Chapter 216： Weta Studio

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The full name of Weta Studios is Weta Digital. It was established in 1993 by New Zealand director Peter Jackson and friends Richard Taylor and Jimmy Selkirk.

Weta Studios has only been involved in the production of special effects for one film at the moment, a film "Sinful Angel" directed by Peter Jackson.

Not to mention any enlightening works, it can be regarded as a small special effects studio at best, maybe not even comparable to Blue Sky Studio.

However, Weta Studio also has its strengths. Compared with special effects studios such as Industrial Light and Magic and Digital Domain in the United States, Weta Studio in Wellington, New Zealand has a natural advantage in labor costs.

The shooting of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" definitely requires a lot of special effects. According to the past, Ryan usually chooses the digital field to cooperate with Industrial Light and Magic.

There is no doubt that Digital Realm and Industrial Light & Magic are definitely the best special effects studios in the world, far from being comparable to Weta Studios, and Ryan himself is one of the shareholders of Digital Realm.

It is a pity that it is a bit helpless that the fees charged by Digital Domain and Industrial Light & Magic are also the most expensive special effects studios in the world. On the other hand, the quotations given by Weta Studios are much cheaper.

The two drove to the Weta studio not far from the center of Wellington.

Looking at the somewhat crude studio in front of her, Sofia Coppola couldn't believe her eyes, "This is the special effects studio you mentioned?"

Ryan looked at the sign hanging outside, nodded, and said, "It should be Weta Studio."

"I can't believe that you would choose such a humble special effects studio." Sofia Coppola thought of an adjective and continued: "It's just as bad as the original Blue Sky Studio."

The environment of Blue Sky Studio was also very bad.

Ryan shrugged. "Most studios have a terrible office environment."

Including the earliest studio established by Ryan, the office environment is not very good.

To put it bluntly, it is lack of funds and insufficient profit income.

The two walked into the Weta studio at the moment. In a very simple office, they met the founders of the studio, Peter Jackson and Richard Taylor.

"Hello, Director Ryan and Miss Sophia, I'm very glad to see you two coming." Peter Jackson had a hint of excitement on his face, and his tone seemed to be unbelievable.

New Zealand is only an island country, and Wellington, the capital, is not very large, with a population of less than 500,000. Any slight disturbance can quickly spread throughout Wellington.

What's more, the investment in "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" is as high as 75 million US dollars, a large-scale commercial crew that can be called in Hollywood.

Many people and companies related to the filming of the crew are all gearing up and want to make a fortune from it.

However, what Peter Jackson never imagined was that a project with an investment of 75 million US dollars might fall to Weta Studio.

Ryan Gosling, the director and investor of the film, and Sofia Coppola, the director's daughter, stood in front of him at this time.

"Hello, Director Peter and Mr. Richard, I am also very happy to meet you two." Ryan's tone was also very polite.

After saying hello, several people sat down.

Ryan went straight to the point and said: "I am very interested in Weta Studio's quotation, and I can even package the "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" project to Weta Studio for production."

"Just before that, I have a very presumptuous request."

Peter-Jackson and Richard-Taylor looked at each other, and it was really not an easy task to win this big project.

"Excuse me, Director Ryan, what request do you have?" Peter Jackson looked puzzled.

The other party is not only a famous Hollywood director, whose last film had a global box office of more than 600 million US dollars, but also the boss of Orion Films, a film company with distribution channels in North America.

Enough to be called a big Hollywood figure, what request can we have from Weta Studio!

"I would like to acquire a share of Weta Studios."

Ryan said very seriously: "Orion Films invests in several films every year, and the New Zealand government's preferential policies can save a large part of the filming funds. It is expected that Orion Films will use New Zealand as the main overseas film in the next period of time. filming location."

"Owning a local shareholding in a special effects company in Wellington can effectively reduce Orion Films' shooting costs."

"As for the operation of the studio, neither I nor Orion Pictures will intervene."

Speaking of this, Ryan has said very bluntly, "Actually, I already own a part of the shares in the digital field."

In the future, whether it is the copyright of superhero characters in Marvel Comics, or "Harry Potter" and "Tomb Raider", a lot of special effects production will be required.

With only one special effects studio in the digital field, it is difficult to complete the production of special effects in all films. In many cases, we have to cooperate with Industrial Light and Magic, so investing in a special effects studio is completely in line with long-term benefits.

Of course, the very cheap production cost of Weta Studio is also one of the reasons.

Peter-Jackson and Richard-Taylor couldn't help but show hesitation. They wanted to reject Ryan's request to buy shares, but they didn't want to lose this opportunity.

It can be said that now is the best opportunity for Weta Studios to break into Hollywood.

"We need to think about it." Richard Taylor didn't say no, nor did he directly agree, but needed to think about it.

"No problem." Ryan nodded. The acquisition of shares in Weta Studios was just one of his ideas, even if it was rejected in the end, it would be nothing.

Next, Peter Jackson and Richard Taylor took Ryan and Sofia Coppola to visit the Weta studio, and they didn't say goodbye until it was near noon.

Rejecting the two's persuasion, Ryan took Sofia Coppola out of the Weta studio and drove to a local restaurant in the city center.

I ordered a lot of New Zealand local delicacies, from roast lamb, green lipped mussels to pavlova, which filled a large table.

Looking at the delicacies delivered one after another, Sofia Coppola didn't have the slightest appetite, but looked sideways at Ryan, "Why are you suddenly interested in Weta Studio?"

"It's difficult only because Weta Studio's quotation is cheap!"

She was somewhat puzzled by Ryan's behavior. Since Weta Studio's offer was cheap, there was no need to buy any shares at all.

"You can treat it as a personal investment behavior, and it doesn't cost much." Ryan didn't explain anything.

As he said just now, with the current scale of Weta Studio, not to mention just buying some shares, even buying all the shares, it is estimated that it will not cost much.

invest!

Sofia Coppola suddenly became very speechless, Ryan's investment behavior has always been unexpected.

"Compared to buying a stake in a special effects studio, it seems that you should care more about the progress of Blue Sky Studio."

Sofia Coppola couldn't help complaining, "Since investing in Blue Sky Studios, at least US$30 million has been invested, and the 3D animation feature films produced by Blue Sky Studios will take a year at the earliest to be released. "

It has been 3 years since I first set foot in Blue Sky Studio That 3D animation feature film consumed a lot of money, and until now, it has not been produced yet.

If the box office of the 3D animation feature film is not satisfactory next year, it will face a loss of tens of millions of dollars.

"For a 3D animated feature, Blue Sky Studios is already fast, and Chris Wedge promised that you will see the dailies of "Ice Age" by the end of the year." Ryan is very clear about making a 3D film. An animated feature film, it is impossible to go too fast.

Besides, this is the first 3D animated feature film produced by Blue Sky Studios. It took three years to produce a sample film, which is already a very rare thing in itself.

Sofia Coppola shook her head and said nothing more.

She has seen some pictures produced by Blue Sky Studio, and has to admit that Chris Wedge deserves to be as famous as John Lasseter.

"Pixar's "Toy Story 2" will probably be released next year." Sofia Coppola said a piece of news she just received.

"For Chris Wedge and Blue Sky Studios, this will be good news." Ryan didn't say anything.

According to the current progress, "Ice Age" will be released in the summer of next year, and "Toy Story 2" in the previous life will be released in November next year. There is no competition between the two.

The production time of a 3D animation feature film is very long, and it is almost uncommon for two 3D animation feature films to be released at the same time.

"By the way, there is another question, why are you sitting on my side instead of opposite!" Having said this, Sofia Coppola's eyes flickered with vigilance.

"Please, I'm not interested in you."

Looking at the vigilant Sophia, Ryan couldn't help being a little speechless, and said, "I invited two guests to come over later."