Huayu Entertainment 1995 started with hijacking.

Chapter 170 Sacrificing the Chicken for the Horse
"You have no idea how popular we are here! I'm so busy signing autographs that my hand is sore!"

Hearing Gao Yuanyuan's excited voice on the phone, Wu Yuchen also smiled.

Gao Yuanyuan attended the Tokyo International Film Festival with the film "Postmen in the Mountains". Because the film was produced by Wu Yuchen, it received attention from the organizing committee before it even went to the festival.

In addition, with the recent airing of "The Classic" in Japan, which has garnered a considerable fan base, the fact that Liu Ye is also the male lead in "Postmen in the Mountains" has naturally attracted even more attention.

Therefore, when "Postmen in the Mountains" was screened at the Tokyo International Film Festival, it caused a huge sensation.

People absolutely adore this movie; tickets are in high demand every day, and you can't buy one without queuing up. It has become the most popular film at this year's Tokyo International Film Festival, bar none!

Gao Yuanyuan, who played the beautiful mountain girl in the film, naturally enjoyed the enthusiastic adoration of foreign moviegoers. These days, winning over foreign fans is far more exciting than gaining followers domestically.

"Now you're practically an international star. You'd better work hard to build a solid foundation and hone your acting skills when you get back, otherwise you won't be able to live up to your status as an international superstar~" Wu Yuchen joked.

"What kind of international superstar am I? Liu Ye is the real one. He has way more people surrounding him than I do!"

Liu Ye really stole the show this time. While "If Love Has a Destiny" was still airing, "Postmen in the Mountains" made a strong debut at the film festival, making him an instant literary and artistic idol in the hearts of young Japanese people! Even his silly appearance when greeted by fans was called "kawaii" by his fans.

Despite its popularity, the Best Actor award at the film festival did not go to Liu Ye, but to Teng Rujun, who played his father. At the same time, "Postmen in the Mountains" also won the Golden Kirin Award, which is the Best Film Award, at the Tokyo International Film Festival, making it a big winner!

It's a bit of a pity that director Huo Jianqi didn't get the Best Director award; it went to Guy Ritchie for "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels." However, after they return to China, they'll soon be attending this year's Golden Rooster Awards, where they'll likely have another big win.

Thinking of this, Wu Yuchen couldn't help but sigh. His film "Run Lola Run" was banned and therefore ineligible for this year's Golden Rooster Awards. However, "My Brothers and Sisters" earned him a nomination for Best Director.

However, Wu Yuchen also inquired about it, which was just to comfort him. After all, the movie "My Brothers and Sisters" was too sentimental and did not suit the tastes of most judges. Therefore, he had no intention of going to the Golden Rooster Awards. He would be a runner-up for nothing, and going back and forth would delay the production of "The Sixth Sense".

……

In the scene, Bruce Willis gazes tenderly at his sleeping lover. Her breath condenses into a thin white mist when it touches Bruce Willis's surroundings, which actually indicates that Bruce Willis is a ghost.

Throughout the filming process, numerous such hints were embedded. Whenever a ghost appears, people feel cold. However, because the background is set in winter, less observant viewers may not easily notice these hints. Only upon rewatching will they perceive these details.

Bruce Willis said affectionately to his lover:
"I think I can go now. Sleep well, everything will be different starting tomorrow."
I used to think I should help someone, and now I have.

"I also want to tell you something: you have always been the most important person to me, and always will be..."

As if by telepathy, his sleeping lover Anna seemed to hear his words in her dream. A faint smile appeared on her lips as she murmured, "Goodnight, Malcolm."

All of Bruce Willis's deep affection and reluctance to part turned into a satisfied and happy smile: "Goodnight, darling~"

After he finished speaking, he closed his eyes, his expression peaceful and serene.

"Bravo! Absolutely perfect, Bruce, you did a fantastic job!"

Wu Yuchen was full of praise for the male lead, explaining that they had just filmed the final scene where Bruce Willis had let go of his obsession and was about to disappear from the world. This scene was crucial; it had to move the audience. Fortunately, Bruce Willis's performance was truly outstanding.

Then Wu Yuchen clapped his hands and shouted to the entire crew, "Filming wrapped!"

Amid cheers from the crew, Bruce Willis walked over and exclaimed to Wu Yuchen with a smile, "Wow, it's finally over!"

"Hey Bruce, why do I get the feeling you're kind of hoping this is over soon?"

Bruce Willis chuckled and shook his head:

"That kid Haley is really terrifying. Although filming went smoothly, to be honest, I don't really want to work with him again."

He was referring to the actor who played the little boy. In fact, after filming his scenes a couple of days ago, his parents took him back to school to continue his studies.

Bruce Willis had encountered actors with better acting skills than Haley, but the key issue was Haley's young age. This made Willis constantly on edge, afraid of being overshadowed by the child. Therefore, this filming experience wasn't particularly pleasant for him.

Wu Yuchen smiled and said, "Bruce, you all performed wonderfully. I guarantee you, 'The Sixth Sense' will become one of your masterpieces!"

"A classic like 'Ghost'?" Bruce Willis asked with a smile.

"Why not?" Wu Yuchen shrugged in response.

Then the two of them burst into laughter.

Wu Yuchen's filming of "The Sixth Sense" went surprisingly smoothly, thanks to the outstanding performance of Haley, who played the young boy, which sped up the entire production schedule. Bruce Willis originally gave them 40 days, but they finished filming in just 25 days.

However, once filming is complete, everything is done. There's also post-production. The film's soundtrack and sound effects are also quite important. Paying attention to details is essential to creating a good atmosphere.

While Wu Yuchen was busy with post-production work on "The Sixth Sense," he also received a call from Cai Yinong.

After hearing Cai Yinong's report, Wu Yuchen couldn't help but start to ponder.

Chung Hon-leung, Ron Ng?
Zhang Zhiyao, Wu Kequn?
Cai Yinong has a really good eye. All four of them later made a name for themselves. Although their career achievements cannot compare with Edison Chen and Show Lo, they are definitely not unknown.

Chung Hon-leung was one of the original "Four Beauties of Tianya," so his looks are definitely top-notch. He later starred in many TV series such as "My Sunshine" and "The Magic Blade." As a singer, he can also sing and dance, possessing excellent overall qualities. He also keeps a low profile regarding his personal life.

Ron Ng has been a regular in Hong Kong dramas for many years, and he is probably more familiar to mainland audiences as Xu Ziling in "Twin of Brothers".

Zhang Zhiyao is also a pretty boy type, and has played many handsome men in period dramas. Hua Manlou and Chu Liuxiang are representative roles. He also played important roles in "Swords of Legends" and "Eternal Love".

Wu Ke-qun is quite a character. When he debuted, he challenged Jay Chou, saying he would surpass Jay Chou within 5 years. Of course, he didn't achieve that, but he is quite talented in songwriting. "Big Tongue," "General's Order," "Lao Tzu Says," and "Writing Poems for You" are all his representative works. Ten years later, he joked, "He became a superstar, and I was defeated."

Wu Yuchen wouldn't dislike this kind of personality. Being young and energetic isn't a bad thing; it shows ambition, daring, and drive.

Wu Yuchen is quite satisfied with the people Cai Yinong chose this time. They meet his requirements for forming F4. They are all of good quality and will not cause any trouble.

Wu Yuchen asked Cai Yinong, "President Cai, have you already secured these people?"

"I've basically got Wu Ke-qun and Wu Zhuo-xi, these two ordinary people, on board. They're both willing to agree to the conditions I proposed, and now the initiative is in my hands."

Chung Hon-liang is still hesitant. After all, his personal career is doing quite well right now, and he's being cautious about joining our company and forming F4 again. As for Zhang Zhiyao, I think he's somewhat interested, but his contract still has several years left, which is a bit troublesome. To poach him, we'd have to buy out his contract, and we also need to see if his management company is willing to release him. I'm currently inquiring about the situation.”

Wu Yuchen thought for a moment and said, "President Cai, if Zhang Zhiyao is difficult to deal with, let's just forget about him and sign Wu Kequn directly. As for Zhong Hanliang and Wu Zhuoxi, how old is Zhong Hanliang?"

“He was born at the end of 74 and just turned 24. I think he’s fine in that respect; he has a youthful vibe.”

When Wu Yuchen heard Cai Yinong say this, he knew that she thought highly of Zhong Hanliang, so he didn't refute her anymore. Thinking back to Zhong Hanliang's condition in his previous life, he realized that he had always maintained a very good condition and his dedication was beyond question.

"Mr. Cai, let's do it this way. Let's choose Kenji Wu for the Taiwan side. For the Hong Kong side, if Wallace Chung agrees within a month, we'll choose him. If not, we'll choose Ron Ng."

After listening, Cai Yinong agreed, and then asked, "Director Wu, what do you think of the fourth candidate...?"

"Mr. Cai, what are your thoughts? You can share them."

“Now that I have one in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, I’m actually looking for someone overseas, like an American of Chinese descent like Wu Yanzu, or a Chinese from Singapore or Malaysia,” Cai Yinong said, expressing her thoughts.

Overseas Chinese?

Upon hearing Cai Yinong's idea, Wu Yuchen was taken aback; Cai Yinong really had a big heart.

Several names involuntarily flashed through his mind: JJ Lin from Singapore and Will Pan, who grew up in America. But neither of them had a very good image before their debut, so they probably wouldn't have caught the eye of Cai Yinong, who is obsessed with good looks.

However, he didn't want to dampen Cai Yinong's enthusiasm: "Mr. Cai, let's do it your way. If we can find a suitable candidate, that would be even better. If not, let's choose someone from the mainland as the fourth person."

“Okay, there are many promising talents on the mainland. I had my eye on one at the Beijing Dance Academy before, named Qiao Zhenyu. But since you’ve already decided on Huang Xiaoming, I didn’t mention him again.”

Qiao Zhenyu? Isn't he one of the original "Four Beauties of Tianya"?
His appearance is definitely not a problem, he was born in 78 and his age is suitable, he is a dancer and can definitely dance, and his qualities in all aspects meet the requirements.

Wu Yuchen had no objections whatsoever and said with a smile:
"President Cai, the final choice is up to you. After all, you'll be the one to guide F4 from the start."

After Wu Yuchen hung up the phone, he felt that once the members of F4 were chosen, he wouldn't need to worry about them too much for a while. Training would only take about half a year at most. You have to understand that in his previous life, apart from Yan Chengxu who had worked as a model, the other members of F4 were completely amateurs. As an idol group, none of the four of them could sing or dance well. Their professional skills were terrible, but they were still incredibly popular.

This kind of thing really depends on a person's image, and "Meteor Garden" established their image perfectly. The fact that the group trained for half a year is quite a sacrifice for their fans.

Moreover, the F4 he formed this time is definitely better than the version from his previous life. Among those four, if we're talking about who's the most handsome, it's Vic Chou. The other three are the kind of people whose looks wouldn't stand out in the entertainment industry. As for Ken Chu, his looks wouldn't even rank in the entertainment industry. But he still benefited from the hype and will never have to worry about food and drink for the rest of his life.

However, Huang Xiaoming will have to step up his game. If Zhong Hanliang, Qiao Zhenyu, and Wu Kequn are really his teammates, they are all good singers and dancers. If Xiaoming doesn't work hard, he might really become the junior member of the team!

As for whether two mainland Chinese guys in a group will be accepted or looked down upon, Wu Yuchen is not worried at all.

Once they become famous thanks to "Meteor Garden," fans in Hong Kong and Taiwan won't care about any of this.

Li Lianjie is still a kung fu emperor in Hong Kong, isn't he? And Zhao Wenzhuo still managed to get Anita Mui as his girlfriend.
And what about Jiang Qinqin, Zhao Wei, Zhou Jie, and Fan Bingbing? Aren't they still popular with movie fans in Taiwan? Ultimately, it's your work that matters.

As for people like Hu Ge and Peng Yuyan, they are only 16 years old and still in high school. Cai Yinong would never look for someone that young.

By mid-December, post-production on "The Sixth Sense" was almost complete. Since the film didn't require special effects, post-production wouldn't take too much time.

"How is it?" Wu Yuchen asked Jennifer Connelly and producer James beside him as the lights came on.

"Fantastic! Especially the final twist. Even though I knew the plot beforehand, it still gave me goosebumps! Wu, you did an excellent job with the foreshadowing!" Producer James exclaimed excitedly.

Jennifer Connelly stared blankly at the screen. Although she had read the script beforehand, she never expected the movie to turn out so well!

Although it's a horror movie, it's completely different from those jump-scare, grotesque films of the past. "The Sixth Sense" brings a great shock to people's hearts, not with fear, but with surprise, wonder, and warmth and emotion.

"Wu, you are simply a master! Unparalleled!" Jennifer Connelly, disregarding the presence of James, hugged Wu Yuchen's face and kissed him several times.

Wu Yuchen only invited a few people from his inner circle to watch the film. Bruce Willis was too busy to attend, so Jennifer Connelly and James were the only ones who watched it together.

However, Wu Yuchen felt that the effect was quite good, which could be seen from the reactions of the two people.

Then, Jennifer Connelly asked somewhat eagerly, "Wu, when do you want the film released? I can't wait to see it in theaters!"

Wu Yuchen gently patted her back: "Jenny, don't rush. I need to pick the best release date for 'The Sixth Sense'. Next year's summer season is the most suitable."

James, who was standing next to him, asked, "Wu, are you sure? I mean, for movies like ghost movies, the best release date is Halloween."

Wu Yuchen immediately shook his finger, emphasizing:

"No, no, no, James, as the producer of 'The Sixth Sense,' how can you still see it as a horror movie? Remember, 'The Sixth Sense' is a family film!"

James immediately raised his hands to indicate that it was a slip of the tongue: "OK, OK, it's my fault. So you mean..."

Wu Yuchen said with a smile, "As we all know, the two most suitable release periods for family-friendly movies are summer and Christmas. This time, we're going to release during the summer season!"

James opened his mouth, but didn't say anything. He accepted that "The Sixth Sense" was a family film, but you called it "family-friendly"? Family-friendly my foot!
On the other hand, Jennifer Connelly had a happy smile on her face, after all, she wanted the movie to be released as soon as possible, and the summer vacation in the middle of the year was undoubtedly earlier than Christmas at the end of next year.

With post-production complete for "The Sixth Sense," Wu Yuchen's team could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Now, they could simply hand it over to Disney. "The Sixth Sense," with Bruce Willis and Wu Yuchen, had a strong cast, making a summer release relatively easy. However, Disney still needed to develop a comprehensive marketing and distribution plan, and there was plenty of time.

Wu Yuchen didn't linger in the United States. After finishing "The Sixth Sense," he boarded a plane and flew directly to Taiwan.

That's right, it's Taiwan. The Golden Rooster Awards didn't include "Run Lola Run" in their competition due to its ban, but the Golden Horse Awards didn't care. They nominated "Run Lola Run" for several awards and were very enthusiastic about inviting Wu Yu-chen.

Actually, Wu Yuchen was still hesitant about whether to attend, but on the one hand, Li Xiaoran kept begging him to come with her to this year's Golden Horse Awards because she was nominated for Best Actress for "Run Lola Run"; on the other hand, Han Sanping actively persuaded him to attend the Golden Horse Awards.

Han Sanping practically hinted to Wu Yuchen that the higher-ups really wanted more influential figures like him to come to Taiwan to represent the mainland, showcase its positive image, and improve the goodwill of the Taiwanese people.

It's okay if you don't attend the Golden Rooster Awards, but you'd better not miss the Golden Horse Awards.

Since Han Sanping has already given such a hint, how could Wu Yuchen possibly refuse?
Thus, burdened by the high expectations of his superiors and at Li Xiaoran's earnest pleading, Wu Yuchen boarded a direct flight to Taiwan.

(End of this chapter)