Shanghai Shooting In Bangkok

[sabaijai]

Anyone been out to the set built for Shanghai, the new John Cusack film shooting in Thailand at the moment?

[cloudbusting]

Where abouts is it?

[girlx]

i heard they needed extras, might be a fun day or so...

[jonw8uk]

I was cast as an extra, playing a 'german embassy driver'.

The set was pretty cool, shanghai port, with a big ship in dock, lots of rickshaws, beggers and old 1940's taxis driving about.

I drove a 1941 Merc, complete with swazsticka flags..

First time doing anything like it, thought it'd be interesting, and was, but the first day was 16 hours in the sun wearing a suit, and didn't do my scene, then next day 14 hours of the same with some nice sunburn!!

eventually did my scene, had to do a bit of 'acting' when some shots were fired, so ducked for cover along with cusack and two other characters (Don't know their names, but had seen the guy in some movie) and now looking forward to see the finished movie, and how much of me makes the cut....

Move to Thailand and end up in a hollywood movie - bizarre

[Jimjim]

Cool, jonw8uk, I'm jealous. If I was there or I'm sure I'd have gotten at least a good chance to get in the movie, as I used to have the hookups for that kind of thing. You're right, it is bizarre to stumble into that sort of thing but when they shoot Hollywood movies in Thailand, they don't need to bring 2000 baht/day extras with them, so that's where the westerners in Thailand can benefit by having a unique experience. I did several commercials but started working a steady job before I could get into a movie. I wanted to make the cut and be in at least one movie for even a few seconds so I could tell my friends to watch me on the big screen back in the U.S. Well, maybe in the future.

[sabaijai]

Cusack calls new movie 'Shanghai' a unique opportunity

Published: Saturday, August 2, 2008 | 8:09 PM ET

Canadian Press: Min Lee, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BANGKOK, Thailand - Known for alternating between mainstream Hollywood and independent films, John Cusack says his latest movie "Shanghai" is a rare middle ground between the two genres.

Speaking at a set visit in Bangkok on Saturday, the 42-year-old star of movies like "Serendipity" and "Being John Malkovich" called "Shanghai" a unique project that combines the artistry of independent film with the resources of a commercial movie.

"To do something that has a big budget, a great scope with a great director and great actors that has the quality and level of writing and the level of production design ... is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Cusack said.

Shot in London and Bangkok, "Shanghai" is budgeted at more than US$10 million - still small by Hollywood standards but big for an Asian production.

Cusack said once he heard the filmmakers were interested in casting him, he aggressively lobbied for the part.

"Any actor in his right mind would want to do this film - would die to do it," he said.

In "Shanghai," Cusack plays an American intelligence official who investigates a friend's death in Japanese-occupied Shanghai in 1941 in the months before the attack on Pearl Harbor that brought the U.S. into World War II. The movie also features Hong Kong's Chow Yun-fat, Chinese actress Gong Li and Japan's Ken Watanabe.

Cusack called his co-stars "the greatest artists from Asia" and said it was an honour to work with them.

Shooting for the first time in Asia, the American actor said he hasn't had the chance to explore Thailand because of a busy shooting schedule but has enjoyed the warmth of the Thai people.

"I would really come back for the people. The Thai people seem to be incredibly generous, warm, kind of loving people. So it's very nice to be around them. The crews are magnificent and everybody I've met in my brief time off has been lovely," he said.

[sabaijai]

I just spent three days on the set, was a 'featured extra' which meant slightly higher pay and not having to stand in line at the wardrobe tent at the end of the shooting day (typically 10pm-midnight). Impressive set, including the casino nightclub interior in Moonstar studio 5. Cusack, Gong Li and Chow Yun-Fat were in the scenes I did.

Also newcomer Vu Thu Phuong, a Vietnamese model who I'm betting will become a lot more well known after the film's release.

[girlx]

my friend also went and ended up becoming a featured extra. i guess it is easier in thailand as there are not so many foreigners. it would be a lot harder to get a featured role in hollywood.

[Prakanong]

Cool - (And I rarely say that)

Is Gong Li not just the best looking woman in the world?

[Ducati]

So where is it? Would love to show my kids the set. while they are on their hols at the moment.

[Jimjim]

I'm not sure the set is open for tourists.

How would you be doing the "showing" of the set? It is not your set. It'd be the same for you and your kids with someone else showing it to all of you if it were really possible. Try and get a job as an extra if they're still hiring.

[zzdocxx]

Cool - (And I rarely say that)

Is Gong Li not just the best looking woman in the world?

She looked to be getting on in years in "Curse of the Golden Flower", also starring Chow Yun Fat, maybe that was just the makeup for her character. Kind of a dumb movie, though it had an interesting sub-plot

What do you think of Ziyi Zhang, I saw her in "2046", quite attractive IMHO.

[Agenda]

I've been there, the work isn't easy.

[Jimjim]

I've been there, the work isn't easy.

Yes indeed, extra work can be quite time consuming and tiring, but I don't regret any second of it that I did.

[samran]

hi so friend was going off to have dinner with Harvey Weinstein (sp) out at the set which in on Latprow 80 something.... Her and her mates bailed out at the last minute when she got the impression that she was being invited along by one of the 'assistants' to be the eye candy for the assorted dinner guests. She is very good looking, but having been educated in the UK, she takes no <deleted>...

[girlx]

apparently the next big film coming to shoot here stars arnold schwarzenegger. they will need extras for that one too. also have heard rumors about a new universal studios type of place planned for BKK, so it is a good time to become an actor here.

[goodbyeSong]

apparently the next big film coming to shoot here stars arnold schwarzenegger. they will need extras for that one too. also have heard rumors about a new universal studios type of place planned for BKK, so it is a good time to become an actor here.

Hello.

Where can I get more details about the movie mentioned above?

I am really curious about its shooting.

I like to join it if they need to assign Japanese.

bye now

[lomatopo]

This is the only possible Arnold vehicle I could find: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1144804/

Here's a recent article related to the shoorting of "Shanghai" and Moonstar Studios:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/170808_News/17Aug2008_news02.php

And a slightly older article:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/030808_News/03Aug2008_news12.php

In that picture (above) it looks like John Cusak and Chow Yun Fat have HUGE heads (OJ size head); it almost looks like a photoshop job?

Edited August 19, 2008 by lomatopo

[glyph]

"Shanghai" wrapped a week ago, with the wrap party starting only a few hours after the shooting stopped. The set is at Moon Star studios, near the Lao embassy. I had the chance to be in scenes with the four big stars and my assessment is: Chow Yun-Fat and Ken Watanabe are very reserved, John Cusack was too busy to be bothered, and Gong Li was happy to talk with anyone who approached her. I've been madly in lust with her for 20 years, and being in the same movie as her was a big thrill. We had a chance to talk, and now I can die a happy man.

In several scenes, you'll see two white-haired gents in white tux jackets. The guy with curly hair and glasses is the direcotr's father. The other guy is the co-producer's father.

[Boater]

I just spent three days on the set, was a 'featured extra' which meant slightly higher pay and not having to stand in line at the wardrobe tent at the end of the shooting day (typically 10pm-midnight). Impressive set, including the casino nightclub interior in Moonstar studio 5. Cusack, Gong Li and Chow Yun-Fat were in the scenes I did.

Also newcomer Vu Thu Phuong, a Vietnamese model who I'm betting will become a lot more well known after the film's release.

Also newcomer Vu Thu Phuong, a Vietnamese model who I'm betting will become a lot more well known after the film's release.

she is hot

[sabaijai]

I just spent three days on the set, was a 'featured extra' which meant slightly higher pay and not having to stand in line at the wardrobe tent at the end of the shooting day (typically 10pm-midnight). Impressive set, including the casino nightclub interior in Moonstar studio 5. Cusack, Gong Li and Chow Yun-Fat were in the scenes I did.

Also newcomer Vu Thu Phuong, a Vietnamese model who I'm betting will become a lot more well known after the film's release.

Also newcomer Vu Thu Phuong, a Vietnamese model who I'm betting will become a lot more well known after the film's release.

she is hot

Virtually all male eyes were on Vu Thu Phuong whenever she walked onto the set, regardless of Gong Li's presence.