There are many businesses near Hollywood that make a living by renting and customizing props. These businesses used to be small in scale. In the 1920s and 1930s, they were basically scattered and made a living; but with the development of Hollywood movies
With the booming development, these commercial firms began to become more and more prosperous. By the 1970s and 1980s, many firms had sprung up like mushrooms after a rain.
However, competition among these prop shops is fierce. In order to win over big customers, they often resort to various means, so that these firms secretly have in-depth contacts with the seven major Hollywood film companies. Which company starts filming a new movie?
Bian immediately delivered the props, which saved a lot of trouble and time.
Don’t underestimate the prop industry. In fact, the profits of this industry are amazing. For example, when Yi Feiyang was filming "Saving Rachel, the Female Soldier" not long ago, ten sets of German Nazi military uniforms rented cost hundreds of dollars a day, and they were rented according to the price.
Hours are calculated by minutes. And these props are often rented out from this house, rented out that house, rented out movies, and rented out TVs, unless you don't shoot war scenes.
As a regular customer, Yi Feiyang once again came to the props store where the prices were relatively reasonable from last time.
This business store is not too big or too small, with a full range of business types and a fairly good scale. Many film companies like to rent or customize the props they need here.
Yi Feiyang walked into the store and roughly explained his purpose. The boss was a small old Jewish man with a funny little hat on his forehead. He said to Yi Feiyang: "I'm sorry, dear friend, we don't have any ready-made products here."
If you don't mind, I can help you find some similar props to replace. If you are satisfied, I can also give you an appropriate discount on the price... After all, we are old friends, right? Haha.
"
As expected of a Jew, he is very good at doing business.
However, Yi Feiyang has no intention of looking for substitutes. In the words of James Wan next to him, if even the props are substituted, then the film will only be imitations after it is filmed.
"Sorry, the props we need must be the above things..." Yi Feiyang pointed to the patterns on the sketch and said, "These are the necessary tools for us to film. Well, they are also the first props for our drama. So.
It can’t be replaced at all.”
"Then I have to make a custom order," the old Jewish man said. "I can give these patterns to the prop master of our business. He is a very good mold maker. Well, many good things have appeared from his hands.
Like Freddy's terrifying claws in "A Nightmare on Elm Street" and the weird Rubik's Cube in "A Nightmare on Elm Street", haha, those things were all made by him."
"How long does it take?" Yi Feiyang didn't ask the price, but the time.
"This... it will take a week at the fastest, yes. Your patterns are a bit too complicated..." the old Jewish man said while looking at the manuscript paper.
"Can it be completed within three days? We are in a hurry."
"Oh, I can't make the decision on this. That master is famously picky and pays special attention to the work he does, so he spends more time on it."
"Actually, our requirements for these props are not high. As long as they are original, it doesn't matter if they are rough." Yi Feiyang had to speak his mind.
"Since you said so, I can introduce you to another master. He makes this kind of stuff very quickly and at a low price. But as you said...it's very rough!" the old Jewish man said with a wink.
"Excuse me, may I ask where he is?"
"Well..." The old Jewish man rubbed his fingers, "Dear, you know that time is money, right?"
Take the test and play a trick!
Yi Feiyang directly took out 10 US dollars and gave it to him, "Tell me, where is he?"
…
According to the address mentioned by the old Jewish man, Yi Feiyang and James came to a "grocery store" together.
Yes, this is a grocery store, but instead of selling daily necessities, it sells some weird movie equipment, including puppets, swords, helmets, old photographic equipment, cameras, projectors, video recorders, and some other random things.
something.
Such a large number of things were piled up so much that Yi Feiyang and James Wan had no place to move. They had no choice but to stand outside and shout inside: "Hey, man, is there anyone in there?"
"
There was no movement.
Yi Feiyang had no choice but to shout inside again: "Hey, let me tell you, is anyone here?"
This time there were some "cracking" sounds inside the grocery store, and then a thin-cheeked, white-haired old man came out of the grocery store holding a cigarette between his teeth.
Yes, he came out, like an old civet cat slowly emerging from a dark cave.
"Who are you? Do you want to buy something or rent something?" The white-haired old man looked at Yi Feiyang and James Wan with a pair of deep eyes.
"Is this Mr. Max?"
"Yes, I am. I am the only one here named Max. There is no one else." The old man held a cigarette between his fingers and spat.
"I heard that you are very good at making props, so we came here to find you."
"My craftsmanship is so-so...but the things I make are really useful." Old man Max said proudly.
"That's good, this is our artwork, can you see if you can do it?" Yi Feiyang handed over the sample of the props, and the old man took it, "Oh, damn, why don't we go in first? My old man
The flower mirror fell inside... When people get old, they become useless!"
Yi Feiyang shrugged, and had no choice but to follow the old man's butt and get in with James Wan.
The space inside the grocery store is very large, even beyond the imagination of Yi Feiyang and the two of them. The total area of the room is about more than 100 square meters, and there are film equipment, cameras, timers, keyboards, and lighting equipment everywhere.
Wait for everything.
"You guys take a look first, and I'll take a look at your prop samples... Oh, damn, where are my glasses? I just remembered putting them here..." The old man Max looked around for his reading glasses on the counter.
Yi Feiyang and James were bored, so they looked around among the various equipment to see what interesting things they could find.
"Hey, look, boss, this is the laser sword from Star Wars..." James Wan said with a smile, waving a plastic electronic sword.
"Yes, but it doesn't look like the original, more like a copy." Yi Feiyang said casually.
"Of course the original one won't appear here. You know, that original one is now worth more than 8,000 US dollars and has long been collected by those "Star Wars" fans." Max, who found the reading glasses, said aside. "But I
It’s not bad, if you want it I’ll give you a 20% discount, um, it only costs 80 US dollars!”
Yi Feiyang shrugged. He didn't know how to collect these rubbish, even though they were very cheap.
Old Max put on his dear reading glasses and began to look carefully at the prop sample Yi Feiyang gave him.
Here James Wan is looking around among the props, seemingly interested in everything.
Yi Feiyang looked bored. After casually glancing at the props, his eyes were attracted by the many retro and nostalgic movie posters and photos on the walls of the store.
There are many old photos above, densely posted on the wall. There is a handsome young man in bright clothes, and the people taking photos with him are either beautiful actresses, or directors and studio bosses. Some of them actually include
The famous Oscar winner Marlon Brando!
"Were you an actor before?!" Yi Feiyang turned around and asked.
Max, who was looking at the prop sample, said without raising his head: "Oh, man, just look at the two posters on the west side."
Yi Feiyang took a good look and saw that there were indeed two very old movie posters hanging on it. These two posters were obviously cherished and framed.
The first poster showed a still photo of a man dressed as Jesus walking on the desert in linen clothes. The words "King of Kings" were written underneath the poster. Needless to say, the man playing "Jesus" was the young Max. Well,
How should I put it, the old guy was quite handsome when he was young.
The second chapter poster is also very old. Compared with the sacred atmosphere of the first one, this one is full of evil. He looks ferocious, like a devil running out of hell. Under the poster is a still of "The Seventh Seal" written in small letters
.Needless to say, the person who plays this "devil" is of course Max.
What a talent! He plays both Jesus and the devil. This old man has great acting skills!
Yi Feiyang secretly praised him and couldn't help but ask: "You must have been very popular before, right? You acted in so many movies. And the contrast between the roles is so big?"
"That's right, but it was a long time ago." Old Max didn't seem to be very interested in this topic.
"Then why don't you act anymore?"
"Why else? Of course I'm not popular anymore, and there's no more movies to film. Look at me, my old eyes are dim and I can't even look at the sample. Who would want such an old man?"
Looking back, Yi Feiyang had to re-examine this "old star" who looked ordinary but actually had many stories behind him.
"Okay, I can help you get the props you need." Max looked away from the manuscript paper and said to Yi Feiyang.
"for how long?"
"Five days, 600 US dollars; three days, 1,000 US dollars!" the old man said neatly.
"Then three days, 1,000 US dollars!" Yi Feiyang handed over the check simply.
"Oh no, no, no, I never accept checks, only cash. Yes, this is my rule." Old Max suddenly said.
Yi Feiyang smiled slightly, and then said: "How about this, I ask my friend to withdraw cash for you, and you tell me your past story?"
Max thought for a moment, "That's fine, even though I don't want to mention the shitty past." (To be continued...)
