Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 358 Stunt Performance
People always like to compromise.

For example, opening windows, doors, and roofs.

Another example.

When a film starts using a body double for the first time, this feeling will spread to every aspect at the speed of light.

George Lucas doesn't like to use body doubles. In his eyes, the special effects widely used in Star Wars are already too unrealistic. If body doubles are used, it would be better to drive the actors away and use special effects instead.

George Lucas's idea became a reality many years later, which was the full CG movie.

Classic works such as "Zootopia" and "Frozen" and so on.

Japan also has works similar to "Final Fantasy Advent Children".

Tifa’s rise to fame as a famous otaku goddess started with this CG movie.

——Otherwise, I really can’t see what’s so good about Tifa, considering the big-headed little man from the original PS1 era.

Of course, there is no such technology now to generate full CG works.

So George Lucas weighed the pros and cons and finally made the decision.

Just make do with it! Try it out with a few stand-ins first! Hong Kong people charge cheaper anyway!
In the studio, the person with his back to the camera is none other than Tatsumi Niiemoto, but at this moment he is wearing Jedi clothes and is playing the role of 'Luke Skywalker', serving as a substitute for the original actor.

Gu Mingze arranged the action scenes in advance.

The rest of the little white soldiers and some faceless sword-wielding extras were also performed jointly by action actors from Hong Kong and Japan.

"Is the pulley ready? Get ready. Hey, you guys, try the weight and coordinate well."

Gu Ming gestured, and soon several Hong Kong martial artists came and cooperated in pulling the rope.

The pulley is hung from the ceiling, and the martial artists pull the steel cable to drive the actors to the designated location.

The fixed pulley can change the direction of force, which is also recorded in elementary school physics courses.

This set was first used by Americans to create special effects when shooting some special films, but was later used by Hong Kong people in the shooting of action movies.

In the 1980s, the use of pulleys to create martial arts effects was no longer a secret.

After a few people tried, Gu Ming finally responded: "Hey, wait a minute, this is it. Luke, you use the Force to send this little white soldier flying. Then, use the lightsaber..."

Gu Ming glanced at the helmeted stormtrooper and gave him an additional warning: "Remember, don't be careless. Fly when it's your turn. Don't make flying moves in advance."

This stormtrooper was an American extra, but when faced with Gu Ming's arrangement, he immediately looked up at the real director, George Lucas.

George Lucas made an OK gesture without even looking up.

The extras nodded in agreement.

Gu Ming shook his head secretly and said nothing more.

Anyway, we don’t need his film after the NG.

At the command, the filming began.

With the clear and pleasant sound of hitting the board, 'Luke Skywalker' suddenly turned around, his face hidden in the shadows, and used the Force to blast the stormtrooper away on the spot.

"CUT! Stop!" Gu Ming called for a stop without waiting for George Lucas to speak.

Photographers and other pairs of eyes cast their eyes over.

"Why are you raising your hands before the Force even hits you? The cable hasn't even been pulled, and you're already making take-off moves. How is that even possible? Another one!"

Dennis Muren looked at George Lucas, but George Lucas just waved his hand.

Everyone had no choice but to clean up and get another one.

"CUT! Too late! The ropes have been pulled, and you're still standing there like an idiot. Don't you have any waist strength?"

"CUT! Too early!"

"CUT..."

After several times, the American extras finally couldn't bear it anymore and took off their stormtrooper helmets.

"I protest! You are disregarding human rights. In such hot weather, I have to wear such a helmet and perform such difficult movements. I want to protest to the Actors Guild!"

"Go ahead. I'm not American anyway."

Gu Ming didn't even raise his head and waved his hand: "If you can't do it, get out. Replace me with someone who can. I heard that the United States has a population of hundreds of millions, so there must be someone who can act, right? If you don't do it, there are plenty of people who will." For some reason, after saying this, Gu Ming suddenly felt very good.

Seeing the American extras' faces covered in bruises and white spots, Gu Ming pointed casually.

"You, yes, you. What's your name?"

"Ah? Me, my name is Zeng Aniu..."

"Zeng Aniu, I'm still Zhang Wuji. Aniu, you take his place, this American ghost can't even play a supporting role well."

Gu Ming assigned a martial arts stuntman from Hong Kong to the scene.

They were originally planning to design lightsaber moves together, but since the Yuan family didn't leave, they stayed as well.

Dennis Muren couldn't help but look at the director.

Recently, there have been a lot of Asian faces in Industrial Light & Magic!
You won’t want more!
George Lucas said nothing, but just propped himself up slightly. Under his sunglasses were a pair of scrutinizing eyes.

"start!"

Gu Ming gave an order and the camera turned on.

Nijiamoto Tatsumi turned around as usual, attacked, and bombarded with the Force.

The stormtrooper who was hit immediately spread his hands, held his gun, and flew backwards.

Several martial artists behind him tightened the steel cable and reached the designated position.

However, the little white soldier played by the dragon and tiger martial artist flew backwards without supporting himself with his hands, and just lay on the ground in an exaggerated posture.

"Goose girl!"

George Lucas was instantly catapulted into action.

He never thought that there was an actor who could do this!

Gu Ming crossed his arms, his expression unchanged, and just asked someone to go over and help the fallen martial artist up.

This is called the "Back Tiger" and is a fall without using the hands to support the ground. Because there is no need for hands to support the ground, the neck directly touches the ground, which makes it very dangerous and difficult, requiring an experienced martial artist to perform.

The team's coordination is not very good at the moment. Gu Ming has seen that if it is an experienced team, the action will be performed smoothly and naturally, and the fighting scene created will be quite cool.

This is something that American extras will never be able to achieve in their entire lives.

Several scenes were filmed today. In the evening, after the filming ended, Gu Mingfang walked towards George Lucas.

"Mr. Lucas, today's scenes have already been filmed. Look, the results are pretty good, aren't they?"

"It's good."

George Lucas remained silent, just thinking.

Today, these martial artists really gave him a big surprise.

They can perform many stunts that many American actors cannot, and the effects are excellent.

Gu Ming added, "And the price is very cheap. Since you're not a union member, you don't have to worry about the union's demands. It doesn't matter if the price is a little lower. For Hong Kong, it's already a high salary."

George Lucas had to admit it.

The labor cost is low!

This will always be Asia's trump card.

Otherwise, why did the United States later transfer a large amount of manufacturing to Asia? It is because of the low labor costs. For some labor-intensive industries or places that need people, Asia’s population is a natural resource.

After thinking for a moment, George Lucas finally spoke: "It's a rare break, let's go down and have a drink later."

"Okay, do you want to call a few more people to join us?"

"No, just you and me."

"Oh……"

Gu Ming thought that it shouldn't be the Hongmen Banquet.

Even if it was a Hongmen Banquet, it didn't matter. If it was, he would just knock George Lucas unconscious with one punch, and then carry him back to Japan across the Pacific Ocean!
(End of this chapter)