Chapter 407: God of Gambling Series

Xianggang, Jiahe Cinema Chain, many young people flooded into theaters to watch The Wilderness: Houyi Shoots the Suns.

In recent years Hong Kong films have grown increasingly bleak, young people regard watching Jiang Heng's effects-heavy blockbusters as fashionable; although Jiang Heng rarely returns to Xianggang, many young people here still take pride in him.

Awesome, Jiang Heng's directed films are really cool!

Hollywood can't compare!

If Director Jiang could come back sometime to film a movie, that would be great!

If he comes back to film, I'll definitely round up all my brothers and take them to the cinema to cheer him on!

He's pulling in 200 million a day at the box office on the mainland—would he even care about a few of your tickets?

As they exited the theater, several young people chatted as they walked.

Behind them, a tall man in sunglasses listened closely, wearing a thoughtful expression.

After leaving the cinema, he didn't drive but took the subway to the market.

He hadn't walked a few steps inside when some stall owners recognized him and warmly called out, 'Fa Ge, how about a top-quality grouper?'

'Ah, too much trouble, I can't be bothered! Lately I've been feeling heated, I want to buy some pork bones to make soup.'

A nearby stall owner chuckled, 'Just drinking soup won't dispel the heat!'

Zhou Yunfa just smiled, didn't respond, went to buy ribs and vegetables nearby, then took a taxi back to his mansion.

Fa Ge's household has a maid, so shopping and cooking are taken care of by dedicated staff.

He goes to the market purely to experience life after watching a movie.

After arriving home, he tossed the groceries into the kitchen and went to the living room to read the newspaper.

At mealtime, Zhou Yunfa still stared at the newspaper while sipping his soup.

Fa Ge's wife said: 'What's there to look at? Even if his box office is higher, it's got nothing to do with us. He hardly ever comes back to Xianggang—he's forgotten all his friends here!'

Zhou Yunfa put down the newspaper and said seriously: 'You say, if we gather more friends and make a lively film together, could we persuade him to join?'

'Not easy, but we might have a chance if we start with his little girlfriend!'

Zhou Yunfa nodded slightly, deeply agreeing.

The past few years haven't been great for others either.

Hollywood basically has nothing to do with him anymore, and in Xianggang there haven't been any major projects all year.

In Neidi, his role in Let the Bullets Fly is naturally not bad, but everyone's attention is more on Zhang Mazi, and Ge You's masterful performance also shines, yet his earnings are really limited.

Afterwards he didn't get any big production offers either; last year he appeared in The Founding of a Party as Yuan Shikai, but his role was too small.

Right now he just wants to do a big production, preferably one that grosses over ten billion.

Even low-budget comedies like Lost in Thailand have grossed over ten billion; as an international superstar, if he doesn't have a film pulling in over ten billion under his belt, wouldn't that look like a decline?

In the evening, Zhou Yunfa invited Wang Jing to dinner.

Wang Pangzi spends most of his time in Jingcheng, only returning to Xianggang once in a while.

At the night market stall, Wang Jing ate while 'complaining' that Fa Ge was stingy.

'I barely come back once in a while, and you take me to a roadside stall? That's too stingy!'

'Having something to eat is already good; next time I might make you pay!'

'Wow, then I wouldn't dare come back!' Wang Pangzi said with an exaggerated expression.

Zhou Yunfa wiped his mouth with a napkin, smiling: 'How is it, you've found a good boss, working hard to help people make movies and earn money?'

Wang Jing gave an embarrassed laugh: 'No choice, I've got to support the family, big brother!'

Zhou Yunfa said: 'You little brat, still short on cash?'

'You're not short on cash either!'

The two laughed together and clinked their glasses.

Many entertainers in Xianggang lead miserable lives after leaving the entertainment industry.

Zhou Yunfa and Wang Jing, however, are both top figures in Xianggang's entertainment pyramid, wealthy and not lacking money, yet they both want to earn more. 'You, what ideas do you have?' Wang Jing asked after a few bites.

Zhou Yunfa said: 'Hmm, I've been thinking about inviting a few more stars to make a lively film together, preferably getting Jiang Heng on board for a Lunar New Year release!'

Wang Jing gave a bitter smile: 'Asking him is too hard! Don't you know he has many films—why doesn't he direct and star in them himself?'

'He's just too busy!'

'He says his own fee is too high, his company can't afford to hire him!'

Zhou Yunfa nearly spat out his drink—well, that reason is pretty solid.

'You're so clever, you must have a way!'

Wang Jing gave a hehe laugh, his expression somewhat sly.

He really is clever, and full of wicked ideas.

His eyes darted around as he pondered what profit he could squeeze out of it.

First, the director's job would naturally fall to him—that's a nice income.

If Jiang Heng and Zhou Yunfa's involvement makes the film a box-office smash, even grossing over ten billion, that would also be a great boost to his fame.

As for how to get Jiang Heng, just find someone who can bring him on board to handle it.

The producers could approach Broad Sodium Film Industry; then Yu Dong would surely be willing to have Jiang Heng make a cameo.

If the female lead is chosen as Liu Yifei or Jing Tian, the latter would surely also want Jiang Heng to appear.

However, to be frank, he doesn't actually want to ask those two, because they're both top-tier stars right now and their fees are too high.

Secondly, he has a female star of his own that he wants to promote…

Seeing Wang Jing's thoughtful expression, Zhou Yunfa raised his glass and laughed: 'Just looking at your expression, I know this will definitely work out!'

Wang Jing hurriedly said modestly: 'No way, we haven't even gotten a single stroke of the eight characters!'

Zhou Yunfa said: 'Come on, even a film like Little Soldier Chasing the Maid can be made, using props straight from Little Soldier Legend—you tell me which other director gets this kind of treatment!'

Wang Jing heard it, gave a hehe smile, his expression a little smug, and said he would try his best.

As for the film's subject, the two independently thought of the *God of Gamblers* series.

Of course, Neidi definitely cannot show gambling films; the film's content must be about cracking down on gambling crimes.

Wang Jing lived up to his nickname Kuai Qiang Shou; after drinking, he went home, suddenly inspiration struck, and that night he produced a script outline.

The next day, taking the outline, he went to see Zhou Runfa; the latter frowned slightly and said, "This is a bit over the top; the story's content is too sad."

We're preparing this for the Lunar New Year slot; if it's too tragic, the audience definitely won't like it.

Wang Jing listened, thought it made sense, went back and revised it again, repeatedly polishing it.

During that time, he called Yu Dong to chat and told him the script outline.

Yu Dong was naturally very interested; he had issued too many Hong Kong films in Neidi over the years and had also watched many Hong Kong films, and was very interested in the *God of Gamblers* series.

As for the matter of inviting Jiang Heng to cameo, Yu Dong patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, leave it to me!"

The next day, Yu Dong invited Jiang Heng for a meal.

Coincidentally, Liu Yifei was nearby, so he brought her along.

"God of Gamblers series?"

"Yeah, Wang Pangzi said that, Fa Ge will star, of course the film's theme is cracking down on gambling, with comedy as the main element!"

Jiang Heng nodded slightly, knowing that what Wang Jing was preparing to film should be *Macau Storm*.

He felt the film was decent enough; since it's a Bo Nan production, the cameo could be considered.

Liu Yifei, standing nearby, showed a strong interest in the film.

(End of chapter)