[Chapter 595: Hell on Set, Budget Overruns]
After enjoying a lively party at the Los Angeles estate, Linton was up early the next morning. He returned to the filming location in Mexico with Kate Winslet, carrying the finished single My Heart Will Go On recorded by Celine Dion.
James Cameron rarely cracked a smile on the set, but this time he did. "I saw the news online this morning. You nailed it."
Linton raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"You talked about using Titanic to storm next year's Oscars for Best Actor."
"James, seriously, I want this film to succeed both commercially and artistically. At next year's Oscars, I hope we both take home awards."
"Alright, we'll give it our all -- I can use my own little Oscar statuette."
Linton pulled a CD from his bag and handed it over. "Here's Celine's My Heart Will Go On. Give it a listen."
"It's already done? Perfect. Let's head to my office; there's a CD player there."
In the director's office at the soundstage, James put the CD in the player. Celine's ethereal and deeply emotional voice floated effortlessly from the speakers.
♫ Every night in my dreams
I see you, I feel you
That is how I know you go on... ♫
When the song ended, James was visibly moved. "Celine's performance is incredible. She doesn't just convey the meaning of the song; you feel the overwhelming emotional power. This is exactly what I wanted."
Linton smiled. "James, trust me, this song is going to add a whole new dimension to Titanic."
...
But then James sank back into his demanding tyrant role on set, pushing the crew through grueling, painstaking shoots. Linton suspected that talk of Oscars had fueled his intensity -- the demands on every shot became increasingly exacting.
Each angle was pursued with obsession for perfection. Typically, they'd shoot a scene ten times or more, with at least five or six retakes thrown in. The patience of everyone on set was being tested to the limit.
Producer Nacho finally had enough and found a moment to vent to Linton. "Boss, with Cameron's demands, we don't even know how much film stock we're burning through. I'm worried the costs are going to blow through the roof."
Linton had expected this. He reassured him calmly, "Nacho, it's okay. As long as the money goes directly into the production, we can add what we need. Don't stress."
"You're spoiling him, boss."
"It's all for the movie -- to make it as perfect as it can be. Besides, I've publicly said we're going for major Oscar wins next year."
"The problem is the investment is massive. I'm concerned..."
"Concerned about what -- losing money?"
"That, too."
"Don't worry. With me around, the movie's box office will come through."
"Alright."
...
Filming days routinely stretched to 12 hours, often not ending before 10 p.m. Endless overtime drained everyone's strength. The actors and crew were pushed to near madness by James's relentless pace.
Oddly, James himself was the most exhausted. After wrapping each day, he'd review the day's footage, troubleshoot issues, and plan the next day's shoots. His rest never exceeded five hours. No one could figure out where his boundless energy came from.
The Rosarito set resembled a remote island ruled by James's iron will, where everyone struggled at breakneck speed under crushing pressure.
After more than a month of this grueling pace, one crew member finally cracked.
It was a veteran prop master named Shirick. He'd been with the project since pre-production and spent over two years meticulously managing thousands of historically accurate, recreated props. He was diligent and responsible.
But James's endless nitpicking and obsessive last-minute changes finally broke him.
Before a major scene set in the Titanic's first-class dining room, James conducted a final on-site inspection. He spotted one plate set a few centimeters off from the historic reference photo.
Furious, James exploded in front of the entire crew, shouting at Shirick for ten minutes with a tirade of harsh insults.
He accused Shirick of negligence, laziness, unprofessionalism -- wasting crew time and investors' money.
Shirick tried to defend himself, but James wouldn't let him speak.
The sympathetic yet silent glances from coworkers stabbed like needles in Shirick's nerves.
All his fatigue, pressure, and frustration boiled over at that moment.
After James slammed the prop list at his feet again, Shirick's face flushed red, then turned pale.
In rage, he ripped off his work badge and slammed it onto the floor. Summoning every ounce of strength, he shouted at James, "I've had enough, James. You're a damn madman and a bastard. I'm done!"
Then he strode away through the stunned crew, never looking back.
James was caught off guard. No one had dared fight back so openly. His skin turned an angry shade of iron gray, chest heaving as he barked at the head of the props team, "Peter, you take over. You've got ten minutes -- get this scene ready."
...
James was marginally kinder with actors, at least maintaining superficial respect and never shouting at them. But his demands on set were insane.
To authentically recreate the North Atlantic's freezing waters, he insisted on no warm water at all.
Every day, the actors had to soak in icy water for at least an hour for scenes involving plunging into freezing oceans and struggling through the frigid sea.
Linton and Kate had the toughest schedule -- more than two hours a day plunged in icy water.
Their lips turned blue, bodies shook uncontrollably, their skin wrinkled and grew pale.
After every shoot, crew quickly wrapped them in thick blankets, trying to thaw the frozen limbs back to life.
Linton, however, was immune -- being at the Celestial Presence stage, his body was impervious to cold and heat.
Kate wore a quartz pendant that emitted warmth to protect her heart from the cold ocean. It helped her greatly.
Most of their water scenes were shot with them holding each other close. Kate quickly discovered that leaning on Linton was like leaning by a roaring fireplace -- his warmth shielded her.
From then on, both in water and on land, she sought his comfort and closeness.
Others weren't as lucky. Despite ginger tea, aspirin, and other cold remedies on set, many fell ill. The on-site doctors were overwhelmed daily.
But James showed his unforgiving nature. Even sick actors hooked up to IV drips at night were required to dive into the freezing water the next day.
...
Watching James's brutal intensity, Linton finally understood why he was known as the set tyrant -- a fitting nickname, no mistake there.
It explained why, despite his box office success, he'd made few lasting friends in Hollywood.
Outside of multiple collaborations with Arnold Schwarzenegger, none of his actors worked with him more than twice.
Even Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet -- whose global superstardom was fueled by Titanic -- rarely kept in touch with James after filming wrapped.
When reporters asked them about working with James Cameron, their answers were vague and clipped: "He's a very diligent director... a great filmmaker," and nothing more.
The bitter truth was clear: filming Titanic had been an ordeal for them all, leaving deep psychological scars.
James's harshness extended to himself: multiple times he personally carried heavy diving gear underwater to capture perfect shots. In cold ocean depths, he operated the camera himself.
Linton didn't intervene -- perhaps madness was part of James's genius.
Maybe only this kind of single-minded obsession could create a timeless classic like Titanic.
Without James's fanatical drive, the film might have ended up mediocre -- a tragedy Linton couldn't allow.
...
Meanwhile, the budget was burning at a visible rate. Two months in, just as Nacho had predicted, the production was out of money again.
That night, shooting wrapped early at 8 p.m. -- a rare break.
After removing their makeup, Linton and Kate headed for dinner when James and Nacho intercepted them at the cafeteria entrance.
"Linton, join us for a drink," James invited.
"You guys up to something again?"
"No schemes, just winding down after all the hard work. A few beers."
...
In a private room, dishes were already served. Nacho pulled four beers from an ice bucket and handed one to each.
After several rounds, Nacho sheepishly slid a report across the table.
"Boss, the budget's short again. James and I recalculated; we need to add another $30 million."
Linton laughed ruefully, poking both men with his fork. "I knew you were up to something, waiting here for me. How many times have you asked for additional funds? What's the total investment now?"
Nacho blushed apologetically. "Boss, sorry, this is the fifth time. Including this, total costs hit $310 million."
"James, explain the reasons for this new funding request."
James didn't shy away. "Linton, you know none of the money is wasted. It all goes into the film -- to pursue perfection and create a masterpiece. Didn't you say publicly we're competing for Oscars next year?"
Linton already expected this scenario. James's approach was a budget black hole -- film stock alone was four or five times higher than average productions.
Overtime for crew and extras was astronomical.
They insisted on live-action shots no matter how grueling, with nonstop unforeseen mishaps.
James Cameron was Hollywood's unique brand of madness. No wonder in his previous life, Twentieth Century Fox execs nearly had to whore themselves to cover costs, ultimately forcing Paramount to come in as a co-investor.
Still, James genuinely funneled every dollar into the production, never padding his pockets like some directors.
For Linton, the expense was worthwhile -- money was the one thing he never lacked.
"So one last question -- are you two telling the truth that this is the final funding request?"
Nacho glanced at James but said nothing, obviously uncertain.
After a moment of calculation, James firmly promised, "Linton, rest assured. This is absolutely the last investment."
"Remember those words," Linton said.
He didn't make things difficult and approved the funds on the spot after a quick review.
James hadn't expected Linton to be so easygoing. Overjoyed, he grabbed a fresh beer and clinked glasses, "Thanks."
Linton raised his glass with them. "Here's to creating a classic."
"To creating a classic!" everyone echoed, toasting.
...
With funding secured, James resumed tyrannical rule over the set. Titanic's intense, painful shoot pressed on.
To him, only making an exceptional film and achieving success mattered. Nothing else factored in.
But the relentless pressure was breaking the crew. Some began to crack psychologically, nursing bitterness that even drove some to reckless acts of revenge.
*****
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