Recently, it was learned that Ms. Cheng Peipei passed away. About half a year ago, when I was reading the memoirs of my maternal grandfather Luo Wei, I read a lot about Zheng Peipei, and I saw her on Weibo that she had an account, so I left a message saying that I wanted to meet her when I returned to Hong Kong and listen to her talk about the past. Her assistant wrote back to me and said that she was glad to receive my message, but that Sister Pepe was not in Hong Kong, but was in United States with her daughter. This wish is no longer possible. The following is an excerpt from Luo Wei's memoir "Forty Years of Career in the Film Industry":
In a later martial arts film. I invited Zheng Peipei to play the heroine, and with this martial arts film, I finally became a million-dollar director, so as soon as the film was screened, it was like a rainbow and word of mouth!
First taste of a million
The name of the movie that pushed me to sit on the throne of millions of directors is called "Poison Dragon Pond", and the heroes and heroines in the film are Yue Hua and Zheng Peipei respectively.
In this film, Pepe plays quite well, and the scenes of this film are very fresh, plus there are underwater shots. As a result, the film exceeded one million in less than five days after its release, and since then I have established my position in the film industry.
The most gratifying thing for me is that the midnight show on the first night broke the record, but it is understood that even if our theater is sold out, it will charge more than 47,000 yuan, but the person in charge of the company told me that a total of 54,000 yuan was collected that night.
How is that possible?
I really don't understand, is it ...... the price of movie tickets to suddenly go up?
Oh, it turned out that the theater saw the enthusiastic response of the audience, and implemented the addition of a bench, and even temporarily added standing tickets, and some theaters even changed the middle seat ticket to the back seat, (Note: At that time, the theater was divided into front, middle and back seats) and the front seat was changed to a medium seat ticket, so the box office was full, and the explosion exceeded more than 7,000 yuan!
When it comes to this film, I really have to mention Pepe, because she is a good actor with great actor ethics.
The most memorable thing about her was when she came to shoot me on her first day.
That day, she was originally going to be filmed staying in an inn from a long distance, but her scenes were not filmed when her turn came and went. And she didn't get angry, and she didn't even take off the props on her back, so I said, "Since it's not your turn, you can take off the burden and sit comfortably, lest that thing get in the way of you!" ”
She smiled sweetly and said, "It doesn't matter, this thing is very soft." If it's bound and removed, it may not be a show! ”
As a result, she sat all day, but it was still not her turn to play, and she was just sitting on the chair with a burden and reading a book, and watching it with relish, but the thing "topped" her back, so that she couldn't lean on the chair properly, I believe that after returning to the dormitory, she will have back pain and can't sleep.
Pepe is really rare, because she was already popular at that time, and she was able to endure so patiently, carrying that burden stupidly all day long, and even more, she never stepped out of the studio.
Her professionalism is truly impressive! At the beginning, she came to visit our studio, and her first impression I had was so playful and lively, but I didn't expect her work spirit to be so meticulous.
She filmed, if she didn't shoot the best, she wouldn't call it a day, if the director asked her to NG ten or eight times, she would always be obedient, do as she was, and never complain!
When filming martial arts scenes, she will not be sloppy, sometimes in order to shoot a difficult move, she will continue to practice hard in the interval, and when she is officially filmed, the effect is usually satisfactory, but she has high self-requirements, and often "hits" to the swollen hands and feet, sweat beads dripping, so that people are not pitied, and she never suffers from this, but is happy to sweat, and then, in the interval, pour a bottle of Coke, don't think she is a "soda essence", if she doesn't keep sweating, How could she drink ten or eight bottles of Coke to her heart's content?
After this film, we became good friends. Many times, she would come to my house with Yue Hua to play, and sometimes, watch movies together, they were like my deed girl.
The first election of martial arts actresses
Although the response of "Poison Dragon Pond" was surprisingly good, we were not complacent because of this, but during the film's release, we also worked hard to promote the bridge.
The Propaganda Department came up with a "bridge", what kind of "bridge" do you say?
The election of martial arts actresses is also!
At that time, there were a lot of movie queens, but it was quite fresh to choose martial arts movie queens! Because at that time, it was not fashionable to be like today, and in the first few months of the third month, a large group of sisters and sisters were elected!
Therefore, this "bridge" has aroused many reactions, especially the audience, and the response is even more enthusiastic, because our election is all voted by the audience, so the actress who can be elected to this throne must be deeply loved by the audience!
As a result, of course, the long-awaited Zheng Peipei won the honor of the martial arts actress!
It was no fluke that she got this title, let alone a "horsemaker".
At that time, there were many "fierce people" competing with her, they were Shangguan Lingfeng, Xu Feng, and Qin Ping...... They are all martial arts actresses in their own right, and they are quite appealing, it is not easy to stand out!
Pepe has this ability, because she has a serious work attitude, and she was deeply affected by the audience at that time, so she won "easily"!
Do you think I'm contradictory? It is not easy to say that it is not easy to stand out at one time, but it is easy to win at the same time, don't you beat your mouth?
Actually, both are true. Because Pepe's opponent is indeed strong, and other martial arts actresses are also quite serious about their work attitude, it's just that Pepe is lucky to get the audience and take advantage of it!
After filming "Poison Dragon Pond", my old problem has flareed up again!
My so-called "old problem" is not an old problem, it refers to my inertia as an actor, so when I start the play again, I use Yue Hua and Zheng Peipei again. At that time, I didn't have any martial arts scripts in hand, so I adapted the previous script "Golden Sword League" into "Die Hard"!
In fact, this is a very bold decision, because well, "Golden Sword League" itself has been adapted, and it has only been staged for less than a few years, and I will adapt it again, I'm afraid...... However, at that time, I was a little self-assured, first, I have become a million-dollar director, as long as my name is hung, it is already a guarantee of a good film, and there is also a certain audience...... That's why I took it boldly.
As a result, with the company's "heavy capital", our "hard work" and everyone's "good luck", this film easily exceeded one million again!
Because of this, the company forced me to shoot one after another.
Alas, it's hard for me. During that period, I was so busy that I didn't have time to collect information or read books, and besides, I didn't like to read martial arts novels, so where did I have an endless source of martial arts movie scripts?
Suddenly, I remembered that I had bought several scripts from Ni Kuang for Cathay Pacific when I was at Cathay Pacific, and he had strongly recommended several of them to me, especially one that was very good and had not yet been filmed......
The name of that story is "Red Plum Golden Sword", and I think the word "Red Plum" is unlucky, so I have to change the word "Red Plum" as the title of the film.
I remember that there is a Peking Opera called "Red Plum Pavilion", there was an accident when it was staged, and there is a Cantonese opera called "The Story of the Red Plum in the Reincarnation" is not necessarily good there, it is reported that when a certain old man was singing "The Story of the Red Plum in the Reincarnation", Tang Disheng, who wrote the play, died suddenly in the audience......
Therefore, I renamed the film "Dragon Gate Golden Sword", and it happened that Hu Jinquan's "Dragon Gate Inn" was released at the same time......
At that time, the audience's response to "Dragon Gate Inn" was quite enthusiastic and sold out unprecedentedly. Therefore, some people think that I am happy to see the hunting, and it is easy to "red plum" as "dragon gate", in order to confuse the pearls!
To tell the truth, at that time, the chivalrous sword film, the name of the dragon and the phoenix, and my film was changed to "Dragon Gate Golden Sword", not to follow the trend, but just the result of me and Hu Jinquan!
Alas, whatever?
Anyway, my film is a blockbuster, anyway, the movie I launched is not worried that no one will watch it, I can't even pick up the name of the movie, of course, Hu Jinquan at that time did have his skills, "Dragon Gate Inn" was a success, and he was elected as the grandmaster of martial arts films!
And I, as in the past, worked hard and continued to shoot new films, but a "Five Tigers and Dragons" laid the line of my "breakup" with Zheng Peipei.
Since the name is called "Five Tigers and Dragon Slayer", of course, there are at least five protagonists in the film, one of which is naturally indispensable Yue Hua, in addition, I also brought Gao Yuan, Luo Lie, Zhang Yi, Jin Han, etc. Although they weren't very popular at that time, they were still popular actors, and I didn't treat them lightly, and I was afraid that they would have a dislike for Yue Hua and Pepe...... So, when I started filming this film, I first had a meeting with them and explained that I had to make this film to give people a fair feeling, so that no one would be uncomfortable.
It's about everyone knowing that I have a very personal relationship with Yue Hua and Pepe, and treat them like a deed boy and a deed girl, if I let them take on the heavy role in this film, the other "Four Tigers" must say that I am biased, so Pepe's role is almost like a big supporting role, but of course there is still a chance to play, otherwise, I would not let her participate in this play; And Yue Hua shared the role equally with the other "Four Tigers".
At that time, Yue Hua and Pepe nodded in agreement, saying that they would never mind the number of scenes, as long as they had the opportunity to show their acting skills!
In this way, everything can be done easily, and since they understand that I have good intentions, it will be much easier to start a show in the future!
Who knows, when filming a scene in "Five Tigers", something big and small happened......
The poster of "Dragon Gate Golden Sword".
Break up with Pepeb under the line
The scene is that the "Five Tigers" are studying tricks in the temple to deal with their enemies, and Pepe is temporarily acting as their enemy, so that they can have a mock object......
Since their enemies are good at dancing the knife, and Pepe is a weak woman after all, it is not easy to dance the knife. When she was sweating profusely and tired, she lost her temper and threw her knife on the ground......
There was a bang, and it was the sound of the knife falling to the ground.
The "whole world" is silent, and only you look at me, because Pepe rarely loses his temper so much.
I know that she is not angry with anyone, but annoyed that she is not playing well, I know that she has always worked hard and has very high requirements for herself, so she angrily fell off the knife......
I know her so well, of course I know her, but what about others? Would others think the same way I did?
Except that Yue Hua would also understand her, what would the other four tigers think? Although in the film, the four tigers and Pepe are standing on the same needle and thread to discuss strategies and study moves against the enemy; However, in private, they are not such good deep friends! What if they misunderstood Pepe......
In fact, just by looking at their surprised expressions and unhappy faces, I knew what they thought.
Pepeco didn't notice that she was just there puffing out her cheeks and stepping on her feet......
Seeing this situation, for the sake of the overall situation, I walked up to Pepe and pretended to reproach: "You don't play well yourself, what do you have to do with others?" Who are you throwing tantrums? ”
Her eyes turned red as she watched me, and then she burst into tears, followed by a few sparkling teardrops. Her crooked eyes seemed to ask me, "I'm just angry that I didn't do well, don't you understand?" ”
However, I can't explain what I'm doing, because I don't want the other Four Tigers to say that I spoil her and get used to her, so I tolerate her privately and let her lose her temper.
Therefore, when I asked her to meet that night, I explained to her: "Although, you are a martial arts actress, you have many fans and enough appeal; But, Gao Yuan, Luo Lie, Zhang Yi, and Jin Han are not big stars! People won't accommodate you, and besides, they won't understand that you're throwing a temper when you throw a knife, and if I don't scold you, they'll think I'm unfair and only value 'myself', that's why I say that, and I want you to apologize to them......"
She didn't speak. On the surface, she seems to accept my explanation, but deep down, what does she think? I can't find out this? Perhaps, it was for this suspicion that I laid the line of "breaking up" with her in the future!
Luo Wei and Zheng Peipei Photo source: The author himself
A wave of unevenness has risen again and again
The next day, the "storm" disappeared without a trace, everything seemed to calm down, and we started working as usual, but what about the hundreds of pounds of "explosives" that could explode at any time?
Either way, that incident finally came to an end......
However, during the filming of "Five Tigers", the company suddenly asked me to start shooting a new film called "Red Line No. 7000", which is a James-style fashion film, and it is a big production!
However, which actor should play the leading role in the film?
When I consulted with a group of dignitaries, I proposed two suitable candidates.
Who are they?
I remember saying at the time: "Xie Xian is very suitable for this role, because he has a sense of the times and a chic and uninhibited temperament, and he is the most suitable to play this suave and suave Jamesburg role; It's a pity that he is the star of Cantonese films, and he is so busy. Or that singing Xu Guanjie is also good, he looks quite handsome, I don't know how his acting skills are? ”
However, somehow, my words reached the ears of the four tigers, and Gao Yuan, Luo Lie, and the others were very displeased, and they came to me angrily...... They said, "Aren't we good enough to play that role?" Even if we are not suitable, you can't be guilty of asking for something outward, for a while you want to find someone to shoot Cantonese films, and for a while you think of finding someone to sing, isn't there a suitable one for so many actors up and down the company? ”
Then, they actually added "crimes" to me, saying that I was unfair, saying that when I was filming "Five Tigers", I had always helped Yue Hua and Zheng Peipei, and that I only valued my own team......
After that, they practiced "great revenge"!
One day, it was supposed to start work, and one or two of them had to take a leave of absence.
Leave? It so happened that it was right after this......
Hey, isn't that a boycott in disguise, a silent protest?
Alas, I am so angry, so angry; But I had long expected that I would be misunderstood, so I was mentally prepared before the play. If I wasn't afraid that the four of them would misunderstand me, I wouldn't have deliberately reduced the role of Pepe and Yue Hua, and even blamed Pepe in front of everyone......
In the end, both ends are not pleasing either. This side of the box thinks I snubbed them, but the other side of the car scolds me for favoring my own team...... Alas, the situation ...... Teach me how to clean up?
This time, it's really difficult to be a person left and right!
Since they all misunderstood me, why didn't I explain it to them?
So, I invited them to watch the test film together, so that they could know how much each other's scenes were, and as for whether I was biased, I believe they should know better!
Before watching the film, I said to them, "If you have any opinions, you can keep them and discuss them in the long term after watching them?" ”
As a result, no one raised any objections.
In fact, they didn't blame it at all, and since the beginning of making this film, I have tried to be as fair as possible, and even in order to prevent others from misunderstanding me, I have tried to minimize the performance scenes between Pepe and Yue Hua!
At the time, I didn't think it was overkill.
When this film was staged, the box office was as expected, and everyone was happy because of the money from the play, and the past suspicions seemed to disappear with the passage of time.
In the days after the fight, I opened two films.
In one of the films, I used Ling Yun, and he stopped filming for no reason......
Oh my God! Why do actors always like to twist like that?
Later, I found out that this kid listened to other people's gossip, so he was angry and refused to continue filming.
Grapes that can't be eaten are always sour! Someone couldn't eat the "grapes", so he told him that he could only take over the filming of this film by "holding two stalls", and even more than "two stalls"......
Because, before him, I mentioned Xie Xian and Xu Guanjie, they are both suitable candidates, so others insist on this sentence. The male protagonist of my film originally belonged to those two, not Ling Yun!
It's no wonder that young people, young and vigorous, are so angry that they don't care about the overall situation, but my film is urgent, how can I "sit still", anyway, the drama has only been filmed for a few days......
Therefore, I changed people overnight, and now, I can't ask for extravagance, I called Zhang Chong all night and asked him to help me with this favor, because each other is an old partner, and this film is a big production. Therefore, he agreed.
So, the next day, Zhang Chong replaced Lingyun and restarted filming the "windy and rainy" "Red Line No. 7000".
However, on the other hand, the company asked me to open another film written by Ni Kuang, called "Shadow Whip". Due to the needs of the plot, the film needed to go to Japan to shoot snow scenes, and halfway through the shooting in the factory scene, I began to plan for the company. Because we built a big set in Beigang, Sai Kung, it cost a lot of miles! Although Boss Shao is quite reliant on me and will not care about these with me, it is impossible for me to be "extravagant......
Therefore, after I read another novel by Ni Kuang, "The Ice Heroine", the background is similar to "The Shadow Whip", as long as it is a little more than a degree, it can be used interchangeably. So, I proposed to Boss Shao to open another film, first, so that the gorgeous scenery of the county building could not be wasted, second, the skin fee could be reduced, and moreover, when I went to Japan to shoot snow scenes, I could shoot a few more location scenes for the new film at the same time, anyway, the minimum cost of going to Japan for one drama is no different from the minimum cost of filming two films. Because it's the same staff, it's the same protagonist!
Of course, Boss Shao readily agreed, because I only had to work hard for myself to catch up with two sets of dramas like this, but it was beneficial to the company and not harmful!
Passing the boss's level is definitely not a problem, but in terms of the selection of the protagonist, it is a headache......
Rapids bravely retreated Pepe to marry
The story of "Ice Girl" is quite good, I love it so much! It is my favorite martial arts script since I made martial arts films, and of course I value it!
Therefore, I naturally hope that this movie will be performed by my beloved Pepe, however, at this moment, there is a thunderbolt news that Pepe is going to Feimei to get married!
As the saying goes, men should get married, and women should get married. Pepe wants to get married, which is understandable! However, as an artist, getting married is equivalent to ruining the future, and it is difficult to rebuild, and Pepe was so popular and popular during that time......
Why did she retreat in her brightest moment? Did she want to leave the audience with the best impression possible?
However, it is not easy to go from splendid to dull! Can she let everything go from now on?
Although, I love her, but she is always her, she has her own thoughts, it is impossible for me to influence her, even if she is my daughter, it is impossible for me to stop her, not to mention that she is just my goddaughter!
Alas! If you want to marry, you can get married; However, I also have to shoot a masterpiece to bid farewell to the film industry!
However, she said outside that she would rush to the future husband of the United States Congress, so she would not take over my new film "Chivalrous Girl" (the name of the film deleted the word "ice sky" in front).
I wondered why she was so in such a hurry. Why didn't she give me more time to organize?
She...... She knows my "old problem", she knows that every time I open a new film, I will use a few favorite generals, why did she ...... this time
My sixth sense told me that I had a problem with Pepe, and that it was the same thing about cooperation. But why wasn't she happy to tell me clearly?
What went wrong between us? I don't know, I can only guess!
Could it be that it was for that time that she fell off the knife that I blamed her for a few words? But didn't I explain it to her?
If she's obsessed with that, it's unfair to me!
However, to this day, I still can't figure out why she is reluctant to take over the filming of "Chivalrous Girl", because her wedding date is not too imminent, besides, "Shadow God Whip" and "Chivalrous Girl" were filmed at the same time, even if she does not shoot "Chivalrous Girl", she may not be able to go to United States early, not to mention, she knows that "Chivalrous Girl" is a good film!
Everyone has their own ambitions, and I don't want to force her, maybe, she just wants to prepare for her marriage well, and she doesn't want to make this film, it's just that things are so simple, it's just that I have too much heart and too sensitivity!
Anyway, the friendship between me and Pepe has faded since then......
Later, "Chivalrous Girl" was changed to starring Li Jing. At that time, Li Jing was not idle, she was also an actress, and she was an Asian actress.
So, going to Japan to shoot exterior scenes is not as simple as I imagined, it is a matter of bringing two big-name actresses, if there is a slight difference, but you have to make a "big-headed Buddha......
Because, I know Pepe misunderstood me.
When I found Li Jing to perform "The Heroine", I learned that the reason why there was a dislike between me and Pepe was because someone provoked it, and this person deliberately angered Pepe in the hope of weakening my power.
Since Pepe doesn't understand me, I have nothing to say, I love her so much, take care of her, that everyone misunderstands that I am partial; In the end, alas!
Forget it, I have a clear conscience anyway, whatever? Therefore, I didn't bother to clarify it, and I didn't want to pay attention to it!
Treat everyone equally, so as not to cause extraneous complications
However, both heroines may be wary of me, Pepe has misunderstood that I am not good to her, and Li Jing may think that I will take special care of Pepe...... I'm so troubled by that!
Therefore, before leaving, I deliberately made a series of "proper" arrangements!
I instructed all the staff not to take any of them alone when they went to Japan, and that if they went out on the street, they must go with two. If you take only one of them out, I'm afraid the other will be resentful. In short, treat the two of them equally, so as not to cause extraneous branches!
So, after I went to Japan, I tried to go out as little as possible, I just locked myself in my room and read a book, lest they would say that the director was biased towards one or the other!
Alas! Despite my "deliberate work" this time, many things happened.
While Japan, something interesting happened......
I remember when we first arrived in a rural place, but we couldn't even see the slightest snowflake there!
With nothing to do, we just stayed there and waited for the snow to fall, and it was only for us to come to Japan to shoot the snow scene, but ......
It's really humorous, because when I woke up, I found that the snow in front of the door was almost up to my hips, and the snow nearby looked like a small hill!
We are all very happy, and the heavy staff also call me "Fu Jiang", because I always solve problems in time before they are difficult!
However, it was the evening of the Chinese New Year's Eve, and we could shoot for one day at most, and after that, we would have to take three days off, because in our circle, we do not start work on the first, second, and third days of the new year, and the rest of the days, no matter what the festival, must also work.
However, there can also be a solution, as long as every staff member agrees, we can pay three workers to continue filming; However, usually those who eat this line of food would rather have a holiday than necessarily care about the third or fourth work, so I had to hold a meeting with them on the night of the Chinese New Year's Eve.
I told them that if they were willing to work, I would give them compensatory leave later and invite them to Tokyo for three days for free! They all agreed, because they were very unhappy to spend the New Year in a different place, and they did not understand the language; Besides, in the countryside, there is no entertainment at all!
Later, when the filming was over, Pepe was leaving!
Before leaving, she came to me and said half-goodbye and half-apologized: "Uncle Luo, there are so many things...... Or maybe I'm not okay! I hope you don't take it to heart. ”
Actually, I never minded what she did.
When all the scenes were filmed, a producer suddenly "killed" and urged us to wait for the army to return to Hong Kong. However, I have already promised a group of staff to give them compensatory leave, and they are also covered with food and lodging, how can I break my promise?
But the producer seems to insist on going his own way, saying that it was the boss's order, and that the company does not have such a rule - compensatory leave!
Hey! He even arranged the return trip for us?
I didn't care, and said, "The general is outside, and the monarch's order is disobedient!" "I ignored him, cut first and then played, and traveled to Tokyo for three days before returning to Hong Kong. After returning to Hong Kong, we have a film to set up a celebration banquet, generally speaking, it is paid by the director out of his own pocket, but this time, because half of it is for Pei Pei and half for the celebration, the company "counts"!
That night, the scene was very lively, and many reporters came to visit, and they even asked me if Pepe would attend. I was so baffled, why did they ask me that? Don't......
I said, "She's coming!" ”
However, after I boasted about Haikou, she was nowhere to be found!
It wasn't until nine o'clock that she finally appeared, and the eyes of the reporters at that time were not known how surprised! This time, I let go of the big stone in my heart!
Later, when I toasted one by one, and when I arrived at Pepe, I patted Pepe's shield and said, "Here, I wish you a smooth journey and a happy marriage, and at the same time hope that our friendship will last forever!" ”
She looked at me blankly and said, "Uncle Luo, I ......."
She didn't finish speaking, but she was so excited that she cried, as if there was no "stop", no matter how she comforted her, she couldn't stop her tears!
This pear blossom with rain stood in front of my eyes, which immediately made me a little overwhelmed, and the unanimous gaze of the audience made me even more restless! So, I squeezed her shoulders and said to her in a "powerful" voice, "Don't cry! We can also have opportunities to cooperate in the future. As long as you come back and are willing to film, I will definitely ask you to cooperate, okay? ”
Yes, after a few years, I did work with her again, and it was a great time! The friendship between the two of us "overcomes" the rumors outside!
("Forty Years in the Film Industry" wrote that Zheng Peipei is quite long, I will temporarily excerpt it here, as mentioned in the article, a few years later, my maternal grandfather invited Zheng Peipei back to Hong Kong to film, and also brought back another actor, he is the later generation of superstar Bruce Lee.) ）
About the Author:
Du Hailing.
Writer in Japan He is the author of "Women's Tokyo", "Nothing to Say About Japan", and "I Will Go Alone".
Du Hailing
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Source: Japan-China Communication Official Account
Author: Du Hailing / Modern Pillow Grass Seeds
Editor: Song Miao