Chapter 340： Monopoly vision

John Russett and Ed Carmoor are obsessed with making 3D animations, which is also a hunch for the good prospects of this form of animation. After hearing Eric’s optimistic about the future of computer effects, neither of them can think of any rebuttal. Reasons. After all, the 3D animations that the two insisted on have not achieved any results, and Eric’s vision in the film has been confirmed through several films.

Having said that, Eric puts the detailed plan in front of Ed Carmoor, and Ed Carmore is aware of Eric’s intentions. Although he is currently making 3D animations, 3D animation is still a kind of computer cg special effects, and Ed Carmool was responsible for the computer cg scene in "Star Wars" when he first worked in Lucas Films. . So it is obvious that Eric is hoping that he can lead the team.

Of course, John Lassett is aware of this, with expressions of concern and working together for so long, the cooperation between the two has become very tacit, if Eric Ted Carmore goes to host the digital field. What about the Pixar computer special effects department?

"Eric, you have to know, although most of the technical problems of Toy Story have been solved, Pixar still can't do without Ed..."

Eric nodded. "I understand your concerns. John, I don't mean Ed wants to leave Pixar. I just intend to set up a technical team that specializes in computer effects and engineering its software. Ed is not But an excellent computer technology expert, and more familiar with computer special effects technology than most Hollywood special effects personnel, after all, he began to contact computer effects more than 10 years ago, so I hope he can also serve as the chief technology officer in the digital field. Lead the team."

When Eric talked to John Lasseter, Ed Carmore was thinking fast. At this time I heard Eric's arrangement for himself, and he began to feel heart.

From Eric's plan, Ed Carmoor felt Eric's ambitions for computer effects. Although he still has doubts about the prospects of Eric's proposal, it does not hinder his understanding of this huge plan.

Once the development trend of film and television special effects is moving in the direction that Eric said. Then, the digital field that is more focused on computer special effects research than any other special effects company will undoubtedly become the industry leader.

What's more, there is a software engineering project for special effects processing. Although this plan will consume huge human and financial resources, but the accumulation has reached a certain level, then the digital field will undoubtedly become the hegemon of the special effects industry, and its status is not. Inciting.

Because when a latecomer enters the field of film and television special effects, when they face a special effects problem. However, it has been found that the digital domain has detailed software for solving this problem. Then, do they choose to build a technical team with hundreds of people to redevelop the solution, or buy software directly from the digital field?

The answer is obvious.

After pondering for a moment, I noticed the expression on the face of partner John Lasseter. Ed Carmore, who had already planned to agree, said: "Eric, I hope that the technical research team headquarters in the digital field can be set up in San Francisco. So that I can take care of Pixar, and although Los Angeles is the home base of the film industry, San Francisco with Silicon Valley can attract the top computer technology talent."

Eric nodded: "Of course, I was originally planning this, even if I set up the team headquarters in Emeryville. It is possible to be a neighbor to Pixar."

It took another few hours to briefly discuss the details. The specific plan was to negotiate with Stan Winston and Ed Carmoor.

After leaving Pixar on the Chevrolet business car, Eric was relieved and another important piece fell.

No one knows more about the development trend of film and television special effects. Computer special effects will become the mainstream of future film and television special effects. Even the industrial light and magic that started with model special effects will turn off the creation of many virtual characters in Star Wars after the new century. The model special effects department, while focusing on digital effects.

Moreover, the reason why software engineering for special effects solutions is forced. It is not Eric's impulsive impulse, but rather a well-thought-out. This plan stems from Eric's understanding of another trend in the special effects industry.

After the new century, with the rapid development of computer technology. The threshold for entering the film and television special effects industry is getting lower and lower, and the world's film and television special effects companies are springing up. In this case, the living environment of the original film and television special effects industry giants is getting worse and worse, in order to compete with Hollywood's original special effects giants. Competition, other states in the United States, and even other countries outside the United States, have implemented financial support such as high tax rebates for special effects companies.

In this cruel competition, Hollywood veteran special effects companies went bankrupt one after another.

Of course, Eric could not let the fate of the past digital domain bankruptcy happen again. He did not want to save the idea of ​​the entire special effects industry. As a filmmaker, he is opposite to the special effects company in economic interests.

Eric's plan is to lead the software accumulation of other special effects companies, as well as the software engineering of common special effects solutions, and finally to sell the special effects solutions and special effects software, not only to maintain the absolute leadership of the digital field, but even I hope that the digital field can become an oligarch of the special effects industry and form a technological monopoly.

This kind of idea is not unfeasible, because nowadays, computer special effects are just emerging. The big-name special effects companies are still aristocrats in the industry. The film companies want to make special effects movies. There are not many special effects companies to choose from. There is certainly no shortage of special effects film projects in the digital arena. As long as you are willing to invest, the digital field will accumulate enough special effects solutions.

After ten years, the threshold of the special effects industry will be lowered. Those special effects factories will find that many special effects technologies that need to be established by the technical department have mature special effects software in the digital field. Then these companies will definitely choose to purchase software. It is not a big price to develop by yourself.

What, do you want the software we have?

Don't worry, we have a strong technical team, and the digital field can quickly and inexpensively develop the technology you want, which is much cheaper than feeding a technical team yourself. ?

Like many industries, once a monopoly is formed, it is difficult to break.

Former industrial light magic originally had this potential, because in the early 1990s, when computer special effects began to flourish, Industrial Light and Magic was a big one in the special effects industry. The seven major film companies wanted to make special effects movies, the first choice. It is always the industrial light magic. It is a pity that after the success of the "Star Wars" trilogy, George Lucas has a huge amount of property that he has never spent in his life, and there is no ambition to develop the industrial light magic into a giant. (To be continued)