Hong Kong comedy king Stephen Chow, who served as director, producer, screenwriter, and actor in the film “The Mermaid,” saw its total box office surpassing 3.3 billion yuan after its release during the Chinese New Year period in 2016.
Rumors have it that during the production, there was a fallout between Chow and one of the investors, Huayi Brothers, leading to a situation where the production funds ran out and the film faced the possibility of being halted. Fortunately, a wealthy benefactor stepped in to help, but the condition was that he had to be given a role in the movie.
For those who have seen “The Mermaid,” they would remember a character named “Zheng Zong,” who often taunted the character “Liu Xuan” played by Deng Chao, a reckless billionaire who buys a jetpack company. This incident becomes a key turning point in the film’s climax.
It is rumored that Zheng Jifeng, who played “Zheng Zong,” delivered a stunning performance, showing no signs of being a newcomer. A big fan of Chow, when he learned that “The Mermaid” was facing a production halt due to insufficient funds, he boldly declared to Chow when approached for investment, “Money is not a problem, but I need a role in the movie.”
Chow thought he was joking, as Zheng Jifeng was a successful businessman who wouldn’t have time for acting. Chow agreed with a laugh. But after Zheng Jifeng provided the funds, he visited the set one day and asked Chow, “What role did you arrange for me?”
Chow was stunned, realizing the boss was serious, but the roles in the film had already been cast. So, Chow had a quick idea and added lines overnight, customizing the role of “Zheng Zong” specifically for Zheng Jifeng. And thus, the billionaire “Zheng Zong,” carrying a flying machine, made his appearance.
Though the role was brief, it played a crucial role in the plot’s development. The film turned out to be a big hit, becoming China’s first movie to surpass 3 billion yuan at the box office. And Zheng Jifeng, as an investor, made a fortune from it.
Some netizens commented, “Stephen Chow is truly talented. By having Zheng Jifeng play a billionaire, he didn’t need to study for the role; he just performed naturally.” Zheng Jifeng was very satisfied with the role, satisfying his acting itch.