The so-called storyboard is actually an auxiliary means in film and television production.

A story may come from a simple idea from a director or screenwriter or a novelist, and if you detail it and put it into words, it can become a story, write it into a novel, it is a novel, write it into a script, that is the script.

And the story itself, whether it is a novel, a script, or even a verbal one, is the starting point for most of the entertainment in this world.

But, up to this point, the story is just words.

Words are one of the most wonderful things in the world, and powerful writers can use simple text descriptions to let readers naturally form a sense of presence and a sense of substitution in their hearts, so as to deeply feel the joys and sorrows and ups and downs of the characters in the story - the so-called "there are a thousand Hamlets in the eyes of a thousand people", the scenes and characters in the story, in the text stage, his image is all up to the reader's own imagination and construction in the mind, one person and another.

Then, there are ventriloquists, storytellers, songwriters, drummers, cross talkers, and even foreign talk shows, as well as radio dramas after the advent of modern means of communication...... Of course, the oldest way is definitely the story told by mom and dad or grandparents before going to bed, in short, at this point, the story begins to break away from the category of mere words.

Anyone who tells a story will have a prioritization of tone, even an accent, an exaggeration and a reduction in the rhetoric, and even a simulation of the voices of specific characters and animals, etc., all of which make the story more concrete.

For a story, words are a one-dimensional world. If it's a very flat thing, then when it comes to the "telling" link, the sound is added, and the story begins to become a two-dimensional narrative.

Two-dimensional is more concrete than one-dimensional. But the so-called concretization, from another point of view, greatly shrinks the capacity of the story itself - a person who listens to the story and knows the story, his imagination of some sounds in the story is greatly limited, while a person who knows the story through words, everything can be associated with it in a wild way.

And movies, TV series, dramas, dramas...... It's all three-dimensional art.

"Journey to the West" is written about the Flaming Mountain, and the reader reads it. Ponder and sketch in your heart, what does the Flaming Mountain look like, but as soon as the drama comes out, what does the Flaming Mountain look like? The stage design will give you a model. Then as soon as the film and television drama comes out, what does the Flaming Mountain look like? The film and television pictures will even give you a very realistic Flaming Mountain.

From then on, the Flaming Mountain was like this, and it was no longer anything else.

Then, at the beginning of the creation of the drama stage and the film and television drama screen. Should the Flaming Mountains be like this, or should they be like that?

For the stage designers of the drama. For the selection of filming venues for film and television dramas, as well as the work direction of the set staff, how to turn the flaming mountain in the text into a real, sensible, and credible flaming mountain?

There's a lot of design and creation work to do, of course, but first, the people have to do, design, and create everything. must uphold the intention of the main creator of this play, that is, the director.

And, in addition to that, photography, costumes, makeup, and so on. What to do with that character in the script, how to deal with that fight in the plot?

What the director needs to look like, it has to be what it looks like.

Therefore, the director who pays attention to filming will spend a lot of energy to give out the sub-shots of this drama before filming starts - even if it is sloppy, even if not all the shots, but some of the most critical information must be there. For example, the style of clothing, such as the style of the shot, and then the choice of scenes, and so on.

To put it simply, a storyboard script is a transitional means in the process of a director transforming a flat, one-dimensional text story into a three-dimensional, sound-and-light image.

Of course, with the concretized image, the storyboard script is already two-dimensional.

With the storyboard script, the director has directly concretized his own ideas and the ideas he needs, and then he showed them to the costume designer, and the costume designer understood at a glance: Oh, it turned out to be like this! He showed it to the camera, and the camera immediately understood: it turned out that this shot wanted this angle!

Even, as soon as the sub-shots came out, even the choice of actors had an accurate direction to a large extent.

Of course, for directors, storyboard scripts are not completely necessary.

Not to mention the storyboard script, some directors don't even have a script after they start filming, they have a high level, blind shooting, everything is in their hearts, and they shoot a classic.

But in the director's circle, this kind of thing is still rare, basically, film directors, no matter how big you are, will have their own storyboard before the film starts.

First of all, the requirements for the picture, for the costumes, and for the lens are far higher than the TV series, and secondly, to be honest, the movie is short after all, a movie is generally 90 minutes to 120 minutes, and the lens is limited after all, so this work is not so time-consuming and laborious.

But TV series, especially domestic TV series, to be honest, will draw the script of each episode and each shot before filming starts...... Extremely rare.

First, the TV series is really too long, as little as 20 episodes, as much as 350 episodes, even if the main shots are roughly drawn, this workload is unusually large;

If nothing else, just lenses and photography.

Li Qian didn't understand these things until he acted in a play for several years, and later, by chance, he began to help an old buddy manage the set, and he became a part-time assistant director, and then he began to gradually study this area.

For example, on the Internet of later generations in another time and space, there are often many netizens who take screenshots to compare the footage of domestic TV series and some famous European and American TV series - "Game of Thrones", "Rome", "House of Cards" and other famous high-quality dramas, which are often pulled out for comparison.

In contrast, it is easy to find that on the TV screens of these famous American dramas, almost every shot, every scene is set and props. They are all quite exquisite, and the angle of each lens, the layering of light and shadow, and the three-dimensional sense will make you feel very exquisite, very attentive, and very exquisite.

On the other hand, domestic TV dramas, even if they are famous dramas, most of the shots in them are still extremely flat - just one scene. A few characters stopped there and started a conversation directly, the story of Balabala.

So, many people say, there is no aftertaste.

This is not only the current situation of TV dramas in 1998 in this time and space, but also the current situation of TV dramas in 2015 in another time and space.

As for the reason, of course, it is not because Chinese can't shoot or play such good shots, because theoretically speaking, since movies can shoot exquisite shots. Then the TV series will definitely be able to do the same. The reason for this is mainly due to two points:

The first point is that the overall atmosphere is not good. And not only the audience's consumption atmosphere is not good, but even the production psychology of the producer does not support this kind of creation.

Frankly speaking, even if it's 2015, domestic audiences have been bombarded with European and American blockbusters for many years, and many viewers on the Internet have even watched American dramas for many years.

But it's too expensive to do that. You know, even if it's another time and space in 2015. The actor's salary has risen again and again, but the production cost of the TV series is still at the level of tens of millions, and I often hear that the investment in a certain movie exceeds 100 million, or even hundreds of millions, but the TV series ...... Hardly.

To put it simply, the result of making a high-quality drama is likely to be. You're put in, but you can't earn it back.

However, although there are many complaints about domestic TV series on the Internet, the TV series producers shoot it according to the old way, as long as the story passes. You have to pinch your nose too. What's more, the people who have really been baptized by American dramas are only the younger generation after all, and they are not the ones who will contribute ratings to TV stations.

So after coming and going, the producer considers the investment-to-return ratio, and has no courage or heart to do that kind of high-quality exquisite drama, while the vast majority of viewers can watch normal dramas. The producer simply doesn't care how the young people on the Internet scold them, how to get them, if you are willing to watch the exquisite ones, just watch the American drama directly!

The second point is staffing...... It's a lot worse.

Even in 2015, in another time and space, to be honest, even making movies in China, there is really a level under the hands and can play the layering of the lens to the point of being superb, in fact, there are still only a few people, the vast majority of domestic movies, in fact, are just making up a story, finding a bunch of celebrity faces to shoot out to make money, and it is rare to start telling stories to the audience seriously, and it is already possible to make a lot of money, and the development of the entire industry has not evolved to really play those deeper things. Even if someone is willing to spend money to make it, the question is, who will make it?

Let Zhang Yimou, Wong Kar-wai, and Jiang Wen go to shoot a TV series?

That's obviously not realistic.

And in fact, among the film and television works produced by British dramas, American dramas, and Hollywood movies, there are many high-quality films, but the proportion of high-quality products is only slightly higher than that in China.

Any industry, any art, and fine art are always in the minority.

So, around 2000 in China, is it feasible to spend a lot of money to make high-quality TV dramas? Not to mention whether to make money or not, at least, can it earn back the cost?

Li Qian didn't know if others had considered this issue, but he himself had been thinking about it for two or three years. And thinking about it, he came up with his own answer: in the short term, even if he doesn't lose, he won't make too much, and in the long run, even if he doesn't earn, he can't lose!

Just because the audience can tolerate an average-level TV series doesn't mean that they don't like to watch high-quality, delicate or even beautiful good dramas - never underestimate the IQ of the audience!

Of the billions of TV viewers in the country, 990 million of them may not have even seen a camera lens, nor do they know a lot of professional terms such as depth of field, layering, light, etc., but a shot and a picture are staged from TV, whether they are attentive or not. He could see it!

Maybe in one or two episodes, he still has a glimpse of it, and he doesn't even feel anything, but when he finishes watching this drama, he will watch other dramas and compare them in his heart. Will he still not feel the difference between the two?

Even if he can't say why, in his heart, that play is better than this play!

Therefore, perhaps the premiere rights of the TV series "The Legend of the New White Lady" with a final investment of up to 30 million, or even the second round of screening rights, will not be sold at a very good price, but Li Qian believes that as long as he shoots with his heart. Use movie-level standards to demand yourself and demand this play, then, when the reputation of this drama ferments, and when it becomes a boutique in the mouths and minds of thousands of audiences, maybe this drama will lose money in the short term, but the potential impact it brings to itself is destined to make you earn back even the profit in the future!

Even...... Just by virtue of the degree to which the White Snake is a household name in China, and by the excitement of the play "The Legend of the New White Lady" itself. Li Qian felt that once it became popular. Maybe after selling out the second round of screening rights, you can pay back the cost!

And even if the first two rounds are sold out, there is no return on the cost, isn't there a third round? Isn't there still a long-term broadcast right? Isn't there still a VCD? Isn't there a DVD in the future? Isn't there a more future network on demand?

In short, after thinking about it, Li Qian decided: If you don't shoot, you have to shoot. Just shoot the kind of good works that can still make people feel exquisite when they look at the picture after ten or even twenty years!

Even if it really has the potential to lose money in the short term!

It is precisely because of this that he is a rookie director and a newcomer in the film and television industry, and he has to spend so much money on his first shot. To do such a thing in the current domestic environment, there is no precedent, if he wants to do it well, in addition to spending a lot of effort and spending a year and a half to make a storyboard script, of course, he hopes to be escorted by more friends in the industry - Feng Yumin, Yu Bojun, Cao Zhan, Jin Han, and the team under Yu Bojun and Jin Han are all people he wants to try to win over to help him.

And this storyboard script, which took a year and a half to draw by hand, is the most favorable illustration he can come up with: I not only want to shoot this drama seriously, but also have the ability to shoot it well!

…………

The moment I saw the thick stack of sub-shots for the first time, whether it was Feng Yumin, a big name in the industry, or Cao Zhan and Yu Bojun, all of whom were hardcore friends, they were completely stunned.

A 32-episode TV series with detailed storytelling of all shots......

After sighing, Cao Zhan asked, "Who else did you show these things?"

Li Qian replied honestly: "A few days ago, I sent the script to Mr. Feng Yumin from Huaxia Channel, and yesterday he called and said that he had finished reading it and asked me to come over to talk, so I brought the first few episodes with me." ”

When Yu Bojun heard the name Feng Yumin, his eyes lit up first, and then asked, "What did he say?"

Li Qian shrugged his shoulders and said: "He originally suggested that I cooperate with them to shoot this drama, he came to produce it, and let me be an assistant director to learn from it, but after watching it, he agreed to be one of the producers of this drama and help me check it, and at the same time, he promised me that I would show him first when it was filmed, and as long as the level of the drama was not bad, he was willing to help recommend it and see if it could premiere on Huaxia Channel." ”

Cao Zhan was silent.

Yu Bojun was silent for a moment, looked up at Li Qian, and asked, "What about your cigarette, bring me one too." ”

Li Qian took out a cigarette and handed it over with a lighter.

Yu Bojun took it, took out a dot, took a deep sip, and spit it out again.

"Shoot it as a movie?" he frowned and looked up at Li Qian.

Li Qian nodded, "Make it like a movie." ”

Yu Bojun nodded, took a puff of cigarette, spit it out slowly, and suddenly coughed twice, and then asked: "You are the director, who will take charge of the camera for you? Jin Han? Or let me recommend it to you?"

Li Qian nodded again, "Lao Jin, I like his image style very much." ”

Yu Bojun nodded again, and then continued to smoke.

At this time, Cao Zhan extinguished the cigarette butt and suddenly asked: "Look at the outline, location scenes are indispensable, and they are all shot in real time?"

Li Qian nodded, "It must be filmed in real time." ”

So Cao Zhan asked again: "What about the costumes? Look at your shot, it seems that you are going to follow the costumes of the Song Dynasty? The costumes of the male actors are better said, the costumes of the actresses, especially if you still have to do them exquisitely...... In addition, there are a lot of scenes of the palace in your book, and there are scenes of the last dynasty in the back, and those costumes...... Can you save a little bit? Can't you rent it?"

Li Qian hesitated for a long time before he said helplessly: "When the time comes, it depends on the situation, those rented costumes, I guess I don't like it, but if the investment is really too big." You can rent some of the costumes in the corner of the camera, but the costumes of the main characters must be ordered by experts! I plan to use Suzhou embroidery, and this scene was originally in the area of Suzhou and Hangzhou. ”

Cao Zhan nodded, "Su Xiu...... Yes, except for the expensive ones, there is nothing wrong with it. I remember a buddy who once went to make a costume embroidered by Suzhou, like this. I'll help you inquire and ask for directions. ”

Li Qian nodded.

Then, it was Yu Bojun's turn again.

He asked: "After you have drawn these sub-scenes, are you going to shoot them resolutely according to this, or will there be a certain scale of change? What are you going to use to shoot? It won't really be film, right? The film of the movie, no matter how cheap and low-grade it is, you will shoot 32 episodes of this drama, even if you have gone through it all over again during the whole shooting process." These are more than 20 hours...... I'll do the math......"

Li Qian smiled and said, "Don't forget it." I've done the math, even if I do it all over again, with the cheapest film, it will cost about six million. In fact, if I had actually used film, I would have shot it all. This alone has to say 20 million less, and nothing else can be spent without a penny! Costumes, sets, props, computer special effects in the later stage, and actors' salaries are not decimals...... So. My plan was to use a TV camera for the most part, and a few on film. ”

This time, without waiting for Yu Bojun to ask again, Cao Zhan couldn't help but squint his eyes and asked eagerly: "What part is the less film?"

Li Qian replied, "Still life, beautiful scenery, some indoor scenes at night, in short, places that can make the audience calm down and slow down to see the picture, use film." And in other places, in the plot, or ordinary street scenes, or martial arts scenes, in short, it is a place where the plot is agitated, then use a TV camera, of course, it is better to use it. ”

Cao Zhan and Yu Bojun glanced at each other, and both nodded slowly.

Obviously, as soon as I asked this, I found that Li Qian's preparation for this TV series was not just this very careful storyboard script, he had considered many issues.

So, after a while, Yu Bojun said slowly: "If you use it partially, it's okay, it can improve the quality of watching, and it's worth spending a little more money." It's just ......" paused, and he said: "Okay, Lao Jin's team has other skills, but the level of playing with cameras and lights is still very high, much stronger than my team." Besides, you're a TV series after all, and it's not worth it to spend a lot of money on those gaffers for the time being. ”

After a pause, the two looked at each other again, and then turned their heads to look at Li Qian at the same time.

Yu Bojun opened his mouth and said: "So, if you are twenty or thirty million, it is not that you can't afford to play, if you are willing to play, then play a game! Experience is slowly accumulated! I also lost at the beginning, everyone came from that time, don't have pressure!"

After saying this, his demeanor relaxed a lot, and he even crossed Erlang's legs again, and said with a smile: "You must have money, but if you need me to invest in Lao Cao, you can just talk." As for anything else, if there is anything else I can do with Lao Cao to help you, let's talk about it!"

After he finished speaking, together with Cao Zhan, they all looked at Li Qian seriously.

Li Qian took a deep breath, first looked at Cao Zhan, and said, "Brother Cao, you come to give me art direction, costumes, props, and sets, you help me keep an eye on it! ”

Cao Zhan thought for a while and nodded, "Okay, I'll help you keep an eye on it, and I'll go back and find someone to help you get the design of the costume out first, and then I'll go to Suzhou and Hangzhou to contact those craftsmen." ”

Li Qian nodded, then turned his head to look at Yu Bojun, and said: "Brother Yu, I know that you have a lot of things, just the later stage of the play "Love of Green Onions" is enough for you to be busy for a while, but give me a name and be a producer." In addition, you are well-connected in the circle, so help me recommend a good martial arts instructor team. ”

When Yu Bojun heard this, he also nodded, "No problem, I'll call you when I get back, I hope to make an appointment with Niu's class." Their martial arts are the top in our country. ”

Li Qian was about to nod, he hesitated, and then said: "However, the Niu family class is not very easy to make an appointment, I can only say that I can try, it really can't work, there are still a few sets of good martial arts teams in China, and they must not be wrong!"

Li Qian smiled and nodded.

Finally, he sat back relaxed, closed his eyes slightly, and muttered, "Script, storyboard, photography, costumes, props, martial arts...... Hey, there's finally a glimpse of the eight characters. I'm going to look at the exterior when I get back. ”

Speaking of this, he straightened up excitedly and said: "Although the background is Bai Suzhen at the foot of Qingcheng Mountain, I wanted to go to Zhangjiajie to shoot the scene, and the strange peaks and strange rocks there are the most flavorful." As for Qingcheng Mountain, it would be nice to give it a long view, what do you think?"

Yu Bojun and Cao Zhan looked at each other and smiled when they heard this, Cao Zhan seemed to be about to speak, but Yu Bojun waved his hand and signaled him not to say it yet, but said with a smile: "These are all good to say, what you calculated are all technical things, what about the rest?"

Li Qian frowned when he heard this, "Something else?"

Yu Bojun smiled: "For example...... Who's going to put the finances of the whole crew in charge of you?"

As he spoke, he smiled and said: "You definitely can't do it yourself, you can't be busy, the director must devote himself to filming with all his body and mind when filming, and you can't be distracted from this anymore." Feng Yumin and Feng Dao can't take care of this for you, and I don't have time, so what are you going to do?

He grinned, looking funny, and said: "Don't blame my brother for not reminding you, although your beautiful president said that when he was a record company, he didn't want to catch ducks on the shelves, or he was a talented genius, in short, he succeeded, but it was just a matter of selling goods, and it was not the same thing as the trivial and meticulous account management of the movie crew!

Li Qian smiled when he heard this, and said confidently: "It turns out that you are talking about this, I really thought about this a long time ago, and I had already thought about it a year ago." ”

Yu Bojun was surprised when he heard this, and couldn't help but say: "Is it really fake? I can tell you, this studio manager, this account keeper, is really not something that anyone can deal with." A good production director can help you get things done smoothly, never let you worry about it, and can also take the initiative to save you money, a not very good production director...... And this matter, although people who don't trust it are definitely not good, but my experience, really my own people, is not very reliable! The key is to have professionalism and ability!"

Speaking of this, he couldn't help but look at Li Qian in surprise, and asked puzzledly: "You haven't entered the industry yet, where did you make friends with such a person?"

Li Qian smiled and said, "Who said I didn't enter the industry, but I entered the industry two years ago!"

After he finished speaking, Yu Bojun and Cao Zhan were stunned.

Immediately, the two looked at each other and said in unison: "Film Academy!"

Yu Bojun glared and said, "Yes, it's really a treasure trove of film talents!" (To be continued.) )