Chapter 90

George Lucas!!!

The father of Star Wars! This old guy created a sci-fi world that swept the globe, redefined what sci-fi movies are, and his company, Industrial Light & Magic, changed the face of filmmaking and the way movies are made!

This not-so-tall old guy, one of the four major directors of Hollywood in the 80s, a super big shot, a genius, a god in the hearts of all Star Wars fans... George Lucas!

Wei Ye couldn't help but be stunned; this was his idol! In fact, he loved Lucas more than Spielberg, almost wanting to scream like a crazy fan, "Lucas!"

But he quickly suppressed his excitement, telling himself: "Buddy, don't do that. Today isn't about chasing stars or getting autographs. No! Today is about showing these big shots your talent and making your dreams come true! Everyone is counting on you!"

With this thought, Wei Ye immediately calmed down, seeing nothing but opportunities. The more big shots there were, the more paths there were, forward!

"Ha ha ha, why are you so late? Did you ride your little bicycle here?" Lucas continued to tease his old friend, his eyebrows slightly raised, his face full of laughter.

"Even if that's the case, the traffic was still heavy on the way." Spielberg laughed and walked up.

"That's why I always say, opening an antique shop would be a big hit."

"You'd better open it soon; I broke another KEM today."

"KEM? That's a problem. I'm sure there's no shop in the world that sells this machine or its parts now. After all, it's a stone tool from the primitive era."

"Fortunately, I have many in storage, 29 more."

"That's going to last a long time... Got it! The theme for Indiana Jones 4 is here, 'Indiana Jones and the KEM of the Ancients.' How about that?" Jokingly, Lucas gave his old friend a new nickname.

"Good idea, go back and write it with your script paper and No. 4 pencil." Spielberg's mouth didn't lag behind.

"I can't change this habit." Lucas shook his head and laughed, walking while saying, "I can't understand how anyone can write a script on a computer."

Spielberg immediately laughed, "I also can't understand how anyone can edit a movie on a computer. Without touching the film, how can you have the feeling of editing?"

The two big shots teased each other, and Wei Ye, standing beside them, couldn't join in, only maintaining a smile.

He knew that their banter was purely for fun; they were old partners, and the Indiana Jones series was one of the fruits of their deep friendship.

However, they had many differences in filmmaking. Spielberg still insisted on linear editing, while Lucas invented digital editing systems and non-linear editing, changing the way movies were edited. Interestingly, Spielberg wrote scripts on a computer, while Lucas insisted on using paper and pen.

Both had their old-fashioned and cutting-edge sides.

In fact, Spielberg was not someone who resisted new technology. The 1985 film "Young Sherlock Holmes," which he produced, was the first to use CG animation technology in film history. The 1988 film "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," produced in collaboration with Zemeckis, was a milestone, the first film to combine live-action and animation.

"ET" and "Jurassic Park" both sparked new trends in special effects, and this old man was also a tech enthusiast.

But by the 21st century, digital technology had become more advanced and was poised to replace traditional techniques, such as in shooting methods. Lucas was a proponent and advocate of digital shooting, and the "Star Wars Prequels" series was shot with digital cameras; Spielberg, however, was a staunch defender of film shooting.

Thinking about this, Wei Ye couldn't remain silent. Seizing the opportunity, he said, "Maybe this is what a hero with a thousand faces looks like."

This one sentence made both of them happy. Lucas turned to look at this Asian teenager, realizing he wasn't just a passerby, and asked with interest, "Who are you?"

Spielberg also turned back, not introducing him, leaving it to Wei Ye to speak.

GO, GO, GO! The ball was back in play! Wei Ye shouted in his heart, be yourself, show your talent! He extended his hand and smiled, "Mr. Lucas, hello, I'm Wei Ye, a future Trojan." Lucas was one of the most famous alumni of USC and had been enthusiastic about donating to his alma mater and supporting the next generation.

"Oh?" Lucas's interest grew as he shook hands with the young man.

"Yes, I'm currently in ninth grade, but I plan to apply to USC's School of Cinematic Arts in the future."

Holding his idol's hand felt like Luke Skywalker facing Yoda, Wei Ye was very happy and continued, "In fact, I already attend USC classes from time to time. I previously shot a 10-minute short film, which was only possible with USC's resources."

Even the brilliant Lucas couldn't process all this information at once, speechless: ninth grade, short film, attending classes, USC?

"Then I got the opportunity to be Mr. Spielberg's assistant for a day to assess my ability to shoot a feature film." Wei Ye finished his brief introduction.

Spielberg smiled at his stunned old friend, "His short film, 'Dance of the Angels,' was really well done, very professional."

"Thank you." Wei Ye couldn't help but feel a bit excited; this was the first time he had received such clear praise from the old man, and especially in front of Lucas!

"Like you did back then?" Lucas asked his old friend.

Wei Ye knew what he meant, "Firelight," a 140-minute Super 8 story film that Spielberg wrote, directed, produced, and edited when he was 16.

"Different, professional means professional. You can ask for a DVD to watch if you're interested. Times have changed." Spielberg seemed a bit reflective.

"It's not easy to hear that from you." Lucas looked at Wei Ye, "Young man, does that mean you know a lot about movies?"

"Yes, you can say that." Wei Ye nodded confidently.

As they walked into the spacious banquet hall, everyone along the way greeted the two big shots or chatted with them. Wei Ye saw many well-known figures in the film industry, not front-line stars, but to him, more exciting than meeting stars.

Spielberg took a glass of champagne from a waiter's tray, while Wei Ye took a glass of juice.

At this point, Lucas continued the previous topic, "Young people have more to say about the future. Wei, do you think digital technology will adopt some old-fashioned things?"

Wei Ye quickly analyzed the question, talking about the future of digital technology! Finally, an opportunity to showcase his insights, seize it! Be convincing!

He prepared a bit and, under the gaze of the two big shots, began, "I think digital technology is a major trend in filmmaking, and it will gradually become mainstream. My short film was shot with a digital camera, the HDC-F950."

"Really?" Lucas couldn't help but exclaim.

"Yes, the same model as 'Star Wars: Episode III.' Wei Ye nodded, becoming more natural as he spoke, using gestures to emphasize his points: "Although digital shooting still lags behind film in terms of resolution, texture, and color, it has two very attractive points: convenience and cost-effectiveness.

These two points can make up for many technical shortcomings. Convenience can also equal cost-effectiveness, which is crucial for Hollywood, a commercial machine. For independent filmmakers with a passion for cinema but limited funds, cost-effectiveness is also very important.

So, based on this, I believe digital shooting will become mainstream. When its technical aspects match those of film, it will likely be the only choice."

Lucas raised his glass and took a sip of champagne, then suddenly asked Spielberg, "Where did you find this movie kid?"

Unexpected! He really didn't expect this teenager to have such insights, though not entirely new, coming from a ninth-grader! And his natural, confident manner, both youthful and mature, was hard to believe.

"Hanks found him; he's looking for opportunities." Spielberg smiled.

"Yes, I'm looking for investment for a film project, and I'll be the producer and director." Wei Ye immediately said, determined to leave an impression on the big shots.

Lucas frowned, thinking it sounded far-fetched, but seeing his old friend's serious attitude, he was intrigued.

Wei Ye didn't elaborate on his own situation but continued the conversation, "Digital technology brings good and bad to movies.

Special effects, for example, are getting better and better, and audiences love them! But will this lead to a decline in the overall story quality of movies? I think, for a while, the market will decide yes, because I also enjoy popcorn special effects blockbusters, even if the story is weak, it's still okay for now.

But what if we get tired of it? As a filmmaker and an audience member, I'm concerned. I fear that one day, all we see on screen will be special effects, and after two hours, we'll leave the cinema with no memory of the story. That would be very sad.

I only hope that while digital technology brings positive changes, it doesn't lose the essence of cinema: storytelling, dreaming."

"Well said! I like your phrase 'storytelling, dreaming.'" Lucas clapped in approval, looking at the young man with more admiration.

If the previous insights were trends that professionals could see, this statement was the heartfelt sincerity of an independent filmmaker.

Lucas never considered himself a Hollywood insider, only an independent filmmaker. He was actually always outside the industrial machine, known as the "ultimate independent filmmaker." Wei Ye's concerns were his concerns. He had personally pushed digital technology to new heights to make better movies, not to become a story killer.

So these words truly resonated with him. He took a sip of his drink and praised, "Kid, you're absolutely right. Don't let Hollywood assimilate you in the future!"

Spielberg smiled, "I think you shouldn't fear Hollywood; go and influence it."

"I've influenced it; Hollywood always copies my movies. There's nothing I can do about it."

Lucas shrugged, not intending to criticize Hollywood deeply, and sighed, "I don't want to see stories suffer. When we made 'Star Wars,' there were no computer special effects. We had to come up with some crude methods to tell a good story. Now, with computer special effects, many people have lost the heart to tell good stories."

Wei Ye knew that the iconic opening space scene in "Star Wars" was shot using a crude method: a close-up of a black paperboard with dots representing planets.

He agreed with Lucas but didn't want to disappoint Spielberg, so he said, "That's why I really like the 'Star Wars Prequels' series, and Mr. Spielberg's 'A.I. Artificial Intelligence' and 'Minority Report.' They have special effects, stories, and thought-provoking elements. This is what digital technology should bring:

Storytellers need to maintain their passion for storytelling, controlling special effects, not being controlled by them."

"Ha ha!" Lucas laughed, impressed by the kid's quick wit. Spielberg's smile grew wider. No one dislikes sincere praise.

Wei Ye joked, "I even think it might be a robot conspiracy, manipulating all the storytellers in human society to stop telling stories about robots betraying humans, allowing robots to grow in scale and eventually achieve their rule."

"That's a good story!" Lucas raised his glass.

"Then it must have a character." Spielberg took a sip of his drink and humorously added, "Named Lucas, a robot enthusiast who believes humans and robots can coexist peacefully, telling such stories everywhere. When the robot army betrays, he's the first to be killed."

"You see, you see, I call him a Luddite, and it's not an exaggeration!" Lucas laughed heartily.

"By then, all humans will be Luddites." Wei Ye laughed, sipping his juice.

People around them noticed the situation and were amazed to see a teenager chatting with two big directors. Gradually, some people came over.

More and more people gathered, and the two old men tacitly let the young man continue. He didn't show any nervousness but became even more enthusiastic, chatting about various topics.

Future market trends? Sure.

Wei Ye gestured as he spoke, "For a long time, special effects will be the main focus. Look at 'Spider-Man,' superhero special effects, with explosive power; look at 'Harry Potter,' best-selling book special effects, with huge commercial effects."

Changes in the tastes of teenagers? Sure.

"Our generation of teenagers grew up in the information age, and our tastes will be influenced by it, but no matter how they change, the basic human emotional needs will remain the same. We want love, adventure, and dreams..."

The impact of the internet? Sure.

"Yes, yes, the impact of the internet is huge. The future is the internet! Some say the internet will change the way movies are distributed and marketed, and I agree, but I don't agree that the internet will be the death of movie theaters. When DVDs came out, some said they would be the death of movie theaters. What about now?

Movie theaters will definitely be impacted, with more viewers分流 to other viewing methods, so I think theaters need to make some changes to stay attractive to audiences, like better technology and better service."

"Hey, what are you talking about?" At this point, more people came over, about a dozen, looking at the eloquent teenager as if he were a living miracle.

"We're talking about how theater owners should offer more flavors of popcorn."

"Ha ha!"

Lucas marveled at the kid's ability. At his age, he could talk about various aspects of the film industry and beyond, with no trace of the initial awkwardness, only humor, broad knowledge, and control of the situation.

"In this era of globalization, I think the story of the film industry is just beginning. How to tell a story that the whole world likes will be a greater test of filmmakers' abilities, but as long as we don't lose the essence of cinema, these won't be problems."

Wei Ye was a natural talker, whether facing a group of kindergarten kids or a group of old big shots, he never felt out of place, only more excited.

Time passed, and people came and went around him. Soon, everyone in the room knew a surprising Asian high school student named Wei Ye. Despite his young age, he was full of confidence and talent, making a good impression and feeling fresh.

Gradually, Wei Ye couldn't move, even when the two big shots left, he couldn't leave, continuing his personal stand-up show.

On the other side, the two directors walked together, drinking and talking.

Lucas sighed, "Seeing that kid, I suddenly feel a bit old. Maybe I should go back to USC and teach."

"I firmly believe I'm only 30." Spielberg laughed, "But that kid, he's really... surprising."

He looked back at Wei Ye, as if seeing his own past, and sighed, "Sixteen, what a wonderful age."

Lucas also looked back, "Old friend, whatever opportunity he needs, you should give it to him. We all know he's a genius. If you don't invest in him, I'm interested."

Spielberg had already made up his mind, his eyes gleaming, "Finding a film genius is always exciting."

"Does that make you feel less lonely?" Lucas teased, "But Wei doesn't seem like a Luddite. I think he likes me more."

"Not necessarily. The KEM I broke today was his doing, and he was very upset."

"I hope he breaks your other 29."

"Even if he does, I can disassemble them all and build a good one."

As the night deepened, the salon gathering ended around 9:00 PM, and people said their goodbyes and left.

Wei Ye truly gained a lot this time. He received business cards from many people in the industry, and suddenly, his path was filled with many bright roads. If Lowitt wanted to take revenge, he was no longer afraid, as many people seemed willing to help.

When it really mattered, others might not be reliable, but Lucas!

As they said their goodbyes, the father of Star Wars patted Wei Ye's shoulder and said, "I really like stories about young people achieving great things. Work hard, may the Force be with you."

"Sir, may the Force be with you!" Wei Ye responded, suppressing his excitement. The business card of George Lucas in his pocket was worth a fortune!

On the way out of the banquet hall, out of the hotel, and back to the Lincoln car, Spielberg didn't say much, but Wei Ye knew the big