Huayu Entertainment 1995 started with hijacking.

Chapter 173 The opportunity is yours!
"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, isn't that a martial arts novel? Is it a martial arts movie?" Zeng Li asked curiously upon hearing this.

She certainly knew Li An; after all, a director who had won the Golden Bear twice and the Golden Horse was very well-known in the industry.

Wu Yuchen nodded upon hearing this: "Yes, there are quite a few action scenes. You will need to undergo training for a period of time. During the training, Li An will observe you and select the best candidates."

Zeng Li thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll give it a try."

She knew that since Wu Yuchen had brought it up, he probably wanted her to audition, and she didn't want to refuse his kindness. Besides, it was Li An's movie after all, so it couldn't be bad.

Wu Yuchen smiled and stroked Zeng Li's face. Actually, he didn't think Zeng Li was particularly suitable for the role of Yu Jiaolong, but rather he was trying to increase the possibilities for Zeng Li.

Although Zeng Li has a somewhat indifferent personality and is not as career-driven as Zhang Ziyi, she is still ambitious and driven. Anyone who enters the industry definitely wants to achieve something.

In her past life, she didn't have many resources, and she was too ashamed to do many things. She also tried to gain attention by shooting sexy photos for "Men's Health" magazine, but unfortunately, the publicity and resources couldn't keep up. This was the biggest attempt she ever made.

Later, rumors circulated that she and Huo Siyan had an argument, and Huo Siyan slapped her across the face, leaving her stunned. Why did Huo Siyan dare to do that? Huo Siyan is rumored to be very promiscuous, having close relationships with both "big and small" men; her past relationships are her resources.
Moreover, she hadn't gone to university and came up through unorthodox means, so she was inherently hostile towards Zeng Li, who had a formal education. On the other hand, Zeng Li was an obscure figure with no one backing her up, so naturally she dared to bully her!

It is said that the slap completely destroyed Zeng Li's spirit. Unless she was willing to offer herself to a powerful figure, she would definitely not be able to get revenge. Later, she started to focus on health while filming, and devoted herself to tea and Buddhism.

However, now that Wu Yuchen is standing behind her, such a thing is naturally impossible to happen again. Let alone being bullied, even a single insult could be used to blacklist the perpetrator. But this only guarantees she won't be wronged; achieving real success won't be so easy.

Wu Yuchen was aware that Zeng Li wasn't very photogenic, which naturally reduced her opportunities. However, it didn't mean she couldn't make it. Now, Wu Yuchen wanted to let her try to see if she had the potential to be a female action star.

The requirements for appearance are much lower for female martial arts stars. For example, how many fans pay attention to Michelle Yeoh's appearance?
Moreover, Michelle Yeoh did not come from a martial arts background. After entering the Hong Kong entertainment industry, she felt that there was no future in playing decorative roles, so she took the initiative to transform into an action actress.

This casting of Yu Jiaolong is actually an opportunity. There will be several months of training. Wu Yuchen plans to put Zeng Li into the training camp first. As for whether she can take this path, it depends on her own efforts.

To be honest, the path of a female fighter is definitely tough. You have to keep training and silently endure injuries.

However, the next 10 years will see a surge in popularity for martial arts films. The martial arts craze sparked by "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" will provide numerous opportunities for action stars. If Zeng Li can develop her action star attributes, and with Wu Yuchen's help, she will certainly have no shortage of opportunities.

Moreover, her classmate and roommate Zhang Ziyi will be in the upcoming training camp. With her good friend by her side, providing constant pressure, the training effect will definitely be much better. If Zeng Li still can't improve under these circumstances, then Wu Yuchen should just give up on the idea. He's given the opportunity; if she can't seize it, it's not his fault.

"When passion fades, all turns to dust and earth..."

Just then, a song came from the TV in the room. The lyrics, accompanied by the sound of a suona horn, stirred up a feeling of excitement in the listener.

Wu Yuchen looked over and saw a familiar yet youthful baby face on the television screen, stirring something in a large water vat. Ah, isn't that Wu Jing from Wolf Warrior?!
The show currently playing is "Tai Chi Master," a hugely popular drama this year. Many children get excited after watching it and try to imitate Wu Jing stirring the water vat, making a mess of things, which inevitably earns them a beating from their parents.

Looking at Captain Huaxia's youthful face, Wu Yuchen couldn't help but sigh with admiration. In this era when the film and television industry was just starting out, there were so many high-quality dramas. Although the conditions were simple, the production was very meticulous. Wu Jing's wonderful fight scenes in this TV series truly surpassed countless martial arts dramas 20 years later.

……

In Miracle Films, Wu Yuchen returned and encountered Cai Yinong, who was returning to Beijing.

"Director Wu, I just had to report to you about the F4 group."

Seeing Cai Yinong's delighted expression, Wu Yuchen couldn't help but ask with a smile, "Seeing how happy President Cai is, it must be good news."

Cai Yinong nodded and said, "Zhong Hanliang has already agreed, so the selection is now finalized. Huang Xiaoming, Zhong Hanliang, Wu Kequn, and Qiao Zhenyu. The training team in Hong Kong has also been arranged, and I will send Huang Xiaoming and Qiao Zhenyu there when I come back this time."

Wu Yuchen knew that Cai Yinong had always thought highly of Zhong Hanliang, so it was no wonder she was so happy to have won him over. He thought about these four candidates, and in every aspect, they were much better than the ones from his previous life.

The F4 were popular for a few years in their previous life, but their popularity quickly faded because their professional skills couldn't support their fame.

They were just ordinary people discovered on the street, without any training or training, and then they were suddenly cast in a movie and became famous overnight. They couldn't sing or dance, but they were forced to record songs and hold concerts. At the time, the company never thought they would become this popular, nor did they know how long it would last. They just wanted to make a quick buck and were willing to exploit them. They never made any long-term plans.
Therefore, even though F4 debuted as a top Asian idol group, they couldn't carry the banner of Chinese-language groups and couldn't withstand the impact of Korean boy groups. After all, Korean boy groups were trained in real-world skills, and the gap in professional competence was too big!

However, the new F4 member he formed, Chung Hon-liang, has been an artist for several years. Although he hasn't become a big star, his singing and dancing skills are undeniable.

Qiao Zhenyu is a graduate of the Beijing Dance Academy. We don't expect him to be a great singer, but he's definitely good at dancing. We'll have to hype him up as the King of Asian Dance and the successor to Aaron Kwok.

As for Wu Ke-qun, his musical talent is outstanding. He may not be as good as Jay Chou, but he is already very good among singers.

Come to think of it, Huang Xiaoming might really be the weakest link in the team when it comes to singing and dancing!

However, Wu Yuchen wasn't particularly worried. While Xiaoming might not excel in other areas, his diligence and hard work were undeniable, and his foundation was quite solid. He had been practicing diligently since the last agreement was made. With further training once they arrived in Hong Kong, he would definitely be a presentable talent.

Cai Yinong asked a crucial question: "Director Wu, what are your thoughts on the character development of these individuals?"

It's best to define the character's persona from the beginning, and then train them specifically in that direction during the development process. This will yield better results.

Wu Yuchen thought for a moment and then said, "Meteor Garden is F4's debut work, so let's assign them roles according to the characters in the TV series. Dao Ming Si is Huang Xiaoming, Hua Ze Lei is Zhong Hanliang, Xi Men is Qiao Zhenyu, and Mei Zuo is Wu Kequn."

Cai Yinong had no objection to the roles of Zhong Hanliang and Qiao Zhenyu. Zhong Hanliang had always been a good boy since his debut, and he still looks very young. He was fine as the melancholy Hua Ze Lei, but Dao Ming Si was quite domineering. She wondered if this role was suitable for Huang Xiaoming, who had previously seemed a bit naive.

If Cai Yinong were to make the decision, Wu Kequn's personality would actually be more suitable for Dao Ming Si. However, considering that Huang Xiaoming was ultimately chosen by Wu Yuchen, she didn't say anything more.

Wu Yuchen cast Huang Xiaoming as Daoming Si, which was naturally a way of taking care of him. Daoming Si was the male lead in "Meteor Garden," and Daoming Si and Hua Ze were the two most popular members of F4. Huang Xiaoming had called him "teacher" so many times, so he should at least take care of his own kid!

Besides, this kid loves playing the domineering CEO type so much, so isn't he just destined to follow the path of Dao Ming Si? If he really can't even play Dao Ming Si in "Meteor Garden" well, then he might as well just retire from the entertainment industry.

Wu Yuchen then asked, "President Cai, have you chosen anyone for the role of Shancai, the female lead in 'Meteor Garden'?"

The character Shan Cai is quite important; in the previous life, she was played by Barbie Hsu. However, Wu Yuchen doesn't plan to cast that woman this time. He can't afford to get involved with F4, otherwise, she might cause a huge mess.

Cai Yinong nodded: "There's a good new actress in Taiwan recently, Alyssa Chia. She won the Taiwan Golden Bell Award last year. Her appearance and acting skills are both remarkable. Moreover, she has a very strong personality, which is very similar to Shan Cai."

Upon hearing Jia Jingwen's name, Wu Yuchen immediately felt relieved; she would be a perfect fit for the role of Shancai.

Cai Yinong hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Director Wu, is it necessary to create two versions?"

Wu Yuchen smiled upon hearing this: "If we want it to air smoothly in mainland China, we have to make some changes. Parents here will definitely complain if they see a protagonist who is a troubled teenager!"

In my previous life, "Meteor Garden" was actually banned in mainland China less than a month after its initial broadcast, and it wasn't until 2018 that it was unbanned. The reason, of course, was that the drama's popularity sparked numerous protests from parents, because the F4 characters in the series were portrayed as utterly spoiled brats!

Dao Ming Si, in particular, is a good-for-nothing spoiled brat who resorts to violence at the drop of a hat, beating and scolding classmates and teachers. Isn't his behavior just that of a thug? Perhaps children think it's cool, but the imitation behavior it inspires among teenagers is extremely harmful. Doesn't broadcasting this kind of show pollute the minds and bodies of teenagers?
Therefore, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television issued an order to directly stop four TV stations that were broadcasting "Meteor Garden". Although this still could not stop the spread of a large number of pirated DVDs, it was officially banned.

The Taiwanese company in his previous life might not have cared, but Wu Yuchen knew that F4's biggest market in the future was actually the mainland, so how could he let such a thing happen?

Therefore, some parts need to be changed in order for "Meteor Garden" to be broadcast.

Cai Yinong nodded upon hearing this, and then said, "Director Wu, but if we make these changes, won't the dramatic tension of the script decrease, and the charm of the characters also diminish?"

Wu Yuchen smiled and said, "It might drop a little, but it won't affect the TV series' popularity."

In my previous life, there was another drama that was basically a copy of "Meteor Garden". It was called "Let's Watch Meteor Shower Together" starring Zhang Han and Zheng Shuang. It was perfectly fine to release it. It was basically a good student version, and it was still a huge hit among teenagers.

Wu Yuchen said to Cai Yinong, "The main issue is the character design. We will shoot two versions. One version is a violent version, which will make the F4 start out relatively violent and make the rich and poor classes more obvious. It will be made specifically for overseas regions such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea."

In fact, this is the original version of the previous life. One thing has to be admitted: the stronger the sense of oppression between classes, the greater the gap between Dao Ming Si and Shan Cai, the more the audience can get into the drama, and the stronger the sense of joy when they finally get together.

"Another version should portray F4 in a more moderate way. They can come from wealthy and privileged backgrounds, but they can't become school bullies just because they're rich; they must have outstanding qualities!"

Take Daoming Si for example. Not only is his family wealthy, but he also possesses exceptional business acumen, is fluent in multiple languages, excels in all his courses at the business school, and is the captain of the basketball team. His domineering presence on the court has earned him the nickname "Terrifying Demon King."

Take, for example, Hanazawa. He excels in all subjects, is proficient in piano and painting, and is a renowned young piano prodigy. His playing captivates countless girls, earning him the nickname "the melancholy prince."

Upon hearing this, Cai Yinong suddenly realized that if F4 were to be portrayed as model students, the parents' opinions would be much less.

Then Wu Yuchen said to Cai Yinong, "President Cai, the 'Meteor Garden' project is quite important. Don't be stingy when producing it. Rent as many luxury houses, luxury cars, and designer clothes as you like. We must create that luxurious effect!"

In its previous life, the entire production budget for "Meteor Garden" was only 200 million. The costumes and props were simply appalling, and the clothes worn by the rich young masters were all cheap knock-offs.

The so-called luxury car that Daoming Si drove was the Mazda that Liang Jiahui described as shameful and unqualified to attend the meeting! He wasn't even afraid of being killed by Zhou Chaoxian when he went out.

This time, Wu Yuchen certainly wouldn't be so stingy. He'd make sure to release a high-end version of his "Meteor Garden" to show the petty Taiwanese people what true luxury is!
"Director Wu, please rest assured, I will definitely adhere to the highest standards in terms of costumes, props, and makeup."

Cai Yinong was frugal when she was short of money, but she wouldn't be stingy now that she had money, she assured Wu Yuchen.

In the drama "Meteor Garden," Wu Yuchen has explained everything that needed to be explained to Cai Yinong. With so much preparation, it should at least be no worse than the previous version.

Then he thought of Huang Xiaoming. "If you want to be famous, I'll give you the chance. But since you've chosen this path, your future achievements are up to you."

……

Cai Yinong's return this time, apart from the F4 issue, was mainly for the sake of "The Grand Mansion Gate".

The post-production of "The Grand Mansion Gate" was completed this month. After Wu Yuchen returned, he and Cai Yinong went to see this biographical TV series, which took a year to produce.

It must be said that "The Grand Mansion" is indeed a masterpiece created by Guo Baochang with painstaking effort. Not only is the production excellent, but it also invited big names from all walks of life to make cameo appearances. Even the performance of a minor extra was carefully considered.

Wu Yuchen gave Guo Baochang a thumbs up: "An absolute classic! All the grudges, life and death, blood and tears, love and hate, rise and fall, and the rise and fall of the nation are contained in this drama! It can be called a modern version of 'Dream of the Red Chamber'!"

Guo Baochang waved his hands repeatedly: "It hasn't reached that level! If I can make this 'Grand Mansion Gate', I will have no regrets in this life. Thank you, thank you!"

Guo Baochang held Wu Yuchen's hand and simply said thank you, his voice choked with emotion, showing that he was truly overwhelmed with emotion.

"Teacher Guo, don't worry, we will definitely find the best platform to release 'The Grand Mansion Gate'!"

Which is the best platform? Without a doubt, it can only be the central bank!
This time, Wu Yuchen personally took the lead and went directly to CCTV to discuss the production of "The Grand Mansion Gate".

"Director Wu, really, 2000 million is the highest price we can offer, it can't go any higher!"

"Director Liu, you've all watched the TV series, and you know how high its quality is! Look at this cast, which other TV series can get Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, and Jiang Wen to make cameo appearances? There's no other like it, only this one!"

In fact, even Wu Yuchen himself was pulled in by Guo Baochang to play a cameo role, with only a short screen time of one minute.

"Director Wu, I know all that you're saying. But the highest price CCTV can offer for external procurement is still no more than 50 yuan per episode. Your 'Grand Mansion Gate' has 40 episodes, and 2000 million yuan is the highest price I can offer. And that's just for the first broadcast rights. Even then, I'm still taking a risk! If it doesn't work out, you'll have to look for other channels." Director Liu's words were very sincere.

After listening, Wu Yuchen thought about it and agreed. Actually, if they had found two TV stations to broadcast it together, the price could have been higher, but even with two stations co-broadcasting, the broadcast effect would still not be as good as on CCTV.

Guo Baochang went 200 million yuan over budget for the filming of "The Grand Mansion Gate," ultimately spending 2200 million yuan, meaning he still lost money on the first run when it was sold to CCTV. However, the money will be recouped in the second and third runs after the first run. For such a classic drama as "The Grand Mansion Gate," Wu Yuchen didn't care about the small loss in the first run; the broadcast success was the most important thing.

"Director Liu, you'll have to arrange a better time."

"Of course! If you're willing to wait a year, I'll arrange it as the opening drama of next year!" Director Liu said with a smile.

CCTV has a major drama series to kick off the year every year. In 1998, the major drama series to kick off the year was "Water Margin", and now, in 1999, the major drama series to kick off the year is "Yongzheng Dynasty". They are basically the most influential hits of the year.

Wu Yuchen was somewhat tempted by the idea; the status and reputation of a major drama series at the beginning of the year were certainly impressive. However, after thinking for a moment, he said, "Thank you, Director Liu, but our Director Guo Baochang is eagerly anticipating the broadcast of the series."

Director Liu roughly understood Wu Yuchen's meaning: he still wanted to broadcast the show as soon as possible, and then sell the remaining episodes for a second or third time to recoup funds.

"In that case, Director Wu, I'll schedule 'The Grand Mansion Gate' for May, to be broadcast on Channel 1."

"Okay, thank you for your care, Director Liu!"

Wu Yuchen is quite satisfied with this timing, as there are several months between "Yongzheng Dynasty" and the start of filming, so it won't be affected much.

Wu Yuchen had just returned to Miracle Films after finishing his discussion about "The Grand Mansion" when he saw Li An waiting for him in the company with a furrowed brow.

(End of this chapter)