As soon as the filming of "The Opium War" started, it quickly entered the fast lane.
After all, it is a main theme movie, and the superiors are keeping a close eye on it, so there is no room for delay.
The special effects studio here in Chedun is operating at full capacity, and the speed in Hengdian is also very fast.
"Mr. Xiao, I have long admired your name."
On the high hillside, the view is wide and the man's mind is infinitely broad.
"Mr. Xu, I have admired you for a long time."
Standing next to Xu Minrong, Xiao Qian couldn't help but observe this legendary figure.
Mentioning Hengdian Film and Television City will make people think of Xu Minrong. But in fact, those who know it know that Hengdian Film and Television City is only a part of the entire Hengdian Group's business.
"I have watched several of Mr. Xiao's works. At present, China can produce film and television dramas to this extent. It can be said that Mr. Xiao is unique. This time we cooperate, who knows, I will also be able to leave a name in history.
"
Xu Minrong is very funny and not serious.
"It's agreed that when the movie is released, I will give Mr. Xu a special thank you."
Xu Minrong's face immediately glowed red.
"Oh, thank you very much, Mr. Xiao."
This is a national-level project, and how many big shots are paying attention to it. If his name, Xu Minrong, really appears on it, it will definitely be a great achievement.
"Look, Mr. Xiao, the Qing Imperial Palace here is almost complete. Guangzhou Street over there will be completed in the next year, and it will definitely not delay your shooting progress."
It was Xiao Qian's first time coming to Hengdian, and naturally it was also his first time seeing the progress of the filming location.
After reading it, I couldn't help but frown and give my own opinion.
"Mr. Xu, the scenery on the Qing Palace side can be temporarily stopped. I suggest that the construction speed on Guangzhou Street be increased. That side is more important."
Xu Minrong was quite surprised.
"Director Xie said that the scenes in the palace are very important, is that okay?"
Xie Qi smiled bitterly, but firmly.
"We revised the script and reduced the roles of Emperor Daoguang and Qing officials, so the plot here in the palace is not so important."
"That...this..."
Xu Minrong was a little unhappy.
In order to build the scenery of the Qing Imperial Palace, the Hengdian Group invested a lot of money. Now that it is idle, how should this investment be calculated?
Of course Xiao Qian couldn't let him suffer.
"The palace is not useless, and it will be of great use in the future. Mr. Xu may not know that our Starlight Film and Television will film a drama about Emperor Qianlong after "The Legend of Xiangshuai", and you will also use it at that time
Venue. Moreover, there will be endless Qing Palace operas and Qing Dynasty operas in the future, so there is no need to worry about the use of the venue."
After he said this, Xu Minrong was finally satisfied.
"The most important scene for us now is the Humen Fort in Taizhou. Please forgive me, Mr. Xu, for worrying about it."
In the new version of "The Opium War", the war scenes are very important. The Battle of Humen is an extremely important scene and cannot be missed.
"The construction progress there is faster and it will be put into use by the end of this month. I have to say, Mr. Xiao's people are really awesome."
Although the Hengdian Group was responsible for the construction of the Humen Fort set on the Taizhou coast, the overall planning and design was handled by the logistics team of Starlight Film and Television.
The filming content at Hengdian Film and Television City mainly includes most of the literary dramas and the final battle of Guangzhou.
However, until the city gates and walls are repaired, they must make way for the Humen Naval Battle.
Xiao Qian handed over the shooting content of the literary opera to Xie Qi and rushed to Taizhou with Ning Han.
Although various industries in Zhejiang Province were in full swing in the 1990s, the construction of infrastructure had not kept pace. The autumn rains continued and the roads were muddy.
When the group of people arrived in Taizhou, they were all in a panic.
"Hey, what do you think I'm trying to do? I'm so good at being my producer honestly. Why do I have to follow you to the scene?"
Ning Han took a hot bath and finally felt better.
"There's nothing we can do about it. Our Mr. Xiao has too many ideas. But don't say it, just shoot according to your ideas. I feel like we are going to make a landmark movie."
Don't look at it. Ning Han has only made one movie so far, and it hasn't been released yet. But this guy is not an ordinary maniac, he often points fingers at domestic directors.
There were only a few domestic directors who had not been scolded by him. Xiao Qian was surprised when he praised them.
“Whether it’s feasible or not depends on Peter’s ability.”
The Humen Fort in Taizhou was built on the spot by the logistics team at a 1:1 ratio based on historical data. It is located right on the seaside, attracting locals who came to watch it.
I heard that it was used for filming movies, and many people were surprised.
After seeing the spectacular sail warships in the bay, it even attracted boat fans from all over the country.
"According to the plan, we built a total of seven warships. Three of them were completely imitated according to the third-class battleships. This one is the Wellesley, this one is the Melville, and that ship over there is the Bolan
The "Han" is all in real-life proportions and can sail autonomously."
Walking on the sailing wooden boat, Xiao Qian also felt excited.
This was the capital of the empire that never set when the sun never set across the ocean. In the past, I had only seen it in history books. I never thought that one day I would be able to experience that magnificence in person.
"Hey, our country's navy is still not good enough. No matter how hard we try to develop it, and if we concentrate all our efforts after more than 20 years, we can only destroy six British destroyers."
Standing on the deck, looking at the sea and sky, Xiao Qian shook her head and sighed.
The group of people around them all looked sad and angry, as if they were recalling that humiliating history.
They... had no idea what Xiao Qian was talking about.
Several people went down from the deck and came to the gun cabin.
Artillery has been set up here, and it's a real artillery piece.
Of course, with more than 70 artillery positions, it is impossible to place more than 70 real artillery pieces.
The cost was too huge, the crew simply couldn't afford it, and it was unnecessary.
In fact, only one such front-rifled smoothbore cannon was built, and the rest were placed in models.
This time, for the filming of the movie, a few of the weapons used by China and Britain at that time were made in real form, and most of them were faked as models.
Xiao Qian would certainly be of great use in making such physical weapons.
Three days later, Peter Jackson and others also arrived in Taizhou after a long journey.
"Peter, I want a cannonball tracking shot. Can your special effects do it?"
Jackson was very interested in film technology and asked hurriedly: "Can you tell me specifically what it is like?"
Xiao Qian led everyone behind the cannon.
"Everyone knows that after a cannonball is ejected from the chamber, it will fly in the air for a period of time before hitting the target. Most of the ammunition used at that time was solid cannonballs. So I wondered if I could create a picture of the cannonballs rolling and flying in the air.
What is the final effect of the artillery shell hitting the target?”
What Xiao Qian said is not unusual at all in later movies. Even now, there are many people who understand it.
"Then we need to use bullet time technology."
Jackson gave the direction of technical solutions.
"Bullet time" became famous because of the 1999 movie "The Matrix", but in fact, the emergence of this concept even preceded the emergence of movie theaters.
Eadweard Muybridge used a camera placed on a track to take pictures of galloping horses.
Each camera is controlled by a rope stretched across the track. The camera shutter is triggered when the horse runs across the track.
The original purpose was to resolve a debate brought up by the governor of California: whether all four legs of an animal could be lifted off the ground at the same time.
He later combined these photos into a primitive animation by placing them on a glass plate that rotated in front of a light source.
His animal dioramas may have provided Thomas Edison with the inspiration to study and invent motion pictures.
Of course, in this era, film special effects technology is relatively mature.
"We can set up a high-speed camera behind the artillery to record the picture of the cannon being ejected from the chamber. Then use computer special effects to extend the picture of the flying cannon to form a continuous picture. I think if this effect is really shot, it will definitely be
very nice."
While talking, Jackson also admired Xiao Qian's ideas.
Xiao Qian's idea is not technically difficult at all. With the current technical level, it is completely achievable.
The only difference is that no one in the current film industry thinks so.
In the field of art, ideas are obviously more important.
Jackson can't wait to see how amazing this video will be once it's produced.
"Well, we will start setting up the cableway and arranging the cameras tomorrow."
Jackson's words gave Xiao Qian great confidence.
Looking at the vast sea in front of him, Xiao Qian was already imagining how the entire movie would shock the Chinese audience of this era after it was shot.
