Huayu Entertainment 1995 started with hijacking.

Chapter 174 Yu Dong: Where's my section chief position?!
"Director Li, is the selection of Yu Jiaolong not going smoothly?" Wu Yuchen asked directly.

He had recently recommended Zeng Li to him, and learned that Zhang Yimou, who had just finished filming "My Father and Mother," had also recommended Zhang Ziyi to Li An.

Wu Yuchen is Li An's current financial backer, and Zhang Yimou is the benefactor who helped Li An win the Golden Bear. Naturally, they would not neglect the candidates recommended by Li An.

However, Li An didn't find either of them particularly appealing at first glance. Instead, it was Li Xiaoran, who had just won the Golden Horse Award for Best Actress and had approached him, who piqued his interest. Li Xiaoran had a wild side in "Run Lola Run," which he felt was worth exploring. He hadn't invited Li Xiaoran before because he wanted to invite Shu Qi, but now that Shu Qi was no longer involved, he naturally had to give her more consideration.

Li An shook his head, then sighed, "Yu Jiaolong, don't worry, it's Li Mubai. Chow Yun-fat called; their production team is going to delay again..."

"What's wrong?" Wu Yuchen asked, frowning.

Jiang Zhiqiang, who was standing next to Li An, explained:
The crew of "Anna and the King" went to Thailand to film, but the Thai authorities believed that they had distorted history and damaged the image of the King and the royal family, so they directly stopped the crew from filming in Thailand.

Now their film crew has had to temporarily relocate to neighboring Malaysia for shooting, and everything needs to be re-prepared; who knows how long it will take!

Wu Yuchen was also somewhat surprised to hear this, not expecting the film crew to be driven away by the authorities. However, upon reflection, it was quite possible, since Hollywood movies often intentionally or unintentionally smear or ridicule historical figures from other countries, disregarding objective history and hurting the feelings of local people for the sake of art or box office.

This means that the production of "Anna and the King" will definitely have to be postponed again. Wu Yuchen doesn't know if this happened in his previous life, or if it was a butterfly effect, and he also doesn't know how long Chow Yun-fat will be delayed.

Wu Yuchen paced back and forth a couple of times, then asked, "Director Li, what are your plans next? Are you going to continue waiting for Chow Yun-fat, or...?"

Seeing that Wu Yuchen, their major benefactor, didn't seem to blame them, Li An and Jiang Zhiqiang both breathed a sigh of relief.

However, the two felt they couldn't wait any longer. More than two months had passed since they first contacted Chow Yun-fat, and they still hadn't received a definite answer. Who knew how long Chow Yun-fat's work on "Anna and the King" would be delayed? And even if they finally got him after several months, starting filming without any preparation was questionable; they didn't know what the outcome would be.

In his previous life, Li An had to wait for Chow Yun-fat to invest in the film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" because the production team had to secure funding from Sony Columbia, who required both the male and female leads to be well-known actors in Hollywood. However, now that Wu Yuchen had already invested in the film and there was no shortage of funding, Li An didn't want to gamble on that uncertainty anymore.

"Director Wu, we plan to go to Hong Kong Island to meet with Leung Ka-fai."

Upon hearing this, Wu Yuchen's mind raced, wondering how the butterfly effect he had created on "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" might have affected it.

He had no doubt about Leung Ka-fai's acting skills; the title of "chameleon actor" wasn't given lightly. He won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor for his role in "Reign Behind a Curtain" right after his debut. Later, he also had classic roles such as Zhou Huai'an, Zhou Chaoxian, and Big D, embodying every character he played.

Wu Yuchen nodded and said, "Director Li, Liang Jiahui is also a very good choice. His Zhou Huai'an in 'New Dragon Gate Inn' has a very chivalrous temperament. However, he is not particularly enthusiastic about Hollywood. Whether you can persuade him will depend on your efforts."

Jiang Zhiqiang smiled and said, "Director Wu, don't worry. With such a great film as 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,' Tony has no reason to refuse! Director Li and I will definitely persuade him!"

Many movie fans consider Leung Ka-fai a potential replacement for Chow Yun-fat, and Hong Kong film producers also see him as a cheaper alternative to Chow Yun-fat and Jet Li. But when it comes to acting skills, Leung Ka-fai is by no means inferior.

Many people don't know that Liang Jiahui actually had the opportunity to enter Hollywood quite early. In 1986, when Hollywood director Bernardo Bertolucci was making "The Last Emperor," the first person he approached was Liang Jiahui, because he had played the Xianfeng Emperor twice in "The Burning of the Yuanmingyuan" and "Reign Behind a Curtain," which convinced Bertolucci that he was the best choice to play Puyi.

At the time, Liang Jiahui was about to sign the contract when news broke that Li Hanxiang and Bertolucci had a copyright dispute, and Li Hanxiang was also going to make a film about Puyi. Liang Jiahui, who always respectfully addressed Li Hanxiang as his mentor, decisively gave up the opportunity to go to Hollywood, wrote a letter to Bertolucci to explain, and then turned around and followed Li Hanxiang to make "Fire Dragon." Only then did Bertolucci choose John Lone to play the role in "The Last Emperor."

However, Bertolucci always thought that Leung Ka-fai was an outstanding actor. Later, when his friend Jean-Jacques Annaud was filming "The Lover," Bertolucci directly recommended Leung Ka-fai. After "The Lover" was released, it broke the French box office record, and he became the most popular Asian man in France. He was also praised in Europe as "Asia's most beautiful buttocks."

To be fair, Leung Ka-fai was indeed more famous in the international film industry than Chow Yun-fat at the time, but he always stayed in Hong Kong and did not pursue Hollywood.

Just one day after Li An and Jiang Zhiqiang flew to Hong Kong Island, a major event that would impact the entire Chinese film industry occurred.

In order to reform the existing film and television ecosystem, the old China Film Group Corporation (CFGC) acquired seven state-owned film-related studios, including Beijing Film Studio and China Children's Film Studio, and also held import rights, becoming a behemoth in the Chinese film industry.

This news immediately caused a major earthquake in the industry. China Film Group Corporation was already the largest distribution company in China. Now it has swallowed up so many film studios, including Beijing Film Studio. It is equivalent to combining production, distribution and import rights into one, and its strength in all aspects far exceeds that of other film studios. Who can compare?
Han Sanping went from being the former director of Beijing Film Studio to the vice chairman and general manager of China Film Group Corporation, becoming the second most powerful figure.

This news shocked not only outsiders, but also those within the Beijing Film Studio, such as Yu Dong, whose head was spinning at that moment.

As the youngest deputy section-level cadre in the history of Beijing Film Studio, Yu Dong always felt that his future was bright. He had been with the studio for several years and had done enough in terms of both merit and hard work. He was about to be promoted to section-level cadre. He was only 27 years old this year, and the thought of becoming a powerful section-level cadre at 27 made him very happy.

Unexpectedly, this led to the Beijing Film Studio being swallowed up, and its publicity and distribution department was directly abolished...

What about his position as a section chief?!
Yu Dong was a little confused at the moment, as he and dozens of his colleagues were handed over to China Film Group by the Beijing Film Studio's personnel department.

Everyone had different thoughts. Some were quite happy because the salary at China Film Group was higher than that at Beijing Film Studio, and the daily travel allowance was 20 yuan higher than at Beijing Film Studio. This was not a small amount for them, who were involved in distribution and traveled all year round.

But Yu Dong had no time to think about salary and subsidies; what he cared about was his position as a section chief!

When they arrived at the distribution department of China Film Group, they saw the manager of the publicity and distribution department, who was heavily pregnant, speaking to them:
"From now on, once you come to China Film Group, we'll be one family. China Film Group operates under a corporate system, unlike your Beijing Film Studio. There aren't any department heads or section chiefs like that. From now on..."

Hearing this, Yu Dong was confused again. What would he be considered at China Film Group?
After the pregnant manager finished speaking, Yu Dong went over, offered him a cigarette, and forced a smile as he asked:

"Manager Hao, my name is Yu Dong."

Manager Hao lit a cigarette and smiled, "Oh, you must be Yu Dong! I've heard of you! They say you're a top distributor at Beijing Film Studio. Come work hard for us at China Film Group!"

Yu Dong was slightly annoyed; for the past two years, everyone had been calling him Section Chief Yu. However, he held back for the time being and continued to ask with a smile, "Manager Hao, what will I be responsible for in your department?"

Manager Hao asked curiously, "Our distribution department is naturally responsible for distribution."

"No, what I mean is, I used to be the deputy section chief of the publicity department at the Beijing Film Studio."

Upon hearing this, Manager Hao finally understood Yu Dong's intentions, and a playful smile flashed in his eyes:

"Well, Xiao Yu, as I just said, at China Film Group, no matter what kind of position you hold, like section chief or division chief, once you get to our department, you have to start from the bottom. If you work hard, maybe in three to five years you can become a deputy manager."

As Manager Hao spoke, he patted Yu Dong on the shoulder with a smile.

Yu Dong clenched his fists. What did this mean? Not only did he not receive any commission as a section chief, but he also lost his position as deputy section chief? Did this mean he had worked for nothing for the past five or six years?!
Even though Yu Dong usually has high emotional intelligence and knows how to handle people, he was still furious at this moment and slapped away the fat man's hand.

"Hey! Yu Dong, what kind of work attitude is this! Don't you want to work here anymore?!"

Ignoring the commotion from Manager Hao behind him, Yu Dong headed straight for the general manager's office. He wanted to get an explanation from the old factory director, Han Sanping!

Han Sanping was sitting in his office on the phone with his superior. Having just taken office, he had a mountain of work to do when the door was suddenly pushed open. There stood Yu Dong, usually so obsequious, barging in with a furious expression. Slightly annoyed, Han Sanping quickly exchanged a few words with the person on the other end of the line and hung up.

After Han Sanping hung up the phone, Yu Dong couldn't wait to ask, "Director Han..."

Han Sanping waved his hand to interrupt him: "From now on, call me President Han." Yu Dong's momentum was broken, and he opened his mouth, but had no choice but to change the address back to: "President Han."

"You're already in a rage first thing in the morning. Can't you talk things out properly?"

Upon hearing Han Sanping's question, Yu Dong immediately poured out his grievances:
"President Han, you watched me enter the factory and personally promoted me to deputy section chief. I am especially grateful to you! In the past two years, following you, our Beijing Film Studio has been developing better and better. 'My Brothers and Sisters' became the box office champion, and 'If Love Has a Destiny' even broke 100 million. Following your guidance, I feel that we are moving up step by step."

Now, with the system reform, not only has the factory disappeared, but my promising promotion is also gone, which goes without saying. Now, I've been reassigned to the distribution department, and I can't even keep my deputy section chief position; I have to start all over again.

You've seen what I've done for the past five or six years; I can't stand this injustice!

Han Sanping frowned upon hearing Yu Dong's words:
"What do you mean the factory is gone?! Beijing Film Studio was just merged, not dissolved on the spot. The studio logo is still there, isn't it? It can still make movies, can't it?"

Han Sanping actively participated in the merger of the Beijing Film Studio, and now that his subordinates are saying this, he is naturally very unhappy, as if he sold the Beijing Film Studio.

At this moment, Yu Dong was no longer in his usual high-EQ state; he remained silent with his neck stiff, his resentment barely concealed on his face. This also represented the mentality of some veteran employees of Beijing Film Studio at this time; many of them harbored resentment towards Han Sanping for leading Beijing Film Studio into China Film Group Corporation.

Han Sanping was also getting angry at Yu Dong's attitude, and banged on the table, saying:
"How many years have we been talking about reforming the film system? You, who have been on the front lines for years, know how chaotic it is down there. How can there be progress without reform? Have you been studying these documents for years and just ignored them?"

"But you can't change it like this!" Yu Dong knew that institutional reform was the general trend, but he never expected that it would affect him.

"Don't you have any sense of morality?!" Han Sanping pointed at him and cursed him again.

But since he was one of his own, he let out a long sigh, suppressing his anger, and then said:
"Go back and reflect on your actions first. We'll talk about your position later."

Han Sanping knew that Yu Dong was a capable person and wanted to use him in the future. However, Yu Dong was currently parachuted in as the second-in-command, and many things had not yet been sorted out, and he had not yet firmly grasped the power in his hands.

All the leadership positions in the distribution department are already filled, and there are no vacancies for Yu Dong. He can only wait. Once he has some free time to reorganize things, then he can be given a position.

But Yu Dong was unwilling to accept this. He had been waiting and waiting, and he hadn't even managed to keep his position as a deputy section chief, let alone a full section chief. Now he had to wait even longer? How long would that take?
But he didn't dare to argue with Han Sanping. He bowed to Han Sanping, turned around, and left.

Han Sanping assumed that Yu Dong had gone back to reflect on his actions and didn't think much of it. However, when he tried to contact him again, he was told that Yu Dong had already resigned.

Yu Dong, now resigned, felt somewhat lost, but he also vaguely sensed that Chinese cinema was undergoing a major transformation. His political career was over, and all that remained was one thought: make money!

He works in publishing, which is also his specialty.

He actually had an urge to start his own company to handle film distribution, but private companies can't get distribution licenses these days. Even if he did set up a company, all he could do was solicit business from film studios, accept commissions from them, and help them sell film prints; he couldn't buy or sell films himself.

This wouldn't actually make him a lot of money, so he figured it would be better to take another path first and then wait for the right opportunity.

In the office of Miracle Films, Wu Yuchen brewed some tea, then looked at the smiling Yu Dong in front of him and couldn't help but ask, "Yu Ke, are you really resigning?"

Yu Dong immediately bowed slightly: "No, Director Wu, I'm just an ordinary person now. You can call me Yu Dong or Dongzi, it's fine."

Wu Yuchen waved his hand and said with a smile, "Senior Brother Yu, we've known each other for a long time, no need to be so polite. You mean, you want to work for me?"

"Yes, Director Wu, I know the quality of your company's films. But there's one thing I feel is that your company's distribution business needs improvement. Relying entirely on others for distribution is rather passive. If you trust me, I'll help you develop this business!"

Wu Yuchen looked at Yu Dong in front of him, surprised that after resigning, he didn't immediately start his own business but instead came to him for a job. However, he quickly realized that since China hadn't yet issued issuance licenses to private companies, Yu Dong had come to him.

Yu Dong's ability to handle distribution needs no further explanation; in his previous life, he was known as the top distributor in China, which speaks volumes about his skills. Since this guy was practically begging to be handed over, Wu Yuchen had no reason to refuse.

“Okay, Senior Brother Yu, if you’re willing to come, then I’ll definitely welcome you! What do you want to do?” Wu Yuchen asked with a smile.

Yu Dong's honest face still wore that harmless smile.
"Director Wu, it's like this, I think the distribution and selling of film prints is not much different from sales. I heard that foreign companies' sales staff get commissions. If you're willing to give our distribution department some commission on the prints, I guarantee we can boost the company's box office revenue even further!"

Wu Yuchen finally understood. He had thought that since Yu Dong had left the system, he must have wanted to start his own business. It turned out that this guy had come to him to make his first pot of gold. Wu Yuchen estimated that it would only take two or three years, until the issuance of trading licenses in China was liberalized in 2001, when Yu Dong would probably be unable to wait any longer and would run away to start his own business.

However, Yu Dong is not wrong. Miracle Films' distribution is indeed not doing well right now. With Yu Dong around, they can improve the distribution department and not rely solely on China Film Group, giving them more control in the future. As for his potential departure, that's a matter for the future; they can deal with that in the next two or three years.

"Haha, Senior Brother Yu, an incentive system is indeed effective for sales. In that case, let's create a performance-based system. Once the number of copies sold and box office revenue reach certain targets, I'll give your distribution department a bonus share. What do you say?"

Upon hearing Wu Yuchen's agreement, Yu Dong was overjoyed and exclaimed, "Director Wu, you are truly brilliant! I, Yu Dong, will definitely make our distribution department successful, so that we will be no less successful than China Film Group in the future!"

Watching Yu Dong walk out of the office, Wu Yuchen couldn't help but smile. This was getting more and more interesting. He had taken the initiative to recruit Cai Yinong, but now that he was sitting at home, Yu Dong actually came to him on his own initiative.

As his influence grows, not only do people seek him out for investment, but talented individuals also come to him willingly. He's really looking forward to seeing what other interesting things might happen in the future.

……

A week later, Li An returned from Hong Kong Island, accompanied by the versatile actor Leung Ka-fai.

Wu Yuchen had already met Liang Jiahui a few months ago while filming "My Sassy Girl," and upon seeing him again, he couldn't help but smile and say, "Brother Tony, how have you been!"

“Mr. Wu, I’m here to film your movie again, please bear with me~” Liang Jiahui naturally knew that Wu Yuchen was the behind-the-scenes investor.

“I thought that even if you agreed, you would wait until after the Spring Festival to join the crew, but I didn’t expect you to come now.”

With Chinese New Year less than a month away, most actors wouldn't choose to join a production at this time, let alone just come for training. Wu Yuchen has to commend such a dedicated attitude.

Leung Ka-fai laughed and said, "Director Wu, I'm used to filming in Hong Kong. We filmed during the Lunar New Year without interruption, and sometimes the crew didn't even give out red envelopes."

"Don't worry, Tony, I'll definitely have Director Li give you a big red envelope during the holiday!" Wu Yuchen said with a hearty laugh.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Wu. I'll have my wife and daughter come over for the Spring Festival." Liang Jiahui clasped his hands in a gesture of gratitude.

Wu Yuchen looked at Li An, who naturally smiled and said, "Yes, yes, we have everything!"

They all burst into laughter as they talked.

(End of this chapter)