Chapter 13: The gloom under the California sun

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The bright sun is no longer blazing, and the air in the morning and evening also brings a little chill. Entering the Greater Los Angeles area in December, it comes to the time of the year when the average temperature 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 "Life and Death Speed". Unfortunately, this crew, which lacks big stars and well-known directors, does not have much appeal. This news only appeared in the entertainment edition. The lower right corner of the second edition occupies less than half a palm. Most of the content focuses on Keanu Reeves and Uma Thurman, a pair of famous actors and actresses, Duke. The director didn't mention it.
As we all know, Lucasfilm is good at content production. Promotional marketing is not his strong point, and he rarely releases films independently. The initial publicity of "Life and Death" is almost zero. Fortunately, after negotiations, 20th Century Fox I'm sure I will become the distributor of the film, but the specific terms have to be discussed after seeing the samples.
The unstoppable pace of mid-December arrived. With Duke blasting a bus into scrap metal, the filming finally reached the final stage.
At sunset, Duke set up the camera on the disused communication tower of Los Angeles International Airport, using a wide-angle lens to capture a rare and beautiful picture. He really likes to focus on the "" lens of sunrise and dusk, which will make the picture very beautiful. , Presenting on the big screen is refreshing.
During the entire filming of the crew, Duke used shooting methods that would be rotten in Hollywood in the future, but are still relatively rare now. For example, shooting with mid-range shots and mixing upward angles to create an exciting feeling; for example, when shooting car chases. , Let the main perspective of the camera follow the car tires...
In making this film, Duke’s primary consideration is the appeal to the audience, and what we show to them must be the freshest excitement.
This is the fourth consecutive day that he has used a wide-angle lens to shoot the sunset and dusk. If it is not the time limit of the film, he will make Keanu Reeves and Uma Thurman walk a few times at sunrise and sunset every day. .
After capturing a satisfactory picture, Duke handed the camera to others for processing, and returned to the set on 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 15 degrees, that's it."
Looking at the heroes and heroines who were ready, Duke finally reminded, "Unit 1 surrounds 360 degrees and captures close-ups of the face!"
After a thrilling life-and-death contest, the protagonist and heroine give a hearty and hearty kiss, is it cliché? Very clichéd, but even in the past two decades, most viewers still like to see such scenes. Why should he not shoot?
After Duke called the start, Keanu Reeves and Uma Thurman, a typical American girl, kissed together...
"I declare..."
After this scene was over, Duke yelled in a hoarse voice, "All the shooting of "Life and Death" is over!"
He took a long sigh of relief, under tremendous pressure, and went through a full 72 days of suffering. This long journey was finally completed by one third.
The applause rang, messy and flat, not only Duke, but other people were exhausted physically and mentally.
After all, in the past month, everyone has lived in an environment full of noise, speeding, collisions and even explosions every day. Even the most energetic people consume almost the same energy and enthusiasm.
The crew returned to Universal Studios, sealed the film, temporarily put the equipment in the warehouse, and then put on glamorous costumes, went straight to a famous nightclub in Burbank, and held an indispensable carnival party when the Hollywood crew was finished.
The area of ​​the nightclub is not too big. It was taken down by the crew. Because there was no relationship between calling friends and friends, Duke arrived earlier. Most of the others who arrived one after another brought male or female companions, especially It was Keanu Reeves, who also brought the now infamous Johnny Depp and Revan Phoenix.
At this kind of party that will not be public, alcohol and hemp are must-haves, and people are everywhere, especially those around Keanu Reeves and Johnny Depp. , It is obviously coca base.
Although he tried big hemp out of curiosity in middle school, Duke had no interest in these things. Of course, he would not be stupid enough to stop anything. After all, this is the norm in Hollywood, not to mention those little stars who struggle from the bottom. Even Sophia Coppola, who has a good tutor, ran to take a few breaths after coming over to say hello to him.
California’s bright sunshine is full of unspeakable darkness. Hollywood, a place that can magnify all emotions and always use wealth, power and talent to make life and death gambling, makes too many film practitioners both victims and perpetrators. Especially the "super treatment" that is different from ordinary people's lifestyle, heavy pressure and successful stimulation, it is really difficult for people to preserve the "sound personality" of the secular standard.
In fact, Keanu Reeves, Johnny Depp, and Revan Phoenix are the best portrayals. If it weren’t for the latter to take drugs. Overdose and hang up, causing the former two to wake up. It is difficult to say that they will achieve it in the future. That kind of achievement.
For a moment, Duke felt like a participant-he had stepped into this circle, and like a bystander-he could see all this with calm eyes and a clear head.
This was also the last night the crew actually existed. Except for him, most of the people on the scene would not participate in the post-production. Whether it was their doubts or the tit-for-tat after the mentality imbalance caused by jealousy caused by the assistant director Kane, All will end after tonight.
There are bound to be various obstacles on the road to success. Moving forward is more important than entangled with those trivial obstacles!
"Hi……"
Sophia Coppola, who was holding a wine glass, came over and sat directly opposite Duke, "It seems that it's time for us to say goodbye."
"Indeed." Ryan took the wine glass and touched her. "Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
"What are your plans next?"
She is the person who has the best relationship with him in the entire crew, so Duke asked concerned, "Or continue to look for the crew as an assistant?"
"Do you want to hire me?" Sophia tilted her head and looked at him.
"You are a very good assistant."
Just like what he said, Sophia, who grew up in the Hollywood circle, is handy in handling film-related matters, "Maybe we can continue to cooperate in the future."
"Later?" She shrugged to Duke. "Duke, if this fails, you won't have a second chance."
"Do you think I will fail?" Duke looked at her.
"Reality and reason tell me that a director of your age can't succeed." Sophia took a bottle of Sydney liqueur from the waiter's tray, poured some into his and Duke's glasses, and then said. "But everything I have seen in the past two months tells me that this is probably a big-selling movie."
"Isn't this a compliment?" Duke had another drink with her.
"Do I have to compliment you?" Sophia curled her lips, and a monotonous nasal sound came in her voice. "Do you know what position Chanel reserved for me? Karl Lagerfeld's assistant! The same assistant, you Think I should choose him, or you?"
"Assistant?" Duke shook his finger at her. "Isn't it a telephone operator?"
"Duke Rosenberg!"
Sofia Coppola's eyes widened instantly, as if being poked at the vital point.
"My dear, continue to pursue your fashion dreams."
Checking his watch, Duke stood up, "It's getting late, I'm going home."
Seeing Sophia Coppola waved his hand casually, Duke walked around the carnival crowd and walked quickly to the outside of the nightclub.
What he said just now is of course a joke. Sophia Coppola can join Chanel as an assistant to the fashion emperor. The Coppola family must have played a huge role and would never be a telephone operator.
Entering the parking lot, Duke launched the Chevrolet and drove towards the west, completely throwing the tired and noisy night behind him.
Tomorrow will be a new day!
At the end of the filming, most of the others can enjoy a long vacation, but Duke is far from relaxing. After just two days of rest, he and Robin Grande cooperated with the editor to return to the Speed ​​studio in West Hollywood and start Equally important post-production work.
Generally speaking, the post-production of movies includes three major aspects. Combine shots, which is usually called editing; production of special effects, such as special transition effects of the lens, fade in and out, and circle in and out; there is also sound effect production, which is vertical montage.
The post-production of modern movies takes a long time. The idea that a publicly-screened film can be completed in a few days or even a week is purely a joke.
Digital production is far from popular. The post-production of "Life and Death Speed" will definitely use film throughout, and all the special effects of this film are either shot on the spot or completed by model shooting. No computer special effects technology has been used. .
"Robin, I hope the first cut can be implemented according to my ideas."
Standing in the editing room, Duke fought for more power from the producers, "We have plenty of time to see the effect of the first 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 camera, if the director can participate in the editing work, the editing work will be relatively smooth. Of course, the premise is that the director cannot act against the ideas of the producer. .
In fact, compared to most Hollywood directors, the number of films that Duke shoots, even if it is not as exaggerated as the fast-shooter Spielberg, must belong to the less genre, and he has long been involved in editing. draft.