PNB Chapter 9 Mortgaged Properties
Chapter 9 Mortgaged Properties
"Boss, would Director Tsui be willing to invest?"
A week has passed since Tang Long approached Cheng Xiaodong with the script.
To avoid appearing too impatient, he refrained from inquiring about the progress of "The Blade" for the entire week.
But only he knows how anxious he is.
These days, he's been thinking about this all the time, and he's not paying attention to anything else, so he's suspended Kim Heung-hyun's acting training classes.
Today, Cheng Xiaodong finally called to summon him, and Tang Long rushed over in a hurry.
"Are you getting impatient?"
"It's a bit rushed."
"Back then, I was just like you. In order to become a martial arts instructor, I volunteered to many film crews."
But they all turned me down because I was too young. I only started to rise through the ranks after I gradually made a name for myself.
Upon hearing this, Tang Long suddenly had a bad feeling.
Sure enough, Cheng Xiaodong took a deep drag of his cigarette and then said:
"You're still young, you'll have plenty of opportunities in the future. With your skills and talent, you'll make it big sooner or later."
"Boss, not a single company is willing to invest? Even Director Xu isn't willing?"
"I submitted the script to several film companies, including Golden Harvest, Win's Entertainment, D&B Films, and Siyu Films, and they all rejected it without exception."
Currently, gambling films and comedies are popular in the market. Films like "The Blade," which lack commercial appeal and entertainment value, are subject to very cautious investment.
Wu Siyuan was somewhat interested, but upon hearing that a newcomer would be playing the male lead, he declined the offer.
Director Xu is very interested in "The Blade" and is even preparing to direct it himself.
However, the project will not start until next year.
The Swordsman series lost money, and A Chinese Ghost Story 2 tied up ten million Hong Kong dollars of his funds.
Most importantly, he was busy preparing to remake "Once Upon a Time in China".
This is a movie he wanted to make several years ago, but it was delayed because he couldn't find a suitable actor.
Last year, he collaborated with Jet Li, the male lead of "Shaolin Temple," on "Dragon's Journey," and immediately took a liking to him.
Jet Li has signed with Golden Harvest, and director Tsui Hark is currently in discussions with Golden Harvest regarding a collaboration on "Once Upon a Time in China".
Furthermore, he has some reservations about you playing the male lead in "The Blade."
Cheng Xiaodong explained the situation to Tang Long in one breath.
He first contacted Xu Ke.
Tsui Hark really liked the story of "The Blade" and wanted to direct it himself.
Even his emotional side as an artist came out, and he couldn't help but want to agree to let Tang Long play the male lead.
However, Shi Nansheng was very rational and tactfully reminded Xu Ke that his film studio was not well-funded and he did not have that much energy.
Xu Ke understood that his girlfriend didn't think highly of the project, and he calmed down.
However, he really liked the story and didn't completely reject it, saying he would talk about it next year.
The reason for delaying it until next year is that he doesn't have that much energy right now.
Secondly, by next year, the film studio's financial situation will be much better, and he will have the capital to be capricious.
Cheng Xiaodong then submitted the script to various film companies, and out of respect for him, several companies responded, but none of them were optimistic about it.
Seeing Tang Long's dejected look, he offered words of comfort:
"You're only nineteen years old now. Jackie Chan, Chow Yun-fat, and Andy Lau were all still playing minor roles when they were nineteen."
Actually, it's a good thing that Director Xu said he'll only have time to film "The Blade" next year.
Next, I'll try to get you more roles and raise your profile.
You'll have a much better chance of winning the male lead role in "The Blade" then.
Tang Long understood that Cheng Xiaodong's suggestion was the best solution.
But waiting until next year will be a bit too late.
Next year, new martial arts and kung fu films will begin to increase rapidly, and the popularity will be scattered, making it difficult for "The Blade" to generate much discussion.
It might even flop at the box office, just like it did in the original timeline.
Moreover, by next year, Xu Ke will have even more projects to juggle, and it's questionable whether people will even remember "The Blade".
There are too many variables.
"Boss, thank you so much for all the trouble you've been working for me these past few days. I'll think of another way."
"What other options do you have? You're not thinking of selling the house your father left you, are you?"
Seeing Tang Long's silence, Cheng Xiaodong was immediately enraged.
"Are you out of your mind? Even a big director like Director Tsui wouldn't invest all his own money in a movie."
You, a newcomer, dare to do this?
Are you in such a hurry to climb the ranks?
Previously, Cheng Xiaodong thought that Tang Long was capable and talented, and that it was only a matter of time before he became famous.
But now it seems he's a bit too eager for quick success and a bit extreme.
"Boss, I want to give it my all for my dream."
In his past life, he didn't take out his own money to gamble because he had no way out.
Now, going back to Hong Kong in the 1990s, there are many opportunities.
Even if he continued working as a martial arts performer, he could still earn a decent income; making some investments would also ensure he had no worries about food and clothing.
He wasn't very familiar with the investment industry, but he had at least heard of things like Kweichow Moutai and Tencent stock.
For those who are closer to home, buying a few more houses in Beijing, Shanghai, or Shenzhen in the next couple of years will ensure they don't lack money in the future.
It is precisely because he has these fallback options that he dares to mortgage his property to promote himself.
"Dreams? What's a dream worth?"
Ultimately, filmmaking is just a business, and investing in films is not something we can handle.
Don't let those art-related propagandas brainwash you.
Wang Jiawei is quite artistic, isn't he? But when have you ever seen him use his own money?
Even when "Days of Being Wild" was severely over budget and the company was short of funds, he never considered putting his own money into it.
"I'm not doing this for art, but for my dream. At least I've done my best now so I won't regret it later."
Dreams may not be worth much, but what's the difference between a person without dreams and a salted fish?
Looking at Tang Long's stubborn expression, Cheng Xiaodong was reminded of his younger self.
When he was young, he also wanted to make a name for himself without relying on his father.
Unexpectedly, he encountered setbacks at every turn, but in the end, it was his father who lent him a helping hand.
Thinking of this, Cheng Xiaodong's tone softened:
"Don't sell the house yet. I'll help you find some investors."
Many Taiwanese cinemas and film companies have already set up shop in Hong Kong. I'm going to see if any Taiwanese people are interested in investing.
"Thank you, boss."
"Don't thank me yet. Although Taiwanese people are big spenders, they value how many stars a movie has more. I'm not sure they'll definitely invest."
"Your willingness to help me find the Taiwanese people is a huge favor to me."
Tang Long felt somewhat dejected after leaving Cheng Xiaodong.
It's true that getting money out of someone else's pocket isn't so easy.
No wonder some directors in later generations spent several years trying to secure funding for their films.
If Ning Hao hadn't secured funding from Andy Lau's Asian New Star Director program, "Crazy Stone" would likely have been released a few years later.
Tang Long had no hope for the investment from Wanwan Cinema and the film company.
As Cheng Xiaodong said, they value celebrities more.
With big stars like Chow Yun-fat and Andy Lau, they're willing to pay even without a script.
They're very stingy with celebrities.
For the next week or so, there was no news from Cheng Xiaodong.
Tang Long gave up completely. He stopped worrying and began preparing materials to apply for a bank mortgage loan.
That day, he had just returned from HSBC when he saw a familiar figure standing at the door.
"Uncle?"