Hollywood Road

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Everyone is not stupid, Murphy is not here for a mere visit, Richard Taylor can guess this too.

Murphy didn't immediately respond to Richard Taylor's words, but instead walked around the special effects dressing room with great interest.

On the wall of the special effects makeup workshop, there are many "heads" hanging from real people, such as Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, Brad Pitt... Surprisingly, there is also Bruce. Li's face model.

Why is there a Bruce-Lee model? According to Murphy's guess, Bruce-Lee may have left a facial model, and Wita's work was later turned over.

From these models, we can see that every process of Weta Studio’s production of models has very strict controls. There is a bear’s head in a corner, and there are a bunch of remote control lines behind the head. It can't tell whether it is true or not, and there is even a wet feeling on the nose.

"Richard..." Murphy stopped. "It's really shocking. Weta Studio's technology is really the best in the industry."

"Many people think that special effects should be digital technology and computers," Richard Taylor said with a smile. "Actually, it is not. This is auxiliary, and the most important thing is the ability to make models."

Murphy has nothing to do with this. It is not the computer, but the human that really determines the special effects.

Under the leadership of Richard Taylor, Murphy's visit to the Weta studio was very interesting. Although everything in the studio is not unfamiliar to a director like him, it is also quite emotional.

Murphy came from one room to another. Richard Taylor introduced him to the artists and technicians in the studio. They are usually responsible for rubber noses, miniatures, makeup, modeling, weapons, and any physical effects he can imagine. To work.

In the corridors of the rooms of different departments are displayed their successful samples, including swords, battle axes and shields, as well as face models of famous actors, which will be used to design character makeup and costumes in the near future.

In addition, there is a collection of simulated creatures between the passages, where a series of dazzling buildings, cars and sets used in different crews are displayed. These props can help the film develop visual effects and also help the film complete Real work.

The Weta Studio has opened up a special room in which they display their earliest trophies, including the undead baby in "Blood Dead"; a sculpture of a decaying hound, which is the beloved in "Horror Phantom" -But dead-the basic model of the pet dog. In order not to be confused with its partner company Weta Digital, Weta Studio is responsible for creating real props and objects, rather than creating virtual products through film graphics.

In this overview tour, Murphy was most impressed by the attention of Weta Studio to tiny details, which directly determine the effects of special effects.

Finally, Richard Taylor took Murphy to a reception room and had coffee served.

"We are not the empire builders." Although he doesn't know what project Murphy wants to work with Weta, Richard Taylor is still struggling for it. "I know this is difficult to persuade. After all, you just said this. After visiting the studio, I know how big it is and all the things going on here."

He spread his hands and said with a smile, "But we are not formulating a conceptual business plan and then implementing it by establishing new departments and opportunities in the company. What drives us to achieve all of this is our uniqueness to life. The desire to create things is based on our love of making things and the joy of creating with our hands. I never want to use a rule to limit our prospects, for example, we are people who do special effects. I want to always keep an open mind. This mentality has allowed us to accept all kinds of extraordinary opportunities for so many years."

Weta’s technology is sufficient for the shooting of any movie now. He knows that it is not easy to impress directors like Murphy.

After reading so much, and hearing Richard Taylor say so much, coupled with the industry's reputation and actual work success, Murphy also has a bottom line in his heart.

"There is no other company in the world that can make me leave such an unforgettable impression on it."

The other party was polite, and Murphy's words were naturally very pleasant, "Moreover, I have always maintained a low-key, close and humane side. From the showroom to the product, from the eclectic and diversified theme, to the employee's response. The pure pursuit of quality and consistency, I think Weta Studio is such a unique company that can have a profound impact on different people."

Hearing Murphy's approval and praise, the smile on Richard Taylor's face became even brighter.

Murphy took a sip of coffee, turned to the topic, and said, "For the second part of "City of Chaos", I am going to take large-scale model effects and shoot on the spot in New York."

The relatively good results in the first part gave him more ideas for the second part, and one of the most important points is that he wants to make a difference during the awards season.

In this way, CG special effects should be reduced, and most scenes should be taken as real shots as possible.

Richard Taylor nodded slightly, "Weta Studio has a good cooperation relationship with the New York City Hall. Real shots are perfectly fine. Props models can be made in Wellington and then shipped to New York. The labor costs are relatively low. , There are still advantages."

"So..." Murphy thought for a while and said, "When I return to North America, I will ask my deputy Michelle Williams to come over for a detailed inspection, and he will talk to you about the details."

He only needs to confirm his intentions, and leave the rest to the following.

Besides, the second film should leave enough fermentation time for the first one. As long as cooperation is confirmed, these work can be carefully crafted.

Of course, this matter was also approved by Twentieth Century Fox, after all, they are investors and producers.

Murphy has notes in his plan to Kara Feith, and 20th Century Fox has no comments.

Subsequently, Murphy declined Richard Taylor's dinner invitation and drove directly away from the Weta studio.

As soon as he returned to the hotel, he received a call from Carla Faith, and many international publishers were asking, when will the second part of "City of Chaos" be released?

Twentieth Century Fox also wants Murphy to provide a full version of the crew and project plan as soon as possible to start the necessary internal review procedures, and then start pre-sales, so as to raise as much filming funds as possible from overseas publishers to reduce their own costs. risk.

On the surface, now that the North American box office is soaring, Hollywood should be booming, but in fact, Hollywood's source of income has shrunk.

From this year to the present, Hollywood’s DVD sales revenue has decreased by 29% over the same period last year, and overseas distributors are only interested in the pre-sales of typical Hollywood blockbusters.

"The current situation is that if a film does not involve big stars and well-known directors."

On the phone, Carla Firth said to Murphy, "There will be no overseas buyers willing to pre-purchase the distribution rights."

The sharp decline in revenue from pre-sales is also a major problem faced by Hollywood. Even the source of revenue from TV has declined due to the decline in advertising sales and competition from online video.

The funding squeeze has also forced Hollywood's major producers to adjust the production ratios of various types of films. The entire industry has a kind of "dumbbell effect", that is, the two extremes of high-cost movies and low-cost movies are frequently new, and the cost is in the middle. The number of films is scarce.

Hollywood studios will invest more in blockbuster movies like "Transformers", and on the side of low-cost movies, there will also be more less risky like "Death is Here" and "Cry of the Chainsaw" Genre films, such as those with a budget in the range of US$50 million to US$100 million, will be significantly reduced.

To be precise, Hollywood's financing channels are far less extensive than before 2008. This is also an important reason why Twentieth Century Fox will accept Wanda Group's investment.

In the words of the other side of the Pacific Ocean, people who hold large sums of money today will become Hollywood's "God of Fortune". As long as they are willing to pay, Hollywood will not care where these Gods of Fortune come from.

After hanging up the call with Cara Faith, Murphy first called Gal Gadot to confirm the time of her flight, and then called Bill Rossis. CAA urged Henry Cavill to start as soon as possible. More professional training.

James Franco is going crazy, his aura is very strong, if Henry Cavill can't strengthen himself, the role will be out of balance in the future.

The aura of an actor is never innate, but has to be professionally packaged and trained, precipitated by many factors such as time, acting skills, status, and fame, just like more than a decade ago, no one would have Think that James Franco has a strong aura and can give the character that invisible and intangible temperament.

Don't say that the aura is not important, the aura given to a character by an actor is enough to dominate the film.

Saying that he was on vacation, Murphy was actually not free. The next morning, he went to a seaside studio on the North Island of New Zealand to watch. Paul Wilson was taking the "Game of Thrones" crew to shoot here. Now this This magical TV series has been recognized as a classic. Each season can bring a net profit of more than 50 million U.S. dollars to Stanton Studios. It is definitely a golden chicken in the hands of Murphy and Twentieth Century Fox.

But over time, this series inevitably came to the end stage, but Murphy has reached an agreement with George-R-Martin and Twentieth Century Fox. After the end of the drama, that is, when the related spin-offs begin to be filmed and produced. .

After staying here for a long time, Murphy returned to Wellington, and went to the airport that night, and received Gal Gadot from the Caribbean. Gal Gadot also brought a few decisions about himself. .