Chapter 862 Keanu Reeves

After finishing up the company's affairs, Gu Wei flew from Beijing to France to start his journey of filming "John Wick 4".

In fact, the crew started filming earlier, but the first thing they shot was Keanu Reeves' personal scenes.

For example, the scene at the beginning of the movie where John Wick chases The Elder in the desert and kills him was shot in the Wadi Rum Desert in Jordan.

This kind of scene had nothing to do with Gu Wei, so he naturally didn't need to go there.

"Boss, how long will this shoot take?"

"It will take more than two months."

"That means we'll be spending the New Year in France, but that's not bad either. I think we can watch the Spring Festival Gala in Paris, right?"

Gu Wei glanced at Yang Chaoyue, who had been chattering since getting on the plane.

“It’s watchable, but the two months I mentioned is the time it takes for the crew to wrap up filming.

You don’t have that many scenes, and you can finish filming in more than half a month.

This is because we can’t concentrate on filming your off-screen scenes, otherwise it would only take a few days.

You have plenty of time to go back to China to celebrate the Spring Festival and watch the Spring Festival Gala."

Gu Wei brought Yang Chaoyue with him on this trip.

The other party plays his sister in the movie, a tool-like role. She doesn't have many scenes, and the shots she does appear in are a bit fragmented.

"Hey, I'm not in a hurry. I finally have the opportunity to make a blockbuster movie. I can stay on the crew for a while and learn from you, boss."

"Didn't the company arrange any work for you during the Spring Festival?"

Yang Chaoyue shook his head: "No, Mr. Yang said that the most important thing for me now is to make this movie well with the boss.

Everything else can be put aside.

I thought this would be a good opportunity to take a break. I heard our show is shot all over the world, so I can treat it as a trip."

After saying this, she tilted her head back slightly, as if she was imagining this pleasant journey.

Gu Wei looked at Yang Chaoyue and nodded slightly. He had no objection to the other party's lazy behavior.

"Did Yang Liwen tell you that you'll have another movie with the same role?"

"I mentioned it before, saying we should shoot it together, but I didn't get the script, so I'm a little confused."

Gu Wei thought for a moment and explained to her, "The play hasn't started preparations yet, and the script was just completed not long ago. It's normal that you haven't got it.

Simply put, we will use the character settings from "John Wick 4" and make a new movie separately.

It’s just a whole new story.”

Yang Chaoyue's eyes turned: "Am I the heroine in that new movie?"

Gu Wei smiled and said, "I guess so. Have you seen Taken? The plot is similar to that one."

He pointed at himself and then at Yang Chaoyue: "Brother, rescue your kidnapped sister."

"Understood!

Isn’t that the same as the plot in our movie, where I was also kidnapped.”

“Of course it’s different.

The main plot of this movie is the conflict between John Wick and the High Table, and the storyline of "Lin Wei" played by me will eventually be incorporated into the main plot.

Your role is even lighter, basically just to explain why "Lin Wei" started to obey the villain's orders and fight John Wick.

The new movie is entirely about the two of us.

Your kidnapping and my rescue of you are the main plot."

Yang Chaoyue nodded: "I understand. Anyway, I am going to be kidnapped no matter what. It feels pretty miserable!"

Gu Wei was also amused by her.

"Don't think too far ahead. How are you preparing for the scene we're about to shoot?"

Yang Chaoyue patted his chest confidently and said, "Don't worry, Boss, there will be no problem!

After I got the script, I kept studying the role, memorizing the lines, and even found a professional acting teacher.

You won’t be disappointed when you start filming! "

"Haha, then I'll see how you perform~"

The flight distance from Beijing to Paris is about 8,500 kilometers, and a direct flight takes about 10 hours.

When he first boarded the plane, Yang Chaoyue was full of energy and kept chatting with Gu Wei.

After a while, she felt a little bored and tired. After saying hello, she went to the bedroom at the tail of the plane to sleep.

There is a 7-hour time difference between Beijing and Paris. Gu Wei and his crew took off during the day and landed in Paris after flying for more than 10 hours when it was still bright.

After arriving in Paris and joining the crew of "John Wick 4", Gu Wei first met with the producer from Lionsgate and the director of the film, and then met with the real centerpiece of this film series - Keanu Reeves.

This person can be said to be a legendary Hollywood star. The movie "The Matrix" he starred in was popular all over the world, and the name of the savior "Neo" is known to everyone.

Although they didn't know each other before, Gu Wei has always had a certain liking for Keanu Reeves.

As far as he knows, Keanu Reeves is a very generous person who values ​​friends very much.

When filming the first "The Matrix" film, Keanu only took 10 million US dollars and a 10% share before its release due to uncertain box office prospects. As a result, the film's global box office of 463 million made him a profit of 56 million.

In the subsequent two sequel contracts, his share increased to 15%, with a total income of 175 million.

But he believed that the creative staff played the greatest role in the success of a film, so he distributed a large part of the salary to the costume and special effects departments, making many people become millionaires overnight.

During the filming of "The Matrix", Keanu Reeves became very good friends with Chen Hu, a martial arts instructor from the Yuen Clan.

Later, in order to support Chen Hu, he even personally directed a movie "Hero of Tai Chi", in which he let Chen Hu play the protagonist and himself played the villain.

It’s a pity that Keanu Reeves is a good actor but not a good director.

"Hello, Keanu, it's great to be working with you!"

The two met, shook hands and exchanged a few words.

Keanu Reeves was also very polite to Gu Wei.

“Gu, I’ve heard your songs.

Although there aren’t many, every song is a classic and very nice to listen to! ”

"Which one is your favorite?"

“The melody of Dance Monkey is so pleasant that you can’t help but dance along; the rhythm of Natural is strong and powerful.

But my favorite is [Sold Out].

I feel like there's something sacred in the melody of this song, and it inspires people like a war song!"

Keanu Reeves has a full beard and looks a little old at the age of 58, but he is in good spirits and has a very kind smile.

The atmosphere of their first meeting was very friendly and they had a great conversation.

Keanu Reeves said he liked Gu Wei's music, and Gu Wei said he used to particularly like watching his "The Matrix".

The Lionsgate producers were also relieved to see this scene.

The "John Wick" series has reached its fourth installment, and Keanu Reeves can be said to be the absolute central figure of the film.

Just like Robert Downey Jr. is to Iron Man, Johnny Depp is to Captain Jack Sparrow.

Gu Wei is their chosen partner and the key figure in pushing the fourth part of the series to another level.

If the two people don't get along, it will be a nightmare for the filming of the movie.

But now it seems that the first meeting between the two was quite harmonious, and there was a sense of mutual appreciation between them.

I just hope that the two protagonists can maintain this relationship in subsequent filming.

There was no filming on the first day of joining the crew. After getting to know people from all walks of life, Gu Wei and his group returned to the hotel to settle down.

"Boss, are you a fan of Keanu Reeves?"

Yang Chaoyue asked curiously.

"Why do you feel that way?"

"I rarely see you this enthusiastic towards a male celebrity I just met. I wouldn't be surprised if you were this kind of attitude towards a popular Hollywood actress."

After hearing this, Gu Wei slapped Yang Chaoyue on the head in annoyance.

"What do you think about in your little head every day?

Is this how I look to you?"

Yang Chaoyue covered his head and muttered quietly: "I've been your assistant for two years, don't I know what you're like?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Ah, no, boss, you must have your reasons for liking Keanu Reeves!" Yang Chaoyue said innocently, blinking his big eyes.

Gu Wei nodded.

"I have a really good impression of him, partly because of Neo in The Matrix, and partly because of him."

“Himself?

Is there anything different about him?

I heard that Hollywood stars have very messy private lives, much more complicated than the domestic entertainment industry."

Gu Wei smiled and said, “You’re right, but Keanu Reeves is a little different.

When he is not filming, he lives a life almost like an ordinary person, often wandering aimlessly on the streets alone, dressed casually and unkempt, with no bodyguards or staff around him.

At one point he was even seen sitting on the street chatting and drinking with beggars.

So people nicknamed him the 'Hollywood Wanderer.'"

"A top Hollywood star like him would be like this, isn't it just his character setting?"

As a beneficiary of the "koi" persona, Yang Chaoyue has a deep understanding of how celebrities build their own personas.

Gu Wei shook his head: "Probably not.

He is well-known in Hollywood for his eccentricity.

This kind of personality most likely stems from his tragic life experience.

Keanu Reeves' life experience is no secret. He was born in a troubled family, and the shadow of his childhood made him value his family and friends very much.

As a result, when he was in his early 20s, his best friend died from drugs.

He was devastated.

When he was in his 30s, he and his girlfriend had a daughter, but the child died at birth.

This was not tragic enough. The following year, his girlfriend also died in a car accident, and Keanu Reeves personally carried the coffin at the funeral.

Not long after, his sister was diagnosed with leukemia, and he donated a large sum of money to several hospitals specializing in leukemia."

After hearing what Gu Wei said, Yang Chaoyue frowned.

"I felt like I was unlucky enough growing up with a poor family, but I never imagined that a big star like him could have such a miserable experience!

Now that I think about it, at least my parents are still alive and in good health.

Since I joined the company a few years ago, I have been earning more and my family's conditions have been getting better and better.

So I’m much luckier than him.”

"That's why you should cherish your current life more, work hard on filming, and let your family live a better life," Gu Wei said with a smile.

Filming "John Wick 4" was Gu Wei's first time working with a Hollywood team. He was a little uncomfortable at the beginning, but he completely got into the groove after a few days.

There isn't much literary drama in this movie, and the story is very simple, with the highlights basically focused on the fighting and killing.

Most of the scenes shot by the crew every day are fights and gun battles, and Gu Wei, who has a strong physical fitness, is particularly good at this.

When he was filming "Operation Mekong" a few years ago, he was already familiar with various firearms, and action scenes were the first field that Gu Wei came into contact with. He had very exciting fighting performances in his first film "The Sword of the Assassin".

Although the fighting in "John Wick" is not of the same style as that in "Blade of the Assassin", it does not affect Gu Wei's performance. His skills are shown neatly and efficiently in the camera, with a unique rhythm that makes people think that this person must be a master at first glance.

"Click! Very good, passed!"

Inside the venue, the director's voice came from the loudspeaker, and the actors who had fallen to the ground got up one after another.

"Sorry, are you okay?"

Gu Wei also stood up and extended his hand to Keanu Reeves.

The other person was lying on the ground, and the hand holding him was pulled up.

The two of them just filmed the scene where "Lin Wei" meets "John Wick" for the first time and fights with him.

Lin Wei killed everyone in John Wick's home turf and knocked down the opponent after a series of battles. At this time, a third-party killer appeared and he let John Wick go.

“Your action scenes are really beautiful, with a smooth and flowing feeling.

Do you really know Kung Fu?"

Keanu Reeves stood up, brushed the dirt off his body and asked curiously.

“I don’t know Kung Fu, but the action scenes look good because I practiced well in previous filmings.

The first movie I made in my life was a martial arts film. I got up early every day to practice weapons and boxing and kicking routines just to make the movie look good.

It turns out that it really works, and I have benefited a lot from it over the years!"

Gu Wei explained with a smile.

“I’ve also practiced Kung Fu routines!

I became his disciple 20 years ago when I was filming "The Matrix".

Maybe I’m too old now and my body can’t keep up, so I feel my movements aren’t as smooth as when I was younger.”

"Haha, my friend, this is not a problem for you.

You are John Wick, a master with a gun!"

After chatting with Keanu Reeves for a few minutes, Gu Wei walked to the rest area nearby.

Agent Yang Dan stood beside him.

"How's things going back home?"

"Today's premiere of [Yang Jian: The Legend of the Condor Heroes] was very successful.

Many celebrities came to show their support.

Boss, the VCR you recorded in advance was also played at the premiere.

The company has also made marketing arrangements, and tomorrow there will be a large number of film reviews praising the movie online."

Gu Wei nodded.

"We've basically done everything we can before the film's release. Now it all depends on how Yang Jian performs in three days.

I don't expect to reach the level of Nezha, but if I can make 20 to 30 billion and maintain its reputation, then this Fengshen animation universe will be truly established!"

After saying this, he thought of something and instructed Yang Dan, "You will post a Weibo post on my account later to support Yang Jian, and don't forget to post on Douyin as well.

Just use the VCR I recorded earlier."

Gu Wei currently has the most followers on Douyin (TikTok) on all platforms, and his Weibo followers are also among the top ten. His publicity effect is still very good.

"OK!"

"Oh right, let me post another Weibo post promoting Watergate Bridge. I'm starring in this movie, so I can't play favorites."

Gu Wei had already made arrangements with Yu Dong before going abroad to film, so Xu Ke was the one who led the other actors in the promotional roadshow for "Watergate Bridge".

Apart from him, the other leading actor Wu Jing did not go on the roadshow. He has been filming on the set of "The Wandering Earth 2" and only attended the premiere of "Watergate Bridge".

(End of this chapter)