บท 57: Chapter 57: The Noise Maker
"Making sure the audience enjoys the film is the first thing I consider when making a movie," Duke answered naturally.
"Like explosions?" the reporter asked.
"Yes, explosions," Duke replied.
"What are you planning to blow up next?" the reporter inquired with curiosity.
"I think the White House is a good target."
This was a joke-filled award ceremony, so no one took the comment seriously, but Duke added, "Of course, only in the movies."
"We're looking forward to that scene."
"Thank you!"
After dealing with the reporters, Duke grabbed Naomi Watts and headed for the exit through the side door. MTV still had an after-party, but since Duke had to go to San Francisco the next day, he wasn't planning to attend.
"I heard from Nancy..." Naomi, holding onto Duke's arm, said with sparkling eyes, "You've hired two screenwriters and are working on filling in two scripts? Are you really going to blow up the White House next?"
"One script is already complete," Duke shrugged. "The White House, Congress, Manhattan, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, the Washington Monument—I'm planning to blow up all of North America."
Outside, a rented RV was already waiting for them. Duke opened the door, waited for Naomi Watts to get in first, then followed into the back of the vehicle.
"North Hollywood," Duke said as he raised the partition between the front and back seats.
Naomi hadn't forgotten the earlier topic and, after thinking for a moment, cautiously asked, "Is your new script another male-centered story?"
"Not entirely..." Duke shook his head. "It's going to be an ensemble piece."
He could easily guess what the blonde woman was thinking, and as he reached out to lift her chin, he pulled her close and slowly kissed her soft, tender lips. Her warm, eager tongue quickly found its way into his mouth, brushing against every sensitive spot like the gentle breeze of the season.
"Duke..."
After a long time, they parted. With her arms around Duke's neck, Naomi's blue-green eyes were full of joy. "How... how should I thank you?"
"No need to be so polite," Duke's gaze moved from her face, drifting downward. "You're really beautiful, Naomi."
Naomi slowly tightened her arms, pulling Duke closer to her chest, pressing his face into the opening of her low-cut dress. She knew very well that what Duke was interested in was her alluring body—her greatest asset in front of him.
At twenty-five, Naomi Watts was at the most beautiful stage of her life. Duke needed a suitable partner to help relieve the anxiety and pressure that came with his career. He wasn't the type of person who only took without giving. If a role suited her, what harm was there in giving it to her?
It was another intoxicating night. Just like most men and women in this industry, they didn't think about tomorrow or look back at the past; they simply met each other's current needs and interests, at least for now.
The next day, Duke returned to San Francisco. The filming of *The Rock* was in its final stages, and even in the two days he was gone, the crew didn't stop. Under Zack Snyder's direction, many of the dialogue scenes on Alcatraz Island were filmed.
After a morning of filming, the team took a lunch break. While others rested, Duke, as the core member of the team, sat with Zack Snyder, Sofia Coppola, and John Schwartzman to review the footage shot over the past few days.
"Take a look here, Zack," Duke said, pausing the footage. It showed Navy SEALs rappelling down a building. "You used parallel shots here, but if you changed the angle and used an upward shot from the ground, it would give a different visual feel."
"The rappelling soldiers would come straight down towards the camera," Zack Snyder, who had gained quite a bit of experience from shooting commercials, quickly caught on. "In theaters, it would create the illusion of them dropping right in front of the audience."
"Exactly," Duke gave him a thumbs up. "We could slow down shots like this during post-production to increase the tension for the audience."
"The helicopters and SEAL team are still here," Zack Snyder clearly agreed with Duke's suggestion. "I'll reshoot those scenes this afternoon."
"Zack, you have a natural sensitivity when it comes to color," Duke spoke bluntly since they had established a certain level of trust as partners. "But using camera angles is your weak point."
After a few more words about the camera work, Zack Snyder and John Schwartzman left first, while Sofia, who had been sitting quietly behind Duke, finally spoke up.
"Duke, can I make a copy of the footage?" she suddenly asked.
"More experiments?" Duke knew that Sofia never missed a chance to practice and learn. "I'll inform Robin and Charles. You can have a copy made, but you'll need to cover the costs yourself."
"And another thing!" Duke pointed a finger at Sofia. "If any of the footage gets leaked, I will kill you, Sofia! I swear!"
"No rush," Sofia ignored his latter comment. "Once you've wrapped, I'll take all the film to Warner's lab and make a copy. Then I'll edit it into a film that suits my taste."
"You're not planning on turning an action movie into a romance, are you?" Duke teased.
"That depends on my personal preferences," Sofia shrugged. Then she reminded him, "Lunch break is almost over; we should get back to the set."
After the MTV Awards ceremony and the live broadcast combined with media coverage, the name of *The Rock* had spread even further. Thanks to the ripple effects of Duke's previous film *Speed*, this new movie had gained a certain level of recognition among action movie fans.
As for Naomi Watts, after walking the red carpet, she left a lasting impression and even appeared on a local TV interview. She was smart enough to know that Duke, Nancy, and Warner's promotional efforts played a role, so during the interview, she spoke extensively about *The Rock*.
As one of Hollywood's long-established powerhouses, Warner Bros. was not to be outdone in terms of marketing. They had developed a detailed promotional plan for *The Rock*. After seeing some of Duke's explosive scenes, they had already positioned the film as one of Warner's biggest projects for the summer season.
The ever-changing fog over the Golden Gate Bridge provided daily surprises. Over the next two weeks, while commuting between Alcatraz Island and the mainland, Duke made sure to capture some wide-angle scenic shots during sunrises and sunsets. With no more car chases, crashes, or explosions, the final part of the shoot on Alcatraz Island was notably quiet. Without the noise disturbances, aside from Duke feeling it was a bit dull, the rest of the crew's spirits improved significantly, and the filming pace quickened.
After over two months of hard work and perseverance, the filming of *The Rock* was nearing its end.
On Alcatraz's recreation yard, Duke stood facing the ocean breeze, putting on his lucky Los Angeles Raiders cap. He took one last glance at the Golden Gate Bridge before turning and walking back to the monitor.
"Let's get started," he said to Sofia.
Sofia's voice, slightly nasal, echoed from the loudspeaker.
"Scene 152, Take 15, Action!"
In the bustling crowd, Ed Harris approached a group of young tourists, kneeling in front of a little blonde girl. His usually stern face was now full of kindness.
"Could you do something for me? It's very important. I need you to tell your teacher to take you back to the boat immediately."
"Okay..."
The little blonde girl nodded.
Seeing her flawless performance, Duke let out a slow breath. Kids and animals were always the most unpredictable elements to film, but this girl clearly had experience, and the final shot went smoothly.
"CUT!"
After calling it, Duke took the loudspeaker from Sofia and said, "Over the last two and a half months, we've faced all kinds of challenges, and I know you've all been suffering from the noise. Don't deny it—I know you've been calling me the noise maker behind my back..."
The crew burst into laughter.
"Thank you, everyone."
Though the production had hit some rough patches, things had gone much smoother this time than the last shoot. Most of the team had worked together toward the same goal. "Each of you is an important part of this crew!"
"And one last thing," Duke said, "Tomorrow, we'll return to Burbank. There's a huge wrap party waiting for us at Warner Studios!"
"Woohoo!"
The crew let out a collective cheer. After being tormented by crashes and explosions for over two months, they were finally getting a chance to relax.
As the sun dipped closer to the horizon, the crew packed up their gear and loaded everything onto the boat. Duke and the cast and crew boarded the ferry and headed back to the San Francisco pier, the engine's roar filling the air.
"Sofia..." Duke said, walking to the bow of the boat out of habit, "The film and equipment will be stored in the warehouse across from Warner's soundstage. Oh, and if you have the time, you can get someone to help you make a copy of the footage. I've already spoken with the two production managers."
"Thanks."
"No need to thank me."
At the bow, Duke noticed the little blonde girl who had acted alongside Ed Harris, standing by the railing. When she saw him, she waved.
"Hello, Mr. Director."
"Hello," Duke replied, noticing her East Coast accent.
The little girl, probably under ten, had striking blonde hair and rare blue-green eyes. She wasn't particularly beautiful, but she was cute
"Hey, honey..."
A middle-aged woman ran over, pulled the little girl and walked towards the rear cabin. "Why did you run off alone?"
Looking back at the mother and daughter, Duke shook his head. As long as Hollywood had demand, there would always be parents eager to send their children into this world of fame and fortune.
Letting go of these unrelated thoughts, Duke gazed into the distance. After the crew's party ended, more important post-production work awaited him.
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