Against the Current Hong Kong 1979

Chapter 150 They're really a pair of smiling tigers, two black sharks (2 updates, please subscribe)

Los Angeles, Culver City.

Jiatong Company, Vice President's Office.

"This is Chen Xikang, the vice president of Jiatong Company."

Zou Wenhuai pointed to a slightly balding, bespectacled middle-aged man and introduced him to Zhang Shuai'an, saying, "This is a loyal and capable general who has enabled Golden Harvest to grow and thrive in Hollywood!"

Chen Xikang chuckled twice and said modestly, "I am just a disciple trained by Mr. Zou, and I am only here to guard his family business. I really have no achievements to speak of and do not deserve the title of a good general."

"Mr. Chen, you are too modest!" Zhang Shuai'an naturally had to say something polite: "You have made great contributions to ensuring that Jiatong has stood firm in the United States to this day."

Chen Xikang smiled and replied, "Mr. Zhang is truly a young talent with unlimited potential!"

"Alright, enough with the mutual flattery!"

Zou Wenhuai waved his hand and explained to Chen Xikang, "Anzai is planning to shoot a Western-style art film, and I've decided to invest in it. So I hope you can find him some helpers to set up the crew and ensure that filming can be completed smoothly here."

"What kind of film?" Chen Xikang asked seriously, "Is it a completely Westernized film, or one that uses Westernization as a shell?"

""

Zhang Shuai'an replied, "The script was written strictly according to the three-act structure of Hollywood, with only some minor modifications."

As he spoke, Yu Sijia behind him took out an English version of the script summary and handed it to Chen Xikang.

Chen Xikang, who has been stationed in the United States for a long time, naturally speaks English at a native level. After reading a brief summary of the script, his eyes lit up.

He said, "This script is indeed quite interesting; there wouldn't be any problem even if we just cast American actors to film it."

What he really meant was that he wanted to get the script and then hire Americans to film it.

Zhang Shuai'an glanced at Chen Xikang and said with no small amount of seriousness, "My idea is to use Chinese actors to film Western-style scripts and then win a big award in Europe and America."

Chen Xikang remarked with a sigh, "You're really young and impetuous! Your kind of thinking is actually very difficult to succeed with. Western filmmakers generally look down on others—"

"Kang, don't be so discouraging," Zou Wenhuai interrupted Chen Xikang, instructing, "Just meet Anzai's requirements for filming and ensure the movie can be completed smoothly. Don't worry about anything else."

Chen Xikang nodded and smiled, "You're the boss, so if you've said so, I'll naturally follow your lead."

As he spoke, he picked up the phone and called his secretary outside the door: "Linda, go to the hotel and call Jon, Chuck, and Leah over."

Zhang Shuai'an nodded to himself. It seemed that Zou Wenhuai had already informed Chen Xikang about his filming plans here, so Chen Xikang was already prepared.

"Mr. Zhang, let me introduce you."

Chen Xikang smiled and waved to Zhang Shuai'an, then pointed to the three people and introduced them.

He pointed to one of the young men in a black suit who was already balding and said, "His name is Chuck Russell. Don't let his age fool you; he's not even thirty yet, but he's already a seasoned assistant director and producer."

3

"Hello." Zhang Shuai'an shook hands with him.

After shaking hands, the person simply smiled and showed their teeth in response.

Chen Xikang then pointed to a somewhat thin and tall man and said, "This is Jon Ferrer, 29 years old. He is currently a television producer, but he also works part-time making movies. With him around, dealing with various departments in the United States will be much easier."

"Hello, nice to meet you!" The man took the initiative to shake hands with Zhang Shuai'an, and his attitude was very friendly.

The last woman looked to be in her thirties, but she was very well-maintained, with a voluptuous figure and an astonishing bust size.

Zhang Shuai'an was immediately drawn to the two large, white mounds of flesh; she single-handedly overpowered Apolloni and Monica from the previous night.

Chen Xikang's smile broadened, and he introduced her in a light voice: "This last beautiful lady is named Leah Winchester. She is 36 years old, married, and has a daughter. She used to be an accountant on Wall Street, and two years ago she transitioned to a production manager. She is known in the industry for her excellent skills."

"Hello, Mrs. Winchester," Zhang Shuai'an said with a smile, shaking her hand.

The lack of star ratings suggests she's a marginal figure in Hollywood and hasn't made a name for herself in the industry.

"This is Mr. Zhang Shuai'an, a famous director from Hong Kong."

Chen Xikang then introduced Zhang Shuai'an to the three people, saying succinctly: "He just made his debut film this year, and it became the highest-grossing film of the year in Hong Kong."

He did not disclose the specific box office figures.

After all, HK$20 million sounds like a lot in Hong Kong, but in Hollywood it's just a drop in the ocean (not worth mentioning).

Chen Xikang whispered to Zhang Shuai'an, "Don't underestimate these three young people; they're more than capable of forming a film crew."

Even the biggest stars are too many for me to handle. The discrimination and resistance against outsiders in Hollywood here is still quite serious.

"I completely understand." Zhang Shuai'an nodded, then said to the three men, "Gentlemen, would it be convenient for us to find a place to have a cup of coffee and have a more in-depth discussion?"

"Of course," Jon Ferrer nodded with a smile.

Looking at Zhang Shuai'an's handsome face and muscular physique, Liya was more than willing.

Chuck Russell was slightly disappointed, but he didn't say anything, which was considered tacit approval.

Having played their role as matchmakers, Zou Wenhuai and Chen Xikang stopped getting involved, as they had more important matters to discuss, such as the preparation for "Cannonball Racer".

Zhang Shuai'an and Yu Sijia led the three to a nearby upscale coffee shop, where they found a private room to sit down and chat.

He looked at the three of them and said with a smile, "Is there anything you want to ask? Feel free to ask me."

Chuck Russo couldn't hold back any longer and asked directly, "What kind of film are you making? What's the budget?"

Zhang Shuai'an replied, "It's a low-budget crime film, with a current budget of $100 million."

Upon hearing this answer, Chuck Russell looked surprised, as the budget was actually quite high.

It's worth noting that the budget for many Hollywood B-movies is typically only around five or six hundred thousand dollars.

The other two also looked surprised; they had assumed Zhang Shuai'an was a wealthy young man from China who was planning to spend some money on a hobby.

However, if you can come up with $100 million, then it's not just a hobby, because that amount of money can really make a good movie.

At this point, Leah Winchester couldn't help but ask, "Is there a script?"

"The script has been written, and the main actors have actually been cast."

Zhang Shuai'an replied earnestly, "They are all Hong Kong actors, very cheap, and they understand English."

"That probably won't work!" Jon Flamel said seriously. "For foreigners to film in the United States, at least one-third of the crew and actors must be Americans."

"7

"Staff, this is easy to handle, you can arrange it."

Zhang Shuai'an said earnestly, "There are four main characters, three men and one woman. Two of them are non-negotiable: one is one of the male leads I play, and the other is the female lead. As for the remaining two roles, if you can find suitable candidates in Hollywood, that's not out of the question."

Chuck Russell then asked, "What about our salaries?"

"Naturally, we'll go by market price," Zhang Shuai'an said earnestly. "The filming period is expected to be around ten weeks."

Chuck Russell was the first to speak up: "Yes, I'll join."

"I'll join too," Leah Winchester nodded after a moment's thought.

Jon Ferrer frowned and said calmly, "I need to think about it."

"Three days." Zhang Shuai'an couldn't possibly wait for his reply all the time: "I won't wait after that."

Chuck Russell suddenly changed his mind and said, "Then I'll think about it for three more days."

The two exchanged contact information and then said goodbye. Only Leah Winchester stayed behind; the contract could be signed shortly.

"These two are truly a pair of smiling tigers, two black sharks."

1

Zhang Shuai'an watched their retreating figures and couldn't help but complain.

"Boss, what do you mean by that?" Yu Sijia looked bewildered. "I know what a smiling tiger is, but what's a black shark?"

(Maud Winchester from the 1984 film *Birdman* is portrayed as Leah Winchester's daughter in this book.)

>