HuaYu97: Starting as a Singer

Chapter 195 [195] Damn! Unbelievable wealth has been delivered to my hands!

The scripts in Hong Kong are all very hastily written.

The same applies to Alan Mak's "Infernal Affairs".

This is standard practice for Hong Kong directors and screenwriters; they just act as messengers on set once filming begins. How many serious Hong Kong directors actually prepare a complete script?
Unlike Wong Kar-wai, who gave the actors a small note on the first day of filming and let them figure it out themselves, any director who doesn't do that is considered conscientious.

After reviewing Mai Zhaohui's first draft, Du Qifeng commented: "The idea is good. The police infiltrate the gang, creating a fateful dilemma of identity misalignment."

However, a story with only one plotline is a bit thin. How about adding a subplot about a gangster infiltrating the police force, creating a two-way rivalry?

"Hmm? Good idea." Mai Zhaohui's eyes lit up. Consulting Du Qifeng had indeed been helpful. He added.

"Officer To, what do you think about casting Ah Yuen in this film? He did a great job in 'The Mission'."

This is his real purpose for coming to the mainland.

Mak Siu-fai isn't very famous now, so if he tries to contact Qi Yuan, she probably won't even give him a second glance.

He wanted to ask Qi Yuan through Du Qifeng.

With Qi Yuan joining, it became much easier to secure funding from Hong Kong investors.

The success of "The Mission" speaks for itself; investors will definitely be willing to invest.

“Yuanzai has been very busy lately, and he doesn’t even have time to do promotional tours. He also has plans to release an album, film a TV series, and make a movie. His schedule is booked until next year.”

Du Qifeng had worked with Qi Yuan before and they had just met a few days ago. He knew a lot about Qi Yuan's situation.

"It's okay, if we don't have time this year, we can film it next year."

Mai Zhaohui smiled. As long as Qi Yuan could be invited, he was willing to wait.

He just didn't know if Qi Yuan would think highly of him. He had heard that many companies in Hong Kong were planning to hire Qi Yuan to make movies, and some had already offered him roles.

Some directors who invited Qi Yuan had much higher profiles than him.

"Let me ask him for you."

Du Qifeng nodded. Mai Zhaohui was practically his apprentice, so he should take care of him. As for whether he would succeed, he couldn't guarantee it.

Qi Yuan is so popular now that a lot of directors want to work with him.

Compared to those people, Alan Mak is just a nobody.

……

Qi Yuan, who was filming in Zhejiang Province, received a call from Du Qifeng at noon.

“Yuanzai, I want to talk to you about something. My half-protégé, Mak Siu-fai, has written a script and wants you to direct it. Would you like to consider it? I'll help vet it.”

Du Qifeng added the last sentence to put Qi Yuan at ease.

Alan Mak?
Qi Yuan silently repeated the name several times.

Alan Mak is a pretty good director.

Alan Mak is better suited to working with another director, where he can provide support and achieve a synergistic effect greater than the sum of its parts. He would be much less effective working alone.

"What book?"

Qi Yuan asked out of curiosity. According to Li Xue's report these days, there are quite a few people in Hong Kong who want him to make movies. Even Wang Jing tried to trick him into making a movie first and then making "Hua Wuque".

Unfortunately, there are too few good scripts.

"It's a story about police officers and gangsters switching identities and going undercover for each other. I'll have Old Mike send you the script so you can take a look first."

Du Qifeng gave a brief overview of the script.

Qi Yuan was internally screaming "Holy crap!" after hearing this.

Damn! Police officers and gangsters swap identities, is this some kind of movie called "Infernal Affairs"?

Was the script for "Infernal Affairs" written so early?

Believe it or not, Infernal Affairs was indeed written in 99.

Hong Kong crime films had been made to death, and no investors were interested. Finally, in 2002, they secured a 2000 million HKD investment from Mr. Lam of Media Asia. Mr. Lam only agreed to invest because Andy Lau was starring in the film and was willing to lower his own salary.

If Mr. Lin doesn't invest, this script will remain buried for a long time.

Qi Yuan never expected that the script would be sent to him first; being famous really makes a difference.

He would definitely not let the opportunity to act in "Infernal Affairs" pass him by, as it represents the last peak of Hong Kong cinema.

After "Infernal Affairs" was released, no Hong Kong film could surpass it for the next twenty years.

Later, the rights to "Infernal Affairs" were sold to Hollywood, and Leonardo DiCaprio was cast to make "The Departed".

It's outrageous that "The Departed" won the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Editing.

At the Golden Globe Awards, "The Departed" also won numerous awards.

This also proves just how awesome the Infernal Affairs series is!
……

A few days later.

Li Xue received the first draft of the script for "The Departed".

Her judgment was indeed excellent. She thought the idea of ​​the police and gangsters switching identities was very original and had a lot of dramatic conflict, much better than the script she received a few days ago.

Aesthetic sense is something that is innate and very difficult to cultivate later in life.

Some actors and agents are very good at choosing scripts, and Li Xue is one of them.

Some actors and agents deliberately fall into traps, refusing to choose good scripts and opting instead for bad ones. Jing Tian and her team are prime examples; their ability to consistently fall into these traps is a rare skill.

Li Xue immediately showed the script of "The Departed" to Qi Yuan and expressed her own views.

"I also think it's good, just a bit rough around the edges. That's the tradition of Hong Kong directors, so I can understand. Please help me respond to Alan Mak; I might consider taking on this film."

Qi Yuan closed the script and made a decision on the spot.

An immense fortune has been delivered into our hands; we must seize it.

Which role are you planning to take? This film has two leads.

Li Xue asked earnestly.

Which role do you think I should play?

Qi Yuan looked up at her and asked in return.

"Police officers who infiltrate triads for extended periods are a common character in Hong Kong films. However, triad members who infiltrate the police force are rarer, offering more room for character development."

Qi Yuan gave her an approving look.

Li Bingbing's external brain was indeed insightful; Liu Jianming was the core of the "Infernal Affairs" series, and it was also Liu Jianming who fell into the infernal hell.

Liu Jianming has much more room to maneuver than Chen Yongren.

Chen Yongren's heart was always pure; it was just that being an undercover agent in the triads caused him great pain, and he didn't struggle much with his inner turmoil.

Liu Jianming is different. He longs to become a good person, but he is also constrained by Han Chen and his own past. His inner world is complex and ever-changing.

Andy Lau is a hard-working actor, but his acting talent isn't particularly high. He failed to portray the details of Lau Kin-ming's struggle, so he was completely outshone by Leung Chiu-wai.

What's most disheartening is that Andy Lau often rehearses a scene many times, while Leung Chiu-wai never rehearses at all; he just goes straight to the scene as soon as the camera starts rolling and still completely outshines Andy Lau.

All I can say is that hard work can't compare to true talent.

Since Alan Mak had not yet written down the names of Lau Kin-ming and Chan Wing-yan, Lee Hock could only use "undercover gangster" and "undercover police officer" as substitutes.

"A gangster undercover agent!"

After a moment's thought, Qi Yuan made his choice.

His surname is Qi, so this character definitely can't be called Liu Jianming, but he can't be called Qi Tongwei either, right?

　One more chapter, later
　　
　
(End of this chapter)