Life is really strange.
Lin Chen was a student at Yanda University not long ago and had just graduated.
And now, he and Michael Coppola have become particularly good friends.
Lin Chen was one of the first twenty people sent to the United States by the New World.
Unlike other people who dream of becoming a director or a special effects artist.
The first thing Lin Chen did when he arrived in the United States was to join Timo's crew.
Then Lin Chen discovered something strange.
In China, planners who belong to the power floor of the crew have a high status in Hollywood.
After a long period of observation, Lin Chen discovered that in the filming of an industrial system, the work of planners is particularly important.
This position is responsible for the film's desk work other than the script. To put it simply, in addition to the script, this person will be responsible for all the writing work of the entire crew.
As a result, this position involves almost every job in the crew.
So, when Lin Chen arrived at Timo's crew, he decided to start out as a stagehand.
His goal is to become an excellent planner.
This is completely different from my internship experience in the country.
In Hengdian, all the positions are teachers, no matter how small.
For example, in night scenes, smoke is needed to reflect the lighting.
The specific method is to burn something and then use a fan to fan out the smoke.
That's it, the director, the stage manager, the assistant director, none of these people know what the person in charge of this job is called.
When you shout, you have to say "Teacher of the field, Department of Smoke." "Teacher of Smoke, one more round!"
However, this kind of verbal respect is of no use.
Because the people who do this kind of work are usually on the set all day, but their actual monthly income is only about four or five thousand yuan. If they work overtime a lot, plus bonuses, it's only about seven or eight thousand yuan.
Moreover, their work basically does not require any brainpower.
This means that there is no room for growth.
However, Lin Chen now discovers that this job actually has huge room for growth.
The reason is, standardization.
What is the temperature inside, what is the temperature outside, what is the humidity, and how much smoke is needed to achieve the moonlight scene described in the script.
In fact, it can be quantified.
There is no need for the photographer to see that the effect is not good and then shout "Mr. Smoke, one more round".
In fact, it should be the photographer who tells the planner what kind of shooting effect is needed.
Then, the planner needs to write down all the preparations needed to shoot this shot and how much content is involved.
Then distribute it to each type of work.
There is no need for ineffective communication or forcing the director to get mad, and you can do a good scene.
So, now that Lin Chen has arrived at the crew of "Lord of War", he has only one goal.
That is to reduce the number of times Han Zhou loses his temper.
And Michael Coppola and Lin Chen became friends because of Lin Chen's attentiveness.
The reason was that there was a scene where Michael Coppola wanted to show Yuri's feeling of loss, so he decided that this set of shots required a larger shirt.
To highlight the fact that Yuri's character is not full enough in this state.
Although this can only give the audience a little feeling.
But it is because of this feeling that Michael Coppola has become a recognized great movie star.
However, what Michael Coppola didn’t expect was that when these scenes came, the costume and makeup artist came over to change his clothes.
Michael Coppola noticed that the copy they were holding clearly described that for this scene he needed to change into a shirt of the same style but one size larger.
Michael was very surprised, so he paid close attention and found that the preparations were very comprehensive.
I often see various documents written to describe what is needed.
And he saved a lot of worry.
This kind of cooperative shooting is very enjoyable. You don’t need to move your mouth or say anything. As long as you start shooting, all conditions will be most suitable.
So, Michael went to talk to Lin Chen about why Lin Chen made such arrangements.
Then Michael learned that Lin Chen got a special copy of his own information after the filming started.
Generally speaking, who doesn't know Michael? No one would look at his profile.
But Lin Chen wrote down all the information.
After filming the evening scenes, during the break, Michael lit a cigarette and found Lin Chen to chat again.
Lin Chen was wearing glasses and concentrating on writing.
Michael: "How many times did the director scold you today?"
Michael knew that Lin Chen was taking on a challenge, which was to go a day without being scolded by Han Zhou.
Lin Chen looked up and smiled: "Zero."
Michael was surprised: "Wow! I'm going to complete the challenge!"
Lin Chen smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Before the end of the day, that's when Director Han gets the most angry."
Michael shrugged: "So, Han Zhou is like the great directors of the 1960s and 1970s, a tyrant on the set, unlike the directors of today."
Lin Chen: "But you can't deny that filming under Director Han is too easy and simple."
"He seems to have an endless supply of knowledge in his head."
Michael smiled: "With your ability, you can actually challenge yourself to be an assistant director instead of a planner."
Lin Chen stopped writing: "In the last play "Twilight", Director Timo thought I did a good job in the production, so he brought me along this time and made me the deputy planner."
"Maybe in the next play, I will be the official deputy planner."
“For the next play, I might be an assistant director, and then be an assistant director for a few times, and finally become a director one day ten years later.”
Michael: "But Han Zhou is only 24 years old."
Lin Chen smiled bitterly: "If Director Han's knowledge is like the ocean, then I am at most a well."
“When I have a lake of knowledge one day, it won’t be too late to become a director.”
At this moment, under the lights, next to the monitor, a loud voice came: "Lin Chen!!"
"You idiot, come here!"
Michael sighed, "Oh, I got scolded again. I still failed to complete the challenge of not getting scolded. We only have two or three days left to wrap up."
Lin Chen stood up: "That is to say, I only have two or three days to learn more from Director Han."
Arriving next to the monitor, Lin Chen moved closer to Han Zhou: "Director!"
Han Zhou: "Did you plan this empty shot?"
Lin Chen glanced at the monitor. It was an empty shot, or to be more precise, it was a shot of the facade of an apartment building.
In the plot, Yuri lives here.
This apartment building is actually newly built, and no one has moved in yet after it was renovated.
So the crew filmed here.
The actual interior of the apartment was shot in another location.
At this moment, the picture shows a night scene.
This building has many windows.
The lights were on on almost all floors.
However, there is one vertical row of lights that are fully on.
The other vertical rows of lights were turned on randomly, and less than 20% of them were turned on.
Han Zhou pointed at the screen: "Lighting, what do you think?"
Lin Chen was very confident that he had done nothing wrong this time.
"Director Han, this is what I think."
Han Zhou's face was as dark as water: "You say."
Lin Chen pointed at the screen and said, "This shot is set to be around nine o'clock in the evening in the plot."
"Based on overtime hours in New York, this is when most wealthy people should have finished their overtime work and returned home."
"So, I expect that the lights are on in the living rooms throughout the building."
Lin Chen pointed at the lights that were all turned on vertically: "These are the living rooms."
"These dark rooms are bedrooms."
"There were some people in the bedroom, so the bedroom lights were on."
"The lights are still on in most bedrooms because the average bedtime in New York is after midnight."
After saying this, Lin Chen was very confident that he had done nothing wrong this time.
Han Zhou: "Here, here are the car keys. Drive around for a bit, and remember not to scratch it. If you do, you'll have to pay for it yourself."
Although Lin Chen had doubts, he still did as he was told.
Because he knew that if Director Han felt there was something wrong with the picture, then there must be something wrong.
But where exactly is the problem?
You need to go and see it yourself.
Director Han doesn't always give a direct answer.
Because Director Han believes in it and verifies it himself, his memory is more profound.
Soon, Lin Chen was lost in the New York night.
Americans, why don't you turn off the lights?!
damn it!
Soon, Lin Chen drove back to the crew.
Han Zhou is looking at other shots.
Lin Chen came over and stood in front of Han Zhou: "I'm sorry, Director Han, I've delayed the progress."
"I mistakenly substituted the domestic environmental conditions for those in the United States."
Han Zhou looked up and said, "That's good to know. I'll rewrite it and ask Chen Dayong to reshoot it after I'm done."
"This guy won't do anything until he sees the rabbit. If you want him to reshoot this empty shot, you can't hire him unless you buy him a cigar."
Lin Chen smiled bitterly.
I have already treated Chen Dayong to two boxes of cigars this month.
Why learn something else but learn how to smoke cigars like Americans? It’s too damn expensive.
However, Lin Chen did not leave directly, but asked: "Director Han, why don't the Americans turn off the lights?"
Han Zhou: "When Americans ask others to be environmentally friendly, they shout loudly, but when it's their turn, they play dumb."
"The current average electricity consumption per capita in the United States is 380 degrees per month, while in China it is 67 degrees per month."
"The country has 1.4 billion people and consumes 15 million barrels of oil every day, while the United States has 300 million people and consumes 20 million barrels of oil every day."
"If you look up the data yourself, you will know that in the United States, especially in big cities like New York, night scenes should be decorated with brilliant lights."
Lin Chen laughed: "The Americans are really not good people."
Han Zhou: "That's good to know."
"I remember there was a female singer named... Tilo. Her private jet flew hundreds of thousands of kilometers last year. Her carbon emissions are comparable to the annual carbon emissions of a small African country."
"There are many of these in the United States."
Han Zhou looked at Lin Chen and said, "So, remember this: when you shoot scenes of the United States in the future, you should design them in a way that is extravagant and wasteful."
"You can only design it to be less wasteful, but you can't design it to be excessive."
This time, Lin Chen made the mistake of relying on experience. In his usual understanding, at around eight or nine o'clock in a building, the living room lights should be fully on, and the bedroom lights should be almost completely off.
After arriving in the United States, the "Twilight" crew has been in small places, so he has rarely been to big cities.
Lin Chen was very busy shooting these shots recently and had no time to go shopping, so it is normal that he does not know this knowledge.
However, this empty shot is still difficult to shoot.
The main thing is to bribe the apartment manager to turn on the lights and then film the footage downstairs.
It took half an hour to set up the scene just for this shot.
After explaining why, Han Zhou looked at Lin Chen and said, "You are a little bit stupid, but no one in your batch is willing to do this job, so you are the only one who came."
"Pay attention to it. Don't return home after studying for a few years and find yourself without any knowledge."
"I'm a director. I help you with your work every day. Do I still have time to do anything myself?"
"Use your brain."
After being scolded, Lin Chen would continue to write copy. Michael: "What did you scold me for today? Brainless? Or stupid?"
Michael's pronunciation of 'Shabi' is quite similar, which is enough to explain how often Han Zhou spits out these lyrics.
Lin Chen smiled: "Today I am scolding you for not using your brain."
Michael patted Lin Chen on the shoulder: "You have been very attentive."
"If you can't stand it, just hang out with me and I'll introduce you to other crews."
Lin Chen shook his head: "No."
Michael tilted his head: "Are you addicted to being scolded?"
Lin Chen: "Every time I get scolded, I learn something that others wouldn't care about or tell me."
“Every day we grow.”
"If no one scolds me anymore, it means I have either learned it or I am useless and can't do this anymore."
Michael smiled and said, "You are already very good, but it is rare to see a tyrant on the set like Han Zhou nowadays."
Lin Chen: "In fact, it's very good to work with Director Han. There will be no mistakes. If there are any mistakes, he will definitely guide you."
"As for cursing... there's nothing we can do about it. There are hundreds of people on the crew, and everyone makes mistakes every day. Many of them need to be corrected by him alone."
"Correcting hundreds of mistakes every day, even the best-tempered person will curse, right?"
Michael: "It seems that you have been conquered by his personality charm."
“It’s just like those people in the 1960s and 1970s who were conquered by those great directors.”
Lin Chen: "The fact that the United States can't produce such great directors now also shows that... the American film industry is going downhill again."
Michael lit a cigarette and said, "Recently, a TV crew invited me to star in it. The first three episodes will cost 70 million US dollars."
Lin Chen was a little surprised: "The first three episodes? So much money?"
Michael nodded: "We shoot and broadcast TV series one episode at a time. The investors pay to shoot the first three episodes according to the specifications of movies, and invite movie directors and movie actors."
"After tricking the audience into getting on the bus, we replaced them."
"But the bids for TV dramas have been getting higher and higher recently. The film industry...is indeed becoming increasingly sluggish."
Lin Chen was thinking in his heart.
Michael: “What are you thinking about?”
Lin Chen: "I want to learn everything I need to learn before I die in Hollywood... ahem, I think even if the American film industry is not doing well, it is still better than the Chinese film industry, so I still have to study hard."
"After all, the survival of an industry has nothing to do with individuals."
“Even in the worst times, there are definitely good crews.”
Lin Chen was telling the truth, but when talking to an American like Michael, it's better to be more subtle.
Michael didn't care about all this. He took a puff of his cigarette and looked into the distance: "I talked to the Chinese people in the crew, and they all said that Director Han is very good."
"But I seldom communicate with Director Han. Is he really so good that he knows everything?"
Lin Chen: "I can't say I know everything."
"I can only say that he knows everything I know. If I don't know something, I need to learn from him. I don't know if he knows it, but when I need to know something and I don't know it myself, I will ask Director Han, and he will definitely know it."
Michael: "That's the same thing, right? So, omniscience, omnipotence?"
Lin Chen was stunned for a moment. Michael said, "It seems that there is a reason why his novel fans call him God."
"But I don't believe he can do everything."
Lin Chen smiled: "I don't know about the others, but one day I saw the crew's chef asking Director Han how to cook."
Michael, who was smoking, choked: "Cough, cough, cough, cough... Director Han still cares about this?"
Lin Chen: "If you don't believe me, go and see tomorrow."
Michael really didn't believe it, so the next day, he took a walk to the logistics department during his free time.
After being in this crew for a long time, Michael has become quite accustomed to eating Chinese food. He can eat unheard-of but delicious food every day.
Today, I saw my old friend, Peanuts, again.
Michael found a Chinese staff member and asked the chef what delicious food he had today.
The names of the dishes translated by the chef are shocking.
Something like a couple's lung slices and braised lion's head.
Michael knew that this strange name meant that the dish must be delicious.
Recently, Michael particularly likes to eat peanuts. This kind of thing used to make sauce in the West has many ways of eating it in China, especially when fried with chicken, called something like diced chicken, which is very delicious.
I asked about it today and found out that it was a strange tasting peanut?
Unheard of, how weird? Michael waited to try it.
Then, Michael saw that the cook was in a dilemma. After checking the recipe, the cook did not start frying the peanuts, but was thinking about a problem.
Since peanuts need to be fried at low temperature.
If the peanuts are not fried thoroughly, they will not be crispy enough, and if they are overfried, they will be tough. So how do you judge whether the peanuts are fried well?
You have to know that the peanuts are coated with starch, and you can't tell with the naked eye whether they are fried well.
In the end, he chose to ask Han Zhou.
Because Han Zhou knows a lot about cooking, he would often tell him recipes for dishes he had never heard of and ask him to cook them.
Han Zhou also knew the recipes of the dishes that he didn't quite understand.
Therefore, it is more convenient to ask Han Zhou this time, which is more reliable than the Internet. After all, there are often many wrong answers on the Internet.
But when cooking, if you use the wrong answer, the result will be failure.
After asking Han Zhou, the cook got the answer in seconds and went to try the strange-tasting peanuts happily.
After the Chinese staff translated, Michael roughly understood what he asked.
Michael was also very curious about how to fry a dish that could not be visually inspected to perfection.
Then Michael just stayed there, waiting for the answer.
As a result, the chef fried the peanuts quickly according to Han Zhou's instructions.
The answer is very simple. You can't tell whether the peanuts are fried well or not. Why not just throw something that can visually estimate the temperature into the peanuts and fry them together?
Throw a clove of garlic in and fry it until it turns slightly yellow, then the peanuts are ready.
The longer Michael has been in the crew, the more curious he has become about Han Zhou.
This Chinese guy really seems to be omnipotent, just as the staff said.
But Michael still has one regret.
I have heard from many people that Han Zhou is an excellent actor.
But this time Han Zhou is only a director, not an actor.
Michael really wants to act opposite Han Zhou.
Unfortunately, the filming of "Lord of War" has reached its final moments and is about to be completed.
In this circle, the next collaboration may be decades later.
Another day passed and the filming of "Lord of War" was completed.
Michael brought a bottle of wine and gave it to Han Zhou.
Han Zhou found it a bit strange. He and Michael didn't have much personal relationship and were not very familiar with each other. Why would an actor give a gift to the director after finishing a film?
The key point is, didn’t you prepare any gifts for each other?
After Michael handed the wine to Han Zhou, he said, "Han, I hope to have the opportunity to play opposite you."
Acting opposite each other?
Han Zhou smiled and said, "There will be a chance in the future. Maybe I will come to Hollywood in a few years."
Michael Coppola shrugged: "Or can I go to China to participate in the filming of your movie? Let's contact each other when we have the chance."
Finally, Michael said: "I know that the Chinese staff in the crew all said that your knowledge is as rich as the ocean."
"So, I have a question for you."
Han Zhou smiled and said, "You say."
Michael whispered, "It's just that, when a man does that too much, he... well, you know, what to do?"
Han Zhou suppressed his laughter: "I really don't know about that."
Michael: "You must know it. You want to keep it secret, right? Is it a special formula? I can pay for it."
Han Zhou: "I really don't know, but I can ask someone to help you find an old Chinese doctor."
Michael said excitedly: “That’s fine!”
This arduous and glorious task fell on Yang Hong.
Yang Hong was very confused.
Han Zhou is so young, why does he need to find an old Chinese doctor to treat this?
Could it be that there are too many golden retrievers in the crew recently in the United States, and the crew is seriously weakened?
…
Timo, Chen Dayong, Lin Chen and others bid farewell to Han Zhou, and then continued to struggle in the United States.
Han Zhou wanted to return home as soon as possible.
The annual Spring Festival Gala is about to begin again.
This year, the program team did not invite Han Zhou to perform.
But Han Zhou was still invited to watch.
At the same time, Han Zhou was also invited to provide on-site guidance for the military choir.
Because this year, "My Motherland" will be performed on the Spring Festival Gala.
Since Director Ren had asked, Han Zhou had to go.
However, Han Zhou's main focus is on the film market.
The investment in "Kung Fu" was too huge.
Logically speaking, as long as Kung Fu can win the annual box office championship, according to the current movie box office market, it will definitely not lose money, but will make a lot of money.
But how difficult is this?
This time, Han Zhou has a variety show plan again after a long time, mainly to participate in variety shows and promote "Kung Fu".
This time, New World shot, produced and distributed a movie completely independently.
Han Zhou has to do everything.
If you don’t do it well, you will fail.
If it's done well, then the new movie should be on the schedule.
…
The overall ratings of the Spring Festival Gala, as usual, are declining.
This year, Wang Chuyang appeared on the Spring Festival Gala stage.
Of course, it has nothing to do with the New World. It was operated by Wang Xiya.
New World did not arrange anyone to appear on the Spring Festival Gala this year.
Although Director Ren said that he could get three places for Han Zhou.
But Han Zhou felt that now was not the right time.
Lu Jin is not suitable for the party now.
Li Xinqi has not yet released her first album after her comeback.
Han Zhou himself is busy.
The three current giants of New World are not suitable to participate in the Spring Festival Gala, so there is no need to use up Director Ren’s favor.
After the Spring Festival Gala ended, Han Zhou called his mother.
Sure enough, my mother and husband were still awake.
Yanjing was empty during the Spring Festival, and Han Zhou spent the year at the Yanjing branch.
In the morning, the main creative team of "Kung Fu" gathered together, heading for the Bauhinia Cinema in Luowangfu for the premiere of "Kung Fu".
At the same time, the creative team of "Ex-Files 2" also held a premiere at this cinema.