Corey Yuen was confirmed as the director of "Fighting World" and he stayed in Los Angeles to audition actors intensively.
Ronald only attended the audition for the male lead. The male lead was set to be an officer of the overseas legion of the country. After hearing that his master's beloved son participated in a martial arts competition and was killed on the spot by the villain played by Yang Si, he left the legion.
Escape and go to Xiangjiang to participate in the new martial arts conference to avenge the master.
"Who do you think is more suitable?" Ronald still respected the director's opinion on this matter.
"From an action point of view, Jean Claude is more suitable. His karate is more about light leg skills. There are few people who can do that action of turning around and kicking in the air as beautifully as he does.
There is a lot of Bruce Lee-style martial arts philosophy in the script. The male protagonist has to blindfold himself to learn the art of listening to the wind, and then kick according to the opponent's punching style. This kind of kicking in a standing position is also from Jean Crow
Germany is better.
Lundgren’s karate is more practical, and his movements are not as elegant as those of Jean Claude.”
Ronald nodded. Corey Yuen had just come to Hollywood, and he wasn't sure which actor he wanted to be promoted. So the answer was only analyzed from a technical point of view, so that even if Ronald meant Lundgren, there would be room for revision.
But Ronald had the same idea as him. It was not just about whether the movements were good or not, but also about acting skills. Neither of these two were really trained actors, and their expression of emotions was very problematic, and they could only shoot their facial expressions through close-ups.
method to make do.
Judging from the results of the audition, Lundgren was not able to complete simple expressions of joy, anger, sorrow, and joy in front of the camera. His facial muscles were relatively stiff, and he was nervous and could not complete the expression well when facing the camera.
Jean Claude Van Dam's expression is also very stiff, but at least it is relaxed enough so that the audience will not be able to tell whether he is crying or laughing.
Corey Yuen decided on the male lead, and talked a lot with Ronald about the background temperament in his mind. He hand-painted many movie scenes, all of which were traditional Chinese-style wooden structures. The pure Chinese style of this kind of cornices and brackets, in
It is rarely seen in China.
Ronald liked this sketch very much when he saw it. When the audience saw it, they felt a sense of mystery of an ancient Eastern country. This is a preemptive rendering of Yang Si, a master of Chinese martial arts, making people feel that they are practicing in such a place.
He must be a peerless master.
"Is there any studio in Xiangjiang with ready-made buildings?" Ronald tapped the table with his fingers. He also worked from the bottom of the crew. Wood is very expensive, and wooden buildings are even more expensive. If anyone wants to tamper with the accounts, he can do it.
Just let the truck haul the wood a few more times and it'll be fine.
"No, the Shaw Brothers in Hong Kong use temporary sets for filming this kind of scenes. But don't worry, I have found a good real-life location."
Corey Yuen took a map and showed it to Ronald with the real-life photos he took before arriving, "Look, this place is between Kowloon Bay and Xin'an County on the opposite side. There are many vacant houses here, and the interior and exterior are very suitable for shooting.
.”
"Kowloon Walled City?" Ronald looked at the traditional Chinese characters on the map and tried to read them out.
It turned out that the actual location he was interested in was the former residence of the Kowloon Inspection Department in Ching Yuan. This is the place with the highest population density in the world, more than nine times that of Mong Kok where Ronald has been. Because it is a two-way zone, as long as it is with
The local residents agreed that the cost of filming was very cheap.
"After the handover was confirmed, the two parties negotiated to gradually demolish the Walled City. This year, the first batch of residents who agreed to the demolition have already received special subsidies to live in new houses with running water in Kwun Tong, so we can find many places.
Brother Long has a relationship with the local residents’ assembly leaders, and they agreed to go to the ancient buildings left over from the Qing Dynasty, the Longjin Volunteer School, and the Kowloon Inspection Department Yamen.” Corey Yuen pointed to two antique buildings and said to Ronald.
.
"It seems that you are well prepared. I am very satisfied." Ronald looked at the photos that Corey Yuen took before he came and felt that he had found the right person. Longjin Yixue was a tribute courtyard of the imperial examination in the former Qing Dynasty, with bluestone floors and wooden corridors.
The column structure is suitable for interior scenes of martial arts conferences. The inspection office is suitable for exterior shots."
…
"Tuk tuk..."
After talking a lot about the preparations for the movie, there was a knock on the office door.
"Come in," Ronald replied, and the person who opened the door was Rachel Talalay, the production director of "Hairspray". She followed the entire filming process of "Hairspray". Ronald said to her
Very satisfied, she was promoted to be the producer of "Fighting World".
"This is Rachel. She will go to Xiangjiang with the company's Secretary Chen to work as a producer." Ronald introduced Rachel Talalay to Corey Yuen. The two got to know each other and then started
The shooting schedule has been arranged.
Secretary Chen was taking notes next to her. She can speak Mandarin and Cantonese, and this time she went to serve as a translator and daily clerical work.
"Hey, why are you still here?"
After the meeting, Ronald pushed the door open and went out and found that Jean Claude Van Dam was still in the company. "We will notify your agent of the results of the audition. You are of no use here."
Ronald knew that he really wanted this role. Unlike Lundgren, Jean-Claude had not yet played a major role in a serious movie. After he auditioned, he just daydreamed and waited for several days.
Hours later, I want to know the results as soon as possible.
"You can practice your flying kicks..." Corey Yuen didn't understand the rules of Hollywood, so he let it slip when he came out of the office and saw Jean Claude.
"In Hollywood, the audition results are notified through the agent." Rachel Talalay immediately gave Corey Yuen extra lessons.
"Okay, you can go back and wait for the official notification. There is nothing going on here." Ronald grinned. This is the cultural difference between film practitioners in the two places. Hollywood has to follow rules for everything, but over there in Xiangjiang, only the big brother
Just say something and it will be settled.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! "I am still your bodyguard now. I will be your driver later. Where are you going?" Jean Claude knew that the more times like this, the more he had to behave.
Get closer to the boss and you haven't officially gotten the contract yet, so anything can happen.
"Okay, I have a driver, you don't need to drive. You drive for Director Corey Yuen, and we can chat more on the way."
Ronald asked Rachel Talalay to get into his car, and the two cars drove to the editing room rented by Daydream. The editing of "Hairspray" has been completed, and today he is going to see what it will look like in the end.
The car soon arrived at the editing room of Warner Bros. When Ronald got out of the car, he saw Jean Claude and Corey Yuen chatting happily.
"Ronald, I gave Jean-Claude a Chinese name. It will be convenient for filming there. His name is Jean-Claude Van Damme."
"Yes, the name is very poetic." Ronald smiled. In addition to being released in America, the film is also expected to be sold to Asian and European distributors. There will be a Chinese subtitled version by then, and he will be given a Chinese name.
It's a nice little publicity technique. Foreign actors in Hong Kong usually do this.
Several people came to the small internal screening room, and Ronald met the director of "Hairspray", John Waters. He was still so energetic and never left his hand with a cigarette.
"John, I'm waiting to see your finished film."
"Ronald, I promise it will be great." John Waters hugged Ronald and then ran to the back himself to let the projectionist start.
"Hahahahaha..." Ronald watched with great interest. John Waters was really good.
This movie can basically be seen as a copycat version of "Dirty Dancing". The story itself and plot progression are not similar to "Dirty Dancing". But the rhythm and tonality of the entire story are almost the same as "Dirty Dancing".
"Dance" a model.
But the audience generally cannot tell the imitation, because the heroine of "Hairspray" is not a beautiful girl, but a fat, average-looking girl.
The tone of the story is not a romantic drama (although there is a love story line in it), but an ancient comedy farce.
In addition to the good performances of several protagonists, several supporting roles are also very brilliant and steal the scene. Including Cher's ex-husband Sonny Bono plays a funny shrinking parent. And Drag Queen actor Divine plays the heroine's mother who runs a laundry.
.
The most interesting thing is that Divine and Ricky Lake, who plays the heroine Tracy, are both fat and have similar face shapes. They also walk and talk in a rhythm that makes them look like a family. They don’t know John Water.
How did Director Si train him?
"Hey? What is this?" Ronald saw the middle and suddenly discovered a very disgusting plot. In school, Tracy was teased by her classmates, who took a cockroach and put it in her hair.
It's going to be a mess.
"Ugh..." Secretary Chen, who was watching over there, almost vomited.
Ronald glanced at John Waters, who looked overjoyed.
Ronald remembered that this director used to shoot ultra-low-cost movies. Maybe because the budget was too low, he could only shoot some disgusting plots, so that the audience could see something that could not be seen in normal movies.
Things, this can also attract some curiosity lovers.
After another ten minutes, there was another very disgusting scene in the movie. The Drag Queen actor Divine vomited a lot on the ground. John Waters also gave a disgusting close-up shot.
"Ugh..." Secretary Chen really couldn't bear it now and hurried outside to vomit.
But after she finished vomiting, Secretary Chen ran in quickly. She thought the plot was quite interesting. She wanted to see if Tracy won the TV dance competition championship in the end.
…
"How was it? Ronald, can it be released like this?" After the movie was over, John Waters asked proudly. He also noticed Secretary Chen's reaction, even going to the bathroom and rushing back. This was the reason why the movie was so popular among the audience.
A good sign of recognition.
"It's good, it's better than expected." Ronald recognized the quality of the movie. To be able to shoot a movie of this quality with a budget of more than two million yuan, the director's level is very good, and he is definitely not greedy for money.
But... "I said, what's the matter with you, John? Why do you insert these disgusting clips in the movie? We are shooting a romantic song and dance movie, not a horror movie."
"Isn't this a great response?" John Waters still doesn't understand. From past experience, he feels that this can make the audience vomit and it can also become a kind of novel word-of-mouth publicity.
"I said, come on. Are you making too many movies that cost more than 100,000 yuan? This is a theater movie, and it will be released in hundreds of theaters across the country. Cut it out, including cockroaches and vomiting. Cut them all for me.
Lose."
Ronald was dumbfounded by the director. The film Daydream has been scheduled to be released in the off-season box office season in February next year, and a marketing budget has been prepared. This is not the pitiful movies John Waters has made before.
It can only be released in some old midnight theaters in New York and Los Angeles. This is a normal release film that can enter the box office rankings.
It would be a big joke if there was news that the audience vomited after watching a romantic musical.
"I haven't had any problems with this before?" John Waters used to have scenes of vomiting in every movie, as well as scenes of cockroaches, rats, and other disgusting animals. He really didn't think that such cost-effective word-of-mouth publicity would be enough.
what is the problem.
"I'm really impressed by you. Give me all these shots." Ronald made a gesture of cutting the film with scissors. "You will cut it today and send it to Paramount's laboratory after Christmas."
Find an audience for a test screening."
"Okay, okay... I'll just listen to you." John Waters was a little unhappy when he heard that these "beloved" scenes were going to be cut.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Ronald went over and patted Waters on the shoulder, "Don't be upset, your film techniques are skillful, I predict this movie will make money. You
Modify it according to my opinion. After this movie is released, you no longer need to work for me. There will be people to invest in you, and you can make it as disgusting as you want."
"Hahaha..." Everyone laughed.
"Okay, okay... I will change it according to your opinion. Anyway, your movie has a high box office... No one knows what the audience wants to see as well as you." After John Waters laughed, he also wanted to understand, which Hollywood producer
People won’t suggest modifications to the finished film?
Ronald is already very kind for editing only two scenes. Besides, he has a good intuition about movies, so it is best to listen to him for such modifications.
"I'll go to the editing room right away to revise it, and it's expected to be sent to the lab tomorrow." Waters took out a new Marlboro, lit it with an old cigarette butt, took a few puffs, and immediately entered
The editing room is no longer available.
Ronald smiled and everyone got up and left. The movie looked promising to be a hit.
"Hey, you
"Hey, why don't you leave?" Ronald looked at Jean-Claude Van Damme dawdling. Just now he was working as a bodyguard and driver for himself, and now his eyes are set on John Waters.
"Hey, I want to learn editing from Director Waters. If a shot is cut in the middle, how to connect the original front and rear films."
"Oh? Why are you addicted to learning editing?" Ronald glanced at Jean-Claude Van Damme unexpectedly. Seeing his sincere face, he said something about his understanding of the two shots, as if he was really talking to Walter Merle.
Qi has learned well and seems to have a good grasp of the basic principles of editing.
"I like editing very much. I originally thought that the actor's performance was the most important. After studying with Mr. Murch for a while, I discovered that the performance on the screen is actually created by editing."
"Okay, you learn from Mr. Waters." Ronald asked Corey Yuen to get into his car and asked Bud to take him back to the hotel first.
Ronald entered the editing room by himself and watched Jean-Claude Van Damme skillfully go through the editing log and help him find the shot number. He took out the edited film, opened it skillfully, hung up the editing machine, and then pressed
The button moved to the part that Ronald specified to be cut off.
"Here is about 20 seconds of footage. What if the front is cut and the back is of Tracy screaming in fear of the cockroach?"
Jean-Claude Van Damme entered the state, much like an editing assistant, doing all the tedious work and then waiting for John Waters to make a decision.
"This part of the shot is continuous. If it were to be cut, it would have to be cut out. However, what was transferred later was the shot of Tracy returning home. Her mother put down the iron to comfort her. I thought about what to do. There is no extra material here...
"John Waters also scratched his head. How to let the audience pick up the originally coherent plot after it was cut, he still had to use his brains.
"Let's make a jump cut. Find this frame. Tracy's big head is in the same position as the film. He was bullied directly from school and was sent home to be comforted by his mother." Ronald gave some advice.
"You heard it, just cut it like this. This is the touch of a master..." John Waters knew it was feasible as soon as he heard it.
"Okay..." Jean-Claude Van Damme neatly cut off the unnecessary parts, then took out the patented editing tape made by Daydream, pasted it on and slapped it twice on the editing machine, and the front and back sides were firmly taped.
superior.
"Huh...it seems to be even better than the original effect." Jean-Claude Van Damme put the film on the machine again, looked at it through the monitor, and then looked at Ronald. His editing level is also so high?