Director in Hollywood

Under the sunset glow of San Francisco, seagulls flew over the sea, their crisp calls echoing. Seeing this scene, for some reason, Gilbert was reminded of a scene from a movie he had seen in his past life.

Teacher Li Xuejian sat in a wheelchair and asked student Hao Xiaoxi what bird that was, but Hao Xiaoxi said he had never seen it before.

Others had their own deep impressions of that film, but Gilbert always remembered this particular scene. It had a greater impact on him compared to the others.

However, that film wouldn't be released for several decades, and he wasn't sure if the director of the film had even finished high school yet.

If the director saw his movies Real Steel and Speed playing there, he would surely be stunned, watching with his mouth agape at the films coming from across the ocean.

Though the daytime in San Francisco was still a bit warm, the evening sea breeze had carried away the heat from the day.

Today, Alcatraz Island was unusually quiet compared to its usual bustle of tourists. Instead, it was filled with a group of well-dressed, pretentious people.

If any movie fans familiar with Hollywood were present, they would recognize these people right away.

Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise and his wife, Keanu Reeves, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Harrison Ford, George Clooney, Demi Moore, Jodie Foster, Bruce Willis, and many others were all present.

They had come to Alcatraz Island for one reason: the well-known genius director, Gilbert.

Without realizing it, the guest list for Gilbert's movie premiere was growing stronger and stronger.

Perhaps, borrowing a phrase from the other side of the ocean, it could be said that half of Hollywood had gathered to attend.

The difference was that, in most cases, that side gathered half of the entertainment industry just to suck up to people.

But for Gilbert, no such sucking-up was needed; even if it was, his feet would still smell sweet.

Of course, things would change drastically decades later, with Hollywood seemingly no longer focused on content, but only on form.

It was hard to tell if the world had progressed or if Hollywood had regressed.

But that was a long time off, so it was best not to dwell on it.

At such an event, it was inevitable that media photographers would be snapping pictures, and there were also many lucky movie fans who had won tickets to attend the premiere.

Baucer and Sullivan were two of those lucky fans, who had received invitations to the The Rock premiere and made the trip from New York to San Francisco, taking time off work to attend.

Due to the limited space on Alcatraz Island, only a small number of fans could attend the event.

After getting approval from the federal park management, the number of fans at the premiere was restricted.

Even so, more than a thousand fans were able to attend, and they were able to stay for the whole event.

Unlike most film premieres, where fans typically only get to interact on the red carpet, here, they could watch the movie and even interact with the cast and crew afterward.

Watching a movie on an outdoor screen was something many had never experienced, and the chance to attend such a unique premiere felt quite special.

It was the evening of May 4, 1995, and The Rock wouldn't be released across the U.S. until the next day, but the premiere was taking place on Alcatraz Island.

As night fell, the reporters and fans eagerly awaited the start of the red carpet ceremony.

In the reporters' section, Sarah instructed the photographer, "Make sure to get plenty of shots when Director Gilbert appears."

The photographer was puzzled. "Sarah, isn't the focus usually on the lead actors at premieres?"

"That's true," Sarah said, thinking about Gilbert's handsome face and his deep, magnetic voice. "But Gilbert is different—he's the most handsome director in all of Hollywood."

As Sarah daydreamed, the photographer patted her shoulder. "Well, your most handsome director just arrived."

Sarah snapped back to reality, and like the fans around her, she cheered and screamed, drawing curious glances from her colleagues.

Gilbert wasn't walking the red carpet alone; he was holding hands with Scarlett Johansson, who seemed a bit nervous.

As soon as they stepped onto the carpet and heard the fans' enthusiastic cheers and saw the flashing lights, Scarlett instinctively shrank behind Gilbert, unsure of what to do.

"Don't be scared, Scarlett, you're a big star," Gilbert reassured her.

Encouraged by his words, Scarlett boldly stepped forward, and with her delicate, doll-like appearance alongside the high-profile director, the fans loved her even more. Journalists eagerly snapped photos.

After pausing for photos and signing autographs for the fans, Gilbert lifted Scarlett and let her sign a few more for them.

It was Scarlett's first time signing autographs, and she felt like a real star, overjoyed.

After finishing the red carpet interactions, Gilbert and Scarlett made their way to the media section for interviews.

The questions were routine—what the film was about, how excited they were for it to meet the audience, etc.

Scarlett was also asked a question about Gilbert.

"Scarlett, this is your third time working with Director Gilbert. How does it feel?"

Scarlett, acting much older than her years, responded, "I'm honored to work with Director Gilbert. His films are all amazing, and I hope everyone goes to the theater to support it."

After the red carpet, Gilbert couldn't rest yet—he needed to socialize with the guests who had come to support him.

These social interactions were necessary, as making and maintaining friends was crucial for staying relevant in Hollywood.

During this phase, Sheena Boone acted as Gilbert's temporary companion, introducing him to guests he didn't know.

Alcatraz Island didn't have a dedicated VIP lounge, so everyone mingled freely in what felt more like a big party.

"Mr. Hanks, it's such a pleasure to have you here. I'm so glad you could attend my movie premiere," Gilbert said warmly.

"Not at all, Gilbert," Hanks replied. "I've been looking forward to working with you on a new film. How about it? Any chance?"

Though Demi Moore and Schwarzenegger had asked similar questions, Gilbert had dodged them, saying there would be opportunities in the future. However, when it came to Tom Hanks, Gilbert didn't shy away.

"Sure, how about we work together on the next one?" Gilbert proposed.

Hanks was taken aback for a moment, but Gilbert quickly clarified, "I'm serious. I'm really offering you the chance."

Hanks soon came around. "Alright, we'll talk through my agent. I'll have him get in touch."

Securing a major star for a film wasn't easy, and even after winning back-to-back Oscars, Tom Hanks wasn't short of offers. Gilbert had to make sure to secure his schedule early.

Once he'd finished chatting with Hanks, Sheena whispered to Gilbert, "Are you working on that WWII project?"

"Yes," Gilbert nodded. "Once I finish with this, I'll officially start preparations."

"I have some talented actors under my agency. Should I send you a list of names?" Sheena asked cautiously.

Gilbert, always supportive of his inner circle, agreed. "Sure. Provide me a list, and I'll pass it to Annie and Sophia."

Sheena beamed, grateful. "Thank you, Gilbert."

However, these things should wait until after The Rock before being discussed. The most important task right now is the movie.

After the red carpet ceremony, the film's premiere officially began.

Bauer and Sullivan found their seats, rubbing their hands together with excitement. This was their first time attending a movie premiere, and they were both nervous and looking forward to it.

"Sullivan, I've been looking forward to this movie ever since I saw the trailer during the Super Bowl. I wonder what the film will be like..."

Sullivan responded, "I've been looking forward to it even earlier, since the film started shooting. I've been anticipating this movie for a long time."

Other fans nearby were also discussing it, with all the focus on Roger Moore and Christopher Lee.

Because of the collaboration with The Rock to hype up and leverage Sean Connery, Christopher Lee was also invited to attend the premiere.

Christopher Lee walked the red carpet with Roger Moore, and when the two legendary former agents appeared together, it immediately caused the loudest cheers and applause of the event.

Hollywood stars are seen every day, but agents are a rarity.

This was thanks to the promotion department, who fully capitalized on this aspect to make the fans pay close attention to their identities.

At the premiere, an older fan remarked, "I once watched 007: The Man with the Golden Gun, and I really didn't think the 007 and the man with the golden gun were just actors."

This might not have been exactly how the fan reacted at the time, but it didn't stop him from boasting.

Sure enough, after saying that, others nearby looked at him with a touch of admiration: "I didn't know you watched the films with the two legendary agents, that's incredible..."

As the small talk continued, the film soon started.

As the chief entertainment reporter for the Los Angeles Journal, Sarah had bigger aspirations; she also wanted to try her hand at being a film critic.

So, during the premiere, she followed the habits of other critics, always jotting down a review that she would later polish.

If Gilbert knew what his personal reporter was planning, he would probably tell her, "Sarah, don't dream of becoming a film critic. That career is going out of style."

But Gilbert didn't know, so Sarah continued with her plan, trying her best to write reviews.

Becoming a professional critic is easy, but becoming a critic like Roger Ebert or Kenneth Turan is very hard.

Without the backing of a movie company or large media conglomerates, it's difficult to achieve that level of recognition.

She pulled out a pen and notebook from her bag, quietly waiting for the film to start. After a couple of minutes, the film began.

First, the logos of Warner Bros., Touchstone Pictures, and 20th Century Fox flashed on the screen.

The Disney logo didn't appear, as Disney typically doesn't put its logo on films from subsidiaries unless it's directly distributing them.

After the logos from these investors passed, the logo of Melon Studios appeared, and the audience spontaneously applauded.

In recent years, Melon Studios had built its own brand, creating a feeling of a boutique movie studio.

After the logo, accompanied by Hans Zimmer's music, the film officially began.

The camera shifted constantly, showing a soldier placing a flag on a coffin and a general wearing medals and a hat, smoking a cigarette.

The shots were fragmented, changing rapidly.

The accompanying dialogue helped the audience understand the general's story and what he was about to do.

Although the film's pace seemed slow at the beginning, the rapid scene changes, with each shot lasting less than two seconds on average, meant the audience didn't feel the pacing was sluggish.

After General Hammer's monologue at the graveyard, the audience understood that he was about to undertake something significant.

Sure enough, the scene quickly shifted, with the general leading his men into a naval base's armory. The soldiers under his command appeared agile, thanks to the sharp editing.

One of the soldiers was killed by a poison gas attack inside the armory, and the audience couldn't help but gasp.

At premieres, small snacks like chips or popcorn are usually provided for guests and fans, so it's almost like watching a movie in a regular theater.

But no one was touching the popcorn or eating the chips.

One fan stared intently at the big screen, oblivious to the chips falling to the floor as they didn't want to miss any part of the movie.

No one was whispering to each other, no one was looking around; everyone was completely absorbed in the film.

Luz, a seasoned action movie fan, had never seen an action film with this kind of pacing.

In many ways, this movie was a complete step above Gilbert's other work, Speed.

Every shot, every frame, was beautifully crafted, dazzling, and impossible to look away from.

And Gilbert was a master at manipulating the audience's emotions, a pro at controlling the rhythm.

He didn't just explode, explode, and explode, as critic Kenneth Turan suggested.

The pacing was balanced, with serious moments mixed with humorous scenes.

Especially the scene where the two lead characters, Gusby and Mason, were interrogated in the office. It made the entire audience laugh out loud.

And the subsequent high-speed car chase involving Hummers, Ferraris, and other cars was pure excitement.

The explosive flames shooting into the sky, the first-person perspective from the car, and the immersive shots left the audience in awe.

If such scenes happened in real life, fans might criticize the person for damaging property and causing harm.

But this was a movie, and with the intense music and thrilling plot, no one thought there was anything wrong with these scenes.

But aside from the big action scenes, the movie also had its emotional moments.

The scene where Colonel Anderson pleads with General Hammer and his men to uphold their naval oath was especially moving, making many in the audience feel a little teary-eyed.

Many male viewers clenched their fists, instinctively reciting the naval oath along with Colonel Anderson.

In this moment, duty, loyalty, and honor elevated the film beyond a typical commercial production.

Sarah jotted down many of the film's strengths in her review, rubbing her slightly sore legs and chuckling to herself.

She thought she was so superficial—such a movie would be nothing in front of professional critics. Yet in her own notes, it had become one of the best commercial films in recent years.

It seemed her understanding of commercial films wasn't deep enough. Maybe she wasn't suited to be a critic.

Gilbert had basically combined familiar elements from past action films—explosions, car chases, emotional scenes—elements that could be found in other Hollywood movies.

But what was truly remarkable about Gilbert was how he managed to blend these seemingly vulgar elements into something powerful.

The audience felt like pieces in his game, their emotions ebbing and flowing with the movie's plot.

Gilbert truly lived up to his reputation as a genius director in the U.S., born with the talent. Sarah wrote these words in her notebook.

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