Against the Current Hong Kong 1979

Chapter 99 Snowflakes Fluttering, North Wind Howling (3rd update, please subscribe)

It was afternoon.

After finishing her work, Cherie Chung went to Tianxia Film Studio to participate in the audition.

Although Zhang Shuai'an had already decided that she would play the role of Chu Hong, she still had to go through the motions.

However, no one present was a fool; upon hearing the name Cherie Chung, they immediately understood what was going on.

Fortunately, Cherie Chung is very talented, and such a small role was not difficult for her at all. She handled it with ease, which impressed others.

Then, Miao Kexiu actually came over. She was interested in the role of female doctor Gao Fei, which she found quite novel and wanted to give it a try.

Previously, the roles she played were either the girl-next-door type, such as in "Fist of Fury" and "Way of the Dragon" with Bruce Lee, and "New Fist of Fury" and "Snake and Crane" with Jackie Chan, etc.

Alternatively, they could be the chivalrous heroine type, such as Dugu Feng from the TV series "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" and "The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils".

She has acted in several modern urban films like "Chasing Girls," but the characters' personalities have always been largely the same.

This straightforward yet controlling female doctor role is something she has never tried before.

I tried the role, and it was better than Chen Sijia's.

More importantly, Miao Kexiu is a more famous actress, and more people know her, so she was chosen for the role first.

As for Michelle Yim, she didn't come; she should be filming Tsui Hark's "Hell Without Gates".

Zheng Yuling also didn't come. The reason was quite straightforward: she said she was busy filming TV series and didn't have time to film movies.

Actually, he just looked down on Zhang Shuai'an's small film crew, thinking it had no future and didn't want to waste his time coming over.

Of the main female characters, only the realistic and materialistic real estate saleswoman has yet to find a suitable actress.

"How about we go with Chen Sijia?" Liu Guanwei couldn't think of a good candidate for the time being.

Fatty Wang suddenly said, "I've thought of another candidate."

Zhang Shuai'an said, "If you've thought of something, just say it. Why keep me in suspense?"

"Wang Minquan, Sister Quan," Fatty Wang replied.

Zhang Shuai'an clapped his hands: "Okay, she's the one. Jing-ge, you're in charge of contacting her."

"No problem, I'm confident." Fatty Wang chuckled. His family hadn't been doing this for nothing; they still had some influence at Shaw Brothers.

Sure enough, as soon as Fatty Wang made the call, Sister Quan agreed without hesitation.

(Liza Wang in her youth)

When Zhang Shuai'an met Wang Minquan, he felt that she had a very strong presence and could handle both the roles of a female doctor and a female executive.

With the main actors confirmed, the remaining supporting roles and extras can be handled by casting director Ling Zhijian.

As for the other male lead, he sent invitations to both Shek Tim and Chan Pak-cheung, but has not yet received a reply.

At this time, Struggle Pictures.

Shi Tianzheng, Mai Jia, and Huang Baiming are studying the actor offer sent by Zhang Shuai'an.

Mai Guangtou touched his bald head and asked with some curiosity, "This kid, why did you suddenly ask him to act in a play, and why is it so formal? Is there some other motive behind it?"

"We just want to get Shih Tien to act in a movie, what else could it be?"

Raymond Wong found it absurd, "Does this kind of thing really need a meeting? We might as well discuss what to film for our next movie."

Shi Tian also said, "Mai Guangtou, are you so bored you have nowhere to hang yourself? I'm an actor. When someone hires me to act, what ulterior motive could I possibly have?"

With his brows furrowed, Mai Guangtou said, "You don't understand. When we met in Jiahe that day, I saw his face, and he was definitely not an ordinary person. Moreover, the way he looked at us was very strange, like he was looking at a plate of food."

"With your looks, who would cast you as the male lead?"

Pointing at Shi Tian, ​​Mai Guangtou said seriously, "I simply don't believe there's no conspiracy involved. Why didn't he cast me as the male lead? After all, I'm so handsome. This is unusual, absolutely unusual!"

"You're unusual, you little egg."

Shi Tian slapped Mai Guangtou on the bald head: "You don't know anything about physiognomy, you're just jealous that I became the male lead. Besides, if he wanted to make a comedy, what's wrong with casting me as the male lead?"

"That kid must have been after something, right?" Baldy Mai still couldn't accept this reality.

Huang Baiming laughed and scolded, "What is there to covet in Shi Tian? Could it be that Zhang Shuai'an is after Shi Tian's body? Go ahead!"

Shi Tian was too lazy to pay attention to Mai Guangtou's rambling anymore. He immediately called Tianxia Film Studio using the phone number left on the invitation and said that he agreed to play the role and would report for duty the next day.

On the contrary, Chen Baixiang's reply was: They actually forbid it!

The reason is that he is on his honeymoon in the Philippines with Huang Xingxiu and will not be back until the end of March.

The cast is almost complete, and the location scouting expert has also determined the scenes needed for the film.

Next, we'll choose a date to start filming!

Tuesday, April 1980, 1.

Suitable for cleaning, renovation, ancestral worship, opening a business, and praying for blessings.

Sexual intercourse is forbidden.

Zhang Shuai'an, following local customs, held a launch ceremony for the film "Chasing Girls".

This is his fifth month in Hong Kong. Although he has already written a novel, acted in two TV series, and participated in the filming of two movies.

However, strictly speaking, "Chasing Girls" is his true first work.

The opening ceremony wasn't held at Golden Harvest Studios, but rather at Shaw Brothers' Clearwater Bay Studios. This was mainly because Golden Harvest Studios had too few usable sets compared to Clearwater Bay.

Besides the few people from Zhang Shuai'an's company, there were also actors and behind-the-scenes staff, making it quite a large group of dozens of people.

When he turned on his phone, it attracted the attention of some onlookers.

Some reporters, upon seeing someone turn on their camera to worship a deity, would take a few photos first, regardless of whether the person was famous or not.

The staff set up the altar, placing items such as a pig's head and fruit on it.

Zhang Shuai'an, as the director and male lead, led the entire crew in offering incense and praying to the gods.

He shouted loudly, "Gods, Buddhas, and Bodhisattvas—please bless the filming of 'Chasing Girls' with a smooth production and a box office hit."

Fatty Wang immediately started reading aloud as well. This was his first film after leaving Shaw Brothers, and he couldn't afford to lose face, otherwise he wouldn't be able to face his old friends at Shaw Brothers.

"Which famous director is praying to a god?"

"What big director? It's that mainland guy Zhang Shuai'an, his movies."

"Ah, if he weren't an actor in TV dramas, how could Boss Shao dare to let him be a director?"

"It's not Boss Shao, it's Mr. Zou Wenhuai. He invested in a movie and gave the handsome guy a three million yuan salary."

"God has eyes! Someone from mainland China can make movies and earn three million in pay. I'm so handsome, and nobody even wants me for a bit part."

"Tch, all the Shaw Brothers people are dead, yet they're letting Golden Harvest come here to film?"

"You're the one who's crazy. Mr. Shao spent three million Hong Kong dollars to support his TV series production, what's wrong with him coming to the set to film a scene!"

'

People around were talking about it, but most of them didn't think much of Zhang Shuai'an's movie.

The main reason is that Zhang Shuai'an is too young. From their perspective, he has only acted in TV series, and probably doesn't even know what a movie is.

The rest of the people were naturally filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.

After the opening ceremony, the crew split into two groups.

One group, led by Chang Shuai-an, filmed scenes with him as the male lead at Shaw Brothers; the other group, led by Chen Hsun-chi, filmed outdoor scenes and scenes where Chang Shuai-an did not appear.

Chen Xunqi's abilities are beyond doubt, and Zhang Shuai'an trusts him implicitly.

Zhang Shuai'an occupied a film studio and set it up like a coffee shop. The customers inside were all extras from the film set, while the staff were actors with names and identities who were paid to make cameo appearances.

"Brother Tim, the scene we're going to film later is your 99th failed attempt to woo a girl. Your expression should be somewhat pained, but don't make it too contorted; focus on your eyes."

Zhang Shuai'an was giving acting instructions to Shi Tian and Yu Mulian, who was making a guest appearance. "Sister Mao, you are beautiful, so naturally you wouldn't be interested in a loser like Roberto, but you also enjoy the feeling of being pursued."

"It wasn't until Roberto said he wanted to marry you that you suddenly realized what was going on, scolded him for being greedy for your beauty and having ulterior motives, then threw away his flowers and left."

Yu Mulian, whose original name was Yu Zhiya and nicknamed Yu Mao, was born in 1937.

She started making movies in 1950, and by 1969, she had worked for TVB, RTV, CTV and RTHK, and was once nicknamed "Five Lotuses".

She officially signed with TVB in 1976. Because she was not pretty, she only got minor roles.

After explaining the scene, Zhang Shuai'an returned to the camera to check the footage: "Everyone to your positions, get ready to film!"

Script supervisor Qian Shengwei picked up the script and announced loudly, "Scene 1, Shot 1 — Take 1."

The coffee shop was bustling with people.

Yu Mulian and Shi Tian sat facing each other in one of the seats.

Shi Tian dressed up very formally, even wearing perfume, and his face was filled with anticipation: "A-Lian, I've liked you for a long time. Today is our special day, and I want to confess my love to you. Please marry me!"

Yu Mulian, who was eating ice cream, suddenly froze, grabbed Shi Tian by the collar, and pulled him up: "What did you just say? Say it again if you dare!"

Shi Tian revealed a joyful expression and immediately said loudly, "Please marry me, A-Lian. I love you so much that I've given up everything, sacrificing my youth for your glory. Thank you so much for changing me today—"

This dialogue was naturally written by Zhang Shuai'an and adapted from Leslie Cheung's "Monica".

"That's enough!"

Yu Mulian immediately interrupted Shi Tian's chanting, saying angrily, "I treated you like a brother, and you actually tried to seduce me and even wanted to marry me. I'm so beautiful, and you're so ugly, what makes you worthy of me? You're like a toad lusting after a swan! Bah!"

After spitting out a mouthful of phlegm, Yu Mulian turned and left.

After walking a few steps, she turned back and took the rest of the ice cream with her, casually brushing off Shi Tian's flower, leaving Shi Tian alone to howl to the sky: "No! Ah Lian, no!"

At this moment, the following song should be played: "Snowflakes are falling, the north wind is howling—"

17

Zhang Shuai'an was thinking that after filming the movie, he would go to Gu Jiahui to get the lyrics for "Yi Jian Mei" to go with it, as it would be perfect for this scene.

"Click!"

Zhang Shuai'an clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Their performance was absolutely perfect!"

Only then did the people around dare to laugh out loud. Whether it was Yu Mulian's lines or Shi Tian's performance, the contrast was so striking that it made people burst into laughter.

Zhang Shuai'an held up one finger and said, "Just to be safe, add another one!"

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