Huayu Entertainment 1995 started with hijacking.

Chapter 161 I'd even be willing to get beaten up!
"My Sassy Girl" is a low-budget romantic comedy film that combines sentimentality and youthful idols. It blends the freshness and delicacy of Japanese idol dramas, the romantic sentiment of European art films, and the humor of Hong Kong films into a touching story.

This movie was incredibly popular; it was arguably the first Korean film many Chinese people ever saw. In fact, this single film directly influenced relationship dynamics across Asia, with countless girls imitating the female lead and becoming abusive girlfriends.

With this film, Jun Ji-hyun became the goddess that men all over Asia dreamed of, establishing a solid audience base and solidifying her unshakeable position as a South Korean actress.

Even 20 years later, no other romantic comedy in Asia has surpassed the influence of "My Sassy Girl".

There are multiple remakes, including Chinese, American, Japanese, Indian, Thai, and Vietnamese versions. The Chinese remake is called "Pretend Couple," starring Huang Bo and Jiang Yiyan. As for the quality, let's not even go there...

In fact, in the next few years, all regions will enter a period where romance movies are very popular.

From a past life perspective, South Korea produced works such as "My Sassy Girl" and "The Classic".

In Hong Kong Island, "Needing You..." won the Hong Kong Island box office champion in 2000 with HK$3500 million, while "Love on a Diet" in 2001 was the runner-up with HK$4044 million.
On the mainland, Feng Xiaogang, who keenly grasped market trends, achieved great success with two consecutive romance-themed films, "Be There or Be Square" and "A Sigh." Gong Li went on to film "Zhou Yu's Train," and even Chen Kaige made an exception to film the fantasy historical romance drama "Lu Bu and Diao Chan."

The market and box office figures speak for themselves; romance films have been the key to making money in recent years. This is related to the influence of big-name films and the current social situation. In short, given this obvious trend, there's no reason for Wu Yuchen not to capitalize on this opportunity.

The essence of "My Sassy Girl" lies in its female lead, and none of the many versions have been as good as Jun Ji-hyun's portrayal. This role is not one that just anyone can play.

According to Wu Yuchen, the movie "My Sassy Girl" was tailor-made for Joey Wong, but it could also be said that it was perfect for her.

The female lead, Song Mingxi, is wild, domineering, yet lively and adorable. In terms of looks, height, acting skills, and temperament, to be honest, apart from Wang Zuxian, Wu Yuchen cannot find anyone more suitable to play this role in the Chinese film industry, and even for the next 20 years.

Jun Ji-hyun is so popular, it's no surprise that many actresses have tried to follow her path, but none have succeeded, which shows it's not as simple as it seems. Furthermore, Jun Ji-hyun's career path and public image were planned by her company from the very beginning, always embodying the image of Wang Zuxian (a famous Chinese actress known for her beauty and charm).

Don't be surprised; Wang Zuxian is one of the most beloved foreign actresses in South Korea, much like Audrey Hepburn is among Chinese movie fans. If a South Korean girl is praised for "looking like Wang Zuxian," that's the highest compliment. Even plastic surgery clinics use her as a popular model.

Moreover, in terms of her current condition, although Wang Xianxian is already 30 years old, she has fair skin, a top-notch face and figure, and is still full of youthful vitality and radiance. She is not at all like the grocery store lady 20 years from now, and she could easily play a leading lady in her 20s.

Speaking of age, think about the actresses of later generations, such as the great Tang Dynasty poet, who were all over 30 and still playing young girls, and the audience still cheered them on. How many of them really used age as an excuse?

If you're allowed to play a 18-year-old girl in your mid-thirties, why can't Wang Xianxian play a college student in her early twenties? A little makeup is all it takes; it's not a problem at all.

Wang Zuxian and Wu Yuchen chatted and laughed, while Xu Zheng remained cautious, only smiling and watching without daring to interrupt. After all, these two were a big director and a big star, while he was just a nobody.

After more than half a month of weight gain and adjustment, Xu Zheng gained 12 pounds. Through his understanding of the script and the character, he tried his best to embody the honest and simple male lead, while constantly practicing and acting out various scenes. Finally, a few days ago, after meeting Wu Yuchen, his performance convinced Wu to cast him as the male lead, making him want to pop champagne on the spot!

However, Xu Zheng was no longer bald; he now had a full head of thick, black hair. Of course, it was a wig, specially designed by a stylist to complement his face shape and enhance his honest and simple image. His face was now somewhat round, with chubby cheeks, quite resembling Zhu Yunwen from the drama "Love Through Time."

……

The conference room at Shanghai Film Studio was already packed with people. Those who arrived early could get seats, and even front-row seats, while those who arrived late were pushed to the back. Even so, the number of people in the room continued to increase.

"Wu Yuchen and Wang Zuxian came to Shanghai Film Studio together. Are they going to collaborate again?"

"Definitely! Shanghai Film Group managed to invite both of them together; they've really made a splash this time!"

"I wonder what movie Director Wu and Wang Zuxian will collaborate on this time. Lao Hu, you guys have close ties with Shanghai Film Studio, have you heard anything about it?"

"If we had any information, we would have reported it to the public long ago..."

A group of reporters below were chattering away when they suddenly saw the CEO of Shanghai Film Group leading the way, beaming as he walked toward the stage, followed by Wu Yuchen, Wang Zuxian, and an unfamiliar young man.

"They're here!" the reporters shouted, snapping photos rapidly, especially of Wu Yuchen and Wang Xianxian. Aside from Xu Zheng, who seemed a little nervous, the others remained unfazed by the scene.

As the group sat down on the stage, Old Zhu raised his hand and pressed it down, signaling that the people below could stop taking pictures. Everyone quickly quieted down to listen to him speak.

"Dear journalists and colleagues from the media, the reason we have gathered you all here today is to solemnly announce that Shanghai Film Group will be joining hands with director Wu Yuchen and actors such as Ms. Wang Zuxian and Mr. Xu Zheng to launch a blockbuster film, 'My Sassy Girl'!"

After finishing his speech, Old Zhu beamed with a bright smile. He didn't even mention the Beijing Film Studio, which had also invested in the project. "This time, it was Shanghai Film Studio that fully cooperated with Wu Yuchen in filming," he thought. "Does the Beijing Film Studio even deserve a mention?"
Even though the reporters below had already made some guesses, they were still in an uproar when they heard Lao Zhu confirm it. Wu Yuchen's "If Love Has a Destiny," which has grossed over 100 million yuan, is still showing in theaters. Last year, he and Wang Zuxian teamed up to win the box office champion!
Immediately, the reporters reacted strongly, raising their hands and shouting questions, making it resemble a bustling market.

Seeing the chaotic scene below, Old Zhu gestured for them to quiet down before starting to ask questions to the influential media outlets one by one.

"Director Wu, why did you choose to collaborate with Shanghai Film Studio this time?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Yuchen immediately suspected that the reporter was likely arranged by Lao Zhu, so he replied with a smile:

"Shanghai Film Studio has a long history and has produced many excellent works. Its strength in all aspects is among the best in China. Moreover, my main shooting location this time is Shanghai, so Shanghai Film Studio is undoubtedly the best partner to cooperate with."

Upon hearing this, the local reporters in Shanghai became excited again, as this time they were filming stories from their own Shanghai!

"Director Wu, everyone knows that your film 'The Classic' has already surpassed 100 million yuan and is a hit across China, achieving both box office and critical acclaim. So, is your film 'My Sassy Girl' also a romance movie?" Although there were many speculations, the reporter still wanted to confirm.

Wu Yuchen smiled and nodded: "From the movie's title, you can probably tell that it is indeed a romance movie."

After hearing this, the people below began to murmur amongst themselves again, and then the next person asked:

"Director Wu, are the male and female leads Ms. Wang Zuxian and this Mr. Xu?"

Everyone looked at Xu Zheng. A romance movie? Him and Wang Zuxian? Are they a good match?

They're not surprised that Wang Zuxian is playing the female lead, but Xu Zheng has such a baby face, he's not handsome at all.

It's worth noting that the three main characters in "If Love Has a Destiny"—Jiang Qinqin, Liu Ye, and Wu Yanzu—are all incredibly handsome and beautiful; any couple would be a feast for the eyes. The same goes for Jack and Rose from "Titanic."

But Xu Zheng in front of me doesn't look handsome at all. He looks a bit silly when he smiles, which is quite endearing.

This time, Wang Zuxian spoke up with a smile: "Hello everyone, I'm Wang Zuxian, the female lead in 'My Sassy Girl.' This time, Xu Zheng and I will be bringing you a romantic comedy~"

Xu Zheng maintained his smile and said into the microphone, "Hello everyone, I am Xu Zheng. I am honored to have been appreciated by Director Wu and to co-star with Ms. Wang Zuxian in 'My Sassy Girl'."

The reporters below took photos of Wang Zuxian and Xu Zheng, confirming that they were the male and female leads.

A reporter quickly followed up with, "Director Wu, Ms. Wang just said it was a romantic comedy?"

Many reporters have also noticed this point. There were very few romance movies in China before, but this year's two films, "Titanic" and "The Classic," one Chinese and one foreign, are both typical tragic love stories. Obviously, the current perception is that tragedy plus romance is more appealing.

But Wang Zuxian just said that this new movie is a romantic comedy?
Wu Yuchen smiled:

"I recently visited various cinemas and interacted directly with many audience members. The most common complaint I heard was, 'Why did I make the male and female leads suffer so much? Can't you make some more heartwarming love stories?'"

I think what the audience said makes a lot of sense, so I decided to make a romantic comedy to make up for the heartbroken moviegoers. The reporters below quickly jotted down the origins of the film; this topic was sure to be a hot one.

The press conference continued, and the atmosphere remained lively. Reporters had many questions for both Wu Yuchen and Wang Zuxian, as well as for "If Love Has a Destiny" and "My Sassy Girl".

The following day, major newspapers published related news as their headline story in the entertainment section:

Wu Yuchen's new movie "My Sassy Girl" has landed in Shanghai!

"Fans shed tears, Wu Yuchen felt deeply guilty, and returned the favor to the audience with a romantic comedy featuring Wang Zuxian!"

"My Sassy Girl" is about to start filming in Shanghai, and Wu Yuchen will once again set off a love craze!

Meanwhile, local TV stations in Shanghai are using this issue in various local programs:
"As everyone knows, director Wu Yuchen is quite remarkable. Not only did his recent film 'The Classic' break 100 million yuan at the domestic box office, but two of his films also topped the box office in the United States, both breaking 100 million yuan. He earned a lot of US dollars. He's incredibly talented! He's a world-renowned director!"

This time, a renowned international director chose Shanghai as the filming location, selecting a Shanghai actor for the male lead and bringing superstar Joey Wong to Shanghai to film a touching love story. What does this show? It shows that Shanghai is becoming more and more in line with international standards!

Amidst the outside commotion, Wu Yuchen was already leading Wang Zuxian and Xu Zheng in a script reading session. This time, a large cast wasn't needed; the supporting roles had relatively few scenes. "My Sassy Girl" primarily focused on the two leads, Wang Zuxian and Xu Zheng, so Wu Yuchen only needed to direct them.

In the setting of "My Sassy Girl", the female lead Wang Xianxian is a "triple-good" young woman with a good family background, good looks, and a good figure. Wang Xianxian is already very ethereal and has an outstanding appearance. The key to her is to grasp the degree of "sassiness" so that she is "sassy" without making the audience feel disgusted.

The male lead, Xu Zheng, is an average-looking, average-ability, and average-academic young man, and sometimes he's a bit silly. Therefore, it's impossible to cast a handsome guy like Liu Ye for this role. The original male lead, Cha Tae-hyun, has a baby face; he's not handsome but he's likable, and that's why Xu Zheng was chosen.

Actually, you can tell from their names. The original female lead's name was Song Mingxi, which sounds like a cultured goddess, while the male lead's name was Qianniu. Song Mingxi didn't need to be changed and could be used directly, but Qianniu definitely didn't fit the context of Chinese culture. Wu Yuchen changed it to Qianniu, which doesn't sound out of place, but is also quite rustic, highlighting the male lead's naive and simple-minded character. This contrasting character design laid the groundwork for the later plot.

As for why Shanghai was chosen, it's naturally because Shanghai is the right place!

First, the city where the filming takes place can't be too backward; it needs to have a fresh and artistic feel. The reason Korean dramas are so popular is because the idyllic lifestyle they portray is part of the dream-making process. In "My Sassy Girl," the male and female leads live at least middle-class lives, and the locations depicted in their daily lives and dates are typical of bustling cities. Beautiful urban romantic comedies are all about creating a dream for the audience; you simply can't film in underdeveloped areas, or you'll be doomed!
In 1998, many cities in China, even many provincial capitals, did not meet this requirement, but Shanghai did. To give just one example, currently only four cities in China have subways: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Tianjin. Even Shenzhen wouldn't have a subway for another six years. Therefore, the range of locations available for filming in China was actually very small.

As for the character design, everyone should understand the typical Shanghai man. One characteristic is that he is very meticulous and considerate of women, understanding and not as domineering as a typical big man. This fits the character design of the male protagonist, Qian Niu.

Therefore, after careful consideration, if "My Sassy Girl" were to be filmed in China, it would have to be in Shanghai.

The requirement for script reading is not just to read it once and be done with it, but to make the actors fully engaged and read it with emotion. To be honest, Wang Zuxian was used to the fast-paced filming in Hong Kong and never had a script reading session before, so this was both novel and not very comfortable for her, but she did her best.

"Wait a minute, Sister Xiaoxian."

Wu Yuchen interrupted Wang Zuxian to explain and analyze:
"You have to understand, in this part, Song Mingxi didn't have any fear or apprehension towards the fugitive. Because of her own painful experience of losing her ex-boyfriend and her lover, she deeply understands the fugitive's experience of losing a loved one."

She had always hoped to be brave enough to face the fact that her lover was dead, to let go of him, and to accept Qian Niu's new relationship, but she couldn't. Therefore, her words of advice to the fugitive were also a genuine expression of her own feelings, a heartfelt plea to herself, hoping to let go of her inner turmoil and bravely face the future.

After listening, Wang Zuxian suddenly realized and nodded, saying, "I thought she was just advising the fugitive, but it turns out there was another layer of meaning."

Wu Yuchen made some changes to the plot here. In the original version, the two were kidnapped by a deserter, but this was difficult to film in China, so he changed it to an escaped convict. The impact was minimal. There are many such minor changes in the film; the entire script was localized by Wu Yuchen.

At the Shanghai Theatre Academy, in mid-to-late August, some students who had returned to campus early had already come back, and the school was bustling again. Inside the dormitory, two young people chatted idly while sweeping.

"Sigh, I really envy Yan Kuan. A big company took the initiative to come to him and choose him as the male lead! And the first one they cast him in is a famous martial arts novel, Hua Wuque! Tsk tsk tsk!" Tong Dawei exclaimed in admiration.

Feng Shaofeng, or rather, Feng Wei, shook his head and said, "What can we do? With Yan Kuan's looks, he became the school heartthrob the moment he entered the school. A bunch of upperclasswomen came to our class to watch him. Who can compare to him?"

"Maybe their starting point is what we strive for our whole lives! Sigh..." Tong Dawei sighed again, realizing the gap between people even more deeply.

Just then, someone outside suddenly shouted, "The crew of 'My Sassy Girl' is here at our school!"

"My Sassy Girl" garnered immense attention from the very beginning of its filming; everyone at the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Institute knew about it. Upon hearing this, the two exchanged a glance, quickly threw down their brooms, and ran outside.

When the two ran over, they found a crowd gathered. After squeezing through, they didn't see Wu Yuchen and Wang Zuxian, but instead an assistant director shouting, "My Sassy Girl is hiring! We're looking for a few male supporting actors who will have scenes with the male and female leads and be on screen!"

Someone asked, "Do you have any scenes with Joey Wong?"

"Have!"

"Then I'll sign up!"

"I'll sign up too!"

"And I!"

When a group of people heard that they would have scenes with Joey Wong, they didn't care how many scenes they had, and they all raised their hands to sign up. If they could act opposite Joey Wong, they would be able to brag about it for a year!

Even after graduating from the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Academy, many people start with small roles. Getting into "My Sassy Girl" is a rare opportunity for most people, and Tong Dawei and Feng Wei are no exception.

After the selection process was completed in a small classroom, the assistant director led five students to the film set.

……

At that moment, Wu Yuchen was discussing with the cameraman how to set up the cameras in the subway when the assistant director came up to him and said, "Director Wu, we've found the person for you. Would you like to take a look?"

Wu Yuchen nodded and looked at the five boys standing not far away.

Hey, aren't these Feng Shaofeng and Tong Dawei?
However, Wu Yuchen had seen so many celebrities that he was already used to it. But when the group saw the famous director Wu Yuchen, they couldn't help but get excited and shouted in unison, "Hello, Director Wu!"

Wu Yuchen nodded to them, glanced around, and asked, "You all know now, right? We might really get beaten up."

"Know!"

"no problem!"

Several boys puffed out their chests and said, "We'd be willing to be beaten by Wang Zuxian!"

Wu Yuchen looked at the faces of the group again, and then looked at Tong Dawei's big head. He thought that this head would probably feel better to hit with, so he said to Tong Dawei, "You're the one. Go and dye your hair now."

Of the five people, one was to play the blond-haired youth who was forced to give up his seat on the subway after being slapped on the head by Wang Zuxian at the beginning, while the others were to play Xu Zheng's classmates and friends. Upon hearing this, the other four looked disappointed and cast envious glances at Tong Dawei.

Tong Dawei immediately bowed repeatedly to Wu Yuchen, saying, "Thank you, Director Wu! Thank you, Director Wu!"

Then, she happily followed the assistant director to get her hair dyed.

(End of this chapter)