Chapter 53: Neo's Action Scene, The Crew Goes Out to Dinner
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Chapter 53: Neo’s Action Scene; The Crew Goes Out for Dinner
Morpheus explained, “This is a combat-training program, similar to the world inside the Matrix.”
“It follows the same rules, such as gravity. Some rules can be bent, while others can be broken. Understand?”
Neo nodded.
“If you think you’re up to it, then come and get me!”
Neo took a step back, spread his arms, and assumed a starting stance.
Morpheus raised his left hand and lowered his right, bending both knees slightly as he took up a stance of his own.
Wide shot. Inside the training room, the two men faced each other, both using Chinese martial arts.
The camera followed them into a medium shot.
Neo charged first, his hands striking in rapid succession as he came at Morpheus like a gust of wind.
Morpheus was prepared and met each of his attacks.
Swish, swish, swish, swish...
In a single shot, the two exchanged four or five blows in an instant.
Watching from in front of the monitor, Qin Feng nodded repeatedly. “Very good. Beautifully done. Hold. Camera One, give me a close-up.”
Close-up. Morpheus opened his stance.
Neo lightly hopped in place, shifted his footwork, and wiped his thumb across his nose.
The movement had been designed by Zou Zhaolong as a tribute to Bruce Lee.
The camera pulled back.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Neo leaped into the air and delivered three successive kicks. As soon as he landed, he followed with a fierce flurry of kicks.
Morpheus raised both hands to block, neutralizing each one.
Morpheus said, “Very good. You adapt to your surroundings and respond to changing circumstances. Your weakness isn’t technique.”
Whoosh!
Neo swept in with his left leg. Morpheus evaded it, then countered with a sweeping kick of his own.
Bang!
Neo hit the floor, sprang back to his feet in a spinning motion, and attacked again.
The two men traded blows and shifted between techniques. After four or five exchanges, Neo was knocked down once more.
Wide shot. Morpheus leaped high into the air.
On set, he was suspended by wires, and the moment was filmed in slow motion.
Boom!
Morpheus crashed down with tremendous force. Neo hurriedly dodged, and the floor split apart beneath the impact.
Neo somersaulted twice, turned around, and launched another attack.
Action scenes were filmed slowly, often requiring repeated takes for the sake of a single beautiful movement.
Zou Zhaolong provided guidance on the spot.
Night had fallen.
By then, both men were drenched in sweat.
Qin Feng glanced at his watch. It was already 7:20 p.m.
“Cut!”
“That’s all for today. Thank you for your hard work, everyone.”
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The various departments began wrapping for the day.
Qin Feng walked into the middle of the set. “How is everyone? No one was hurt, right?”
“No.”
“No.”
Keanu and Fishburne answered as they wiped the sweat from their faces with towels.
“Good. You’ve worked hard! What do you say—are you free tonight? Dinner’s on me.”
“Is that really necessary, Director?” Keanu Reeves said.
“It’s nothing. It’s the least I can do.”
Qin Feng turned and called to the assistant director, Gloria. “Gloria, see how many people are still on set. I’m treating everyone to dinner tonight.”
“Yay!”
Gloria answered and hurried off to count the crew.
Ten minutes later, she came running back.
“Director, a few people have to go home. Counting everyone else, there are seventy-five of us.”
Qin Feng brushed off his clothes. “Perfect. I know an outdoor plaza on Wesley Road. It’s spacious. Those with cars can drive, and those without can take the crew bus.”
“Make sure all the equipment is packed away. We leave in fifteen minutes!”
“Understood.”
The crew had been working hard for the past several days, and the production schedule was tight. When they heard that the director was treating them to dinner, their excitement exploded.
“Fantastic!”
“Honestly, I’ve been starving since this afternoon.”
“You guys heard the director—he’s buying dinner! Stop dawdling. Come on, let’s go!”
“I told you, Director Qin is the coolest. He even bought us dumplings last time.”
“...”
Everyone shut down the equipment and put everything away.
Fifteen minutes later, more than a dozen private cars and one bus left the set in succession.
Leading the convoy was Keanu Reeves’s black Porsche 911, a sleek two-seater that looked like a bullet.
The procession swept grandly toward Wesley Road, turning heads as it rolled through the nighttime streets.
Pedestrians on both sides of the road frequently stopped to stare.
Before long, the convoy arrived at the outdoor plaza on Wesley Road.
The place was indeed large enough. It occupied an entire block, with awnings, round tables, and lounge chairs set up on both sides—perfect for dining outdoors.
The cars came to a stop.
Keanu Reeves stepped out with effortless style, immediately attracting the crowd’s attention.
“Oh my God! Look! Isn’t that Keanu Reeves?”
“Yeah, he isn’t riding a motorcycle today. He’s so handsome! No wonder he’s my idol.”
“Wow! There are so many people. Is this an entire film crew?”
“Cool! Looks like this street is going to be lively tonight.”
Keanu Reeves walked over to Qin Feng’s car and tapped on the window.
“Director Qin, we’re here.”
“Okay.”
Qin Feng unfastened his seat belt, opened the door, and stepped out.
At once, two handsome men—one East Asian and one Western—appeared on the street, sending the crowd into an uproar.
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“Wow! That Asian man is handsome too! Is he a star?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen him before. I’m not familiar with Asian celebrities.”
“Have you noticed? Why do I get the feeling that Keanu Reeves really respects that Asian guy?”
“Could it be that the Asian guy has a higher status than Keanu? That’s impossible!”
“Let’s keep watching!”
By then, most of the crew had gotten out of their cars.
“Everyone, keep orderly and don’t make a mess. Also, order whatever you like. Dinner is on me tonight.”
“Thank you very much, Director.”
“Thank you, Director Qin!”
The group headed inside. The plaza was spacious enough to accommodate seventy or eighty people with ease.
Once inside, Qin Feng and Gloria directed everyone to their seats.
Qin Feng, Gloria, cinematography supervisor Pope, visual-effects supervisor Gaeta, and action choreographer Zou Zhaolong sat at one table.
Keanu Reeves and several of the other principal actors sat at the neighboring table.
After everyone had ordered their food and drinks, the sheer number of guests alarmed the restaurant owner. He hurried out to take a look and was startled.
“What the—did the entire film crew come here for dinner? I thought someone was here to cause trouble!”
“Isn’t that Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne?”
“Oh my God! Notify the cooks at once. Everyone get to work—move, move!”
The beer arrived first.
The crew was in high spirits and began drinking straight from the bottles.
“We should make a toast too,” Qin Feng proposed as he watched the other tables grow lively.
“Cheers!” Gaeta said.
“Cheers!” Zou Zhaolong added.
Everyone raised their glasses.
Before long, the dishes they had ordered began arriving one after another.
Just then, the streetlamps came fully alive, and two men entered from the corner.
The man in front was in his forties. He had long, dark-brown hair, with a few strands falling over his face, and wore a pair of oversized sunglasses. His features were sharply defined, and he had a small mustache.
Dressed in a black suit, he was dashing, debonair, and immensely charismatic, like a rock singer.
Following close behind him was a broad-shouldered, powerfully built man who appeared to be his bodyguard.
The long-haired man immediately noticed the line of people ahead. Some of them were wearing Warner production crew shirts, which aroused his curiosity.
What was going on today? What film crew had come here for dinner?
This was Hollywood, with several studios nearby, so it was hardly unusual for a film crew to come out for a meal.
He took a closer look and unexpectedly spotted two familiar faces.
He raised a hand and called out:
“Hello, Reeves.”
“Hello, Gloria.”
Keanu Reeves and Gloria heard the voice and looked up together.
End of Chapter
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