Chapter 1232 Sino-US Cooperation
Director Matt is a serious and dedicated director. After reading the script, he came to China a month in advance and visited many places in northwest China and northern Mobei for field investigations. He found that the vast uninhabited Gobi desert in northern Mobei was very suitable for shooting the magnificent war scenes described in the script.
So he chose a small desert town to set up camp. There were almost no Han people in this town, and there was only a small hotel available for accommodation. With so many domestic and foreign celebrities pouring in at once, the reception capacity was really limited. The mayor stepped forward and coordinated with some local residents to let the crew stay in local people's homes.
This is a novel experience for everyone. Every household in this place has grape vines outside. In late autumn, the grapes are off the vines, but there are still late-ripening varieties. After filming every day, the host will send fresh grapes and preserved fruit snacks. Three meals a day are beef and mutton: beef buns, beef noodles, hand-pulled lamb, grilled lamb skewers, lamb soup...
Eat well and you will have more energy to work.
The delicious food also made the early stages of adjustment less difficult: first of all, there was the issue of language communication between Chinese and English. The script was in English, the lines were in English, the director spoke English, and the film had to be released in the United States first, so naturally every actor was required to speak English, even an extra. The audience's eyes are very sharp and they can tell by the lip syncing in every minute.
This requirement caused veteran actor Wang Xiangqin to frequently fail at the beginning. His English was only passable. He had no problem reading the lines in English, but it was a bit difficult for him to pronounce them with intonation and inject emotions into the character.
Fortunately, Wang Xiangqin had hired an English instructor in advance at his own expense - a professor from the English Department of Capital University. When he was rehearsing the script, his English teacher was right beside him correcting his pronunciation.
Liu Man doesn't need a teacher, Alan and Maria are both her teachers. Their patience and enthusiasm for her amazed everyone in the crew, and they couldn't help wondering who is the Hollywood big shot and who is the heir to the wealthy family.
Liu Man is also their Chinese culture teacher. She once taught Lu Lu and Zhang Xinyi the etiquette of the Han Dynasty in the crew of "Han Palace Autumn Moon". Now, she teaches Maria how to walk, salute and speak like an ancient Chinese woman.
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Maria is very smart. After Liu Lan taught and demonstrated these key points once, she remembered them and followed suit, performing them almost perfectly.
There is a scene where Maria plays the role of Lu Zhi, who is working in the fields when her husband Liu Bang comes riding up and tells her that he has been named "King of Han" by Xiang Yu.
An American rich girl with a luxurious lifestyle was wearing ancient Chinese-style linen clothes, a black wig, no jewelry on her hair, with a dusty face, holding a hoe, and working in the fields.
Liu Lan had never done farm work in her previous life, but she had experienced the hardships of life. How could Maria have ever tasted this?
At first, it was difficult for Maria to show the state of being poor and displaced. She acted awkwardly with a hoe in her hand. Everyone wanted to laugh, but had to hold it in. Matt shook his head and sighed, feeling tired. Finding a rich girl with no acting experience was Harvey's biggest mistake.
Liu Lan walked up to Matt and said to her, "Chinese women are very reserved. Even if your husband comes, you should raise your head slightly and look at him with joy, but not smile. You should respect him with your eyes, and it's best not to look him in the eye. Your tone should be humble."
During the first few NGs, when Wang Xiangqin rode over on horseback, Maria just stared at him blatantly, which made Wang Xiangqin very embarrassed. He forgot his lines for a moment, and he was speechless facing Maria's strong face and light brown eyes.
It is worth mentioning that Wang Xiangqin previously refused to ride a horse in the crew of "Autumn Moon over the Han Palace" for fear of sunburn and danger. Now in the crew of "Song of Gaixia", director Matt said that he would not use a stand-in unless it was absolutely necessary, and strive for authenticity.
Wang Xiangqin, who had been recuperating during this period and took over Lan Xi's job, rode his horse again. Firstly, he was embarrassed to act like a big shot in front of a Hollywood director; secondly, the climate in Mobei was not hot, and the sun was not as scorching as in summer and autumn, so he would not get seriously sunburned by being exposed in the Gobi Desert.
Wang Xiangqin had long black hair, a fake beard on his lips and chin, and looked dusty, but there was a hint of pride and recklessness in his eyes. He completely put himself into the role of Liu Bang. After he was named King of Han, he returned to his hometown to pick up his wife and children to enjoy the wealth and glory with him.
At this time, he and Xiang Yu had not yet fallen out, and he was full of vigor and vitality. In comparison, Lu Zhi had been living in the countryside and seemed much more simple and honest. Her simplicity at this moment was in sharp contrast to her future power.
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