Chapter 7: Heading North to Seek Distribution
The film Ma Yongzhen has a smooth storyline, outstanding fight scenes, and as a commercial action movie it is still very competent.
Even though Jiang Heng has watched it many times, he still watches it with relish.
But for Xianggang audiences, similar films have been seen too often and lack novelty, so the on‑site reaction wasn't very good.
Although no one left midway, occasional heckling could be heard, and when the film reached halfway Yuan Kui and Liu Zhenwei left the theater due to excessive pressure.
Outside the cinema, the two stood by the roadside smoking.
Liu Zhenwei suddenly said, "Looking at this reaction, I'm afraid the box office won't be ideal!"
"The current macro environment is bad; there's nothing we can do!"
Yuan Kui offered casual reassurance, thinking, "Even if we lose, it's not much; but if someone like Jiang Heng invests his own money, that would be disastrous—safety first!"
"Fine, let's not talk about that. Let's think about future projects. I have a Three Kingdoms script; are you interested in directing?"
Yuan Kui waved his hand quickly, "I've been out of form these two years and want to rest!" In truth, he felt collaborating with Liu Zhenwei was financially mismatched.
In the past year, the two co‑directed Sparrow Flying Dragon and Black Rose Oath, both with disappointing box office, and Ma Yongzhen, where they served as director and action director, also seemed lackluster, prompting thoughts of quitting.
Liu Zhenwei, as if unaware, calmly said, "Then I'll help with the action scenes later!"
"No problem!"
After saying that, both fell into silence.
The 1997 Xianggang film market was truly in a bad state.
Cheng Long's big production A Good Person premiered early in the year, earning a box office of 4,500, which sounded decent, but it was 12 million less than last year's Simple Mission.
What surprised many filmmakers was that a 15 million box office could place a film in the yearly top ten, and only nineteen films surpassed ten million.
In the past, no one could have imagined that.
What Yuan Kui and Liu Zhenwei could not imagine was Ma Yongzhen's box office: it fell steadily from the start, and after only 11 days it was pulled due to dismal earnings, totaling just 3.01 million—a truly tragic figure.
Liu Zhenwei was so depressed he nearly shut himself off; if partner Li Dawei hadn't pulled him back, he would have quit the film industry outright.
When next year's Love Across Time premieres, Li Dawei will have to pound his chest, and I wonder why I ever pulled him along.
Ma Yongzhen's failure further terrified Xianggang filmmakers and investors; Yuan Kui and Liu Zhenwei, once prominent figures in the circle, can no longer hide the decline—could Xianggang cinema truly be on the brink of collapse?
Some are worried, some head north to seek fortune, some go to Haolaiwu to forge new paths, while others remain leisurely, paying no heed.
After returning to Xianggang for a midnight screening and wandering for a few days, they left for the United States under the pretext of post‑production.
When they returned in early September, Li Meiqi received the news and came knocking at once.
"Jiang, I need a job; I can't keep waiting like this!"
"Out of money?"
"How could that be?"
Li Meiqi's fee was HK$100,000; she lives frugally and still has a fair amount of savings.
She worries that Jiang Heng seems to have no intention of scaling up his work, binding herself with a contract and then doing nothing.
Since The Matrix wrapped, she hasn't acted in any film or TV drama, completely wasting her life.
"I need work; a woman's prime is fleeting!" Li Meiqi said, a hint of sadness in her voice.
Jiang Heng smiled, "I completely understand how you feel, but I advise you to be patient a bit longer; otherwise you'll remain a newcomer with no works, and even if you act you won't get good roles!"
"But when the film releases, it'll be different!"
"How different?"
"Then you'll become an international star, understand?"
"I really hope everything you say is true, but…!"
Perhaps because she's far from home and her future is uncertain, Li Meiqi became emotional, covering her face with both hands, as if she couldn't help but cry.
Jiang Heng gently patted her back, smiling, "Don't be sad; I'll show you something good!"
"What, what, what do you want to see?" Li Meiqi stepped back, a little startled.
Jiang Heng simply opened a notebook, "Of course it's the film we shot, what did you think?"
"I guess so, it's this!"
Jiang Heng pulled the curtain; Li Meiqi stepped back again, eyes wide open.
Instead, Jiang Heng just turned on the projector, connected the notebook, "Come over!"
Li Meiqi finally walked over and saw Jiang Heng open a video file titled The Matrix on the desktop.
There were no studio logos or production‑company animations; it went straight into the main storyline.
Because she knew the script well, Li Meiqi watched effortlessly and was immediately drawn to the action scenes.
Especially the fight scene when she, playing Trinity, leapt into the air as she appeared, with the camera rotating—so cool it defies description.
She could only say that Hollywood has never had such an action scene, and Xianggang probably hasn't either!
If the quality stays at this level, she truly could become an international star as Jiang Heng said.
She is a woman with a strong career drive; thinking of this, Li Meiqi's breathing quickened, and she stared intently at the screen.
The whole film ran over two hours, and she didn't even sip water.
When Wu Yanzu, playing Neo, flew through the street like a superhero, the screen suddenly dimmed, and Li Meiqi finally exhaled, collapsing onto the sofa with a fine sheen of sweat on her forehead.
Jiang Heng pulled back the curtain, letting the sunlight in, and laughed, "How's that, does it satisfy you?"
Li Meiqi looked at him against the backlight and thought the sun‑bathed Jiang Heng looked so handsome and talented!
"I really can't believe it—the female lead inside is me; I actually acted in such a film. Please tell me, is all this real?"
Jiang Heng, after hearing this, paused thoughtfully, reached out and pinched the smooth, pale arm of Li Meiqi.
"I knew it; it was all just a dream!"
Li Meiqi gave a wry smile, yet showed no reaction.
This left Jiang Heng stunned—had he never been reborn, never made a film, and all his experiences were just a dream?
That dream is going on way too long!
Holy crap, could I still be lying in the hospital as a vegetable!
Just as he was doubting life, a sharp pain came from his waist—it was Li Meiqi, lying on the sofa, twisting his waist.
"Ah ah ah, holy crap, it hurts, let go!"
Li Meiqi let go and rubbed her own arm, looking aggrieved: "You know it hurts, yet you still pinch me hard!"
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He directly entered the hotel where Jiang Heng was, asked the front desk to call Jiang Heng's room, and left his own name—Yu Dong.
The front desk then told him that the Xianggang person wasn't in the room and had presumably driven out.
Yu Dong, feeling helpless, waited in the hotel lobby for nearly two hours before finally seeing the handsome Jiang Heng and the tall, beautiful Li Meiqi arrive together.
"Hello, may I ask if you are the Mr. Jiang from Xianggang?"
Jiang Heng smiled and extended his hand, saying, "It's me. May I ask who you are?"
"Hello, I'm the head of the distribution department at Beiying Factory, my name is Yu Dong. I've heard that Mr. Jiang has a film to be released in the Neidi; I wonder if we have a chance to cooperate."
Jiang Heng said, "I don't know whether Director Yu is speaking on behalf of Beiying Factory or in a personal capacity when discussing this matter with me."
Yu Dong was taken aback; he had entertained the idea of starting his own business, but had not yet acted on it, after all, he was still fairly valued at Beiying Factory.
Of course, nowadays all industries in the country are developing rapidly; those who go into business are like carp crossing the river—sooner or later he will take the plunge, he just hasn't made up his mind yet.
Jiang Heng being able to say that shows he's no ordinary fellow!
(End of chapter)
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