Made in Hollywood

The plane dashed onto the runway and landed slowly in Wellington. After Duke and his team left Australia, they flew directly to New Zealand.

They stayed in Australia for a total of four days. Duke mainly went to see the Fox Studios in the suburbs of Sydney, and then went around the city of Sydney a few times to check out suitable locations for "The Matrix". On the last day , I also talked with the Australian official once, and the other party promised that if the film is all shot in Australia, it will give the largest tax rebate of 14.5%, and that the Sydney municipal government will fully cooperate with the crew.

Of course, one of the conditions is that the crew should hire Australians as much as possible, and the various custom-made appliances should also give priority to Australian companies.

The preferential treatment offered by the Australian government and the cultural environment similar to that of North America are important reasons why Australia can become a major overseas filming area for Hollywood.

If "The Matrix" was filmed in Australia throughout, the tax rebate and relatively low labor costs alone would be enough to save the crew at least US$5 million.

Coupled with the geographical advantage that Duke will frequently go to New Zealand in the next two years, when he actually left Sydney, he was completely certain that "The Matrix" would be filmed in Sydney.

Leaving the airport," 8, went to the hotel to have a brief rest, Duke and Charles Rowan rushed to the first destination of the trip-Weta Digital Studio in the car provided by the hotel.

This company specializing in film and television visual effects was founded in 1993 by Richard Taylor, Jimmy Selkirk and New Zealand director Peter Jackson. It is different from the three famous Hollywood special effects companies in the future. The current Weta The digital studio does not have any commendable works. It is not so much a studio, it is more appropriate to say that an advanced special effects workshop is more suitable.

Duke found them. It is for Tolkien's magical masterpiece, which is the movie version of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

Initially, his idea was to use Lucasfilm's Industrial Light and Magic, and he briefly consulted them on this matter. There is no doubt at this stage. From technology to talents to equipment, Industrial Light and Magic easily kills Weta Studios, but one thing that cannot be ignored is that the high labor costs in Northern California will pile up the cost of special effects to a very terrifying figure.

The biggest advantage of using Weta Studio is that the cost is relatively reduced.

After all, he is not a pure director like James Cameron. In a sense, he is still a businessman. Even if the cost of the trilogy is higher than before, he must consider controlling the cost.

And Weta Studio is located in Wellington. Communication between the two parties is also simple and convenient.

"Hello, Director Rosenberg."

In the Weta Studio, in the reception room that is more rudimentary than the Duke Studio, Richard Taylor, the president, held Duke's hand tightly, as if holding the hope of the future, "I can see you This Hollywood legendary director is very honored."

legend? Only people like Tolkien who have died can use this term to describe it, right?

With a slur, Duke also shook his hand firmly. "You are too polite, just call me Duke."

He turned around and introduced. "This is Charles Rowan, the producer who has been working with me."

After the two sides greeted each other, Duke went straight to the subject after sitting down.

"Richard, Charles and I came here this time mainly to see the Weta Studio and the Wellington studio. There are also locations in New Zealand. I have seen the special effects you made for several films. You have great potential. ."

"Weta Studio has a group of employees full of dreams!" Richard Taylor said timely.

"So..." Duke smiled, "I have the intention to outsource the special effects of the trilogy to you. You are one of my key considerations."

Although I was surprised that the young director in front of me wanted to make the magic trilogy into a movie. However, Richard Taylor remained calm, and Weta Studio also signed a confidentiality agreement during the initial contact between the two parties. The news only circulated among several senior executives and senior designers of the company.

Richard Taylor knows very well that this is the opportunity for Weta Studios to walk into Hollywood. Sitting in front of him is one of the super directors in Hollywood.

Next, Richard Taylor not only took Duke and the two to visit the Weta studio, but also spent nearly a week, accompany them around the South Island and North Island of New Zealand, and also contacted them. The New Zealand government.

When the New Zealand government heard that filming totaling more than US$300 million might settle in New Zealand, it did not take too long to consider it and promised to give the largest preferential policy within its jurisdiction.

In fact, regardless of the industry or the outside, many people understand that a movie is more than just a movie.

Let’s just talk about Peter Fatty, why did you choose to shoot in New Zealand? It is true that New Zealand retains a lot of original ecological scenery, but is it really irreplaceable?

The answer must be no. The factor that prompted Peter Fatty to choose New Zealand must have a certain amount of weight. The facts after the film was released also proved that the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy has brought countless benefits to New Zealand.

Mainstream movies can never be separated from the influence of politics, humanities, and even geography.

Just like Duke, he knows that this series will bring huge benefits to the shooting location. Deep down he also had the idea of ​​shooting in a certain country, but is this possible?

Therefore, he chose New Zealand. First, this was his favorite movie. From the original work to the shooting highlights and then to various materials, he has seen too much. Not choosing New Zealand, which is related to it, is purely brainstorming; secondly The crew has to stay here for too long, which is also an English-speaking friend zone, which will reduce the difficulties encountered by the crew in life.

Another point is that the New Zealand government has greater tax incentives and full support than the Australian government.

Because the price in Hong Kong has not been negotiated, Duke is not in a hurry to leave New Zealand, and discusses the initial preparation plan with Charles Rowan and the team who rushed to it afterwards.

This is an extremely complex and huge project, and Charles Rowan’s team will have massive preliminary preparations in the future.

For example, we need to negotiate with the New Zealand government to turn their verbally promised tax incentives into real agreements. After all, the guarantees of all politicians are no different from farting.

For example, to find a suitable place to build Hobbiton; find a valley suitable for shooting the Battle of the Helm Valley, and determine which ski resort can shoot the march of the snowy mountains...

For example, looking for masters of handmade weapons, preparing to make different versions of weapons of various races in the future, according to Duke's rough calculations, at least 1,000 sets of armor and 5,000 sets of weapons will be needed in the future!

For example, you need to contact the manufacturer of living utensils to prepare for the crew's future life in New Zealand, as well as to prepare for the production of utensils of various ethnic groups during filming.

For example, it is necessary to import a lot of hair and yak hair, and prepare to make wigs and hair on the orcs in the future.

For example, you need to find a suitable jewelry maker, and after the design is completed, make rings and necklaces for each character.

For example, it takes a lot of time to contact a professional horse farm in New Zealand to train a horse suitable for shooting...

In short, from now to mid-99, this more than two years will be the preparation period for the film. Without meticulous preparation, wanting to shoot a successful epic masterpiece is tantamount to a dream!

Except for Charles Rowan, many members of Duke's original team, such as art director Hannah Serena and others, will not participate in "The Matrix" and will transfer to New Zealand later.

As for him, he will come to New Zealand every half month or even every week in the future, and the director will not be able to escape from the preliminary preparations.

During the period, there was news about Oscars. Unsurprisingly, "The English Patient" became the big winner of the 69th Oscars. "Chicago" only won a few technical awards, with Naomi Watts and Tom. ? Cruise's performance awards are not surprisingly going to other homes.

Duke didn't care. This was the most normal situation. After all, the public relations expenses invested by the Duke Studio were really limited, and it was aimed at the original Oscar nomination.

By April 1997, Duke had been in New Zealand for a full fifteen days before he and Charles Rowan and others began to figure out the work plan. He also visited Weta Studio several times, and the other two. After several talks with the founder, he also initialed a special effects outsourcing agreement with the other party.

Of course, he also saw Peter Jackson who made a special trip back to New Zealand from Hollywood. This fat guy is a crazy Lord of the Rings fan. He even tentatively asked Duke if he could transfer this project to him to direct, and he could get the cheapest one. Director's pay.

Duke rejected him, but tentatively invited him to join the crew. Peter Jackson also rejected it. Now Peter Fatty is not just a few years ago. Not only did he get a certain name in Hollywood, but he was also full of ambitions, starting last year. , I was negotiating with Universal Pictures to re-shoot "King Kong". It is not difficult to choose whether to be a director or someone else's assistant.

Because he used to be a crazy "Lord of the Rings" fan, Duke also knew that after Peter Jackson was hindered from the initial preparations for "The Lord of the Rings", he went to the world. The copyright dispute was resolved, and "King Kong" was postponed to the new century.

At the same time, there is good news from North America. The Duke Studio has reached an agreement with Warner Bros.’s newly established video tape and vcd distribution department to sell the North American disc and video tape copyright of the film for the next 8 years at a price of 8 million US dollars. Warner Bros., and has a 5% commission on sales and lease income.

Even if the overseas income can only be paid in successively, "Chicago" has created a large amount of profits for Duke and the Duke Studio in North America alone.

By mid-April, Duke had left New Zealand to prepare for a trip to Hong Kong. (To be continued...)