Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 410, 408: Not a Fierce Dragon Crossing the River
Time flew by and it was evening.

Outside the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Island Cultural Centre, the stars glittered and the lights shone brightly.

A long red carpet stretched from the street to the theater entrance, with enthusiastic movie fans and eagerly awaiting media reporters crowding both sides.

Flashes of light, like a barrage of lightning, tore through the night, while cheers and screams rose and fell, weaving together a noisy symphony unique to this world of light and shadow.

The 21st Hong Kong Film Awards ceremony is about to begin here.

A black Rolls-Royce slowly came to a stop at the starting point of the red carpet. The door opened, and Wang Sheng stepped out first, bowing.

He wore a perfectly tailored black tuxedo with no extra accessories, except for a discreet Patek Philippe watch on his wrist that subtly reflected light.

He was tall and had an unusually youthful face, but his eyes were deep and calm, as if they contained an experience and strength beyond his years.

He simply stood there, without making any move, and naturally became the focus of the entire room. An invisible aura spread out, and even the noise seemed to freeze for a moment.

Immediately afterwards, Zhou Xingxing and Li Xiaoran also got off the bus.

Stephen Chow was also dressed in a formal suit tonight, with his signature slightly shy smile on his face, but his eyes showed more confidence than ever before.

Li Xiaoran, dressed in a light blue floor-length dress, with exquisite makeup and a gentle and elegant demeanor, affectionately and naturally took Wang Sheng's arm.

The main members of the "Kung Fu Soccer" crew, including "Iron Head" who plays the eldest brother and "Frog" who plays the third brother, followed closely behind.

The reaction in the media area when Wang Sheng stepped onto the red carpet was nothing short of explosive.

"Wang Sheng! Look this way!"

"Mr. Wang! As the King of Entertainment in Mainland China making his first appearance at the Hong Kong Film Awards, what are your thoughts?"

What are Shengying Media's next plans?

"Mr. Wang, what are your thoughts on the North American success of 'Shaolin Soccer'?"

Long and short focal length lenses were frantically aimed at him, and the sound of shutters clicking was as dense as a torrential downpour.

Reporters shouted his name at the top of their lungs, trying to get his attention, even just a glance.

Hong Kong media have long been curious about this young giant, known as the "King of Chinese Entertainment," who single-handedly brought "Shaolin Soccer" to the North American market and achieved amazing results.

This was Wang Sheng's first public appearance in Hong Kong, and the attention he received even surpassed that of all the Hong Kong stars present.

Its popularity was unparalleled at the time.

Wang Sheng remained calm, responding to the shouts and flashes of light from both sides with a faint, polite smile, occasionally nodding slightly, but without stopping.

Unlike many celebrities who deliberately posed for photos on the red carpet, his composure and aloofness only highlighted his extraordinary status.

Stephen Chow and Li Xiaoran stood on either side of him, enjoying the unprecedented media attention that came because of him.

Stephen Chow, in particular, was nominated for the Hong Kong Film Awards, but his unique style and personality made him quite controversial in the industry.

At this moment, Wang Sheng's presence is undoubtedly the most powerful form of support.

As the saying goes, you have to consider the owner before you beat a dog.

With Wang Sheng, a powerful figure, behind him, anyone who wants to make a move against Stephen Chow in terms of awards or public opinion has to think twice.

Stepping inside the brightly lit theater, the atmosphere became even more lively.

Amidst the elegant attire and glittering lights, and the clinking of glasses, almost half of Hong Kong's film industry gathered here.

The hosts for this year's Hong Kong Film Awards ceremony were Zeng Aizi, Ye Tong, Zhang Daming, and Peng Qing.

They are making final preparations backstage. The guest list is impressive, including:

Directors/Producers: Tsui Hark, John Woo, Wong Jing, To Chi-Fung, Liu Zhenwei, Chen Kexin, Jiang Zhiqiang, etc.

Cast: Chow Yun-fat, Maggie Cheung, Andy Lau, Tony Leung, Aaron Kwok, Lai Ming, Anita Mui, Sammi Cheng, Cecilia Cheung, etc.

The films and individuals receiving the main nominations include:

Kung Fu Soccer: Nominated for Best Film, Best Director (Stephen Chow), Best Actor (Stephen Chow), Best Actress (Li Xiaoran), Best Supporting Actor ("Iron Head", "Frog", etc.), Best Cinematography, Best Action Choreography, Best Visual Effects, and many other awards.

Lan Yu: Best Film, Best Director (Guan Jinpeng), Best Actor (Hu Jun, Liu Ye), etc.

"Men at Forty": Best Film, Best Director (Ann Hui), Best Actor (Cheung Hok-yu), Best Actress (Anita Mui), etc.

"The Ghostly Human": Best Supporting Actress (Shu Qi), etc.

……

Wang Sheng's seat was unsurprisingly arranged in one of the most central positions in the first row.

Sitting next to him were Stephen Chow, the director and lead actor of "Shaolin Soccer," which was also highly anticipated tonight, and Li Xiaoran, the lead actress.

On the other side is John Woo, a highly respected figure in the Hong Kong film industry.

Wu Baige came back at the invitation of the authorities, as "Windtalkers" is about to be released and he is quite busy.

Soon after Wang Sheng sat down, a steady stream of Hong Kong stars, directors, and producers came up to him, greeting him warmly and shaking his hand.

"Mr. Wang, I've heard so much about you! Congratulations on the huge success of 'Kung Fu Soccer' in North America!" Sammo Hung said with a smile, extending his hand.

"Mr. Wang, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Chen Kexin. I hope we can get along well in the future." Chen Kexin, who is quite prestigious in Hong Kong's entertainment circle, was humble in her attitude.

"Shengying Media is truly remarkable, and Mr. Wang is young and promising!" Lin Xiaoyu, who had met him a few times before, also came over to exchange pleasantries.

Facing these faces that are household names in the Chinese-speaking world, Wang Sheng simply sat calmly in his seat, turned slightly to the side, and gently shook hands with them, maintaining that faint, polite smile on his face. He would occasionally respond with a "hello," "thank you," or "you flatter me," his words concise and economical.

He didn't need to get up to greet him, nor did he need to make a point of talking to him.

That natural air of superiority made some Hong Kong entertainment bigwigs, who were used to being fawned over, feel a little uncomfortable, but they could only force a smile and do nothing about it.

The situation is better than people.

Everyone knows that if you want to enter the rapidly developing and huge potential mainland commercial film market, Wang Sheng and his Shengying Media are an insurmountable obstacle.

Unless you only want to hold onto the dwindling local market of Hong Kong Island, or go and make those critically acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful art films.

Wang Sheng's existence is like an invisible touchstone, clearly reflecting the subtle shift in the power structure of the entertainment industry across Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong after the rise of the Mainland market.

Every nod and every brief handshake he made tonight may have hinted at a possible future collaboration.

Even before the ceremony began, the area where Wang Sheng was located had already become the silent center of power in the entire theater.

Zhou Xingxing sat beside him, feeling the completely different treatment he received because of Wang Sheng, and his heart was filled with emotion.

He knew that regardless of who won the award tonight, he and his "Shaolin Soccer" had already won.

Li Xiaoran maintained an elegant smile throughout, quietly accompanying Wang Sheng, like his most appropriate adornment, and also demonstrating her extraordinary status in the Shengying Group.

On stage, the lights gradually came on, and the four hosts, Zeng Aizi, Ye Tong, Zhang Daming, and Peng Qing, walked to the front of the stage with smiles on their faces, indicating that the film festival was about to officially begin.

(End of this chapter)