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Although Lu Chen's Hong Kong Film and Television Workshop had been established only a short time ago, everything inside already appeared orderly and professional. None of the newly recruited employees were idle; everyone was busy preparing for the Workshop's first film project.
Small though it was, it had all the essential components. Most importantly, the atmosphere inside the Workshop was excellent, vibrant, and full of life, which made Lu Chen very satisfied.
Wan Xiaoquan did not take credit for this. Instead, he attributed it to the Workshop's manager, Chen Wenqiang.
At present, Lu Chen's Hong Kong Workshop does not have many staff members. Lu Chen himself was, of course, the big boss. Wan Xiaoquan served as Artistic Director. As for the day-to-day operations and specific business affairs, they were handled almost entirely by this thin, middle-aged man.
Chen Wenqiang was not an impressive-looking figure. With high cheekbones, a narrow chin, and sharp, almost monkey-like features, his dark skin and slight frame made him appear smaller than he already was; he was no more than 1.6 meters tall. The wrinkled suit he wore added a faintly comical air.
Yet his eyes were sharp and spirited, gleaming with alertness and shrewdness. He gave off the impression of someone capable and not easily dealt with.
On the way to the Workshop, Wan Xiaoquan had deliberately briefed Lu Chen about this new manager.
Chen Wenqiang was a descendant of first-generation Hong Kong immigrants. He had grown up in a small fishing village in the New Territories. After graduating from high school, he entered society early, washing dishes and sweeping streets. By sheer coincidence, he later found his way into the film and television industry.
He started out as a script clerk and general errand worker, serving as a runner, assistant, and manager for others. He had even worked as a television studio director. His industry experience was extraordinarily broad, something of an all-rounder, yet he had never truly made a name for himself.
His career had been full of setbacks, and life had not treated him kindly either. His wife passed away early, leaving him to raise their only daughter alone. For the sake of making a living, he had struggled tirelessly.
Wan Xiaoquan had recruited Chen Wenqiang through a friend's introduction. For an outsider like Lu Chen's Workshop, lacking any local connections or foundation in Hong Kong, having such a "local insider" join the team would undoubtedly help them avoid many unnecessary troubles, take fewer detours, and integrate more easily into the local circles.
Of course, recruiting him had not been cheap. Besides offering a high salary, Wan Xiaoquan had also promised that Chen Wenqiang's daughter would be given a role in the Workshop's first film production.
Chen Wenqiang's daughter, Chen Siyi, was currently studying at a performing arts training class, hoping to enter the entertainment industry.
That daughter was the very center of Chen Wenqiang's world.
"Uncle Qiang, thank you for your hard work."
After Wan Xiaoquan's introduction, Lu Chen took the initiative to extend his hand to Chen Wenqiang. "I've just arrived here and am unfamiliar with everything. I'll be relying on your guidance."
Unfamiliar meant unfamiliar. Lu Chen would never pretend to understand things for the sake of maintaining a boss's image or dignity.
His candid and enthusiastic attitude clearly surprised Chen Wenqiang. The latter quickly bowed slightly and grasped Lu Chen's hand.
"Boss, you're too polite. It's my honor to work for you."
Compared to Li Zhen, Chen Wenqiang's Mandarin was far less fluent. Not only was it stiff, it also carried a heavy Cantonese accent. Without careful listening, it was difficult to understand him.
Lu Chen smiled faintly. "Uncle Qiang, you're too modest. Then let's look forward to a pleasant cooperation."
These two sentences were spoken in Cantonese, standard Cantonese at that.
Chen Wenqiang was stunned, his surprise plainly written across his face. Even Wan Xiaoquan and Li Zhen beside him were taken aback.
Wan Xiaoquan had known Lu Chen for some time. Both Chen Wenqiang and Li Zhen had read his background information and knew that he was from Zhedong Province, had only graduated from university last year, and had majored in computer science.
After graduating, Lu Chen had been developing his career in the capital and had never once been to Hong Kong. Today was his first visit.
So where had his exceptionally fluent Cantonese come from?
Lu Chen naturally knew what everyone was thinking. But he couldn't possibly say that his Cantonese came from inheriting Xu Wenbo's memories, could he?
He explained instead, "I learned my Cantonese from a classmate who was from Chaoshan. It's alright, isn't it?"
Chen Wenqiang immediately gave a thumbs-up and praised sincerely, "Boss, your Cantonese is top-notch, nothing to criticize!"
He didn't care how Lu Chen had learned Cantonese. What mattered was that there would be no communication barriers between them in the future. He had actually been worried about this before, afraid it might affect their cooperation.
Chen Wenqiang understood Lu Chen far more thoroughly than Li Zhen did. From the information he had gathered through various channels, Lu Chen had already built a considerable reputation in the mainland entertainment industry. His future was limitless; the only thing he lacked was seniority.
When Lu Chen chose to come to Hong Kong to establish a new venture, Chen Wenqiang sensed that this was an opportunity for himself. As long as he maintained this relationship well, even if filmmaking in Hong Kong failed in the future, bringing his daughter to the mainland to develop her career would be a simple matter.
Compared to Hong Kong's entertainment circle, the mainland offered truly vast horizons.
Therefore, Chen Wenqiang's decision to jump ship and join Lu Chen's Workshop was sincere, he genuinely wanted to accomplish something.
"I've met quite a few celebrities from the mainland," he added. "Your Cantonese is the best among them. You could pass as a true Hong Konger without any problem!"
Lu Chen smiled faintly.
Chen Wenqiang's attitude toward him was undoubtedly respectful and earnest. Yet in his words, there was an almost unconscious trace of the superiority that some Hong Kong people felt toward mainlanders.
If Chen Wenqiang was like this, then what about the major stars and high-level figures in Hong Kong's entertainment industry?
Although the timing was favorable, expanding his career and making a grand mark here would not be easy.
Lu Chen had long been mentally prepared for that. It was impossible for all the good things in the world to fall into his lap. If Hong Kong was a brand-new battlefield, then he feared no challenge.
A life filled with challenges, that was a life that was interesting and meaningful!
Wan Xiaoquan spoke up at the right moment. "Let's move to the small conference room to talk about the new film."
The one most anxious about making the film was not Lu Chen, but rather this director who had not sat in the director's chair for several years. Back in the capital, he had already obtained Lu Chen's script and had now studied it thoroughly.
"From a shooting perspective alone, the difficulty isn't high,"
Wan Xiaoquan said confidently in the Workshop's small meeting room, gesturing toward the projection screen.
Displayed on the screen was the storyboard draft he had personally drawn for the new film. Every stroke reflected the director's dedication and effort.
"All the scenes can be shot at the Lion Rock Film City. As for special effects, several local Hong Kong VFX companies are fully capable of handling the production. The music, dubbing, and related post-production can also be completed locally; there's no need to return to the mainland for talent."
"The main issue lies with the film crew, or rather, with our potential partners."
(End of Chapter)