In the quiet cinema, a sudden intake of breath could be heard, especially from the male audience members, who stared intently at the screen, seemingly completely shocked!
The male protagonist, Mike, had just come out of the police station and encountered a father and daughter being chased by zombies. The way the daughter ran could only be described as stunning.
This was a basic filmmaking technique, yet it effectively captivated the audience.
Then, with swift and skilled movements, the male protagonist killed the pursuing zombies and saved the father and daughter.
Azizah Gossman glanced at Doug Reiman and asked, "How does it feel?"
Having recently filmed a highly acclaimed action movie, "The Bourne Identity," Doug had a professional opinion on this matter.
"Not bad," Doug whispered, his voice low. "The editing isn't exceptional, just average, but the action scene wouldn't have this impact if it weren't for the actor's brilliant performance."
Azizah nodded slightly. "So you mean the actor's performance outshines the editing in this action sequence?"
As is well known, Hollywood action movies rely mainly on editing rather than the actors themselves.
"It's half and half," Doug replied, rubbing his palms together. "In most action films, the actor and choreography contribute thirty percent, while post-production editing contributes seventy percent."
Azizah understood Doug's point and didn't say more. Although he had focused on award-winning films in recent years and hadn't dealt much with action films, he had been involved in projects like "Batman Forever" and had some judgement about action scenes.
The male protagonist's action scenes were particularly impressive. Besides being momentarily overshadowed by the female supporting character's running, he remained the absolute star in every scene he appeared in.
Moreover, the character was brilliantly conceived: highly skilled, agile, resolute yet sincere, he protected many disaster survivors and led them to a shopping mall to escape the catastrophe.
With the shopping mall as a small fortress, he overcame opposition to rescue a group of people, including a glamorous nurse, who had escaped from a hospital.
The first gunfight scene then took place.
Bang—
The crisp sound of gunfire echoed back and forth in the auditorium as the male protagonist, with guns in both hands, blew a zombie's head off.
Bang—Bang—
More gunfire followed.
Doug perked up, having just watched several scenes of the protagonist in hand-to-hand combat, and now finally, a gunfight occurred.
Before attending the premiere, Azizah had told him that their main purpose today was to scout actors for their own project. Matthew Horner, the actor, had suitable physical attributes—handsome with a hint of wildness. His performance in last year's blockbuster, "Pirates of the Caribbean," had made him a hot commodity among second-tier stars. He was well-versed in action scenes, making him a perfect fit for the new film's male lead.
However, Doug had his doubts. Matthew Horner, although memorable in "Band of Brothers" and "Black Hawk Down," had played only minor roles. The roles that made him famous and showcased his appeal were in period pieces, not modern attire.
But seeing Matthew Horner's gun-shooting scene dispelled Doug's reservations. The protagonist's gun handling and shooting posture were textbook perfect, reminiscent of the professional trainer who had coached Mark Damon during "The Bourne Identity."
Halfway through the film, Doug felt that the protagonist was not bad. Matthew Horner's acting was perhaps average, not on par with Matt Damon, but his gunfighting and close combat scenes were outstanding. Unlike Damon's action scenes in "The Bourne Identity," which relied heavily on post-production and editing, this film's editing was average, with the action largely carried by the actor's powerful presence and clean execution.
"How about it?" Azizah asked.
"Speaking solely of the actor himself, Matthew Horner has better control over the action scenes than Mark Damon," Doug replied.
He had mostly dismissed his earlier doubts. The film was nearing its end, and Matthew Horner's modern look and contemporary action scenes were on par with those of Will Turner in "Pirates of the Caribbean."
Even in dramatic scenes, there were memorable moments.
The protagonist always thought of his family, yet learned from escaping survivors that his parents' and siblings' location had turned into a hell on earth. He could only channel his feelings of longing toward Andy, who was on the opposite rooftop. Their cross-rooftop chess game was one of the most memorable parts of the film.
This was also the film's most emotional moment. When Andy turned into a zombie, the protagonist, Mike, in grief, blew his head off.
But the final chainsaw scene made Doug reconsider his earlier view.
The protagonist, Mike, in a desperate situation with dwindling supplies, led the survivors in an armored vehicle to break out. When one of the vehicles had an accident, he wielded a chains
aw to rescue them. The flying heads, splattering blood, and scattered limbs were exhilarating.
A rugged protagonist, a chainsaw, and a horde of zombies as supporting characters somehow created a strangely romantic atmosphere.
Chainsaws... Was there anything more romantic than using a chainsaw against zombies? Zombies must love it.
The protagonist, Mike, was the ultimate tough guy, clearing a bloody path through the zombie horde and rescuing the people in the vehicle, but ultimately he was bitten.
As the film concluded, the protagonist said goodbye to the female lead, choosing to cover their escape alone while others fled to an island. Then, he stood beside a barrel of oil on the dock, attracting most of the zombies, and shot the barrel, causing an explosion that sent flames soaring into the sky.
Watching this, Doug's previously tense nerves relaxed instantly. He remembered that the film's director was a newcomer and that some aspects, like the action effects and editing, were not handled very well. However, together with Matthew Horner, they had created a vivid and distinctive protagonist. From a creator's perspective, the film could be considered a success.
The film ended amid the blur of the DV and the roars of zombies.
It was thought that escaping to the island would ensure safety, but... it was full of zombies.
"What a memorable protagonist," Azizah said, watching the credits roll, seemingly talking to himself. "His modern action scenes are as brilliant as his period ones."
"Yes," Doug agreed. "He seems naturally suited to play these strong, wild roles."
Azizah immediately thought of several characters: Ronald Speirs from "Band of Brothers," Sergeant Hoot who fought his way in and out of Somalia in "Black Hawk Down," the unrestrained Scorpion King, and last year's most dazzling role in the American film industry, Will Turner.
Doug then said, "Did you notice? We were worried about the dramatic scenes, but Matthew Horner's performance wasn't bad there either. As the leader of this group of survivors, in addition to action scenes, he also appropriately displayed the understated leadership qualities."
"Mm," Azizah nodded gently.
As a seasoned screenwriter and producer, he could certainly see this.
After encountering those three security guards in the supermarket, where their weapons were confiscated, and hearing the selfish remarks of the guards, most people would be hostile toward them. However, the protagonist not only avoided juvenile confrontations with the guards but also proposed a cooperative approach, suggesting they reinforce the entrances and mark the rooftop for rescue signals.
Moreover, Matthew Horner's tone was very apt, and his actions demonstrated the protagonist's intelligence and calm demeanor beyond his strong physical abilities.
This also bridged a communication gap between two hostile groups.
Many other small details reflected the protagonist's unifying and leadership qualities within the team. For instance, when there were conflicts between survivors and security guards or others, he was always the first to intervene. When there was hesitation about whether to go out and rescue people or break out, it was ultimately the protagonist who made the decisions.
In fact, the protagonist was the only one in the group truly considering everyone's welfare, wanting to lead them all to safety.
The female supporting character was all looks and no brains, a complete vase.
The young black man only cared about his pregnant wife and was indifferent to others, so he concealed the fact that she had been bitten.
The female lead was kind but lacked the ability to unite the team, a typical naive and sweet character.
Initially, the head of the security guards only wanted to survive himself, but later, influenced by the protagonist, he developed a sense of sacrifice.
As for the other characters, it goes without saying that everyone unconsciously followed the protagonist's plans and decisions.
Overall, the protagonist's characteristics of bravery, concern for others, sincerity, strategic thinking, and ability to mediate team disputes determined his role as the leader of these survivors.
This is why the ending, where he chose not to board the boat, felt particularly poignant. If the protagonist wasn't such an influential figure, would his ending have been as moving?
"I think we could consider Matthew Horner as one of the main candidates," Doug suggested.
"Mm..." Azizah pondered for a moment and replied, "Let's wait for now. We don't audition until the end of May, so there's no rush."
"Okay," Doug agreed.
After all, just because he thought the film was good didn't necessarily mean it would resonate with the market. Whether the film succeeded and whether Matthew Horner truly had enough drawing power would depend on whether audiences were willing to pay to see it.
As the film screening ended, the theater erupted with enthusiastic applause. Azizah and Doug made their way to the front row to congratulate the director and the protagonist.
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