The literary era since 1979

The phone was on speaker from beginning to end. Xiang Huasheng heard the conversation between the secretary and Xiang Huaqiang clearly and was overjoyed:
"Second brother, I didn't expect Mr. Fang would come too. Finally we have a chance to meet him!"

"Didn't we say it all over the phone? Ma Rongcheng was injured and hospitalized, and Mr. Fang is here to negotiate on behalf of his friend."

Xiang Huaqiang's mouth corners kept rising.

"That's not right. Since we're discussing the film adaptation of Chinese Hero, even if Ma Rongcheng was attacked and hospitalized, it should be Huang Yulang who came. Why would he bother Mr. Fang?" Xiang Huasheng asked in confusion, "Mr. Fang is the editor-in-chief of Sanlian Bookstore, not Yulang International!"

"It seems that the attack on Ma Rongcheng is not as simple as reported in the newspaper."

Xiang Huaqiang's mind was working rapidly.

"You mean the attack on Ma Rongcheng was intentional?"

Xiang Huasheng immediately sensed something was wrong.

"It is said that Ma Rongcheng's contract with Yulang International will last for about a year. Given the company's current stock price, Huang Yulang will definitely do everything he can to keep Ma Rongcheng." Xiang Huaqiang said seriously, "The attack on Ma Rongcheng must be related to his stay or departure."

"Could it be that Mr. Fang has taken a fancy to Ma Rongcheng and is ready to sign him away, but Huang Yulang is unwilling to let go of this cash cow easily..."

Xiang Huasheng immediately imagined a business war scenario in his mind.

"No!"

Xiang Huaqiang waved his hand. "Mr. Fang is the editor-in-chief of Sanlian Bookstore. As far as I know, although Sanlian Bookstore sells comics, they are all Japanese comics and have never been involved in the publication and distribution of Hong Kong comics. Even if Ma Rongcheng wants to go to Sanlian Bookstore, Mr. Fang may not accept him."

Xiang Huasheng nodded, but quickly thought of another possibility:
"Could it be that Ma Rongcheng wants to start his own business after the contract ends, and then cooperate with Sanlian Bookstore where Mr. Fang works?"

"I think so too."

Xiang Huaqiang reminded: "Of course this is just our guess. Even if we are 70% to 80% sure, we should not tell anyone about it."

Xiang Huasheng readily agreed, "Second Brother, I'm not stupid. If I tell anyone, I'll just offend Mr. Fang for nothing!"

"As long as you know."

Xiang Huaqiang touched his chin and began to discuss the feasibility of adapting "Chinese Hero" into a movie.

“It’s true that I have produced movies, but I’ve never produced a movie adapted from a comic book.”

Xiang Huasheng said awkwardly: "Why don't we invite my sister-in-law over? She knows more about the film industry than us brothers do."

"Wait a little longer, until we meet Mr. Fang first."

Xiang Huaqiang said seriously.

Xiang Huasheng didn't say anything more. After all, when it comes to movies, it is probably hard to find a few people in Hong Kong who understand movies better than Fang Yan!

………………

The next day, Yongsheng Film Company.

Xiang Huaqiang and Xiang Huasheng arrived at the door of the building fifteen minutes earlier than the time agreed on the phone, and put on the highest welcoming display.

After a while, a car stopped in the sight of the welcoming team, and Fang Yan and Cui Xingzhong slowly got out of the car.

"Mr. Fang!"

Xiang Huaqiang and Xiang Huasheng stepped forward immediately and extended their hands enthusiastically.

"Mr. Xiang, nice to meet you."

Fang Yan shook hands with them one by one. "I have always wanted to meet Mr. Fang, but unfortunately I never had the chance. Today I finally get to meet him."

Xiang Huaqiang said in broken Cantonese, "It is really an honor for us brothers and Yongsheng."

"That's too much."

Fang Yan laughed, and then, surrounded by the crowd, came to the magnificent reception room.

After Xiang Huaqiang asked his secretary to serve tea, he asked everyone to leave. Only four of them were left in the huge reception room.

Following Fangyan's eye suggestion, Cui Xingzhong mentioned the adaptation cooperation of "Chinese Hero".

"I have also read the comic book "Chinese Hero". It has great sales and popularity in Hong Kong. If it is made into a movie, it has a great chance of success." Xiang Huaqiang changed the subject, "However, after all, this is the first time in the history of Hong Kong movies that a comic book has been adapted into a movie. It is really difficult to predict the box office performance after it is released."

Xiang Huasheng added, "Mr. Fang is a great scholar in the fields of literature and film. Do you have any advice for me?"

"If "Chinese Hero" is adapted into a movie, it will indeed be the first comic book-adapted movie in Hong Kong film history."

Fangyan smiled and said, "But looking at the entire history of world cinema, this is not the first time."

Next, he cited the "Superman" series of movies shot by Warner in the 70s, as well as "Wonder Woman", "Batman", "Masked Rider", "Super Sentai", etc. Although they are not movies, these TV series have achieved impressive results in ratings.

"Comic-adapted film and television works have a natural advantage in publicity and promotion, and can easily attract the attention and support of fans of the original works."

Look at the Xiang Huaqiang brothers on the left and Cui Xingzhong on the right, "and Chinese Heroes also possess these characteristics."

"Fang Sheng is right!"

Cui Xingzhong emphasized that Ma Rongcheng’s "Chinese Hero" is currently the most influential Hong Kong comic work in the entire industry, without a doubt!

Xiang Huasheng and Xiang Huaqiang looked at each other, obviously moved, but still a little hesitant.

Fangyan said this seemingly casually, precisely because comic-adapted movies have never been seen before in Hong Kong's film history. If comic-adapted movies can be successful, Yongsheng will definitely be able to make a name for itself in the entire film industry and even in the entire Hong Kong city.

If you want to make a comic-adapted movie, no comic in Hong Kong is more likely to succeed than "Chinese Hero"!
"Sigh~"

Xiang Huaqiang took a breath and thought about it carefully, and it was indeed the truth!

"Mr. Fang, if we really decide to make such a comic book movie, how much investment will it require?"

Xiang Huasheng seemed to be moved.

"For comic book adaptations like Chinese Hero, the biggest cost is in special effects and copyright."

Fang Yan said that in terms of movie special effects, he could help Yongsheng contact Hollywood computer special effects companies, such as Industrial Light & Magic, which participated in the special effects production of "Star Wars", but in terms of comic copyright, in addition to persuading Ma Rongcheng, he also needed to persuade Huang Yulang.

"Don't bother Mr. Fang with Huang Yulang. We will give him an offer he can't refuse."

There was a sense of unwillingness in Xiang Huaqiang's words.

Xiang Huasheng smiled and said, "Mr. Fang, excuse me for asking one more question. If we can negotiate the authorization from Wong Yuk-long, I wonder if you can be the producer and chief screenwriter of "Chinese Hero". After all, this is the first comic-adapted movie in Hong Kong film history..."

"If I'm the producer, I can hang one."

Fangyan raised his hand and said that he didn't need to be the chief screenwriter, and he could just hold the title of screenwriter consultant.

"This is really great!"

Xiang Huasheng and Xiang Huaqiang looked at each other, and the smiles on their lips could no longer be suppressed. (End of this chapter)