Chapter 359: Chapter 83 This is Called a Grand Gesture

Rosarito’s beaches, although not as picturesque as some of the world-renowned beaches, still make for a decent vacation spot, attracting quite a number of tourists each year. Most of them are Americans, with a minority being Mexicans and citizens from other countries.

But a few months ago, tourists visiting here couldn’t help but investigate what was happening on a nearby stretch of beach. Those from the United States had rented a large swath of the beach to construct buildings. However, these buildings were so rudimentary that they were clearly unsuitable for habitation, looking more like movie sets. They even dug a large hole in the shallow waters and began building a large ship! Yes, a massive cruise ship, which was exceedingly odd.

The locals were particularly amazed–they had watched as it transformed from a skeleton into a large vessel. Though it later became apparent that it wasn’t a sea-worthy ship, standing next to it and looking up was still a shocking experience. Those recruited temporarily for the construction took particular pride in bragging about it. After all, having a hand in the creation of such a massive object was something to boast about, even if one’s contribution was merely hammering a few nails or moving things around.

Many wanted to find out what exactly these Americans were up to, but the officials involved always skirted the topic. The local government didn’t intervene either, merely mentioning that their documents were in order and wouldn’t interfere with local tourism endeavors. Indeed, the project didn’t cause disruptions; instead, it attracted more visitors, who came specifically to see this oddly docked massive ship.

As more people arrived, it became difficult to keep things under wraps. It wasn’t long until a few American tourists recognized James Cameron, and when the news traveled back to the United States, entertainment reporters swarmed in. They knew this money-burning director was definitely filming his new movie, and while Cameron might enjoy splurging and wasn’t prolific, each of his works held significant commercial value, naturally attracting news coverage.

However, Cameron wasn’t cooperative with the reporters. He didn’t kick them out, but regardless of how they inquired, he remained tight-lipped, only implying that all would be revealed in time. But how long would this “in time” be? Nobody knew. The frustrated reporters had no choice but to leave some of their number behind to try all tactics to tease out information.

There’s always someone who can’t keep a secret, and the reporters who remained were sharp enough to extract bits and pieces of useful information from the staff. After much effort, they finally pieced together the truth: Cameron’s new work was likely a movie about an early 20th-century maritime disaster.

“Indeed, the photos show the ship model is definitely early 20th-century style. We all know of a world-shocking maritime disaster from the early 20th century which still impacts us today, like distress signals and the number of lifeboats on ships. But if James Cameron really intends to remake that disaster, it could be a disaster for investors. Not to mention there are already too many movies about the Titanic, and, given his personal style, he might not be the right fit to make such a film. It’s puzzling who would finance such a large model,” a commentator wrote.

When photos from the scene spread back in the United States, many speculated it might be the Titanic, given the model’s style and the Titanic’s fame as the most notable maritime disaster of the early 20th century. With Cameron’s flair, how could he not choose something eye-catching? However, although many speculated, few concurred. First, the 1:1 model wasn’t complete yet, and from the photos, it was unclear if it was indeed the Titanic; second, as the commentator noted, there were already numerous films on the Titanic, and it didn’t align with Cameron’s usual style.

As a result, most people were focused on the enormous costs of such a 1:1 model; just this model alone might cost as much as two or three independent film budgets, and it was a mystery from where Cameron pulled the funding.

However, things often turn out unexpectedly. Just two days before Cameron announced the start of filming, he finally had the “Titanic” letters installed on the prow of the model ship. Reporters were quick to relay this information back to their home countries, causing an uproar in the commentary community–he really was planning to remake that disaster.

“God, he must be insane. The previous movies might have been technically inferior to what’s possible today, and maybe everything that needed shooting has already been shot. How can James be sure he can bring something new?”

“We might see grander visuals, which he has always excelled at.”

“Just having visuals isn’t enough for a movie. If James can’t bring something new to the story, it’s hard to say what the final outcome of the movie will be. And can he really perfectly recreate the Titanic’s visuals?”

On “The Tonight Show,” hosts and guests debated this issue for a long time, which reflected the current public opinion. Some argued Adrian was playing with fire by choosing a genre he wasn’t familiar with and still spending money extravagantly; others believed it was something to look forward to, as Cameron always managed to surprise people. The noisy chatter made the media very happy.

“Here I referred to the interior of the Olympic, specifically went to the White Swan Inn for observation, and also used the photographs from that time, including some original blueprints from the construction…” James Cameron explained to Adrian as he showed him the perfectly arranged luxurious cabin.

The decor was lavish and exquisite: Turkish carpets, velvet curtains, various handmade furniture pieces, even the patterns on the fireplace were intricately carved–if you didn’t look outside, it was indistinguishable from a real vintage luxury cruise cabin.

“Honestly, it’s fantastic.” Adrian nodded. Before coming here, they had also visited the first-class dining room, which was also beautifully constructed. Although not 100% accurate, about 80% authenticity gave a breathtaking impression.

He didn’t ask Cameron how much money he had spent. Although the man was known for burning through cash, he also knew how to spend it wisely, not wastefully. Not to mention, inside this 1-to-1 scale model ship, only a third of the cabins were completed; the rest were just frameworks, as these didn’t contribute much to the film’s shooting.

Cameron’s problematic expensive habit was due to his obsession with minute details. As far as Adrian knew, some women’s garments needed to be redone just because of minor flaws on the cuffs, which could easily be overlooked during shooting, yet Cameron insisted on complete redoing without any compromise.

“This isn’t filmmaking, sir, this is a crime,” the financial supervisor had once complained to him.

Although Adrian soothed him with a smile, he used this opportunity to give Cameron a nudge, “Now that filming has started, perhaps you should pay attention to some previously ignored issues, James? I have gone through the accounts, and things seem a bit tight.”

Although he remembered that Cameron eventually spent $240 million, why not aim to finish with $200 million if possible? Even though this possibility was slim.

“I know,” Cameron coughed, “I’ve been keeping an eye on it, don’t worry.”

Then he hastily changed the subject: “Speaking of which, many people saw you on the set today. Are you planning to keep hiding it or announce that you are the investor and declare the amount invested?”

“Well…” Adrian recalled the reporters he encountered around the set, all eager as they saw him get out of the car. Although he had entered the set immediately without giving them a chance to ask questions, many photos were still taken. Even if he said nothing, the media would assume he was the investor.

“Let’s just announce it and surprise them,” he shrugged and then laughed, “I bet after their initial shock there will be all sorts of criticism and attacks. So, James, don’t disappoint me. I hope to see their frustrated faces when the movie is released.”

“I promise, you will see it. I’ve never forgotten what you said,” Cameron laughed heartily.

The two then walked down from the model ship. The set dock was already crowded with numerous extras and various side characters, including the male and female leads. It had to be acknowledged that Leonardo DiCaprio was indeed very handsome, yet his pretty boy image was bound to make his path challenging, especially playing the lead in such a massive commercial production.

Adrian was increasingly convinced that not insisting on River as the male lead had been the right decision, so he got along very well with DiCaprio and even patted his shoulder as a sign of approval. DiCaprio appeared somewhat surprised by the favor and then listened respectfully and attentively, demonstrating quite a good sense of tact. As for the female lead…

“How do I look?” Gwyneth, smiling brightly, raised her hands and spun around in front of Adrian, oblivious to the many people around. Clad in a white lady’s outfit with blue stripes, complete with a tie, a long skirt, white gloves, and a broad purple hat, she exuded an air of noble elegance.

“Absolutely perfect,” Adrian exclaimed. Gwyneth’s inherently cultivated, refined elegance matched her outfit perfectly; and thanks to him, she also maintained her figure exceptionally well, not at all like Fert, who might initially appear fine but progressively looked more ungainly.

“I told you, this role suits you perfectly,” Adrian said, wrapping his arms around her shoulders, their closeness evident.

He knew this was what she wanted. In fact, if he hadn’t sent Gwyneth to the set first, he might have walked in with her in front of the reporters outside. What did it matter if they captured that? There had already been several rumors about them, involving Gwyneth as well, and such overt displays now might just muddy the waters between truth and lies.

But now he had to hold back, having already shown some indication. Moderation was key.

The shooting of the boarding scenes started soon after, and Cameron’s autocratic style became immediately apparent. The first shot involved hoisting an antique car onto the deck of the Titanic–a seemingly simple shot that took over ten retakes due to various minor issues. Even when one take seemed perfect, Cameron insisted on another because an extra at the scene was daydreaming, unnoticed by most viewers, but Cameron wouldn’t allow any flaws once spotted.

Similarly, during the shoot for Rose’s first appearance, Cameron felt repeatedly that Gwyneth failed to convey Rose’s underlying indifferently rebellious yet helpless emotion. He disliked over-explaining, preferring the actors to intuit themselves, resulting in take after wearying take, which irked Gwyneth immensely.

Still, being a professional actress, Gwyneth, though frustrated, diligently tried to adjust her performance to cooperate with Cameron, finally passing the scene after countless attempts.

“I told you, this guy is a tyrant! Working with him was a complete mistake,” a furious Gwyneth stormed into the hotel room, kicked off her heels, and paced back and forth vehemently. Her tolerance on set didn’t mean she would always hold back.

“Alright, calm down, dear,” Adrian said with a smile as he pulled her into his arms.

“It’s all your fault, why couldn’t you arrange another film! Why did it have to be with this guy!” Gwyneth continued to complain, “And you knew well that many of the NGs were due to his perfectionism. Why didn’t you speak up?! If the others are afraid to speak, are you too?!”

“Really?” Adrian feigned confusion, “And as an actress, do you think you understand the situation on set better than the director, and can distinguish between being overly critical and genuinely needing a reshoot?”

Gwyneth’s face flushed red, her chest heaving with fury as if she was about to bite him. But the next second, her mouth was sealed by his, and Adrian’s hands found their way to her soft, sensitive spots to knead and caress.

The lady made muffled noises and twisted trying to break free, but she gave up after a few attempts, finally letting Adrian carry her to the couch where they indulged their desires before he let her go.

“How are you feeling now?” Adrian asked with a grin, knowing all too well how to handle her.

Gwyneth, showing her shyness, glared at him and turned her head aside, saying nothing.

“Alright, Gwyneth, you should know that besides me, only he has control over this subject, and in many details and even in the technical aspects of post-production, he does better than me,” Adrian explained as he held her. “As for why I am not directing, it’s because the production time for this movie is going to be long. Even for someone as efficient as me, and as familiar as I am with this movie, trying to shorten the production time would still be difficult, so I had no choice but to hand it over to James.”

Gwyneth remained silent, but she turned her head back towards him and sighed lightly.

“Will you please listen?” Adrian kissed her again. “Hang in there, no matter how unpleasant James can be. My judgment has never been wrong, and once this movie is released, you’ll see. With the impact this film has, a lot of things will become much easier in the future. So, you don’t have to like him, but definitely try not to be too stiff with him.”

“Fine, you always make me do as you say,” Gwyneth sighed in resignation, then wrapped her arms around his neck and blinked. “So, what kind of reward should I give you?”

“Don’t worry, tonight you will get your reward, and you’ll have all night to savor it,” Adrian chuckled.

Although there was still much work to be done in Los Angeles, Adrian stayed in Rosarito for four days before leaving. After all, the post-production of “Braveheart” was set to be completed by the end of the month, and the basic editing of “Emma” should also be done by then, perfectly timed to continue the work. As for the preparations of several movies, whether “The English Patient” or “The Mask of Zorro,” all would take a lot of time, not half a year like “Braveheart” but certainly not less than a few months.

Particularly for “The English Patient,” to capture the essence of the Sahara, one has to go to Morocco–the deserts of Nevada simply don’t compare. Most films about North Africa and the Sahara have been shot in the Moroccan desert. “The Mask of Zorro,” while not needing Mexican locations, would still require setting in Texas or southern California.

Unexpectedly, just as he was planning to return, good news came from Los Angeles. Bruce Willis had agreed immediately to his invitation, without a hint of hesitation.

“That’s your invitation, how could I possibly refuse an invitation from the Miracle Director?” Willis laughed over the phone.

Faced with such an answer, Adrian chuckled and shrugged; he had forgotten how his influence was increasing by the day. His recent investment in the “Titanic” was proof of that. As soon as he appeared on set, it was clear who was financing the movie, even though tabloids tried to stir up a scandal involving Gwyneth arriving on set, it quickly got buried under the shocking news of a 200 million US Dollar investment in James Cameron’s new movie, “Titanic.”

Despite ongoing inflation, the US Dollar was still very strong in the mid-90s, and for film companies, spending 100 million US Dollars was already considered a mega-production, let alone 200 million! Building a 1:1 scale model ship with the funds from a single individual was enough to make many people gasp. Even the wealthier tycoons wouldn’t casually pull out 200 million US Dollars for a movie! Did Adrian have more money than he knew what to do with?!

Even more shocking, by the standards of the 70s and 80s, this was an outright independent film; no film company involvement, relying totally on the director and producer to pull investments and recruit personnel. A 200-million-dollar independent film… just the thought was enough to drive people insane, but thankfully, the 90s brought a broader interpretation of independent cinema, otherwise, many would indeed have gone mad. Yet, it was still enough to make people spit blood.

“This is genuinely a big move; you never know what the Miracle Director is thinking,” David Letterman commented on his show. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit wuxiaworld.site to vote or support us. Your support is my greatest motivation.)