Chapter 157 [Cheng Long seeks cooperation, Rumble in the Bronx or Rush Hour? ]

The Hong Kong Film Awards was founded in 1982 and it is only its twelfth year.

However, after several years of development, it has gradually taken shape.

The reason why Li Yishu didn’t want to participate before was that she was afraid that this group of people would just keep themselves in their own circle, but now that Xu Lu has personally spoken, it seems that the tone here has been unified.

It’s getting dark.

There were more and more celebrity actors and actresses on the red carpet. The fans on both sides were cheering and the cameras of the reporters around were taking pictures non-stop, as if film was free.

Two business cars stopped at the starting point of the red carpet.

The car door opened and Li Yishu got out first, followed by Gong Li, Zhao Wenzhuo, Jiang Qinqin, Yu Chenghui and other main creative staff of the crew.

“The next one coming towards us is the crew of “Sword Rain”!”

When Wan Qiwen saw the person coming, her eyes lit up and she took the microphone and said, “The new martial arts epic “Sword Rain” directed by Li Yishu was released on December 12 last year. As of February 15, the total global box office exceeded 1993 million US dollars.”

“Director Li Yishu has become the Chinese director with the highest box office in the world for a single film thanks to this film, and the total box office of the films he has directed has exceeded nearly HK$30 billion.”

“Director Li, this way, Director Li!”

“Ms. Gong Li, look here.”

“Zhao Wenzhuo, Zhao Wenzhuo!”

“…”

Reporters and fans at the scene cheered continuously. Everyone admired the strong. Although many Hong Kong people now don’t think much of their poor cousin from the mainland, the sudden appearance of Li Yishu made Hong Kong people realize that the film directors from the mainland are so powerful.

Not only did he win awards in Europe, but the movies he made also sold nearly $200 million worldwide.

Li Yishu brought Jiang Qinqin, who was walking the red carpet for the first time, and waved to the fans and reporters around them before walking straight towards the host.

Wan Qiwen smiled and said, “Director Li, Ms. Gong, Qinqin, we are broadcasting live on ATV. Is it convenient for us to say hello to our audience friends?”

“Good evening, dear friends from Hong Kong.”

Li Yishu and others also waved to the live camera as a greeting.

“Director Li, you’re here to attend the Academy Awards today. Do you think you have a good chance of winning an award?”

“Haha, that depends on how the jury chooses. Of course, I have confidence. Since I’m shortlisted, I’m definitely aiming to win the award.”

“…”

After a series of interviews, Li Yishu took the somewhat confused Jiang Qinqin and walked into the cultural center first.

After there were no cameras or people around, Jiang Qinqin finally reacted and asked, “Brother Yishu, was my performance just now a little too silly?”

Lee Ye Seo smiled and said, “It’s definitely a little bit stressful for the first time walking on the red carpet, but you did a good job and smiled the whole time.”

“I was stunned. When I got off the car, my first thought was that there were so many people. This was different from when I was singing Peking Opera on stage. I felt that there were people all around me on both sides, and there were also many reporters holding cameras to take pictures. I was so nervous at the time.”

Jiang Qinqin was really nervous. Even though she had experience performing on stage, singing Peking Opera and walking on the red carpet are two different things. When you sing Peking Opera, you are on the stage and there is a distance between you and the audience. You know you are on the stage and the audience is in the audience and it cannot affect your performance.

But the fans closest to the two sides were probably only about one or two meters away. The shouting of those people, the clicking sounds of reporters’ cameras, and the flashing of a large number of flashes were enough to make even the most socially awkward people look serious and stern in such an occasion.

Li Yishu smiled and said, “Just walk a few more times. This time you walked the red carpet once, and when you go to Cannes in May, you should be much better. Then you can just follow Sister Gong Li throughout the whole trip.”

Although Jiang Qinqin only played a minor role, she was taken to Cannes on a chartered plane, and Li Yishu just happened to take her there to have some fun.

Jiang Qinqin nodded repeatedly: “Yes, yes, brother Yishu.”

At this time, Gong Li and others also came in one after another. After the group gathered together, they went to the first row of seats under the guidance of the staff.

Xu Lu took Gong Li to chat with Zhang Guorong and others. They will attend the Cannes Film Festival next month and everyone is very excited, especially Zhang Guorong, who has always been looking forward to winning a Cannes Best Actor award.

Zhao Wenzhuo took Yu Chenghui to meet mainland Kung Fu actors such as Jet Li and Xiong Xinxin. This year, Once Upon a Time in China was nominated for the Golden Horse Awards, and Xiong Xinxin even won the Best Newcomer Award. (Ghost Leg Seven)
“Director Li!”

At this time, Cheng Long, wearing a black suit with a white shirt inside, walked over with his signature smile.

Li Yishu stretched out her hand: “Long time no see, Mr. Cheng.”

“Yeah, long time no see Director Li.”

Cheng Long said enthusiastically: “Congratulations, you have become the Chinese director with the highest box office in the world.” “Haha, this is only temporary. In the future, Chinese directors will become more and more powerful, and many of them will go international.”

Li Yishu smiled brightly. He didn’t care much about the title at first.

It was only during her previous trip to the mainland and her two visits to Hong Kong that Li Yishu realized the huge benefits that this title brings.

Not only did the Beijing Film Academy hang a banner for Li Yishu, but the Film Bureau also sent an invitation to Li Yishu, hoping to invite her to a seminar to discuss the feasibility of Chinese films going global and whether Li Yishu’s personal achievements can be replicated.

Li Yishu directly rejected the invitation from the Film Bureau, using the excuse of attending a film festival.

Ever since he attended one the year he won the Golden Lion Award, he has basically lost all interest in so-called seminars and exchanges.

A bunch of seniors were sitting there drinking tea, chatting about everything under the sun and talking about how Chinese films should go global~~
This is the same as Zhao Kuo’s theory of military strategy on paper.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Cheng Long also explained his purpose: “Director Li, I wonder when we will have the opportunity to collaborate on a movie?”

Cheng Long is now very envious of Li Yishu. When the two met for the first time in 1991, he had thought about cooperating with Li Yishu on an art film, but he was too busy and never succeeded.

But the movie “Sword Rain” at the end of last year was a global hit, and it made Zhao Wenzhuo, a little-known sports school student, a new generation of kung fu star. Naturally, this made Cheng Long very jealous.

He is certainly not greedy for fame. After working hard in Hong Kong for more than ten years, the two words “Jackie Chan” have basically become a guarantee of box office success. He is also well-known in Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia.

But there is one place that Cheng Long has always wanted to enter, but has never been able to get there, and that is Hollywood!

Li Yishu smiled and said, “I have wanted to work with Mr. Cheng for a long time, but I really don’t have time this year. How about waiting until next year? I happened to be in the United States recently to film a movie, and I came up with a story in my mind that I think is quite suitable for Mr. Cheng.”

“It’s a bit like Bruce Lee’s “Fist of Fury,” which is a story about a Hong Konger going to America to make a living.”

Li Yishu thought about going directly to “Rush Hour”, but considering that Jackie Chan is not very famous in North America nowadays, rashly using “Rush Hour” might ruin the movie.

So he thought it was okay to use “Rumble in the Bronx” to make Cheng Long famous first.

However, if filming is to take place, Lee Yi-su is not planning to do it herself. She will just write a script outline and go directly to Tang Ji-li.

Anyway, he was the one who shot the original film, so Li Yishu can just be the producer.

Cheng Long frowned: “Isn’t this a bit too cliché?”

Many movies about Hong Kong people’s adventures in America have been made in Hong Kong, but the box office performance was generally poor.

Li Yishu smiled and said, “The most attractive stories are the cliché ones. Isn’t my film “Sword Rain” also a clichéd martial arts film about stealing treasures?”

“Okay Director Li, I won’t bother you anymore.”

Cheng Long naturally knew that the more clichéd the plot was, the more enduring it would be, but he was not sure whether Americans would like this story.

But since Li Yishu brought it up, it means he is optimistic about it.

Anyway, if we really want to shoot it, we have to wait until next year. We’ll talk about it then.

After everyone left, Jiang Qinqin, who was sitting next to him, also stood up and asked, “Brother Yishu, are you going to cooperate with Cheng Long?”

“I’m not sure. Whether we can cooperate or not, we’ll have to wait until next year to see.”

Li Yishu smiled and said that whether they could cooperate or not depended on his availability, but there was a high probability that he was available.

After filming “Nobody” and “The Reader” this year, he will not make any more art films in the short term.

For now, the only plan for next year is to film “Fireworks”, so it’s not impossible to collaborate with Jackie Chan on another one.

“Director Li!!”

Just as Li Yishu was chatting with Jiang Qinqin, Li Jiaxin popped out from nowhere.

Seeing the person coming, Jiang Qinqin immediately showed a vigilant expression.

It’s just because Li Jiaxin is so beautiful, with delicate facial features, dazzling makeup, and tied-up black hair. She looks noble and charming, and the black strapless dress adds a bit of charm and sexiness.

“Ms. Li.” Li Yishu shook hands with the other party politely.

“Director Li, you left in such a hurry last time. I still have a lot of things to ask you. I wonder if there will be a chance this time?”

Li Jiaxin’s eyes flickered, and she didn’t care at all about Jiang Qinqin’s murderous look.

(End of this chapter)