China Entertainment started in 2004

Chapter 627 Site Selection
Some are happy, some are sad.

Zhang Yimou's "Movies and TV Series" was taken off the screens last week, with a box office of 1.53 million yuan.

In the original timeline, this movie achieved a box office revenue of 2.44 million.

Now, affected by "Life of Pi" and "Pacific Rim", it has only achieved a box office of 1.53 million.

Compared with this, the difference is nearly 1 million RMB.

However, even though it was 1.53 million, both Zhang Weiping and Zhang Yimou could accept it.

So, a celebration banquet was held.

Nowadays, if a commercial film can earn over 100 million yuan at the box office, it is already worth bragging about, not to mention that "Movies and Movies" is an art film.

It’s just that the final box office of this movie did not meet Zhang Weiping’s expectations.

He wanted to break 2 and strive for 3 to make a fortune, but in the end it only settled at 1.53 million.

Profiting less means losing a lot.

It was precisely because of this mentality that Zhang Weiping felt very uncomfortable and blamed Wang Shu for his resentment.

Although this idea is unreasonable, there are many unreasonable people, and Zhang Weiping is one of them.

1 month 20 day.

The Hollywood special effects blockbuster "Avatar", which has been eagerly awaited by many domestic audiences, has officially landed in domestic theaters and has been a huge hit at the box office since its release.

Many people had anticipated this situation.

After all, "Avatar" is a movie directed by Cameron, and the name alone can attract many people to the cinema.

However, compared to the original timeline, there are fewer people bragging about "Avatar" now.

In the original timeline, "Avatar" is a groundbreaking special effects blockbuster.

Nowadays, "Pacific Rim" directed by Wang Shu was released in China before "Avatar", which made many people look at the movie "Avatar" without a filter.

October 1th, Sunday.

Wang Shu’s company held its annual meeting.

This time, he just showed up, offered a glass of wine, said a few words, and then left early.

The boss was always present at the annual meeting, and the employees did not feel comfortable eating and drinking.

After the annual meeting, the Yikeshu Company team returned to busy work.

Ever since Wang Shu and Paramount reached an agreement, the two sides have been in contact.

Now, we have entered the preparation stage before shooting.

In order to replicate Nolan's version of "Interstellar", Wang Shu also grows corn.

However, it is only the end of January now, and only places like Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan and Hainan can plant it.

However, these places do not meet the requirements for framing.

In the original timeline, Nolan's version of "Interstellar" was set on Spruce Ranch in Alberta, Canada, with a cornfield planted.

As for the reason for filming here, corn likes heat and Alberta is cold, and Nolan wanted to use this contrast to present a doomsday scene.

If Wang Shu wanted to save trouble, he could actually go to this place and grow corn.

However, now that he is directing Interstellar, he wants to set this famous scene from the movie in China.

With the blessing of this famous scene, it may be possible to contribute to the tourism industry in the future.

Therefore, even if it is more troublesome, he will choose a location in the country to grow corn.

The regions in China that are more in line with this requirement are the three northeastern provinces.

At this moment, the company's team has not only conducted exploration in the three northeastern provinces, but has also selected several suitable places.

Wang Shu wanted to make "Interstellar" as perfect as possible, so he did not decide on the location directly. Instead, he set off for the three northeastern provinces, intending to make a decision after an on-site investigation.

It is undeniable that the corn planting time in the three northeastern provinces is in the three months of April, May and June. It is only the end of January now, and there are still several months left.

However, no matter what month it is, it does not have much impact on the start of filming of "Interstellar".

Although in the movie, the scene of the cornfield is already at the beginning of the film.

However, this does not mean that these shots need to be shot first.

Wang Shu could have first taken shots of the frozen planet "Mann" or other scenes, and then taken these shots when the corn was planted and green.

In order to replicate many scenes in Nolan's version of "Interstellar", Wang Shu also chose Vatnajökull in Iceland as the location for filming the frozen planet "Mann".

Next to the large glacier are volcanoes and volcanic lakes, which makes Vatnajökull one of the most alien-like areas in Iceland and is also known as the "Land of Ice and Fire".

In the original timeline, many scenes of "A Song of Ice and Fire" were shot here.

As for the filming location of another tidal planet "Miller's Planet" in the movie, it was also in the Brunasandu Lagoon in Iceland.

In Nolan's version of "Interstellar", the area where the spacecraft landed on the tidal planet "Miller's Planet" was filmed there, and the lake almost became a natural special effect of "Miller's Planet", and the large and continuous glaciers were just like what people imagined Mercury to look like.

The filming locations for the two planets were both in Iceland, so there was no need to travel all over the world, which was relatively convenient, labor-saving and worry-free.

Of course, Wang Shu has never been to Iceland, so he cannot directly select these places for filming. Instead, he will propose to go to Iceland and other countries to find suitable filming locations when appropriate.

Then, conduct on-site inspection.

Taking reasonable actions step by step, the filming locations of "Mann's Planet" and "Miller's Planet" were finally determined.

It is undeniable that "Interstellar" could have been shot without such trouble by setting up a studio and shooting on a green screen.

Whether it is "Miller Star" or "Miller Star" and other scenes, they are all presented through post-production computer special effects.

But Wang Shu is very clear that on-site shooting can give people a more realistic texture than post-production special effects.

Therefore, in order to better present the movie "Interstellar", he chose to shoot on location like Nolan.

After all, he is now an Oscar-winning director and has also made the special effects blockbuster "Pacific Rim".

It’s time to make a science fiction blockbuster that is “full of willfulness”, “full of gimmicks”, and shot on location.

In other words, if he chooses to shoot live, not only will no one be confused, but they will also think that he chooses real scenes instead of green screens as much as possible in order to make the science fiction film more realistic.

As a great director who can shoot science fiction films, he abandoned the green screen and used real scenes.

This gimmick can give audiences all over the world a feeling of sincerity.

Therefore, this sincere work will be one of the promotional gimmicks for "Interstellar" before it hits theaters.

"Director Wang, I am..."

As soon as Wang Shu arrived in the three northeastern provinces to explore suitable locations for growing corn, the director of the local tourism bureau arrived.

"Hello, hello." Wang Shu shook hands with him politely.

The director's surname was Chen. He exchanged a few pleasantries with Wang Shu, then asked, "Director Wang, may I ask what kind of movie you are planning to make?"

Wang Shu understood the other party's thoughts and did not hide anything. He answered truthfully, "A science fiction film in cooperation with Paramount Pictures in Hollywood, USA."

"Paramount?" Director Chen didn't understand.

Wang Shu smiled and said, "Paramount is one of the eight major film and television companies in Hollywood."

Although Director Chen still didn't understand, he knew the value of one of the eight major films, and asked in surprise: "So, this will be a science fiction blockbuster that is not inferior to Pacific Rim?" Wang Shu didn't want to waste time explaining, and replied: "Almost."

Director Chen had an idea in mind, so he smiled and said, "Director Wang has just arrived. How about we welcome you first and let you have a rest before we come to the site inspection?"

This might not be the case in other regions.

However, the three northeastern provinces have their own uniqueness.

Wang Shu declined, "Director Chen, my schedule is tight and my time is limited. I have just finished my inspection here and will be heading to the next place soon."

"So forget about the reception."

"Besides, we can't bother you."

"Don't bother me, don't bother me." Director Chen waved his hand quickly.

He knew that it was indeed a political achievement to have a film produced here by a great director like Wang Shu and a major Hollywood film and television company.

Then he continued, "Director Wang, this is a place full of charm and vitality, with rich natural resources and profound cultural heritage."

“The climate is a temperate monsoon climate with four distinct seasons, which is suitable for agricultural development.”

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"It has a long history. As early as 2 years ago, there were ancient human activities there. It was once under the jurisdiction of the Liao, Jin, Yuan and Ming dynasties."

"The people here are hardworking and kind, and the social environment is very harmonious."

Director Chen was bragging a lot, Wang Shu couldn't interrupt him, so he just listened silently.
After he finished speaking, Director Chen paused to take a breath, and then continued: "If Director Wang shoots the film here, our entire county will definitely give its utmost support."

After listening to this, Wang Shu cooperated and showed that he was quite interested. Then he said hesitantly: "Director Chen, on behalf of the crew, I would like to thank you very much for your support."

"It's just that I think you also know, Director, that this film is a science fiction blockbuster co-produced with Paramount, and we need to strive to do our best."

"So, we can't make a direct decision before we conduct on-site inspections of other locations."

The team from Yikeshu Company first visited the three northeastern provinces and selected five suitable locations for filming.

Wang Shu came here in person this time to select the place he thought was most suitable among these five places.

Or if you don’t find a satisfactory location after the on-site inspection, keep looking for another one.

When Director Chen heard this, he looked a little disappointed. Just as he was about to say something else, Wang Shu said, "Director Chen, I have finished looking at this place. I have to go somewhere else next. Sorry to bother you."

"Don't bother me, don't bother me." Upon hearing this, Director Chen quickly responded politely.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something but not knowing how to start.

He knew very well that if Wang Shu's science fiction blockbuster co-produced with Paramount was shot here, it could be used as a gimmick to develop tourism.

With the reputation of Oscar-winning director Wang Shu, plus the gimmick of co-producing a blockbuster, it will at least attract a lot of people.

By taking on this political achievement, there is a great chance that the position below your buttocks will be able to move up.

How
After leaving this place, Wang Shu went to the next place without stopping.

The local tourism bureau seemed to have gotten wind of the news in advance. Not long after I arrived, the director of the tourism bureau came running over.

They were all like Director Chen, trying to get close to him while expressing that the county would give its greatest support.

"Director Wang, excuse me for asking, are you planning to build the buildings needed for filming the movie on farmland?" Director Liu asked.

Farmland is arable land and no buildings are allowed.

so.
Of course, if it really doesn't work, there are still ways around it.

Wang Shu understood what the other party meant and said with a smile: "Although a house will be built, it will not be built on farmland."

“As for the need for farmland, it’s because we need to grow corn in the farmland.”

"Grow corn?" Director Liu was stunned when he heard this. What kind of method is this?
Wang Shu smiled and said, "Yes, I grow corn."

“Not only will we grow corn, we will also grow about 100 acres.”

In the original timeline, Nolan planted 500 acres (3035.14 acres) of corn fields in Canada for the filming of "Interstellar".

However, the panoramic view of the cornfield in the film is only between 500 and 800 square meters.

800 square meters equals 1.2 acres.

Therefore, it is more than enough for Wang Shu to plant 100 acres of corn.

Nolan made "Interstellar" from scratch, and in order to present a better picture, he planted 500 acres of corn.

Although there are many plants planted, the utilization rate is very low.

Therefore, there was absolutely no need for Wang Shu to waste so much.

Now, a company called Yikeshu has also participated in the investment of "Interstellar", so they save as much as possible.

Logically speaking, the panoramic shot in the film only covers 1.2 acres, so it would be enough to plant 10 or 20 acres.

To be on the safe side, Wang Shu chose to plant 100 acres.

There is no hard and fast requirement of 100 acres, anything close to that will be fine.

When Director Liu heard this, he immediately muttered to himself.

Why does Wang Shu's planting of corn seem similar to Zhang Yimou's planting of sorghum back then?
It’s just that Wang Shu said that he was preparing a science fiction blockbuster in collaboration with one of the eight major Hollywood film and television companies.

Can this be done in the same way as Zhang Yimou?

When Zhang Yimou was preparing to shoot the movie "Red Sorghum", he also planted 100 acres of sorghum.

It’s just that "Red Sorghum" is a war movie from the last era.

What Wang Shu is currently preparing is a science fiction blockbuster.

In Director Liu’s opinion, since it is a science fiction blockbuster, shouldn’t it be a movie similar to "Pacific Rim"?
Why are we still planting corn in farmland?

Although I was confused, I didn't ask.

Because he felt that asking would make him appear ignorant.

"Since we are growing corn, what do you think of us, Director Wang? Are you satisfied?" Director Liu asked anxiously.

"Not bad." Wang Shu replied with a smile, "But I still have one or two places to inspect. I need to go and see them before making a decision."

When Director Liu heard this, he suddenly looked a little disappointed, but he kept smiling.

If he were a smaller director, he certainly wouldn't do that.

But Wang Shu is a world-famous Oscar-winning director.

Not to mention that they are now planning to co-produce a science fiction blockbuster with the eight major Hollywood film and television companies!
Director Liu could easily guess that if Wang Shu's co-produced movie could be shot here, it would be a gimmick to attract tourists from other places to come and play and spend money in the future.

These are all political achievements!

But Wang Shu was a man who refused to be persuaded and only wanted to make a good movie.

Somewhat difficult to handle.

Next, Wang Shu set off for the next location.

After several days of hard work, we finally chose a place.

After that, we need to rent the land and wait until April or May to sow the seeds.

(End of this chapter)