In 1999, there was such a joke circulating in the Hong Kong film circle: There was a madman with a script in his hand, running all over the street, finding the bosses of major companies, hoping that they could invest 68 million yuan to make a film called "October Victoria".

What was the concept of 68 million at the time?

In 99, the box office of the highest-grossing Chinese movie "The King of Comedy" was only 29.8 million, and 68 million is more than the two "King of Comedy".

What do you want so much money for?

This madman wants to build the most prosperous area of Hong Kong in 1906 - Hong Kong Central in 1906 according to the scale of 1:1, and then make movies in it.

This move, in the eyes of many people at the time, was undoubtedly abnormal in the brain.

Just calculate the accounts: 68 million to invest in a movie, then there must be at least 200 million box office to pay back!

This thing is so hard!

Unmoved, the madman insisted on building a city.

Oh, this madman is Anderson Chan.

At that time, the title of the movie was still "October Victoria", which was the "Victoria" of Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong.

Later, after watching it, Shen Xudong said that since it is an action movie, it is better to use the "siege" of the siege, and it sounds more bloody, so the movie was officially renamed "October Siege".

In fact, in 2003, "October Victoria" was almost filmed.

Zeng Xianji, vice president of the Bank of Hong Kong, liked this script very much, stood up to support him, paid money to build the Central City in Foshan, and then SARS struck, and then, Zeng Xianji went bankrupt and committed suicide...

Moreover, Zeng Xianji's matter involved Chen Desen, and he was sued by the bank in court.

What's worse... When his mother learned of her son's predicament, she was so angry that she had a stroke and became a vegetative person, and her sister was diagnosed with cancer.

A series of accidents made Chen Desen himself suffer a car accident on the way out by car, lying on the hospital bed, looking at the cold ceiling, he felt that this world had nothing to do with him.

But life has to go on, and he made a comeback in 04, "Children's Dream" and "Ghost Scheme" two works...

But the response was mediocre.

Last year, Shen Xudong contacted him through Zhong Lifang and said that he wanted to invest in "October Siege".

Anderson was not convinced at first – he was rejected too many times.

Zhong Lifang found him and directly put forward the conditions: we will help build the city and spend another 80 million to build...

Chen Desen asked Chen Kexin to confirm, and then understood the strength of Golden Harvest, and readily agreed...

"Filming will start in July, set aside eight months for post-production, and the Chinese New Year will be released next year, is there a problem?"

“… There is one, the actor who plays Sun Wen..."

"Ma Shaohua can't do it?"

"Of course he's fine, we want to invite the Hollywood makeup team to help with the makeup..."

"Whatever..."

Shen Xudong thought of something and asked Chen Desen: "Jing Tian, have you auditioned?" ”

"Try... It's a good fit, and she's also willing to do some martial arts training three months in advance..."

"Then no problem..."

With Da Tiantian joining, it is impossible for "October Siege" to be short of money!

Turned around and asked Donnie Yen: "Donnie, what's the matter?" ”

"..."One Man's Martial Arts", I'm wondering if the villain can find Fu Zhaolong?"

Shen Xudong smiled: "Of course Fu Zhaolong can be played, but... He's not very willing to work with you anymore! ”

Uh, it was so uncomfortable to be beaten...

Action actors are also human!

"But can Wang Baoqiang do it?"

"You can try... He's been a martial arts stand-in before..."

……

Oh, Shen Xudong actually didn't have much idea about "October Siege".

Of course, he knew it was a good movie!

But to be honest, for a long time, Shen Xudong didn't like to read modern history, he was aggrieved and annoying, how good ancient history is, how good we are, we are the first in the world.

As for modern history... Full of humiliation!

Later, I gradually became interested, because only after reading modern history did I know how remarkable the people who have been fighting for China's tomorrow since the late Qing Dynasty are

Although everyone has their own imaginary justice and future in their hearts, and although not everyone is favored by the times, they represent the possibility of progress.

However, in the field of film and television dramas, we lack space to explore, media issues are missing, and the social platform is narrow, so it sinks into the depths of the ocean of drama, model drama, and entertainment.

Even in the astringent picture group, everyone discusses history, more of them are the Han Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty or the Yuan Dynasty, and few people discuss modern history...

Once you get started, you'll be banned by the responsible administrators!

From this point of view, it is difficult for the movie "October Siege" to get a high box office.

Moreover, there was already a work of a similar genre before - "Shanghai Tang Thirteen Taibao".

Directed by Zhang Che, starring Wang Yu, Jiang David, Dillon, Chen Guantai, Cheng Tianci, Jiang Sheng, etc.

Released in 1984, it tells the story of the Anti-Japanese War, Mr. Gao, a patriot, who was dissatisfied with the traitorous behavior of the Wang puppet government, and was ready to bring the news from Shanghai to Hong Kong to make it public to the world, in order to expose the truth of the Wang puppet government's betrayal of the country and seeking glory.

Well, it's the same genre as "October Siege"!

A group of positive characters fight to the death with the bad guys one by one in order to protect a core character, and they will inevitably die after killing their opponents.

"Shanghai Tang Thirteen Taibao" brought together a large number of stars under Zhang Che at that time, including Andy Lau, who had not yet become famous, all came to play soy sauce...

"Thirteen Taibao, one husband is in charge. The prodigal son is a rich man, a quick knife teacher, a young master of students, a bear, a tiger, an eagle and a leopard, glasses and cigarette holders, and a spear cannot escape. "These so-called godsends, quick knives, prodigal sons, etc., are all the identities of the Thirteen Taibao - or their names"

Later, there were also thirteen Taibao in "Great Expectations": Nan Xiaodu, North Lao Jiu, the thirteen Taibao invincible, the beggar head Na Sanshao, the coachman's master Xiao Ah Xin, the blind, the drunkard, the black and white impermanence dragon, tiger and leopard...

The ratings and network views of "Great Expectations" are very telling!

Pulling it back, the reason why Shen Xudong is willing to invest in "October Siege" is not only because the play itself is good, but also because he wants to circle "One Man's Martial Arts"...

"One Man's Martial Arts" is really unique!

The core is actually a ban on chivalry and martial arts.

In the movie, this is reflected in two places, one is Donnie Yen's identity as a police coach, and the other is Feng Yuxiu's Tang Qianyan.

No matter how you say martial arts, it is just a personal practice, and you will never be able to confront the system, either you will join the system to accept Zhao'an, or you will become a Tang Qianyan.

Joining the system is actually a very traditional way: learning the arts and martial arts and the emperor's family, Xiahou Wu became a police coach;

The swallow in front of the hall is the ideal of sealing in cultivation.

During the Qing Dynasty, masters from all walks of life went to participate in the competition of Wu Zhuangyuan, and the loser would get a Tangqian Yan.

"One Man's Martial Arts" can be said to be a typical and atypical martial arts film.

The typical thing is that the fight is good-looking, from the action scenes to the martial spirit, the obsession with the battle, and the explanation of life and death, there are traces to follow.

From the beginning to the end: the first punch and then the second capture, the weapon internal strength of the five-in-one...

The atypical part is that all the martial arts characters in the movie are retreating, or devoting themselves to art, or hiding in the market. Even the most cutting-edge Xiahou Wu was imprisoned for three years for killing someone by mistake...

Moreover, after three years in prison, Xiahou Wu was a "model prisoner", until the war book came unexpectedly, and the junior sister was in danger.

In the previous kung fu movies, or action movies, the routine was established: in the final stage, the protagonist will definitely wake up, beat the extremely vicious opponent, retaliate with a tooth for a tooth, and counter violence with violence!

But..."One Man's Martial Arts", the protagonist is destined not to be solved by "tooth for tooth".

So what to do?

The original version of "One Man's Martial Arts" did not give an answer, and arranged for Lu Xuanxin, who had been playing soy sauce before, to kill Feng Yuxiu...

Feng Yuxiu, a martial arts master who killed people with his bare hands and even the armed police were helpless, was shot dead by the police!

This one doesn't end well...

(End of chapter)