pertwk Chapter 134 Stephen Chow's Surprise
Chapter 134 Stephen Chow's Surprise
Zhang Manli inquired through her friends in her contacts and went to the address they provided.
Upon arrival, I discovered that it was an old residential building located in the old Kowloon neighborhood.
There were no lights in the hallway, the stairs were narrow and dark, the walls were covered with mottled stains, and the air was filled with a damp, musty smell mixed with the aroma of food.
Holding onto the stair railing, Zhang Manli climbed the stairs step by step until she reached the third floor, where she finally found the door number on the list.
She knocked gently on the door, and a slightly hesitant male voice came from inside: "Who is it?"
"Hello, this is Zhang Manli from RTV (Rediffusion Television). Is this Mr. Tony Leung's home?"
The door creaked open, and a handsome young man in a T-shirt and jeans stood behind it.
He wasn't very tall, but his features were exceptionally handsome, though he had a hint of awkwardness about meeting a stranger.
When he saw Zhang Manli, his eyes were full of surprise.
"I'm Tony Leung. Is there something you need?" His voice trembled slightly, as if he hadn't expected someone from a television station to come to him.
Zhang Manli smiled and handed over her business card, explaining her purpose: "Our RTV is preparing a new drama, and Mr. Lin Zhou specifically asked me to invite you to join us."
Regarding compensation, we offer the highest standards in the industry, and the station will provide you with professional training and support to help you become a star.
Tony Leung was stunned, staring blankly at the business card Zhang Manli handed him.
She looked down at her plain clothes, her eyes filled with disbelief.
He just turned twenty this year. After failing to get into university after graduating from high school, he plunged into the acting industry.
With no connections or background, he could only work as an extra on various film sets, sometimes earning only a few dozen yuan a day, barely enough to make ends meet.
He played extras, corpses, and guards without a single line. No one ever told him that he could become a star.
"You...you haven't mistaken me for someone else, have you?"
Tony Leung swallowed hard, his voice still trembling.
"I'm just an extra; I've never played any decent roles."
"Mr. Lin said he values your potential."
Looking into the light in his eyes, Zhang Manli suddenly felt a strange surge of emotion.
"As long as you're willing to come, Rediffusion will give you the best opportunity."
When Tony Leung heard Zhang Manli's words, his eyes lit up instantly, as if a beam of light had suddenly pierced through a dark room.
He nodded vigorously, as if afraid Zhang Manli would change her mind: "I'm willing! Of course I'm willing!"
His voice was so loud that it attracted the attention of the neighbors next door who peeked out to see what was going on.
Tony Leung scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly, but his face was full of uncontrollable joy.
Seeing his excited expression, Zhang Manli felt much of her frustration dissipate.
She took out a preliminary letter of intent that she had prepared beforehand from her bag and handed it to him.
"Take a look at this first. If there are no problems, we can sign the contract anytime."
Tony Leung took the letter of intent, his fingers trembling.
He hadn't even had time to carefully read the terms and conditions before looking up at Zhang Manli: "Ms. Zhang, I trust RTV, and I trust you!"
When Zhang Manli left Tony Leung's house, her steps were much lighter.
She pulled out the list and drew a big checkmark next to Tony Leung's name.
The rest of the trip went incredibly smoothly, since everyone there was someone who was still relatively unknown at the time.
Following the address on the list, Zhang Manli found Zhang Manyu, who was serving dishes at a tea restaurant.
At that time, Maggie Cheung was just a seventeen-year-old girl, dressed in simple clothes, with a touch of youthful innocence on her face.
She worked at a tea restaurant during the day and attended night school at night, never imagining that she would get involved with a television station.
When Zhang Manli explained her purpose, Zhang Manyu almost dropped the plate in her hand.
She stared wide-eyed at Zhang Manli, and it took her a long time to come to her senses.
"Me...can I be a star? I've never acted or sung before."
"Potential is more important than experience."
Zhang Manli said with a smile, "Lidi will provide you with professional training, as long as you are willing."
Maggie Cheung bit her lip, glanced at the busy proprietress in the tea restaurant, then looked at Zhang Manli's sincere eyes, and finally nodded.
"I'm willing to give it a try!"
Then there's Stephen Chow.
When Zhang Manli found him, he was in a children's program production company, dressed in a funny mascot costume, performing for the children.
The sweltering mascot costume wrapped around him made him sweat profusely, yet he still wore an exaggerated smile on his face.
When he heard RTV's invitation, Stephen Chow was stunned for a long time, then suddenly took off the mascot headgear, revealing a face that was covered in sweat but was exceptionally bright.
He rubbed his hands together, his tone urgent: "Miss Zhang, is it true? I really can act in a film for RTV?"
"Of course it's true." Zhang Manli nodded.
"I do!" Zhou Xingxing blurted out, looking at Zhang Manli with eyes full of longing.
"I've wanted to be an actor since I was little, and I wanted to play the lead role!"
Along the way, Zhang Manli encountered only these kinds of faces.
Some of them worked as extras on film sets, wearing tattered costumes and standing for hours under the scorching sun.
Some sing in karaoke bars, singing songs no one listens to, earning meager wages.
Some are still studying and make a living by working part-time.
They were all unknown, and even ridiculed as "fools dreaming".
When Li extended an olive branch, the same light shone in their eyes... a longing for dreams and a vision for the future.
Not a single person refused.
When Zhang Manli uttered the words "RTV", "the highest treatment in the industry", and "being promoted to become a star",
Their reactions were almost identical... first disbelief, then excitement, and finally, nodding in agreement without hesitation.
They have no burden of fame, no contractual obligations, and no right to be picky.
For them, Rediffusion's invitation was not a simple job change, but an opportunity to change their destiny.
Zhang Manli ran around for three whole days.
During those three days, she traveled all over the streets and alleys of Hong Kong.
From bustling Wan Chai to dilapidated old streets in Kowloon.
From a bustling film set to a quiet residential area.
She had witnessed too much of the coldness and warmth of human relationships. Most of the artists who had already gained some fame were polite but distant, and their words revealed their contempt for RTV.
Those who remain unknown respond to her invitation with the utmost sincerity.
On the evening of the third day, Zhang Manli finally finished walking the last name on the list.
She sat in the car on the way back, watching the neon lights gradually light up on both sides of the road, and let out a long sigh of relief.
She pulled out the list, the names on it covered with crosses in the first half and checkmarks in the second half.
Those hooks, like stars, shimmered on the paper.
When I got back to the TV station, it was already after get off work hours, so I had to come back to report to Lin Zhou tomorrow.
the next day.
Zhang Manli finally breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Lin Zhou come to the TV station.
I heard that this boss comes to work entirely depending on his mood, and his other businesses are managed by managers.
She gathered her thoughts, took the list, and gently knocked on Lin Zhou's office door.
"Come in," Lin Zhou's voice came from inside.
Zhang Manli pushed open the door and saw Lin Zhou sitting at his desk, looking at the first draft of the script for "A Step into the Past".
He looked up, saw Zhang Manli, put down the script in his hand, smiled and asked.
"You're back? How did things go?"
Zhang Manli handed over the list, her tone tinged with emotion.
"Mr. Lin, those people on the list who are already somewhat famous have all declined."
They either signed with another company, or they felt that our platform, Rediffusion, wasn't good enough.
She paused, then added, "But all the unknown people agreed."
They...they are all very grateful for the opportunity you gave them.
Lin Zhou took the list, his gaze falling on the crosses and checkmarks, his face showing no surprise.
He gently stroked the paper, a faint smile playing on his lips: "As expected."
He looked up at Zhang Manli's tired yet somewhat excited face and spoke slowly.
Those who reject us will regret it later.
And those who promised us, we will make them the most dazzling stars in Hong Kong.