Chapter 78

Er, I really did say that; you all sit for a while, we'll talk after I finish shooting!

Hong Jinbao and Ye Weixin naturally had no objections, staying honestly on the set, watching Jiang Heng direct.

In Pacific Rim, the mecha-versus-monster scenes were all scheduled at the China Film Digital Soundstage in Jingcheng.

The filming done in Xianggang mainly consisted of regular scenes, which still looked rather boring.

But actually, shooting the effects scenes was even more boring, especially when wearing motion-capture gear and performing against empty air, looking as foolish as possible.

Not long after, the crew wrapped up, and Jiang Heng, Hong Jinbao, and Ye Weixin went to a nearby teahouse.

Inside the private room, Ye Weixin talked about his idea: he wanted to film a punch-to-the-flesh crime action movie with a sense of fate.

Perhaps due to the decline of the Xianggang film industry, since the end of the 1990s, Xianggang films with a sense of fate have become increasingly common, starkly contrasting with the previous over-the-top, wildly crazy style.

This is reflected personally: Stephen Chow's films are no longer as cheerful as before, with more melancholic elements. Johnny To's Silver Horizon imprint has produced many films with a sorrowful tone and a strong sense of fate.

Ye Weixin also leaned toward making such films, and he recounted the story outline he had in mind for Killing Wolf.

Jiang Heng, upon hearing this, felt no surprise.

He simply said, 'Have Wu Jing come over to play an assassin, and let Zhang Jin play a member of the police force! As for the investment part, go back and draft a detailed budget plan, then bring it over for further discussion!'

Ye Weixin naturally had no objection, smiling and saying, 'Director Jiang, rest assured, the money will definitely be spent on the blade! As for the cast, you can keep making the decisions!'

Jiang Heng, helpless, said, 'Then let Donnie Yen play the male lead, and ask the elder brother to play the villain!'

Hearing this, Hong Jinbao beamed with joy; although he and Ye Weixin had already discussed it earlier, having Jiang Heng propose it made him even happier.

Ye Weixin laughed and said, 'With the elder brother, Wu Jing, and Donnie Yen starring, both reputation and box office will surely blow up!'

Speaking of Wu Jing at this moment, having the credentials of starring in The Lion's Roar Ridge, he is no longer really suitable to be a sidekick to Donnie Yen.

However, the Sun Wukong in The Lion's Roar Ridge was heavily made up, bearing little resemblance to his real appearance; although the role was very popular, it didn't boost Wu Jing's fame as much as imagined, counting as a cameo, so it's not a big problem.

Hong Jinbao then said, 'The three of us are nothing; if Director Jiang himself appears, that would be a real surprise!'

Although this remark was made in jest, after saying it, Hong Jinbao and Ye Weixin pondered it and found it very catchy!

At present, the most successful commercial blockbuster director in Chinese-language cinema, Jiang Heng, appearing in an action film—just that statement alone could draw countless viewers into the theaters!

'This proposal is great; with Director Jiang participating, the film will surely be a hit even before release, possibly selling its overseas rights before shooting even begins!'

Jiang Heng, upon hearing this, felt a flicker of temptation, but said, 'It wouldn't be suitable, you're all professional action actors, I…'

Hong Jinbao quickly replied, 'No problem, I'll design the action for you, and we can use a stunt double if needed! As a top director, you'll definitely do better than us!'

Jiang Heng still hesitated a bit, and Hong Jinbao hurriedly said, 'Just decide on it then; I'll start promoting it outward later!'

Jiang Heng, helpless, gave a wry smile and said, 'Alright!'

Thinking it over, the role in the film that would suit him seemed to be the one played by Zhang Zhiyang, the character whom Wu Jing brutally kills.

Fine, anyway the part isn't big; just a cameo will do.

The next day, Ye Weixin sent over a budget sheet that included the list of desired actors and their pay, as well as rough estimates for the crew's various expenses; Jiang Heng thought it fairly reliable, so he ordered the people of Faction: Outstanding Rising Film Company to draft the contract, and finally signed and paid.

The film Killing Wolf can be considered the peak of Chinese-language action movies after 2000, and even for a considerable period afterward, no action film could surpass it.

Because prior Xianggang action films were either of the 'counter-move' martial arts routine or Cheng Long-style kung fu comedy, audiences had grown aesthetically fatigued.

Thus, later Tony Jaa could, thanks to his punch-to-the-flesh martial arts style, quickly seize the Xianggang film market.

Jiang Heng also took part in it; furthermore, the film predates the 2003 'Fist King', so he naturally had to refine it to perfection, resulting in both box office and reputation being abundant.

Therefore, under the title of producer, he ordered Ye Weixin to send over the finished script, and he helped revise it.

Ye Weixin naturally did not dare to delay, and knowing that the Pacific Rim crew was about to head to Jingcheng, he worked diligently every day, finally delivering the Killing Wolf script to Jiang Heng before his departure.

Jiang Heng roughly flipped through it; indeed, the plot and details still had some discrepancies.

'Fine, you go ahead and prepare the crew on your end; I'll call you later with the changes!'

Ye Weixin wanted to say, 'I can follow you to Jingcheng as well!'

After all, Jiang Heng is wealthy and bold; having followed him for a long time, who would still worry about not having a film to shoot?

However, organizing the crew also counts as a nice assignment; Ye Weixin hesitated a moment, then agreed.

Besides, once Jiang Heng led the crew to Jingcheng, China Film's personnel would naturally come to arrange things.

Han Sanping was also busy back and forth, after all, having invested twenty million US dollars, he couldn't afford not to take it seriously!

That evening was a simple welcome banquet, with glasses clinking, quite lively!

Talking about the heavily promoted Transformers in Beimei, a senior executive of China Film said: 'I heard they claim they want to create the most successful mecha series film; our Pacific Rim should also have a sequel, right?'

Speaking of industry convention, after a film succeeds, a sequel project is definitely something that urgently needs to be put on the schedule.

Yet Jiang Heng, whenever he finishes a successful film, switches to a different genre.

In the blink of an eye, four years have passed, and there's no sign he's planning to shoot a sequel to The Matrix, which is astonishing.

China Film's side is also puzzled, wondering whether you actually have any intention of making a sequel!

Jiang Heng, upon hearing this, was stunned; instantly, the terms 'Da Tian Tian', 'Pacific Rim 2', and 'bad film' flashed through his mind.

Hmm, why did I put Da Tian Tian first?

Jiang Heng also wondered, but he laughed and said, 'Definitely there will be a sequel; it will happen!'

But in his mind he was thinking, 'The plot of Pacific Rim 2 is so terrible, it definitely can't be used.'

If he wants to make it, he needs an original storyline, and the effects scenes must be even more shocking.

The problem is that the few routines of mechs fighting monsters were basically exhausted in Pacific Rim 1; surely we can't have a few mechs gang up on monsters in a group battle, can we?

Huh?

Group battle?

If both sides were to engage in a 5v5 group battle on US soil, while also demolishing some iconic buildings, that would surely be quite a spectacle, right?

It's just that the budget would be burning away!

In Pacific Rim 1, most fight scenes took place at night and on the sea, which can greatly reduce special-effects production costs.

If we switched to daytime and land, still a 5v5, how much budget would be reasonable to report?

(End of Chapter)