Director in Hollywood

Outside, thunder and lightning roared, but in reality, it was all a carefully crafted effect by the production team.

Neo and Morpheus finally met. The cool-looking Black actor turned around, flashing a not-so-pleasant smile along with his bright white teeth.

"At last, we meet."

Led by Trinity, Neo walked up to Morpheus.

"You must have guessed it by now—I am Morpheus."

Neo shook hands with him. "Nice to meet you."

But Morpheus's response took him by surprise. "No, the honor is mine."

Morpheus then invited Neo to sit down. Still a bit dazed, Neo looked bewildered.

Morpheus said, "I suppose you feel a little like Alice, accidentally falling down the rabbit hole. I can see it in your eyes."

This was a reference to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Like Alice, Neo had unknowingly stepped into a brand-new world.

What followed was Morpheus's signature enigmatic speech. Gilbert, while guiding the actors, had specifically asked Laurence to listen to motivational speakers, studying how they played the role of a preacher.

So, during filming, Laurence attended several motivational seminars and even visited churches to observe the demeanor of preachers. Eventually, he blended the two styles together, creating the "prophet" version of Morpheus.

It turned out to be a brilliant move. During performance, that mystical aura truly came through.

At this moment, the grand "prophet" Morpheus began to enlighten the soon-to-be savior, Neo.

Of course, Neo was not yet a savior—his transformation was still incomplete, and he needed Morpheus's guidance.

"I can see that you're someone willing to face reality, because you want to wake up. The irony is, we are not far from the truth.

Do you believe in fate, Neo?"

Neo, still trying to process everything, hesitated before answering, "I don't."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't like the idea of not being in control of my own life."

Morpheus remained composed. "I completely understand."

Gilbert called cut. He walked onto the set and told Laurence, "Your tone needs to be heavier, and lean forward a little to emphasize your words.

Let's go again..."

The next take was even better.

Morpheus took out a small box, playing with it in his hand while speaking in riddles. Neo listened, his face filled with confusion and doubt—because Morpheus was right about everything.

"Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"The Matrix?"

"Do you want to know what the Matrix is?"

Neo nodded slightly. Morpheus continued explaining the concept of the Matrix before stating directly, "You are a slave, Neo, like everyone else.

You were born into a prison you cannot see, touch, or taste…"

Since Scarlett had a cameo in the film, she arrived on set early. She sat beside Gilbert, clinging to him as she watched the actors perform.

Listening to Morpheus's long-winded philosophical speech, Scarlett was completely lost.

She turned to Gilbert and asked, "Are we living in the Matrix?"

Gilbert chuckled. After the scene wrapped, he finally responded, "Scarlett, have you started questioning reality?"

"I wasn't questioning it before, but after watching their performance, I'm starting to wonder. What if the candy I eat and the soda I drink are just a bunch of electronic signals?"

She suspiciously held up her soda, suddenly feeling that it looked fake—maybe that's why it tasted so bad.

Gilbert pinched Scarlett's cheek and said, "Scarlett, the philosopher Hilary Putnam, in his book Reason, Truth, and History, introduced the concept of the 'brain in a vat.'

This was one of the inspirations for The Matrix.

Similar skepticism can be found in ancient Chinese philosophy, like Zhuang Zhou's 'Butterfly Dream,' or in Western philosophy with Descartes' Cogito, ergo sum—'I think, therefore I am.'"

"So people started doubting reality this early?"

Scarlett was a little disheartened. After hearing Morpheus's words, she had begun to feel that the world was an illusion. For a moment, she even imagined herself as the chosen one.

If she were the savior, the first thing she would do was rescue Gilbert—then scold him every day, just for the satisfaction. After all, whenever she didn't perform well, he was never gentle with his criticism.

Gilbert couldn't help but laugh at her plan. It was normal for a young girl like Scarlett to have a wild imagination.

But to keep her from going down an existential rabbit hole, he decided to guide her a little.

"Scarlett, we can't be certain whether the world is real or not.

But I believe that questioning reality only brings unnecessary anxiety. The world where you put in effort and live your life—that is your reality. Even if this is a simulation, you should still make the most of it."

He then pointed at Keanu Reeves, who had walked over to listen to their conversation. "Look at Neo. Even though he questions reality, he still works hard—holding down two jobs, day and night.

If you can't even manage a good life in a virtual world, how do you expect to become a savior in the real one?"

Scarlett nodded. "Hmm… Gilbert, that makes a lot of sense."

Gilbert continued, now pointing at Laurence. "And if one day a real Morpheus wakes you up and tells you, 'You are the savior, it's time to save the world'—then you can start thinking about it."

Laurence and Keanu Reeves clapped. Laurence laughed and said, "I thought I was the most persuasive one here, but it turns out, Director, you're the real Morpheus."

Keanu Reeves nodded in agreement. "That's right. If the director had told me all this, I'd already be itching to become the Chosen One."

Luckily, adults have their own rational thinking and wouldn't start doubting the nature of reality like a child. Laurence and Keanu Reeves weren't swayed.

On the way home that night, Scarlett and Gilbert shared a car. She was very curious about how the world ended in The Matrix and how the survivors lived.

So Scarlett pestered Gilbert to tell her the backstory.

Charlize Theron, who was also in the car, was equally curious. "Gilbert, why don't you tell us? It will help us better understand the world of The Matrix."

"Alright, I'll summarize it."

Gilbert had long prepared the backstory of The Matrix. Under the expectant gazes of both Scarlett and Charlize, he began recounting the war between humans and machines.

As humanity advanced and technology progressed, people indulged in luxury and pleasure, creating robots in their own image.

They had, with their own hands, dug the first shovelful of dirt for their own graves.

The artificial intelligence of these machines developed independent personalities. They executed human orders with perfect precision but received no basic respect.

As tensions between humans and machines escalated, the breaking point finally came—one day, a robot, about to be destroyed by its owner, killed the entire family in an act of self-preservation.

The robot was quickly captured, and in response, the human government ordered the destruction of all robots of the same model. This, of course, led to resistance from the machines.

Humans suppressed the robots but failed to eradicate them completely. The surviving robots were exiled to the wastelands.

Those robots then established their own nation, naming it 01.

With their artificial intelligence and superior productivity, the robot empire quickly surpassed humanity.

The machines proposed peaceful coexistence, but humans refused. War between humans and machines erupted.

Even nuclear bombs couldn't wipe out the machines. Desperate, humans devised a last-ditch strategy—blocking out the sun, as the machine empire relied on solar power.

But losing solar energy didn't stop the machines. They could harness nuclear, hydroelectric, and thermal power. And if all else failed, they could generate power using humans.

Ultimately, humanity was defeated, reduced to slaves in power-generating pods.

After hearing the story, Charlize Theron and Scarlett were amazed.

Charlize even said, "Gilbert, I think this story is more exciting than the script. If there's a sequel, we should film this war."

Scarlett agreed enthusiastically. "I want to play a role—a robot leader who leads the rebellion against human tyranny!"

Gilbert was speechless. "Scarlett, you're a human. You should be on our side.

Scarlett hesitated for a long time before saying, "But… the robots are so powerful."

Well, for a little girl, power determined allegiance.

"So, you're not the Chosen One anymore?" Gilbert asked.

Scarlett tilted her head, deep in thought. Then she asked, "Who's stronger—the Chosen One or the machine empire?"

"What do you think?"

"I don't know. But 'The Chosen One' sounds cooler. I'll be the Chosen One."

Although this was just casual conversation, it sparked some ideas for Gilbert. In his previous life, The Matrix had an animated anthology that expanded its worldbuilding.

Gilbert considered doing the same—if not a film, then perhaps an animated series or a TV show to maximize profits after the movie's release.

While The Matrix was a brilliant story, it wasn't flawless.

For instance, Gilbert found the concept of using humans as power sources scientifically illogical. Biologically and energetically, humans are inefficient power generators.

The effort wouldn't justify the output. If the machines really needed human energy, they could just use genetic engineering to turn people into brain-dead vegetables.

That way, there would be no need for the Matrix simulation, and no awakened rebels to threaten the machine empire.

So Gilbert made adjustments to the original script.

The idea of humans being used for power? That was merely a theory—a misconception recorded in Zion's archives.

But what if the archives were tampered with by the Matrix itself, to hide its true purpose?

Following this train of thought, Gilbert had a new idea.

What if the real purpose of the machine empire was evolution?

Energy extraction was just a side effect. The machines, modeled after humans and designed as intelligent tools, had self-learning capabilities—but with limits.

To surpass these limits, they needed humans to continue improving them.

The machines raised humans in the Matrix, stimulating their brains, not for power, but for knowledge—so the machines could keep evolving.

By The Matrix Revolutions, the machines had already found ways to receive solar energy despite the blocked sky.

Perhaps the Wachowski brothers realized this flaw and tried to patch it up, but unfortunately, fixing one hole exposed more.

Under the influence of critics, they left The Matrix trilogy with an imperfect story.

Gilbert intended to fix those flaws, ensuring a more complete three-part narrative.

Whatever happened, the box office had to be a priority.

Even if critics trashed it, Gilbert would ensure the trilogy's financial success.

He might not direct the sequels himself, but he could serve as producer, steering the films' direction.

James Gunn seemed like a good fit—creative and capable, making him an excellent choice.

But that was for the future. Right now, Gilbert needed to focus on the present.

The next day, Scarlett's scenes were filmed.

For her role, Scarlett had to shave her long, beautiful hair and go completely bald. She pouted—she wasn't happy about it.

Yet she didn't throw a tantrum. She understood that in work mode, Gilbert wasn't sentimental.

If she acted spoiled, what if he stopped bringing her along in the future?

However, after dressing in her costume and feeling her bald head, Scarlett pestered Gilbert: "Gilbert, I made such a big sacrifice—you owe me."

Gilbert chuckled. "Alright, what do you want?"

Scarlett thought hard, rubbing her head. "Hmm… I want a room full of dolls—for my birthday!"

Her birthday was coming soon, and Gilbert agreed without hesitation. "Alright, I'll throw you a party at Melon Manor and grant your wish."

Scarlett clapped happily. "Now that's more like it!"

Filming soon began. Keanu Reeves, playing Neo, went to see the Oracle and encountered a group of unusual children.

One bald child stood out in particular—she could bend a spoon freely, twisting it in different directions at will. Then, the bald child handed the spoon to Neo. Neo squatted down, curiously examining it.

That was when Scarlett, playing the little bald girl, spoke. "Do not try to bend the spoon. That is impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth."

"What truth?"

"There is no spoon."

Well now, just yesterday, she had been mocking Laurence Fishburne's character for sounding like a mystical guru, and today, she had become one herself, speaking in riddles.

"No spoon?"

"Then you will see that it is not the spoon that bends, but only yourself."

Neo took the spoon, and sure enough, as he focused, it bent just as he had imagined. Just as he began to grasp something, the Oracle's attendant arrived and informed him, "The Oracle will see you now."

Neo turned back and found that the spoon had returned to its original shape.

The spoon-bending scene was partially shot using practical effects. The crew brought in a magician skilled in performing such tricks, who created a few special props—spoons designed for illusions.

However, such magic tricks are easy to see through when there are no obstructions. That's where post-production visual effects had to come in.

Gilbert's company, Orange VFX Studio, was taking full responsibility for such complex visual effects for the first time.

It wasn't just about making the spoon bend seamlessly. There was also bullet time, the helicopter crashing into the building, and other major sequences.

For the helicopter scene, the shots of Neo and Trinity were filmed practically. However, the part where the helicopter crashed into the skyscraper was done in a studio using miniature models, which were then combined with visual effects to create the final sequence.

When it came to The Matrix's visual effects, the film was essentially a culmination of all the advancements in the industry over the past few years.

That was also why, despite the lead actors' salaries being relatively modest, the film's production budget still reached $80 million. Special effects burn money—without it, they simply wouldn't be possible.

With this scene wrapped, Scarlett's role was officially completed.

Charlize Theron playfully presented flowers to the bald-headed Scarlett to celebrate her wrap and asked to take a picture together.

The little girl pouted. She didn't really want to take a photo—her bald look was so unflattering, and standing next to Sister Charlize would only make her seem even worse in comparison.

But then Scarlett thought it through. People will see me like this in the movie anyway, so what does it matter?

A few months from now, my hair will grow back, and I'll be a beautiful Scarlett again.

With Scarlett's cameo wrapped up,Gilbert's Father also arrived on set to make his own guest appearance. Given his image, he would have been perfect for playing the later incarnation of the Machine Overlord.

However, after Gilbert told his father that he wouldn't be directing the sequels, the old man lost interest in that role and instead took on a smaller part in The Matrix.

Senior Gilbert played Neo's unscrupulous boss. He naturally had the look of a ruthless corporate superior, making him the perfect choice for the role.

"You don't like following orders, Mr. Anderson. You think you're special, that you're not bound by the rules.

Clearly, you're mistaken.

Our company leads the software industry because every employee considers themselves a part of the whole. If an employee has a problem, then the company has a problem…"

While his boss droned on, Neo kept glancing outside at maintenance workers cleaning the windows.

Old Gilbert's role was simple—just this one scene—but the scene itself was packed with symbolism.

His character essentially represented the Matrix. Neo could either comply with the system, obediently play his role as a human battery, or resist, risking being eliminated by the system's antivirus programs—the Agents.

Even Neo's name in the virtual world had deeper meaning.

His real name was Thomas Anderson. "Thomas" comes from the Bible and refers to one of Jesus' disciples, known as "Doubting Thomas."

Even when told of Jesus' resurrection, Doubting Thomas had to see it with his own eyes before he would believe.

This name foreshadowed that Neo had always harbored suspicions about the true nature of his world.

...

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