Made in Hollywood

Just as he is more inclined to digital technology, Duke has never been a conservative person, nor will he be obsessed with the past Hollywood, let alone be interested in the golden age that has never been experienced. His eyes are always fixed on the front.

Compared with the past that has become history, Duke is more affected by the rapid development of film technology, which is also a kind of anti-Martin Scorsese way.

Yes, I have a very different style and philosophy than Martin Scorsese's.

Duke didn't shy away from it when Ellen DeGeneres asked, Martin always emulates the aesthetics of European filmmakers, but I don't. I just like movies, and I mix all these aesthetics together. Together, these ideas come out to me, and should not be imposed on a particular style. I remember consciously training myself to use a telephoto lens in Saving Private Ryan, pull the camera back, and put in more More content is in the camera, just because everyone does. But that's not what sets me apart, I completely dropped this usage in The Matrix, and I've never done anything like it again, Because that's not how I see things.

Duke has never hidden his views on movies, and Ellen DeGeneres knows this too. He knows that the super director in front of him doesn't cater to anyone's ideas at all. If he has to say he does, then he does. It is undoubtedly the most extensive audience group in the world.

This is also the key to his success, right? The thought crossed Ellen DeGeneres' mind, but she's such a good host that she didn't let it get in the way of the show, asking, If you don't think you There is a certain style, so how do you think about it?

I think it's the narrative, like what does the scene need? How am I going to tell the audience? How does one character lead the other? What is this character thinking but not saying? Is this moment dangerous? This moment is exhilarating Is it? I force myself to try to think outside of my comfort zone.”

Slightly twisting his body, Duke changed to a more comfortable sitting position, Let's talk about special effects movies. Many people think that special effects movies are easy to make, just use super motion capture technology or CG technology, etc. But the big special effects are actually very Complicated, they cost a lot of money and require very hard production. They also require filmmakers to quickly and effectively evoke a certain transcendental state outside the body. This state allows people to be 100% connected to the characters. When it comes to great special effects movies, honestly, I’m always in awe when I see them, because I think that’s the hardest thing to do.”

Is this bragging for yourself?

Although this idea jumped into his mind, Ellen DeGeneres would not say it out loud. The opposite director is qualified to say such a thing. Doesn’t his film use advanced special effects technology as one of the foundations? conditions, to conquer the world?

If the special effects technology of the film is removed and the breathless rhythm is slowed down, even a layman like Ellen DeGeneres knows that those films will only become one of the countless bad movies in Hollywood, not Will become synonymous with classic.

Ellen DeGeneres calmed down a bit, and asked the next question, When you are proficient in the production of special effects, how do you deal with the relationship with the actors?

In fact, in any Hollywood crew, it is troublesome to deal with interpersonal relationships within the crew. No Hollywood crew will complete filming and production in harmony, let alone any crew. It becomes close as family and friends.

Anyone with a little social experience knows this.

But Duke wouldn't say that. Hollywood will never show the other side hidden in the sun.

When I was in Mountain Middle School, I worked as a holiday worker in the theater, but I really didn't have any training on how to get along with actors. I had zero experience in this area.

Having said that, Duke paused for a while, resting his hand on the armrest of the sofa, resting his chin lightly, and said, I think the way I can get into them is writing, I write characters one by one, and at the same time Actors need to play these roles with all their heart, so we have a lot to communicate, it’s as simple as that.”

Ellen DeGeneres added, Communication is important, and I think everyone understands that.

When you have a lot to talk to with someone, you can find a bond and form a working relationship. I find it very easy to get along with actors, and they can easily work with me. Sometimes Actors can't hold everything in their heads, they can only hold a moment of truth.

Duke's words are very useful and jumpy, These days, I find that HD cameras are really good, because you don't have to interrupt, unless you use a Steadicam lens, which I am not good at. But I can control everything else-like cranes, moving Dollies, hand-held cameras. So, usually I'm always there to start over quickly.

He mimics the way he works on the set, I'd say, 'Hey! Do it again, quick. Push this or that or something like this.' Some actors do respond because they can hold the moment. It's not 'stop. !' And then the post-managers get involved and everything gets overturned and people start talking and laughing and it breaks. With HD cameras, they can be in that situation and it's like in American football you hear the coach in your ear all the time Edge said: 'You're still there, you're still in the game, you don't have to stop, no one's blowing the whistle.'

The last words Duke said were a little scattered, and Ellen DeGeneres paused for a while before he understood what he meant.

Duke's words disrupted the rhythm of Ellen DeGeneres. She needed time to buffer and asked a relatively common question, In the films you shot, there are scenes where individual actors are outstanding, and there are also group scenes that are outstanding. scenes, did they look any different?

In the case of Independence Day, every scene is a group scene, so I had to get my actors together and start thinking about how to manipulate a group.

Questions like, “How can you put them in the right position? How do you reassure actors that they don’t get snubbed when they’re not in the creative workflow? Not all of them are in multiple character scenes.” Same acting time. So, that was a big challenge for the film, although it came second to purely technical and logical issues.

After a brief adjustment, Ellen DeGeneres returned to his own rhythm and asked a question that many people care about, As we all know, your films always show the most advanced special effects technology in the film industry today. , how do you keep those special effects from overwhelming the storyline?

Compared with the previous ones, this problem is a little more difficult.

If the big-budget films represented by Independence Day in the 1990s could drive huge box office revenues only by virtue of excellent special effects technology, then in this era of overflowing special effects, a film with only advanced special effects is not enough.

For example, Pacific Rim directed by Guillermo del Toro even reached the pinnacle of Hollywood in terms of special effects, but the final commercial results are really horrible.

Just like what Duke said in the past, a successful movie cannot be achieved by being outstanding in one aspect, but the result of a combination of multiple aspects.

You have options, you want to take people into places they don't imagine, but they have to be based on what you've set. It's not about the 'damn' moments, it's about being around those Momentary details and what makes them up.

After thinking for a few seconds, Duke said, Now if you really look back, a lot of the stories are ridiculous, or at least very untrue. But when you build them brick by brick, you keep building, Build, build, build, and finally you create the detail. These actors have a huge responsibility because they believe in your idea, the idea of ​​being able to convince the audience that what they're seeing is real.

Ellen DeGeneres sped up the question a little because of the time of the show, Right now, actors have to act in front of a green screen or blue screen, or against imaginary objects added in post. What do actors with such acting experience say?

Any actor who picks up dialogue and puts on another actor can put on a good scene. From a director's standpoint, there's really nothing—all you're doing is making sure they're in the shot, right?

After a rhetorical question, Duke shook his head slightly, But when the other actors aren't in the shot, that's when you work. You use every gimmick, every way you know to create some, in their Something that is dramatically real in the mind. So you talk a lot about what they see and try to tell them what it is. I mean, it’s really simple, you have to know that actors can create everything.”

Every time your movie comes out, there's a lot of hype, Ellen DeGeneres said, turning to her industry. What do you think about the power of news?

I've learned a lot about the media, they can be crazy, they can be hungry sharks...

When Duke said this, Ellen DeGeneres on the opposite side laughed. Facing a director and producer of Duke's status, she also has a certain amount of pressure, and it is not easy to dig out some serious information. matter.

What's more, the other party is quite busy, and it is definitely not an easy task to invite him again. (to be continued ~^~)