Made in Hollywood

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The bright sun is no longer blazing, and the air in the morning and night also brings a bit of coldness. Entering the Greater Los Angeles area in December, it has come to the season when the average temperature of the year is lower, and the crew is also continuously high intensity After the battle, it was noticed by the mainstream media.

The latest issue of "Los Angeles Times" published news related to "Speed ​​of Life and Death". Unfortunately, this crew, which lacks big-name stars and well-known directors, is really not very attractive. This news only appeared in the entertainment edition. The position in the lower right corner of the second edition is not half the size of a palm, and most of the content focuses on Keanu Reeves and Uma Thurman, a pair of famous actors and actresses, Duke this The director didn't mention it.

As we all know, Lucasfilm is good at content production, publicity and marketing is not his forte, and he rarely releases films independently. The early publicity of "Life and Death" is almost zero. Fortunately, after negotiation, 20th Century Fox It is certain that it will become the distributor of the film, but the specific terms will be discussed in detail after seeing the sample.

The inexorable march of mid-December, with Duke blowing a bus to scrap metal, brought the filming to its final wraps.

At sunset and dusk, Duke set up the camera on the abandoned communication tower of Los Angeles International Airport, and used a wide-angle lens to capture rare and beautiful pictures. The picture is very beautiful, and it is refreshing to present on the big screen.

Throughout the filming of the crew, Duke used Hollywood's crappy and still relatively rare shooting techniques in the future, such as using medium shots and mixing upward angles to create an exciting feeling; for example, when shooting a car chase scene. , let the main view of the camera chase the tires of the car...

In making this film, Duke's primary consideration was the appeal to the audience, and what he showed them must be the freshest excitement.

This is the fourth day in a row that he used a wide-angle lens to shoot sunset and dusk scenes. If it weren't for the time limit of the film, he would have made Keanu Reeves and Uma Thurman walk a few laps every day at sunrise and sunset. .

After capturing a satisfactory picture, Duke handed over the camera to others to handle, and returned to the set at the edge of the airport, ready to shoot the last shot of the whole story.

"The second unit on the boom lowers the angle of the overhead shot, and then lowers it by fifteen degrees, and that's it."

Looking at the prepared male and female protagonists, Duke finally reminded, "Circle around 360 degrees on the No. 1 machine, take a close-up of the face!"

After a thrilling life-and-death contest, the male and female protagonists have a hearty kiss, is it cliché? Very cliché, but even in the past 20 years, most viewers still like to see scenes like this. What reason does he have for not filming?

Keanu Reeves and Uma Thurman, the quintessential American babe, kiss after Duke shouts the start...  

"I declare..."

After this scene ended, Duke shouted in a hoarse voice, "All the filming of "Speed ​​of Life" is over!"

He let out a long sigh of relief. He was under tremendous pressure and suffered for seventy-two days. One third of this long journey was finally completed.

Applause broke out, messy and flat, not only Duke, but also others who were physically and mentally exhausted.

After all, in the past month, everyone has been living in an environment full of noises, speeding cars, collisions and even explosions every day. Even the most energetic people have spent almost the same amount of energy and enthusiasm.

The crew returned to Universal Studios, sealed the film, temporarily put the equipment in storage, and then no longer thought about anything else, changed into bright and bright costumes, and went straight to a famous nightclub in Burbank to hold the rave party that is indispensable when the Hollywood production crew is finished.

The area of ​​the nightclub is not large, and it was completely covered by the crew. Because there is no relationship between friends and friends, Duke arrived earlier, and most of the other people who arrived one after another brought their male or female companions, especially It was Keanu Reeves, who also brought the now infamous Johnny Depp and River Phoenix.

Alcohol and marijuana are all must-haves at this kind of party that won't be open to the public, and people puffing can be seen everywhere, especially those around Keanu Reeves and Johnny Depp , the enjoyment is obviously coca. Alkali.

Although he tried marijuana out of curiosity in middle school, Duke had no interest in these things, and of course he wouldn't be stupid enough to stop it. After all, this is the norm in Hollywood, not to mention the little stars who struggled from the bottom. Even Sofia Coppola, who had a good tutor, went to take a few breaths after coming over to greet him.

Under the bright sunshine of California, there are all kinds of unspeakable darkness. Hollywood, a place that can magnify all emotions and always make life and death gambling with wealth, power and talent as a bargaining chip, makes too many film practitioners both victims and perpetrators. In particular, the "super treatment" constituted by a life style that is different from ordinary people, heavy pressure and the stimulation of success, etc., it is really difficult for people to preserve the "sound personality" of the secular standard.

In fact, Keanu Reeves, Johnny Depp, and River Phoenix are the best portrayals. If it weren't for the latter's overdose, the former two would come to their senses. Such an achievement.

For a moment, Duke felt like both a participant—he had stepped into the circle, and a bystander—that he could see it all with cool eyes and a clear head.

This is also the last night of the actual existence of the crew. Except for him, most of the people present will not participate in the post-production. Whether it is their doubts or the tit-for-tat tit-for-tat after the mental imbalance caused by the jealousy of the assistant director Kone, It will all be over after tonight.

There are bound to be obstacles on the road to success, and moving forward is more important than entangled with those insignificant obstacles!

"Hi……"

Sofia Coppola, holding a wine glass, came over and sat directly opposite Duke, "It seems like it's time for us to say goodbye."

"Indeed." Ryan took the glass and touched her, "Cheers!"

"cheers!"

"What's your plan next?"

She is the person with the best relationship with him in the entire crew, so Duke asked concernedly, "Or continue to look for the crew to be an assistant?"

"Do you want to hire me?" Sophia tilted her head and looked at him.

"You are a very good assistant."

As he said, Sophia, who grew up in the Hollywood circle since childhood, handles film-related matters with ease. "Maybe we can continue to cooperate in the future."

"Later?" She shrugged at Duke, "Duke, if you fail this time, you don't have a second chance."

"You think I'm going to fail?" Duke looked at her.

"Reality and reason tell me that a director of your age cannot be successful." Sophia took a bottle of Sydney liqueur from the waiter's tray and poured some into her and Duke's glasses before saying, "But everything I've seen in the past two months tells me that this is likely to be a blockbuster movie."

"Isn't that a compliment?" Duke had another drink with her.

"Do I need to compliment you?" Sophia curled her lips, her voice with a monotonous nasal tone again, "Do you know what position Chanel reserved for me? Karl Lagerfeld's assistant! It's also an assistant, you Think I should choose him, or you?"

"Assistant?" Duke shook his finger at her. "Wouldn't it be the telephone operator?"

"Duke Rosenberg!"

As if being stabbed at the point, Sofia Coppola's eyes widened instantly.

"Honey, go ahead and pursue your fashion dreams."

Looking at his watch, Duke stood up, "It's getting late, I'm going home."

Seeing Sofia Coppola waving his hand casually, Duke bypassed the carnival crowd and walked quickly towards the outside of the nightclub.

What he said just now is of course a joke. Sofia Coppola can enter Chanel as an assistant for the fashion king. The Coppola family must have played a huge role, and she would never work as a telephone operator.

Entering the parking lot, Duke fired up the Chevrolet and headed west, leaving the tiring night behind.

Tomorrow will be a new day!

After filming was over, most of the others could enjoy a long vacation, but Duke was far from relaxing. After only two days of rest, he and Robin Grande co-editor returned to the 'Speed' studio in West Hollywood to begin Equally important post-production work.

Generally speaking, the post-production of the film includes three aspects. Assembling shots, which is usually referred to as editing; special effects production, such as special transition effects of shots, fading in and out, and circle in and out, etc.; and sound effect production, which is vertical montage.

The post-production of modern films takes a long time, and the idea that post-production of a public release film can be completed in a few days or even a week is purely a layman’s joke.

Digital production is far from popular, the post-production of "Speed ​​of Life and Death" will definitely use film throughout, and all the special effects of this film are either shot on the spot or completed through model shooting, and no computer special effects technology has been used at all. .

"Robin, I hope the first cut can be implemented according to my ideas."

Standing in the editing room, Duke asked the producer for more power. "We have plenty of time to see the effect of the initial cut and then decide on the final plan."

Although many Hollywood crews will exclude the director from the editing work, as the person who shoots the footage, if the director can participate in it, the editing work will be relatively smooth. Of course, the premise is that the director cannot go against the producer's idea. .

In fact, compared to most Hollywood directors, the amount of film that Duke shoots, even if it is not as exaggerated as Spielberg, the fast-shooting shooter, must be of a relatively small type, and he has long been aware of editing. draft.