"I hear Sean Connery is in 'Braveheart,' and Mel Gibson is making noise about going for an Oscar," Sophia Coppola said, looking at Gilbert with interest.
Gilbert shrugged it off. "It's not opening at the same time as mine, so what does his Oscar run have to do with me?"
"CAA's two biggest stars appearing together? If they went head-to-head with you in the summer, that would be quite a show," Sophia Coppola seemed to be enjoying the thought.
"Hey, Sophia, you're my assistant director. It sounds like you're rooting for Mel Gibson and Sean Connery."
Sophia shrugged again, saying nothing more. That's just how she was—a bit sharp-tongued, not one to mince words. Her comment was also a reminder to Gilbert to keep an eye on Mel Gibson and Sean Connery, and especially Martin Bob, who was behind them. Ever since running into Gilbert, CAA had been having a tough time, especially Martin Bob's faction, which had a lot of grievances. Martin Bob definitely wouldn't pass up an opportunity to get back at Gilbert.
But then again, Gilbert had fought his way up to being a top-tier Hollywood director in a fiercely competitive environment. If he was afraid of competition and targeting, he might as well quit and go home to be a good little boy.
---
Amidst the casual chat, the set was already ready. The first scene was being filmed in front of a hotel in San Francisco. Since it was in a busy area, there were naturally plenty of onlookers. Especially when Gilbert appeared, the loud screams and cheers almost shattered eardrums. It had to be said, even though the film didn't have any famous superstars, Gilbert's fame and drawing power were strong enough. If Sean Connery had come out, would it have had this effect? He's past his prime, demands high pay, and wants to be involved in investments—he must be dreaming...
Assistant Director Annie Burton held up a megaphone and shouted, "Please, everyone, be quiet and don't disturb the crew while we're filming. After we finish, the crew will interact with you for autographs and photos." Seeing Gilbert fulfilled the fans' desires, so everyone was pretty well-behaved, and the crowd immediately quieted down, watching the crew film. With so many people, it was practically impossible to keep the filming a secret, so Gilbert didn't try to clear out the crowd. Anyway, it was just a few shots; nothing would be given away, so there was no spoiler issue.
Of course, with the film officially starting, entertainment media reporters naturally flocked to the set. Before filming began, the three main stars—Roger Moore, Nicolas Cage, and Ed Harris—gave brief interviews. The spotlight of the film was always on the lead actors, and Gilbert was happy to let them have the attention, quietly staying in the background. However, it was clear that even all three leads combined didn't get as much media attention as Gilbert. Throughout the interview, he was asked the most questions by the media.
---
One reporter asked, "Director Gilbert, after 'Speed,' you're making another action movie. Are you confident you can surpass 'Speed'?" A month ago, Empire magazine ranked the ten best action films of the last decade, and 'Speed' was prominently featured, showing how well-regarded it was by both media and fans.
But Gilbert answered confidently, "There's no surpassing or not surpassing. I guarantee the film will be spectacular and won't disappoint the audience."
"Is the high expectation from fans a lot of pressure for you?"
"No, pressure is motivation. I hope this film doesn't disappoint the fans who are looking forward to it."
After Gilbert finished speaking, he winked at the press officer, who then ended the brief media interview. The crew members tried their best to keep the onlookers at least two hundred meters away, so they wouldn't interfere with the filming. Several executive directors started positioning the extras according to the script supervisor's notes and scene layouts, explaining to each extra how to move.
This scene was filmed in front of a hotel, and Gilbert communicated with the camera team about camera placement. "Sophia, talk to the hotel. I need a few angles from the hotel's direction; I need to use their internal facilities." Sophia tapped her watch, reminding him, "Gilbert, the hotel isn't giving us much time. We need to hurry."
"I know, everybody, let's go, go, go!" Gilbert clapped his hands, then turned to Assistant Director Annie. "Annie, the light's too dim. I need brighter light. Talk to the lighting crew."
Gilbert kept giving instructions and then discussed with Director of Photography Dur Randolf: "Camera one should be positioned on the left, using a dolly for close-ups. Camera two should be placed at the main hotel entrance; the shooting is up to you." Dur Randolf nodded in understanding, handing camera two's shooting to John Schwarzman and taking charge of camera one himself.
Gilbert patted Dur Randolf's shoulder, then spoke to Roger Moore: "When we start, you need to look serious and stern, pull the person aside, and get straight into that Humvee. Don't worry about anything else." Roger Moore gave an OK gesture, indicating he understood.
---
With instructions given, Gilbert sat in front of the monitor and had the clapper board snapped.
"Clear the set?"
"Clear the set."
"Quiet on set..."
"Quiet on set..."
"Okay, 'The Rock,' Scene 17, Take 1, action!"
At Gilbert's command, Captain Mason, played by Roger Moore, burst out of the hotel. He glanced around and immediately spotted the Humvee parked outside the hotel. He rushed over, pulled the valet aside, and jumped in himself. The extra playing the car owner was still rambling on: "This is my precious Humvee! If you scratch it or ding the paint, I'll never forgive you..." Before he could finish, the Humvee started up behind him and sped off.
"CUT! Good, that's a take!"
Although it was just a test shot, it was clear the scene wasn't too difficult. Roger Moore got into character quickly, and the shot passed. The Humvee in the film was naturally a sponsored vehicle, with the brand paying for the advertisement. Since 'Speed,' Gilbert's films have never lacked brand sponsorships and advertising fees. Placing advertisements in Hollywood films has become a common marketing method for major advertisers.
---
In terms of acting, Roger Moore was just okay; he couldn't compare to the Oscar-winning actors and actresses, but he was good enough for this role. The very first test shot passed, foreshadowing a good start for the film.
Scarlett Johansson's cameo was scheduled for a few days later, but the little girl seemed to love being on set, so she came to the set on the first day of filming. After this shot was done, Scarlett Johansson curiously asked Gilbert, "This is clearly the first scene, but you called it the seventeenth scene?" Gilbert chuckled and explained, "Scarlett, that's because the script supervisor's notes are based on the script. In the script, this is the seventeenth scene. But in actual filming, there are adjustments."
The little girl looked confused, not quite understanding. She wondered why these directors liked to jump around when filming. Wouldn't it be better to just film in script order? Unfortunately, that's not possible. If they filmed strictly in script order, it would take a lot of effort. For example, if two scenes happen in one location, one at the beginning and one at the end of the script, the usual practice is to film both scenes when they're in that location, instead of coming back later. If they followed Scarlett's idea, the crew would constantly be on the move, changing locations, wasting time and energy. So, to save time and set costs, scenes happening in one place are usually filmed consecutively within a certain period.
---
As for whether actors can adjust their performance well when not shooting in order, and whether the crew's work goes smoothly, that's where a director's skill really shows. This is also why the director's role is much more important in the film industry than in television. An American TV series might have seven or eight directors, but a movie, unless due to irreversible factors, rarely changes directors. Not to mention a director like Gilbert, who invests in his own films and also serves as a producer, earning the deep trust of film companies. If anyone suggested changing directors, the person who made the suggestion would be replaced, not Gilbert.
After this scene was filmed, the crew shot a few more takes and then called it a wrap for the first day's shooting. Once the crew finished their tasks, the previously quiet entertainment media reporters crowded around again, and the eager fans immediately surrounded the main actors. So, the three stars had no choice but to stop and sign autographs and interact with the fans.
Gilbert, of course, couldn't escape either. As a widely known, highly acclaimed genius director across America, he had plenty of fans himself, including many female admirers. "Director Gilbert, can you sign your name here?" a very curvaceous female fan, wearing only a tank top with nothing underneath, asked. She requested Gilbert to sign her ample chest. Gilbert looked unfazed, his hand steady as he signed his name on her pale flesh. This scene made Scarlett, who was watching nearby, frown and silently curse these female fans for being shameless and too bold.
---
That was still relatively tame. Nicolas Cage, on the other hand, encountered a bold fan who asked him to sign on a private part of his lower body. Nicolas Cage righteously refused. Yes, it was a male fan. Before asking for the autograph, he even manually made it larger, so Nicolas Cage could sign it. One could only say, utterly perverted...
The fan interaction and interviews lasted for half an hour, after which the crew, under the cover of security, left the scene. This was certainly not an accident or coincidence; it was actually planned, serving the purpose of the film's early promotion. However, no matter how good the promotion, it wouldn't work if the film's quality wasn't up to par, so ultimately, it all came down to the movie itself.
Gilbert focused on film production, leaving promotional matters to the professionals. If the film was to make it to next year's summer blockbuster season, he still had a lot of work to do. Making one movie a year was already the limit, especially with such large investments. A film is the masterpiece of an entire team, not just the director's credit. This pace alone amazed the media and the public; Gilbert was a faster gunslinger than even Spielberg. As for directors who make two or three A-list blockbusters a year, none had appeared on this planet yet. Perhaps on the other side of the Pacific, but there were likely many tricks involved. Also, it might happen in novels, but in terms of the film industry's production rules, one film a year is the absolute limit.
---
The process of making a movie takes time; it's born from human interaction and collaboration. People are different; they're not machines that can just be loaded up and run.
The next day, the crew moved to a cemetery in San Francisco for filming. Of course, before filming, the crew got support from the city government and the local church. Before filming, the church pastor first held a prayer, offering blessings for the deceased in the cemetery, and only then was the crew allowed to enter and film. Although some cultural aspects differ, both in the East and West, there is respect for the deceased, and this gesture was necessary.
Because there was no rain on the day of filming, the crew brought in cranes and used high-pressure water guns connected to a sprinkler system to artificially create a rain scene. General Hummel, played by Ed Harris, had his first scene filmed in this cemetery, a simple shot. He walked through the cemetery's main path in his military uniform, adorned with medals, in the rain, and a passing honor guard saluted him. He returned the salute, his expression serious.
---
"I miss you so much..." General Hummel placed flowers on his wife's grave. Even with the rain, it couldn't hide the nostalgic look in his eyes. Several close-up shots were given, and Ed Harris's expression was solemn, his gaze firm. In their communication before filming, Gilbert had directed Ed Harris to use his eyes to highlight his character's personality, without any unnecessary movements.
"General Hummel is a soldier; he should be rigid, humorless, not like a comedian with exaggerated body language."
"Then how should I convey General Hummel's determination and anger?" Ed Harris asked.
"With your eyes," Gilbert said, pointing to his own eyes. "Eyes are a window that can reveal all sorts of emotions. I'll have the camera give you close-ups." For a veteran actor like Ed Harris, performance was not an issue; as long as the director explained what effect was needed, he would deliver.
---
Indeed, this scene, with its acting, dialogue, and integration with the setting, was excellent. Gilbert adhered to the principle of live performance, preferring to record actors' dialogue on set, integrating it with their on-camera performance. Of course, as a professional actor, Ed Harris's command of dialogue was unquestionable and quite good. However, sometimes live recording conditions are harsh, for instance, due to environmental noise interference. This requires extra effort in sound design or means the actors need to re-dub their lines. Unlike some idol actors in China who can't even speak their lines clearly and need voice actors to dub them, Hollywood movie characters are usually dubbed by the actors who play them. This avoids basic errors like mismatched lip-syncing and dialogue when the actor and voice actor are not the same person. Live recording is best, as the on-set feel is always the most authentic.
---
Back on set, Ed Harris continued his performance. "I have to do something, Barbara, something I couldn't do while you were here." General Hummel looked into the distance, with nostalgia and a hint of determination in his eyes. "I've tried, I've tried everything, but I still couldn't get their attention. Hopefully, this time will make them change their minds."
"No matter the outcome," General Hummel placed his first Navy medal on the tombstone and gently kissed it, "please don't look down on me."
"CUT! Nice, General Hummel, we'll keep that one, let's do it again..." Gilbert called out.
Ed Harris performed the same scene again, and this time the effect was even better. Gilbert announced it was a take. While Ed Harris was wiping off the water, Gilbert had a sudden idea: "We could do a first-person perspective from the tombstone, watching you walk away. How does that sound?"
Ed Harris thought about it and said, "Good, that's a great idea for a shot." So, without a break, this specially added shot was filmed again. From the tombstone's perspective, it showed General Hummel's determined stride as he left, further emphasizing the resolve in his previous words and General Hummel's determination. This was a shot not present in the original film, or perhaps Michael Bay filmed it but didn't include it. Gilbert wasn't just copying; he also incorporated some of his own ideas. For the character of John Mason, the British agent, Gilbert's changes were particularly significant.