Chapter 796： Avatar

Is Dunn a filmmaker?

you can say it this way.

But he is by no means an artist, at least not with an artist's mind.

For him, movies are tools for making money and realizing his ambitions, far from the belief concepts of "ideal", "pursuit" and "no madness, no Buddhahood".

Hollywood brings together the world's best film artists, and there are too many believers who regard film as life.

Old-school directors, nothing less.

Clint Eastwood, in his 90s, still insists on making a movie every year, for what?

money?

Obviously not.

His money has long run out.

Master directors have a belief-like pursuit in their hearts, even...including the young Christopher Nolan.

Don't look at Nolan's youth, but his "conservative" view of film creation is also quite famous in the industry - insisting on film shooting, insisting on "scissors" editing, insisting on real scene framing, insisting on traditional physical stunts...

This kind of loyalty and adherence to the "movie tradition" would seem out of place in the digital age.

Of course, there is no difference between the new school and the old school.

The old school has Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood, Woody Allen, David Lynch, Christopher Nolan…

The new school has George Lucas, James Cameron, Ann Lee, Peter Jackson, Zach Snyder…

No one is bad!

Dunn has not cultivated a belief in movies since he was a child. Like Cameron, he was born in a wild way, and he has no "Taoism" for movies... He really doesn't have such a strong heart to defend.

Especially from the perspective of investors and producers, he really hopes that all commercial blockbusters can be shot on green screen!

It's easy and saves money!

Today's green screen technology is very mature enough to be real.

Not to mention ordinary audiences, even professionals, it is difficult to distinguish them with the naked eye.

For example, "Ghost Rider", half of the shots are shot on green screen, who can tell the difference?

In Roland Emmerich's disaster blockbuster "The Day After Tomorrow", even 80% of the shots were done in front of the green screen.

No way, the current new technology in movies... is still being promoted.

Dunn is pushing imax format, George Lucas is pushing digital shooting, James Cameron is pushing 3D movies, Robert Zemeckis is pushing motion capture technology...

Still, the mainstream is traditional old-school directors.

Even New Universal, in front of this group of old forces, has to back down and offer Tim Burton to direct "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" at a astronomical price of $150 million in production costs.

If it's a green screen shot...$100 million is enough!

Who called him Tim Burton?

Popular!

Tang En was taken away by someone else if he didn't give him the money.

Anyway, the movies created by the "Iron Triangle" have no possibility of losing money.

The higher the production cost, the higher.

In contrast, Dunn still prefers to cooperate with directors like Cameron.

Although this is also a waste of money, the money he wastes is in the presentation of film content and the development of new technologies, rather than the pursuit of film concepts.

...

A week after "Ghost Rider" hits theaters, it will encounter a market blocker from Warner Bros.' epic "Troy."

But Dunn didn't take it to heart.

Although the film invested 175 million US dollars and brought together stars such as Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger, etc., it wants to replace the fantasy action-themed comic blockbuster "Evil" with this old-fashioned plot. It is still very difficult for "Spirit Knight" to become a hit in the market.

Now Dunn is meeting an important figure - James Cameron!

"Going on vacation to the underwater world for three years, and finally going out of the mountain?"

Dunn teased him with a smile, opened his arms, and gave him a big hug.

Cameron has disappeared for a long time. He followed Dunn to the reception room. As he walked, he looked around and said with emotion, "Yeah, it's been three years. I didn't expect that in three years, the changes have been so great!"

Tang En said stinkingly: "It's alright, that is, the richest man in the world, hehe."

Cameron was slightly startled, and couldn't help laughing: "I'm not talking about you, but the current movie situation."

"Um?"

Tang En blinked, his heart moved suddenly, and he suddenly thought of something.

After Cameron took his seat, he did not shy away from Dunn's secretary, Ira Fisher, and said bluntly, "Don, I think the time is ripe, that project... can be started."

"Avatar?"

"That's right!"

Dunn took a deep breath.

There was a tinge of excitement in my heart.

A masterpiece!

The script for "Avatar" was written as early as 1994. This was limited by the computer technology at the time, and there was no way to shoot it. Cameron took the next step and filmed "Titanic".

It's a pity that it was snatched away by Dunn who was born out of nowhere.

Later, Cameron made "Unsinkable", which was a huge success. Then he handed over the script of "Avatar" to Dunn and told Dunn that he was going to the underwater world, when there was a breakthrough in film technology, and when would he come back.

Filming of "Avatar" begins!

"Is the technology okay?"

Dunn asked himself is also a representative of the new director, but when it comes to new film technology, compared with Cameron, there is still a big gap.

"almost."

Cameron said confidently.

Dunn frowned and said, "Didn't you say that "Avatar" will be made into a 3D movie?"

Cameron said: "Yes."

"Breakthrough in 3D technology?" Dunn opened his eyes wide and asked in surprise.

Cameron said proudly: "Do you think I really went on vacation to the underwater world? The year before last, I made a creative reform of 3D technology and filmed the documentary "Return to the Bismarck Battleship". Last year, 3D direct shooting technology basically took shape, and I have "Deep Sea Ghost" was filmed. In the past two months, my team has finished filming "Deep Sea Alien", and the 3D direct shooting technology has been completely perfected!"

"Put two cameras side by side to simulate a human eye?"

"Almost, that's the principle."

"sharp!"

Dunn took a deep breath.

Truly a tech god!

Cameron said with disapproval: "It's not so magical. 3D movies appeared decades ago, and I just made some improvements. Among the six major technical problems in "Avatar", 3D shooting technology is the easiest. ."

"Isn't it?"

Dunn looked in disbelief, feeling that his worldview had been overturned.

Among the six major technical problems of "Avatar", 3D shooting is the easiest?

3D movies, indeed, have been around for 50 years.

However, traditional 3D cameras are too bulky and can only shoot straight ahead. Except for fixed-angle documentaries, they have little effect.

Most 3D movies on the market use 3D conversion technology. It is to convert ordinary format movies into 3D format through technical means and watch them through 3D glasses.

The converted 3D movie has poor effect, dark color and low resolution. After wearing the eyes, there will be a strong sense of dizziness and discomfort.

The movie-watching experience...it's not even as good as a normal movie.

This is also the reason why the imax conversion technology can become popular after the appearance, but the 3D conversion technology is despised and abandoned by Hollywood.

In "Avatar", Cameron upgraded the traditional 3D camera into two smaller high-definition digital cameras, which solved the problem that 3D movies could not be shot directly.

This is definitely a world class initiative!

Unexpectedly, 3D direct shooting technology... In Cameron's eyes, it is only one of the six major technical problems of "Avatar", which is the easiest to solve.

So how many difficulties did you have to go through during the filming of "Avatar"?

No wonder the production cycle of "Avatar" is so long!

The project was established in 2004, with a preparation period of one year; (In fact, since 2003, Cameron began to prepare himself, looking for language experts to design languages, animal and plant experts to study animals and plants, and anthropologists to design alien concepts, etc. Wait)

Started in March 2005, completed in April 2007, the shooting period was two years;

It was released at the end of December 2009... The post-production period lasted for two years.

Cameron smiled, "The unknown is the difficult one, and the solved problem, of course, is the easy one."

Tang En said angrily: "Okay, don't give a shit, tell me, what are the six major technical problems? Let's study and research, we need to overcome those that have not been overcome, and upgrade those that have been solved."

Cameron just took out a stack of thick documents from his briefcase. This is the detailed information, and he said succinctly: "Six technical problems - 3D camera direct shooting, virtual camera design, full CGI characters Model building, motion capture technology, expression capture technology, new digital photography systems and digital technology.”

You don't have to look at the 3D camera for direct shooting This is a problem that has been solved.

This part of the information, up to 25 pages.

On the last page, Dunn narrowed his eyes. This was a "patent" report.

"You even got the patent?" Dunn looked at him with a strange expression.

Cameron said of course: "Of course, this is my creation!"

Tang En said deeply: "If I remember correctly... When you went to the underwater world, I also sponsored you a sum of money to let you explore 3D direct photography technology."

Cameron said innocently: "Didn't you say it was a free donation?"

"Fart! Free donation... Have you paid the gift tax?" Tang En scolded rudely.

Cameron smiled and said: "I said, 3D direct shooting... It's really not a great technology. The traditional 3D camera is equipped with a film camera, which is of course cumbersome. With the advancement of digital technology, 3D direct shooting technology There will definitely be better and better development. My patent... that is, it can be regarded as a high-tech in the past few years. "

Tang En said angrily: "If New Universal wants to use this technology, it must be free."

"certainly!"

Cameron accepted it immediately, sold it well, and said, "Aren't you promoting imax format movies? That imax film camera is too bulky, and if you want better popularization, you must launch a portable, lightweight camera. digital version."

"Even digital cameras are boycotted by old-school filmmakers, let alone imax digital cameras?"

Tang En waved his hand, calmed down, and said, "Dolby Laboratories is still developing it. Let's talk about "Avatar", the six major technical problems... For example, what does this virtual camera mean?" (https:)

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