"If we hire a foreign company, the production cost will definitely increase." Wu Binghui frowned. The reason why their budget for the "Shattering the Sky" series of movies did not exceed one billion was because the most expensive special effects cost was borne by his own company.
You know, for example, the world's top special effects company, such as Industrial Light and Magic, charges hundreds of thousands of dollars per second for super special effects scenes!
"Let's consult first." Meng Xiaobai said. It is very common for scheduled projects to require additional investment.
Soon, the filming team contacted foreign companies. There were only a few powerful companies, but after comprehensive consideration, they found Weta Digital Studio in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand.
This is a world-leading comprehensive visual effects company, known as the epic legend of the film visual effects empire.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Avatar, Avengers 3 and Avengers 4 are all their representative works.
After hearing about the needs of the Zhetian crew, Weta Digital sent a business team to China to discuss related matters.
"I need a little time to estimate the price of this order." Weta Digital's business representative Joel Joyce was discussing with the crew's prop master Zhu Feiyang.
After detailed communication, Joel gave an estimated customization plan.
"Based on your needs, the entire movie series is estimated to have more than 100,000 props, and the first movie's props should be around 30,000. Of course, many of them can be reused," Joel said.
Meng Xiaobai and others nodded. This number seemed exaggerated, but there was nothing wrong with it. Because in statistics, a finger-sized decoration is also considered a prop. The entire movie series must have required a lot of props.
"Leave it to us to design and manufacture, I think the amount of this order should be 20 million US dollars."
"What, 20 million US dollars? According to the current exchange rate, it's 140 million yuan! So expensive?" Wu Binghui immediately exclaimed when he heard the number he mentioned.
"Mr. Wu, these are 100,000 props!" Joel emphasized, "We need to design and produce every prop, especially some extremely complex props in movies, such as imperial weapons, bronze temples, or legends
For a city in China, it takes a lot of effort just to make a three-dimensional model, let alone a full-scale or miniature model!”
"You have to know that our three-dimensional designers don't understand your so-called fantasy world. It's not easy for them to do these things."
Wu Binghui was speechless. From this perspective, the production of these 100,000 movie props was indeed difficult.
But the cost suddenly increased by 20 million US dollars, which greatly exceeded expectations.
Prop master Zhu Feiyang said: "If we only give you the most difficult props, such as the part on List 3, what is the price?"
Joel looked at it and said, "That's also thirteen million dollars."
"Still so high?" Mo Ziyi frowned.
Joel explained: "Simple props do not cost much, while complex props are extremely expensive to produce. For example, the Iron Man costume we produced for Marvel cost up to 3.25 million US dollars per piece. In List 3, it is similar
There are also many armors and magic weapons."
Everyone was silent. Excluding the special effects, the cost of the props was so high. Of course, the props don’t have to cost so much. If you want to be more perfunctory, you can go directly to a domestic company and you can get it for a few million, but the props made that way are too perfunctory.
, too fake and does not meet their expectations.
"Mr. Joel, please take a rest first. We still need to discuss it in detail." Wu Binghui said.
After arranging Joel, Wu Binghui and others discussed it in detail and reported to Meng Xiaobai.
"Mr. Meng, we now have two plans. One is to not use their props production at all and find a company to do it ourselves. The advantage of this is that it will not exceed the budget, but the quality of the props will definitely decrease." Wu Binghui said.
"The second step is to hand over the important props in the list to them, which is about 8 million US dollars, and outsource the other props to domestic companies."
"Let's do this." Meng Xiaobai ordered, "You wait for a few days and I will think about it."
"Okay then, let's talk to them again." Wu Binghui nodded.
It's not that Meng Xiaobai can't get the money, but he doesn't think it's necessary. A high-end black technology manufacturer actually requires people to even make small models. It's too shameful!
So Meng Xiaobai immediately went back to discuss with his "assistants" to see if they could come up with a solution.
"Master, I can do model design." Xiao Wanzi raised his hand and said, "Design an intelligent software for 3D modeling. These 3D models can be easily made."
"It's just that we don't have a manufacturing workshop, so we can't make it."
"Isn't it easy to make molds?" Tie Ban said, "These are movie props. They don't need any practical functions. Just print them with 3D printing!"
"We also have 3D printing, but we can only use some simple props, and it is difficult to make detailed 3D models." Meng Xiaobai said.
"Then let's make 3 printers first!" Tie Ban said, "Sir, please follow me."
He brought Meng Xiaobai to his laboratory, which he had renovated for nearly a year. There were many things in it that Meng Xiaobai had never seen before, such as robotic arms, modification workshops, etc.
"This is a mold printer that I designed myself." In the modification workshop, Tie Ban pointed at a machine that was half the size of a room.
The machine is fully sealed, with mechanical arms, nozzles, ink cartridges and other structures inside. Once you design a three-dimensional model in the computer connected to the screen, you can print it directly.
"Print an Uncle Optimus Prime." Iron Plate inputted the command, and the inside of the printer immediately started working. In less than three seconds, a mini Optimus Prime was printed. Not only did the structure match exactly, but the exterior painting was also exactly the same.
In his boring time, Tie Plate also tried to modify himself. But the parts he needed were not sold on the market, so he had to design and make them himself.
"Master, as long as you have this thing and my three-dimensional design, the molds you need, not to mention one hundred thousand, can be easily manufactured even one million!" Xiaowanzi said.
"Iron plate, is it okay?" Meng Xiaobai looked at him.
"What Xiaowanzi said is right. As long as I improve it a little, it can print various movie props. I have the design drawings here. Sir, you can also mass-produce it." Tieban turned on the computer in the laboratory and said,
Call up the design drawing information.
"Perfect!" Meng Xiaobai was very satisfied. These three printers not only saved him 20 million US dollars in expenses, but also created more wealth for him.