King of Hollywood-Chapter 283 - 11 Setting Sail
Chapter 283: Chapter 11 Setting Sail
Chapter 283 -11 Setting Sail
“No, no, no, that won’t do, JoBeth, this is completely a Soviet-style auditorium, not a Chinese one,” Adrian said, shaking his head as he looked at the wide photography studio that had been cleared out, with three long hanging Five-Star Red Flags on the wall, and on another wall hung a giant portrait of Mao.
“I remember providing you with enough material; why did you end up making it like this?” he questioned his prop master. “Don’t tell me you didn’t take a close look at those things.”
“How could I not,” JoBeth said with a touch of grievance, “I’ve analyzed those materials carefully. If we set up the environment according to them, it would make Forrest Gump’s exceptionalness seem somewhat ridiculous, and you think so too.”
“Do I think so too?” Adrian wore a puzzled look. “Do I really think that?”
“Of course, it’s written right at the bottom of the third page of the memorandum, which you wrote by hand,” JoBeth had just finished speaking when Charlize, standing behind Adrian, had already handed the document over to him.
Adrian flipped to the third page and saw that it was indeed written like that. After reflecting for a moment without saying anything, he handed it back to Charlize and nodded to JoBeth: “Then let it be that way.”
The rationale that JoBeth wrote in the memorandum was very sufficient, explaining everything from the colors to the possible camera movements. Adrian had even done a detailed analysis on this basis before the shooting, without giving it too much thought at that time. But it didn’t matter anyway. If the film was going to be released in China, this segment would be cut out no matter what, so it wasn’t necessary to fuss over it too much.
Next came the official filming, but Hanks and the temporary Chinese-American actors found had to swing their rackets at air. In reality, table tennis wasn’t as sharp as conceived, so the motion trajectory could only be added in post-production. In fact, all the super table tennis that Forrest Gump played in the film was done this way.
But it didn’t mean that Hanks could randomly swing the racket around during filming. The team specifically hired a coach to design some movements based on the trajectory of table tennis. It couldn’t be said to be very sensible, but at least it looked the part.
Besides this, the other thing needed to be produced later was Forrest Gump’s participation in the iconic events, like the “desegregation” riots in Alabama, or Kennedy receiving the National College All-Stars, and Nixon awarding medals to the heroes of the Vietnam War, etc. Because Gump’s image had to be inserted into those archival black-and-white images, Hanks had to stand in front of a green or blue screen, shaking hands, and conversing with the air, as if those historical figures were standing right in front of him.
“Every time you yell action, I have to imagine many people standing around me and try hard to act as if I’m conversing with them. It’s really not easy,” Hanks mentioned during a break about this part of the shooting.
“Come on, Tommy, if you find that difficult, then Harrison and Sam must have already collapsed,” Adrian retorted. Compared to performing entirely on a blue screen based on one’s imagination, imagining within a restricted scene—for Star Wars or Jurassic Park, for instance—was obviously much more troublesome.
The scene took about three days, and then the crew moved to San Jose, where they would film the shrimping scenes. This was a very important part of the film, where Lieutenant Dan became completely invigorated because of Forrest Gump. Whether it was Lieutenant Dan’s “I’ve never thanked you for saving my life” or Forrest Gump’s “I think he made his peace with God,” these lines and scenes both turned out to be classic and deeply meaningful.
Adrian had initially planned to shoot this part in Alabama, but the conditions there were, after all, not as good as in Los Angeles. California was also a coastal region, and as long as he made some editing on the camera and post-production, the audience wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.
This was another story about the American Dream, with Forrest Gump, who initially caught nothing, persisting and finally reaping a bountiful harvest after surviving a storm. Of course, the film aimed to depict more than just these events; it also portrayed the friendship between Lieutenant Dan and Forrest Gump, as well as their transformation under the influence of this seemingly dumb and silly man. However, it was precisely here that Lieutenant Dan stood out the most, especially during the scenes where he climbed the mast and shouted into the storm as if venting.
“At that moment, he thought he was going to die, that he was finally going to be free and not live like a zombie. But unexpectedly, not only did he and Gump survive, but they also made a fortune from shrimping. Lieutenant Dan finally understood that a person’s value doesn’t disappear with setbacks—the key is you haven’t gone looking for it. But he knew that Forrest Gump didn’t care about any of that; he just wanted to do what he could to help his friend, so in the end, he chose not to say anything.” On the deck of a decrepit fishing boat bought by the crew, Adrian explained this to Gary Sinise and Tom Hanks.
Meanwhile, the crew members bustled around, setting up the necessary equipment for the shot, such as the large spotlights standing on both sides. It was now afternoon, and the sea was sparkling, presenting a beautiful view. However, the shooting required the atmosphere of just after a storm, so they needed intense light to create a dim environment on camera, then add the departing dark clouds in post-production.
“Alright, guys, let’s get started,” Adrian clapped his hands to signal the beginning of the shoot after Sinise and Hanks were done with makeup and everyone was in place. The shots here were very short; as long as the emotions of the actors were in the right place, everything would go smoothly. Of course, the storm shots were not going to be filmed here; those had to be created inside the studio.
“Well done, everyone.” The shots had all gone smoothly, so Adrian announced a ten-minute break, and everyone took out their pre-prepared chilled beers, found a spot on the boat, and started drinking.
“On such a clear afternoon, is there anything more comfortable than sitting on a boat floating in the sea, drinking a chilled beer?” Sinise suddenly exclaimed.
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“Of course, there is,” someone immediately yelled, “and that’s walking around on a boat floating in the sea on such a clear afternoon, drinking a chilled beer!”
A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd, and Sinise loudly retorted, “Hey, how can you guys make fun of a disabled person? Even if he’s just a character in a movie!”
The laughter grew louder, and all he could do was shake his head and continue drinking his chilled beer. Adrian, who was leaning against the ship’s rail, couldn’t help but laugh, too, shaking his head before turning to gaze at the calm sea. Of course, there were more comfortable things than the current moment, like drifting on the calm sea with a beautiful woman, fully enjoying the May sea breeze.
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“Turn 40 degrees to the left, Kate,” Adrian’s voice directed, and Blanchett immediately began to turn the wheel in front of her.
“How’s that?” she asked loudly after a couple of turns.
“Perfect!” Adrian leaned out, smiling and giving her a thumbs-up, “Keep this course, I’m going to start raising the second sail now. Let me know when you’re ready.”
Blanchett took control of the steering wheel, looked around, and then gave the signal, “No problem, Ed.”
Soon, with the creaking sound of rotation, another large sail on the yacht was raised, billowing and flapping loudly in the brisk wind. The speed of the small yacht increased significantly, and if one were to look down from the sky, they’d see the fully-sailed small yacht leaving a beautiful white trace on the azure sea.
“Yo-ho!” Adrian’s cheers came from the bow, full of infectious enthusiasm, which also left Blanchett at the helm feeling exhilarated. Although she was wearing a loose white T-shirt, below that she had on ultra-short hot pants. Her slender figure was fully visible, especially enticing as the outlines of her chest were vaguely visible due to the lack of a bra.
“How does it feel, Kate? I told you, whatever troubles you have, they all disappear in the face of the vast sea,” Adrian said, returning to Blanchett’s side after relaxing at the bow, “Your steering skills are not bad at all.”
“Thanks. You know, I am an Australian girl,” Blanchett said with a smile.
Australia’s major cities are mostly on the coast, so Australians are particularly keen on water sports. Blanchett was no exception; she often used to rent yachts with her friends in Canberra to go out to sea, so even now with just the two of them on the yacht, she was still managing it very well.
Thinking about it, Blanchett herself felt strange. When Adrian called to invite her out to sea for the weekend, she agreed without a second thought, even though he had made it clear that it would be just the two of them.
After sailing for several miles and the sea breeze began to decrease, Adrian promptly lowered the sails, practically bringing the small yacht to a stop. Then he took up a bucket of champagne from the cabin below. After pouring two glasses, he handed one to Blanchett, “Take a break and have a drink.”
“Thank you.” Blanchett took it, swept back the hair that had blown to her mouth corner from the sea breeze, and sat down side by side with Adrian at the stern. Since arriving in Hollywood, she had heard many rumors about Adrian; the good aspects didn’t need to be mentioned, with his current collaborators Keanu Reeves and Jean de Bont praising him a lot, especially the Halloween incident which Reeves had mentioned countless times; as for the negative aspects, the scandals were the most talked about, especially the rumors she had heard at some parties about Adrian having a threesome with Julia and Monica.
Blanchett was quite surprised and couldn’t help but form a few unfavorable opinions about Adrian, given that she was still young, and they had only met at a party where their relationship wasn’t particularly close. However, she didn’t really believe it in her heart—how credible could the words of those people at the party be? By comparison, the staff from the “Speed” film crew might,
Most importantly, she had dated Adrian a few times up to now, and he had always made a good impression on her. He was gracefully charming and well-educated, never hiding his appreciation of her—women are just like that, always longing for the admiration of outstanding men.
Especially after this year’s Oscars, Adrian’s fame within the circle had risen greatly, especially his acumen, which was the talk of every actor; many hoped to be chosen by him for a role. Therefore, Blanchett felt a special excitement and thrill whenever she thought about how he had repeatedly invited her to play roles, though she couldn’t define her feelings precisely.
Or was this why I readily agreed to the yacht outing? The lady pondered as she sipped champagne, her feet gently slapping the seawater. Turning her head, she gave Adrian a glance and then slightly furrowed her brow.
“Your eyes, Ed,” though it was a questioning reminder, the note of reproach in her tone was clear.
“Is there something wrong with my eyes?” Adrian asked with a smile, and due to the sea breeze, his baggy shirt clung to Blanchett’s body, perfectly outlining the two braless half-spheres of her chest.
Blanchett rolled her eyes at him and shook her head without saying a word. This wasn’t the first time; since they had set out to sea and she changed clothes, Adrian’s gaze had never ceased, but Blanchett had never felt disgusted. Instead, she would occasionally thrust her chest forward to give him a better view. His gaze always contained admiration and wonder, and though there was something else there, it was limited, and he made no attempt to hide it.
It was straightforward enough to be captivating. Blanchett told herself inwardly. While Adrian was sizing her up, she was equally appraising him. After going to sea, he had donned shorts, his bare upper body only adorned with a small vest, revealing just the right amount of muscular physique, which was very alluring, presenting a wholly different sensation from before.
If the previous Adrian seemed suave and debonair, the current him was filled with a raw appeal, and the two personas complemented each other well without feeling contradictory.
“Indeed, indeed, surfing, diving, windsurfing, and the like—I’ve tried them all, but I think surfing and diving are probably my favorites,” Blanchett said as she rested the champagne glass on her head, gazing at the slightly undulating surface of the sea nostalgically.
“Oh, that’s really a pity,” Adrian sighed with regret, “I should have driven a high-speed yacht instead of the current sailing yacht, then we could go diving or surfing.”
“No, no, no, I think this is also nice,” Blanchett said with a smile, shaking her head, “otherwise, we couldn’t venture too far from the coastline, and we’d miss out on some pleasures.”
“Ah? Like what?” Adrian asked, raising an eyebrow.
Without speaking, Blanchett downed the champagne in her glass, a glint of something different flashing in her sea-blue eyes. She then stood up, flipping the hem of her shirt over with a catch, the soft yet firm curves of her breasts naturally revealing themselves to Adrian. After that, she took off her hot pants, unveiling the swimsuit she was already wearing underneath. Stretching her lovely body, she performed a fish dive into the sea with a splash, moving in the water with the agility of a fish before surfacing for air.
“Wow, it’s truly refreshing; I’ve wanted to try swimming in the open sea for a while,” Blanchett said excitedly and cheerfully after emerging from the water and wiping her face, “Aren’t you going to try it out, Ed?”
She looked at him with a smile full of challenge and allure, her sea-blue eyes blending with the water, her wet hair sleeked back to reveal her somewhat sharp features, which carried their own unique charm.
Adrian laughed heartily and without hesitation stripped off his vest and shorts, diving into the water. They began to playfully chase each other around the yacht, circling it over and over again. Blanchett’s swimming skills were indeed impressive. While she might not have matched Adrian in strength, her technique was slightly superior, and several times when she was nearly caught, she would suddenly twist her body and elegantly glide under the yacht.
“How does it feel, Ed?” she asked giggling, hanging on to the edge of the yacht and looking at a slightly panting Adrian who was wiping his face not far away. “Giving up so quickly?”
“Do you know, Kate, you can’t say that to a man?” Adrian raised his eyebrow as he spoke, and the look in his eyes suddenly became dangerous.
Blanchett was slightly stunned, then realized something and bent over, chuckling. But after she straightened up, she discovered that Adrian, who had been nearby just seconds ago, had now vanished.
She quickly looked around, leaned over to peek at the other side of the yacht, then swam toward the place where Adrian had disappeared. After a bit of searching, Adrian was still nowhere to be seen. Blanchett was getting a little anxious, but then she thought of a place. Just as she was about to move, she heard a splash. Adrian had come around from in front of her, embracing her tightly in his arms.
“How about now?” he laughed.
“You’re just being sneaky,” Blanchett retorted, obviously not convinced, wriggling as if trying to escape.
“See, I knew it,” Adrian teased.
“It’s true, isn’t it?” Blanchett stopped when she caught the implication in his words but refused to admit defeat verbally.
Adrian smiled without a word, just looking at her, his gaze gradually changing. The lady sensed this, opened her mouth as if to say something more, but he had already leaned in and kissed her lips, covered in droplets of water.
After a good long while, the two separated, looked at each other for a moment, smiled, and then climbed back aboard the yacht together, treading water.
Without further conversation, they each wrapped themselves in a towel.
“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” After a brief rest, Blanchett suddenly asked.
“What?”
“Inviting me to go out to sea alone.”
The young woman sat down next to him, her gaze unwavering as she looked at Adrian.
“Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t,” Adrian mused, shrugging noncommittally.
“What if… I refused?” Blanchett asked flirtatiously.
“Then… I would have to say I’m sorry,” Adrian sighed and turned away.
Blanchett immediately burst into giggles, then out of nowhere, grabbed his shoulders and pinned him to the deck of the yacht. Although Adrian was somewhat taken aback, he did not make any move, just looking up at her. Blanchett then straddled him.
Adrian quickly inhaled sharply, and Blanchett could feel his response; her smile growing even more seductive…(To be continued. For more, please visit www.qidian.com. More chapters are available, support the author, support genuine reading!)
