Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 396 The Wolf's Ambition Can No Longer Be Hidden
The director of Shaolin Temple is Zhang Xinyan. His life story is well-documented and needs no further elaboration. In the last century, Zhang Xinyan was indeed one of the top martial arts directors in China.

At this time, Zhang Xinyan was conducting final training. He was going to film Shaolin Temple, and many of the people he found were not professional actors, so they naturally needed some training and practice before they could go on set.

This is also why Zhou Guoduo produced many good works in the 1980s.

No one uses experiencing a role as a selling point, because actors today must experience a role. If they can't even experience a role, they have no right to call themselves actors.

At this moment, Zhang Xinyan is training actors in Baijing, but there is one thing that is troubling him.

Speaking of...

Shaolin Temple is so dilapidated!

Actually, Shaolin Temple was originally very magnificent, but it fell into disrepair in the 1970s for well-known reasons. He initially thought that he could take pictures of just a few main halls, but he only realized how dilapidated it was when he climbed up to Shaolin Temple.

There's no way to film it unless it's completely renovated or the location is found elsewhere.

But no matter what, it will cost a lot of money.

But what happened next really surprised Zhang Xinyan.

"You mean there were two Japanese men who wanted to renovate the Shaolin Temple, and they both wanted to pay for it, and they almost got into a fight over it?"

The employee in front of him nodded: "Yes."

Zhang Xinyan slammed his hand on the table.

Damn it, it must be the Japanese who have their eyes on Shaolin Temple's national treasures!

The employee hesitated to speak.

Director, I'm not saying this out loud.

But what national treasures does Shaolin Temple have left now? The main hall is gone, and the few buildings that remain are reconstructions from after the Cultural Revolution. If you really want to name one, maybe only a few monks inside can be considered national treasures.

You can't exactly say that the Japanese kidnapped a few old monks to take care of them!
"They must want something in return! The Japanese aren't stupid, why would they do something so thankless? I won't agree! If they take the Japanese money, they might ask for even more in return!"

The employee leaned closer and whispered a few words in his ear.

"You're absolutely right. The Japanese do have a lot they want! They want investment, overseas copyrights, guarantees of overseas distribution, and they also want actors, to participate, to be credited, and to have the script revised. Oh, and they said there's an actor named Akira Furuya who wants to be the male lead."

"Bullshit! Do you think I'd let a Japanese guy play our leading man?!"

Zhang Xinyan wanted to curse but stopped himself.

Changing the script is definitely not an option, casting a Japanese actor as the lead is even worse, and casting actors as supporting roles is also unacceptable. Shaolin Temple must be a Chinese film.

But don't say it yet.

He thought for a moment.

If the Japanese want the film and want to distribute it overseas, that's not surprising. The Japanese are the type to take advantage of others' misfortunes.

On the surface, Shaolin Temple appears to be a Hong Kong film, but it is actually a mainland film that has been listed on the stock exchange through a shell company.

The strength of overseas distribution is naturally not very strong.

Without even saying a word, Zhang Xinyan already had a plan in mind.

Overseas copyrights can be sold, money can be collected, and it's not impossible to insert one or two actors if necessary.

However, the lead actor is absolutely unacceptable, and the script is absolutely not to be modified by outsiders. All of these are unacceptable.

"Let's go! It's time to meet our international friends!"

Zhang Xinyan said this with a hint of mockery.

The training camp is almost over, and it's time to start filming.

"By the way, what was the name of that Japanese guy you just mentioned?"

The employee responded, "Kugu Akira."

……

……

As the old saying goes.

If you want to open a window, then smash the ceiling.

Gu Ming knew that it was impossible for him to invest or do anything; the country strictly controlled this aspect.

However, if you add a lot of outrageous conditions, then you can reconcile them.

For example, the later "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" had a large amount of Japanese investment, and even the costumes, props and sets in the story had obvious Japanese influences.

But there is one thing that cannot be changed.

The script revisions and casting were not to be interfered with by the Japanese. At the time, the Japanese side intended to cast Sonny Chiba as Cao Cao and Hiroyuki Sanada as Liu Bei. They recommended actors for many roles, but these were rejected domestically. In the end, they only secured Japanese investment in exchange for accepting investment, costumes, and props, and sold the copyright to Japan at a low price.

Later, when Romance of the Three Kingdoms was shown in Japan, it was indeed a great success.

Now Gu Ming is doing something similar.

He knew these conditions were outrageous, which is why he brought them up.

This way, we can at least secure overseas copyrights, and at the very least, secure Japanese copyrights.

We could also invest a little more to help make the filming of Shaolin Temple even more perfect.

Moreover.

What if Zhang Xinyan can't resist the temptation of money and decides to let him play the male lead?

Gu Ming pondered that one should still have dreams.

Maybe it can happen!
I heard that Zhang Xinyan will be taking the actors to Shaolin Temple tomorrow. Today, Gu Ming, unusually, didn't bother Zong Daochen, but instead went to find the accompanying personnel.

That is, Zhen Zidan.

Actually, Gu Ming originally planned to bring Takeshi Kitano along, because Kitano also has a rather big mouth.

However, after thinking it over, Gu Ming felt that Zhen Zidan's mouth was bigger and that she had experience acting in films, so she was more suitable no matter how you looked at it. Therefore, he changed his mind and brought Zhen Zidan with him.

"Dennis."

"Wow, Brother Gugu, you suddenly ran over and startled me!"

Zhen Zidan used to call him that naturally, but then asked Gu Ming hesitantly, "Brother Gu, what do you think of Zhou Guo?"

"It's great. The people are friendly, the food is good, and everyone is very energetic, which is something that Japan doesn't have these days. But we won't talk about that today," Gu Ming said. "I heard from that abbot that Zhou Guo is planning to make a movie about Shaolin Temple."

Zhen Zidan nodded.

Gu Ming said, "I plan to invest some money, and if possible... I plan to recommend you for the male lead."

quack!
Zhen Zidan almost cried out.

And such a good thing!

Zhen Zidan suddenly became a little hesitant.

That's so kind of him, surely he'll have to give something in return?

The thought of how handsome he was made Zhen Zidan feel a chill run down her spine.

No, not there!

Gu Ming, seemingly oblivious, said, "When that director arrives, I'll introduce you to him. You must perform well and try your best; this movie might even need our battle formation instructor."

Zhen Zidan nodded frantically.

No problem, we'll definitely get it!
Gu Ming nodded solemnly.

Poor, poor.

Dan Ge probably doesn't know that when it comes to fighting skills, he will never be able to beat Jet Li.

Although Li Lianjie's reputation was later ruined, there was one thing he couldn't change.

He is skilled in martial arts and has the natural charisma of a leading man; the title of "Kung Fu Emperor" is well-deserved.

Both comedic and hard-hitting fight scenes have been blocked by Jet Li and Jackie Chan. If they don't take those paths, Donnie Yen will never have a chance to make a name for herself in Asia.

Given that Jet Li has been chosen as the male lead, unless Jet Li breaks his own leg tomorrow to film the movie, there's no way Donnie Yen will get the role.

Therefore, Gu Ming knew that bringing Zhen Zidan along was just a formality, and he would definitely not be noticed.

But it might be possible for some supporting roles.

"I'll introduce Master Ye to the director then. Master Ye has such a big mouth, he might let a few things slip out, and Director Zhang Xinyan will easily manipulate this young man and trick him into saying anything. Ah... that'll solve the problem!"

Gu Ming slapped his thigh.

Zhen Zidan was horrified.

No, that won't work.

This really won't work!

As expected, Furuya Akira still coveted his body; otherwise, why would he slap his thigh?

(End of this chapter)