Atlantic Pictures went to great lengths to secure "Night of the Comet" in 500 theaters in its third week. In addition to the breakthrough "Star Wars - Return of the Jedi", two new movies were released this week, occupying a large number of movies in the schedule.
One is a sequel to Hitchcock's classic "Psycho," "Psycho 2," which also stars Meg Tilly. A total of more than 1,400 theaters were taken away, and it seems that Zinnemann spared no effort in order to flatter his wife.
The other is Warner Bros.' "The Man with Two Brains," a science fiction comedy that also occupied more than 1,200 theaters.
Ronald got an estimate from Atlantic. The total box office this week is estimated to be no more than 16 million. The distribution capabilities of small companies are like this. Ronald can only expect two new films to have poor box office. Wait a minute. Zhou Zai regained the lost ground.
Another issue to deal with is the issue of martial arts moves in karate-themed movies. Ronald wanted to spread some Eastern martial arts philosophy in the movie so that Danny Boy could defeat his opponent in the end without degenerating into a bully like the opponent.
This requires giving the audience some philosophical ideas. However, telling philosophy in a movie is obviously a thankless task, and it is easy for the audience to lose interest. Ronald suffered from this problem at the hairdresser Tony's.
There are also some moves that Danny's mentor taught him. How to make these moves so that the audience can understand them at a glance without the need for additional explanations is a waste of thought. Moreover, the audience will finally see Danny Boy defeat his opponent using the moves taught by these instructors, so that they will have a feeling of empathy.
In order to find a suitable method of expression, Ronald asked Richard to help contact various Chinese and Japanese cultural centers and martial arts clubs in the Los Angeles area, hoping to communicate with the masters and bring inspiration to him.
On Saturday, Ronald went to the Asia-Pacific Museum. The museum is located in Pasadena, the town where Ronald and Diane went to the concert last time.
The Asia-Pacific Museum is located in the upper part of the town and was originally a private building. The entire building adopts the Huizhou architectural style of China. The eaves are separated by Feng Shui walls, which are said to have fire prevention effects.
There are several courtyards, each with a theme exhibition, including exhibition areas for China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and Indians. There is also a small garden-style garden in the middle of the yard, with a nine-curved bridge, a lotus pond, and a round gate.
However, the exhibits and cultural materials were generally well-preserved. At first glance, Ronald saw that they were all junk. In the Chinese section, there was only one Buddhist bronze statue that looked a little extraordinary.
"I have a big watermelon, half for you and half for him." A burst of American Tai Chi formulas came over.
One of the characteristics of the garden-style garden is that the scenery changes with each step. After walking a short distance, you can see the new scenery separated by the original wall.
Ronald heard someone teaching Tai Chi, turned several corners, and finally saw a middle-aged Chinese man teaching Tai Chi to a large group of whites, blacks, and Latinos.
He was wearing white training clothes and a wide cloth belt around his waist, giving him a somewhat immortal air.
Ronald watched him demonstrate the simple eight-position Tai Chi. His elegant postures made a group of students look at him seriously.
"This man looks familiar. He seems to be the one who taught Tai Chi on the instructional video tape when Coppola was on the set and asked everyone to learn Tai Chi." Ronald remembered who this man was.
After a set of simple Tai Chi was finished, the middle-aged man came over to say hello to Ronald, "Hello, my name is Chaoli. Are you here to learn Tai Chi?"
"No, I was wandering around the Asia-Pacific Museum. I didn't expect to see a Tai Chi master like you, so I stopped to take a look."
Chaoli smiled and said, "If you want to learn, you can come here to see me every Saturday. I will come here to teach boxing regardless of rain or shine. It's all free of charge. All fans can learn from each other."
"Thank you. I saw a video of you teaching boxing from a director friend. I wonder if you invented these big watermelon formulas yourself?"
"Hahaha, have you seen that video? Yes, because Tai Chi has many concepts, which are related to the ancient Chinese 'Tao Te Ching' and 'Book of Changes'. It is not easy for people who do not have a certain understanding of Chinese culture. I understand the meaning of this concept, such as yin and yang, such as hardness and softness, so I transformed it into a formula suitable for American culture, so that I can learn it faster.
However, in order to have a deep understanding of the effectiveness of Tai Chi in martial arts, we still need to understand Chinese culture. I have open classes at California State University, teaching the Tao Te Ching and the I Ching. If you are interested, you can listen to them. "
"This is all free? Why don't you use this knowledge to make money?"
Chaoli stopped smiling, "Many friends have advised me to sell Tai Chi teaching content, but I feel that Chinese culture has been suppressed too much in America. California had a Chinese Exclusion Act until the 1960s. White people are not allowed to intermarry yet, so I want to spread Chinese culture as much as possible so that more people can understand us.
There is an idiom in Chinese called subtle influence. If you understand more, you will not demonize us Chinese. Chinese culture is a bridge to enhance friendship. "
"But if you can make a blockbuster movie that reflects Chinese culture, wouldn't it be able to better promote Chinese culture?"
"Hahaha, you are right. I am a film and television actor myself. If it is possible for you to make a blockbuster movie about Chinese culture in the future, it will be a great thing for us Chinese and racial reconciliation in America. Since Bruce ·After Lee’s unfortunate death, the image of Chinese Americans on the movie screen began to become negative and villainous again.”
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't tell you this." Chaoli smiled, as if seeing Ronald was like seeing a compatriot. It was rare for a white man to like Chinese culture, so he couldn't help but talk more.
He took a booklet and said, "This is the thirty-six Tai Chi formulas I compiled myself. It contains various formulas I invented myself. I give it to you. You can come here to talk to me when you have time. I It’s time to teach boxing today, and I’m going back to Los Angeles to give acting lessons.”
"Oh, okay, thank you, Chao Li." Ronald accepted the boxing book and exchanged business cards with Chao Li.
"Are you really a director? If you have the opportunity to make a Chinese-American movie in the future, don't forget me." Chaoli found that Ronald's business card said movie director. However, there are many people in Hollywood who claim to be directors. It doesn't matter if you know one more. harm.
"Maybe there will be a chance in the future."
Ronald looked through the Tai Chi book carefully. In it, Chao Li translated many of the move names in Chinese into something that people in English-speaking countries can understand.
For example, the white crane airing its wings was changed to crane kicking, which was not literally translated as "the white crane airing its wings."
In this way, Americans can easily remember the connection between actions and names.
Ronald decided to modify the Goju-ryu karate moves in this way. Those awkward names such as "Three Wars" and "Turn Palm" must be changed to "I have a big watermelon" so that no explanation is required. Know the formula.
On the way back to the city, we drove through a puddle and the car was splashed with mud. Ronald drove to the mechanic shop next to the apartment and asked someone to wash the car.
"Sir, do you need waxing?" The young car washer asked Ronald. If he waxed, he could make more money.
"Waxing?"
"Yes, apply this car wax (wax on) first, and then slowly wipe it off (wax off) with a soft cloth. I guarantee that your car will be as good as new."
"What did you say?"
"I said it would be like new."
"No, just the previous sentence."
"Wax first, then wipe off. (wax on, wax off)"
"Very good, here's a tip for you." Ronald had an unexpected surprise and took out a US dollar bill, shook his hand, and handed it over.
"Okay, just leave it to me." The car washer received a big tip and immediately took the guy out and cleaned it for Ronald inside and out.
After driving home, Ronald immediately took out a pen and paper and made up a new name for Goju-ryu's moves.
"This step up to block is called the waxing pose." Ronald drew a few karate moves of a villain, rotating his arms outward to block the opponent's straight punches and swing punches.
"What about blocking hands from below?" Ronald stood up and made a sign, then saw the vacuum cleaner in the corner, "It's called the floor-wiping style." The arms of several villains rotated inward to block the opponent's uppercut or kick. .
"There is also this combination of attack and defense." Ronald gestured for a long time, one hand going up, one hand going down, and then turning his hands upside down, as if he was painting a wall.
"That's called the Painted Wall Style."
"Waxing style", "floor wiping style", "painting wall style", "hahaha..."
Ronald kept gesticulating in the room, then drew the postures, and finally turned on the computer and started typing frantically. It seems that American audiences will not understand this plot where the teacher teaches the protagonist to learn karate.
"What do you think? I turned these tricks into names that everyone can understand?" Ronald called Vidal the next day to discuss with him.
"This is good. Although it doesn't suit the taste of those old-timers. They all pay attention to tradition and don't want to change their old-fashioned names, but I think this is good. I can try it when I teach boxing in the future." Vidal told Luo Nader was applauded for his idea.
"Okay, I'll just write it like this. This way, in the eyes of insiders, it won't be a big joke."
"Actually no. My teacher told me before that the source of our Goju-ryu is Southern Shaolin martial arts. In the Shaolin Temple, the monks have to fetch water and chop firewood. In fact, it is also a kind of exercise. Fetching water and splitting firewood In the last one or two years, many basic moves can be finalized. The names of the moves that follow were all thought up by scholars."
"Is that so?" Ronald had another idea. "How about letting Danny's teacher teach him Goju-ryu techniques by waxing, mopping the floor, and painting the walls. In this way, Danny doesn't understand it at first. After he finishes waxing, mopping the floor, and painting the walls, After basic training, I naturally learned the basic kata of Goju-ryu.”
"But this will take a lot of time. Doesn't your movie take place in a summer?"
"For movies, you can exaggerate appropriately." Ronald said confidently.
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