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Chapter 121 Sullivan and Bauer's Adventures
🕑 Added 2024-11-23 09:41:20 +0000 UTCAfter capturing the two, the set manager reported to producer Charles Roven.
"We caught two people filming secretly. They're fans, just curious about movies, and were taking some shots," the manager explained briefly.
Charles Roven took the camera, glanced at it, and then handed it to Gilbert. He said to the manager, "Turn them over to the police; let them handle it."
"Wait," Gilbert called out to the set manager.
He looked at the camera in his hand – a Panasonic NV-S250EN. Though, by his standards as someone from the future, it seemed bulky and heavy, it was still a good portable camera for this era.
He had to admit, the quality of Japanese products back then was truly impressive – unlike later, when only the spirit of craftsmanship was left.
This camera had playback capability. Gilbert checked the footage and saw that it only contained the scene of the Hummer crashing into the water tanker. Nothing too revealing.
Since there wasn't any major spoiler, Gilbert asked, "How old are they? Are they adults?"
The manager replied, "They're students from St. Mary's High School nearby. They're minors."
Gilbert discussed with Charles Roven, "I think we should let it go. Just delete the footage; let's not make a big deal out of it."
"That's not a good idea. Filming on set is confidential, and what they did is essentially industrial espionage," Charles Roven disagreed.
"What employer would be dumb enough to hire two high school kids for industrial espionage to shoot something like this?"
Gilbert joked, then shared his thoughts, "Let's be friendly to them, release the young guys, and we might even use this incident to our advantage for promotion later."
"You're suggesting we publicize it?" Charles Roven raised an eyebrow.
"Bingo," Gilbert snapped his fingers, expanding on his idea. "We could even have them make a cameo in the movie and invite them to the premiere."
Charles Roven was already used to Gilbert's quirky ideas. After hearing him out, he thought it wasn't a bad plan and nodded in agreement.
"Alright, I'll go talk to our two enthusiastic fans." Charles Roven went to speak with Sullivan and Bauer personally.
"And give them back their camera. Be friendly," Gilbert said with a smile as he handed over the camera.
Charles Roven rolled his eyes. "I am friendly…"
Taking the camera, he headed with the set manager to see the two high school students.
Sullivan and Bauer were seated in a room, anxiously worrying about their fate.
"What do we do, Sullivan?" Bauer looked more terrified. "If the school finds out, could they expel me? My mom would be so heartbroken if she knew about this."
"Shut up, Bauer. I'm thinking!" Sullivan was observing the room, inspecting the vents, plotting how to take down the guard and escape.
These were all scenarios he had seen in movies, where protagonists did exactly that.
If Gilbert knew what Sullivan was thinking, he'd probably laugh and tell the naive kid that movies were just fiction.
In reality, while people who could pull that off might exist, they were far from ordinary folks.
Before Sullivan could come up with a plan, two people entered the room.
The chubby producer sized them up, put the camera on the table, and smiled slightly at the two nervous high schoolers.
"I'm Charles Roven, the producer. Would you introduce yourselves?"
Though Charles Roven was smiling, to Sullivan and Bauer, that smile was more terrifying than a scowl.
Their bodies shook, and they huddled together, looking petrified.
Charles Roven found it odd – he was smiling warmly, yet they looked even more frightened.
He tried again, "No need to be scared; I'm not a bad guy. The set manager told me you're students at St. Mary's High School. Coincidentally, I went to St. Mary's too, though not the one in San Francisco."
This only made things worse – they thought he was going to report their actions to their school, and they became even more terrified, unable to speak.
Seeing he couldn't get through to them, Charles Roven had no choice but to leave.
Outside, he asked the set manager, "Do I look scary?"
The set manager answered honestly, "To be fair, you're the second most intimidating person here."
"Who's the first?"
"The director…"
Charles Roven was speechless. Was he really that intimidating, on par with Gilbert?
Failing his mission, he went back to Gilbert and described the interaction.
After hearing it, Gilbert burst out laughing. "Looks like talking to young people isn't your strong suit."
Charles Roven imitated Gilbert's shrug. "I talk to you just fine, and you're not scared of me."
"That's because I'm different," Gilbert said, calling over Sophia. "Sophia, you go talk to those two high schoolers."
Sophia, already familiar with the situation, accepted the task without hesitation.
Sullivan and Bauer didn't have to wait long before the chubby producer disappeared and was replaced by a kind-looking older sister.
She smiled and gently said, "Director Gilbert has decided not to hold you accountable, and he won't inform the police."
Sullivan and Bauer, who had been fretting, were stunned and couldn't believe their ears. Sullivan asked, "Really?"
"Of course. Director Gilbert said it himself." Sophia handed them coffee and snacks so they could have something to eat.
Then Sophia added, "Not only that, but Director Gilbert hasn't even deleted the footage on your camera. You can show it to your friends at school."
"Wow!" Sullivan and Bauer exchanged glances, both looking astonished.
"Is this real? The production team really won't hold us responsible?" Sullivan asked.
"Absolutely," Sophia's warm smile almost made Sullivan and Bauer faint. She was beautiful.
Then she added, "But Director Gilbert has a request: he'd like to invite you both to make a cameo in the movie and attend the premiere next summer."
"Is that...a request? To true fans, that's a huge privilege!"
They eagerly nodded. "No worries; we'll cooperate completely."
"Yeah, even if we just play corpses, that'd be fine!"
Seeing them shift from fear to excitement, Sophia smiled. "Alright, finish up and get ready; we'll shoot this afternoon."
"Okay, okay!" Sullivan and Bauer gobbled down their burgers quickly.
When Sophia returned, she updated Gilbert, "All set, Gilbert. By the way, are you really going to put these two kids in the movie?"
Gilbert held out his hand, and Charles Roven handed him a ten-dollar bill from his wallet.
"You two bet behind my back?" Gilbert asked.
"Yep," Gilbert said, "Charles thought you couldn't handle it since he couldn't, but I believed in you."
Sophia glared at Gilbert before repeating her question.
"Of course. Why not?" Gilbert explained, "Let them play high school students in the afternoon scene."
"Alright," Sophia shrugged. "You're the director; it's your call."
In the afternoon, when the set was ready, Gilbert met Sullivan and Bauer for the first time.
They were thrilled to see him, asking for his autograph and even getting Charles Roven to take pictures with them.
Charles Roven was baffled. Were these kids more afraid of him than Gilbert?
Couldn't wrap his head around it.
The scene was an explosion sequence where John Mason, driving a Hummer, crashes into a tram, causing it to derail and triggering a series of explosions.
The spectacle would be intense and test Gilbert's directing skills.
Sullivan and Bauer were cast as two high schoolers on the tram, while the tram driver was played by Gilbert's father, Mr. Gilbert Sr.
The two had a close-up on the tram before a jump scene, then were off-screen during the explosion.
As the camera zoomed in on Sullivan and Bauer, it shifted to Gilbert Sr.
"Welcome aboard my tram. Is everyone alright?"
With that shot, Sullivan and Bauer's Hollywood debut was complete.
After the close-up, they watched the stunt actors leap from the tram, rolling on the ground, and an elderly stuntwoman continue walking as the Hummer approached, which left them dumbfounded.
"Guess acting isn't that easy, huh?" Bauer muttered in awe.
But the next explosion scene shook them completely.
Following precise planning by the crew, the derailed tram collided with cars on the roadside, taking down a yellow Ferrari.
Explosives detonated, and flames shot into the sky.
Sullivan and Bauer, genuinely startled, were filmed with their authentic reactions, making for a great shot.
"Bauer, this is insane! Do they film all explosions like this?"
"Wow! No wonder he's Director Gilbert. I can't wait to see this in theaters!"
After shooting, Sophia asked them, "How did it feel?"
Initially scared, Sullivan and Bauer were thrilled, "So cool! Sophia, do you guys shoot scenes like this every day?"
"Uh…" Sophia had thought they'd be terrified but was surprised by their excitement.
After calming them down, Sophia arranged for a car to take them home.
At home, Sullivan and Bauer excitedly shared their adventures with their families and planned to tell their friends at school.
This incredible experience would be their bragging rights for a long time, enough to make them the stars of St. Mary's High.
