North American Exclusive

"Please wait a moment!" "Of course, take your time!" In the plain, unpretentious reception room, Chen Qi sat on a sofa draped in a white fabric slipcover, waiting alongside an official from the Ministry of Culture. Before long, an increasingly portly Liao Gong strolled in with a broad smile. "I heard you two arrived, so I slipped away before my meeting even finished. Xiao Chen, I've been eager to hear how your work is coming along." "The leader and I were just hoping to report to you, sir." "Good, good. Have some tea and take your time." Liao Gong settled in attentively. He truly paid close attention to Chen Qi's endeavors: first, because no one had ever walked this path before; second, because top leaders genuinely enjoyed watching movies, and to be blunt, they weren't particularly fond of domestic films either. The country had not yet opened up widely; those cult classics hadn't emerged yet, and the available genres remained monotonous. Chen Qi straightened his posture and briefed him on the progress of Tai Chi 2. From his showdown with China Film until now, barely three months had elapsed. For a fledgling startup company making a movie, this pace was already remarkably swift. "Good! Wonderful!" Having heard the synopsis, Liao Gong slapped the table in approval and said, "As I told you before: so long as you don't violate patriotic spirit or film anything vulgar or harmful, you have free rein to show what you can do. "The theme you chose looks fine to me. Tan Sitong had his naive flaws, but he was undeniably a pioneer, and the Boxers indeed resisted the invaders. It was precisely because wave after wave of people marched forward that the sparks of later revolutions were kindled. "You have a first and a second. Do you have a third?" "Yes, sir. The third installment will be about fighting foreigners—Yang Yugan facing foreign challengers in martial arts duels to exalt national prestige." "Ha, you rascal, you truly are clever!" Liao Gong shot him a meaningful look. If he followed chronological history, the third installment would have to tackle revolution, but Chen Qi was steering clear of that to film martial showdowns against foreigners instead. "We came today with a couple of requests for your approval as well," the Ministry of Culture official spoke up. "Tai Chi 2 has several scenes that need to be filmed in Hong Kong. I didn't dare make the call on my own, so we need your guidance, sir. Xiao Chen is also preparing to stay in Hong Kong for a few months to negotiate cooperation with Great Wall. In addition, he wants to bring in American actors and would like your help in seeing whether any overseas Chinese in the United States could help make the connection." "Oh?" Liao Gong looked slightly surprised and shifted his gaze to Chen Qi, waiting for an explanation. Chen Qi explained, "Tai Chi 2 features quite a few scenes with foreigners. For the first film, we had actors from Xinjiang play the parts, but that won't work so well this time. We need actual foreigners, and Hong Kong has the resources for that. "As for the other film, here is my thinking: "Kung fu and action films appeal to foreigners because they don't need to understand the cultural nuances behind them; they only care whether the fights are thrilling. "Beyond that, however, cultural barriers form a natural chasm. Westerners have no appetite for non-kung fu films starring an Eastern lead. At best, they can tolerate co-leads shared between Easterners and Westerners. "I want to try making a non-kung fu film to broaden our genres and see if it can find traction in the American market. That's why I need American actors." Ever since motion pictures began in America, apart from kung fu films, practically no movie starring an Asian lead had ever achieved great success in the United States. Not to say literally none, but that held true for the vast majority. Chen Qi wanted to produce a film tailored specifically for North America. If it featured an all-Eastern cast and still aimed to sell for a high price in the US, that was an impossible dream. The 1980s offered a rare window of opportunity: the Soviet Union was still standing, Sino-American relations were warm, and Hollywood had not yet conquered global markets. He was not looking for a one-off deal; he wanted long-term development so that once his network matured, he could produce genuine Sino-American co-productions. What he actually wanted to make most was contemporary action films. Something like Jackie Chan's Rush Hour or Li Lianjie's Romeo Must Die—a skilled Chinese martial artist paired with a fast-talking, comedic Black partner. That formula was hugely popular in the American market. But the conditions weren't ripe yet, so he had to start with something else. "Recruit American actors?" Liao Gong pondered for a moment. He neither agreed nor refused, merely saying, "Let me consider it." After sitting a while longer, the two took their leave. Chen Qi asked, "Do you think Liao Gong agreed or didn't agree?" "I think it's basically in the bag. Sino-American relations are in good shape, so this is the perfect time for cultural exchange, and cinema ought to have cooperation too. Besides, your goal has always been going overseas; asking for a few American actors isn't unreasonable. "Just wait. You should have an answer before you head to Hong Kong." "All right. Then I have one more request." "Why do you have so many requests?" the official groaned. "I'd like to request that the authorities assign me a bodyguard to protect me closely whenever I travel outside the mainland!" "..." The official gave him the exact same meaningful look Liao Gong had given him earlier, saying, "We'll study the matter." "Great, thank you, sir!" As they parted ways, the official stared at Chen Qi's retreating figure, shaking his head. "Young people these days are truly something else. What is that brain made of?" Anyone with discerning eyes could see right through it: Chen Qi wasn't asking for a bodyguard at all—he was proactively asking the authorities to assign someone to supervise him! In this era, personnel sent overseas committing outright defection or quietly emigrating were hardly unheard of. ……………… Early that year, Jin Yong had submitted an application through the Xinhua News Agency Hong Kong Branch requesting to visit the mainland. After a series of arrangements, on a summer day at long last, Jin Yong was granted a private audience with the country's top leadership at the Great Hall of the People. That was right—a private audience, an honor of the highest standing. He arrived with his wife and children, impeccably dressed in a full suit and tie despite the sweltering summer heat. The meeting lasted for over an hour. At that time, "One Country, Two Systems" had not yet been formally proposed, but the leader clearly told Jin Yong: "When you return to Hong Kong, tell your friends not to worry; their way of life will not undergo major changes." Jin Yong was not just an individual; behind him stood Hong Kong's elite class. Their consensus was: Hong Kong is Chinese territory, Hong Kong's status quo is best preserved, and Hong Kong must not fall into chaos. Thus, the leader's clear assurance greatly encouraged Jin Yong. Later, when "One Country, Two Systems" was put forward, he wrote an article offering high praise, calling it "a single phrase capable of serving as the law for all under heaven." Further down the road, Jin Yong served as head of the Political Structure Special Panel—one of five sub-panels under the Hong Kong Basic Law Drafting Committee—and was later appointed a member of the Preparatory Committee for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. At the moment, Britain was already repeatedly testing the mainland's stance on the Hong Kong question. By the following year, when the Falklands War broke out, the "Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets," riding the momentum of its resounding victory in the Falklands, would formally open Sino-British negotiations. After two years of talks, the Sino-British Joint Declaration would be signed in 1984. ………… On this day, at the Beijing Film Studio. In front of the studio soundstage, the cast and crew of Tai Chi 2 gathered for a group photo. There had been a similar shoot the previous year, which drew all sorts of cynical, passive-aggressive snipes at the time; now, those same detractors had nothing left but envy. If for nothing else, that extra one-yuan daily subsidy alone was enough to make everyone fight tooth and nail for a spot. Li Wenhua had gained plenty of swagger now. If you looked down on me before, I simply won't pick you; I'll choose my own people for the crew and let my own people earn the cash. Having been thoroughly scolded, Zhen Zidan was much better behaved now. He leaned in and asked Yuen Woo-ping in a whisper, "Master, I heard that whenever filming kicks off, you have to cover things in red cloth and burn incense to offer sacrifices. How come they don't do that here?" "Different customs, that's all. What's so strange about it? Speak less and keep your mind on the acting. When this film comes out, it'll be good for you." Yuen Woo-ping felt rather helpless with him; he had to keep an eye on every little thing the boy did. "All right, one more shot!" "Done!" With the group photo taken, Chen Qi no longer needed Li Wenhua as a cover. Without hesitation, he boldly declared: "Tai Chi 2, cameras roll!"