The literary era since 1979

"boom!"

"Boom!"

With the dazzling fireworks and blasting firecrackers outside the hotel, the celebration banquet for "Chinese Hero" officially began.

Everyone raised their glasses and drank, the atmosphere at the table became more and more lively, with laughter and joyful chatter.

Xu Ke's face flushed, and he raised his glass: "Mr. Fang, I toast you."

"Okay."

Fangyan accepted everyone's offer and clinked glasses with him.

"I am really happy for the success of Chinese Hero, which proves that my original intention of filming New Shushan Swordsman was correct."

Xu Ke had a hint of sadness in his eyes. "It proves that special effects blockbusters have great market potential in Hong Kong. The only regret is that the timing of the release of "New Shushan Swordsman" was good. It's a pity that the success of "Chinese Hero" was not achieved in my hands."

"Don't be too sad, Old Xu. It's all written in the newspapers. You can be considered a pioneer of Hong Kong-style blockbusters."

Fang Yan consoled him: "He was a pioneer in introducing the digital film industry into Hong Kong cinema."

"Oh, it's hard to put it into words."

Xu Ke drank the bitter wine and felt depressed.

Shi Nansheng hurriedly explained, "He not only wants to be a pioneer, but also wants to be a successful pioneer. After returning from the premiere of "Chinese Hero", he kept telling me that he also wants to make a special effects movie like "Chinese Hero", a Hong Kong-style blockbuster!"

Lin Qingxia noticed her look of help and nodded:

"Yes, yes. When Nansheng, Director Xu, and I played mahjong, I often heard Director Xu say that, right, Xiaoxian?"

"what?"

Wang Zuxian was stunned at first, but soon understood what he meant and joined in.

How could Fang Yan not hear the hint in their words? He couldn't help but shake his head and laughed:
"Of course there is no problem with that. If there is an opportunity for cooperation, the first person I will look for is you, Director Xu."

"Thank you."

Xu Ke was deeply moved.

"But if a special effects blockbuster is to be successful, it must have a good script." Fang Yan said seriously: "Form is form, content is content. Special effects alone are not enough. You must find a suitable story and add the film industry to make a good special effects blockbuster!"

Shi Nansheng asked: "Mr. Fang is absolutely right. I wonder if Xuanyuan Sword can..."

Fang Yan raised his hand, "Not to mention that the comics of "Xuan-Yuan Sword" have not been completed yet, even if it has been completed, "Xuan-Yuan Sword" is only suitable for adaptation into a TV series, or a game, but not suitable for adaptation into a movie."

"Why is this?"

Wang Zuxian, Lin Qingxia and others looked at each other, very curious.

"Because movies are different from TV series. TV series can film the stories presented in comics episode by episode, but movies can't."

Xu Ke was very clear-headed. "The movie is only one or two hours long. It is very difficult and even tricky to tell the entire story of "Xuan-Yuan Sword" in such a compact time. Just think about "Chinese Hero" and you should be able to figure it out."

Gong Xing and her colleagues thought about it carefully, especially when they thought about how many newspapers had pointed out the flaws in the plot when commenting on "Chinese Hero".

"This is exactly why comic book movies tend to fail, because if the original work is not changed, the movie cannot contain as much information."

Fang Yan said: "But if we change the original work, it is easy for the audience to not buy into the movie because the difference between the movie and the original work is too small."

Gong Xing, Shi Nansheng, Lin Qingxia and others listened quietly, as if they were thinking about something.

"But it doesn't matter if Xuan-Yuan Sword can't be filmed, we still have Ghost Blows Out the Light."

Fang Yan patted Xu Ke on the shoulder and said, "How about you be the director of Ghost Blows Out the Light when we shoot it?"

Xu Ke was so shocked that he couldn't believe his ears. After repeated confirmation, he finally believed that he was invited to be the director of "Ghost Blowing Out the Light". "With your directing skills, partnering with Cheng Long, Qing Xia and others, this film has already been half successful before it's even filmed."

While speaking in Fangyan, he looked at Lin Qingxia calmly.

"Thank you Mr. Fang!"

While Shi Nansheng held up the wine glass, he intentionally touched the dazed Xu Ke.

Xu Ke woke up as if from a dream. He picked up the cup in a hurry, only to realize that it was empty.

"Don't worry, Director Xu. There will be more and more industrial special effects blockbusters like this in the future."

Fang Yan poured him a glass of wine. "Comic World currently has a backlog of scripts called Feng Yun. However, we have to wait until Rong Cheng is in place next year before we can officially start this comic project."

Xu Ke raised his eyebrows, "Is it also an oriental fantasy like "Xuan-Yuan Sword"? "

"Yes, but I can't tell you what kind of story it is yet."

Under everyone's expectant gaze, Fang Yan gestured to keep quiet, "It's a commercial secret."

When these words were spoken, Wang Zuxian, Lin Qingxia and others rolled their eyes, with a hint of resentment and helplessness in their eyes.

Just when Xu Ke was curious about what kind of fantasy world "Feng Yun" would be, coincidentally, when Ma Rongcheng was said to have arrived, he actually arrived.

Ma Rongcheng's face was beaming with pride at this moment. After all, the movie adapted from his comic book might become the number one box office in Hong Kong history!

"Rongcheng, the editor-in-chief position of Comic World has been vacant for a long time. I'll take it next year when your contract expires."

Fangyan's words were half joking and half serious.

Because he had reached a cooperation agreement with Jin Yong, Jin Yong agreed to authorize the martial arts novel to "Comic World" and launch a comic version.

"Really!?"

Ma Rongcheng was surprised and happy.

"Are there any fake ones? It's just not all the works. It's tentatively decided to be the Condor Heroes trilogy plus one Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils."

Fang Yan said: "I believe that once these comics are published, the trend of martial arts novels being turned into comics will gradually rise."

"Well, to be honest, I'm also living a miserable life in the company right now."

Ma Rongcheng said angrily: "If there were not still a few months before the end of the contract, I really wanted to pay the penalty and terminate the contract immediately."

Fang Yan said, "From your tone, it seems that Huang Yulang has done something to you again, right?"

Ma Rongcheng sighed and said that after "Chinese Hero" became popular, it helped boost sales of "Yulang Comics" and raised the stock price of the entire company. However, the more this happened, the more Huang Yulang was reluctant to let Ma Rongcheng leave, and began to coerce and lure him to renew his contract and create new comics.

"Even if I am leaving, I have to give the publishing rights of my next work to Yulang Comics."

"What if you don't want to?"

"If you refuse, you must sign a non-compete agreement and are not allowed to create comics or join other comic publishers for two years."

"Oh, he is quite impressive."

Fang Yanyu said seriously, "Don't worry about this matter. Leave it to me. But we have to be on guard against Wong Yuk-long getting desperate and resorting to the kind of despicable tactics called intimidation and threats from the Young and Dangerous. So we have to say hello to Xiang Huaqiang and the others and ask Hongxing to take care of him."

Ma Rongcheng was not without worry: "I am worried about this too."

"Don't worry, come with me."

Fangyan gave him a meaningful look and said, "Let's go have a drink with Xiang Huaqiang, Xiang Huasheng and the others." (End of this chapter)