The literary era since 1979

"Zu Xian, where did you go just now?"

When Zhang Manyu saw Wang Zuxian coming out of the elevator in a daze, she immediately pulled her to a corner.

"me……"

Wang Zuxian came back to her senses and said with a worried look on her face, "Sister Wang and I have been looking for you for a long time. Did you know that the person we are meeting today is Teacher Fang, who Aunt Liu has to personally invite? How could you be late for such an important moment?"

"I did not do it on purpose."

"Of course I know you didn't mean it. Did you accidentally..."

"No, someone deliberately framed me!"

Wang Zuxian explained aggrievedly that the big mistake happened because she was notified 10 minutes late.

"No way!?"

Zhang Manyu was shocked, but when she thought about the intrigue within TVB, she felt that someone could indeed do such a thing.

Wang Zuxian naturally knew very well that her move from Taiwan to Hong Kong was purely a coincidence.

At that time, Shaw Brothers was in the process of replacing its artists internally, and finding a "leading actress" who could be promoted became a top priority.

However, as the Hong Kong TV drama market happened to be booming, Shaw Brothers had changed its strategy and asked many of its actors to start filming TV dramas instead.

So, Fang Yihua found Wong Zuxian in Taiwan and not only took charge of her agency contract personally, but also recommended her to make films at Cinema City because Shaw Brothers was in decline and the quality of its films was poor. Her first film was "Working Emperor", a collaboration with Tsui Hak and Hui Koon-chieh.

You know, Liu Dehua was ruthlessly suppressed, hidden and banned because she was not allowed to go out to film and refused to renew her contract with TVB.

Therefore, naturally, some people in TVB and Shaw Brothers regarded Joey Wong as a thorn in their side and tried every means to trip her up.

"Now what?"

Zhang Manyu said with some concern, "Sixth Aunt looked unhappy when she left. Otherwise..."

"It's all right now. Mr. Fang has already pleaded for me."

Wang Zuxian recounted everything that had happened at the elevator entrance before.

Zhang Manyu couldn't help but be curious, why did Fangyan want to plead for her, whom she had never met before?

Wang Zuxian patted her chest with lingering fear, "I don't know either, but thanks to him, otherwise I would be dead."

Zhang Manyu heaved a sigh of relief and said, "From this point of view, Teacher Fang seems to be a pretty good person."

Wang Zuxian lowered her voice and said, "Not only that, I also saw Master Liu waiting for him at the elevator entrance!"

Zhang Manyu exclaimed, she never expected that Run Run Shaw, who was a big shot in the Hong Kong entertainment circle and even in Southeast Asia, would go out to welcome Fang Yan.

Wang Zuxian blinked, "What do you think Sixth Master, Sixth Aunt, and Mr. Fang will talk about?"

Just as the two were daydreaming, Fang Yan sat opposite Run Run Shaw and Fang Yihua. The three of them closed the door and had a small meeting.

"Mr. Shao."

"I am the sixth child. I am honored to be called 'Sixth Master' by everyone."

Run Run Shaw waved his hand and said, "I will just show off my seniority in front of Mr. Fang this time, so you can just call me..."

"Uncle Six."

He immediately changed his tone and said his nickname, asking them to call him "Yanzi".

Run Run Shaw cast an admiring look at him. Fang Yihua, seeing this, poured tea on the side and praised:
"Yanzi shined brightly at the Oscars this time, and brought honor to all of us Chinese in Hollywood, in the United States, and in the world."

"No, no, Sixth Aunt, thank you for the compliment."

Fangyan picked up the teacup, looked, sniffed and drank.

Everyone chatted for a while about Oscar and what they saw and heard in the United States, and the atmosphere became more and more harmonious.

Seeing that the time was almost right, Fang Yihua finally got to the point: "I wonder how much Yanzi knows about our TVB?"

Fangyan pretended to be ignorant even though he knew the truth. He only said that he only knew that TVB was the "big brother" in the Hong Kong television industry, and that he also knew that this year more than 50 TV stations in the mainland jointly invested to introduce the 83 version of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" to the mainland, which triggered a viewing boom and also set off a Jin Yong fever.

"The Legend of the Condor Heroes is just the first one." Fang Yihua smiled and said that mainland TV stations are striking while the iron is hot and plan to introduce several more TV series in the second half of the year, such as "The Bund."

Fang Yan said politely: "If I have time, I must take a look."

After talking about the TV series, Run Run Shaw went on to talk about Shaw Brothers Films, "I wonder how much Yanzi knows about it?"

Fangyan's answer was still vague. He only said that Li Hanxiang, who was from Shaw Brothers, had come to the mainland to shoot "The Burning of the Summer Palace" and "The Last Emperor". Apart from that, he knew very little. After all, he couldn't expose the dark history of Shaw Brothers, right?

For example, the plane crash incident involving the boss of Dianmao that put Shaw Brothers under great pressure.

"I wonder if Yanzi would like to hear me talk about the history of Shaw Brothers?"

Run Run Shaw held the teacup with a smile on his face.

Fang Yan said: "I would like to hear the details."

With a hint of nostalgia, Run Run Shaw narrated the long period of ups and downs that Shaw Brothers experienced from the 60s to the 80s.

From being the king in the 60s and competing with Hollywood, to now in the 80s, it has gradually declined and lost its glory.

"Uncle Six, please don't think like that. People are born, grow old, get sick and die, and careers also rise and fall."

Fang Yan advised: "Shaw Brothers may be at a low point now, but it may be a new starting point for the next peak."

"Yanzi is right, but if we want to overcome the difficulties and survive, we still lack someone who can really turn the tide."

Run Run Shaw and Fang Yihua looked at each other and said, "We have been looking for a long time and feel that the person who can save Shaw Brothers must be you!"

Fangyan was very surprised and politely refused, saying that he would ask for someone else. I was not being modest. How could I, the deputy editor-in-chief of People's Literature and a deputy bureau-level cadre, come to Hong Kong to work for you, Shaw Brothers? It was impossible for me to work for you!
It’s impossible to work in this life!
What's more, I have a lot of things to do. I need to focus on my creation and spend my time on a series of projects including "Mystery World" and the foundation.

"We also know that this is a bit of a stretch, so we don't expect you to take the helm of Shaw Brothers."

Fang Yihua said softly, "I just hope to work with you on a film. What do you think, Yanzi?"

Fangyan raised his eyebrows. Wow, this couple is in unison and playing the window-opening game with him?

Knowing clearly that no one would agree to take charge of Shaw Brothers, they settled for the next best thing and offered to write the scripts themselves. They provided the money, manpower and theaters, and even went to great lengths to reminisce about the glorious days of Shaw Brothers, talking about feelings and playing with sensationalism. They really were calculating so much that the beads were falling on their faces!
But he just didn't fall for it, and said with an embarrassed look: "This matter is difficult to handle, but it is also simple to handle."

"Why do you say that, Yanzai?" Run Run Shaw frowned.

"Uncle Six, you know me well. Cooperation is not something I can just say. I must report to the organization and leaders."

The dialect has a "business-like" tone.

"Like The Burning of the Old Summer Palace, Behind the Curtain, and Once Upon a Time in China?"

Fang Yihua cast an inquiring look.

"That's right!"

Fang Yan said that if Shaw Brothers wanted to cooperate with him, it would be like when Xu Ke came to the mainland to make a movie. They had to go through the process and contact the radio and television department, the cultural department, the propaganda department, and especially the Film Bureau to discuss whether the two sides could make a movie together and how to make it together...

Run Run Shaw smiled and said, "Of course, we will send someone to do it."

Fang Yihua filled their cups with tea and said, "Excuse me for asking, if the relevant departments agree, has Yanzi decided on the subject and content of the film?"

"Well, I have three options to choose from."

Fang Yan pondered for a while, "One is to remake it, just like Shochiku remade the Japanese version of The Ring. Shaw Brothers can also make its own version. Judging from the profitability of the mainland version, horror movies have low costs but surprisingly high returns."

After asking Guixi Film Studio and Emei Film Studio about the cost of filming "The Ring", Fang Yihua came up with new plans.

When "The Burning of the Old Summer Palace" was introduced to Hong Kong, it grossed over 1000 million Hong Kong dollars, but the price for buying out the film was only a few hundred thousand.

Since there are ready-made movies, Shaw Brothers might as well introduce "The Ring" to Hong Kong and distribute it as a bought-out batch film.

Fangyan curled his lips, feeling dissatisfied.

I have heard that Run Run Shaw is "stingy and shrewd" and Fang Yihua is "frugal", and their reputations are indeed well-deserved!
If Shaw Brothers does not remake "The Ring", it can save its own copyright adaptation fees and script usage fees...

My money! This is my money! (End of this chapter)