Chapter 813 Hollywood and the Play
Things in the capital were almost settled, and Gu Wei flew to Zhejiang Province to join the crew to start filming "The Battle at Lake Changjin".
There were three directors in total for Changjin Lake, each with their own division of labor during the filming.
Brother Chen Kai is good at shooting literary scenes, and is responsible for Huzhou, the capital, and the expedition part; Lin Chaoxian is good at action scenes, and is responsible for the Incheon Landing, the Stone Formation, and the village battle; Xu Ke is good at visual effects and action, and is responsible for a few literary scenes, the Ice Sculpture Company, and the daily life of the US military.
Of course, this is just a rough outline. The filming was not divided so finely, and all three directors participated in many shots.
[Changjin Lake] is said to be starring Wu Jing and Gu Wei, but it is essentially a group portrait drama.
The brothers Wu Qianli and Wu Wanli are the central characters that connect the entire story of "Changjin Lake".
Others include the platoon leaders of the seventh company Li Chen and Hu Jun, the instructor Zhu Yawen, the sniper Han Dongjun, the battalion commander of the third battalion Duan Yihong, etc., each character is very full.
In addition, there are real figures in this period of history such as the Chairman played by Teacher Tang Guoqiang, the Prime Minister played by Teacher Liu Jin, the Commander of the Ninth Corps played by Zhang Hanyu, Mao Anying played by Huang Xuan, and Yang Gensi played by Ou Hao.
Together we present this great and difficult piece of history.
In order to shoot "The Battle at Lake Changjin", Yu Dong almost gathered all the actors in the domestic entertainment industry who had a tough temperament and were suitable for playing military roles.
After joining the crew, Gu Wei first met with the three directors.
Lin Chaoxian was an old acquaintance and there was nothing much to talk about. The two of them had just had a drink together more than half a month ago.
Xu Ke is very enthusiastic about Gu Wei.
"When we were filming Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back then, Zhou Xingchi and I both wanted to cast you in the role, but unfortunately we didn't make it in the end. Thinking about it now, I still feel a little regretful."
"Both Stephen Chow and Director Xu are my favorite directors. I missed the opportunity to work with them because I didn't have time. I feel really bad."
As for greetings, of course you compliment me a few times and I compliment you a few times. We all say nice things, and it doesn't matter whether they are true or not. With this attitude, our relationship will quickly become closer.
"When I was little, I particularly enjoyed watching Director Xu's Wong Fei-hung trilogy, as well as the earlier film, Flying Daggers of Dragon Gate. In my mind, they are both classic martial arts films."
"Haha, you don't like my movie, you like Li Lianjie"
"No contradiction. I've always believed that in Director Xu's films, Master Li Lianjie is the true Kung Fu Emperor!"
Tsui Hark was very happy with Gu Wei's words, and he kept saying that he must invite him to shoot a kung fu film in the future.
"I've seen you perform in [Blade of the Assassin], you're quite skilled and your fighting is very beautiful.
I can make more action movies in the future.
You are still young, and your international influence may surpass that of Cheng Long and Li Lianjie in the future."
In terms of popularity and domestic box office results, Gu Wei is now fully capable of beating the two kung fu superstars.
But its international influence is far less.
Especially Cheng Long, his popularity around the world is incomparable to that of Gu Weiyuan today.
But as Xu Ke said, Gu Wei is still young and has unlimited possibilities in the future.
Cheng Long and Li Lianjie may not be more popular than him at his age.
"Director Xu, you're too kind. Brother Cheng Long and Teacher Li Lianjie are international superstars who have influenced a generation. I'm still far behind."
"Your popularity in China has reached a peak now. Have you ever considered going to Hollywood to develop your career for a while?
Although the domestic film market is already very large, it is ultimately a single market, and if you want to become famous worldwide, you still have to rely on Hollywood films."
Xu Ke's ideas are a bit old-fashioned, but there is nothing wrong with what he says.
Judging from Gu Wei's achievements in recent years, he has basically reached a pinnacle in the domestic entertainment industry. If he wants to move to the next level, he can either go to Hollywood like Cheng Long and Li Lianjie, or wait for China to surpass the United States and become the world's largest country. At that time, Chinese films will naturally be as popular around the world as Hollywood blockbusters are today.
"In fact, in the past two years, many Hollywood film companies have approached me to invite me to act in movies, but unfortunately the scripts and roles were not so good.
Even if I want to make a Hollywood movie in the future, I want everyone to work together and go the route of co-production.
I don’t want to join just as an actor.”
Xu Ke nodded.
"That's fine. With your status, if they want the domestic market, they should make concessions."
After chatting with Xu Ke for a few words, Gu Wei met Brother Chen Kai again.
Unlike Xu Ke's enthusiasm, Director Kai Ge was much more reserved when facing Gu Wei.
This was the first time the two of them worked together, and they chatted for a while after meeting to get to know each other.
Gu Wei felt that Director Chen wanted to build a relationship with him, but due to his status as a senior, he was not able to take the initiative to do anything, which gave people a sense of contradiction.
"How is it, Director Xu is pretty good, right?"
Wu Jing arrived a few days earlier than Gu Wei, and he came to Gu Wei as soon as he settled in the team.
"Director Xu was quite enthusiastic. After chatting for a while, he said he would definitely invite me to play the leading role in his new film in the future."
"Haha, I think he may have had this idea a long time ago, but he just hasn't had the right opportunity."
Gu Wei shrugged and said, "I like many of Director Xu's works, so it won't be a problem for us to collaborate if there's a suitable opportunity.
He also advised me to pursue a career in Hollywood if I had the chance.”
"Oh? What are your plans?" Wu Jing asked curiously.
As one of the two people with the highest box office performance in the domestic entertainment industry, Wu Jing's fame and appeal are second only to Gu Wei.
Some companies from Hollywood also contacted him, so he really wanted to know what Gu Wei thought.
"Plans? No plans.
Our base is the domestic film market. I will definitely not go back to Hollywood, but I am not opposed to cooperation if there is a suitable script and opportunity.
Of course, the premise is that I am satisfied with the script and the role."
"That makes sense," Wu Jing nodded continuously.
"Actually, Disney approached me last year and wanted me to play the leading role in a superhero movie."
"Oh? There's such a thing?
You didn't agree?" Wu Jing asked in surprise.
He doesn't know much about Marvel and DC comics, but he knows that today's Hollywood superhero movies are the real mainstream.
[Avengers 4: Endgame] has a total global box office of 2.7 billion US dollars, second only to [Avatar], ranking second in the world's box office history.
The film's cumulative box office in China has reached 4.895 billion yuan, making it the box office champion of imported films in China.
“No, Disney asked me to play Shang-Chi.
This superhero is suspected of insulting China and is too controversial. There is no way I can take it.
I read the script for Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings, and I think Disney made some significant compromises to please the Chinese market, but it's a shame the characters aren't genuine."
Wu Jing nodded.
“It is indeed impossible to play such a controversial role.
But it's a rare opportunity to be the protagonist of a superhero movie."
Wu Jing and Li Lianjie have a very good relationship. They both graduated from Shichahai Sports School and can be considered brothers.
In his early years, Wu Jing wanted to replicate the path of his senior brother Li Lianjie, but unfortunately he never became famous, let alone developed in Hollywood.
However, as one of the few action superstars in the industry, he has always had great expectations for shooting Hollywood action movies.
His "Wolf Warrior" series is essentially based on classic action films such as "First Blood".
"Haha, there's nothing to regret, if there's one, there's another.
[Shang-Chi] It was Disney who approached me, not me who was trying to get the opportunity.
Now is different from what it was a dozen or twenty years ago. Hollywood is eyeing the domestic market and will naturally try to please us.
Not to mention me, Brother Jing will also have opportunities in the future. Who knows when a Hollywood film company will come knocking on our door."
Gu Wei remembered that Warner Bros. approached Wu Jing and asked him to collaborate on "The Meg 2".
[Changjin Lake] was really difficult to shoot.
Gu Wei has made more than ten films in all these years in the industry, but this is the first time he has made such a difficult film.
First of all, the crew of "Changjin Lake" is too large.
Since the start of filming, there have been thousands of people working on the set every day, and sometimes there can be tens of thousands of people including extras.
Almost every shot and every scene requires the mobilization of a filming crew of more than a thousand people and extras.
This makes coordination a top priority for the crew.
Secondly, there are almost no interior scenes in the film. All the shots were shot on location, and there are a lot of night scenes.
It is now January, and the place where they are shooting is in the mountains. The temperature is usually more than ten degrees below zero, and the wind is very strong in the mountains, making the shooting conditions very difficult.
"Pah, pah, pah!"
After a scene was finished, Gu Wei, who was lying on the ground, sat up and spit out the "snowflakes" in his mouth.
The scene just now was in the snow.
There was no snow, but the blowers set up by the crew were blowing snowflakes made of sweet potato flour, which could easily get into the eyes and mouth.
"Would you like some hot water?"
Wu Jing beside him handed over a cup of water.
"Thank you~"
Gu Wei took it and took a sip.
"Your film Detective Chinatown 3 has been very popular these days. To be honest, I'm quite looking forward to it. I've watched the first two parts."
"Thank you, I will definitely not let you down."
"The competition during the Spring Festival this year is very fierce, but I feel that if nothing unexpected happens, your film will definitely take the top spot.
Then there might be Lu Yang’s [Assassination of Novelist] and Zhou Xun and Chen Kun’s [The Order of the Samurai].”
As an actor and director, Wu Jing is very concerned about the upcoming 2021 Spring Festival.
With the support of the "Detective Chinatown" series IP and Gu Wei's own fame, "Detective Chinatown 3" is undoubtedly the biggest hit this year.
Then there is "Assassination of Novelist" starring Lu Yang, Lei Jiayin and Yang Mi, and "The Order of the Samurai" starring Zhou Xun and Chen Kun. Both are fantasy action films, and judging from the trailers, they are also very exciting.
"[Detective Chinatown 3] is definitely fine, but I'm optimistic about Jia Ling's next film, [Hello, Li Huanying]."
"Chen Teng's comedy?"
Jia Ling's directorial debut was still promoted under the Shen Teng brand.
"Brother Teng is the male supporting role, but it doesn't matter.
Her story is quite touching, and comedies have always been popular during the Spring Festival period.
By the way, are we going to move to Xianju, Taizhou tomorrow?"
Wu Jingzhi nodded: "Let's go over there and start filming that scene."
Gu Wei thought for a moment and said, "After the filming today, I have to talk to the director. I have sorted out the scenes for Wu Wanli, and many of them need to be revised.
This is a good opportunity to bring it up so that I can shoot according to my ideas in the future."
"You actually changed the script!" Wu Jing was a little surprised.
"Did you think I was kidding you?
Since I accepted this role, I have to be responsible for the film and my role."
Although Wu Wanli had a clear growth path in the original script, Gu Wei felt that the character was actually a bit templated and not realistic and full enough.
First of all, when he appears on the stage, Wu Wanli is rebellious and stubborn, a naughty kid who has not grown up yet. But in fact, he should show a certain admiration and yearning for his brother Wu Qianli, instead of simply being disobedient and going against him.
Although he was ignorant, he could vaguely feel that what his elder brothers were doing was a great thing to be proud of. This was also the reason why he later took the initiative to join the army without telling his family.
Then there is the growth line behind Wu Wanli.
In the script, he has an excellent talent for throwing bombs. After several battles and life-and-death experiences, he finally becomes a qualified soldier.
But that's not enough.
The reason why our army is strong and tenacious is that the People's Liberation Army is the people's army, and every soldier knows why he is fighting.
What Wu Wanli needs to grow in is not only military skills, but also a transformation of his personal thinking.
Being able to shoot and throw bombs, and learning to kill are nothing. The real growth is to know why you are fighting and to become a proletarian revolutionary fighter with faith.
These can be reflected through some detailed descriptions in the movie.
For example, the dialogue with Lei Gong, the teachings of his brother and the instructor can completely make the character transform layer by layer during the several battles in "Changjin Lake".
"Um~ Do you want me to go with you?" Wu Jing asked after thinking for a while.
"Do you have an idea for your role?"
"A little bit, mostly some literary dramas."
Gu Wei nodded.
"Then let me call Director Yu and Producer Huang Jianxin, and invite the three directors, and we'll have a small discussion meeting.
Like you said before, we are all doing this for the good of the movie, so if there is anything, we can discuss and resolve it."
"Okay."
The evening's exchange meeting was relatively successful, of course, this was all thanks to Gu Weiren.
Lin Chaoxian smiled as if he had expected all his suggestions for revising the script. Xu Ke was a little surprised, but he himself was not very good at grasping the content, and felt that Gu Wei's suggestions were reasonable, so he had no objection. Only Brother Chen Kai frowned from beginning to end.
"If we do this, some of the originally planned plays will have to be changed. What should we do about the personnel scheduling issues involved?" Brother Chen Kai raised a question.
"It didn't have much of an impact, actually. I mostly changed my scenes, mainly in terms of lines and performance, and some conversations with other actors. The specific shooting scenes didn't change much."
Director Chen wanted to say something, but Yu Dong tried to smooth things over.
"What Mr. Gu said makes sense. According to his ideas, the depth and intention of the characters have indeed been taken to a higher level.
We can decide on it first, and then see the effect when shooting.
What do you think, Teacher Lan?
Screenwriter Lan Xiaolong smiled and said, "I have no objection. When I wrote the script, I focused on the big picture and didn't delve too deeply into each character.
I feel like Gu Wei has really grasped the character of Wu Wanli and wants to play him well."
Brother Chen Kai opened his mouth to say something, but when he looked at the other two directors and other creative staff sitting in the room, he suddenly felt alone and powerless.
Feeling a little bored, he waved his hand.
"That's it for now."
(End of this chapter)
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