Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 402 A Pleasant Consensus Reached

After a hearty meal and drinks, and a round of hospitality, the two sat facing each other, both with satisfied expressions.

"This is really unexpected! I just got back from America and you came to see me!"

"It was just a coincidence. I went to Zhouguo not long ago to take care of something. On my way back, I passed through Hong Kong and thought you might be there, so I asked someone to call you. I didn't expect it to be such a coincidence that you were indeed there."

"The State of Zhou..."

Cheng Long paused for a moment, then chuckled and skipped over the sentence.

Although he had little formal education and was a rough and unrefined man, he was extremely sensitive about certain things and never participated in such topics.

After all, someone as renowned both at home and abroad as him must have high emotional intelligence.

Besides Zhen Zidan.

Gu Ming hadn't intended to talk about this, and casually asked, "You've filmed a few blockbusters in the US, how did it feel?"

"It was terrible. The foreigners were too arrogant and wouldn't let me get involved. My godfather's words were useless. When the films I made were brought back, everyone was cursing me, saying, 'Jackie Chan, you bastard, why didn't you die sooner!'"

Cheng Long touched his neck and gave a self-deprecating smile.

Leaving Lo Wei and joining Golden Harvest was a bittersweet experience for him.

The good thing was that his status improved and he earned more money, but Golden Harvest also exerted extremely severe control over him.

So when his godfather passed away, Jackie Chan left Golden Harvest without a second thought.

But there's no need to complain about this to everyone.

Gu Ming looked Cheng Long up and down, and said a few words in a joking tone.

"Why don't you go to Japan to relax? We can find an opportunity to make a movie together, with two male leads. I guarantee it will be more influential than what the Americans do."

Cheng Long simply laughed it off.

That's impossible. Unless a sucker comes along to fund it, it's impossible to make a film like that, especially since he and Gu Ming are both getting pretty high salaries these days!

Gu Ming knew that this was possible.

Because Jackie Chan did indeed go to Japan to act in movies.

In 1982, Toei produced a film called "Kouga Ninja Scrolls," which was produced by the famous Kadokawa Shoten.

The lead actors are Shinichi Chiba and Hiroyuki Sanada.

If someone were to search for Jackie Chan's Baidu Baike (Chinese Wikipedia) entry and Douban (Chinese social networking site), they would find that he participated in the 1982 Koga Ninpocho (a Japanese film series). However, if one searches for the Koga Ninpocho entry, one cannot find Jackie Chan, nor can one find him in Japanese sources.

The reasons for this are somewhat complicated.

In 1982, Jackie Chan did go to Japan to relax and was invited to participate in part of Koga Ninja Scrolls. However, when news of this reached Hong Kong, his godfather, Raymond Chow, called him back to Hong Kong, and the participation came to nothing. The scenes that had already been filmed were also cut.

However, Jackie Chan still left something behind in Koga Ninja Scrolls.

Jackie Chan personally directed several action sequences in Koga Ninja Scrolls.

Because he was unable to participate in the film, and his few scenes did not qualify him as a killer, Jackie Chan's name did not appear in the credits.

Raymond Chow has strict regulations for Jackie Chan, including not playing villains, supporting roles, or having short hair. However, if it's a film with two male leads, Golden Harvest might actually agree.

Gu Ming just mentioned it casually, and that was the end of it.

"Actually, if I were you, I wouldn't go to the US to develop my career. Hollywood is extremely xenophobic. Unless you have your own power, you can't make a good film unless you bring your own power into the production and make Americans listen to you. Without your own team, you'll just be manipulated and controlled by others if you go to the US."

Cheng Long reflected on his experiences over the past few months and wholeheartedly agreed.

In the midst of their conversation, he suddenly remembered something.

"Speaking of which, didn't you say you were going to write me a script?" Jackie Chan laughed. "Where's my script? If you don't give me the script, I'm going to throw a tantrum!"

Gu Ming laughed, "Wow, you're not serious, are you?"

Cheng Long shrugged: "Yeah, I'm serious, so what if you bite me?" Gu Ming pretended: "I really will bite you?"

Jackie Chan casually stretched out an arm: "Bite!"

Gu Ming, of course, didn't bite.

He lowered his eyes slightly, his gaze deep and thoughtful: "...Actually, I do have a script, but it's inconvenient for me to film it. However, it's fine if you want to act in it."

"Really?" Seeing that Gu Ming didn't seem to be joking, Cheng Long also became serious and nodded: "Tell me, if possible, I will definitely buy it."

Gu Ming naturally didn't say anything, but only spoke a few words.

"Look, this is the Hong Kong Market."

"This is a play, with comedies and tragedies, with urban beauties and kung fu from the Republican era, but no matter how you look at it, there is only one kind of film that can stand out in Hong Kong: the films that Hong Kong citizens like."

Cheng Long thought it was a pointless statement, but he also felt that Gu Ming wouldn't say such a thing, so he couldn't help but ask: "What kind of films would the citizens of Hong Kong like?"

"Of course, it's films they can understand, films they can empathize with, films that tell the stories of ordinary people, stories of little people. They'll like those. If you make a movie and say you're the Queen of England, they probably won't like it. But what if you're a bodyguard protecting the Queen of England? A nobody, by some twist of fate, becomes the Queen's bodyguard, gets along well with everyone, wins the favor of the royal princesses, and maybe even the Queen herself."

Cheng Long chuckled: "I don't want a woman in her sixties or seventies. She might be gone next year."

Although it was meant as a joke, he couldn't help but think about it seriously.

Come to think of it, this idea actually coincides with his recent thoughts.

Gu Ming then shrugged.

Queen Elizabeth is still alive and well! The old lady almost outlived her grandson.

Gu Ming was just saying it casually, but Cheng Long did indeed film "Project A" not long after, which tells the story of sailors.

This film is typical of Jackie Chan's style: an inconspicuous little guy with great skills, humorous, and with smooth fighting, and it was indeed a box office hit.

After a laugh, Jackie Chan became serious.

"I'm serious, if you really write a script, I'll definitely want it, even if you offer a high price."

"Okay, I can give it a try."

"It's a pity I'm not a free man now. If you can persuade my godfather, what harm would there be in helping you out?"

“Okay.” Gu Ming extended his hand: “Then it’s a deal. I’ll write a script for you, and you don’t need to pay me for it. If the film becomes a hit, that’s your talent. If it doesn’t, there’s no need to come looking for me. If you have the chance, you can help me with a film over there.”

Cheng Long pondered for a moment before nodding.

"Okay, if that time comes, I'll act even without pay. And if you insist on paying me, however much you ask, I'll pay you double it back privately!"

The two exchanged a smile; although it was a verbal agreement, they took it quite seriously. Of course, Gu Ming knew very well that Cheng Long would definitely pay him for the script, and Gu Ming also knew that Cheng Long certainly knew he wouldn't really withhold payment.

Friends are friends, business is business; these are two separate things.

……

……

On the ship returning to Yokohama, Gu Ming spread out his manuscript and called Tanaka over.

"Tanaka, write this down."

Tanaka nodded.

Although he didn't know why Gu Ming always stood with his hands behind his back, gesturing imposingly for him to take notes, as his assistant, he naturally did.

"The story is titled 'Plan A.' It tells of a gang of pirates in the early 20th century, led by a man named 'Luo Sanpao.' Considering that this would reduce the investment confidence of merchants from various countries and jeopardize Hong Kong's status as an international trade center, Hong Kong established a marine police force to resist the pirates. The protagonist, Ma Rulong, is a squad leader in the marine police force..."

A story, told in a gentle, detailed manner.

(End of this chapter)