The underworld background of Golden Harvest Films
The 1990s was a golden age for Hong Kong movies to flourish, and movie stars also established movie companies one after another. Sammo Hung of mobile phones took the lead in establishing Debao Film Company (he was the first action star to open a film company in the 1980s), followed closely by Andy Lau's Tian Ming, Stephen Chow, and Jet Li. Among them, Jet Li's experience during the opening of Zhengdong Film and Television Company The most legendary. In 1990, Jet Li returned to Hong Kong and collaborated with Tsui Hark. "Once Upon a Time in the Sky" had a double box office success, and Jet Li also ushered in the second spring of his career. Then the filming of the second movie "Once Upon a Time" started. In this movie, Jet Li and Jiahe Film Company had a big conflict. After this movie, Jack felt that if he wanted to make a movie that he was satisfied with, he had to set up his own film company so that no one else would influence his ideas. Soon Zhengdong Film Company was established. Li Yangzhong founded a film company, and Mr. Jin Yong personally gave Jet Ali his stage name: Li Yangzhong. The producer or supervisor Li Yangzhong will be seen in the opening credits of Zheng Dong's movies. I believe many people don't know who this is. In the two years from 1993 to 1994, Zheng Dong produced 5 palace-level classic martial arts films and action films, namely "Fang Shiyu" 103010101 and "Tai Chi Zhang Sanfeng". Every movie is praised as "continuous sitting", and Jie Ge is in the limelight. However, the good times did not last long. Due to various pressures at the time, Jet Li had to close the film company and end it hastily. It's just that the crew brought out by Jet Li is still there, and the subsequent "The Bodyguard of Zhongnanhai" was filmed by the former crew. Jet Li later talked about this matter: The establishment of Zhengdong faced a lot of trouble and pressure, because the Hong Kong film market environment was very complicated at that time, and you couldn't open it even if you wanted to. Driven by various interests, many people wanted me to "die" immediately. "Fist of Heroes", 91. When this film was made, Jet Li had already had a conflict with Jiahe. At this time, his agent teamed up with the film company to suppress Jet Li, and he was forced to stop starring in Jet Li. At this time, Jie Ge's good friend Cai stepped forward and became his new agent. In the end, thanks to the efforts of Tsui Hark and others, the filming was finally completed and we became self-reliant. (During this period, Golden Harvest tried to replace Jet Li with Zhao Wenzhuo. Unfortunately, the effect was not good enough. Huang Zai was filming during this time.) Jet Li and Tsai then prepared Jet Li's next martial arts film. I believe everyone is familiar with it, that is "Fearless". At that time, the film was tailor-made for Jet Li by Tsui Hark, but his agent Cai was assassinated before filming started. The film had to be abandoned and eventually replaced by Tony Leung. After giving up Zhengdong Film Company due to various pressures, Jet Li met Xiang Huaqiang, an important figure in his life. Everyone in Xiang Huaqiang knows that this is not nonsense. No one dared to touch Jie under the protection of this big tree anymore, and then "The Legend of Heaven and Dragon Sword" produced by Yongsheng of Huaqiang Film Company came out. The film is directed by Hua Dan and Yong Sheng, and co-stars Qiu and Jet Li. Unfortunately, it was said to be a bad movie that year and the box office was not satisfactory, so Zhao Min said: I am waiting for you in Dadu. I have been waiting for 24 years. Many years later, Jet Li starred in Xiang Huaqiang's movies "Once Upon a Time in the World" and "Grateful". This year, Jet Li made a high-profile comeback in 2017. He is said to be co-starring in an action movie with Donnie Yen and Wu Jing. If the news is reliable, it’s The Return of the King. I believe many people have been looking forward to Jaylen's movie for a long time! Zhang Bolin's 2651 fans 7887 like to search for Jet Li box office in 1993, Jiahe Film Company and Jet Li Jet Li. What is the current situation? Lao Liang reveals the story of Jet Li. Jason Statham comments on Jet Li: Why does Jet Li age so fast?
According to online news, there are two versions of Cai’s death: one is that he was once a Dutch gang boss and had a deep grudge against others and had nothing to do with Jet Li. Another theory is that Cai was Jet Li's leader and became his manager. Many producers who regarded Jet Li as a "cash cow" refused to invite him to make films, so they held a grudge and committed murder to vent their anger.
Who is Xiang Huaqiang’s most powerful backer but his military father?
Speaking of Hong Kong’s Xiang Huaqiang, almost everyone knows it. Xiang Huaqiang is not only a movie star, but also the boss of Hong Kong's Yongsheng Film Company, with a net worth of at least 10 billion yuan. The key is that Xiang Huaqiang is very powerful in Hong Kong and has handled affairs for countless film and television stars.
When Andy Lau was captured by Beng Yaju in Macau, it was Xiang Huaqiang brothers who came forward to find Stanley Ho and asked him to help get Beng Yaju to release him. In addition, after Jet Li's agent Cai happened, Xiang Huaqiang also came forward to protect Jet Li, which made him a great success in the future.
In addition, Anita Mui was caught by 14K people at KTV, and Xiang Huaqiang’s wife Chen Lan went to rescue them, which later caused chaos in the world. Xiang Huaqiang has told him countless times that he has nothing to do with gangs. Since Xiang Huaqiang has nothing to do with gangs, how can he help so many celebrities deal with their problems?
This has to be said about Xiang Huaqiang’s backing. Many people know that Xiang Huaqiang’s father, Xiang Qian, is the founder of Xinyi An. Xinyi On, 14K, Hopson and are known as the three major gangs in Hong Kong, among which Xinyi On is the most powerful. But Xiang Huaqiang’s real backer is not Xiang Huaqiang, because when Xiang Huaqiang was 4 years old, his father was expelled from Hong Kong by the British, and he had to live in Taiwan Province. The real leader of Xinyi'an is his eldest brother Xiang Yan.
In the 1940s, Qianfeng was already a general in the military system and was deeply appreciated by Dai Li. This is why Dai Li sent money to Hong Kong. In fact, the first time Qian went to Hong Kong was to integrate various Chaozhou gangs, but he only took people there.
Later, Xinyi An Xiangqian was established, and under the cover of Yi'an Company, the business continued to grow bigger and stronger.
In 1953, he was driven away by the British because of his involvement in gang activities in Hong Kong. The president has 4 wives and 13 children, among whom Xiang Huaqiang was born to his third wife. Because he was born to his third wife, Xiang Huaqiang's status in the family is very low. Moreover, my father was only 4 years old when he went to Taiwan Province, so his father did not notice Xiang Huaqiang at that time.
After moving to Taiwan Province, I left the leading position of Xin Yi’an to my eldest son, Xiang Huayan. Xiang Yan is much older than Xiang Huaqiang and is also the most critical figure in the development of Xin Yi'an. With the development of Xiang Yan, Xin Ngee On gradually grew and became the largest gang in Hong Kong. At the same time, Xiang Yan also opened many legal businesses, such as nightclubs, bars, minibuses, etc.
When Xiang Huaqiang grew up, he went to Taiwan Province to develop. He practiced martial arts since he was a child and kept fit. When he grew up, he was very suitable for it, so he was discovered by a talent scout to make movies. Afterwards, Xiang Huaqiang returned to Hong Kong to develop and met the female star Ding Pei. Ding Pei is very popular, but because Bruce Lee died in her home, she became the target of public criticism and her future was ruined. Soon, Xiang Huaqiang married Ding Pei and began to set up his own film company in Hong Kong.
But many people don’t know Ding Pei, they only know Chen Lan. Chen Lan is also a legendary woman. She suffered from leukemia since she was a child and was almost sold by her gambling mother. Later, Chen Lan survived and became a famous model. After Ding Pei and Xiang Huaqiang divorced, Chen Lan got together with Xiang Huaqiang and went to Hong Kong to develop, becoming a good helper for Xiang Huaqiang's career.
When Xiang Huaqiang and his brother Xiang Huasheng founded Yongsheng Film Company, Shaw Brothers had just gone bankrupt and Hong Kong had officially entered the era of New Art City and Golden Harvest. At that time, the Hong Kong film industry was very chaotic, with many gangs involved, and the bosses of many film companies were gang bosses. If Xiang Huaqiang wants to gain a foothold in the Hong Kong film industry, he naturally needs some power. Of course, at this time, Xiang Huaqiang's brother Xiang Huayan was already the number one eldest brother in Hong Kong, and no one dared not give the Xiang family face. Xiang Huaqiang has a very good relationship with his brother Xiang Huayan. Although the two were not born from the same mother, the Xiang brothers have had a deep relationship for many years, which is rare in other big Hong Kong families.
The key to the rise of Xiang Huaqiang and his Yongsheng Film Company is actually Xiang Huayan's power. Several key figures in the rise of Yongsheng are Jet Li, Andy Lau and others, especially Jet Li. The key to Xiang Huaqiang's ability to conquer Jet Li is not that he has a keen eye for recognizing heroes, but that he can protect Jet Li in Hong Kong.
Jet Li is a martial arts champion in the Mainland, and he became a household name early on with "Shaolin Temple". However, after arriving in Hong Kong, Jet Li's development did not go smoothly, and he was later tricked by Jiahe. Jiahe withheld Jet Li's salary. Manager David Luo's mother is Jiahe's major shareholder. David Luo also only wanted to make money from Jet Li and did not want to help him.
At that time, Golden Harvest's executives even said: Jet Li is from the Mainland and has no background in Hong Kong. We can play him to death. When Jet Li was helpless, he looked around for new film companies to cooperate with. Finally, Cai Ziming, the boss of Fuyi Film Company, extended an olive branch. This Cai Ziming is not a good person either. His relationship with 14K is irreconcilable and he is also a member of the world.
Back then, Cai Ziming once sent people to shoot movies for him in the Netherlands, including Andy Lau, Carina Lau, and Wan Ziliang at gunpoint. Cai Ziming later became Jet Li's manager, helping him fight against Jiahe and even teaching him to stop acting to fight. Jiahe once asked Chen Zhiming of Xin Nghe An to negotiate with Cai Ziming, but the two parties originally represented different forces, and the negotiation was not successful at all. In the end, Jiahe had no choice but to settle the matter.
However, 10 hours after Cai Ziming signed the contract with Jet Li, he was shot to death on the street by two foreign killers. When Jet Li heard the news, he was so frightened that he even hung up the phone three times. The truth of this matter has not been found out to this day. Jackie Chan also said that everyone knows the truth, but there is no evidence and no one dares to tell.
At this time, Xiang Huaqiang took action. He knew about Jet Li, asked Jet Li's Zhengdong to cooperate with Yongsheng, and signed a contract with Jet Li with a salary of 72 million, and paid 36 million in advance. This salary is 20 times that of Jet Li in Golden Harvest. The most important thing is that Xiang Huaqiang has the ability to protect Jet Li's safety. From then on, no one in Hong Kong dared to trouble Jet Li. The series of movies such as "Fang Shiyu" starring Jet Li have achieved great success and earned Yongsheng Film a lot of money.
The key to all this is that Xiang Huayan is behind him. In 1985, Xiang Huayan was arrested by the Hong Kong police. At that time, the Hong Kong police arranged undercover agents around him and collected a lot of evidence about Xiang Huayan. Xiang Huayan was sentenced to prison in 1988, but later he successfully appealed and was acquitted. Xiang Huayan rarely appeared in the arena after that. One of the key figures that allowed Xiang Huayan to escape successfully was Xiang Huayan's son Xiang Zhanwei, who is a practicing barrister in Hong Kong.
After 1997, the Xiang brothers saw the formality clearly and seldom developed their business in Xin Ngee Ann. They also kept a low profile and have nothing to do so far. I have to say that the Xiang Huaqiang brothers are really very smart.