Huayu: Director started with art films

"A war broke out between ATV and TVB was caught off guard and was poached"

"Mrs. Fang, Mrs. Huo, who is the queen of the TV station?"

"The Ratings War between ATV and TVB in 1995"

"1996 New Year's Battle, ATV VS TVB"

"ATV's Three Axes: Poaching, Poaching, and Poaching"

"Lee Yi-su and Shaw Brothers, the Godfather of Movies VS the King of Movies"

TVB has been poaching a large number of employees one after another, and the news has long been beyond the control of TVB. On the tenth day of the first lunar month, major newspapers began to report on the matter.

Since Lam Pak-yan took over ATV in the 80s, the competition between ATV and TVB has become fierce.

In 1989, due to the low ratings of ATV, Lam Pak-Hsin gritted his teeth and made a major change in the top management of ATV.

Those who were promoted again had only one goal, which was to suppress TVB and end the era of TVB's rampantness.

In the eyes of ATV's top management, the reason why Uncle Shaw was able to dominate the screen was because of the trump cards he had in his hand.

So in 1990, ATV obtained the support of its big boss, Lam Pak-yan, and gathered tens of millions of funds, launching an offensive against TVB's first-line artists and behind-the-scenes team with sugar-coated bullets.

Shen Dianxia was recruited to ATV with a salary three times higher. In addition, ATV also poached three gold medal producers from TVB, namely Zhao Zhenqiang of "The Bund", Wei Jiahui of "The Greed of Man" and Qi Qiyi, who specializes in filming wealthy family feuds.

Relying on the strategy of poaching talents, ATV's ratings rose rapidly in those years, and occasionally there would be drama kings that crushed TVB.

However, by 1994, ATV had been losing money for several years in a row. Despite spending million to million Hong Kong dollars, ATV was still unable to catch up with TVB. At most, it could crush TVB at a certain period of time. This also made Lam Pak-Hsin doubtful about continuing to invest in ATV.

It’s not that he doesn’t have money to continue spending, but he is thinking about whether he can surpass TVB by continuing.

In 1995, Li Yishu successfully took over Asia Television and became its chairman. She invested money to shoot many co-productions with the mainland, organized the Miss Asia beauty pageant, and reformed Asia Television.

Last year, ATV successfully made huge profits by selling its film library to mainland TV stations and the Miss Asia Pageant. In terms of ratings, during the beauty pageant, it almost crushed the Miss Hong Kong Pageant and other programs in the same time slot.

Just after the Chinese New Year, on the fourth day of the first lunar month, ATV launched a war of poaching. TVB was unable to cope with it and more than 200 people were poached from various positions including actors, screenwriters, hosts, lighting, photography, editing, management, etc.

With so many people being poached, TVB naturally suffered heavy losses. The most direct impact was on the morning news program that TVB had been broadcasting for many years, as the behind-the-scenes team including the host were poached, resulting in necessitating replacements.

Despite this, TVB has been in operation for 30 years after all, and its foundation is much greater than that of ATV. Although a large number of employees have been poached, it is still able to stay afloat by relying on its usual exploitation, with one person doing the work of two people.

What TVB executives did not expect was the live broadcast event on the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month.

Because the new director is not familiar with the operation of the equipment,

There was a shot that was clearly supposed to be switched, but it didn't happen. Instead, it captured Zhang Zhilin, who had just stepped off the stage and was picking his nose.

The next day, Hong Kong media published articles mocking the incident.

"ATV spends money to poach talent, TVB picks its nose"

"Guo Jing shoots the eagle, Zhilin plays shit"

"Guo Jing stopped playing with Huang Rong and started playing with yellow shit"

TVB not only fired the director, but also deducted more than half of Zhang Zhilin's salary.

Zhang Zhilin, who picked his nose and made a clear gesture of flicking his nose,

He originally became famous for his role as Guo Jing in the 1994 film The Legend of the Condor Heroes.
Its image plummeted in an instant.

Being ridiculed by the media for being completely without any star power.

Zhang Zhilin broke down his defenses and just stayed at home and didn't come out.

This also made ATV's Lantern Festival Gala particularly outstanding. Not only did they invite the Four Heavenly Kings to perform on the same stage, but they also invited many beauties who won the beauty pageant last year.

Beauty pageant champion Kareena Kapoor brought more than 20 Bollywood actresses to perform passionate belly dance on the spot. The waves of belly dance crushed TVB's ratings that night.

March 3th, the day after the Lantern Festival.

TVB Television Building.

"He's a flop!"

A roar was heard in Fang Yihua's office.

Fang Yihua slammed the newspaper on the table and stared at He Dingjun angrily: "The Lantern Festival Gala is such an important program, why did the director make a mistake? Why!"

Feeling the pressure from Fang Tai, He Dingjun said nervously: "Fang Tai, I suspect it was the operation of ATV people, otherwise there would be no mistakes at all."

Fang Yihua said: "I don't care if it's ATV's fault or not, fire that director. And Zhang Zhilin, we supported him to play Guo Jing, but he actually caused me such a disaster. Deduct all his salary for this month."

He Dingjun quickly said, "Mrs. Fang, I have already fired that director, and I have also deducted Zhang Zhilin's salary for this month."

"Ah."

Fang Yihua took a deep breath and said, "Since ATV wants to go to war with us, then come on, notify everyone to go to the conference room for a meeting at ten o'clock!"

"Yes!" He Dingjun turned and left.

Just when TVB held a high-level meeting to discuss how to launch a major battle with ATV to deal with Fok Man-hei.

Their number one target, Huo Wenxi, was driving Li Yishu away from Kaide Airport.

"How has it been recently?" Li Yishu asked with a smile, "Has TVB launched a counterattack?"

"Not yet, but I think they will soon be unable to hold back."

Huo Wenxi smiled and said, "A few days ago, I recruited another group of them. There are more than 200 people in total, from actors to those behind the scenes. I recruited almost everyone. I also recruited Brother Le."

"Brother La? Did you recruit Chen Baixiang?"

Li Yishu looked at her in surprise.

"Yes!"

Huo Wenxi said proudly: "I not only recruited Brother Lak, but also recruited the team behind the show 'Lucky Fortune Star' that he hosted, and prepared to have him host 'Running Man'."

Long before the Chinese New Year, Li Yishu faxed the variety shows he wrote to Huo Wenxi.

"Running Man", "Where Are We Going, Dad?", "Longing for Life", "If You Are the One", "Summer Challenge"

Among these programs, the simplest one may be "Running Man".

The remaining four all require a lot of time to prepare, and only "Running Man" is the fastest. You just need to find seven hosts, invite one or two guests, play some games outdoors, and then start a name tag tearing battle.

The preparation for the program does not take long, and it mainly involves the interaction between the host and guests, including interaction with citizens. As long as it is filmed well, there will be many highlights.

Although there are many variety shows in Hong Kong and Taiwan today, most of them are held indoors, with only a very small number being filmed outdoors.

Li Yishu nodded: "Chen Baixiang is suitable. Besides him, who else did you invite?"

Huo Wenxi said: "It hasn't been decided yet, but we will definitely give priority to the artists of our TV station. As for the only female host, I plan to let Gigi Wong." Now it is spring in March, and the weather in Hong Kong is neither too cold nor too hot. Gigi Wong's 42-inch long legs are really suitable for the Running Man show.

Li Yishu agreed: "Yes, Joey Meng is very suitable."

The two chatted as they headed towards Li Yishu's Mid-Levels luxury mansion.

This time Li Yishu came here to seek financing.

As early as last year, the news that Art Media Group was going to raise funds had already spread, and there was a lot of capital interested in it.

However, Li Yishu's first round of financing was by invitation only, and only invited investors and capital that could provide help in East Asia, such as Lin Baixin, Yang Shoucheng, Qiu Fusheng, and Sony Entertainment.

Mid-level villa area.

In Li Yishu's mansion, he lay on the sofa, looking at the spotless living room, and asked, "Did you clean this?"

"Well, knowing that the boss would be here today, I sent someone to clean yesterday."

Huo Wenxi nodded and asked, "Boss, I bought some fast food yesterday and a few cans of beer. Would you like one?"

"Well, have a can."

Then she walked into the kitchen and took out two cans of beer from the refrigerator.

Li Yishu took the beer, opened the pull ring, and just took a sip when his cell phone rang. He put the beer can on the table, took out his cell phone and saw that it was Yang Shoucheng calling.

"Hello, Mr. Yang, yes, I'm in Hong Kong, in the Mid-Levels. OK, come over, Johnnie To wants to see me?"

Li Yishu raised his eyebrows and said, "Okay, let them come over."

After hanging up the phone, Li Yishu said to Huo Wenxi beside her: "Wenxi, is there any fruit at home?"

"Yes, I bought a lot yesterday."

"Well, then go wash it and make a fruit plate for the guests to come later."

"Good boss."

Huo Wenxi turned and went to the kitchen to prepare a fruit plate. Li Yishu also got up from the living room, went to the room upstairs, and took out a box of cigars and two bottles of foreign wine.

Although I don’t often come to Hong Kong, I have stored a lot of cigarettes and alcohol in the villa for entertaining guests.

Li Yishu had met Johnnie To before. He was a bit of a smokescreen, not to mention that he also brought Wai Ka-Fai and others with him.

Li Yishu also had a rough guess in his mind about the purpose of this group of people's visit.

Johnnie To + Wai Ka-Fai, isn’t this the famous Milkyway Image?

Speaking of Milkyway Image Films, it seems that it was established this year. It seems that Johnnie To wants to cooperate with me, or to get investment from me.

After all, Li Yishu and Johnnie To had previously collaborated on "New World".

More than half an hour later.

Yang Shoucheng brought Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai to Li Yishu's house.

"Mr. Li, long time no see." Yang Shoucheng extended his hand enthusiastically.

"Haha, it's been a long time since I last saw Mr. Yang." Li Yishu smiled and shook hands with him: "Has Aaron gone to the United States?"

"Yes, he left a few days ago." Yang Shoucheng nodded: "He called me yesterday and asked me when Mr. Li would go to the United States to participate in the casting."

"Wait a few days, let's get the financing done first."

Li Yishu smiled, then looked at the two people behind Yang Shoucheng. He took the initiative to extend his hand: "Director Du, long time no see."

"Director Li, long time no see." Johnnie To shook hands respectfully.

Li Yishu said, "Before 'New World' was released, I was busy with other things and couldn't make it back to watch the premiere, but I watched the VCD, and you shot it very well."

"This is mainly because Director Li wrote a good script."

Johnnie To said modestly: "If it weren't for Director Li's script, I don't think I would have been able to make this movie."

"New World" was released last summer. Lee Yi-su was filming in Inner Mongolia at the time and had no time to go to Hong Kong to attend the premiere.

Later, Yang Shoucheng sent a VCD. After watching it, he had to admit that Johnnie To's filming was really good. Compared with the Korean original, it was more vivid and full of To's style.

The box office was also good, earning more than 3000 million Hong Kong dollars. Undercover themes are not uncommon in Hong Kong, but gangster themes like the male protagonist Li Zicheng, who went undercover to become a gang boss and killed his own boss, are really rare.

"Director Du is too modest. No matter how good the script is, it still needs a director to shoot it." Li Yishu waved his hand. A good script is one thing, but the most important thing is that Du Qifeng's film style is very suitable. He turned and looked at Wai Ka-Fai.

Johnnie To took the initiative to introduce: "Director Li, let me introduce you, this is my good friend Wai Ka Fai, he used to work at TVB and directed Chow Yun Fat's Peace Hotel for the first time last year."

"Hello, Director Li." Wai Ka-Fai extended his hand respectfully.

Li Yishu shook hands and said with a smile: "I have seen the Peace Hotel you filmed. It was great. I watched it no less than three times."

Wei Jiahui quickly said: "Director Li, you are too polite. I have watched your movies many times, and my favorite is "Central Station"."

"You like this movie?" Li Yishu asked curiously, "Why do you like this movie?"

Wai Ka Fai's eyes twinkled: "Maybe it's because I like to delve into some truths. The movie "Central Station" made me see "believe"."

Hearing this, Li Yishu smiled and nodded.

He still has a very deep impression of Wai Ka-Fai. In addition to "Peace Hotel", the films he later shot, such as "The Birth of a Gangster", "Wu Yen", "Big Man", "Blind Detective" and so on, are all considered to be masterpieces of Hong Kong films.

Especially the movie "Big Brother", which is full of philosophy, which is also Wai Ka-Fai's personal style. Since his first film "Peace Hotel", he likes to instill different ideas into the audience through movies.

When watching Wai Ka-Fai's movies, you can always learn or understand something from them, and "Big Brother" is the pinnacle among them.

It’s no wonder that Wai Ka-Fai likes “Central Station”, a didactic and educational film.

After getting to know each other, Li Yishu introduced Huo Wenxi to Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai, and then asked Huo Wenxi to go to the kitchen to get a fruit plate, while he took out cigars and handed them to a few people.

A moment later, five people sat on the sofa, drinking, smoking cigars and chatting.

They were all considered insiders in the film and television industry, and as they gradually became familiar with each other, Johnnie To took the initiative to say, "Director Li, Ka Fai and I came here uninvited this time because we have something that we would like to ask Director Li for help with."

Li Yishu smiled and said, "Tell me what it is. We are all friends. I will definitely help if I can."

"Ka Fai and I wrote a script and we felt it was very good, but the Hong Kong film market has been sluggish in the past two years and few people dare to continue investing..."

At this point, Johnnie To quickly added, "But don't worry, Director Li. I am very confident about this script, and I plan to use Wu Zhenyu, the actor who played Liang Kun in Young and Dangerous, to star in the film."

"Young and Dangerous?" Li Yishu frowned.

"Boss, it's a new movie that was released in February." Huo Wenxi whispered, "I heard it's selling very well at the box office." (End of this chapter)