Wu Jing: Exchange 30 bottles of Erguotou soaked in goji berries for equipment. Jason Stanson | Scientist | Exchange Equipment
In "Shark 2: Abyss," Wu Jing speaks English and has almost as many lines as Jason Stanson. "I play the role of a scientist with a lot of catchy scientific jargon, saying 'water in the sinuses,' which makes my mind water. When I encounter a last-minute change of words, I ask Jason, 'How would you perform it?'"
On June 9th, during the Shanghai International Film Festival, "Shark 2: Abyss" held a press conference titled "Diving 7000 meters into the deep sea". Wu Jing smiled and introduced her brother-in-law in the play, Jason Stanson. "Jason has some shyness. We have similar experiences, both being athletes and participating in the Olympics. We all come from a background in making kung fu films, with direct personalities and a love for hands-on action, experiencing the joy of action. We communicate without translation, just like a skilled player who knows what the other person is up to with just one move and one look." Wu Jing also revealed, "We are all spoiled kids, and Jason rides an electric motorcycle to send his children to school every day."
The movie "Jaws" grossed 535 million US dollars worldwide and 1.053 billion yuan in mainland China, becoming one of the most anticipated movie IPs among global audiences. "Giant Toothed Shark 2: Abyss" was released globally on August 4th, with a comprehensive upgrade in production and worldview. Jonathan Taylor, played by Jason Stanson, and scientist Zhang Jiuming, played by Wu Jing, led a deep-sea team to explore the prehistoric underwater world 7000 meters deep through the unexpectedly discovered thermocline in the first part of the film. A group of giant toothed sharks, giant octopuses, amphibious hunting dragons, and more ancient Cretaceous monster groups are gradually unfolding the "giant toothed shark marine universe". In the film, the two are teammates fighting side by side, and they also become a family as brother-in-law and brother-in-law.
"Learn excellent production concepts and bring them to my movies." Wu Jing went to every production team to study the small inventions of technical personnel. "Director Guo Fan made a gantry for" Wandering Earth ", allowing actors to rest in heavy spacesuits." Giant Toothed Shark 2: Abyss "filmed sports scenes, and the photographer used 27 buttons to make a machine equipment. When he saw that I liked it very much, he gave it to me. I returned 30 large bottles of Erguotou, which contained goji berries soaked for a month."
The helicopter filming of "Giant Toothed Shark 2: Abyss" also inspired Wu Jing deeply. "The camera is covered with a military radar cover, which can rotate 270 degrees to capture footage of two helicopters entangled. I also want to buy it back." In contrast, action scenes are just satisfying. "When I took the helicopter driver's license exam, I didn't allow dangerous actions, but I could do various tricks during filming, as if I didn't spend money on a roller coaster ride." Guo Fan also revealed that he often receives pictures and videos from Wu Jing at the filming site, sharing new discoveries to enhance the industrialization of film production.
In the eyes of director Ben Witley, the fusion of Eastern and Western elements in Shark 2: Abyss comes from a lot of communication and adaptation. "Sometimes American screenwriters write English lines that Chinese people don't say the same. Wu Jing has his own team to review his lines, provide suggestions, and ensure they conform to Chinese language habits, which is very meaningful. Harmonious communication and exchange have facilitated good international production. The film tells the story of a shared human experience, with a very distinct Chinese culture and local characteristics. I look forward to combining different types of hero stories in the future."
The production team spent two years persuading Wu Jing to join. "My child loves monsters and the animal world. I hope to appear in the world that the child likes." Wu Jing played Zhang Jiuming, whose name comes from "Up in the Sky Han, Down in the Candle Nine Ming, Nine Ming means the ocean or abyss.". Wu Jing loves diving. "What attracts me to diving is my sense of fear and exploration of the unknown world. Our understanding of the ocean is only 5%." When filming underwater scenes, Wu Jing needs to quickly dive and is pulled by Wei Ya to spin. "My heart and lungs are uncomfortable, and I have to make movements like fighting big octopuses, and my brain is about to explode."
During the filming of Shark 2: Abyss, Ben Vitelli suddenly fell ill in Thailand. "He was covered in ice, carried onto a ship, and when he was taken to the hospital, he was still talking about the camera," he said
Filmed on April 3rd, coinciding with Wu Jing's birthday, it snowed. Wu Jing bought 1000 packages of dumplings, 500 bottles of Erguotou, hundreds of garlic, and dozens of bottles of vinegar, and set up a tent to entertain the crew to eat dumplings. "Chinese people eat dumplings, symbolizing reunion. Dumplings are like wine, and the more you drink, the more you get." The crew and Jason Stanson prepared a birthday cake for Wu Jing. "It was very cold that day, and we wore T-shirts, eating dumplings and drinking."
Wu Jing even brought the Chinese tongue twister "There is a bitter persimmon on the mountain, and a stone lion at the foot" to the production team, allowing foreign actors to distinguish the pronunciation difference between southern and northern China, and calling it "the RAP of the Chinese people".
Jason Stanson revealed, "We have as many lines in the film, so Wu Jing needs to be familiar with the entire script, grabbing the bull's horn like a bullfighter. He is humorous, quick to react, and his dedication to the screen image and work is impressive. There is a lot of laughter on set every day, but everyone works with precision like a mechanical watch gear."
"The ocean is as mysterious as outer space, with many unknowns, and this series adheres to the spirit of exploring the ocean and exploring the unknown." Producer, Vice President of Chinese Culture Group, President of Oriental Dream Factory, and President of Chinese Film Industry, Ying Xujun, announced the opening of the "Deep Sea 7000 meters - My Heart's Underwater World" art collection activity, inviting young people to unleash their imagination and explore the deep sea together with "Shark 2: The Abyss".
