Chapter 251 "Source Code" Project Establishment
Although Haima Studio was established, it was a shell company. The two bosses, Haiyan had to take care of Kunlun Hotel, and Ma Weidu had to take care of Tomorrow's Film Company.
When the project of Source Code was launched, he informed the Hong Kong head office. As a result, Xu Xiaoming was very interested in the project. He had never made a hardcore science fiction movie. So, he returned the co-production quota to the company in exchange for the opportunity to direct Source Code.
The next day, he took his crew to Beijing and discussed with Ma Weidu how to shoot "Source Code".
Ma Weidu placed them in the staff dormitory of the Beijing office, and then he gathered talents from the Beijing and called his friends over.
"We are holding a meeting today mainly to brainstorm. Source Code is different from the science fiction films we have seen before. It is a very hardcore science fiction film. We all have no experience, so we invite everyone to come to brainstorm."
Xu Xiaoming also said: "From the perspective of the plot, Source Code is not difficult. The real difficulty lies in those high-tech items, some of which are dispensable, but some are indispensable, such as mobile phones, high-speed trains, laptops, etc., which are all required by the plot. Therefore, if these props cannot be solved, this film may not be able to be shot."
"I have studied mobile phones specifically." Liu Zhenyun said, "According to the description in the book, the shell of the mobile phone is plastic, but it has a metallic luster. We can use metal materials to make props. However, its screen is a problem. It requires a touch screen, which is a technology that cannot be displayed in our era. People use mobile phones to make calls, just like we use mobile phones. When making a call, a specific pattern on the screen exists in the book. I think everyone should have seen it. There is also a child using a mobile phone to play games. This is difficult to deal with. How to implant it into the game is a huge problem."
The prop master from Hong Kong said, "Maybe we can really put a game console in it. I've read in the news before that a game company in Japan is researching handheld game consoles. If we become handheld game consoles, will we be able to play games soon?"
Everyone's eyes lit up. "Really? If that's the case, then a difficult problem has been solved."
Liu Zhenyun asked, "I don't know much about game consoles, but Hongmin had a Little Overlord at home one day, and I saw Hongmin playing it. It seemed to be displayed in black and white, which is not the same as described in the book."
The prop master explained: "There is not much difference between black and white display and color display, there is no technical barrier. It's just a cost issue. If we customize it, the price will just be higher. Moreover, we don't need to implant a complete game, as long as the game can be understood for one minute. After all, it's just a need for one shot, as long as the little actor doesn't have any problems, it's fine."
Xu Xiaoming smiled and said, "It shouldn't be a problem. We can ask the Kung Fu Twins to guest star in that kid. They are all veteran actors, so there will be absolutely no problem."
The prop master went on to say, "We can also embed images. For example, when a phone call comes in, we can display the image of the incoming call. The only problem now is that the screen resolution is too low. It can't achieve the brightness and mirror-like effect described in the book."
Xu Xiaoming said helplessly: "The current technology is not up to the task, and there is nothing we can do."
"Well, you contact the game manufacturer, tell them our requirements, and see if they can make it."
Ma Weidu reminded: "Remember, don't use our company's name. The Japanese hate the Reds so much. If they knew it was our order, they might rip us off."
Everyone laughed. "That's right, that's right. The Reds have swindled hundreds of millions of dollars from the Japanese. The Japanese are thinking about getting the money back!"
The prop master nodded. "I will find a few other game companies and hold an open bidding. Once the contract is signed, if the Japanese dare to do something weird, I will ask them to pay another sum."
Everyone nodded, "This is a good idea."
Xu Xiaoming took a copy of Source Code and turned to the illustration of the high-speed rail. "This high-speed rail is our biggest difficulty now. First of all, this viaduct and the surrounding high-rise buildings are telling us that this place is very prosperous, which is something we can't achieve at all."
Everyone has seen this illustration, and it is indeed difficult to restore it. Wang Shuo hesitated and said, "This is indeed difficult, but if we can contact the Railway Bureau, it seems not impossible."
Everyone looked over immediately, and Ma Weidu quickly asked, "Old Wang, if you have any ideas, just tell me directly."
Wang Shuo has always been the type who boasts without thinking, but now he is so cautious, which shows that he is obviously not very sure.
"This is just an idea of mine! Don't blame me if it doesn't work."
Xu Xiaoming smiled and said, "Of course, Brother Wang, if you have anything to say, just say it directly."
Wang Shuo said: "I heard from some writers in mountainous areas that there are many mountains there, and in order to facilitate traffic, they have built many viaducts. If we can find an abandoned or newly built viaduct that has not yet been put into use, and then make a model of a high-speed railway, and then use fast-forward lenses, it should be possible to achieve the desired effect."
"That's a good idea!" Ma Weidu acknowledged Wang Shuo's idea, but raised a new question, "But where are there so many tall buildings in the mountain city?"
Mai Zishan said with a smile: "There are tall buildings in Hong Kong!"
Everyone looked at him, "These are two cities, how should we deal with it?"
"Of course we need to use some special effects technology!" Mai Zishan explained: "We can shoot in two places separately, and then stick the two pieces of film together to make one piece of film. In this way, the scenery of the two pieces of film will be combined into one. Of course, some other technical means are needed for processing, which I will not mention one by one."
Xu Xiaoming asked: "How sure are you?"
“About 80%. However, in order to make it easier to handle, you must use a fixed perspective when shooting.” Mai Zishan said.
Xu Xiaoming nodded, "That's fine, but if we're shooting an explosion scene, can we handle it?"
Mai Zishan nodded, "It can be handled, but the picture will definitely look fake."
Xu Xiaoming: "There is nothing we can do about it. It doesn't matter if it's fake, as long as we try our best."
Ma Weidu said: "Now the biggest problem has been almost solved, so let's first establish the "Source Code" project, so that it will be easier to choose a site and communicate better with the Railway Bureau."
Xu Xiaoming nodded, "Okay, let's start the project first. I'll call Xiangjiang later and ask the company to invest some money as start-up capital."
In this way, the Source Code project was officially launched. However, they did not have the connections to contact the Railway Bureau, so Liu Hongmin had to step in.
(End of this chapter)
