The Best Director

In White Plains, New York, the spacious and large offices of the Blue Sky Animation headquarters are all decorated with festive ribbon balloons at this time, and the employees in casual clothes all have happy smiles on their faces. Everyone gathers together and shouts with a smile: " 3, 2, 1"

"Wow!" Mike Allenkiss, director of animation production and technical director who returned to New York from Los Angeles, shouted and opened the champagne in his hand. Swaying, the spray caused everyone around to dodge, and there was laughter in the office. The animators screamed with laughter: "Oh my God, don't come to me. (Reading Network)", "No, no, I really Can't stand this"...

The box office of "Ice Age" exceeded 60 million in the first week of screening. The performance of "Ice Age" greatly exceeded the market's expectations. It is also worthy of celebration by Flames and Blue Sky. A small party in the office is one of them.

"Guys, guys" Mike Ellings yelled again and again, everyone slowly fell silent, Mike smiled excitedly, looked around everyone, and said: "I have to announce a good news "Hearing that it was good news, everyone immediately applauded and whistled joyfully, and Mike Elinkes said with a dragged smile: "As far as I know, this is actually our dear, lovely magic that has been confirmed. Yang, and Flame Movie, have decided to cast two CG movies next."

"Wow, is this true?" The animator Austin couldn't help but widen his eyes, and other people who reacted also asked, with surprise and disbelief on their faces. It was reasonable that there would be a new project, but suddenly The two really surprised them a bit. The female animator Marge also gasped for breath in surprise, and asked, "Really, really? Are we going to make two movies soon?"

Mike Alynckes nodded solemnly, and said with a happy smile: "I dare to say to my blog that this is true, one is "Ice Age 2", and the other has not been confirmed yet." He paused, Excitedly said: "But we're not the only ones doing it, Blue Sky is going to recruit more partners."

"YES, that's cool." Austin, Marge and others jumped up and down laughing and screaming, and some people were so excited that they used foul language directly: "It's so fucking awesome", "We're going to kick you!" Blow the ass of the new guys"

The two CG movie projects and the company's expansion of staff, they all know what this means. First of all, Blue Sky will not lay off employees, and their lucrative job will continue. In fact, the position of animators is very dangerous. Will be idle, the company will naturally not spend money to support idlers who have nothing to do, especially these idlers are not irreplaceable.

However, after the completion of "Ice Age" at the end of last year, Flame Films did not dismiss any animators, nor did they let them idle every day. Instead, they joined the special effects team of "District 9" and drew part of the shots; Chris -With his connections, Wei Qi also slowed down a few TV commercial projects, which made the company and employees happy. (Fox originally laid off more than 100 animators when "Ice Age" was nearing completion.)

And now not only will there be no layoffs,

They will expand the scale, which means they have a chance to be promoted, because they are all old guys who have experience in making a CG film. If they are assigned to the team of the new animation, they are obviously more important than newcomers. Unless those people came from Pixar and DreamWorks. But so what? Lantian is no weaker than any animation company, they are just getting started

"Jan has something for me to tell everyone." Mike Elynchise raised the champagne in his hand with a smile, looked at many familiar faces, and said loudly: "Let's create a big scene together haha"

"Wow, wow, wow!" There was thunderous applause in the office, and everyone clapped their hands frantically, cheered and shouted: "Yes, we can do it", "Blue sky, blue sky"

At this time, Austin picked up a bottle of champagne from the dining table and shook it violently a few times. Bu opened it and sprayed it on the crowd with a smile. : "Don't spray me, damn it, I can't stand it", "Oh my neck, you're dead"

Facing the situation where the North American and overseas markets of "Ice Age" are showing a hurricane trend, the senior partners of Flame Films have unanimously agreed to the production of "Ice Age 2"; and whether to carry out two projects at the same time, there are several people. He has reservations, but Wang Yang said, "If you are timid, there will be no Flame Movie today. If you are afraid, I will bear this investment alone." It is convincing them, not to mention his magical investment vision, major shareholders are not afraid , what are they afraid of?

After it was confirmed, for the promotion of "Ice Age", Flame Movie couldn't wait to announce the news to the media. Blue Sky will launch two CG film productions in the future. The project is not disclosed at this time.

"Crazy" Although the flames and the blue sky are not what they used to be, this move has still been lamented by many film companies and the media. Now the second week of "Ice Age" has not yet ended. Even if it is a super hit, the problem is that it is magical. What are those people in Yang's hurry? Aren't you afraid that extreme joy will give rise to sorrow? But everyone knows that this kind of thing will never happen in "Ice Age"...

The two directors of "Ice Age", Chris Wedge and Carlos Saldanha, have also become recent celebrities in the film industry. When they accepted an exclusive interview with "Variety" magazine, they said: "It turns out that Our decision at the beginning was correct, the flame movie is full of vigor and vigor, I am really grateful to it, it gave Lan Tian a stable, generous and free creative environment, and allowed us to grow up."

"The technology of "Ice Age" is indeed based on a simple style, maybe it doesn't look so refined." Chris Wedge smiled happily and said confidently: "But we have been developing new technologies, no matter Whether it’s the 3D engine or the rendering system, we’ve made a lot of breakthroughs, and you can see it in Ice Age 2, I’m sure it’ll scare you, ‘Is this still a rough blue sky?’ haha”

When talking about the topic of Wang Yang, both of them were full of praise to the reporter. Chris Wedge praised: "He is great. This young man is unbelievable. You know that with someone who is 23 years younger than yourself, and he is only 22 years old. It feels kind of weird to work with a guy who was, and before that, 19, but he just has the ability to break through all your pedigree and prejudice."

Carlos Saldanha agreed with this, jokingly and seriously: "If I have a daughter of this age, I must introduce them to each other, he is one of the best people in his 20-year-old age group. "

"He gave "Ice Age" a lot of help, and it can be said that it changed everything. At the beginning, our vision was to make this story into a feature film." Chris Wedge shook his head with a smile, recalling : "Then he said, 'Don't you think this story can be very humorous? It's the kind of family comedy that is suitable for a family to eat popcorn and watch with a smile.' When we heard it at that time, we panicked a little, God Carlos took the conversation, frowned and said with a smile: "This little guy is going to go back on his word? He's going to intervene in the production of "Ice Age"?"

Reporter Fernando knew that the current "Ice Age" is a family comedy, so he asked with a smile: "So what made you change your mind?"

Chris Wedge shrugged and smiled: "Because it really makes sense. Our original idea was just to 'take a story about animals from the prehistoric ice age', and then for the sake of substitution, we added human babies, but Everything was not set, so we asked 'how?'" Carlos spread his hands: "He said, 'make the characters interesting, especially their dialogue, such as making the mammoth talk in a sarcastic style. ?Guys, we're crude, but humor doesn't require computer skills.'"

"Then discuss, discuss..." Wedge gestured for a long time, finally nodded, and said with a smile: "We are all convinced, and we are also very interested in family comedy stories." Carlos laughed: "Then we said, okay, let's do it and now think if 'Ice Age' is a serious adventure drama, it's going to be a disaster."

The main creators of "Ice Age" are busy accepting interviews during the release period; while "Sweetheart", which is very popular but overshadowed by blockbuster films, also has a media page, because it collides with "The Newcomer" starring Eliza Dushku. On the positive side, when Jessica was doing an exclusive interview with "People" magazine, she was asked about the casting of "Idle Hands" a few years ago. What if Shah Dushku is on High School Musical?" Jessica replied, "If that doesn't make any sense, Eliza and I are good friends and we're fine now."

"How's your relationship with Miraculous Yang? Many people used to say that you two would finish playing in one year, but now it's almost three years." Claudie asked another gossip question. Jessica couldn't help showing a sweet smile, and said generously: "Every time I see him, I always feel a thumping feeling. What do you say?"

After attending the premiere of "Ice Age", Wang Yang still spent every day in the editing room as usual, dealing with the thousands of meters long film pile. It was after 9 o'clock in the evening that I came home again. I sat on the fabric sofa in the living room, closed my eyes slightly, and immediately relaxed my whole body. However, it was not the darkness in front of me, but the image of "District 9".

"Hey, little guy." Feeling Danny turning around at his feet, he reached out and stroked its short fur. After a while, he opened his eyes and picked up the vibrating mobile phone on the coffee table to look. It was Will -A text message from Smith, "Dude, call me when you're free." He called Jiang Ye with some doubts, and said, "Hi, Will, what can I do for you?"

Will Smith over there laughed loudly: "Good evening, MAN." He had already made a congratulatory phone call for the achievement of "Ice Age", and this time it had nothing to do with the movie. He organized his speech and said: "It's actually like this. Ever since Jaden saw your great Kung Fu last time, he has been saying that he wants to learn Kung Fu. You know he is less than 4 years old. Children always like it today." This, Tomorrow likes that, so Jada and I didn't really care too much."

Wang Yang hummed, and took a bottle of beer from Jessica: "Here you are, Yang." While opening the lid of the can, he listened to Will Smith laughing and said, "He's been watching every day these days. Kung Fu movies, Jada bought them for him, Bruce Lee, Jet Li...he's 'drinking' and 'ahhh' all day now, haha"

"Haha, that's really interesting." Wang Yang also laughed immediately, guessing Will's intention in his heart, and asked, "Jaden really wants to learn Kung Fu?" Will Smith responded with a smile, and said, "Now he Obsessed with kung fu, the one who is crying and fussing wants to learn, and he still wants to learn from you. So buddy, can you teach him?"

"Oh, learn Kung Fu from me?" Hearing this request, Wang Yang was a little stunned. He thought Will was here to ask for some advice, such as whether it is suitable for a four-year-old to start practicing martial arts, and what kind of Kung Fu is better. Will's laughter came from the mobile phone, and he said: "Yes, he said that your kung fu is the coolest and the best to play." Wang Yang smiled, thought for a while and said: "Will, learning kung fu is very hard. , especially learning Bajiquan like me."

He looked at Jessica who was reading a magazine next to him, thinking about the hardships he had experienced in martial arts since he was a child, and said seriously: "It's very hard, if Jaden just wants to learn some superficial postures, I can also teach him , to ensure that he plays coolly and makes movies, but I will not admit that I am his master. Will, please understand, this is the school rule." Will Smith replied: "I understand very well."

"But if you want to learn real Kung Fu and Bajiquan, I have to say that for a four-year-old child..." Wang Yang couldn't help laughing. Hitting against a locust tree, puffy... He always felt that he could have grown to be above M, with a standard PG figure, but it was because he bumped too much that he became what he is now.

Of course, a four-year-old child will not immediately practice killer moves such as sticking to the mountain, and will only practice moderate basic skills at the beginning, taking care of the ligaments, muscles and bones, otherwise it will really affect the development. But Bajiquan is a fierce close-body boxing method, and even the basic skills for beginners are more difficult than other boxing methods. Thinking of this, Wang Yang laughed at himself: "The court can sue me for child abuse, and I will go to jail again."

Will Smith felt that Wang Yang was a bit exaggerated. Besides, he is tall and handsome now, isn't it good? Will laughed and said, "Yan, Jada and I are not the kind of parents who pamper their children, the most important thing is their own wishes. But if you ask Jaden, he will definitely say that you want to learn real kung fu, buddy, I don't think you will either. Will really abuse him, haha, I'll ask now, he came running over, Jaden..."

Soon, Wang Yang heard Jaden yelling excitedly: "I want to learn real kung fu, I want to learn real kung fu." Wang Yang took a sip of beer and said with a smile: "OK, OK, I know little guy , let your father listen first." Then he heard Will's hey voice, Wang Yang frowned and considered the matter, and then said after a while: "Will, I think Jaden is still a bit too young. "

"He is only less than four years old. If he is allowed to practice real kung fu now, he will probably not be able to last for two days, and he will cry and say, 'I won't learn anymore'." He shook his head and continued to talk to his phone. Said: "And you will lose interest in kung fu, and maybe you will become annoying, which is unfair to Jaden." Jessica, who heard the reason, couldn't help but nodded in agreement.

"MAN, you're right." Will Smith over there immediately agreed, and asked, "Then you mean to wait until he grows up?" Wang Yang thought for a while, and said, "How about that?" , I will teach him some movements and postures first, to make him happy, and have a kung fu addiction; when he is 6 or 7 years old, if he still wants to learn real kung fu and he is suitable in all aspects, I will take him as an apprentice. "

Will Smith said happily: "Wow, that's great. When will you have time to teach him? Huh, I'm going crazy being pestered by this kid. Ouch, h" Jaden was faintly beating and beating on the phone The voice seemed to be beating his father.

"Haha" Wang Yang waved his fist with a smile, and said, "You know I've been busy editing "District 9" every day, and I just came home today. So I have to wait for a while; or, I probably I'll get up at 6 o'clock, and then practice boxing and run in the morning...it seems a bit too early." Will said quickly: "Oh no, no, he can't wait for a minute, let's go there tomorrow night, okay? "

"Okay, no problem." Wang Yang couldn't help but sighed in his heart. Although Will didn't pamper the child, he definitely pampered him. He said with a smile, "It doesn't have to be so early, you just need to come at 7 o'clock tomorrow."

The air in the morning was refreshing and fresh, the green grass on the lawn was covered with dew, wearing a white T-shirt with a mammoth Manny pattern from "Ice Age" and a pair of trousers, Wang Yang, who had no sense of a master, was playing Bajiquan, the fist wind is raging, the tiger is full of power, the speed is as fast as a leopard, but the strength is as big as a rhinoceros, as the fist rushes and shakes between the feet, the air keeps ringing "Huo Huo!" ", "啪", "呼" and other sounds.

Will Smith, Jada Pinkett, and the little guy Jaden all cried out. Jaden's eyes were even brighter, his immature face was full of excitement, and he also waved his little fist. He felt that he She is about to become such a kung fu master, and Jessica, with her hands crossed over her chest, has a usual smile on her face. She has seen him practice boxing many times since they lived together.

"Huh" After finishing a set of small fights, Wang Yang put his legs together and pressed down with his palms, breathing into his dantian. Both the Smith family and Jessica laughed and applauded, and Jaden shouted tenderly and excitedly: "Cool kung fu, kung fu is amazing." He waved his fists indiscriminately while imitating the sound of breaking the wind: "Ho ho ho ho what--"

Wang Yang took a clean towel from Jessica, wiped the sweat from his palms, looked at the joyful Jaden, and smiled calmly, "How is it? Do you want to learn?"

"Yeah..." Jaden nodded violently and said, "If I want to learn, I want to learn." He suddenly seemed to remember something, and asked again: "Can you break a piece of wood?" Will, Jada, Jie Xika immediately smiled; Wang Yang was also amused, kids practice martial arts just to be cool, didn't he do it before? He shrugged and said with a smile: "Look at how thick that piece of wood is. If it's an ordinary performance wood block, yes, I can interrupt it."

"Teach me, teach me Yang, teach me." Jaden was full of excitement and pleading. Wang Yang said OK with a smile, returned the towel to Jessica, and stepped on the green grass under his feet vigorously. Doing a posture with arms bent forward, said with a smile: "Today I will teach you a few boxing styles, follow me."

Jaden quickly stood upright, bending his arms decently according to his posture, with a meticulous expression. Both Will and Jada looked at their son with smiles, eyes filled with warmth and concern.

"Well then, I'm going to punch." Wang Yang swung his fists slowly, while lowering his head to pay attention to Jaden's study. Seeing the serious look of this kid, he couldn't help but smile, thinking of himself The picture of learning boxing when I was a child. It's good for children to like kung fu. It can strengthen their body, exercise their will, and be cool... Let more children like kung fu?

He suddenly had this idea, and then thought of another undecided film project of Blue Sky Studios, and muttered: "Kung Fu, Kung Fu..."

When the week from May 17th to 23rd came to an end, "Ice Age" also became "a milestone CG animation film of this year" praised by the media. The reason is simple. The box office exceeded 100 million U.S. dollars

In the weekly box office rankings, the unstoppable "Star Wars: Episode 2: Attack of the Clones" is at the top of the list. It frantically took the second place. "Spiderman" received another 51.28 million in a single week. "Ice Age", which entered the second week in North America, ranked third, with a box office of 45.49 million, and the total box office figure reached 108 million.

Why is this a milestone? Who are the CG animation films with over 100 million North American box office? 267 million, "Shrek," DreamWorks; 255 million, "Monsters, Inc.", Pixar; 245 million, "Toy Story 2," Pixar; 191 million, "Toy Story," Pixar; 162 million, "A Bug's Life" Team, Pixar; 137 million, Dinosaurs, Disney.

Then the seventh place is DreamWorks and the eighth place is "Jimmy the Genius Kid", which received 80.93 million yuan from Paramount ※DNA.

Except for Pixar and DreamWorks, no company can make a good deal with its own CG animation, but now it is different, everything is different, because "Ice Age" has become the seventh CG animation with a box office of over 100 million in North America Blue Sky Studios It also became the fourth company with this achievement after Pixar, Disney, and DreamWorks, and it was very hot for a while.

"Blue Sky Studios on the Rise" - The New York Times Feature Story Headline