Guo Fan looked at Li Qian with a confused look on his face. Isn't it because he doesn't want to film "The Three-Body Problem" anymore and plans to film "The Wandering Earth" first? Are you so excited?
"Nothing, just thinking of something happy."
Li Qian smiled and calmed down.
I really didn’t expect that Guo Fan, who graduated in law, is good at painting, and has been clamoring all day long to make an epic Chinese science fiction blockbuster, might actually be the director of "The Wandering Earth".
However, James Cameron was a truck driver before he made movies, and Zhang Yimou was a cotton mill worker before he entered film school.
There are many examples of this across the world. The famous Japanese director Takeshi Kitano was a cross talk actor before, and the Japanese film master Koji Wakamatsu was a young and Dangerous boy before he made movies, and he specialized in collecting protection money.
It is not surprising that Guo Fan, who majored in law and was good at painting, would make epoch-making science fiction films in the future.
Li Qian had no time to edit, so he moved his chair and asked Guo Fan, "Lao Guo, how do you plan to shoot?"
"I haven't thought about it yet." Guo Fan scratched his crew cut, "Although the original work is not long, if it is moved to the big screen, it will definitely not be able to be filmed in its entirety. The length will definitely not be enough."
"Indeed." Li Qian nodded, "It's more than 20,000 words. The whole plot is divided into four chapters and five stages. If we film according to the plot direction, let alone one, even if we can't film two, even if it is filmed,
It’s also a running account.”
Long stories are difficult to edit, and short films may seem sparse, but they are actually not easy to edit either.
"The Wandering Earth" doesn't have many words, but it contains a lot of content.
The overall plot is that humans will use planetary engines to force the earth to stop rotating. The earth has lost hundreds of millions of people, but the earth also has the conditions to separate from the sun.
Then, the engines existing on the earth are accelerated to full speed, thereby pushing the earth out of the solar system. After searching for habitable galaxies, the speed is slowed down, the earth returns to normal rotation, and mankind finds a new home.
In the end, the earth regained its vitality and human civilization continued.
There are just so many Braille words in the book, and it is more like the outline of a huge novel than a novel. It would be a huge project to realize these scenes and put them on the big screen.
Guo Fan said enthusiastically, "Actually, there are mainly two stages. The previous braking era and the escape era together, and the wandering era after escaping from the earth, the new solar era. If you want to shoot, you must start from the front."
"It can only be like this, but since the film is called "The Wandering Earth", the core of the adaptation must revolve around these four words. I suggest using the Wandering Earth as the theme."
Li Qian gave a suggestion, "In the braking era, the overall conflict is not as good as in the escape era, and according to the three-act structure, this stage can only be the first stage, but in this case, the previous stage will be too tragic. After all, hundreds of millions
The population was sacrificed, and I suggested that this section could be used as the background of a movie, mainly about the era of escape."
The first difficulty in the adaptation was the choice of plot, so Li Qian asked Guo Fan to avoid some detours.
Moreover, this is also the most appropriate. In the context of the end of the world, humans are forced to take the earth to escape from the solar system. Compared with the first stage, it is more interesting.
When Guo Fan thought about it, his eyes lit up, "'The Wandering Earth' will of course tell the story of the wandering earth. If we film the first stage, it will become a doomsday disaster movie."
Li Qian and Guo Fan talked about some plot matters, and then raised the biggest problem.
"But Lao Guo, have you ever thought about how much you know about science fiction movies?"
Guo Fan smiled quite proudly and said, "Boss, have you forgotten? I am a long-time science fiction fan. I have been watching science fiction and movies since I was a child."
Li Qian shook his head, "Everyone can watch movies. What I'm asking is, how to shoot?"
How to shoot?
Of course, the special effects are the most important first, and everyone knows this.
But how to do special effects?
Shoot it in front of a green screen and then send it to the special effects company?
wrong!
Guo Fan was stunned. He really knew a lot about science fiction movies. He had seen all the famous science fiction movies.
However, as a director, I know very little from a production perspective.
Li Qian said, "Real science fiction movies, especially "The Wandering Earth", require resetting every background and requiring special effects. They are the most difficult to shoot, especially for domestic production.
The level of difficulty and tediousness far exceeds that of any domestic movie."
"I understand, I don't know much about special effects yet," Guo Fanda said.
"Not only do you not understand, most directors in China know nothing about it. Nowadays, domestic film special effects are packaged and priced. No matter who you hire, there will be 50 cent special effects 100% of the time. If you want to shoot well, you must learn the Hollywood process.
There is a blank in this area in China." Li Qiandao
"So boss, what is the process in Hollywood?"
Li Qian shook his head, "I don't know much about the specifics. As far as special effects are concerned, the special effects company must be fully involved in the movie. You have to first produce the storyboard script, storyboard, and then concept drawings, and let the special effects company design the script according to each aspect."
One shot, each concept drawing, to give a rough quote.
Usually even if every shot is accurate, the price quoted by the special effects company only accounts for 80% of the special effects budget, and the remaining 20% is the mobile budget."
"Accurate to every shot?" Guo Fan secretly clicked his tongue.
"Of course, pre-production is more important than shooting and post-production. If there is insufficient preparation, it will be a disaster."
For special effects, in China, special effects companies are usually given a package price.
For example, the special effects cost of my film is 100 million, and you can do whatever you want for me.
But if you want to make a high-quality product, you need to be precise about the cost of each shot.
Two or three seconds for this shot may cost hundreds of thousands or even tens of thousands. Another shot of the same two or three seconds may cost millions. You need to be precise about every shot, not your thousands of shots and others.
Give you a general quote.
Only by being precise in every procedure can we ensure that there are no problems with the special effects.
But in China, most directors are actually more of a improvised type. They will storyboard on the spot and the director will slap his forehead and say what you want to do.
This is not a big problem for other departments, but it is a disaster for the special effects department.
Storyboard scripts, storyboards, concept drawings, and technical plans must be determined first. The more changes are made later, the more time and money will be wasted.
The kind that are all packaged for Weta Digital and Industrial Light & Magic, don't expect to make high-quality products, no matter how awesome the special effects company is.
Although many special effects shots for Hollywood blockbusters are packaged by domestic special effects companies, that is not a concept. Domestic special effects companies only make the pictures, that is, changing the sky and changing the background. This is called MMP in the industry.
No, it’s MP, that is, digital splicing, which serves the picture. No matter how gorgeous the picture is, it’s easy to make, almost like a foundry.
In terms of special effects, Li Qian only knew a little bit about it. He went to "Pacific Rim" just to learn about it, but people didn't welcome it, so he let it go.
He told Guo Fan everything he knew and understood.
After listening to Li Qian's long-winded talk, Guo Fan was a little confused, but he nodded repeatedly, as if that's it, I understand.
"Boss!"
Guo Fan suddenly said with a serious face, "I plan to go to Hollywood to study for two years. I must make a masterpiece for "The Wandering Earth". Two years of study, two years of film preparation, one year of filming, and one year of post-production. I
I risked my life and spent six years to make this movie."
"Ambitious!"
Li Qian gave him a thumbs up and said with a smile, "This is easy to handle. I'll contact Warner to help you arrange it. Whether you go to school or directly go to a large production crew to observe and learn, it's no problem. Just go and stay for a couple of days."
Years, learn about Hollywood’s advanced industrial system.”
"Ah, this..." Guo Fan opened his mouth. He just said his bold words casually, but he hadn't thought about it yet.
However, facing Li Qian's gaze, Guo Fan didn't give in. He was so determined that he risked his life.
"Then I'll apply for a visa tomorrow, pack up and go to Milijian!"
"Go ahead and do it boldly. I'll give you whatever you want." Li Qian waved his hand.
Guo Fan no longer participated in the editing of "The Truman Show". After two years abroad, he had too much to prepare and left full of ambitions.
...
Li Qian was not in a hurry to work and called Warner's Vice President Thomas.
After explaining the situation, Thomas agreed on the phone.
This little thing is not difficult for Warner.
"Jaws 3" has been released in North America for more than 20 days, and the box office is about to exceed 40 million US dollars. It has also sold 22 million US dollars overseas, and the global box office has reached 62 million.
Moreover, subsequent DVD, TV, and online copyright revenue will also account for the bulk of the revenue.
For the major Hollywood studios, they will open their legs to welcome anyone who can give them agency benefits, no matter who the other party is, let alone such a simple thing.
After expressing his congratulations on the box office and his expectations for subsequent cooperation on the phone, Thomas mentioned another matter.
"By the way, Director Li, since you want to shoot a science fiction blockbuster, are you interested in acquiring a professional special effects company?"
"Special effects company?"
After the economic crisis in 2008, I heard that many well-known special effects companies in Hollywood have closed down. Not to mention making profits, they are still good even if they are not losing money. I don’t know which company Thomas is talking about.
"Digital Domain Group is about to enter bankruptcy and reorganization procedures due to debt. Two months ago, the market value was US$400 million. Now it is only US$24 million. It has hired a new chief restructuring officer, and it is expected that it will be announced soon.
It was auctioned off.”
"That's it. Thank you, Mr. Thomas. I'll think about it." Li Qian thought for a while and made no decision. A special effects company is a big investment. Unless a stable source of income can be found, it will be a waste of money.