As "Speed" neared the end of filming, most of the main shots were complete.
For the past few days, Gilbert had been searching for the perfect road and beach to film a kissing scene between the male and female leads.
After a thrilling, life-or-death race, a sweet embrace and kiss between the leads at sunset would be absolutely perfect.
Even twenty or thirty years from now, similar shots would still be timeless.
Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock kissed as soon as Gilbert called "action."
Gilbert spent three days on this shot, searching for the best, most perfect angle, using his aesthetic sense of visual optics to compose the film's final scene.
During filming, Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves clearly had something going on, which made the kiss especially good. Even after Gilbert yelled "cut," they continued to kiss for a moment before separating.
It's quite normal for actors and actresses to become romantic partners or temporary companions because of a film. And a real-life romance between the leads would also be a good promotional point for "Speed." Gilbert had already thought about how to use their relationship for a scandalous publicity stunt to promote the film. Of course, Disney and Warner's gossip tabloids were far better at this than he was, so there was no need to worry.
After this shot was wrapped, Gilbert officially announced the end of filming.
Everyone on set breathed a sigh of relief; it was finally over. After joining the crew, every day was spent amidst explosions and the noise of car chases. Even the greatest work enthusiasm was completely eroded by these sounds.
Knowing that the crew members were tired, Gilbert announced a wrap party after the film reels were sealed and the equipment stored.
The crew rented out an entire nightclub, and everyone brought their partners. Keanu Reeves even invited his good friends River Phoenix and Johnny Depp, and they brought a lot of marijuana and cocaine. It seemed that being cooped up during filming for several months had really gotten to Keanu Reeves; as soon as filming wrapped, he couldn't resist indulging.
So, gathered around Keanu Reeves, River Phoenix, and Johnny Depp, many who enjoyed such things began to smoke. Gilbert didn't touch these substances, but he wasn't foolish enough to interfere with other people's lives. It was work during filming, but now that work was over, it wouldn't matter much to Gilbert even if Keanu Reeves smoked himself to death. Perhaps his death would even be a good thing for the film, as it could be used to garner sympathy.
Of course, Keanu Reeves looked fine at the moment and wasn't close to death. In contrast, his friend River Phoenix clearly showed signs of fatigue from excessive drug use and debauchery. Gilbert had some knowledge and knew that River Phoenix, hailed as a genius actor, would die of a drug overdose relatively soon. However, he had forgotten the exact date.
At such a private party, alcohol, marijuana, and sex were indispensable. Not to mention Hollywood stars who came from humble beginnings, even Sofia Coppola, who had a good upbringing, couldn't resist trying a few puffs.
Gilbert didn't join the revelry. He was like an observer, coolly watching the changes and everything happening around him. After a brief chat with Charles Roven and Cain Waxman, both producers each embraced a dancer and joined the party. Gilbert sat on a bar stool, drinking lemonade.
"Why aren't you joining the party?" Naomi Watts asked, sitting next to him with a cocktail in hand.
"Why aren't you?" Gilbert retorted.
Naomi Watts looked at the partying crowd and said, "Sometimes I feel like I'm in a different world than them."
"Really?" Gilbert seemed to empathize. "I also feel out of place among these people."
The two artistic young people thus distanced themselves from the crowd, enjoying each other's company.
---
## After the Wrap Party
"What will you do after 'Speed' wraps?" Naomi Watts asked.
Gilbert shrugged, clinked glasses with a passing crew member who came to say hello, and replied, "I'll be busy with post-production, then film promotion, a whole lot of things."
"And after that?"
"Let me think," Gilbert pondered for a long time, then said, "Maybe I'll go on vacation. After working so hard for so long, I need to relax. What about you?"
Naomi Watts finished her cocktail and said, "I might play supporting roles in a few movies. Sheena is trying to get me opportunities."
"Alright, good luck!" Gilbert checked the time, stood up, and grabbed his jacket. "It's about time, I should go."
"I'll go with you," Naomi Watts said, picking up her bag. They said goodbye to Charles Roven, skirted the partying crowd, and exited the bar.
"How about we go to my place for a bit? It's not far from here," Naomi Watts suggested.
Gilbert readily agreed, and they went to Naomi Watts' apartment together. As soon as they entered the apartment, Naomi Watts eagerly pounced on him, skillfully tugging at Gilbert's waistband. Gilbert took off his shirt while kicking the door shut with his heel. Then, he cupped Naomi Watts' chin, looked into her bright blue eyes, and kissed her.
Soon, with clothes scattered, they were already in the bedroom. Before their "workout" began, Naomi Watts stopped Gilbert. "Aren't you going to work out with Michelle today?"
"Nothing can stop my workout with you right now, my dear," Gilbert flipped over, pinning the petite woman beneath him.
"Gilbert, you're too heavy, you're hurting me," Naomi Watts cried out in pain. However, her voice was so enchanting that for Gilbert, it was a potent aphrodisiac. He no longer held back and began his deep yoga practice...
---
## Post-Production
After "Speed" wrapped, Gilbert threw himself into post-production. Two consecutive blockbuster films, although they didn't grant Gilbert final cut privilege, meant that the film could now be edited according to his vision. Gilbert collaborated with editor Mehdi Thomson to complete the film's editing.
"Mehdi, shorten this shot and try inserting footage from shot 83," Gilbert instructed.
Mehdi Thomson, an experienced editor, frowned upon hearing this. "Gilbert, isn't the pace of the film we're editing too fast?"
"That's exactly the effect I want: fast-paced shots and editing to give the audience more sensory stimulation," Gilbert explained.
"But, isn't that illogical?"
"Logic? Mehdi, in the film industry, logic is the least necessary thing. If we followed logic, 'Star Wars' shouldn't exist," Gilbert stated.
"Alright then," Mehdi Thomson had no choice but to edit the film according to Gilbert's requirements.
Charles Roven, who was observing the work, asked, "Gilbert, if we do this, the entire film will turn into an overly long music video or commercial. Won't the audience get tired easily and leave?"
"No, no, no, quite the opposite," Gilbert wagged his finger. "The audience will be glued to their seats in the cinema, feeling their adrenaline surge, unwilling to leave the big screen for even a moment."
Working with Gilbert for the first time, Charles Roven's initial impression of him was that he was very confident, but he hadn't expected Gilbert to be even more confident than he thought. Perhaps "arrogant" would be a more fitting word.
But for some reason, seeing Gilbert's confident demeanor, Charles Roven felt an inexplicable trust.
While Hollywood films dominated the world at that time, their overall pace was still relatively slow. A fast pace, thrilling action, and dazzling visuals would be the film's biggest selling points. Even if the story had logical flaws, Gilbert believed that the audience would pay to see this film.