Chapter 11: The Addiction on Set

This explosion cost over three hundred thousand dollars, and it had another effect: Sofia Coppola was probably startled, as she called Duke the next day to say she was sick and needed a few days off.

To be honest, Duke was not very satisfied with the results of the shoot. Compared to the explosion maniac from his previous life, the explosion scenes they created and filmed were not impressive at all. The pyrotechnician and cinematography team hired by Lucasfilm were certainly not top-tier in this regard.

However, Duke could not expect more, as such top-notch professionals were not common in Hollywood.

According to the pre-set shooting plan, after returning to the set, the crew shifted to model shoots. For ridiculous and costly scenes like a bus flying through the air, Duke opted for model photography. The realistic models created by Industrial Light & Magic would not overly impact the shooting results.

In the end, most of the models inevitably met a fiery demise. At the outdoor set of Universal Studios, a twenty-foot-long Boeing cargo plane model was obliterated in an explosion alongside a proportionately scaled-down bus model.

The crew entered the best phase since filming began. In the first week of November, Duke even completed the filming tasks he had planned for two weeks, which was attributed to the crew gradually blending together and his tendency to plan from the most difficult angles.

Since the crew started filming, Robin Grand had almost completely faded into the background. Like all excellent production managers, he handed over control of the set to Duke, merely observing everything with his eyes.

Duke knew that Robin had watched all the footage he had filmed, and not just once. The fact that he had not offered any feedback indicated a general satisfaction with the shots Duke had captured. The assistant director, Kone, had also been more restrained, likely due to Robin's quiet warnings.

Though it wasn't very obvious, it could not be concealed from discerning eyes: Robin Grand was looking out for him.

Why was he doing this? Duke thought it had to do with George Lucas. He never considered deeper reasons, as his entire focus was on how to make this film.

However, in Hollywood, nothing goes smoothly.

"This is the shooting plan for this afternoon."

Sofia Coppola, who had returned to the crew, placed a plan on Duke's desk and said, "But the male lead still hasn't arrived. Should we shoot other scenes first?"

"He's already twenty minutes late."

All the scenes in the afternoon were related to Keanu Reeves, and Uma Thurman and Dennis Hopper, who were already made up, had been waiting in the break area of the studio.

Just as Duke was preparing to adjust the shooting plan, a noisy commotion came from the entrance of the studio. Keanu Reeves stumbled in, whistling, and when a staff member approached to remind him to get ready, he shoved them aside, causing them to fall to the ground.

"Hey, kid!" Keanu's voice was high-pitched and hoarse. "Don't make trouble!"

Throwing down the shooting plan, Duke strode over. Before he reached Keanu, he could already faintly smell a light scent of smoke. It was a familiar odor; he hadn't personally tried it, but he had smelled it in high school and college. Remembering Keanu's wild lifestyle in the early '90s, the answer was clear.

"You're late, Reeves!"

Duke extended his hand to help the bewildered staff member up.

"It's only a few minutes!" Keanu waved dismissively. "Just a few minutes!"

"Find a place to let him sober up."

Duke directed the assistant following Keanu. The assistant had just started to approach when Keanu pushed him away.

"I want to shoot!"

In an excited state, Keanu seemed a bit dazed. His voice grew louder, "I want to shoot, you understand? I want to shoot!"

He staggered toward Duke but veered off course, crashing into a "wall," which immediately collapsed, causing him to trip and fall. In a rush to get up, he grabbed a rope holding up the backdrop, pulling down an entire twenty-foot-long piece of scenery.

It's common for stars to use drugs, and there are many like Keanu who use cocaine in Hollywood, but it's rare for someone high to come onto the set and cause a scene!

Coldly watching Keanu, who was acting like an excited drunk, Duke said to Sofia behind him, "Call his agent, and get a few security guards in here to toss him into the dumpster!"

"Absolutely not!"

Keanu Reeves was high, but his assistant was not. If this got out, it would have a massive impact on the employer.

Turning away, Duke walked toward his resting area. With the set destroyed, the afternoon's filming was surely ruined. His eyes swept over Uma Thurman and Dennis Hopper, who were watching the spectacle with amused expressions, sizing up the now notorious male actor.

The crew would certainly not follow Duke's suggestion of throwing Keanu into the dumpster. A few people, along with the assistant, managed to pin him down onto a chair. Once the excitement wore off, Keanu sat there with his head bowed, lost in thought.

Sofia inquired about the situation and quickly discovered the gist of it.

"He went to Johnny Depp's bar before he arrived." She informed Duke, sitting across from him. "That bar is a popular hangout for many young Hollywood actors—Keanu Reeves, Johnny Depp, and River Phoenix, the notorious drug trio of Hollywood."

"It doesn't matter if they usually indulge in heroin!" Duke lightly tapped the armrest of his chair, his tone cold. "But now he has ruined my entire afternoon's shooting schedule!"

Robin Grand, who hadn't been at the set that day, was the first to arrive, followed shortly by Keanu's agent.

In the office on set, Duke and Robin sat in close proximity. Keanu, with a cold towel on his face, was becoming more alert, and his agent appeared to have a headache.

"I'm very sorry." The agent had already apologized several times.

"Mr. Reeves not only disrupted my shooting schedule," Duke said flatly, focusing on how to resolve the issue now that it had occurred. "The scenery damaged by Mr. Reeves has suffered varying degrees of destruction, which will delay the crew's timeline."

"I'm very sorry." The agent repeated.

"I wish this apology came from Mr. Reeves himself." Duke looked at Keanu, who had regained consciousness. "He should be the one apologizing!"

"You..." Reeves suddenly raised his head, glaring at Duke.

Duke returned his gaze with a sharper look, showing no sign of backing down. This wasn't the Keanu Reeves of the future but a genuine troublemaker.

The agent whispered a few words in Keanu's ear, and he gradually lowered his head, eventually saying to Duke, "I'm very sorry!"

Nodding, Duke indicated he accepted the apology, showing no intention of holding a grudge, as they still had to work together. There was no benefit in completely alienating each other.

Afterward, Duke left the office, and what Robin Grand could extract from the situation was no longer his concern.

The time they had saved from smooth filming had all been wasted due to this incident. Although Keanu had apologized, their already strained relationship grew even colder. Duke didn't mind; since the preparation began, he had kept his distance from all the actors, preferring not to have too much interaction beyond work.

A week later, after filming the subway scenes, the crew wrapped up shooting at the studio. Dennis Hopper became the first main actor to leave the crew. Robin Grand, skilled in social interactions, specially reserved a bar at Universal Studios for a small farewell party for him.

"Dennis, you did a fantastic job!"

Raising his glass, Duke clinked it with Dennis Hopper's, downing the champagne inside. He tapped the old actor's outstretched fist and said, "I hope we get to work together again in the future."

"I hope so too." Dennis Hopper finished his drink.

Knowing how to speak appropriately with different people is one of the essential skills for survival in Hollywood.

Leaving the chaotic crowd, Duke returned to the quiet bar, ordered another glass of champagne, and sat on a high stool, savoring it slowly.

His pressure was greater than anyone else's there; he couldn't relax and had no desire to celebrate.

"Don't you like the excitement?" A voice with an Australian accent spoke beside him.

Duke slowly shook his head. He had attended wild parties in high school and college and did not reject that kind of atmosphere.

"Are you out of place?" the voice continued to ask. "Or do you want to maintain the authority of a director?"

"Ms. Watts, how much authority do you think I have on set?"

Turning around, Duke looked at the petite woman who had just taken a seat next to him. Her golden curls fell smoothly over her ivory-colored long shirt, and her slightly protruding two front teeth were revealed when she opened her lips.

Naomi Watts smiled directly. Having worked in Japan and Australia for many years, she was certainly no novice. She could see that the crew was maintained only by a work contract, and the young director didn't have much authority.

"Just call me Nomi."

She extended her right hand to Duke. "Let's get reintroduced. Naomi Watts, Australian."

Duke shook her hand, saying in the same manner, "Duke Rosenberg, from Los Angeles."