booktalesy Chapter 328 The Big Picture
Chapter 328 The Big Picture
Chapter 328 The Big Picture
In December, the Swiss Alps are covered in snow, and the cold wind cuts through the steep glaciers like a knife.
After months of traveling around the world, the crew of "Inception" finally broke camp in this remote and frigid place to prepare for filming the final battle in the third layer of the dream—the snow mountain fortress.
With a hefty investment from the Kitahara Group, a massive concrete fortress with a sleek, industrial aesthetic was erected on the mountainside at an altitude of over 3,000 meters. Helicopters shuttled back and forth daily between the camp at the foot of the mountain and the film set on the mountainside, like worker bees, transporting heavy IMAX camera equipment and crew members.
This is destined to be a very tough battle.
Inside the film crew's temporary command tent, several high-powered heaters were blowing out hot air.
Kitahara Shin, dressed in heavy polar cold-weather gear, held a cup of scalding black coffee in his hand, staring intently at the script storyboards spread out on the table.
At this point, there were less than two hours left before the official start of filming, but he ordered the entire crew to stop filming.
"Call Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, and Joseph, along with the director of photography." Kitahara Shin put down his coffee cup, his tone revealing an unquestionable decisiveness.
A few minutes later, several Hollywood stars and key behind-the-scenes personnel, their faces red from the cold, hurriedly entered the tent.
"Director Kitahara, is there a problem? The explosives and ski stunt team are already in place," Leonardo asked, rubbing his hands together, somewhat puzzled.
Kitahara Shinnobu tapped the script on the table lightly with his knuckles, his eyes sharp: "I reviewed the rough cuts of the first two dream layers last night. The first layer, a city car chase on a rainy night; the second layer, a zero-gravity corridor in a hotel: the visual tension and rhythm have been pushed to the limit. This leads to a fatal problem."
He looked up and surveyed the crowd: "The audience's nerves have been continuously jolted for nearly two hours. If, in the third snow mountain fortress scene, we still follow the original script's design and arrange a twenty-minute snow skiing gunfight, endless explosions, and infiltration—the audience will experience visual fatigue. The entire third act of the film will become very bloated."
Upon hearing these words, Leonardo and the director of photography fell into deep thought.
Kitahara Shin's concerns were spot on. The snow-covered mountain scene in the third level of the original *Inception* was indeed criticized by many film critics for resembling a traditional *007* spy action film, losing the bizarre and mind-bending novelty of the first two dream levels. This purely physical gunfight slowed down the pace of what should have been a tightly-paced and gripping finale.
"But how are we supposed to change it? The scene is already set up," Tom Hardy asked, frowning.
"Reduce unnecessary bullet consumption and return the camera to the characters' psychological breakdown and the sense of time pressure." Kitahara Shin picked up a red pen and quickly crossed out a large section of gunfight scenes on the sketch.
"Tom, the scene where your character, Eames, distracts the enemy in the snow has been cut from five minutes to two minutes. Cinema, abandon the wide-angle explosions and switch entirely to handheld cameras, using close-up shots of the characters' faces!"
Kitahara Shin's voice rang out firmly in the tent: "I want to capture that claustrophobic feeling of struggling to breathe in a blizzard! The editing must relentlessly focus on the countdown to the bread truck falling off the bridge on the first level, and the weightlessness of the elevator plummeting on the second level. Make the physical connections between the three dream layers shorter and more deadly!"
"And Leonardo," Kitahara Shin said, looking at the lead actor, "Cobb is on the verge of a breakdown at this stage, and Mel's phantom could come out at any moment to kill. You don't need to show off by firing shots; I want you to portray that desperate feeling of fighting for the last shred of sanity. Transform all the action scenes into pure psychological thriller!"
As Kitahara Shin dissected the script with the skill of a master butcher, the doubts in everyone's eyes were gradually replaced by a deep sense of conviction.
Many directors, when faced with massive sets built at a cost of tens of millions of dollars, want to film every corner and give it plenty of explosion shots. Kitahara Shin, however, maintains absolute ruthlessness and restraint, preferring to cut expensive action scenes in order to preserve the flawless artistic rhythm of the entire film.
This decisiveness—being willing to self-destruct at any time for the greater good—silenced the top Hollywood team present.
"Understood, Director. This will amplify the oppressive atmosphere of the ending." The director of photography nodded vigorously.
"Go and get ready. Turn on the machine in twenty minutes."
On the snow-covered slopes of the Alps, the actual filming officially begins.
According to the revised, more concise script, the snow chase becomes exceptionally dangerous and fast-paced.
Several stunt performers dressed in white snow camouflage, on skis and carrying assault rifles, are engaged in a high-speed chase and filming on a steep snow slope. The cameraman is strapped to a modified heavy snowmobile, closely following the stunt performers.
Behind the staff.
The temperament of nature is always the biggest variable for film crews.
Just as the filming of this scene reached its most intense sprint stage, the snow and wind, which had previously made it difficult to see, suddenly turned into a violent white blizzard within seconds!
Visibility instantly dropped to less than five meters, and the gale whipped up ice shards that cut through everyone's vision like blades.
"Danger! Stop! All cameras, halt immediately!" the assistant director yelled hoarsely into the communication channel.
However, due to the effects of gravity and inertia, the stuntman, who was descending at high speed, was unable to brake in time.
Just then, tragedy struck.
The stuntman at the forefront, distracted by the blizzard, failed to see the massive patch of dark ice hidden beneath the snow. His skis slammed heavily into the ice, causing him to instantly lose his balance!
"ah--!"
With a terrified scream, the stuntman tumbled across the snow like a kite with a broken string, heading straight for the hundred-meter-deep cliff at the edge of the snow slope!
"Help! Help!"
"Snowmobiles can't get across! It's too steep!"
The film crew panicked. In such a blizzard and extreme terrain, helicopters couldn't take off, and even if rescuers rushed over now, they definitely couldn't catch up with the speed of the descent.
At this critical moment.
A black figure leaped directly down from the high platform behind the monitor!
It's Kitahara Shin.
He wasn't wearing heavy winter clothing, just a thin tactical jacket. The moment he jumped, he landed precisely on an empty snowboard and pulled out a lightweight handheld camera stuck in the snow.
It all happened so fast that even Leonardo, who was standing next to him, didn't have time to react.
The skis under Kitahara Shin's feet seemed to be ingrained in his nerve endings. No matter how rugged the snow was, no matter how how fierce the wind was, his center of gravity remained at a golden ratio point that would never cause him to fall.
"Bang!"
The skis screeched as they rubbed against the steep snow, kicking up clouds of snow.
Kitahara Shin hurtled straight toward the out-of-control stuntman at an incredible speed. He didn't take any deceleration S-shaped path; he chose the most deadly and fastest straight descent.
Fifty meters — Thirty meters — Ten meters!
The stuntman had already slid halfway off the edge of the cliff, his hands waving desperately in the air.
"catch!"
Kitahara Shin suddenly twisted his waist less than two meters from the edge of the cliff, his skis cutting horizontally into the thick snow, using the powerful friction to forcefully brake.
At the same time, he reached out with his left hand and grabbed the back of the stuntman's winter coat tightly.
The powerful momentum of the fall was transmitted to Kitahara Shin's arms, producing a teeth-grinding sound of bones grinding together. But the skis beneath his feet were as if nailed to the cliff face, not moving an inch. Using the strength of his core and the explosive power of his arms, he forcefully pulled the burly man weighing over 160 pounds back.
"Bang!" The stuntman was thrown heavily back onto the safe snow, so frightened that his whole body went limp and he gasped for breath.
After completing this series of rapid rescues, Kitahara Shin's right hand still steadily held the handheld camera. The lens precisely recorded the first-person perspective of the desperate scene of rushing towards the abyss amidst the raging snowstorm.
The rescue workers and several Hollywood actors rushed over from behind.
In the wind and snow, Kitahara Shin stood proudly on the edge of the cliff, holding a camera in one hand. The wind whipped his black hair, but his eyes showed no fear, only the cold and ruthless control of the situation.
"Take him down for a check-up. The medical team is on standby." Kitahara Shin handed the camera to the arriving director of photography, his voice calm and even. "Keep this footage; use it in the subjective shot of Cobb's avalanche escape. All departments, recheck the safety ropes. We'll continue filming in half an hour."
The entire film crew was deathly silent.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, and all the seasoned Hollywood special effects artists and cinematographers stared at the man on the edge of the cliff, their throats tightening.
In Hollywood, big-name directors usually travel with four bodyguards. But this tycoon who controls a multi-billion dollar conglomerate just rescued a stuntman on a snowboard in a blizzard, barely out of breath.
There was no flamboyant cheering. Everyone present simply swallowed silently, then quickly turned and headed to their respective workstations. Their hands, still trembling slightly, were busy checking the equipment, but their steps became unusually heavy and rapid. Working under this man, no one dared to slack off even a little.
Filming progressed rigorously and efficiently, finally reaching the last key dialogue scene of the entire film.
Deep within the snow mountain fortress lies the dream world on the verge of collapse.
Kitahara Shin changed into Saito's costume. In this scene, Saito suffered a fatal injury in the first layer of the dream. In this deeper dream, his subconscious has begun to die, and he is aging rapidly, about to be lost in the endless limbo.
The temporary Japanese-style room was dimly lit.
Leonardo DiCaprio's character, Cobb, went through many hardships to find this place.
The two cameras were running silently.
Kitahara Shin sat on the tatami mat, his makeup making him look like an old man on his deathbed.
He closed his eyes, recalling the bloodshed he had endured to build the Kitahara Group, and the vast commercial empire he had established in this era. When he opened his eyes again, the weariness, the sense of desolation, and the resistance to death that belonged to a multinational energy tycoon emanated from every pore of his body like a tide.
"You came here—to kill me?" Kitahara Shin's voice was hoarse and slow, but his bloodshot eyes still revealed the resentment of a superior.
Looking at Kitahara Shin in front of him, Leonardo was completely drawn into that despairing and tragic mood.
"I'm here to take you home, Mr. Saito." Leonardo's voice trembled slightly, his eyes filled with guilt and a longing for redemption. "We agreed to go back to reality together."
Kitahara Shin reached out with trembling hands and picked up the metal top on the table.
"Reality—" he murmured to himself, looking up at Leonardo. In that moment, he perfectly blended the vulnerability of a dying man with the obsession of a financial tycoon.
"Would you rather take a gamble—or become a regretful old man and die here alone?"
This classic line, which strikes straight to the soul, carries a profound and awe-inspiring sense of history when spoken by Kitahara Shin.
Leonardo's eyes reddened, and he nodded heavily, grasping Kitahara Shin's hand.
"Cut! Filming wrapped!"
The assistant director's excited voice echoed across the set.
A ten-minute cheer erupted from the temporary camp in the Alps. The groundbreaking masterpiece *Inception*, which took nearly a year to complete, spanned three continents, and cost $160 million, had finally finished all its pre-production filming!
In the crowd, Leonardo DiCaprio stepped forward and gave Shin Kitahara a firm hug. The arrogance of their first meeting was gone from the eyes of this global superstar; only pure admiration and respect remained.
As night fell, the blizzard subsided, and stars twinkled in the sky above the snow-capped peaks.
The crew members were busy packing up their equipment, preparing for their descent from the mountain the next day.
Kitahara Shin sat alone in the tent, rubbing his aching temples. Even he felt a deep weariness after half a year of intense filming.
-
The tent flap was gently lifted.
A scent wafted in, a mixture of crisp snow and fine perfume.
Eva Green walked in. She hadn't removed her makeup yet, still sporting the pale, aloof, gothic look of "Mel," and was wearing a thick black down jacket.
"I've finished my part, Director." Eva walked up to Kitahara Shin, her emerald eyes gleaming with undisguised ambition and desire in the dim light. "Everyone says you're a generous boss. How are you going to reward your leading lady?"
During the filming of "Inception," Eva Longoria displayed astonishing perseverance and talent. Whether performing wire stunts or filming on location in freezing conditions, she never complained and perfectly portrayed the deadly dream demon.
Kitahara Shin leaned back in his chair, quietly watching the bold and straightforward European girl in front of him.
He hadn't originally planned for anything to happen between them at this stage. Hollywood actresses were as numerous as fish in a river; he didn't need to use his body to gain anyone's loyalty.
But Eva was different. She abandoned her family's protection to follow him, coming to Hollywood alone. Her obsessive, dark aura was the perfect weapon for the Kitahara Group to conquer the European and North American niche markets. Most importantly, during their long six months together, this girl won Kitahara Shin's approval with her dedication and unwavering devotion.
"What reward do you want?" Kitahara Shin's voice was low and calm.
Eva didn't speak. She walked straight up to him, took off the heavy down jacket, revealing that she was still wearing that thin burgundy silk dress underneath.
She straddled Kitahara Shin's lap, cupped his face in her hands, and looked at him with an almost devout infatuation: "I don't need any payment, nor do I need any promises. I just want you to remember that in this world, only I can be the indelible demon in your subconscious."
As soon as she finished speaking, she took the initiative to kiss him.
European women's passion is as direct and fiery as a raging fire. On this cold, snowy mountain night, Kitahara Shin did not refuse again. He reached out and embraced her slender waist, responding to this burning desire. He wanted to take this woman to the pinnacle of the global film industry under his wing.
One month later, in the rooftop ballroom of the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles.
The global wrap party for "Inception" was held here.
The event was star-studded, with executives from all six major film studios, including Warner Bros., Paramount, and Universal, in attendance. Besides Leonardo DiCaprio and other key members of the creative team, countless A-list Hollywood stars also secured invitations through various connections, all hoping to have the chance to speak a few words to the Asian director who had created this miracle.
As the banquet reached its climax, Kitahara Shin, dressed in a well-tailored dark-patterned suit, walked onto the stage with a wine glass in hand.
The entire room fell silent instantly, and all eyes were focused on the man.
"In the past year, we have created a miracle." Kitahara Shin's voice was steady and powerful, resounding throughout every corner of the banquet hall. "This dream labyrinth owes its existence to every lighting technician, photographer, stagehand, and stunt performer who risked their lives."
At this point, Kitahara Shin turned to look at Sasaki beside him.
Sasaki immediately understood and led a dozen or so staff members in suits, pushing several heavy trolleys onto the stage. The trolleys were piled high with beautifully wrapped red envelopes—red envelopes unique to the East.
"Tonight, there will be no empty words of thanks." Kitahara Shin pointed to the red envelopes and announced firmly, "All the revenue from the film's related copyrights and the net profit from the North American box office will be distributed as bonuses, with thirty percent going equally among all the core behind-the-scenes staff and actors."
The entire audience erupted in uproar!
In Hollywood, where capital reigns supreme, bosses are always finding ways to squeeze the surplus value out of the crew. Giving up to 30% of the net profit directly to the production team is unprecedented in Hollywood history. This means that even a regular production assistant can earn an extremely substantial sum from a project.
"The remaining profits will all go to the Kitahara Foundation's film and television fund," Kitahara Shin continued, his gaze sweeping over the Hollywood executives in the audience. "This money will be used to build our own special effects industrial base and theme park in North America. As long as you are willing to stay with Kitahara Productions, there will always be a stage for you to showcase your talents here."
There was a few seconds of deathly silence in the audience. Then, a deafening roar of cheers and applause erupted. Many of the behind-the-scenes staff who had been working on the project for over half a year were moved to tears.
Leonardo held his wine glass, looking at the radiant man on the stage.
Kitahara Shin shattered Western stereotypes about Asian capitalists. With his incredibly grand vision and astonishing generosity, he not only bought the labor of this group of top Hollywood talent, but also completely won their loyalty. Even if Kitahara Shin's film flopped at the box office tomorrow, they would absolutely not have any complaints.
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