In the afternoon, the sun shines through the floor-to-ceiling windows with film, and the cafeteria is filled with light. The employees of the Pixar Animation and Game Department are sitting at the small round table in twos and threes, drinking afternoon tea and discussing problems, some of which are not lacking. Talk about someone who leaves an unused refreshment and leaves for work quickly after inspiration strikes.
This is the working environment of Pixar, although it is only a glimpse of the leopard, it fully reflects the characteristics of casual but full of enthusiasm. However, no matter who was discussing in the restaurant at this time, they had to take a glance or two at the floor-to-ceiling window on the right, because the queen of the film department was sitting there with her two friends.
Yes, the queen of the film department, this is the nickname given to Angela by the staff of the animation department in private, because Angela, who has no position in the film department, has the right to speak out on the production! As for why, just look at the golden statue that was taken back the day before yesterday. Although this is not the first time that Pixar has won the Oscar, which film company or film department has won the best film in less than three years? Not to mention that the box office hits produced in the past two years are almost all related to her, which has made Pixar even stronger.
The animation department has only produced one animated film after "Toy Story", and although the box office is good, it does not actually make much profit. Even if the animation department does not make money from animated films, these arrogant animators When we talk about Angela, it is inevitable that we will be a little frustrated and depressed.
Although Angela doesn't know her ridiculous nickname, she still knows a thing or two about the animator's mind, because this is Pixar, where any employee can pull the supervisor to discuss their own ideas.
And even if it wasn't clear before, after talking to Roger, I can get a general idea. In fact, this is not a big deal. Unlike the masculinity outside, they care that the foundation of Pixar is in animation. As a result, animation is still the main development direction, but the film department is an unintentional place where the latecomers are actually ahead or even faintly. Instead, whoever faces this situation will have a little emotion.
But Angela doesn't have the heart to give them a psychological counseling class now. Anyway, Ed, John and the others are very clear about their own thoughts. Besides, the things in front of them are bothering her.
"Do you need another banana split, Lindsay?" Angela held her face, stirring the cold drink in her cup with a straw, and raised her eyebrows as she looked at the little girl in front of her.
"Can I have another one?" Lindsay, who deliberately held the spoon behind her back and stuck it on top of the ice cream, raised her head and looked at Angela with a smile, her smart eyes turning around, a few freckles and stains The ice cream on the face is fun.
"There are no doors!" Angela snorted immediately.
"Okay, Lindsay, you've eaten enough." Jessica, who was sitting next to Angela, smiled and shook her head and rounded up.
"But, Angie just said that I can eat as much as I want." Lindsay said plausibly, and at the same time, she dug a large piece of ice cream with a spoon as if in a demonstration, and then slowly fed it into the boss's mouth. The whole action Just like the slow motion in a movie, it is obviously intentionally made to be irritating.
"Yes, I said it, but I didn't expect you to eat two meals in a row. God, it's still March, so you're not afraid of a stomachache!" Angela rolled her eyes and said angrily.
"But the temperature outside is 70 degrees Fahrenheit, isn't it appropriate to eat ice cream? Besides, who made them make banana splits so interesting." Lindsay shrugged, "It's the knife that killed people, you go to the knife Don't look for me" means.
Because of the relaxed atmosphere of Pixar, and even the food provided by the restaurant is unique and there are many interesting things, Angela can only roll her eyes again at Lindsay's excuse.
"I really hope she's my sister." Angela whispered in Jessica's ear through gritted teeth, and after the other party showed a puzzled look, she added: "That way I can call her without hesitation. Hit the ground and beat him hard!"
Jessica laughed and looked at Lindsay, who was concentrating on dealing with the banana boat. She suddenly sighed, leaned into Angela's ear and said in a faint voice, "If that's the case, Lindsay will definitely would be very happy."
Angela frowned and looked at Jessica with questioning eyes, while Jessica shrugged slightly and returned a "you know" look, Angela immediately understood, yes, she knew, of course I know.
"Slow down, don't eat too much in one bite, or I won't even let you finish this!" The girl rubbed the little guy's head half threateningly and half pitifully. How about taking custody and custody of her? Angela thought this way, anyway, there are already two more girls in the family, and one more girl is not too much, just...
A group of people walked into the restaurant at this time, and when they saw Angela, the fat guy with a slightly bald forehead started to say hello from afar: "Hey, look who's there, Angie, how are you?"
"Wow, it's rare for you to be here together." Angela stood up with a smile, along with John Lasseter, Ed Cam, Andrew Stanton and Chris Taylor who came over." The executives shook hands one by one, and then introduced their friends to them. After greeting each other, a few people pulled up chairs and sat down at the round table.
"In fact, we often appear in restaurants together, so in comparison, it's really rare that you will appear here." Lasseter said after sitting down with his hands open.
"I know, so I'm here now, right?" Angela pouted and changed the subject, "How is the production progress of "Toy Story 2"? I heard that you plan to release it at the end of the year?"
"If you're willing to participate in the production, we can definitely make it ahead," Lasseter said dissatisfiedly, "Ed told me that you have a directorial plan that is going to start soon, God, I hope you remember that you promised to Voice for Cowgirl Jesse. You let us doves once last year, are you planning to continue this year? Hell, the boss let his own company doves."
"Hey, John, it was an accident last year, it was an accident, okay?" Angela raised her hands, "There will definitely be no accident this year, even if my directorial work is very heavy, I can still use the summer dubbing, right?"
"Summer vacation? Sorry, we decided to release it in summer vacation, like
Like the first one," Lasseter spread his hands helplessly, "and there are still several animations in the pipeline, ready to start production at any time. "
"How many animations are in preparation?" Angela frowned immediately, "Sorry, did I hear something wrong."
"No, you heard it right, it's true," Lasseter took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose helplessly, "After all, although the animation department is doing a good job now, its profit is not even as good as that of the game department. Not to mention compared to the film department."
"Wait! Wait!" Angela waved her hands and grabbed it in the air, pointing at Lasseter and looking at Ed and the others: "Can you tell me—is this John Lasseter? Are you sure you want to sit down? Isn't there a devil in John Lasseter's skin?"
She suddenly stood up, put her hands on the round table and looked at the people in front of her with her brows twisted into ropes: "Are you sure this is Pixar's animation department and not somewhere else?! Tell me, your original goal of doing animation. What is it?! What is the concept?! Who said that we should strive for excellence to produce animations that adults and children like?! And why should I separate the movie part?! Am I doing all this for nothing?!"
After the questioning in the torrential rain, the restaurant became quiet, everyone looked here with surprised eyes, and Lasseter seemed to be stunned as he leaned back. However, he reacted immediately, he smiled and stretched out his hand to snap his fingers in front of Andrew and Chris, then wiggled his index and middle fingers back and forth.
Andrew and Chris both groaned, took out their wallets and took out $20 each and handed them over to Lasseter. Angela, who was watching all this, opened her mouth and tilted her head from left to right. How could she not understand what was going on in such a situation, and after crying, she simply sat down and hugged her head.
The applause sounded at this time, but Angela, who was complaining, sounded more like she was watching the fun and encouraged another one, so she immediately raised her head and glared at the chubby initiator in front of her.
"Don't be like this, I just wanted to make a joke, but the two of them had different opinions, so it became..." Lasseter spread his hands with a smile, and pulled Andrew and Chris into the water very unkindly.
"I don't know anything, and I'm not involved in anything." Ed quickly distanced himself.
"We were just joking, and we just wanted to be joking." Andrew and Chris defended themselves at the same time.
It has always been the law not to blame the crowd, and now Angela is still alone - her two allies are giggling just after thinking about it. So she could only helplessly shrug her shoulders and say it doesn't matter. Speaking of which, she was deceived so easily... Because she is an idealist? Fortunately, the ending wasn't too bad.
After restoring the atmosphere, it is natural to talk about some work matters. Although Ed did not say it clearly, all the important people in these companies knew that Angela would have a big move next.
However, since Angela decided to keep it secret until the start of the game, she would never say anything more before this time, so she talked indiscriminately and turned to the dubbing, and then she simply pulled Jessica and Lindsay over.
"Well, if you're worried about me putting pigeons again, how about them?" Angela said and looked at Jessica and Lindsay, and after thinking for a few seconds, pushed Lindsay aside: "This is not good, too young."
"You can't do this, it's age discrimination!" Lindsay protested loudly, and her scornful tone made a few people around her chuckle.
Angela ignored her, grabbed Jessica's shoulders with both hands, and said as if selling goods: "Jesse's voice is very nice and definitely not lost to anyone, as long as you hear it, you will definitely fall in love with her, it's crisp, sweet and magnetic. And there's no need to change the battery!"
"I'm sure you're talking about a radio called Jesse, right?" Jessica said helplessly, making Lasseter and the others laugh again.
The animation department is still moving forward according to the inherent rhythm, and strives for excellence in the production of each animation. The development of the game department surprised Angela a little.
"Battle.net for Warcraft will launch this year, and preparations for Warcraft 2 have already begun," Chris Taylor said roughly, "but I'm no longer in charge of the game, Jeff Stein. He's in charge now, and to be honest he's doing a good job with a lot of great ideas on this game."
"What about you?" Angela asked curiously. Although the game department was retained and developed under her intervention, after the establishment of the film department, they seldom asked about it.
"I'm planning another new sci-fi RTS game, the background is set in the future universe," said Chris, who seemed very interested, "I had an idea for this game a long time ago, but I haven't. Putting it into action, after several years of modification and the development of computer hardware, I can definitely make a classic RTS game."
After a pause, he said jokingly: "If it hadn't been decided long ago, maybe I would have participated in the game production of the ARPG "The Matrix", you know, the 'gun fighting technique' you proposed. ' concept really lends itself to a game."
"Thank you for the compliment." Angela stuck out her tongue in her stomach. I never thought that they had already started to prepare the game version of "The Matrix", and the action was really fast. However, it is relieved to think that Lucas' "Star Wars" can be made into games. I just don't know what "The Matrix" with "Gun Fighting" and Pixar's current technology accumulation in games will achieve. So, is it a sci-fi version of Devil May Cry or a brand new game
The afternoon passed without knowing it. Angela walked out of the restaurant with Jessica and Lindsay around the other places before embarking on the return journey, but before leaving—
"John, Ed, maintaining a childlike innocence is the most beautiful and attractive part of Pixar's animation. I don't want this beautiful thing to disappear because of the appearance of the film department. I said at the beginning, if it affects the animation department. I would rather not have a film department, and this view has not changed. I know that the films I direct are too heavy and depressing and have different ideas from the animators, but this is what needs them to make better, better and warmer works. No one can Saying that the film he made is the best, but the best computer animation must be produced by Pixar." Angela said to the two who sent him away.
"Don't worry, Angie, our philosophy is not so easy to change, it's better to have competition," Lasseter and Ed patted her on the shoulder, "As you said, make Pixar's animation the best Great!"
"I can see that you like them very much." Jessica said suddenly after the car was driving on the highway.
"Of course, remember what I told you before, if I didn't have what I had to do, maybe I would come here to be an animator." Angela shrugged and looked out the car window with a smile, " Just wait and see, as long as they don't change, Pixar's CGI will be the best."
"Then can you tell us now, what exactly are they talking about your plan?" Lindsay's voice sounded out of place at this time, and at the same time she lifted her little butt and sat on Angela's lap and hugged it intimately. her waist.
Angela rubbed Xiao Hai's head helplessly, looked at Jessica who was watching her with curious eyes, and shook her head: "Sorry, I can't reveal more now, because a 19-year-old woman did this It was indeed a little shocking.”
"Really? Is there anything more shocking than being nominated for an Oscar for Best Director at the age of 18?" Lindsay blinked, an excuse at all.
"This is a trade secret!" Angela looked down at the little girl viciously, and rubbed her head again before saying, "Okay, everyone will know about it by the end of next month."
The car quickly returned to Los Angeles, and the first thing it did was take Lindsay home.
"Goodbye, it's a pleasure to go out with you today, Angie." Lindsay, who stepped out of the carriage with one foot, turned around and said goodbye.
"Me too," Angela smiled and kissed her forehead, "remember to practice the guitar, we agreed."
"Know-know--" Lindsay lengthened her voice.
"Goodbye then, and say hello to Ellie for me." After a pause, Angela said her name.
A gloomy look flashed in Lindsay's eyes. She suddenly turned around and threw herself into Angela's arms, closing her eyes and hugging her tightly. The feeling of nostalgia spewed out without reservation. Angela was a little overwhelmed.
After a few seconds, Lindsay raised her head, touched Angela's lips lightly with her lips, and then turned around and ran quickly into her small yard. And Angela dazedly touched her lips with her hand before closing the car door with a sigh to signal to drive away.
"Lindsey seems to be in love with you as much as I do." Jessica teased in Angela's ear in a faint voice.
"Jesse!" Angela glared at her immediately.
"Okay, I'm joking," Jessica sat up straight and smiled, "I just wanted to say that Lindsay is really, really attached to you right now."
"Tell me the specific situation." Angela frowned.
"The same as before, no, it's worse," Jessica shook her head with disgust and disdain. "Mr. Lohan was not very successful in quitting drinking before, but at least he was willing to quit drinking. But now not only is he drinking, but he also regularly Gambling, Lindsay also said she saw her father on drugs a few times, jeez! And Mrs. Lohan, she cared more about Lindsay's money than she cared about her daughter. You know, since Lindsay got it around this time There are a lot fewer ads than before, plus I made a deal with you and spent a lot of time on instruments and singing…”
hateful! Angela pinched her fingers angrily, but also annoyed at the same time. When she went to the east coast, she began to ignore things here, and now she still has to remind herself that even if she has something to do, she shouldn't... She only now understands why the little girl always avoids looking at her.
Just have to figure out a way to fix this. Angela said silently in her heart.