The Best Entertainment Era

After three years of filming and producing several films, especially a medium-to-large project like The Bourne, Shahai Entertainment has gradually accumulated sufficient experience and resources in the field of film production.

After the first $8 million in funding was put in place, a large-scale crew quickly assembled in Warner Studios.

Shahai Entertainment is no longer an unknown small company. It has already gained considerable popularity in the industry. Coupled with the natural attraction of large-scale production projects, it is not easy to recruit qualified personnel for various positions in Hollywood, a place where film talents from all over the world gather. How much difficulty exists.

Moreover, after Ronan and Brian Lord reached a strategic partnership, Sandsea Entertainment can also borrow CAA's huge human resources.

Among the behind-the-scenes staff of the crew, Ronan was the first to hire not only professional historians and trainers, but also designers.

From props to costumes to scenes to character modeling, the comprehensive design unfolded rapidly.

At the beginning of October, Ronan and Allianz Insurance's Firefighters Fund took the lead in negotiating a third-party film completion guarantee. As the most important task of external financing, this must of course be done first.

With the third-party completion guarantee from Allianz Insurance, there is sufficient guarantee for external financing.

Due to the 100% completion rate of Shahai Entertainment and the previous cooperation between the two parties, this insurance agreement was reached very smoothly.

This is Shahai Entertainment's first film project with an investment of more than 100 million US dollars, and it is also Ronan's largest investment since he came to Los Angeles. He is not only the producer, but also personally responsible for all major decisions of the crew.

If Pirates of the Caribbean can achieve the success of its previous life, it will definitely take the entire Relativity Entertainment a big step forward.

If it fails, even if most of the investment will be resolved through external financing, it will still bring great trouble.

It even put Shahai Entertainment in trouble.

The No. 1 studio of Warner Studios is under intense expansion, and the scene designers are drawing several sketches according to the space of the studio.

This will be arranged as a cave where Barbossa hides his treasure.

Wearing a hard hat, Ronan walked in the busy studio and said to Hill, the design director of the set group: This cave must be large enough to accommodate dozens of people fighting here. In addition, there must be intricate The waterways and rocky terrain.

While walking, Hill recorded in a small notebook, and said at the same time: We will come up with a few design plans as soon as possible and give them to you for preview.

Ronan nodded slightly, walked around a small hoist truck, and said, This is a pirate movie, and a lot of water is needed in the scene. You have to think about the setting materials.

Okay. Hill replied.

Ronan said: As for treasures, the treasure caves are full of gold. Pirates are not art collectors, but out-and-out money fans who are only interested in surface value.

Hearing this, Hill's heart moved, and he said, Heavyweight gold objects can be treated by dyeing them gold.

Ronan reminded: The focus is on gold coins and delicate utensils.

Hill immediately said: My team has cooperated with two ancient coin imitation companies, and we can ask them to order ancient Spanish gold coins.

Ronan looked at the huge space and said, About a few hundred thousand pieces are needed.

Maybe millions of imitation coins may be needed. Under the modern industrial system, the cost of large-scale imitation is not high.

Turning around in the studio, Ronan went to the second studio and found Matt O'Connor, a vehicle and boat props designer who had just joined the crew, to discuss key sailing issues.

As a pirate film, the pirate ship is naturally an important prop.

A minimum of three ships were required for the shoot, including the British Navy's brig Interceptor and the Empire's first warship, the Dreadnought, as well as the legendary Black Pearl.

As we all know, there are very few 18th century ships in the world that have survived to this day.

Matt O'Connor has already drawn up an initial plan: I assisted James Cameron on Titanic before. This is also the main reason why Ronan hired him: For the Rosario, Baja California The studios are very familiar.

Ronan nodded. Since James Cameron dug out a large-scale artificial lake in Rosario to shoot big boats, it has become a location shooting base in Hollywood. Many movies involving a large number of water scenes, Often filmed on artificial lakes and in huge studios next to artificial lakes.

It is a pity that the Titanic, which James Cameron spent tens of millions of dollars to build, has been dismantled.

As for the dismantled ship, of course it was sold for scrap.

This is also the usual practice of many Hollywood production crews when dealing with large sets or props, because most of them can only be used once, even if it costs more, they can only be sold for a scrap price in the end.

Matt O'Connor looked at the drawings and said: I plan to build the Black Pearl in the studio next to the artificial lake, so that relatively static scenes can be shot with a green screen in the studio. If the ship needs to move, you can Let the tugboat tow the Black Pearl into the artificial lake.

Good idea. Ronan approved of this plan. An excellent movie prop designer, when designing, he not only considers his own design, but also facilitates post-shooting. He asked again, What about the Interceptor and the Intrepid?

Matt O'Connor replied: I've prepared two options. One is to design it and rebuild it in the marina area of ​​Rosario. The other is to find this old sailing boat. Someone likes this style of boat, maybe build For fun and other uses.

He obviously made mature considerations: If the latter can be rented, it can save millions of dollars in costs.

Ronan was very satisfied with Matt O'Connor's unusually serious and responsible attitude, and said, Just do it according to your plan.

For a big production like Pirates of the Caribbean, just the preparation of background props is a huge project.

Ronan tried his best to concentrate the shooting locations of the crew, with Warner Studios and the Rosario Artificial Lake photography area as the two main shooting bases.

This effectively unwinds time and expenses.

In addition, it is also necessary to go to the Caribbean to take pictures.

Several location scouts had been dispatched by Ronan early on.

Although the director won't be in place until early next year, all kinds of preparations are going on in an orderly manner. It is no exaggeration to say that Gore Verbinski is more like the chief director of shooting.

Of course, Gore Verbinski will also participate in the post-production of the film, which is also Ronan's request.

After a busy morning, after lunch, Ronan came to the office building of the studio. Johnny Depp had already rushed over, ready to try on makeup.

Captain Jack Sparrow is the most important thing in shaping this character from modeling to behavior to speaking style. Doris, the head of the stylist department, and Natalya, the head of the clothing department, came to the office building early Makeup fitting room, personally transform Johnny Depp into a pirate captain.

Since I had auditioned once before, the makeup this time was completed in just over two hours.

How is it? Johnny Depp asked, still sitting in front of the makeup mirror.

Ronan crossed his arms and said, Stand up and take two steps.

Tracy Jacobs stood next to Ronan, frowning at Johnny Depp, and felt that the look was terrible to the extreme, weird and sloppy, completely ruining Depp's image.

Johnny Depp asked the stylist to put on a hijab, stood up, took a few steps towards Ronan, and asked again, How is it?

Ronan hugged his chest with one hand, rubbed his chin with the other, and asked, Depp, last time you said you had some considerations about this role, what aspect?

I think the image of Captain Jack should be more shocking. Johnny Depp said.

Tracy Jacobs couldn't help saying to the grubby pirate with smoky makeup: Depp, your look is shocking enough.

Not enough, not enough. Johnny Depp looked at Ronan: I have been thinking these days, the character of this character can be expressed through actions...

Ronan did not object, but nodded slightly. It can be seen that Johnny Depp has indeed worked hard on the role of Captain Jack.

It can only be said that the current Johnny Depp is not the reckless superstar he will be in the future.

Standing just twenty feet away from Ronan, Johnny Depp said, Now I'll actually demonstrate it.

While speaking, Johnny Depp raised his orchid fingers, his temperament seemed to have changed, and he took the first step.

Taking this step, Depp had a very natural twisting movement, and then took a second step in the same way.

Then came the third step, the fourth step...

The left and right feet that landed one after another clearly landed on a straight line!

This kind of pace is not uncommon, like a slowed down version of the catwalk of a female model on the runway.

Cough—cough—

Tracy Jacobs coughed suddenly. Is Johnny Depp going to completely subvert his previous image?

As an agent, she couldn't help but worry, would taking this role ruin Johnny Depp's career as an actor?

Although in recent years, Johnny Depp's career has not improved much, but he is still in the second line. If such a huge production is messed up, the consequences will be unimaginable...

Wearing smoky makeup, cocking orchid fingers, walking, staggering.

Ronan seemed to have seen Captain Jack Sparrow on the screen in his previous life, sloppy, cunning and enchanting...

Although it looks a little girly, it can be seen from the action that this is a pirate captain who is unrestrained and free.

Johnny Depp walked straight in front of Ronan, and suddenly parted his upper and lower lips, showing a slightly stiff but very characteristic smile, and said in a tone different from the normal voice: Your Excellency, please call me Captain Jack Sparrow .”

Ronan seemed to see Captain Jack stepping off the big screen, and couldn't help but slapped his palms lightly: Okay! Very good! But, Depp, there is still room for improvement.