HWI 221

Hollywood What If Chapter 221

Industrial Light & Magic(ILM), certain words that were very famous in the industry. To be precise, it was a company that produced special/visual effects for Hollywood movies. 

This company was founded by George Lucas. The purpose of this company was actually for the special effects for Star Wars movies. At that time, the special effects in the Star Wars was already an amazing feat. In 1977, something like that was very hard to replicate. Perhaps one of the reasons why Star Wars became a Blockbuster, one-of-a-kind Blockbuster. 

The VFX(Visual Effects) business of the company turned out better after that. Since then, they participated in many movies and dominated the industry. Most projects that needed special effects would look for them because their technology was indeed more advanced than others. 

Harry Potter franchise. 

The Mummy franchise. 

Mission: Impossible franchise. 

Back To The Future franchise. 

If listed, these titles could fill an entire paper. One thing was sure, Industrial Light & Magic dominated Hollywood. That was the truth. 

Perhaps only Weta Workshop or Weta Studio could rival ILM. Weta Workshop was the studio responsible for the special effects of Lord Of The Rings, The Hobbit, King Kong, and Avatar. 

Furthermore, Weta Workshop was one of the studios that used  Motion Capture Technology. They used this technology to transform Andy Serkis into Gollum. They used this technology as well to turn the cast of Avatar into blue alien people. The same happened in The Planet Of The Apes. 

Right now, Kazir Grey entered the studio of Industrial Light & Magic. Next to him was his assistant, Erica Mendez. He wanted to see their progress on the scenes he asked for. 

Some of the scenes of Wanted needed special effects. Especially the bullet time, the scenes where the bullets were floating in the air in slow motion. As much as possible, Kazir Grey wanted to make the scenes realistic. 

Industrial Light & Magic was the only one he could ask about this. Weta Workshop's headquarters was in New Zealand and Kazir didn't have the time to visit that place. 

The production budget of Wanted was set to $75 million and 1/3 of that budget would probably go to Industrial Light & Magic to make satisfying special effects. 

"Director Grey, it's nice to meet you again."

"Jerome." 

Kazir shook the man's hand. The person in front of him was Jerome Dawson, the studio director of Industrial Light & Magic. 

Kazir Grey and Erica Mendez followed the man and led them to a wide studio where a bunch of people were editing the trajectory of bullets with their computers. 

Frame per frame, they would make the scene. Although ILM already had a framework of bullet since a long time ago so they didn't have a hard time replicating it. 

"This is our progress for ten days, what do you think?"

Jerome Dawson set up a computer for them to watch. The scene that played on the computer was about a sniper bullet flying through the air in a coll motion. 

"It's not that bad. Let's set the contract. My lawyer and agent will visit the studio tomorrow."

"That's great to hear, director."

There was no reason to delay it. Kazir has already decided to work with ILM. This was the best VFX company even in the next decades. He trusted them. 

After watching the minute worth scene for the fifth time, Kazir stood up and looked around the workers. Most of them were using a program that he had no idea what the name was. 

Kazir walked out of the studio and Erica Mendez followed him. 

"Sir, is that all of it? We just spent half an hour in this place."

"Erica, you know for almost four years now. I'm sure you know the reason."

"Well, you're an introvert and you never leave your office unless it's related to your movies."

"That's right."

The two walked in the hallway. 

While walking, Kazir saw two people he recognized. However, he didn't have much interaction with them. One thing was sure, he respects one of them. 

Three people were talking close to the exit of the building. 

"... I think, I think I know that girl. Where did I see her again?"

Erica muttered weakly, asking herself. 

George Lucas was talking to a middle-aged woman who seemed to trying to convince him.

Next to the middle-aged woman was a young woman, perhaps an 18-year-old woman. 

Kazir knew the young woman, it was Natalie Portman. The woman who won the Best Actress award in the Oscar for her performance in Black Swan. Of course Kazir knew her. 

Natalie Portman had participated in many movies but Kazir mostly knew her as Padme Amidala in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, Evey Hammond in V For Vendetta, and Jane Foster in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

Anyway, Kazir felt like the conversation between the two adults was not that well. 

"George, why don't you increase Natalie's screen time in the sequel of Star Wars? I believe she has an important role in this trilogy."

'Indeed, Padme Amidala has an important role. She was Luke Skywalker's real mother. Aight, no reason to spoil people.'

"I understand, Claire, I will try what I can do." 

George Lucas smiled, not taking it seriously. He had many people who were asking him for favors. 

The famous director averted his gaze and realized that someone was actually approaching them. Kazir knew that it might be awkward but he wanted to greet George Lucas, he just wanted to. 

"You're Kazir Grey, right? The director of Taken and  The Bourne Identity."

"Yes, Mister George Lucas."

"You can call me George, we are both directors."

"I'm a fan of Star Wars."

"I'm happy to hear that."

The two directors greeted each other, disregarding the middle-aged woman. 

However, the middle-aged woman was not mad at all. Instead, she smiled amiably and pulled out a business card. 

"Hello Director Grey, Claire Gilmore. I'm Natalie Portman's agent. I work on CAA."

"Oh, so you're from CAA." Kazir was a bit surprised.