The Free Association

The division between the Left and the Right had not begun only after their arrival in Hong Kong; it had existed long before they ever set foot there. Back then, when a massive wave of mainland filmmakers moved south, among them was a man named Zhang Shankun. In 1943, Wang Jingwei's puppet regime established the China United Film Company, where Zhang Shankun served as deputy general manager and head of production. At the time, the Nationalist Party was the legitimate government, while the Wang puppet regime was just that—a puppet regime. Consequently, he was branded a traitor to the nation. Later on, he fled to Hong Kong. After arriving in Hong Kong, he teamed up with several filmmakers to establish the Hong Kong and Kowloon Cinema and Theatrical Enterprise Free General Association. The governing body above the Free Association was the Taiwan Government Information Office, which oversaw all of the Nationalist Party's affairs on the cultural and arts front in Hong Kong—that is to say, the Right. To this day, any Hong Kong film that hoped to be distributed in Taiwan had to abide by four cardinal rules: 1. Strictly ban all contact with the Left—this went without saying. 2. If a movie wanted to enter Taiwan, it had to undergo censorship by the Free Association first; only when the Association said it passed could it be approved. 3. Directors and actors had to register with the Free Association, become members, and pay annual membership dues. 4. Any troop-cheering tours or arts performances organized by the Association had to be attended unconditionally. With a population of twenty million, Taiwan was the largest market for Hong Kong films. One could only imagine the sheer power and stature the Free Association commanded. As mentioned earlier, ninety-nine percent of Hong Kong filmmakers possessed no political stance, only an eye for the market. For example, Jackie Chan, Hong Jinbao, and Liu Dehua had all gone on troop-cheering tours to Kinmen. Liu Dehua had even performed honor-guard drills in front of the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, executing his rifle maneuvers with dazzling precision. Furthermore, Liang Chaowei, Zeng Zhiwei, and Di Long had all starred in Taiwanese military education films. In 1988, when the film The Eighth Happiness was released in Taiwan, the key creators and cast—Du Qifeng, Chow Yun-fat, Zheng Yuling, Huang Baiming, Zhang Xueyou, Zhong Chuhong, and others—gathered at the presidential mausoleum to pay their respects. Zheng Yuling had burst out laughing right on the spot. Because the entire affair was utterly absurd. What real feelings could they possibly have for Comrade Jianfeng? It was all done for the sake of the market. Back then, the Hong Kong film industry played the obsequious grandson to the hilt. Which was why later on, when facing the mainland market, they wanted to be both the whore and the chaste widow, incessantly whining and grumbling, raking in cash with one hand while tossing snide, passive-aggressive barbs with the other. There were only two words for that kind of behavior: asking for it! *** At the Free Association. Tong Yuejuan was Zhang Shankun's widow. Elected president of the Association in 1973, she concurrently served as a commissioner on Taiwan's Overseas Community Affairs Council, holding the post until 1993 before emigrating to Canada. In her earlier days, she had been a celebrated star actress in Shanghai, acclaimed alongside Ruan Lingyu and others as one of the Four Sisters of the Silver Screen. Though already sixty-seven years old, she still favored wearing a qipao. Her permed curls were dyed glossy black, her makeup was exquisite, and around her neck hung an emerald jade necklace of incalculable value. In her left hand, she held a cup of coffee, while beside her right lay a copy of Wen Wei Po. "President, how should this matter be handled?" "What are your thoughts?" Jiang Fengqi pondered for a moment before replying, "Cinema City has always maintained good relations with us. They certainly wouldn't do something so improper out of the blue. I believe it's best to investigate and uncover the truth first." He was from Taiwan's Central Motion Picture—yes, Taiwan had its own China Film as well—and had only recently been transferred to the Free Association to serve as Tong Yuejuan's assistant. Tong Yuejuan thought well of the young man. He had competence and vision, but he was simply too green, overly rigid in his handling of affairs, and still in need of instruction. Speaking in a languid cadence, she said, "If one's loyalty to the Party-State is not absolute, then it is absolute disloyalty. "Cinema City has been able to distribute films in Taiwan only because we provide them backing. Having received our grace, they turn around and flirt with the Left behind our backs—they even held a face-to-face meeting. Surely this photograph can't be fake? "If we let this slide lightly, who will ever listen to us again?" "Then what do you propose, President?" "Pay them a visit in person. Admonish them face-to-face, mete out strict punishment, and demand they write a letter of guarantee promising never to repeat the offense!" "What sort of punishment?" "Go. They will know what needs to be done." Jiang Fengqi stepped out feeling rather bewildered, but in the end, an order was an order. The Free Association received tribute from every filmmaker in Hong Kong; their living expenses and daily trappings were lavish to the extreme, and private cars were a matter of course. He rode in a car straight to the offices of Cinema City. Mai Jia and the others were in the middle of deliberating over the very same crisis when an employee suddenly rushed in to report, "Boss, someone from the Free Association is here!" "When it comes to stuff like this, they're faster than anyone!" "Stick to what we just agreed on!" Mai Jia muttered an indignant curse and exchanged glances with Shi Tian and Huang Baiming. Huang Baiming slipped out first, while he and Shi Tian rose to greet the visitor. "What an honor to have you here! Please forgive our lack of a proper welcome!" "Boss Mai, Boss Shi... where is Boss Huang?" "He had some business and just happened to step out. Please have a seat! Please, sit!" "Never mind, I won't sit!" Jiang Fengqi waved his hand dismissively and stayed on his feet, getting straight to the point: "You've grown quite bold these days, haven't you? Do you think that just because your company has achieved some success, you can flout principles, waver in your stance, and hold neither us nor President Chiang in your eyes?" "How could we ever dare? We were deceived! We fell right into their trap!" Mai Jia hurriedly explained. "There's no need for excuses. You did the deed, you met with them, and you even got photographed. "Even if you fell for a trick, that only proves you have no brains and that your ideological convictions are deeply flawed! Otherwise, why would you agree to meet in the first place? You must have harbored opportunistic motives! Ever since Cinema City's founding, the Association has looked after you with great care. Several of your films were released in Taiwan to outstanding success, allowing your company to expand. "This is all thanks to the benevolence of the Association and the benevolence of the Party-State. If you dare to harbor divided loyalties, you already know what the consequences will be!" "Yes, yes, of course!" "We admit our mistake! Our loyalty is clear for all to see! We will never do it again!" Mai Jia and Shi Tian bowed their heads submissively, hands hanging deferentially at their sides, without a trace of the swagger expected of cinematic tycoons. "The Association is profoundly incensed by this matter. Cinema City is hereby ordered to submit a collective letter of guarantee in writing to demonstrate your sincere repentance..." A letter of guarantee! Ninety-nine percent of Hong Kong filmmakers had written one in this day and age. Mai Jia agreed over and over. Just at that moment, Huang Baiming hurried back, carrying a delicate leather briefcase in his hand. Mai Jia took it and presented it with both hands, smiling apologetically. "Mr. Jiang, we made a mistake and deeply regret it. This is a token of our heartfelt regard for the Association, to prove our sincere devotion!" Jiang Fengqi had never encountered this sort of thing before. He casually popped it open, took a peek, and quickly snapped it shut. He instinctively wanted to deliver a stern refusal, but for some reason, another voice whispered seductively in his mind: Take it, just take it, everyone does this! "..." After wrestling with himself for two seconds, he smoothly slipped the briefcase into his grip. "Remember to write the letter of guarantee. Seeing your sincere goodwill, I will put in a good word for you with the President." "Without fail, without fail!" Having seen Jiang Fengqi off, all three spat in unison. What a piece of work! Mai Jia asked, "How much did you withdraw?" Huang Baiming held up his hand in a gesture. "Why is it a hundred thousand more than usual?" Shi Tian asked. "I was worried things might blow up! Handing over a little extra political contribution can never go wrong." "If you give extra this time, how much will we have to shell out when Double Tenth Day comes around? Just how much money has our company even made?" "Then what do you suggest I should have done? I was only thinking of everyone's best interests!" "Alright, alright, stop arguing!" Shi Tian intervened to stop the two. In truth, neither of them was in the mood to fight; they were simply depressed to no end. What kind of rotten mess was this? Giving away money for nothing, and this wouldn't even be the end of it. All year round, it was nothing but this goddamn social greasing.