Literary Master 1978

People in later generations commented on the mainland entertainment circle and said that this circle is the most feudal place in China.

In Hong Kong, the situation is different.

While being feudal, it is also full of the spirit of the underworld, and human relationships and face are more important than anything else.

Maggie Cheung's image and age are different from the important female roles in the movie, but Chen Ziqiang came to ask for it and his attitude was so humble that Xu Guanwen was embarrassed to refuse it.

Perhaps seeing Xu Guanwen's embarrassment, Ann Hui said: "Brother Willie, "The Truman Show" is a one-man show for Michael, and the female characters don't really have much presence."

"Maggie's current acting skills can't support any roles with a sense of presence..."

Chen Ziqiang responded with two sentences, and seeing that Xu Guanwen and Ann Hui, the two souls of the crew, were embarrassed, he knew that this role might not be available.

Although he was disappointed, he still had a smile on his face. He was about to say a few polite words and take Maggie Cheung away. At this time, Tao Yushu, who was sitting aside and had little presence, opened his mouth.

"The role of Roland..."

As soon as Tao Yushu spoke, everyone's eyes immediately focused on her. Seeing this, her face hesitated and she didn't continue.

Lin Chaoyang gently squeezed her hand, and the couple exchanged glances and had a tacit understanding.

Tao Yushu then said: "I think Miss Zhang is quite suitable for the role of Roland."

Roland is Truman's first love girlfriend when he was in school in the movie. She didn't appear many times, but she was different from his wife who completely deceived Truman.

Roland loves Truman and also told Truman that the world he lives in is fake.

In a movie like "The Truman Show" full of cunning and ugly human nature, Roland's existence is a rare bright spot, and she is also a kind of salvation for Truman.

Although she is the second female lead, this role is even more colorful because of the pleasing setting.

Tao Yushu only appeared in Golden Harvest in the past two days. Lin Chaoyang occupied 10% of the investment in the movie with the script. After the crew was established, he proposed that she be one of the producers of the crew.

Ann Hui frowned as she listened to Tao Yushu's words. She respected Lin Chaoyang very much.

But through the exchanges over the past few days, she also knew that Tao Yushu had little knowledge of the film industry.

She rarely participated in everyone's discussions these two days, and mainly listened and learned. Today, for some reason, she suddenly said that Maggie Cheung was suitable for the role of Roland.

Although she knew that refuting Tao Yushu now might leave Chen Ziqiang with the impression that she was deliberately making things difficult, in the spirit of being responsible for the film, Ann Hui still asked:

"Mrs. Lin, why do you say that Miss Zhang is suitable for the role of Roland?"

Tao Yushu glanced at Lin Chaoyang again, as if to cheer herself up.

"Roland in the movie has the courage to risk his life for love. I think Miss Zhang has a kind of naive quality. If this naivety is used to interpret the role of 'Roland' who is risking his life for love, it may produce unexpected results."

While Tao Yushu was speaking, Ann Hui looked at Maggie Cheung, constantly sizing her up with a scrutinizing look.

Not only her, but also other people in the office.

Feeling everyone's gaze, Maggie Cheung couldn't help but slightly adjust her manners.

Chen Ziqiang, who was already disappointed and ready to leave, didn't expect there would be such a sudden turn of events. When they introduced each other just now, although he knew the identities of Lin Chaoyang and his wife, he really didn't expect the other party to help.

Chen Ziqiang couldn't help but feel a little hopeful.

Her eyes stayed on Maggie Cheung for a few seconds, and Ann Hui asked again: "Mrs. Lin, don't you think Miss Zhang's image is too young?"

Hearing this, Chen Ziqiang, who was originally a little happy, sank again.

Maggie Cheung, who was secretly happy just now, was now full of uneasiness.

At this time, Tao Yushu said calmly: "Director Xu, I actually think that Miss Zhang's youth is not a bad thing."

"Hmm?" Ann Hui didn't understand what she meant, and the others also showed a confused look.

"The play "The Truman Show" itself is absurd.

We can think of it this way. Truman and Roland knew each other when they were in school. As the plot progresses, Roland shows up from time to time, still looking young as when she met Truman.

So in Truman's subjective world, Roland has always been young, which is actually an explanation."

Ann Hui's eyebrows were twisted together, thinking about Tao Yushu's statement in her heart. After a long time, she said: "You mean, we can use Miss Zhang's appearance to give the audience another interpretation, that is, all this may actually be Truman's imagination."

"That's right!" Tao Yushu nodded vigorously, "I suggest that it is best not to change Roland's costumes and makeup and hair when she appears several times."

After listening to her words, Ann Hui couldn't help but light a cigarette for herself and sat there thinking for a while.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt that Tao Yushu's idea was ingenious, and the more excited she felt. This treatment was equivalent to giving the movie, which originally had a fixed ending, an open imagination space.

At the end of the script, the director once told Truman that after leaving Utopia, the world he would face might not be freer or better than the world on Utopia.

But Truman still took that step without hesitation, and the plot reached a perfect ending.

As for Truman's experience after leaving Utopia Island, it is the imagination space left by the script and the movie for the audience.

Now, with Tao Yushu's idea, the direction of the script has an extra layer of imagination space.

That is, maybe all this is Truman's imagination? Maybe he doesn't have the courage to leave Utopia Island at all?

Ann Hui's mind was thinking quickly. Because she was too excited, she took a long puff of cigarette and exhaled.

The lingering smoke spread and extended in front of her eyes, and the hearts of the people present were also nervous by her solemn attitude.

"This treatment..." As soon as Ann Hui spoke, everyone's eyes immediately focused on it, "Very good! It's a stroke of genius!"

As she said, she looked at Tao Yushu, her eyes full of appreciation.

She thought Tao Yushu was an outsider, but she didn't expect that he would come up with such a unique idea in a flash of inspiration.

"If Mrs. Lin is a screenwriter, she must be no worse than Mr. Lin!"

Ann Hui's face-to-face praise made Tao Yushu a little embarrassed, but she still said a few humble words generously.

"Director Xu, what about Maggie..." Chen Ziqiang, who was waiting on the side, suddenly asked.

Ann Hui whispered to Xu Guanwen, and finally she said: "Then the role of Roland will be given to Miss Zhang."

Hearing this, Maggie Cheung was full of surprise, and Chen Ziqiang also showed a relieved smile on his face, and stepped forward to shake hands with Xu Guanwen and Xu Guanwen.

"Thank you Director Xu, Brother Michael!"

As he spoke, he came to Lin Chaoyang and his wife again, and said sincerely: "Mr. Lin, Mrs. Lin, thank you very much today."

Maggie Cheung also followed Chen Ziqiang and expressed her gratitude step by step. She couldn't help but secretly put her eyes on Tao Yushu again, wanting to look but embarrassed.

"You are too polite."

After thanking him, Chen Ziqiang took advantage of the opportunity to discuss the schedule and salary with Xu Anhua.

Maggie Cheung has now acted in several movies and has some fame. If she starred in an ordinary commercial movie, the salary can be at least 100,000 or 80,000 Hong Kong dollars.

But the investment in "The Truman Show" was not high to begin with. In order not to reduce the production budget, the actors were paid very little. Even Xu Guanwen only received a symbolic 100,000 Hong Kong dollars.

You should know that with his fame and status, any movie he starred in would start with a salary of one million, and it would be even more if the box office dividends were included.

So, in the end, Maggie Cheung's salary was set at 30,000 Hong Kong dollars.

In order to gain a foothold in the film industry, it is normal for some actors who are not famous enough to reduce their salaries to film.

As for the schedule, Maggie Cheung has no other film contracts for the time being. Chen Ziqiang said that after she terminated her contract with Shaw Brothers, she would fully cooperate with the crew.

After talking about business, Chen Ziqiang happily proposed to treat everyone to a meal.

The favors have been given, and if someone wants to treat us to a meal, this face must be given.

Chen Ziqiang set the venue for the dinner at the Jumbo Floating Restaurant in Aberdeen, which is famous for its three famous sea pleasure boats anchored in Deep Bay.

In the 1980s and 1990s, this seafood restaurant was used as a filming location for many Hong Kong movies. Audiences who have watched "The God of Cookery" should be impressed by the final showdown in the movie, which was filmed at Jumbo Floating Restaurant.

Lin Chaoyang and his team arrived in the evening, when it was just getting dark. The retro hull, magnificent decoration, and bright lights, and the surrounding sea surface were beautiful under the lights of Jumbo Floating Restaurant.

Chen Ziqiang invited Maggie Cheung to a dinner party to help her win the role. Not only did he and Maggie Cheung have dinner, but he also called Cheng Long to accompany them.

Now Cheng Long, who has just turned 30, is already a top star in the Hong Kong film industry. As soon as he shows up, people can feel his high spirits. He is followed by several martial arts brothers, and he looks very majestic.

What impressed people most was his shiny hair and big nose, and his warm smile when he spoke. He greeted everyone warmly when he met them.

At the beginning of the banquet, he became the main force of the day, taking turns to toast everyone.

He came today to help Chen Ziqiang hold the scene. This kind of outward enthusiasm is a necessary skill for Hong Kong artists to socialize nowadays.

"Brother Michael, the new movie is a big hit!"

Cheng Long's style of toasting is very rough. Basically, he drinks a glass of wine after saying a word, which is full of the kind of underworld habits of the Hong Kong film industry in this era.

After drinking, the two chatted for a few more words.

Xu Guanwen is planning to transform, and so is Cheng Long, but his transformation is one step faster than Xu Guanwen.

Cheng Long became famous in "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow", and then filmed a series of comedy action movies of this type such as "Drunken Master", "Fist of Laughter", and "The Young Master", all of which achieved remarkable results.

During this period, his image has always been the image of a "kung fu boy" who punishes evil in the old colony. The inimitable comedy, stunts, and affinity have become his signature.

He has become another kung fu star in the Hong Kong film industry after Bruce Lee, and has gained a huge influence in Southeast Asia.

But these works and achievements made Cheng Long successful, but also restricted his image and acting style.

In order to become a Kung Fu superstar with global influence like Bruce Lee, Cheng Long must break the limitations and create a more unique style of his own.

So in 1983, Cheng Long wrote, directed and starred in "Project A", portraying Ma Rulong, a policeman in the Republic of China who hates evil. After the movie was released, it achieved great success, which also made Cheng Long's transformation path unusually smooth.

This year, Cheng Long started filming "Police Story" again. This time, the story style has changed more, from the original Republican comedy action to the urban realistic style.

This change in his work also represents the change in the narrative style and depth of Hong Kong movies to a large extent.

After chatting with Xu Guanwen for a few words, Cheng Long raised his glass to toast others, all the way to Lin Chaoyang.

"Mr. Lin, a glass of wine for you!"

"You're welcome!"

The two drank a glass of wine happily.

"Huh!"

After a round of toasts, even Cheng Long's alcohol tolerance was a bit unbearable, but fortunately, after drinking this round, it was considered to give Chen Ziqiang enough face.

With Cheng Long's opening, Chen Ziqiang asked Maggie Cheung to toast everyone.

In comparison, she was much more clumsy as a rookie. After a few glasses of wine, her face was like peach blossoms, and her eyes were a little blurred.

When it was her turn to drink with Lin Chaoyang, Tao Yushu advised: "I think Miss Zhang can't hold her liquor, so let's drink this glass of wine another day."

Tao Yushu's consideration made Zhang Manyu drink one less glass of wine, and she looked at Tao Yushu with a bit of gratitude.

For some reason, her eyes always made Tao Yushu feel familiar, and inexplicably thought of the tabby cat he used to feed with two-mixed steamed bread in the countryside.