The Birth of the Best Director

Chapter 30 The Great Director Was Stunned! Hopper's Light and Shadow Cutting Technique

……

Not long after Liu Shishi left, the film was completed.

It took 33 days.

This is 12 days less than the expected 45 days.

This means they have enough time for post-production.

After returning to Yanjing, Lu Zhiyuan and Xin Yukun acted separately.

The two of them started working without stopping.

Xin Yukun is responsible for editing the materials, and Lu Zhiyuan is responsible for color correction and post-production color grading of the edited materials.

Because the script is very solid.

The footage was very compact and the editing was done in one go.

"Ayuan, something big happened!"

Xin Yukun, who is less than 25 years old, is at the age when a man is the strongest. He doesn't feel tired even if he stays up for three consecutive days without sleeping.

If this movie is a success, Lu Zhiyuan will certainly become famous and successful. As an assistant director and executive producer, he will also have his own place in the industry.

So, he drank coffee during the day and Red Bull at night, working day and night.

suddenly.

Xin Yukun thought he was dazzled and saw something wrong. He rubbed his eyes for a long time and finally realized that he was not seeing things.

But there is a big problem with the picture.

"what's up?"

Lu Zhiyuan was not far away, taking a nap on a recliner.

He is not as energetic as Xin Yukun. After filming the movie, he felt extremely tired and wished he could just sleep at home every day.

Besides, color grading is easy for him.

Other colorists may have to correct the color temperature differences between different lenses bit by bit, which is very time-consuming and tiring for the eyes.

But for him, this is a basic talent for an art student.

It's easy to do.

Saves a lot of time.

At this moment, seeing Xin Yukun shouting there, Lu Zhiyuan rubbed his eyes and came over to take a look.

"Ayuan, something terrible has happened. I suddenly realized that the village chief's character has no shadow in the entire movie. How could this be? Is there an overexposure problem with the camera?"

"It's over, it's over. I knew there would be problems when shooting a movie with a DSLR."

Although it is just a detail and no one will notice it if they don't pay attention, but if it is magnified dozens or hundreds of times and used to find fault with it, wouldn't it become a weapon for others to attack their food?

Xin Yukun was very worried that their film dream would be shattered.

After all, they are just newcomers and cannot make any mistakes.

"So that's what happened."

Hearing this, Lu Zhiyuan stretched calmly and said, "I forgot to tell you, I did this on purpose. All the scenes where the village chief appears are in a semi-bright and semi-dark state, with no shadow to be found."

"what?"

Xin Yukun immediately turned around and looked at Lu Zhiyuan with some confusion: "Didn't you tell me that all art is about depicting light? But what is truly important is the darkness that light cannot reach."

"Doesn't the role of village chief just fit this theory?"

The character of the village chief seems to be a great and righteous person, but secretly, he helps his son deal with the corpse, hides his crime, and even wants to bury the corpse in the pigsty.

Taking a picture of his shadow can create a better atmosphere than taking a picture of his face.

Doesn’t Lu Zhiyuan like this very much?

"That being said. However, as the protagonist, this character should always be favored, right?"

Lu Zhiyuan explained briefly, then turned around and looked at an oil painting hanging on the wall in the office.

He said with great emotion: "Brother Kun, this is all the inspiration you gave me."

My inspiration to you?

I do not know how?
Xin Yukun's face was full of confusion.

As he spoke, Lu Zhiyuan pointed to a painting on the office wall: "'Luncheon of the Yachting Boat', by Auguste Renoir, the final masterpiece of an Impressionist painter."

"What do you think is so special about this painting?"

how could I know?

I bought this thing for 200 yuan at the gift shop next door.

At this moment, Xin Yukun felt a little crazy.

After the new company opened, he felt that the office was a bit empty.

Remembering that Lu Zhiyuan had studied Impressionist painting before, he went to the gift shop next door, bought a few paintings at random, had them framed, and used them as decorations in the company.

Firstly, it is to cater to his preferences.

Secondly, it also allows customers who come to the company to place orders to feel the artistic atmosphere of the company, making it easier to close deals.

Now, the boss Lu Zhiyuan is going crazy because of this painting.

It's all his fault.

"Brother Kun, look carefully at this painting. It has no shadows."

"Auguste Renoir, at the age of 40, had achieved success and enjoyed a harmonious family atmosphere. At this stage, he uttered a famous quote."

“The color of love has no shades; it should penetrate the soul like a stained glass window in a church.”

After Lu Zhiyuan finished speaking.

Xin Yukun widened his eyes, went up to look at the painting, and carefully examined every inch.

Amazing!

There really aren't any shadows!

The picture is very sweet, giving people a dreamy enjoyment.

"Although the village chief did something evil, his motivation was love and protection for his son..."

Lu Zhiyuan gave an explanation.

But Xin Yukun did not accept it.

He felt that the village chief was an evil man and should be brought to justice.

"Leave the judgment to God."

"And I am willing to give him preference."

"These things can be considered as a little Easter egg I left for this movie."

"As an auteur film, how can it not have the author's personal touch?"

After Lu Zhiyuan gave the explanation, Xin Yukun thought about it and felt that it was just a small bug and nothing serious.

Besides, it’s not a bug.

The environment where the village chief appears every time is at the junction of light and dark, so it is normal for his shadow to blend into other shadows.

Moreover, it can also be understood from another perspective. The village chief's behavior blends into the silent collective, and this silence makes the entire movie seem deafening.

After convincing himself, Xin Yukun swore to heaven that he would become a director in the future.

As willful as Lu Zhiyuan.

Do whatever you want and shoot however you want.

Add the style of Edward Hopper today and the light and shadow expression of Auguste Renoir tomorrow.

Don’t worry about whether the audience understands it or not, as long as it’s awesome!
Moreover, even if 99% of the audience does not understand, one day, some caring people will discover it.

By the time……

Holy crap, the director is awesome, a genius! How could this scene even have this kind of metaphor? Awesome!

Just thinking about it makes me excited and tremble with joy.

"By the way, Ayuan, you said this painting was his final peak as an Impressionist painter. So what happened next?"

Xin Yukun found Lu Zhiyuan’s daily little knowledge about the painting world quite useful.

Recently, he has charmed several literary young ladies on the Internet by sharing his second-hand knowledge about Lu Zhiyuan.

Just wait until he finishes editing the film and has time to go out and collect materials, and then we can get it.

"Later... ahem, he began to focus on painting plump and charming beauties."

Lu Zhiyuan said awkwardly.

Xin Yukun instantly revealed a look that all men understand, and laughed.

……

Before March.

The editing and post-production of the movie "Heart Labyrinth" are all completed.

Most of the work was done by Lu Zhiyuan and Xin Yukun. The only thing outsourced was the film soundtrack.

The person he was looking for was an old acquaintance of Lu Zhiyuan.

Chen Xi, a senior from the Recording Department of Beijing Film Academy, is a talented lady.

"Ayuan, I've never admired someone so much. Senior is simply the legendary goddess of literature and art."

"I thought the music would take some time, but unexpectedly, the senior helped us get it done in three days, and the price was very reasonable."

"Ayuan, if you can win over this senior, and you two have a child, they'll definitely be the future hope of China's literary and artistic world!"

If Lu Zhiyuan can seduce his senior, all the goddesses in the entertainment industry will be his.

Everyone has his or her own happiness.

Xin Yukun has a nice idea.

"Brother Kun, have you forgotten our declaration? When it comes to career, we only look for rich women! Senior sister is good in everything, fair, beautiful, and talented, but she is not a rich woman."

The two chatted for a few minutes and then parted ways at the intersection.

Xin Yukun took the final edited version of the film and went to the Starry Sky Company, while Lu Zhiyuan dragged his tired body and prepared to go home to sleep.

……

Starry Star Company.

"Brother Kun, long time no see, you are becoming more and more elegant."

"Mr. Zhao, you too are becoming more and more radiant."

At the company gate, Xin Yukun met Zhao Shanshan. Both of them were old acquaintances. After a few pleasantries, they got down to business.

As Zhao Shanshan went upstairs with Xin Yukun, she whispered, "Brother Kun, are you sure? The boss takes it very seriously and has invited a big shot here today to help us check things out."

"You ask me, are you sure?"

Xin Yukun snorted softly, a cocky expression on his face: "What you should be asking is, once this film comes out, who will be able to compete with it among domestic suspense films?"

Good guy.

I just like the way you brag!
Arrogant and very domineering.

Zhao Shanshan got the answer she wanted and said with a smile, "The boss invited the famous director Li An, who was also the jury president of this year's Venice Film Festival. I thought, since we are also one of the three major European film festivals and we are aiming for Cannes, we should let Director Li check it out."

"There are still a few days left. If there are any problems with the details of the video, we can make some changes quickly to increase our chances of success."

Good guy!
She is indeed a rich woman!
Invite the famous director Li An to be a tutor and help correct homework?

you can!

I like this routine!
……

In the screening room.

Jing Tian also came, wearing a brown coat, looking like a medicine bottle. When she saw Xin Yukun, she nodded slightly.

Then, look around.

"Ayuan, you didn't come?"

Jing Tian was a little disappointed when she learned that Lu Zhiyuan did not come and went home to sleep.

Today, though, the focus is on movies.

We'll talk about other things after watching the movie.

Sitting next to Jing Tian were the company's boss Lu Zheng, the famous director Li An, and Zhao Shanshan.

These four people are the jury for this film screening.

After everyone arrived, Xin Yukun didn't say anything nonsense and started playing the movie directly.

"Ok?"

"Who made this color?"

"And this image, the method of light and shadow cutting through space, who taught him?"

As the movie started, Li An, who had been very casual just now, suddenly narrowed his eyes.

The low-saturation blue-gray instantly reminded him of a painting by Edward Hopper called "Nighthawks".

This color tone naturally gives people a sense of alienation and inexplicable uneasiness.

[Edward Hopper] As a painter, he is almost unknown in China, but in the United States, he is very famous and almost a household name.

Hopper's position in the history of American painting is equivalent to that of Qi Baishi in China.

Li An never told anyone that his film "Lust, Caution" also used a lot of Hopper's light and shadow cutting techniques.

For example, in the scene where Wang Jiazhi has a secret meeting with Mr. Yi.

The strips of light that filter through the gaps in the curtains divide the room into geometric blocks of light and dark... This scene is the classic "Hopper Cut".

The physical entanglement of the two people in the shadows is exactly the same as the light and shadow treatment in Hopper's paintings.

It implies repression and desire in a dangerous relationship.

"What the hell!"

“I never thought that one day I would meet someone who shares the same interests as me in China!”

"The most important thing is...how come he is more skilled than me?"

(End of this chapter)