booktalesy Chapter 358: Gauss's Broadcast Imminent, Casting for the Elite Youth Team
Chapter 358: Gauss's Broadcast Imminent, Casting for the Elite Youth Team
Online discussions about "The First Strike of the Sun and Moon" are still going strong.
The Gauss Chronicle is about to premiere, and the marketing department has already pushed the pre-release hype to its peak.
Whether it's the online and offline poster campaign or the strong promotion on the homepages of major video platforms, the online anticipation has already been completely maximized.
Everyone wants to see how Gauss in the TV version will face the monsters on Earth after experiencing the earth-shattering "physical transformation" in the theatrical version.
In the top-floor office of Light Chaser Animation Studios, Chen Bo met with Gu Nan again before flying to Tokyo.
Listening to the bustling activity outside the publicity department, the two of them unanimously recalled the scene when casting was being done for the TV version of "Goss".
At that time, Light Chaser Animation went to great lengths to find actors who could interpret "compassion" and "order".
"Old Chen, looking back now, we stayed up for several nights in a row to get this team up."
Gu Nan picked up his coffee, a wistful smile playing on his lips.
Unlike Tiga's composure, Dyna's passion, and Gaia's hardcore nature, Gauss requires a more gentle and inclusive temperament.
In China's fickle entertainment industry, this is like finding a needle in a haystack.
Gu Nan recalled the scene when he auditioned for the role of Haru Musashi.
At that time, countless popular young actors and celebrities came to audition.
But most of them carry a deliberately acted sharpness, that slickness that comes from years of working in front of the camera.
No matter how much you wash it, you can't wash it off. They can play a sharp and fierce warrior well, but they can't play a truly compassionate young man.
Until that new actor with clear eyes and a warm smile walked into the room.
He doesn't need to pretend to be gentle; just by standing there, he exudes a sense of peace and tranquility.
He is not a tough guy in the traditional sense, and even looks a bit thin, but he has a kind of tenacity in his bones.
When he recited the line, "I just want to know why both sides are fighting," Gu Nan knew he had found the answer.
"When I cast Haru Musashi, I knew he could bring to life that reverence for life."
Gu Nan said with a hint of admiration in his eyes, "It turns out that his performance during filming perfectly matched the concept of the Luna Mode."
He perfectly captured Musashi's conflicting yet unwavering resolve—his unwillingness to harm any life, coupled with his unwavering commitment to protecting others.
Not only Chun Musashi, but the casting of the entire EYES team was strictly controlled by Gu Nan.
He knew that for a successful tokusatsu drama, in addition to the personal charm of the main character, the portrayal of the defense team's ensemble was equally important.
Captain Haruka (originally from the drama "Hiura Haruka")'s composure and inclusiveness are the anchor of the entire team. Gu Nan needs an actor who can withstand all the pressure in critical moments and care for the team members like an elder in ordinary times.
The meticulousness and professionalism of Mizuno's vice-captain (originally Mizuno Shinobu) showcase the independence and strength of women in Daxia.
She must be serious and unsmiling, but beneath that stern exterior, she must also harbor a deep care for each and every team member.
The perfectly timed comedic rhythm of Tsuchikage (originally Hiroji Doigaki) is the lubricant that eases the tension of the entire play.
As the team's tech expert, he needs to be both a bit goofy and a bit funny to lighten the mood.
Kaze (Keisuke Kaze in the original series) has a cold exterior but a passionate heart, making him the best contrast to Haru Musashi.
He represents rules and force, while Musashi represents emotion and peace. The clash and reconciliation between the two in the drama is a major highlight of the entire series.
And Rena (originally Ayano Morimoto)'s youthful energy and innocence injected a constant stream of vitality into the team.
Each character underwent repeated deliberation, countless auditions and rehearsals, before finally forming this humane defense team.
They are no longer cold, lifeless war machines, but a group of ordinary people with flesh and blood who can cry and laugh.
What Gu Nan is even more proud of is the rigorous requirements placed on action scenes during the filming of the TV version of "Goss".
In the prequel, First Strike: Sun and Moon, Cosmos's fighting style was already beginning to show its potential.
In order to showcase the "softness overcoming hardness" of the moon goddess form, Gu Nan completely abandoned the grand and sweeping fighting style of conventional tokusatsu dramas, and instead delved into the essence of the traditional martial arts of the Great Xia Dynasty.
"Old Chen, do you remember when the action director first started rehearsing the Gauss fight scenes, how difficult they were?"
Gu Nan asked with a smile, a hint of reminiscence flashing in his eyes.
"How could I not remember? At first, the suit actors couldn't find that feeling of 'using the opponent's strength against them' at all. They always tried to use brute force to push against each other, so the performance looked very stiff."
"Having gotten used to Gaia's high-level wrestling and heavy artillery fighting style, suddenly having them practice Tai Chi was a nightmare for them, and they were all complaining on set."
"In the end, it was you who made the final decision to invite a real Tai Chi master from the Great Xia Dynasty to join the group. You had them practice standing meditation and push hands every day to feel the shift of the center of gravity."
Chen Bo continued, "During that period, the entire action team's style changed. People who didn't know better would think we were filming some kind of martial arts blockbuster."
"That's right." Gu Nan nodded.
"The Moon God form cannot be aggressive; every dodge and block must be as fluid as water."
"Using minimal force to overcome great strength" means not only neutralizing the monster's attack but also controlling the situation without harming the opponent.
"This kind of control is much harder to achieve than simply blasting a monster apart. If you're just twisting and turning in place, that's not Tai Chi, that's dancing."
Gu Nan's mind flashed back to the image of Gauss effortlessly deflecting the Baltan aliens' chain of attacks amidst the city ruins.
The fluid cloud hands, precise force deflection, and smooth turns perfectly showcased the ultimate beauty of Daxia martial arts.
Every exchange was executed flawlessly, demonstrating the true meaning of a defensive counter-attack.
"But gentleness does not mean weakness."
Gu Nan's gaze instantly sharpened, as if flames were burning in his pupils.
"When facing an enemy determined to destroy peace, swift and decisive action is necessary. That's why there's the Corona Form, and the future Eclipse Form."
This is the Eclipse Gauss that everyone will joke about in the future, who, faced with an unrepentant enemy, can only choose to be cremated.
It means Musashi was possessed by Gauss...
When filming the action scenes of the corona and the subsequent eclipse, Gu Nan also incorporated elements of powerful martial arts such as Hung Kuen.
The horse stance punch and bow stance elbow strike have eliminated all fancy moves; every punch is accompanied by the sound of wind breaking and every punch lands hard.
This extreme contrast not only thrilled the audience but also conveyed the true martial virtue of "stopping war is true martial arts" on a deeper level—you have the power to destroy everything, but you choose compassion.
But if compassion is useless, then physical rituals for the deceased are also an option.
This design not only enhances the visual appeal of the action scenes but also elevates the overall theme of the series.
"With the solid foundation laid by 'The First Strike of the Sun and Moon,' I believe that the audience will definitely be able to accept this brand-new Ultraman core."
Chen Bo said confidently, picking up his coffee and drinking it all in one gulp, "Right now, the online sentiment is all looking forward to this kind of soft-on-hard approach. We're practically guaranteed to win this round."
Cosmos's gentleness is about to meet the audience, and Mebius's blueprint will be fully unfolded tonight.
Gu Nan believes that both the gentle yet firm compassion and the boundless spirit of passing on the torch will write their own legends in this era.
(I will try to speed things up, around 25 episodes. Some filler episodes will be cut, and some episodes will be merged. I will write Mebius and Nexus at the same time. I will probably start Nexus around the middle of Mebius. I haven't watched many of the four Heisei era series. There are still many episodes I haven't watched. I'll wait for the author to review them during this time.)