In the past month, Hollywood movies have taken turns landing in mainland China theaters. Although theaters in some cities are temporarily closed due to epidemic prevention and control, many films have extended their release dates. It is believed that once the epidemic is stabilized and theaters resume business, audiences will still be able to experience the magic of light and shadow on the big screen.
In the coercion of many IP blockbusters, this Friday (April 22), the latest work "Ambulance" produced by Universal Pictures and famous action film director Michael Bay (Michael Bay) will strive to Beat the siege. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Maidin and Aisha Gonzalez, the film revolves around the biggest bank robbery in Los Angeles history, as the three begin a city-wide robbery. The escape from the police confrontation and the race against time to save the life.
The filming plan for "Desperate Ambulance" was actually established as early as 2015. At that time, Michael Bay was regarded as the number one director candidate, but he did not take over at that time. After that, the filming plan went through several rounds and was never formed. However, in 2020, after experiencing the "foot-stop order" during the epidemic period, Bei Dao, who was almost suffocated at home, was eager to embrace the camera again, so he planned to make a film that could be completed by a small team without too much investment. At this time, he recalled "Desperate Ambulance" and completed the filming of the film efficiently at a cost of 40 million US dollars. The large part of the film in a small and confined environment is obviously not unrelated to his personal experience during the epidemic.
"Even if the budget is several times larger, it will not bring any qualitative change to the film itself."
The Paper : You said in an interview earlier that you were not very satisfied with some of the CGI effects in "Desperate Ambulance". In your opinion, will the audience also find that those CGIs are not real enough in the process of watching the movie?
Michael Bay : No, no, it's just some media "title party". I am actually very satisfied with the CG effect of our film, and I feel that it has been done better than many films. Of course, there are indeed some small places that can be improved, but to be honest, the audience will not notice it at all when watching it, only I know where there may be some small problems of one kind or another. Isn't this what it means to keep good things out of the house, and bad things travel thousands of miles? It's an exaggeration to say that a wrong quote has spread all over the world!
The Paper : At the very beginning, you rejected this project. Why did you think about it again after experiencing the epidemic? Is it the closed life during the epidemic that made you want to shoot such a film with a closed space as the main scene?
Michael Bay : Indeed, this film is relatively more suitable for filming during the epidemic - the crew is small, and everyone can squeeze in the car to finish the filming. It was at the peak of the epidemic in Los Angeles, so I thought that since everyone else was being grounded, it would be safer for us to go to the set to film. And I also wanted to go out and deal with people, so I could finish the film safely, which was a double-edged sword.
Michael Bay : I don't think there are any restrictions. Filming such a small production is actually quite fun. To be honest, a small budget also has the advantage of a small budget, but it is conducive to the development of this story. Each movie actually has a budget that matches it according to the story. "Desperate Ambulance" is not a particularly exaggerated and intense story. It focuses on a claustrophobic experience in a cramped environment, so even if the budget No matter how many times it is added, it will not bring any qualitative change to the film itself.
The Paper : When it comes to budget, back in the day, when you made "Bad Boys," the cost was only $19 million, but the film was highly finished. Is it that for filmmakers, in the current Hollywood, it is more and more difficult to produce satisfactory works with lower costs?
Michael Bay : Exactly. Luckily, I've done quite a few good box office movies in the past, which gives me some wiggle room when it comes to negotiating budgets with others. Even so, making such a movie is still a huge challenge. Fortunately, Universal Pictures cooperated very well this time, allowing us to make a cool movie.
Michael Bay : I've been wanting to work with Jake Gyllenhaal for a long time. He has his charisma, he's very photogenic, it's fun to watch him act, and I've enjoyed working with him. I didn't know much about Yahya Abdul-Madin in the past, but after seeing his works, I had a hunch that he would be a big hit. I have seen a lot of Aisha Gonzalez's previous works, including a small-scale literary film she acted in. She performed very well in it, so I know that she will definitely shine in my film. Unprecedented brilliance, and the result did.
The Paper : "Desperate Ambulance" has won a good reputation in the United States. In comparison, the box office is inferior. Are you disappointed by this?
Michael Bay : I'm not disappointed, in fact, our movie has a lot of audiences all over the world. When I went to screenings in Madrid and in London, the audience was very enthusiastic, and they loved the big screen experience. Let me put it this way, the box office slump of "Desperados" is only temporary, and the audience who wants to watch it will still buy a ticket to enter. My films have never lacked audiences, whether it is a blockbuster or a small production like this. I'm so proud of this movie, it's so cool, and a lot of people compliment it, saying it's a real movie that needs 100% immersion on the big screen - compliments like that, not just casual Any movie can be harvested (laughs).
The Paper : Although adapted from the Danish film of the same name, "Desperate Ambulance" can also be said to be an original story. Why, in your opinion, is it getting harder and harder for original Hollywood stories to bring audiences back to theaters these days?
Michael Bay : Because of the epidemic, everyone has changed their past movie viewing habits. But as far as I am concerned, during this period of time, watching various film and television works on the TV at home, I have almost vomited. I can't wait to get back to theaters and experience real movies. But I know that for the general public, it takes time to regain the habit of going to the cinema to watch movies, not just watching IP blockbusters. As you said, it is getting harder and harder to find investment in Hollywood for original works, but as the saying goes, we really need all kinds of movies.
MICHAEL BAY : Look, I'm never going to be the kind of director who goes to make a Star Wars movie because that's picking people up. I love a quote from Ridley Scott: the most challenging and cool thing about being a director is creating a world from scratch. This is also my pursuit. The "Doomsday" or "Transformers" I shot in the past were all creating a world out of thin air. As for those superhero movies, I watch them too, but I always feel that the audience needs a variety of movies, and the current craze has made people feel a little bit endless.
The Paper : More and more directors are now cooperating with streaming platforms to shoot episodes or movies. Do you have any plans for this in the future? Or do you think your work is just for the big screen?
Michael Bay : I love the big screen. I also did a streaming work once before. Although it was shot for the small screen, it looks great on the big screen. In short, streaming media has a type of works that are specially suitable for streaming media, and there are indeed many excellent episodes, but "Desperate Ambulance" should still be watched on the big screen. Because some of its plots are very tense, it really needs big pictures to create suspense tension, and watching it in the cinema can give you the best experience.
The Paper : At this moment, including Shanghai where I am, some Chinese cities are in a relatively severe stage of epidemic prevention and control. Two years ago, you also went through the "stay-at-home order" in Los Angeles, and this life gave you the inspiration to make "Desperate". Many of your fans in Shanghai are looking forward to going to the cinema to watch this new work. Do you have anything to say to them?
Michael Bay : I would like to say: We have been very concerned about your situation. I was infected with Omicron myself and recovered after a few days. All in all, I hope that the 25 million citizens of Shanghai can tide over the difficulties safely, and I hope that everything will get better soon. In this way, I can also visit China again soon, because the last time I filmed "Transformers" in China was really very pleasant.
In the coercion of many IP blockbusters, this Friday (April 22), the latest work "Ambulance" produced by Universal Pictures and famous action film director Michael Bay (Michael Bay) will strive to Beat the siege. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Maidin and Aisha Gonzalez, the film revolves around the biggest bank robbery in Los Angeles history, as the three begin a city-wide robbery. The escape from the police confrontation and the race against time to save the life.
"Desperate Ambulance" poster
In the film, Will Sharp, played by Abdul Maidin, and his family's adopted Danny (Jake Gyllenhaal) grew up on different trajectories. Will is honest and responsible. After retiring from the military, he and his wife Amy lived a peaceful life; however, Amy suffered a sudden illness that pushed the small family to the brink of collapse. In order to make up for the medical bills, Will can only turn to Danny, a professional criminal, who draws up a seemingly perfect plan to rob a bank. An ambulance, unexpectedly carrying first aid specialist Cam Thompson (Aisha Gonzalez) and a dying police officer. The three have their own ideas, but they have to temporarily form a group, evading the pursuit of the police, while trying to save the lives of the injured.The filming plan for "Desperate Ambulance" was actually established as early as 2015. At that time, Michael Bay was regarded as the number one director candidate, but he did not take over at that time. After that, the filming plan went through several rounds and was never formed. However, in 2020, after experiencing the "foot-stop order" during the epidemic period, Bei Dao, who was almost suffocated at home, was eager to embrace the camera again, so he planned to make a film that could be completed by a small team without too much investment. At this time, he recalled "Desperate Ambulance" and completed the filming of the film efficiently at a cost of 40 million US dollars. The large part of the film in a small and confined environment is obviously not unrelated to his personal experience during the epidemic.
Michael Bay on set
Although "Desperate" is adapted from the Danish film of the same name released in 2005, according to director Michael Bay, he has never seen the original. Therefore, it can be said that "Desperate Ambulance" is almost an original film. The dramatic tension between the characters, the tension of the plot, the continuity of the car chase and the action scenes, always adhere to the consistent style of Michael Bay. Some American media called this film "a combination of "Band of the Jedi" and "Speed of Life and Death", and I believe I like the past works of "Bombshell", such as "Band of the Jedi", "Brave the Dead Island" and "Escape from the Clone". Viewers of "Island" and "13 Hours of Crisis" should not miss this film.Demolition scene in "Desperate Ambulance"
On the eve of the premiere of "Desperate Ambulance" in China, director Michael Bay accepted an exclusive interview with The Paper through remote video, and discussed the news that he was dissatisfied with the CGI effect in the film and the actor's behavior. Answers to questions such as choice and current Hollywood filming trends. At the same time, he also said that he never forgets the experience of filming "Transformers 4" in China, and looks forward to coming back to meet Chinese fans again after the epidemic is over.Interview with director Michael Bay.
【Interview】"Even if the budget is several times larger, it will not bring any qualitative change to the film itself."
The Paper : You said in an interview earlier that you were not very satisfied with some of the CGI effects in "Desperate Ambulance". In your opinion, will the audience also find that those CGIs are not real enough in the process of watching the movie?
Michael Bay : No, no, it's just some media "title party". I am actually very satisfied with the CG effect of our film, and I feel that it has been done better than many films. Of course, there are indeed some small places that can be improved, but to be honest, the audience will not notice it at all when watching it, only I know where there may be some small problems of one kind or another. Isn't this what it means to keep good things out of the house, and bad things travel thousands of miles? It's an exaggeration to say that a wrong quote has spread all over the world!
The Paper : At the very beginning, you rejected this project. Why did you think about it again after experiencing the epidemic? Is it the closed life during the epidemic that made you want to shoot such a film with a closed space as the main scene?
Michael Bay : Indeed, this film is relatively more suitable for filming during the epidemic - the crew is small, and everyone can squeeze in the car to finish the filming. It was at the peak of the epidemic in Los Angeles, so I thought that since everyone else was being grounded, it would be safer for us to go to the set to film. And I also wanted to go out and deal with people, so I could finish the film safely, which was a double-edged sword.
"Desperate Ambulance" stills
The Paper : Although it’s possible to keep things simple when making a film during the epidemic, after making so many big productions, will you feel a lot of constraints when you go back and make such a $40 million film? If there was a bigger budget, what parts of the film would be modified besides some CGI effects?Michael Bay : I don't think there are any restrictions. Filming such a small production is actually quite fun. To be honest, a small budget also has the advantage of a small budget, but it is conducive to the development of this story. Each movie actually has a budget that matches it according to the story. "Desperate Ambulance" is not a particularly exaggerated and intense story. It focuses on a claustrophobic experience in a cramped environment, so even if the budget No matter how many times it is added, it will not bring any qualitative change to the film itself.
The Paper : When it comes to budget, back in the day, when you made "Bad Boys," the cost was only $19 million, but the film was highly finished. Is it that for filmmakers, in the current Hollywood, it is more and more difficult to produce satisfactory works with lower costs?
Michael Bay : Exactly. Luckily, I've done quite a few good box office movies in the past, which gives me some wiggle room when it comes to negotiating budgets with others. Even so, making such a movie is still a huge challenge. Fortunately, Universal Pictures cooperated very well this time, allowing us to make a cool movie.
Brothers Yahya Abdul-Madin and Jake Gyllenhaal
The Paper : Can you talk about the choice of actors, what are the qualities of Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Madin and Aisha Gonzalez, or which movie they were in before? The performance in the movie attracted you to let them play the leading role?Michael Bay : I've been wanting to work with Jake Gyllenhaal for a long time. He has his charisma, he's very photogenic, it's fun to watch him act, and I've enjoyed working with him. I didn't know much about Yahya Abdul-Madin in the past, but after seeing his works, I had a hunch that he would be a big hit. I have seen a lot of Aisha Gonzalez's previous works, including a small-scale literary film she acted in. She performed very well in it, so I know that she will definitely shine in my film. Unprecedented brilliance, and the result did.
Jake Gyllenhaal as career criminal Danny
Aisha Gonzalez as first aid specialist Cam
"Audiences want a variety of movies"The Paper : "Desperate Ambulance" has won a good reputation in the United States. In comparison, the box office is inferior. Are you disappointed by this?
Michael Bay : I'm not disappointed, in fact, our movie has a lot of audiences all over the world. When I went to screenings in Madrid and in London, the audience was very enthusiastic, and they loved the big screen experience. Let me put it this way, the box office slump of "Desperados" is only temporary, and the audience who wants to watch it will still buy a ticket to enter. My films have never lacked audiences, whether it is a blockbuster or a small production like this. I'm so proud of this movie, it's so cool, and a lot of people compliment it, saying it's a real movie that needs 100% immersion on the big screen - compliments like that, not just casual Any movie can be harvested (laughs).
The Paper : Although adapted from the Danish film of the same name, "Desperate Ambulance" can also be said to be an original story. Why, in your opinion, is it getting harder and harder for original Hollywood stories to bring audiences back to theaters these days?
Michael Bay : Because of the epidemic, everyone has changed their past movie viewing habits. But as far as I am concerned, during this period of time, watching various film and television works on the TV at home, I have almost vomited. I can't wait to get back to theaters and experience real movies. But I know that for the general public, it takes time to regain the habit of going to the cinema to watch movies, not just watching IP blockbusters. As you said, it is getting harder and harder to find investment in Hollywood for original works, but as the saying goes, we really need all kinds of movies.
Michael Bay and the film stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Madin and Aisha Gonzalez.
The Paper : When it comes to IP blockbusters, superhero movies are the most popular IP right now. What do you think? Have any of these projects approached you?MICHAEL BAY : Look, I'm never going to be the kind of director who goes to make a Star Wars movie because that's picking people up. I love a quote from Ridley Scott: the most challenging and cool thing about being a director is creating a world from scratch. This is also my pursuit. The "Doomsday" or "Transformers" I shot in the past were all creating a world out of thin air. As for those superhero movies, I watch them too, but I always feel that the audience needs a variety of movies, and the current craze has made people feel a little bit endless.
The Paper : More and more directors are now cooperating with streaming platforms to shoot episodes or movies. Do you have any plans for this in the future? Or do you think your work is just for the big screen?
Michael Bay : I love the big screen. I also did a streaming work once before. Although it was shot for the small screen, it looks great on the big screen. In short, streaming media has a type of works that are specially suitable for streaming media, and there are indeed many excellent episodes, but "Desperate Ambulance" should still be watched on the big screen. Because some of its plots are very tense, it really needs big pictures to create suspense tension, and watching it in the cinema can give you the best experience.
The Paper : At this moment, including Shanghai where I am, some Chinese cities are in a relatively severe stage of epidemic prevention and control. Two years ago, you also went through the "stay-at-home order" in Los Angeles, and this life gave you the inspiration to make "Desperate". Many of your fans in Shanghai are looking forward to going to the cinema to watch this new work. Do you have anything to say to them?
Michael Bay : I would like to say: We have been very concerned about your situation. I was infected with Omicron myself and recovered after a few days. All in all, I hope that the 25 million citizens of Shanghai can tide over the difficulties safely, and I hope that everything will get better soon. In this way, I can also visit China again soon, because the last time I filmed "Transformers" in China was really very pleasant.
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