Huayu: Hard fight against Zhang Weiping at the beginning

Chapter 671: Big Brother
At 5:30 a.m. local time, the sky over Dubai was still a tranquil, inky blue. The Burj Khalifa stood like a giant in the city center, its top piercing the morning mist and faintly gleaming with a cold metallic light.

Just this January, the Burj Khalifa was officially renamed, reportedly in gratitude to Abu Dhabi. During the 2008 financial crisis, the Burj Khalifa faced financial difficulties, and Abu Dhabi provided financial assistance.

The bus carrying the entire cast and crew of "Mission: Impossible 4" slowly pulled into the exclusive parking lot at the foot of the tower. The parking lot was filled with luxury cars of various brands, all of which were Prince Rashid's personal collection and were temporarily used to enhance the filming experience.

Zhang Chen wrapped his windproof jacket tighter around himself and glanced at the world's tallest building, which stood at 828 meters.

Today is the official filming day. After several days of practice, Tom Cruise is completely familiar with the situation. The crew has decided to start filming the scene where Ethan Hunt climbs the Burj Khalifa without any equipment today.

"Attention all departments, complete the equipment setup within half an hour!"

The assistant director shouted through a megaphone, his voice echoing across the empty square.

The staff sprang into action; some carried heavy photography equipment to the designated camera positions, some set up safety cordons around the base of the tower, and others inspected the climbing equipment for the special effects team.

Zhang Chen walked over to Tom Cruise and watched as he was being helped by staff to put on a special climbing suit covered with tiny sensors to capture the subtle movements of every muscle.

"How are you feeling?" Zhang Chen patted him on the shoulder.

Tom Cruise grinned and flexed his wrists: "I went to bed two hours earlier last night, so I'm in top form."

Zhang Chen confirmed one last time: "Are you sure you don't want a stunt double?"

"I am sure."

Tom Cruise responded with a smile. Since their collaboration began with Mission: Impossible III, he has had an almost obsessive pursuit of "realism," which is the key to the series' global box office and critical success.

Zhang Chen and the safety team re-checked the anchor points on the climbing route, verifying each buckle three times over. The safety rope connecting to the tower was made of a special material that could withstand a pulling force three times Tom Cruise's weight.

"The anemometer shows that the wind force is currently at level three, which meets the conditions for filming."

The script supervisor ran over to report, his record sheet filled with data.

Zhang Chen nodded and put on his walkie-talkie headset: "Camera No. 1 is responsible for shooting the panoramic view from a low angle, Camera No. 2 is responsible for shooting close-ups from the mid-level platform, and Drone No. 3 is ready (don't be surprised, drones were already used for film and television shooting in 2010). Please maintain a safe distance. All units, please confirm and reply when finished."

"Unit 1 received."

"Unit 2 is ready."

"Drone crew on standby."

A series of responses came through the earpiece. Zhang Chen took a deep breath and shouted into the walkie-talkie the words he had said countless times: "Filming begins!"

Tom Cruise took a deep breath, gripped the metal supports on the tower wall with both hands, and began to slowly climb upwards by bracing his feet against the pre-set footholds.

As sunlight gradually pierced through the morning mist, golden rays shone on the glass curtain wall of the Burj Khalifa, reflecting a dazzling light and casting a long shadow on him.

The camera on camera 1 slowly pans up from the base of the tower, capturing the scene of it climbing step by step, with the Dubai cityscape gradually awakening in the background, and the Palm Islands in the distance lying like a green dragon on the Persian Gulf.

Zhang Chen stared intently at the monitor, his finger sliding across the screen to zoom in on Tom Cruise's face—his brows were slightly furrowed, his gaze focused and resolute, and fine beads of sweat had formed on his forehead, yet it did not affect the fluidity of his movements in the slightest.

"Slow down a bit, and sharpen your eyes."

Zhang Chen gave instructions via walkie-talkie, and Tom Cruise responded quickly, adjusting his climbing rhythm, with every movement filled with power and urgency.

Half an hour into filming, when Tom Cruise had climbed to about a third of the tower's height, the sky suddenly changed color.

The previously calm wind suddenly intensified, whistling past the tower walls, and the resulting airflow caused Tom Cruise's body to sway slightly.

"The anemometer shows the wind is currently at force seven!" The script supervisor's voice carried a hint of panic.

Zhang Chen's heart jumped into his throat as he stared intently at Tom Cruise's figure on the monitor—he was clinging tightly to the support frame, his body pressed against the tower wall, his clothes fluttering in the wind.

"Stop climbing immediately!"

Zhang Chen shouted into the walkie-talkie, "Come down slowly, be careful!"

Tom Cruise did not hesitate at all, and slowly retreated along the planned descent route, taking every step with extreme caution.

As soon as his feet touched the ground, the security team immediately surrounded him to check on his condition. Zhang Chen also quickly ran over and patted his back: "Are you alright? Is anything bothering you?"

Tom Cruise wiped the sweat from his face and shook his head: "It's nothing, the wind just came too suddenly."

The wind grew stronger and stronger, and the sunshades on the square were blown so hard they were about to collapse.

Zhang Chen convened an emergency meeting with the heads of various departments. Looking at the raging wind outside the window, he frowned and said, "The meteorological department said that this wind will blow until at least 2 p.m., so the outdoor filming is definitely out of the question."

The assistant director was getting anxious: "What about today's schedule? Our time is very tight, if we have to postpone it until tomorrow..."

Zhang Chen pondered for a moment: "Today we'll shoot an indoor scene! The one where the two sides exchange nuclear missile codes..."

Everyone's eyes lit up; this plan was both time-efficient and made full use of the existing site resources.

"Immediately notify the set design team to double-check the props for the penthouse suite, and the actors should prepare for makeup and costume changes."

Zhang Chen quickly issued instructions, and the crew got busy again. The tension brought by the strong wind was instantly replaced by efficient execution.

The suites on the top floor of the Burj Khalifa are decorated with extreme luxury, with crystal chandeliers emitting a soft glow, floor-to-ceiling windows offering a 360-degree panoramic view of the city, and the Persian Gulf shimmering in the sunlight.

This is a key scene in Mission: Impossible 4 where Ethan Hunt confronts the villainous leader, showcasing their intellectual battle.

High technology, intellectual battles, and impossible missions – these three elements have always been the core selling points of the Mission: Impossible series, and also its distinctive features that set it apart from other spy films.

Before filming began, Zhang Chen specifically asked Jing Tian and Zhu Li to rehearse their lines.

Jing Tian plays an IMF female agent and has a fight scene with Julie.

"When filming starts, Jing Tian, ​​you need to pay attention to the changes in your eyes, from the initial nervousness to gradually being led by Ethan, and finally showing the instincts of a secret agent at the crucial moment."

"Julie, you can unleash your full potential a bit more. Don't try to suppress it. Let the audience immediately feel that although this character is a woman, she's very powerful."

Both nodded seriously and began rehearsing their positions on the field.

In this version of Mission: Impossible 4, Zhang Chen specially added a scene where Abu teaches Ethan a fighting technique on the spot. This scene not only showcases Abu's formidable fighting skills but also serves as a comedic moment to ease the tense atmosphere.

Judging from the shooting, the effect is good.

After Abu swiftly and decisively took down Julie's men, Ethan tried to imitate Abu's moves and managed to take down his opponent, but compared to Abu's swift and decisive action, Ethan looked much more disheveled.

Ethan's disheveled appearance made the staff on site burst into laughter.

"Great, that's the feeling!"

Zhang Chen clapped and laughed behind the monitor, "One more take, keep this natural interaction."

In the latter half of the dialogue scenes, when Julie points a gun at Jing Tian and threatens Ethan to hand over confidential documents, Jing Tian's performance is noticeably restrained. Although the fear in her eyes is genuine, it still seems somewhat weak compared to Julie's powerful aura.

Jing Tian was clearly overshadowed in her roles.

The assistant director whispered to Zhang Chen, "Should we call a stop and give Jing Tian some acting instructions?"

Zhang Chen shook his head, staring intently at the monitor: "No need. Look at her hands, they're trembling slightly. That's exactly the reaction Jing Tian's character should have—she's not the battle-hardened Ethan. Her nervousness and helplessness when facing a life-or-death threat are more in line with the character's persona."

Julie's presence overshadowed hers, which perfectly highlighted the villain's power; the scene was even more effective than I had anticipated.

Sure enough, when the footage was played back after filming, everyone was captivated by this tense scene. Jing Tian's naivety and Julie's assertiveness formed a stark contrast, making the dramatic conflict of the scene even more intense.

At noon, the film crew wrapped up work and took a break.

Just as everyone was about to eat their boxed lunches, the roar of car engines came from afar. A convoy of more than a dozen black luxury cars slowly drove into the parking lot. At the front was a customized Rolls-Royce Phantom, its body gleaming with a low-key yet luxurious light in the sunlight.

"Prince Rashid has arrived!"

Someone whispered, and the crew members all looked over curiously.

The car door opened, and Prince Rashid stepped out with a smile, dressed in a white traditional robe, followed by several attendants carrying exquisite food boxes.

"Zhang, Tom Cruise, thank you all for your hard work."

The prince stepped forward and warmly shook hands with the two, saying, "Knowing that today's filming schedule is heavy, I specially asked the royal kitchen to prepare some snacks and lunch for everyone to try."

The attendants opened the food box, which was filled with various Dubai specialties: fragrant roasted whole lamb, Arabic desserts covered with almond shavings, fresh dates and figs, and steaming saffron rice.

The crew members were flattered and thanked the prince profusely. Zhang Chen smiled and said, "Your Highness is too kind. We should be the ones treating you to dinner."

Prince Rashid waved his hand: "It is our honor to invite the Mission: Impossible crew to film in Dubai. This city needs more international blockbusters like this to showcase its charm, and you are the best storytellers."

Tom Cruise chimed in, saying, "The Burj Khalifa is truly magnificent. While climbing it, I kept thinking, if Ethan's mission fails, will he fall straight into the Persian Gulf?"

One sentence made everyone burst into laughter, and the atmosphere at the scene immediately became relaxed and pleasant.

During a break from everyone's meal, Zhang Chen and Tom Cruise hid in a rest area to discuss the problems they encountered during the morning's filming.

"After the wind subsides in the afternoon, we need to speed up the climbing scenes and try to finish filming within three days."

Zhang Chen took out the script and marked the key points on it. "I just watched the replay. The close-up of your hands when you were climbing can be enhanced, such as the veins bulging when your fingers are gripping the support. This will better show the difficulty of the movement."

Tom Cruise took a sip from his water bottle, nodded, and said, "No problem, I'll be careful this afternoon. Actually, I felt my condition getting better and better up there, but the wind came too suddenly. Don't worry, as long as the wind is right, I'll definitely be able to finish."

Seeing the determination in Tom Cruise's eyes, Zhang Chen felt relieved. He genuinely admired Cruise for his dedication to the film, insisting on performing such a difficult stunt as climbing the Burj Khalifa himself.

He truly is an actor who always strives for perfection.

At 2:30 p.m., the meteorological department reported that the wind had weakened to level three, which met the requirements for filming.

The crew was ready to go again, and Tom Cruise put on his climbing gear again. This time, his eyes were even sharper than in the morning.

"All units prepare, the second filming begins!"

Zhang Chen's voice came through the walkie-talkie, and Tom Cruise embarked on his climbing journey once again.

The sun was shining brightly, and the breeze was gentle. His movements were even more fluid than in the morning, and every raise of his hand and every kick of his leg was full of power.

A drone hovered slowly around him, capturing images of him blending seamlessly with the Burj Khalifa.

On the middle platform, Unit 2 focused on his face. Sweat dripped from his forehead, refracting a dazzling light onto the glass of the tower wall, but it did nothing to affect his concentration. When Tom Cruise had climbed halfway up the tower, Zhang Chen suddenly shouted into the walkie-talkie, "Stop!"

Everyone tensed up, thinking something had gone wrong again. Zhang Chen pointed at the monitor and said, "Ah Tang, your turn just now was perfect. Could you do it again? I'd like a slow-motion replay..."

Tom Cruise responded with a smile: "No problem, whatever you say, director."

He adjusted his posture and turned around again—his brows furrowed slightly, and his eyes instantly sharpened, as if he had truly discovered a threat lurking in the shadows.

"Perfect!"

Zhang Chen shouted excitedly, "Keep going up!"

After filming wrapped up for the day, the crew returned to their hotel by bus.

Night has fallen, and the streets of Dubai are illuminated with dazzling lights. A spectacular light show begins atop the Burj Khalifa, with colorful lights reflected on the surface of the Persian Gulf, creating a breathtaking scene.

But the crew's work wasn't over yet. Zhang Chen led the director team and heads of various departments to the hotel's conference room, where the day's shooting footage and the work plan for the next day were spread out on the table.

"The footage of today's climbing scene is perfect; all that's needed in post-production is a slight adjustment to the color tone."

The editor said as he played the playback.

Zhang Chen nodded, pointed to the schedule, and said, "We're filming the broken window scene tomorrow. The props team should come to the set to make sure everything is in order."

"no problem."

Everyone took careful notes. The only sounds in the meeting room were the scratching of pens on paper and the occasional chatter. It wasn't until 10 p.m. that all the details for the next day were finalized.

The following day, the filming progressed exceptionally smoothly. Not only did they complete the climbing scenes ahead of schedule, but they also filmed part of the sandstorm chase scene.

This part of the scene was also filmed using a combination of live-action and special effects. The crew used a blower to simulate a real sandstorm and prepared an appropriate amount of real sand to ensure that the sand falling on Ethan during filming was realistic.

After eleven days of intense filming, all scenes related to Dubai have been successfully completed, and the crew will move to Prague tomorrow.

To celebrate the successful filming, Prince Rashid hosted a grand celebratory dinner at the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai.

The banquet venue was decorated in a magnificent and luxurious style, with crystal chandeliers, precious flowers, and exquisite tableware. Every detail exuded luxury and sophistication.

The entire crew attended the event dressed in formal attire. Tom Cruise wore a black suit, while Jing Tian wore a bright red dress, looking radiant and beautiful.

After the banquet began, Prince Rashid gave the opening remarks: "Welcome to Dubai, everyone. Thank you to the Mission: Impossible 4 crew for bringing us such a wonderful filming experience."

You captured the beauty of Dubai with your cameras, and also showed the world the city's vitality and charm.

I believe that when this movie is released, even more people will want to come and see it.

Afterwards, Zhang Chen went on stage to deliver a thank-you speech.

Holding the microphone, he looked at the familiar faces below the stage, his heart filled with emotion: "First of all, I want to thank His Highness Prince Rashid for providing so much support and help to the crew. From coordinating the filming locations to logistical support, you made our filming in Dubai go incredibly smoothly."

Secondly, I want to thank my team and every staff member for their hard work. It is because of you that we have achieved today's results. It is because of you that we moved equipment under the scorching sun, stayed up all night to adjust the script, and remained calm at critical moments.

Finally, I want to thank Tom Cruise for his love and dedication to film. You demonstrated what an 'impossible mission' truly means.

A round of enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience, and Tom Cruise even stood up to wave and greet them with a warm smile.

Halfway through the dinner, Prince Rashid suddenly picked up the microphone and said with a smile, "Everyone is leaving tomorrow, so I have a little surprise for you all today..."

I've already arranged a car to take everyone to the Dubai Mall for shopping.

Tonight, everything is on me! Shopping, dining, or entertainment—just mention my name and it's all free!

As soon as he finished speaking, cheers erupted from the audience, and the young staff members excitedly high-fived each other.

The Dubai Mall, one of the world's largest shopping malls, with its dazzling array of luxury goods and unique products, had long been a tempting destination for them.

Tom Cruise and Angelina Jolie exchanged a glance, both seeing a knowing look in each other's eyes.

Julie whispered to Tom Cruise, "It seems His Highness has something to say to Director Zhang alone. Let's leave now."

Tom Cruise nodded. "I just happened to see a car I liked."

Julie: "Since you're so blunt, that's perfect, I've also got my eye on a necklace~"

The two left the banquet hall with the others.

Soon, the once lively banquet hall was left with only Zhang Chen, Gulina, and Prince Rashid.

"You should go too. You don't need to stay here with me. Opportunities to rob rich people don't come around often~"

Zhang Chen was surprised that Gulina was so dedicated, managing to resist going shopping and instead staying here with him.

"Can...can you?"

Gulina certainly wanted to go, but she remembered that she was Zhang Chen's assistant, and wherever Zhang Chen was, she had to be there too.

"Go ahead, it's okay."

Gulina left with a cheer, Rashid waved, and his entourage tactfully retreated outside the door.

Only Rashid and Zhang Chen remained in the room. Prince Rashid put down his wine glass, his smile fading slightly, and his tone became serious: "Zhang, actually, I've come to you today because I have a private matter I'd like to ask for your help with."

Zhang Chen shrugged, signaling him to continue.

"You should know that the situation in the Middle East has always been unstable. A few years ago, that ambitious old man, Saddam, was causing trouble everywhere and had even deployed troops on the Saudi border. If Saudi Arabia hadn't relied on the 'firecrackers' it bought from China, it probably wouldn't exist now."

The prince's eyes held a hint of envy. "Although the situation in the UAE is currently stable, we still need this kind of protection. I've heard you have extensive connections and considerable influence in China. I wonder if you could help put in a good word for us so we can also buy a few 'firecrackers' from China?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen felt a chill run down his spine.

You come to me for something like this?

Are you mistaken? I'm just a movie actor.

During the filming period in Dubai, Prince Rashid was indeed very helpful, not only waiving all the usage fees for the Burj Khalifa but also providing comprehensive logistical support.

When luxury cars were needed for filming, the prince brought out dozens of his own cars and generously said that it wouldn't matter if they were damaged.

Every time he visits the set, it's the happiest time for the crew, with a constant supply of delicious food and gifts. Today, he went all out, letting the entire crew shop to their heart's content, and he paid for everything.

Keep in mind that a film crew consists of hundreds of people.

Since His Highness was so helpful, Zhang Chen couldn't very well refuse outright, but this was indeed a matter he couldn't get involved in.

He pondered for a moment, then said frankly, "Your Highness, to be honest, I am just a director, and I don't have the power you claim."

Arms deals involve politics and diplomacy between countries, and are beyond the scope of my expertise as an ordinary person.

A hint of disappointment flashed across Prince Rashid's face. Seeing this, Zhang Chen changed the subject: "However, while I can't directly help you close the deal, I can teach you a way to improve relations with China. You know, China is a non-aligned country, but it's very generous to its friends..."

The prince's eyes lit up, and he quickly asked, "What method? Tell me quickly."

"It's very simple, just become China's 'number one'."

Zhang Chen smiled and said, "China has always adhered to the concept of mutually beneficial cooperation. As long as you sincerely cooperate with China, the relationship will naturally get better and better over time. At that time, it will be much easier to make reasonable requests, and even unreasonable requests can be discussed."

Prince Rashid asked with some confusion, "In what specific areas will we cooperate? We already have a lot of cooperation in the oil and finance sectors."

"science and technology."

Zhang Chen said firmly, "China's technological development is very rapid now, especially in the aerospace field. You can start from there."

"aerospace?"

The prince paused for a moment, "The UAE does not currently have its own satellites or aerospace technology."

"This is precisely an opportunity for cooperation."

Zhang Chen explained, “The UAE can provide the funding, while China will be responsible for designing, launching, and maintaining the satellite. This way, you will not only have your first satellite, but also cultivate a group of local aerospace talents. Once the satellite is successfully launched, the UAE will be one of the few countries in the Middle East with its own satellite, which will not only enhance the country's technological strength but also strengthen its international influence.”

Prince Rashid's eyes grew brighter as he listened, and he couldn't wait any longer: "Go on, what else?"

"There's something even further away."

Zhang Chen took a sip of water and continued, "China is currently working on space station technology, and you can sponsor it in advance."

It's better to offer help in times of need than to add flowers to brocade. The treatment you receive when you make friends with China before it becomes developed will definitely be different from the treatment you receive after it becomes developed.

Once the technology is mastered and the space station is launched, will we be given two seats so that our astronauts can also go up and take a ride?

Think about it, this is a unique honor in the Middle East, enough for you to brag about for a lifetime.

The prince hesitated for a moment: "But does China really have that capability? I've heard that NASA has been prohibiting China from participating in international space projects."

Zhang Chen smiled, his tone tinged with pride: "On the contrary, it is precisely because of the ban that China has embarked on a path of independent innovation."

You can look up China's history. Back then, we didn't even have the blueprints for the atomic bomb, but we still developed it on our own.
NASA has banned China from participating in space programs, but China will still launch its satellites, conduct manned spaceflight, and build a space station.

China has never lacked the courage to start over or the strength to overcome difficulties; this is something the whole world has witnessed.

Prince Rashid was silent for a moment, then suddenly slammed his hand on the table: "Fine! I'll do as you say! Tomorrow I'll convene a cabinet meeting to discuss the space program with China. Zhang, thank you for your suggestion, you're truly a benefactor!"

He excitedly grasped Zhang Chen's hand, his eyes filled with determination.

Zhang Chen smiled and said, "No need to thank me, we're friends, aren't we?"

Rashid laughed heartily: "Yes, we are friends, and friends should help each other."

"Yes, friends should help each other. As long as the UAE sincerely cooperates with China, it will surely reap more surprises in the future."

(End of this chapter)