The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift's Risky Job Creation
When Justin Lin's 'The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift' hit theaters in 2006, it seemed like the series was on its last legs. The first two installments, starring Vin Diesel and Paul Walker, had been massive hits, but the actors were unavailable for another outing. Enter Lucas Black as the new lead, Sean, and the introduction of pop star Bow Wow and Han (Sung Kang), a character from Lin's previous film 'Better Luck Tomorrow'. The action shifted to Tokyo, a densely packed city, making street races more challenging to arrange.
Lin had to quickly adapt to the unique filming environment in Tokyo. He discovered that the city is not particularly filmmaker-friendly, as it doesn't issue filming permits. In a 2009 Digital Spy article, Lin revealed a surprising detail: some Japanese productions have a special 'assistant' to take the fall if the police shut down rogue productions. Unbeknownst to Lin, he had a legitimate 'director's decoy' on set! During filming in Shibuya, a crowded area, the police politely took ten minutes to arrive and kick out the crew. Lin was unaware that his 'body double' would be arrested in his place. This mysterious person, who Lin initially thought was his stand-in, was actually there to take the fall for the director. Lin was grateful, as the man went to jail for the night, allowing the production to continue.
This unique situation highlights the challenges and risks filmmakers face in certain locations. Despite the obstacles, 'Tokyo Drift' revitalized the franchise, proving that sometimes, a risky job is worth the effort.
