Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 141 UG team fighting coach, Cheng Long
Gu Ming took Jackie Chan for a tour around Wangu. It was of course his first time to visit such a place. Although he could not see the core filming secrets, the things on the surface really surprised Jackie Chan.

Especially when he heard Gu Ming say that the production cost of a single episode of Seven was more than 10 million yen, Cheng Long was even more shocked.

Hong Kong films are famous for their low-budget productions.

Twelve million yen for one episode of a TV series is enough to make several movies in Hong Kong. In the 1970s, it was very common for a movie to cost one million Hong Kong dollars, and low-budget movies could be made for hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong dollars.

And so much money was spent just to shoot a 20-minute episode of a TV series.

"Ultraman is a good show in our area, and a lot of people like it." Cheng Long became excited when talking about it: "I wonder how that was performed. I wonder if they really cast Ultraman."

"No, it's a leather suit that's put on a person, and the actor performs the movements."

Gu Ming gave a brief explanation and Kurata Yasuaki translated it.

After hearing these few words, Cheng Long was even more surprised.

"There's this kind of performance? Can I try that leather jacket, too?"

Cheng Long, who is in his twenties, is at the peak of his energy and has endless energy all day long.

Gu Ming thought about it and it really worked.

In addition to the main character's suit, the suits of other characters are made according to universal body shapes and can be worn by people from 1.65 meters to 1.75 meters.

Only the main role is produced according to the actor's body shape.

There were mass-produced leather suits for stage plays in the warehouse. Gu Ming asked someone to bring a pair over and let Cheng Long try it on.

"Amazing, amazing..."

Cheng Long put on the leather case and tried it, and couldn't help but exclaimed that it was amazing.

He couldn't imagine how he could perform while wearing this thing.

After doing a few moves with difficulty, he felt that he was not going to continue. Cheng Long took off the leather suit and felt as if he had been pardoned.

This thing is really hard to act!
Seeing Cheng Long wearing a leather suit, doing a few somersaults, and performing some other moves, Gu Ming was also amazed.

He has a strong physique as a human being in two lives. It is unexpected that Cheng Long, with the physique of an ordinary person, can also perform some actions.

"That's right, otherwise how could he dare to jump from such a tall building? Of course he has a good physique!"

At his age, Cheng Long's personality wasn't that calm yet, and he was quite the loudmouth. After trying it himself, he was impressed and asked Gu Ming, "Who played Ultraman before? I think he must be a very skilled martial artist. Would you mind introducing us to each other?"

Kurata Yasuaki translated as instructed, and Gu Ming sighed slightly, unable to tell whether he was satisfied or proud, and pointed at himself with his backhand.

"I am the one who is not talented!"

He spoke a few words to Yasuaki Kurata, who then translated it into words that Cheng Long could understand.

"This Furuya-kun used to be a martial arts stuntman, double-studding the main characters. After making some money, he started his own company, specializing in action actors. He's the stunt director and the lead actor in this film. He was the stunt double for Ultraman."

"Good, that's great." Cheng Long gave a thumbs up.

He is also a martial arts stuntman and said that he was once beaten unconscious by Li Xiaolong.

When I heard that Gu Ming was also a martial arts master, I felt closer to him.

After a tour, I introduced Cheng Long to the people at Wangu Studios and the filming began.

Cheng Long's adoptive father set a rule for him: he should not play villains or supporting roles.

Later, when Stallone was filming "The Expendables", he approached Jackie Chan. Jackie Chan responded by expressing his gratitude, but said that he was too busy to act.

In fact, it’s not that I don’t have time, it’s just that it’s impossible for me to play a supporting role to Stallone.

When Jackie Chan was at the peak of his career in Hollywood, he had reached the top level. In terms of box office profits, he earned 50 million US dollars from one movie. A third-rate actor in Rush Hour became famous overnight after working with Jackie Chan.

Stallone is a level below him, lacking both wealth and status, so Jackie Chan will not play a supporting role for him.

Although Cheng Long later played a supporting role as a little American hilarious guy in "The Karate Kid", he had quite a lot of scenes, basically equivalent to the second male lead.

Fortunately, the rules are not too strict now, so it is no problem to secretly play a positive role. Gu Ming arranged a guest role for Cheng Long, who was the new fighting coach of the UG team. He fought with Zhu Xingtuan for a few moves, but there was no winner.

Soon, Cheng Long changed into a Taoist uniform and entered the UG team's set.

"A set of tricks?"

"Okay, let's use a condom!"

When Cheng Long said this, he was quite happy.

Although he hasn't formally trained in martial arts yet, he has excellent physical fitness and has dabbled in various performance routines. Looking at Gu Ming, Cheng Long decided to show him some of his prowess later.

It's not that I want to bully anyone, I just want to show off my skills.

"Wait a moment, let's each take our positions. I'll attack first, using my palm strike, but it's blocked. Then Cheng Jun will attack, but it's also blocked. I'll use my big outer cut..."

After a brief explanation, Cheng Long made an OK gesture, which is an internationally accepted gesture.

The two of them stood in their positions, and at the director's command, they immediately started to act.

They had already practiced the set of moves before, and when they fought now, it felt like flowing water. In a blink of an eye, they had already exchanged four or five punches, and after their fists collided, they each took a step back.

The director was lying in front of the camera looking at the viewfinder and was really shocked.

Damn! This fight is so fast, the camera can't keep up!

The two slowed down and exchanged a few moves. With the collision of the last punch, Gu Ming and the other man took a step back together, shaking their hands wildly, looking as if in pain.

Gu Ming is acting, but Cheng Long is real.

"Isn't Gu Sheng a little too strong and powerful?"

Yasuaki Kurata chuckled.

Nonsense! He's experienced it himself!

It is suspected that because Ultraman has been filmed too many times, his body has become cosmic.

Outside the field, Wan Gujie was stunned.

So cool!

This is much cooler than the fights in sword fighting movies!

Gu Ming beckoned him over and said to the two, "This is Wan Gu Jie, the third son of Wan Gu Eiji. He's currently working on set as a stagehand and learning filming techniques from the director. Xiao Jie, this Cheng Jun is a very famous action actor in Hong Kong. He's here with Mr. Yasuaki Kurata. Don't you like action scenes? Go get a camera so we can take a picture together."

Wan Gujie slapped his forehead, then realized what was happening and quickly ran to get the camera.

Yasuaki Kurata translated a few sentences.

"You said that Master Wangu wanted to take a photo with me? Ouch..."

Cheng Long was so happy.

He is a person who cannot sit still and likes to be in a lively environment.

When Wan Gujie brought the camera over, he and Gu Ming took a photo with the Wan Gu studio as the background, and also took a few more photos with Wan Gujie.

"Once the photos are developed, I will arrange for someone to mail them to Hong Kong."

"That's right! This trip was definitely worthwhile, haha!"

Cheng Long was still interested and wanted to go to the special effects studio to take a look. Gu Ming thought about it and realized that there was nothing shameful there. In fact, it would not matter if he saw it, because Hong Kong would not spend 12 million yen to shoot a TV series.

So he agreed without hesitation.

At this moment, the special effects studio was filming "Kieron Star Beast". Manaza Long was beating up the star beast. This scene shocked Cheng Long a little. He asked Wan Gujie to take another photo and took a photo with Manaza Long in a leather suit.

(End of this chapter)