Chapter 8. Action scenes
"Ren, would you be fine doing the fighting scenes? You could get hurt if you're not careful."
"Don't worry. I know what I am doing."
Ren said as he reassured White bear, but White bear 's eyes were still full of concern.
Ren knew why he was feeling like that. Ren had never learnt any martial arts, nor was he someone who do exercises regularly.
If he really did the fighting scenes, then there was a chance that he could get hurt. Still, he wanted to do it.
In his previous life, Ren had learnt martial arts when he was in his 30s. Those days all the new actors would learn martial arts to show their fighting capabilities.
That's why he had also learned martial arts. He was getting old, that's why he even started exercising to stay healthy.
Ren wanted to do the fighting scenes to see if he can execute the techniques he had learned.
As he was talking with White bear, Assistant Director Ming came back with a bearded man who was wearing a cap.
"Ren, this the action director, Hao Shi."
"Nice to meet you, Director Shi."
Ren said as he bowed towards him and Action Director Shi also nodded and said.
"Nice to meet you too. I saw your acting, I was impressed. Your eyes expressed themselves very well. I was frightened by it. Your acting is outstanding at such a young age."
"Thank you for the compliments. I was just trying to do my best."
Ren and Action Director Shi talked about trivial things for some time. Assistant Director Ming finally brought up the main subject.
"Action Director, Ren here wanted to do the fighting scenes himself."
"Really? You are passionate for your age."
"I just wanted to see if I could do them."
"It's okay but have you ever learned any martial arts?"
Ren shook his head at the Action Director's words and said.
"No, it's my first time. I have never learned any martial arts."
"Do you have some experience in fighting then?"
"I fought some bullies before in the streets."
"Hahaha, we aren't shooting a street fight here."
Ren just smiled awkwardly at Action Director Shi's words.
"Okay, we'll first demonstrate the fighting scene and then let's see if you can do it or not."
Ren nodded, and the action director called for some stuntmen to perform the scene.
It was going to be a scene where the character of Jay would fight against three men, and he would show his fighting power in this scene.
"Observe. We practised this scene for a month. You have to carefully watch every moment."
Ren nodded, and the fighting scene started. It also ended in just a few seconds.
Movie scenes are all like this. People would think that a scene of that kind would take only a few minutes to practice, but it actually would take more than one shot to make it perfect.
Sometimes directors and actors had to work for hours just to shoot one small scene. That's why it took several months to film a movie.
"Do you want us to demonstrate it one more time?"
"I think I will be okay. Although I can't be as good as the stuntmen, I'll try my best."
"Okay."
Ren and the stuntmen took their positions. It was a rehearsal, but Ren was giving his all for the scene.
"I will describe the scene one more time. Stuntman one will first punch you. You have to dodge it, and then you will have to jump and do a spinning roundhouse kick."
Ren nodded, and the action director took his distance with Assistant Director Ming and White bear.
All the staff members and extra actors also came to watch the scene.
Even the Director and Chu Min were watching from the sidelines.
Ren's expression became fierce all of a sudden. At that moment, he wasn't Ren but Jay.
His expression was fierce because that was what was expected from Jay. Even if he acted calm in the beginning, Jay was more aggressive than anyone else.
Ren also thought about his past self. He remembered his miserable days in the past. He thought about all the misery he had gone through.
'If I can't even do a fighting scene, how will I become a star.'
Ren berated himself and criticised his past self. He criticised himself to take out the best in him.
He thought of the countless insults he had to listen to in his life.
His expression became more fierce and fierce. It was just a rehearsal, but Ren didn't consider it as one. He was taking it as an actual scene.
"Action!"
The action director shouted, and the scene began. Just as he heard the sound, he felt his surrounding becoming slower.
Ren quickly dodged the punch and avoided the kick and did a spinning roundhouse kick in the end.
The scene ended as quickly as it started. It was just for a split moment, but everyone was wide-eyed watching the scene.
'Clap!'
Ren didn't know who started it, but everyone was clapping for him.
White bear was clapping the hardest. He had a happy and surprised expression on his face.
Ren could hear the whispers of the staff members.
"Did you see his expression?"
"Yeah, it was fierce."
"Don't you think he'll become a big star?"
"Maybe, I should ask for an autograph."
As he was listening to their whispers, Action Director Shi came close to him and said.
"Did you say that you only fought on the streets? Are street fights this fierce nowadays?"
"Haha, I was just lucky."
Ren smiled and said, but Action Director Shi shook his head and said.
"No, it wasn't only luck. Your expressions were great, and that spinning roundhouse kick was just amazing."
Action Director Shi wasn't trying to flatter Ren here. He was amazed after seeing Ren act.
Although he was not as good as the stuntmen, he was better than most actors who do fighting scenes themselves.
* * *
In the sidelines, Director Zhu and Chu Min were also stunned after seeing Ren do the fighting scene.
Chu Min had a surprised expression and was feeling happy that Ren was able to do the fighting scene.
"Haha, I am sure that the movie will do wonders in the box office."
"Hehe, Director Zhu, remember it was me who recommended him."
"Yes, yes, I can't forget my main character."
Director Zhu pampered Chu Min as he tried to act cute. He was pleased.
They would be able to save time on editing if Ren was able to do his fighting scenes by himself.
They were already late on their schedule, so it was a good thing.
As Chu Min was happily conversing with the director, someone tapped him on the shoulder.
It was Jiang Wan, his manager.
"What happened, Brother Wan?"
"How is your relationship with Xin Ren?"
"We consider each other brothers and we are very close but why are you asking this?"
"Help me recruit him in our agency."
"Hah??"
Chu Min let out a confused voice after hearing Jiang Wan words.