Made in Hollywood

Time gradually approached the beginning of June. The crew signed formal actor contracts with Keanu Reeves, Charlize Theron and others. The special effects team of Industrial Light and Magic was also ready. Duke led the crew to charter a plane directly to Sydney. .

When I arrived in Sydney, I briefly explained the work here. Duke first went to Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, and negotiated with Charles Rowan over the current job for nearly a week before returning to Sydney to officially start "The Matrix" here. side preparations.

Taking the director of photography and art director to view the scene in Sydney, calibrating the footage and script, checking the rental equipment and props, communicating with the costume designer about the costumes of the main characters in the vision, etc., are all in Duke's work. The missing part, and another focus of the preliminary preparation, is to communicate and cooperate with the action guidance team from Hong Kong.

"They...they seem to be in pain."

A small studio was transformed into a temporary training hall. Standing beside Duke, Tina Fey looked at the venue with sympathy in her eyes, "Does it really last for three months?"

"At least three months." Duke said without hesitation.

Since a few days ago, the actors of the crew have entered the training state, and they are doing some very basic basic movements of stretching muscles and ligaments. It is not too difficult, but for non-professional actors, it can be done. Described as a nightmare, in the first two days of training, Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron, who had the most action scenes, were both supported by assistants and walked out.

This is just a little uncomfortable. No crew dares to joke about the safety of the actors. Duke is not James Cameron, and the requirements are not so strict.

This long training is not only superficial kung fu training, Keanu Reeves and others also have to adapt to the hanging wire. This technology has long been used in mature film shooting in Hong Kong, but it has not been widely used in Hollywood. When Hollywood shoots similar scenes, most of the time, high-pressure air pumps are used to push the actors out, and then complete a series of actions.

And Hollywood rarely used this kind of smart and fancy fighting style before, that kind of kung fu movies that jumped over the wall. In the eyes of North American audiences, it is actually a science fiction movie.

Fortunately, "The Matrix" is a science fiction film, which will not conflict with the inherent cognition of North American audiences in this regard.

There was a muffled groan in the training ground. Keanu Reeves, who was wearing a white training suit, with the assistance of Tiger Chen, completed a single word horse for the first time, but the expression on his face was really wonderful...

Turned. Duke looked at Yuan Heping, who was sitting on the sidelines. Perhaps it was the inherent pattern of the film circle over there. His famous action director had no intention of ending. All the demonstration actions were completed by Tiger Chen and other apprentices.

In the previous two days, Duke also had preliminary contact with him. Some basic training requirements were communicated. Although the other party was stubborn and conservative, there was no doubt about his professional ethics.

"Tina, are you interested?" Duke pointed to the actors who were being tortured. "You can make a cameo role, like I can add a guardian angel for the prophet."

"Are you sure!" Tina Fey winked. Very innocently said, "If you are willing to personally handle the work in my hands, I am also willing to accept this kind of training."

"Then forget it."

Actually, since last year. Tina Fey handles a lot of the work at Duke Studio, and Duke is only doing the final review, otherwise he wouldn't say anything about hiring Tina Fey as an executive at Duke Studio in the future.

After about half an hour, the training on the field came to an end, and Duke walked over with his arms in his arms.

"How are you feeling, Hugo?"

Agent Smith was grinning and moving his wrists. Hearing Duke's words, he turned his head and said, "Duke, you need to experience it yourself. I strongly request a raise!"

Knowing that he was joking, Duke simply said, "There is a snack at noon, or Chinese food."

"Then forget it."

Charlize Theron came over, stood beside him, dangling around and seemed to fall down at any time, "Let's not talk about the taste, I looked at it yesterday, it's too greasy, it's a killer!"

"I think it's fine." Keanu Reeves sat directly on the floor, "It tastes good if I eat it once in a while."

After a few jokes, although the training was a little difficult, the main actors did not complain. There has never been an example of continuous success without hard work in Hollywood, and they are very aware of this.

The others gradually dispersed to rest, and only Charlize Theron remained.

"Are you okay with your legs?" Duke remembers her previous mention of leaving ballet school because of a leg injury. "If you don't feel well, let the doctor know."

"I'm fine." She leaned closer. "I've never felt better."

Then, she looked at Duke brightly, with a hint of joy on her face, "I didn't expect you to remember that I was injured."

"Rest."

Turning around, Duke walked towards Yuan Heping's location, but Charlize followed, "Are you going to discuss motion design? Can I listen?"

Looking at Charlize, the matter discussed has something to do with her, Duke nodded, Charlize wisely shut his mouth, and silently followed Duke to the place where the action team was.

"Director Rosenberg."

Before he got close, Yuan Heping stood up. Although he had an opinion about the ghosts in his heart, he would not be stupid enough to show it on the surface.

"Hello, Mr. Yuan."

Although he couldn't understand what the other party was saying, he could always guess that it was a greeting. Duke shook hands with him, walked over unceremoniously, sat at the rest table, and motioned for the seat opposite, "Please take a seat. ."

Charlize sat on his left. After Yuan Heping sat down, Tiger Chen immediately walked over and stood behind him, acting as the translator for the two.

He hadn't spoken Chinese for more than 20 years. Duke didn't mean to show off Mandarin, and just like he couldn't understand Cantonese, Yuan Heping only knew a little bit about Mandarin.

Tiger Chen has lived in Hong Kong and the United States for many years and has no problem acting as a translator.

"Will three months of training get the results I want?" Duke asked.

"Kung Fu is an esoteric knowledge." Yuan Heping's answer was also straightforward. "Three months can only learn the most superficial things."

"I just want them to be graceful enough in front of the camera."

After all, Kung Fu is not Taekwondo, and Duke is also aware of this. "Strength and standards are not important."

"If there is no strength." Yuan Heping frowned, "It will feel soft and empty when you fight."

"Actually, that's what I want."

Without waiting for the other party to say anything, Duke raised his hand and continued, "You should have read the Chinese version of the script I specially prepared for you, the main plot of the story..."

Having said that, Duke simply changed the subject. Even some people in the production crew couldn't understand the matrix and the network, and it was useless to tell Yuan Heping about this.

"Mr. Yuan, I want to ask, is it possible to combine firearms, kung fu and fighting to design a brand-new melee combat method?"

After Tiger Chen finished translating, Yuan Heping looked at him with some doubts, obviously not understanding the specific meaning,

Duke thought for a moment and said to the female assistant standing behind him, "Tina, I want some prop guns."

Tina Fei picked up her mobile phone and dialed a number, and soon someone from the props team sent a few models of pistols and submachine guns.

"Tiger, then."

Duke threw a pistol to Tiger Chen, then picked it up by himself, stood in front of the open space, and said, "In my vision, this is a powerful ability that combines physical skills, spear skills, and brain computing power."

"Tiger, don't move!"

Duke pointed to the tiger Chen on the opposite side, and then made a move of drawing a gun and rushing at him, but he didn't go through any training, not to mention his slow movements, not handsome enough, but Duke just wanted to use his movements to be more handsome. Intuitively express this concept, "For example, now, when I meet a master like Tiger, he draws his gun at the fastest speed, strikes and suppresses it first with high-speed shooting, and at the same time, he also uses the firepower to rush to the enemy at high speed, and he starts a half-battle with the enemy. Shoot half-fighting mixed combat, and use the handle, hands, elbows, knees, feet, etc., to attack the enemy with powerful melee capabilities."

While talking, Duke made a few similar gestures to Tiger Chen. With his demonstration and Tiger Chen's translation, Yuan Heping over there gradually understood.

Duke added, "In my vision, a duel between two such masters must be very interesting, but Hollywood's traditional action style is based on strength, which is not suitable for designing this kind of fighting style."

"This... doesn't seem reasonable, doesn't it?"

Many people have heard Tiger Chen's translation. An older martial artist suddenly muttered something in Mandarin. He probably didn't think anyone here could understand.

This view is obviously endorsed by Yuan Heping. He said, "No one's brain computing ability and physical coordination ability can meet this requirement? This is completely unrealistic."

Realistic? Duke frowned, all he wanted was to be cool and cool enough to attract a wider audience.

"Mr. Yuan, this is a sci-fi film, and the real situation can be put aside." Duke handed the prop gun to Tina Fei and sat down in his seat again, "and those flying in the kung fu film The scene of flying back and forth is not realistic, is it?"

Yuan Heping thought for a while, then nodded lightly, "I will do the relevant research and design, and come up with a suitable plan as soon as possible."

"That will trouble Mr. Yuan." Duke was still very polite, he pointed to Charlize next to him, "Mr. Yuan, I think we should design different action routines based on the body characteristics of the male and female protagonists, such as Miss Theron. , her movements should make her look more sexy and agile." (To be continued~^~)

PS:  Tomorrow is still the third watch~~ I finally rushed out, I’m so tired and I’m going to the street~~ Ask for tickets~~