Chapter 20: The First Encounter with Matt Damon

In Hollywood, those without capital one must follow the rules. Gilbert was one of those without capital, and the distribution plan from Universal Pictures soon reached him.

The plan was very conservative, which made Gilbert quite dissatisfied.

He wanted the film to open in a thousand or even three thousand theaters, but he knew this was wishful thinking.

Currently, printing a 35mm film copy costs about $600. With three thousand screens, this would require $1.8 million.

*The Shallows* had a production cost of $3.5 million, and given the unclear market prospects, Universal Pictures had to adopt a conservative release strategy.

They would use test screenings to gauge market response, see audience reviews, and check box office performance per theater.

If the performance was good, they would expand the release scale.

With Universal Pictures' distribution capability, printing and shipping thousands of copies across North America in a short time wasn't an issue.

If the performance was poor, they would cut their losses and push *The Shallows* to the video and rights market.

This is how Hollywood's major companies handle distribution. Only companies with distribution power are considered major players and one of the prerequisites for becoming a giant in Hollywood.

By mid-September, there were still very few ads and news about *The Shallows* in the media, which made Gilbert anxious and prone to insomnia.

Winona Ryder had visited him a few times, and practicing yoga with her allowed Gilbert to relieve some of his stress.

Gilbert felt trapped in a dilemma: worried about finding investors when the script was ready, concerned about the film company's reluctance to distribute it, and once it was distributed, anxious about its success, audience reception, and media reviews.

In short, before everything was settled, anxiety and pressure were constant sources of stress.

Perhaps sensing Gilbert's tension, Spielberg had his assistant Jonathan call him and invite him to a party.

Gilbert initially didn't want to go, but then thought that such a party was a great networking opportunity to meet more Hollywood professionals.

So, Gilbert took out his rarely worn suit, had it cleaned at a tailor shop, and prepared to wear it.

This suit was bought for him by his aunt Meryl Clare, costing over a thousand dollars. It had a somewhat industrial, cheap feel, and wearing it made him look like a struggling stockbroker on Wall Street.

But it was the best suit he had.

He couldn't wear a T-shirt and jeans, as that would be considered rude and disrespectful by the host.

Following the principle of not feeling inferior if I don't feel inferior myself, Gilbert put on the suit with confidence.

He also styled his hair into a slicked-back look, somewhat like Leonardo DiCaprio's in *The Aviator*.

Of course, at this time, DiCaprio was only sixteen, having just finished filming the seventh season of *Growing Pains*.

After getting ready, Gilbert took a taxi to the party venue.

The party was held at the famous Hilton Hotel, filled with Los Angeles celebrities and media reporters taking photos.

Since it was a private event, reporters couldn't enter the party hall and could only take pictures from outside.

When Gilbert arrived, a large group of reporters had gathered outside. A Bentley pulled up and parked in front of the hotel, and the reporters went wild with excitement.

"Is that Julia Roberts…"

"Oh my God, she's so beautiful…"

"Damn it, take the pictures quickly…"

The reporters rushed forward, ignoring Gilbert who stood aside.

At this moment, a voice spoke in Gilbert's ear, "Envious, aren't you? This is the glamorous side of Hollywood."

Gilbert turned and immediately recognized the person standing next to him.

For those familiar with Hollywood movies and stars, this person was well-known, and his films were loved by many Chinese movie fans.

"Hello, I'm Matt Damon. I just arrived in Los Angeles recently." The man extended his hand in greeting.

"Hello," Gilbert shook hands with Matt Damon. "I'm Gilbert Landrini."

After exchanging pleasantries, Matt Damon asked, "Are you an actor too? What films or TV shows have you been in?"

"No," Gilbert shook his head. "I'm a director."

"Director?" Matt Damon looked at Gilbert in surprise. "You look about my age. Are you really a director?"

Most directors were in their thirties or older, so someone as young as Gilbert was quite rare.

"As you can see, I am a director, but my first film hasn't been released yet," Gilbert explained.

"Oh!" Matt Damon realized that assistant directors and associate directors are also considered directors.

"Let's go in!" Gilbert said, planning to enter the party hall with Matt Damon.

Matt Damon caught up and walked alongside Gilbert. "I tried to get in earlier, but they wouldn't let me without an invitation. Do you have a way to get in?"

"Just walk in directly. What other way is there?" Gilbert looked at Matt Damon curiously and continued walking.

"But," Matt Damon scratched his head, "we don't have an invitation!"

"Don't worry about that. Just follow me," Gilbert said confidently, making Matt Damon curious.

So, Matt Damon followed Gilbert to see how he managed to get in.

When they reached the door, Matt Damon saw Gilbert greet someone inside, "Hi, Jonathan."

The man named Jonathan came out and looked at Gilbert, saying, "Don't you have a better suit?"

Gilbert smiled awkwardly and said, "This is the best suit I have."

"Forget it, then. You can come in. Who's this?" Jonathan noticed Matt Damon.

Gilbert introduced, "My friend, Matt Damon."

"Friend, then come in together," Jonathan said, leading both of them into the party hall.

"Mr. Spielberg is over there. Go greet him yourself. I still have to attend to the other guests," Jonathan instructed.

"Okay, you're busy. I can manage on my own," Gilbert responded.

After Jonathan left, Matt Damon asked Gilbert in surprise, "Who is he?"

"Spielberg's assistant," Gilbert answered.

"You know Spielberg?" Matt Damon was even more surprised.

"It's nothing special. I told you I'm a director, and Spielberg is the producer of my first film," Gilbert answered as if it were the most ordinary thing.

But this revelation left Matt Damon, who had just arrived in Los Angeles, stunned.

Spielberg was a huge name. Being recognized by him meant immediate stability in Hollywood.

Although he had only known Gilbert for a short time, Matt Damon felt he had a new understanding of him.

This young director, who seemed to be about the same age as him, appeared to be someone with hidden depths.

At that moment, even Gilbert's cheap suit looked to Matt Damon like a symbol of understated luxury.

Look at him, maintaining a close relationship with a major director while still wearing a modest suit to such a high-end party.

This must be the way of high society, Matt Damon thought he had understood.

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