Chapter 44: Final Preparations

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

After leaving his office, Duke shook hands with a bald middle-aged man. "In my eyes, you and your team are the perfect choice."

After an on-site evaluation, Duke finally found his ideal pyrotechnician. The pyrotechnics team, led by Joss Williams and recommended by George Lucas, largely met his requirements. Once Warner Bros. confirmed everything, they could sign the necessary work contracts.

After seeing Joss Williams off, Duke didn't return to his office but headed straight to the audition room on the first floor. He had spent too much time with the pyrotechnics team, so when he arrived, the auditions were nearly finished.

Duke wasn't particularly concerned about most of the audition results. There were almost no significant female roles in the film. The only somewhat important supporting female role had already been promised to Naomi Watts, as strongly requested by Nancy. It's common in Hollywood to help agents secure opportunities within reasonable limits, and Duke didn't shy away from that fact.

For the film's main roles, decisions had to be made jointly by him and two production managers. As for less important parts, they became the focus of newcomers, just like Duke helping Naomi Watts. Other roles also had connections. For example, the decision for Mason's daughter lay with Charles Roven, a kind of unspoken understanding within the production team.

Connections in Hollywood are crucial. Everyone has relationships to consider. For roles that aren't significant but still allow for screen time, connections often carry more weight.

However, there was one rule everyone followed: no matter which actor entered the crew through connections, they still had to meet the basic requirements for the role!

If a beautiful actress lacked basic acting skills and didn't fit the character, it wouldn't matter how many people she slept with on the production team. Even if she got the part, the director or producer would eliminate her during filming.

There are certainly various dealings in Hollywood, but they all follow unspoken rules.

Sitting behind the camera monitor in the audition room, Duke flipped through the list and profiles of actors auditioning, without intervening in the casting director's decisions. Like in the other crews he'd been part of, he recognized many names that might shine in the future, but he had grown used to it and felt no particular excitement.

After all, actors need to hone their craft, and future stars are often just rookies today.

The most typical example is Keanu Reeves in *Speed*. If Jack's character had been more complex and not just a guy with a permanently serious face, it might have been too difficult for him to handle.

Duke insisted on casting Nicolas Cage and Ed Harris in this film because neither of them were rookies. Both had over a decade of filming experience, especially Ed Harris, who played General Hummel. He had starred in more than a dozen films.

Newcomers can be cast, but it depends on the role.

For example, Naomi Watts had some acting skills, but without another decade of honing, she was still far from reaching her full potential.

Opportunities are important, but they're always for those who are well-prepared.

The auditions soon ended, and after a brief conversation with the casting director and an executive producer, confirming Naomi Watts' selection, Duke left the room and headed back to his office on the second floor. As he opened the door, he heard the sound of high heels behind him. Turning, he saw Naomi Watts and Nancy Josephson walking towards him.

"You got the role." Duke opened the door and made a gesture for them to come in.

"Oh, this is the biggest role I've landed so far," Naomi Watts exhaled in relief as she entered. "Thank you, Duke."

"No need to thank me," Duke pointed to the reception sofa in the office, "Feel free to sit."

Nancy Josephson sat a bit farther from Duke, while Naomi Watts boldly sat next to him.

"Nothing from CAA?" Duke asked the agent.

"Things are quiet for now," Nancy thought for a moment before adding, "But there's one thing we might need to keep an eye on. 20th Century Fox is restarting CAA's *Interview with the Vampire* project. The tentative leads are Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, who has been rising rapidly. The film is slated for release in the summer of next year."

"Could this be targeting *The Rock*?" Duke immediately thought of the possibility.

"It's possible," Nancy Josephson frowned, "If they're targeting you, it could be problematic. Both Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt have a certain draw, and *Interview with the Vampire* has a strong fanbase."

"It all comes down to promotion, the film itself, and how much it can appeal to audiences," Duke remained calm. "Don't forget, Anne Rice's novel leans heavily towards the artistic. If CAA pushes that kind of film during a summer dominated by blockbusters, the outcome is still uncertain."

"As long as you're aware of it," Nancy Josephson stood up, ready to leave, "I'll keep an eye on CAA's movements."

She glanced at Naomi Watts, "We should get going."

"Right away."

Naomi followed Nancy, but just as Duke was seeing them out, she turned and whispered, "How about coming over to my place for coffee tonight?"

"Sorry,"

Though tempted by her graceful figure, Duke shook his head. "I'm meeting Zack and John to discuss the shooting schedule. I don't have time."

Naomi's pretty face showed disappointment, but Duke wasn't fazed. Compared to ordinary people, actresses were far too skilled at pretending.

As night fell, the lights at the Rock Studio in Burbank remained bright. Everyone in the production team was busy. After wrapping up his meeting with Zack Snyder and John Schwartzman, Duke received word from Lieutenant Colonel Renho that the Pentagon had finally given up on making the production team modify the script.

It was good news. If the Pentagon had insisted on script changes, Duke would've had to say goodbye to them. Clearly, the Pentagon wasn't as clueless as some described. They could see the promotional value of such a patriotic film.

With the Pentagon's issues resolved, the production team gradually found its rhythm. Duke was no longer a complete novice like he had been during the *Speed* pre-production phase. Though there was still much to learn, the crew built around the team he had assembled was running relatively smoothly. There were still minor frictions, but no serious internal conflicts. And with the success of *Speed* under his belt, no one in the crew dared to directly challenge the director's authority like before.

This is a circle that chases after success. Success itself is a kind of capital. As long as Warner Bros. continued to support him, Duke had no need to worry about power struggles or personnel issues.

Pre-production is a long process. Even films with only a few scenes take time and effort to prepare. To ensure smooth shooting, everything must be well-prepared. Aside from Duke, the crew members were also working hard. The main actors, in addition to rehearsing their scenes, were undergoing training with Navy SEALs. Although the training wasn't extremely rigorous, actors like Ed Harris had to at least look like elite soldiers on screen.

It sounds simple, but the training process was quite grueling, especially for actors used to living in luxury. However, in Hollywood, there's no room for laziness when it comes to one's career. All the top directors and stars understand that success is never easy.

Those who achieve success effortlessly and don't understand this often become fleeting stars, like child actors who fade away quickly.

The script also called for a few child actors. Although their scenes were limited, they played a crucial role in highlighting General Hummel. The production team posted casting notices on both coasts through the actors' union, seeking suitable candidates. With a $50 million budget, many parents dreaming of fame, or wanting to turn their children into money-makers, came from as far as New York to audition in Los Angeles.

Duke delegated the responsibility for these minor roles. As the director of such a large production, he couldn't manage everything personally.

Still, he reminded the casting director to be cautious. Children could be unpredictable in filming, and the U.S. Child Protection Act and California Entertainment Law imposed strict regulations on child actors' working hours. While Hollywood crews often ignored these rules, getting publicly reported could cause a lot of trouble.

For example, Nancy mentioned *Interview with the Vampire*. It was said that 20th Century Fox would cast Kirsten Dunst. If they followed all the rules, the filming would likely be delayed. Combined with pre-production and post-production, they might miss the summer release window to compete with *The Rock*.

Duke had even considered infiltrating their crew once filming began and getting someone to report them to the actors' union or the child protection agency…

In the end, he dismissed the idea. Without Warner Bros.' backing, how could he compete with CAA and 20th Century Fox? Even though they didn't like him, they still played by the rules. There was no need to provoke those two big sharks.

Pre-production consumed a lot of time. By mid-November, as the weather in Los Angeles cooled, Duke was finally ready to begin shooting