Literary Master 1978.

Chapter 435: Difficult Casting
In the 80s, Pan Yaoming served as the executive editor of Hong Kong's pure literature magazine "Ocean Literature and Art". After "Ocean Literature and Art" ceased publication in , he went to work at Hong Kong's Joint Publishing Company.

He went to the United States for further studies two years ago, and after returning he was appointed deputy editor-in-chief of Joint Publishing Company in Hong Kong.

He has always been popular in the Hong Kong literary world. As the deputy editor-in-chief of Joint Publishing Company in Hong Kong, he often initiates activities to communicate between the literary groups of the two places.

The mainland writers delegation visited the United States at the invitation of Mr. Zhou Wenzhong, director of the U.S.-China Art Exchange Center at Columbia University. The delegation includes more than ten writers.

This time, Hong Kong Joint Publishing hosted a banquet for a group of writers who stopped in Hong Kong on their way back from the United States, many of whom were acquaintances of Lin Chaoyang.

For example, Qin Mu, the leader of the delegation, and other writers who traveled with the delegation included Feng Jicai, Jiang Zilong, Jin Ying and others.

"Mr. Qin said that he had originally planned to invite you this time, but when the people from the Cultural Association went to your house, they discovered that you had come to Hong Kong.

It just so happens that Sanlian is hosting a dinner this time, and everyone said it’s a good opportunity to meet you.”

As soon as they met, everyone felt the joy of meeting an old friend in a foreign land, and Lin Chaoyang finally understood the reason why Pan Yaoming invited him.

Everyone had just returned from the United States, so during the meal they inevitably talked about what they had seen and heard during their visit to the United States, and they talked endlessly.

During their visit to the United States, the writers' group visited Columbia University, Harvard University, and Stanford University, and also went to the American Club of the International PEN Center to hold discussions with American writers and scholars.

Because of the honeymoon period between the two countries, the United States was quite courteous to the writers' delegation.

"Chaoyang, why did you come to Hong Kong?" Feng Jicai asked Lin Chaoyang.

"Nothing. It just so happens that a film company in Hong Kong took a fancy to my novel and wanted to adapt it into a movie."

There were both acquaintances and strangers present, so Lin Chaoyang did not mention Tao Yushu's pregnancy. He only mentioned that he had a collaboration with a Hong Kong film and television company.

Everyone couldn't help but become curious when they heard this. There were many writers present whose works had been adapted into film and television, but Lin Chaoyang was the first one whose work had been adapted into Hong Kong.

Feng Jicai asked again: "Which of your novels did you like?"

"New novel, not yet published."

Everyone was shocked. An unpublished novel was going to be adapted? Or was it chosen by a Hong Kong film and television company?

No matter how they listened to it, they felt it was a bit magical and couldn't help asking a few more questions. As a result, everyone found that something seemed to be wrong. Even Pan Yaoming, the landlord in Hong Kong, was a little surprised.

It turns out that Lin Chaoyang is working with Golden Harvest Films this time. The director is Ann Hui, who has become famous in the past two years, and the lead actor is Xu Guanwen, who is very popular in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia...

Everyone became even more curious. They couldn't understand how Lin Chaoyang, a mainland writer, could have any connection with the dominant force in the Hong Kong film industry.

Moreover, the cast of the movie adapted from the novel is too luxurious.

They surrounded Lin Chaoyang and asked him questions at once. Lin Chaoyang could only give some unimportant answers, which left everyone confused and unsatisfied.

After dealing with it for a while, Lin Chaoyang took the initiative to shift the topic to Jin Ying.

At the beginning of the year, the movie "The Girl in Red" adapted from her novel became popular for a while. Now her works have also become the focus of film studios. It is said that Yanying Studio plans to adapt her famous work "Oh, Xiangxue".

As expected, everyone's attention was diverted, and then someone mentioned the news about the China-Japan Go Challenge, and everyone immediately started chatting lively again.

Before the Chinese New Year, Jiang Zhujiu completed a series of three goals on behalf of the Chinese team, defeating the Japanese team without leaving a single drop of chance. He also maintained his hot hand after the Chinese New Year.

He first defeated Kataoka Satoshi in the middle game, and then defeated Ishida Akira in the middle game. He actually swept five Japanese generals by himself. This was something that the people of China and Japan could never have imagined before the start of the competition, and it was even more beyond the expectations of the Go circles and players of both countries.

With such a strong momentum, some Go enthusiasts have begun to imagine the scene where the Chinese team sweeps the Japanese team out.

Unfortunately, their joy did not last long.

After Jiang Zhujiu won five consecutive games, he forced out one of Japan's strongest fighters, Kobayashi Koichi, and then he was defeated. Then Kobayashi Koichi defeated China's third chess player, Shao Zhenzhong, with absolute strength.

The score between the two sides is now 5:3. China still has the leading advantage, but Kobayashi Koichi is standing in front. Domestic Go enthusiasts are gradually waking up from their original fanatical excitement.

Lian Jiang Zhujiu was able to defeat five players in a row. With Kobayashi Koichi's strength, he might be able to slaughter the remaining members of the Chinese team in one fell swoop.

The current situation has made ordinary people pay more attention to this competition than when the situation was one-sided before. Even Pan Yaoming, who is in Hong Kong, has heard about this Go game.

The day after the gathering, the writers' delegation returned to the mainland.

A few days later, it was already July. Ann Hui completed the storyboard script and began to organize the crew.

She is now a well-known director in the Hong Kong film industry, and this time with the support of Golden Harvest, it was naturally easy for her to gather a team.

"The Truman Show" is backed by Golden Harvest and has a creative team including Ann Hui and Xu Guanwen. After the crew was established, it quickly attracted the attention of the Hong Kong media and was reported by many entertainment weeklies.

The film is scheduled to start shooting next month and casting has also been put on the agenda.

There is no need to choose the male lead, as this movie is tailor-made for Xu Guanwen, but the remaining roles must be carefully selected.

"The Truman Show" is Xu Guanwen's transitional work, and it also has the ambition to win awards. Although other people have small roles, they cannot be neglected.

Li Hanxiang specifically recommended Bao Fang to Ann Hui to play the role of director in the film.

No one knows Bao Fang anymore when he is mentioned in later generations, but in Hong Kong in the 1950s, he was a very popular movie actor.

If you have watched the 97 version of "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils", you should have an impression of him, in which Bao Fang played the Sweeping Monk.

In the later period of his acting career, Bao Fang, who had passed his golden period, had few films to shoot, so he simply joined TVB and was content to be a supporting actor, playing a series of supporting roles.

In addition to the Sweeping Monk in the 97 version of "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils", he has also played many other roles, including Zhang Sanfeng in the 86 version of "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" and Feng Qingyang in the 96 version of "Swordsman".

It is worth mentioning that his two children are also quite famous in the Hong Kong film industry.

His son is Pau Tak-hei, who won the Oscar for Best Cinematography for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and his second daughter is the famous actress Paw Hee-ching. When Paw Fang came to Golden Harvest that day, he met Lin Chaoyang and his wife there.

Although he is over 60 years old, Bao Fang has maintained himself well and looks to be in his early 50s. He has deep facial features and a three-dimensional face. He looks somewhat similar to Ed Harris, who played the director in the original movie.

The character of the director is the biggest villain in "The Truman Show". He has a gloomy temperament, is worldly-wise, and is autocratic, which makes people shudder.

Bao Fang's image just matched the role. After the audition, Ann Hui was very satisfied with Bao Fang's acting skills and image. She then asked Xu Guanwen and Lin Chaoyang for their opinions, and they both readily agreed.

Ann Hui asked about Bao Fang's contract again. He was a contracted actor of TVB and he could not act without the permission of TVB, let alone in a movie produced by Shaw Brothers' competitor Golden Harvest.

"Han Xiang has already put the matter in touch with me. There is no problem with TVB." Bao Fang explained, and then revealed, "Shaw Brothers is closing down, so it won't have any impact."

The news that Shaw Brothers is going to close has been a hot topic in the Hong Kong film industry in the past six months, but it was all just rumors before and there was little solid evidence.

After listening to Bao Fang's words, Ann Hui and others asked him a few more questions.

It is said that Shaw Brothers will close down next month, which is August, and the Clearwater Bay Studio of Shaw Brothers will also be turned over to TVB for use as a studio.

Ann Hui, Xu Guanwen and others could not help but sigh. They did not expect that Shaw Brothers, which had dominated the Hong Kong film industry for more than 30 years and dominated the Southeast Asian film market, would choose to close down so suddenly.

When several people were sighing, Assistant Director Huang Yonghui walked into the office, "Director Xu, Brother Michael, Brother Willie brought an actor here."

There are many people named Willy in Hong Kong, but in Golden Harvest, there is only one Brother Willy, and that is Chen Ziqiang.

He is a Malaysian Chinese who worked as a clerk in a hotel when he was young. With his excellent communication skills, he came to Hong Kong and became the deputy manager of Cathay Cinemas.

In the 1970s, he formed the Silver Mouse Band with Chen Hao, Xie Xian, Shen Dianxia, ​​Zhang Chong, Deng Guangrong, Qin Xianglin and others, and often performed abroad.

In the mid-1970s, Chen Ziqiang joined Lo Wei's film company as general manager and recommended the then-unknown Cheng Long to Lo Wei, allowing him to star in his first leading role in the film "The New Fist of Fury".

In 1980, Jackie Chan and Lo Wei fell out. Chen Ziqiang resolutely supported Jackie Chan to leave and sign a contract with Golden Harvest Film Company, thus starting Jackie Chan's journey to becoming a kung fu superstar.

Since then, Cheng Long has become the mainstay of Golden Harvest, and Chen Ziqiang has naturally become an important adviser under Golden Harvest Films, and the two have worked together seamlessly.

Huang Jiahui said that Chen Ziqiang brought the actors here, and the purpose was self-evident. Although they each have their own factions within the company, they must give due respect.

Therefore, when Chen Ziqiang and his men just walked in, Xu Guanwen immediately stepped forward and shook his hand enthusiastically.

"Brother Willie!"

"Brother Michael!"

After some business exchanging, Chen Ziqiang greeted several other people in the office under Xu Guanwen's introduction, and then pushed out the actress who had been following him.

"I'm sure you are all familiar with this lady. She was the runner-up and Miss Photogenic last year, Ms. Maggie Cheung."

Maggie Cheung greeted everyone shyly. When it was her turn to greet Tao Yushu, she saw Tao Yushu looking at her with a smile, so she smiled at Tao Yushu too, revealing two cute little fangs.

The two had just met at Shaw Brothers' Clearwater Bay Studios a few days ago, and they didn't expect to meet again today in such an occasion.

"Brother Michael, Director Xu, Shaw Brothers is closing down. If nothing unexpected happens, Maggie's agency will sign me.

"The Truman Show" has Michael starring in it, it will definitely be a big hit in the future. If possible, would you mind giving Maggie a role?"

Chen Ziqiang's request was just as Xu Guanwen expected, and he and Xu Anhua looked at each other.

"The Truman Show" is Xu Guanwen's transitional work. He attaches great importance to this movie and naturally does not want to be interfered with.

But Chen Ziqiang enjoys a high reputation within Jiahe, and if he refuses too bluntly, he might offend others.

While he was hesitating, Ann Hui said, "Brother Willie, the heroine of The Truman Show is Truman's wife, played by Brother Michael. She is about the same age as him. Maggie's age and appearance may be..."

Ann Hui stopped here, and her meaning was self-evident.

With her acting as the bad guy, Xu Guanwen felt relieved.

But at this time Chen Ziqiang burst into laughter, "Director Xu, you misunderstood."

"The Truman Show is Michael's breakthrough film. For such an important film, no matter how prestigious I am, I would not dare to ask for the female lead!

Besides, Maggie has just entered the film industry, and with her acting skills, she can't support the role of the female lead.

What I mean is, is there any supporting actress role of some importance for Maggie to hone her acting skills?

Michael's acting skills are superb, and the cast of this movie is so strong. If you can let Maggie get some of your help, maybe you will have a smooth road ahead!"

Chen Ziqiang's words were well-reasoned and he did not forget to flatter Xu Guanwen at the end, which made Xu Guanwen feel immediately good.

But although he was happy, Xu Guanwen was still a little embarrassed.

"The Truman Show" can almost be regarded as his one-man show, with the only two important characters being Truman's wife and first love.

But because they had to match him, the two roles had to be more mature in terms of age and appearance. Maggie Cheung is only in her early twenties, with a face full of collagen, which doesn't fit the role at all.

Chen Ziqiang brought people here today to ask for the role, and he was very humble. If he refused too bluntly, it would be very offensive.

In today's Hong Kong film industry, personal connections are more important than anything else.

Xu Guanwen was in hesitation for a moment.

(End of this chapter)