is already one of the four major film companies in Kuching.

Upon arriving at the company, he went straight into his office, closed the door, and began handling the company's routine affairs as usual.

Now, Li Yiyang rarely directs movies directly anymore, after all, he now needs to be responsible for the entire company.

He flipped through documents, reviewed scripts, listened to employee reports, and arranged various tasks for the company.

Before I knew it, the morning had passed, and most of the company's affairs had been handled.

After finishing his work, Li Yiyang leaned back in his office chair, closed his eyes, and rubbed his temples, feeling a little tired. But then that thought flashed through his mind again.

Journey to the West.

Should we take the photos or not?

What difficulties will we face if we want to film this?
How much investment is needed?
How should actors be selected?

Where should we shoot outdoor scenes?

Each problem needs to be solved.

Thinking of this, Li Yiyang opened his eyes, picked up the phone on the table, and dialed the vice president's internal line: "Chen Mo, come to my office."

A moment later, the office door was gently pushed open, and Chen Mo walked in. Chen Mo, who was in his forties this year, had been deeply trusted by Li Yiyang for many years, and he was usually in charge of the company's operations.

"Boss, you wanted to see me?"

Li Yiyang nodded, pointed to the chair opposite the desk, and said in a gentle tone:
"Please sit down. There's something I'd like to discuss with you."

After Chen Mo sat down as instructed, Li Yiyang explained his thoughts and then looked at him, asking:
"So, I'd like to hear your opinion: do you think it's necessary for our company to film 'Journey to the West'?"

Upon hearing the manager's question, Chen Mo paused for a moment, his brows furrowing slightly:
"Boss, theoretically speaking, just like you said, there are a lot of stories to be explored in 'Journey to the West,' just like Disney in the United States, which has made many classic works simply by relying on Andersen's fairy tales."

However, adapting "Journey to the West" into a good film is no easy task and is extremely difficult. After all, as a classic, almost everyone in China has read the book and people already have a certain understanding of it.

This is the biggest problem with adapting classic works.

Every reader has a different understanding of "Journey to the West." How can we satisfy all readers?

Chen Mo's question made Li Yiyang nod, and then Chen Mo continued:

"Moreover, unlike ordinary film and television dramas, 'Journey to the West,' while considered a classic masterpiece, is actually more like the world's earliest road novel,"

"Road novels?"

Li Yiyang raised an eyebrow; this angle was rather novel.

"Yes, it is essentially a story told through a long journey. That's why Journey to the West is a 'road novel'."

If we were to recreate the story of *Journey to the West* in modern times, it would be like this: four people driving a "White Dragon" SUV westward in search of their dream paradise. Each of these four individuals has their own troubles; some want to realize their potential, some want to escape pain, and some seek liberation. Along the way, they encounter all sorts of people and events, making it even more like a road movie.

After Chen Mo explained it this way, Li Yiyang naturally understood the connection. That made perfect sense.

"Indeed, Journey to the West is just like all road novels—it's about getting to a destination and what happens along the way."

When Li Yiyang expressed his agreement, Chen Mo continued:
"If we're going to make a movie, then it's a road movie. And if we set aside its core essence, a good road movie can't be made in a studio!"
I think this is also why the previous "Journey to the West" film failed; it was a poorly made drama. So what is the core of "Journey to the West"?
It's about travel, adventure, and the human heart. In essence, it's about being on the road. Movies made on the road naturally have to be filmed on the road, which means more expenses and higher filming costs.

The novel "Journey to the West" has a total of 100 chapters, which is impossible to adapt into a single movie. If it were a TV series, the production standards would be insufficient to present the complete story.

Even if filming is forced, the final product will only be a poorly made TV series. Therefore, we need to approach TV series production like movies.

(End of this chapter)