Hey everyone. Just thought I would share the thoughts I had about the recent movie shoot I did. Talk about setting intentions – I asked for movie, and wow, did I get one. This film will be a very big blockbuster in Asia. Starring the beautiful Gong Li and the very dreamy Andy Lau (two of Asia’s largest actors). I was hired to sing in a club where a scene between Andy & Gong Li takes place…We had a blast.
My first movie shoot. July 15, 2010
Me starring as myself, “Jess Meider with her Jazz Quartet”
Jazz Quartet – Moreno Donadel (keyboard), Sebastian Meyer (bass), Nico (drums)
There is something extremely cool about watching a scene be filmed WHILE my song is playing in the scene. My composition “Now is the Time” is perfect synchrodestiny. Today I didn’t feel at all imposed upon; as a matter of fact, it was a joyful, humorous, smooth process. The director, Chen Da Ming is a beautiful man. His energy is really relaxed and down to earth. He treats everyone with kindness, and despite probably being really exhausted, he stays positive as they prepare, shoot and prepare again. The crew are great, hardworking, and I can tell, despite the hard long hours, they enjoy their work.
I sit here smiling because of so many small things.
When Gong Li and Andy Lau were in the room, people stay pretty relaxed. Everyone is working. Gong Li is beautiful, but quite into her work, less interested in being social. Her eyes very seldom look into non-friend’s eyes. Andy is very friendly with his eyes. As I am on the stage and looking down upon him and her, we just locked eyes many times. The first time Gong Li looked up at me, I almost had a heart attack, it felt so hard and strong. She has very strong qi, and it was very focused. I wasn’t ready and I almost lost my self for a minute. Just kinda disrupted my focus for a second. Interesting.
The scene, as I was saying, features us performing “Now is the Time” with close ups and camera pans across our fingers playing. We are definitely in the scene in a very big way. We are the scene. Even the extras that were posing as jazz-thrilled drinking audience in a dark tiny club were enjoying.
I must mention one extra in particular, who had a suit on too small around his waist. He had the pants unbuttoned but zipped and was propped into an egg shaped chair with his head back and mouth open in a full blown China-man-napping face. (we were waiting for the lighting to be adjusted) Ha ha. Classic. They woke him up for the actual shooting. :)
Very seldom do I feel intimidated by famous people. In fact, because I feel quite well-known in my small town of Beijing, I am quite relaxed and just wanna sit and talk like normal folks do. There is nothing different between a famous person and I – except experience in the biz, and their Gucci sunglasses cost 5000rmb and mine 40. Ha. I am not boasting by any means. I just mean I am comfortable and don’t have that mental distance that most people impose between themselves and a mingxing明星 (famous person). I think it has to do with “qifen气氛“ which means “energetic vibration.”
Everyone on the crew, by the time we finished the shooting, was in such a good mood. Seriously. I think it has to do with my music. Now is the Time, a song from my jazz album, Dao道 was playing literally, all day, as they had to shoot the scene over and over with different camera and lighting angles. This song sings the words “now is the time to know that everything you do is sacred; now is the time to let your heart release” – the first few words are from a Hafiz (sufi poet) poem entitled “Now is the Time.” I believe that after exposure to my music, people feel lighter, higher, better. A friend of mine told me that when she is feeling really bad, she puts my music on to comfort her. I hear feedback like this all the time.
Not only did we finish the scenes in record time, but Da Ming wanted to do another scene with us. Unfortunately we were not told about this, and none of us brought extra clothes…awww! If I had known, I would have brought my beautiful dark blue velvet low back dress I purchased last year in Bloomingdales. Damn. Everyone really complimented our performances, and we all exchanged numbers and emails so that we could work together again.
I can’t write too much more about the movie, because of contractual stuff, but I’d like to mention that the movie is coming out in the new year, probably around Valentine’s Day. I am looking forward to the blockbuster premiere…red carpets, flashing cameras, and more adventures.
Heading to the US very soon…stay in touch! Love & Light & Movie Stars…Jess
