Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 440 The Casual Master

Ronald's shooting plan was quickly approved by the executives of Saab Automobile. They were very satisfied and specially allocated some extra shooting fees to ask Ronald to find a lighting expert from London in order to realize the best project he had imagined. Effect.

After applying to use the hangar, warehouse and runway of Balkabi Airport, Ronald moved to the airport and began to guide the technical staff to set up scenes in the hangar.

The lighting expert who came from London was David Watkin, a typical Briton in his 50s.He has a big nose and messy hair.

Watkin had just wrapped up shooting a film in Canada as a cinematographer.The main reason for coming to Stockholm this time is to travel, earn extra money to buy my favorite classical music records, and help the familiar "young Hollywood director" to solve some minor problems.

Ronald gave Watkin his hotel suite in downtown Stockholm and moved to a small hotel near the airport, which made Watkin very happy. He spent a whole day in the centuries-old lower city, I took a lot of photos.Then came to the hangar to help solve the lighting problem.

"Mr. Watkin, I want a spotlight effect, to focus all the attention on the Thor fighter jet. Like the spotlight on the main character on the stage." Ronald is according to Diane in "Rage" The lighting idea of ​​"street" is used to design the scene of the advertisement.

Watkin nodded frequently, then tilted his head to look at the location of the fighter.He stretched out his palm and gestured twice.

"My camera seat will be arranged here, I want one..." Ronald then stood at the door of the hangar, and then explained the lens he needed.

"No, no, no..." David Watkin put a finger in front of his mouth and made a silent gesture, "I will light the scene according to your requirements, but don't tell me how you shoot, how It's up to you to shoot."

"Ah?" Ronald raised his eyebrows slightly, why didn't the director of photography play his cards according to common sense?I don't know where the camera is placed, how to arrange the lighting?At that time, I met this old man at the scene of "Endless Love", but I didn't have any communication with him, I only know that his level is very high.

"I don't even need to be here when you're shooting. In my experience, as long as the lighting is done, you don't need me in 90.00% of the five situations. Wherever your camera is, how many times you want Any camera will do."

"Well," Ronald thought he believed Nisita's long-distance call from Los Angeles. David Watkin was the best director of photography he could find in his budget. If it weren't for Stockholm, And the workload is not heavy, it is absolutely impossible to invite this master who is the director of photography for "Endless Love".

"The spotlight is very simple", David Watkin called local technicians in Sweden, and arranged the lights according to his own ideas.A small light with a warmer color temperature highlights the cockpit glass of the fighter jet, and then a cool spotlight is placed on the bracket on the ceiling, creating a mysterious and blurred effect in the usual smog of British photographers.

Ronald retreated to the position where he was going to place the camera. In the haze of smoke, the Thor fighter jet lay there quietly like a war hammer.Waiting for the pilot to wake up.

"Snap", David Watkin signaled to turn off the spotlight on the spotlight, leaving only a small light on the scene, and the fighter jet became more mysterious and quiet again.

"Crack", the spotlight was turned on again, and now about two-thirds of the body appeared on the stage like the goddess of victory, and her wings were still in the shadows, giving people infinite reverie.

"Very good, put the camera here." Ronald directed the camera team to start setting up, and the actor playing the pilot also put on his flight suit and sunglasses, and came to show Ronald.

"Okay, I'll go to the next warehouse and continue lighting. If you have any problems, you can solve them yourself. If you can't solve them, let someone call me." David Watkin said and walked out of the hangar.

Ronald didn't care about Watkin's casual attitude. A powerful expert always has various hobbies. This lighting is indeed very good, and his intention has been fully realized.

"Action!"

When all parties were ready, Ronald called to start filming.

The camera used to shoot in slow motion (slow motion) made louder motor sounds than usual. Fortunately, this advertisement does not require synchronous radio, which does not hinder the shooting.

"Brush!" The light from the overhead spotlight seemed to find its own way, covering the Thor fighter jets like a bucket of milk poured on buttered bread.

A man dressed as a pilot took firm steps from the darkness on the wing, walked to the vicinity of the boarding ladder step by step, and climbed into the cockpit.

"Cut!"

Not only Ronald, but all the technicians present, as well as the marketing manager of Saab, applauded desperately.This shot is full of the beauty of metal machinery. If the fighter department needs to sell fighters, the effect of this segment will definitely be good.

A few more shots of the inside of the hangar were taken, and Ronald switched the camera to the outside of the hangar, facing the doorway.

This time, a real pilot got on board and slowly drove the Thor fighter out of the hangar.

"Action!"

Ronald used the radio to issue instructions, and the assistant in the hangar repeated the instruction to start shooting, and then the staff pressed the button, and the two doors of the hangar slowly opened to both sides.

The Raytheon fighter is like a huge iron bird, stopping there quietly.The pilot slowly closed the canopy.The light from outside the shed slowly shone in, and the fuselage was slowly lit up.

"Swipe", a yellow light suddenly came on, illuminating the fighter tires in the dark, the pilot started the engine, and the plane began to slowly slide out of the hangar.

Next, Ronald moved to the side of the hangar door.The fighter pilot slowly slid the plane out of the hangar. Pitot tubes pierced the boundary between the hangar and the wide world outside, then the nose cone, and finally the cockpit.As the driver turned the corner, he slowly closed the cabin cover. A ray of yellow light from the light left a high light on the cabin cover.

"Cut!"

The big team finished shooting the fighter jets on the hangar side, and then rushed to a small warehouse next to it to shoot the Saab 900Turbo car.

David Watkin had arranged the lighting in the warehouse.I saw him holding a square transparent box, and said to Ronald, "I've already thought about the shot at the door, let them hang this on the shelf at the back."

Ronald looked at the coolies of the photography team. They took the square box, carefully hung him on a high place behind, and then switched on the power.

A soft light shines from the box.There are a total of 14X14 small lights in a matrix, a total of 190 six lights, which illuminate the ground very brightly.

In the all-black warehouse, it was illuminated very transparently.

Ronald was surprised. Generally speaking, lighting at night is more troublesome than that during the day.Because the light needs to be hidden in a place where it cannot be seen, and the attenuation of the artificial light source is very severe. If the actor walks a few meters, the light will be completely different, and the light must be re-set.

But this David Watkin's magic box makes the light so even everywhere that the naked eye can't see the difference.Ronald walked around the ground with the light meter, and was surprised to find that the readings were almost the same everywhere.

"how did you do it?"

"It's all about Wendy's lights," David Watkin smiled, "This is my patented invention, and night scenes can also be solved with a single light. You shoot first, and I'll go over there to set up the scene of the car .”

"Oh, it's amazing." Ronald felt that today was an eye-opener. British film technology does have something unique.

The props put the four letters of SAAB in milky white on the two doors of the set in the warehouse.The actor in the pilot uniform came diagonally from behind, and the door with SAAB subtitles slowly opened.

"Cut!"

Then there was a man in a windbreaker. He also repeated the pilot's movements. The route, angle, and posture of the two walking in front of the gate were exactly the same.

Finish the scene.Ronald rushed to the place to shoot Saab 900 again.

David Watkin finished the lighting ahead of time and was waiting for him there, "The area of ​​the car is very small, so I only got you a spotlight on it, and no special high light."

Ronald watched Watkin demonstrate the effect of the spotlight switch, which was similar to the effect produced by the two lights of a fighter jet.Probably Watkin's principle is that if it is not necessary, then do not add lights, and it is best to get it done with one light.

"Okay, all departments are ready." Ronald asked everyone to start preparing for the shooting. This shot is almost the same as the shot of the fighter jet just now. A driver in a windbreaker and sunglasses walked slowly towards the car and opened the door.

"Cut!"

After the cinematographer flipped the switch, it took more time than normal for the camera to slow down, shooting with an upscaling lens.

"Huh...chih" everyone heard a faint snort.

"David, David" Ronald gently shook David Watkin who was napping in the corner twice.

"Um... have you finished the filming?" David asked quickly after waking up.

"Yes, why are you asleep?"

"Filmmaking is boring, what if you don't sleep? It's the only thing that keeps you from getting sleepy on set. Aren't you sleepy on set?"

"Um... But if you are passionate about movies, you won't lack energy at the scene, right?"

"Enthusiasm, I have to work harder. I don't have any enthusiasm for making movies. Listening to classical music suits me."

"Okay, we have one more shot at the end, come and help me take a look." Ronald snapped his fingers, "A cup of coffee for Mr. Watkin? What would you like?"

"No sugar, no milk."

Holding a coffee, David Watkin followed Ronald unsteadily to the runway of the airport.

"I'm going to shoot a shot where the audience sees a Saab fighter jet taking off from the top of a Saab car."

"Then you need a low camera and a telephoto lens." David Watkin said without thinking.

"I'll leave it to you. I'll coordinate with the airport and the pilot. We probably only have one shot." Ronald nodded to Watkin, then went to discuss the details of the takeoff with Saab's manager.

After a long time, Saab finally confirmed the take-off time. David Watkin led the camera team and set up a camera head at the end of the runway. Alai's camera was equipped with an extra-large long Telephoto lens.

"There is no problem in terms of safety. Do you think the picture can capture the desired effect of the Thor fighter jet?"

"Of course, come and take a look." David Watkin got up and asked Ronald to confirm through the viewfinder.

In the distance between the shots, a new Saab 900 Turbo car is parked.As much space as possible was left above the car to accommodate the Thor fighter jets taking off.

In the afternoon sun, the hot air on the ground rises, causing air distortion in the telephoto lens. The lens formed by the hot air on the car is a bit distorted in imaging, like a mirage. Ronald feels all over when he looks at the camera. heat.

"This is the desired effect." Ronald took out the walkie-talkie, "Attention all departments, the official shooting!"

In the camera lens, the Saab 900 Turbo began to emerge slowly from the horizon, and the louder and louder roar was deafening.

Suddenly, a gigantic nose appeared on the horizon, a Saab Thor fighter jet, emerging from the rear of the car.

The proper deformation of the telephoto lens allows people who shoot on the runway to see the fighter jet as if it is behind the car.

With a loud bang, the pilot turned on the engine afterburner, and the Thor fighter jet began to take off.In the camera, the two wheels of the fighter jet seem to be just a little on the roof of the Saab car, brushing the car lightly, and pulling up.

"Cut!" Ronald took out the electric horn and started to shout. After shouting several times, everyone heard the order.

"I heard that you were shooting exploitation films in Hollywood, but today your lens designs are full of beauty, as if you were shooting an author's film, full of artistic energy." David Watkin applauded everyone to celebrate the completion of the filming Later, gently ask Ronald.

"This is an advertisement. It doesn't tell a story, it only talks about aesthetics. I also came up with this shooting method after watching a movie that only pays attention to aesthetics but not stories recently. Sometimes audiences really don't need stories, they only need A feeling. Their imagination will automatically complete what I want to express."

"Very good. If you have a chance in the future, you can find my agent when making this kind of movie."

"What? Are you optimistic about my prospects as a director?" Ronald was complacent.

"No, movies that don't tell a story are usually bad big productions, and they are very quick to give money."

(End of this chapter)