Against the Current Hong Kong 1979

Chapter 162 Failed Attempt to Marry Deng Lijun, Subduing Cameron (2nd Update, Please Subscribe)

A few minutes later.

Lin Qingxia ran away, her face flushed, completely flustered, as if she were having an affair.

Zhang Shuai'an smiled as he reminisced about the feeling he had just experienced, the increase of over two hundred star points, and the lighting up of the script for "Dao Ma Dan".

"Peking Opera Blues" is a very good film; even among Tsui Hark's classic works, it would rank among the top.

The original version was released in 1986, starring Cherie Chung, Brigitte Lin, and Sally Yeh. It performed reasonably well at the box office, earning over HK$1700 million and ranking seventh on the annual box office chart.

Just as Zhang Shuai'an was reminiscing about this story, another figure walked over.

"Leo, what are you thinking about?"

The voice was soft and sweet; you didn't need to guess to know it was Teresa Teng speaking.

Zhang Shuai'an looked at her with a beaming smile: "If I said I was thinking of you, would you believe me?"

"I don't believe it." Deng Lijun's brows relaxed slightly as she looked into the distance. "I saw you kissing Qingxia just now."

Without batting an eye, Zhang Shuai'an lied, "Maybe she got some sand in her eye, and I was just blowing it out for her?"

"Do you think I'm a three-year-old?" Teresa Teng looked at him, somewhat speechless.

Zhang Shuai'an replied calmly, "I'm just stating a possible event, even if the probability is low, it's not 100% impossible."

"You're really good at making excuses." Deng Lijun sighed softly. "Although Ah Long is a bit careless, he never lies. Even if he goes out to find women, if I ask him, he will tell me the truth."

Zhang Shuai'an was somewhat surprised: "Oh, he really did that?"

Deng Liyun rolled her eyes at Zhang Shuai'an and said somewhat absurdly, "I was just using a metaphor; I never said anything like that actually happened. You're just deliberately trying to annoy me, aren't you?"

"Of course not, how could I bear to upset you?"

Zhang Shuai'an's right hand naturally wrapped around her waist; it was fleshy and very elastic.

Deng Liyun angrily slapped Zhang Shuai'an's hand away: "Do you think I'm that kind of easy woman?"

"No." Zhang Shuai'an slapped his right hand as well. "This hand of mine always gets carried away and does its own thing. I've already hit it for you."

"It's as if your right hand isn't under your brain's control!"

Deng Lijun found it somewhat amusing and said sarcastically, "If you're a lecher, just say so, why make up such a lame excuse?"

"Hahaha, so you know I'm a womanizer, yet you still dared to come alone!"

Zhang Shuai'an used the same trick again, approaching Deng Lijun.

However, Teresa Teng reacted quickly and immediately covered it with both hands.

She covered her own lips with one hand and Zhang Shuai'an's mouth with the other.

"You kissed her and didn't even wash up!" Deng Liyun glared at Zhang Shuai'an and said with a hint of resentment, "You just wanted to kiss me?"

""

Zhang Shuai'an responded with a laugh: "So we can kiss after washing?"

"No way!" Deng Liyun snapped out of her daze and lightly kicked Zhang Shuai'an's ankle. "You're such a bad guy!"

Zhang Shuai'an smiled and stepped aside, and Deng Lijun jogged away.

She stopped abruptly after taking a few steps and said to Zhang Shuai'an, "I'm going back to Taiwan tomorrow. I'll be very busy at the end of the year, preparing for a new album and holding several concerts in Southeast Asia."

Zhang Shuai'an was taken aback for a moment, then replied, "Why are you telling me this? Do you want me to be a guest at your concert?"

"That's not impossible," Teresa Teng laughed. "You sang really well that night, why don't you record an album?"

Zhang Shuai'an laughed and said, "I'll give you that song. You can record it and send me a copy later."

Teresa Teng insisted, "You sing better. If we're going to record something, you should record a version too."

Zhang Shuai'an didn't insist and nodded, saying, "Okay, let me know when you're recording this song, and I'll come find you then."

Deng Liyun smiled and pointed at Zhang Shuai'an: "Then it's settled."

Zhang Shuai'an felt he couldn't stay on this balcony any longer; it was constantly "spawning monsters." He was neither a chosen one nor a faded one, and he didn't want to stay in "combat mode" forever.

Back at the banquet, James Cameron approached Zhang Shuai'an with a glass of wine.

Zhang Shuai'an noticed he seemed preoccupied and asked, "What's wrong? Is the food not to your liking?"

"No, that's not it." James Cameron spoke fluently and confidently during filming.

In private, he is rather taciturn, giving the impression that he is not good with words.

"Leo, you know, I used to work at Roger's New World Films."

James Cameron spoke slowly, clearly considering his words: "I just haven't had many opportunities until this year when I served as art director. This is my second time serving as art director for your film."

As he spoke, his voice suddenly rose a notch or two: "I want to thank you for letting me direct a few scenes and have a taste of being a director."

Zhang Shuai'an replied with a smile, "I thought you wanted to ask me for your salary as the executive director."

"No, no, no, is money important to me?"

James Cameron shook his head, then nodded: "It is still important, actually. But the opportunity to gain experience is more important than money. After touching the director's chair, I realized that I do have the talent to be a director, and the path I chose was the right one."

"I've also discovered that you have a talent for directing."

Zhang Shuai'an nodded: "Given time, you will definitely become a world-renowned director."

"Hahaha, thank you for your blessing."

James Cameron, however, knew the reality wasn't so rosy: "But for someone like me, without a faction, without family, and without financial backing, getting an opportunity is practically impossible. I don't even know when my chance to direct my first film will come."

Zhang Shuai'an said earnestly, "It doesn't matter which year, as long as you agree, it can be done next year."

"Huh?" James Cameron was taken aback by these words. "Leo, what do you mean by that?"

'

Zhang Shuai'an said calmly, "I registered a company in Hollywood to make this movie. This film, 'Blood Simple,' is my first project."

"However, a film company can't possibly make one film every year. Next year, I might not have time to come to Hollywood to make a movie. So, if you're interested in directing, I can invest in you."

James Cameron's breathing quickened: "Are you serious?"

"Of course." Zhang Shuai'an nodded. "However, you have to sign a ten-year contract with my film company. Are you willing to sign?"

James Cameron did hesitate for a moment when he heard the ten-year timeframe.

Then he asked the question he was most concerned about: "Have you invested in all the movies I've made in the past ten years?"

"Of course." Zhang Shuai'an nodded. "I'll pay for it. If I can't afford it, I can help you get investment."

James Cameron quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

He acknowledged Zhang Shuai'an's capabilities, but he couldn't confirm whether Zhang had substantial financial resources.

However, given his current level of fame, securing his first investment would be an incredibly difficult task.

In the original timeline, he took the script for "The Terminator" and went to all the big and small investors in Hollywood, but no one was willing to pay attention to this nobody.

He later sold the rights to "The Terminator" to producer Gale Anne Heard for one dollar, which gave him the opportunity to direct the film.

After filming Terminator, James Cameron indeed chose to marry the producer, and from then on, he never lacked opportunities, and during this period, he became a famous director.

Then in 1989, he found a new love, broke up with the producer, and married director Kathryn Bigelow.

However, his marriage to the female director only lasted two years before they divorced.

Interestingly, Kathryn Bigelow won Best Director and Best Picture at the 2010 Academy Awards for "The Hurt Locker," beating James Cameron's "Avatar," becoming the first woman to win the Academy Award for Best Director.

However, the James Cameron in front of him was still a penniless and powerless greenhorn.

After considering for a moment, James Cameron downed his drink: "Okay, I'll sign. But I have one condition: I must have final cut!"

This area has long been dominated by a few major film studios in Hollywood, despite the fact that many directors are quite averse to it and have even protested against it.

However, in order to maintain a firm grip on the narrative and strengthen control over the films, the major film companies have never loosened their grip on this issue.

Only a small number of renowned directors have the final cut.

In Hollywood, whether in the past or in the future, directors, after finishing their films, can only watch helplessly as their movies are cut into a mess because they don't have the final cut.

"That's fine." Zhang Shuai'an isn't one of the big Hollywood moguls, so he doesn't feel any guilt about making concessions in this regard.

"You—you should know what final cut means in Hollywood."

James Cameron was surprised that Zhang Shuai'an was so agreeable. Even companies like Roger Coleman, which make B-movies, hold onto the final cut rights.

"I know, but I don't care," Zhang Shuai'an said with a smile. "I trust that you can make a good film and edit it well."

It's that simple.

If James Cameron weren't a man, and Zhang Shuai'an's buffs weren't ineffective against him, he really would have liked to use [Ultimate White Moonlight] to subdue him.

Who can blame him when this kid becomes the world's highest-grossing director? He spends money like water when making movies, but his ability to rake in money is also top-notch globally.

Taking it easy is not a bad thing.

"You can start working on the script now."

Zhang Shuai'an smiled and said to James Cameron, "Let's pass on the blockbuster for now. Let's make a high-quality, low-budget film first. I can allocate you an initial budget of $800,000. Once you've made a name for yourself, it will be much easier to attract larger investments later."

Eight hundred thousand dollars?

James Cameron thought about it and realized that it was more than enough to make a B-movie.

But this is not what he wanted.

However, with this 800,000 as a base and a company to rely on, he can raise some more funds and make around 1.3 to 1.4 million without any problem.

James Cameron replied solemnly, "Thank you very much, boss."

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