Editing the film

What kind of fruit is "Die Another Day"?

Director Lee Tamahori didn't need to be concerned because the production and creation of the 007 series had always been controlled by specialized producers and editors, with little room for the director's personal style.

The lead actor, Pierce Brosnan, could only be considered a qualified Bond actor, not stunning. He was more like a replacement for the previous Bond actors and didn't have much to offer. As for the supporting roles, there wasn't much to say, except for Halle Berry, who had some topics surrounding her.

"Sexiest Woman Alive", Oscar-winning actress...

This beautiful and healthy African-American actress possessed alluring beauty and unmatched grace. She could establish herself among the crowd of beauties in Hollywood and was the first African-American woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress, which spoke to her talent and popularity.

With acting skills and a wide fan base in the African-American community, these advantages also allowed Halle Berry to successfully gain the attention of the 007 series and transform into the new Bond girl. Yes, she was the only black Bond girl in all of the 007 films.

But all of this couldn't compare to the weight carried by the name "007" itself. This was the 40th-anniversary tribute and the 20th film in the 007 series, with a record-breaking investment. The production cost exceeded $142M, which was 20 million more than the previous film, "The World Is Not Enough".

With sufficient investment, the production team had free rein, creating various grand scenes. The leaked information about the filming alone was enough to generate anticipation. However, did it matter? Ultimately, it was the audience who decided the fate of the movie.

In the conference room of EuropaCorp's headquarters building, everyone listened to the opponents selected by Lyman, wearing thoughtful expressions.

"This is the 40th-anniversary tribute of the 007 series, and their promotional slogan is loud. It's bound to influence those potential viewers to subconsciously support it. After all, nostalgia and fan base are not to be underestimated."

007 was the childhood of many people. Just mentioning the name was enough to make some viewers buy tickets without even looking at the movie promotions. Could the influence be underestimated? If it could, the series wouldn't have made 20 films and still be profitable.

Upon hearing this, the executives couldn't think of any reason why "Fury" could compete with "Die Another Day".

"Everyone, don't forget that our film also needs a good release date. Otherwise, how can we earn back such a huge investment? Do we compete with "The Lord of the Rings"? Compared to that, I'm more confident in competing with "Die Another Day". At worst, we have to recover our costs."

Lyman calmly looked at everyone and said, "007 does have a substantial viewer base, but don't forget, audiences also experience aesthetic fatigue. There's a fling between Bond and the Bond girl every two years, and some people will inevitably get tired of it."

Facing Lyman's arguments, a high-ranking official chuckled, "Yes, that's true. But let me say something unpleasant. Director Lyman, the market appeal of your reputation is a bit inferior to that of 007, and the appeal of the actors is even worse. Besides Nicholas Cage, there's not much to boast about, and he's recently been surrounded by negative reviews. So, facing "Die Another Day", our chances aren't very high."

He was already being polite. In his view, the gap in market appeal between them was not just a little bit, but a vast chasm. As for the possible help from the actors, the only one, Nicholas Cage, even had a box office failure with 'Windtalkers' and received poor commercial reviews, widening the gap further.

"In the film industry, if it solely relies on the cast, what market would matter? There wouldn't be so many blockbuster failures with huge losses. Take "Cleopatra", for example, the total investment now exceeds $400M if adjusted for inflation. The cast was the most outstanding and acclaimed at the time, but as we all know, Twentieth Century Fox almost went bankrupt because of this production. They had to sell off 263 acres of outdoor filming locations and several studios to recoup the losses. So..."

Lyman paused, tapping the table with his fingers, and said with great certainty, "Everything depends on the film itself, the story it tells, and the message it conveys. That is what matters most."

"Well said," Luc Besson pondered for a while, expressing his own viewpoint, "In the end, the film is ruled by its content. Otherwise, we wouldn't see so many low-budget films become sleeper hits. So, the film's quality is essential. If it's outstanding, everything will follow, and it can achieve high box office results. While the reputation and cast can greatly assist in promotion, we are not at the stage of considering these external factors."

He made his decision, "Let's set it for November 22nd. We are not afraid of competition."

"For the promotion, contact Paramount Pictures. That's it. Let's adjourn."

With the film's release date settled, Lyman had no reason to stay there any longer. He greeted everyone and began preparing for the post-production of "Fury". In any case, busy and fulfilling days have come again.

With the support of EuropaCorp, all the necessary equipment for post-production is naturally available. In a small building not far from the headquarters, a related editing studio has already welcomed the presence of Lyman and his team.

"Thomas, try using slow-motion techniques for the opening scene."

Standing behind the editing console, Lyman carefully stared at the footage on the monitor. "Use the footage from take two for shot number seven, and then insert the explosion footage from shot number thirty-two..."

After Thomas finished the editing, Lyman watched the complete 50-second scene and said, "Hmm, the effect is very good."

Slow-motion highlights the authenticity of the visuals and creates an overall heavy atmosphere. This scene takes place right after the initial confrontation between the two armies, where the corporal's fellow soldier dies while cleaning up the battlefield. With the movement of the camera, the harsh reality of the battlefield is presented to the audience, accentuated by the gloomy sky, portraying the sorrow in the corporal's heart and the unpredictability of war.

"Next..." Lyman contemplated the overall framework of the film and began, "For the subsequent scene, use fast cuts and flashbacks to depict some snippets of the corporal's story..."

"Hmm."

Thomas nodded, feeling that the editing was going as expected. As the cinematographer of this film, he was well aware of Lyman's overall vision for the shooting. After the collaboration on the previous two films, they had developed a great understanding and rhythm in their editing process. The efficiency had improved significantly compared to "3 Idiots", and they completed the initial editing in less than ten days.

Although the raw footage amounted to over 200 hours, after the first round of selection, splicing, and editing, the total length was reduced to about 5 hours. Of course, the next round would require more effort and meticulous editing to achieve the desired cinematic effect. Otherwise, Lyman's vision wouldn't be realized.

In the final version, the film's duration would certainly be shorter than "3 Idiots". The goal was to keep the film between 100 to 110 minutes, and this had been considered in advance.

Following this editing approach, they would simplify and gloss over some minor details that didn't affect the main storyline and also cut some unnecessary character scenes. Ultimately, the focus was on "Wardaddy" and Norman, telling the story of the war and the growth of individuals within it.

Creating a work that emphasized the realistic portrayal of the battlefield and the complexity of human nature, maintaining a coherent plot was the fundamental principle. The challenge lay in depicting the comradeship and character development within this small team.

Otherwise, if it fell apart, Norman's subsequent transformation would appear abrupt. In the original work, his transition from a rookie to a veteran, complete with a disregard for life and death, wasn't adequately portrayed. It even incorporated a cheesy emotional segment, which was unnecessary.

"Tell the story with a dual timeline structure," Lyman continued to instruct. The film would focus on Norman as a character, which would be better.

If we were to divide the editing sections, it would begin with the death of the corporal, followed by rookie Norman being ordered to join the squad, interspersed with some of the sergeant's teachings and a few small-scale battle scenes. Next, they would break through the eastern front and then split up. After that, the Fury squad would be ordered to hold the southeast defense line and confront an enemy battalion fiercely, vowing not to retreat and holding their ground. Finally, the sacrifice of the entire Fury squad would follow, with the defense line collapsing...

Based on the edited footage, within the unchanged framework, reasonable additions and the inclusion of universal tragedy and the disorientation of the era through Norman's character would undoubtedly achieve the desired effect of a complete film.

From the beginning, Norman's bewildered and clueless state, his initial desire to desert, to bravely assuming the role of a soldier with a natural sense of duty, then gradually rallying, gritting his teeth, and surviving amidst the hail of gunfire on the battlefield. Finally, his calm expression in death would be the greatest "growth", wouldn't it?

Creating well-rounded characters that feel genuine and provide a sense of realism requires effort, especially in the portrayal of numerous scenes and scenarios within a film. Fortunately, Lyman believed he had done a good job.

There was no need for excessive preaching. Human growth ultimately comes from the test of time and spontaneous cognitive changes, and he had depicted that well.