Disaster film is a genre film that focuses on the large-scale disasters caused by nature, human beings, or fantasy alien creatures to human society, with horror, panic, tragic plots and catastrophic landscapes as the main viewing effect.

The genre was only heavily filmed in Hollywood after the 50s of the 20th century, and the term 'disaster/film' became popular in the 70s. In fact, a large part of disaster movies can be classified into the genre of science fiction films.

In most disaster films, the expression is a kind of negative escape, that is, to help the viewer hide from the changeable, nervous, and insecure real world into the dream world. When they come out of the cinema, they will find that they are much luckier in the contemporary real world than in the dream world just now. At the same time, there are always several heroes in disaster films who are highly skilled, super responsible and dedicated, and this heroic survival not only promotes a positive humanitarianism, but also has a psychological comfort effect for many viewers.

The disaster genre began to succeed in earning a lot of box office revenues in the 1970s. The 1970 release of "Airport" was a milestone, followed by "The Poseidon Adventure" in 1972 and "The Towering Inferno" in 1974.

Far from it, this was more than 20 years ago. After "Burning Skyscraper", Hollywood did not make a blockbuster disaster movie until "Tornado" came out. And unlike the previous disaster films, this time it is a natural disaster, which can be said to be a precedent for "natural disaster blockbusters".

"Tornado" is a film that tells the story of scientists who take risks studying tornadoes in order to pursue their scientific careers. In order not to make the plot seem too simple, the screenwriters also deliberately added a divorced husband, but this still can't stop Tornado from becoming the protagonist of the film; Driven by human curiosity, scientists are willing to risk their lives and play a seemingly absurd game of chasing the wind.

The screenplay for this movie was written by the famous writer who wrote "Jurassic Park", Michael? Crichton, completed in collaboration with China Ming, who is more famous than him. In order to write the script, the two even experienced the power of a hurricane under the guidance of members of the National Storm Research Office in Oklahoma. It is because of this seriousness that the film gives people an immersive feeling, and the audience will not only worry about the scientist chasing the wind, but also have a hard time escaping the shiver that comes with the approach of the storm.

It is precisely the sense of tremor brought to the audience that made "Tornado" win 241.72 million box office in the summer, becoming the first film to break the 200 million mark at the box office in 96 years.

……

When "Tornado" was fully drawn, the light and shadow company and the crew members held a grand party in Sun Ziming's manor to celebrate the great success of the film.

Originally, this kind of party, which is similar to a celebration party, is usually attended only by company employees and crew members, and at most some close partners will be invited, but many company presidents, producers, and managers of film investment funds have also heard of it.

Sun Ziming and Jiang Peng are such shrewd people, and they know at a glance that these people want to follow the trend and come to inquire about the news. The tornado-themed natural disaster film "Tornado" can win more than 200 million box office, but what about films with volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, etc.?

And to show those natural disasters realistically, movie special effects have become the key to the key. In today's Hollywood, light and shadow special effects are dominant, and other small special effects companies simply can't afford those complex and realistic special effects, how can they not flock to Sun Ziming's party?

"Akira, congratulations"

"Thank you", Sun Ziming touched the glass with Shirley and Spielberg, and then introduced her to Li Zhi by his side.

"Zhi, this is Ms. Shirley, the president of Paramount, and a good friend of mine."

"Hello, you are more beautiful than on the screen, no wonder you can capture this guy China Ming (hello, thank you for the compliment)"

After a few small talks, Shirley turned the topic to Paramount's "Heaven and Earth Collision" with DreamWorks.

"Ming, I heard that the Touchstone Company is negotiating with your special effects company to prepare for the production of "Peerless Tribulation"?"

There is nothing to hide about this, Sun Ziming nodded slightly, and glanced at Kayo Sato next to her, and she immediately went to Benjamin to inquire about the progress of the negotiations.

"Ok, don't you think it's disastrous to release two films with the same subject matter in one year? Ming, you're the majority shareholder of DreamWorks. ”

Shirley's directness made Spielberg next to him a little embarrassed, lying on the balcony, pretending to watch the bustle in the garden downstairs. He just wanted to talk about the discount on the special effects fee, and he didn't expect her to make such an idea. Hollywood can have today's prosperity, and the fierce competition is also indispensable, how can you use this kind of trick that is not on the table for the sake of profit?

'Ahem', Sun Ziming also coughed twice, he didn't expect Shirley to put forward the idea of secretly putting others together in front of Spielberg and Li Zhi. It seems that she still doesn't know about people like Spielberg, thinking that this guy can be the chairman of DreamWorks, and he must be the same kind of person as her and herself.

Fortunately, Kayo Sato came quickly, whispered a few words in Sun Ziming's ear, helped Li Zhi, whose lower abdomen was already obviously bulging, and left, giving up the balcony to a few big people in her eyes.

With this buffer, Sun Ziming leaned on the handrail of the balcony silently, touched Spielberg next to him with his hand that was not holding a wine glass, and laughed quietly: "Shirley, just now my assistant told me that Benjamin is only going to charge you, oh no, it's us, 60,000 per second for special effects, which is already very cheap." ”

Spielberg next to him was stunned for a moment, quickly turned around, and said in surprise: "Huh? You're not kidding, are you? ”

"What, are you too low?"

"No, no, this was so unexpected!"

From the offer of 75,000 / second, the diving style dropped to 60,000 / second, which made Spielberg smile and made Shirley raise a glass to show gratitude. This is a 20% discount, which can save more than 20 million special effects fees for "Heaven and Earth Collision".

Sun Ziming waved his hand and whispered: "Be quiet, the fee paid by the touchstone to the special effects company must be more than 75,000 per second." There are some things that we all need to know. ”

The two realized that DreamWorks had 15,000 seconds less than the touchstone, which was a discount for light and shadow, and it was also a treatment between allies. But the two also understand that when the time comes, the price will still be 70,005/second, and the extra 15,000/second will have to be operated flexibly by the two of them, and the special effects company will definitely not care.

"Ming", Shirley was just about to speak, but Steve interrupted, "Shirley, I think fair play is the only way to present the best film to the audience." ”

Spielberg's status and achievements today are not only due to his outstanding talent, but also to the fact that he is well aware of some of the rules that cannot be put on the table in Hollywood. There are some things that he can shine with the dust, but there are some things that he instinctively resents, such as Shirley wanting to make trouble behind his back.

"Ok, you all think so, then I didn't say it", Shirley raised her eyebrows helplessly, understanding that Spielberg is not the same kind of person as himself and China, and this guy still retains traditional mainstream values. Anyway, the special effects company can call the shots is China Ming, and he will know how to do it.

The three chatted a few more words, and when they saw Jerry Bruckheimer of the Touchstone, they came over, probably for "Peerless Tribulation", Shirley and Spielberg hurriedly touched a glass with Sun Ziming, and went downstairs to continue the party. Sun Ziming saw that the person next to Jerry had a headache, this guy was a friend who had just met, and he was a very good friend, a close friend of Chris Columbus.