Perfect Life

The so-called split shot is actually an auxiliary means in film and television production.

A story may be a simple idea from a director or a screenwriter or a novelist. If you detail it and put it into words, it can become a story, and when it is written as a novel, it is a novel, and when it is written as a script, it is a script.

And the story itself, whether its carrier is a novel, a script, or even a mere word of mouth, is the origin of the vast majority of entertainment in this world.

However, so far, the story is just words.

Text is one of the most beautiful things in the world. A powerful writer can let readers naturally form a sense of presence and substitution in their hearts through simple text descriptions, so as to deeply experience the story. The ups and downs and ups and downs of the characters in the story - the so-called "there are a thousand Hamlets in the eyes of a thousand people", the scenes and characters in the story, at the stage of writing, his image is entirely dependent on the reader's own imagination, To build in the mind, one person is the same.

Then, there are ventriloquists, storytellers, ditty tunes, drummers, cross talkers, and even foreign talk shows, as well as radio dramas after the emergence of modern means of communication... Of course, the oldest method must be Stories told by parents or grandparents before going to bed. In short, at this point, stories begin to break away from the category of pure words.

Anyone who tells a story will have a priority of tone, even accents, exaggeration and reduction in words, and even voice simulations of specific characters and animals, and so on, all of which make the story more specific.

If for a story, the text is a one-dimensional world and a very flat thing, then when it comes to the "telling" part, the voice is added, the story. It started to become a two-dimensional narrative.

Two-dimensional than one-dimensional. More specific, but the so-called specific, from another perspective, greatly shrinks the capacity of the story itself - a person who hears the story and knows the story. His imagination of certain voices in the story was greatly limited. And a person who knows the story through words, everything can be associated with imagination.

Movies, TV shows, plays, dramas... are all three-dimensional arts.

"Journey to the West" wrote about the Flaming Mountain. After reading it, the reader ponders and draws in his heart. What does the Flaming Mountain look like, but as soon as the drama comes out, what does the Flaming Mountain look like? Stage Design will give you a model. Then the movie came out. What is the Flaming Mountain like? The video footage will even give you an extremely realistic flaming mountain.

Since then, the Flaming Mountain has been like this. rather than any other way.

Then, at the beginning of the creation of the stage of the drama and the screen of the film and television drama, the Flame Mountain should be like this. Or should it be that way?

For the stage designers of the drama, for the selection of filming locations for film and television dramas, and for the working direction of the set staff, how to turn the flaming mountain in the text into a real, sensible, authentic and credible What about Flaming Mountain?

Of course, there is a lot of design and creation work to be done, but first of all, everything that the staff has to do, design, and create must adhere to the main creator of this play, that is, the director. Mind.

And, beyond that, what about the photography, the costumes, the makeup, etc., what to do with that character in the script? What to do with that fight in the plot?

What a director needs is what it must be.

Therefore, a director who is particular about filming will spend a lot of energy to roughly give out the sub-shots of the play before filming starts - even if it is scribbled, even if it is not all the shots, but some of the most critical information must be there. Such as clothing style, such as lens style, such as the choice of scenes, and so on.

To put it simply, a shot-splitting script is a transitional means for a director to transform a flat, one-dimensional text story into a three-dimensional, acousto-optical image.

Of course, with the embodied images, the storyboard scripts are already two-dimensional.

With the split-shot script, the director has directly concretized his own ideas and the ideas he needs. Then, he showed it to the costume designers, and the costume designers understood at a glance: Oh, that's what it was supposed to be! He showed it to the camera, and the camera immediately understood: It turns out that this lens needs this angle!

Even, as soon as the sub-lens came out, even the choice of the actors had already had an accurate direction to a large extent.

Of course, for the director, the sub-shot script is not absolutely necessary.

Not to mention the split-shot script, some directors have even started filming without even having a script. They have high standards and blind filming.

But in the director's circle, this is still rare. Basically, a film director, even if you are a big name, will have his own shot script before the film starts.

First of all, the requirements of movies for pictures, costumes, and lenses are far higher than those of TV dramas. Secondly, to be honest, movies are short after all. A movie is usually 90 minutes to 120 minutes. After all, the lens is limited, so this work is not so time-consuming and laborious.

But for TV dramas, especially domestic TV dramas, to be honest, the director will draw the script of each episode and each scene before shooting... It is extremely rare.

First, the TV series is really too long, ranging from 20 episodes to as many as 35 episodes. Even if it is roughly to draw the main scenes, the workload is extremely large; second, the quality requirements for the shooting of TV series Not so high, especially the quality requirements of domestic TV dramas are quite low.

Nothing else to say, just the lens and photography.

Li Qian didn't understand this at first, until after several years of acting, and then by chance, he began to help an old buddy manage the studio, and became a part-time assistant director, and then began to gradually study this area.

For example, on the Internet of later generations in another time and space, there are often screenshots of many netizens comparing domestic TV dramas and some famous European and American TV dramas - "Game of Thrones", "Rome", "House of Cards" and other famous high-quality Episodes are often drawn out for comparison.

In contrast, it is easy to find that on the TV screens of these famous American dramas, almost every shot, the scenery and props of each scene are quite particular, the angle of each shot, the layered sense of light and shadow, the three-dimensional It will make you feel very delicate, very attentive and very particular.

On the other hand, domestic TV dramas, even if they are famous dramas, are very popular. the vast majority of them. It's still very flat - it's just a scene where several characters stand there and start a dialogue directly, Barabara's story.

so. Many people say that there is no aftertaste.

This is not just the current state of TV dramas in 1998 in this time and space. In fact, it is also the current situation of TV dramas in 2015 in another time and space.

As for the reason, of course, it's not because the Chinese can't shoot or play such good shots, because theoretically. If a movie can make a good scene, then a TV series can certainly do it too. The reason. Mainly for two reasons:

The first point is that the overall atmosphere is not good. And not only the consumption atmosphere of the audience is not good, but even the production psychology of the producers does not support this kind of creation.

honestly. Even in 2015, domestic audiences have been bombarded by European and American blockbusters for many years. Many viewers on the Internet have even watched American dramas for many years. Does the producer still know that it is better?

But it's just too expensive to do that, you know. Even in another time and space in 2015, the salary of actors has risen again and again, but the production cost of TV dramas is still in the tens of millions. It is often heard that the investment of a certain movie exceeds 100 million, or even hundreds of millions, but TV dramas... almost No.

Simply put, the result of doing a boutique drama is likely to be that you invest, but you can't earn it back.

However, although there are a lot of complaints about domestic TV dramas on the Internet, the producers of TV dramas shoot them in the old way. As long as the story passes the test, you have to watch it with your nose. What's more, the people who have really been baptized by American dramas are only the younger generation after all, but they are not the group of people who will contribute to the ratings of TV stations.

So after going back and forth, considering the investment income ratio, the producer has no guts or the will to do that kind of high-quality and exquisite drama series, while the vast majority of audiences can watch normal drama series. The producers simply don't care what the young people on the Internet scold and how to do it. If you are willing to watch the exquisite ones, just go to the American drama!

The second point is that the staffing... is still a lot worse.

Even in 2015, in another time and space, to be honest, there are even domestic filming films, and those who really have the skills and can play with the level of the camera to the perfect level, in fact, there are still only a few people, the vast majority of domestic films, In fact, it is to make up a story and find a bunch of star faces to take pictures to make money. It is rare to start telling stories to the audience seriously. It is already possible to make a lot of money. The development of the entire industry has not evolved to the point where When it's time to really play with those deeper things. Movies are still like this, not to mention TV dramas? Even if someone is willing to spend money to shoot, the question is, who will shoot?

Should Zhang Yimou, Wong Kar Wai and Jiang Wen be filmed in TV dramas?

That's obviously not realistic.

And in fact, although many of the film and television works produced by British dramas, American dramas, and Hollywood movies are high-quality products, the proportion of high-quality products is only slightly higher than that in China. This is because they can really spread to China. Yes, most of them are for the sake of high-quality dramas, so let’s talk seriously, there are few high-quality dramas.

In any industry, in any art, boutiques are always in the minority.

So, is it feasible to spend a lot of money on high-quality TV dramas around 2000 in China? Not to mention making money but not making money, at least, can you earn back the cost?

Li Qian doesn't know if others have considered this issue, but he himself has been thinking about it for two or three years. And after thinking about it, he came up with the answer: in the short term, even if you don't lose, you won't make much money; in the long run, even if you don't make money, you won't lose too much!

The fact that audiences can tolerate ordinary TV series does not mean that they don't like watching high-quality, exquisite and even beautiful dramas - never underestimate the IQ of audiences!

Of the 1 billion TV viewers in the country, 990 million of them have never even seen a camera lens, and they don’t even know a lot of professional terms such as depth of field, layering, light, etc. From the TV show, he can tell whether he has worked hard or not!

Maybe one or two episodes, he still has a glimpse, and he doesn't even feel it, but wait until the play is finished. Go to another play. When he compared in his heart, wouldn't he still feel the difference between the two?

Even if he can't say why, but in his heart, that play. Just better than this drama!

Therefore, perhaps this final investment is likely to be as high as 30 million for the premiere rights of the TV series "Legend of the New White Snake". Even the second round of screening rights can't be sold at a very good price, but Li Qian believes it. As long as you shoot with your own heart, use the film-level standards to demand yourself and this play. Well, wait until the word-of-mouth of this play is fermented, and when it becomes a boutique in the mouths and minds of thousands of audiences. Maybe this play will lose money in the short term, but the potential impact it has brought to itself. But it is destined to let him earn back even the capital and profit in the future!

Even... depending on how well-known the Legend of the White Snake is in China, and on how wonderful the play "The Legend of the New White Snake" itself is, Li Qian thinks. Once it becomes popular, it may sell out the second round of screening rights, and maybe it will be able to make a return!

And even if the first two rounds are sold out, there is no return, isn't there a third round? Don't have long-term broadcast rights? Isn't there a VCD? Isn't there a future DVD? Isn't there a more future network on demand?

In short, after thinking about it, Li Qian decided: if you don't want to shoot, it's enough. Even after ten or even twenty years of shooting, you can still make a good work that makes people feel particular about the picture!

Even if it is really possible to lose money in the short term!

It is precisely because of this that he, a rookie director, a newcomer in the film and television industry, has to spend so much money in his first shot to do such a project, which has no precedent in the current domestic environment. If he wants to do it well, in addition to spending a lot of effort and spending a year and a half to make a storyboard script, of course, he hopes to be escorted by more friends in the industry - Feng Yumin, Yu Bojun, Cao Zhan, Jin Han, as well as the team under Yu Bojun and Jin Han, are the people he wants to win over to help him.

And this split-shot script that took a year and a half to draw by himself is the most favorable explanation he can come up with: I not only want to make this drama seriously, but also have the ability to make it well!

…………

When I first saw the thick stack of sub-shots, whether it was industry celebrity Feng Yumin, or die-hard friends Cao Zhan and Yu Bojun, they were completely stunned.

A 32-episode TV series with fine-grained sub-shots of all the shots...  

After sighing, Cao Zhan asked, "Who did you show these things to?"

Li Qian answered honestly: "A few days ago, I sent the script to Mr. Feng Yumin from Huaxia TV. Yesterday he called and said he had finished reading it. He asked me to talk, and I brought the previous episodes with me."

When Yu Bojun heard the name Feng Yumin, his eyes lit up first, and then asked, "What did he say?"

Li Qian shrugged and said, "He originally suggested that I work with them to make this play, he came to produce it, and let me be the assistant director to learn from it, but after watching it, he agreed to play the role of friendship. One of the producers of the film, help me to check, and at the same time, he promised me that he would show it to him after the filming came out. As long as the quality of the drama is not bad, he is willing to help and recommend it, and can he show it on Huaxia TV when he sees it? Premiere."

Cao Zhan remained silent.

Yu Bojun was silent for a moment, looked up at Li Qian, and asked, "Where's your cigarette, give me one too."

Li Qian took out the cigarette and passed it along with the lighter.

Yu Bojun took it, took out a point, took a deep breath, and spit it out again.

"Take it as a movie?" He frowned and looked up at Li Qian.

Li Qian nodded, "Take it as a movie."

Yu Bojun nodded, took a puff of cigarette, spit it out slowly, coughed twice, and then asked, "You're a director, who's going to film for you? Jin Han? Or let me recommend it to you?"

Li Qian nodded again, "Lao Jin, I like his video style very much."

Yu Bojun nodded again, and then continued to smoke.

At this time, Cao Zhan pressed the cigarette **** out, and suddenly asked, "Look at the outline, the location scenes are indispensable, and they are all shot in real locations?"

Li Qian nodded, "It must be shot on location."

So Cao Zhan asked again: "What about the costumes? Looking at your shot, it seems that you are going to follow the costumes of the Song Dynasty? It's okay for actors to say that actresses' costumes, especially if you want to do it more delicately... Plus you There are quite a few scenes of the palace in the book, and there are scenes of the court in the back, that batch of costumes... Can you save a little bit? If you choose similar ones, can you rent them?"

Li Qian hesitated for a long time before saying helplessly: "Let's look at the situation at that time. I guess I don't like the rented costumes. However, if you really invest too much, you can rent the costumes in the corner of the camera. Some, but the main characters' costumes. You must find an expert to order them! I plan to use Suzhou embroidery, which is originally in the Suzhou-Hangzhou area."

Cao Zhan nodded. "Su Embroidery... Yes, except it's expensive, there's nothing wrong with it. I remember a buddy who once ordered Su Embroidery's costumes. In this way, I'll help you find out and ask for directions."

Li Qian nodded.

Then. It was Yu Bojun's turn again.

He asked: "After you have drawn these sub-shots, are you going to resolutely follow this? Or will there be a certain scale of variation? What are you going to use? It won't be real film, right? The film of the film, no matter how cheap it is. Low-grade. You filmed this drama for 32 episodes, even if you went through it all over the filming process, these more than 20 hours... I count..."

Li Qian smiled. Dao: "Don't forget it, I've done it. Even if it's all done in one go, it would cost around 6 million to use the cheapest film. In fact, if film is used, I'd estimate that it's all filmed, just this one piece. Son, you have to say 20 million less, then you can't spend a penny on everything else! Costumes, sets, props, computer effects in post-production, actors' remuneration, these are not small numbers... So, my plan is, big Some use TV cameras, and some use film."

This time, before Yu Bojun asked again, Cao Zhan couldn't help but narrow his eyes and asked eagerly, "A few parts and few films? Which parts?"

Li Qian replied, "Still life, beautiful scenery, some indoor scenes at night, in short, where the audience can calm down and slow down to see the picture, use film. In other places, the plot, or ordinary street scenes, and then Otherwise, it is a martial arts scene, in short, it is a place where the plot is agitated, then use a TV camera, of course, it is better."

Cao Zhan and Yu Bojun looked at each other and nodded slowly.

Obviously, after asking such a question, I found that Li Qian's preparation for this TV series was not just this very attentive sub-scene script, he had considered many issues.

So, after a while, Yu Bojun said slowly: "It's fine if you use it partially. It can improve the quality of viewing, and it's worth spending a little more money. It's just..." After a pause, he said, "Okay, Lao Jin. The team's other skills are ordinary, but the level of playing with the camera and the lights is still very high, much stronger than my team. Besides, after all, you are a TV series, and it is not worth spending a lot of money to find those people. The lighting engineer."

After a pause, the two looked at each other again, then turned to look at Li Qian at the same time.

Yu Bojun opened his mouth and said: "So, if you have 20 to 30 million yuan, it's not too much to play. If you want to play, just play! Experience is accumulated slowly! Come here at that time, don't stress!"

After saying this, his demeanor relaxed a lot, and he even lifted Erlang's legs again and said with a smile, "You must have the money, but if you need me to invest with Lao Cao, you can talk. If there is anything I can help you with Lao Cao, tell me!"

After he finished speaking, he and Cao Zhan looked at Li Qian seriously.

Li Qian took a deep breath, looked at Cao Zhan first, and said, "Brother Cao, come and give me the art direction, the costumes, props, and scenery, you help me watch! In this respect, Brother Yu and I are definitely not as good as you. "

Cao Zhan thought for a while and nodded, "Okay, I'll keep an eye on it for you, I'll go back and forth, find someone to help you get the design of the clothing, and then go to Suzhou and Hangzhou to contact those craftsmen."

Li Qian nodded, then turned to look at Yu Bojun, and said: "Brother Yu, I know you have a lot of things to do, just the later part of the "Love of Green Onions" is enough for you to be busy for a while, but give me a hang. Be famous, be a producer. In addition, you are well-connected in the circle, help me recommend a better martial arts team."

Yu Bojun nodded when he heard the words, "No problem, I'll call you when I look back, hoping to make an appointment with Niu Jiaban. Their martial arts skills are the best in our country."

Just as Li Qian was about to nod his head, he hesitated for a moment, and then said: "However, Niujiaban is not very easy to make an appointment, I can only say try it, it really won't work, there are still a few good martial arts teams in China, and I can't go wrong. !"

Li Qian smiled and nodded.

Finally, he sat back relaxed, closed his eyes slightly, and murmured, "Scripts, split shots, photography, costumes, props, martial arts... Hey, the eight characters are finally gone. I'll go to the exterior when I look back."

Having said this, he straightened up excitedly and said, "Although the background is Bai Suzhen under Qingcheng Mountain, I thought of Zhangjiajie to shoot the scene. The strange peaks and rocks there are the most flavorful. As for Qingcheng Mountain, just give it a long view. what do y'all think?"

Yu Bojun and Cao Zhan looked at each other and smiled, Cao Zhan seemed to be about to speak, but Yu Bojun waved his hand, motioning him not to say anything, but said with a smile, "It's all easy to say, your calculations are all technical. What about other things? Haven't thought about it yet?"

Li Qian frowned upon hearing this, "Other? What?"

Yu Bojun said with a smile: "For example... who will take care of the finances of the entire crew for you?"

As he spoke, he smiled and said, "You can't do it yourself, you can't be too busy. When the director is filming, he must devote himself fully to the filming. You can't be distracted by this anymore. I don't have time for you to take care of this, so what are you going to do? Pull your beautiful president over there?"

With a grin, he said with a joking look, "Don't blame my brother for not reminding you, although your beautiful president said that when he was a record company, he could catch a duck on the shelves or a genius, in short, it was successful, but the simplicity It's just a matter of selling goods, it's not the same thing as the trivial and meticulous account management of the film crew! So, don't think that if something happens, just pull her over, it's definitely not that simple!"

Li Qian smiled when he heard the words~www.wuxiaspot.com~ said with confidence: "So you are talking about this, I really thought about this a long time ago, and I already thought about it a year ago."

Yu Bojun was surprised when he heard the words, and couldn't help but say: "Really or not? Let me tell you, this studio manager and this account manager can't be dealt with by anyone. A good production director, I can help you handle things smoothly, never let you worry about it, and can take the initiative to save you money, a not-so-good production director... and this matter, although people who don't trust it will definitely not work, but I The experience of my own people is not very reliable! The key is to have professionalism and strong ability!"

Speaking of which, he couldn't help looking at Li Qian in surprise, and asked inexplicably, "You haven't even entered the industry yet, where have you met such a person? Let's hear it?"

Li Qian smiled and said, "Who said I didn't enter the industry, but I did two years ago!"

After he finished speaking, Yu Bojun and Cao Zhan were both stunned.

Immediately, the two looked at each other and said in unison, "The Academy of Film!"

Yu Bojun glared and said, "Yes, that's really a treasure trove of film talents!" (To be continued.) Open a new website