Short Action Film Shoot

Not long ago, a group of film makers got together to have a bit of fun one weekend here in Beijing.  Although I could not join them on location for the full extent of their misadventures, I was able to drop in for a few hours and document the work.  For the more serious side of things, you can check out Wu Di's blog as he has posted some of the pics.  However, I thought the view from behind the scenes was more entertaining, if not telling, of a few hours in the life of a no-budget film project. In an abandoned Beijing parking lot, an epic struggle for life and death was unfolding.A seemingly vanquished Shahaub was using his suit to clean the garage floor.  But who was responsible for this madness? One was the director, Zhang Lei, who took a simple, yet professional, pleasure in maximizing their pain.

Li Yuan, the choreographer, was pushing the actors hard too.  He kept saying, "Shoot it again.  Real blood will look better!"

Li Yuan showed he wasn't all talk. 

Meanwhile, Wu Di was starting to take a few beatings of his own.  What's a big Brit to do?  A header, of course.

But don't count Shahaub out of the game yet.  This coiled spring is as lethal as James Bond himself.

Shahaub, Just Shahaub.  Licensed to kill you - with laughter.

Watch out for this one ladies.  Time magazine named him the Persian Jim Carrey.

With each take, Shahaub really felt Wu Di's pain in this shot.  I could sense the empathy on his face each time the big Brit landed on top of Wu Di.

Taking a page from Lucus, Zhang Lei filmed multiple endings to confuse the crew.  In this surprise twist, enemies become lovers right on the battlefield.

Love fest over.  Cue violent death scene.

Turns out fake blood doesn't taste so nice.

After learning the caterers did not show up, Wu Di vowed, "I will have my vengeance in this life or the next!"

With no change of clothes, he had an entertaining subway ride home after the shoot.

Ah, the old crotch cam.  By the way, this is about what a colonoscopy is like.