The weather at the end of September was no longer as hot as before. Sitting by the window in the restaurant, Duke withdrew his gaze from the passersby outside and looked across the table. Charlize Theron's blonde hair seemed freshly dyed, even more striking than the last time he saw her. Beneath her bangs, her sculpted features created an almost perfect face, which, supported by her long, graceful neck, made her appear extremely attractive.
Although she didn't yet have the commanding a...
2024-10-03 16:54:35 +0000 UTC
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The Bentley smoothly stopped in front of a seaside villa in the Newport Beach area. Duke unbuckled his seatbelt and grabbed a bottle of champagne from the back seat, a gift for the occasion. He had chosen the most common party present, not the two items Sofia had sarcastically suggested.
Getting out of the car, Charlize Theron came over and hooked her arm around his. Although it was already early October, and the weather in the greater Los Angeles area had cooled significantly, she was...
2024-10-03 16:52:30 +0000 UTC
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The Pentagon's generosity saved the production team a lot of money, especially for several large outdoor explosion scenes. The White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico was the perfect location for these, allowing the team to blow things up without worrying about environmental activists causing problems.
With the coordination of Lieutenant Colonel, the Pentagon liaison, Duke led a group including cinematographer John Schwartzman, art director Hannah Selina, assistant director Zack Snyder...
2024-10-03 16:49:53 +0000 UTC
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"When does my audition start?"
As he just started the car, Scarlett's voice came from the side, "I've been waiting for a long time."
"There's still some time, I think." Duke turned the steering wheel and drove onto the main road. "Someone will notify your mother when the time comes."
"Oh..." The little girl nodded and pulled out a small wallet from her backpack, waving it in front of Duke's eyes. "I've prepared the money."
"Money?" Duke glanced at the passenger sea...
2024-10-03 16:47:50 +0000 UTC
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"Smith, in front of you is an alien that has invaded Earth and just killed your comrade."
Sitting behind the monitor, after Will Smith performed a scene, Duke furrowed his brow. This future superstar's acting was indeed lacking. "The alien is captured; please show the appropriate emotions."
If he couldn't even manage basic humor, they would have to find someone else.
Fortunately, African Americans naturally possess a sense of humor, or perhaps it was instinct from his bac...
2024-10-03 16:46:40 +0000 UTC
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"Lieutenant Colonel, regarding the ending of the script..."
Duke closed the script handed to him by Lieutenant Colonel Lenho and stood up, reinforcing his tone, "The one who destroys the alien spacecraft's weapons must be a civilian, not the president or someone from the military!"
"Why?"
Having collaborated once, the representative from the Pentagon was waiting for Duke to explain.
What is the main reason? Of course, it's because audiences love to see ordinary peo...
2024-10-03 16:45:38 +0000 UTC
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"Getting out of California,to blow up the whole of America!"
Starting the next day, Warner Bros. and Fox's media began an extensive promotional campaign for *Independence Day*, with a slogan shouted by Fox Television quickly becoming one of the popular phrases in North America.
"The young director Duke Rosenberg is full of creativity and a desire for destruction. After demolishing Santa Monica in *Speed* and blowing up San Francisco and Alcatraz in *The Rock*, he has finally dec...
2024-10-03 16:43:12 +0000 UTC
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"Hey, Duke."
A familiar voice called out from beside him. Duke turned his head to see a little girl, about ten years old, dressed in a blue dress with polka dots. Her beautiful golden hair was neatly tied back, and her eyes were strikingly different colors—one blue and one green. Her fluttering eyelashes made her look both lively and adorable.
In an instant, Duke remembered that this girl not only starred in "The Rock" but was also his mother's goddaughter.
"Long time n...
2024-10-03 16:36:30 +0000 UTC
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"I won't change my style, yes! It's all about explosions, more explosions!"
As the press conference was nearing its end, Duke answered several media inquiries about the theme of his new movie. His response was simple yet powerful: "Next summer, you'll see unprecedented explosion scenes; the whole of North America and even the entire world will be engulfed in flames."
"Director Rosenberg!" a reporter shouted, "Are you planning to destroy the whole world?"
"If I could, I w...
2024-10-03 16:34:25 +0000 UTC
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"Tom, what do you think of these two roles?"
Sitting in the guest room of the Cruise mansion, Pat Kingsley didn't touch the coffee that Nicole Kidman had brought. "Fox also hopes that a box office draw like you will appear in *Independence Day*."
"One of them is a Black character," Tom Cruise didn't hide his disdain. "And that presidential role has too little screen time; I can't take a supporting role."
"And this is Duke Rosenberg's film!" That last statement represente...
2024-10-03 16:32:19 +0000 UTC
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As the cost of a movie rises to a certain point, production companies become exceptionally cautious in their reviews and investments. Although James Cameron's two major works truly ushered in the 100 million dollar production era in Hollywood, the huge investment called for by Duke for *Independence Day* can be described as exceedingly rare.
Even small productions with budgets of only a few million dollars undergo strict scrutiny from film companies, let alone projects like *Independen...
2024-10-03 16:30:05 +0000 UTC
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Getting the profit share from The Rock* in North America as quickly as possible is not easy. According to the contract signed between Duke and Warner Bros., the latter will settle within six months after the film leaves theaters. Compared to the situation with 20th Century Fox, which had to make payments for *Speed* due to the involvement of Lucasfilm, this timeline may seem long, but it is actually quite normal in Hollywood.
As a director, Duke cannot always rely on Lucasfilm and Geor...
2024-10-03 16:27:28 +0000 UTC
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While Duke was relaxing on vacation, Nancy Josephson frequently contacted high-level executives from numerous companies such as Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox, pushing hard for the progress of new film projects. The success of *The Rock* and the potential profit-sharing from it gave her endless motivation.
Although he was far away in New Zealand, Duke still communicated with Nancy every few days and officially named the sci-fi script, centered around July 4th, *Independence Day*!
2024-10-03 16:22:56 +0000 UTC
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"I feel like I'm flying in the sky!"
In the back seat of the Bentley, Charlize was obviously a bit excited. She leaned closer to Duke, her breath reeking of alcohol. "This feeling is amazing! It can make you forget all your stress and worries."
Duke slightly turned his head to avoid the alcohol smell and pushed her back. The current Charlize Theron was not only drinking but also doing drugs. Although she only took a small amount of cocaine, the combination with alcohol made h...
2024-10-03 16:17:34 +0000 UTC
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There is no denying that Nancy Josephson a utilitarian and a highly professional agent.
Although the earnings from "The Rock" haven't come in yet, Nancy has already seen Duke as a future superstar and gold mine. She can tell that, like all successful people in the industry, Duke is not averse to one-night stands.
This is understandable; even if it gets leaked to the media, no one would say much. After years of struggling in this industry, she knows that behind some women, there...
2024-10-03 16:12:55 +0000 UTC
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As night fell, a black Bentley drove into Malibu. The driver didn't head into the city but continued north to a famous private club.
"Two consecutive films have grossed over $100 million at the North American box office. Duke Rosenberg has created a miracle..."
In the back seat, Nancy Josephson was clearly in a good mood as she flipped through several newspapers and read aloud, "In the dazzling action movie realm, no one does it better than the young director Rosenberg."
...
2024-10-03 15:49:37 +0000 UTC
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The box office of a film is not only determined by the quality and promotional factors but also deeply affected by external factors. The most typical example is the origin of the film. For instance, films from Europe and Asia may have good quality and promotion, but in 99% of cases, North American audiences will not buy it.
After reviewing the competitor's information, Duke realized that although "Cliffhanger" was produced by Calroc Pictures—the producer of "Terminator 2," and is now...
2024-10-03 15:45:27 +0000 UTC
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The summer movie season, lasting from May to July, is the most important period for films in North America. During this time, there are numerous films vying for high commercial returns, with more than five films released almost every weekend, of which about two typically have competitive box office potential.
In this period, no film gets much opportunity to accumulate significant box office revenue. Since the late 1980s, the first ten days to a week after a summer release often account...
2024-10-03 15:42:37 +0000 UTC
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It was Monday morning, the start of a new workweek. This should have been a lively time, especially for a film company. If the movie released the previous week was a hit, the entire company would be filled with laughter and joy. But at the weekly meeting in the Fox Tower, the atmosphere was heavy and stifling.
Without CAA and the "Interview with the Vampire" creative team, the executives at 20th Century Fox, the film's primary investor, couldn't hide their disappointment.
"AMG a...
2024-10-03 15:40:01 +0000 UTC
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If he had followed his previous habits and way of thinking, Duke would have had to be humble and cautious when faced with such questions. He would need to praise his competitors a bit, then slightly criticize himself and *The Rock*. Otherwise, it would have invited criticism.
However, having lived in this country for over twenty years, while his mindset wasn't fully Westernized, it had certainly adapted. A little humility was acceptable, but being overly humble would be seen as weaknes...
2024-10-03 15:37:53 +0000 UTC
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Sitting in their respective chairs, Duke and the others were all staring at the television in the lounge. It was an entertainment program from NBC Los Angeles, showing footage from an interview conducted earlier that morning.
On the screen, a handsome, dashing face was smiling with its signature charm, but the words that came out were far less pleasant than his appearance.
"Let me point out a few logical and plot-related errors."
Watching Tom Cruise on the TV, Duke knew t...
2024-10-03 15:36:35 +0000 UTC
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Beverly Hills, the famous enclave of wealthy celebrities in North America, is home to the Cruise estate, perched on the southern slope of the mountains. This is the residence of Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise, who is on the verge of becoming a megastar, and it is also the focal point of the paparazzi and media. His every move, along with his beautiful wife, easily grabs the attention of the American public.
As the morning sun rose, Tom Cruise left the gym, grabbed a towel to wipe the s...
2024-10-03 15:35:36 +0000 UTC
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The Warner Brothers office floor was bustling with activity. Even though he had just returned from San Francisco to Burbank in the early morning hours, Charles Roven was full of energy. He held the latest statistical data in his hand and quickly walked to Jeff Robinov's office. After a soft knock on the door, he walked in.
"Jeff..." he walked directly to the desk and without sitting down, said, "The midnight box office numbers and audience feedback have come in."
Seeing Jeff Rob...
2024-10-03 15:34:13 +0000 UTC
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The runtime of "The Rock" is noticeably shorter, and as Anna and Irene walked out of the theater, the screening of "Interview with the Vampire" was still going on.
"Hello, I'm a movie consultant from TPPCZ."
As soon as they reached the theater's lobby, a young man stopped them. This situation was common, and Anna had encountered it before.
"Can I ask you a few questions?" Seeing them nod, he quickly asked, "Did you think 'The Rock' was good?"
"So far, it's the ...
2024-10-03 15:31:29 +0000 UTC
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A girl unfolded the poster in her hand and held it up in front of several companions. "He is definitely the coolest and most charismatic old man in all of Hollywood!"
"Irene, how many times have you repeated this?"
A black-haired girl pouted in dissatisfaction, signaling the other four companions to walk toward the AMG Theater across the square. "No matter how cool or charismatic Lee is, or how legendary his experiences are, it doesn't change the fact that he's an old man! We pr...
2024-10-03 15:26:48 +0000 UTC
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Amidst the intense explosions and action scenes, moments of dry humor timely relieve the audience's nerves, which are likely to snap at any moment. Applause erupts for what seems like the hundredth time on Devil's Island as the film finally approaches its climax.
"Hurry up, hurry up!"
From the back, excited voices of fans can be heard. Sarah understands their anxiety; the Air Force's Hornet is about to fly over Devil's Island. If Gusby cannot make it out in time, the island will...
2024-10-03 15:19:36 +0000 UTC
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According to the organizer's requirements, Sarah temporarily handed over her photography and video equipment and entered the screening area with her cameraman. Perhaps due to her connection with the *Los Angeles Times*, their seats were quite good, located near a round table in the front row. Before the movie started, a server even brought over delicious food and drinks.
However, Sarah had little interest in the food and beverages. In fact, for the past few years, she had a goal and a ...
2024-10-03 15:15:53 +0000 UTC
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Under the glow of the setting sun, the cool sea breeze swept across Devil's Island, dispelling the remaining heat of the afternoon. The once bustling tourists were nowhere to be seen, replaced by numerous men and women in elegant attire, along with the indispensable reporters holding cameras.
This was the evening of Thursday, May 6, 1993. Although "The Rock" was set to premiere in North America the next day, the premiere event had kicked off on Devil's Island.
"Kevin Costner, Me...
2024-10-03 15:14:12 +0000 UTC
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"You are one of the most talented young directors I've seen," Roger Ebert said, sitting at a table facing Duke, resembling a wise teacher guiding a student with potential but lacking experience. "You have a unique approach to capturing visuals, logical editing, and camera techniques..."
He continued earnestly, "You shouldn't waste these talents on mediocre commercial films. Go into the independent film circle; that's where extraordinary artistic refinement can be honed."
"Art?" ...
2024-10-03 15:10:09 +0000 UTC
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Halfway through the film, Roger Ebert had developed a clear impression of "The Rock." Aside from maintaining a fast-paced and thrilling atmosphere, the film had distinct characteristics that "Speed" lacked—an elaborate and intricate use of cinematography and color!
Few films manage to elevate cinematography to such a luxurious level, achieving an aesthetic height that surpasses mere scene composition and narrative.
Generally speaking, filmmakers tend to hold back on their use ...
2024-10-03 15:07:45 +0000 UTC
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