Chapter 489

Speaking of Zhou Huimin's new song, Tsui Hark and Teddy Robin were very interested. She had already released two songs, *Moon Over the West Building* and *Bodhisattva Barbarian*, among which *Moon Over the West Building* had the strongest reaction, and the MV was also prepared to be filmed for this song.

And they planned to start work on the weekend the day after tomorrow. Tsui Hark wanted to finish it before *Aces Go Places 3*.

"Then who is the male lead chosen..." Wei Ming asked.

"Anita Mui cross-dressing." Tsui Hark said.

"Wonderful, wonderful!"

Over there, Raymond Wong suddenly shouted well. He had already seen the part where the little protagonist was left at home. Wei Ming wrote it very well, reasonable in absurdity.

And a child left alone at home, the subsequent development is too exciting. This story looks very interesting. It turns out the little boy is that little ghost.

"Can I take the script and write something?" Raymond Wong proposed.

Teddy Robin teased: "You don't want to steal someone else's creative ideas, do you."

Raymond Wong: "What do you take me for? I just think some lines can be funnier. If you think it's appropriate later, use it; if not, forget it."

Wei Ming laughed: "Just write it, I believe in the strength of Hong Kong's number one screenwriter."

For Hong Kong comedy films, the story of *Home Alone* is actually a bit slow to warm up. It wasn't until one-third of the story, when the two stupid thieves started stealing, that it began to improve.

Wei Ming was also worried that this story transplanted from the annual box office champion in the United States would be unacclimatized in Hong Kong, so he wanted to ask Raymond Wong, the genius screenwriter, to guide it in person. In fact, he used him as a screenwriter, hoping that he and the starring team could add more elements that Hong Kong audiences like during filming.

However, after reading the script, Raymond Wong was still hesitant about whether to take this project for 1 million, because he was a shareholder of Cinema City, holding 9% of the company's shares, and he had to personally inquire about the company's scripts, so his affairs were actually very busy.

But the story of *Home Alone* indeed looked very potential. When he watched the second half, his smile didn't stop. It was funny and warm. It might really have a good box office.

Wei Ming also referred to some classic Hong Kong comedy films to make some localization transformations. He personally thought the jokes were denser than the original version.

Raymond Wong first asked: "The male lead is an eight or nine-year-old elementary school student. He almost has to carry the beam. This candidate is not easy to choose, and it even determines the success or failure of the film."

Seeing him ask this, Wei Ming knew he was moved: "There is already a candidate, my cousin Wei Xi. I don't know if you know him."

"Is it the little gourd in *Once Upon a Time in China*?"

This film was also released in Hong Kong and won more than 3 million box office. Among mainland films, it is considered quite eye-catching.

Wei Ming nodded.

Hearing that it was Wei Xi, Raymond Wong was even more afraid. Wei Xi's acting skills must be no problem, and the dialogue can be dubbed, but the key is that he is a mainlander and a well-known little child star. The film starring a mainlander is first directly unrelated to the Taiwan market.

It's possible that the director will also be unlucky and be embarrassed by the Freedom Association.

Seeing Raymond Wong's hesitant look, Wei Ming asked: "Is there any concern?"

"After all, I am a person of Cinema City. It is not appropriate to leave the company's own films unfilmed and go out to film other people's movies."

Tsui Hark laughed heartily: "What's inappropriate? Didn't I film Golden Harvest's movies too."

Raymond Wong thought to himself, can that be the same? I am a shareholder, you are just a worker, but this can't be said like that.

Teddy Robin provoked: "Then you think this script is garbage and not worth your shot."

Raymond Wong hurriedly waved his hand: "How can that be, just, just this movie has mainland actors participating, I'm afraid, afraid..."

Wei Ming knew what Raymond Wong was afraid of. He laughed: "It is said that wealth is sought in danger. Andy Lau was nominated for the Golden Statue Award because of *Boat People*. Now he has played several male leads in TVB. I want to find him as the male lead for my next movie. And you who film movies don't want to get involved in politics, I understand, then you should sway left and right and bet on both sides. Now China and the UK are still negotiating. Who will have the final say in Hong Kong in the future is not certain."

Hearing this, Raymond Wong suddenly realized that the news of the China-UK negotiations had been less recently, and he almost forgot about this.

Yes, they are just ordinary people doing business. It's not about pleasing anyone, but they definitely can't offend anyone.

If the China-UK negotiations really develop in that direction, the cooperation with Wei Ming today might be a ticket to the mainland market in the future!

"Mr. Wei, I like the script of *Home Alone* very much. I can take this director's job, but after all, I haven't been a director, and I have a full-time job, so I want to find a helper. Some specific work needs him to do. When the time comes, we will both hang the director's name. The salary will be 1 million for both of us."

Wei Ming asked: "Who do you want to find?"

He said: "Consider it my apprentice. His name is Clifton Ko."

Clifton Ko is only 25 years old this year and has only been in the industry for three years. Then, under the leadership of Raymond Wong, he wrote excellent scripts such as *Energetic Springs*, *It Takes Two*, and *The Ghost Informer*.

Later, under the promotion of Raymond Wong, he directed the first *Happy Ghost* movie.

Clifton Ko is very good at filming comedy themes. Later, he also directed films such as *Chicken and Duck Talk*, *All's Well, Ends Well*, and *All's Well, Ends Well 1993*. He produced many excellent works in the 80s and 90s and also brought out an apprentice, Vincent Kok.

Tsui Hark laughed: "Hasn't Xiao Gao also never been a director?"

Teddy Robin also said: "Are you two master and apprentice reliable?"

Wei Ming decided: "Okay, that's it. When the time comes, I will give you 1 million. How much you are willing to give your apprentice is your business."

Raymond Wong's face was a little red. Oh, saying this in front of so many people: "I will definitely not treat my apprentice badly."

"Then does Mr. Wong want to go back and discuss it with Raymond Chow?" Wei Ming asked.

Although Raymond Wong is cautious, looks forward and backward, and has a good overall view, since he has already agreed, there is nothing to say.

"No need to ask for instructions. Tomorrow I will bring Xiao Gao over to meet and talk about filming problems, and then sign the contract. When the time comes, I will notify Raymond Chow. It is notification, not discussion."

Wei Ming said: "That's good, go directly to Langning Toy Company tomorrow."

"Why go there?"

Wei Ming: "The investor of this movie is Langning Toys."

Raymond Wong suddenly realized: "No wonder, no wonder I always see some toys used to deal with stupid thieves when reading the script, and they have claw machines at home. It seems these are all Langning's."

Wei Ming laughed: "It's just for this plate of vinegar that I wrapped these dumplings. Langning is rich and powerful, we have no pressure to recover the cost, you can just make it refined."

Raymond Wong asked again: "The two stupid thieves in the script are also very critical. Have you thought about the candidates?"

"It's a pity that Raymond Chow shouldn't be willing, otherwise I really want to see him act," Wei Ming teased, "Tomorrow I will let these two stupid thieves go over too."

For the candidates of these two thieves, Wei Ming hopes that one is more fierce and the other is more stupid, a classic combination of unhappiness and no brains.

Among them, the unhappy one is Xu Jinjiang. They are real friends, so he must think of him if there is a chance.

The other no-brain one chose Nat Chan. He has the potential to become a gold medal supporting role.

Nat Chan agreed very readily, didn't even look at the script, only asked about the filming time.

It was Xu Jinjiang who had some problems. When A Long contacted him, he had just broken up and his mood was relatively low recently.

Wei Ming asked A Long to make an appointment with Xu Jinjiang. After he reached an agreement with Raymond Wong, he ran to Madman Comics again.

A Long made an appointment with people to the company, thinking of opening up with Wei Ming to enlighten him.

Unexpectedly, Tony Leung and Andy Lau, the two classmates, were also there. The four of them waited for Wei Ming. There was wine and food on the table.

Tony Leung's spirit was good. It looked like he could beat Cheng Long to death. He became famous in Hong Kong after filming those two films by Li Hanxiang. The Freedom Association asked him to write a public confession, but he didn't write it. Now no one dares to find him to film, so A Long invited him to help at the magazine office.

Learning that Tony Leung majored in graphic design in college and had also run fashion magazines before, A Long wanted to pull him into the *Yes! * project team.

Wei Ming sat between Tony Leung and Andy Lau. Tony Leung naturally put his arm around Wei Ming's shoulder, while Andy Lau took the initiative to pour wine for Wei Ming.

Red energy nourishes people. Andy Lau now has a bit of a star style. *The Falcon*, *Running Towards the Sun*, *The Old Cave*, three consecutive TVB male leads, and is currently filming Yang Guo in *The Return of the Condor Heroes*. Think about how popular *The Legend of the Condor Heroes* was last year, and you know how bright his prospects are.

But he himself was not so happy. The income situation at TVB was really not optimistic. Fortunately, there were movies willing to find him. He was very glad that he took the risk to star in *Boat People*.

After Wei Ming sat down, he asked curiously: "Ah Jiang, which woman hurt you this time?"