Extracting skills from movies

Gast had already practiced his positioning skills and nodded in agreement.

"OK, I know it very well."

At this moment, Ma Yaowei walked into the film set, handed him a prop pistol, and gave Du Sheng a sealed package of "Dream Planting" tools.

Yuan Heping asked:

"Should we rehearse one more time?"

Du Sheng laughed as she unpacked the package:

"No need, I've practiced."

He wasn't bragging; he played a similar "dream-planting" game with Jessica Alba just a couple of nights ago.

Of course, it's not a beatdown playstyle; it's purely for practicing action scenes!
Jessica is quick to understand and has a strong rapport with the other; the two of them, one acting and the other playing a supporting role, are incredibly efficient.

After the stylist finished touching up Du Sheng's makeup, he lay down next to the "pool of blood" on the ground, with red fake blood smeared on his lips, playing dead so convincingly.

Yuan Heping returned to the director's chair and scanned the scene through the monitor:
"All departments, get ready! Filming will begin in two minutes!"

Soon the script supervisor slammed the clapperboard, and filming officially began.

Gast walked into the hospital corridor with a pistol and saw his accomplice and Du Sheng lying in pools of blood. He quickly ran over to check on them.

He had just reached out to turn Du Sheng over when Du Sheng suddenly rolled over, spitting out a soft needle that slapped him across the face.

Gast shouted in unison:
"what!--"

In the blink of an eye, Du Sheng stood up, knocked Gast's gun away with one hand, and kicked it away.
He then leaped into the air and delivered a clean and crisp side kick!
Gast fell to the ground with a thud, crashing into a prop cabinet that had been set up beforehand. The cabinet door shattered on the floor, and he couldn't get up for a while.

Du Sheng didn't stop, rushing forward and delivering another straight punch, causing Gast's head to snap back violently, showcasing his superb acting skills.

Du Sheng walked to the "pool of blood," picked up the pistol on the ground, and bent down to check the bullets.

His hands hung naturally at his sides, his eyes fixed on the entrance to the passage, looking exactly like a cowboy about to engage in a duel.

As designed by directors Christopher and Yuan Heping, a classic scene from "Fight to the End" will be inserted here, bringing a knowing smile to the audience.

"Crack!"

Christopher nodded in satisfaction:
"very good!"

Yuan Heping then reminded:
"Ah Sheng, Gast, lie down! The other stunt performers, enter the arena!"

Several actors received prop guns from Ma Yaowei and entered the venue in the manner they had rehearsed.

Yuan Heping continued to provide guidance:
"Ah Sheng, watch your firing angle."
This time, it's not your usual style of play; it's going to be a cowboy showdown.

Du Sheng nodded with a smile.

With a command given, filming resumed.

Footsteps approached rapidly. Du Sheng performed a fancy revolver maneuver, gripping the handle with his left hand and steadily pressing down on the hammer with his right.

Several armed "enemies" came into view, and Du Sheng decisively pulled the trigger!

The gunshots were crisp and swift, and the speed was astonishing.

He has practiced a lot in the past two years, and his hand speed is entirely the result of hard work. He doesn't need any special effects to boost it!
Taylor, Theron, Blake, and Jessica can all testify!

After several gunshots, five "enemies" fell to the ground, and a piece of decorative glass was shattered by bullets.

Yuan Heping shouted excitedly:
“very good!”

After filming a scene, Yuan Heping announced that work was done.

Everyone ate lunch in the dining car and did not go out to rest.

The crew of the neighboring "Hurricane Season" saw Du Sheng coming from afar and immediately took a detour, as if they had seen a plague god.

Du Sheng carried the plate into the RV, and after Ma Yaowei sat down, she couldn't help but ask:
"Am I that scary?"

Ma Yaowei was known on set for his keen observation and sharp hearing, and laughed:
"You have no idea how bizarre the rumors are going around on set right now."

Everyone says you're the reincarnation of Satan; anyone who acts with you is doomed.

Du Sheng was stunned for a moment; this was the first time he had heard of it.
"Satan reincarnation?"
I am Chinese, not a birdman!

Ma Yaowei smiled:

"This news first came from Taraji's side."

She's a key member of the "crippled gang" and has a lot of grievances against you.

Du Sheng picked up a piece of food and said slowly:

"Doesn't she know that Satan is going to destroy the world?"

Upon hearing this, Ma Yaowei became enthusiastic:

"What? You're going to mess with her? Have you got a plan yet?"

Du Sheng waved his hand:
"Stop it!
We are decent people, why would we go out of our way to cause trouble?

We were merely retaliating passively!

He paused, his tone relaxed:
"Let others say what they want, as long as they don't say it to our faces, we can't take it so seriously."

Ma Yaowei turned his head and looked out the window, seeing Taraji and Forest Whitaker in the distance.

He knew that Whittaker and Lear Wayne had a good relationship and that Whittaker was somewhat dissatisfied with Du Sheng.

But they were just complaining behind my back, so we can't just kill them for that, can we?

After lunch and a nap, Du Sheng asked Ma Yaowei:

"Did the Century Journal or the Los Angeles Times publish any gossip or scandals about Harvey Weinstein?"

Ma Yaowei shook his head:
"Not yet."

He handed over the latest newspapers:

“Harvey is no ordinary person. I estimate that The Century Daily has not yet obtained solid evidence and will not act rashly.”

Du Sheng raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised:
"Not a sound at all?"

Ma Yaowei had been keeping a close eye on this matter and said:

“I’ve heard the exact word: that team chased us all the way from Los Angeles to New York; they definitely haven’t given up.”

Du Sheng kept this information in mind—you never know when this kind of thing might come in handy.

Ma Yaowei understood that Du Sheng wanted them to fight like dogs.

Du Sheng glanced at the time:
"We don't need to interfere, we just need to keep an eye on things."

"Understood. I've found a hidden informant who will guarantee we get useful clues."

As Ma Yaowei spoke, he took out his phone to make a call.

Du Sheng understood that fishing required patience.

The afternoon continued with action scenes, with gunfights in almost every scene.

He has honed his skills over the years, and these scenes are like daily training for him—easy to handle and master.

According to predictions, filming is expected to continue until November.

In addition to taking time to promote "Taken" during this period.

He spent the rest of his time monitoring global stock markets.

Recently, with the bursting of the Beacon Real Estate Bubble, the plunge in subprime mortgage-related products, and the bankruptcy of Bear Stearns' hedge funds, etc., the impact of these major events has been significant...

European and American financial institutions began to suffer widespread losses, and the financial crisis finally showed its fangs.

.........

In Los Angeles, the panoramic windows of Miracle Studios reflect the gloomy sky.

On that day, BNP Paribas suddenly announced the suspension of redemptions for three of its funds that invested in subprime mortgages, and the dominoes of the subprime crisis collapsed.

This also signifies the beginning of a global crisis. Du Sheng, taking a break from filming, is currently staring at the Nasdaq index fluctuating in real time on the wall, a cold smile playing on his lips.

"Amanda, check the order status on Apple, Amazon, and Google."

"All positions in Domino's Pizza and Facebook were liquidated, and Steam options contracts were hedged at market price..."

Amanda Hearst's voice carried a hint of excitement, accompanied by the distinctive sound of keyboard typing on a stock exchange:

"Apple's stock price plunged 3.7% after the subprime mortgage news was released, Amazon and Google also fell in tandem, and the bubble in the early stages of Facebook's IPO is bursting."

Our private placement channel has completed 92% of the sell-off, currently showing a floating profit of $16.9 billion, and we expect to lock in $18 billion in arbitrage profits before the market closes!

Du Sheng walked to the huge electronic screen and traced the steep downward curve on the Apple stock chart with his fingertip.

In the bottom right corner of the screen, CNBC is rolling news reports that the subprime mortgage default rate has surpassed 14%, and the anchor's voice is filled with disbelief and panic:
"...Does this mean that the subprime crisis will evolve into a global financial risk?"

"Get the dark pool trading system ready."

Du Sheng's eyes were like ice:
"The principal of $18 billion, leveraged three times, was all injected into short positions in Nasdaq 100 index futures."

Remember to diversify your investments using shell companies in the Cayman Islands, and make sure no institution can trace the source of the funds…

"Triple leverage?"

Amanda's voice wavered, a mixture of excitement and caution:
"The Federal Reserve may start cutting interest rates next week to rescue the market, and that's a good time to leverage up and short sell..."

"A bailout?"

Du Sheng chuckled softly, a laugh tinged with an all-knowing arrogance:

Do you think Paulson's $7000 billion bailout plan can stop the wave of bankruptcies at Lehman Brothers?

Just watch, Bear Stearns' collapse next March is just the beginning. The Nasdaq will plummet from 8000 points to 1500 points—that's the perfect opportunity for capital to hunt down speculators!

He walked to the window and looked down at the chaotic crowds on Wall Street below.

In a fleeting moment, my reflection in the glass showed a burning, age-inappropriate greed in my eyes.

$18 billion in cash was injected into the account like fresh blood, while the triple-leveraged short positions were like an open trap, just waiting for the Nasdaq behemoth to step on them.

"The power behind your Hearst family and Yixin should also be put to good use this time."

Du Sheng lowered his voice even further, with a hint of amusement:
"We let those short-selling institutions think that we suffered heavy losses in the subprime crisis, but they don't know that we had already turned 'high-quality assets' like Apple and Google into ammunition to hunt down US stocks."

Amanda's voice came through the headphones, taking a deep breath, with the calmness characteristic of aristocrats:
"Understood. The dark pool system has been activated, and the first short order of 5 million is being placed."

The Nasdaq 100 index is currently at 7852 points, and our target is 1500 points.

Du Sheng picked up the crystal glass on the table and swirled the amber-colored whiskey inside, the sound of the ice cubes clinking together crisply like war drums.

On the screen, the Nasdaq fell another 1.2%, while the numbers in his account were growing by tens of thousands per second.

"very good."

He tilted his head back and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp, a satisfied sigh escaping his throat as his Adam's apple bobbed.
"Let the Koch brothers and their old fogies keep going long. When the US stock market crashes next year, they'll thank us for this capital funeral."

Outside the window, a sudden thunderstorm poured down, as if setting the stage for the impending financial tsunami.

With $18 billion in principal and triple leverage, this hunting game, fueled by the subprime crisis, has only just begun.

With compound interest, reaching 10 billion US dollars is not a dream.

.........

November arrived before we knew it.

The filming of "Inception" is also nearing its end.

That day, the mechanical hum of the revolving corridor made people's eardrums vibrate.

Today we're filming the final scene.

One of the film's biggest highlights is its zero-gravity fighting.

Because the car in the first layer of the dream went out of control and crashed, the physical laws of the second layer of the dream were broken, and the entire hotel fell into a state of weightlessness.

Here, the male protagonist has to use props such as elevator shafts and ropes to flexibly deal with the enemy's attacks.

Du Sheng leaned against the cold metal wall and took a deep breath, the buckles of the harness making her ribs ache slightly.

Director Nolan's voice came through the walkie-talkie, with his usual calm:
"Arthur's punches need to be even more ruthless. Du, you need to remember, this isn't about showing off—it's about fighting for your life in zero gravity!"

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, playing Arthur, had just crawled out of the tumbling set, his costume collar sticky with artificial sweat.

He tugged at Du Sheng's arm:
"When I kick your knee later, I'll use that as leverage; when this thing spins, even a Steadicam would throw up!"

Suddenly, the robotic arm started up, and the entire corridor began to rotate at a speed of 0.8 revolutions per second.

Du Sheng felt his blood rush to his head. The wire suddenly tightened, and he used the centrifugal force to crash into the opposite wall, but twisted and rolled to the side at the moment of contact.

This is the third reshoot.

Nolan required him to create a feeling of being suspended in mid-air, as if "pressed down on the surface of water by an invisible hand," while in a state of complete weightlessness.

"stop!"

Nolan, behind the monitor, suddenly stood up, his leather shoes making a dull thud on the steel frame.
"Arthur, your movements are too clumsy."

Cobb should be in a dazed state right now; the pain is real, but his consciousness should be like it's soaked in alcohol..."

He pulled over the storyboard and pointed his fingertip at the fight scene:

“Du, every punch you throw should carry a sense of chaos, like you know you're dreaming, but you still insist on fighting against your subconscious.”

Du Sheng tilted his head back and gulped down half a bottle of electrolyte water. As his Adam's apple bobbed, he caught a glimpse of the vomit bag in the corner of the set.

Joseph vomited here three times yesterday.

The mechanic was adjusting the hydraulic system, and the crystal chandelier on the ceiling of the corridor flickered out tiny specks of light as it rotated, making it seem as if it were truly floating in zero gravity.

"Let's do it one more time to finish properly."

He threw the water bottle at the stagehand, and as he tightened the harness buckle again, he suddenly laughed:

"If this were really a dream, wouldn't we have finished filming and gone home by now?"

Nolan's lips rarely curved into a smile:

"Let's talk about it when you can make the top spin forever."

The corridor began to flip again.

This time, Du Sheng let his body crash into the elevator door due to inertia. As Joseph's fist grazed his nose, he suddenly curled up and did an unconventional side roll, his knee hitting the other's ribs precisely.

This action wasn't in the script, but it made Nolan clench his fists tightly in front of the monitor.

"Hold!"

He growled into the walkie-talkie:
"That's the kind of crazy spirit—knowing it's fake, but insisting on taking it seriously!"

The sounds of steel frames rubbing together, wires swaying, and actors panting mingled together.

When Du Sheng finally used a fire axe to break open the elevator door and watched Joseph float into the weightless car like a falling leaf, he suddenly remembered what Nolan had said before filming began:
"The most terrifying thing about dreams is not the collapse of logic, but that you know it's fake, yet you still choose to believe it's real."

The corridor slowly came to a stop, and sweat dripped down Du Sheng's chin onto the floor, leaving a small, dark water stain.

Cheers from the props team could be heard in the distance.

Joseph leaned against the wall and dry heaved, the towel in his hand still smelling faintly of disinfectant.

"Rule #8, passed!"

Nolan's voice came through the walkie-talkie, carrying a hint of barely perceptible fatigue.

Upon hearing the word "pass," Du Sheng stopped his levitation.

The entire crew turned to look at the director, and the air seemed to freeze for a few seconds.

…(End of this chapter)