She's a model of creativity

• Source: Global Times
• [09:32 August 11 2010]
• Comments

Neytiri stands guard. Photo: Cai Xianmin

By Huang Xi

Neytiri, the 2.75-meter blue Avatar character stands guard at the entrance. She is looking back into the distance with her bow and arrow in her hand. She looks as if she has just stepped out of the film - which in a way she has.

She is one of the stars of the Shanghai International Film Prototype Exhibition which gives movie fans a chance to see close-up some of the secrets and models that have inspired many of the most popular sci-fi and fantasy films made in the past few years.

The exhibition of more than 1,000 exhibits opened on Sunday at the Shangbo Art Museum.

On show are original models, manuscripts and props from King Kong, Avatar, The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, Star Wars, Alien, District 9, and Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf. Also on exhibition are some costumes and scripts from films directed by the late Japanese master filmmaker Akira Kurosawa.

Many of these pieces are on display for the first time ever and were created by the world-famous Weta Workshops in New Zealand, which produced the models, designs and special effects for many major blockbusters including The Lord of the Rings, Avatar, Narnia and King Kong.

Richard Taylor, the co-founder and co-director of Weta, said he had been fortunate enough to receive five nominations and win four Academy Awards and three BAFTAs, over the diverse disciplines of costume, makeup and visual effects.

Weta has just about all of its models made in China. "We think the craftsmanship in China is excellent. That's why we have our models made here," Taylor said.

He believes firmly that the technology, craft and innovation in China are almost equal to those in the West and that China is just a little way off matching its Western peers.

Akira Tange runs the workshop in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, where film models are actually produced. He has been working with Taylor for more than nine years since the workshop first produced models for The Lord of the Rings.

"We made the airplanes, airships and Navis in Avatar as well as the helmets in The Lord of the Rings. For this exhibition we have brought more than 300 examples of our work to Shanghai," he said.

For Tange and his colleagues, the process of making a model is like a re-creation of the work. "Weta sends us computer files of design drawings, and we make them to the size they want," he explained.

After the models are made and approved by the director, 3-D or animated effects will be created from these and worked into the film. To illustrate the model-making process for visitors to the exhibition, 10 television screens display every step.

"The model of Neytiri is a replica and not the original model, but even so it took us more than 40 days to make it for this exhibition," Tange said.

Tange's name appears in film credits alongside the models he has made. "I don't know which film the models I make are intended for until I see the film. This year I was watching the credits for Avatar and I realized that the models I made were for the Navi."

The noted Hong Kong director Stanley Tung said: "There are a lot of complicated and tedious procedures to go through before a film is screened in the cinema. These procedures are complex and involve advanced technology and creativity."

Tung expressed some concern about China's filmmaking industry, which already boasts the technology and skills required.

"I think we need to be more international-oriented and concentrate on developing creativity, production and distribution for the whole industry. And develop the derivative products for films," he said.

Action star and filmmaker Jackie Chan gave a press conference before the exhibition opened, saying: "This exhibition provides a great chance for those who are interested in art, especially art in films."

Date: From August 8 to November 8,

9 am to 5 pm

Venue: Shangbo Art Museum 尚博美术馆

Address: 3539 Dongfang Road

东方路3539号

Admission: 80 yuan, 30 yuan for student

Call 5875-8387 or 5090-7608 for details