At this time, Donnie Yen was just a young boy, unaware of the tough guy persona he would eventually embody. The previous year, he had traveled to Hong Kong Island to star in Laughing Tai Chi, directed by Yuan Heping, where he attempted to imitate Jackie Chan's humorous style. Unfortunately, the effort fell flat, leading to disappointing results.
Soon after, he appeared in a youth dance film titled Love in Rivals, which also failed to resonate with audiences.
(Interestingly, Donnie Yen's comedic encounters with his adversaries have become a notable part of his history. Those curious can explore this further.)
Yuan Heping was momentarily taken aback; he hadn't expected Sean to be familiar with Donnie Yen. However, considering Donnie Yen's upbringing in the United States and his dual championships in both weapons and boxing at the National Martial Arts Competition, it wasn't entirely surprising. Sean, a foreigner fluent in Mandarin, might have simply watched his films.
Yuan Heping engaged Sean in conversation, intrigued by how an American had come to know of him.
"I've seen your films, Lao Yuan," Sean replied with a smile. "Snake-shaped Hand, Drunken Master, and Fearless—I'm also familiar with Jackie Chan and Hong Jinbao. If the opportunity arises, I'd love to invite Jackie Chan to collaborate on a project here."
Sean and Yuan Heping briefly discussed the purpose of Sean's invitation. They hoped he would serve as the martial arts instructor for an upcoming film, infusing it with authentic fighting styles to elevate its quality.
After their conversation, Sean prepared to introduce Yuan Heping to director John's team. Before departing, Sean leaned in and advised, "This is America, Hollywood. The traditional Chinese approach of 'speaking softly and acting quickly' doesn't have much traction here. Don't be overly polite; it may lead Hollywood folks to underestimate you. If necessary, I'll have them call you 'Ba Ye.'"
"Thank you, thank you, Mr. Wang," Yuan Heping replied, momentarily stunned but genuinely grateful.
Despite having arrived in Hollywood less than a day prior, Yuan Heping already sensed the condescension in the attitudes of some locals. Feeling inferior would be a generous description; he felt marginalized. Hearing a foreigner express such high regard for him was uplifting, and he appreciated Sean's recognition of Chinese culture, evident in his fluent Mandarin and references. This made Yuan Heping feel excited and honored.
At that time, Yuan Jiaban had already made a name for itself in Hong Kong and Taiwan. In 1978, he had rented Jackie Chan for 60,000 yuan over three months, directing Serpentine Hands and Drunken Master back-to-back. This success ignited a new wave of Kung Fu films in Southeast Asia and transformed Jackie Chan from an actor in poorly received films into a Kung Fu superstar.
In the following years, Yuan Heping collaborated with Hong Jinbao, Yuen Biao, and Liang Jiaren to produce films like Drunken Fist of the North and South, Buddha's Arhat Fist, and Huo Yuanjia, solidifying his status within the Hong Kong, Taiwan, and broader Asian film circles.
Usually, Sean wouldn't negotiate a price for his invitation. However, with Yuan Jiaban specifically seeking Yuan Heping in Hollywood, he recognized the opportunity to expand their market presence and was eager to see how a filmmaker like Yuan Heping would adapt to Hollywood.
Unfortunately, Yuan Heping faced disdain in Hollywood. While no one explicitly expressed it, the underlying gap in respect was palpable.
Moved by Sean's supportive attitude, Yuan Heping felt a surge of gratitude and was determined to create compelling fight scenes for Sean, eager to earn his respect.
After leaving the office, Sean found John's director team. He personally introduced Yuan Heping, saying, "This is Heping Yuan, whom I specifically invited from Hong Kong Island. You can call him 'Ba Ye.' He's an expert in Chinese Kung Fu and an exceptional action director. I hope you all enjoy a fruitful collaboration."
With Sean, a significant figure, presenting Yuan Heping, the entire shooting team—from director John to the crew—felt compelled to regard him with respect, especially the actors.
Whether Yuan Heping could win over the arrogant Hollywood crowd remained to be seen.
After addressing Yuan Heping's introduction, Sean headed to the brokerage department. He hadn't monitored the agency closely since the merger and wanted to tackle any lingering issues left by the former owner.
...
In the office, Sean had numerous brokerage contracts laid out before him, while Norris and three brokers stood nearby.
"I spoke with Bruce Willis today, and he agreed to join our company," Norris reported. "However, his current agent is with a small agency, and I'm considering paying his liquidated damages to bring him on board."
"Why?" Sean asked.
"I told Bruce that our company was prepared to invest significantly in him, offering extensive training and resources to produce films tailored to his talents. However, I also explained that for the company to invest effectively, he would need to sign a brokerage contract with us. It's crucial that he understands the commitment required; we can't invest in him only for him to leave for another agency later. If we can't secure a ten-year contract, I'm aiming for at least eight years, and we can set the liquidated damages quite high."
Norris's strategy was straightforward, albeit somewhat blunt. "The more familiar the routine, the easier it is to execute. Even someone like Bruce isn't immune to a well-structured offer."
"Okay, you handle it," Sean replied. "I'm not worried about spending money, but he needs to sign with us. Even if the movie doesn't turn out great, our focus will be on creating opportunities for Bruce. It's essential that we don't let this chance slip away, especially since he's likely to grow in popularity."
Sean was determined; he had no intention of allowing such a valuable opportunity to pass by, particularly with Bruce's potential.
"Let's also discuss the artists under your management. Many of them are struggling with substance abuse," Sean remarked, glancing at the remaining brokers.
"Most of them have experimented with drugs. If we're being honest, around twelve are already addicted," one of the agents admitted.
"Terminate their brokerage contracts," Sean instructed firmly. "We can't support anyone who is deeply entrenched in drugs. Even the gang members associated with Jonas are strictly against it; we need to hold ourselves to that standard."
"It's not that I'm being heartless," he continued. "It's just that they've become too far gone."
Norris suggested, "You could sell their contracts to other agencies and recover some funds."
Sean shook his head. "I won't profit off their misfortunes. Just return their brokerage contracts and let them fend for themselves."
With that decision made, Sean felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He was committed to building a reputable agency that valued talent and integrity, ensuring they did not compromise their standards, no matter the financial incentives.