Chapter 42: Pre-production for the Film, De Buji Speaks Out Once More

Chapter 42: Pre-production and De Buji’s Outburst

Qin Feng turned to Collin Chou and said, "Mr. Chou, I will leave them in your hands. HR will come to you shortly to sign the contracts. My office is at B51 on the third floor; come find me if you need anything. I will send you the script later. Oh, and one more thing—the supporting actors and stunt performers won't arrive for another week, but they will be under your supervision once they do."

"Understood, no problem. You go ahead and handle your business, Director."

Chou felt a surge of admiration. Although Qin Feng was young, his organization and delegation were clear and precise.

After giving a few more instructions, Qin Feng headed upstairs.

Chou looked at the group. "We need to take this step-by-step. I discussed a few points with the director before arriving. There will be slow-motion sequences in the film, and they need to look cool and stylish. For our first session, we’ll start with the basics: horse stance and breath control. In the second session, we’ll move on to basic Tai Chi movements..."

***

That afternoon, Qin Feng was reviewing his project schedule when a knock sounded at the door.

Art Director Thum and Visual Effects Supervisor Gaeta entered, both carrying laptops.

"Director Qin," Thum began, "we have the first few concept sketches ready. Would you like to take a look?"

"Certainly, let’s see them."

Thum connected to the large screen, and the images appeared one by one. The first was the mechanical pod—the facility where machines incubated humans and served as the power center. It was the critical site where brainwaves were used to sustain virtual reality and human propagation. The scene utilized dark-toned conduits contrasted sharply with red incubation vessels, inside of which humans lay.

The second image depicted the *Nebuchadnezzar*, the hovercraft piloted by the rebels. It was also dark-toned, bristling with weaponry, and possessed a distinct mechanical aesthetic. Its power was derived from electromagnetic waves, represented by numerous magnetic rings.

The third image showed the ship's interior, fully functional with intricate wiring. There were numerous monitors, cables connecting computers to chairs, and the neural interfaces for the characters. The control panels were highly detailed, covered in buttons and joysticks.

The fourth image was an electronic squid; its design was menacing, with a circular head covered in red sensors. Dozens of long, twisting tentacles controlled its movement. In the film, these "sentinels" were the lethal weapons used to exterminate humanity.

The remaining sketches were atmospheric concept art, all adhering to a cold, futuristic, and gothic aesthetic. Qin Feng examined them carefully. While these designs were not identical to the original work from his past life, they possessed a striking beauty. Some deviations were necessary and welcome.

"This is excellent, Thum. I can’t think of anything that needs changing. Please expedite the storyboard drawings. For the pre-visualization animations, only handle the VFX segments—show me every three minutes you complete. Please proceed with the next phase of work. Also, we need to produce a few concept posters for promotion."

"Understood, no problem."

Gaeta spoke up: "Director Qin, we’ve been in contact with Industrial Light & Magic, and the communication has been very positive. Their lead, Bill, mentioned he had been in touch with you previously."

"Yes. Are there any major hurdles at the moment?" Qin Feng asked.

Gaeta frowned. "Yes. The 'bullet time' effect mentioned in the script—we haven't found a viable solution to achieve it yet."

Qin Feng nodded. "Indeed. 'Bullet time' is a significant challenge, but it is the centerpiece of the combat scenes and will appear frequently. I want you to keep brainstorming. Perhaps we can see how it looks in the art department's pre-viz animations first."

"Understood, Director."

"Okay," Qin Feng smiled slightly. "If there’s nothing else, you two can get back to it."

"Will do."

As soon as Thum and Gaeta left, Manny, the head of costume and styling, entered with a sketchbook in hand.

"Director Qin, sorry to bother you."

"What’s up, Manny?"

She opened the book, revealing photos of various costumes, hairstyles, and accessories. "Director, take a look. We’ve nearly finished the designs for the characters’ looks and outfits."

So fast? Qin Feng looked through them. It wasn't just the leads; there were multiple versions for every significant character, and even the sunglasses came in a variety of styles.

"Wow, Manny, you’ve been busy."

"Indeed."

Qin Feng reviewed them for a while, selecting two styles from each category. "Okay, let’s go with these for now. Once the costumes are made, we’ll start with the actors' makeup and wardrobe tests."

"Understood, Director."

There were countless details to settle in pre-production. Fortunately, the Warner Bros. team had their own established rhythm, and with their cooperation, the work was progressing steadily.

***

Days passed. Before long, the theatrical run of *Jurassic Park* was nearing its end, and *The Man from Earth* had entered its final stages as well. Both films had been the talk of the town, with media reports constant.

[Jurassic Park dominates! Global box office breaks 1.1 billion yesterday!]
[Jurassic Park becomes the highest-grossing monster sci-fi film.]
[Dinosaur fever: Jurassic Park sweeps the globe!]
[Jurassic: Life is wild, and it always finds a way.]

Meanwhile:

[The Man from Earth: An unexpected dark horse, global box office reaches 250 million.]
[New film from Asian director of Jurassic Park achieves success in both critical acclaim and box office.]
[Low-budget drama The Man from Earth sees Rotten Tomatoes score rise to 85%.]

Seeing the film’s massive popularity, professional critic De Buji was furious. He took to Twitter again:

[Boycott sci-fi, abandon fantasy, and defend the dignity of traditional cinema.]
[I never imagined a film consisting of people sitting in a room chatting would achieve such box office results. I am even more shocked that so many young people are lining up to watch it. I feel a deep concern—concern for our young audience. Facts have proven that the plot and premise of The Man from Earth are absurd; it is entirely the protagonist rambling on, and whatever he says becomes truth. The film is incredibly boring. Those who haven't seen it shouldn't bother; your money is better spent on other dramas showing at the same time. As a critic, I have a responsibility to guide you toward watching films with the right mindset, for that is the true American culture.]

Shortly after he posted, others began to retweet it, but it was mostly met with skepticism from netizens.

[Saw the movie, it was quite good. I don't see the problem.]
[I’ve already bought two tickets. I support Director Qin and hope he keeps making great films.]
[The story is brilliant. Of course, it doesn't have the big spectacles of Jurassic Park, but that doesn't detract from the experience. Support!]
[I really don't know what De Buji is blabbering about all day. Has he finally lost his mind?]