Chapter 328 I’m the Boss and I Have the Final Say
At noon the next day, Wu Jingcai crawled out of the hotel in a daze.
"Gu Wei's drinking capacity has obviously improved!"
I rubbed my head which was a little sore from the hangover. Although I felt uncomfortable physically, I was very happy in my heart.
After Gu Wei took on the movie, most of his worries about "Wolf Warrior 2" disappeared. All that was left was to return to China to start preparing the crew and then prepare for filming.
After communicating last night, Gu Wei told him that he would have to join the crew of another TV series after finishing filming "Operation Mekong", so the earliest he would be able to work on it would be around May next year.
With more than half a year, Wu Jing had just enough time to set up the crew and inspect the filming location.
According to his plan, the film would be shot in Africa for a period of time.
That place is not like China, it is even more dangerous than those countries in Southeast Asia.
If he hadn't prepared everything in advance, he wouldn't have dared to take so many people from the crew to shoot rashly. If something went wrong, he wouldn't be able to take responsibility.
After tidying myself up, I went to the crew to say goodbye to Gu Wei.
"Brother Jing, why are you leaving in such a hurry? Why don't you stay here for a few days?"
Gu Wei, who had just finished a scene, took the towel from the assistant and wiped the sweat off his head.
"Tsk tsk, young people are in great shape. We drank so much last night, and you're still filming like nothing happened. Amazing, amazing!"
Wu Jing saw that Gu Wei was in good spirits and didn't look like he had drunk a lot of alcohol last night. He said with some envy.
"Haha, Brother Jing, you have a huge capacity for drinking. I still remember when we were filming [Gu Jian Qi Tan], you came to the set to find me and you got me drunk."
Wu Jing felt a little emotional after hearing what Gu Wei said.
“It’s been more than two years now, but things are really different now.
Back when I was in Hong Kong, I was never afraid of anyone at the drinking table, but now I can’t do that anymore, I’m getting older!
"Brother Jing, you, the "Wolf Warrior", can still fight for many more years!"
Gu Wei patted Wu Jing's shoulder and comforted him.
"By the way, I read the script yesterday and there's another female character in Wolf Warrior 2. Although she doesn't have many scenes, she's still the heroine.
Brother Jing, have you found someone?"
Gu Wei asked casually.
“Not yet. I don’t plan to ask you to finalize the script first before I can start preparing the film and looking for other actors.
There are not many actresses I am familiar with, and the one I have always worked with is Yu Nan.
But she had already played the female lead "Long Xiaoyun" in the first part, so it would not be suitable for her to play someone else in the second part!
Do you have any good suggestions, brother?"
When Wu Jing heard Gu Wei ask this, he knew that he was going to add people to the crew, but this was normal.
The female character in the script is just a supporting role, it doesn't matter who plays it.
Besides, Gu Wei is both the leading actor and the largest investor in this movie. Wu Jing believes that even if he has to fill in a role, he will definitely find a suitable candidate and it will not affect the quality of the filming.
Gu Wei smiled.
"Brother Jing, you know that I have signed some actors under my own company. Among them is an actress named Zhang Tianai. Her image and temperament are very suitable for the role of the female doctor in [Wolf Warrior 2]."
"Zhang Tianai."
Wu Jing thought about it.
"Is she the heroine from last year's incredibly popular web drama, 'The Princess Weiyoung'?"
"Yes, that's her. Brother Jing, do you still watch online dramas?"
Although Zhang Tianai has been very popular since last year, Wu Jing didn't even know EXO. Gu Wei really had no hope that he knew Zhang Tianai.
"Do you think I'm an old-fashioned guy?"
Wu Jing smiled and patted Gu Wei's arm.
“Although I don’t watch online dramas, your sister-in-law does. I watched two episodes with her when I was at home.
Zhang Tianai's image is indeed very heroic, and his temperament is quite suitable."
After saying this, he said with some worry:
"But the filming of this movie is quite difficult. We have to go to Africa to shoot the scenes. Can the little girl endure this hardship?"
"Brother Jing, you don't have to worry about this. As the boss, I've already given the order. The actors under me have to endure the hardship!"
Gu Wei said jokingly.
"Hahaha~ I don't know if actors are lucky or unlucky to have you as their boss!"
Wu Jing replied with a smile, and the matter was settled.
Of course, I am lucky to have Gu Wei as my boss.
That's "Wolf Warrior 2", the real box office champion in future film history. What does it matter if he suffers a little? Besides, Gu Wei is also in the crew, so Zhang Tianai has nothing to worry about then.
Among the actresses under Gu Wei, after much consideration, the only one who is suitable to play the female doctor "Rachel" is Zhang Tianai.
Nazha is a little too pretty. Gu Wei was firstly afraid that she wouldn’t be able to act well, and secondly, he was also afraid that her face would create a sense of disconnection in the movie.
Moreover, compared to Zhang Tianai, Nazha is a little too young. It’s okay for her to play some particularly cool and sassy girl, and act in her true self.
The female doctor "Rachel" is relatively mature, and Nazha's acting skills are not good. Don't let her affect the final quality of the movie. The box office is more than 5 billion, so the overall situation should be more important.
Although Zhang Tianai’s acting skills cannot be said to be very good, at least she is better than Nazha, and her appearance and temperament are very consistent with the role in the movie.
When "Wolf Warrior 2" is released, coupled with the already completed "The Richest Man in Xihong City", Zhang Tianai will definitely become the number one box office actress in the domestic entertainment industry in the future.
Even the current box office queen Bai Baihe has to step aside.
Although these female protagonists of hers are just supporting roles and have a relatively low presence, in reality they are the real leading ladies and no one can find fault with them.
Zhang Tianai herself is also more career-oriented than Nazha. With this achievement, coupled with the backing of "Wei Ming Tian Xia", the company will continue to hype her up, which will definitely solidify her position as a first-line movie star and top female star.
Although her achievements were entirely due to the resources provided by Gu Wei, achievements are achievements and no one will deny them.
After Wu Jing left, Gu Wei devoted himself to the filming of the movie.
Car racing, fighting, gun battles, etc., the filming progress of "Operation Mekong" is slowly entering the most complicated and difficult stage.
Each and every actor worked very hard, and director Lin Chaoxian no longer had the smile on his face that he had at the beginning. He frowned and had a stern face as he discussed the shooting of each scene with the photographer, action director and others every day.
Moreover, many scenes need to be shot non-stop, from day to night. Everyone is on edge, trying to perform their best so as not to delay the crew's filming.
In a chase scene filmed today, the drug lord "Nuo Ka"'s son "Na Tu" and his accomplice "Zhan Peng" fled in front, while Gu Wei and Zhang Hanyu chased them from behind.
"Zhan Peng" is an old enemy of "Fang Xinwu". He once lured his girlfriend into taking drugs, which eventually led to her suicide.
Gu Wei finally caught up with "Zhan Peng" and put a gun to his head.
"Fang Xinwu, you can't kill me!
Even if I die, your girlfriend won't survive.
Let me go!"
The actor who plays "Zhan Peng" is veteran Hong Kong actor Lo Fai-kwong, who is also one of the crew's martial arts instructors. He used to be with Jackie Chan and was one of his right-hand men.
But in 2009, I don’t know why I was fired by Jackie Chan, and now I am working hard alone in the mainland.
I joined the crew of "Mekong River" because of Lin Chaoxian's relationship.
In front of him is his mortal enemy, and as a drug enforcement policeman he cannot kill people without authorization. Gu Wei is currently struggling with his conscience.
With the sound of a gunshot, he made a decision.
The camera turned and Zhang Hanyu was standing on the other side, looking at Gu Wei with surprise.
"Crack! This game is over!"
Gu Wei walked to the rest area nearby and sat down, and Zhang Hanyu also came to his side.
"Tired?"
Zhang Hanyu took a bottle of water from his assistant, took a sip, and asked Gu Wei.
"The pace of our shoot was a bit fast, but it wasn't tiring. It was just a shame that we didn't have any free time to shoot."
Gu Wei shrugged and said with some regret.
"You kid"
Zhang Hanyu smiled.
"Honestly, Gu Wei, your performance during this collaboration really surprised me!"
"How do you say that?"
Gu Wei looked curious.
Zhang Hanyu put down the water bottle.
“Before filming Mekong, I knew you were very famous and had a strong box office appeal among young people.
But influenced by stereotypes, I thought you were just like other young actors, who only had a pretty face but generally couldn’t endure hardships with their acting skills.
I didn't expect that you not only have excellent acting skills, but also have the energy and stamina of a monster. You are totally incomparable to an old guy like me."
Zhang Hanyu sighed.
“Like other young actors?
Who are the other young actors you are talking about, Han Yu?"
Zhang Hanyu was praising Gu Wei, but Gu Wei's focus was not on being praised.
"Ahem~ No one, I just said that."
Zhang Hanyu was asked by Gu Wei.
"Is that so?"
Gu Wei touched his chin as if thinking.
“I remember that before you joined the crew of Mekong River, the movies you filmed were The Great Wall and Mr. Six.
So, you mean the young actor?
"I didn't say anything, don't spread my words!"
Zhang Hanyu found that Gu Wei was a very bad boy.
Gu Wei chuckled and said nothing more.
The filming of the Bangkok scenes was completed at the end of November, and the entire crew moved to Cameron Highlands in Malaysia.
The jungle here is dense and the environment is very similar to the deep rainforest in the Golden Triangle.
Gu Wei and his team will also be filming the climax of the movie here, capturing the villain "Nuokal".
After entering Malaysia, the filming location's hot and rainy tropical rainforest climate and the mysterious rainforest swamps posed unprecedented challenges to the crew.
While filming a crucial scene, director Lin Chaoxian, who was so focused on filming, was accidentally bitten by a six-inch poisonous centipede that reached into his trouser leg. His ankle immediately swelled up into a fist-sized blister.
Director Lin, who has always been able to endure hardships, could not help but frown and scream after enduring such torture. He could only be carried down the mountain by the staff and taken to the hospital for emergency treatment.
He even went into shock during treatment and his condition was critical, causing panic among the entire crew.
Producer Yu Dong, who was not originally with the crew, flew to Malaysia urgently after receiving the news.
After his arrival, the crew, which was originally in a panic, finally found a backbone.
After receiving simple treatment at the hospital, Director Lin was discharged and resumed work just two days later because he was worried about the filming of the crew.
Yu Dong and several main creators of the crew advised him to take a few more days off, but failed to change his mind. In the end, they had no choice but to agree.
After resuming work, the director immediately prepared waders and serum for each staff member in order to "stabilize the morale" and even invited a medical specialist to supervise on-site to prevent such incidents from happening again.
The scenes in the rainforest have almost no lines, and are basically fighting, gun battles, and speedboat chases.
In the original version, Zhang Hanyu had more roles as the protagonist, but this version naturally gives Gu Wei more shots.
The sacrifice of the military dog "Xiaotian" has not changed. After a series of chases and battles, Gu Wei finally caught the drug lord "Nuokha". After handing him over to Zhang Hanyu, he drove a speedboat and collided with "Nuokha"'s men who were chasing him from behind. After a violent explosion, everything came to an end.
Of course, "Fang Xinwu" played by Gu Wei did not die. There was an easter egg in the script design. Zhang Hanyu brought "Nuoka" back to China for trial. After everyone paid tribute to the military dog "Xiaotian", he received a text message from Gu Wei in the car.
"As long as there are drugs in China, Fang Xinwu will always be a drug enforcement officer operating in the shadows!"
After the last scene was filmed, Gu Wei finished the shoot to everyone's applause.
Due to schedule reasons, the director consciously concentrated on shooting his scenes, which is also a privilege for big stars.
So even though he was the protagonist, he finished filming earlier than Zhang Hanyu.
In the evening, the crew prepared a small wrap-up party for Gu Wei, with Yu Dong, Lin Chaoxian, Zhang Hanyu and other key personnel in attendance.
The dinner table was lively with everyone toasting each other. After three rounds of drinks, Director Lin sat next to Gu Wei, holding his own glass, and said to him with some emotion:
"Gu Wei, our first collaboration is about to end.
To be honest, when we were just starting to prepare for the film, I received the news from Director Yu that you were going to play the lead role in Mekong River, and I was a little unhappy at the time.
Gu Wei looked at Lin Chaoxian, smiled and waited for him to continue.
"At the time, I knew you were famous and had great box office appeal, but I was worried you wouldn't be able to portray the drug enforcement officer that I had in mind.
After all, young and handsome guys have already formed some fixed images in everyone's minds.
But after the filming started, you brought me so many surprises!
From the combat firearms training to your acting during filming, I was amazed."
Having said that, Lin Chaoxian patted Gu Wei on the shoulder.
“Sometimes a person’s fame really does represent a lot of things. It’s for a reason that you’re so popular and famous right now.
If you act well in the future, I think you will win the Best Actor award sooner or later!"
Gu Wei raised his glass and clinked it with Lin Chaoxian, then said with a smile.
"Thank you Director Lin for your appreciation. I'm still young and will work harder in the future."
Yu Dong, who was sitting on the other side, smiled as he watched the actor he had chosen get along well with the director, and also said:
"Gu Wei, thank you for your continued promotion of the film. It has made "Mekong River" a hot topic since filming started!"
Since Gu Wei joined the crew, his personal team would post a few photos of him filming on the set on his personal Weibo every few days.
Since the screening of Nirvana in Fire, Gu Wei's Weibo followers have reached 80 million, and are still growing. He has become the person with the most Weibo followers and is truly the Weibo King.
Every time he posts on Weibo, there will be countless fans and passers-by who like and comment on it, and the publicity effect is extremely strong.
Therefore, the stills he released during the filming of "Mekong" also brought continuous popularity to the movie.
"This is what I should do, and there's no need for you to be so reserved, Mr. Yu!
I am very confident in our film and believe that the final result will satisfy everyone!"
Gu Wei said with a smile.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
