Chapter 294 Chapter 294: Buyers Club Opens

After being paralyzed at home for a few days, Shanhe flew across the Pacific again and came to a foreign country to complete his new book.

A trip back to China witnessed the life events of a close friend, and Shanhe once again gained a good friend.

Heath Ledger is indeed a relatively simple person. He really regards mountains and rivers as his lifelong friends. He takes his baby daughter to the hotel every week.

Shanhe also likes this little baby. Children who are two or three years old have just learned to speak, which is the most fun and cute time.

The two grown men were often made laugh by little Matilda.

Holding the soft little ball of flesh and listening to her milky voice calling him uncle, Shanhe felt soft in his heart. Every child is indeed an angel!

Heath Ledger's condition is getting better and better, and Shanhe's unique therapy is effective. This transformation in him has added a lot of complex feelings to the character of Raymond, which has given Shanhe a lot of inspiration.

With a real-life reference, Shanhe made the character of Raymond more flesh-and-blood, and the brilliance of human nature in depravity makes people feel more valuable.

Time passes in the endless writing of mountains and rivers.

In mid-October, the first draft of the novel "Dallas Buyers Club" was completed.

This is the fastest novel Shanhe has ever written. The first draft of nearly 300,000 words was written in more than two months.

In addition to writing assistant Kang Zhixuan, Heath Ledger and Hathaway, who had just returned to Los Angeles after filming "Being Austen", became the first readers.

Although this is not the final version, it still received praise from both people.

"Qiu, I think the novel is much more complete and touching than the script, especially the character Raymond. He is even more heartbreaking in the novel. His transformation is no less than that of the protagonist Ron. He is even more like a man who has fallen into the world. Angel!"

Heath Ledger had already entered the state of experience with the character. He finished reading the novel manuscript with red eyes.

"Qiu, I need to adjust my understanding of Raymond!"

Shanhe nodded and replied: "Heath, the script was completed last month. I did add some touches to the character of Raymond in the novel. This is the inspiration you gave me. The subsequent shooting scripts will also follow. After adjusting, in my eyes, you are already Raymond. Keep this state, and you will win the Oscar next year. I am very confident!"

Hathaway's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she also gave her opinion, "Qiu, I think "Dallas Buyers Club" is no worse than "Parasite". This book will definitely trigger public discussion in country M. You should Complete the writing and publish it as soon as possible, it will be a great addition to the movie!

Heath, I really envy you and Leonardo for getting such great roles, Ron and Raymond are so challenging to perform! "

Heath Ledger looked up at Hathaway and replied: "I am indeed lucky. The character of Raymond saved me!"

Shanhe smiled at the side, "Annie, the new script you accepted is also good. "Rachel's Wedding" is a good script. The heroine is a very challenging role. She is a girl who returns to her family from a drug rehabilitation center. You need to have enough experience!”

Hathaway smiled and hugged Shanhe and gave him an intimate kiss, "Dear, I know, so I can't stay with you any longer. I will never be able to experience Cam's love and pain by your side!"

…

With the completion of the first draft, Shanhe began to devote some of his energy to the preparations for the film.

He plans to complete the revision of the novel while filming the movie.

With the operation of Bruckheimer, a big producer, the crew of "Dallas Buyers Club" was quickly formed, and they were all Disney's old crew.

"Dallas Buyers Club" is just a realistic low-budget movie. The crew is not as large as a big production, but it is still a small society.

Shanhe is not an ordinary director. He is well-known in Hollywood. With Bruckheimer's support, even though it is his first time to work with these Disney employees, he still tells the crew that I don't care what your qualifications are. I need you. You made the film as I intended.

Through this preparation work, Shanhe has truly realized the professionalism of Hollywood film shooting. As long as you have a script and funds, supporting talents for all aspects of filming can be found in the respective labor unions.

Here, directors with talent and ideas will indeed come forward faster. Hollywood has built a large and complete platform. In comparison, the domestic film industry is still very immature.

Everything went smoothly, and the project for "Dallas Buyers Club" was successfully approved in late October. The film is jointly produced by Disney Pictures and River Pictures, with an expected investment of US$18 million.

The salary of both Leonardo DiCaprio and Shan He is the biggest expense of the movie. Leonardo DiCaprio's salary is US$3 million plus a 12% share of the North American box office.

Shanhe's screenwriter and director were paid US$3 million plus 12% of the global box office share.

Including Heath Ledger and Kate Lewinster, the four people's salaries accounted for more than half of the investment!

Once the project of "Dallas Buyers Club" was established, it immediately attracted the attention of many media and movie fans in M ​​country.

Leonardo DiCaprio is a popular star in the world. His series of weight loss photos in the past month have triggered a wave of speculation among movie fans around the world.

Leonardo is ill and may not have much time to live; Leonardo has become a drug addict; Leonardo is haggard for love, and other messy gossips spread everywhere.

Now that the project of "Dallas Buyers Club" has been approved, many of Leonardo DiCaprio's speculations have been directed to the movie. The movie has already attracted much attention before filming has started.

Written and directed by the magician Hua Guoqiu, the novel is based on real events and will be released soon;

Leonardo destroyed his image, lost more than ten kilograms to play the leading role, and once again launched an attack on the Oscar;

Kate Lewinster once again joins hands with Leonardo DiCaprio. Can the Oscar curse between the two be broken by Shanhe?

Talented actor Heath Ledger has also lost weight and plays a gay man again. Can he break through the acting ceiling in "Brokeback Mountain"?

These have become a hot topic of curiosity and attention from the media and the public!

Ron Woodruff, an anti-heroic character from Country M, has once again become a popular figure in public discussion.

The operation of Bruckheimer, an old fox, was a great success.

Disney Pictures and Scholar Publishing are even more confident in "Dallas Buyers Club". Hua Guoqiu is still the same Hua Guoqiu. The subject matter is so non-commercial, and the money is still unlimited!

Shanhe couldn't care less about the buzz outside at this time. He was discussing the shooting plan of the split-shot script with the entire crew.

The movie "Dallas Buyers Club" is not complicated. From a technical perspective, it can even be said to be the simplest film directed by Shan He.

The entire movie is straightforward, with no special effects, no special scenes, and not much directorial skill to embellish it.

But in terms of the depth of the subject matter and the shaping of the characters, this is Shanhe's most difficult challenge.

The best expression of cooking skills is not the Manchu-Han banquet, but home-style stir-fried vegetables!

Mountains and rivers require more preparation and more emotional investment!

However, he is very confident, because in more than two months of writing the novel, he has sorted out the entire movie clearly, and with the comparison and verification of the original film in his mind, after several years of shooting experience, Shanhe is confident This version of "Dallas Buyers Club" will surpass the original version.

After all, the original film was an independent film with an investment of five million US dollars and took 25 days to complete.

On October 28th, Shanhe finally saw Little Li Zi, who had become as thin as a bolt of lightning.

In the past two months, he had lost nearly 20 kilograms, which made his originally not burly figure look sickly. His whole body seemed out of proportion, and his head seemed to have become a lot bigger.

His face was no longer as smooth and delicate as before. The weight loss made the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes particularly obvious. The high cheekbones elongated his face. His blond hair had also been processed and lost its healthy luster. It was covered in a messy cowboy hat.

From the outside, all he needs to do is give him a cowboy beard, and Leonardo becomes Ron!

"Qiu, the past two months have been the most painful time in my life. I feel Ron's pain and despair. You know, the feeling of starvation is no worse than the pain of AIDS! I'm ready!"

Shanhe gave Xiao Lizi a thumbs up. He is also a person who can be cruel to himself. Such efforts and dedication are worthy of a statuette!

"Leonardo, this is the first script reading. Familiarity with the script is not the main purpose today. I believe that no one needs to be familiar with the script. "Dallas Buyers Club" is based on reality, and the actor is also one of the creators. I need your opinions and opinions!"

Xiao Lizi smiled after hearing this, with a hint of weakness and bitterness on his thin and shriveled face, "You're right, I have a lot of suggestions. Because of the weight loss, my vision dropped significantly and I lost consciousness. I have no idea about AIDS." The patient has made countless observations and reenactments, and I do have a lot to say, Qiu, let’s finish filming this damn movie, I’m almost at my limit!”

"OK!" Shanhe gave Xiao Lizi a hug, "Leonardo, I promise that the movie will not live up to your efforts, and you will get the results you want!"

"I believe in you and my own efforts!"

…

The entire crew, including the three main actors, discussed together for three days and the entire shooting plan was finalized.

Bruckheimer's production team has already prepared all the scenes and logistics.

The entire crew went to Texas and "Dallas Buyers Club" started filming.

There is no launch ceremony in Hollywood, and Shanhe did not hold any press conference. However, the rodeo arena where the first scene was shot was still crowded with reporters from all over the place. All kinds of questions were noisy. Shanhe I even saw more than a dozen domestic media reporters among them.

Shanhe's whereabouts have always been the focus of the domestic media. After the celebration reception for "The Wind" broke 500 million, Shanhe disappeared from the sight of the domestic media.

However, the media across the Pacific Ocean occasionally revealed some street photos of Shanhe and Hathaway. The domestic public joked about these photos. Shanhe went to country M to find Hathaway to plant seeds. Some media speculated that Shanhe was preparing to Start conquering Hollywood.

Then there were photos on the Internet of him attending a friend's wedding in Shanghai. Shanhe's whereabouts were erratic. Everyone was very curious. With Shanhe's creative speed and rhythm, it was impossible for him to be idle and do nothing! What have Shanhe been doing these past few months?

As soon as the news of "Dallas Buyers Club" came out, everyone understood that Shanhe had gone to country M to write a book and make a movie, and was busy judging imperialism. It looked like another "Parasite"!

It must be written down in detail!

So these days, "Dallas Buyers Club" is also being discussed a lot in China, and the story of Ron Woodruff, a native of M, is also spreading among the Chinese public.

When Shanhe saw compatriots in a foreign country and heard the Chinese language, he was very cordial. He stepped forward to say hello to these reporters and answered a few common questions.

After more than half an hour, the crew asked the reporters out of the filming set, and filming of "Dallas Buyers Club" officially began.

According to the discussion results of the crew, the movie will be shot according to the plot. Although this will increase some costs and shooting time, it is the best way for the actors. They can follow the development of the plot and enter the role.

The biggest key point of "Dallas Buyers Club" lies in the performance of the actors. To be precise, the three actors are the main support of this movie, and their performances are the access point for the audience to enter the plot.

Smooth shooting is the most suitable way to shoot!

The photography of the entire movie is still mainly handheld, but the conditions are much better than the original version. Shanhe arranged an extra camera position for each scene to facilitate later editing needs.

Although the film's lighting is mainly based on natural light, Shanhe has also arranged a lighting team to be ready at any time. Once the natural light cannot meet the requirements, the lighting engineer will light the shooting scene according to Shanhe's requirements. Shanhe strives to achieve the best quality of the entire film. It’s perfect, but it should make the audience feel that they are using natural light, because this is reality!

Shanhe made changes to the first scene of the movie. It still shows Ron having sex with a prostitute in the bullpen of the arena, but there is no scene of physical entanglement.

There are only close-ups of three hands entangled back and forth in the camera, especially the prostitute's arms full of needle holes, which are switched back and forth with the scene of the cowboy being thrown off by the bull and lying on the ground in the crack of the fence, accompanied by the moans and boos of the arena audience. , the whole scene is chaotic and confusing. The last frame of the picture gives Ron a close-up of his face. The light shines through the gap in the fence. Leonardo's thin and sick face appears in the lens. His eyes are as blurred and chaotic as the scene. !

Shanhe hopes to use a special shot to set the rhythm of the film and attract the audience's interest in watching the film.

The shooting in the rodeo arena went very smoothly. With Leonardo's full preparation and acting skills, the performance of a low-level cowboy who was looking for excitement and was full of foul language was very successful. But everyone understood that this was just the beginning. The protagonist learned that he After getting sick, the test of Li Zi's acting skills started.

In the first few days of filming, the atmosphere on the set was good, and the rodeo and hospital scenes were almost repeated.

During the break between filming, Leonardo DiCaprio was even in the mood to brag and be cool with Kate Winslet, but he seemed to have forgotten his current image.

Shan He couldn't help but laugh as he watched from the side. One was as thin as a lightning bolt, and the other was nicknamed "Fat Wen." This combination was really an excellent material for movie promotion.

However, Winslet is indeed very caring and accommodating to Leo. Shanhe has always felt that the two are more like a couple, caring and considerate to each other!

It's just that they are all wandering around in the world of mortals. You play with your blonde girl, and I play my wedding game!

As the filming progressed, Xiao Lizi no longer laughed happily. On the one hand, it was due to the plot of the character, and on the other hand, it was because of Shan He's cynicism.

Leonardo has never been favored by the Academy judges. There are many reasons, including box office, appearance, temperament, etc. Another big factor is that he is used to looking cool when performing. This may be the earliest request of the director. , but gradually it has become his trademark.

Before Ron found out that he was sick, Leo's handsomeness was a highlight in his current image, and even had a bit of joy in it. However, after he learned that he was sick, this expression seemed redundant and artificial.

But habits and subconsciousness are hard to change. Almost all of the roles he played originally were charming handsome guys, and he would show some winking expressions unconsciously!

Shanhe reminded Leonardo many times, but he still didn't change his mind, so Shanhe returned to his old skills, sharpening his lens and stimulating his language.

"Leonardo, do you think that with your current appearance, frowning and blonde, you can be attracted to you? You are a Loser who only has thirty days to live. I need more anger, anxiety and fear!"

…

"Ka! Leonardo, do you know what the academy judges think of you? You are a little kid who only knows how to be cool and wink. It seems that you are indeed like that! Your statuette just flew away from you again. gone!"

…

"Leon, I am overwhelmed by your handsome expression. I have never seen such a cool AIDS patient. We are not filming an advertisement for Ruihui Pharmaceutical. Maybe I should send this clip to them. I promise you will Get their sky-high endorsement deals…”

Shanhe's words made Winlester beside him couldn't help but laugh, covering his mouth and laughing.

"Fuck you!" Leonardo was irritated by Shanhe's ridicule, "Qiu, why don't you host a talk show, you can't even say fuck Allen! I'm adjusting, give me some time!"

"OK! Let's take a rest for half an hour. Leonardo, what I want is anxiety and fear, the anger of being discriminated against. Your eyebrows can't give me this feeling. I hope you won't overuse them anymore and let the handsome Let them rest for a while!"

"Okay! I really want to shave them off, Qiu, you are such a vicious magician!"

…

Shanhe's cynicism did not have a good effect, but the addition of Heath Ledger the next day gave Leonardo a turn for the better.

Heath Ledger is such a crazy actor. He walked into the filming scene so charmingly wearing women's clothing and high heels.

Although there are still some days left before his role, he has become Raymond, and his every smile and every look shows this.

Leonardo suddenly felt tremendous pressure. If he continues like this, he will be pressured by Heath, and he will become a joke in Hollywood in the future!

Sometimes people are so mean and won't leave until they are whipped. The pressure seems to have played a role in Leonardo's subconscious, and his old problems are slowly reducing.

Until Leonardo's first scene opposite Heath Ledger, the first meeting between the two in the hospital, Heath Ledger's performance was extremely smooth, and every movement from his expression to his body had a unique flavor. , tenderness, innocence, sadness, numbness, all kinds of feelings seem to be rubbed into the body.

Heath Ledger's phenomenal performance instantly inspired Leonardo!

Leonardo also gave the most exciting performance since the filming of the movie.

Two male actors were having sex on the spot. This was the first time Shanhe had encountered such a situation.

During the filming of the entire scene, neither of them acted strictly according to the requirements in the script, and even their lines were very different, but the effect was much better than what was in the script.

Especially in the scenes where the two of them gambled money and Ron lost and got into cramps because of his emotions, the two played perfectly!

Two late-stage AIDS patients, one is a homophobic cowboy, and the other is a hypocritical homosexual. The two actors made their acquaintance process full of joy, but also very sad. They are also facing death. , life is neither high nor low, but fate has brought them to this point, and they can only accept it helplessly and enjoy the joy of suffering!

Shanhe applauded the wonderful performance of the two, "Guys, we saw a Oscar-winning drama between Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. This is a scene worth cherishing. Leonardo, don't frown. He looks so handsome!”

"Fuck you!" Xiao Lizi gave Shanhe a middle finger!

After this dramatic performance, Xiao Lizi opened the magic box, and more than two months of preparations were all revealed at once. Shanhe knew that the crew was on the right track.

The progress of the filming suddenly accelerated, and the three actors were in the best condition, with almost no pauses. It was often the mistakes of the group actors and the crew that led to the reshooting of the scene. The coordination of various departments of the crew could not keep up with the actors' explosive state!

This situation is such a blissful annoyance!

During this period, there is a scene that must be mentioned. The scene where the male protagonist Ron is preparing to commit suicide in the car. This is a difficult point in the whole movie, and it is also a highlight.

On the last day of his life countdown, despair and fear reached the extreme. Ron was preparing to end his life in the car. The gun was already in his hand, but he never had the courage to pick it up and pull the trigger. In the end, he collapsed emotionally while driving. The people in the seats cried out in despair and shed tears of pain!

The male protagonist Ron has reached the extreme point of despair. After passing this point, his life will usher in new changes, which is a key link between the past and the next.

This is a long close-up shot. Every movement and every expression on the actor's face must show extreme despair and fear. The requirements for the actor's performance are extremely high. Shanhe even thought this was the most difficult shot in the entire movie. One of the shots!

This scene requires the actor to completely bring into character, which is a challenge for Leonardo and an excellent opportunity for performance.

Leonardo also understood this. For this scene, he cried in front of the mirror more than once. After the filming started, he sat alone in the car for a long time, with two cameras facing him one after another, recording him. Every movement and every expression.

Shan He was not afraid of wasting film. He needed two cameras to accompany Leonardo as he brewed his emotions. He knew that the actor's emotional outburst would happen in an instant.

Sure enough, Leonardo sat in the car for half an hour. He suddenly held the gun in his hand and lowered his head slightly. His whole body was trembling, and even the tips of his golden hair were vibrating desperately.

Then tears fell from his eyes, and he began to choke. Once, twice, his body shook in the car, and then he opened his mouth and cried loudly. Every wrinkle on his face told the fear in his heart!

He was desperate, but he never had the courage to kill himself. At this moment, he may have thought about a lot, memories, family, love, regret,

Or maybe there is nothing in the mind, a blank!

This is a very intuitive expression, but this expression contains complex human emotions.

Half a minute later, Leonardo was still crying bitterly in the car, and Shanhe didn't call to stop. Leonardo's performance was worthy of being filmed in its entirety. This was an Oscar-winning performance, no better than that of Matthew McCone in the original film. Poor performance!

It took three or four minutes for Leonardo to fully vent his emotions.

"Ka!" Shanhe raised his hands and applauded after shouting, and then the whole crew applauded and cheered for Leonardo. Kate Winslet even rushed up and hugged DiCaprio tightly, kissing him softly with tears streaming down her face. cheek, "Honey, you're amazing, this is the greatest show I've ever seen!"