It could be said that Cameron was the most bohemian director I had the pleasure of knowing. For quite some time now, he would point out that each of them had their own peculiarities that made them good in their own way, at their own pace. For example, Tim Burton liked to make things easy for himself in his creative processes, to take care of his style—which amused him—and to laugh at himself, while looking for actors who wouldn't bother him and would do a good job. Such was Billy's skill at hitting the mark with that kind of activity.
He was a taciturn actor for some who observed him from other points of view; it was normal to see him writing, rehearsing, or in business meetings, with such meticulousness that he always arrived ten minutes before each shoot and left ten minutes after each shoot, after chatting a bit to take care of the aforementioned tasks, which was Billy's written rule. No matter how hard he tried, he wouldn't change his self-absorption, a habit that the directors noticed in the young man, who seemed to be gasping for air from work. Even his partners knew about the intense work that required him to perform so well in every project and everything that was said about him. It was considered an excessive workload, but on the contrary, it was just the right portion that came after delegating the heaviest burdens to his loyal collaborators.
For Billy, it was then a mirror-like difference when looking at others; each one took care of doing their part in different ways. In precision, each technique was a solid foundation of overlapping thoughts. There was the case of Steven, who was a metronome of details, and there was the art in the wisdom of reading. For him, films were a spoken book; they had to be carefully designed and produced.
For Martin Scorsese, it was the madness of shooting, with takes that could last ten hours, a post-production that was entirely his own, and his intriguing way of seeing the mafia, with experiences that were simply catastrophic—brief, pure, fast, and sinister shots.
Therefore, when Cameron was mentioned, you simply had to take the time to wait for his creative ideas to arrive,e along with his permissive skills. It was a win-win situation where Cameron decided to leave everything to the imagination and thus offer a cultivated way of working to people: that demanding too much is not as good as one might think.
--We'll do one last read-through of the script. If you have any issues, you can let me know, though I think the main details were completely settled in the previous reading. I believe we can now personalize our characters. -- Commented Cameron, who now wore the badge of a disgruntled government employee with a ruddy suit and an old, crooked tie.
In due time, opportunities lingered to impose his own stamp.
—I think we can start with the reading. —Commented Cameron's producer at the time, a young man who had a talent for doing nothing. He would stand watching the recordings with that damned attentiveness and then manage to respond with some good news, just in time for them to get on with their work. Not far from there, Kate Hudson would throw him some glances, escaping the classic idea that they were flirting. It was a fleeting thought.
When he met the girl, she was only fourteen years old; she was scrawny and had a lot of growing left to do. It was then that puberty sorted out those confidence problems she suffered from when she was young. But she has the guidance of Goldie, her mother, who is—to say the least—a true beauty, and who has instilled in her the strength learned over the years.
Her maturity gave notice around 1997, when her body became pleasantly feminine. Together with Russel, they are, in the meantime, a purebred family from the world of acting, born to do something and will live for it as long as time allows.
They had to train at night; they had to train in the morning for two to three hours, all while never breaking character. This last part was Billy's idea, even though he had been at it for less time—he had been playing the guitar for two weeks since Cameron convinced him to imprint the seal of a Hollywood golden boy who needs to draw the film to fame, thus turning it into a way of life, while the movie continued to unfold scene by scene, and to call into question a script that brings to life Cameron's autobiographical story—one of the most intense stories a teenager can live.
Out of curiosity, Billy's hiring is due to Brad Pitt rejecting the role simply because he couldn't understand it, and Sarah Polley, an actress who has been in the acting world since she was achildd; both canceled on short notice, and that's when Cameron felt the weight of needing a handsome, recognized face that was also good at acting.
Good actors are forgiven everything.
—What do you think, Billy? —
—I think it could be a bit more exaggerated. —replied Billy. You know, something like that. —jumping into the pool from a third floor, while completely drugged and barely wearing a shirt. —
Cameron wrote furiously; he could picture the scene.
—I think the kid should be in a panic. He should be a little whiny, scared by the way the rocker leads him by the hand into stupidity. —Billy finished saying, then writing the lines the boy should say, so precise that Cameron just continued in his writing state.
—Kate. —Billy whispered later, seeing the young blonde-haired woman dare to walk past him. It was nothing unusual to see her in that nineties fashion style, braless, which sometimes made him stop by mistake at her small breasts, the curve of her hip that went down to a flat stomach, and that warm air of beauty.
—Actually, actually, I didn't expect to work with you. —replied Kate.
—Why do you say that? —Billy asked.
—Just a thought. She answered uncomfortably, trying to shorten the pounding of her heart; it buzzed in her ears, and she tried not to look like a rookie.
—Then I hope to do my best not to bother you. Let me know if you need anything. —Billy commented.
—Actually, you can. —She replied with a smile, as she moved her body closer, giving off that fantastic aura that ultimately made him choose her for the role.