Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 582 The idea came from a date

Inside the TCL Chinese Grand Theater, a silence that had lasted for several seconds was broken by a sudden burst of applause.

The applause was like a signal; instantly, thunderous applause and deafening cheers erupted throughout the theater!

"My God, this is a nightmare, a nightmare that is beautiful to the extreme!"

"Kayla's performance is Nina; I completely believe it!"

"I dare say that the scene in the mirror maze won't be more stunning for at least ten years!"

In the darkness, the audience discussed excitedly, their excitement filling the air.

The expressions on the faces of the seasoned film critics in the front row changed from initial shock to deep admiration.

They knew that tonight, they were witnessing the birth of another masterpiece.

The reporters in the media area couldn't contain themselves any longer; they all stood up, raised their hands, and were eager to begin their interviews.

Rebecca Sarkin, the project's director, sat in her seat, turned her head and saw the excitement of the audience behind her, feeling the thunderous roar around her, and trembled with excitement.

She knew she had probably won her gamble again!

This will definitely be a brilliant chapter in her career.

As the spotlight shone, Wu Chen, Keira Knightley, Vincent Cassel, and Mila Kunis rose and bowed deeply to the audience.

When they returned to the stage, the reporters who had been waiting for a long time immediately handed them microphones.

"Wu!" A reporter from Variety was the first to grab the opportunity to ask a question.

"The stunning scene at the end of the movie where the 'mirror maze' shatters is simply a stroke of genius!"

We all want to know, how was that filmed? Was it originally in the script? Or did the actors inspire you during filming?

The question immediately piqued the curiosity of the audience in the back rows, including Nolan and James Wan.

Keira Knightley quickly waved her hand and said with a smile:
"Oh no, this has nothing to do with me. When I saw the storyboard for this scene, I was just as shocked as you were. It was Wu's genius idea."

Vincent Cassel and Mila Kunis also shook their heads.

Wu Chen took the microphone, a gentle smile on his face:

"Actually, this idea came from a date."

When my girlfriend and I were visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, we saw a modern installation art exhibition that included a similar prism space.

At the time, I was thinking, what kind of effect would it have if this visually infinite fragmentation were combined with the character's complete inner collapse?

"Your girlfriend? Crystal?"

The media immediately seized on the key phrase, their eyes lighting up. "So, can we say she's your muse?"

“Of course,” Wu Chen answered without hesitation, his eyes filled with certainty, “There’s no doubt about it, you have to lose points for that question!”

As soon as he finished speaking, a burst of good-natured laughter erupted in the room, and some people even whistled, followed by another round of applause.

Subsequently, a reporter from The Hollywood Reporter posed the question to Keira Knightley:

"Keira, you showcased a lot of highly difficult ballet techniques in the film, which was amazing."

We'd like to know, did you perform all of these scenes yourself? Or did you use a dance stunt double?

This is a very acute issue.

Film critics, media representatives, and some industry insiders narrowed their eyes slightly. Nolan's wife, Emma Thomas, couldn't help but lean closer to him and whisper, "That's a real trap question."

She knew very well that this film was aimed at winning an Oscar; it was full of artistic elements and featured stunning visuals like the mirror maze.

If Keira can answer "yes" definitively, it will be a significant boost to her chances of winning an Oscar.

However, once exposed for lying, the consequences are equally severe.

"There's no way to avoid it; whichever direction we choose, we have to give a response."

Nolan crossed his arms and looked curiously at the stage.

Wu Chen, on the other hand, remained remarkably calm.

He had already thought of this problem. The original actress, Natalie Portman, chose to use a body double in order to win the Oscar for Best Actress, but this obviously encountered huge controversy.

Actually, there is a solution to this question.

Keira Knightley smiled slightly.

Wu Chen had discussed this with her before, and choosing to be honest is not necessarily a bad thing.

On the one hand, we need to acknowledge the contributions of the stunt double and respect ballet;

On the other hand, it is necessary to skillfully shift the focus from "technique" back to "performance" itself, emphasizing one's core value as an actor.

"Believe me, because of this honesty and deep understanding of acting, you will win the favor of everyone present, including the most demanding judges. You don't need those extra points."

Keira Knightley recalled Wu Chen's instructions and said frankly:
"That's a very good question. First of all, I must thank my dance double, Sarah Lynn, who is an excellent ballet dancer."
She performed the most demanding full-body long shots in the film, demonstrating the most basic respect for the art of ballet.

She paused, then changed the subject.

"But apart from those top-notch technical moves, all the dance performances, all the emotional expressions, every glance, every breath in the film are me."

For this film, I trained in ballet for months, more than eight hours a day.

My goal is not to become a technically perfect dancer, but to become Nina.
Wu told me that what the audience needs to see is not a ballet dancer performing, but an actress using her body and soul to dance out her life.

This answer was perfect.

Even the media couldn't help but applaud, and Wu Chen nodded slightly in return.

"What a clever answer. Wu must have guessed it." Nolan, who had been watching closely from below the stage, smiled faintly.

"awesome"

Emma Thomas nodded.

However, after the creators finished their interviews, the media didn't let Nolan and James Wan, who were sitting in the front row, off the hook.

The responses given by the two individuals were concise yet weighty.

"Wu Yong's purest visual language perfectly interprets the theme of 'complete personality collapse.' This is an artistically ambitious work."

"He showed me another possibility for psychological thrillers, one that doesn't rely on cheap scares but can still send chills down the audience's spine. That's so sophisticated."

The two directors' "official endorsement" instantly caused another stir in the media.

Within hours of the premiere, reports and reviews from major mainstream media outlets flooded the media.

(End of this chapter)