2018年CRI Hollywood filmmakers promote previsualization on Chinese films

 

International visual effects experts have recently gathered at the Beijing International Film Festival, promoting an application of high-quality Previsualization on Chinese films.

They claim the function to visualize² complex scenes in a movie before filming may help Chinese filmmakers better develop and plan large-scale scenes.

Chris Edwards is the founder³ and CEO of The Third Floor, the world's leading visualization¹ studio.

"Today at the Beijing International Film Festival, I'm honored to be here, because we are talking about some of the misconceptions about my craft, Pre-vis and Post-Vis. The work that we do to support filmmakers in the West is often thought of as just as luxury skills applied⁴ to James Cameron movies and Steven Spielberg movies. But this is totally not true. We work in small teams. We're just about the expertise⁵ that's applied to bring these visions to life. A little bit of money that is spent up front on Pre-vis can really save you tons of time on set, like you're building a digital blueprint⁶ for your movie."

The Third Floor started out in 2004, and now it has grown into a global company, participating in the previsualization of production for a number of blockbusters, including "Spider-Man: Homecoming," "Wonder Woman," and "Rogue⁷ One: A Star Wars Story."

Chris Edwards says he has cooperated with Chinese filmmakers for over a decade. His partners include acclaimed⁸ director Zhang Yimou. But he says he wants to further expand his involvement in the Chinese film industry. 

In order to further explore the Chinese market, he is now seeking help from his frequent collaborator⁹, John Dietz, CEO of Bangbang Pictures.

Like Chris Edwards, Dietz has been working on visual effects on Hollywood films for 25 years. His credits include the "Harry¹⁰ Potter" and the "Wolverine" franchises¹¹, among other.

Eight years ago, he started working on Chinese films; three years later, he moved to China.

Three and a half years ago, he founded Bangbang Pictures, which provides access to high-quality visual effects for Chinese films.

Also, he understands very well how The Third Floor could help Chinese films obtain high-quality visual effects via previsualization.

"So, when you making a Chinese film, it needs to relate to Chinese audiences; it needs to relate to the culture and the stories that the audiences want to hear. But at the same time, we are trying to do big blockbuster feelings, set pieces and action in v-effects. So getting those two things together is a very difficult task for people without experience. So, if you can engage really high-quality pre-vis people, they can help the Chinese directors to actually understand the tone of those big action films. So there's a real, heavy creative aspect to the Pre-vis that helps the filmmakers to do something that feels Western but at the same time, is relatable to China."

Chris Edwards is very optimistic that their technology would generate much interest and enthusiasm among Chinese filmmakers.

Edwards says he would launch an office in China by the end of this year, in addition to his company's offices in Los Angeles and London.

"And now we're working on an even more ambitious project for the next generation of filmmakers here in China. We're dreaming big, and we're here to support everyone with all of our Western expertise. But we have a China-centric philosophy. We are here to birth the next generation of filmmakers and their best projects, so that they can be global hits all around the world. And this begins with an understanding of the technology, but what I'm bringing is the process that we use to build a big Marvel¹² movie, to build a 'Star Wars' movie. This can be applied to a truly Eastern story. And we can make a wonderful future together for the Chinese film industry."

Hollywood studios are relying more and more on previsualization, as the cost of movies escalates¹³ with increasingly elaborate digital effects. However, previsualization is seldom employed in Chinese filmmaking.

1 visualization   

n.想像，设想

参考例句：

• In 2D visualization and drawing applications, vertical and horizontal scrolling are common. 在二维的可视化及绘图应用中，垂直和水平滚动非常普遍。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
• Ophthalmoscopy affords the only opportunity for direct visualization of blood vessels. 检眼镜检查法提供直接观察血管的唯一机会。

2 visualize   

vt.使看得见，使具体化，想象，设想

参考例句：

• I remember meeting the man before but I can't visualize him.我记得以前见过那个人，但他的样子我想不起来了。
• She couldn't visualize flying through space.她无法想像在太空中飞行的景象。

3 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

4 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

5 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。

6 blueprint   

n.蓝图，设计图，计划；vt.制成蓝图，计划

参考例句：

• All the machine parts on a blueprint must answer each other.设计图上所有的机器部件都应互相配合。
• The documents contain a blueprint for a nuclear device.文件内附有一张核装置的设计蓝图。

7 rogue   

n.流氓；v.游手好闲

参考例句：

• The little rogue had his grandpa's glasses on.这淘气鬼带上了他祖父的眼镜。
• They defined him as a rogue.他们确定他为骗子。

8 acclaimed   

adj.受人欢迎的

参考例句：

• They acclaimed him as the best writer of the year. 他们称赞他为当年的最佳作者。
• Confuscius is acclaimed as a great thinker. 孔子被赞誉为伟大的思想家。

9 collaborator   

n.合作者，协作者

参考例句：

• I need a collaborator to help me. 我需要个人跟我合作，帮我的忙。
• His collaborator, Hooke, was of a different opinion. 他的合作者霍克持有不同的看法。

10 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

11 franchises   

n.（尤指选举议员的）选举权( franchise的名词复数 )；参政权；获特许权的商业机构（或服务）；（公司授予的）特许经销权v.给…以特许权，出售特许权( franchise的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• TV franchises will be auctioned to the highest bidder. 电视特许经营权将拍卖给出价最高的投标人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Ford dealerships operated as independent franchises. 福特汽车公司的代销商都是独立的联营商。 来自辞典例句

12 marvel   

vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事

参考例句：

• The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。
• The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。

13 escalates   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的第三人称单数 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• As the challenge escalates, the need for teamwork elevates. 面临的挑战越大，越需要团队协同合作。 来自互联网
• I cannot understand why a minor disagreement escalates into a fist-fight. 我真不明白为什么一点意见不合就变成了拳头相见。 来自互联网