Chapter 227: Lin Chi-ling

Capet Pictures and Dawn Investments held an exclusive distribution deal ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong, with at least a hundred media outlets in attendance.

The release was straightforward. After the signing, Charles would accept interviews from the onsite media, with the host being the recently popular beauty, Lin Chi-ling.

Standing at 1.74 meters tall with a 34C figure and exquisite makeup, she indeed looked beautiful. 

Topics ranged from Sino-American co-productions, Hollywood's Chinese stars, to Jackie Chan's film series Rush Hour 3 and the Edward Norton and Naomi Watts film The Painted Veil, all of which were co-productions.

Chinese stars participating in Hollywood films was also a big topic. Even Chow Yun-fat appeared in Hollywood with a minor role in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End this year.

Then there were remakes. Capet Pictures had bought the script of Infernal Affairs for the American remake The Departed, which was releasing this month. Sony's remake The Grudge 2, starring Edison Chen, was also set to release this year.

Last year, when Tom Cruise came to China to shoot Mission: Impossible III, he bought the script of the Chinese horror film The Eye for a remake.

The successful remakes of The Ring and The Grudge in America had given Hollywood a new appreciation for Asian horror films, even making Tom Cruise keen to buy scripts for remakes.

Host Lin Chi-ling asked, "Mr. Capet, do you have any Chinese actors you particularly want to collaborate with or admire?"

"Actors I want to work with? Definitely, like Andy Lau, whom I met at Cannes and who starred in Infernal Affairs. I would love to collaborate with him and think highly of him. Moreover, I most want to collaborate with Stephen Chow. His Kung Fu Hustle was truly outstanding. I've watched many of his works and believe he is a cinematic genius!"

At this moment, a female reporter stood up and asked, "Mr. Capet, you've mentioned many male Chinese actors, but we also have many excellent female Chinese actors. Besides Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi, do you know of any other Chinese actresses?"

"Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Cheung...," Charles chatted with the reporters for three hours before ending.

That evening, Charles specifically invited the daytime hostess Lin Chi-ling to be his partner at the cocktail party hosted by Hong Kong filmmakers.

Dressed in a strapless, off-shoulder dress, Lin Chi-ling held Charles' arm as they entered the venue, glancing inadvertently at the young tycoon beside her.

At 32 years old, Lin Chi-ling was still confident in her figure and appearance.

...

In a bedroom at the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong, Charles was holding Lin Chi-ling, looking very satisfied.

"Are you going to Beijing today?" Lin Chi-ling had followed Charles to a party last night and then spent the night with him at the hotel.

A night of interaction seemed to bring their relationship closer.

"Yeah, the company still has a lot to do in China," Charles replied, holding the lady and reminiscing about the wonderful night while feeling her 34C chest.

"By the way, you speak Japanese, right?"

Lin Chi-ling nodded, "I can speak Japanese as fluently. What's up?"

"I might need to go to Japan. If you have time, would you go with me?" Charles was thinking about having another interpreter.

"Sure, lately I've been mainly shooting commercials and hosting shows!" Lin Chi-ling was certainly willing.

"Getting ready to enter the film industry?"

Lin Chi-ling nodded, "I have the idea, but I haven't had the opportunity yet!"

"Don't worry, there will be opportunities," Charles said, kissing her again, and the lady responded passionately in his arms.

"Wow, is Capet Pictures planning to invest in Chinese-language films?" Lin Chi-ling hadn't thought about going to Hollywood yet, but with Charles Capet's status, she figured there would be opportunities in the future.

"The market in China is still too small. This time I'm just going to check things out!"

The film industry falls under the cultural sector. Foreign capital can participate in film production and talent management, but cannot hold more than 49% of shares, requiring local partnerships, similar to theaters.

However, foreign investors are not allowed to participate in theater lines and distribution. Even Hong Kong capital can currently only conduct pilot distribution.

Capet International Cinema Company was specifically registered in Hong Kong to convert to Hong Kong capital before entering China for cooperation with local theater companies. Hong Kong capital has fewer restrictions compared to U.S. capital.

After all, even Hong Kong films weren't classified as imports until policies changed after the millennium.

"Oh, I'm usually in Taipei. Will you still look for me later?" Lin Chi-ling asked somewhat guilty.

Charles smiled, "Of course, you're so beautiful and have such a good figure!"

...

In the afternoon, Charles left Hong Kong with Phyllis Jones and flew to Beijing.

As for Dona Williams, she and Lily Ying had gone to Shanghai two days earlier. Charles wasn't just building theaters with his 1 billion RMB.

Maotai's stock price back then was under 50 RMB per share, with a total market value of about 62 billion RMB. In the future, it would exceed 2000 RMB per share and be valued at over 2 trillion RMB.

Lily Ying and Dona Williams went to buy Maotai shares for Charles, spending the entire 500 million RMB on it.

*****

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