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"There are many old cinema chains at Xingmei. Not only are they not making any money, but they are also seriously dragging down the profitability of China Film. If Third Master is willing to help, we two brothers are willing to help Third Master to open 100 cinemas, any in second- and third-tier cities."
Third Master was not very clear about some of the things below, but Wang Zhongjun was very clear. It's not that many cinema chains are not making money, but that they are enriched by certain people. At the same time, many of Xingmei's cinemas were formerly state-owned. The service is poor and the facilities are old, but the location is really good.
So, with a proper renovation and a good run, they could turn a scrap piece into a treasure in a matter of minutes. These state-owned enterprises were inherently valuable, and this was essentially a bargain. So Wang Zhongjun wasn't panicking at all; he was just playing it safe. Instead, he saw this as a golden opportunity for growth.
Ultimately, as Wu Mingxuan had understood, Wang Zhongjun secured the support of his Third Master. Not only did he secure a theater chain license for Huayi, he also secured one hundred excellent theaters from China Film Star Media. It only needed a little over a year of renovations, and by 2009, it would demonstrate strong operational capabilities. Otherwise, Huayi's stock price wouldn't have nearly broken 100 by the time it went public at the end of 2009.
Wu Mingxuan naturally continued filming his film in a low-key manner, as if the events outside had no bearing on him. Since green studio technology wasn't widely available or professionalized in Taiwan at the time, Wu Mingxuan used a combination of real-life locations and green studios.
Fortunately, the actors at the time were highly professional and dedicated, so the entire filming process went smoothly, with filming expected to wrap up by late January at the earliest, well before the New Year.
Currently filming is a duel between two kung fu superstars, Jackie Chan and Jet Li. While it won't be a grand showdown, it's a serious exchange between the two, and it will be the film's biggest selling point. Wu Mingxuan did a lot of persuasion to secure this collaboration.
Now everyone has gathered here. Cell phones and video devices are not allowed. You can watch but not record or talk about it outside. It is a universally acknowledged fact that martial artists are brave and fierce, and naturally they don't want to lose to their opponents. The setting in the movie is also a draw.
"No need for routines, it's meaningless, Ajie. How about we just improvise and have a serious fight today?"
Jackie Chan, an acrobat, was not afraid, so why should Jet Li be afraid? Let's have a real fight. He has never been afraid of a real fight since his debut. He immediately nodded in agreement and said, "Okay, let's warm up first, and officially begin in ten minutes."
The actor who plays the role of Tang Sanzang is Zhao Wenzhuo. Wu Mingxuan traveled through time from the era when "The Great Mighty Heavenly Dragon" was all over the screen. Zhao Wenzhuo was 35 years old at that time, and his positioning was very similar to Tang Sanzang. Moreover, this version of Tang Sanzang is also the most ruthless Tang Sanzang, but it is not the original Tang Sanzang in Journey to the West.
"Brother Zhuo, which one do you prefer?"
"You should ask Dennis. He has worked with both sides, especially Brother Jie. He still remembers it clearly."
Zhao Wenzhuo is indeed not good at socializing, but he is not an idiot. How could he make random predictions at a time like this? This would offend people, and he would offend the notoriously petty Jackie Chan and Jet Li.
Jackie Chan is fine in other aspects, but if you question his ability to eat, he will really get angry. Jet Li talks about strengthening the body and winning people over with virtue, but when it comes to fighting, every move is deadly and he will never show mercy to you. He has experienced it firsthand.
There is no first in literature and no second in martial arts. This is the way to make a living. If you are not really that bad, who would think you are inferior?
Dennis was much more outspoken. Actors like him, who prefer combat, were most critical of those who studied martial arts for film and television. He was genuinely impressed by Jet Li. Besides being his senior, he'd even been beaten to tears by Jet Li in martial arts school and later received a severe lesson during filming. So, he was truly impressed.
As for Jackie Chan, like many others present, he was expecting a joke.
However, when the two actually engaged in combat, many were surprised to discover that Jackie Chan's kung fu skills were quite impressive. He exchanged blows with Jet Li, and the two quickly became heated, with the atmosphere becoming increasingly tense.
Wu Mingxuan was watching the camera, imagining the images with special effects in his mind. He thought it was okay, so he didn't stop the two men, who were getting increasingly angry. It wasn't until seven or eight minutes later, when the two had been exchanging blows, neither willing to give in, and were even completely at loggerheads, that he stood up and walked towards them.
Jackie Chan was, of course, using drunken boxing. Iron Crutch Li was the leader of the Eight Immortals and a heavy drinker himself. What could be more iconic than drunken boxing?
But Jackie Chan wasn't drinking at the time. If he had been drunk and mad, he would have been beaten into a state of isolation by Jet Li, the Kung Fu Emperor with his encyclopedia of Kung Fu. Wu Mingxuan could see that Jet Li was the better fighter, and overall, he still had some room to maneuver.
Jackie Chan suddenly unleashed his "Wusong Drunken Fall" and "Taibai Drunkenness" moves, while Jet Li unleashed his "Four-Level Fist" and "Willow Leaf Palm." Just as both were about to clash, Wu Mingxuan suddenly appeared between them. With a single extended hand, he pushed each of them back with a single palm strike. His strikes were lightning fast, and the force was perfectly balanced.
The two men, still dazed, stared in amazement at Wu Mingxuan, who had effortlessly separated them from the center. They hadn't expected Wu Mingxuan to possess such prowess; he looked incredibly impressive.
The two men who had regained consciousness naturally had no intention of continuing the fight. A draw was the best outcome. The only thing that surprised them was Wu Mingxuan's speed. He was really too fast. He moved very quickly and attacked even faster.
Putting aside other things, Wu Mingxuan's body movements and the speed of his attacks alone were definitely not something that ordinary masters could handle. Although the saying that the only martial arts in the world that cannot be broken is speed is not entirely correct, when the speed reaches a certain level, no one can resist it and can only passively take the beating.
"Let's stop here for the filming just now. Let's take a break and adjust. We'll start the subsequent shots in half an hour."
Dennis asked his senior brother Li Lianjie with curiosity: "Brother Jie, what kind of kung fu did Director Wu just use?"
"I'm not quite sure, but I vaguely felt a tingling sensation like an electric shock, a bit like the legendary Taoist internal martial arts, the kind that cultivates inner strength. It's very powerful, a real killing technique. Most people are probably no match for it."
Jet Li may not be the best fighter, but he definitely knows the most. He can basically tell the general idea of any martial art after just a few glances. That's why he is called the Kung Fu Encyclopedia and the Kung Fu Emperor. Even Jet Li has such an evaluation, so this Wu Mingxuan is really not an ordinary person.