Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 506 Technology is more popular than people

Slide it down...

Dozens of eyes were fixed on Wan Gu'ao.

Yes.

Some people hold this view.

Because this doesn't really look like a tokusatsu (special effects) show.

Wan Guyi twitched the corner of his mouth, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

However, Gu Ming did not get angry. He simply took the microphone off the stand, walked to the front of the stage, and jumped down.

Wan Gu'ao suddenly became much more alert, took a few steps back, and hid himself in the crowd.

Gu Ming showed no intention of walking over; he simply recounted what he had seen and heard in a leisurely manner.

"When filming 'Ultra Q,' Mango Co., Ltd., under the direction of Eiji Mango, purchased one of only two pieces of equipment in the world from the United States: the OXBERRY2000 optical processing synthesizer. There were only two in the world, one in Mango and one in Disney in the United States."

"Back then, this equipment cost as much as 5000 million yen, which was far beyond what Mango could afford. No television station dared to pay for it. TBS funded the transport of the equipment from the port back to Japan."

"Why should we buy this machine? Is it because Eiji Mantani has gone mad, or because Mantani himself has gone mad?"

"No, it's because only this equipment can achieve the world's top-level optical synthesis effect!"

"So we saw the world's top optical effects in Ultraman Q."

“In the past, when it came to optical effects, manual application was required, which often resulted in effects that were either too dark or too bright. In some cases, the film was simply scraped off, leaving a black and white image as a special effect in film and television.”

"We just fooled ourselves and the audience like this, relying on those shoddy special effects, believing that this was the best."

"Until Japan acquired this optical synthesizer."

"Therefore, everyone present, every tourist who bought a ticket to enter Wangu Company, children and adults, invited friends and reporters, and industry colleagues, witnessed a miracle of ratings that year."

"But I must say, that was not a miracle at all! Behind the miracle was countless hours of hard work, a meticulously crafted work, the result of a lot of dedication! In the original Ultraman, we witnessed the world's top optical effects at the time. Not only were the lights just right, but they were even mixed with rainbow colors. The light was so transparent that you could see the background without hurting your eyes. Even today, many years later, it still looks great."

"If we approach the effects with the same mindset as when we filmed Godzilla in 1955, using the oldest techniques to create special effects and even scraping the film with a knife, how could we possibly see such world-class optical effects!"

"During the filming of 'Ultraman Seven,' Mango received the highest per-episode investment in the industry at the time, 1400 million yen per episode. Part of this money was used to produce special effects, so we saw that the monster suits could move, their eyes could blink, and the sound and light components could produce their own effects. Relying on optical synthesis and physical effects, that work achieved a world-class existence. Not only in Japan, but even in the United States, it was a top-notch work."

"But there was one person... who misappropriated and embezzled part of the filming funds during that period. That person was you, Wan Gu'ao."

Gu Ming pointed at Wan Gu'ao, drawing the attention of countless viewers. Wan Gu'ao felt guilty and embarrassed, so much so that he roared, "So what! You've still betrayed the tradition of tokusatsu! It shouldn't be like this!"

"No! That's how it should be!" Gu Ming interrupted, "From that optical synthesizer to the changes in subsequent works, from the initial rigid plaster bust model to the rubber suit, from talcum powder to Lycra lining, all the technology is moving forward. My father was a person who loved to embrace new technologies. He never cared whether new technologies would cause him to lose his job or make his works seem outdated in comparison."

"It is because we dare to embrace new technologies and dare to make changes that we are able to see the most advanced optical effects, instead of just a pale image produced by scraping the film with a knife!"

"Wan Guo'ao, you keep saying you've inherited your father's last wish, but what have you actually done? Putting the story in the computer world is innovation? I can do countless innovations like that every day! I can put it in space, I can put it in the future, I can even put the story inside a person's body! Cancer cells are our enemies, and white blood cells are our partners!"

"However, only scientific and technological innovation can always stay at the forefront."

"Whether it's American technology or technology from any other country, if one day we integrate foreign technology into our own work, then that will be our victory. If we cling to outdated technologies, remain conservative, and close ourselves off from the world, it won't bring good results." Wan Gu'ao tried to argue further.

"That's just sophistry, all fallacies! This isn't special effects technology! If Dad were still alive, he would never have agreed to this!"

Gu Ming did not make a move, because Xin Bote had already raised his hand and pulled Wan Gu'ao off the field.

If we don't leave now, I'm afraid we won't be able to leave at all.

Gu Ming turned around and leaped onto the stage.

"Yes, this is computer-generated special effects, not the special effects technology of the past, but so what? If we incorporate it into our work, then it becomes part of special effects. On the contrary, if we cling to ideas from decades ago, it will ultimately bring disaster."

"As everyone knows, I went to France and many other countries this year. Also, a fantastic film was released in the United States this year, and it will soon be released in Japan. Everyone should be able to see it then."

"This work is called E·T!"

Gu Ming emphasized these two letters.

"E.T. tells a story about aliens and humans on Earth, which makes extensive use of special effects technology rather than just computer-generated special effects. So, please see for yourselves how the final product turns out. Since foreigners are already using our technology better, why don't we use theirs?"

After Gu Ming finished speaking, he put the microphone back on the microphone stand and bowed deeply.

"That concludes my presentation. Welcome to my colleagues in the film and television industry to experience this new technology. Welcome all visitors to come up on stage and feel the thrill of a manually controlled fighter jet battle. Today, all the fighter jets and vehicles here, these toys, are free for all ticket holders. Because today, you, and I, are all witnesses to this new technology!"

After a brief silence, the studio erupted in excitement.

It didn't matter anymore which TV station or newspaper the reporters came from, or whether they were on the left or the right. They just surged forward, squeezed to the front, and raised their microphones and cameras.

"Furutani-kun, what exactly is the reason that you had such an idea?"

"Does Japan's technology have the capability to compare with that of the United States in photography?"

Have works shot using new technologies already appeared in people's view?

……

……

Cheng Long, who had just sat down, couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.

This thing is really great.

He wants one too!
Looking at the stage, Cheng Long seemed a bit depressed again.

It was quite obvious that a reporter recognized him.

But surprisingly, no one came to interview him; they all went to the other side of the stage!

When Jackie Chan glanced over, although he didn't recognize most of the Japanese celebrities, he still saw the exact same expression on their faces.

How frustrating! They didn't even bother to interview them!

(End of this chapter)