Latest / The Vietnamese with Kenneth Nguyen / 503 - Will AI Actually Erase Real Action Stars By The End Of This Decade? - Brian Le

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503 - Will AI Actually Erase Real Action Stars By The End Of This Decade? - Brian Le · The Vietnamese with Kenneth Nguyen

0:00
[SPEAKER_00]: If many of you don't know, Brian is a fight choreographer and actor.
0:06
[SPEAKER_00]: You are on Shengxi and you are on everything everywhere all at once and congratulations.
0:14
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you.
0:14
[SPEAKER_00]: Appreciate that.
0:15
[SPEAKER_00]: Can you tell us a little bit about your involvement in this film?
0:20
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, so this film, this film honestly is a dream come true.
0:25
[SPEAKER_01]: Wait, where's the camera not just so I know where you're.
0:27
[SPEAKER_00]: There everywhere, everywhere, okay, it doesn't matter where I look.
0:29
[SPEAKER_00]: I have some real actors right there.
0:30
[SPEAKER_00]: Sure, look at you.
0:31
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, it doesn't matter, okay.
0:32
[SPEAKER_00]: Anyway, straight back there, their cameras all around.
0:34
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, here we go.
0:35
[SPEAKER_01]: Got you.
0:35
[SPEAKER_00]: What was your question again, sorry?
0:38
[SPEAKER_01]: What was your involvement in the film?
0:40
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, so this film, honestly, this film for me is honestly a huge dream come true.
0:48
[SPEAKER_01]: I've been in a huge fan of Kenji, the director, for as long as I can remember.
0:53
[SPEAKER_01]: And actually, I sent him a message in 2013, whether it is an offer.
1:00
[SPEAKER_01]: My shirt.
1:00
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, there you are.
1:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Ha ha.
1:02
[SPEAKER_01]: Anyways, I said, Kenji a message either on email or on Facebook message or something in 2013.
1:08
[SPEAKER_01]: He probably like, he left me on red or something.
1:10
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know.
1:10
[SPEAKER_01]: But anyways, and I'm a huge fan of Kenji when I say huge fan down to like.
1:17
[SPEAKER_01]: the style of his action, the rhythm, and even the cut points on the editing, just how he composed his fights on the huge fan.
1:24
[SPEAKER_01]: So to work on this film, I'm just grateful to be here on this film.
1:28
[SPEAKER_01]: But what did you do on the film?
1:30
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, in this film, I play this role.
1:32
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know if you see her somewhere, but I'm not sure how much I'm allowed to spoil or speak on it, but you guys will see very soon.
1:42
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, when you are doing flight choreography and you're working with the director, the DP, how much of your vision for the actors happen?
1:52
[SPEAKER_00]: Do you struggle with the director?
1:55
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, how do you work at that out?
1:57
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, so I believe that it's a huge collaboration, you know?
2:02
[SPEAKER_01]: It's a synergy between a lot of energies and I would say between the director,
2:07
[SPEAKER_01]: the two people fighting and the camera operator.
2:10
[SPEAKER_01]: I would say everything has to be in tune, you know.
2:14
[SPEAKER_01]: So for example, if I'm working with a director, like my friend Joseph, real slim shading where you please stand up.
2:19
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, that's my homework there, Joseph.
2:21
[SPEAKER_01]: I work with Joseph a lot as when he directs this.
2:25
[SPEAKER_01]: What helps is that he's also a performer himself, so he understands action, he understands where the cut points are, where to shoot, like if I'm punching this way, if the camera's where you guys are, I wouldn't be punching this way, you know, Joseph would know from me to punch up here, you know?
2:42
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's a synergy between the camera man and the director and the two performers, everything just has to be in sync, you know?
2:49
[SPEAKER_00]: You've come a long way since the martial arts club on YouTube.
2:52
[SPEAKER_00]: I appreciate that.
2:56
[SPEAKER_00]: I see a lot of martial artists in the audience.
2:59
[SPEAKER_00]: And when we think about your success in Andy's successful brother, how do you think that you could inspire?
3:05
[SPEAKER_00]: Like what words would you have for the audience that come filmmakers, martial artists to like?
3:13
[SPEAKER_01]: I really appreciate that, thank you.
3:14
[SPEAKER_01]: I would say definitely follow the fun.
3:19
[SPEAKER_01]: And the reason I say that is because as cliche as it sounds,
3:25
[SPEAKER_01]: It's the journey that counts, you know?
3:27
[SPEAKER_01]: Everyone always thinks, if I make it at the end, I'll be happy.
3:31
[SPEAKER_01]: If I have a lot of money, I think I'll be happy.
3:33
[SPEAKER_01]: If I big house, I'll be happy, but if you can't learn to have gratitude within the moment, you're still not gonna be happy when you get there.
3:40
[SPEAKER_01]: And when they say it's the journey that counts, if you can live as your highest self and be it, your highest frequency and take every step with gratitude, that journey will manifest itself to something great itself.
3:51
[SPEAKER_01]: So definitely follow the fun, everyone.
3:57
[SPEAKER_00]: When we watch fight scenes, I just hope.
4:00
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, I appreciate that.
4:00
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you.
4:02
[SPEAKER_00]: I just want to just, you didn't know that I didn't drink it.
4:04
[SPEAKER_00]: I just hope it didn't work.
4:05
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for letting me know.
4:08
[SPEAKER_00]: When we are watching fight scenes, we know what's special and what's not, right?
4:14
[SPEAKER_00]: We know when we're looking at something that's really cool.
4:17
[SPEAKER_00]: How do you get it to that?
4:19
[SPEAKER_00]: How do you get these choreography these sequences to get to the level that when we're watching it, it feels special?
4:28
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay.
4:29
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, I believe...
4:32
[SPEAKER_01]: Every performer needs to bring their truth onto the screen.
4:35
[SPEAKER_01]: So, I'll give this film as an example.
4:39
[SPEAKER_01]: Kenji's method is very much having the structure, having the confines and the guidelines.
4:46
[SPEAKER_01]: And as long as everyone has the same intention, every performer is free to play.
4:52
[SPEAKER_01]: So for example, if there's choreography later, right?
4:54
[SPEAKER_01]: It's like 70% laid out, and the 30% is up to the actor to bring their truth.
5:01
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, and when the energy of that actor, one other actor, when they collide, then there's magic, you know, and I believe those moments can only be captured once when there's true synergy.
5:10
[SPEAKER_01]: So, I believe it's always up to the, to the performer to bring their own truth into the movie.
5:16
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
5:17
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, with the advent of AI, are you worried about what you do, how would you differentiate what you do versus what AI can do?
5:27
[SPEAKER_00]: How do you make that signature?
5:31
[SPEAKER_00]: Mm, very good question.
5:32
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, I believe the world's changing every day and the most that we can do is adapt honestly, whether we use it as a tool or not.
5:43
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, honestly, I feel as technology grows as AI grows, you know, when the pendulum swings so far one way.
5:51
[SPEAKER_01]: I believe humans have this ability to sense in serity.
5:56
[SPEAKER_01]: And they're going to always need to find a sense of grounding.
5:59
[SPEAKER_01]: So I believe when the pendulum swings so far one way, they're going to be tired of seeing something that's always so artificial that doesn't have so, because I believe the beauty of human consciousness is that we can tap into source.
6:09
[SPEAKER_01]: And that's where I believe true creativity comes from.
6:11
[SPEAKER_01]: So they're going to be needing something that has more of a sense of grounding.
6:14
[SPEAKER_01]: And that's what I believe the fear is is doing something that's grounded.
6:18
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, you know, yeah.
6:19
[SPEAKER_00]: Whoa.
6:22
[SPEAKER_00]: Before I ask you the last question, I want to thank the LA Asian Pacific Film Festival for bringing, thank you guys.
6:28
[SPEAKER_00]: Another here, thank you.
6:29
[SPEAKER_00]: Ha ha ha ha ha.
6:31
[SPEAKER_00]: Lines Gate for having this pick up this event and Brian, thank you.
6:36
[SPEAKER_00]: I want to ask you about your next project, or do you have anything in the works?
6:45
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes.
6:47
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm honestly not sure how much I'm allowed to say, but definitely this next project is a it's a personal project that I'm collaborating with with a lot of my brothers, a lot of my teammates something.
7:01
[SPEAKER_01]: I've a dream of doing since I was a kid and I can say is that it'll be very close to home and it'll be like an own personal love letter to the genre of Hong Kong filmmaking action cinema.
7:15
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you.
7:18
[SPEAKER_00]: So the movie opens up in theaters June 12th.
7:23
[SPEAKER_00]: Everybody, please help promote the film.
7:26
[SPEAKER_00]: The longevity of films.
7:30
[SPEAKER_00]: and the Asian American populations that make movies here in LA depend on this word of mouth.
7:37
[SPEAKER_00]: So whatever you can to get on social media, June 12th.
7:40
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you, everybody, enjoy the film.
7:42
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you guys, enjoy the film.
7:44
[SPEAKER_00]: I want to congratulate you with this new movie.
7:48
[SPEAKER_00]: the furious.
7:49
[SPEAKER_00]: It is absolutely mind blowing to see the film.
7:53
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, after we had that discussion live at the theater, you know, watching it now, we can talk about so many, so much more in the film.
8:02
[SPEAKER_01]: Totally, totally.
8:03
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm excited.
8:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you.
8:06
[SPEAKER_00]: your fight scenes and all of the fight scenes are so intent and they feel like a big departure from what we traditionally see in fight movies.
8:18
[SPEAKER_00]: How do you just make that distinction that jump to go from, you know, what we used to see, you know, the normal fighting and now we see the sort of
8:35
[SPEAKER_01]: No, I really appreciate that.
8:36
[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you.
8:37
[SPEAKER_01]: No, I would say definitely within the last 10, 15 years, I would say action is taking a route of using a lot of more CG, a lot more wire work, you know.
8:48
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think the same as anything when the pendulum swings before one way in something that's a little more, I would say artificial for a lack of better words, you know.
9:00
[SPEAKER_01]: People will want something that's a little more grounded, you know, so the energy always balance itself out.
9:04
[SPEAKER_01]: So then, um, I believe the fear is was something.
9:09
[SPEAKER_01]: Was a project where the action was relied more on a lot of grounded action using the actors themselves to do the action, whereas a lot of a lot of films now they would have an actor come on right and then.
9:23
[SPEAKER_01]: They would have a stunt double con for that over the shoulder, you know, and I believe humans have humans can sense in serity, you know, so even visually when we see that in the edit it works like the stunt doubles there.
9:37
[SPEAKER_01]: I think subconsciously, we can feel that we're being lied to, you know?
9:40
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
9:41
[SPEAKER_01]: So, we have a, yeah, when we have a film like the furious where the actors themselves are doing the action, you can see the struggles on their faces.
9:48
[SPEAKER_01]: You can feel their frequency that they're putting their life on the line, and along with the beautiful action of Sonamotasana, Kenji Samp, and the team where the action is so grounded and heart-hitting, it definitely
10:02
[SPEAKER_01]: made a difference and I would say that's what separated the film most from a lot of recent action films that that hasn't been coming out.
10:11
[SPEAKER_00]: this idea of energy and understanding where it comes from and while we're watching it through the screen.
10:18
[SPEAKER_00]: Is that something that's new or has that always been talked about in the making of these types of films?
10:24
[SPEAKER_00]: Because what I'm seeing is a completely different type of energy when I'm watching the fears.
10:31
[SPEAKER_00]: If it was modern but yet rooted in
10:35
[SPEAKER_00]: this idea that the people who are making this movie understand what this energy transfer is to my brain.
10:43
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, it definitely, you know, I believe at the root of existence, you know, I believe on humans are meant to create, so I believe every human is an artist, so whether it's something that we know consciously or subconsciously, I believe the idea of energy is always there.
11:03
[SPEAKER_01]: you know, so I believe anyone who's creating something to a very deep level, they'll always find a way to tap in and once they tap in, they're under deepest subconscious, and then from there, they can feel what is real and what isn't, you know.
11:15
[SPEAKER_01]: So I believe everyone has this ability, you know, and it comes down to how tuned in you get when creating.
11:25
[SPEAKER_00]: when I look at these sequences, I think about how long it might take to record.
11:33
[SPEAKER_00]: Because they go about so quickly, but I'm like, no, this is probably this little one minute here might have taken a day or two, right?
11:41
[SPEAKER_00]: But I wanted to ask you, like, how does that work?
11:45
[SPEAKER_01]: No, totally, yeah.
11:47
[SPEAKER_01]: So I would say for a lot of American films, what they, I would say what they direct or who isn't as experienced in action, they would come in within a approach as if they're shooting narrative.
12:01
[SPEAKER_01]: So usually in a narrative scene where there's two actors having dialogue.
12:05
[SPEAKER_01]: in like a dialogue scene, they would have a master shot and they would just have a coverage shot like 45, 45 on the other actor and they'll just kind of stitch it together and post on whatever feels right.
12:15
[SPEAKER_01]: But I think what's beautiful about this film is that we have Kenji Sun as a director and he comes from a world of martial arts action filmmaking experience.
12:26
[SPEAKER_01]: So
12:27
[SPEAKER_01]: If it wasn't the typical case of just shooting it wide, getting coverage, it was okay.
12:34
[SPEAKER_01]: The choreography looks good from the shot up to this point.
12:37
[SPEAKER_01]: And then we'll set up for this big kick, but right before that, we'll have to cover the actor to feel their intensity.
12:42
[SPEAKER_01]: So everything is very thought out.
12:44
[SPEAKER_01]: Everything is very methodical down to not only the cut points, but the feeling of the fight.
12:50
[SPEAKER_01]: I believe every fighting has a rhythm to it.
12:52
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's like build up, build up, tension and release.
12:56
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think what's beautiful is that because Kenji sounded sort of modest on our so experienced in this, um, it made the process one a lot easier.
13:05
[SPEAKER_01]: And I have to give credit to the stun team and the amazing cast as well.
13:09
[SPEAKER_01]: I learned so much from them.
13:11
[SPEAKER_01]: I consider them as, you know, they are all my teachers, you know.
13:17
[SPEAKER_01]: So in terms of action, I learned so much from them as well.
13:21
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I can imagine when you think about projects that you did years ago, like everything everywhere all at once and Shankchi and the legend of the Ten Rings, how much far, how far have you grown in terms of being a martial arts person, a coordinator, all of that, and how has it changed?
13:47
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, definitely.
13:49
[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you for that.
13:49
[SPEAKER_01]: That's a very good question.
13:51
[SPEAKER_01]: I would say within the time spent of those years, there's one I actually had my most growth from that time.
13:59
[SPEAKER_01]: I believe we shot everything everywhere.
14:02
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe around 2020, I believe, and it's 2016, I believe within those years were the very prominent years where I felt, I took a lot of time to retreat from filmmaking actually and to understand what,
14:16
[SPEAKER_01]: martial arts and action filmmaking meant for me.
14:19
[SPEAKER_01]: So I would say before I wasn't too aware of the energy that was being put out into the choreography.
14:28
[SPEAKER_01]: I believe they subconsciously, I just knew what, like subconsciously to myself, I know what I'm like, I know what looked cool and I just did when I wanted it.
14:36
[SPEAKER_01]: And which is fair, every artist just wants to express themselves, right?
14:40
[SPEAKER_01]: But I would say within the last couple of years was when I really,
14:44
[SPEAKER_01]: learn how to see it from a third person perspective and to see, okay, what does the audience feel and what am I feeling and how do I portray this vibration that I have out to the audience as well, you know, and I believe that is an art form within itself and then, um,
15:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I would say those were my biggest changes from within that time, expanded now.
15:09
[SPEAKER_01]: And I'm grateful for the journey and I'm grateful for the process, man.
15:14
[SPEAKER_00]: Honestly, yeah, no, I can only imagine.
15:17
[SPEAKER_00]: There's a paradox in martial artists.
15:21
[SPEAKER_00]: The older you get, the more knowledge you're accumulating, you're learning more, you see things better, but your body's breaking down.
15:30
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, there's this inverse ratio, right, how do you mitigate aging?
15:35
[SPEAKER_00]: How do you figure that out?
15:36
[SPEAKER_00]: Because if I was to say to you, oh my god, you did amazing work, you know, back in 2020 or, you know, the films that you did before.
15:44
[SPEAKER_00]: And I'm like, wait a minute, you're doing better work now.
15:47
[SPEAKER_00]: But you're aging.
15:48
[SPEAKER_00]: How is that possible?
15:49
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, that was going on in my mind when I was watching this latest movie, the furious.
15:54
[SPEAKER_00]: I was like, wow, this is crazy.
15:55
[SPEAKER_00]: It's getting, you're getting better.
15:58
[SPEAKER_00]: You're older.
15:59
[SPEAKER_00]: You can't be that much, you know, far in my age, right?
16:02
[SPEAKER_00]: And I'm like, how is this possible?
16:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, I really appreciate that.
16:06
[SPEAKER_01]: No, thank you.
16:06
[SPEAKER_01]: No, I'd believe as, um, as we grow as we grow as humans, as along with our art, you know?
16:14
[SPEAKER_01]: So even though like, let, let's say, um, I'll give Jackie Chan as an example, right?
16:20
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
16:20
[SPEAKER_01]: I say Jackie Chan has.
16:24
[SPEAKER_01]: a Jackie Chan 1.5, a Jackie Chan 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 and I'll give my thoughts on that.
16:32
[SPEAKER_01]: Let's say in the past, he did like a police story, right?
16:35
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, ground breaking stuff.
16:37
[SPEAKER_01]: See what?
16:38
[SPEAKER_01]: jump off the mall thing, the poll, he's in his 20s, he doesn't care, he don't care about anything, he's just wanting to get that.
16:49
[SPEAKER_01]: So of course, I would say that the physicalities there, but I believe Jackie is someone who adapted well to his agent in terms of action.
16:56
[SPEAKER_01]: As he got older during the
17:00
[SPEAKER_01]: time era of Russia, our Shanghai and Shanghai nights, you know, he started to break into Hollywood more and then he had to work with with an American team who where he doesn't have the full control, you know, even down to the editing, it wasn't his editing.
17:14
[SPEAKER_01]: So in police story, he was more direct more hard hitting.
17:18
[SPEAKER_01]: And then I would say in his later films, he would, he's a little more intricate.
17:22
[SPEAKER_01]: He would spin one way, kick this way, get punching those, play with the comedy, you know?
17:26
[SPEAKER_01]: So, um, and I believe that's him growing as a human being, just pretty to adapt to his circumstances, learning adapt to who he is as a as a as a person.
17:35
[SPEAKER_01]: And I believe, um, you know, art is just an expression of who we are as human.
17:38
[SPEAKER_01]: So,
17:39
[SPEAKER_01]: that leads into his fight scenes as well, you know.
17:42
[SPEAKER_01]: So I believe no matter what we're always growing, you know, and I don't believe that the physical capabilities is everything.
17:49
[SPEAKER_01]: It's just a part of the arsenal of who we are as an artist, you know.
17:53
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, that's that's a cool observation.
17:55
[SPEAKER_00]: I never thought about that and I wonder how many, you know, people watching this think about that because yeah,
18:02
[SPEAKER_00]: I could see some comedic elements of you starting to come out, but it didn't fully come on in the fears, but there are some funny parts that I was starting to see.
18:12
[SPEAKER_00]: Now that you're bringing that up, what version are you in right now?
18:15
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm in now.
18:19
[SPEAKER_01]: You're from one point, let's see.
18:21
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, definitely, I'm in the one point five right now.
18:24
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm just kidding.
18:24
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, definitely, I'm in the version of learning to let go, actually.
18:29
[SPEAKER_01]: I would say in the previous, in my previous work on, you know, the fight scenes I've shot on YouTube, the films I've worked on, I've always,
18:41
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I've been inspired by Jackie Chan, Donnie, and Bruce Lee, you know, and they hold this charismatic figure of just having control of everything like I am the man, I am a control, you know, like done, you know, I would say I'm going to face of just letting myself exist as I am that I just bring me my own truth onto the camera.
19:01
[SPEAKER_01]: So, and that comes within the projects I work on too.
19:05
[SPEAKER_01]: It's like the fear is I've never done a role at this, you know, I've never played a role like this.
19:10
[SPEAKER_01]: I've never allowed myself to play role like this and I've never done this kind of choreography.
19:14
[SPEAKER_01]: So, I believe having the foundation I have, that's the order already, you know.
19:20
[SPEAKER_01]: But now it's time for the chaos and I believe true art is about having that clear balance of order and chaos.
19:26
[SPEAKER_01]: So now that I have my foundation, I'm I'm confident in my abilities and I'm
19:34
[SPEAKER_01]: I am okay with coming on to a project and letting it be in taking direction from Kenji Sound and someone else, and then just having full trust that the product will be as beautiful as their vision, you know, so that's the version I'm on, I would say.
19:50
[SPEAKER_00]: Brian, you're getting a lot more philosophical with me on this interview and the last interview.
19:55
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, it's much different than the interviews we had years ago, you know?
20:01
[SPEAKER_00]: I appreciate that.
20:03
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm hearing a lot of growth.
20:05
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm a psychic spiritual sort of like psychological journey that you, it sounds like you're thinking a lot more about this intellectually.
20:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Where is that coming from?
20:18
[SPEAKER_01]: No, I mean, no, I feel so there.
20:24
[SPEAKER_01]: It's always there.
20:25
[SPEAKER_01]: I just didn't know how to put in the words, you know.
20:26
[SPEAKER_01]: I believe they deep down when as every artist, when we tune into ourselves, you know, we have a lot we want to show.
20:34
[SPEAKER_01]: We have a lot we want to say, but I believe energy is something that you can't really explain is only something you can feel, you know.
20:40
[SPEAKER_01]: And I believe as I've grown as a human being, I'm starting to connect the dots a little more, which is all.
20:47
[SPEAKER_01]: But I'm just grateful to be honest, Charlie, honestly.
20:51
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, as I, as I watch furious, I don't know how much I'm not trying to give away anything, but oh my god, the one part where you're in the back of that.
21:00
[SPEAKER_00]: that that van that truck that opened box truck with a gate with a little girl and you're shaking her I mean I can we talk about that or is that yeah I don't think it's giving away anything I don't think it's spoiling it's spoiling anything but oh my god what a nerve-wracking scene I mean I hope that anybody listens to this interview will go just to see that take place
21:29
[SPEAKER_00]: how much of that is real.
21:31
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not trying to get you to give away the movie magic, but like you got this girl, this nine-year-old girl or upside down with her, and it looks dangerous as hell as this thing is moving in traffic or not traffic, but like in this wide open road.
21:48
[SPEAKER_00]: It looks super dangerous.
21:49
[SPEAKER_00]: Can you tell me a little bit about that scene?
21:51
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, of course.
21:53
[SPEAKER_01]: I'll just start off by saying, I think,
21:57
[SPEAKER_01]: throughout the whole shooting process of that film, I think that's he was a scariest one.
22:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Even scary than fighting the other four guys.
22:03
[SPEAKER_01]: I would say that was a scary scene.
22:05
[SPEAKER_01]: Only cause Liz, like what you said, you have his nine-year-old girl in your hands.
22:10
[SPEAKER_01]: And of course, there were very safe with the process.
22:14
[SPEAKER_01]: They had a green screen like a barrier that they created under so she wouldn't hit her head and everything.
22:20
[SPEAKER_01]: And I'm hooked onto a wire as well as hers.
22:23
[SPEAKER_01]: And it's, you know,
22:25
[SPEAKER_01]: At the same time, although there's a leverage of holding her up and me holding the wire holding me up as well, she's still swinging along with the car.
22:34
[SPEAKER_01]: She could easily hit her head.
22:36
[SPEAKER_01]: So I all knew it was in those wide shots when I didn't have to carry my expression that much.
22:41
[SPEAKER_01]: I just have to like, right in God that she went to hit her head on the trunk.
22:46
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, but honestly, she's a trooper.
22:48
[SPEAKER_01]: She was down to do it as many times as it took and I was so inspired by her to
22:54
[SPEAKER_01]: to do well the rest of the movie.
22:56
[SPEAKER_01]: She can do that and I can do anything.
22:57
[SPEAKER_01]: That was how I spot it.
22:59
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, but I'm really inspiring to watch.
23:03
[SPEAKER_01]: I appreciate that.
23:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you.
23:05
[SPEAKER_00]: Were you going to say something, Brian?
23:08
[SPEAKER_01]: No, no, I was just going to say like, yeah, it was the real deal.
23:11
[SPEAKER_01]: I held up a nine year old girl with a car driving at I don't know how fast I'll just focus on her.
23:17
[SPEAKER_01]: So I don't know.
23:18
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, it looks very dangerous.
23:21
[SPEAKER_00]: Life-threateningly dangerous, I, yeah.
23:24
[SPEAKER_01]: But with all that being said, without that being said, the Japanese stun team were very safe, but they're approached.
23:30
[SPEAKER_01]: They tested it with the stunt guys first, even had a dummy for some shots to make sure no one would be hitting anything.
23:36
[SPEAKER_01]: After all that preparation, then they plugged her and myself in.
23:41
[SPEAKER_01]: So kudos to them honestly.
23:43
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, you know, and I should know these things.
23:46
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I, you know, I should know this next question, but I have to ask you the death, the the mute father is even really mute in real life, the mute father.
23:58
[SPEAKER_00]: What's that?
23:58
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, the little girl is father.
23:59
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, yeah.
24:01
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm sorry.
24:02
[SPEAKER_01]: Sorry.
24:02
[SPEAKER_01]: I was thinking of my character in the father.
24:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
24:05
[SPEAKER_01]: Your father.
24:06
[SPEAKER_01]: You're the name of this song.
24:07
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
24:08
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
24:08
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know.
24:09
[SPEAKER_01]: I think of this song.
24:10
[SPEAKER_01]: No.
24:11
[SPEAKER_01]: He's not me in real life.
24:12
[SPEAKER_01]: I believe he had to take on sign language learning a different way of how to express themselves, not through words, but through like.
24:24
[SPEAKER_01]: just expressing through facial emotions and gestures alone, you know, and I'm not sure how much preparation he had to do for that, but man, he played it really well, and I'm so proud of them to be able to pull that off, you know, as someone who isn't really mute, you know?
24:42
[SPEAKER_00]: But yeah, that's exactly why I bring him up.
24:44
[SPEAKER_00]: It's like the interaction that you have as an audience member with him, you just feel so deeply connected.
24:54
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think at the end when all of you are fighting, I'm like, oh Brian, don't hit him too hard.
24:58
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, oh my god, I feel so much less free.
25:00
[SPEAKER_00]: Bro, no, it's only, say it again.
25:04
[SPEAKER_01]: No, I'll say, bro, he can't even speak.
25:07
[SPEAKER_01]: Don't hit him, I'm just talking.
25:11
[SPEAKER_00]: When I think about the role that you did, it was, you know, there's an escalation to the tension that you bring to the screen.
25:21
[SPEAKER_00]: And then I think the clever part of how they wrote your part was when they brought in all four to fight you do at the end where you're fighting everybody else.
25:31
[SPEAKER_00]: And then I thought to myself,
25:33
[SPEAKER_00]: You are the glue that that really brings all the characters together at the, you know, at the final at the end, but it made me think about something that in the way that we perceive the rock in the early years as this big guy this big, you know.
25:54
[UNKNOWN]: But.
25:55
[SPEAKER_00]: eventually he's taking on roles that are, you know, like Moana and, you know, doing the roles that are, do you see a trajectory for you in that way?
26:05
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, I think that's a really good question.
26:09
[SPEAKER_01]: Honestly, I don't know.
26:11
[SPEAKER_01]: And I can't tell, you know, I think, um,
26:15
[SPEAKER_01]: depending on our life experiences, you know, a life can go one way or the other, and that can dictate our experiences, how we feel.
26:23
[SPEAKER_01]: And from there on is, you know, that can determine the trajectory of how we would go, you know.
26:29
[SPEAKER_01]: So, honestly, is that character art?
26:32
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
26:33
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
26:33
[SPEAKER_00]: Because I character are always beginning to think that.
26:35
[SPEAKER_00]: I was like, I could see you, I could see you playing more sensitive roles.
26:42
[SPEAKER_01]: I would love to.
26:42
[SPEAKER_01]: Like in the future, not even the future now, you know, I just love exploring different different types of roles.
26:49
[SPEAKER_01]: It allows you to live in different realities and really express yourself in different ways that you never thought you would.
26:53
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, so I'm very open to just playing it, like almost any role there is.
26:58
[SPEAKER_01]: I love exploring different characters.
27:03
[SPEAKER_00]: of the relationship between the cinematographer, the director, all of the people who are making the visuals happen, and your vision.
27:15
[SPEAKER_00]: How much of that is worked out during the making of this film?
27:22
[SPEAKER_00]: In terms of, like, how much do you get to say in this?
27:25
[SPEAKER_00]: Or are you just, you know, in there, and you have your vision, you go for it, and then they're cutting around what you think.
27:32
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, no, I consider questions, holy, I think it was a huge collaborative.
27:39
[SPEAKER_01]: I believe the script is always, I always see it as just a guideline of the story, you know.
27:48
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think it's not to every performer to bring their own truth onto the screen, onto the camera, you know.
27:54
[SPEAKER_01]: So down to how much say I got, I talked to Kenji a lot of hours about my role, like that's it,
28:05
[SPEAKER_01]: you know, like, how do you feel if I played it this way?
28:09
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, what do you say for the backstory, if this happened to the character instead, so that way he has this little cork of whatever, you know, it just brings some color, brings something that can contrast with the other characters as well.
28:20
[SPEAKER_01]: Because there's five strong characters in the film, and it's, you know, I think it's up to every individual to bring your own, you know, to bring your own voice.
28:30
[SPEAKER_01]: And down to the cinematography and the action,
28:33
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, again, same as the script, I believe the choreography is just a guideline as well, and it's up to every actor to bring their truth into the action as well.
28:44
[SPEAKER_01]: And what's what's beautiful in this production that I haven't seen before was that.
28:49
[SPEAKER_01]: Meteor Chung, our cinematographer came into the rehearsal rooms with us to figure out the shots along with the stun team as we were going.
29:00
[SPEAKER_01]: So everything was very well prepared, everything was set up really well.
29:05
[SPEAKER_01]: And during that time, we had RSA, like, hey, instead of this move, can I do this?
29:10
[SPEAKER_01]: I feel like my character is a little more
29:13
[SPEAKER_01]: in this way.
29:14
[SPEAKER_01]: Let me express in this way.
29:15
[SPEAKER_01]: We would find the in-between and tweak it out so that it still matches the same road of the story, you know.
29:21
[SPEAKER_00]: Why would they never, why would they not bring the DPN that's in return?
29:25
[SPEAKER_00]: That makes perfect sense, right?
29:27
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, yeah, totally.
29:29
[SPEAKER_00]: So you're saying the projects that you did before, you didn't have the DPs working alongside you?
29:39
[SPEAKER_01]: I think a various production of production, I would say in a lot of films that include heavy action scenes, they would have a second unit where like you have an action director kind of.
29:52
[SPEAKER_01]: really that unit you know so there would be like like they would have a designated action camp guy kind of in the previous rooms it would them you know kind of figure out the shots as they go and then the actions director would directly purely that you know but because we worked all on one unit together you know it's it was a big action set so
30:18
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, in this case, they had, they have a cinematographer come into the room and rehearse with us.
30:25
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, when the characters were, you know, um, being killed off or yada yada yada,
30:32
[SPEAKER_00]: I was getting sad because I was like, oh my god, I hope there's a part two to this, you know, with you.
30:38
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, I'm like, don't kill off everybody.
30:42
[SPEAKER_00]: Let's let everybody walk away so we get a part two.
30:45
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, this is always amazing.
30:47
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, it was like, it was so much action.
30:49
[SPEAKER_00]: And I'm like, just give us a part two.
30:51
[SPEAKER_00]: You can make a part two out of this.
30:53
[SPEAKER_00]: And, you know, is there any talks of a part two to this?
30:58
[SPEAKER_00]: Bringing some counters back.
31:00
[SPEAKER_01]: Even if there is, if there is, I don't know about it, but I would love a part too, honestly.
31:07
[SPEAKER_01]: And honestly, you know, back then in Hong Kong films, you know, in the first, like in the first film, everyone dies in the sequel.
31:15
[SPEAKER_01]: They just bring it back with a really line, but call it the same title.
31:18
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, back in like, old Hong Kong films, they would just do that.
31:20
[SPEAKER_01]: Even in the Ray, too, yeah, again, his character, the one that plays Tuck, he played, he played the character in Mad Dog and Ray,
31:30
[SPEAKER_01]: You just came in as a to a different character.
31:32
[SPEAKER_01]: I believe there's a different story right as well.
31:34
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm not sure, but it's still called the right, too.
31:36
[SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, who knows.
31:37
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, I don't know.
31:38
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, right.
31:39
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm excited with love.
31:40
[SPEAKER_01]: We're seeing.
31:42
[SPEAKER_00]: I love the sea.
31:43
[SPEAKER_00]: It deserves.
31:44
[SPEAKER_00]: It deserves a sequel.
31:45
[SPEAKER_00]: It deserves a sequel.
31:47
[SPEAKER_00]: Where can we find the furious playing?
31:50
[SPEAKER_01]: The Ferris will be playing the wide release of the eighters at June 12th, and I'm so like 12th.
31:57
[SPEAKER_01]: June 12th.
31:58
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, it's, it's awesome.
32:00
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think that there's a lot of different demographics that can enjoy this.
32:05
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, it's one of those, um,
32:07
[SPEAKER_00]: you know, Chinese language, you know, there's so many different, you know, there's a lot of, it seems like Americans or Canadian actors, people who have, who speak, you know, English, and there's, it just seems like a very wide audience of people that can come and enjoy this film.
32:26
[SPEAKER_01]: No, no, I agree as well.
32:28
[SPEAKER_01]: I believe the, um,
32:30
[SPEAKER_01]: that the comedians in the film resonates to everyone, you know, like everyone has family, you know, so every, every one can resonate to the story of the film, you know, everyone.
32:43
[SPEAKER_01]: I agree with you straight up.
32:45
[SPEAKER_01]: I disagree with you.
32:47
[SPEAKER_00]: Brian, it's always a pleasure to talk to I wish you the best of luck in the near future.
32:55
[SPEAKER_00]: I can't wait to see what your next projects are
33:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you, and I really appreciate it.
33:02
[SPEAKER_01]: That has been really fun.
33:03
[SPEAKER_01]: Thanks for having me on, my God.
33:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Always.
33:05
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm always here.
33:06
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you.
33:07
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you so much.
33:09
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
33:10
[SPEAKER_00]: Bye-bye.
33:11
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for listening to the Vietnamese with Kenneth Win.
33:13
[SPEAKER_00]: Special thanks to Brittany Tran, to Jane Win, Katherine Win, Tina Fam, Sydney Jamie, and Crystal Trin.
33:21
[SPEAKER_00]: Please find us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at the Vietnamese podcast.