Chapter 44: Final Preparations

"Joss, I'm looking forward to working with you."

Stepping out of his office, Duke shook hands with a bald, middle-aged man. "In my eyes, you and your team are the perfect fit."

After conducting on-site tests, Duke had finally found his ideal pyrotechnician. This pyrotechnics team, recommended by George Lucas and led by Joss William, generally met his requirements. Once Warner Brothers confirmed it, they could sign the contracts.

After seeing Joss William off, Duke skipped his office and headed straight for the first-floor audition room. Having spent so much time with the pyrotechnics team, the auditions were mostly wrapping up by the time he arrived.

Duke didn't care much about most of the audition results. There was almost no room for female characters to shine in this film; the only supporting female role with any real weight had already been promised to Naomi Watts, at Nancy's strong insistence. Securing benefits for his agent within reasonable limits was normal in Hollywood, and Duke didn't shy away from it.

The film's major roles had to be decided jointly by him and the two production managers. Roles with actual screen time but minor importance naturally became the main targets for new actors. Just as Duke had pushed for Naomi Watts, other roles were subject to personal favors. Charles Roven, for instance, held the decision-making power for the role of Mason's daughter. It was a tacit understanding within the crew.

Personal connections were vital in Hollywood. Everyone had favors to return, and for these minor roles that simply offered a chance to show one's face, those connections often tipped the scales.

But there was one rule everyone willingly followed: no matter whose connections an actor used to join the cast, they had to meet the role's fundamental requirements!

If a beautiful actress lacked basic acting skills and didn't fit the character profile, sleeping with the entire crew wouldn't help her. Even if she squeezed her way in, she would still be "KO"d by the director or producer during filming.

All sorts of deals certainly existed in Hollywood, but they were always conducted under mutually accepted rules.

Sitting behind the monitors in the audition room, Duke simply flipped through the rosters and profiles of the auditioning actors with no intention of interfering with the casting director. Just as with other crews he had been part of, he spotted quite a few names here that might shine brilliantly in the future. He was already used to it, though, and felt nothing special.

Besides, actors needed polishing. The A-listers of the future were likely just rookies today.

Keanu Reeves in Speed was the classic example. If the male lead, Jack, had been given a more complex characterization instead of habitually keeping a stern face, Keanu would have likely found the role incredibly difficult to handle at his current level.

As for why Duke insisted on casting Nicolas Cage and Ed Harris for this film, it was because neither were newcomers. Both had ten years or more of filming experience. This was especially true for Ed Harris, playing General Hummel; he had appeared in over a dozen films in total.

Rookies could be used, but it depended on the specific role.

Take Naomi Watts, for example. Just as Duke had said, she certainly had some acting chops, but without over a decade of refinement, she was still a long way from her future peak.

Opportunity was important, but opportunities were always reserved for those who were fully prepared.

The auditions ended quickly. Duke exchanged a few words with the casting director and an executive producer, confirmed that Naomi Watts had passed her audition, and left the room. He headed toward his director's office on the second floor. Just as he opened his door to go inside, the click of high heels sounded behind him. He turned to see Naomi Watts and Nancy Josephson walking over together.

"You got the part." Duke pushed the door open and gestured for them to enter.

"Oh, this is the most substantial role I've landed so far." Naomi Watts let out a visible sigh of relief as she walked in. "Thank you, Duke."

"Don't mention it." Duke pointed to the reception sofa in his office. "Have a seat."

Nancy Josephson sat a little farther away from Duke, while Naomi Watts openly settled right beside him.

"Has there been any movement from CAA?" Duke asked the agent.

"Things are quiet for now," Nancy said after thinking for a moment. "But there is one situation we should probably keep an eye on. Twentieth Century Fox has restarted CAA's package project, Interview with the Vampire. The tentative leads are Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, whose momentum has been fierce lately. On top of that, the film's release window has been set for next year's Summer Season."

"Is it possible they're targeting The Rock?" Duke immediately caught on.

"It's possible," Nancy Josephson said, frowning. "If they are targeting you, it's definitely going to be troublesome. Both Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt carry a certain box office draw, and Interview with the Vampire has a fairly broad readership base."

"In the end, it all comes down to marketing, the quality of the work, and its appeal to the audience." Duke appeared perfectly calm. "Don't forget, Anne Wright's work leans heavily toward the literary side. If CAA really pushes that kind of film into the Summer Season, where popcorn flicks reign supreme, the outcome is still anyone's guess."

"As long as you're aware of the situation, that's enough."

The success or failure of The Rock was also tied to Nancy Josephson's personal interests. She stood up to take her leave. "I'll keep an eye on CAA's moves."

She looked at Naomi Watts. "We should go."

"I'll be right there."

Naomi followed behind Nancy. As Duke was seeing them out, she suddenly turned her head and lowered her voice. "Want to come over to my place for coffee tonight?"

"Sorry."

Although slightly tempted, Duke still shook his head. "I made plans with Zack and John to discuss the shooting schedule. I don't have the time."

A look of disappointment instantly surfaced on Naomi Watts's face. Duke didn't take it seriously; compared to ordinary people, these actresses had truly outstanding acting skills.

Night fell, and Rock Studio in Burbank remained brightly lit. The heads of the crew's various departments were all busy at work. After Duke wrapped up his discussion with Zack Snyder and John Schwartzman, he received word from Lieutenant Colonel Lenho that the relevant officials at the Pentagon had finally abandoned their idea of making the crew alter the script.

This was good news. If the interested parties at the Pentagon had forcefully demanded script changes, Duke would have had no choice but to bid them farewell. Clearly, the Pentagon wasn't full of the idiots some people from his past life had made them out to be—they could see the promotional value a patriotic film like this could bring.

With the Pentagon's headache resolved, the crew's preparations gradually got on track. Duke was no longer the complete rookie he had been while prepping for Speed. Although he still needed to learn and accumulate experience in many areas, the crew he had built—using the team he recruited as its backbone—suffered no severe internal friction, even if minor clashes constantly popped up. Furthermore, with the success of Speed backing him up as capital, there was no one in the crew like Crone, who would directly challenge the director's authority.

This was a circle that chased after winners. Success was a form of capital in itself. As long as Warner Brothers continued to support him, Duke didn't need to worry too much about power struggles or personnel issues.

Pre-production was a lengthy process. Even for a film with only a few scenes, the preparation phase consumed time and energy. If one wanted a smooth shoot, they couldn't slack off on the prep work. Aside from Duke and the staff in the various departments, the main actors didn't have it easy either. In addition to rehearsing their scenes, they had to undergo training with the Navy SEALs. While the requirements weren't exceptionally strict, Ed Harris and the others at least had to look like elite soldiers on camera.

It sounded simple enough, but in reality, the training was a grueling process, especially for actors accustomed to comfortable lives all year round. However, in Hollywood, if you wanted to keep moving forward, you couldn't afford the slightest bit of slack in your career. All the super directors and stars actually understood that success was never a simple matter.

On the other hand, those who succeeded easily and failed to grasp this truth—such as child stars—mostly became fleeting shooting stars.

According to the script, the film also required a few child actors. Although they didn't have much screen time, they were essential for a crucial scene that highlighted General Hummel. The crew posted casting notices at the Screen Actors Guild on both the East and West Coasts to find suitable candidates. Because of the film's fifty-million-dollar investment, many parents dreaming of fame—or wanting to turn their children into money-making machines—hurried all the way from New York to Los Angeles to audition.

Duke delegated all authority for these minor roles. As the director of such a massive crew, it was impossible for him to handle everything personally.

However, he did urge the casting director to be cautious. After all, children could easily be classified as uncontrollable factors during filming. Furthermore, federal child protection laws and California entertainment laws had almost draconian regulations regarding the working hours of child actors. Although Hollywood film crews had historically brushed these aside, it would be an enormous hassle if someone publicly reported them.

Take Interview with the Vampire, which Nancy had mentioned. It was rumored that Twentieth Century Fox was going to cast Kirsten Dunst. If they actually adhered to all the various regulations, the film's shooting schedule would inevitably drag on for a long time. Add in pre-production and post-production, and they might very well miss the release window to snipe The Rock.

Duke even considered whether he should wait until their film started shooting, then bribe members of the rival crew to report them to the Screen Actors Guild and the Child Protection Association...

In the end, he gave up on the unreliable idea. Without the massive backing of Warner Brothers, what did he have to fight CAA and Twentieth Century Fox with? Even though the other side disliked him, they were still employing tactics within the rules. There was no need to proactively provoke those two giant crocodiles.

Pre-production ate up an enormous amount of time. It wasn't until mid-November, as the weather in Los Angeles gradually turned cool, that Duke was finally ready to start shooting.