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Chapter 7: The Qualified Old Gilbert
🕑 Added 2024-09-03 10:01:35 +0000 UTCGetting a movie approved in Hollywood involves a very complex process. Take Universal Pictures, for example: typically, once a script reaches them, it undergoes a script review. Seven people cross-review the script and then vote on it. If it gets more than five votes, the script is passed to an eighth person for further review. If the eighth person approves, the script is forwarded to the market research department.
The market research department then begins to analyze the performance of similar films in the past three years. If similar movies have performed well, the script is then sent to the executives for discussion, and only then does it enter the approval phase.
However, most scripts don't make it to this stage and end up gathering dust in the script library.
While the processes differ slightly among Hollywood studios, the general procedure is the same. The goal is to minimize risk and increase the likelihood of profitability for each film project.
Of course, no system is foolproof, as many factors can influence the success of a film. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many failed movies.
The script for "The Shallows" was a special case. Spielberg didn't submit the script to the review committee; instead, he directly brought it to the executive meeting, effectively bypassing the first two steps.
This approach essentially bypassed the established procedure and was somewhat unorthodox. However, since it was Spielberg, whatever he did was considered reasonable.
This wasn't a big deal. By getting to the executive meeting, the "The Shallows" script had already reached a stage that 99% of scripts in Hollywood never do.
Not to mention, the script was greenlit by Universal Pictures due to their new president, Akio Tani, who was eager to curry favor with Spielberg—a rather unusual turn of events.
There's no such thing as a secret that doesn't get out. It didn't take long for spies from other studios embedded in Universal to leak this information.
However, the "The Shallows" project was only mentioned in passing, with the main focus being on the progress of the "Jurassic Park" project.
While other studios' executives were focused on "Jurassic Park," they merely chuckled at the news of "The Shallows."
Much like Universal's executives, most people believed that Akio Tani was simply trying to win over Spielberg.
However, upon hearing that the director for this film was only 21 years old, many executives were taken aback.
While young directors in Hollywood aren't unheard of, such a young director is indeed rare.
After their initial surprise, they all laughed at Akio Tani, thinking he had lost his mind by letting a 21-year-old direct just to please Spielberg.
Even though this young man was said to be the son of the old Gilbert Landry, they doubted he could make much of an impact, considering his father's track record.
In any case, Universal's decision to invest in "The Shallows" and let a 21-year-old direct became a laughingstock in Hollywood.
It wasn't that the "The Shallows" script was bad, and Spielberg had agreed to be the producer.
But the choice of director was questionable—a young man fresh out of college, what could he possibly accomplish?
The *Los Angeles Times* had this to say about Hollywood: "It's a movie club run by the old and conservative, devoid of any vitality, full of decay, and rigid."
This statement highlights Hollywood's bias against young people, a bias that overshadowed even Spielberg's involvement as a producer.
Of course, if Spielberg had been directing, "The Shallows" would immediately become one of the hottest projects in Hollywood.
However, Spielberg was too busy with the post-production of *Hook* and the pre-production of *Jurassic Park*.
While working on the project proposal, young Gilbert also took a break to visit home.
Ever since he graduated, old Gilbert had kicked him out, claiming it was to help him become self-reliant.
What self-reliance? The old man just didn't want young Gilbert freeloading at home any longer.
Young Gilbert's departure suited him just fine—one less mouth to feed.
Despite his father's rough treatment, young Gilbert still visited home occasionally to check on him, and of course, to mooch a meal.
The Landry family didn't have much in the way of assets, except for the house located in Bel Air, near UCLA, which was somewhat valuable.
The real estate market across the U.S. was pretty good at the time, so the house was worth something. If sold, it could fetch tens of thousands of dollars.
In fact, old Gilbert had considered selling the house many times because the property taxes and maintenance fees were quite high.
However, Gilbert's sister-in-law, young Gilbert's aunt, had stopped him from doing so, believing that the house should be kept for young Gilbert to inherit.
If sold, old Gilbert would likely squander the money away on his indulgences.
However, the old man had since reformed and had cut down on his bad habits, though he still frequented bars and clubs occasionally.
Old Gilbert was deeply influenced by the culture of The Beatles and believed in living life to the fullest, leading a rather flamboyant lifestyle.
Yet, it seemed his luck was poor—he hadn't fathered any illegitimate children and had only young Gilbert as his sole heir.
When young Gilbert arrived home, a bar girl was just leaving, carrying her high heels, with a few hundred dollars stuffed into the V-neck of her blouse.
When she saw young Gilbert, she was momentarily surprised. This handsome young man was new to her!
Out of habit, the bar girl winked at him and said, "Hi, handsome..."
Young Gilbert nodded without intending to respond.
But the bar girl wasn't about to let him off the hook, so she walked over and slipped her contact information into his hand, giving him a knowing look, winking again, and swaying her hips as she left.
Young Gilbert casually tossed the contact information into the trash and went to the backyard, where old Gilbert was lounging by the pool, puffing on a cigarette.
Judging by the shape and smell of the smoke, it was a regular cigarette.
When old Gilbert turned around and saw that it was young Gilbert, he snorted in disdain, "I didn't ask you to come back. I'm not feeding you."
"Listen to you. I'll treat you," young Gilbert said, placing the fried chicken he brought on the table. "Fried chicken, and your favorite donuts."
"Not bad. I was thinking of skipping dinner tonight," old Gilbert said, snuffing out his half-smoked cigarette without throwing it away.
He had no choice—money was tight, and he couldn't afford to waste anything, not even cigarettes.
As he eyed the delicious fried chicken, old Gilbert immediately began to devour it, wolfing it down.
"Take it easy, no one's going to steal it from you," young Gilbert quipped. "Seriously, you have money to blow on bar girls but none for food? You really only feed the lower half of your body, don't you?"
"What do you know?" old Gilbert replied between bites. "I'm fulfilling God's mission; eating or not doesn't matter."
"Ugh!" Young Gilbert grimaced. His cheap father was like a lecherous ghost, preferring passion over a full stomach.
What's more, the old man was still in great shape, even at his age. He could still manage to satisfy, judging by the look of contentment on the bar girl's face as she left.
As he continued to eat, old Gilbert asked, "I heard you got a directing opportunity?"
"News travels fast, huh?"
"No kidding. Nothing stays secret in Hollywood. Your meeting ended in the morning, and by the afternoon, all of Hollywood knew."
"Good grief, Universal is like a sieve," young Gilbert joked, then said seriously, "Yes, Uncle Steven asked me to write a project proposal, and I'm almost done with it."
Concerned about his son's future, old Gilbert advised, "This is a great opportunity. Since Steven's producing, he'll definitely be involved in the project. Knowing him, he'll keep a close eye on it.
Take this chance to learn as much as you can from him. The revival of the Landry family is in your hands."
"Do you have to put so much pressure on me?" young Gilbert chuckled but then nodded solemnly. "Of course, I'll make the most of this opportunity."
He silently added to himself: Reviving the family isn't the most important thing, but since I'm here, it would be a shame not to make a name for myself...
