The preparation stage of the movie is a meticulous and strategic process, just like building a house to do design drawings, all aspects of the problem that needs to be considered and as perfect as possible before. Before the official start-up, every prop, every shot, and every person must be considered thoroughly, otherwise problems will easily arise during shooting.

Hollywood movies are generally in a U-line structure, with a very long preparation period and post-stage period, and the shooting time is relatively short. The same is true for domestic regular crews; while the preparation period is generally very short, and they start working as soon as they pull people up, but they are often in a lot of situations when shooting.

"Prisoner of Time" will be broadcast during the Spring Festival. Zhang Ran plans to complete the production in two months, and the preparation period is undoubtedly greatly compressed. Fortunately, Qing Film Studio has a complete range of categories, and needs lighting and photography and video, which are all ready-made; and these people have a lot of experience in filming, saving time to run-in.

Zhang Ran looked at the main creators of the crew, cleared his throat, and said loudly: "Movies are collective projects. It is difficult to do well with the strength of one person. Everyone must concentrate their strength. Therefore, I hope everyone can work together sincerely and make this movie well! Everyone knows that the movie channel will be rewarded. I think so. If our crew can get 4.5 points, the crew will collect 200,000 yuan for everyone; if we get 5 points, we will get 500,000 yuan as a reward! So everyone work hard!"

Everyone was shocked when they heard this and applauded enthusiastically. Two of the old fried dough sticks even flattered Zhang Ran at the top of their throats.

Zhang Ran pressed his hand and signaled everyone to be quiet: "The movie channel plans to broadcast our movie during the Spring Festival. Time is limited, so we strive to complete it within two months. The first task in front of us is to break down the script. Please ask each group to break down the script as soon as possible and come up with a plan so that the producer can make the production schedule and the producer make the budget."

When it comes to film preparation, many people think that the first thing is to write a storyboard script, which is actually wrong. The first thing is to break down the script. Simply put, it is to disassemble the script one by one according to the basic elements such as scenes, scenes, actors, etc., and also pay attention to the shooting length, props, stunts and photography equipment. The best way to do work is to write all the content on the index card and make a scene card.

After decomposing all the scenes, the production team can add variables one by one. Including the distance between the outdoor locations, whether the shooting time is day or night, indoor or outdoor, and when the outdoor location is available; then consider the actors: when can the film be filmed, who needs to work together, etc.

Then all the content can be integrated into a general production table, and a detailed shooting plan will be formulated. Before the official shooting, all crew members will have a watch.

Why is this the first thing to do? In this way, the producer can create a budget plan based on the list and shooting plan. Only then can the crew take action separately, make props and set scenery, contact the venue and borrow the machine.

At the end of the meeting, Zhang Ran called the members of the director team together for a meeting. Zhang Ran had two deputy directors, the first deputy director was Huang Kunming, an old man from Qing Film Studio; the second deputy director was Ning Hao. As a rebirth, Zhang Ran knew that Ning Hao was one of the few young directors in China who could make good commercial films, and such talents must be captured.

Zhang Ran looked at several of his assistants and said, "Time is tight, and we have few people. Dividing the labor to do it can save time. Lao Huang, you are the first deputy director, you may have to work harder. You must do it mainly by decomposing the script. I have to prepare special effects!"

Huang Kunming replied: "Director, don't worry, I have participated in the shooting of many movies, I'll leave this to me, I will definitely be able to do it well."

"Thank you for your hard work!" Zhang Ran smiled at Huang Kunming, then looked at Ning Hao and said, "Ning Hao, I have to trouble you with the matter of surveying the scenery!"

"Director, look at me!" Ning Hao nodded.

"We have limited time, so please everyone!"

After the work was arranged, Zhang Ran explained the precautions again, and then the director group meeting ended and everyone became busy.

The most important task after decomposing the script is to be beautiful. If you write the storyboard script first and then go to the scene survey, what will happen? You will find that some places cannot be retrieved at all, some scheduling is actually unreasonable, some scenes that are easy to shoot have serious noise problems, and some people who stand there in the angle you designed have no light at all... As a result, the storyboard script becomes a pile of waste paper, and you can only start over from scratch.

Therefore, the process of viewing is crucial. Only when the viewing is completed can you write a storyboard and draw a storyboard.

The landscape survey is divided into preliminary survey and re-survey. Under normal circumstances, the director may not be able to leave the scene during the preliminary survey. He only needs to ask the assistant director or other assistant to take some video materials as needed, and the director selects appropriate attractions from them.

However, when the re-examination is conducted, the director must be present. Because only by looking at the outdoor scene can the director determine the composition of the shot and draw a storyboard. The storyboard cannot be drawn entirely based on imagination. For example, using frame-based composition, you must find the elements that form the frame. If you draw the picture first, what should you do when you go to the scene to see what does not form the frame? Unless the crew has money, you can set up the scene as needed.

While the director is re-examining, photographers, lighting engineers, sound engineers and other relevant personnel must also be present. The photographer must select the appropriate camera position according to the viewing situation and design the shooting methods of some scenes in advance; the lighting engineer must also check the light position to see if there is a power supply nearby and whether the electric car can be driven in. If there is no power supply, you must bring a generator, and then design how to deploy the light according to the viewing situation.

Artists also need to survey the scenery to determine how to set the scenery, what props are needed, and how to arrange the props. When the conditions for real-life shooting are not met, artificial scenery must be prepared. The recorder also needs to check whether the surrounding environment is noisy that interferes with the recording, and it is not convenient to support the boom when looking at the space.

The scenes of "Prisoner of Time" are relatively simple, most of the scenes are in the hotel, and the landscape exploration work is progressing very smoothly. It took only one day to complete all the scenes.

On the second day after completing the landscape survey, Zhang Ran came to the Beijing Electric Animation Academy.

The Animation Academy was originally established in 1952. It was originally called the Animation Department. It was changed to the Animation Academy in January 2000. The Animation Academy has the most complete film and television animation teaching internship facilities and an excellent faculty team in China. It has strong strength in 3D animation and computer multimedia technology.

Zhang Ran found Sun Lijun, the dean of the Animation Academy. The special effects of "Prisoner of Time" require the assistance of the Animation Academy. With the approval of the dean, all work will be easy to carry out.

Sun Lijun is famous in the animation industry, of course, mainly because of infamousness. It is the existence of Japanese anime lovers who want to eat their flesh and sleep with their skin. Sun Lijun does not understand the special effects, but "Prisoner of Time" is the school's own project, and Zhang Ran is also a teacher at the school, so he must have strong support. He recommended Chen Ningyu to Zhang Ran.

Based on Sun Lijun's instructions, Zhang Ran found the office where Chen Ningyu was.

"Oh, why did handsome guy Zhang come here? Our female teacher in our department talk about you a lot!" Chen Ningyu was reading newspapers in the office. When he saw Zhang Ran, he started joking.

"Teacher Chen, don't joke about me, I'll ask you for something!" Zhang Ran walked in with a smile and greeted several other teachers.

Chen Ningyu felt strange, put down the newspaper and asked, "What's the matter?"

Zhang Ran smiled and nodded: "I brought a project and wanted to cooperate with Teacher Chen."

Chen Ningyu was stunned and said curiously: "Oh, what project?"

Zhang Ran explained: "Our Qing Film Studio and the Film Channel are preparing to co-produce a movie called "The Prisoner of Time". The project has been established and the funds have been in place. It is a science fiction film, which involves computer special effects and requires 3D modeling. I heard from Dean Sun that Teacher Chen is proficient in 3dmax, so we came to the door and wanted to invite you out."

"Make a science fiction movie?" Chen Ningyu was stunned and looked at Zhang Ran in surprise. "I know what model you want to build with 3dmax. I don't know what kind of experience you want to build. I don't have the experience of making movie special effects. Can this work?"

"It's just to make a flying car and a 3D model of a street. We have already chosen the address of the street. I'll show you!" Zhang Ran opened his backpack, took out a stack of photos and placed it on the table. "It's this street, make this street into a 3D model, replace this house, and rebuild a more sci-fi building."

"This is not difficult to do, but I definitely can't do it alone. I have to bring at least a dozen students. What's going on with flying cars?"

"The story takes place 40 years later. The car can fly. The heroine drives the car and then lands from the air. The car door automatically opens. The heroine gets off the car. It requires a green screen cushion and later synthesis. This is how it is operated..." Zhang Ran took out the storyboard and pointed to the camera to introduce his design to Chen Ningyu in detail and how to operate it.

Ordinary CG special effects are not as complicated as imagined. Zhang Ran remembers that many domestic special effects companies in later generations took over Hollywood outsourcing. For example, basefx not only participated in the production of many American blockbusters, but also won the best visual effects award for three Emmy Awards. The special effects of "Prisoner of Time" are relatively simple, so it was enough for Chen Ningyu to bring students from the animation academy to do it.

As for why domestic film and television special effects are all 50 cents special effects, the reason is very simple. One is the problem of money. Domestic film and television works are mainly spent on actors. The special effects cost is very small. You only spend 50 cents. If you want to make special effects for fifty yuan, it is obviously impossible. Another is the director's problem. The special effects are made according to the director's aesthetics. The director has to do whatever he says. The effect of the director's aesthetics is naturally strange.

Zhang Ran actually has limited understanding of special effects technology. He knows ordinary special effects and 3D modeling, and he has only heard of advanced things like motion capture. However, he is quite clear about the future development path of special effects, and these advanced things still make Chen Ningyu stunned.
Chapter completed!