Leaping over a speeding car required precise timing. The car couldn't be too slow or too fast; if it was too slow, Dong might land on the car's roof, and if it was too fast, he could collide with it before taking off. Either way, it was dangerous.
Kobe Bryant had shot a similar video before, but he had jumped from a stationary position, and the shot was filmed with camera angles that made it appear as if he was leaping over the car.
Dong's idea was to run towards the car as it sped towards him, timing his jump perfectly. If this commercial was successful, it would be one of the most impressive commercials ever.
The two had differing opinions.
Zhang Yang lit a cigarette and addressed the group, "Dong, your idea is theoretically feasible. With your leaping ability, jumping over a speeding car shouldn't be a problem.
However, in practice, it's not possible because it has to be done in one take, without any room for mistakes. If we fail, we'll be visiting you in the hospital with a basket of fruit."
"Haha..."
Everyone laughed, as Zhang Yang's words made perfect sense.
"Dong, listen to Director Zhang. It's not worth taking this risk," Curry advised.
"Hmm..."
Dong fell silent, not out of stubbornness. He had an ace up his sleeve: the 'recovery potion.' The thought of leaping over a speeding car sent his adrenaline surging.
What man didn't have a childhood dream of flying through the air?
As a child, Dong had often fantasized about leaping over cars after watching martial arts movies. This was his chance to fulfill that childhood dream.
"Let's just do it Dong's way," someone suggested.
Seeing the determination in Dong's eyes, Zhang Yang stubbed out his cigarette and said, "But we must rehearse a few times before the actual shoot. During the rehearsal, Dong can run parallel to the car, and once the timing is right, we can start the official shoot."
"Director Zhang..."
"Director Zhang..."
"Director Zhang..."
Several people voiced their concerns as Zhang Yang suddenly agreed with Dong's idea. Erik Spoelstra and the others were worried about the Suns' star player.
If Dong were to get injured during the shoot, it wouldn't just upset the fans; it would be devastating.
"Old Ge, you drive. I don't trust anyone else," Zhang Yang said, turning to Ge Qian.
Ge Qian, a former special forces soldier, was an expert driver.
"Alright, everyone get ready!"
Zhang Yang picked up the walkie-talkie, "Clear the set, we're about to start shooting."
The shoot took place in a stadium, and even though it was just a rehearsal, Spoelstra and the others were nervous, their palms sweating.
"Action!"
Zhang Yang's command echoed.
The roar of the engine filled the air as Dong crouched like a leopard, ready to pounce.
"Vroom..."
Ge Qian drove the car straight towards Dong.
"Ahhhh!"
Dong sprinted towards the approaching car and let out a yell.
"Whoosh!"
At the point where the car and Dong were about to collide, Dong leaped into the air, and the car sped past. Dong landed safely.
"Cut! Stop!"
Zhang Yang shouted, and the scene was replayed on the screen.
Everyone rushed over to see the replay.
"Perfect!"
After watching the footage, Zhang Yang exclaimed, "I think we don't need to shoot anymore. This take is already perfect!"
Although it was just a rehearsal, the cameras and setup were the same as the actual shoot. From the footage, it looked like Dong had genuinely leaped over the car, and there was no indication that he and the car were on the same line.
"Too perfect!"
"Incredible!"
"I don't think we'll get a better shot than this!"
Spoelstra and the others couldn't stop marveling, urging Dong, "Dong, this one take is enough. I don't think we need to reshoot."
"Dudley is right," Zhang Yang agreed. "This shot is already perfect. You don't need to actually jump over the car."
"I just wanted to experience the feeling of jumping over a car," Dong smiled.
"Alright then..."
Zhang Yang began to replay the footage frame by frame, especially the moment Dong took off. He needed to confirm that there was no overlap between Dong and the car.
If Dong and the car were on the same line, even the slightest overlap could result in a collision, and the outcome would be Dong getting hit, not the car getting damaged.
"Is it safe?"
Spoelstra asked anxiously.
"Hmm..."
Zhang Yang watched the footage twice before responding, "Dong jumped high enough, and although they were on the same line, Dong maintained a distance of more than 30 centimeters from the car."
"In that case, let's start the official shoot while I still have the feel of it," Dong said.
"Old Ge, are you ready?"
Zhang Yang turned to Ge Qian. Dong was right; he still remembered the timing, and starting with the successful rehearsal would increase their chances of success.
"I'm ready. I remember the speed at every second," Ge Qian assured them.
"Alright, everyone get ready!"
"We're moving into the official shoot!"
This time, Dong and the car were on the same line, and Spoelstra's palms and forehead were drenched in sweat. He held onto Curry and Dudley, worried not for Dong but for his own heart, which was racing with anxiety.
"Vroom!!! Ahhhh!"
Dong and the car charged towards each other.
Dong's eyes turned red, and the excitement was more thrilling than winning the championship. As a child, he had always shown exceptional athletic talent among his peers.
He had always dreamed of leaping over a car, and now that dream was about to come true.
"Ahhhh!"
When Dong and the car were just six meters apart, he took a giant leap, and everyone on set let out a collective gasp.
The car's speed wasn't that fast, but the six-meter distance meant it took less than a second to cover, creating an intense visual impact that made it seem like the car was rushing past instantly.
"Screech!"
Ge Qian slammed on the brakes.
Dong landed safely.
"Wow!!! Amazing!"
Everyone on set rushed towards Dong, as this was an incredibly thrilling moment. Dong had truly leaped over a speeding car.
"Awesome!"
Zhang Yang gave Dong a thumbs up.
Ge Qian walked over and asked, "Could you do that?"
"I'm not Superman!"
Zhang Yang shook his head, "Leaping over a speeding car is something even I would find challenging."
The shot was done in one take!
The commercial shoot was a huge success, and a week later, it was promoted on Huaxia Sports Channel and MaiSui Video, becoming one of the most iconic commercials in history.