After Li Zhi walked into the office, she said hello and looked at Kang Jianfei curiously, as if she wanted to see if he was different from what was on TV or in the newspaper.
Kang Jianfei did not talk about business directly. Instead, after Li Zhi sat down, he started talking: "I heard that you came from the mainland. How long have you been in Hong Kong?"
If asked by an old Hong Konger, Lizhi would definitely feel uncomfortable. However, this question came from Kang Jianfei, but it made Lizhi feel very cordial because everyone is from the mainland. She replied: "Soon."
It's been three years, and you came two years later than Mr. Kang."
"How do you feel about Hong Kong?" Kang Jianfei asked with a smile.
"Hong Kong is very prosperous and beautiful, but it has nothing to do with me." Lizhi said without thinking.
Kang Jianfei said: "That's because you haven't integrated into this city yet. You will get used to it in a few years."
Lizhi smiled bitterly and said: "We are all Chinese. I just don't understand why Hong Kong people always discriminate against compatriots from the mainland."
Kang Jianfei explained: "You can think of it this way, Hong Kong is a rich little cousin. When poor old cousins from the mainland come to seek refuge, they will naturally be looked down upon because they always feel that they are at a disadvantage. In fact, it is not just mainland China. In recent years,
There is also the influx of a large number of Vietnamese refugees. These new immigrants lack the means to make a living, and many of them resort to deception and abduction, causing temporary chaos in Hong Kong society. Hong Kong people only see all kinds of troubles brought by the new immigrants.
, naturally there is dissatisfaction with mainland tourists and Vietnamese refugees.”
Li Zhi nodded subconsciously, feeling that what Kang Jianfei said made sense, but she felt increasingly strange in her heart. Could it be that Kang Jianfei came to DreamWorks just to talk to her about this?
The two chatted some more about mainland China, and the conversation became more harmonious. However, Lizhi felt panicked and finally couldn't help but ask: "Mr. Kang, you came to see me today..."
Kang Jianfei explained: "I saw your application information for the artist training class and I think your conditions are very good."
Lizhi was overjoyed and asked, "Am I admitted to the training class?"
Kang Jianfei shook his head and said, "No, your performance is not up to standard."
The smile on Lizhi's face froze, but she still retained a trace of hope in her heart, hoping that Kang Jianfei would make an exception for her to enter the training class for the sake of immigrating from mainland China at the same time.
Kang Jianfei continued: "I asked several examiners and to be honest, you are not suitable to be an actor. I invited you here today because I have something more important to ask for your help."
"Looking for my help?" Lizhi's mind became more and more confused.
"Yes," Kang Jianfei said, "I plan to create a beauty pageant similar to Miss Hong Kong next year. Are you interested in participating?"
Lizhi said unconfidently: "I'm afraid I can't do it."
Kang Jianfei said to her: "If you sign up, I can make you a beauty pageant champion who is as famous as Miss Hong Kong."
Kang Jianfei's words were enough to make most women lose their minds with excitement. Lizhi was also so excited that her heart beat wildly. But she was a very smart woman, and she quickly expressed her doubts: "Why choose me?"
Kang Jianfei smiled at her and said, "Don't you think you are beautiful?"
Lizhi asked back: "It's not hard to find beautiful women in Hong Kong, right?"
"Because you are a mainland girl among Hong Kong people. Let alone becoming the beauty pageant champion, even entering the finals will cause a lot of controversy in Hong Kong." Kang Jianfei said with a smile like a businessman on his face, "If there is any controversy, then
With attention, you can compete with TV**’s Hong Kong Miss Beauty Contest.”
Although Li Zhi didn't understand media hype very well, she also knew that Kang Jianfei was trying to use her as a gimmick. She was just a tool for Kang Jianfei to promote the beauty pageant. Li Zhi had mixed emotions for a while, not knowing whether to be happy or sad.
Seeing that Lizhi was silent, Kang Jianfei asked, "Do you think my methods are very underhanded?"
"No." Lizhi shook her head and said, but she felt in her heart: No wonder Kang Jianfei can become famous in Hong Kong, he is indeed smarter than the average person.
"As long as you participate in the beauty pageant next year, I will guarantee that you will be the champion," Kang Jianfei asked again, "Are you interested?"
The title of beauty pageant champion is really too exciting for women. Lizhi took a deep breath and nodded: "I will participate."
"Okay," Kang Jianfei stood up from his seat and walked to Lizhi and said, "From now until the beauty pageant is held next year, you are not allowed to participate in any activities related to the entertainment industry, and you must pretend that you have never seen me before.
I will give you 100,000 US dollars, and you can go abroad to participate in some etiquette, makeup, catwalk, etc. training. Although these trainings are also available after registering for the beauty pageant, it is better to be fully prepared. In addition, it is best for you to enter a foreign university.
This will give you enough information when it comes to hype.”
Today, the Hong Kong dollar is 7 points to 1 US dollar, and 100,000 US dollars is nearly 800,000 Hong Kong dollars. Not to mention that Lizhi has never seen so much money, even her family cannot afford 100,000 yuan.
Lizhi swallowed and couldn't help but ask: "Aren't you afraid that I will swallow the money and run away?"
"You don't think your future is only worth one hundred thousand dollars, do you?" Kang Jianfei asked funnyly.
Of course, Lizhi would not refuse to get a sum of money for free. She smiled happily and said: "My current salary as a salesperson is 1,200 yuan, and 100,000 US dollars is almost my total income for decades."
"Look into my eyes," Kang Jianfei put his hand on Lizhi's shoulder. The two looked at each other at close range for two seconds before he continued, "Believe me, as long as you do what I say, I guarantee you
You can make this much money in the next year.”
Lizhi felt that Kang Jianfei's eyes were very bright, and then she found that his light brown eyes were very charming, giving people a sense of trustworthiness. She didn't care that Kang Jianfei's hand was still on her shoulder, and nodded subconsciously:
"I will take the exam in the United States in a few days. It should be no problem to get into an ordinary university."
Kang Jianfei said: "It's best if you can get admitted to a reputable school. It can give you a lot of extra points in the beauty pageant."
"I'll try my best." Lizhi said uncertainly, but in her heart she was looking forward to what it would be like when she won the beauty pageant next year. She had suffered so much discrimination in Hong Kong that she couldn't wait to stand out.
Kang Jianfei suddenly changed the topic and asked: "Do you have a boyfriend now? If you do, break up as soon as possible, otherwise it will be very troublesome to participate in the beauty pageant."
"No." Lizhi shook her head and said. When she was studying in mainland China, she had a friend with a different surname who she got along well with. But before she could develop further, she lost contact when Lizhi came to Hong Kong. As for after arriving in Hong Kong,
Lizhi didn't even have any normal friends with whom she could talk, let alone a boyfriend.
Kang Jianfei smiled with satisfaction and said: "That's good. When you go to the United States, you should try to keep a low profile. As long as you wait until next year, you can become a blockbuster."
Lizhi smiled shyly and said gratefully: "Mr. Kang, thank you for taking care of me."
"I'm not taking care of you," Kang Jianfei stared at Lizhi for a while, then exclaimed in an exaggerated tone, "Azhi, you don't know how beautiful you are. Apart from you, I really don't know who else is qualified to be the beauty champion.
"
All women like others to praise her beauty, not to mention that the person who praised her was Kang Jianfei, a famous person. Li Zhi said sweetly in her heart: "Mr. Kang, you are joking again. I am not as beautiful as you say."
"Confident women are the most beautiful, you know, you have to be confident?" Kang Jianfei encouraged her.
After talking about the business, Kang Jianfei started to chat with her again. Li Zhi was a woman who lacked love. In another time and space, Li Lianjie and she made a movie together, and after they separated, they had the first fight.
We talked on the phone for six hours because Li Lianjie was a rare mainland actor in Hong Kong at that time.
At that time, Lizhi had many Hong Kong rich men pursuing her, but she only secretly had a crush on Li Lianjie, who was at a low point in his career, and even quietly worked as a mistress for several years, until Li Lianjie divorced.
Kang Jianfei also asked her about some difficulties in life and work, and gave her some comfort and suggestions casually, which made Lizhi feel very comfortable and regarded Kang Jianfei as a kind and generous brother.
…
Just when Kang Jianfei was fooling Lizhi into participating in the beauty pageant, "Home Alone" was also officially debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in France, co-produced by 20th Century Fox.
Of course, "Home Alone" did not meet the appetite of the Cannes judges. It was not even qualified to be shortlisted. It was only screened during the film festival.
Because Kang Jianfei has sold all the sequel rights to "Home Alone", 20th Century Fox has spared no effort in promoting "Home Alone".
In addition, "Home Alone" ranked second on the annual box office list in North America last year. When it debuted in France, it immediately attracted the attention of various theater companies.
20th Century Fox's distribution channels in Europe have long been mature, and they have contacted theaters before the opening of the Cannes Film Festival. Now that it has received a certain amount of attention at the film festival, it immediately began large-scale publicity, and it will be released simultaneously across France a week later
.
In the following two months, "Home Alone" was released in the UK, Belgium, Italy, West Germany and other European countries, grossing more than 70 million U.S. dollars at the box office and becoming the box office champion in various countries for several weeks.
The young protagonist of the film suddenly became an international star, and as the director of "Home Alone", Kang Jianfei also attracted the attention of European media and film producers.
After many inquiries, European colleagues gradually learned that Kang Jianfei was a Hong Kong director, and some film producers even took the initiative to go to Hong Kong to buy movies from him.
The happiest person is Ma Qiao. He previously wanted to sell DreamWorks movies to the European market, but European film studios always ignored him. Now they are actually coming to ask for the goods.
Perhaps it was an unexpected surprise that "Home Alone" actually became the pioneer for DreamWorks to expand sales in Europe, allowing Kang Jianfei and Oriental DreamWorks to gradually start to show their faces in Europe.
After "Home Alone" became a hit in the United States, it also made a huge profit at the box office in Europe. The Hong Kong media naturally also praised him. When some newspapers mentioned Kang Jianfei, they began to add the title of "international director".
It’s on a different level than most directors in Hong Kong. (To be continued.) q