Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 609 is all about celebrity shots.

1985, Hong Kong, summer.

The release of Lucky Stars in Summer was deliberately timed to attract a large audience. The name of Sammo Hung alone was enough to draw them to the set, not to mention that the film boasted a star-studded cast, with the Five Lucky Stars being very well-known actors in Hong Kong.

There's also Sibelle Hu – this 4V actress who has played various sexually suggestive characters in Hong Kong films for many years. The actress herself may not have liked it that much, but over time it became a habit. Whenever she appears, she is always a character who is particularly good at fighting but is often groped.

In Central, several white-collar workers went to the cinema together.

"Mr. Song! You're here so early."

"It's alright, it's only two minutes early."

Song Zhiwei greeted his colleagues and then took his seat.

Although Sammo Hung isn't exactly the type of actor that white-collar workers particularly like, the Lucky Stars series boasts a star-studded cast, so watching a bit more of it isn't unacceptable; it's simply a way of supporting an actor you like.

As the film begins, Song Zhiwei neatly folds his gold-rimmed glasses, wraps them in a cloth, and begins to watch intently.

He's not actually nearsighted at all, but he always looks a bit off if he doesn't wear a glasses cloth.

"Oh dear, this Hu Huizhong..."

Song Zhiwei watched with a critical eye the various scenes of Hu Huizhong being mocked.

Of course, it was just a critical look! Song Zhiwei swore to God that he would absolutely not react, and he would absolutely not like to watch such scenes. Things like Rosamund Kwan soaking in water or Sibelle Hu being tied up were vulgar and needed to be criticized. He, a white-collar worker, would absolutely disdain to watch them.

Otherwise, it would be too much for people to know that Song Zhiwei was enjoying watching these kinds of scenes.

Shortly after, the film progressed, the elevator doors opened, and a curly-haired man stepped out, asking questions loudly as he walked.

"What happened?!"

"Eh?" Song Zhiwei stepped forward slightly.

so many people!

It's full of well-known celebrities and actors!
Not only Song Zhiwei, but at this moment, a brief gasp of surprise rippled through the entire movie theater.

It's full of celebrities!

Even if some of them aren't very famous, they're not ordinary people, and their presence here is truly a pleasant surprise.

Naturally, one can't help but admire Hung Kam-po's connections.

Look, the fact that so many big names could be invited together shows Hung Kam-po's status and prestige in the industry!
Although it was Hung Kam-po's face, not Song Chi-wei's, Song Chi-wei still felt a sense of honor.

Seeing that Sammo Hung had invited so many actors, even the lowest-paid white-collar workers in Central couldn't help but proudly raise their chests.

Song Zhiwei counted silently, becoming increasingly amazed.

Nearly forty people! More than forty people came out in total, of whom more than twenty were actors with some fame or even great fame.

Although Chan Pak-cheung is not particularly famous as an actor, he is a very well-known singer with a face that is inherently funny and unforgettable.

As the elevator doors closed, Song Zhiwei breathed a sigh of relief.

More than forty people, that's really not easy.

The elevator doors were suddenly blasted open.

"Gah?!"

Song Zhiwei nearly jumped up from his seat.

As the smoke and dust dissipated, someone strode out, speaking in broken Cantonese.

"What happened?"

Song Zhiwei gasped for breath.

I'm super!

Furuya Akira!
Japanese films generally don't do well at the box office in Hong Kong, but this guy is different. His films always hit the mark with the tastes of Hong Kong audiences, and he also has good relationships with local actors like Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao. In recent years, he has become very famous.

"They even invited this person?" Song Zhiwei smacked his lips, unable to hide his astonishment.

As the movie ended, Song Zhiwei happened to see several of his colleagues coming out from across the street.

How was the movie?

"Don't even mention it. Western films are absolutely awful, they don't even do dubbing, who could understand them?"

Song Zhiwei immediately straightened his back and raised his head.

"Go see Summer Lucky Star! It's amazing! There are over forty big stars in it! And Akira Furuya is in it too!"

……

……

"Lucky Stars in Summer" was a box office hit, grossing nearly HK$30 million in just one month, making it the second highest-grossing local film in Hong Kong that year.

—The first one is still Sammo Hung's movies.

This year was also the most triumphant year for Sammo Hung, but at the beginning of this year, Jackie Chan launched the "Police Story" series. Although the first film did not surpass his box office, it quickly established his fame and also made Brigitte Lin famous.

Of course, that's all hindsight. At least for now, Hung Kam-po is quite satisfied.

The fact that his personally directed films are so popular certainly means that his reputation as a big brother in Hong Kong is even better.

"I didn't expect that cameo appearance by a group of celebrities to be so useful! But you can't use this kind of shot too often, or no one will watch it anymore."

Hung Kam-po thought about it for a moment. Although there were many people in this shot, many of them were just there to fill in the numbers. For example, Lau Fuk-wing was nothing at the moment and only got on screen because of his good looks.

The most sensational appearance was undoubtedly that of Akira Furuya, who appeared last. As a foreign actor who has become very familiar to Hong Kong people in recent years, and who recently collaborated with Jackie Chan on a film, his appearance was quite amazing.

"I didn't even pay them. They only came to make a cameo appearance because of Ah Long, so I can't look like I'm stingy. People will gossip about it later!"

Hung Kam-po couldn't stand such idle gossip.

I asked around about Gu Ming's recent films. He knew immediately that "Hell Is So Wretched" wouldn't be a hit in Hong Kong. But "Dragon Boys" was different—foreigners learning kung fu from Asians and fighting other foreigners. That film's premise sounded perfect!

"Let's go! We'll have a celebration banquet tonight, so let's bring a lot of reporters!"

Hung Kam-po adjusted his belt, looking more energetic.

Just consider it a return favor; when the time comes, we can casually mention "Dragon Boys".

……

……

United States.

After filming of "Dragon Boys" was completed and edited, Columbia Pictures held only one screening and concluded that the film was absolutely fine.

Both the style and the casting are just right, it's like an American movie made by themselves.

Oh, the director is American? That's alright then.

However, Columbia also has some concerns.

Columbia Pictures' most successful film this year is "Ghostbusters," a movie about three scientists who hunt ghosts. It's not very well-known in Asia, but it has become a popular symbol in the United States.

Ghostbusters was the film that Columbia Pictures was betting big on.

As for "Dragon Boys," Columbia Pictures made the decision in just a few days.

They still need to promote it, after all, the script was obtained from their partner Sony, and the Japanese actors were their stepping stone, even playing supporting roles in the film. This meticulous care truly pleased the Colombian side.

Even if we can't provide the highest-level resources, we still need to do the necessary publicity, including appearing on TV shows!

The director, the actors, and of course, Keanu Reeves. This guy is so photogenic!

(End of this chapter)