Chapter 28: The Commencement Ceremony

Securing the male and female leads made everything else flow smoothly. For the role of Ah Jian’s wife, the crew invited Zhou Xiulan from Shaw Brothers. She was also a graduate of the TVB Acting Training Class, making her a junior to Wu Mengda. Though not exceptionally beautiful, she possessed a gentle, delicate charm. Recently, she had gained some fame by playing Shuang’er in Tony Leung’s adaptation of "The Deer and the Cauldron." Her appearance and temperament suited the role of Ah Jian’s wife perfectly.

Through Zhou Xiulan’s recommendation, the part of Inspector Yu was given to her TVB classmate, Liao Qizhi. Liao Qizhi was no ordinary actor. Despite his unremarkable looks—baby-faced with a prominent forehead—his acting was superb. He had been nominated five times for Best Supporting Actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards and won twice. Even during the downturn in Hong Kong cinema, he maintained a steady output of four or five films a year. His portrayals in roles such as Feng Ze in "Detective B+", Huang Yaoxin in "The Witness," the eccentric in "The Informant," Luk Kwan-wa in "SPL," and Uncle Fu had all left lasting impressions. He had even performed a classic live act on the "Charity Gala" show, crossing a high wire between platforms in high heels.

For the role of Ah Ge, originally played by Wu Mengda, they invited the seasoned actor Qin Pei. Born into a family of performers—his father Yan Hua, mother Hong Wei, and stepfather Er Guang were all actors, and his two brothers, Er Dongsheng and Jiang Dawei, were well-known directors and actors—Qin Pei had been on stage since age three, once a famous child star. His memorable performances as Temujin in "The Condor Heroes," Nie Wanlong in "The King Is Winner," and Uncle Dong in "God of Guns" had left deep impressions.

The weather smiled upon them. On the day Yan Xu had chosen for the opening ceremony, the sun shone brightly. Yan Xu deliberately set the location outside the Hong Kong Island Hotel, knowing that such publicity tactics would attract a swarm of reporters.

This film’s launch was far from the low-key affair of the previous one. With ample funding, promotion was expanded. Nearly all Hong Kong media sent reporters, for Yan Xu had been the talk of the town recently.

Especially after Yan Xu had hinted that the film was related to taxi drivers, the media was abuzz with speculation. Shooting a film with such a theme immediately reminded everyone of his recent assault incident. Many outlets outright claimed that Yan Xu intended to reenact the event on screen. By setting the ceremony at the hotel entrance, Yan Xu only fueled their suspicions.

Yan Xu arrived early on set, organizing the crew and overseeing preparations for the ceremony. As both producer and director, many responsibilities required his personal attention.

Once the site was properly arranged, Yan Xu finally had a moment to relax. The actors began to arrive one by one.

"Xu-ge," Vivian Chow called out. She had come early, brimming with excitement for her first film opening ceremony, fluttering about the set like a butterfly. Her beauty attracted every gaze, and the men worked with renewed vigor wherever she passed.

"Xiao Min, why are you here so early?" Only after Yan Xu finished arranging everything did Vivian approach, flashing a sweet smile. Yan Xu’s eyes lit up as he saw her. "When did you have your braces removed? You look so much prettier now."

"Really?" Pleased by his compliment, Vivian beamed and instinctively took Yan Xu’s arm. "Xu-ge, you know, I suddenly brought home five thousand dollars, and my mother was startled. She thought I’d gone astray. I told her I was shooting a film, but she didn’t believe me until I showed her the contract. When she saw my salary—twenty thousand—she was so astonished she was speechless for a long time."

Vivian came from a modest family, which had made her frugal. She often took part-time jobs to help out at home, though those were always minor sums. This time, receiving her advance payment allowed her to prove to her mother she could earn money herself. Her mother’s approval made her truly happy.

Yan Xu hadn’t expected Vivian to boldly link arms with him. His heart raced; the Vivian before him was real, no longer just a poster on his wall.

"This is nothing. Soon, you’ll be a big star, earning hundreds of thousands or millions per film, making tens of millions from a few commercials. By then, if I want you in my film, I’ll have to queue up," Yan Xu joked, inhaling her subtle scent.

"If I really become a star, I’ll turn down everything else and help you for free," Vivian laughed.

"No need for free—just charge me a friendly rate," Yan Xu chuckled.

"Deal, it’s settled," Vivian declared. "Xu-ge, this is my first time at an opening and blessing ceremony. If there’s anything I don’t understand, you have to teach me."

"There’s nothing complicated about it. Just follow everyone else," Yan Xu replied. He wasn’t very familiar with Hong Kong’s opening rituals himself. As he spoke, he noticed Qin Pei arriving and quickly led Vivian over. Before the blessing ceremony, he wanted to make sure he understood it—he dreaded making a mistake in front of so many reporters. "Look, your father’s here. He knows far more than me. If you have questions, ask him directly."

"Brother Qin, you’re early," Yan Xu greeted Qin Pei. They had already met and shared a meal, so were acquainted.

"Early? If we miss the lucky hour, it’s not good," Qin Pei replied with a warm smile. "Is this your girlfriend?" he asked, noticing Yan Xu holding Vivian’s hand.

"I wish! This is the daughter I found for you in this film," Yan Xu said, glancing at Vivian. Her cheeks flushed instantly. "Ah Min, I don’t need to introduce him, do I?"

"Brother Qin Pei, I’m your fan," Vivian said shyly, withdrawing her hand from Yan Xu’s grasp and gazing at Qin Pei with excitement. She was just an ordinary girl; stars like Qin Pei were usually only seen on TV or film.

"Aren’t young girls nowadays all fans of Fat Chai and the others? Even old guys like me have admirers," Qin Pei laughed.

"You’re only forty—how can you be old? You’re at the peak of mature masculinity," Vivian flattered lightly.

"Haha, this daughter’s not bad—sweet-talking," Qin Pei said with satisfaction, seeing potential in her.

"Ah Min, Brother Qin Pei’s accepted you as his daughter. Aren’t you going to satisfy your curiosity?" Yan Xu was pleased with how well they got along. Their scenes together were highlights of the film; seeing them interact, he no longer worried about Vivian finding her footing.

"Brother Qin Pei, I’m a newcomer and don’t know the rituals for the opening ceremony. Please guide me so I don’t embarrass myself," Vivian said quickly.

"No problem, that’s only right," Qin Pei replied. "In Hong Kong, it’s customary to hold a blessing ceremony before shooting starts. The tradition comes from the belief that filming disturbs many spirits; the blessing is to ensure the film begins and ends safely. Of course, it’s mostly psychological comfort." As an industry veteran, Qin Pei explained patiently.

"At the chosen auspicious hour, a bright red table is brought out, laden with fruit offerings. A bronze incense burner sits at the center, and behind it, a fragrant roast suckling pig—a must for the ceremony," Qin Pei emphasized. "The lucky hour cannot be changed; whether everyone is present or not, the ceremony must begin."

"The crew lines up before the table, usually with the film company boss, producer, director, and lead actors at the front. Each holds incense, already lit and prepared. At the master of ceremonies’ cue, everyone bows and pays respect, then takes turns offering incense. Afterward, the boss, producer, director, and leads cut the roast pig behind the burner. Not only the crew, but reporters present also get a share; according to unwritten custom, each reporter receives a red packet, and firecrackers are set off. If conditions allow, there will be a lion dance—the director dots the lion’s eyes, then it climbs to the high platform to pluck greens, symbolizing a flourishing film and soaring box office..."