Besides editing and dubbing, the key point of post-production also includes CGI compositing. Duke used a large number of green screen scenes during filming. As a director who leans toward technical style, he doesn't care whether it's shot on location or composited with computer technology—he will choose whichever method saves the most time and effort.
With the development of technology and advances in computer graphics, CGI generation has become vastly different from before. On the contrary, model shooting has seen a continuous rise in costs due to labor and raw material prices.
Additionally, the digital shooting technology used by Duke has gradually become mainstream in Hollywood. The number of directors who still use film is decreasing. It is said that Kodak, the main manufacturer of motion picture film, is not doing well and even rumors of halting production have emerged.
Reality now is the exact opposite of the previous century—film shooting is becoming increasingly expensive, while the formerly costly digital technology continues to drop in price.
Although directors like David Fincher insist that film is irreplaceable, the advancement of new technology is something no one can stop.
"I don't need a clear bat image."
In the studio that Industrial Light & Magic stationed at Warner's production facility, Duke said to the head of the computer effects team, "Joe, the sample you drew is exactly the opposite of what I have in mind."
Joe Hart glanced at the sketch in his hand. It was a very clear bat figure, a traditional Batman emblem.
Before he could say anything, Duke reiterated his demand, "The opening scene I envision is a large number of bats flying across the screen, only vaguely forming the image of a giant bat."
Simply put, this is a kind of symbolism for Batman.
To go deeper, for most viewers who are not explicitly told, upon first seeing this scene, a psychological sense of fear should be evoked—this is one of the themes the film aims to convey. And the reason for forming a giant bat image is to represent "a fear that can be utilized," which in fact lays the groundwork for the film's later plot development.
Of course, the most important thing is to match the dark tone of the opening and immediately deliver the film's style to the audience.
Although the film's realism sounds completely mismatched with CGI technology, technology has always served the film. In Hollywood, it is never technology that dictates the style of a movie.
Since post-production started in late January, and the annual North American celebration event—the Super Bowl—was just around the corner, for Batman: Begins to appear during the Super Bowl halftime commercial slot, Duke had to rush to cut a trailer. In the following days, he was almost entirely occupied with this part of the work. It wasn't until five days before the Super Bowl, at the final submission deadline, that a thirty-second teaser trailer was submitted to the Super Bowl organizing committee.
Unlike the past, the trailer didn't reveal much content. After all, the film's post-production had just begun. Most of the footage was fragments of Bruce Wayne entangled with bats. The main highlight was the theatrical release date, as the summer season was not far off.
Besides the routine Super Bowl commercial, Duke and Warner Bros. also launched a series of promotional campaigns for the rebirth of the Batman franchise.
"Decades have passed since Batman, this comic book character, first appeared in Detective Comics. But the character has not faded from public view with the changes of the times. Instead, he has grown more layered and vibrant with the passage of time."
"To this day, Batman's story has undergone many revisions. Not only have his appearance and gear changed, but his style has also significantly evolved. Once a smiling friend of justice, a chivalrous hero who won easily—now, as times change, his realism and limitations have grown stronger. His enemies are more powerful, cunning, and insane than before. Batman's psychological trauma is repeatedly emphasized. He becomes increasingly hesitant and lonely, drifting toward paranoia and darkness."
Numerous print and online media outlets published extensive retrospectives on Batman's past and present. Warner Bros. was clearly using this method to reignite public interest in the famous superhero.
There is no doubt that Superman is the most globally influential superhero from DC Comics. Batman is the only character from DC who can rival Superman in popularity. In the past few decades, Warner Group the parent company of DC Comics has dominated half of the Hollywood animated film market solely through Superman and Batman.
Although these two superheroes have been off the radar for too long, they have never lacked attention.
The retrospectives were aimed at promoting the film and were clearly based on the tone of Batman:Begins. Since revealing the plot early wasn't possible, Warner Bros. simply used Frank Miller's Batman: Year One comic in chronological form to review Bruce Wayne's life.
Whether in the past or the present, Batman:Begins is fundamentally derived from Frank Miller's Batman: Year One.
"Year One: Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham City and begins fighting crime alone, disguising himself as a bat to frighten his enemies. James Gordon is transferred to Gotham to serve as deputy commissioner…"
Aside from Warner Bros.' various promotional measures, Duke's personal website and Instant Share account continuously released character designs and poster images from the movie. They even used the video sharing feature to post a short ten-second clip, which sparked quite a few responses.
"Although I have some concerns about the Batman series, I firmly believe that if it's a Duke production, it must be a quality film. I'll definitely watch Batman:Begins."
"I think Duke will give Batman new life!"
"The character designs and poster images seem to have a darker tone. I'm really curious what Duke's Batman will be like."
Although there are many supporters, the negative influence of Batman & Robin still lingers. Even among Duke's supporters, there are those who aren't fond of the series.
"I don't like superheroes like Batman. Especially after Joel Schumacher's two movies, I have zero affection left for Batman."
"I feel the same. Although it's a Duke film, I don't want to go to the cinema. What if he makes another Batman Forever or Batman & Robin? How would I deal with that?"
That's perfectly normal there has never been a film in the world that pleases everyone. Even one's own supporters aren't an exception.
For every film, there are always people who like it, others who watch indifferently, and still others who dislike it.
What Duke has always done is strive to win the support of the mainstream majority. In his established understanding, only such a film can be considered a successful one.
Some types of films, even when hyped up by media and critics, can never achieve widespread popularity. Their audience appeal is often a towering mountain that cannot be crossed.
People are always affected by fame and profit. Duke is no exception. What he wants is the kind of fame that spreads globally, like James Cameron's, not one confined to a small circle like Stanley Kubrick's.
Batman's past failures not only brought about differing opinions among fans but also raised concerns among theater chains. Even though the director is now Duke, that alone can't completely erase the negative impact of Batman & Robin.
This is quite normal. The North American Theater Alliance is a profit-driven commercial alliance never a charitable organization.
During The Return of the King, they did give Duke their maximum support, but that was thanks to the success of the previous two films. Anyone with a working brain knew the third installment would be a blockbuster. But a reboot of a once-failed franchise can never receive the same treatment as the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
If a film performs poorly at the box office and doesn't bring in enough profit, even a Duke production will be forcibly taken off screens.
Moreover, looking at Hollywood's most successful commercial directors, examples of failure after major success are countless—Spielberg's The Terminal and Michael Bay's Bad Boys 3 are just recent cases.
To put it plainly, the foundation of any commercial activity is profit.
"The theater chains insist on a test screening."
In Warner Bros.' office, Doug Walter said to Duke, "Warner Bros. also needs to build audience word-of-mouth through test screenings."
Duke was never one to be blindly arrogant. He nodded in agreement. "How many test screenings are planned?"
"At least three," Doug Walter thought for a moment and added, "The usual media, general audience, and theater representatives."
Since the rise of online media, professional film critics have become increasingly irrelevant during summer blockbusters. Nowadays, Hollywood rarely invites professional critics to summer tentpole test screenings, let alone pays corresponding PR fees.
This is also the root of Duke's conflict with the community of professional critics.
However, after winning the Oscar for Best Director, Duke has completely disregarded the critic community.
Roger Ebert, his sharpest opponent, was said to have relapsed. Although he was saved in time, he could no longer walk or speak, confined to a hospital bed for the remainder of his life.
With their leader gone, the rest of the critics are nothing more than a loose coalition.
Just like when Sean Connery retired early, Duke planned to call it quits here. He wouldn't argue with a dying man.
Of course, even if Roger Ebert wanted, as before, to leave a name on the Walk of Fame on behalf of the critic community, that was no longer possible.
"Duke, the timeline is really tight," Doug Walter was still a little worried and reminded him, "You must complete all post-production work for Batman:Begins before the end of April."
Warner Bros. was going to conduct three rounds of test screenings, so they needed to leave enough time. Duke thought about the current progress and the schedule, then seriously said, "Doug, don't worry. I guarantee it'll be finished on time."
His words finally put Doug Walter at ease. Warner Bros. absolutely did not want to see another mishap with a beloved property like Batman.
....
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