Dominating Hollywood: Starting with Scarlett

Chapter 230 The Collapse of Paris
The next day, the crew flew to Paris.

They were on the streets of Paris and had already decided on a commercial street as the filming location.

It was necessary to use this as a scene to complete a directional explosion, which is the most famous shot in the movie, the disintegration of Paris.

But as soon as the crew arrived, Tang De received bad news.

That is, the Paris city government did not allow the crew to complete blasting on the streets, believing that this would have an impact on the city's appearance.

"The city of Paris is bullshit." Karl, who came to the set together, recalled the various urine stains he saw on the street yesterday and couldn't help but curse.

"This can only mean that the money has not been provided yet." Tang De asked producer Emma to negotiate with the Paris city government again and provide some benefits if necessary.

In any country, money is indispensable to open the way.

Because the streets were not settled, Tang De and the others could only take pictures of the mirror world under the Paris Bridge first.

There isn't much complicated pre-preparation for this scene, it just requires a mirror.

"So now our final solution is to use a crane and let the camera go from top to bottom." Chris gestured and said with a smile: "Even the angle is specific."

Heath Ledger and Ellen Page walked up the stairs, talking as they walked toward the edge.

"Yes."

"What should I do with the reflection in the mirror?" After Nolan asked this question, he touched his chin: "Should we use tilt-shift to shoot?"

"A lot." Chris explained: "For example, how to ensure that it will not show up in the lens, its size, the material of the board, etc."

"That's right, Chris, how's it going?" Tang De looked at his visual effects director, Chris, who had already led his team to complete the measurements on site.

The heroine played by Ellen Page listens to the man's voice and finds herself in an endless circular staircase.

However, the matter of street bombing has not yet been fully discussed, and those Paris officials are very tight-lipped and have not let go.

"We simulated it many times on the computer. After determining the model, we made six real models with different shapes for comparison." Tang De explained: "After determining the appropriate model, we then I performed lighting simulations and lens simulations on the computer because I had to find a suitable angle of view so that the camera movement would look seamless.”

"Well, what are you going to do, post-production special effects?"

Tang De shook his head: "The effect caused by the tilt shift will be very fake, so I don't consider this."

Emma had to make a call to the investment companies. This situation could only be passed through the channels of major companies.

He walked over to the mirror, and Nolan followed.

Donde and the camera team stood next to Leonardo, watching him talk to Ellen Page.

While several people were chatting, the crew was fully prepared and the filming of this segment officially started.

But after using the tilt-shift, you can keep the height and bottom the same width, so many architectural photographers are often masters of tilt-shift.

"But this is the only way to make it more real, isn't it?" Tang De smiled and explained: "In order to look real, we will also make various deformations based on the mirror."

However, tilt-shifting in movies is not that simple, as in this scene.

"Crack!"

"I can only say that I am amazed." Nolan didn't know what to say, because he didn't expect that the filming of this movie was so complicated. Even if it was just a shot of a few seconds, there was a lot of ingenuity behind it.

As for filming...

"No problem, Don, we will then film everything that appears in the mirror and then recreate it in special effects."

However, just because the preliminary preparations were simple, when the 1.5-ton mirror was installed at the bottom of the bridge, a question arose in the minds of many people.

Just when she was wondering about this, the man stopped and the two of them looked down.

The staff recording the behind-the-scenes documentary nearby moved the camera closer. This was also Tang De's idea. "Inception" will inevitably cause widespread discussion around the world, and the various peripherals and records related to it will also become of people's interest. location.

Nolan understood what Tang De meant after just one glance, and praised: "It's really clever."

"When Tang Dehe mentioned this effect, I immediately agreed." Chris looked at the ladder being built in front of him with a wry smile: "But I didn't expect it to be so difficult."

The camera that was originally at a high position quickly moved down, and the stairs that originally looked like they were connected were split into two halves, revealing the suspended space in the middle.

Just half a day later, the scene in the mirror space of the bridge was completed, and the customized 1.5-ton mirror was also transported away.

Whether it's a sketch or a documentary, maybe it will sell well after the movie is released.

"Rebuild it?" Nolan spread his hands: "This is a big project."

Tilt-shift shooting is not commonly used in film photography, but it is a technique often used in miniature photography.

Tang De's idea is to stuff the scene built in the later stage into this mirror, and then all the deformations, distortions, and flaws will be made according to the scene mapped in reality, so that the effect of the real thing can be achieved.

In the movie, this triangular staircase is an infinite staircase, but how to create it in reality is a big problem.

"Good, that's it."

So everyone has to cooperate in filming the behind-the-scenes footage.

Nolan looked at the scene in front of him and asked with great interest: "I like this, what's the difficulty?"

Tang De pointed to the distortion of the image reflected by the mirror: "Look here, this is the detail we need. It will make the audience confused whether this is a special effect or reality."

Shooting with a tilt-shift lens can change the focus and avoid some cluttered images. It is often used when photographing tall buildings, because tall buildings are larger near the distance and smaller in the distance. They are often photographed as wide at the bottom and pointed at the top.

"In dreams, you can design buildings into impossible shapes, so that you can create closed loops, like the Penrose Stairs, endless stairs."

While waiting, of course the crew couldn't be idle. The group came to an abandoned game company building and prepared to complete the three-dimensional trompe l'oeil staircase scene.

"Very good." Tang De nodded after seeing the effect in the monitor and passed the shot.

After that, they finished filming other scenes of the same scene.

Before the Paris city government agreed to the filming request, Tang De and the crew first came to a warehouse.

Because they plan to demonstrate the scene of the collapse of Paris in advance.

Nolan and Chris have been thinking about this shot for a long time in the past few days, adding more changes to make the entire shot more impactful.

Just then, it will need to be demonstrated again.

A scene similar to a cafe has been arranged in advance in the warehouse. There is a round table and two dummies in front of the air cannon, and a car is parked on the side.

There are coffee cups and water glasses on the round table.

Chris planned to use the air cannon to test the range first to make sure the actors and tables would not be hit by the air cannon.

"3, 2, 1, fire!"

"boom!"

Amidst the violent muffled sound, two masses of air were blown out by the air cannon, carrying a large number of feathers and shredded paper. The vehicle next to it was shaken and rolled in a circle, and stopped further away.

Tang De, Chris, and Nolan immediately went forward to check.

"There is nothing wrong with the table. The coffee cups and water glasses are not affected." Nolan nodded, thinking that the idea of ​​this air cannon was indeed good.

It is safe and has good explosion effect.

However, Tang De touched the chair and said, "There are some scraps of paper here. Chris, you need to adjust it 1-2 degrees more."

"No problem." Chris and the special effects team re-measured the safe distance and conducted the experiment again.

"boom!"

This time neither the tabletop nor the chairs were affected in any way, only the vehicles and stalls on both sides were pushed away.

"Okay, let's do another real-life experiment." Chris sat at the round table with another petite woman, pretending to be an actor.

Then the air cannon exploded!

"boom!"

"How do you feel?" Tang De stepped forward and asked after waiting.

Chris shook his head: "Not at all, I can only feel some airflow."

"Very good, then let's do this!"

At the same time, under the influence of Sony, the Paris city government finally approved the application for the filming of "Inception" and agreed to rent an entire street to them.

Seeing that the street blasting scene had passed the review, Tang De and the others quickly seized the opportunity and immediately blocked the road the night they received the news and began preparations.

After staying up all night, the actors took their places early the next morning.

Leonardo and Ellen Page sat at the round table in front of the coffee shop. The sun was very bright today, and both of them could not help but squint their eyes in the sunshine.

"Pull a five-meter curtain above them." Tang De immediately ordered the lighting team to block the light.

Soon, a huge curtain blocked the sun and formed a shadow next to the round table.

When the crew was setting up the air cannon, Tang De walked up to the two of them.

"How are you preparing?" He looked at Ellen Page.

"No problem." Ellen Page smiled.

Leonardo interjected and asked: "So there will be two air cannons coming out from us in a while?"

"That's right." Tang De indicated the position with his hand: "But don't worry, we have tried a safe distance before, and you will not be affected in any way."

"That's good." Leonardo sat on the chair, holding the script and continuing to read.

"The camera crew paid attention to the actors' positions and determined the angles of the two people, and the recording team remembered the actors' movements."

"receive."

"receive."

This scene had a gang scene in the original movie.

During the conversation between the two people, one second Leonardo was still holding his arms, and the next second his movements changed to leaning forward.

There is a lack of connection between the actions, which may be due to the short time during the filming.

Tang De is now facing the same problem. Although the Paris city government agreed to the crew's filming, it only had one day.

So they had to finish filming this scene as quickly as possible.

"Come on, time waits for no one, let's finish filming the scenes before the air cannon!"

"Okay, all departments are ready."

Tang De sat behind the monitor, ready to respond to various situations.

And this unexpected situation soon appeared.

"Paige! Stop acting so uncertain! You think you're in reality now! Not a dream!"

"Leonardo, don't make so many little moves, the camera will almost lose focus!"

"Lighting team, there is lack of light on the character's face! Didn't you see it? Quickly make up for it!"

"This is the second time! FXXK! Have you lost your mind? I told you to use a foam board! Someone else comes and lights it!"

"Photography, why is your lens shaking? I'll give you five minutes! Solve all the problems!"

Often, the more urgent the time, the more things happen. The crew, which usually cooperates well, immediately made many mistakes within a limited time.

Fortunately, Tang De's eyesight was amazing and he could accurately detect problems every time, so no bigger shooting accidents were caused.

After spending a whole morning, they finally finished filming the literary and opera clips. Tang De also specially checked to see if there was any gangstering.

Then it was the turn of the explosion scene.

"Remember, all actors, please stand in a fixed safe position and do not move. These air cannons are not dangerous and will not affect you."

The actors nodded and stood in their assigned positions.

After everything was ready, Tang De stared at the screen closely and looked at the picture in the camera.

"The explosives department is ready!"

"3, 2, 1! Start!"

"Bang!" The first shot ended successfully, smashing a fruit stand into pieces.

"Bang!" The second shot ended successfully, shattering the newsstand into pieces.

"Bang!" The third shot was fired.

"Ka!" Tang De shouted and interrupted the shooting.

"Pause! Pause!" Chris immediately waved and shouted to signal the demolition team to stop.

Then Tang De got up angrily, walked to an extra, picked up his collar and cursed: "FXXK! YOU! What are you doing! Shit!"

"What's wrong?" The crew rushed over and surrounded the two people to prevent other reporters from taking pictures.

"What are you doing!" But Tang De still didn't let go of his collar: "What are you doing in the camera! You are giving the middle finger! FXXK!"

"What?" Everyone else was surprised.

"I didn't! You're slandering me!" The hook-nosed white actor struggled fiercely and shouted: "The director hit someone! The director of "Inception" hit someone!"

"Let go! Don!" Chris and Nolan hurriedly separated Tang De.

Tang De let go of his hand, straightened his clothes, looked at the red-faced man with a hooked nose and sneered: "Do you think what you did is very smart? You think I can't find it?"

"I didn't!" the hook-nosed actor repeatedly shouted.

"Okay, then I'll show you the evidence."

Tang De asked someone to move the monitor over, and soon they saw the playback of this clip.

The white hook-nosed actor was seen making an international classic gesture with his hand hanging on his waist when the air cannon exploded.

This movement was very subtle, because he performed it with his left hand hidden behind the airflow.

To be honest, if you have poor eyesight, you won't notice this at all.

"This is not true! This is just a natural reaction of my body!" However, the hook-nosed actor was still quibbling after seeing this.

"Tell him to get lost." Tang De was not in the mood to continue arguing with this guy and directly asked the crew to send him away.

Then let Karl go investigate this man's background.

In the afternoon, the crew resumed filming.

After finishing the explosion scene, Karl, who came back, told Tang De about the hook-nosed man.

Contrary to what he thought, the appearance of this hook-nosed man could be called an unforeseen disaster.

(End of this chapter)