Chapter 20: with translation of chapter title

~12 min read 2,319 words

Copper Gong Bay, Glory Rice Noodle Shop, Jiang Heng sat in the corner eating cart noodles.

Copper Gong Bay

Glory Rice Noodle Shop

Jiang Heng

sat in the corner eating cart noodles

Thus line: "Copper Gong Bay, Glory Rice Noodle Shop, Jiang Heng sat in the corner eating cart noodles."

Make sure to keep commas.

He, living alone, rarely cooks for himself, basically just grabbing a bite near home.

He, who lives alone

Someone says Xianggang people don't chase stars, but it's actually just an illusion caused by the decline of Hong Kong entertainment.

Xianggang people

Hong Kong entertainment

after its decline

gives people the illusion

Thus: "Someone says Xianggang people don't chase stars, but it's actually just an illusion left by the decline of Hong Kong entertainment."

'Tan-Zhang Hegemony' era, whenever these two appeared in public, they would draw fans to gather and cheer.

Tan-Zhang Hegemony

However, in recent years this phenomenon has greatly diminished, mainly because the Xianggang entertainment circle lacks successors, no longer producing stars as before.

Xianggang entertainment circle

lack of successors

no longer producing stars as before

Thus: "However, in recent years this phenomenon has greatly diminished, mainly because the Xianggang entertainment circle lacks successors, no longer producing stars as it once did."

Furthermore, this place is really too small, making the public lack a sense of mystery about stars.

Furthermore

This place is really too small

makes the public lack a sense of mystery about stars

Thus: "Furthermore, this place is really too small, leaving the public lacking a sense of mystery about stars."

Jiang Heng is not an idol star, and in public occasions he hardly ever causes a stir.

Jiang Heng

is not an idol star

in public occasions also hardly causes a stir

Thus: "Jiang Heng is not an idol star, and he hardly ever causes a stir in public."

Even many young people at the table next to him were discussing the movie and script incident of 'Hacker Empire', yet they didn't recognize him at all; the young handsome guy eating noodles next to him is actually the protagonist of the public opinion storm.

Even many young people at the table next to him were discussing the movie and script incident of 'Hacker Empire'

yet they didn't recognize him at all

The young handsome guy eating noodles next to him is actually the protagonist of the public opinion storm

Thus: "Even many young people at the table next to him were discussing the movie and script incident of 'Hacker Empire', yet they didn't recognize him at all—the young handsome guy eating noodles next to him was actually the protagonist of the public opinion storm."

I heard that Warner Bros. has already filed a lawsuit in our local High Court, accusing Jiang Heng of stealing their script!

Warner Bros.

High Court

accusing Jiang Heng of stealing their script

Thus: "I heard that Warner Bros has already filed a lawsuit in our local High Court, accusing Jiang Heng of stealing their script!"

Hey, taking from Americans, how can that be called stealing?

taking from Americans

It's just a clash of ideas, deliberately bullying us!

Even if he wanted to steal, there must be a way—could he even get hold of the script?

How could that be? Hollywood has always discriminated against the Chinese; I heard from my uncle's neighbor's daughter's boyfriend's aunt that Yuan Heping went to do martial arts instruction and to this day hasn't even seen the script!

How could that be

Hollywood has always discriminated against the Chinese

I heard from my uncle's neighbor's daughter's boyfriend's aunt say

Yuan Heping went to do martial arts instruction, and to this day hasn't even seen the script

Thus: "How could that be? Hollywood has always discriminated against Chinese; I heard from my uncle's neighbor's daughter's boyfriend's aunt that Yuan Heping went to do martial arts instruction and still hasn't seen the script to this day!"

No way, without seeing the script, how can you design the action?

No way, without seeing the script, how can you design the action

We haven't even gotten to that point; filming hasn't started yet. You're Chinese, why rush to look at the script?

Damn you, it hasn't even been filmed and released—how can you accuse us of copying the released film?

Damn you

it hasn't even been filmed and released—how can you accuse us of copying the released film?

What can you do about Americans?

Damn!

What are we doing next?

Let's go watch a movie!

Jackie Chan's movie?

They've been filming the same old tricks for decades, getting boring—let's go watch 'Hacker Empire'!

Come on, let's see what that Yankee's coveted film is like!

After a few young people discussed for a while, they got up and left the noodle shop.

Conversations like this happen from time to time in the shop.

There were also suggestions to watch 'Lucky Dragon', but they all said that film was a cash-grab, with too little star power.

This sort of thing isn't the first time it's happened; basically, people always choose between 'Hacker Empire' and 'Who Am I?'.

Looking at this situation, the effect isn't bad!

Jiang Heng put down his chopsticks, took a napkin to wipe his mouth, and silently thought to himself:

Today's situation, he had anticipated it long ago.

Because Chinese-language cinema has a peculiar phenomenon: movies that smash the box office in the mainland often have little buzz in Xianggang.

To achieve good results, stirring the curiosity of Xianggang audiences is essential.

Furthermore, global release is another problem.

Hollywood has always discriminated against the Chinese; even Li Lianjie, breaking into Hollywood, had to start as a villain, and the most disgusting part is the repeated price-cutting.

Hire you as a villain, one million dollars!

You agreed—okay, 750,000.

You agreed, okay, 750,000.

You refused, but thinking it over later it's also an opportunity; when you agree again, it's only 500,000.

If it weren't for Li Lianjie blowing the whistle, ordinary people would hardly imagine they could still cut prices like that, but they indeed do.

Jiang Heng, these past two days, has also experienced several waves of disgusting 'price-cutting'.

First, a Hollywood company contacted him, willing to pay $2 million to buy the North American distribution rights to 'Hacker Empire', saying it could help him deal with Warner Bros.

Then another company's quote came in at only $1.5 million.

$1.2 million, $1 million, $800,000.

These Hollywood companies repeatedly said that Jiang Heng couldn't win this lawsuit; selling now would still be profitable, but delaying further might well lead to bankruptcy.

Jiang Heng ignored this, not answering calls from those companies for three straight days.

Meanwhile, during those three days, the box office of 'Hacker Empire' exploded amid the heated public discourse, surpassing the films of Jackie Chan and Stephen Chow, first breaking through HK$30 million.

Newspapers summed it up: the era of 'double-week one hit' is over!

The phone rang; Jiang Heng picked it up and saw it was a call from Columbia's representative.

He hesitated a few seconds, then answered.

"Mr. Jiang, can we arrange a meeting?"

Jiang Heng chuckled: "Sorry, I make tens of thousands every few minutes—I really don't have time to go out and discuss an $800,000 deal!"

As soon as he said that, the diners in the shop subconsciously glanced at the young man in the corner—he's not bad-looking, just spouting nonsense in broad daylight!

"Um, Mr. Jiang, we're very sincere!"

"Eight hundred thousand?"

"Heh, just a business strategy! To show our sincerity, we can leak a piece of news to you: the lawsuit will go to trial in five days!"

"That fast?" Jiang Heng was genuinely surprised.

Columbia's representative laughed, "Warner Bros, after all, is a Hollywood giant—they still have that capability. I think, Mr. Jiang, you should be confident of winning this lawsuit, right?"

"Of course!"

"Alright, then I, representing Columbia, formally extend a cooperation invitation. After you win the lawsuit, we are willing to offer $5 million to purchase the North American distribution rights to 'Hacker Empire'!"

"Five million? You're underestimating me!"

"Mr. Jiang, whether it's you or the male and female leads of the film, in Beimei you are complete newcomers, and a price of five million US dollars is also a gamble for us!"

Jiang Heng gave a cold smile, "Really? If there really were such a huge risk, why have you called again and again, wanting to buy the distribution rights? Under normal circumstances, a nameless Chinese director bringing a copy to your company might not even be received."

The representative of Columbia Company fell silent; being able to make Haolaiwu's various companies take action and employ various means naturally stems from visible interests at work.

The script case of The Matrix has already spread throughout Haolaiwu, sparking a public opinion storm.

American major media also widely reported the matter, and even the British, French, and German European media have also reported on it.

It can be said that The Matrix became a hit before its release; the extraordinary 'script case' has aroused tremendous curiosity among audiences worldwide.

Once the copyright ownership is settled, the film's overseas release will inevitably trigger a wave of viewing enthusiasm.

If the quality is good, a box-office hit is also possible.

And the several giants of Haolaiwu, too, after the script case broke out, successively sent people to go watch the film.

As a result, they found that the film's plot structure is grand, its consciousness ahead of its time, its action scenes splendid and varied, and the special-effect scene of 'bullet time' is unprecedented.

The companies estimate that, given the current public opinion heat and the film's quality, achieving a box office of one or two billion dollars globally can be said to be without pressure.

This is why they have all rushed to contact Jiang Heng, attempting to use psychological warfare to drive down the price, first to swindle the distribution rights into their hands.

Please collect and recommend!

(End of chapter)

◈

End of Chapter

Press ← / → to navigate

Ch. 20 / 5664%