Chapter 83: Cameo

In the spacious conference room of Yongsheng Pictures, sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows and fell across the long table covered with design blueprints. Xiang Fei was bent over studying the cruise ship deck blueprints that art director Chen Guoqiang had just presented, his slender fingers tracing lightly across the paper.

"The angle of this gangway still needs adjusting," Xiang Fei looked up and said to cinematographer Christopher Doyle, "I want a shot that lets the audience feel the immense oppressive weight of the hull."

Christopher Doyle was about to reply when the conference room door suddenly burst open. Jackie Chan's signature hearty laughter arrived first: "Ah Fei! Heard you're building a big ship?"

Xiang Fei straightened up in surprise, and there was Jackie Chan in casual dress, with Sammo Hung and Lin Zhengying behind him. Sammo Hung maintained his signature steady pace, while Lin Zhengying curiously surveyed the dazzling array of design blueprints in the room.

"Long-ge? Hong-ge? Ying-ge?" Xiang Fei stepped forward quickly, "How come you guys..."

Jackie Chan gave Xiang Fei's shoulder an enthusiastic pat: "We just finished shooting next door, and happened to remember you're prepping a new project here, so we came by to see if there's anything we can help with."

Sammo Hung's gaze fell on the cruise ship model on the table, a flash of admiration in his eyes: "This ship's design is very refined — even the lifeboat details have been worked out."

Lin Zhengying picked up a script and flipped through it: "Titanic... that's a name with real presence. Ah Fei, are you making a nautical film?"

Before Xiang Fei could explain the film concept in detail, Jackie Chan's eyes suddenly lit up: "Ah Fei, how about giving me a small role?"

"Huh?" Xiang Fei didn't catch on for a moment, "The film is still in pre-production..."

"My schedule's wide open lately," Jackie Chan said with great enthusiasm, "I could play a sailor or a waiter or something."

Sammo Hung also grew interested: "These old bones of mine — playing an old ship's captain should suit me fine."

Lin Zhengying added earnestly: "You could add a passenger who understands feng shui, give some warning before the ship goes down."

Xiang Fei couldn't tell whether to laugh or cry: "Uncle Ying, this is an epic romance film..."

"Then it needs us bit players even more to set it off," Lin Zhengying said with perfect seriousness, "red flowers still need green leaves to support them."

Just as Xiang Fei didn't know how to respond, the conference room door opened again. Anita Mui entered gracefully on Leslie Cheung's arm; today she wore a pale purple dress, the pearl necklace at her throat glowing with a soft sheen in the sunlight.

"Heard Yongsheng is prepping a new film?" Anita Mui said with a smile, "Leslie and I came specially to see if there's anything we can help with."

Leslie Cheung nodded elegantly to the group; when his gaze swept across the design blueprints on the table, a flicker of admiration crossed his face: "This ship's design is exquisite."

The assistant quietly leaned in to Xiang Fei's ear: "Xiang Shao, these are all A-listers for free..."

Xiang Fei drew a deep breath, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the several superstars. Sunlight through the windows gilded them with a golden edge, and in that moment, inspiration suddenly struck him.

"Since everyone's so interested..." Xiang Fei picked up the script and flipped through it quickly, "I do have a few cameo roles in mind that would suit perfectly."

He pointed at several scenes in the script and explained:

- Jackie Chan — could play a street performer doing acrobatics on deck, applauding Jack and Rose during the bow flying scene

- Sammo Hung — play the old chef in the kitchen, silently preparing dinner for first class, the camera only catching his back

- Lin Zhengying — play a fortune-telling Mr. in third class, reading palms for a few immigrants during the ballroom scene

- Anita Mui — play a first-class lady, chatting elegantly with the other wives during the dinner scene

- Leslie Cheung — play the band's violinist, insisting on playing "Nearer My God to Thee" as the ship sinks

Jackie Chan clapped his hands and laughed heartily: "Brilliant! I love this kind of role — no lines to memorize and I still get to look cool!"

Sammo Hung stroked his beard with satisfaction: "Kitchen scenes are good, down to earth. Want me to show off a couple of moves on the spot?"

Lin Zhengying had already begun planning his look: "I'll need to prepare a compass prop... the costume should preferably be a dark long gown..."

Anita Mui held Leslie Cheung's arm: "Then we're the most elegant background props. Leslie, how's your violin practice coming along?"

Leslie Cheung smiled faintly: "Should be able to handle a few simple notes."

Afterward, Zhou Huimin grabbed Xiang Fei worriedly: "With so many A-listers in cameos, won't it affect the film's main storyline?"

Xiang Fei shook his head with quiet confidence: "Don't worry, their parts will all be kept to just the right amount. These cameos are like signatures hidden in the corner of an oil painting — they won't steal the spotlight, but they'll give knowing viewers a knowing smile."

He pointed at the storyboard in the script and explained: "Look, Jackie Chan's acrobat performer only appears in the joyful scenes, Master Hung's chef only shows his back in transition shots, Uncle Ying's fortune-teller only appears in the immigrants' group scenes..."

Zhou Huimin nodded thoughtfully: "So these cameos are more like adding some interesting details to the film?"

"Exactly," Xiang Fei smiled, "just like in real history, the Titanic really did have all kinds of passengers aboard."

At the preparatory cocktail party hosted by Yongsheng, the light of the crystal chandelier reflected off the champagne glasses. Jackie Chan raised his glass and laughed: "Ah Fei, after all these years of acting, this is the first time I've looked forward to an extra role so much!"

Leslie Cheung sipped his champagne elegantly: "Sometimes, the simplest cameo is the most memorable."

Anita Mui held Zhou Huimin's arm: "Vivian, you have to save a few good shots for us 'background props' when the time comes."

Xiang Fei stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the night view of Victoria Harbour. The lights on the cruise ship reflected on the sea, as if already foreshadowing the future glory of "Titanic."

"You see," he said softly to Zhou Huimin beside him, "this is the magic of film. Shooting hasn't even started, and it's already full of promise."