Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 329 Creating a sense of armor
Shadow Warrior is preparing to go to the Cannes Film Festival.

Gu Ming hummed, showing no excitement at all.

Of course he wasn't excited, because he knew early on that Shadow Warrior would win the Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

Kurosawa actually wanted him to go, but Gu Ming didn't want to go.

The Palme d'Or, not the Best Actor award, he's nothing.

Besides, he is not free.

After politely declining Kurosawa's offer, Gu Ming continued to devote himself to his work.

He found some people and tried some materials, but the results were not very good.

Although he got a simplified version of the drawings, Gu Ming did not want to use the simplified design drawings unless it was necessary.

While I was thinking over and over again, Koizumi ran in from outside.

"Brother Gugu, there's a call for you! It's an overseas call from an American."

"Why are there Americans again?"

Gu Ming sighed and went to answer the phone.

As expected, it was a call from George Lucas. Gu Ming exchanged a few pleasantries and also mentioned the participation in the Cannes Film Festival.

"I'm very confident." Gu Ming showed some foresight: "Maybe I can win the Palme d'Or or something like that."

"Haha! You're really confident. Well, I'll wait and see."

George Lucas laughed.

However, although he was very confident in Shadow Warrior, he did not dare to guarantee that Shadow Warrior could win the Palme d'Or. George Lucas did not know where Gu Ming's inexplicable self-confidence came from.

George Lucas was a very busy man, so Gu Ming just asked a few questions and was about to hang up the phone.

But thinking about recent events, Gu Ming suddenly asked a question.

"Mr. Lucas, I have a question. Do you know of any material that can be shaped while being thin and lightweight enough to be used for special performances... I mean, like movie stunts?"

"There are so many," Lucas listed them off. "But most of them aren't allowed in the U.S. For example, there's a new material called polyethylene. It's lightweight, has a great shaping effect, and is very colorable. However, it's carcinogenic and can easily overheat when worn, so it's not allowed in costumes..."

As George Lucas was speaking, Gu Ming's eyes suddenly widened.

Polyethylene.

Isn’t that just a fucking foam board!
Gu Ming couldn't help but hit himself on the head.

I actually forgot the foam board.

"That's true, because there are no foam boards in Japan!!"

Gu Ming asked, "Mr. Lucas, why have I never heard of polyethylene before?"

George Lucas said: "Of course you haven't heard of it. It was a material that was successfully mass-produced in the laboratory in 1977. Before that, it was just a material that was discovered but not put into use."

Gu Ming slapped his thigh.

"Mr. Lucas, let's be frank."

George Lucas: Open what?
Gu Ming said, "We might need that kind of polyethylene for our filming here. Can you find a way to get some for me? I'll pay you!"

……

……

Toei, Narita Studio.

Seeing Gu Ming coming, Cheng Tianhengton was furious: "You kid, don't come again! I can't make that kind of suit!"

Gu Ming was not angry, but smiled and said, "Let's not talk about the leather case this time. It's like this, Mr. Narita, I brought something good, maybe you will be interested."

"I'm not interested. Even if you find a hundred American women to dance hula in front of me, I won't watch!"

"So you like American women?"

"I like beating you up."

"what……"

After a few words, Gu Ming still forcibly took Cheng Tianheng out of the door.

Two light trucks were parked outside. Narita Toru looked at the white material in front of him with a bit of surprise.

"What is this?"

Gu Ming took a sample early in the morning and gave it to Narita Heng.

Narita Heng took it in his hand and felt it, and his dark and thin body trembled.

Bakana! What the hell is this?!
Gu Ming grinned.

Of course it’s bubbles!

Foam boards come in different shapes and sizes, some are light and some are heavy, some are brittle and some are tough, and can be made to meet various needs.

By the way, these foam boards were sent across the ocean from the United States.

"Mr. Narita, let's be frank. If we use this material, can we make the suit we want? Here's my idea: we can use an external method to create a kind of 'armor' that fits over the suit's inner garment, forming a modular structure that is convenient for the actors to install. At the same time, we only design some empty spaces on the suit for easy installation."

Gu Ming gave a brief description, and Narita Heng kept nodding.

If it was before, he would have said he couldn't do it.

But it's different now.

This material is so lightweight!

It is light and effective at the same time, and can completely achieve body shaping.

After adding color, he can definitely achieve the effect he needs!

Using foam as the filling and cloth and artificial leather as the outer shell, you can achieve the desired armor effect!

As for the modular leather case, Narita Heng didn't understand it, but it didn't matter. They could discuss it later.

"If you have this, then we can try making this leather case! But let me make it clear, my fees are very high!"

Gu Ming spread his hands.

It doesn’t matter. All the expenses will be paid by Mr. Enjiro and Toei.

……

……

The new leather case was made in just one week.

This time, Gu Ming specially called the suit actors who had been booked.

"Try it on. This is a newly made leather case."

Nakayashiki Tetsuya responded and prepared to cooperate in putting on the leather suit.

As soon as he got the leather case, Nakayashiki Tetsuya couldn't help but let out a low cry.

very light!

It was much lighter than he had imagined!
After putting it on, I no longer feel the difficulty in moving as before.

He tried some movements and felt quite agile.

It’s not as good as being bare-handed, but it’s also not comparable to what was before.

"This is amazing! How did they do that?"

Gu Ming spread his hands.

Trade secret!

Well, polyethylene is no secret and will soon be used in various industries, but this is definitely the earliest work to use polyethylene.

Generally speaking, leather suits will highlight the human form, but Armor Hero is different. Armor Hero needs to have that special texture, so it can unscrupulously use foam in the filling to create an inhuman feeling.

After all, the armor can't look the same as the body!
With that, the armor suits were ready, not to mention the monster suits. The location and script were all finalized, and Toei's production was nearing completion, so filming could begin at any moment.

Gu Ming calculated the time.

Okay!

He still has time to participate in one or two episodes. If he is late, he will have to go to the United States to work on Star Wars.

(End of this chapter)