Under the lingering glow of the San Francisco sunset, seagulls soared over the sea, their cries sharp and clear. This scene, for some reason, reminded Gilbert of a movie he had seen in his previous life. Teacher Li Xuejian, in a wheelchair, asks his student Hao Xiaoxi what kind of bird it is, but Hao Xiaoxi says he's never seen one. Others might have different profound impressions of that film, but Gilbert always remembered this particular scene. More than anything else, this scene deeply moved him.
However, that film wouldn't be released for decades. He wondered if the director was even in high school yet. If he saw young Gilbert's films like Real Steel and Speed playing there, he would surely be wide-eyed with astonishment at the movies from across the ocean.
San Francisco in the daytime could be quite warm, but as the evening sea breeze picked up, the day's heat was carried away. Today, Alcatraz Island was devoid of its usual bustling tourists, replaced instead by a crowd of people in formal attire, looking dignified and serious. If any movie buffs familiar with Hollywood were present, they would instantly recognize everyone. Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise and his wife, Keanu Reeves, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Harrison Ford, George Clooney, Demi Moore, Jodie Foster, Bruce Willis, and others were all in attendance.
The reason for their presence on Alcatraz was, of course, the nationally renowned genius director, young Gilbert. Imperceptibly, the guest list for young Gilbert's movie premieres had grown increasingly impressive. One might even borrow a phrase from a certain circle in his previous life: "half of Hollywood gathered to show their support." The difference was that in many cases, when half the entertainment industry gathered there, it was often to flatter. But young Gilbert's situation was different; even if there was flattery, it was well-deserved.
Of course, decades later, the situation changed significantly, and Hollywood seemed to care less about content and more about form. It's hard to tell if the world progressed or if Hollywood regressed. But such distant matters can be set aside for now.
---
### Red Carpet Excitement
Such an event naturally featured media reporters snapping photos. Similarly, many movie fans who had secured premiere passes also came to attend. Butcher Lutz and Evans were two of those lucky individuals. Upon receiving invitations to The Rock's premiere, they specifically took time off work and flew from New York to San Francisco. Because Alcatraz Island has limited space, it couldn't accommodate a large number of fans. So, with the approval of the Federal Parks Administration, the number of fans for the premiere was restricted. Even so, over a thousand fans attended the premiere, participating in the entire event.
Usually, at movie premieres, many fans only get to experience the red carpet interactive segment, but this time, they could also watch the movie and interact with the film's creators after the curtain call. Watching a movie on an outdoor screen was a novel experience for many, and enjoying such a unique premiere felt quite special.
It was the evening of May 4, 1995. The Rock was set for wide release across the U.S. tomorrow, but Alcatraz Island was hosting its premiere tonight. As dusk fell, reporters and fans eagerly awaited the start of the red carpet ceremony. In the press area, Sarah instructed the photographer, "When Director Gilbert appears later, make sure to take plenty of photos."
The photographer was puzzled. "Sarah, for a film premiere, shouldn't the focus usually be on the lead actors?"
"That's usually true," Sarah thought of young Gilbert's handsome face and his deep, masculine voice, feeling a little dreamy. "But Gilbert is different; he's the most handsome director in all of Hollywood."
Lost in her thoughts, the photographer tapped Sarah's shoulder. "Your most handsome Hollywood director is here."
Sarah snapped back to reality and, just like the fans, started cheering and screaming, drawing curious glances from her colleagues. Gilbert wasn't walking the red carpet alone; he was holding Scarlett Johansson's small hand. The little girl was a bit nervous walking the red carpet. As soon as she stepped onto the carpet and saw the fans' wild shouts and the constantly flashing lights, she instinctively shrank behind young Gilbert, afraid to come out.
"Don't be scared, Sca, you're a big star," Gilbert encouraged her.
With young Gilbert's encouragement, Sca bravely stepped forward. The delicate, doll-like little girl, walking the red carpet with such a popular genius director as young Gilbert, was even more adored by fans, and reporters were happy to take extra photos. After a brief stop for photos and signing autographs for fans, Gilbert even held Sca, letting her sign autographs for fans. After signing, Sca was overjoyed. It was her first time signing an autograph, and she truly felt like a big star.
After the red carpet interactions, Gilbert still couldn't rest. He needed to speak with the guests who came to show their support. These intricate social interactions were necessary; after all, to thrive in Hollywood for the long term, friends were essential. At this stage, Sheila Boone acted as young Gilbert's temporary female companion, responsible for introducing him to guests he didn't know.
There was no dedicated VIP lounge on Alcatraz Island. Everyone gathered as if at a large party, freely chatting and mingling, creating a truly unique atmosphere.
---
### Strategic Connections and Future Plans
"Mr. Hanks, hello, I'm glad you accepted the invitation to attend the premiere of my new film."
"You're welcome, young Gilbert. I've always been looking forward to collaborating with you on a new film. Any chance of that?"
Demi Moore and Schwarzenegger had asked similar questions before, but Gilbert had always brushed them off, saying there would be a chance. However, with Tom Hanks, Gilbert didn't deflect.
"Sure, how about we collaborate on the next film?"
Tom Hanks was stunned. Was Gilbert serious? Seeing Tom Hanks' dazed expression, Gilbert added, "I'm not joking; I'm sincerely inviting you."
Tom Hanks quickly recovered. "Great, just communicate directly with my agent then. I'll let him know."
It's not that simple for a superstar to take on a film; they had only reached a verbal agreement, and people would still need to negotiate later. Gilbert did this to give Tom Hanks a heads-up, asking him to keep his schedule open so he wouldn't miss out on his project due to scheduling conflicts. After winning two consecutive Oscars, Tom Hanks wasn't lacking film offers, so Gilbert needed to give him advance notice.
After exchanging pleasantries with Tom Hanks, Sheila Boone quietly asked, "Are you going to do that World War II project?"
"That's right," Gilbert nodded. "Once I'm done with this, I'll officially begin preparations."
"I have some good actors signed under my agency. Would you like to give them some opportunities?" Sheila Boone asked cautiously.
Gilbert always took good care of his own people. Sheila Boone had been diligent as his agent, never making any mistakes, and Gilbert was generally very satisfied.
"Sure, just provide a list to Anne and Sophia," Gilbert said.
Sheila Boone was delighted and thanked him, "Thank you, young Gilbert."
"You're welcome, Sheila. I take good care of my own. As long as you do your job well, you'll naturally reap the benefits." Young Gilbert's words had a distinct Chicago mob flavor.
Sophia had previously told Gilbert about her desire to direct films independently. Gilbert agreed but told her not to rush and to wait a bit longer. When Sophia eventually left, Gilbert might need to hire a new assistant director. However, these matters would have to wait until after The Rock; the most important work now was this film.
---
### A Cinematic Spectacle Unfolds
After the red carpet ceremony, the film premiere officially began. Butcher Lutz and Evans found their seats, excitedly rubbing their hands. This was their first time attending a movie premiere, and they were both very nervous and excited.
"Evans, I've been looking forward to this movie ever since I saw the trailer during the Super Bowl. I wonder what it'll be like..."
Evans also said, "I was even earlier than you; I've been looking forward to this movie since filming began."
Other movie fans nearby were also discussing, with some focusing on Roger Moore and Christopher Lee. Because Christopher Lee and The Rock's team had agreed on the publicity tactics involving Sean Connery, he also received an invitation to the premiere. Christopher Lee and Roger Moore walked the red carpet together, and when the two old men, rumored to have actually been secret agents, appeared together, it instantly sparked the loudest screams and cheers from the entire crowd. Hollywood stars could be seen daily, but secret agents weren't. This was thanks to the publicity department, who had completely hyped up the matter, making fans extremely curious about their identities.
At the premiere, an older fan even commented, "I once saw The Man with the Golden Gun, and back then, I felt that neither 007 nor the Man with the Golden Gun seemed like they were acting. I never thought they were actually secret agents." This statement might not have been true; the fan might not have had that reaction at the time, but it didn't stop him from bragging. Indeed, after the older man said this, someone next to him looked at him with a hint of reverence. "I can't believe you've seen a movie starring two secret agents. That's amazing..."
Amidst the chatter, the film quickly began. As the chief entertainment reporter for The Los Angeles Business Journal, Sarah's ambitions didn't stop there; she also wanted to try becoming a film critic. So, during movie premieres, she maintained the same habit as other film critics: jotting down a review and then refining it. If Gilbert knew his personal reporter's thoughts, he would tell her, "Sarah, stop dreaming of being a film critic; that profession is going out of style." However, Gilbert didn't know, so Sarah continued with her plan, attempting to write film reviews.
It's easy to become a professional film critic, but it's very difficult to become a critic like Roger Ebert or Kenneth Turan. Without the support of film studios and large media groups, it's hard to achieve that. Sarah took out her pen and notepad from her bag, silently waiting for the movie to start. After about two or three minutes, the movie began.
First, the opening logos of Warner Bros., Touchstone Pictures, and 20th Century Fox flashed by. The Disney logo didn't appear; unless it was personally distributed, Disney generally wouldn't put its logo on films released by its subsidiaries. This way, if a movie went against Disney's principles, they could always claim it wasn't a Disney release, though few would believe it. After these investor logos passed, the Melon Studio logo appeared, and the audience spontaneously applauded. In recent years, Melon Studio had indeed established its brand, embodying the feel of a boutique film studio.
After the titles, accompanied by Hans Zimmer's music, the film officially opened. The camera constantly switched, showing soldiers draping flags over coffins and a general with medals pinned to his chest, smoking a cigarette while wearing a hat. The shots were fragmented, switching very quickly. Combined with the background dialogue, the audience generally understood what had happened to the general and what he would do next. Although the film's opening pace seemed slow, because the camera switched so quickly, with each shot averaging less than two seconds, the audience didn't feel the opening was slow. After General Hummel's monologue at the graveyard, the audience understood that he was about to undertake something significant. Looking at his tragic silhouette, it was clear this wouldn't be ordinary.
---
### The Rock's Impact
Indeed, the film quickly transitioned. The general and his men directly broke into a naval base's armory. With sharp editing, the general's soldiers appeared agile and skilled. A scene where one of the general's men was attacked by gas and died in the armory made the audience gasp.
Premiere venues usually provided guests and fans with small snacks, like fries or popcorn, just like watching a movie in a regular cinema. But no one touched the popcorn, and no one ate the fries. One fan intently watched the big screen, not even noticing when a fry fell from his mouth; he didn't want to miss a single moment. No one whispered, no one looked around; everyone was quickly captivated by the opening sequence.
Butcher Lutz was a seasoned action movie enthusiast, but he had never seen an action film with such a rhythm. In some ways, this film completely surpassed young Gilbert's other work, Speed. Every shot, every frame was exquisite and dazzling enough to keep one's eyes glued to the screen. Moreover, Gilbert was a director skilled at controlling audience psychology, a master of pacing. He didn't just relentlessly "boom, boom, boom" as film critic Kenneth Turan had suggested.
The film's rhythm was well-paced, with serious moments and no shortage of humorous segments. Especially the scene between the two male leads, Goodspeed and Mason, in the interrogation room, which made the entire audience burst into laughter. And the subsequent chase scene involving the Humvee, Ferrari, and other cars was incredibly thrilling. The towering explosions, the first-person perspective from the vehicles, and the immersive camera work all left the audience amazed. If such scenes happened in reality, fans would probably criticize the person for destroying public property and injuring people. But this was a movie; coupled with intense music and a gripping plot, no one found fault with this scene.
However, aside from the large-scale action, the film also had emotionally moving moments. Especially the scene where Lieutenant Colonel Anderson, facing a gun, pleads with General Hummel and his men to uphold their Navy oath—that part brought tears to many audience members' eyes. Many male viewers clenched their fists, involuntarily reciting the Navy oath along with Lieutenant Colonel Anderson. In that moment, responsibility, loyalty, and honor elevated this film beyond the realm of a typical commercial movie.
Sarah jotted down many merits in her review, then rubbed her slightly sore legs, smiling wryly. She thought to herself, "I'm such a vulgar person. A movie like this means nothing to professional critics, but in my notes, it's become the best commercial movie in recent years. It seems my understanding of commercial films isn't deep enough; I'm not suited to be a film critic."
Gilbert had almost perfectly combined common elements from past action films: explosions, car chases, emotional appeals—all found in other Hollywood commercial films. But what was most commendable about Gilbert was that these elements, which critics considered vulgar, were expertly woven together by him, unleashing immense power. Audiences were like pawns in his hands, their emotions fluctuating with the film's plot twists and turns. "Gilbert truly lives up to his reputation as a nationally renowned genius director, with innate talent," Sarah wrote in her notebook.
---