Huayu: Reborn in 97, transferring to the Central Academy of Drama's star-studded class

"Trust me, Lai Zai, this project will be a huge success and will definitely revitalize Hong Kong cinema!"

When he said this, Andy Lau looked confident and full of energy, but he was actually very insecure inside.

It sounds good, that it's a success and a revival, but in reality, the project couldn't attract any funding at all. Many investors in Hong Kong didn't think much of the film, finding it old-fashioned and unappealing.

He traveled to various places, and what those people implied was that they didn't want to invest.

But Andy Lau always believed that the film could be made. He trusted his judgment and believed that as long as Jiang Lai was willing to invest, the film could start shooting immediately.

Jiang Lai scratched his head. He had read the script as "Kill the Cop" and assumed it was an old-fashioned Hong Kong film, the kind where gangsters and Hong Kong police fight each other.

Upon opening the script, it was discovered that one of the male leads was named Chen Yongren, and the other was named Liu Jianming.

This is totally like "Infernal Affairs"! Why did they choose such a low-class name?

"Uh...Brother Hua, I think this movie title needs to be changed."

Wanting to change your name means there's hope!

Andy Lau laughed, his face crinkling with wrinkles. "You're the boss, so you decide! What name do you think is best?"

Jiang Lai spoke directly, "Let's call it 'Infernal Affairs'."

Andy Lau pondered for a moment, finding the three characters easy to pronounce and particularly melodious, and asked, "Does this name have any meaning?"

"The term 'Avici' is a Buddhist term referring to the Avici Hell, meaning endless suffering. You see, both of these main characters are undercover agents, and they live in great pain, which is quite fitting. 'Tao' refers to morality and the path. The two main characters are searching for their respective paths in endless suffering."

Andy Lau's eyes lit up, and he immediately became excited. This was exactly the perfect finishing touch!

"What a great name! I didn't know you were interested in religion, Lai-zai."

"Uh...I know a little, I know a little."

Jiang Lai gave a perfunctory reply, saying that all the interpretations of the film's title were already commonplace, and anyone could have something to say about it.

He continued flipping through the script. "Have the actors all been cast?"

Upon hearing this question, Andy Lau knew he had it all figured out and quickly replied, "Director Mak Chiu-fai and I have discussed it, and we've made a list of actors suitable for the roles. It's at the back of the script; take a look."

Jiang Lai flipped to the last page, and the candidates for Chen Yongren and Liu Jianming were: Chen Guanxi, Li Cansen, and Yu Wenle.

?

Jiang Lai looked puzzled.

"Ahem, this is the lower-spec version we came up with if we don't have enough funds. You can flip to the next page." Andy Lau said awkwardly.

Jiang Lai nodded. If they really had to use those people, then it wouldn't be worth making this film.

He turned to the next page, and the candidates for Chen Yongren and Liu Jianming were: Andy Lau, Tony Leung, Ekin Cheng, and Leon Lai.

That's more like it; this looks like a big-budget movie.

"Okay, I can vote for this play, but!" Jiang Lai pointed to a spot on the cast list, "The police chief can't be played by Huang Qiusheng, and Sha Qiang can't be played by Du Wenze."

Andy Lau was taken aback. As a local Hong Kong resident, he had heard about some of the two men's behavior.

"So who do you think would be suitable?"

Jiang Lai thought for a moment and suddenly remembered the aloof Mr. Liu he had met at the "Sky Curtain Rises Again" gala.

"The boss could try Liu Qingyun, as for Sha Qiang..." Jiang Lai suddenly thought of Huang Bo.

Unfortunately, he is not from Hong Kong.

No! Filming can be done outside of Hong Kong, and...

Jiang Lai turned to ask, "Do you hope this movie will be released in mainland China?"

"That's exactly what I was thinking!" Andy Lau smiled ambiguously. "Lai-zai, you have connections in mainland China. Could you get a spot for our movie?"

Jiang Lai fell into thought. At this time, Hong Kong films still had to compete for import quotas. By the time restrictions were lifted, it would be 2003 when CEPA was signed, and by then, restrictions on co-productions between Hong Kong and the mainland would be relaxed.

But why can't this be done earlier?

"Brother Hua, wait a minute, I'm going to make a phone call."

"Okay."

Jiang Lai stood up, walked to the side, dialed Han Sanye's number, and explained his thoughts.

Third Master pondered for a moment and slowly said:

"Xiao Jiang, I've thought about this too, but relaxing restrictions between the mainland and Hong Kong has both advantages and disadvantages."

Our mainland film industry and market are still very weak. If we open up the market, the collective move of Hong Kong filmmakers to the north will indeed boost the development of our mainland films. This is a positive aspect, but it is also a negative aspect.

Top-tier filmmakers in mainland China are in a better position because they have established teams, but mid-tier and lower-tier filmmakers are almost guaranteed to lose their jobs.

Actually, there are policies for co-productions between mainland China and Hong Kong now, but it requires that the ratio of staff and actors from mainland China and Hong Kong be 1:1, and that the film be shot in mainland China and that the storyline be related to mainland China.

Filmmakers over there feel too restricted and are unwilling to make films.

Jiang Lai didn't really know these things, nor did he think about them in such detail; he just listened attentively.

Third Master continued, "Once your cinemas are built and the mainland market takes off, more people will be willing to work in the film industry, and the entire ecosystem of the film industry will develop. It will be much better to open up the market then, and..."

Third Master hesitated for a moment, then said tactfully, "Besides, there are only two years left. The higher-ups want to get through this peacefully, understand?"

Jiang Lai suddenly realized that it was fine to open it up now, but it would cause turmoil and require gradual regulation. If it were to be opened up later, that would be a matter for those who came after.

Besides, what Third Master said is right. We should make more preparations. We can't let mainland filmmakers go hungry.

"Yes, Third Master, I understand."

"Okay, I understand." Third Master nodded. "Also, Xiao Jiang, now you have connections and assets on both sides. You can think about the development of films in both places in private. You're a young man with a quick mind, so help the leaders share some of the pressure."

Jiang Lai scratched his head, feeling like he'd gotten himself into trouble with just one phone call. "Alright, Third Master, I...I'll try my best, I'll try my best..."

Third Master chuckled twice, knowing the boy was lazy, so he didn't say much, exchanged a few pleasantries, and hung up the phone.

Andy Lau vaguely heard Jiang Lai talking to Master Han on the phone. When he returned, he asked, "Lai-zai, how did it go?"

Jiang Lai thought for a moment and said, "Let's prepare for the movie first, and then polish the script properly. There's no rush to shoot it. Let's wait for the right opportunity."

"At what time?" Andy Lau pressed.

"An opportune moment for it to be released directly in mainland China," Jiang Lai said with a smile.

......

Two business deals had already been negotiated, and Jiang returned to the "Peak" film crew, but still didn't get to film any of his scenes.

However, he happened to stumble upon a famous scene that the film crew was about to start shooting.

That was Jackie Chan and Niko running naked in the street.

The East Corridor was bustling with people and vehicles, yet the film crew did not close the streets or apply for traffic control; the entire shoot took place on location.

In the movie, the two cause a ruckus at a massage parlor, beating down a bunch of henchmen, only to be surrounded by even more henchmen.

Since the two men were police officers, they couldn't be killed, so the henchmen stripped them naked and threw them onto the street.

Director Curly Hair laughed and asked the two of them to actually be naked. Jackie Chan had to mentally prepare himself for a while, and was already ready to make the sacrifice. But then Curly Hair threw over a pair of flesh-colored underwear. Um, the other one was pure black.

However, these underwear are very see-through, so there's not much difference between wearing them or not, but it's still a bit of a psychological comfort.

Brother Cheng Long and Brother Ni gritted their teeth and stripped naked, using newspapers and trash cans to cover their fronts, and started running naked in the street.

The film crew secretly filmed from a distance, and the shocked looks on the faces of the passersby were genuine.

The funniest thing was that no one recognized Jackie Chan; they genuinely thought they were two perverts and immediately called the police.

Jackie Chan almost got a silver bracelet on his own turf, but the police let him off the hook after learning it was during filming, though they gave the crew a stern talking-to.

After waiting for a while, the crew was finally ready to film Jiang Lai's scenes.