Chapter 39: Chapter 38: The Need for Attention
In May, on a bright summer day, this year's Saturn Awards for film and television were held at the Los Angeles Dome Theater, with NBC broadcasting the ceremony live. Unlike the somewhat serious atmosphere of the Oscars, the Saturn Awards have a strong entertainment focus, making them very popular with the audience.
As the awards ceremony kicked off, twelve Terminator T-800s made a cool entrance on motorcycles, sparking cheers and screams from fans on both sides of the red carpet. Clearly, last year's "Terminator 2" was a hit, once again making the T-800 a nationwide sensation.
After that, various celebrities made their appearances, with Gilbert walking the red carpet with Cameron Diaz. Just ahead of them were Gwyneth Paltrow and a guy named Johnny, a bald man with a look reminiscent of Dwayne Johnson, who seemed to be in his thirties, much older than Paltrow.
Gilbert figured that Paltrow's father must be regretting it now. If he hadn't opposed Gilbert and Paltrow's relationship, maybe the two would still be together. He wouldn't have to worry about Paltrow finding herself an older man like Johnny. However, it seemed that Paltrow was just having fun with Johnny, as she has always enjoyed playing around.
Last year's releases of "The Shallows" and "Hook" significantly boosted Paltrow's fame. Although she hadn't reached the level of Julia Roberts, she was quite popular among the younger generation. So, when she attended the Saturn Awards, Paltrow still received plenty of cheers.
When it came to Gilbert and Cameron Diaz, things were much quieter, with even the photographers reluctant to waste film on taking their pictures.
"Hey, Director Gilbert..." As they walked the red carpet, Gilbert heard someone calling his name. Following the sound, he saw three or four young fans squeezed against the barrier.
Leaving Cameron Diaz in the center of the red carpet to pose, Gilbert went over to interact with the fans. Maintaining a connection with fans starts with small gestures.
Perhaps it was the shouts from these fans that reminded the photographers of Gilbert, who had created a box office miracle last year, and his rumored relationship with the new sweetheart, Gwyneth Paltrow. Seeing Cameron Diaz posing on the red carpet, the photographers started thinking about the headlines: "Gilbert finds a new love; new girlfriend is stunning and sexy; Paltrow heartbroken..."
Although Paltrow had been the one to publicly announce their breakup, the photographers didn't care about that. Gilbert had told Paltrow before: whether it's praise or criticism, the important thing is that people are talking about you.
Cameron Diaz clearly knew how to play the game. With a few sexy poses, she not only attracted the photographers' attention but also sparked discussions among the fans.
"Hey, buddy, who's that girl?"
"No idea, but she looks amazing!"
"Wow, her eyes seem to speak..."
And just like that, the initial buzz and attention started to build...
Meanwhile, Gilbert greeted the fans, saying, "Hey, how are you?" The fans eagerly pulled out their notebooks for Gilbert to sign, and even those who didn't know him but had heard of or seen reviews of "The Shallows" joined in.
As he signed autographs, Gilbert answered their questions. "Director Gilbert, when will your new movie be released?" one fan asked.
"Very soon, probably in July or August," Gilbert replied casually.
"Is it similar to 'The Shallows'?" another fan inquired.
"The theme is somewhat similar, but I promise it's a very exciting story," Gilbert assured them.
Hearing this, the fans were relieved and promised to support the film in theaters.
Gilbert now had some fan support, though it was small, but over time it could grow into a fan base he could proudly claim.
After finishing the autographs and posing for photos with Cameron Diaz for the photographers, it was time to move on. The next group to arrive was the cast of "Alien 3," the much-anticipated sequel to the famous sci-fi horror series "Alien."
Although Ridley Scott had been replaced by the relatively unknown David Fincher, the original cast and the fact that it was a classic sci-fi sequel still made fans eager to see it.
However, when they went to the theaters and watched "Alien 3," they might be disappointed.
"Alien 3" was a typical product of CAA's package deal service, and David Fincher had landed the directing job through CAA's influence.
But that was none of Gilbert's concern. His films never operated under the package deal policy. Gilbert's agent, Sheena Boone, had explained the benefits of the package deal policy to him several times, but Gilbert had always firmly refused.
Nevertheless, Sheena Boone was very capable. After "Final Destination" wrapped up, she managed to get Matt Damon into the movie "School Ties," partnering him with Brendan Fraser. Besides his role in "Final Destination," Damon was steadily on his way to becoming a major star.
In his free time, Matt Damon would also seek Gilbert's advice on screenwriting. He planned to turn an essay he had written in high school into a screenplay and asked if Gilbert was interested in directing it. Gilbert knew that this screenplay was "Good Will Hunting," so he was very interested. Even if he didn't direct it, he could still invest in it.
He remembered that the movie achieved impressive box office success, so Gilbert wasn't going to miss a chance to make some money.
Of course, that was still a while away. Right now, their top priority was ensuring the success of "Final Destination."
Although he was just a spectator at the Saturn Awards, the media coverage afterward still mentioned Gilbert, as well as Gwyneth Paltrow. With Disney's involvement, the tabloids started to stir up stories about a love triangle between Gilbert, Paltrow, and Cameron Diaz.
Gilbert and Diaz played along, publicly showing affection, and Diaz was soon recognized as Gilbert's second girlfriend by the public. To emphasize the authenticity of their relationship, Diaz even moved into Gilbert's apartment in a high-end white neighborhood near USC.
After all, with more money, you want to live better.
In addition to this, promotional posters and stills from "Final Destination" were released, with Disney giving the movie extensive attention and offline advertising. According to the plan, Gilbert would also take the cast to appear on talk shows on Disney-owned TV networks for promotion.
This level of treatment was something Gilbert had never experienced at Universal Pictures. Of course, if he had stayed at Universal, he would probably be getting the same treatment now.
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