Rebirth In Hollywood

After entering July, both "A Bug's Life" and "Mulan" are steadily moving towards a box office of 100 million US dollars. Although Disney has invested more resources, after the weekly box office rankings are released, "A Bug's Life" "Always keep the lead of "Mulan", and the North American box office figures accumulated between the two have gradually widened the gap.

In addition to the box office, "Mulan" has shown its inherent flaws in terms of derivatives that account for the bulk of animation revenue, and its sales are not even one-third of that of "A Bug's Life".

Even though "Mulan" is essentially a western film with an oriental cloak, the subject matter still has limitations in the North American market. The vast majority of American audiences in this era don't like themes that have nothing to do with the United States. Mulan is different from "Aladdin". After all, the latter is widely circulated in the West, while the former's story had a limited audience before the movie.

Gradually, Disney's management, especially Roy Disney, who was once in charge of the animation department, expressed dissatisfaction with Michael Eisner's intervention in the release time of "Mulan". Ryan heard some people According to the disclosed information, the two sides broke out a fierce quarrel at the regular board meeting of Walt Disney, and finally Roy Disney and others quit the meeting that day angrily.

Although Walt Disney has a clear gap with Time Warner, Viacom and News Corporation, it is also an out-and-out media giant with a lot of resources in its hands. Facing such direct competition, it is controlled by and related to them. The media launched a massive propaganda campaign.

This time they are no longer promoting "Mulan". Perhaps Disney also understands that due to the limitations of the subject matter, it is difficult for this animated feature film to compete with "A Bug's Life" in the North American market.

They took aim directly at computer animation, and carefully crafted comment after comment came out one after another.

"Hand-drawn animation. It is the hand-painted painter who uses the brush and his own hands to create one stroke at a time. The image of the character is extremely full. It contains the creator's hard work. It is full of artistic vitality. But what about computer animation?"

"Using cold computers and programmed software, the characters designed are rigid. Every move is as dull as a puppet. As for the artistry, has anyone seen it?"

"The origin of art is to restore our life, and human hands are the best carrier. It is not a cold and lifeless computer."

Similar comments filled the pages of many media, and Ryan naturally noticed them. After he contacted Tina Brown, a refuting article appeared in the new issue of "Vanity Fair".

"Since the 1930s and 1940s, hand-drawn animation has appeared in our field of vision, and no one can deny it. One after another outstanding hand-drawn animation masters have used their painstaking works,

It has brought us countless joys, among which there are many classics like "The Lion King" that can be remembered in the annals of history. "

"Hand painters use their minds and hands to create. Brushes are their tools, while computer programmers also use their minds and hands to create, and computers are their tools. Essentially, brushes are tools and computers are tools , Both are inventions and creations of human beings, they are used to bear the wings of our thinking, they both have indispensable meanings in our lives, so why can the former become the carrier of art, and represent high-tech The latter can only be a cold machine?"

"Some people may say that when hand-painted painters instilled countless efforts into their works, they have vitality. Then why did no one see that those ideals who have been studying computer animation since the 1970s The activists have dedicated their youth and passion to computer animation. Aren’t they creating with their heart? The works they created are not good enough? The characters are not full enough? The characters are just dull without soul? Then go see Toy Story!"

"There is no doubt that hand-painted artists have made indelible contributions to the development of animation, but the progress of technology is the trend of history. Advanced technology replaces backward technology. It is an inevitable law of the development of human society. People who stop it Or things have all been swept into the pile of old papers of history.”

"Today, the application of computer technology has already penetrated into all aspects of our lives. For the entire film and television industry, computer technology is like giving them wings to fly. In the past, many pictures that could only exist in our imagination, now It can be displayed in front of us with advanced computer technology. Take the hand-painted animation mentioned by some people as an example. "The Lion King" used a lot of computer technology at the beginning, and it must be "Mulan" which is currently being screened. exception."

"Some people ridiculously ridicule the advanced technology that represents the future of mankind. Who do they think they are? Do they think they are Mr. John Wormsley? Maybe they don't even know who John Wormsley is, this ignorant Hundreds of years ago, the guy led the workers into the textile factory in Manchester and smashed the machines, thinking that the advanced textile machines took their jobs."

"In every era, we always have to face some new things, some are gradually changing ideas, and some are advanced technologies. Those conservative people don't know how to absorb the essence that is useful to them, but obstruct their development everywhere. However, Numerous histories have long proved that those who stand still will be eliminated by the times sooner or later.”

"I dare say it won't take more than a decade for hand-drawn animation to be phased out of the Hollywood mainstream..."

———Ryan Jenkins

In recent years, Ryan has rarely published such critical articles in the media. After the current issue of "Vanity Fair" was released, it quickly attracted a lot of attention. This rare topic has also become the thinking of quite a few people in the industry on the future of animation.

After all, past achievements have been proven several times, and Ryan's vision is extremely forward-looking.

Moreover, the word-of-mouth and response of "Toy Story" and "A Bug's Life" among the audience all proved his point of view.

"Ryan, thank you, thank you for defending us." John Lasseter and Ed Kamuel also called specifically. No one wants a child born in their own hands to be criticized as a doll without a soul. .

When it comes to computer technology, the founders of Pixar Studios are well-known characters in the entire IT industry, but compared to verbal battles, Ryan can beat them by ten blocks.

Those media later issued criticisms against him, and Ryan's achievements in film were in front of everyone, and they couldn't open their eyes and tell nonsense, so they had to say that he "doesn't know how to respect the creation of artists" and "a man soaked in business The film creator with the soul' and so on.

Ryan took out the end of the verbal fight with Natalie that he racked his brains when he was a child, and published one review after another through good media such as "Vanity Fair", "Los Angeles Times" and News Corporation, which were full of A mockery of some people.

Since the other party rejected his kindness and wanted to drag himself into the quagmire and step on him a few times, he would naturally respond. Although cooperation is the kingly way, with the resources he has, he will not be afraid of anyone .

What's more, this is a good opportunity for publicity. Ryan will occasionally mention "A Bug's Life" and "Saving Private Ryan" that are currently being released, and continue to use "Jurassic Park 2" and "Peerless "Heavenly Tribulation" as an example, saying that these two works will prove the help of computer technology to the film and television industry.

After returning to Los Angeles, besides arguing with people in the media, Ryan was rushing to catch up with the two scripts he prepared for himself. During the time he stayed in New York, whether it was him or Natalie, it was like all passionate love Like the men and women in the movie, it is always difficult to control themselves. The two so-called script creation and role research are nothing but nothing.

Perhaps due to the frequent, long-term and heavy exercise in New York, Ryan's weight has reached the requirements for the remaining scenes of "Cast Away". The hair that has been growing since the beginning of this year is gradually approaching the shoulders. Help, you can start the rest of the shooting plan.

Ryan didn't want to delay too long, his request was very simple, the movie must be released by the end of the year.

However, before that, he still has a series of matters to be resolved. First, he must complete the agreement with Harvey Weinstein.

In the bowling alley of an upscale club in Malibu, Ryan is wiping his hands with a towel. He is here to talk about business, not play. A few rounds of small meanings are enough.

"Jane, go get in touch with your friends, I'm going to have a party tonight." Harvey Weinstein patted his girlfriend's upturned buttocks, "Remember to call all the prettiest ones."

"They're sure to like it."

This little actor named Jennifer Garner turned her head and smiled at Ryan, and walked out with a twisted body. She was a smart person, and she turned around and closed the door of the VIP room after she went out.

"Harvey, I didn't expect your taste to change again." From Ryan's point of view, the other party's figure and appearance were a bit strange.

"The recent pressure is too great, and I always have to find some suitable ways to relax."

The two walked to the rest table, and Harvey Weinstein made a gesture of invitation. After Ryan sat down, he continued, "Jane is from Texas. She is very conservative in her daily life, but she is unrestrained. The wildness of a cowboy."

"Don't forget, you don't control Miramax now." Ryan joked.

The reality in Hollywood is not only investors and producers, but also the countless actors. If there is not enough capital, how can these actresses be posted.

"But we're going to have Weinstein Films soon." The big fat man seemed to have regained his ambition, and he thought of something else, "Is the horror film made by your classmates really going to enter the theaters?"

"The title of the film is Ghost Shadow."

Ryan laughed. This pseudo-documentary has nothing to do with the previous life, but borrowed the promotional techniques of "The Blair Witch". It has been handed over to Huahua Pictures, and it is currently making a fuss on the Internet.

"Well, we are waiting for you to create miracles again."

"Come on, Harvey. It's not about me this time, and this kind of over-the-top publicity won't do reputation any good." ()