Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 77 Let the world see your value, what is a quick shooter

Due to the time difference, on the afternoon of December 13, at the Albuquerque International Airport in New Mexico, the sky was clear blue, and the sunny air was filled with the dry and hot atmosphere unique to the desert.

Wu Chen dragged his suitcase out of the terminal and was greeted by the boundless wilderness.

Jason Blum had already rented a black pickup truck and leaned against it, waving and smiling: "Wu, welcome to New Mexico!"

Wu Chen walked over and whispered, "Jason, is this place safe for you?"

"Well, don't worry, it's safe enough." Jason smiled awkwardly, "This is one of the most popular states for independent films in the United States. The tax subsidy is as high as 35%, which can save a lot of money.

We are going to White Sands National Park. I have already selected the filming location and will show it to you tomorrow."

The two got in the pickup truck, which roared towards the gathering place. Wind and sand blew up along the way, and the cacti on the roadside stood proudly and lonely, like the silent guardians of this land.

That night, at a Mexican restaurant in Albuquerque, colorful skull paintings hung on the walls and the air was filled with the aroma of chili peppers and barbecue.

Wu Chen, Jason, and Christian Bale sat around a table with tacos and margaritas.

Bale, wearing a black jacket and with deep eyes, whispered, "Wu, I saw your movie 'The Dark Side' in Sitges. It was great!"

"Thank you!" Wu Chen and Bell clinked their glasses. "I also saw your film 'The Mechanic'. You worked really hard, unlike most actors."

When chatting, you have to target the problem and touch upon the key points of others, so that both parties will have an inexplicable sense of intimacy.

Just like Wu Chen's evaluation of Christian Bale, he did not comment on his acting skills, but focused on the fact that he is different from most actors, which is a kind of affirmation;
Moreover, in "The Machinist", Christian Bale lost a lot of weight for this movie and became extremely skinny.

The acting here is not particularly worthy of praise, but it is not good to be too exaggerated. Wu Chen's approach is just right.

Bell chuckled when he heard this, "Honestly, Wu, your script is crazy."

Bell paused and continued, "But it suits me."

"Well, when I saw The Mechanic in Sitges, I knew you'd like it."

They both clinked their glasses and drank it all in one gulp.

Wu Chen took a look and stood up:

"It's getting late, go to bed early. I have to scout the location tomorrow and start filming the day after tomorrow. I hope you can be hardened and bury yourself in it."

"Of course!"

The next day, Jason took Wu Chen to the main shooting location, White Sands National Park.

What meets the eye is endless white sand, with rolling sand dunes and ripples left by the wind.

There are no trees to block the view, no human voices to shout about, only the whistling wind and the scorching sun. It is as desolate as another world.

Wu Chen got out of the car, stepped on the sand, and a look of satisfaction flashed in his eyes. Whether it was the movie version of "Buried Alive" or the real-life version of "Buried Alive", this would be an excellent venue.

On the morning of December 15th, the filming of "Buried" began in White Sands National Park.

It was just dawn, the sand dunes glowed cold white in the morning light, and the seven-person crew was working intensively:
Directed by Wu Chen, starring Bale, the photographer was fiddling with the Panasonic AG-DVX100, the lighting engineer was adjusting the cold light, the sound engineer was setting up the microphone, and the prop master and producer Jason were busy fiddling with the coffin.

A two-meter-long and one-meter-wide wooden box with a rough inner wall painted with dark red paint, exuding a suffocating feeling.

The wind blew sand, and the sand hit the surface of the box, making a low rustling sound.

Wu Chen opened his notebook, pointed at the sketch and explained the scene to Bell:
“The coffin shots are all up to you. The space is narrow, and in the first segment you need a flashlight to illuminate the surroundings, dial the phone, feel the walls, etc.

The camera will be fixed on your chest or above your head, making the audience feel as if they are in the coffin and feel the same suffocation as you do."

Bell nodded.

The story of "Buried Alive" is actually very simple.

The protagonist Paul is an American truck driver working in Iraq. He was attacked while on duty and found himself buried alive in a wooden coffin when he woke up. He only had:
A Zippo lighter, a working cell phone (with signal but limited battery), a pocket knife, a glow stick, and a small amount of oxygen in the coffin.

He tried to contact the US government, his family, and his employer for help, but the reality was cruel:

The FBI and military evaded responsibility and were unable to provide substantive assistance;
The kidnappers threatened him with death if he didn't pay a $500 million ransom;
The employer was indifferent and dismissed him directly to avoid liability for compensation.
And so, the first act of "Buried Alive" begins, the camera is pitch black and silent.

Then suddenly there were several knocks on the door.
At the same time, the crew of The Return of the Condor Heroes had just finished filming in Jiuzhaigou, and a small celebration banquet was held under the night sky.

Liu Yifei was wearing a down jacket, holding a mobile phone in her hand, her eyelashes were curved like a small fan, and under her straight nose was a pair of pink lips with clear lip lines, but at this moment there seemed to be a hint of happiness at the corners of her mouth.

The round jaw is as white as jade, and the graceful lines extend all the way to the collar of the down jacket.

"Xixi, whose message are you replying to, Wu Chen's?" Liu Xiaoli asked softly. Zhang Jizong, Yu Min and Huang Xiaoming who were sitting at the same table also looked over.

Liu Yifei smiled and said, "Well, my junior brother said he started filming in New Mexico today."

"New Mexico, wow, Lao Yu, how big is the time difference from here?" Zhang Jizong asked with a chuckle.

Yu Min shook his head. Huang Xiaoming thought for a moment and said, "It should be at least ten hours. It should be morning now."

"No wonder, Director Wu must be very busy. The filming period for a movie may not be as long as our TV series, but it will take at least two months."

Everyone laughed happily. They were deeply impressed by Wu Chen, not only because of the last visit he made to the set, but also because of the frequent reports about him recently.

He is the first director in China to earn 20 million box office at the age of 21, and now he is directing movies in Hollywood. How could people in the industry not know him?

A week passed quickly, and "A World Without Thieves" began to be frequently pirated as early as the seventh day. Although Huayi offered a reward of one million and indicated that there would be rewards for reporting piracy, it still could not withstand the current situation.

Fortunately, the box office exceeded 90 million on the ninth day, but it was destined to suffer heavy losses due to the subsequent spread of pirated copies, but there is little suspense about breaking 100 million.
During this period, the Golden Globe Award nominations, known as the bellwether of the Oscars, were released, and "House of Flying Daggers" lived up to expectations and was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film.

For a time, the industry was eagerly waiting to see whether Zhang Yimou could win the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film with "House of Flying Daggers".

At this time, the crew of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" had already arrived at the Yandang Mountain Scenic Area. Liu Yifei looked at the message on her mobile phone, and a trace of confusion flashed in her eyes.

In the previous sentence, she asked, "Junior brother, how was the filming? Did it go smoothly?"

After several hours, Wu Chen came back.

“It’s going very smoothly, and the progress is almost halfway through.”

"???"

Liu Yifei was counting on her fingers, wondering if she had miscalculated the time. Huang Xiaoming, who was standing beside her, came over curiously.

"Iffy, what's going on? What's the big deal?"

Liu Yifei blinked and asked, "Brother Xiao Ming, how long does it usually take to shoot a movie?"

"what."

Huang Xiaoming was stunned for a moment. This was a very basic question, but he still responded:

“For a director who is usually fast, if the plot is simple, it might take more than a month, but it’s relatively short.

Most of the filming is completed within two or three months. Of course, sometimes it takes half a year or a year, but it is not common. It may be due to the actors' schedules, or the production is too large and there are too many scenes.

By the way, why do you suddenly ask this question? "

Liu Yifei said softly, "Junior brother said he's almost halfway through."

Huang Xiaoming was startled, his eyes widened:

"what?"

In White Sands National Park, the sun is scorching, but the temperature is still below 15°C and the air is so dry that it makes your lips tight, which is perfect for photography.

Wu Chen leaned over and lay on the sand to play with Bell:
"When you receive a call and realize you've been abandoned, your emotions are torn apart. First you become silent, then you despair." Bell nodded and closed his eyes to think.

In the small coffin, only a worn-out lighter dimly illuminated Christian Bale's face.

His lips had turned pale, his face was covered with cold sweat, his eyes were wandering, and he took out his cell phone with trembling hands. The screen lit up dimly, and the reflection was reflected in his wide pupils.

"Answer it. Answer it quickly." He murmured hoarsely, his fingers almost slipping off the phone due to nervousness.

The call was connected. A glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes, and his voice was hoarse and rapid:

"I'm Paul Conroy! I'm buried alive! Do you hear me? I'm buried alive!"

The camera locked onto his face, his eyes repeatedly torn between hope and despair. The response from the other end of the phone was unclear, his emotions gradually collapsing, his voice going from low to hysterical:
"Please! Help me!"

Director Wu Chen stared at the monitor, clenched his fists, then released them and clapped, "Click, perfect!"

"Take a 20-minute break!"

Bale is the only actor in the whole show, and he is buried alive in a coffin the entire time. Every performance requires a lot of energy, so he needs to have enough rest time, otherwise Bale may not be able to hold on.

"Huh!" Bell breathed a sigh of relief, propped himself up, and climbed out with the help of several people. Then he asked, "Jason, based on the progress, how long will it take us?"

"Based on the speed Wu and your duo are shooting, it will take at most eight days."

Jason looked at the two of them with a strange expression, "You could probably finish filming a movie in 15 days."

"Wow!" Wu Chen high-fived Bell in unison, "Bell, this is all thanks to you!"

"No, you explain the play so clearly and are so good at creating the atmosphere, otherwise I wouldn't be able to get into the role so quickly." Bell and Wu Chen immediately praised each other.

Wu Chen smiled, thought about it, and asked:

"Based on this progress, Jason, when is the deadline for film submission in Berlin this year? Will there be enough time for post-production?"

Upon hearing this, Bell immediately turned his head and looked over with a somewhat fiery gaze.

He is well aware of the film's potential, and he is the only protagonist. Berlin happens to be quite enthusiastic about this type of film. If he can participate in the competition, he will have a chance to compete for the Silver Bear Award for Best Actor.

After Jason thought carefully for a moment, he responded to Wu Chen and Bell:
"Berlin seems to open on February 10th of next year. The post-production for this film isn't complicated and can be completed within a month. At your shooting speed, we'll definitely be in time."

"Did you hear that, Bell? If you want to win the award, you have to work hard to tap your potential!" Wu Chen smiled and patted Bell.

"call!"

Bell took a deep breath. None of the actors cared about the Best Actor title at the three major film festivals. "I think I'm ready, Wu. How about we continue filming?"

Wu Chen burst out laughing:

"Don't worry, you need enough rest to perform better."

Jason sat down and played with the sand. “By the way, Wu, have you ever thought about what to shoot after this movie?”

"?"

Wu Chen looked at Jason in confusion.

"After Buried Alive has participated in the exhibition, it will be released in North America. If it is not released to meet the release date, it will be in March or April next year. If it is released to meet the release date, it will be in the second half of the year.

You didn't come to Hollywood just to make art films, did you? But if you make a commercial film, it's fine if you invest in it in full, but if not, you don't have much advantage right now."

Jason Brown smiled at Wu Chen and said, "I suggest you make a movie to win awards for yourself."

"Winning an award for yourself?"

“Yes, there is a reason why the three major international film festivals have been able to stand tall in the world of art films for so many years. Although Hollywood is more focused on commercialization and is blinded by money, it is undeniable that it also recognizes art.

I don't know if "Buried" can prove anything for you, but it alone is not enough to support you in making better films in Hollywood unless you are willing to continue making low-budget films.

But I know you don’t want to.”

At this point, Bell couldn't help but nodded:
"Wu, Jason is right. If you don't want to be confined to these low-budget films anymore, you need to let the world see the commercial value that cannot be concealed by your talent.
That’s how they’ll chase you.”

Bell said, then laughed at himself: "This is a very realistic place."

Jason heard this and did not deny it.

Wu Chen's eyes narrowed slightly, and he remained silent. The three of them tacitly agreed not to continue discussing this topic and talked about other things.

Another week passed, and it was the morning of December 31st.

Feng Xiaogang's "A World Without Thieves" has failed to make waves;

Stephen Chow's "Kung Fu" made a grand debut, earning 10 million on its opening day and then doubling its box office performance overnight on Christmas Eve, December 24, earning 20 million.
It broke the current domestic single-day box office record of 1800 million held by "Hero".

Han Sanping was in the office at this time, smiling brightly.

The month started with Wu Chen's "Dark Side" which was a surprise, and ended with Zhou Xingchi's "Kung Fu". It was a perfect year.

"Mr. Han, Director Zhou is here." Gao Chengsheng's voice sounded outside the door.

"Quick, go get Director Zhou up here," Han Sanping said with a smile, then asked, "Any news from Wu Chen lately?"

"No news. Director Wu went to Hollywood to film a movie. I guess it will take at least a month or two."

"Too!"

Han Sanping nodded.

Meanwhile, it was only December 30th in New Mexico.

Wu Chen stood in front of the monitor.

This is the last scene of "Buried Alive".

The breath-holding silence lasted for more than ten seconds.

On the monitor, Christian Bale's eyes finally became completely distracted, like a fragile thread being cut.
Wu Chen suddenly waved his hand: "Cut! Finish!"

The set exploded instantly.

The suppressed emotions were released in an instant, and several staff members cheered, high-fived and hugged each other.

"We're done! We shot a movie in fifteen fucking days!"

The lighting engineer dropped his reflector and spun around in the sand in excitement. "Wu, can we have a party tonight?"

"Of course." Wu Chen nodded with a smile.

Bale was still lying in the coffin, his face still wearing that half-dead look, as if his soul had not yet escaped from the role.

He slowly raised his hand, gave a thumbs-up with difficulty, and said in a hoarse voice:
"You really should have taken me to the emergency room."

The set erupted in laughter.

Wu Chen walked forward and reached his hand into the coffin. Bell held his hand, and Wu Chen pulled it hard, pulling it out of this hellish wooden box.

At this moment, Jason walked up slowly:
"Wu, we're going back to Los Angeles tomorrow. You have to figure out how to deal with the venomous Hollywood media."

(End of this chapter)