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In addition to the main creator, after more than a month of busy work, a series of supporting roles and behind-the-scenes staff for the film have also been basically finalized.

So, September 9th, a new Monday.

Although the filming has not yet officially started, Simon's work schedule has suddenly become tense.

In a week, Simon needs to determine too many things.

The makeup of the main actors.

Communicate with the identified animation studio about the production of the film insert animation.

Coordinating script reading sessions for actors.

Official submission of a series of street photography applications to the City of Santa Monica.

Rental of shooting props.

Get to know the people behind the scenes.

Etc., etc.

Being so busy, Simon's daily rest time was compressed into six hours.

Until the weekend, when other staff began to rest, Simon was still arranging the scenery of Lola's room himself.

Feeling Simon's professionalism and devotion more and more, the main creators of the crew gradually recognized "Run Lola Run".

So, when Simon was busy setting up the set of Lola's room in an apartment building in the northwest corner of the Montana area on weekends, three women, Catherine, Janet, and Sandra, rushed over, and the producer Ron McMillan also rushed over. He came over and claimed that he was too free on weekends, and he was just here to help, and he didn't need to pay him overtime pay.

To Simon's surprise, actor Keanu Reeves also rushed over.In getting along these days, Simon also realized that Keanu Reeves was interested in his movie because of the five leg bones that Simon smashed back then.

Although it has been two months, the leg bones of the five youths still haven't recovered.

Obviously in order to avoid too many people's attention, when Simon was still hospitalized at UCLA Medical Center, five people hurriedly went through the transfer procedures, and it is said that they were transferred to San Diego in southern California.

However, this deliberate cover-up made more people interested in what happened that day.At the press conference of Fox's "Project X" movie starring Matthew Broderick, a reporter also boldly asked Matthew Broderick for his opinion on the events of that day, and the scene was once very awkward.

Simon has completely ignored the matter.

Another weekend later.

On Monday, October 10th, "The Butterfly Effect" officially announced the start of filming at Fox Studios.

Simon also specially participated in the opening ceremony of the film that day.

Immediately afterwards, on Tuesday, October 10, "Run Lola Run" also started shooting in an unknown manner in an apartment facing the sea in the northwest of the Montana district of Santa Monica.

Chapter 045 It's Impossible

October 10th, Thursday.

On the third day of filming of "Run Lola Run", the crew was still staying in the apartment in the northwest corner of the Montana district.

The scene of Lola's house leads the beginning of the three stories, which is particularly important in the film. The crew arranged for three full days to shoot this part of the scene, and today is the last day.

It was already past three o'clock in the afternoon.

In Lola's bedroom, seven or eight people were squeezed into the room of less than [-] square meters after the temporary renovation. Counting the camera, fill light, reflector and other equipment, the small room was surrounded by people. It was packed to the brim, and some people could only stay outside.

However, the atmosphere in the room seemed rather quiet.

This is actually the unified feeling of all the crew members since the filming started.

From the first day of filming, everyone found that Simon's directing style is very different. He will not yell like some directors, nor will he explain to the staff in great detail what kind of results he wants. .

Most of the time, Simon kept a quiet state, quietly inspecting the surrounding scenery, quietly using the viewfinder to consider the upcoming shots, and quietly holding the light meter to observe every corner... Then, succinctly give orders .

If it was just that, everyone might enjoy this relaxing shooting experience very much.

Compared with the countless roars and harsh criticisms suffered by many crews, who doesn't want a director who is quiet and somewhat neurotic.

However, after three days, most of the crew didn't feel relaxed at all, but the pressure increased.

The young director of the crew is really too harsh.

On the first day of shooting, Simon spent more than two hours on the lighting for the first shot.

As a typical backlit scene, it is understandable to spend more time on lighting.

However, this is not a big scene set in those high-budget films, it is just a simple close-up shot, which took more than two hours to set up the lighting, which is too much anyway.

Moreover, due to Simon's age, some of the crew members even began to wonder if this young man knew anything about filmmaking?Some people even feel that Simon is just showing his authority through this back and forth.

All kinds of doubts and dissatisfaction accumulated for three days. When Simon repeatedly adjusted for a phone drop shot of less than a second for more than half an hour, Josh Wickman, the lighting engineer of the crew, finally broke out.

Josh Wickman is 33 years old this year. He has worked as a lighting engineer in Hollywood for 16 years since he was an apprentice at the age of 17.Although due to mediocre personal qualifications and lack of opportunities, he has been only able to work on independent film sets, but he is still a veteran in this circle.

In all fairness, Josh Wickman can faintly feel the subtleties of Simon's adjustments most of the time, but it is difficult for him to tolerate Simon's long and repeated deliberation.

This is so torturous.

At this moment, Josh Wickman threw away the light meter that he was holding just now, raised his voice, and said to the young man who seemed to have a puzzled expression: "Simon, I think this set is already very good, you can't waste any more time .”

As Josh Wickman suddenly broke out, everyone stopped their work and looked over together.

After listening to Josh Wakeman, Simon picked up the shooting schedule next to him and looked at it, saying, "I didn't waste time. The shooting schedule here is three days, and now there are only the last three shots left. It’s okay to finish before get off work.”

Hearing what Simon said, everyone was taken aback.

After a little calculation in their hearts, everyone also found that although Simon seemed a bit too demanding in many details, the shooting progress did not slow down at all.

The young man seemed to have always known exactly what effect he wanted.Therefore, there are very few situations where hesitating to adjust the shooting repeatedly or intentionally taking a few more shots for backup.In most cases, everyone carefully prepares a shot, and then starts shooting. As long as there are no accidents, there are usually only three or four shots, and then it ends.This kind of neatness has speeded up the filming progress of the film virtually.

However, it may be that this kind of compact propulsion speed without delay has unknowingly brought a lot of pressure to the staff.

So, after hearing Simon's explanation, Joss Wickman inexplicably became even more angry, saying: "Anyway, you can't do this anymore. Or, you don't know what you are doing at all, you little rookie .”

Aware of the dispute in the room, Ron McMillan and Sandra Bullock, who were originally staying outside, also quickly walked in.

Ron McMillan saw Josh Wickman, who was getting more and more excited, and immediately said with a bit of reprimand: "Josh, what's going on?"

"What's going on?" Josh Wickman felt Ron McMillan's questioning, but instead said louder: "I'm fucking fed up," saying so, Josh Wickman still flicked After looking at the reflectors that had been arranged around him, he looked at Simon again and said, "Boy, do you think you are Martin Scorsese? Let me tell you, I'm quitting."

Having said that, Josh Wickman raised his foot and kicked a reflector again, then turned around and walked out.

Ron McMillan was a little stunned when he saw the lighting engineer leave suddenly after a disagreement.

How does this work!

However, Ron McMillan just wanted to chase him out, but was held back by Simon.

Simon's expression also sank at this time, he glanced around, and said: "Maybe my requirements for shooting are a little too strict, but I don't plan to change this state in the future, so if you can't adapt, you can do it now." You can leave."

Everyone is silent.

In the past three days, Josh Wickman was really tossed a little bit before he broke out.Although other people are also dissatisfied, they are far from reaching the point of resigning and leaving.In Hollywood, behind-the-scenes staff, like actors, are often unemployed, and it is not so easy to find a job.

Simon waited for a while, then said again: "Only this time, if we leave now, we can terminate the contract very peacefully. But in the next filming, if anyone strikes suddenly, the crew will also pursue it to the end."

After saying this, Simon glanced around until everyone nodded yes, then he bent down to pick up the reflector that was kicked on the ground by Josh Wickman, and said, "Okay, continue shooting."

The lighting engineer is gone, no one is lighting, how can we shoot?

This kind of doubt popped up in everyone's mind.

During the filming process, other jobs may be able to make a cameo appearance for each other, but lighting engineers have very high requirements for professional skills.Although the assistant that the crew assigned to Josh Wickman stayed, it was obviously impossible for the other party to be qualified for the job.

Simon ignored everyone's thoughts, and ordered the young lighting assistant to rearrange the lighting equipment.

Looking at the situation in front of him, Ron McMillan felt a little helpless. He pulled Catherine who wanted to help, and said a few words to her.

After hearing what Ron McMillan said, Catherine came to Simon and persuaded in a low voice: "Simon, why don't you come here today?"

"It's okay, Catherine, trust me," Simon gave the woman a reassuring look, and pointed to the fill light next to him: "Can you turn that off for me first?"

Seeing Simon's insistence, Catherine nodded and began to help.

Ron McMillan saw that the scene was busy again, so he had no choice but to leave the room, hurried to the next door, picked up the phone, and wanted to help the crew contact a lighting engineer as soon as possible to save the scene.

It's just that Ron McMillan is not one of those big-name producers after all, so he made several phone calls to no avail.

After hesitating for a moment, Ron McMillan still sighed, and also rushed to the scene to help.

So busy, it's time to get off work soon.

While some time is wasted on the scene where the phone drops, the next few shots go very smoothly.

As a result, everyone unknowingly discovered that without a lighting engineer, the last few shots were all completed. The young director seemed to be no worse than a professional lighting engineer in terms of lighting.

Although I don't know how effective it is.

but.

Considering that Simon also acts as a photographer himself, well, this seems to barely explain the past.

The photographer must know some lighting.

but.

It is still quite abnormal for a young man in his 20s to act as a cinematographer for a film himself.

Some people can't help but wonder, if they left like Josh Wickman just now, would the young director take over his job as well?

This is impossible!

With all kinds of surprises and doubts, everyone went home from get off work.

As a producer, Ron McMillan was not at ease. He also had some doubts about whether the last few shots of today could be used.In fact, Ron McMillan was even a little worried about whether the shots taken in the past three days could be used.

In any case, Simon was too young.

Moreover, Ron Macmillan had always wanted to hire a professional photographer, but Simon insisted on doing it himself.

This was what worried Ron the most.

So, after work was over, Simon took Janet to check tomorrow's shooting scene, but Ron McMillan called out Catherine who wanted to go together, and the two hurried to Fox Studios with today's filming film .

Since it was in the same period as "The Butterfly Effect", Brian De Palma provided Simon with another convenience. The film shot by the "Run Lola Run" crew can be sent to the post-production center of Fox Studios and "The Butterfly Effect" The films were developed and printed together.

Of course, printing costs still have to be paid.

But even so, the professional printing conditions of Fox Studios are not comparable to those of independent laboratories. The importance of original negatives to a film goes without saying. The more professional the printing environment, the more guaranteed the quality of the negatives.

Therefore, this is not a small favor.

"Yesterday, I asked the Fox Post Center to print a sample of the negatives that were shot two days ago, and I can see the results today," Ron McMillan took the initiative to explain to Catherine when he came to Fox Studios and called her together. The intention of coming, said: "If, Catherine, if the effect of the sample film is not satisfactory, maybe you should be the follow-up director. After all, this is an investment of 65 US dollars."

Catherine shook her head slightly and said, "Ron, you should have more confidence in Simon."

"I, of course, I am still very optimistic about Simon, if he can experience a few years." After all, it is not honorable to conspire to drive the director away. Ron McMillan's expression was a little more embarrassing, but he still said: " However, he is still too young after all, and you have also seen what happened in the past few days."

Catherine smiled and said nothing more.

The two came to the post-production center. Ron McMillan was registering today's filming of the film crew to the staff. David Giller, Brian De Palma and others happened to walk away chatting and laughing. came in.

Seeing Ron and Catherine, several people came over to say hello.

Ron was originally introduced to Simon by David Giller, and everyone knew Catherine.

So, after a few chats with each other, David and Brian became interested when they learned that Ron and Catherine were going to see the sample footage shot by Simon two days ago.

Brian De Palma said: "Just in time, we are also going to watch the sample film that was shot in the past few days, let's go together. I am very much looking forward to Simon's movie."

Ron and Catherine involuntarily looked at each other when they heard what Brian De Palma said.

Simon, Simon, your shots must be normal.

otherwise.

That would be miserable.

So secretly praying for a certain guy, David Giller gave a few instructions to the staff, and everyone walked to the sample screening room of the post-production center.

When I came to the screening room, there happened to be someone inside, but it was another veteran Hollywood actor, Robert Redford, and several other staff members. A film that Robert Redford was the producer of was currently in post-production, so it was will appear here.

After exchanging pleasantries, Robert Redford was about to leave, but after hearing a few words from David Giller, he suddenly became interested and said, "David, is that the young man who broke someone else's five legs?"

David Giller nodded and said, "Of course, by the way, Simon also hopes that his film can participate in the Sundance Film Festival. So, maybe you can take a look together and see how the young man did."

"Of course," Robert Redford nodded immediately, but still said: "However, I'm more interested in how that little guy broke five legs of others, one hit five, it's very powerful, isn't he the same as the old man back then?" Like Bruce Lee, have you ever learned kung fu?"

David Giller smiled and said, "Well, you can ask him in person then."

Hearing that Robert Redford also planned to stay, Ron and Catherine couldn't help but began to pray for Simon again.