Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 576: Revision of the First Act's Scene
All the personnel and equipment have been arranged, and filming is just around the corner.

The first scene takes place in an apartment building rented by the crew in Nice. It serves as both a resting place for the crew and the apartment for the two main characters in the story.

The two main characters are naturally respected based on their respective actors' backgrounds; the only difference is the way they are referred to during the dubbing process. In addition to foreign language dubbing, Japanese-speaking regions and Cantonese-speaking regions will each use a different name.

Cheng Long's character is named Ah Long, and he is from Fujian. Gu Ming also plays himself, and his voice actor is named Ah Ming.

Two people partnered to run a food truck in Nice, France, delivering meals in the Place de la Bay.

Jackie Chan's role is no different from the original role in "Wheels on Meals," while Gu Ming's role is slightly different from the original Yuen Biao's. In terms of positioning, one is responsible for kung fu comedy, and the other is responsible for hard-hitting action.

The story begins in Nice, the French version of 'Shanghai'.

The first scene in the food truck was originally set in Yuen Biao and Jackie Chan getting up early to practice kung fu.

While this shot sets the tone for the film, it presents a rather peculiar problem.

The guy who drives a food truck doesn't prepare any food in the morning; he's practicing martial arts instead!

Gu Ming had already read the script and knew that the plot was not much different from the original, so he specifically expressed his hope that the screenwriter in Hong Kong could make some revisions.

Even so, Gu Ming was still genuinely surprised when he received today's script.

"It's not Brother Long, wait a moment." Gu Ming quickly flipped through two pages, frowning. "We're food truck vendors, don't we prepare ingredients in the morning?"

"Preparing food? Yes, we should prepare food, but why film that kind of scene?" Jackie Chan shrugged. "We want to show that the two of them are skilled in martial arts first. Hong Kong audiences love that."

After years of hard work and experience, he has become accustomed to the preferences of Hong Kong audiences.

The audience's expectation of him is this kind of slapstick kung fu comedy, which is different from the deadpan comedian.

"That being said, there has to be a food truck running the movie, so that it can live up to the movie's title."

Gu Ming thought for a moment and said, "I think it would be better to start with props. We also need to prepare food, so we can prepare the food while showing that the two of us are skilled in martial arts, and at the same time, show that the two of us are from different countries. For example, you can throw the vegetables over and I can cut them with a samurai sword."

Gu Ming gestured, already having the corresponding scene in his mind.

After thinking for a moment, Cheng Long felt it was feasible. On one hand, he sent the crew members out to buy some vegetables and fruits, and on the other hand, he asked people to revise the script and storyboards on the spot.

Gu Ming was quite familiar with this Hong Kong specialty: paper flyers.

The act of throwing paper is unavoidable, but it's fine as long as the shooting effect is good enough.

After waiting quietly for a while, the screenwriter in charge of the flying paper finally delivered the revised script, with a simple stick figure-style storyboard on the side.

Gu Ming glanced over the four scenes on the simple storyboard: one scene showed two people practicing martial arts, hitting wooden dummy and wielding a knife; the second scene showed them preparing ingredients, chopping vegetables with a knife; the third scene showed them packing up the prepared ingredients, with one of them carrying several large boxes on his back; and the fourth scene showed the two loading the car and heading to Bay Square.

Gu Ming closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, and a similar scene came to mind, which was quite in line with the style of Jackie Chan's kung fu comedy.

"But who's going to carry the boxes?"

"Of course it's you, who else would it be?" Jackie Chan spread his hands, gesturing, "That's what the audience expects!"

"Then why not create some contrast, like a seemingly tough guy who actually has a girlish heart..."

Gu Ming paused for a moment, then suddenly shook his head.

Forget about having a girlish heart; he's playing this role himself, so he can't just let his girlish feelings get the better of him!

With everything ready, filming officially began.

There are two sets of shots. One set shows Jackie Chan hitting a wooden dummy. This shot not only shows Jackie Chan's physique, but also makes it easy for people to understand that he is a kung fu master.

It's not difficult to make Chinese people realize that a character knows kung fu, but the best way to make foreigners realize this is through a wooden dummy.

Although hitting a wooden dummy is not the only way to practice kung fu, it is a stereotype of a certain type of kung fu for foreigners.

You can't learn kung fu without practicing on a wooden dummy!

The camera zooms in, showing Jackie Chan shirtless, punching a wooden dummy so hard it makes a whooshing sound.

The second set of shots focused on Gu Ming's side.

At first glance, the background looks like a Japanese-style room with a painting on the wall that pretends to have the Chinese character "切" written on it.

Gu Ming sat cross-legged in the room with a knife on his lap, seemingly meditating and practicing martial arts. Suddenly, the scene changed.

It turns out this is actually the kitchen, and there's another character after "cut" – "vegetable".

Chop the vegetables!

Naturally, the subtitles will provide corresponding puns and jokes later on.

As Gu Ming picked up his samurai sword, the actors waiting outside the set pretended to throw fruit.

Gu Ming was about to draw his sword to strike when he saw the martial arts master outside the arena put the fruit down again.

Why not just throw it over?

"Brother Gu, it's just filming, it's not for real! You can't actually cut a whole basket of fruit in one go, can you?

"Well..."

Gu Ming tightened his grip on the knife hilt.

What if it works!
Although he had never tried it.

But this hesitation lasted only a moment before Gu Ming readily put down his katana.

I'm not going to try! Rent in France is too expensive!
This shot can be used as a separate frame in post-production.

The first scene wasn't particularly difficult, nor did it require much coordination; it was simply a demonstration of skills.

The next scene is a jump from the building, just like in the original work. Instead of going through the door, the two of them go through the window and jump from the awning of the shop downstairs to the food truck.

Just like before, as soon as Cheng Long jumped down, the shop owner took down the awning. Gu Ming, because he didn't jump onto the awning, fell on his butt on the ground.

This scene was originally supposed to be performed by Chin Ka-lok as a stunt double for Yuen Biao. However, this time, of course, it was Gu Ming who performed the scene himself.

"Let's go, Brother Gu." Cheng Long raised his hand to urge the crew to prepare the set. Seeing that Gu Ming hadn't left yet, he urged him a few more times.

"Don't rush, Brother Long." Gu Ming gripped the hilt of his knife and said, "Try throwing a piece of fruit at me."

"Seriously? You're serious? I'm not playing this game... Watch closely!"

Just playing around, Cheng Long casually grabbed an apple and threw it at Gu Ming.

Brush and pull!

With a flash of light, the apple was sliced ​​in two.

"Wow! Not bad, want to try another one?"

Cheng Long raised his hand and, with lightning speed, tossed two apples over.

Brush and pull!

Gu Ming cut the apple in two with a single stroke, and the four pieces fell to the ground.

"Huh?!"

Jackie Chan was shocked.

It works!
He grabbed a basket of apples and pretended to throw them over. Seeing Cheng Long about to throw them, Gu Ming was even more shocked than him.

"Brother Long, what are you doing?!"

"Let me see if you can cut them all open."

"Wake up! Even if my body can react, the knife can't. You might as well just smash me to death with a basket of apples!"

Gu Ming shrugged.

That last shot should probably be changed to a live-action shot.

Although it's not as exaggerated as post-production shots, since we can shoot it live, we should definitely shoot it live!

(End of this chapter)