Chapter 49: George Lucas, the Senior at the University of Southern California (The Father of Star Wars)
"Oh!"
"Director Kevin, well done!"
"..."
The crew members cheered once again.
Not all movies in Hollywood would have a party after wrapping up production.
After all, it costs money.
However, Kevin didn't mind spending a little extra. He generously set aside $100,000 from the production budget for the wrap party.
Tom Cruise finally breathed a sigh of relief. After four months of non-stop work, even an iron man would feel exhausted, let alone a mere mortal.
The subsequent post-production work had nothing to do with him. His job now was to promote the film in advance. But before the promotion, he wanted to go home and rest for a few days.
...
Inside a five-star hotel,
After a joyous party,
Tom Cruise approached Kevin, with a hint of sigh, and said,
"I believe that in the hands of Director Kevin, 'Mission: Impossible' will be another masterpiece. I am honored to have worked with Director Kevin on this film, and I hope we have more opportunities to collaborate in the future."
Whether a movie will turn out to be a box office hit or a flop can already be sensed during its production.
A good movie can inspire actors to tap into their potential and deliver their best performances.
On the other hand, audiences can directly perceive the awkward acting of actors in a bad film.
It's an unconscious behavior, sometimes even the actors themselves are unaware of it, but it's genuine. After all, when they know they are part of a bad film, actors often lose enthusiasm and become relaxed.
People like Nicolas Cage, who consistently deliver strong performances regardless of the film, are truly rare.
From Kevin's direction, Tom Cruise could feel Kevin's meticulous design for this film, whether it be the action scenes, character traits, or the overall plot layout.
In short, this is a film with substance.
And such films often do reasonably well at the box office.
"When the opportunity arises, Cruise, you are an exceptionally talented actor."
Tom Cruise, in the future, will be surrounded by countless controversies.
But for an actor, what matters most is whether they are qualified for their job.
And in that regard, Kevin had only one word: admiration.
In Kevin's mind, Tom Cruise is a highly ethical professional. Except for some overly dangerous stunts that were rejected by insurance company personnel and producers, he showed no fear.
In these action scenes, he may have suffered some minor injuries, but Cruise never complained about them.
This made Kevin couldn't help but exclaim that becoming a superstar requires one's own abilities.
And it was at this moment that Kevin also asked his own question.
"Cruise, why did you choose to join them?"
"Because, within them, I hold a high position."
Cruise's words were simple, but Kevin instantly understood what he meant.
It wasn't that he was being deceived by them; it was that they directly recruited him because of his high position.
They caused harm to the lower and middle classes, but someone like him, joining their ranks at a high level, would only enjoy their resources without any drawbacks.
He had no reason to refuse.
In the end, other people's choices had nothing to do with him.
As long as Tom Cruise remained a qualified and talented actor, it was enough.
…
The next day, while other members of the crew began their vacation, Kevin didn't take a break at all. Apart from indulging in some intimate time with Jolie the previous night to relieve fatigue, he went straight to the MGM building.
Before the shooting even began, he had made an agreement to have the editing done at MGM, making it convenient for them to be the first to rate Mission Impossible after the editing was complete. This may not have mattered much to Warner Bros. and Paramount, but it was important for MGM, which placed immense value on this film.
As Kevin passed by, looking exhausted and with a disheveled beard after four months of hard work, Reed, the president of MGM, couldn't help but say solemnly, "It's all up to you."
"Leave it to me," Kevin replied with a smile and plunged into the editing room.
...
Seven days later, Tom Cruise, Jolie, and the other main cast members, after a few days of rest, resumed their busy promotion. This included appearing on various television shows controlled by the major capital behind Warner Bros. and Paramount, discussing interesting stories about Mission Impossible.
In this aspect, MGM was at a disadvantage, which was also why they fell out of the "Big Five" film studios and could only maintain their position among the "Eight Majors" in Hollywood. The lack of a major capital behind them led to various aspects falling behind.
...
The external promotion had little to do with Kevin. In the era before the internet, people often didn't pay much attention to the director of a film. They were more interested in the stars who appeared in the movie.
After more than ten days of editing, the initial cut of the film finally came out. Kevin's upcoming tasks involved dubbing, adjusting the color tone of the visuals, and, of course, the crucial task of handling the special effects.
Regarding this, the president of MGM, Reed, recommended Industrial Light & Magic, a special effects company founded by George Lucas. Both George Lucas and the renowned director James Cameron were known for their expertise in special effects. They emphasized the use of various special effects techniques in their films, often delivering unprecedented spectacles to the audience.
Especially for Cameron, each of his movies marked advancements in the film industry's technological capabilities. The success of Avatar wouldn't have been possible without his research in 3D film technology.
...
Certainly! Here's the updated version:
Under Reed's introduction, Kevin arrived at Industrial Light & Magic, the special effects company. His arrival was warmly welcomed by George Lucas.
"Steve Kevin, I'm George Lucas, and I'm also an alum of the University of Southern California. I guess that makes me your senior."
With neatly trimmed facial hair, Lucas laughed heartily, appearing quite serious.
Being fellow students from the University of Southern California, they naturally belonged to the same faction within Hollywood. It was normal to lend a helping hand to their fellow alumni when there were no conflicting interests involved. This faction from USC held considerable power within Hollywood, especially in the context of awards season, where they played a crucial role.
Kevin laughed as well. Having been in Hollywood for over a year, but spending most of his time on film sets, he had fairly average connections in the industry. However, since there was such a faction, he had no reason not to join. Faced with Lucas's friendly gesture, Kevin responded positively.
"Hello, Senior Lucas. I came here today to discuss having Industrial Light & Magic handle some of the special effects for Mission Impossible."
"As the most powerful special effects company in Hollywood, I certainly came to you directly with this need, Senior."
After exchanging a few compliments and briefly discussing some inside information about Hollywood, they quickly moved on to the formal business conversation.
While Mission Impossible 1 didn't have an extraordinary number of special effects shots, they were still challenging, and therefore, it would require a significant investment.
After some negotiations, they finally agreed on a two-month timeframe and a deal involving over a hundred special effects shots.
Once the deal was finalized, Kevin made arrangements to attend a party hosted by Lucas for USC alumni at an uncertain date in the future.
Leaving Industrial Light & Magic, Kevin began working on other aspects of the film.
Overall, he was satisfied with the movie. The only regret was that due to the early start and not desperately needing funds, Kevin invested a solid $80 million without securing suitable advertising partners. He could be considered lavish with his wealth