User:Inknalu/Zhang Huichong

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Zhang Huichong (1898-1962) was a Cantonese director, actor, sailor, and magician. He was the fifth oldest out of eleven total brothers in his extended family and the eldest brother in his immediate family. His younger brothers Zhang Qingpu and Zhang Huimin also worked in the film industry and founded their own film company called Huaju. Another one of his younger brothers, Zhang Damin, was the ex-husband of the famous actress, Ruan Lingyu. Zhang Huichong is known for helping Ruan Lingyu start her acting career by urging her to audition for films and introducing her to a film producing company.

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Zhang Huichong directed and starred in many films throughout the 1920s. Several years into his acting career, he created his own company called Huichong Film Company. Zhang filmed and starred in several martial arts films while he was running this company; they were some of the first martial arts films seen in China. Over time, martial arts cinema was refined by Zhang Huichong and Zhang Huimin. The two brothers shaped an ideal modern form for the genre. Zhang Huichong has also been credited as one of China's first martial arts film stars.