Chapter 426: The Pace of Hong Kong
Chapter 426: The Pace of Hong Kong
Miss Zheng had already read the script and found it excellent, even though the director wasn't particularly famous. She was still willing to give it a shot, but her celebrity status meant that she didn't have to audition.
At present, the films produced in Hong Kong were predominantly male-centric, with female characters often having less significant roles, sometimes even serving as mere props or tokens. However, this film, Legally Blonde, was different; it centered around a female lead, and even the second female lead had more screen time than the male protagonist.
After receiving a call from Tian Pengyu, who relayed the message that the boss would choose someone else if she didn't audition, Miss Zheng hesitated but ultimately conceded. The script was solid and had the potential to be a hit; it would be a shame to miss out.
On the day of the audition, Lu Jiaxin had classes and couldn't make it, so she left the matter in the hands of Tian Pengyu and Qi Dao. In the evening, Tian Pengyu came to report that Qi Dao had confirmed Miss Zheng as the female lead, Lan Yinggu as the second female lead, and Wang and Zhou Yu as part of the cast as well. As for the male lead, it would be Liu Ren.
Tian Pengyu and Lu Jiaxin recommended an actor named Yang Yichang for the role of the second male lead. "Yang Yichang is from our company, and he's very passionate about acting. He's a great actor," Tian Pengyu said.
Upon hearing that he had an ordinary appearance, Lu Jiaxin refused without a second thought. "This is a contemporary drama, so I need handsome men and beautiful women. The male lead, Liu Sheng, is a graceful and elegant gentleman, and the second male lead shouldn't fall too far behind."
It would be fine if the role was insignificant, as the audience wouldn't pay much attention to a random passerby. But for an important supporting role, the actor's looks mattered; he couldn't bring down the overall visual appeal of the cast.
Tian Pengyu said, "Miss Lu, these are people from other film and television companies. If the show becomes a hit, our company won't benefit as much."
He didn't dare claim that the show would be a surefire success, but he was confident that it would at least break even, and he wanted to give his company's talent more exposure.
"I remember that Lan's contract is almost up," Lu Jiaxin said. "See if she's willing to sign with Wan Ting Film."
It was quite a pity how that stunningly beautiful woman, known as the most beautiful among the Five Mountains, had ended up in such a predicament. If she had been willing to sign with Wan Ting Film, she might have avoided her later troubles. Of course, if she wasn't willing, Lu Jiaxin wouldn't force her. She wasn't a bodhisattva out to save the world; she couldn't rescue everyone.
Tian Pengyu hesitated and said, "This Miss Lan probably won't agree."
With a reputation that preceded her, Nie Jingting wouldn't consider Wan Ting Film if she wanted to pursue a career in the industry. Smiling, Lu Jiaxin said, "Tell her that this is just the beginning. I plan to make movies in the future. I'm not asking her to decide right now; she can consider it after the movie is released."
Here, Lu Jiaxin used "I" instead of "Wan Ting Film." This implied that if Legally Blonde succeeded, she might establish her own film company. That wouldn't do; Tian Pengyu had finally seen a glimmer of hope, and he wasn't about to let this opportunity slip through his fingers. He intended to find an opportunity to have a serious chat with San Shao.
With the script, director, and cast all in place, and the funding already transferred to Wan Ting Film's account, the movie quickly went into production.
As soon as filming commenced, the fashion designer from Green Forest and the jewelry designer from Wufu Jewelry joined the set, followed by two lawyers from Hongchang.
Lu Jiaxin didn't involve herself in the movie's production after filming began. She knew nothing about filmmaking, so she refrained from meddling. However, Yu Meotong and Shi Xinyu were curious and decided to visit the set.
Lu Jiaxin promised them that if there were suitable roles, she would let them give acting a try. Director Qi, seeing that they were both beauties, immediately cast Shi Xinyu as the female lead's university classmate and Yu Meotong as a spoiled rich girl who deliberately made things difficult for the female lead. Because the roles were designed to match their personalities, they did a pretty good job.
After indulging in their acting fantasies, Yu Meotong and Shi Xinyu approached Lu Jiaxin, expressing their enjoyment of the filming experience and their desire to cameo in her future films.
Lu Jiaxin smiled and replied, "Certainly, as long as there are suitable roles for you."
Yu Meotong said, "Jiaxin, my cousin is a high-ranking executive at Golden Harvest. When it's time for your film to hit the theaters, we'll need to approach cinema chains for distribution. I can ask him for help."
Wan Ting Films' movies were typically released through the cinema line of the Golden Princess, leveraging Nie Jingting's connection as childhood friends with the second young master, who was a major shareholder. This was the reason why even his notoriously terrible films managed to secure screenings—his background was simply too formidable. Of course, it would be a welcome development if Golden Harvest were also interested in distributing her film.
Lu Jiaxin smiled and said, "Then I'll ask Manager Tian to reach out to your cousin."
"I'll communicate with him first, and then we can have Manager Tian follow up," Yu Meotong suggested.
On the day Lu Jiaxin returned to the apartment after school, she found He Yue and Susan waiting for her. Rubbing her temples, she braced herself to listen to their work reports.
He Yue and Susan had been an effective team over the past six months, with He Yue managing internal affairs and Susan handling external matters. Lu Jiaxin, meanwhile, oversaw the broader strategy, utilizing bank loans to expand their storefronts. They had grown from the initial three stores to twelve, but Lu Jiaxin still wasn't satisfied with this number.
After hearing their reports, Lu Jiaxin shared her next step: to continue taking out loans to open more stores. Her strategy was to use bank loans to rapidly open new branches and capture the market, ensuring profitability.
Both He Yue and Susan agreed, largely because Lu Jiaxin had the financial means to do so, and the large real estate company she owned meant that the high debt ratio of Green Forest wasn't a concern.
After the report, Susan brought up the movie Legally Blonde. Having visited the set, she had seen several clips and believed it would be a surefire hit. "Boss, I think our movie will definitely be a success. If it takes off, it will boost sales for Green Forest."
Therefore, she felt they should prepare accordingly to avoid being caught off guard with orders but no inventory when the movie became popular.
He Yue shared a similar sentiment.
Lu Jiaxin smiled and asked, "So confident? What if the movie doesn't become popular?"
He Yue dismissed the possibility. "With so many handsome men and beautiful women, it's a feast for the eyes. I didn't get to see the whole script, but one of the scenes I watched left a deep impression. In this world, you can't even rely on your parents, let alone men. You have to depend on yourself."
Lu Jiaxin agreed to stock up in advance but reduced the quantity suggested by Susan by half. "If we run out of stock, we can take pre-orders and deliver them when new stock arrives."
This would create the impression that their clothes were so popular that they had sold out. Additionally, while everyone predicted that the movie would be a hit, Lu Jiaxin herself wasn't that confident. The success of movies was unpredictable; many well-made films had flopped. Stockpiling too much inventory would be a risky move.
Susan and He Yue found her reasoning convincing.
Filming for the movie began in November and wrapped up by the end of December. By mid-January, editing and dubbing were also completed. The entire process, from start to finish, took just over two months—a testament to the pace of Hong Kong.
Once the final cut was ready, Lu Jiaxin watched it, specifically inviting Nie Zhan to join her.
Nie Zhan was very satisfied after watching it. "The plot is good, and our clothing and jewelry are showcased nicely. We should be able to recoup our investment."
The primary purpose of making this movie wasn't to turn a profit but to promote their clothing factory and jewelry company. So, Nie Zhan's only requirement was for the movie to break even.
(End of Chapter)
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