On July 28, 2021, Jackie Chan stood on the stage of a movie theater in a black suit and a microphone in his hand.
Before I could open my mouth, my nose was sore and my eyes were red.
"He didn't come this time, but I still have to come."
The staff moved onto an empty chair symbolizing the director.
Zhen Zidan and Xie Tingfeng stood on either side, two tough guys, suddenly burst into tears.
This is the scene of the premiere of "Fury Case".
In the middle of the audience opposite the stage, there is a reserved seat, which is far away from the people on the stage.
uninhabited.
Only a bouquet of white flowers was placed.
There's a name on the back of the chair —
Chen Musheng.
Two months later, "Fury Case" broke 1.315 billion at the box office.
Became the box office champion of Hong Kong films in the history of Chinese films.
Box office champion of Chinese action crime films.
Nicholas Tse posted.
"Director, we did it."
A year ago, in August, Chen Musheng died of nasopharyngeal cancer at the age of 58.
Before he died, he had white hair, like Zhou Xingchi.
Wearing black-rimmed glasses, Sven and polite looks are in stark contrast to the style of flying cars, chases, crashes, explosions, and fights in his films.
Chen Musheng, a name that is not well known to the public.
He is an older generation of Hong Kong filmmakers.
I only want to do one thing in my life: to make Hong Kong films.
However, the Hong Kong movie sunset.
In the afterglow, Chen Musheng carried this broken banner. Against the torrent of the times, go firmly.
Now he couldn't carry it.
Looking back, there was no one there.
He ended, and Hong Kong films have been followed by no one since.
The year Chen Musheng first made independent films, Hong Kong films were still in their most brilliant period.
It was 1990.
On the streets of Hong Kong, a heavy locomotive sped by.
Andy Lau, a small gangster, bleeds from the nose and carries Wu Qianlian, who is wearing a wedding dress.
The end of the road is rushing.
Outlaws.
Life and death depend on each other.
Blood dripped on the white wedding dress, delicate as fire.
It's as passionate as the feelings between the two.
This scene is from the film "Heavenly Love" directed by Chen Musheng.
It is frozen in the history of Hong Kong cinema.
No one can stand out.
At the time of writing this script, Chen Musheng was 29 years old and was still working as an assistant director for Du Qifeng.
In his spare time, he loves drag racing.
Every Saturday, he would go to Saigon, where all the car lovers in Hong Kong gathered. The wind is racing and the adrenaline is soaring. The thrill is booming.
In the world of men, the strong are king.
One day, Chen Musheng saw a drag racing master named "Hua Di", who was starred in the moon as soon as he appeared.
Everyone saluted and called out his name respectfully.
This scene, he still remembers, wrote into the script.
Amid the roar of the engine, Andy Lau rode out on a motorcycle.
The movement is neat and the helmet is lifted, revealing a handsome face.
People around him greeted him: "Hua Di".
But after reading the script, Du Qifeng did not feel how amazing.
This movie is a retirement gift to master Wang Tianlin. Crucial.
If the filming is not good, no one will watch it, and there will be no box office. The master's pension for the second half of his life was gone.
In order to persuade Du Qifeng, Chen Musheng took him to Saigon to watch people drag racing.
The excitement of the scene hits people's hearts. No man can remain indifferent.
Du Qifeng was greatly shocked.
Excited to see, A pat on the thigh.
"You make the movie!"
In this way, Chen Musheng was promoted from assistant director to director, shooting his debut film "Heavenly Love".
After the movie was released, it became a hit.
Even almost all the people associated with "Heavenly Love" are on fire.
The lead actor needless to say.
Supporting role Wu Mengda is also red.
He played the role of "Taibao" in it.
Taibao is a leper who makes a living by cleaning people's cars on the street. A feather duster was inserted obliquely in the waist of his pants, like a dog's tail. High up, swaying.
The police locked his parking space, and he immediately piled up a flattering smile and nodded his head.
When you slap yourself, your hands don't shake.
With this role, Wu Mengda won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Break the prejudice of others that he "can't support the wall with mud".
This was his first award and the only one in his life.
Chen Musheng also invited 2 unknown singers to write songs for the movie.
One of them is a newcomer who has just debuted called Luo Dayou.
With the theme song "Heavenly Love", Luo Dayou was nominated for two original song awards at the Academy Awards. Since then, he has left his name in the music scene.
The other is the 29-year-old troubled Huang Jiaju.
That year, Beyond was unattended and on the verge of disbanding.
Writing the movie interlude "Gray Trail" for "Heavenly Love", Huang Jiaju wrote:
"Everything that has passed will subside, it will not break through the walls, the road ahead will not be able to see clearly, and then there will be those struggles and compulsions, stepping on the gray trajectory."
Gray Trail Music: BEYOND - Beyond Live 1991 Contact for Life Concert
As soon as the film came out, Huang Jiaju smoothly walked out of the fog and created "Brilliant Years".
They are not the only ones whose fate has been changed by "Heavenly Love".
After playing "Hua Di", Andy Lau successfully transformed from an idol student to a national male god.
Wu Qianlian, a 21-year-old 18-line singer, embarked on the actor road of harvesting the four heavenly kings.
however.
Even if it has boosted so many people to the peak of their lives, this movie has not made director Chen Musheng famous.
He remains invisible behind his back, unknown.
This is not surprising.
After all, he was just a "red pants" who grew up from the bottom.
Red pants.
In Hong Kong, it refers to people who are not from a science class and can only learn from the sidelines on the set.
Chen Musheng was a red pants on the set very early on.
In the early 1960s, gangs ran rampant in Hong Kong.
There were often fights near Chen Musheng's house.
Parents came out early and returned late, went out to do hard labor, and could not take care of the 6 children in the family.
He hid alone in a cupboard, holding a flashlight, frantically reading martial arts novels. I fantasize that one day, I can make a movie that is happy and vengeful.
After graduating from secondary school at the age of 18, he successfully entered the Hong Kong Lai TV station and recorded it on the spot.
Unexpectedly, on the first day he went to the set, he was shocked.
"I thought I had entered an insane asylum."
That day was filmed "New Dragon Gate Inn".
As soon as Chen Musheng entered the door, he saw someone jumping from a high place to the bomb bed and bouncing up, taller than the trees.
After flipping over in the air, he landed on the mat on the ground.
Chen Musheng looked puzzled.
Director Li Huimin did not sleep for several days, his body was greasy, and he fell asleep in the gap between filming, and did not have time to take care of this new apprentice.
After staying for a while, Chen Musheng figured out that the bullet bed was a consistent skill in shooting martial arts films.
Just as he was struggling to learn a little east and a stick in the west, a nobleman approached him.
He is Du Qifeng.
Du Qifeng is 6 years older than Chen Musheng.
After learning from the famous TVB martial arts film director Wang Tianlin, he went out to shoot independent films.
He took Chen Musheng in as his assistant director, and the two worked together many times.
The older generation of Hong Kong filmmakers are in the same vein.
"If the master has brought me, I will teach it to the younger generations."
With the leadership of Du Qifeng, Chen Musheng progressed rapidly and practiced a skill.
But he is not the only one who is hiding behind the scenes. If you really want to get ahead, you have to rely on opportunity.
This opportunity is "Heavenly Love".
"Heavenly Love" is on fire, but Chen Musheng is getting more and more confused and does not know what to shoot.
A sentence from Jiahe boss He Guanchang woke him up.
"You've shot every genre, you should know what's best to shoot."
He suddenly realized.
As a director, forming your own style is the foundation of your life.
"I will not become Wu Yusen, nor will I become Du Qifeng, I am Chen Musheng."
In 1996, the 35-year-old Chen Musheng found himself and made a movie that really infused his own style - "Stormtrooper Fury Street".
Action, violence, gunfights, bloodshed, death.....
Explode to the ground.
Blow it up and blow it up.
The film became a hit, with 9 award nominations.
Chen Musheng finally walked out of the background.
He did it.
From the lowest status of the "red pants" on the set, he became a well-known director.
Fame and fortune come at you.
However, Chen Musheng was not burdened by fame.
Instead of treating work, we are becoming more and more refined.
He is extremely meticulous in detail.
"No matter what the audience says, first of all, I have to pass this level, there is no possibility of sloppiness."
During the filming, there was a scene of vehicle explosions.
The viewer looks at only a few cars in the picture.
But Chen Musheng had to spend money to prepare a few more ones to touch the same.
"Because after the explosion of one issue, you must explode the second period, and you cannot pass one shot in one period."
Chen Musheng believes that he is not a talented director.
Along the way, stumbled.
You can only make up for your talent by studying.
Other directors shoot 1 minute of literary drama, which only takes 1 hour. But he shoots a 1-minute action scene, which takes 10 days.
Yi Lijing asked him: "Do you feel bumpy?" ”
He said: "Not bumpy, it's lucky, I love this profession." Love, you will not feel hard. ”
He has a title in Hong Kong circles: the most reassuring director.
The investor gives him a new project, as long as he takes it, the final difference is not much worse.
Such reassurance comes from high requirements.
When filming "The True Colors of Boys", Fang Zuming and Yu Wenle once took a game console to the set to play. He scolded the two of them and did not save face for Jackie Chan at all.
The reporter asked him to verify the authenticity.
Chen Musheng did not comment and asked, "Playing a game console?" Absolutely! Do you come to work or play games, of course you will scold. ”
Nicholas Tse debuted at the age of 19, filming "SWAT New Humanity", and has cooperated with Chen Musheng for more than 20 years.
Hanging wires, blasting, sliding down the exterior walls of the convention center... In Chen Musheng's film, he was abused very badly.
Sometimes he looks back at those movies and wonders why he's still alive today.
He said, "We are friends of life and death. ”
But every time he saw Chen Musheng, Nicholas Tse was deeply inspired.
"We're all pushing our limits, doing something new."
What is the limit?
In "New Police Story", in order to perform the realistic sense of suffocation, Nicholas Tse took a rope and really strangled himself.
Strangled to shock, rolled his eyes.
Because before filming began, Chen Musheng told him: "If you want to go far on the road of an actor, you must eat the suffering that ordinary people can't eat." ”
It is precisely this kind of strict requirements that have made Nicholas Tse, from that unruly handsome guy to a tough guy worthy of great responsibility.
Chen Musheng's films have made more people.
In 1998, Jackie Chan's development in Hollywood was blocked and he was forced to return to Hong Kong.
The first scene filmed was Chen Musheng's "Who Am I".
There was a scene where Chen Musheng designed Jackie Chan to jump from a tall building.
When the news broke, the whole world was shocked.
Before filming began, no insurance company in Hong Kong was willing to insure Jackie Chan.
At that time, Jackie Chan was 44 years old, bent on gaining a foothold in Hong Kong and making movies.
Fortunately, it was shot smoothly.
Jackie Chan returned to the Asian film scene.
This scene has also become the most dangerous action in the history of film in the world.
In "The Whole City on Guard", the frustrated Aaron Kwok sat in the car and nibbled on bread and wept.
Not a cathartic cry, but two lines of tears flowing silently.
Chen Musheng was satisfied.
"This movie has changed him a lot and is a source of pride for me."
Wu Jing was conceited about his martial arts, and ran from the mainland to Hong Kong without hesitation and made a new debut.
But he can only play the role of being beaten in the movie, depressed.
Chen Musheng gave Wu Jing a role in "The True Colors of Boys", not only playing drama, but also complex character emotions.
Wu Jing was able to give full play to himself.
For this role, he was nominated for the Golden Horse Award for Best Supporting Actor.
After Chen Musheng's death, Wu Jing was asked by reporters: "In your eyes, what kind of person is director Chen Musheng?" ”
He lowered his head, his emotions uncontrollable, and choked up and unable to speak: "I'm sorry, I didn't record it." ”
After a long pause, he returned to the scene and said with red eyes:
"Chen Musheng, always in your heart, thank you."
It's just a pity that a Hong Kong film that has achieved a bunch of people and won several awards in a row will not have any more.
The glory of Hong Kong cinema is gone.
For a while, Hong Kong filmmakers were still intoxicated by the good old dreams.
There is no crisis in sight, and there is no sense of mission. Making money from filmmaking does not return the money to the movie, but buys real estate and speculates.
Chen Musheng's heart was not a taste.
He said, "I especially hate people who make money and leave, but there is nothing they can do." ”
He saw that Hollywood filmmakers can already make 4D movies, but Hong Kong filmmakers still use machines from decades ago.
Anxious and helpless.
"People are running, we are walking slowly, and now we are waking up."
"We've been standing still for years."
Others don't want to innovate, so he does it.
In 2000, he tried a new device in SWAT New Humans 2, asking the American Stunt Company to produce the post-production.
But I don't know if it is a lack of technology, or the money is not spent enough, and it is not the expected effect at all.
After the film was released, he heard feedback from the audience that the film was not good.
I was sad in my heart and went back to reflect for a long time.
Ten years later, in order to seek a breakthrough in Chinese film stunts.
He tried again in "City Alert".
Gamble on your lifelong reputation.
Others call him stupid.
He said: "How many years will it take for Chinese films to reach their level, is it because we have less money, such films will never be made?" Wait until the next generation to chase? ”
But the audience does not understand.
This movie has a Douban rating of 4.6, and it has not even reached the passing line.
Forty percent of people rated 2 stars.
The next hot comment at the bottom said: On the fall of Chen Musheng.
He's still trying.
In 2020, he filmed "Anger and Serious Case" and insisted on it like a fool moving mountains. In the end, the film created a miracle.
It's still bloody.
Technology and emotion.
Hit the jackpot.
Unfortunately, such a success, Chen Musheng can no longer see.
He died suddenly before the film was released. Bid farewell to the rolling dust of Hong Kong movies.
"Anger and Serious Case" has become Chen Musheng's posthumous work.
And Chen Musheng has also become the regret of countless people.
Chen Musheng will not have any more.
The entire Hong Kong film industry cannot replicate another him.
A reporter once asked Nicholas Tse whether he planned to take over the banner of Hong Kong-style action movies.
Nicholas Tse said: "He's gone, I don't know how to continue... I am 40 years old this year, and even if I have the heart, I am powerless. ”
The tide has gone, leaving a barren land.
How sad.
Two months ago, Andy Lau, Zhen Zidan, Wu Jing, Zhang Jiahui and Chen Xiaochun recorded a tribute song for Chen Musheng.
It is Lin Zixiang's "Real Man".
"People have to die once in a lifetime. There is no need to reason with me, Haojie may be a madman, and he is also a bloody boy, willing to break into the world once. ”
The song is over, but fans will always remember him.
Remember that he was a real man.
I also remember the Hong Kong film era on him.