Heads Up Hollywood

The Hollywood circle is so big in total, who doesn't know who?

You can't hide it.

Tang En applied the latest DIT digital workstation and real-time preview technology to the shooting of "The Avengers", which is already an open secret in the industry.

The role of DIT digital image engineers, Tang En has already fully explained when he popularized the concept of special effects process in film and television production. Even his second film theory book "Theory of Film and Television Special Effects" has been compiled and will be available for sale in late October.

Just like Tang En's previous two books "The Lost Lover" and "The Theory of Explosive Funds", Tang En will only propose a core template for the content of the book, and find others to supplement the specific writing and revision.

This is the usual way of writing a book.

When professors write books, there will be students ghostwriting; when best-selling authors write books, there will also be a large number of "collaborators".

For example, James Patterson, one of the most famous best-selling authors in the United States, is a typical representative.

He has a studio that employs a dozen writers.

He is only responsible for providing ideas, and the specific text and detailed stories are all completed by the employees.

Regarding this model, James Patterson also plausibly said: "I have too many ideas, too late to write a book, so I have to cooperate with others. The collaborator is responsible for the specific writing, and he will revise and review the draft after it is completed. "

However, this has not affected the sales of his novels, and he can release a big bestseller almost every year.

"Time Magazine" also praised him as "the man who will never fail".

Movies such as "The Spider Is Coming", "Kiss of Death", "Peach Hunting Order", "Full Hunting Order" are all adapted from his novels.

Now, the live-action filming of "The Avengers" has come to an end, returning to Los Angeles for filming.

Los Angeles is the hometown of Hollywood, and the number of people in the industry who came to visit suddenly increased.

Everyone wants to see for themselves how the DIT digital workstation works, and the specific effects of the real-time preview technology.

Ordinary small roles are all rejected by the crew.

The reason is also high-sounding, after all, the film is still in the confidential stage.

However, some big shots, even Twain, were hard to refuse.

Like... Steven Spielberg.

Accompanying him is Martin Scorsese.

"Welcome both of you to come and guide us!"

In front of the two respected old directors, Tang En smiled and made jokes.

Spielberg laughed at himself and shook his head: "You don't have to be polite, this time I brought Martin here because I came here to learn from the experience."

Martin Scorsese added: "DreamWorks... is in trouble now. Steven plans to shoot a big project, and it's best to turn the tide on his own."

"War of the Worlds?"

"You know everything?"

Spielberg was a little surprised.

Tang En smiled and said nothing more.

The cast of "War of the Worlds" is very strong, and the action superstar Tom Cruise was recruited, which is Spielberg's ambitious work. The film cost $130 million to produce and grossed $590 million worldwide, making it a blockbuster success.

However, it is still far from Spielberg's psychological expectations.

The film made some money for DreamWorks, but John Wu's "Memory Rift" and Michael Bay's "Escape from Clone Island" were disastrous at the box office and suffered serious losses.

Not even Spielberg could save it.

After the split, Dreamworks could only end up selling it to Paramount in a package.

After entering the crew, the staff kept saying hello to the two directors along the way. Old Martin smiled and nodded, and Spielberg asked them one by one.

Tang En knew what they meant, so he took it directly to the digital workstation, moved a chair and sat down.

In an ordinary film crew, there is only one monitor, but this digital work team has several similar monitors. Dunn explained to them which one is the director's monitor, which one is the action director's monitor, and which one is the blasting team. monitor, which is the real-time preview window.

In addition, there are viewfinder windows of group A, pictures of group B, and a special introduction to DIT technology and related processes.

However, these relatively routine introductions are not unusual for the two great directors.

What is really interesting is actually the real-time preview!

Especially Spielberg, he is starting to shoot the sci-fi blockbuster "War of the Worlds", if he can borrow this set of high-end equipment for real-time preview...

At this time, Tang En would not be polite anymore, and said half-jokingly: "Steven, I heard... After DreamWorks split, the publisher changed to Paramount?"

In the past, DreamWorks films were distributed by Universal Pictures.

However, after the split of DreamWorks, they did not sign a contract extension with Universal Pictures, and turned to Paramount...

The current DreamWorks is led by Spielberg.

Real-time preview of this high-end technology was prepared by Cameron for "Avatar".

Tang En also had to save his face, so he borrowed it.

It is impossible to lend to a third party.

What's more, now that DreamWorks and Universal Pictures have disbanded, there is no possibility of borrowing.

From a filmmaker's point of view, Twain respects Spielberg very much.

However, as a businessman, it was impossible for Twain to provide favorable terms to the other party after the contract was torn up.

Bringing him into the crew to observe the most advanced digital workstation up close is already a great favor.

Spielberg was a bit bitter and explained: "After Viacom spun off CBS, Paramount was also split. Not only that, Viacom's vice chairman Philip Dorman took over Paramount in an all-round way. He was born on Wall Street and has a fanatical pursuit of profits. He asked Paramount to reduce the number of films produced each year to 10 from now on in order to increase profit margins.”

Tang En heard about it when he talked with Steve Burke last time.

Unexpectedly, Lei Shidong would act so vigorously!

So quick to start with Paramount.

In the past few years, although Paramount's performance has been poor, it can produce 30 movies a year, making it a real Hollywood giant.

However, if the annual output is reduced to 10... This is almost at the same level as New Line Cinema and DreamWorks!

Such a strategy, in the short term, may really be able to increase profit margins.

Because only 10% of Hollywood movies can make money at the box office, 25% can make money through various channels, 40% can break even, and the remaining 25%... I'm afraid they will never make money.

Statistics show that only a small percentage of Hollywood movies make money.

However, Philip Dorman's behavior completely ignores the inherent laws of the movie!

Movies are made by filmmakers.

Film talents must be cultivated through a series of failed films.

Paramount only wants to make money, but does not want to cultivate talents. In a short period of time, Paramount can rely on its heritage and influence to continue to cooperate with many major directors in Hollywood.

Like Spielberg.

Many Hollywood filmmakers have accepted Paramount's love when they were growing up.

However, when these filmmakers retire and grow old, and a new generation of filmmakers grow up, their growth experience has nothing to do with Paramount at all.

Who wants to take refuge in Paramount?

For example, Christopher Nolan, Zack Schneider, J.J. Abrams, Francis Lawrence, etc. that Tang En focused on training.

In the future, they will become the mainstay of New Global Group!

When other film companies want to poach talent, it is not a question of money at all. Artists are all emotional.

With the current film scale of New Universal Group, it is completely possible to reduce the production volume of Universal Pictures. Because many of the dozens of movies produced by Universal Pictures each year are losing money, which severely lowers the profit margin of the Film and Television Entertainment Department.

However, Dunn, Barry Diller, Bill McNick, Amy Pascal and others all firmly refused to reduce the number of films produced.

They are all professionals in the industry, they understand the Hollywood system better.

When a new generation replaces an old one, the inheritance of incense is very important.

Philip Dorman's strategic plan for Paramount is undoubtedly to quench thirst with poison.

Spielberg added: "Paramount has a very large distribution system. If Paramount's annual film production is greatly reduced, it will lead to a waste of resources in the distribution department, so..."

Tang En realized something.

Therefore, Paramount will definitely offer better and more favorable distribution conditions to attract other second-tier film companies and let them hand over the film to Paramount for distribution!

However, Tang En did not intend to back down, and said lightly: "Dreamworks has been cooperating with Universal Pictures for a full ten years. It is true that Dreamworks may obtain more publicity resources and better quality if they hand over the film to Paramount for distribution. However, Philip Dorman is a big hidden danger, and you must be aware of it. The cooperation between DreamWorks and Paramount... To be honest, I don’t like it!"

Spielberg was silent.

He is a stubborn old man.

At the beginning, Tang En advised him not to use John Wu, but he didn't listen; later, Tang En veiledly told him that Michael Bay's set was outdated, but he still didn't listen.

Now, he is going to lead DreamWorks to Paramount completely...

Signing a distribution agreement is only the first step.

Next, Paramount annexed DreamWorks.

Seeing that Spielberg and Twain couldn't reach a consensus, Martin Scorsese smiled and said, "Twain, there are quite a few people on this crew? Seven or eight hundred, right?"

"Not only that, more than 900 people!"

"sharp!"

Old Martin sighed in admiration.

This is the difference between making commercial blockbusters and art films.

When he filmed "The Departed", the crew was only more than 300 people at the most.

"When will the film be finalized? The pre-promotion of "The Departed", I would not agree without you!" Martin Scorsese said half-jokingly.

Tang En smiled and said: "No problem! Be there on time! Leon is in charge of the European market, and I will promote the Asian market!"

Martin Scorsese laughed heartily: "That's good! With your famous brand, maybe the global box office of this movie can exceed 1 billion U.S. dollars!"

Tang En twitched the corner of his mouth.

Old Martin?

are you crazy?

Spielberg is feeling slightly sour. He has already planned to make "War of the Worlds" and launch an impact on the box office of 1 billion US dollars...