Started as an independent producer in 1988

Chapter 330 You are more important than us

In the crew of Uncharted, after Chen Shiping explained all the tasks, the crew began to operate slowly again.

Everyone seemed to lack confidence.

However, Chen Shiping thought that they did not lack confidence, but were simply afraid of problems.

If some movies are badly made, the worst that can happen is that you lose money, but if you make some other movies badly, you may not be able to make it.

Uncharted is well-known in Asia and even around the world. After all, it is one of the top ten box office movies in film history.

This is the biggest business card of Chinese films, representing the highest standards of the Chinese film industry.

Who dares to take over halfway?

Everyone in the crew is under tremendous pressure, otherwise would Zhang Yimou want to blow up the boat?

Would he run to the wreckage to find the scene and the shot? Otherwise, he wouldn't have broken his leg.

Chen Shiping didn't blame these people. Anyone would be scared if they were in their place.

But he really doesn't have much time now, and the digital technology reform has not been completed yet, so it is impossible for him to stay on the crew every day.

Is it possible to call all those experts to the crew for a meeting?

Chen Shiping sighed and called the group, asking them to notify the expert group to wait for him for a few days.

In China Film Group, the expert group has come up with technical solutions.

Now that I know Chen Shiping won't be back for the time being, I don't take it to heart. I can just take advantage of these few days to discuss it.

"The key difficulty of digital cameras and video cameras lies in the diagrams and components. The optical system of the motion capture system is actually very instructive, but we can't make it that big."

"It's different. The infrared capture of motion capture and the final imaging and camera are two different concepts. In fact, it should be simpler, but we haven't figured out the specific light-to-speed system yet."

"Just experiment a few more times. The motion capture system has a wide range of applications. It would be a waste to only use it in movies. It will be of great use in mechanical automation engineering."

Eighty percent of the people in the expert group are experts from military factories, so their ideas will naturally not be limited to the civilian scope.

Some experts also laughed and said: "It's too early to say this now. We haven't even mastered the core principles of the motion capture system yet. The capture and conversion process will be difficult."

"Yes, we still need to do more experiments. It's a pity that we only have one, otherwise we could just dismantle it and take it back for research."

"Let's start with the basics of light speed. You all have mastered the technology of SLR cameras. Now we need to think about how to increase the light speed."

“I think we should start with the motion capture camera first. The conversion data of digital cameras is more complicated. The motion capture system only has key points. This is a good entry point and it is easy to get started. We just need to discard the continuous animation later.”

"That's right, once you get started, any camera or video camera can quickly catch up!"

"Then why don't we apply to remove one of the motion capture system's cameras and then remove the converter as well."

"I disagree. This is not a mechanical component of a film camera. Dismantling it will not help us in any way. Practical operation is the key. We need to understand and know it through computer engineering."

"We can imitate a camera and build one first. Without changing the key components and graphic system, we can put them on the motion capture system and find the problems in actual operation."

This proposal was immediately agreed by most people. First, they should get the basic accessories, adapt to other people's core components, form a set of basic standards, and then study the core technology.

You have to take the first step before you can move on.

A group of experts rushed to the Beijing Film Equipment Factory without saying a word and took away a motion capture camera.

At this time, in the crew of Uncharted, Chen Shiping was also troubled by filming issues.

The ship was blown up, but the following shots still had to be shot, otherwise the entire studio would be occupied by the blown-up ship and there would be no way to shoot other scenes.

For this shot of the broken ship, Zhang Yimou actually wanted to imitate the effect of the Titanic. The huge sailing ship was directly broken in the middle by the sea monster, and the visual effect would be very explosive.

However, they had only finished filming the bombing of the ship, and the subsequent shots had not yet been filmed when Zhang Yimou was gloriously hospitalized.

Originally, Zhang Yimou was going to actually shoot the following scenes, but the current situation does not allow that.

The big ship flew high up and then crashed down, and the people on board were also thrown into the air, fell, and fell into the water. This was too dangerous. If anything went wrong again, the crew would really have to stop working.

Zhang Yimou is a good example.

Chen Shiping thought that he could only go into technology.

The motion capture system can be used at this time to shoot character shots against a green screen, and then use special effects to create shots of boats and people being thrown into the air and falling.

Otherwise, if the protagonists were sent to the hospital, what would the point of making the movie be?

In the studio, Chen Shiping turned his head to look at Liu Dehua and couldn't help smacking his lips.

This guy is the unlucky guy this time, the pirate leader who was killed by sea monster in the movie.

Some of the minor supporting roles are also famous actors.

However, rotoscoping can actually be used, but it will be more troublesome and the effect will be worse.

Once the motion capture system completes a set of motion data, it can be reused, but rotoscoping must be done all over again.

In the first Uncharted film, the snake and the lightsaber were both created using rotoscoping, so the workload wasn't that huge.

But now the workload for this special effects shot of several minutes is very huge.

Zhang Yimou originally prepared more than a dozen sets of wires and four large cranes for the actual filming.

Chen Shiping thought that it would be better not to lift it up at all. It would be more likely for something to go wrong if the actors were performing on it while the boat was lifted up!

After Chen Shiping communicated the situation in detail with the stunt team, he was not very confident about the actual shooting.

Let's get some help! Get the engineers and motion capture system from the digital effects lab.

More than a dozen experts from the Beijing Film Machinery Factory dismantled seven or eight normal cameras, and then assembled one based on the motion capture system.

The shape is just big and ugly.

But this is a test product, so the only thing that matters is whether it can be used, and you don’t need to worry about its appearance.

When they brought the knockoff motion capture cameras to the studio, they found that the equipment was being installed and prepared for shipment.

"Why was it taken away? We haven't done the experiment yet."

The staff of China Film Group said helplessly, "We need it for the movie, why don't we go back and try again?"

"Going to shoot the actual film? We'll go too. There's actual data to look at."

"Together!"

When Chen Shiping heard the news, he did not object. That's how research should be done.

I can also take a look at the technical solutions they have developed, how much funding is needed, and what equipment is needed.

A day later, experts and special effects engineers arrived at the Uncharted set.

The special effects engineer went into the studio and chatted with Chen Shiping for a few words and he was numb. Want to make a motion model of a big ship flying up and falling?
Do you need to make flying and falling motion models for more than a dozen actors?
Want to make a motion model where the protagonist steps on the hull fragments in mid-air?
Kill me now!

Chen Shiping patted his shoulder and said with a smile: "It's not as exaggerated as more than a dozen. Two or three will be enough. The other copies can be made smaller in the picture."

"Then this. Me."

"Men, don't hesitate, just do it boldly!"

"."

The expert group that came with us doesn’t understand any of this and is now anxious about when to install the motion capture system.

Chen Shiping was not in a hurry, mainly because he did not trust the camera they had made on the spur of the moment.

Although we are using other people's core components and systems, whether they can be adapted is still a question.

The expert group took Chen Shiping by the hand and said, "Mr. Chen, no matter if it works or not, you have to give it a try. Our technical solution is to replace their products one by one with our own."

"A little bit of localization, right?" Chen Shiping said with a helpless smile, "But isn't the first step a bit too big?"

"What's the big deal? If I had time, I would have replaced all the photosensitive components!"

"."

The key is to be confident!

These experts are all very confident!
But it’s really amazing. These people are probably the big names in the domestic optical field later on.

Under normal circumstances, how could I attract so many people?

Thank you for the convenience within the system!

In the huge studio, special effects engineers were preparing to perform motion capture of the light spots on the ship.

The huge hull requires too many light spots. After scanning it into the computer, modeling simulation is required, and the dynamic data of being lifted and thrown must be captured.

If it was a real shot, one angle would be enough, but Chen Shiping thought that since motion capture is used, why not a 360-degree rotating shot!
The images of fixed shots and those of moving shots are two completely different concepts.

However, Chen Shiping also prepared two plans, and the scene of the big ship flying up also had to be shot once.

As an alternative.

It took the special effects team a day to analyze and finalize the light spot markings on the hull.

If the position is wrong, the subsequent dynamic simulation will be distorted.

Experts from the technical team were also helping with the cameras, with six cameras surrounding half of the hull.

Seeing that they were all ready, Chen Shiping shouted into the intercom, "Prepare the crane, prepare the lights, prepare the camera, and be quiet on the scene!"

"Uncharted: Wrath of the Dragon, Game 103, Scene 1, Begin!"

Four cranes started up at the same time, and the broken ship, which was several dozen meters long, slowly flew up with a creaking sound. The props on the ship shook instantly and began to slide along the deck.

The experts and special effects engineers from the technical team were all staring at the images in the camera, and were very nervous about whether they could perfectly capture all the dynamic movement trajectories.

Xu Ke was looking at the screen at this moment and couldn't help feeling excited!
This kind of shooting scene, this kind of high-tech stuff, can only be seen in Hollywood!

Xu Ke has also watched the behind-the-scenes special of Titanic, in which the scene of the ship capsizing is the same as it is now!
No, it wasn’t as awesome as it is now!

The Titanic was just a hull, but the ship in Uncharted is a real sailing ship that can be launched into the water!
The current picture doesn’t look too real, okay?
Damn! Chinese movies are really catching up with Hollywood!
Chen Shiping held the intercom in his hand, turned to look at the special effects engineer and asked, "What's the situation? Have you captured everything?"

The special effects engineer said nervously, "Eight light spots are missing, and seven light spots are not captured stably."

Chen Shiping sighed helplessly and continued to ask: "Will it affect the final result?"

"It won't affect you for now, but you still need to come a few more times to collect more exercise data."

"No problem. Now that we have done it, we must do our best."

Chen Shiping patted him on the shoulder and told him not to be nervous. It didn't matter if he failed, because he still had the real shooting to back him up.

The hull is too large. Although the movement trajectory is simple, there are too many light spots, so it is difficult.

More than ten minutes later, the large ship was suspended in the air, and the staff under the ship began to rearrange the position of the motion capture system.

Scan 360 degrees!
While doing this, the special effects engineer suddenly discovered a highlight.

If it is directly modeled, it is actually much more difficult, but motion capture can directly capture the entity, and then a lot of effort will be saved in the later stage of modeling, and the modeling will be more delicate!

The more key points you capture and the more detailed the scan, the more complete the final data will be!

Motion capture becomes modeling data collection!
The special effects engineer was quite excited. If this was the case, then in the future when making cartoons, motion capture could also be used to create complex model dynamics!

At this time, Chen Shiping was communicating with experts about the technical solution.

"Eight spots of light were lost in the capture just now. They were all lost by our own camera. Have you found the problem?"

The expert group member smoked a cigarette and said, "It's a problem with the infrared sensitivity. This prototype is still too crude, but it's still good overall. We can solve this problem by remaking the accessories later."

"That's good. I'm not afraid of problems. I'm afraid of not knowing where the problems are."

Chen Shiping smiled and continued, "I have also looked at your technical transformation plan. It is very complete. But there is one question. Is your cost estimate really correct?"

An expert couldn't help but whispered, "Too high? It's not impossible to reduce it."

Chen Shiping laughed and said, "It's not too high, it's too low. 80 million will be enough for the initial stage?"

"We're not going to build a factory, so 80 million is definitely enough."

"No problem, approved!"

These experts were dumbfounded. They were approved for 80 million? The total valuation of many of their factories was less than 80 million.

Is China Film Group so rich? They gave 80 million just as they said they would, and judging from Chen Shiping's expression, it seems like they still think it's not enough.

What kind of dog owner are you?
Is the film and television industry really that profitable?!
Chen Shiping smiled and said, "If this shot we shot goes smoothly, it will bring in $80 million at the box office!"

Isn't it a bit too exaggerated that a group of experts are collectively speechless? !
Is it so easy to make money?

Those who do scientific research are not as good as those who make movies. Where the hell is this justified?

Seeing the experts sighing, Chen Shiping immediately said, "Everyone, what you do is related to future development.

It doesn’t matter whether this movie exists in the world, but it is absolutely necessary without technology. Without you, we can’t make these excellent movies! ”

The experts looked more optimistic, but an expert from the Nanjing Film Machinery Factory suddenly said:
"Movies are also very important. Without the movies you make, we wouldn't have the opportunity to study the latest technology here!"

"Mr. Chen, don't underestimate yourself. Cultural development is equally important. To some extent, you are more important than all of us!"

Chen Shiping grinned and asked, "Am I that important?"
I feel embarrassed when being praised!
(End of this chapter)