Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 620 Help me shoot a short film
Some things didn't even need to be said by Takeshi Kitano; Tani Akira recognized him just by looking at him.

It's impossible that Zhenxia Long is carrying such a big thing on his back because he wants to be an astronaut!
The idea was good, but Gu Ming thought about it and realized it still wouldn't work.

The reason why first-person perspective shooting was later possible was because there were more portable cameras available that could be used simply by attaching them to one's body.

For example, there is a Russian short film called 'Hardcore Henry,' which is a first-person, one-shot gunfight film. The rights were later bought and a movie of the same name, Hardcore Henry, was made, which grossed more than ten million US dollars.

—Don't underestimate more than ten million dollars; even the cost of Hardcore Henry was only a few million.

This type of film is one that performs reasonably well at the box office, manages to break even, and is an absolutely pioneering exploration in terms of cinematography.

However, that was all in 2016.

The requirements for filming this in 1985 were extremely high.

"Make it shorter. The Tokyo International Film Festival has a special short film program, which only needs to be ten minutes or so. If the filming time is too long, I'm afraid you'll end up like Natsumi Ryu!"

Zhenxia Long remained silent, tears welling in his eyes, wiping the sweat from his brow.

Gu Gu is so good to him! He's really exhausted!

When Gu Ming asked about the script, Takeshi Kitano was remarkably candid.

"It's not complicated. It's just a story about a young detective who returns home to find his wife murdered by criminals, and in a fit of rage, he kills all the criminals."

Gu Ming said, "Max Payne, huh?"

Takeshi Kitano: "He sounds like a foreigner."

Gu Ming shrugged.

It's not just foreigners.

Max Payne is a shooting game, and there was later a movie of the same name. Mark Wahlberg played the male lead Max Payne, and he almost won a Golden Raspberry Award that year for the role.

The game begins with Detective Max Payne returning home to find his wife murdered by criminals, thus embarking on a path of revenge.

When this movie was released, the most negative reviews focused on one point.

The filming style is too outdated; the whole thing looks like an 1980s movie.

"Isn't this the 1980s?"

Gu Ming slapped his thigh.

I didn't get a shot; Takeshi Kitano ran very fast.

Hideaki Anno didn't react in time and got his thigh slapped.

Hideaki Anno, his face filled with horror, retreated instantly.

"Keep filming with this technology. If the short film wins an award at a film festival, I can consider adapting it into a feature film. Kitano, you direct it. If you want to act, you can act yourself, or... let Manatsu Ryu act in it."

Zhenxia Long stood up instantly.

And a male lead?
I'm not tired anymore, not tired at all!

……

……

The Tokyo International Film Festival opens in October, so there is plenty of time before then.

In its efforts to break into A-list film festivals, Japan has gone to great lengths, utilizing almost every available resource, demonstrating its strong commitment to the cause.

Xu Ke disembarked in Tokyo during this hectic time.

The person who came with Xu Ke was Shi Nansheng, not his wife.

—That's not true. The two never married, but they lived together for a long time and had a very good relationship. It can be said that Shi Nansheng was a great help to Xu Ke in his life. As for when they got married and when they divorced, only they know.

Because by the time the news broke, the two had already divorced.

Therefore, when some actors make a big fuss about getting married or divorced, it's obviously just marketing.

Directors of Tsui Hark's caliber can deliberately keep their marriages and divorces a secret, with no one knowing what happens.

As for now, the two of them have certainly not experienced a relationship crisis.

After disembarking, Shi Nansheng couldn't help but complain: "You too, you just come because they told you to, and you don't even do your work in Hong Kong anymore."

Xu Ke kept his hands in his pockets, ignoring the complaints.

"Everything's been settled in Hong Kong for now, and the movie 'Working Emperor' has been released. I'm just sitting around doing nothing, and I feel itchy to do something. They not only invited me, but also asked me to attend the ceremony and even paid me to make a short film. Wouldn't it be too much if I didn't come?" "I think the Japanese have ulterior motives. You should be careful not to be fooled by them."

Shi Nansheng still felt that this matter was unreliable.

Xu Ke has some fame now, but he's not that famous yet. As for being specially invited by the Japanese, or even by a very famous Japanese actor, well...

Xu Ke didn't want to get involved in this kind of thing.

Please! He's very capable now, and this is what it means for talented people to attract each other!
As they were talking, a Mercedes-Benz drove up ahead, and Gu Ming rolled down the window and waved to the two of them.

"Old Xu, get in the car!"

Xu Ke's eyes widened.

What a joke, it's Lao Xu!

He reacted quickly, immediately pulling Shi Nansheng into the car.

Gu Ming peeked back from the front row and handed a few newspapers to Xu Ke.

"Don't rush, take a look at this first."

Xu Ke then opened the newspaper and looked at it with Shi Nansheng.

The newspapers were mostly in English, brought back from the United States.

Most newspapers included a photo of Keanu Reeves kneeling on the ground, tying the shoelaces of a young girl. The girl was young, seemed quiet and reserved, yet possessed a hidden air of shrewishness.

Xu Ke certainly understands English; he understood it in just a few sentences.

"Is this a compliment? Oh my!!"

Xu Ke was overjoyed.

This scene was filmed at his request when he visited the film set. It was just one shot, from Keanu Reeves tying his shoelaces to the two looking up and meeting.

He also received a director's fee of over a thousand Hong Kong dollars.

Surprisingly, this shot received such high praise from Americans!
"They all say this is the best romantic scene of the year."

Gu Ming turned his head and laughed, "Maybe you can even win the Oscar for Best Cinematography next year."

Of course, this was a joke, but it didn't stop Xu Ke from being delighted.

He actually quite liked the films he made at Cinema City, but there, few people noticed his expertise.

"This is the first international film festival held in Tokyo. It has ambitious goals and high standards. I'm fortunate to be one of the selected films for this year's festival, so I hope to at least have some decent films to show for it." Gu Ming explained his purpose: "Xu, you're good at filming women, and you're also very skilled at directing actors, even internationally. So I'd like to invite you to make a short film to be screened at the Tokyo International Film Festival..."

Xu Ke swiftly grasped Gu Ming's hands.

“Gu Sheng, you don’t need to say anything. I understand everything. A scholar will die for one who understands him.”

Shi Nansheng looked at him.

Please don't die, just live!

Xu Ke said, "I will definitely make a good short film! But should I film it in Japan or Hong Kong?"

Gu Ming said, "We need to find actors from Hong Kong to film in Japan. The first International Film Festival is a bit special, so it's best to film in Japan. You'll also be more familiar with the Hong Kong teams. I can give you five million yen, so you can film as much as you want."

Five million yen is also a few tens of thousands of US dollars, which is more than enough to shoot a ten-minute short film for a film festival.

Xu Ke is going to have a blast.

There are no restrictions on the subject matter, and they even pay him, letting him shoot whatever he wants and find whoever he wants.

What are we waiting for! Just shoot!

Gu Ming quietly tilted his head.

Xu Ke is a skilled director. Although his reputation suffered a lot after adapting The Legend of the Condor Heroes, his skill level is still very high.

If you pay enough, you can definitely get the desired effect.

I just don't know if five million is enough for Xu Ke to wreak havoc.

If that's not enough, then Gu Ming will have no choice but to make Xu Ke sell his ass to pay off the debt.

(End of this chapter)