Chapter 71 New Year

"Are you still busy working?" It was clearly past midnight, but Huang Misheng, who had gotten up to drink water at night, saw the faint blue light still on in the small screening room, and could not help but tiptoe in.

Sure enough, the person still watching the movie inside was her husband Zhao Rifu.

It is well known that Zhao Rifu has the habit of watching several hours of movies every day: he never distinguishes between good and bad movies and accepts all of them. He will think about what is good about good movies and what is bad about bad movies. When he has free time, he will not only watch movies in the small screening room at home, but also drive to the cinema to watch movies, in order to observe the audience's reaction firsthand.

"Did I wake you up?" Zhao Rifu turned around and saw that it was her, so he asked softly.

"No, I just feel less as I get older." Huang Misheng shook his head and looked back at the picture in front of him.

Ever since Chia-ho's two films became a success in the North American market, Zhao Rifu has become increasingly melancholy and gloomy, to the point that even his old friends, who normally would greet him with a smile, are afraid to approach him.

Huang Misheng, who had already retired to educate his children, didn't quite understand it at first. It was not until the whole family went to the United States on New Year's Day to watch Su Yun's "Artificial Intelligence" that even though he didn't have much in-depth knowledge of the film industry, he could deeply feel how far Su Yun, this little genius, and foreign film technology had left current Hong Kong films behind.

To evaluate a refrigerator, you don't need to know how to cool it. The best opinions on movies are often given by audiences who only care about the quality of the movie itself. Even though Huang Misheng doesn't understand the inside story, in her opinion, "Artificial Intelligence" is more fashionable and better-looking than all the movies released by Zhao this year.

After all, Zhao's "72 Tenants" relied on the foundation of new wine in old bottles and a large group of artists who already had a good reputation with the audience to gain popularity; while Su Yun's "Artificial Intelligence" really relied on the story content and shooting technology to impress the audience in front of the screen.

"You don't have to worry too much. We at Zhao have a large number of people and power. We can never lose to those small companies. The box office legend is only temporary. Long-term box office data is the truth that establishes the longevity of a company." Zhao Rifu explained to his wife bit by bit, "Besides, I never believe that we will be inferior to others - so I plan to develop the international market this year."

"Okay, just do it if you want to. We all support you." Huang Misheng smiled, "TBB has Mona to help you, and Zhao's also has Mingzai who is learning how to do things. You don't have to worry too much about the back, just go for it boldly!"

Huang Misheng was five years older than Zhao Rifu. She was once the girlfriend of Mr. Yu, Zhao Rifu's close friend and partner in Singapore. However, she fell in love with Zhao Rifu, who was only 19 years old at the time, by chance. Unexpectedly, after learning about their relationship, Mr. Yu generously let go and blessed them. He handed Huang Misheng, who was almost going to be a concubine in the Yu family, to Zhao Rifu, facilitating their marriage.

After that, this young couple with deep affection spent many wonderful years together and gave birth to two sons and two daughters.

But that was the way the world was at that time. No matter how much Zhao Rifu tried to respect his first wife, there were still many beautiful women out there who came to him one after another as the film company grew. After holding on for nearly twenty years, Zhao Rifu finally met another woman who touched his heart again.

Due to the limitations of the times and past experiences, Huang Misheng was not very opposed to giving up everything and following Zhao Rifu back to Hong Kong as a concubine, Fang Mona: after all, she herself almost married an old man who was more than twice her age as a concubine. Only she could understand how much sincerity and helplessness there was in this.

Therefore, compared to those who are scheming and greedy for glory, Fang Mona, a third party with some sincerity and self-respect, has her bottom line and knows her limits, and the two of them can get along peacefully.

Especially since that incident caused Fang Mona to no longer have children of her own, she did not blame herself.

Sharing adversity reveals a person's true character. Although Fang Mona still claims to be Zhao Rifu's confidante and does not live in Zhao's house, Huang Misheng always invites her to join the family when they get together.

"Thank you for your hard work." Zhao Rifu patted her hands.

"As a family, there's no such thing as hard work. Just eat more vegetables and stop being so thin. That's my best 'reward'." Huang Misheng said with a smile.

After the two chatted about family matters, Zhao Rifu talked about his next plan: "Didn't I buy the play "The Big Boss" by British writer Cowan a few years ago? I plan to invest 10 million US dollars to shoot it. It just so happens that Hollywood action star Steve McQueen, who has been out of time, has just finished filming "Papillon", so he should have some free time..."

Lui Siu Lung is a Hong Kong Kung Fu star, so what if he can make a name for himself in Hollywood? They both started out in action movies, but Steve is a Hollywood-class tough action star!

Zhao Rifu, who expected a good chance of winning this time, enthusiastically told his wife about his new plan, while Huang Misheng was also in the dim light, with a gentle smile, acting as the best listener to her husband.

They had plenty of confidence and support, but what they didn't know was that this failed investment would mark the beginning of the decline of Zhao Film Company.

In contrast, Jiahe is considered to be extremely lucky in the eyes of outsiders.

Zou Yunhua was lucky, as he picked up two big leaks, Lu Shaolong and Su Yun. He was indeed extremely lucky. But he was unlucky, as Lu Shaolong was suddenly bedridden and Su Yun was young and a girl, so he could not really run the business. Even if he made money and fame in the international market, the future development of the entire company was still worrying.

"So, the next step for Jiahe's films is to undergo a transformation?" Upon hearing Zou Yunhua's new plan, Su Yun felt it was unexpected but also reasonable.

Although the legend of her master Lu Shaolong is still there, Lu Shaolong's style of kung fu action movies can only be carried forward by Lu Shaolong alone. If others blindly follow his trend, it will only destroy his accumulated reputation and future expectations. Therefore, it is better for him to find another way and start anew.

Therefore, the next route that Jiahe will decide on will mainly be comedy.

Whether it is an action comedy, an urban comedy or a costume comedy, no matter how different the packaging is, the core does not change much.

On the one hand, Zou Yunhua was discussing with Hong Ganbao and other martial artists who originally helped in Lu Shaolong's films, asking them to decide how to inherit and integrate Lu Shaolong's style to shoot an action comedy that would further enhance the comedic effect; and on the other hand, the second-hand preparation was to put the Hui brothers' new script on the agenda.

Compared to Zhao's approach of releasing a large number of films year after year to boost box office revenue, Chia Ho prefers quality over quantity, focusing on action and comedy, its two strongest areas.

In Su Yun's memory, the box office champion of 1975 was the new film "Ghosts and Twins" directed by the Hui brothers, which successfully helped Kai Wo take over the annual championship throne from Lui Siu Lung and started Kai Wo's nearly ten-year career as the annual champion of Hong Kong films.

After all, the two films by Su Yun and Lu Shaolong that plundered the international market are essentially co-productions. "Tiger Fighting: Reborn" is a co-production, while Su Yun's "Artificial Intelligence" is completely Westernized and is considered a Western film in people's eyes.

Therefore, these two Chinese-Western hybrid films, which started out by trying to make money from foreigners such as US dollars and Japanese yen, were both directly expelled from the history of Hong Kong films.

"There's nothing we can do. Movies that allow Xiao Luzai to have a large role are not often available." Su Yun also threw her hands helplessly: as far as she knew, although there were many movies starring child stars, it was not easy to find a suitable one to adapt for her to play.

Moreover, she was burdened with Memoirs of a Geisha, and it was not easy for her to leave.

"Of course I can write, but it will take time to verify whether the writing is good or not." Zou Yunhua glanced at Su Yun, "I received news that after watching your "The Perfect Match", TVB is also planning to produce a children's TV series with child actors as the theme. Your teacher Zheng Sir has been invited to write the lyrics for the theme song."

"Are you kidding me? You're just trying to take advantage of me!" It was fine that Fang Mona used a Miss Hong Kong invitation and an artist training class contract to forcefully take away Zhou Yuanfa and Zhao Xiashi, whom she discovered. Now, she's copying her homework and trying to poach her teacher...

"I will go to Sir Zheng to wish him a happy new year and to inquire about the news." Although she knew that this was Zou Yunhua's real intention in telling her the news, if there was any problem in it, she could at least give Zheng Guoguang some advice.

"Well, if you have any difficult questions, tell us everything at once. I'm very busy recently and may not have the time to come and talk to you about this and that." Su Yun waved her hand.

"I plan to arrange for Ding Beidi to play the second female role in "Ghostly Twin Stars." Zou Yunhua said.

Su Yun recalled the plot of the movie and nodded: "This kind of role, which is a vase on the surface but also a bit scheming, is quite suitable for her image. Anyway, you promised to arrange a role for her when you signed her, so let's do it this way. I have no objection. You just need to deal with my master and the contract master."

"I've already talked to them, and they have no problem on both sides, so I came to explain it to you specifically." Zou Yunhua added.

"What happened to Master before was an unexpected acute illness. If you think about it carefully, it's not her fault. I'm not so petty." Su Yun understood that Zou Yunhua was worried that she would have opinions about Ding Beidi because of Lu Shaolong's matter, so she waved her hand generously to make her position clear.

"That's good." There are not many female actors in Jiahe at present, and there are only these two who can hold the place. Zou Yunhua doesn't want the two to have any disputes.

"Please say cheer up to her for me. I'm leaving now!" Ding Bedi is really lucky. She lost a team that was once a reserve for the annual championship, but now she has caught the ride of the future annual championship.

I have to say, sometimes some people are born to win even without doing anything.

Su Yun came to Zheng's house sighing all the way. After greeting the Zheng family, she planned to go to the study to "ambush" Zheng Guoguang, who was so focused on his work that he didn't even notice the guests coming.

"Hey, A-Zhan, I thought of the title song for the new theme song - the small universe is bigger than you!" Su Yun came to the study and saw Zheng Guoguang making a phone call. His competitive look made her a little confused.

Her Sir Zheng is well-known in the industry for his elegance and good temper. How could he suddenly lose his composure like this?

After asking the question, Zheng Guoguang smiled helplessly: "The person on the other end of the phone is Huang Zhan, who has been my rival and friend for many years."

Hearing this name, Su Yun let out a long "oh": Compared to Zheng Guoguang, who focuses more on the Cantonese music scene, Huang Zhan, the lyricist, is obviously more famous in the Chinese music scene.

If Zheng Guoguang's style is consistent with his childlike innocence, freshness and timelessness, then Huang Zhan's style is typical of his bold and unrestrained temperament.

The "lovers do happy things" type of borderline driving is minor. In one of the "Huang Feihong" films, he adapted a salacious version of "A Man Should Be Self-reliant" to make fun of himself, which left Su Yun stunned for a long time.

One word can describe him completely, his surname is like his name, “Huang”…

In Su Yun's mind, this man is the one who best embodies the essence of the Hong Kong language's "lustful but not lewd" realm.

Of course, Zheng Guoguang and Huang Zhan, two giants in the lyric world, apart from their usual jealousy, also tend to be more and more silly when they get together: Zheng Guoguang wrote a new lyric "Little Universe" to counter Huang Zhan's lyric "The world is really small" which he wrote some time ago.

You come up with the "world"? Then I'll come up with the "universe", which is bigger than you or something - even kindergarten thinks you two are childish!

"By the way, I heard that after teaching this year, Mr. Zheng, you will transfer to Wuhua Primary School to teach, right?" The primary school she attended, "Xinhui Chamber of Commerce School of the Hong Kong Four Districts Chamber of Commerce and Industry", is about to close, which means it will just finish Su Yun's term.

"Yes, what about you? Do you plan to continue studying or make movies next?" Zheng Guoguang asked.

"I'll go film if there's a role to play, but I'll also try to find time to take exams - for middle school, I plan to apply to St. Paul's." Although many prestigious schools have already offered her olive branches, promising that after she enters middle school, she can still follow the preferential treatment given to her by the Xinhui Chamber of Commerce School, and she does not need to attend classes but only needs to take exams regularly to verify her grades, but Su Yun's goal remains unchanged.

Previously, her performance in "The Perfect Match" was not enough to impress this No. 1 secondary school in Hong Kong. But later, after "Artificial Intelligence" and "Memoirs of a Geisha", if she can pass the entrance test, then the issue of preferential treatment should be negotiable.

Or maybe you can find an opportunity to put aside your filming schedule and go and learn something seriously?

After all, she is still young enough.

Perhaps it is because the journey has been so smooth and uneventful that Su Yun, who still believes that the years are peaceful and tranquil, has never known what kind of storms she will face in the future.