Chapter 00156: Fame Spreads Across Hong Kong
# Fame Spreads Across Hong Kong
Chapter 156
Novel: 1979 Golden Age
Chapter 156: Fame Spreads Across Hong Kong
The ten members of the *Tai Chi* team were spending their first New Year away from home.
The leftist faction had arranged a Spring Festival banquet, but after eating and drinking, no one was in the mood for celebration.
Under Chen Qi's guidance, everyone was as busy as dogs, and the Spring Festival was the last thing on their minds.
As the film grew increasingly popular, interviews started pouring in.
None of the team members were particularly good at speaking, so Chen Qi took the lead, spouting bold and unrestrained opinions.
"I've been working in the film studio for years and have had the chance to watch some Hong Kong movies. I have a bit of understanding of them. Jackie Chan is quite good, carving out his own style. He has a promising future... What? You say he's gone to Hollywood? *Cannonball Run*? Wow, just hearing that terrible name makes me think it's doomed. Those arrogant Americans would never let a Chinese person have free rein. He should focus on his base in Asia first before aiming for Europe and America."
"Sammo Hung is quite impressive. He's the most agile fat guy in Hong Kong, right? I haven't been idle these past few days. I've watched a lot of Hong Kong films. *Encounter of the Spooky Kind* was pretty good."
"I heard there's a new wave movement in Hong Kong. I think Tsui Hark and Ann Hui are great. Tsui Hark is bold and daring, with his own visual aesthetics. He's destined for greatness. Ann Hui, the female director, is also fierce. I think she'd excel in realistic themes."
"I specifically bought tickets to watch *Security Unlimited*. Even though I couldn't understand Cantonese, the film was enjoyable. Michael Hui has this aloof beauty, like a cultured person looking down on you rough folks."
If Chen Qi were a Hong Kong local, he would have been beaten up on the spot.
If he had run into the triads, he would have been beaten, shot, and thrown into the river with cement shoes—no questions asked.
A 20-year-old junior had no right to criticize his seniors like that.
But he was from the mainland, officially sent to participate in the event, which made the locals absolutely disgusted.
Finally, he didn't spare even Master Lau Kar-leung.
"I watched *The Lady Is the Boss*. What can I say? Hong Kong action films are keeping up with the times, but Master Lau is still stuck in the past. Maybe he's just conservative, not really concerned with the progress and development of the world. He's a master who lives and breathes in the bygone era, basking in the sunset of the past. Oh, and didn't we say we'd let our works speak for themselves? I heard *The Lady Is the Boss* made just over 3 million in 14 days, while *Tai Chi* made 3 million in 3 days. Oh, now it's 4 million in 4 days. How embarrassing!"
Lau Kar-leung, this old man, had terrible relationships with everyone.
He loved to call himself a martial arts grandmaster, looking down on this and that, insisting that everyone listen to him—he was the true southern fist master.
He didn't get along with the Hung Ga Ban, Jackie Chan's Stunt Team, or Yuen Woo-ping's team.
He once directed *Martial Arts of Shaolin*, starring the original cast of *Shaolin Temple*, and was extremely discriminatory toward mainland actors.
For example, if they were supposed to shoot a sunrise scene the next day, he'd make the mainland actors arrive at the set at 3 a.m. and wait.
After seven hours, Lau Kar-leung would show up leisurely, saying he overslept.
Then, after shooting for a bit, he'd call it a day, claiming they missed the best sunrise shot and wouldn't film that day.
He pulled stunts like this all the time.
He was very popular in the 70s and early 80s, but when Hong Kong martial arts films started moving toward aerial and fantastical styles, he couldn't keep up.
Later, only *Drunken Master II* became a classic.
When Chen Qi criticized this old man, no one except Lau Kar-leung's own team came to his defense.
It was quite a spectacle.
Lau Kar-leung was furious, but the facts were right in front of him. *The Lady Is the Boss* was a flop, and *Tai Chi* not only surpassed it but also maintained a clear lead in daily box office over *Security Unlimited*.
Overtaking it was just a matter of time.
This shocked the Hong Kong film industry.
...
Nighttime, at a restaurant.
Sammo Hung brought a few of his brothers after watching *Tai Chi*.
They came for a late-night snack and to discuss the film.
Don't think that Hong Kong's martial arts industry is full of rough, uneducated people.
They were fiercely competitive, often watching their rivals' films and figuring out how to make their own more impressive...
If you jumped from the second floor, I'd jump from the third, and I'd be on fire while doing it—just to one-up you.
That's how it was.
But today was a bit different.
Sammo Hung seemed to have a glowing aura around him, crowned with the title of "Hong Kong's Most Agile Fat Guy."
His brothers couldn't help but laugh.
"That bastard!"
"If he keeps talking like that, I'll teach him a lesson sooner or later!"
Sammo Hung was also annoyed.
Chen Qi hadn't exactly insulted him; in fact, he had praised him, but the casual teasing was disrespectful.
"*Tai Chi* is really well-made, no exaggeration, but we can't replicate it."
"Why can't we?"
"Wow, did you see how Jet Li fought? Who among us could pull that off? You? Me? Ching, could you do it?"
"Not me either!"
Lam Ching-ying shook his head.
"He was trained under the mainland's sports system, specializing in this kind of martial arts. We haven't trained like that, so we can't imitate it."
Wu Ma said, "I think the style of *Encounter of the Spooky Kind* works. Yuen Woo-ping's *The Miracle Fighters* did so well at the box office. Why don't we make something similar?"
"That's a good idea. I was thinking the same thing."
Sammo Hung nodded.
"I'll talk to Mr. Run Run Shaw when I get the chance and come up with a script."
"Brother Three Hairs, why not get that Chen kid to write it?" Chung Fat joked.
"Are you crazy? Are we so desperate that we'd ask a mainlander? Don't let me see him, or I'll really teach him a lesson!"
Sammo Hung slammed the table.
...
At Golden Harvest.
Run Run Shaw and Leonard Ho were also chatting.
Leonard Ho was one of the founders of Golden Harvest, a core member of the company, and Jackie Chan's godfather.
"I saw that Jet Li is incredibly skilled. Can we try to sign him?"
"I looked into it. His status and connections are, uh..."
Leonard Ho struggled to find the right words.
"Anyway, he's officially trained, and his status and connections are tied to the mainland authorities. We can't do anything about it."
"What a shame. Such a talented person, and we can't have him. Forget it!"
Run Run Shaw shook his head.
"Jackie's going to America. *Cannonball Run* will be out in a few months. Keep an eye on the promotion."
"Understood!"
Jackie Chan had gone to America these past two years.
Last year, he starred in *The Big Brawl*, which was panned by critics.
This year, he had *Cannonball Run*, which was also a flop.
Both films did decently at the box office, but they completely lost Jackie's unique style, leaving fans extremely dissatisfied.
It wasn't until the 90s, with *Rumble in the Bronx*, that he finally made a name for himself in Hollywood.
...
"Bravo!"
In the leftist theater, Tsui Hark, wearing a hat, sneaked in to watch the film.
He couldn't help but applaud at the exciting parts.
*Tai Chi* was exactly his cup of tea!
The fight choreography, the natural landscapes, the historical setting, the patriotic sentiments... all elements he loved.
The only thing missing was a pair of beautiful actresses in a lesbian relationship, which was a bit of a shame.
Tsui Hark had already finished *The Butterfly Murders*, *Dangerous Encounters of the First Kind*, and *We're Going to Eat You*.
He had joined Cinema City, and this year, *All the Wrong Clues* would be released.
The film would do well at the box office, but it wasn't something he was passionate about—just a way to make a living.
What he truly loved were tales of immortals, demons, and ghosts, stories of people in the martial world, national and family vendettas, and, of course, actresses in lesbian relationships...
As the film ended, Tsui Hark reluctantly left the theater, remembering two names: one was naturally Jet Li, and the other was Chen Qi.
He had also seen *The Deadly Turn* and loved its strong cult film style.
"I never expected mainland filmmakers to be this talented!"
"How can I find a way to collaborate with them?"
(End of chapter...)