Started as an independent producer in 1988

Chapter 302 How are the special effects made?

Uncharted has finished showing in the screening room of the Tokyo Film Festival.

There was thunderous applause in the screening room and everyone stood up and applauded.

There are too many big scenes and special effects in the movie, magical animals, strange abilities, stormy straits, siege wars, grand naval battles
There are frequent large-scale battles in the movie, and the rhythm is very tight.

Although I didn’t finish the story, those big scenes are definitely the best in world cinema!

Cameron watched the subtitles scrolling on the screen, waiting for information from the special effects studio.

He was very curious about who did this special effect!

Big snake, octopus, storm, ghost ship, misty island, naval battle.
He could tell that some of the images were real shots, while some were superimposed by later digitally restored scenes.

There are also quite a few 3D digital special effects, but the effects are not very sophisticated and are just average.

These things are nothing when separated, but it is very difficult to put them together!
It’s like squeezing the special effects of Jurassic, ET, Jaws, and Star Wars together!

This is not something that an ordinary director can do. It requires strong execution and teamwork.

Cameron suspected that Chen Shiping's investment must be more than 50 million US dollars. A movie like this would cost at least 300 million US dollars!
At least three hundred million US dollars!
Anyway, he estimated that if he were to make a movie like this, he would need at least 300 million!
After the movie was over, Chen Shiping also came out with all the actors.

Although everyone was applauding, Chen Shiping was a little nervous.

The biggest problem with the film series is that the plot cannot be fully developed and there are too many foreshadowings.

If the audience is a little impatient, they will be disappointed.

That’s why Chen Shiping piled so many special effects and big scenes in the first film.

These things can attract a considerable number of audiences, after all, no one has seen such large-scale special effects movies.

Soon Chen Shiping came on stage and everyone applauded.

Film critics and reporters couldn't help but raise their hands to ask questions.

Chen Shiping saw Cameron also raised his hand, but did not call on him to ask a question.

What if this old guy dismantles his own stage?

Chen Shiping was worried that the old man would talk about problems with the script. He had spent too much time laying the groundwork for the next one.

The characterization is not so complete, and there are some blank groups.

The old captain, the snake girl, the Yongqing princess, and Hongguang.
Everyone looks like the protagonist, and if you want to shoot a great character shot, it takes at least three hours.

Chen Shiping doesn't have the confidence to attract audiences to the cinema with a three-hour movie.

In fact, the script of the ship is not very exciting, but the filming is touching enough, and the life and death separation of Jack and Rose is the biggest highlight.

In terms of emotional creation, Big Ship is far superior to Uncharted, but it is far behind in terms of grand scenes and thrills.

So, let’s not let this old guy Cameron speak.

However, the problems raised by the film critic named by Chen Shiping were enough to make him suffer.

"Director Chen, the movie is very exciting. The fighting scenes and special effects are very attractive. Some of the fantasy settings are also very creative. But is the script structure not complete?"

Chen Shiping cursed in his heart, Damn it, do you think I don’t know?

Otherwise why a series of movies?

Didn’t this film critic receive money from Cameron?
But Chen Shiping still had to answer.

"The problem you mentioned would indeed seem immature in a single movie, but this is a series of movies. Expanding the fantasy background and allowing the audience to see more exciting fights and special effects scenes is my first consideration."

The film critic wanted to say something else but was ignored by Chen Shiping, who directly named the next person.

A reporter stood up and took a photo before asking excitedly, "Can you tell me how these special effects shots were made? I've never seen such a wonderful special effects movie!"

Chen Shiping smiled slightly and said, this is a good question!
“This was made by me in collaboration with four Chinese film studios and the Peking University Digital Special Effects Laboratory, for which we mobilized thousands of special effects artists.

China has been working hard in the field of digital special effects and will bring you more exciting movies in the future!"

This is the regret of the times. In an era without so many special effects blockbusters, the special effects of Uncharted were indeed unique.

You can say this is a popcorn movie, but it's also the first popcorn movie that it isn't.

It is quite sufficient in Asia.

Even if it can't defeat a big ship, it won't be too bad.

As soon as one person answered, another Japanese reporter stood up and asked, "Why are all the Japanese in the movie pirates?"

Chen Shiping was speechless. What else?

But it is still to save face for our daily life, after all, Japan is an important voting base.

"The identity of the snake girl Uesugi Rumi is not simple. There are hints in the movie. You can look forward to the next one."

The reporter was worried that another person would jump out, so he quickly said, "Amami Yuki's performance was wonderful. Why did you choose her?"

"Because she is suitable, she has a neutral beauty that many female actors don't have. She is a very good actor!"

These people have all sorts of miscellaneous problems.

Some people also said that Cheng Long's guest appearance as the pirate first mate was too funny. When the male protagonist fought with him, he used all of Cheng Long's tricks, dodging on the deck and using the surrounding environment to fight.

Chen Shiping could only say that this was a tribute.

Well, that part was designed by Cheng Long and the male lead A Zu, and it is one of the few funny moments in the whole film.

Some people also asked, since the heroine is a newcomer, wouldn’t it be too mysterious for her to wear a mask most of the time in the movie?
What Chen Shiping wants is mystery. Zhang Ziyi is a girl with a kind of spiritual aura, but her acting skills are lacking a lot, so wearing a mask is the most appropriate.

However, the main reason why Chen Shiping took a liking to her was because Zhang Ziyi had the temperament of a maid.

The heroine is a princess, but not a princess. This will be revealed in the second part.

If we find an actress who really has the temperament of a princess and doesn't wear a visor, there will be no way to reverse the identities in the second part.

Just like choosing A-Zu to play the male lead, he was a pirate in the first part and the descendant of the king of the sea in the later part, and there will be a reversal of identity in the second part.

This can satisfy the fantasies of male audiences.

Everyone loves princesses and losers, but the real cool story is always the return of the Dragon King.

It took Chen Shiping an hour to answer various questions.

After talking for so long that his mouth became dry, Chen Shiping felt that the questions he had answered were enough for the reporters to write news stories, so he stopped talking.

If it weren't for publicity, he wouldn't bother answering those questions.

In the lounge backstage, Chen Shiping had just taken a sip of water when Cameron came in uninvited.

When the two people met, they did not greet each other or introduce themselves to each other awkwardly. Instead, they stood up and hugged each other as if they had known each other for a long time.

After the two sat down, they started chatting enthusiastically. They had so many common topics.

We have been friends for a long time.

Chen Shiping promoted the development of Chinese films, and Cameron also promoted the development of Hollywood special effects films.

The two of them started chatting and for a moment they couldn't stop.

Just like Jiang Wen and Quentin.

But Quentin likes to visit prostitutes. After making 50,000 dollars from filming Reservoir Dogs, the first thing he did was to fly to Europe to visit prostitutes.

While visiting prostitutes, he also wrote the script for Pulp Fiction.

Finally, he told the reporter that he was looking for inspiration and excitement, and look, he wrote an excellent script!
As for whether Jiang Wen has this hobby, Chen Shiping has never paid attention to it, but it is a fact that he likes feet just like Quentin.

Men always have to have the same XP to have more common language. Chen Shiping doesn't know what Cameron's XP is, but he still gained a lot from talking about movies with him.

It was not until after nine o'clock in the evening that the two left the hotel's executive lounge and returned to their rooms.

After returning to the room, Chen Shiping fell on the bed and rubbed his temples.

Tao Huimin handed over a glass of water and said, "Did you drink too much?"

"No, I've been too tired and stressed lately." Chen Shiping sat up and took a sip of water before saying, "Although the film has been completed, it's still unclear whether it will do well after it's released."

Tao Huimin rubbed his temple and said, "I see everyone's response today is very good. There is no perfect movie. You have done a good job."

Chen Shiping smiled and said, "I hope so, but we have to hurry up with the release. I have to get there first."

Tao Huimin hugged Chen Shiping from behind and said, "It will be released the day after tomorrow, we will know then, don't be nervous, you have always been the best director!"

Chen Shiping smiled and said, "No, no, no, when it's just the two of us, you should say that I'm the best man!"

Tao Huimin smiled and kissed him and said, "It is what it is, so there is no need to emphasize it."

"Hey, so you were lying when you said I was the best director?"

Tao Huimin bit him angrily and said, "No playing word games!"

Chen Shiping pressed her down and said, "What game shall we play?"

Tao Huimin raised her head, bit his lip and said, "Pornographic game."

Chen Shiping reached his hand into her clothes and pinched her and said, "So erotic?"

Tao Huimin blushed and panted, "It's not enough."

"What about this?" Chen Shiping had already put his other hand down there.

Tao Huimin still shook her head and said it was not enough.

Chen Shiping had no choice but to strip her naked in no time and do something more direct!

In and out is the essence of the game.

After a night of indulgence, Chen Shiping attended two Tokyo International Film Festival forums the next day and then led the team back to China.

Uncharted is coming out.

The factory has already arranged the premiere, which will be held in the RM Grand Hall.

This specification is not small.

All the famous media from Asia have been invited by Chen Shiping, the itinerary is all-inclusive and there are subsidies for them!

Throughout the premiere, apart from reporters, there were only a small number of moviegoers.

There was no way around it, as the seats were almost fully occupied by well-known media from all over Asia.

The premiere went very smoothly, without any mistakes in the process. No one dared to make a mistake when holding a premiere in the Great Hall.

No matter how brave you are, you wouldn't dare to do that!

After the premiere, major newspapers in Asia published the news the next day.

Everyone praised Uncharted and called it the most gorgeous special effects movie of the 20th century.

At this time, at the Tokyo International Film Festival, Cameron was discussing the release of The Big Ship with 20th Century Fox.

All regions in Asia have indicated that they will not introduce large ships immediately.

However, this is also in line with the expectations of Cameron and Fox. They don't want to confront Uncharted head-on at this time.

Uncharted has its shortcomings, but it has more advantages, and its box office performance will be excellent.

It would be extremely irrational to collide with Uncharted at this time, so it is better to release it in Europe and the United States first.

Asia region will come back next year!

Chen Shiping thought the same. He could have released the film worldwide through Columbia, but he was worried about colliding with the big ship, so he planned to release it in Europe and the United States next year when the big ship came to Asia to release the film.

This can be considered a kind of tacit understanding. Unless necessary, no one is willing to fight to the death for a schedule.

Chen Shiping's goal is to boost the morale of Asian films and let audiences see that Asia also has its own special effects blockbusters!

Otherwise, after the release of Big Vessel, all Asian filmmakers were disheartened and so devastated by the special effects of Big Vessel that they could not take care of themselves.

It was also from that time that the mainland and Hong Kong began to realize that the gap between Chinese-language films and Hollywood had become so large that it was impossible to catch up.

The audience mentioned the big ship, which was touching, romantic, and nude.
But when filmmakers mention big ships, they always talk about special effects, big scenes, etc.

If you ask an Asian filmmaker to comment on the plot of a big ship, he may not be able to say anything, but if you talk about the special effects, he can talk all night long.

Just like now the only topic they discuss after watching Uncharted is the special effects.

"How did that snake grow so big? It's amazing to watch."

"It's a green screen, Journey to the West also has this special effect, but Uncharted is more realistic and doesn't look fake at all."

"Were the snakes real during filming? Were the actors not scared?"

"I heard it was a prop snake, with a mechanical snake skin, and then pulled by ropes and springs."

"How do you know so clearly?"

"My friend is on the set."

"Do you know how much the box office is now?"

"I'll call and ask."

In the distribution department office at the Beijing Film Studio, everyone was looking at their phones.

Everyone is waiting for Japan and South Korea to compile box office data.

Chen Shiping looked at the 1336+ written on the blackboard, and wondered in his mind what the addition was.

I hope it won't be less than 3 million US dollars. Otherwise, according to the current box office, the final box office may be just over 100 million.
Chen Shiping’s goal is 150 million!
Otherwise the movie will be a real loss!
The phone on the table was being stared at by everyone, and I felt like I was blushing. The smooth bright red shell reflected every face.

Soon the phone on the table rang suddenly, and everyone looked at the phone excitedly.

Chen Shiping also took a deep breath and picked up the phone on the table.

"This is the Beijing Film Studio. Who are you looking for?" Chen Shiping said in a controlled tone.

The other party quickly said, "This is Tokyo. Uncharted has made $2.2 million on its first day!"

Chen Shiping laughed and said, "Very good!"

After Chen Shiping had just hung up, the phone rang again.

"This is Seoul, and Uncharted opened at $1.7 million!"

After Chen Shiping hung up the phone, he walked to the blackboard and added the numbers after 1336+.

Seventeen million, two hundred and sixty thousand!
Everyone in the office looked at the numbers above and cheered happily!

Success! The movie was a success!
A box office of 150 million US dollars is not a dream!

Uncharted was made possible by special effects!

Finally, there is a Chinese-language film that has gained recognition and success thanks to its special effects!
　I have been lazy for a while, and I will resume updating later. I am sorry for these days, and I will work hard next time.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)