Made in Hollywood

This is a classic battle that took place 2,500 years ago. This is a visual feast of swords and swords, and it is also an epic blockbuster with an alternative style.

Of course, in this era of declining epic movies, if the style is not outstanding enough, "Three Hundred Spartans" may encounter box office disasters like "King Arthur", "Alexander the Great" and "Kingdom of Heaven".

The reason why this movie is attractive, apart from the historical factors other than the movie, can be attributed to its suffocating image charm. Zach Snyder has applied the blue and green screen technology to the extreme, and the CG composite image quality created has a high quality. A charm that transcends reality.

Among them, dark and warm tones, splashes of blood, and tumbling soil are repeatedly represented, and the images of the camera freeze constantly appear between the fast and slow switching of the rhythm, which can easily mobilize the audience's emotions, which almost blends all the existing performance images. The way of tension can also make the audience watch it with great interest.

Among them, there are also those tall and strong men with eight-pack abs and dazzling Hercules when they run. Whenever the close-up shots are given to these men, there will be screams from the female audience from time to time... …

As an epic film, of course, intense war scenes are indispensable.

In the many attacks repelled by the Spartans, the tragicness of the Persians cannot be described in words. The three hundred people were almost portrayed by the film as God of War characters. Dealing with ordinary enemies is like chopping melons and vegetables. , In the bloody battle, the Spartan warriors regarded death as home until the last drop of blood was shed.

It's a film with little tenderness, with broad shoulders, bulging biceps, and blood-splattered stumps all over the screen.

"Three Hundred Spartans" doesn't need tenderness, all it takes here is strength and perseverance.

The characteristics of the film are very prominent, and the shortcomings are also obvious.

Because they are so attracted by the pictures and rhythm, most audiences are hard to be impressed by the characters and their characters after watching it. Even the character of the protagonist Leonardo may not be more impressive to the audience than Gerard Butler's exaggerated muscles.

The performance in this film can only leave an extremely faded mark.

However, for a commercial film, this is not important, and it will not arouse the disgust of mainstream audiences.

In terms of technology. "Spartan 300 Warriors" uses the industry's most mature blue-green screen plus CG computer technology, and the complex multi-layer picture synthesis is even more than that of "Iron Man".

Especially the frequently used fast and slow-motion free switching, Zach? Schneider will Duke's early use of this technology, almost to the extreme.

What is a good movie?

From the point of view of the connotation of the film, "Three Hundred Spartans", which won by showing off various techniques, is definitely not a good movie.

But most of the audience. It's enough to get what you want when you watch a movie. What these people watch is the scene, the blood-sucking feeling. I feel refreshed. That is a good movie. We can't ask every movie to reflect real problems, right? Mainstream audiences want simple entertainment.

From this perspective. "Three Hundred Spartans" is a good movie.

Not only Duke, including Zach? Snyder, for their positioning is the commercial director.

Commercial performance is naturally their focus, so when "Spartan 300" scored $71.88 million in its opening weekend in North America. Either criticize or praise. Actually it's not that important anymore.

What matters is that the film has been a huge commercial success.

"The Matrix: Reloaded", "The Matrix: The Matrix Revolution" and "Three Hundred Spartans" three successful films, Zach? Snyder instantly became a hot director.

In this circle, after all, it depends on commercial achievements to speak, even if it is a literary film. Production companies are willing to invest, not for so-called artistic pursuits, but for commercial profits.

"Zach has become a very successful director."

In the banquet hall, before the banquet started, many members of the Duke team gathered together to chat, "Later Wallace Lee also got the opportunity to direct alone, although "Underworld" was only available in North America. It has reached more than 60 million US dollars, but it has also achieved profits through overseas markets and TV video tape rights, and it is said that a sequel is already in preparation."

Having said that, Tina Fey looked at Anna Prinz, "Don't you want to direct alone?"

After working with each other for many years, Anna Pritz knew that Tina Fey just asked a simple question, and said directly, "When I first entered the film industry, I really wanted to be a director who could helm a big production, but I had more contacts. , and found that the pressure to be faced is really too great, so big that it can make people collapse.”

She laughed, "I don't want to bear such pressure. Duke has to bear the huge pressure. I can finish the work easily, that's enough."

"Anna's pursuit is too simple." Scarlett Johansson walked in from outside, just heard the last sentence, pulled a chair, sat next to Tina Fey, and said, "Simple pursuit is easier to think contentment and happiness.”

"Are you talking about yourself, Scarlett?"

John Schwartzman, who has successfully lost weight, lost a lot of weight, but still sat on the wide sofa chair. He made a gesture of only four feet tall, "You were only so tall when I first shot for you. ."

"Do you need me to call you uncle, John?" Scarlett turned her head and raised an eyebrow at John Schwartzman. "Mr. Schwartzman?"

John Schwartzman had suffered a lot from Scarlett before, so he quickly shook his head, "You better call me John."

Several people were joking and laughing for a while, and Anna Prinz couldn't help but ask curiously, "Where's Duke? He said he wanted a treat today, why hasn't he disappeared yet?"

"I was going to come with me just now." Scarlett Johansson explained, "When I was going down the stairs, I received a call and rushed to the study. It seemed that I was in a hurry."

She picked up the silver pot, filled the coffee for everyone, and said, "Don't worry about him, let's talk about dinner. Duke has hired a new Chinese chef, and his Chinese dishes are very unique. You can try it later. ."

Dinner is still being prepared. The chef hired by Duke is a second-generation immigrant. He can make dishes that are more in line with the oriental style and is also good at westernized Chinese food.

Of course, what Duke asked the chef to prepare was definitely westernized Chinese food.

In the study upstairs, Duke was on the phone with Rupert Murdoch. The media tycoon spoke very politely, because Duke's original proposals have now played a huge role.

When he went downstairs, Duke received the exact news from Time Warner. The delegation jointly formed by Time Warner and News Corp. had ended the negotiation with the other side of the Pacific Ocean. The two sides will sign a formal investment agreement on July 1. .

After more than a year of hard work, Duke is relieved and happy, which means that the infinitely vast market on the other side has opened his arms to him and his films.

Back in the study and chatting with Doug Walter, Duke received a call from Rupert Murdoch.

The media tycoon from Australia, although he didn't say anything, there is still a little excitement in his words. The investment negotiation of Warner Fox World has ended, and the chain effect brought to News Corporation will be immediate. In the form of a full-scale entry into the TV market across the Pacific within the next year.

Although there will certainly be a series of restrictive policies and measures, for Rupert Murdoch, who wanted to pry open this market in the 1990s, it can be regarded as a long-cherished wish for many years.

And entering means more opportunities.

Markets are always nurtured, as Hollywood has always done, and never come naturally.

Finally, Rupert Murdoch sent an invitation to Duke, inviting him to go across the Pacific to witness the moment when the Warner Fox Great World investment agreement was officially signed.

Duke will be on vacation throughout June, and preparations for the new film "The Dark Knight" will officially begin in July. For such a film, a year is extremely tight, and there is a lot of work waiting for him.

So, just after a little consideration, Duke declined Rupert Murdoch's invitation, and let Tina Fey go to the other side of the Pacific instead.

Of course, there is also Doug Walter, who represents Time Warner Group.

The market on the other side of the Pacific Ocean is also worthy of their attention.

After answering the phone calls, Duke left the study and went downstairs to the kitchen to have a look. Seeing Emma, ​​the housekeeper, was here, he went to the restaurant with confidence.

The spacious restaurant is decorated with a futuristic sci-fi style. The dozen people sitting around the table are basically the core members of the Duke team. Soon after he came down, Sofia Coppola and Zach Schneider also rushed over. come over.

This team is not without contradictions. For example, between Zack Snyder and John Schwartzman, there will never be more than ten non-work conversations in more than ten years, but these people are very clear that they not only have partners, and inseparable common interests.

Conflict only occurs in private, never when the team needs to cooperate.

In fact, this has something to do with Duke's work style. He knew from the very beginning when he formed the team that it is very unreliable to rely on friendship and other factors to maintain a team's cooperation. Strict contracts and common interests, in this business In the supreme circle, the effect is obviously better.

Although some people have gone out independently, they still have close contact and cooperation with Duke. It doesn't matter what the dishes of this dinner are at all. The important thing is that these people will cooperate now, and will still work together for a long time in the future.

The next collaboration is called The Dark Knight. (To be continued ~^~)

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