The plane rushed onto the runway and landed slowly in Wellington, and after Duke and his party left Australia, they flew directly to New Zealand.

They stayed in Australia for a total of four days, Duke mainly went to see the Fox Studios located in the suburbs of Sydney, and then walked around the city of Sydney a few times to see the location suitable for "The Matrix", and on the last day, they also talked with Australian officials once, and the other party promised that if the film was all filmed in Australia, it would give the largest tax rebate of up to 14.5%, and promised that the Sydney municipal side would fully cooperate with the crew.

Of course, one of the conditions is that the crew hires Australians as much as possible, and all kinds of customized equipment must also give priority to Australian companies.

The Australian government's preferential treatment and cultural environment similar to that of North America are important reasons why Australia has become a major overseas filming area for Hollywood.

If "The Matrix" had been filmed entirely in Australia, tax rebates and relatively low labor costs alone would have saved the crew at least $5 million.

Coupled with Duke's geographical advantage of going to New Zealand frequently for the next two years, he was actually completely sure that "The Matrix" would be filmed in Sydney when he left Sydney.

Leaving the airport, ∧∟ went to the hotel for a brief rest, Duke and Charles? Rowan took the car provided by the hotel to the first destination of the trip, Weta Digital Studio.

The company was founded in 1993 by Richard ? Taylor, Jimmy? Selkirk and New Zealand director Peter? Co-founded by Jackson, unlike the three major Hollywood special effects companies in the future, the current Weta Digital Studio does not have any commendable work, and it is more appropriate to say that it is more advanced special effects workshop than a studio.

Duke finds them. For Tolkien's magical masterpiece, the film version of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Originally, he wanted to use Lucasfilm's Industrial Light & Magic, and he briefly consulted them on this matter, and there is no doubt that at this stage. From technology to talent to equipment, ILM easily beat Weta Studios, but one thing that cannot be ignored is that the high labor costs in Northern California will pile up the cost of special effects to a very scary number.

The biggest advantage of using Weta Studios is that the cost is much lower.

He's not James after all? A pure director like Cameron, in a sense, is still a businessman, even if the cost of the trilogy will be higher than it used to be, but the cost must be considered.

And the Weta studio is located in Wellington. It is also easy and convenient for the two sides to communicate.

"Hello, Director Rosenberg."

In the Weta Studio, in the reception room that is even more modest than the Duke's Studio, Richard, as the president? Taylor held Duke's hand tightly as if holding hope for the future, "It's a great honor to meet you, the legendary director of Hollywood. ”

Legend? A person like Tolkien can be described in this word, right?

With a sneer, Duke shook his hand hard. "You're so polite, just call me Duke."

He turned around and introduced. "This is Charles? Rowan, the producer I've been working with. ”

After the two sides said hello and sat down, Duke went straight to the point.

"Richard, Charles and I came here mainly to see the studios in Weta and Wellington. There's also the location in New Zealand, I've seen the special effects you've made for a couple of films, and you have a lot of potential. ”

"Weta Studios has a group of employees full of dreams!" Richard? Taylor said in due time.

"So......" Duke smiled, "I'm interested in outsourcing the trilogy's special effects to you, and you're one of my priorities." ”

Although I was very surprised that the young director in front of me wanted to make a magic trilogy into a movie. But Richard? Taylor remained calm, and during the early contact between the two parties, Weta Studio had also signed a non-disclosure agreement, and the news only circulated among a few senior executives and senior designers of the company.

Richard? Taylor knew very well that this was Weta Studios' chance to enter Hollywood, and sitting in front of him was one of the few super directors in the whole of Hollywood.

Next, Richard? Taylor not only took Duke and his wife on a tour of Weta Studios, but also spent nearly a week walking around many parts of New Zealand's South and North Islands, as well as meeting the New Zealand government.

When the New Zealand government heard that a total of more than $300 million in film production could be settled in New Zealand, it did not think about it for too long and promised to give the largest preferential policy within its authority.

In fact, regardless of the industry and outside, many people understand a truth, movies are more than just movies.

Let's talk about Peter Fat, why did you choose to shoot in New Zealand? It's true that New Zealand retains a lot of pristine landscapes, but is there really no substitute for them?

The answer must be no, prompting Peter Fat to choose New Zealand, which is the factor of his home country, must occupy a certain weight, and the fact that the film was released also proves that the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy has brought countless benefits to New Zealand.

Mainstream films can never be separated from the influence of realistic elements such as politics, humanities, and even regions.

It's like Duke, he knows that this series will bring great benefits to the filming location, and deep down he also had the idea of shooting in a certain country, but is it possible?

Therefore, he still chose New Zealand, firstly, this is his favorite movie, from the original book to the shooting highlights to various materials, I have seen too much, not choosing New Zealand related to it, it is purely a brain pump; Second, the crew has to stay here for too long, and it is also an English five-base friend area, which will reduce the problems encountered by the crew in terms of life.

Another point is that the New Zealand government has greater tax incentives and full support than the Australian government.

Because the price in Hong Kong has not been negotiated, Duke is not in a hurry to leave New Zealand and talk to Charles? Rowan and the team that arrived later discussed the preliminary preparation plan while combining field visits.

It's a huge project of extraordinary complexity, Charles? Rowan's team will have a lot of preliminary preparation work in the future.

For example, they need to negotiate with the New Zealand government to turn their verbal promises of tax incentives into real agreements, because all politicians' assurances are no different from farting.

For example, it is necessary to find a suitable site and build a habitual one; Find the best valley to film the Battle of the Sacred Helmet Valley and determine which ski resort will be able to film the Snowy Mountain March......

For example, if you want to find a master of handmade weapons, prepare to make different versions of weapons of various races in the future, according to Duke's rough calculations, you will need at least 1,000 sets of armor and 5,000 sets of weapons in the future!

For example, it is necessary to contact the manufacturer of household utensils, not only to prepare the crew for their future life in New Zealand, but also to prepare for the manufacture of utensils of various ethnic groups during the filming.

For example, a large amount of hair and yak hair will be imported, and the hair on zuò wigs and orcs will be made in the future.

For example, it is necessary to find a suitable jewelry maker, and after the design is completed, make rings, necklaces and other accessories worn by each character.

For example, it takes a lot of time to contact professional horse farms in New Zealand to domesticate horses suitable for filming......

In short, from now until the middle of 99 years, this more than two years will be the preparation period of the film, without meticulous preparation, it is tantamount to a fool's dream to shoot a successful epic masterpiece!

Remove Charles? In addition to Rowan, quite a few members of Duke's original team, such as art director Hannah? Serena and the others, who will not participate in "The Matrix", will be transferred to New Zealand later.

As for him himself, he will come to New Zealand every half a month or even every week in the future, and the director will not be able to leave the preliminary preparations.

During this period, news about the Oscars came, "The British Patient" unsurprisingly became the big winner of the 69th Academy Awards, "Chicago" only won a few technical awards, Lianna Omi? Watts and Tom? Cruise's acting awards were unsurprisingly spent.

Duke doesn't care, this is the most normal situation, after all, the public relations expenses invested by the Duke studio are really limited, and it is also aimed at the original Oscar nomination.

By April 1997, Duke had been in New Zealand for fifteen days before he began to talk to Charles? Rowan and others sorted out the work plan, and after visiting Weta Studios several times and talking with the other two founders a few times, they also initialed a special effects outsourcing agreement with the other party.

Of course, he also saw Peter, who made a special trip back to New Zealand from Hollywood? Jackson, the fat man is a crazy Lord of the Rings fan, and even tentatively asked Duke if he could transfer the project to him to direct, and he could get the cheapest director's salary.

Duke turned him down, but tentatively invited him to join the crew, Peter? Jackson also refused, the current Peter Fat is not a few years ago, not only mixed up in Hollywood to a certain name, but also full of ambitions, since last year, he has been negotiating with Universal Pictures to reshoot "King Kong", whether to be a director, or to be someone else's assistant, it is not difficult to choose.

Because he used to be a crazy Lord of the Rings fan, Duke also knows, Peter? After Jackson's initial preparation for "The Lord of the Rings" was blocked, he approached Universal, and the "King Kong" project was almost established in the 90s, but it was only later that the copyright dispute over "The Lord of the Rings" was resolved, and "King Kong" was postponed to the new century.

At the same time, there is good news in North America that Duke Studios has reached an agreement with Warner Bros. to sell the North American disc and VCD rights to Warner Bros. for the next eight years for $8 million, with a 5% cut of sales and rental revenue.

Even if overseas revenue can only be received in the future, "Chicago" has generated a large amount of profits for Duke and Duke's studios in North America alone.

By mid-April, Duke had left New Zealand for a trip to Hong Kong. (To be continued......)