From the beginning of July to the end of August, Xiang Nan has been traveling around the country to promote "Laughing Fist and Strange Moves". Everywhere he went, he was warmly welcomed, including South Korea, Japan and other places.
Xiang Nan's proficiency in many foreign languages has really played a big role in his promotional activities. Especially in South Korea and Japan, his fluent Korean and Japanese surprised the audiences there.
They didn't expect that Xiang Nan, a foreigner, could speak their language so fluently. This gives them a sense of closeness and pride. The effect of publicity is naturally twice the result with half the effort.
During the promotion period, Xiang Nan also received more than a dozen film offers. Many companies, such as First Pictures, Luo Wei Pictures, Siyuan Pictures, etc., have extended invitations to him for cooperation.
After Xiang Nan considered it, he accepted the invitation from Siyuan Pictures.
This is because his previous films "Drunken Master" and "Snake in the Shape of a Snake" were actually invested and produced by Siyuan Pictures back then. Xiang Nan stole someone else's project, and now he wants to return the favor.
Wu Siyuan, the boss of Siyuan Pictures, wants to invite Xiang Nan to film "Drunken Master of the North and South", which can be regarded as a sequel to "Drunken Master".
It is said that after masters and apprentices Su Huazi and Huang Feihong gained fame, they angered the drunken mantis Thousand Drunkard from the northern sect and came to Lingnan to enmity with the master and apprentice. In the end, after a hard fight, the master and apprentice finally subdued Qian Zuiweng and shattered his conspiracy to dominate the martial arts world.
Xiang Nan received a 30% discount on the film's salary, and after receiving 700,000 Hong Kong dollars, he used the two-month promotion period to take the time to help Wu Siyuan finish the film.
After it was released, the box office was actually good, with a total of 4.3 million Hong Kong dollars, which was worthy of Wu Siyuan's 700,000 Hong Kong dollars salary.
After this movie, more film companies wanted to cooperate with Xiang Nan.
The reason is that "Drunken Master of the North and South" is actually a copycat of "Drunken Master", and it can still get more than 4 million Hong Kong dollars. Then if we imitate "Snake-Shaped Trickster" and "Laughing Fist", wouldn't we also be able to make a fortune?
So Xiang Nan has more film appointments. However, Xiang Nan did not owe those people any favors, so he did not agree to their request. I just made an agreement with Zhu Mu and will find time to help him complete the filming of the remaining three movies.
…
In September, Xiang Nan continued to ask for leave from school, and then began preparations for filming a new film - "The Prodigal Son".
This movie is Yuan Biao's masterpiece and caused quite a stir when it was released that year.
It is also known as the best teaching film for Wing Chun, and has a better reputation than the "Ip Man" series. Xiang Nan is proficient in Wing Chun, and it would be a pity not to show it off on stage.
In order to make "The Prodigal Son" a success, Xiang Nan also strived for perfection.
The clothing and styling alone are quite sophisticated. All actors have their heads shaved so that their hair can be braided. It's not like "The Snake" and "The Strange Moves of Laughing Fist", which are clearly set in the Qing Dynasty, but everyone's hairstyle is very perfunctory.
As the film strives for excellence, the cost will naturally rise.
At that time, four to five million Hong Kong dollars could be used to shoot a movie. But if you keep improving, you can easily spend four to five million Hong Kong dollars.
Fortunately, Xiang Nan had the success of "Laughing Fist", so Golden Harvest also had confidence in him and was willing to invest more, so the cost of "The Prodigal Boy" finally reached 4 million Hong Kong dollars.
At the time, it was considered a big deal.
For the production team, Xiang Nan tried his best to choose familiar people. For example, Ren Shiguan, Lin Zhengying, Qian Yuesheng and others have cooperated before and have a tacit understanding with each other.
In fact, because action movies have a relatively high risk factor, they test the martial artist's tacit understanding. Otherwise, one mistake may put your life in danger.
Because of this, famous action stars often have their own fixed teams. For example, the Married Family Class, the Hong Family Class, the Liu Family Class, the Yuan Family Class, etc.
Naturally, Xiang Nan also wants to form his own team, so he is also using filming to inspect and recruit suitable candidates.
Ren Shiguan, Lin Zhengying, Qian Yuesheng and others can act, fight, and provide martial arts instruction. In his opinion, they are good recruitment targets.
…
"Prodigal Son" officially started filming in mid-September.
In October, Xiang Nan asked for leave and returned to the mainland.
It turned out that his eldest brother Ning Yong got married and had to go back.
Ning Yong is twenty-eight years old this year, a company-level cadre, and of marriageable age.
After being introduced by his leader, he went on a blind date and fell in love with a doctor from the health company. After half a year of getting along, they felt they were suitable for each other and decided to get married.
Xiang Nan naturally welcomed this with both hands. At the age of twenty-eight, he is not young anymore, and it is time to get married.
In order to congratulate his eldest brother and sister-in-law on their happy marriage and lasting friendship, Xiang Nan also gave a generous gift, including a full set of home appliances such as a TV, refrigerator, washing machine, and tape recorder, which made his sister-in-law extremely happy.
Although she was interested in Ning Yong, it would be better if he had so many possessions.
At the wedding, Xiang Nan also met Zhong Yuemin, Zhang Haiyang, Yuan Jun and others who came to attend the wedding.
"Brother Yuemin, Brother Haiyang, Brother Yuan, long time no see." Xiang Nan greeted with a smile.
"Xiao Ningwei, you can do it now. I heard what happened, you went to Xiangjiang to make a movie?" Zhang Haiyang asked with a smile.
Xiang Nan nodded, "I made a few movies."
"How was the photo taken?" Yuan Jun asked curiously, "Take it back and let us take a look."
"It's just a few kung fu movies about fighting and messing around. They must have sold for several million Hong Kong dollars." Xiang Nan said with a smile.
"Ouch~" Zhong Yuemin was a little surprised when he heard this, "A few million Hong Kong dollars?! Our military expenditure for a year is not that high, right?"
"Then how much money can you share? I heard that you helped buy the air conditioner, refrigerator, and washing machine." Zhang Haiyang asked curiously.
"It's only 1.8 million." Xiang Nan said more than half of it.
Even so, the brothers were still shocked.
Their monthly salary for company-level cadres is only 80 yuan. Xiang Nan's is 1.8 million, which is four orders of magnitude worse.
"Xiao Ningwei has really made a difference!" Zhong Yuemin sighed.
"It's amazing, it's amazing. I have long thought that he is not an ordinary person. Think about it, which ten-year-old kid dares to jump out and catch the little bastard." Zhang Haiyang also laughed.
"Yes, Ning Wei is really good, showing his face to our courtyard." Yuan Jun also smiled.
…
"By the way, Brother Yuemin, Brother Haiyang, and Brother Jun, you are all about the same age as my brother. When will you solve the major events in your life?" Xiang Nan asked with a smile.
"I haven't thought about it. I haven't had enough fun yet. Let's talk about it later." Upon hearing this, Zhong Yuemin smiled and waved his hand.
"Are you still thinking about Qinling?" Ning Yong asked doubtfully.
Qin Ling is a girl Zhong Yuemin met when he was working in the army in northern Shaanxi. She is smart, beautiful, and has a clear life. Being with her, Zhong Yuemin felt particularly comfortable and in harmony with her.
However, after he joined the army, he left northern Shaanxi. Qin Ling also left northern Shaanxi, and the two have not seen each other again for almost ten years.
Hearing what he said, a trace of bitterness flashed across Zhong Yuemin's face and he did not answer.
