Hollywood Immortal Chapter 595 595: Hell on Set, Budget Overruns

[Chapter 595: Hell on Set, Budget Overruns]

After enjoying a lively party at the Los Angeles estate, Linton was up early the next morning. He returned to the filming location in xico with Kate Winslet, carrying the finished single My Heart Will Go On recorded by Celine Dion.

Jas Caron rarely cracked a smile on the set, but this ti he did. "I saw the news online this morning. You nailed it."

Linton raised an eyebrow. "What do you an?"

"You talked about using Titanic to storm next year's Oscars for Best Actor."

"Jas, seriously, I want this film to succeed both comrcially and artistically. At next year's Oscars, I hope we both take ho awards."

"Alright, we'll give it our all -- I can use my own little Oscar statuette."

Linton pulled a CD from his bag and handed it over. "Here's Celine's My Heart Will Go On. Give it a listen."

"It's already done? Perfect. Let's head to my office; there's a CD player there."

In the director's office at the soundstage, Jas put the CD in the player. Celine's ethereal and deeply emotional voice floated effortlessly from the speakers.

♫ Every night in my dreams

I see you, I feel you

That is how I know you go on... ♫

When the song ended, Jas was visibly moved. "Celine's performance is incredible. She doesn't just convey the aning of the song; you feel the overwhelming emotional power. This is exactly what I wanted."

Linton smiled. "Jas, trust , this song is going to add a whole new dinsion to Titanic."

...

But then Jas sank back into his demanding tyrant role on set, pushing the crew through grueling, painstaking shoots. Linton suspected that talk of Oscars had fueled his intensity -- the demands on every shot beca increasingly exacting.

Each angle was pursued with obsession for perfection. Typically, they'd shoot a scene ten tis or more, with at least five or six retakes thrown in. The patience of everyone on set was being tested to the limit.

Producer Nacho finally had enough and found a mont to vent to Linton. "Boss, with Caron's demands, we don't even know how much film stock we're burning through. I'm worried the costs are going to blow through the roof."

Linton had expected this. He reassured him calmly, "Nacho, it's okay. As long as the money goes directly into the production, we can add what we need. Don't stress."

"You're spoiling him, boss."

"It's all for the movie -- to make it as perfect as it can be. Besides, I've publicly said we're going for major Oscar wins next year."

"The problem is the investnt is massive. I'm concerned..."

"Concerned about what -- losing money?"

"That, too."

"Don't worry. With around, the movie's box office will co through."

"Alright."

...

Filming days routinely stretched to 12 hours, often not ending before 10 p.m. Endless overti drained everyone's strength. The actors and crew were pushed to near madness by Jas's relentless pace.

Oddly, Jas himself was the most exhausted. After wrapping each day, he'd review the day's footage, troubleshoot issues, and plan the next day's shoots. His rest never exceeded five hours. No one could figure out where his boundless energy ca from.

The Rosarito set resembled a remote island ruled by Jas's iron will, where everyone struggled at breakneck speed under crushing pressure.

After more than a month of this grueling pace, one crew mber finally cracked.

It was a veteran prop master nad Shirick. He'd been with the project since pre-production and spent over two years ticulously managing thousands of historically accurate, recreated props. He was diligent and responsible.

But Jas's endless nitpicking and obsessive last-minute changes finally broke him.

Before a major scene set in the Titanic's first-class dining room, Jas conducted a final on-site inspection. He spotted one plate set a few centiters off from the historic reference photo.

Furious, Jas exploded in front of the entire crew, shouting at Shirick for ten minutes with a tirade of harsh insults.

He accused Shirick of negligence, laziness, unprofessionalism -- wasting crew ti and investors' money.

Shirick tried to defend himself, but Jas wouldn't let him speak.

The sympathetic yet silent glances from coworkers stabbed like needles in Shirick's nerves.

All his fatigue, pressure, and frustration boiled over at that mont.

After Jas slamd the prop list at his feet again, Shirick's face flushed red, then turned pale.

In rage, he ripped off his work badge and slamd it onto the floor. Summoning every ounce of strength, he shouted at Jas, "I've had enough, Jas. You're a damn madman and a bastard. I'm done!"

Then he strode away through the stunned crew, never looking back.

Jas was caught off guard. No one had dared fight back so openly. His skin turned an angry shade of iron gray, chest heaving as he barked at the head of the props team, "Peter, you take over. You've got ten minutes -- get this scene ready."

...

Jas was marginally kinder with actors, at least maintaining superficial respect and never shouting at them. But his demands on set were insane.

To authentically recreate the North Atlantic's freezing waters, he insisted on no warm water at all.

Every day, the actors had to soak in icy water for at least an hour for scenes involving plunging into freezing oceans and struggling through the frigid sea.

Linton and Kate had the toughest schedule -- more than two hours a day plunged in icy water.

Their lips turned blue, bodies shook uncontrollably, their skin wrinkled and grew pale.

After every shoot, crew quickly wrapped them in thick blankets, trying to thaw the frozen limbs back to life.

Linton, however, was immune -- being at the Celestial Presence stage, his body was impervious to cold and heat.

Kate wore a quartz pendant that emitted warmth to protect her heart from the cold ocean. It helped her greatly.

Most of their water scenes were shot with them holding each other close. Kate quickly discovered that leaning on Linton was like leaning by a roaring fireplace -- his warmth shielded her.

From then on, both in water and on land, she sought his comfort and closeness.

Others weren't as lucky. Despite ginger tea, aspirin, and other cold redies on set, many fell ill. The on-site doctors were overwheld daily.

But Jas showed his unforgiving nature. Even sick actors hooked up to IV drips at night were required to dive into the freezing water the next day.

...

Watching Jas's brutal intensity, Linton finally understood why he was known as the set tyrant -- a fitting nickna, no mistake there.

It explained why, despite his box office success, he'd made few lasting friends in Hollywood.

Outside of multiple collaborations with Arnold Schwarzenegger, none of his actors worked with him more than twice.

Even Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet -- whose global superstardom was fueled by Titanic -- rarely kept in touch with Jas after filming wrapped.

When reporters asked them about working with Jas Caron, their answers were vague and clipped: "He's a very diligent director... a great filmmaker," and nothing more.

The bitter truth was clear: filming Titanic had been an ordeal for them all, leaving deep psychological scars.

Jas's harshness extended to himself: multiple tis he personally carried heavy diving gear underwater to capture perfect shots. In cold ocean depths, he operated the cara himself.

Linton didn't intervene -- perhaps madness was part of Jas's genius.

Maybe only this kind of single-minded obsession could create a tiless classic like Titanic.

Without Jas's fanatical drive, the film might have ended up diocre -- a tragedy Linton couldn't allow.

...

anwhile, the budget was burning at a visible rate. Two months in, just as Nacho had predicted, the production was out of money again.

That night, shooting wrapped early at 8 p.m. -- a rare break.

After removing their makeup, Linton and Kate headed for dinner when Jas and Nacho intercepted them at the cafeteria entrance.

"Linton, join us for a drink," Jas invited.

"You guys up to sothing again?"

"No sches, just winding down after all the hard work. A few beers."

...

In a private room, dishes were already served. Nacho pulled four beers from an ice bucket and handed one to each.

After several rounds, Nacho sheepishly slid a report across the table.

"Boss, the budget's short again. Jas and I recalculated; we need to add another $30 million."

Linton laughed ruefully, poking both n with his fork. "I knew you were up to sothing, waiting here for . How many tis have you asked for additional funds? What's the total investnt now?"

Nacho blushed apologetically. "Boss, sorry, this is the fifth ti. Including this, total costs hit $310 million."

"Jas, explain the reasons for this new funding request."

Jas didn't shy away. "Linton, you know none of the money is wasted. It all goes into the film -- to pursue perfection and create a masterpiece. Didn't you say publicly we're competing for Oscars next year?"

Linton already expected this scenario. Jas's approach was a budget black hole -- film stock alone was four or five tis higher than average productions.

Overti for crew and extras was astronomical.

They insisted on live-action shots no matter how grueling, with nonstop unforeseen mishaps.

Jas Caron was Hollywood's unique brand of madness. No wonder in his previous life, Twentieth Century Fox execs nearly had to whore themselves to cover costs, ultimately forcing Paramount to co in as a co-investor.

Still, Jas genuinely funneled every dollar into the production, never padding his pockets like so directors.

For Linton, the expense was worthwhile -- money was the one thing he never lacked.

"So one last question -- are you two telling the truth that this is the final funding request?"

Nacho glanced at Jas but said nothing, obviously uncertain.

After a mont of calculation, Jas firmly promised, "Linton, rest assured. This is absolutely the last investnt."

"Rember those words," Linton said.

He didn't make things difficult and approved the funds on the spot after a quick review.

Jas hadn't expected Linton to be so easygoing. Overjoyed, he grabbed a fresh beer and clinked glasses, "Thanks."

Linton raised his glass with them. "Here's to creating a classic."

"To creating a classic!" everyone echoed, toasting.

...

With funding secured, Jas resud tyrannical rule over the set. Titanic's intense, painful shoot pressed on.

To him, only making an exceptional film and achieving success mattered. Nothing else factored in.

But the relentless pressure was breaking the crew. So began to crack psychologically, nursing bitterness that even drove so to reckless acts of revenge.

*****

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