EFB Chapter 355 I Want to Check the Cards
Chapter 355 I Want to Check the Cards
Chapter 354 I Want to Check the Cards
"Absorb it all!"
Chen Xun muttered to himself.
Countless insights into action scene performance and emotional control under extreme conditions were instantly integrated into his performance system.
[Project Name: Spider-Man: Homecoming (In Filming)]
[Current project completion rate: 45%]
[Performance Rating: A+]
Director's satisfaction rating: S—
Teamwork: A+
[Global Audience Expectations: S]
Overall Rating: S—
Phase Reward Distribution:
[Historical Progress] Realm Progress +3%, Current Progress 29%
After nearly a month of filming, "Spider-Man: Homecoming" has finally brought in Robert Downey Jr.'s scenes.
The scenes between Iron Man Tony Stark and Peter Parker are also the core content that connects the main MCU storyline and shapes Peter's growth trajectory.
The entire crew was on high alert.
Not only because Downey is the soul of the MCU, but also because this big shot is known for his improvisational skills when filming.
The lines in the script are always just a reference; he can always come up with new jokes and change the rhythm of the dialogue according to the character's state.
Many of the actors who acted with him were caught off guard by this sudden improvisation.
It's common to not be able to keep up with the performance.
Before filming began, Jon Watts specifically pulled Chen Xun aside and gave him a few words of advice: "Chen, Donnie's improvisation is quite frequent. If you can't keep up, don't panic. We can call a stop and reshoot at any time. Don't feel pressured."
Chen Xun smiled and nodded: "Don't worry, director, I'll try my best to take it on."
In his past life, he watched behind-the-scenes footage of Marvel movies, and he learned that many of Iron Man's classic scenes were improvised.
But he also had the confidence to rely on his ability to react on the spot, which came from his "historic" level of skill, coupled with his thorough understanding of the character Peter Parker. He could not only improvise lines, but also catch any jokes thrown out by Downey on the spot.
The first scene depicts Peter's unauthorized pursuit of the Vulture, which causes trouble, leading to Tony summoning him to Stark headquarters for a reprimand.
All departments were in position, the clapperboard was lowered, and filming officially began.
The original script had Tony sternly reprimanding Peter for acting impulsively and recklessly, and those few key lines of dialogue led to a turning point in the plot.
But as soon as Donnie sat down on the sofa, took a sip of his coffee, and opened his mouth, he completely deviated from the script, speaking entirely in Tony Stark's own tone: "Kid, do you think that just because you're wearing a suit and can catch a few car thieves in Queens, you're qualified to go toe-to-toe with those outlaws who deal in alien weapons?"
He put down his coffee cup and continued to tease, "When I was your age, I was still tinkering with the prototype of the Mark I in the garage. At most, I blew up the garage. But you, you've managed to attract the FBI and the Coast Guard. I've received three calls from the director this morning, all to clean up your mess."
Upon hearing this, Jon Watts, behind the monitor, instantly held his breath.
This entire section is improvised content not in the script. The rhythm and tone are all Downey's own creations, completely different from the original script. Not to mention new actors, even veteran actors are easily stunned by this sudden change.
Chen Xun not only didn't panic, but he also caught up with the scene instantly.
He hung his head, his fingers unconsciously fidgeting with the hem of his hoodie, looking just like a high school student being scolded by his parents. His shoulders slumped, yet he couldn't help but mutter a defense: "I just wanted to help people. Those weapons will kill a lot of people if they get on the streets."
He raised his eyes slightly, then quickly lowered his head again, his voice a little softer, but he still added with his neck stiff, "And in the end I resolved it, it's just that—there was a little accident during the process."
These responses perfectly fit Peter Parker's character, and are even more authentic than the lines in the original script.
The actor portrayed the stubbornness of a young man perfectly.
Donnie was visibly taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
He improvised the lines, partly to test the limits of this newly crowned Golden Globe Best Actor.
Unexpectedly, Chen Xun not only caught it steadily, but also followed his rhythm, pushing the character's emotions even more smoothly.
He suddenly got excited and, following the rhythm, improvised another line: "A minor accident? You call blowing up half a dock a minor accident? Happy told me that his hairline receded another centimeter because of your actions."
Chen Xun immediately took over, a hint of guilt on his face, but he couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Mr. Happy's hairline, you can't blame me for that, can you?"
One sentence instantly broke the tension of Tony's lecture.
This perfectly matches Peter's carefree and unconventional personality as a young man.
Even Downey couldn't help but almost burst out laughing, but he quickly covered it up by holding up a coffee cup and continued acting, completing the entire performance.
"Cut! One take!"
Jon Watts excitedly yelled "Cut!" and the set erupted in enthusiastic applause.
The screenwriter watching on the monitor couldn't help but slap his thigh: "These two improvised scenes are so much better than the original script! The chemistry between the two actors is amazing!"
Donnie stood up from the sofa, walked over to Chen Xun with a smile, patted him on the shoulder, and said with admiration in his eyes, "Kid, you're pretty good! I improvised like this, and you caught it and even threw it back at me. Impressive."
In Hollywood, there aren't many actors who can keep up with his improvisations.
Those who can catch the joke and even throw it back, making the play even more outstanding, are even rarer.
Although he had approved of Chen Xun playing Spider-Man during the audition, he still had some doubts in his heart.
But after just this one scene, he was completely convinced.
"Teacher Donnie is the best at teaching."
Chen Xun smiled and said politely, but he felt very happy inside.
Acting alongside top actors, this kind of impromptu acting duel with equal skill is far more intense than simply filming a scene in a set format.
After that scene, Downey seemed to have found enjoyment, and he improvised lines even more often when filming scenes with his co-stars.
When filming the scene where Tony gives Peter the upgraded suit, he improvised a bunch of lines teasing Peter about his crush on MJ, which were not mentioned at all in the script.
Chen Xun caught it perfectly, blushing as his innermost thoughts were touched, and awkwardly explained, "We're just classmates!"
He even retorted, "Mr. Stark, you should be more concerned about your wedding with Ms. Pepper. Happy has practically memorized the entire wedding itinerary."
One line made Downey burst into laughter on the spot, even shaking the camera. But after the "cut" was called, Downey insisted on keeping the impromptu scene: "Use this one! It's so natural, this is what Tony and Peter would say!"
Even when filming a dialogue scene where they were having a heart-to-heart talk on the rooftop, Downey improvised and changed a large portion of the lines.
Downey incorporated Tony's admiration and concern for Peter, as well as the younger version of himself he saw in him, into the lines, and Chen Xun handled it smoothly.
Chen Xun's portrayal of Peter's transformation from initial misunderstanding and frustration to the renewed light in his eyes after understanding Tony's intentions was so nuanced that it brought tears to Jon Watts' eyes behind the monitor.
The crew on set were stunned: "Chen Xun is really amazing. Only he could handle Donnie's improvisation. Anyone else would have been completely dumbfounded."
"The scenes between these two are so enjoyable to watch, just like watching the full movie, every take is a surprise."
The joy on set goes far beyond the sparks of impromptu acting.
Just two days later, during the filming of the scene where Peter was patrolling the streets in his brand-new suit, another blunder occurred that made everyone laugh until their stomachs hurt.
This Spider-Man suit was made by the props team at a 1:1 scale. The headgear has a built-in AI voice system that can prompt the actors and also play preset lines from AI Karen in sync with the filming rhythm.
Seeing the relaxed atmosphere on set, a few young staff members from the props team secretly played a prank and changed the voice pack in the AI system.
At the time, they were rehearsing a scene. Chen Xun was wearing a full suit of armor and a hood, ready to film the scene where Peter stops to listen to the AI report unusual activity after swinging on the spider web between buildings.
According to the procedure, the AI should announce in a steady, mechanical voice: "An unusual disturbance has been detected three blocks ahead, suspected to be an illegal arms deal. Should we proceed to investigate?"
Just as Chen Xun regained his footing, the speaker inside the hood suddenly blared out, in that emotionless, mechanical voice: "I need to check your license!"
There was a deathly silence for a full two seconds before a deafening burst of laughter erupted.
Jon Watts sat in front of the monitor, laughing so hard he slammed his hand on the table, almost dropping the walkie-talkie in his hand.
The script supervisor girl laughed so hard she squatted down on the ground, unable to even hold the clapperboard steady.
Even the lighting technicians and sound engineers preparing the equipment next to them were laughing so hard they couldn't stand up straight.
Chen Xun was completely bewildered inside the suit. It took him a couple of seconds to realize he'd been pranked. He pulled off the hood, his forehead soaked with sweat, his face a mixture of anger and amusement. He yelled towards the props team, "Dude, that's too much! My Spider-Man is about to be hacked by your AI! Peter won't get killed by the villains, but your AI will be the first to mess him up!"
The young prop crew members laughed and waved their hands, apologizing repeatedly, but they still couldn't help laughing: "Teacher Chen Xun, we're so sorry, we were just having a bit too relaxed on set, we were just joking with you!"
After this prank, the props team seemed to have opened the door to a new world, and they would occasionally come up with new tricks through the AI voice.
During the filming of the scene where Peter gets messed up by the various functions of the suit, the AI suddenly popped up a message: "Mr. Stark sent a remote message: Kid, if you ruin the suit again, I'll replace it with thermal underwear, the kind with pink fleece."
The whole audience burst into laughter again!
Chen Xun burst out laughing on the spot, and helplessly rubbed his forehead in front of the camera.
Even Downey joined in the fun, raising an eyebrow at Chen Xun who was laughing so hard he could barely breathe, and teased, "Looks like your suit's AI is even more mischievous than my Jarvis. Should I get an engineer from Stark Industries to upgrade it for you? And maybe help you keep this naughty system in check?"
Chen Xun waved his hand with a smile: "Let's forget it. If the two of you get together, you might just turn New York upside down. In the end, I, your friendly neighbor from Queens, will be the one cleaning up the mess."
Over time, the meme of "artificial stupidity invading Spider-Man's suit" was secretly posted online by staff, sparking a frenzy of meme-making among netizens.
"Hilarious! Marvel's props team really knows how to create hilarious moments. What the heck is this 'I need to verify my license' thing?!"
Chen Xun: I'm playing Spider-Man, not the God of Gamblers!
"Artificial intelligence is confirmed to be stupid. I feel sorry for Chen Xun. He has to have his mentality ruined by AI while filming, hahaha."
"I'm already looking forward to the AI interactions in the main film; I feel like there will be many surprises!"
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