After returning to Hong Kong, Lin BaoCheng did not immediately go to Hutchison Whampoa the next day. Instead, he first visited Starshine Pictures and contacted someone.
"Mr. Lin, you're back in Hong Kong!"
Wu SiYuan was surprised to see Lin, as he hadn't known Lin had returned from America.
"Yes, I just came back yesterday," Lin nodded. He hadn't informed the local company heads of his return.
"Give me a general update on how the company has developed over the past two months."
As Lin and Wu walked toward the office, they greeted Huang BaiMing along the way.
"Alright," Wu began once they were inside. "The company is currently filming a movie starring Jackie Chan, tentatively titled Snake in the Eagle's Shadow. I had wanted to shoot it months ago, but postponed after you recruited me."
"It's a kung fu martial arts film, but unlike Bruce Lee's movies, this one adds comedy elements. Real kung fu combined with humorous action choreography will highlight Jackie's agility. He isn't Bruce Lee — if we tried to imitate Bruce completely, I fear audiences wouldn't accept it."
"The director is Tsang ChiWei, signed to our company. I also brought in Yuen WooPing as assistant director. His skill in action choreography is excellent, and he can support Tsang in making the film."
"Filming has been underway for some time. It should finish in a few days. We're shooting at Asia Television's facilities."
"For now, this is the only film the company is producing. But Huang BaiMing is writing a script, so more projects will follow."
Lin hadn't seen Snake in the Eagle's Shadow, but he knew of it. Along with Drunken Master, it was Jackie Chan's breakout film.
Wu continued: "Among our partner companies, Hui's Film Company is shooting Contract Lover, written, directed, and starring the Hui brothers. It's about halfway done."
Lin didn't recall this film. He remembered The Private Eyes, but that had already been released in 1976.
"Michael Mak and Karl Maka founded Cinema City. They're filming a comedy called The Dead and the Deadly. Mak and Karl are starring, with Sammo Hung also in the cast. Mak himself is producer and director. Filming is still ongoing."
"Lastly, Sammo Hung and his group established the Seven Little Fortunes Film Company. They're shooting two films simultaneously: Enter the Fat Dragon and The Victim. Both are directed and acted by their own people."
All films were still in production. That was inevitable — most had started around the same time, and setting up companies had taken effort. None were finished yet.
Of the three partner companies, Seven Little Fortunes could shoot two films at once not because Hung and his peers were wealthier, but because they allowed Starshine Pictures to hold 51% of shares, leaving themselves less.
Two months earlier, Hung had decided to leave Golden Harvest with his disciples and form Seven Little Fortunes, partnering with Starshine. They agreed to give Starshine majority ownership for stronger support.
Hung and his group invested no money. In exchange, they signed five‑year contracts with the new company, securing HK$3 million from Starshine. This valued the company at nearly HK$6 million — high for a firm with no assets.
Lin had offered this generous valuation because he valued Hung and his team. Wu would have given only HK$1–2 million for five‑year contracts.
With HK$3 million, after buying equipment and props, enough remained to fund several films. Shooting two at once was no problem.
At that time, Hong Kong films typically cost HK$200,000–500,000 to make. Even the most expensive rarely exceeded HK$500,000.
Box office champions hadn't surpassed HK$10 million. Most films grossed HK$3–4 million. If costs were too high, studios couldn't profit.
Lin said: "Other than Seven Little Fortunes, don't interfere with the other two companies. Let them shoot as they wish. Just monitor finances."
"I've been doing that," Wu nodded. Lin had already instructed this over the phone.
Lin asked: "Any reaction from Golden Harvest or Shaw Brothers?"
"Shaw's boss, Run Run Shaw, is planning to withdraw from the film industry. Shaw Brothers has been reducing output, so no reaction there."
"As for Golden Harvest, they've raised employee benefits, offered better terms to partners, and shortened payment cycles for box office revenue. They're also copying us — investing in other filmmakers and companies to deepen cooperation."
"Our competition with Golden Harvest hasn't truly begun. None of our films have been released yet," Lin said. But with many of Golden Harvest's talents poached and Asia Television under his control, he wasn't worried about losing.
"Mr. Lin, Ms. Brigitte Lin has arrived," Qin Lan announced, knocking on the door.
"Let's stop here for today," Lin said to Wu, rising.
He had already known in Los Angeles that Brigitte Lin had come to Hong Kong. She had contacted him through Teresa Teng, expressing interest in developing her career there. With office software completed, Lin had hurried back.
In the outer office, Lin saw Brigitte Lin, whom he hadn't met in some time. She had come alone — Teresa Teng was in Japan, busy with her singing career.