my time as a director

Of course, first of all, the special effects are the most important, and everyone knows the truth.

But what about special effects?

Shoot it in front of a green screen and then throw it to a special effects company?

wrong!

Guo Fan was stunned. He really knew a lot about sci-fi movies, and he had seen all the famous sci-fi movies.

However, as a director, from a production point of view, he knows very little.

Li Qian said, "Real sci-fi movies, especially those like The Wandering Earth, have to reset every background and require special effects. They are the most difficult to shoot, especially for domestic ones. From the production level, the difficulty and The level of cumbersomeness far exceeds that of any domestic film."

"I understand, but I don't know much about special effects." Guo Fan said.

"It's not just that you don't understand. Most directors in China don't know anything about it. Now the special effects of domestic movies are priced in packages. No matter who you ask to do it, there will be 100 cents for special effects. If you want to make a good shot, you must learn Hollywood's process. There is a blank in this regard." Li Qian said

"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 participate in the whole process of the movie. You have to first produce storyboards, storyboards, and then concept drawings, so that the special effects company One shot, each conceptual drawing, to give a rough quotation.

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 maneuver budget. "

"Accurate to every shot?" Guo Fan clicked his tongue secretly.

"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 [-] million, what do you want to do for me.

But if you want to make a high-quality product, you must be accurate to the cost of each lens.

Two or three seconds for this shot may be 10,000+ or ​​even tens of thousands, and another shot for the same two or three seconds may cost millions. It must be accurate to each shot, not your thousands of shots. Others generalize give you a quote.

Only by being accurate to each procedure can the special effects be guaranteed to be free from problems.

But as far as China is concerned, most directors are actually more of the type of acting on the spot. On the spot, the director will slap his head and say what you want.

This is not a problem for other departments, but it is a disaster for the special effects department.

Storyboards, storyboards, concept drawings, and technical solutions must be determined first. The more changes are made later, the more time and money will be wasted.

Don’t try to make a high-quality product for the kind of brainstorming packaged by Weta Digital and Industrial Light & Magic, no matter how powerful the special effects company is.

Although many special effects shots of Hollywood blockbusters are packaged by domestic special effects companies, that is not a concept. Domestic special effects companies make pictures, that is, change the background, which is called in the industry. No matter how gorgeous the picture is, it is easy to make, almost like a foundry.

In terms of special effects, Li Qian only knows a little bit about it. Before going to Pacific Rim, he wanted to learn, but people don't welcome it, so forget it.

He told Guo Fan everything he knew and understood.

After listening to Li Qian's long-winded talk, although Guo Fan was a little confused, he nodded again and again, as if I understood it.

"Boss!"

Guo Fan suddenly said with a serious face, "I plan to go to Hollywood for two years of training. I must make a high-quality film in Wandering Earth. Two years of training, two years of film preparation, one year of filming, and one year of post-production. I will go all out. , it will take six years to make this film."

"Ambitious!"

Li Qian gave him a thumbs up and said with a smile, "It's easy to handle. I'll contact Warner to help you arrange it. Whether it's going to school, or directly going to a big production crew to observe and learn, it's okay. Go and stay for a couple of weeks first." Years, learn about Hollywood's advanced industrial system."

"Ah, this..." Guo Fan opened his mouth, and he was just casually talking about his ambitions, but he hadn't thought it through yet.

However, meeting Li Qian's gaze, Guo Fan didn't give up, and he was determined to go all out.

"Then I will apply for a visa tomorrow, pack up and go to Milijian!"

"Go ahead, I'll give you whatever you want." Li Qian waved his hand.

Guo Fan no longer participated in the editing of Truman's World. After two years abroad, there were too many things to prepare, so he left with great ambition.

Li Qian was not in a hurry to work, so he called Warner's vice president Thomas.

After explaining the situation, Thomas responded immediately on the phone.

This trivial matter is not difficult for Warner.

Jaws 3 was released in North America for more than 20 days, and the box office is about to break through 4000 million US dollars. It also sold 2200 million US dollars overseas, and the global box office reached 6200 million.

Moreover, the follow-up DVD, TV, and Internet copyright income are also big.

For the major Hollywood studios, they will open their legs and welcome anyone who can give them agency benefits, no matter who they are, let alone such a simple thing.

After expressing his congratulations on the box office and his expectation for the follow-up cooperation on the phone, Thomas talked about another matter.

"By the way, Director Li, since you want to shoot a sci-fi blockbuster, are you interested in acquiring a professional special effects company?"

"Special effects company?"

After the economic crisis in 08, I heard that many well-known special effects companies in Hollywood have closed down, not to mention making a profit, and it is good not to lose money. I don’t know which one Thomas is talking about.

"Digital Domain Group is about to enter bankruptcy and reorganization procedures due to debts. Two months ago, the market value was 4 million US dollars, and now the market value is only 2400 million US dollars, and a new chief reorganization officer has been hired. It's been auctioned off."

"That's it. Thank you, Mr. Thomas. I'll think about it." Li Qian thought for a while, but didn't make a decision. The special effects company is a big investment, and unless he can find a stable source of income, it will have to be bought.

Chapter 395 Scumbag!

Special effects are an indispensable part of Hollywood blockbusters, and they are also the highest type.

The economic crisis four years ago directly led to the closure and layoffs of many special effects companies. Thousands of special effects engineers lost their jobs. Many special effects artists who used to be important in the industry were reduced to short-term contract workers.

Although almost all Hollywood blockbusters currently have special effects shots, the final profit of the special effects department is only about 5, which is far lower than the more than 20 of other departments.This once most superior industry has gradually begun to export cheap labor.

On the contrary, in the past two years, domestic special effects companies and studios have rarely closed down.

Although the special effects of domestic blockbuster movies are generally given to Hollywood or Nanbang, what is left to domestic companies is only films with little special effects budget, but they are still alive and well.

Mainly relying on orders from Hollywood, a large number of special effects with low technical content were outsourced to large domestic companies, such as Sky Brilliant, Base fx and so on.

Larger companies will outsource part of the received business to small companies and various studios.

Special effects companies are usually busy for four or five months a year. If they recruit too many people, it will be uneconomical. It is better to outsource some simple tasks and make a profit from the difference.

This is the status quo of the industry, and if you contact TV dramas, cartoons, games, and advertisements, it is no problem for special effects companies to make a living.

However, the digital field is a Hollywood company, even if it is acquired, it cannot be moved back to China, and those special effects engineers have little hope of coming to work in China.

Moreover, the top special effects experts are not employed by any company. As long as they have money, they can set up a special effects company at any time. Hollywood has no shortage of special effects engineers.