Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 569 Renting a High-Speed ​​Camera
Hong Kong.

Gu Ming was dumbfounded after hearing Tanaka's report.

"What did you say?! He rejected me? How is that possible?!"

Gu Ming found it hard to believe that Jean-Claude Van Damme, at his current level, would refuse a performance opportunity.

Tanaka was also helpless: "To be precise, it wasn't a rejection, but that the other party simply didn't believe it. He thought it was a very strange thing that someone would ask him to act in a film on the other side of the world, in Japan and Hong Kong. At the time, I said that I was working for Mr. Akira Furuya, and he said that he was working for old Louis."

Gu Ming asked, "Who is Old Louis?"

Tanaka said, "He said that old Louis was the owner of the fast food restaurant where he worked."

Gu Ming hissed.

Cheng Long leaned closer: "Didn't you say my name?"

Tanaka said, "I mentioned it, but he said he didn't know him."

Cheng Long felt depressed.

How could I not recognize him! He's a very famous person in Hong Kong, and he's also quite well-known overseas. He's acted in some films, and I still don't know him!

Tanaka was too embarrassed to say it.

At least the other party called out Gu Ming's name, but when Cheng Long was mentioned, they didn't recognize him at all.

"Hey Gu, why don't we look for someone else? I heard there's a Thai boxing champion or something, he's pretty good, why do we have to look for this person?"

Gu Ming responded.

If Jean-Claude Van Damme isn't good enough, we can find someone else; we don't need another action actor.

Considering the timeline, preparing a film isn't going to be that quick.

"If this person doesn't come, I won't bother him anymore. I have to go to America for some business. Brother Long, do you want to come along?"

Jackie Chan retorted, "What are you going to America for? You're not going to see that actor, are you?"

"Of course not. I had someone in the US customize a piece of photography equipment. It's very rare; you can only buy it in the US right now. If we can get that equipment, it will achieve the effect we envision!"

The equipment Gu Ming wanted to buy was a high-speed camera.

It's a set, not just one, because Gu Ming needs to rent ten such high-speed cameras.

Leasing instead of buying is the only option because it's too expensive for any company to afford. Therefore, leasing is necessary, and the other party may even send someone to accompany the company throughout the process.

The reason for buying a high-speed camera was simple: Gu Ming wanted to shoot 'bullet time'.

Bullet time, most famously known from The Matrix, was actually attempted before that. There are three main ways to create a bullet time effect. One is to use a camera and move it via a crane, but this only captures the trajectory of the bullet and doesn't produce a truly impressive effect.

Another approach is the one used in The Matrix.

During the filming of The Matrix, 120 high-speed cameras were used to surround Keanu Reeves to create the bullet-time effect.

That would be too expensive; the cost of 120 units is something Gu Ming can't afford.

The third type requires the cooperation of the camera and the actor, requiring the actor to repeatedly appear in the same position for repeated filming.

It's a bit tiring, but it's relatively cheap.

Even so, renting these ten high-speed cameras still cost a lot of money, close to one million US dollars.

The cost of 200 million yen was used to rent ten high-speed cameras for filming.

The cost of just this one high-speed camera alone has exceeded the production cost of Gu Ming's previous films.

It's worth noting that Haruki Kadokawa only spent two or three hundred million yen to prepare Satomi Hakkenden.

This high-speed camera system is comparable to the Satomi Hachikenden series that Haruki Kadokawa was preparing.

Jackie Chan didn't understand what Gu Ming was doing, but he had a bit of a psychological aversion to America because he was badly criticized when he went to film "Killer Tycoon" last time.

"I won't be going. I'll stay here and prepare for the filming, get the props ready, and so on. Good luck over there!"

Gu Ming nodded.

So, he was the only one who could make the trip himself for these ten cameras.

…… ……

United States.

All ten cameras were manufactured by the renowned American company Kodak.

In modern times, if you search for Kodak online, the first result will be the name of the actor Wanhe, Kodak. But just a few years ago, Kodak represented the world's top photographic equipment company.

Despite having a variety of well-known photography equipment companies in Japan, such as Sony, Fujifilm, and Nikon, Kodak from the United States remains the top brand.

So Gu Ming is currently working at Kodak.

The man who greeted Gu Ming was a typical older white man. He had a long name that I couldn't remember, but I do remember that he was a man named Harvey.

"It is a pleasure to reach such a cooperation agreement with you. However, these ten cameras are quite valuable, and we hope you will take good care of them. Kodak will also send personnel to supervise the entire process to prevent any problems with the equipment. In addition, the equipment needs to be insured before leasing it, and this cost will also be borne by your company."

Gu Ming responded.

These are not unacceptable conditions.

"So, who will Kodak send to supervise this?"

Harvey pointed back: "It is indeed me."

Harvey and ten cameras are all set up. Gu Ming can then take these things back to start filming.

These devices certainly couldn't achieve a true bullet-time effect, but they could still produce visual effects unprecedented in the 1980s.

Gu Ming doesn't expect it to be as amazing as The Matrix, but even a tiny shot would be enough.

Harvey shook hands with Gu Ming and said, "You'll have to take me with you the whole time during filming."

Gu Ming replied, "Of course! Please!"

The two shook hands, and after the business was discussed, the atmosphere in the meeting room relaxed.

Harvey raised his hand to look at his watch and smiled, "I wonder if you have any more plans in the United States? I can have someone arrange it."

"I don't have any schedule... wait a minute."

Gu Ming suddenly looked up: "Do you know old Louis?"

"Old man, what?"

“Old Louis, I guess he’s someone who owns a fast food restaurant. Louis is probably just his name.”

Gu Ming shrugged: "Old Louis Fast Food Restaurant."

Harvey fell into thought.

That's a bit too much to ask!
What exactly is Old Louis Fast Food Restaurant?
"Please wait."

As he said this, he put Gu Ming down and went out to make a few phone calls.

Harvey returned a dozen minutes later.

"found it."

Gu Ming: ?
So fast? !

“I asked a few friends, and there are indeed four restaurants called Louis Fast Food, or places with similar names. There are also two other shops that don’t have this name, but the owners are known as Old Louis.”

Harvey chuckled: "You don't need to be shocked. This is Los Angeles, after all, the service center of the American film and television industry. Even Kodak has a branch in Los Angeles, and most of the people who frequently participate in productions are concentrated in this area. So it's quite easy to find someone named Old Louis in this area. After all, they also need Kodak's equipment!"

Gu Ming couldn't help but slap his thigh in exasperation.

This is truly amazing!

What is a supply chain?
In Los Angeles, this is what you call an industry chain: good actors go to make movies, and bad actors go to the San Gabriel Valley to make movies.

If you can't even afford the San Gabriel Valley, then you can only work as a food delivery driver in Los Angeles.

"In that case, let's go check out Old Louis Restaurant."

Since he was already there, Gu Ming decided to take the opportunity to see what Jean-Claude Van Damme, this actor he had to support, was up to.

(End of this chapter)