21-11-09 : The Blood Bond Saga (part 45)

Saturday night at Jesse's bar

When we first conceived of a scene set outside a biker bar, I envisaged our taking over an existing establishment for the evening. However, despite our scouting of Nanhai and its surrounding area, nowhere quite fit the bill.

The vast CCTV studio opposite our own Ace Studios has a suitable building, and the place is almost empty all of the time, but, this being China, red tape prevented us from renting that space for the film.

In the end, we decided to build an exterior on the backlot, and then bring in various cars and bikes to add some flavour to the scene. I was impressed that our executive producer Henry Luk had managed to find so many local hog riders. "These aren't bikers," he clarified, helpfully. "These are people with bikes...." Aha.

We also had a good selection of Saturday night party types to fill the space in front of the bar. An actor who had worked with Henry on earlier film was asked to help wrangle some of them for us. He declined, given that 'there was nothing in it for him'.

Note to would-be movie folk: If there's a movie being made, you want to be there, and you want the producer to owe you a favour.

In the scene concerned, our heroes conduct surveillance on the place, before Deva (Phoenix Chou) ventures inside. (This being a movie, the fight that occurs after she gets inside was actually shot last week!)

Tonight is a very special night for the production: I shoot my cameo. Of course, I'm pale and thin from weeks of working around the clock, but I'm damned if I'm not going to get at least a walk on!

Originally, I wanted to replicate the scene in The Rundown (AKA Welcome To The Jungle) where Arnold greets The Rock as he goes into a club, saying "Have fun..." I asked our action director, Louis Fan Siu-wong, if he'd walk out of Jesse's Bar and say "Be careful" to Phoenix.

Louis declined, saying that his manager would not allow him to appear on screen. So I figured I do it. Some of the audience would have recognised Louis and smiled, so some of the audience might recognise me and smile, too.

Our director and star was fine with the cameo, but didn't like the line. "(Deva) shouldn't be too alarmed," he said, "and the audience will think you already know her..." I opened my mouth to protest. "Why can't you just sit by the main entrance with some cute girl on your lap?," he suggested. "No, no, no, I want to look like a tough... what did you say?"

Having come to my senses, I walked into the extras dressing room. Various lovely ladies were preparing for their roles. Who wants to be my girlfriend?, I asked. They all jumped up and down. "Me! Me! Me!" Man, sometimes, you just have to love this business...

So that's me with my new best friend Bo Bo sitting by the entrance, and I give Phoe the eye as she comes in and Bo Bo smacks me in the chest.

Though its meant to be a hot summer night, its freezing, and the all the players are suffering, except for me in my leather jacket and Kangol.

I'd anticipated this being a really complicated scene to shoot, given all the moving parts, but it rolls like a dream. We shoot Deva entering, the stake out, Jesse leaving...

Once we're wrapped on the set, I bid a fond farewell to Bo Bo, and we move down hill to shoot another unexpected acting performance: Ace Studios owner Henry Luk playing the father of a young blood donor.

The scene is set in a mom-and-pop store, which has been constructed next to the parking area.

Henry is great in the scene, as is Hong Kong actor Lawrence Lai, who we discovered at our open casting call at Cafe Lavande. (My, that seems a long time ago...) I feel for the actors, as its really getting cold by this point!

I have a car coming to take myself and DP Ross Clarkson back to Hong Kong after we wrap. We both miss our respective families, his in Sai Kung, mine on my beloved Prince's Terrace. We finish the scene at 4, and leave an hour late, driving towards dawn and the border.

Next: Odds and sods