Lu Chen didn't know that he had already been targeted by Bolo Daily. Even if he had known, there would have been little he could do about it.
The ferocity of the Hong Kong paparazzi was no exaggeration. They were the kind of existence that made Hong Kong celebrities tremble at the mere mention of them, yet at the same time, they were an inseparable part of the entertainment ecosystem. Hong Kong law, to a certain extent, also leans toward protecting paparazzi activities such as stalking and secret photography. The only thing truly capable of teaching them a lesson was the power of capital.
As a newcomer in Hong Kong, Lu Chen had no real backing or influence there yet. Therefore, for his first film, he had no choice but to seek cooperation with a local film company in order to avoid all sorts of potential trouble.
The suggestion of co-producing a film had been proposed by Chen Wenqiang, who even prepared a list of three film companies.
Although these three companies could not compare with industry giants like Jinrong, Wang's, or Baolida in either strength or influence, they were all long-established companies with deep roots and extensive connections.
More importantly, unlike giant predators such as Jinrong, they would not have outrageously huge appetites. Given the current downturn in the industry, it should have been relatively easy to negotiate cooperation terms satisfactory to both sides.
Reality, however, delivered a slap in the face.
Chen Wenqiang first approached two of the companies. Before they could even get into detailed negotiations, both politely declined, saying that they already had new productions lined up and were not considering outside collaborations for the time being.
At the root of it all was the trouble caused by the Hong Kong government's Film and Television Industry Support Scheme. Taking advantage of this favorable policy, many capable film companies were gearing up for a major push, hoping to use new productions to break into the enormous Mainland market.
But the quota for films entering the Mainland market was limited. Naturally, these companies preferred concentrating all their resources on ensuring the success of their own productions. Why would they be willing to cooperate with the Lu Chen Workshop, which had no reputation whatsoever?
As for industry giants like Jinrong, they certainly had the capability to launch two or three productions simultaneously, but they were even less reliable.
Chen Wenqiang admitted frankly:
"Forget Jinrong and Wang's, I can't even get through their doors. People like me are invisible in their eyes. Even if I spend money trying to grease connections, in the end, I'd gain nothing and just become a joke to others."
It was obvious that Chen Wenqiang had learned this lesson through painful personal experience. Even Wan Xiaoquan, sitting beside him, could hear the resentment and humiliation hidden in his words.
Lu Chen merely smiled faintly and said:
"It doesn't matter. What we need right now are partners who are willing to cooperate sincerely. As for the future… I think it'll only be a matter of others coming to us and begging for opportunities."
He spoke calmly, as though he were stating an ordinary fact.
Yet beneath his words lay immense confidence.
Wan Xiaoquan agreed wholeheartedly. Chen Wenqiang, however, was not entirely convinced. He knew Lu Chen was exceptionally talented and highly famous in the Mainland, but this was Hong Kong.
Of course, Chen Wenqiang did not reveal his true thoughts on his face. Smiling, he said:
"Boss is right. Whether our workshop can make a huge splash in Hong Kong depends on this very first film."
Chen Wenqiang then gave Lu Chen a detailed introduction to the only company that had shown interest in collaborating, Jiayang Film Industry.
Jiayang Film Industry had been established for thirty years and mainly specialized in producing low- to mid-budget Hong Kong films. During the golden age of Hong Kong cinema, it had once enjoyed glorious days of its own and produced several box-office hits.
However, over the past decade, with the severe decline of Hong Kong's film and television industry, Jiayang Film Industry inevitably suffered a heavy blow. The old-style crude slapstick comedies they kept producing lost money one after another, to the point where the company nearly bled itself dry and once faced the crisis of bankruptcy and shutdown.
In 2012, Jiayang Film Industry was completely acquired by Hong Kong businessman Zhou Yi. After a series of restructurings and consolidations, the company finally escaped its financial crisis and barely managed to stabilize operations.
"Zhou Yi is a real businessman…" Chen Wenqiang commented.
"He only talks about profit, but he values credibility very highly. When he acquired Jiayang Film Industry, he directly fired 70% of the old employees. As a result, angry workers blocked the entrance to his home. The incident became a huge scandal at the time."
"People all say he's a cold-blooded capitalist, but to be fair, if he hadn't used harsh measures to clean house, Jiayang Film Industry would still have collapsed anyway. No matter how much money was poured into it, it would've been pointless."
Jiayang Film Industry's headquarters was not far from Lu Chen Workshop, less than a ten-minute drive away. However, Hong Kong traffic was notoriously congested, so the trip ended up taking nearly half an hour.
Jiayang Film Industry's office was located inside an old office building. Following the address, Lu Chen and his group soon met Jiayang Film Industry's General Manager, Zhang Yifan.
Zhang Yifan was a middle-aged man in his forties. Dressed sharply in a tailored suit, with his hair meticulously combed back, he had a sturdy build and carried the aura of a former underworld figure who had already "washed his hands clean" of the jianghu.
"Hahaha, Brother Wenqiang!"
The moment he saw Chen Wenqiang, the general manager greeted him warmly with a broad smile and offered his hand first.
"Long time no see! You're truly a rare guest!"
Chen Wenqiang was almost flattered by the reception. He and Zhang Yifan could be considered acquaintances, but claiming they were close friends would have been nonsense.
Within the entertainment circle, there was still a considerable gap in status between the two.
Anyone unaware of the situation would probably think they were old friends judging from Zhang Yifan's attitude.
However, Chen Wenqiang was no ordinary person. He wasn't dazzled by Zhang Yifan's enthusiasm. Wearing an equally delighted smile, he shook Zhang Yifan's hand with both of his own.
"Chief Zhang, you're praising me too much. Wenqiang doesn't deserve it."
After releasing his hand, Chen Wenqiang first introduced Lu Chen.
"This is Lu Chen, my current boss!"
The smile on Zhang Yifan's face faded slightly, his expression turning serious as he thoughtfully sized up Lu Chen standing beside Chen Wenqiang.
Lu Chen smiled casually and extended his own hand.
"Hello, Chief Zhang. I've long heard of your reputation."
Zhang Yifan's expression changed once again. His smile returned as he firmly shook Lu Chen's hand.
"The one who should be saying that is me! Lu Chen, I know who you are, a huge star from the Mainland!"
"The fact that you've come to Jiayang Film Industry truly brings honor to this humble place."
Lu Chen laughed lightly.
"Chief Zhang is too polite."
After another round of courteous small talk, Lu Chen also introduced Wan Xiaoquan to him.
In the newly established Lu Chen Hong Kong Film & Television Workshop, Lu Chen, Wan Xiaoquan, and Chen Wenqiang formed the three driving pillars of the company. The fact that all three personally visited Jiayang Film Industry demonstrated just how seriously they regarded this collaboration.
Zhang Yifan clearly understood the sincerity on Lu Chen's side. At the same time, he himself was genuinely interested in cooperating. As a result, both parties smoothly sat down and began negotiations regarding the film A Chinese Ghost Story.
Although Zhang Yifan's attitude remained friendly and sincere, once discussions moved into the specifics of cooperation, he displayed the shrewdness and seasoned toughness expected of a film company general manager. He proved extremely difficult to deal with.
Because the two sides had disagreements over the most critical issue, the shareholding ratio, negotiations quickly fell into a deadlock.
So in the end, the two parties failed to reach an agreement on the spot.
(End of Chapter)
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