Not far from Boston, in New York, Batcher Lutz and his buddy Evans had just walked out of a movie theater.
"So, Evans, what do you think of this movie?" Batcher Lutz asked.
Evans was straight with him: "Honestly, the movie's actually pretty good, but it's not the kind of Gilbert movie I was expecting."
Batcher Lutz agreed. "Yeah, it's way too mainstream."
Turns out, in their eyes, Gilbert was actually an indie director. Maybe his previous films had such strong personal styles that they made him stand out, which surprised a lot of his fans. But this movie, 'Real Steel,' leaned towards the mainstream. Even though the robot boxing matches were intense, it just lacked that element of surprise.
This wasn't just Batcher Lutz and Evans's feeling. All the way on the West Coast in Los Angeles, Lewis and Sarati's fan groups felt the same way. Sarati, who had become a fan after seeing Gilbert's other works, felt the movie was good, but just lacked that sense of surprise. His newly formed loyal fan base was a little disappointed, but they could still watch it. They were super excited after seeing the trailer, but the trailer was just a snippet; the finished film was just "pretty good," nothing mind-blowing.
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Casual viewers who got into the movie because of the animal rights controversy, which spread from entertainment news to politics, current events, and even financial sections, had a much better impression. If it hadn't been for all that buzz with the animal protection organizations, these regular folks probably wouldn't have even noticed 'Real Steel.' So, on top of its existing fan base, 'Real Steel' definitely brought in a lot of new moviegoers. Of course, the increasing number of moviegoers each year is a market reality, so it might not all be thanks to 'Real Steel.' Plus, the movie's PG-13 rating was a crucial factor.
When new audiences walked into the theater and saw a visually stunning movie, the feeling was just indescribable. It was like how, a decade or so later, audiences would be blown away by Hollywood's visual effects blockbusters.
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These days, box office tracking in North America is a hassle, but after the midnight screenings, you can get a rough idea of the numbers. Gilbert was still up, anxiously waiting for the midnight box office data. His previous films had all been proven successes in his past life. But 'Real Steel' wasn't a success in his past life, and Gilbert wasn't sure what the movie's fate would be this time around.
The phone rang quickly. It was Robert Iger. "Gilbert, still up?"
"Yeah," Gilbert said, quickly asking, "How's the midnight showing?"
"Not bad. Six thousand two hundred fifty screens in three thousand North American theaters had midnight shows, with an average attendance of about 35%, raking in over four million dollars at the box office. The exact numbers won't be out until the morning," Robert Iger said.
Gilbert breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. Looks like the midnight box office numbers are decent."
Robert Iger sensed Gilbert's worry and curiously asked, "What's up? You sound nervous."
"Of course I'm nervous. If the box office doesn't do well, it'd be a letdown for all the hard work everyone put in for the past six months," Gilbert made an excuse.
"Really?" Robert Iger sounded skeptical. "I remember last time with 'Speed,' you were sleeping soundly."
"Uh," Gilbert quickly came up with a reason, "that's because 'Speed' only cost twenty million to make, and 'Real Steel' cost eighty million."
Robert Iger laughed when he heard that. "Hahahaha, relax, kid, don't sweat it. It's only eighty million. It's okay if the movie loses a little; we can make it back with merchandise. Besides, looking at the midnight box office numbers, the movie's performance won't be too bad."
"I hope so!" Gilbert still felt a little uneasy. After hanging up, Gilbert stared out at the Los Angeles night lights, lost in thought.
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A pair of arms wrapped around Gilbert's waist from behind. It was Cameron Diaz.
"Honey, what's wrong? You seem a little off," Cameron Diaz asked.
"Nothing," Gilbert said, turning around and pulling Cameron Diaz into his arms. "Are the dresses ready?"
"Of course they are," Cameron Diaz said, looking at the large clock in the living room. "It's getting late. Let's get some rest!"
"Mmm..."
The living room lights went out, and the two walked hand-in-hand into the bedroom.
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The opening weekend of 'Real Steel' coincided with the third annual MTV Movie Awards, and Gilbert attended with Cameron Diaz. Of course, there was an extra companion: Charlize Theron. This red carpet opportunity was something Charlize Theron had practically begged for. Since their last pleasant chat, Charlize Theron had legitimately started getting closer to Gilbert. Although they hadn't, you know, been there yet, this South African beauty was ready to make her move at any time.
But before she could even get into Gilbert's bed, she got the chance to walk the red carpet with him. Actually, taking a female companion was a strict requirement from Disney and Warner Bros. But when they heard Gilbert was bringing two dates to the MTV Awards, the Disney and Warner Bros. marketing and publicity teams could only give him a thumbs-up and praise him for doing a good job.
The MTV Movie Awards red carpet wasn't a huge draw for A-list celebrities, but for Charlize Theron, it was a huge opportunity. If she was lucky enough to get an interview and say a few words, she might just leave an impression on audiences. At the very least, it would add something to her resume.
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The MTV Movie Awards are annual film and TV awards hosted by MTV. Unlike the Oscars, this is a film awards show entirely decided by the audience. That's why the awards themselves are pretty cool, shaped like a bucket of popcorn—a movie-watching essential—hence they're also known as the "Popcorn Awards." Because of its strong entertainment value, its viewership has been steadily climbing since it started, making it a super hot awards ceremony.
Of course, there's a big difference between the MTV Movie Awards and the Oscars. It's mainly for the audience, and it even has awards like "Best Kiss," which you'd never see at the Oscars. The most popular stars here are usually folks like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Meg Ryan, and so on. And, after 'Speed,' Keanu Reeves definitely fits in now too.
Gilbert's film from last year, 'Speed,' scored multiple nominations at this year's MTV Awards, including Best Movie, Most Sexiest Male, Best Kiss, Best Villain, Best Action Sequence, Best On-Screen Duo, and more. With so many nominations, 'Speed' became the hot favorite to win big this year. It's worth noting that last year's box office champ, 'Jurassic Park,' only got one nomination for Best Movie, and that was it. Maybe because dinosaurs don't count as people, 'Jurassic Park' didn't get a single human-related nomination.
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Charlize Theron was lucky enough to get an interview with a reporter, but the questions were all about Gilbert. "Excuse me, Miss Theron." Phew, at least this reporter knew Charlize Theron's name; otherwise, asking questions would've been awkward.
The reporter continued, "How does it feel to work with Gilbert in your very first movie role?" Honestly, this wasn't Charlize Theron's first movie, but her previous roles weren't much better than background extras. So, Charlize Theron, with a sweet smile, looked at Gilbert beside her and said with an admiring tone, "Working with Director Gilbert feels like a dream come true. I've dreamed of being an actress since I was a little girl, and I thank Director Gilbert for giving me this chance."
The reporter then asked, "Excuse me, are you and Miss Diaz involved in a love triangle with Director Gilbert?" Usually, who cares about a director's gossip? But Gilbert was just too popular, so the media was super curious. Charlize Theron cleverly avoided directly answering the question: "An excellent man like Director Gilbert, I think, is every woman's dream." She didn't answer directly, but her vague attitude was enough to get people's imaginations running wild.
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A lot of actresses were professing their love for Gilbert these days. Just a few days ago, a Valley adult film star publicly declared her affection for Gilbert, saying he was better than Donald. In this way, Gilbert and Donald somehow crossed paths.
This year's MTV Awards host was Will Smith. Will Smith used to be in the rap scene and even won a Grammy. In recent years, he's moved into acting, becoming a comedy actor. Black entertainers have a real talent for rap and comedy, and Will Smith is a prime example.
Gilbert walked the red carpet with Cameron Diaz and Charlize Theron, and this kind of event felt more natural and relaxed for interacting with fans. Charlize Theron experienced the cheers and screams of fans for the first time, and even though she knew they weren't for her, she was totally hooked on the feeling. "Someday, I'll be able to enjoy these cheers too," Charlize Theron thought to herself.
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At the awards ceremony, Gilbert saw Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, whom he'd just seen a few days earlier. The huge success of 'Speed' had given them a taste of superstardom. Charlize Theron was right; being in the spotlight was intoxicating. Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock entered together and got the loudest screams and cheers of the night. Tom Cruise became a huge star with 'Top Gun,' and Keanu Reeves hit it big with 'Speed.'
Gilbert heard from Robert Iger that both Touchstone Pictures and Warner Bros. were planning a sequel to 'Speed.' It seemed a shame not to make a sequel to such a hot summer blockbuster. However, Gilbert wasn't optimistic about a sequel, as he vaguely remembered 'Speed 2' in his past life costing a lot but flopping at the box office. So, when Robert Iger asked Gilbert if he was interested in directing again, Gilbert flat-out refused; he had his own stuff to deal with. It was probably for the best anyway; if 'Speed 2' tanked, it meant Keanu Reeves's salary would drop, making it a much better deal to invite him for another project later on.
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This year's MTV opening was pretty cool. First, Will Smith's rap group performed and got a huge cheer from the crowd. Then, Dr. Dre came out and performed the theme song for 'Real Steel.' This was totally normal, since Disney and Warner Bros. were also sponsors of the MTV Movie Awards. If sponsors want to promote their own movies, the MTV organizers have no problem with it. Plus, Dr. Dre was already a nationally famous rapper, and his awesome performance just highlighted the entertainment value of the MTV Movie Awards even more.
After the opening performances, Will Smith came on stage to host, starting with a stand-up routine that name-dropped all the guests who came that night. When it was Gilbert's turn, Will Smith was envious: "Whoa, looks like our Director Gilbert is super popular, surrounded by two beautiful ladies!" Cameron Diaz and Charlize Theron even played along, each kissing Gilbert on the cheek, which sparked screams and whistles from the crowd. In such an entertainment-heavy event, everyone figured it was just the three of them teaming up with Will Smith for some showmanship.
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Will Smith didn't forget to plug Gilbert's movie: "Director Gilbert's 'Real Steel' is in theaters now, so everyone should go support it! Speaking of which, I'm pretty good at boxing myself. Director Gilbert, wanna consider inviting me?" As he said this, Will Smith even made a boxing motion.
Gilbert just smiled and mouthed back, "Sure, if you come, I'll definitely pick you." More than that, the fans in the audience and watching on TV were more curious if the thing with Gilbert, Cameron Diaz, and Charlize Theron was for real. Good thing Charlize Theron was almost nineteen; if she were underage, Gilbert would probably be facing molestation charges and getting hassled by the child protection agency.
But even if it was real, no big deal. Gilbert already had a few rumored girlfriends, and Naomi Watts wasn't even there! Fans, with their incredible ability to accept things, had long grown accustomed to Hollywood directors and stars constantly swapping partners. If you didn't have a few exes, people would actually wonder if you had issues in that department.
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The MTV Movie Awards gave Gilbert a task: present the award for Best Actor. This year's MTV Best Actor had an uncanny resemblance to the Oscars; it went to Tom Hanks again. Before presenting the award, Gilbert didn't forget to promote his new film: "My new movie, 'Real Steel,' is out now. I hope everyone goes to the theater to support it!"
Tom Hanks took the golden popcorn award from Gilbert and couldn't resist a playful jab: "Actually, Gilbert, I can box too. I was a boxer in high school. We should work together." Gilbert immediately shot back, "Yeah, everyone wants to work with an Oscar winner, and I'm no exception!"
Tom Hanks used the occasion to make a friendly gesture to Gilbert, but whether they'd actually work together remained to be seen. He didn't realize, however, that Gilbert really did want to work with him. But Tom Hanks was a CAA client, and it was uncertain if his agent would agree.
Keanu Reeves, despite missing out on Best Actor, and Sandra Bullock, took home awards for Most Sexiest Male and Most Sexiest Female, respectively. They also won Best Kiss and Best On-Screen Duo. Dennis Hopper also snagged Best Villain, making 'Speed' a big winner at this year's MTV Movie Awards.
Meanwhile, 'Real Steel' was having a hot opening weekend.