Chapter 54: A Horror Film Led by Women

"Xiao Xu, I see that not only are you in the same trade, but you’re a true master," Wang Jing remarked, clicking his tongue in admiration after listening to Yan Xu’s sweeping discourse. "You’ve practically covered every type of woman there is."

"I’m flattered, truly," Yan Xu replied with a smile.

"Flattered? I think you and Fatty Wang are cut from the same cloth," Nan Yan interjected. "Fatty Wang, Xiao Xu’s classification of beauties can certainly rival your appreciation of them."

"Appreciation of beauties?" Yan Xu looked at Wang Jing. At this time, Wang Jing was still just a minor director at Shaw’s Studio, and after leaving he’d even gone through a period of obscurity, only to become famous again with his ‘Chasing Girls’ series. Since then, he’d always been surrounded by beautiful women, and his films could never do without their alluring presence.

"Ahem!" Wang Jing cleared his throat. "When it comes to appreciating beauties, the first thing to look at is the eyes. A beauty must have bright, charming eyes—the kind that sparkle, captivate, and ensnare the soul. The eyes are the windows to the soul, and a woman’s temperament is instantly revealed in her gaze. Next is the face—this is what a man will notice first. The harmony of features, the cleanliness of her look, her makeup—these are all crucial. Third is the skin—there’s a saying, ‘fair skin covers a hundred flaws.’ A beauty’s fair, smooth skin is essential. Of course, these days many women pursue a healthy bronze glow, but no matter the color, rough skin ruins all sense of beauty."

"Then, of course, there’s the figure. A beauty’s figure is of utmost importance: full bosom, slim waist, rounded hips—the perfect S-curve is ideal. One must also look at the hands and feet. There’s a saying: ‘slender jade hands and legs like fine jade’—hands and feet should be delicate, their lines graceful. According to research from experts at home and abroad, hands and feet are the most sexually suggestive parts of the body, especially for men. A woman’s hands and feet are her most seductive, most lethal weapons."

"And finally, emotional intelligence. If a beautiful woman is empty-headed, she’ll never truly captivate a man. A beauty doesn’t have to be a genius, but she must know how to comport herself in different situations."

"After hearing your brilliant discourse, I must admit my own inferiority," Yan Xu said mischievously, making a respectful gesture.

"Not at all, not at all!" Wang Jing stepped back, hands extended and trembling, his face turned slightly, his head bowed, performing a classic operatic gesture of polite refusal.

The two exchanged a hearty laugh, as if they were long-lost brothers ready to solidify their bond over a ritual sacrifice.

"To outsiders, it might seem lecherous to focus so intently on women," Wang Jing continued, his eyes scanning the crowd for beauties, "but they don’t realize we’re appreciating them through an artistic lens. In our profession, as directors, we must be adept at capturing beauty."

"You’re absolutely right. It’s only because they have impure thoughts themselves that they project that filth onto others," Yan Xu nodded.

Though it was winter, Hong Kong’s weather was hardly cold—just a touch of chill that could never dampen a woman’s passion for beauty. Miniskirts and high-slit cheongsams left lovely, pale legs on full display, and these, too, became the focus of Yan Xu’s steady gaze.

"A beauty’s role in film is enormous," Wang Jing continued. "Regardless of her acting, at the very least she gives the audience something delightful to look at. That’s what cinema is for: to appreciate beautiful images."

His words were certainly reflected in his later films, where beauties were never in short supply—in fact, the further his career went, the more alluring and numerous his leading ladies became.

"Some beauties can play the ‘vase’ role, mere decoration," Yan Xu added, "but I still believe acting is crucial. Her looks may attract the audience, but skilled acting and a strong story can make them forget her appearance altogether." Yan Xu enjoyed the decorative beauties in film, but felt they were even better with some acting chops.

"A film with beauties is always more eye-catching; their acting is secondary," Wang Jing insisted.

"I see beauties as a way to draw the audience in, but what truly boosts the box office is the story and the actors’ performances," Yan Xu remarked, taking a bite of cake.

"In truth, as long as an actress’s performance is passable, a good male lead and a solid, inventive story will guarantee box office success."

"For example, in a horror film, what the audience enjoys is seeing a beauty’s panicked reactions—everyone wants to see how a beautiful woman loses her composure. No matter how terrifying the situation, the most memorable thing is still her beauty."

"In any film, beauties are ultimately supporting characters. Even with superb acting, a beauty alone can’t carry an entire film." In fact, this wasn’t just Wang Jing’s opinion; most Hong Kong films at the time rarely had female leads at the center. Even when they did, the box office results were usually disappointing.

"That’s not necessarily true. Isn’t there a growing movement for women’s rights everywhere? Sooner or later, there will be films carried entirely by women, maybe even with no male lead at all." Yan Xu spoke from experience, knowing that in the future, a slew of female-led films would emerge and achieve great box office success—like the Tomb Raider series or Charlie’s Angels.

Yan Xu and Wang Jing grew so engrossed in their debate that they stopped even glancing at the beauties passing by, their conversation shifting from mere appreciation of women to the question of female leads in cinema.

"Sooner or later, perhaps—but who knows how long that will take? Right now, the audience isn’t ready to accept a film led solely by women," Wang Jing said. His opinion wasn’t lacking in foresight, but was bound by the limitations of the era.

"Not necessarily—the audience’s reluctance is only due to poor storytelling. If there’s a good script and a capable lead actress, the audience will absolutely embrace it."

"Well, I’m not optimistic. Making such a film is thankless work—it could flop so badly you’d lose your shirt," Wang Jing replied, clearly doubtful.

"I’d actually like to try making such a film—a small production to test the market," Yan Xu mused. He’d been considering his next project, and a female-led film was an appealing prospect, especially since he had plenty of such stories in his mind.

"No wonder you’re so well-off! Only you could casually talk about making a small film just to test the market." Wang Jing clicked his tongue in amazement. Yan Xu's first two films had brought in nearly ten million; few could afford to be so lavish.

"Still, let me give you a word of advice. Your reputation now is solid gold—don’t risk squandering it so lightly," Wang Jing cautioned. Given Yan Xu’s current status, he had to be especially prudent with his film choices.

"It’s fine. I wouldn’t consider it unless I was fully confident. In fact, I already have a complete idea in mind—I’m planning a horror film with no male lead, carried entirely by a stunning woman," Yan Xu replied with quiet confidence, smiling at Wang Jing’s concern. In his mind, an entire film had already taken shape, one that would address issues at the heart of Hong Kong society.

PS: The new film will feature rising housing prices and a female lead; fans of bloody horror should easily guess what it is. A word of advice—be sure to watch the uncut Cantonese version if you can, and if there’s a European cut, that’s even better, as it’s less censored.