The war scene of "Falcon" is very large, if the battle scene of "Hoe Rape" is a class, then "Falcon" is the level of a division. As far as the scene is concerned, it is certainly not comparable to the Soviet film that was shot with the help of tens of thousands of troops at every turn, but it should be no problem to beat Hollywood.

"Falcon" has two particularly important war scenes, at the beginning of the movie, when our army attacked the enemy, it was attacked by the enemy's heavy artillery and suffered heavy casualties; at the end of the movie, Yan Shuangying directed our army's artillery fire and shelled the enemy's artillery position. These two scenes are extremely large, and there are not a few or dozens of explosions, but hundreds, or even thousands. With such a big scene and so many explosive points, if there is no excellent pyrotechnician to control it, it will definitely be a problem.

In Xu Wangqiu's heart, there is only one candidate for the "Falcon" pyrotechnician, Yu Ze of Bayi Factory.

Xu Wangqiu and Yu Ze have worked together and are very familiar with each other. After finding Yu Ze in Bayi Factory, he didn't sell Guan Zi, and said directly: "Old Yu, this time we are going to make a big one, the scene is very big, and we must have an experienced pyrotechnic master to lead the team." I can't trust other people, you're the only one for me. ”

Yu Ze cooperated with Xu Wangqiu very happily during the filming of "Hoe Rape". As a special effects artist and a director, what I am most afraid of is the kind of director who doesn't understand anything. There are many reasons why the special effects of domestic films in later generations have been complained about, in addition to the fact that the level of special effects is indeed not as good as others, the director's lack of understanding of special effects is also one of the important reasons.

Xu Wangqiu undoubtedly understands pyrotechnics, knows a lot about pyrotechnics, and knows how to shoot to get the best effect. The air explosion technology was developed in China in the early seventies, but it was not widely used in China, and the effect of shooting was not much different from gunpowder. Xu Wangqiu used the air explosion technology but was afraid of a shocking effect, which made countless people exclaim that war movies could be filmed like this.

Yu Ze joked with Xu Wangqiu: "Yes, how big is the scene?"

Xu Wangqiu laughed: "The fireworks and special effects fee for our drama is 2 million, if it is not enough, you can add more!"

Yu Ze was frightened by the figures reported by Xu Wangqiu, in 1974 the remake of "Southern Expedition and Northern War", the scene was so big, and the investment was only more than 1.4 million, and the fireworks and special effects of this drama were only 2 million, what a big scene this is, he couldn't believe his ears: "2 million, if it's not enough, you can add more, I heard me right, right?"

Xu Wangqiu chuckled, "You heard it right. We have invested 3 million in this play, which can be increased to 5 million if necessary, and if it is still not enough, I can respond to the above and ask for an increase in the budget. Moreover, the approval of the General Staff and the General Armament Department has been sent to 1 infantry division, 1 tank regiment and 2 howitzer regiments to assist us in shooting. When I say it's big, I'm definitely not bragging. Aren't you interested? I heard that there is a good pyrotechnician named Yin Xingyun in your factory, if you are not interested, then I will go find him!"

A soldier who doesn't want to be a general is not a good soldier, and a pyrotechnician who doesn't want to make a big scene is not a good pyrotechnician. When Yu Ze heard that Xu Wangqiu was looking for someone else, he immediately shouted: "Interested! Interested! Can Yin Xingyun's little kid's skills compare with me? He has only been a pyrotechnic artist for a few years? Don't you trust my technology?"

Xu Wangqiu laughed and said, "Of course don't worry." Then the matter is settled. By the way, do you know Zhang Erzan from Beijing Film Studio?"

"I know, we have filmed "Southern Expedition and Northern War" together, I am a pyrotechnician, he is the stunt photographer of the movie. "Yu Ze only needs Xu Wangqiu to do what Zhang Erzan does, what, do you want to ask him to do stunt photography?"

Xu Wangqiu nodded and said, "Yes, I'm going to ask him to be a stunt instructor." "Falcon" has a lot of special effects shots, which requires experts in special effects. A lot of the camera explosions and special effects in Falcon have to be done together, and you need to cooperate. You can accompany me to the Beijing Film Studio. ”

The two came out of Bayi Factory and went straight to Beijing Film Studio. When Xu Wangqiu found Zhang Erzan in the office, he was reading English materials. A few days ago, Zhang Erzan went to the United States. In the United States, he really felt the gap between us and others in terms of special effects, so he got some materials back and studied hard, trying to catch up with the Americans.

Zhang Erzan was originally a photographer of the Northeast Film Factory, but in 1954, when the country wanted to develop films, he urgently needed feature films, so he selected a group of people to study in the Soviet Union so that he could shoot and print color films. Ge Yongliang of the Magic Shadow Studio was originally the first choice for stunt photography, but Ge Yongliang did not pass the political review, so this task fell to Zhang Erzan.

In the process of studying in the Soviet Union, Zhang Erzan found that there were very complete technical materials in the library of the Moscow Film Studio, but the materials were not borrowed and could only be read in the library. Zhang Erzan had a plan and told the administrator that he didn't know Russian and wanted to take it back and ask for a translator. After the administrator agreed, Zhang Erzan and his companions borrowed all the books on photography, recording, printing, etc., and took pictures with the camera page by page.

When Zhang Erzan returned to China after graduation in 1956, he brought these materials back. While studying in the Soviet Union, Zhang Erzan learned about the Soviet Union's infrared masking technology. The so-called matte technology is actually keying technology, also known as the blue background method, and infrared mating technology is the use of infrared light for keying. This technology was kept secret from China by the USSR and did not sell equipment to China.

Relying on the knowledge he had learned and the materials he brought back from the Soviet Union, Zhang Erzan finally developed China's first 35mm movable film camera after several years of painstaking research. From the 60s to the early 80s, almost all the stunt shots that needed to be keyed and synthesized in the films produced by Beijing Film Studio were completed by this machine.

Xu Wangqiu came to Zhang Erzan for the keying and synthesis technology of Beijing Film Studio, because some shots in "Falcon" can only be made by keying and compositing technology, and other methods are not possible at all.

Zhang Erzan has watched "The Rape", and he also knows Xu Wangqiu's name, and he is very polite to him: "When "The Rape" was screened at Beijing Film Studio last year, I was also there. This film is so well made, the pyrotechnic technology is simply breathtaking!"

Xu Wangqiu said with a smile: "Senior Zhang is polite, "Hoe Rape" can only be regarded as a small fight, this time we are going to make a big one." In addition to pyrotechnic technology, we will also use a lot of special effects in this film, including matting technology and the production of model special effects. I heard that the film technology of Beijing Film Studio is very strong, so I came to ask you for help. ”

Zhang Erzan was slightly stunned when he heard this, in the past, the director told him what shots there were and what effects he wanted, and then he went to consider what technology to use, but he didn't expect Xu Wangqiu to directly tell him to use mask technology, and couldn't help asking: "I don't know what shots you want to use cover technology?"

Xu Wangqiu didn't play a storyboard, asked Zhang Erzan for a pen and a piece of paper, drew a frame on the paper, and drew a helicopter in it: "Take this scene as an example, after our army shot down the enemy's radar station, an enemy helicopter happened to come over and attack the Falcon squad, and the Falcon squad used a bazooka to shoot down the enemy's helicopter. ”

Xu Wangqiu drew another frame, drew a villain, drew a circle, wrote the word "airplane" on it, and said: "After the helicopter exploded, it fell to the ground, turned into a big fireball, and rolled towards the hoe team. This shot could only be shot separately from the exploding plane using a matte technique, and then composited together. It's too dangerous to have actors and explosives in one scene. ”

Zhang Erzan said in surprise: "I didn't expect you to know the mask technology!"

Yu Ze smiled when he heard this: "Wangqiu is an expert in movies, as long as it is a movie, there is nothing he doesn't know." ”

"It's too much to exaggerate, and there are still a lot of things I don't understand. Xu Wangqiu said modestly, looked at Zhang Erzan and said with a smile, "I only know a little about the mask technology, and I don't understand it." I've always believed that professional things should be done by professionals. We have a lot of special effects in this movie, and we need experts like you to join. ”

"It's going to be okay to do the stunts for you. Seeing that Xu Wangqiu's words were so sincere, Zhang Er had a good impression of him, and agreed to join the "Falcon" team, while reminding, "Movable mask technology is very expensive. ”

Xu Wangqiu said with a smile: "You don't have to worry about this, we are ready to prepare a fee of 2 million for fireworks and special effects, if it is not enough, we can also increase it, you don't need to worry about the problem of funds,." ”

Zhang Erzan was stunned when he heard that Xu Wangqiu had prepared 2 million for fireworks and special effects, which could be increased if it was not enough, and thought to himself that Jiang Qing spent more than 1.4 million yuan to remake "Southern Expedition and Northern War", and many people said that she was extravagant and wasteful, and your movie was ready to spend 2 million on fireworks and special effects alone, which is too exaggerated, and couldn't help but say: "Spending so much money to make a movie, can the country agree? And don't you think it's too wasteful?"

Xu Wangqiu didn't expect Zhang Erzan to say this, so he explained: "There is a movie called "Star Wars" in the United States, which costs 11 million US dollars, which is almost 20 million yuan. Sounds like a lot of money, and it's a lot of waste, right? But the film grossed 770 million worldwide. If we make this film, we must sell it internationally, earn foreign exchange for the country, and we must make it to a world-class standard, otherwise others will definitely not buy our film!"

Zhang Erzan suddenly realized: "I understand!"

Xu Wangqiu chatted with Zhang Erzan and Yu Ze for a while about the special effects of "Hoe Rape", and talked about the problem of aerial photography. He wanted to shoot two sets of low-altitude aerial shots, which flew over the heads of our troops, and as the camera pushed forward, the ground exploded. This is a kind of shot often used in war dramas in later generations, which will bring the audience a strong sense of substitution.

After listening to Xu Wangqiu's thoughts, Zhang Erzan shook his head and said, "We can't do it." Jiang Qing also wanted to shoot like this at the beginning. Jiang Qing saw the French movie "White Trail Mustang", in which the horse runs, the camera follows, and the horse runs sideways, and the camera runs sideways. She hopes that Beijing Film Studio can shoot such a shot. It looks like aerial photography, but the sailing route has to be low. I went to Beihang Airlines, and the designers of Beihang made a small plane according to the drawings of the American aircraft, but the camera was too heavy, and as soon as it went up, the plane fell to the ground.

In 1974, when remaking "Southern Expedition and Northern War", Jiang Qing proposed to take aerial shots, which should be close to the ground and follow the tank. This time, the Military Commission specially approved a helicopter, but it could only fly at least 50 meters, and when it was filmed, the tank in the picture was like a chess piece on a chessboard, and it did not have the desired effect. ”

Xu Wangqiu's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he said excitedly: "It's not okay to find an aircraft made of American aircraft drawings, so let's ask Beihang to help us design a special plane, and design a small plane with a strong enough load capacity to carry cameras!"

Zhang Erzan felt that Xu Wangqiu was too young and had no social experience at all: "The teachers of Beihang University have to take classes and also have to do research work, so how can they have time to help us design a small plane? Besides, how can it be so easy to design a small plane, we need to buy materials and do experiments, which requires a lot of money." ”

Xu Wangqiu said arrogantly: "As long as they can get it out, money is not a problem!"