Hollywood Immortal Chapter 593 593: The Set Tyrant, Theme Song

[Chapter 593: The Set Tyrant, The Song]

After the kickoff press conference, the entire crew dove headfirst into filming. Jas Caron, already revealing his true colors as a rciless set tyrant, imposed strict, high-pressure managent on everyone. The work pace was brutal. Unlike most productions, where the first day was typically eased in to bring good luck, Caron showed no rcy. By the ti the first day wrapped, it was well past 8 p.m.

Linton didn't intervene. Once filming started, the director had to be the center of the universe. Every director had their own style, and while Linton personally disagreed with Caron's harsh approach, he chose to respect it.

Besides, Caron's fiery public statents that morning had backed him into a corner. There was no turning back now. He had to make this film a classic at all costs. And as the lead actor and sole investor, Linton stood to gain the most from its success. He had every reason to back Caron fully.

...

After the day's shoot, Linton and Kate Winslet removed their makeup and were about to head to the dining hall when Caron appeared, waiting by the door with an invitation. "Linton, let's have a drink -- just the two of us."

"Sure."

They arrived at the cafeteria together. Linton told Kate to eat on her own while he and Caron found a private room.

"Beer?" Caron produced two bottles of beer from an ice bucket, handing one to Linton.

"Sure."

After a couple of drinks, Caron broke the ice. "Linton, what I said to the dia this morning wasn't just hype -- I ant every word."

"Jas, honestly, you didn't have to go that far."

"No, I did. This film's budget has blown through every ceiling. The production costs are breaking records. Everyone outside is betting against us. I have nowhere left to retreat. I have to make this movie a classic, set a new box office record. Otherwise, my confidence, reputation, and future career in this business will collapse. That's not sothing I'm willing to accept. I'd rather go all in, back myself into a corner. So this film absolutely cannot fail."

"Don't worry. With your drive and my full cooperation, Titanic will be a hit. Just tell what you need."

"I need your full support moving forward. You need to help maintain my authority on set. The crew has to revolve around ."

"No problem. The film's success matters to too. I've been a director, I know the set has only one center -- the director. From now on, don't treat like an investor. Treat like the lead actor. I'll do everything to uphold your authority."

Caron clinked his beer with Linton's. "Thanks for understanding and backing . But I have to warn you -- I'm going to have very high expectations for your performance."

"How high?"

"Linton, I've watched all your previous movies. The box office numbers are great, each one outgrossed the last. Mission: Impossible shattered records, but honestly, your acting isn't as advanced as your fa suggests. Your range feels limited."

"I understand, Jas. Please be straightforward."

"You've mostly been playing the cool, stylish guy -- a great action hero with slick moves and unbeatable looks. That's won over most audiences. But in dramatic roles, your performances are shallow. Of course, that's partly because you've done mostly popcorn movies: first a youth dance film, then all action flicks. Those genres don't demand subtle acting.

But Titanic is different. It's a romantic disaster epic. We're telling an immortal love story played out over just a few days. Jack, the struggling artist, and Rose, the aristocratic lady, co from different worlds. They et, fall deeply in love, and face heartbreaking separation. Your portrayal of Jack can't be as simple or surface-level as your past roles. It needs depth, emotion, layers -- sothing that moves the audience to their core."

"That matches my own feel for the script," Linton assured him. "Trust , I'll give my best, strongest performance."

"Good. I'm going to shoot with rigid standards, including your acting. If you don't hit the mark, I won't hesitate to call multiple retakes. We'll keep cutting until it's perfect."

"Don't worry. Our goal is sa. I want this film to have substance -- sothing people will praise my acting for."

Caron raised his glass. "Then it's settled. Together, we'll create a classic."

Linton clinked glasses with him. "Yes. Let's make history."

"By the way," Caron added, "your musical talent is evident. Could you compose a the song for this movie? Jas Horner's team's submissions haven't impressed much."

"I've already written one specially for the project."

"Really? Mind if I see it?"

"I'll ask the server to bring pen and paper for the lyrics."

...

A mont later, the lyrics of My Heart Will Go On were on the table, written neatly in Linton's hand.

♫ Every night in my dreams

I see you, I feel you

That is how I know you go on

Far across the distance

And spaces between us

You have co to show you go on... ♫

Linton started humming softly. Caron studied the lyrics and lody, visibly delighted. "This song is perfect. The lody is haunting and profound. The lyrics carry a fateful tragic beauty and a passion that transcends life and death. Exactly what this film needs."

"I wrote it after studying the script carefully," Linton explained. "It's tailored to the story."

"But isn't this ant to be sung by a woman?"

"Yes, it's a female vocal. That's where the power and emotion really co alive. I've already handed it to soone I think is perfect."

"Who?"

"Celine Dion."

"Ah, the rising queen Celine Dion. She's a perfect choice. When will the recorded version be ready?"

"She's already recording it now. When we're back in Los Angeles next week for the Oscars, I'll have the final cut. You'll be satisfied."

"The Oscars? I'm not planning to attend."

"You're skipping the Oscars?"

"No films of mine ca out last year. I need to focus every ounce of energy on this movie. Going to that kind of party would be a waste."

"But Kate and I promised the Academy we'd be there."

"Then you go. But I'll give you at most two days off."

...

The evening's tabloids and next morning's papers across Arica blasted headlines about Titanic's kickoff. Caron's fierce vow to make the film a masterpiece dominated front pages.

Only the papers controlled by Linton's dia groups expressed confidence in Titanic, calling Jas Caron and Linton Anderson a dream team ready to redefine cinematic history. Every other outlet predicted disaster, believing Titanic would be Caron's swan song and Arica's loss of a great director.

Even mbers of Linton's inner circle called him and Kate, eager for insight from the set.

Fortunately, the Rosarito, xico, set was far from Los Angeles and the flashy city life.

The crew refused to allow dia tracking, insulating the set from outside criticism, ridicule, and interference.

...

This flood of pressure weighed heavily on Caron. He knew he had nowhere left to retreat.

As he told Linton earlier, he would throw himself into filming with relentless intensity, enforcing strict discipline and imprinting his vision on every fra.

True to form, Caron's managent was ruthlessly severe.

His voice echoed constantly through the studio, berating even minute imperfections in scenery, props, and lighting.

A chair slightly out of place from the reference photos or a wine glass not arranged precisely on the dinner table would unleash a torrent of curses.

During shooting, his demands for retakes were brutal -- a shot never passed until he'd called five or six cuts in a row, all aiming for absolute perfection.

No one was spared, not even Linton himself.

...

That morning, while shooting Linton's first scenes onboard the ship in third-class quarters, Caron repeatedly stopped the takes.

"Jack, your tone is too flippant. Rember, you're a wandering artist, not so unrefined street punk. Again."

"Your voice should carry rebellion and hardship, but not pointless yelling. Do it again."

"Jack, I want to feel the artistic soul inside you, and your optimistic spirit."

That single scene was cut 15 tis and scolded 14 tis. It dragged on for two grueling hours before Caron was finally satisfied.

...

Seeing this treatnt, the rest of the cast, especially Kate Winslet, threw themselves into their work with laser focus, not daring to slack off or complain. Ten or more retakes for one scene beca the norm.

The crushing desire for success and the unbearable consequences of failure transford Jas Caron into a spoilsport tyrant and relentless workaholic.

He successfully transferred this pressure onto every mber of the crew -- from the biggest stars to the lowest assistants. Everyone was driven nearly to exhaustion under his iron fist.

*****

spatreon/Sayonara816.