My Lord, you need to stand up!

Chapter 738 People's joys and sorrows are not shared.

But turning it into a movie would be extremely difficult.

Wei Dong never worried about Leung Ka-fai's film career.

Because he is a master who has developed his own system, and he is the kind of top master who can put him into any play and perform it convincingly.

But Stephen Chow is not like that.

He felt a little awkward all day in the basketball arena where more and more people were gathering.

She lacked the simplicity of Lai Yuet-ngor, who was just a country girl, constantly on the go and busy with work, completely forgetting that she came to Hong Kong for windsurfing.

They also lacked Liang Jiahui's confidence and composure. No one sat on the sidelines reading a book while playing ball; some acted as referees or commentators, participating freely in any way.

Stephen Chow wanted to lend a hand here and there, but Lai Yuet-ngor was a cheerful, dark-skinned girl, and Leung Ka-fai was a handsome movie star, so everyone would accept them.

This guy is the only one who's nobody, so people don't really pay him any attention.

Even if someone recognizes him as someone who seems to still be hosting some children's program, it will only make him look more embarrassed.

They probably all regret giving up their jobs of several years to join this makeshift organization.

Wei Dong was also busy. Sports brands visited Guangzhou and Shenzhen and suddenly realized that there was a huge market there. Naturally, they came to explore various possibilities for entering the market.

Therefore, according to the agreement with Lao Heng, the adjacent warehouse has been opened up to serve as a temporary space for the sales area and food street.

All of this is laying the groundwork for attracting investment to the Seaside Sports City in the future.

So the sales representatives kept looking for more brands.

Rang Weidong was just using sports as a front. He dared to try to piggyback on sports brands, sports drinks, and any related products that could be associated with sports. He even tried to get involved with Western fast food chains, asking if they wanted to open stores in mainland China, or at the very least, open a store near a basketball court.

After the cross-provincial competition last weekend, the topic's popularity and cohesion have greatly increased, with more than a dozen amateur teams gathering to compete in the afternoon.

The entire basketball arena was bustling with noise.

Stephen Chow seems to be completely detached from the commotion.

Even though he tried his best to fit in, there was a sense that people's joys and sorrows were not shared.

Liang Jiahui keenly noticed and was surprised that his boss could find such a special guy among thousands of people and took the initiative to invite Zhou Xingxing to co-host and commentate on the game.

Sure enough, Stephen Chow, who had been a host for several years, was quite brilliant in his comedic performance, but there was always a sense of absent-mindedness and detachment about him.

It wasn't until Brother Fa arrived in the evening that the four men sat down for a late-night snack at the newly set-up outdoor table and chairs outside the warehouse next door after finishing up.

Actually, Chow Yun-fat also remembers this minor character.

After all, the entire circle is only so big.

They all came from TVB's training program; Chow Yun-fat was the king of TVB in the 70s and 80s.

Besides, Stephen Chow also dated one of TVB's Five Golden Flowers, so it's not entirely transparent.

I was a little surprised when we met; I wondered why she chose this guy.

Wei Dong then presented the story, which he had basically outlined: "...It's a comedy story, a bit like Li Yue'e, a simple and pure girl from the countryside, who is coaxed into doing all sorts of funny things in the big city. But as to what makes it funny, Xingzai will have to figure it out himself."

Chow Yun-fat, a veteran of countless films, couldn't help but scratch his head: "This story could be made into a film, but the chances of it becoming a huge hit are very small."

Before "A Better Tomorrow," he spent several years struggling, making various types of films in search of a way out.

He's acted in everything from comedies and art films to ghost movies, action films, and romance films, both period dramas and modern dramas.

The film flopped terribly, grossing only a few hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars after its release, and it's no exaggeration to say that it was considered a box office poison in those years.

Stephen Chow's eyes were even more confused. He wanted to seize this lead role opportunity, but he was also under immense pressure from the fear of a box office flop, which made him unable to speak.

Only Leung Ka-fai helped quickly handwrite the draft: "The script still needs to be improved in detail, but the budget doesn't need to be too high. It's really suitable for Stephen Chow to get started. Can Chow Yun-fat contact people to organize the crew?"

Chow Yun-fat, with his legs crossed, leaned against a small table, casually playing with a lighter, looking incredibly cool: "There were no problems with filming. We could find directors, cinematographers, and any kind of actor. I was worried about whether Stephen Chow could handle the blow if it failed. I couldn't sleep for several years. I would sit blankly by the window for half the night, watching the dawn break."

He doesn't talk much and has a reputation for being somewhat unconventional.

Such a heartfelt exchange is rare, and it's all because of Wei Dong's sake.

Stephen Chow still nodded awkwardly, as if he wanted to talk more but didn't know where to start.

Liang Jiahui even lightly kicked this weakling. Even if you're just pretending to be enthusiastic, you should at least know how to behave properly.

Unexpectedly, Wei Dong shook his head and said, "This movie by Stephen Chow is different from the ones you guys make. Since the three of you are all here, let me make this principle clear first. In the future, as long as you have the opportunity to make a film with my company, your income, in addition to the industry standard fee, will be split equally among you based on how much the company makes. I just need to try my best not to lose money, because money is very useful to me. I would rather use it to open factories and start production in mainland China than make money from movies. I have other purposes for doing this." The three of them were shocked.

Everyone knows that white-collar workers in Hong Kong have high salaries, but actors' incomes are actually quite low.

Chow Yun-fat became a top TV star ten years ago, but he couldn't afford to buy a house, which is why he worked so hard to make money by acting in movies.

Actually, he doesn't make many movies. Even though he's become a top star now, he only gets paid 200,000 to 300,000 yuan per movie.

So when Wei Dong gave Leung Ka-fai one million, it was roughly equivalent to an advance payment for five to ten films.

But just seeing Wei Dong and Zhou Xingxing laughing side by side like that, this guy took it upon himself to give them half of the money.

Anyway, neither Chow Yun-fat nor Stephen Chow would do such a thing.

Everyone has a different personality.

Wei Dong also expressed the same sentiment: "Everyone is different. For Xingzai's movie, you rehearse and polish the script yourself according to your complete script. Only when I approve the performance can you organize the crew to start filming. There is no pressure now, right? The monthly salary will still be HK$20,000. Brother Hui, should you sign a contract like this for now? If it's not enough or you need a raise, just let me know."

Without the slightest hesitation, Leung Ka-fai jokingly gave a salute: "Thank you, boss. I still won't participate in this film, at least not to cause trouble for Stephen Chow. But I hope to have the opportunity to film in the mainland as soon as possible and contribute to the opening of the factory."

Stephen Chow remained shocked, but it was clear to the naked eye that he had relaxed: "Rehearsing and refining on my own, isn't this just like a stage play?"

Filming in Hong Kong is very fast-paced. A movie can usually be filmed in a few dozen days, and with some post-production work, it can go from pre-production to release in about six months.

Sometimes screenwriters revise the script on the spot, and directors often demand additional scenes, leaving actors no time to think things through.

But Wei Dong gave him the space to refine it so meticulously.

“That’s right. I don’t know how to explain it. When I saw Stephen Chow, I felt that you should act differently from others. It should be a style that is completely your own. Only you can figure it out yourself. Even if you come to work at the basketball court, it’s your business to go out and experience life. But if you agree to do this, the movie will sign a ten-year contract with me. I only want these ten years.”

Perhaps only Liang Jiahui understood the significance of this decade, and he nodded quietly, also gesturing a "ten" to Wei Dong.

Chow Yun-fat stood to the side, smoking a cigarette, observing and pondering, clearly thinking about what other different ways there might be to perform the role.

He's the kind of all-rounder who's proficient in everything, and it's really hard to imagine any completely different moves. You really can't tell anything about him from this slightly chubby boy.

Stephen Chow pulled out the bank card and placed it on the table: "What's this?"

After listening to Liang Jiahui's explanation, Wei Dong suddenly realized: "It's a signing fee, right? Clubs always have to give players some bonuses or transfer fees when they sign contracts?"

Stephen Chow then asked seriously, "How many movies does a ten-year contract require you to film?"

Seeing Wei Dong's bewilderment, Chow Yun-fat explained: "In the Hong Kong film industry, signing a contract for a certain period of time is usually like selling yourself into servitude. This means that during that time, you might be working like a beast of burden, filming non-stop. For example, last year I became famous and filmed twelve movies. If you keep going at this pace, you'll have filmed over a hundred movies in ten years. Many people at TVB get liver disease from working themselves to the bone like this, so everyone is very wary of signing such contracts."

Wei Dong remained unyielding: "This is exactly the time I need. How much you shoot is your own business. I will support you as much as possible if you want to shoot. But whether it will be a hit or achieve the effect you want is your own business. I only hope that the film you shoot can meet the censorship requirements in mainland China as much as possible, and then we can release it in mainland China. That will be a film that will be watched by millions, tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of people, and reverse the situation in which Hong Kong regards the mainland as its big market."

Chow Yun-fat and Leung Ka-fai's eyes lit up: "You plan to use this method to break the deadlock?"

Wei Dong nodded: "One way is to say that Hong Kong films are very popular in the mainland, but they are all played in video halls in the form of pirated videotapes, which is not cost-effective. We don't make any money and we are also subject to the control of the right bank. We have to think of a way to change this."

Chow Yun-fat laughed and said, "Then what kind of movies can I film?"

Let Wei Dong give an example: "For instance, your shampoo commercial is like a condensed movie. Your style is definitely suited to that kind of approach. In this respect, Hui Ge is actually the easiest..."

He had actually seen a chess movie starring Leung Ka-fai, but it seemed to contain some stereotypical portrayals of mainland China by Hong Kong films, so it was definitely not going to be released.

But Leung Ka-fai is truly a genius. While one play is about promiscuous women dancing with their butts sticking out, another play vividly portrays the lives of intellectuals in cowsheds.

In particular, his portrayal of the useless scholar with worn-out glasses was unforgettable.

He then smiled and gestured: "For example, if we change the story of Sing Jai to chess, the basic structure is still a chess genius who is not appreciated, and finally wins against all sides. In the early stages, he can only go to the countryside because of his bad class background. He is so obsessed with playing chess that he can't even get enough to eat. But in the end, he finally breaks out and succeeds. How about that? If this movie is filmed and broadcast in mainland China, people will definitely watch it because there are really many people playing chess all the time in mainland China."

Liang Jiahui chuckled and rubbed his hands together: "Is it expressing the meaning of life that good things must eventually lead to hardship, or is it that one should not care about worldly success but only pursue what one loves in life, or is it that one should work hard and eventually succeed?"

That's his strength; whatever outcome you want, he can present it seamlessly within the story.

Wei Dong laughed and dismissed it all: "You can figure it out yourself. I even suggest you go to the mainland to investigate and experience it for a while."

But I can't help but think: "Could we give some encouragement to those intellectuals who are still struggling? Life may indeed be tough, but we can get through it with these hobbies. Once we get through it, things will be alright."

Then Chow Yun-fat reached out from the side and said, "Boss, I want to snatch this movie!"

Leung Ka-fai was so angry that he yelled and screamed, wishing he could fight him into the sea.

Stephen Chow looked at the two of them and thought, "You two are really noisy."

(End of this chapter)