Looking at the text message on my phone.

"Call me back when you have time."

Sender: Feng Xiaogang.

Zhang Yuan knew that his next job was coming!
He cleared his throat and planned to call Director Feng back.

But at this moment, the hoarse and irritable "standard" Hong Kong Mandarin of Stephen Chow came from beside him.

"Hey, are you kidding me?"

"If you can't come, just tell me earlier."

"I'm really annoyed by what's happened now."

"Alright, alright, I'm hanging up."

"Humph!"

Stephen Chow was also on the phone, and from the sound of it, it seemed like he had encountered some troubles.

He held the phone but did not make a call. Instead, he tilted his ear and used his powerful hearing to pay attention to what was happening over there.

"Hey, are you free recently?"

"Oh, that's fine."

"Brother, have you been in Hong Kong recently?"

"Ah, in Vegas, never mind."

Stephen Chow made several phone calls in a row, but his mood became increasingly depressed.

As Zhang Yuan listened, he began to chuckle.

Because he roughly guessed what happened.

Most excellent works, whether novels or movies, always have an impressive beginning.

As the general trend of the world goes, after a long period of division, there will be unification, and after a long period of unification, there will be division... "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".

When the false is made to appear true, the true becomes false; when the non-existent is made to appear present, the existent becomes non-existent... "Dream of Red Mansions".

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…A Tale of Two Cities.

Not to mention traditional literature, the same is true for online novels.

Fighting power, three stages!

It hurts. It hurts so much. My head hurts.

Heaven and earth are not benevolent, and all things are dogs.

……

This is true for novels and movies as well.

The earth-shattering heist at the beginning of The Dark Knight.

The wedding at the beginning of The Godfather.

The horse-drawn train in Let the Bullets Fly.

In short, the beginning of a good work is very important.

Stephen Chow is well aware of this. The audience sits in the cinema, the surrounding lights gradually dim, and the screen gradually lights up.

The next ten minutes, or even five minutes, can determine 50% of the audience’s impression of a movie!
You must firmly grasp the audience's attention in order to gain the upper hand and arouse the audience's interest.

Just like a crosstalk performance, the opening performance is very important.

If the venue is not heated up, or as the old saying goes, "it's muddy", and the audience's emotions are not aroused, then the next few performances will be very difficult.

The same goes for the movie "Kung Fu". The beginning is simple and clear, and it presents a very impressive drama.

This is the first appearance of Brother Chen, the leader of the Axe Gang, played by Zhang Yuan, and he helps the police deal with the troublemaking boss of the Crocodile Gang.

Stephen Chow has good ideas and good plot designs, and he knows very well what the audience likes to watch.

A star!
As the saying goes, a familiar face is a treasure.

So he planned to find a friend in the circle to play the boss of the Crocodile Gang.

At the beginning, he looked for his acquaintance, Wang Jing.

This person originally agreed to perform for just one or two days.

But at this juncture, Lao Wang received a role in a play, and had to take on the roles of screenwriter, supervisor and producer.

I'm busy writing the script right now and can't get away.

It would be okay to put it aside and help your friend first.

But this play is really not good, because the person who invited him was called Yang Dengkui.

That’s right, it’s Lao Dengtou.

Zhang Yuan's previous film "A Chinese Ghost Story" was also Lao Deng's film.

And the name of this drama is "The Best in the World"!
This drama brings together four beauties at the peak of their beauty: Michelle Ye, Huang Shengyi, Gao Yuanyuan, and Chen Yirong.

Among the male actors, Wallace Huo also showed up, which was very pleasing to the eye.

After Huang Shengyi finishes filming "Kung Fu", he should be able to seamlessly transition into this drama.

Moreover, in this way, Zhang Yuan also understood why Huang Shengyi would go to Wang Jing's play. It could be regarded as Director Wang's apology for this matter.

Wang Jing couldn't afford to offend this Tiandao League boss, and he was also his financial backer, so he had to rush the work.

He is a famous "quick shooter" in Hong Kong.

When filming "Tricky Brains", the Xiang brothers only gave him a film title, plus two actors, Stephen Chow and Hua Ge.

And I told him clearly that the film had already been sold and would be released during the Spring Festival.

If you can't get in, you can do it yourself.

Wang Jing looked at the calendar. It was the end of December, but he didn't even have a script.

The results of it?
Filming started within a week, and they wrote the script while shooting was ongoing. In the end, the film was not only released during the Spring Festival, but also sold over 3000 million Hong Kong dollars.

I'm afraid that in the whole world, only Wang Jing can accomplish this task.

Yang Dengkui and the Xiang brothers were of similar background and did similar things.

Just said...

"Let's make a martial arts film. You take the lead and I'll pay for it."

It’s over.

Then this movie "The Best in the World" broke several records.

A press conference was held to sell the film on the day it was approved by the radio and television administration.

Domestic distribution was completed in three days.

Complete overseas distribution in seven days.

It broke the record of martial arts film purchase prices of TV stations in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong Province, and Liaoning Province.

Many old Hong Kong film and television practitioners said that when the Hong Kong film and television industry was in a great depression, it was Wang Jing who worked every day to ensure that everyone had food to eat.

So no matter how many bad movies he makes, no one will scold him.

He is a genius.

But no matter what, it is a trouble for Stephen Chow that he can't come now.

Zhang Yuan lowered his head and thought for a moment, then walked forward.

"Master Xing, I'm in trouble."

"Aren't you going to eat?" When Zhou Xingchi saw him coming forward, he put away his ferocious expression which was originally caused by his troubles.

"I don't eat much, it's okay." Zhang Yuan smiled and hooked Xing Ye's shoulder.

"What are you doing?" Seeing his bright smile, Star Master became a little cautious.

"I have something to discuss with you."

"No talk of increasing the pay," Stephen Chow replied directly.

Zhang Yuan: …

One day I will kill you!

"That's not it. If I want to join another crew in the future, please help recommend them."

The place he wanted to go was Wang Jing's crew.

But it’s not “The Best in the World”.

"That's a matter for the future, let's talk about it later." This is how Stephen Chow is. Asking him to do something is like trying to steal his wife. He doesn't have a wife, so it's impossible for him to do it.

"Let's help each other." Zhang Yuan put his face closer.

"Aren't you in trouble now?"

"I'll help you solve your problem, and you help me." "One for one, no one loses."

Stephen Chow thought about it and said, I seem to be the director and you seem to be the actor.

Is there anyone who talks to a director like this?

Others think I am honest and well-behaved, but you are different and you even negotiate with me.

"Do you know what my trouble is now?"

"I know. It's just that we can't find any celebrities to play the roles."

Stephen Chow looked at his ears and thought that he should stay away from him when making phone calls in the future because his hearing was too good.

But then he thought, I can't even find a suitable candidate, how can you, a little actor, find one?

Two days later.

"Hello, Mr. Xing."

Zhou Xingchi stared blankly at Feng Xiaogang, who had a pointed face and a pair of uneven yellow teeth when he laughed.

"How is it? It's okay, right?" Zhang Yuan pushed Stephen Chow's shoulder with his elbow.

"Okay...right." Stephen Chow replied with a smile and quickly welcomed Director Feng to a nearby rest area.

[Received thanks from Stephen Chow, acting skills +1, comedy talent +2! ]

Several people sat down and started chatting with smiles.

Both of them are top directors in China and have equal status.

Although Stephen Chow is not good at socializing, he quickly started a conversation.

In fact, it would be impossible to invite Director Feng just based on Zhang Yuan's reputation.

Even though he had just helped to revise the script and passed it, he also recommended Cao Shangfei to the other party as a consultant and helped design several exciting fighting scenes.

But these conditions are still not enough.

But there was another factor that made Director Feng agree to this matter generously.

The investors of both "Kung Fu" and "A World Without Thieves" are Huayi!

Starting from "Big Shot" in 01, Director Feng started a long-term collaboration with the Huayi brothers.

He made a cameo appearance in another Hua Yi film, just to give Hua Yi face and curry favor with the sponsor.

In addition, his own film was about to start shooting, and he thought that if he could use this opportunity to invite Stephen Chow to make a cameo appearance, wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone?

It's just like when Jackie Chan's "Glass Bottle" and Stephen Chow's "King of Comedy" were filmed at the same time, and the two of them made guest appearances in each other's films.

But Director Feng is really overthinking this matter.

But these two directors have one thing in common.

Later, they were all cheated by Huayi.

Feng Xiaogang lost the bet and had to pay more than 200 million yuan in compensation.

Stephen Chow’s “Journey to the West” did not include the supplementary agreement in the contract, and was “defaulted” from nearly 100 million yuan in dividends.

They can be considered as brothers in distress.

Later, Stephen Chow also gambled with another company and was asked to pay more than 800 million yuan in compensation after losing.

These two directors produced many bad films in later generations, and their reputations seemed to be ruined in their later years, all because of the failure of the gambling agreement.

"Sister Fan, you're here too." Zhang Yuan saw the tall and thin Xu Fan walk into the room and immediately went to greet her.

Next to Xu Fan, there was a man with a round head, medium build and ordinary looks.

"Hello, Xiaogang said you were in the crew, so we came to Shanghai to visit you." Xu Fan said nicely.

Still coming to play with me?
What can we play?
It's just to look after your husband.

"Come, let me introduce you, this is..."

"I know. Nice to meet you, Director Zhang."

“I really like your works “Love to the End” and “Subway to Spring”.”

This person is none other than Zhang Yibai, who is also a director and is particularly good at romantic-themed works.

Later, "So Young" and "Passing by Your World" were both his masterpieces.

He is also considered a number one figure.

Director Feng also brought him along.

"Hello, hello. I often hear Xu Fan talk about you and he praises you very much." This is the first time Director Zhang has met him.

Seeing his pale face, skinny body and sub-healthy condition, he didn't look like the young man full of vigor and vitality that Xu Fan described.

"You've changed so much?" Xu Fan also noticed that something was wrong with him.

"My role is just like this, it's just filming..."

After explaining to the old lady, Xu Fan nodded vigorously.

Okay, that's the right thing to do.

She had always believed in Zhang Yuan, and now that she thought about it, she was right about him.

"You guys continue chatting, I'm going to buy some fruits and snacks." Zhang Yuan made an excuse to leave.

There are three directors and a famous actor at the table, all of them veterans. If there is some PY transaction, it would not be appropriate for me to be there.

Besides, he had other things to deal with.

He called to ask for help, and it wasn't just Director Feng who came.

There is another person coming soon, and I have to go pick him up.

When I arrived at the gate of Chedun Film and Television Base and just stood there, I saw in the distance a short but sturdy figure who walked with the gait of a dragon and a tiger.

This person is none other than the martial arts master Huang Julong, who I met on the set of "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" and also worked with on the set of "A Chinese Ghost Story".

This guy who plays Zhuo Bufan in "Tian Long" has a good relationship with Zhang Yuan.

Why did you ask him to come here?

It’s Zhao Zhilin and Shi Xingyu!
Since he was being chased by himself, he must find a chance to "retaliate".

However, unlike the last time he dealt with Wu Jing, this time he called Huang Julong here not to have him help him in the fight.

Huang Julong has a characteristic, which he has mentioned to Zhang Yuan several times, so he is very clear about it.

If ordinary martial artists admire Hong Kong stars, they all love Bruce Lee, just like Stephen Chow.

But this guy is different, he just loves Liang Xiaolong!
He went to Hong Kong to be a stunt double in an attempt to enter the film and television industry just because he watched the 82 version of "Chen Zhen" starring Liang Xiaolong!
Since this is the case, why not help others to achieve their goal?

Anyway, Liang Xiaolong is in the crew and can't run away.

"Brother, long time no see!"

When Huang Julong heard that Zhang Yuan wanted to introduce him to Liang Xiaolong, he excitedly took the train to Shanghai overnight.

The eyeballs were bright red.

"Hey, you're not in the right state..." He was about to go up and give her a bear hug, but he was stunned.

"You've been indulging yourself in excessive sexual activities." Huang Julong stroked his chin and looked at him.

Damn... you’re really good at judging people.

"We martial artists all rely on our innate energy and half-life training. If we want to achieve great success, we must abstain from sex," he said seriously.

"Then I would rather give up my martial arts." Zhang Yuan replied seriously.

Huang Julong: ...

He was led to the crew's rest area. Liang Xiaolong only had scenes to film in the afternoon today, so he was free.

"I'll introduce you to them later." Zhang Yuan said as he walked. When he turned around, the person was gone.

Such a huge yellow dragon is gone!
He quickly turned his head and looked forward.

With a thud, the man knelt in front of Liang Xiaolong, which scared the Fire Cloud Evil God!
Zhang Yuan held his forehead with his hand, this was too exciting.

"Uncle Long, this is my friend whom I mentioned to you."

"He is your loyal fan, and both of you have the word 'dragon' in your names, so you are destined to be together."

Liang Xiaolong finally reacted and carefully looked at the young and middle-aged man in front of him.

He has a strong frame, and his arms and legs are solid and powerful. You can tell at first glance that he is a well-trained martial artist.

"Master Chen Zhen, please accept my greetings!" Huang Julong was shaking with excitement.

Today I finally got to meet the only idol of my life!

[Received thanks from Huang Julong, physical strength +5, boxing basics +6, leg skills basics +5, martial arts basics +3, sword skills understanding +2! ]

...(End of chapter)