For Immediate Release August 8, 2020 Cleveland, OH - As the world slowly begins to reopen, businesses have had to adapt to insure that they follow State and CDC recommendations for a safe environment. For independent filmmaking, this process is untested and difficult to implement. Filmmaker Johnny Wu and his team have devised a creative way to incorporate masks into their film production, using them as part of the props for the talent. Wu's is currently in preproduction of his new action sci-fi film Wu Li The Society. The plan is for this feature film to be in production filming all over Ohio on weekends from late September to December, 2020. The film will include the typical safety preparations that States and CDC mandate. The creative twist is that the actors will be wearing masks in front of the camera as part of the storyline. "We tried to find a way to make sure we can move forward and film while the actors can continue to be safe" said Director Johnny K. Wu, locally known award winning filmmaker. Wu is also a civic leader, co-founder of The Cleveland Asian Festival and producer of many large events in Cleveland. "We thought why not have our feature action film story take place during the year 2050 when radiation, pollution and viruses are rampant in the world and masks are required for people to breathe…" Wu's previous feature, Wu Xia 2 The Code is currently being distributed worldwide by High Octane Pictures, rebranded as Immortal Combat The Code. The Code is also a sci-fi action feature where people need a bio-communicator embedded into their wrist to be able to breathe or communicate with each other. The film will be available to purchase starting September 1st in the United States. Johnny and his team had been planning for Wu Lin The Society since January of this year, but then Covid-19 hit. This led to a change in the movie story. He and his team decided to explore the possibility of having actors wearing masks in front of the camera. "It would be something new and challenging for the actors, not only they have to be able to act and perform, but they need to be able to express their emotions while wearing a mask and through their eyes…" Wu said. "For the fight sequences, we will still have rehearsals and practices, but now we are using web conference first and then perhaps 1 or 2 in person meetings with masks used. And on set, every day we will continue to follow the rules set forth by our State and CDC, like routine temperature check, social distancing when not in front of camera, avoid touching others people's equipment, constantly hand sanitizing and equipment sanitizing, etc. We created a 5 page long safety guidelines that all cast and crew need to read and agreed upon before joining this production and a daily surveys for contact tracing." Wu and his team found a way to utilize masks for their film. Wu says, "For our film Wu Lin The Society, we will have actors wearing different masks based on their roles, some masks you can see their mouth, others with a visor protection and then there are those face shields and others. I think we are the first low-to-no-budget independent film that will embrace wearing masks and having it throughout the entire film as part of the props, and we will be able to do it following safety guidelines while being able to perform." The feature film currently is running a crowdfunding campaign to help raise support to help with expenses such as food for cast/crew during production, props, heating supplies (as they will be filming in cold weather), and others. For more information about their crowdfunding endeavor, visit https://igg.me/at/supportwulin For more information about Wu Lin The Society feature film, join their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/wulinthemovie or their Instagram at https://instagram.com/wulinthemovie Contact Johnny Wu Office: 216.539.4634 johnny@mdifilm.com ### -- ------------- Johnny Wu O: 216.539.4634 Produce - Create - Deliver www.mdifilm.com [1] youtube.com/mdifilm inducted into The International Indie Filmmakers Hall of Fame for Outstanding Achievements in Film Editing Producer (2015-2020) 75th Cleveland Cultural Gardens' One World Day August 30, 2020, 11am - 6pm www.clevelandculturalgardens.org [2] Co-Founder Cleveland Asian Festival May 22-23, 2021 www.ClevelandAsianFestival.org VP of Communications OCA-Cleveland Chapter "Embracing the Hopes and Aspirations of Asian Pacific Americans" OCA Image TV- reaching over 200 million viewers each month OCA AsiaTown Voice Radio - Sundays 7pm at 88.7FM or listen online at www.ocagc.org/imagetv OCA Interactive Kiosk - Interactive Tablet at several AsiaTown locations to promote AsiaTown. www.ocagc.org Administrator Cleveland IndieClub www.FaceBook.com/groups/ClevelandIndieclub WKYC TV3 Community Advisory Board City of Cleveland Community Affairs Board St. Clair Superior Development Board Member 2013 Minority Business Entrepreneurs Award Recipient Inducted into International Karate and Kickboxing Hall of Fame Inducted into World Head of Family Sokeship Council 2014 Legendary Master of the World Head of Family Sokeship Council Links: ------ [1] http://www.mdifilm.com [2] http://www.clevelandculturalgardens.org