diymy Chapter 52: Hong Kong Island, Bullets Loaded
Chapter 52: Hong Kong Island, Bullets Loaded
June 1st, evening, Tan Family Hall, Beijing Hotel.
When Jiang Yu entered the private room led by the waiter, there were already five people sitting inside.
The person in the main seat was Third Master Han, who was wearing a dark gray Chinese-style stand-up collar shirt today, exuding an air of authority.
To his left sat two Hong Kong guests. The one in the lead was Yang Shoucheng, chairman of the Yinhuang Group, and next to him was his right-hand man, Huo Wenxi, with neat short hair, exquisite makeup, and an impressive aura.
To Han Sanye's right sat two young and beautiful ladies, Ah Sa and Joey, popular artists under the Music Emperor Entertainment Group.
The two women were clearly dressed up carefully; one was sweet and playful, and the other was elegant and gentle. When they saw Jiang Yu enter, they immediately stood up, their smiles polite, with a hint of curiosity and respect.
Jiang Yu understood seven or eight parts of the situation at a glance.
Master Han personally organized the gathering, with the owner of Yinhuang and core executives in attendance, along with their leading female artist. This was far more than just a meal to build relationships.
"Jiang Yu is here, please have a seat." Third Master Han greeted him with a smile, gesturing for Jiang Yu to sit in the empty seat next to him, which faced Yang Shoucheng.
"Come on, let me introduce you. This is Jiang Yu from Light Chaser Pictures, whom I mentioned before. He's young and promising, with a keen eye for talent—a true 'Midas touch' in the Hollywood film industry!"
Yang Shoucheng stood up first, extending his hand across the table with a warm smile: "President Jiang, I've heard so much about you! I'm Yang Shoucheng, from Yinhuang. Your achievements in Hollywood are legendary! 'Taken,' 'Iron Man,' and Cameron's 'Avatar'... You've truly brought honor to the Chinese people!"
Huo Wenxi smiled and greeted him, handing over his business card: "President Jiang, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am Huo Wenxi, mainly in charge of Yinhuang's film and record business. I look forward to your guidance in the future."
She speaks slowly, with a Cantonese accent, and her gaze is direct but not offensive.
Charlene Choi (Ah Sa) and Joey Yung also politely greeted him again: "Hello, Mr. Jiang."
"President Yang, President Huo, you're too kind. Chairman Han, you flatter me. I was just lucky to have the opportunity." Jiang Yu sat down, his tone calm and neither humble nor arrogant.
He nodded to Charlene Choi and Joey Yung, but his gaze did not linger on them for long.
After exchanging pleasantries, the exquisite Cantonese dishes were served one after another.
During the meal, Yang Shoucheng and Huo Wenxi naturally dominated the conversation. They were very familiar with Jiang Yu's several successful investments in Hollywood, praising him endlessly. Their words revealed their strong interest and admiration for the Light Chaser Pictures model and Jiang Yu's personal abilities.
Han Sanye would occasionally add his own comment or make a joke, perfectly capturing the atmosphere.
"Especially the Iron Man movie, that was brilliantly executed!" Yang Shoucheng raised his glass. "Many people were too afraid to touch that murky Marvel mess back then, but Mr. Jiang, you not only dared to invest, but you also made such a precise investment. Vision and courage are both indispensable! I toast to you!"
Jiang Yu raised his glass to clink glasses, took a small sip, and smiled, saying, "It's also because Marvel has a strong foundation and a professional team."
At this point, Han Sanye steered the conversation towards the domestic scene: "Speaking of professionalism, I've already seen the finished product of 'The Witch,' a collaboration between China Film Group and Light Chaser Animation. Lu Yang, this young man, has ideas and dares to direct. The special effects, especially the digital lighting and shadow effects, are truly eye-catching. China Film Group has already committed to fully supporting this film and will provide it with the best resources during the summer season."
Yang Shoucheng immediately chimed in: "I've heard Chairman Han mention 'The Witch.' It's a sci-fi action film with a strong female lead, and it has great market potential. Our Sound Emperor has a fairly well-established distribution network in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. If President Jiang and Chairman Han don't mind, Sound Emperor can help with the overseas distribution of this film at the most favorable cooperation price. It's just to make friends and support the internationalization of Chinese-language films."
That's a very eloquent statement. It not only demonstrates the channel strength and sincerity of the Sound Emperor, but also does them a great favor.
Jiang Yu nodded: "Thank you in advance, Mr. Yang. We can discuss the overseas distribution of 'The Witch' in more detail later."
.....
After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became increasingly harmonious.
Charlene Choi (Ah Sa) and Joey Yung also joined in at the right time, telling some lighthearted and fun stories to lighten the mood. The two had obviously been instructed to behave appropriately, neither being overly enthusiastic.
After all this build-up, the main point is finally about to surface.
Third Master Han put down his chopsticks, wiped his hands with a hot towel, and said casually, "Jiang Yu, your 'Black Swan' project has been making headlines lately. Asian female lead, Darren Aronofsky, this idea is brilliant. I bet very few actresses with connections in the industry can sleep soundly right now."
Yang Shoucheng and Huo Wenxi's gazes instantly focused more on Jiang Yu's face, and even Ah Sa and Joey Yung held their breath slightly.
Master Han continued, "Look, China Film Group and Music Emperor have recently collaborated deeply and jointly established a new agency, 'China Film Music Emperor.' The goal is to integrate resources and promote promising talents from the mainland, as well as those from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, towards a more international direction. Talented individuals like Charlene Choi and Joey Yung are very promising; they can sing and act, and they are willing to work hard. Joey Yung, in particular, specifically studied acting for her film roles."
He pointed at Joey Yung, who promptly gave a humble yet expectant smile.
Yang Shoucheng picked up the conversation, his tone even more sincere: "President Jiang, we know that the casting requirements for 'Black Swan' are high and the process is rigorous. We absolutely do not intend to take any shortcuts. We simply hope that the artists under 'China Film Audio-Visual Emperor' can get a fair opportunity to showcase their talents. The materials and auditions will be conducted entirely according to the rules. If needed, we will fully support targeted training, regardless of cost. Our main goal is to get on this bandwagon, learn from President Jiang and Chasing Light, and broaden our horizons."
Having said all that, the intention couldn't be clearer.
With Han Sanye personally facilitating the connection, the new platform of Zhongying Yinhuang also needs a major project to make a name for itself and attract talent, and "Black Swan" is undoubtedly the best brand to attract attention.
The private room fell silent, and everyone's eyes were on Jiang Yu, waiting for his response.
Jiang Yu picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, and seemed to be carefully considering his words.
He put down his teacup, his gaze calmly sweeping over Third Master Han, Yang Shoucheng, and Huo Wenxi, a perfectly appropriate apologetic smile appearing on his face.
"Chairman Han, General Manager Yang, General Manager Huo, thank you very much for your high regard and trust in the 'Black Swan' project. Light Chaser Animation has indeed put a lot of effort into this project, and we hope it can become a benchmark."
He paused, his tone gentle but clear, "However, regarding the selection of the female lead... we now have a fairly clear direction, and it's basically confirmed. So, it might not be convenient to arrange any more recommendations for the time being."
"It's basically confirmed?" Master Han was slightly taken aback, clearly somewhat surprised.
How long has it been since the project was announced? The slogan of global selection was shouted loudly, how come it's already "basically confirmed" so quickly?
This is not in line with Hollywood's usual casting process, nor with Jiang Yu's previously demonstrated meticulous approach.
Yang Shoucheng and Huo Wenxi exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise and a thoughtful understanding in each other's eyes.
Having been through many trials and tribulations, they immediately understood that this so-called "basic confirmation" was probably not the result of the casting process, but rather a project that had a pre-existing bias, or even one tailor-made for a specific candidate.
The previous frenzied pursuit by so many female celebrities and companies now seems more like a "runner-up" game where only a very few people knew the inside story.
The smiles on Charlene Choi's and Joey Yung's faces froze for a moment, but they quickly returned to normal, though there was an undeniable hint of disappointment in their eyes.
"Oh? So fast?" Han Sanye, being a seasoned veteran, quickly adjusted his expression and chuckled, "It seems President Jiang is very confident. Good, good. Then let's wish 'Black Swan' a smooth filming process and continued success! Come on, let's drink!"
Yang Shoucheng immediately raised his glass, his smile unchanged but now tinged with caution: "Congratulations, President Jiang! Finding the most suitable candidate so quickly shows the project is progressing smoothly. We look forward to the next opportunity to cooperate!"
Huo Wenxi also raised his glass in agreement, but his eyes darted around quickly, as if trying to guess who the "basically confirmed" candidate was.
Are they from mainland China? Hong Kong and Taiwan? Or other Asian groups? The flow of resources and the signals behind this are worth careful consideration.
The atmosphere became somewhat awkwardly tense. Yang Shoucheng, seemingly in an effort to ease the tension and not waste the meeting, brought up another topic.
"Mr. Jiang, actually besides 'Black Swan,' we at Sound Emperor are also preparing some other projects recently. For example, we are in talks with Jiang Wen, a very talented director from mainland China, about his new film project."
Yang Shoucheng looked at Jiang Yu tentatively, "I wonder if Mr. Jiang is interested in Director Jiang Wen's works?"
"Director Jiang Wen?" Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow, seemingly intrigued. "His films have a very distinctive style. What's the story behind the new project Mr. Yang mentioned?"
Seeing Jiang Yu respond, Yang Shoucheng perked up and gave a brief introduction: "It's set in the Republican era... um, a Western comedy? Or perhaps an absurd fable? The story is about a county magistrate who bought his way into office and, with his men, engages in a battle of wits and courage with the local tyrant Huang Silang in Goose Town, resulting in a series of hilarious and metaphorical events. We've read the script; it's excellent, with sharp dialogue and vivid characters. Director Jiang Wen said he wants to make something that allows people to 'earn money while standing tall.'"
As Jiang Yu listened, the movie "Let the Bullets Fly" immediately came to mind.
This film, Jiang Wen's most commercially successful and talked-about work, achieved both box office and critical acclaim, and left behind countless classic lines and room for interpretation.
This is indeed a good project; the return on investment and its impact will both be significant.
"That sounds very interesting." Jiang Yu nodded, giving a clear positive signal. "Director Jiang Wen's talent is beyond doubt. If the project is promising, Light Chaser Pictures is indeed interested in participating. However, the specific investment ratio and cooperation method will need to be evaluated after seeing the detailed script, budget, and production plan."
Yang Shoucheng was overjoyed upon hearing this. He proposed the "Let the Bullets Fly" project, partly to avoid risks and partly to test the waters and see if he could establish a more stable cooperative relationship with Light Chaser Pictures.
After all, Jiang Yu and the capital behind him have now become a highly sought-after figure in the industry.
"No problem! No problem!" Yang Shoucheng nodded repeatedly. "I'll have my team compile the detailed information and send it to President Jiang as soon as possible. I hope we can have the opportunity to work together to make this interesting film!"
The atmosphere at the next dinner party became lively again, but the conversation shifted more towards industry trends, market outlook, and specific details of the release of "The Witch".
As the banquet ended, Third Master Han patted Jiang Yu on the shoulder and said meaningfully, "Jiang Yu, you always manage to surprise people. Good, as long as you know what you're doing. If you need any support from China Film Group, just let me know."
Yang Shoucheng and Huo Wenxi also bid farewell warmly, inviting Jiang Yu to visit Hong Kong when he has time, assuring him that the Emperor of Music would certainly treat him to a grand feast.