The crew list of "The Legend of Double Dragons of the Tang Dynasty: Origin", in addition to the director is Tsui Hark, there is also a list of gorgeous martial arts instructors - Cheng Xiaodong and Yuan Heping!

Cheng Xiaodong is just that, although he is already a senior martial arts instructor in the industry at this time, he is not an industry authority. Yuan Heping started as a martial arts instructor in his early years, and after directing "Drunken Fist" and pushing Jackie Chan to the throne of kung fu superstar, Yuan Heping also became a first-line director in Hong Kong.

Yuan Heping is a person from Jiahe, so Zhang Shaojie is ready to use his relationship in Jiahe to borrow him.

And the task of inviting Cheng Xiaodong was handed over to Tsui Hark!

Cheng Xiaodong and Tsui Hark are acquaintances, and they have mainly been martial arts in the TV drama industry over the years.

The income of martial arts instructors in the TV drama industry is generally not as good as that of movie martial arts.

The only advantage is that the harvest of the TV series is stable. A TV series with dozens of episodes often takes more than half a year to shoot, and as long as the TV series is still in operation, martial arts instructors can have money to get.

In recent years, the scale of investment in Hong Kong's film industry has always been higher than that of the TV drama industry.

Hong Kong's film industry is full of flowers, and all kinds of capital are actively investing, and the annual investment scale will reach more than 200 million. The TV series are mainly TVB and Li's TV, and the total annual investment cost is only 10 million Hong Kong dollars.

Cheng Xiaodong is a martial arts finger for TV dramas, and his annual income is only 30,000 or 40,000 yuan.

In a café in Hong Kong.

Tsui Hark said briefly to Cheng Xiaodong: "The movie "The Legend of Double Dragons of the Tang Dynasty" is about to start, I am the director, and the boss of the filming pointed out that you and Yuan Heping will be martial arts instructors together, will you come?" ”

Cheng Xiaodong groaned: "Who is the producer, and who invested in the filming?" ”

"The Baolong Film Company established by Mr. Gu Long is the producer, and the film investor and screenwriter are Mr. Zhang Shaojie, the original author of "Datang"!" Tsui Hark saw Cheng Xiaodong hesitating, so he said directly, "This movie now has an investment scale of 5 million Hong Kong dollars." In the later stage, there will be another budget to invite Hollywood's industrial light and magic special effects studio to make special effects shots for "Datang"! ”

"What!" Chen Xiaodong was obviously shocked.

Seeing Cheng Xiaodong's shocked appearance, Tsui Hark was amused in his heart, thinking that he was also shocked by Zhang Shaojie's generosity before, so he didn't laugh at Cheng Xiaodong.

Tsui Hark urged: "The opportunity is rare! You're in the TV drama industry, what's the point. It is nothing more than the competition between the two TV stations of TVB and Li, and the market is mainly in the small pond of Hong Kong. The film industry is the big picture, not only for Hong Kong audiences, but also for audiences in Taiwan, Southeast Asia, the United States, and even Chinese mainland! Once the movie becomes popular, the influence is much stronger than the TV series! Let me tell you this. You are a martial arts instructor, and the salary is 250,000 Hong Kong dollars! It's more than you make 10 TV series for TVB and Lidi. ”

Cheng Xiaodong took a deep breath and said, "Okay! I'll do it! ”

―――――― after Tsui Hark got Cheng Xiaodong.

Zhang Shaojie began to go to Golden Harvest Company.

He wanted to find Yuan Heping.

Yuan Heping, known as the eighth master, was born in the same "Seven Little Blessings" as Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung and others, and the Seven Little Blessings used to be an opera troupe. In his early years, Yu Zhanyuan opened the "Chinese Theatre Research Institute" to teach the quintessence of Chinese arts, Peking Opera and so on. Yuan Heping, like Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung and others, apprenticed to Zhanyuan to learn Chinese art and drama performance.

Because Yu Zhanyuan has more than ten students with the most outstanding performance, he is known as the "Seven Little Blessings". In fact, Qixiaofu is not just 7 people, but the general name of all Yu Zhanyuan's proud protégés. However, later Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuan Biao and other 7 people were more famous, so people mistakenly thought that there were only 7 people in Seven Little Blessings.

In addition to Yuan Heping's apprenticeship with Yu Zhanyuan, he learned a lot of drama performances, and his father Yuan Xiaotian was the first martial arts instructor in the history of Chinese film.

Guided by famous teachers, family learning!

Since 1970, Yuan Heping has served as a martial arts instructor in "Crazy Killer", and has since served as a martial arts instructor for many action movies, and by 78, Yuan Heping also directed "Drunken Fist" played by Jackie Chan.

Not only was Yuan Heping highly praised for his directorial level, but Jackie Chan also became popular in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia overnight with "Drunken Fist".

But after "Drunken Fist", after Yuan Heping parted ways with Jackie Chan, in 79, Yuan Heping also made a blockbuster film like "Lin Shirong" with a box office and a reputation that is not inferior to "Drunken Fist".

"Drunken Fist", "South Fist and North Leg", "Lin Shirong" These movies actually pushed Yuan Heping to the level of a first-line director, although Yuan Heping's status in Golden Harvest is not as good as Xu Guanwen and Jackie Chan, but at least it can be about the same as Sammo Hung !

Now, Yuan Heping is mainly working as a director and martial arts commander in Jiahe.

If you want Yuan Heping to be a martial artist for "The Legend of Double Dragons of the Tang Dynasty", you also need the consent of Jiahe.

Zhang Shaojie came to Golden Harvest and was warmly welcomed by He Guanchang, general manager of Golden Harvest.

"Zhang Shaojie, why are you free to come to Golden Harvest today, please sit down! I'll make you tea! After He Guanchang saw Zhang Shaojie, he smiled and looked very happy.

Zhang Shaojie looked around and said, "Isn't Boss Zou here?" ”

He Guanchang said strangely: "Shaojie, do you have something to do with Boss Zou?" Boss Zou and Xu Guanwen went to Yueben, and "Modern Bodyguard" is about to be released in Yueben, Boss Zou and they need to cooperate with the local theater to promote the movie. If you have anything, just look for me, Jiahe's business, I can generally make decisions for him. ”

Zhang Shaojie nodded and said, "I really have nothing to do but go to the Three Treasures Palace!" I'm here this time to borrow someone from Golden Harvest! ”

"Who?" He Guanchang asked.

Zhang Shaojie said: "Baolong Film's "The Legend of Double Dragons of the Tang Dynasty" is in preparation, and the director has already done it, and it is the cutting-edge director Tsui Hark. In the plan, two first-class martial arts instructors are needed, one is Cheng Xiaodong and the other is Yuan Heping! I came to Jiahe in the hope of borrowing Yuan Heping! ”

He Guanchang thought about it and said with a smile: "Yuan Heping is the director of a blockbuster movie like "Drunken Fist", so I can't lend it to you casually."

When Zhang Shaojie heard this, he smiled and said, "Then you say, what conditions can be borrowed?" ”

He Guanchang thought for a while and said: "Lend you Yuan Heping, you have to promise to write a script for Jiahe within three months!" The quality must be reliable, at least the quality of "Modern Bodyguard". ”

"Alright! Deal! Zhang Shaojie looked at He Guanchang with a smile on his face.

There is no way, Golden Harvest is only interested in Zhang Shaojie's script. With a big-name martial arts instructor like Yuan Heping, Zhang Shaojie can only get the script.

After He Guanchang agreed, he led Zhang Shaojie to find Yuan Heping.

At this time, it was noon.

Yuan Heping reads in his office.

Since working with Jackie Chan in "Drunken Fist", the close cooperation between Yuan Heping and Jackie Chan has come to an end for the time being. Jackie Chan prefers to act in his own exaggerated action movies.

Yuan Heping likes to experiment with the beauty of Chinese martial arts in movies.

Before Jackie Chan was not popular, he was willing to be instructed by Yuan Heping, and after becoming popular, Jackie Chan felt that Yuan Heping's martial arts guidance made him very uncomfortable, so the two parted ways.

"Chinese martial arts must have the determination to go global"

"The Hollywood trend of movies is getting stronger and stronger, and Chinese martial arts should not only be practical but also good-looking."

These are Yuan Heping's aspirations.

With Yuan Heping's more and more in-depth research on the relationship between Chinese martial arts and movie action, Chinese martial arts have become more and more valued by the film and television industry around the world. In fact, even if Yuan Heping later broke into Hollywood, the status of martial arts instructor was valued by many Hollywood directors and film companies.

Initially, in the 90s, Hollywood was still dismissive of Chinese martial arts. But with that, movies that hire "martial arts instructors" to try Chinese kung fu elements are selling more than similar movies. It also makes Hong Kong's "martial arts instructors" also a sought-after commodity in Hollywood.

In fact, before Hollywood systematically introduced Chinese kung fu elements, many action movies were hot and intense, but they had no artistic beauty.

With the introduction of Chinese kung fu, Hollywood action movies began to look sophisticated and pleasing to the eye.

Especially the American superhero movies, "Spider-Man", "Batman", and "Iron Man", are inseparable from Chinese martial arts instructors.

In Zhang Shaojie's mind, the beauty of Chinese martial arts is combined with the practice of film art. Its significance is not inferior to the special effects technology of the movie!

Of course, Yuan Heping not only succeeded on his own, but also produced a lot of capable people in Yuan's class. For example, Donnie Yen, a disciple of Yuan Heping, participated in many action movies later, which also had a profound impact on Zhang Shaojie.

"Shaojie, this is the person you are looking for, Yuan Heping!"

When he arrived at Yuan Heping's office, He Guanchang pointed at Yuan Heping and smiled.

Yuan Heping was a little surprised when he saw He Guanchang leading a person to find him: "Manager He, is he?" He Guanchang said with a smile: "He is Zhang Shaojie, he came to Golden Harvest and specified that he would ask you to serve as the martial arts instructor of a movie he invested!" ”

"What, he's Zhang Shaojie!" Yuan Heping was surprised.

Zhang Shaojie smiled and said, "Mr. Yuan, I have also admired your name for a long time!" As he spoke, Zhang Shaojie stretched out his hand and shook hands.

Yuan Heping and the others hurriedly shook hands with Zhang Shaojie and said, "Hehe, what is my fame!" Mr. Zhang Shaojie, you are the one who makes an extraordinary move! A "Legend of Double Dragons of the Tang Dynasty", the whole of Asia knows about it! "Modern Bodyguard", which is now in theaters, has set an unparalleled box office record of 30 million in Hong Kong. Taiwan also broke the box office record! It is estimated that in the global box office market next, a new miracle will be created in the Hong Kong film industry! ”

Zhang Shaojie smiled and said: "The miracle of "Modern Bodyguard" has been created by me and Xu Guanwen. I don't know, would you like to join one of my new movies and try to create another miracle of your own? ”

Yuan Heping said: "You mean to invite me to make a movie?" ”

Zhang Shaojie said: "Yes! The new movie is the movie of the same name from the long martial arts novel I wrote - "The Legend of Double Dragons of the Tang Dynasty"! I have invested HK$5 million. The director of the movie, I am ready to let Tsui Hark be the director. Please go with Cheng Xiaodong to be a martial arts instructor! ”

I heard that it was a martial arts instructor, not a director.

Yuan Heping was a little disappointed and said, "When will the movie start filming, and how long will it take?" Yuan Heping was also a little sluggish at this time, and his original intention was to recuperate for a period of time, referring to Sammo Hung's "Ghost Fighting" to make a fantasy film.

However, Zhang Shaojie invited him to participate in the big production of "The Legend of Double Dragons of the Tang Dynasty", and he was a little moved. Although he was not invited to be a director, martial arts guidance is also Yuan Heping's old profession. In addition, Yuan Heping is also very keen to promote Chinese kung fu culture in movies.

Zhang Shaojie said: "Wait until the main creative team of the film is invited, and the film will start in September at the latest." Of course, your remuneration for half a year's martial arts instruction is 350,000, which is 100,000 yuan higher than Cheng Xiaodong! If, this movie, the cooperation is pleasant, I am willing to write a big production script to Golden Harvest, and suggest Golden Harvest let you shoot! ”

He Guanchang said with a smile on the side: "Zhang Shaojie is our own family of Jiahe. In the future, "The Legend of Double Dragons of the Tang Dynasty" will also be released in Golden Harvest's theaters! Yuan Heping, you can help Zhang Shaojie in the past six months! ”

Yuan Heping looked at He Guanchang's attitude, and then no longer refused: "Okay! I'll go! ”

Zhang Shaojie happily held Yuan Heping's arm and said, "Hehe, it's so happy!" You are in my mind an indispensable person for this film."

Yuan Heping and He Guanchang, seeing Zhang Shaojie so excited, secretly thought to themselves, Zhang Shaojie is also a person with a surname!

Zhang Shaojie looked at Yuan Heping with satisfaction, and also felt grateful for Jiahe's generosity.

Filmmakers like Yuan Heping are not as popular as Xu Guanwen and Jackie Chan, but they are also first-class directors in Hong Kong. In addition, Yuan Heping's Yuan family class is also full of talents, and there are potential seedlings like Donnie Yen in the future

If you want to talk about Donnie Yen, the route he takes is most like Bruce Lee. Although his international influence is not as good as Bruce Lee, after the semi-retirement of kung fu superstars such as Jet Li and Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen also carried the banner of Chinese kung fu movies.

In Zhang Shaojie's eyes, Jackie Chan, Jet Li and other international superstars who were active in the 80s~90s are actually not in line with the development direction of future kung fu films. In the future of kung fu films, after Hollywood absorbed a lot of Hong Kong's experience, it carried it forward, and deduced the delicacy, beauty, and rhythm of kung fu to the extreme.

So much so that later Chinese directors could only make martial arts films, but could not compete with Hollywood for "Chinese kung fu films".

Looking at Yuan Heping, I thought of the development of kung fu movies in the future, and thought of Donnie Yen.

Zhang Shaojie couldn't help but smile in his heart, such talents must not be allowed to go to Hollywood!

Hollywood is strong enough!

Both the film technology and the Hollywood film industry system are more developed than Hong Kong. If Hong Kong's most advantageous point, Chinese kung fu, is also learned by Hollywood, then Hong Kong films will not only be unable to hold on to the Asian market, but even Hong Kong's local market will also fall completely

(To be continued)