Chapter 68

"This is a set of boxing training exercises, similar to the real boxing techniques in the Matrix. The basic rules are the same, such as the application of center of gravity and power generation techniques. You need to understand that these rules are no different from those in the computer system, and some can be modified and broken. Got it? Come, attack me, with all your might." Morpheus, dressed in a black martial arts uniform, said leisurely.

At the beginning, the fighting was formal, with stiff and unrefined moves.

Yuan Heping's action style was often graceful, emphasizing the need for the actions to be as captivating as possible. His view was, "The audience loves spectacles; they want entertainment. They are interested in both the physical contact between the protagonist and the antagonist, just as fire is both destructive and warming—this is what they hope to get from the action scenes."

Chen Tiandu was also very serious, especially about the martial arts scenes, almost to the point of being a perfectionist. He was never satisfied with his performance, even when Yuan Heping thought it was very good. He always tried his best to reach the desired level. To achieve the ideal visual effect, he set an example, inspiring the actors and the martial arts team to accomplish tasks they had never done before in an extremely short time.

"We hope to create something extraordinary!" Chen Tiandu said to Yuan Heping.

The visually pleasing fight scenes were the result of a strong collaboration between the martial arts director, the director, and the actors. "All the concepts for these fight scenes come from the director's ideas," Yuan Heping explained in a later interview, "and I build the actions based on his ideas."

Initially, it was thought that the few minutes of fight scenes would not be too difficult to shoot. However, when they actually started filming, they realized how challenging it was.

The standard of the hand movements was secondary; to achieve the visual effect of flexibility and fluidity, three large cranes were set up on both sides of the Great Wall. The scene was grand, and the scenery of the Great Wall was naturally impressive. Compared to the original where the fight took place in a narrow wooden house, this time there was much more room for Yuan Heping to work with, and the use of wires was very frequent.

Chen Tiandu did not object; he knew that Director Yuan Heping was the expert in this area.

The kung fu elements and wire work in the film were more complex and varied than in the original. Compared to the original scenes, this version of "The Matrix" by Chen Tiandu had more movement in specific fights.

The weather was not always good; it started snowing the next day, and the weather forecast predicted continuous snowfall for the next week. Chen Tiandu was so frustrated that he decided to shoot the snow fight scenes directly.

"We had to stand in the snow for several hours in the morning," Lawrence Fishburne recalled in an interview about the making of the film, with a bitter expression on his face.

Compared to Chen Tiandu, he was still better off.

The more Chen Tiandu could do, the more Yuan Heping would make him do. So when he could perform one move, he would be required to do more after completing it.

"Bang~" Neo was kicked by Morpheus and flew several meters, finally stopping after crashing into the Great Wall.

Neo spat out a mouthful of blood, drenched in sweat, and could not get up.

Morpheus, with a relaxed demeanor, walked with his hands behind his back, looking down at Neo from above and asked, "How did I defeat you?"

This scene greatly enhanced the characters' movement abilities in the Matrix, with their incredible strength and swift actions, making it highly entertaining. In the original, Neo was only kicked into a wooden beam, and the wooden floor only cracked slightly. Now, the actions and speed were significantly increased, and the destructive power was also enhanced. In post-production, there would be special effects of bricks and stones flying. Chen Tiandu also used wide-angle lenses and fast cuts, making the scenes very broad and spectacular.

Of course, to avoid the psychological impact of the Great Wall being damaged, the next fight scene would include a line like "clean up the scene," implying that the program outside should be refreshed, and the damaged Great Wall would be restored to its original state.

"Do you think I am stronger or faster than you because my muscles are more developed?" Morpheus walked closer, bent down, and looked at him.

Neo struggled to get up, shaking his head and panting, seemingly unable to speak.

"Do you still need to breathe here?"

Neo was taken aback, suddenly realizing something, and his labored breathing stopped abruptly.

"Again." Morpheus shouted.

The cameraman, Emmanuel Lubezki, quickly switched the camera to capture the facial expressions. The assistant director, Hankawi, shouted, "Cut!" Chen Tiandu did not move, waiting for Kong Yiji to take a few photos on the set before grinning and walking back to the camera to check the footage. After watching it through, he nodded and said, "Great, it's done!"

Everyone cheered, clapping and whistling. Lawrence also breathed a sigh of relief; the first scene was indeed not easy.

Chen Tiandu also smiled, clapped his hands, and raised a thumb, shouting, "Prepare for the next scene."

After a short break, the camera angles were adjusted, and makeup was reapplied. Chen Tiandu went over to practice with Lawrence to avoid hitting anyone by mistake.

The next set of fight scenes had new requirements. The Messiah's insight was unquestionable, and his movement awareness was astonishingly fast. After Morpheus's guidance, Neo's actions became even faster, almost leaving Morpheus only able to defend.

However, he was pushed back again. Although he was not hit, he was forced to retreat hastily.

"What are you waiting for? Don't doubt yourself; give it your all." Morpheus scolded, "Come on, don't hesitate, hit me directly."

"Cut!" The scene stopped again. Chen Tiandu took a deep breath, walked over to review the footage. Directing and acting at the same time was a bit troublesome, always having to run back and forth, unable to concentrate.

Fortunately, there was plenty of time to review between takes.

He did not find it annoying; whenever he saw the camera capturing the scenes he wanted, it felt magical. Chen Tiandu enjoyed it, savoring the indescribable taste. Suddenly, he heard a gentle voice behind him, "Hi, do you want some water?"

Chen Tiandu turned around and saw Kate holding a bottle of steaming water, her face full of a sweet smile, her eyes sparkling with the unique glow of someone in the early stages of a romance, making her even more charming. Chen Tiandu was surprised, "Oh, where did you get hot water? It's freezing here." Kate laughed, playfully saying, "From the office of the administrator with the red armband. Drink it; everyone has some."

"Thanks, dear." Chen Tiandu smiled and took the water bottle from her.

Because of the cold, speaking would produce white breath, affecting the shooting. However, this was not a problem. The actors were instructed to hold a piece of ice in their mouths before speaking, so no white breath would be visible. Chen Tiandu's mouth was now a bit numb, and he wondered if holding the ice for too long would cause mouth ulcers.

"Um, it's even better with a little extra. Great." Chen Tiandu took a sip and shouted to Lawrence, "Morpheus, do you want a drink? It's good."

"Of course, please give me one; my mouth is numb." Lawrence shouted back.

Chen Tiandu smiled, looked at the footage on the monitor, and frowned, asking Wang Shiquan beside him, "Teacher Wang, what do you think of this part? I feel it's a bit stiff."

"Of course it's stiff. Bajiquan emphasizes quick advances and attacks. When the opponent retreats, you advance; when the opponent advances, you still advance, focusing on continuous advancement. Here, you retract your punch, and during that time, Bajiquan can hit you two or three times. Your elbow, wrist, palm, and back of the hand can all be used as attack points..."

Chen Tiandu understood, and Yuan Heping thought for a moment, "Let's redesign this part. I have a new idea. If you have any suggestions, feel free to share them; we're all here for the kung fu and the film." He had extensive experience in filming, and such last-minute changes were common in Hong Kong, so it was not a problem for him.

The two immediately started discussing and came up with a new sequence, which they had the martial arts actors practice. Once they felt it was perfect, they taught it to Lawrence and Chen Tiandu to ensure it was flawless.

As a result, the fight scenes on the Great Wall, which lasted only a few minutes, took a whole week to shoot. They could only film for a few hours each day, and the harsh environment made it difficult for the crew. However, they managed to finish it satisfactorily.

But the filming in China was not over. The crew quickly moved to Wudang, where they had to shoot a few seconds of scenes, and then to a plum garden in the snow.

In the original, the sparring was divided into three parts, representing Neo's continuous improvement.

Chen Tiandu's scenes were also divided into three parts, but the settings changed. The Great Wall was the first part, the Wudang Mountain dojo the second, and the final snow-covered plum garden the third.

These three parts represented different levels of improvement. The first part involved a significant increase in speed and strength in the Matrix, focusing on brute force. The second part emphasized technique and the liberation of Neo's mind, with his speed becoming unimaginably fast.

By the third part, in the snow-covered plum garden, the speed returned to normal, but every movement exuded the aura of a master, expressing the principles of "using a small force to move a large one" and "overcoming hardness with softness" as fully as possible.

Fortunately, the week of training on the Great Wall improved their coordination, and they managed to complete the filming in China before Christmas. Chen Tiandu was very satisfied with these scenes, especially the final one in the snow-covered plum garden, where the falling snow and drifting plum blossoms would surely leave a lasting impression on the global audience.

According to Hollywood rules, there should be a three-week Christmas break. However, a two-week break was also acceptable. Not taking a break at all would result in the actors going on strike.

Thus, the entire crew returned to the United States, where the remaining scenes would be completed in green screen studios and the streets of New York.

(Desperately seeking recommendations. Thank you all for your support, and I bow to you!)

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