Director in Hollywood

"1, 2, 3, start..."

With a command from Yuen Woo-ping, Keanu Reeves began his movements on set, leaning backward to execute the required motion for filming.

According to the shot design, the camera needed to circle around him, but during actual filming, they found that a handheld camera couldn't achieve a stable shot.

Likewise, using a mechanical arm for precise control wasn't feasible yet, as robotic arms hadn't advanced to that level.

After the initial test shots, Gilbert and cinematographer John Schwartzman came up with a solution.

Along the curve of Keanu Reeves' backward lean, they arranged 120 DSLR cameras in sequence. Within one second, these 120 cameras would take pictures in succession.

By stitching these frames together at 24 frames per second, they produced a five-second-long shot.

This technique was none other than the famous bullet time. The filming took place in a studio, with bullet ripple effects added later in post-production.

Catherine Zeta-Jones watched this unique filming process with curiosity—it was quite different.

Using DSLR cameras to shoot a movie? She had never seen this done in the UK.

No wonder people called Gilbert a Hollywood genius. Some said George Lucas focused on technology while Steven Spielberg emphasized storytelling, but Gilbert was a combination of both.

In terms of technology, he could create effects-driven films like Real Steel. In terms of storytelling, he could craft masterpieces like Saving Private Ryan and The Sixth Sense.

A true all-rounder.

The most remarkable thing was that Gilbert wasn't just versatile—he was successful in all aspects. His commercial achievements were undeniable, and his accolades weren't lacking either, having earned multiple awards and Oscar nominations.

At this rate, it was only a matter of time before Gilbert won an Oscar.

With the shot completed, Keanu Reeves stepped down and discussed the script with Gilbert.

Catherine approached and asked, "Can I listen in?"

Since it didn't affect anything, Gilbert didn't refuse and simply nodded.

Catherine wisely kept quiet, listening to the conversation between Gilbert and Keanu Reeves.

"Director, I bought books on philosophy and Zen, but I just don't understand them," Keanu admitted.

Gilbert reassured him, "Keanu, don't overthink it. You only need to do two things: look cool and act stylish. Everything else is my responsibility."

Even Charlize Theron had mentioned that she couldn't grasp the film's meaning—she didn't even fully understand the script.

That was normal. Many Hollywood actors didn't have high academic backgrounds, having entered the industry young and skipped extensive education. Their polished public personas were largely the work of PR teams.

If a script was slightly complex, they might not fully comprehend it.

However, in the case of The Matrix, not understanding it was perfectly fine—it was designed to be somewhat incomprehensible.

The film's success in its previous life wasn't due to its philosophical and religious undertones but rather its stunning visual effects and exhilarating action sequences.

The sequels proved this point. After the first film's success, the Wachowskis bought into critics' praise and made the second and third installments increasingly convoluted.

While the trilogy was still considered a successful franchise, The Matrix could have achieved even greater heights.

After explaining things to Keanu, lunchtime arrived.

Gilbert turned to Catherine and said, "Miss Jones, would you like to have lunch together?"

Catherine had been wondering how to stay around longer, but with Gilbert inviting her, she accepted immediately.

"Sure," she replied.

During lunch, Catherine remained tactfully silent as Gilbert, John Schwartzman, Yuen Woo-ping, and Tiger Chen discussed the afternoon's shooting plans.

The dialogue scenes in this film were manageable. Keanu Reeves' acting wasn't extraordinary—just average. Charlize Theron was slightly better, but she hadn't yet reached her full potential as a future Oscar winner.

The real focus was on the special effects sequences and the choreography of the action scenes.

As they returned to the set, Catherine asked Gilbert, "Is this a story about hackers?"

"In a way, yes," Gilbert nodded.

The internet was developing rapidly, and the existence of hackers was no secret. It wasn't surprising that Catherine knew about them. However, this film was far more than just a hacker story—its setting was incredibly intricate.

That afternoon, Charlize Theron arrived, giving Catherine a brief glance before leaning in to whisper in Gilbert's ear, "She has a wild beauty. She must be quite... intense."

This woman… she really said anything that came to mind. Fortunately, no one else heard.

Gilbert responded, "Sally, you're going to have a tough time filming today."

"You're not planning to torture me, are you?" Charlize feigned fear, then quickly switched to a playful tone, blowing softly in Gilbert's ear. "Go ahead, you know I won't refuse you."

"Go get ready," Gilbert patted Charlize's backside, sending her off to prepare.

Catherine watched Charlize in her sleek black bodysuit with some envy—after all, she was the female lead of a major Hollywood blockbuster.

Many aspiring actors came to Hollywood dreaming of starring in films, becoming leading actors, and rising to stardom. But for most, that dream remained out of reach.

Hollywood was fiercely competitive, with even supporting roles often being fought over by hundreds of hopefuls. How could anyone ensure a role would be theirs?

The answer is to gain the favor of influential figures—someone like Gilbert.

However, judging by the current situation, this influential figure had many people to take care of. Catherine wondered if he would have time to look out for her.

The afternoon's shoot mainly consisted of action scenes featuring Charlize Theron's character, Trinity. The woman was completely addicted to filming action sequences—after more than thirty takes, she still wasn't satisfied and kept asking for retakes.

She even found excuses, saying, "I think one of my moves just now wasn't quite right. Let's do it again."

Gilbert checked the monitor and saw no issues.

So, he asked Yuen Woo-ping, "What do you think?"

Yuen Woo-ping also responded, "No problem. It looks great—very elegant."

Turning back to Charlize Theron, Gilbert tried to persuade her, "There are still many more action scenes, Trinity. No need to rush. This take is good."

"What? That's so boring. I could've made it even cooler," Charlize said, looking disappointed.

Gilbert found it amusing. Other actors, including Keanu Reeves, always complained about the difficulty of action scenes, but Charlize Theron was completely hooked—she wished every day was filled with action scenes.

The strangest part was that while other actors approached fight scenes cautiously, afraid of getting injured—just two days ago, Keanu Reeves and Hugo Weaving had been filming a fight scene when Hugo Weaving fractured two ribs—Charlize Theron, on the other hand, not only loved doing action scenes but also rarely got hurt.

She even asked Gilbert to let her do all her stunts without a double, but he firmly refused.

This woman found it all exciting and fun, but Gilbert couldn't let Charlize Theron take unnecessary risks just for fun. He cared about her well-being. If she got injured, it wouldn't just be a personal loss—it would delay the entire production.

After wrapping up the afternoon's shoot, the team had no night scenes scheduled, so they were dismissed early. Gilbert left with Yuen Woo-ping and Tiger Chen in the same car.

Meanwhile, Charlize Theron invited Catherine to join them for dinner.

Catherine hesitated for a moment before finally nodding in agreement.

In the car, with Tiger Chen acting as a translator, Gilbert chatted with Yuen Woo-ping. "Mr. Yuen, thank you for your work these past few months. Your contribution has helped us successfully complete the action sequences."

Yuen Woo-ping responded modestly, "And I appreciate the opportunity to be part of this project. Now that I look back, joining this production was definitely the right decision."

He was being honest. Initially, he had been reluctant to take on a Western project. To turn them down, he even quoted a high fee, assuming they wouldn't agree. But surprisingly, the Westerners were quite persistent, and in the end, he accepted the offer.

At first, he thought the Westerners didn't truly understand martial arts and considered just putting in minimal effort.

However, he quickly realized that this so-called "genius" director, Gilbert, actually knew a thing or two about martial arts. He could tell right away when something was being done half-heartedly and demanded the real deal.

So, Yuen Woo-ping had no choice but to take it seriously and put in real effort.

He made a request to Gilbert: he wanted full control over the design and execution of all action sequences.

Gilbert agreed without hesitation, giving Yuen Woo-ping complete authority over the film's action scenes.

This left Yuen Woo-ping with a deep respect for Gilbert. Unlike many directors who meddled unnecessarily, Gilbert respected professionals and didn't interfere recklessly—something that set him apart from most directors.

For Gilbert, however, this decision was simply logical.

He believed in letting professionals handle their areas of expertise and saw no reason to impose his own ideas when it came to martial arts choreography.

Even though he had worked on martial arts web series in his past life, he admitted that modern martial arts dramas had lost their essence. His knowledge was merely surface-level.

With Yuen Woo-ping on board, he didn't have to pretend to be an expert—he could just delegate.

That said, he maintained a professional demeanor rather than being overly friendly with Yuen Woo-ping and the Hong Kong crew. Given his current identity, being too warm could raise suspicions, which wouldn't be in his best interest.

Instead, keeping things strictly professional reassured everyone.

Soon, the Hong Kong crew realized that Gilbert was quite knowledgeable about Chinese culture and fluent in Chinese.

After learning about his impressive achievements, they couldn't help but admire him. Becoming a globally renowned director at such a young age was an extremely rare feat.

As the filming progressed and the team adapted to each other, the working relationship became increasingly smooth.

Although occasional conflicts were inevitable, everything remained under control.

Gilbert brought up Jackie Chan: "Jackie's Rush Hour has entered post-production. We should be able to see it in theaters next year."

Yuen Woo-ping expressed his doubts, "Can a Chinese actor really succeed in Hollywood?"

Gilbert replied, "If ever there was a time for it to happen, now is the best opportunity.

Jackie's style is something Hollywood has never had before, and right now, there's a growing fascination with Chinese martial arts. His chances of success are high."

"So that's why you incorporated martial arts into The Matrix?"

"Exactly…"

Of course, the film wasn't just about martial arts—it also contained Buddhist and Taoist philosophies, along with a substantial amount of philosophical exploration.

In Gilbert's view, these philosophical elements were mostly just for show. They weren't deeply explored—just hinted at enough to add some mystery.

If the film delved too deeply into philosophy, critics might love it, but the general audience would be turned off.

In his previous life, The Matrix had succeeded not because of its religious and philosophical themes but because of its stylish action scenes and groundbreaking special effects.

Concepts like "bullet time" and wall-running became widely imitated after the film's release.

The deeper philosophical aspects were merely icing on the cake—they weren't the main reason for its success.

However, Gilbert didn't explain this to the actors. If he laid it all out, the sense of mystery and awe they had for the film might disappear, which could negatively impact their performances.

After dinner, Catherine took her leave. She had achieved her goal—at the very least, she had made sure that Gilbert remembered her name.

Later in the evening, Laurence Fishburne, who played Morpheus, approached Gilbert. "Director, I still don't fully understand the script. Can you explain it to us again?"

Seeing Keanu Reeves, Charlize Theron, and Hugo Weaving also gathering around, eager to listen, Gilbert set down his tea and said, "Alright, let's go over it. Laurence, what's your question?"

"I have a lot of questions. Mainly, how do we distinguish between reality and the virtual world? How can we tell if we're living in a simulation?"

Laurence was increasingly confused—he wasn't sure if his character as the captain in the real world was truly himself, or if Morpheus in the Matrix was his real identity.

"Laurence, do you think we're living in the real world or a virtual one?" Gilbert asked.

"Of course, this is the real world," Laurence said firmly.

"Are you sure?" Gilbert questioned. "What we perceive as reality is just electrical signals processed by our brains. If you can simulate those signals, you can create an illusion of reality."

Keanu Reeves suddenly had a realization. "Sometimes, when I dream, everything feels real. But when I wake up, I realize how absurd it was.

Maybe that's because, while dreaming, my brain generates a signal that creates the illusion of reality."

Gilbert looked at him with admiration. "Neo, you really are the chosen one."

Keanu Reeves scratched his head in embarrassment. "Back when I was experimenting with drugs, I was chasing a similar feeling, but…"

He didn't finish, but everyone knew what he meant—his friend River Phoenix's death had deeply affected him.

From Gilbert's perspective, doing drugs and dying from it was simply asking for it.

But since the man was already gone, there was no point in saying anything disrespectful.

The next day, Warner Bros.' distribution head, Doug Walter, visited the set. After watching a few confusing, cryptic scenes, he commented, "My God, Gilbert, I can't make sense of this film at all."

He was subtly reminding Gilbert not to make the film too complicated—audiences wouldn't appreciate that.

Gilbert smiled. "Doug, it looks like you need a more philosophical mindset.

But this is just one part of the film. There are also intense action sequences and large-scale set pieces—it's all very thrilling."

Hearing about the action and big-budget sequences, Doug Walter was reassured. That meant the film still followed the principles of a commercial blockbuster.

If Warner Bros. had spent $80 million on an esoteric, philosophical film, even with Gilbert directing, it wouldn't necessarily be a guaranteed success.

Because scenes were shot out of sequence, they were currently filming the events inside the Matrix, while the real-world sequences would be shot later.

This made the filming feel somewhat disconnected, which put Gilbert's directing skills to the test. He had to ensure the actors maintained the right emotions in every scene.

Fortunately, The Matrix didn't require particularly complex acting—most of it was about looking cool. Laurence Fishburne's Morpheus, in particular, exuded an extreme sense of coolness.

With his long leather coat and sunglasses, he wasn't conventionally handsome, but he had a commanding presence.

Seeing his look, Gilbert sometimes wondered if the Chinese TV character Yan Shuangying had taken inspiration from The Matrix—the styles were strikingly similar.

Of course, the most visually striking character was Charlize Theron's Trinity.

Compared to the original actress, Carrie-Anne Moss, Charlize Theron was taller, had longer legs, and possessed an icy, refined beauty. Her black bodysuit accentuated her advantages perfectly.

Looking at Charlize Theron's on-screen presence, Gilbert was already considering the film's merchandise—Trinity action figures were bound to sell well.

Years later, Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow set records for action-figure sales.

With a similar tight black outfit, Charlize Theron had the edge—Scarlett's shorter height was a disadvantage.

But that was something to think about after the movie's release.

For now, they were filming a pivotal scene: Neo's first meeting with Morpheus.

Morpheus believed Neo was the prophesied savior, but Neo himself didn't understand. He had only just glimpsed a hidden truth about the world.

He had always thought he lived in an ordinary 1998 reality—only to discover that wasn't the case at all. There was another side to the world, one he had never known.

This left Neo completely at a loss—after all, he was just a programmer, at most a part-time hacker.

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