the Man with the Iron Fists-memorabilia (well mine anyway)

I didn't need this, but all the crew were wearing them and I asked Zoe Thompson who was in the production office if I could have one.  She said sure and that it would get me into all the other sites in Hengdian for free!  Well you can see where I went on my day off, 1 Jan 2011 in my Hengdian World Studios photo albums posted some time ago.   This was for me a had to have as I collect all sorts of memorabilia of my travels and work and it represented the first artwork I had seen for MWTIF.So 'the Man with the Iron Fists' is finally released...it was a long wait and much anticipated.Again thanks to Mike Leeder who gave me the opportunity to audition and interviewed me recently for Impact Online : http://www.impactonline.co/features/1024-six-of-the-best-iron-fists-andrew-ngThe whole MWTIF experience was exhilarating!I arrived Hengdian and was wisked to the hotel (not bad eh hehehe) which also was the production office HQ.  Where everyone ignored me.....Hey it's the night before Day One and lots to be done........suddenly I was wisked off to makeup and wardrobe for the final fitting....well I am easy and quick but still meticulous effort at all details.  Excitement grows in anticipation of a visually complete production.  Behind me in Makeup......accessories being hand made for later use in Jungle Village no doubt.....and in the hall way outside wardrobe......more stuff arriving just in time....And behind this door........Byron Mann was getting his full conversion to Silver Lion!  He had a long black silk dressing gown on and for the moment when I saw the hair and his ensemble I was hearing Aerosmith and Run DMC's "Walk this Way"  Byron was extremely friendly, energetic and enthusiastic.  He was getting up for his role, I could feel the energy. I also met Xue Jing Yao a.k.a. Copper Lion and Kuan Tai Chen a.k.a. Gold Lion all there for final check out.The scenes I was involved with were to take place in three locations.  MWTIF is visually rich.Early morning day one.  Cast and crew setting up outside Dazhi Temple.  Lights going up and actors in makeup. And it is really cold!!!!!!Hot tea in my own labelled thermos mug at the bilingually labelled "pantry".Final prep on my acolytes was taking place in the sun.When suddenly a Jack arrives.....For the moment I thought it was Russell Crowe, but as it happens it is his double who is doing his final wardrobe check out....as was Marrese Crump (the RZA's double).so we are at two levels of the temple with A camera up top and B below....and rather than sit in the actors holding pen (which is nicely heated), I rather walk around and watch and learn....like the set up and rehearsal for this crane shot.And since the sun was out we moved outside to wait......and who should appear but Patrick Chowand that living legend of kung fu....Master Gordon LiuOk so we shoot until someone yells "lunch time"......Wow, that's when I realized there are a hell of a lot of people behind the scenes....Zoe said that there are over 400 people involved-100 being just drivers.One thing I will always remember is being escorted along with Gordon and Osric Chau to eat with 'the RZA', Eli Roth, and Marc Abraham.  There a vested and bow tie caucasian attendant asked me: "How would you like your steak, sir?"  I should have photo'd it but felt like I would be a total geek but I managed to get a dessert photo when no one was looking.Look Ma! Pecan Pie!!!!! well not only that but real bone china and silverware.  I am spoiled rotten...no more environmentally unfriendly Styrofoam boxes and plastic cutlery please!And following that I get back to work with our 'bell buster'.....take a break to get my head on straight and back onto set.....this is a master piece in the making.....Yeah I know, the critics don't quite understand it and many criticize 'the RZA' for his acting....but time did not allow for the development of all his training with the Wu Chi Monks to be shown....his character even says "I strayed from the path"-what he means is that he is a fully trained warrior monk.  The reveals come at a very fast clip.   Beyond Hollywood lists MWTIF as one of the eight overlooked films of 2012.  (http://www.beyondhollywood.com/8-overlook-films-from-2012-that-deserve-a-second-look/2/)Our second location was in a cave high in a mountain about an hour outside of Hengdian, there inside the cave a large reclining Budha.  It was colder inside the cave than outside we could see our breathnice outside but in that cave.....we were learning acceptance of severe circumstances :P but let's get the shot....Took this for Osric Chau cause he is a big fan and also wanted to send it home to his parents.We had a great time working together as he was in most of my scenes but went on to leave with the soon to be blacksmith.Our next location was just outside of Shanghai...... we had to cross the bridge to Destiny.the challenge of shooting this scene was the race against the tide.  Constant urging to get set up and rehearse because we had a closing window on set.  Where we were would be under very cold water in a matter of minutes.That meant getting the crane out of the tidal zone too!So the AD comes over and says you guys may have to run to Destiny.......I had forgotten my all terrain monk shoes....it all worked out even as the rocks got wet from the rising tide. So Osric and I run to find out who the dummy sleeping on the beach next to the ship wreck is......it's a prop dummy! or the first crack head in China.The Blu-Ray DVD is available in Feb and I am hoping that more can be revealed then of all the omitted scenes.And from my point of view......I want more!