"Hmm... I still feel like something's not quite right."
Looking at Schwarzenegger, who had already finished his makeup and styling, Lin Lixin looked him over from left to right, feeling that something was not quite right.
This sense of incongruity wasn't so obvious when I was dressed casually before.
Now that I'm actually wearing Johnny's clothes, this feeling can no longer be hidden.
"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"
Seeing the change in Lin Lixin's expression, Schwarzenegger's expression also turned serious.
It seems that his appearance doesn't match Lin Lixin's image of " Johnny Cage ".
"Hmm..."
Lin Lixin stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, then his eyes suddenly lit up.
"Hey, I know, you're a little too tense."
What kind of character is Johnny Cage?
From the moment his character was fully established and defined, he was never a particularly serious or righteous figure. Rather than a superhero who saves the world, Johnny was a character created entirely to parody Hollywood stars.
Narcissistic, loves posing, wears sunglasses that have no meaning, and has an incredibly sharp tongue.
Cage's character development gradually became more three-dimensional throughout the Mortal Kombat series.
He transformed from a celebrity who only knew how to chatter into a... well, still a flamboyant but also heroic father.
He was also a reliable hero.
For Western gamers, Johnny is a second protagonist whose popularity rivals that of the main character, Liu Kang.
This kind of "diehard" type of character, or the Deadpool -Die Hard esque hero, is really popular with casual viewers.
This is the source of the unease that Lin Lixin felt.
Schwarzenegger was a little nervous.
Perhaps it's because we haven't worked together for too long, or perhaps it's because working with Gamenova is indeed very stressful.
He wasn't in character at all today, and had a blank expression.
Anyone who didn't know better would think he was here to play the T-800. "Although this isn't very kind to director Cameron, Arnold, I need you to forget about the T-800, at least during your time on the set of * Mortal Kombat *. You need to completely forget about that character."
Casting Schwarzenegger as Johnny Cage, aside from both being Hollywood action stars, definitely requires some adjustments to the character's persona.
His long Hollywood career has shaped an extremely stereotypical screen image for him.
Even in Street Fighter, his character Guile was a muscular tough guy with a powerful presence, just by squatting... I mean standing there, he exuded an intimidating aura.
Unlike Brandon Lee, who was a natural fit for the role of Liu Kang, Schwarzenegger definitely needed to find a way to get into character.
To get him to play Johnny, a complete makeover is needed.
"You're not Conan the Barbarian, not Guile, not a T-800, and certainly not Wesker... and you're definitely not Schwarzenegger."
"Okay, I understand."
He nodded seriously.
When entering a new film set, you should try to immerse yourself in the role in order to perform it in the best possible way.
Seeing his posture, Lin Lixin sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation.
"I told you you were too tense... Never mind, it's my fault for not explaining the character to you clearly." He reached out and patted Arnold's strong, muscular body.
"First and foremost, you can't be so composed. Make a few small movements, anything goes, just keep yourself active, like someone with ADHD."
Perhaps it's a legacy left from his earlier works like the Terminator and Conan the Barbarian, or perhaps it's the influence of Guile's tactical strategies that have led to his stylistic tendencies.
Schwarzenegger always maintained a calm and composed demeanor on set.
Whether standing or sitting, they remained steadfastly still, focused on their own tasks.
However, being a superstar who has fought in Hollywood for many years, Schwarzenegger, although still exploring his acting skills, quickly adjusted his style.
The previously tense body suddenly slumped down, but it wasn't the kind of hunched back that comes from someone who hasn't practiced posture; rather, it was a sense of relaxation that permeated from the muscle cells.
He crossed his arms, put one leg up, and leaned slightly against the wall.
At the same time, a slight smile appeared on his lips.
Paired with those custom-made Ray-Ban sunglasses, even without him saying a word, his slick and oily manner still emanated from him.
It's more accurate to say he deserves a beating.
But beneath the sleeves of his tailored shirt, tucked into his elbows, were muscles so large they filled the fabric. His exposed forearms were almost as thick as they were vertical, and his wrists were barely visible.
With that stance, a single punch from him would likely be devastating.
"Fuck it! That's it, Arnold, that's it!"
Lin Lixin threw his head back and laughed, excitedly slapping the other man's chest repeatedly with his outstretched hands.
This is just right.
He finally understood where the previous sense of unease had come from.
It's about temperament!
Schwarzenegger's performance habits from the T-800 made him unconsciously shrug his shoulders and puff out his chest.
With his well-built physique, he looked like a tank when he stood there, a veritable double-door refrigerator.
Now that my whole body Panasonic, both my joints and muscles are much looser, and my overall demeanor suddenly shines through.
"Very good. So, the next step is for you to start talking a lot. Don't worry, Lucas and I will figure out the specific script. You just need to get used to the feeling of constantly talking."
"Like you?" "... Very good, you've grasped its essence, to be precise, like 'Die Hard'."
Lin Lixin coughed lightly, his gaze falling on the passageway beside him.
Several staff members are carefully moving a large film camera out of the studio.
However, this was not the real item, but a lightweight prop prepared by the props team.
Foam filling + lightweight outer shell.
"Huh? I just looked over at the set, weren't the cameras already set up? What's going on here?"
Arnold followed Lin Lixin's gaze and looked over.
He had already noticed this machine while he was getting his makeup and hair done backstage.
"This is a useful tool that we'll be using later."
Lin Lixin smiled, didn't explain further, but instead reached out and patted his shoulder.
"Let's go, let's shoot a few mock-ups first to see how it goes, and then we'll start the official shoot once you're more familiar with the character. Don't worry about the schedule for now."
With the new video processing ASIC, he could theoretically dedicate more time to Hollywood than expected, rather than to development or Industrial Light & Magic. For a project primarily focused on visual effects, this inclination isn't necessarily problematic.
Johnny Cage, or Brother Qiang, Johnny Cage.
This character is unique in the entire Mortal Kombat IP universe.
In a horizontal comparison, he's somewhat like Tony Stark from the Avengers, Star-Lord from Guardians of the Galaxy of the Galaxy, or Old Dante from Devil May Cry.
His value is far greater than it appears on the surface; he could even be considered one of the souls of this IP.
Because, looking at the Mortal Kombat series as a whole, its core tone is actually not a lighthearted and enjoyable work.
Death, injury, hatred, conspiracy, and betrayal permeate the entire plot.
Each person carries an exceptionally heavy mission and story.
In such an environment, Johnny's existence was like a mudslide in a clear stream.
Use humor to ease tense emotions.
It not only relieves the stress of other characters within the game and storyline, but also relieves the stress of the player. After all, video games are products that help people relax and bring them joy.
Excessive repression can easily lead the game to another extreme.
Despite the Old Thief the Dark Souls series is filled with a lot of oppressive worldviews and plots, if you really analyze it carefully, you'll find that the Souls itself is not just about oppression.
Whether it's breaking through personal limitations, advancing progress, or the sense of relief and relief upon discovering a campfire, all of these involve macroscopic control of the rhythm.
The producer's visible hand has been quietly controlling the direction of the entire game, ensuring that it delivers the expected experience to players.
This is also why an excellent producer is so valuable.
Johnny's presence might serve this purpose in Mortal Kombat.
Whether it's through his unique personality or his distinctive fighting style that sets him apart from others.
A desperate strike, Finishing Move, an opening animation...
Every detail is meticulously crafted to depict this character for the player.
"Haha!" "Crack! No, no, Arnold, be even more outrageous, be even more deserving of a beating!"
Lin Lixin grabbed the megaphone and shouted, then casually tossed it to Lucas and ran a few steps to Schwarzenegger, who was already a bit tired.
"Come on, I'll teach you one more time. This time, you need to feel this quality, understand?"
"Good..."
"Cough cough..."
Lin Lixin cleared his throat, casually crossed his arms, and gave a thumbs-up with his right hand.
"Ha↑Ha↓!"
Immediately, he started dancing on the spot.
After all, these are movements etched into one's soul. Relying on the physical functions provided by the panel, Lin Lixin's replication was exceptionally smooth.
As he danced, he also quietly provided vocal accompaniment:
"Johnny! johnny! johnny!..."
"Oh↑↑↑" Lin Lixin straightened his belt, swung his arm and swung it upwards.
There's no particular explanation for this movement; it's simply a matter of using inertia to generate greater impact.
However, those random and unnecessary little gestures do fit Johnny's character perfectly.
He steadied himself and looked at Schwarzenegger.
"Understood?"
"That's really asking for a beating."
Schwarzenegger's lips twitched slightly.
He even felt that Lin Lixin was much more suitable to play this role than he was.
Even for him, to truly grasp this essence, he would need to spend some time carefully studying and attempting to integrate it.
"Wait, so the purpose of this dance move is..."
"Hmm? Oh, of course it's for looking cool. It's a process of building up strength."
"But I think this is really annoying." "That's right. If you can't help but want to hit me, then the purpose of this action has been achieved."