Chapter 81

The movie production was going smoothly, with Hugo Weaving and Charlize Theron's scenes nearing completion. Even the most challenging scene, involving a helicopter machine gunning, was managed by borrowing a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter through connections, with a daily rental fee of $200,000, which was shockingly expensive.

This scene was to capture the thrilling moment of a helicopter circling over the city.

During filming, of course, the actors wouldn't really be strapped to the helicopter and flown around the city. That was the kind of thing Jackie Chan did; ordinary people would be better off filming in the studio.

However, this scene was still quite challenging, but Hollywood was never short of crews willing to take on such challenges. The solution had been found years ago, when Arnold Schwarzenegger shot "True Lies" five years earlier, they figured out how to film a helicopter circling and firing from above.

The special effects and props teams almost replicated that method, finding a skyscraper and parking the helicopter on the edge of the rooftop, using its movement to complete the shot.

Most of the scenes required post-production compositing, and the Black Hawk helicopter was only flown once, just for aerial shots of the buildings.

Since filming the scene of walking outside the skyscraper, Chen Tian had always thought he had acrophobia. He didn't want to do the aerial helicopter scene himself, but considering the importance of the scene and that he couldn't avoid it forever, he gritted his teeth and got into the helicopter, operating the camera himself.

Perhaps he was too focused during filming, but after finishing, he didn't feel much, which made him very happy.

Compared to these large-scale scenes, the bullet time scenes were more technically demanding. Once a solution was found, they were actually easier to shoot.

In this climactic scene, Neo finally displayed the potential of a savior. After rescuing Morpheus, he miraculously saved Trinity at a critical moment, and they sealed their love with a kiss.

"Hey, focus! We're filming here," Chen Tian scolded Kate with a smile after an NG.

"Hmph, wasn't my kiss focused enough?"

"Yes, it was too focused. Please, can you not stick your tongue out during a kissing scene? Do you want to eat me?"

"It was you who put your hand on my butt first. I don't think that's why we had an NG," Kate retorted. Old Chen's face turned red, and with others around, he turned his head, and everyone tactfully looked away, awkwardly saying, "I just... it was a reflex. A reflex, you know, habits die hard."

"Public displays of affection should be sent to hell. Do you two want to keep filming or are you done? Everyone is waiting for their meals," Kong Yiji shouted, finally breaking up the couple who were reluctant to let go.

The two finally separated, but they glared at Kong Yiji together, making him shrink back and wilt.

Hugo Weaving watched with great interest, "Kong, you shouldn't have reminded them. We were enjoying a real live kiss, and it might have evolved into a bed scene."

Kong Yiji was stunned, then quickly reacted, "Haha, my mistake."

Chen Tian glared at them, "Let's do it again. Try to get it in one take, then we can pack up and eat."

The smooth preparation of the production team also made Chen Tian admit that having a good producer in a crew was indeed very important. Many things were more efficiently handled by Spielberg personally, such as contacting the Black Hawk helicopter, which was much faster than the Matrix team doing it alone. However, Spielberg was a big name and couldn't be around the set often. The crew had endless daily tasks, like a prop master being reported for not completing a task they didn't know they had, or a confirmed shooting location suddenly changing, requiring quick problem-solving. Actors needed to discuss script performances, set designers needed to confirm the setup for the next scene, and so on.

If he had to handle everything himself, he couldn't focus on filming.

So he needed a few reliable helpers. Kong Yiji was barely one of them, and Peck-Glary, who had previously worked at Paramount, was experienced despite not being active for many years. He was perfect for handling these daily tasks.

Every time he saw someone thank the entire crew during their Oscar acceptance speech, he knew it wasn't just a formality. It was true; making a big movie was not a one-person job. It was a miracle created by the collective effort of various industries.

The final scene in "Matrix Space" was an intense fight in an old subway station.

After rescuing Morpheus, they escaped through an emergency exit. Just as Trinity was about to make a call, she saw a beggar in the corner suddenly stand up, possessed by a computer police officer, and shoot the phone.

Neo was forced to stay in the subway station, facing off against Smith.

This fight scene was very difficult to shoot. Both had old injuries, and Yuan Heping's style was varied, requiring high physical fitness from the actors. Any mistake could result in real injuries, making it a challenging shoot. After completing the scene, Chen Tian and Hugo Weaving both applied ice packs to ease the pain, sharing a wry smile, but the results were good.

To celebrate Hugo Weaving and Charlize Theron's wrap, the crew held a party that night, partying until dawn.

On March 21, 1999, the sun was shining in California. Outside the Los Angeles Music Center, also known as the Shrine Auditorium, the 71st Academy Awards ceremony was being held, with a bustling crowd.

By late March, the weather in LA was already warm, making it easier for female stars to show off their figures.

The organizers worked hard, and the guests were very cooperative. Over 2,800 invited celebrities and stars attended, so the red carpet walk was unveiled 30 minutes earlier than last year, and the number of participants would be the highest in history, making this year's Oscars particularly grand.

The Oscars never lacked for focus, attention, or news. In front of 2,800 stars, anyone was just a grain of sand.

The red carpet outside the Shrine Auditorium was bustling with elegantly dressed stars, media photographers, and crew members. The stars were laughing and showing off their beautiful sides.

At the Golden Globe Awards, Kate's Qinghua porcelain cheongsam, with its strong Eastern style, had made her shine. This time, her evening gown was a black off-shoulder long dress, designed in a very elegant yet unique style, like a black swan, attracting most of the attention wherever she went. The dress was not from any brand but a new design, which wasted a lot of film for fashion journalists.

"Hi, Kate, Christmas, we found you."

A smiling ABC reporter walked over, a middle-aged white woman holding a microphone, followed by a cameraman. This was not just a pre-show segment for the national live broadcast but would be seen by audiences in over 100 countries and would be remembered forever.

The two greeted the camera confidently. The female reporter pointed the microphone at Chen Tian and asked with a smile, "How are you feeling, Christmas-Chen?" Chen Tian shrugged and smiled, "Great, there are so many big stars everywhere. People I usually only see in the cinema are all here today. You won't believe it, but I just saw Jim Carrey, and he came over to say hello. I was a bit stunned, and just as I was about to wave, I heard director Peter Weir's voice behind me. It was quite awkward."

"Ha, you look very handsome today. Congratulations on your three Oscar nominations. Can you tell me which brand and style your suit is? It's so unique, it feels like it's from another era. And Kate, you look stunning. This evening gown suits you perfectly."

"Thank you," Kate replied gracefully. "Actually, this is Chen's design, including the one I wore at the Golden Globes. I can't believe how well it suits me. I love this design."

"Wow, really? Incredible. Chen, I didn't know you were a fashion designer. Kate's Eastern-style evening gown at the Golden Globes was highly praised in the fashion world."

Fashion and the red carpet were always inseparable topics.

In the U.S., in Hollywood, and on the Oscars red carpet, this was a must-ask question for ABC's red carpet coverage.

This interview might bring Chen Tian to the attention of fashion experts.

Unfortunately, he was destined not to make much of a mark in the fashion world, and his occasional forays were just for fun, "like a blind man lighting a lamp—wasting effort."

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