Martin was familiar with The Power of Love, the film James Cameron had just mentioned.
Before coming here, he had done his homework.
Martin nodded. "Unfortunately, the film reels have been lost, so we'll never know exactly what it looked like."
James Cameron chuckled. "Exactly. That's why the 1952 adventure film Bwana Devil is officially recognized as the first true 3D feature film in history."
"You've seen it?" Martin asked curiously.
"Yeah, I have," Cameron replied with a strange expression.
"Oh? What was 3D like back then?"
"How do I put it...? The technology was crude, relying on red-blue color separation to create a 3D effect. Honestly, in terms of visual impact, it was even worse than the 1962 Chinese 3D film The Adventure of a Magician. Personally, I think The Adventure of a Magician was the first truly mature 3D film, both in terms of storytelling and technique. But even that was too primitive for my taste."
(Note: The Adventure of a Magician was a 1962 3D film produced by Tianma Film Studio. A remastered version is still available online. By the standards of its time, it was an impressive film.)
Cameron's face filled with pride. "The 3D film I want to make will have truly immersive visuals—the kind that makes you feel like the characters and scenery are right next to you."
"Can today's technology achieve that?" Martin asked.
"It's possible, but it still needs improvement!" Cameron was brimming with confidence. "By combining CGI with live-action performances, we can create a whole new visual experience..."
He launched into an enthusiastic explanation, but Martin quickly felt his head spinning.
Looks like even demons have weaknesses—at least in the realm of technology, he was completely clueless.
When Cameron finally finished his lecture, Martin quickly said, "Okay, Jim, I'm not a tech expert. Why don't you put together a detailed project plan—what technologies are needed, what has to be developed from scratch, what needs to be purchased, and the estimated budget. Send it all to Drew."
"So, you're investing?"
Cameron's face lit up with excitement.
He slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Fantastic! Now it'll be much easier to secure funding from 20th Century Fox. After all, if the legendary Martin Myers is backing this, it's bound to be a moneymaker."
Martin silently added: It's going to be a massive hit.
Two days later, Drew Barrymore called.
"Oh my God, Martin, what did you have James Cameron send me? That ridiculously long list of incomprehensible technical terms—what the hell is it?!"
"It's CGI-related stuff. Find an expert to review it. As long as the budget checks out, Myers Pictures will invest in Cameron's new movie," Martin explained.
"Wow, so our King of the World is finally making a new film. I can't wait to see it next year. Titanic was a masterpiece!"
"Uh... next year might be too soon."
"Oh, right. I forgot—this is James Cameron we're talking about. The king of delays. Alright, I'll just keep my expectations for the year after that."
"Actually, the year after might not work either," Martin said awkwardly. "Jim told me it might not be ready until 2009 or 2010."
Drew's shriek came through the phone loud and clear.
"You're joking, right?" she asked cautiously.
"No, this is the reality. No joke."
"Martin, are you sure Cameron isn't just playing you?"
"Relax, he's not. This film involves developing new technology, so it's going to take time."
"Take time? This is basically an eternity!"
"Trust me, my dear general manager, this investment will be worth every penny."
"Fine, fine. You're always right—at least until you fail. Damn it, a movie that takes six or seven years to make? I need to see what the hell he's working on."
"You'll be blown away," Martin assured her.
"How much are you planning to invest?" Drew suddenly asked.
"Wow, you really believe in this project."
"I have a suggestion," Drew said. "It's best to spread out this investment over the years. You know Cameron—if you give him all the money upfront, he'll spend it like crazy, and the production budget will turn into a black hole."
Martin nodded. "Good point. I've thought about that too. I plan to assign a producer who's good with numbers to oversee the finances."
Drew burst out laughing. "Oh, Cameron is going to lose his mind!"
"Is that so? Then Jimmy it is!" Martin laughed along.
He wasn't stupid. Locking up a massive amount of capital in a long-term project without oversight would be foolish. There was no way he'd just hand over a blank check to Cameron, a man notorious for extravagant spending.
After wrapping up the conversation, Martin was about to hang up when Drew suddenly said, "Wait, Martin! We recently received a script, and I'm unsure about it. Can you take a look?"
"Sure, send it to my email."
James Wan and Leigh Whannell were still lying there, looking utterly dejected.
"Still no response... James, do you think Martin even saw our script?" Whannell muttered impatiently.
"Damn, I don't know. All I know is that I'm starving! Leigh, how much money do we have left?"
"Not much. We need to save some for a plane ticket back to Australia."
Just then, Whannell's phone, which had been sitting on the coffee table, suddenly rang.
"Please don't be the landlord asking for rent."
Whannell answered the call lazily. "Hello, this is Leigh Whannell. Who's calling?"
His eyes widened immediately.
Then, in an instant, he shot up from the couch, his voice filled with nervous excitement. "Yes, yes, yes! Absolutely!"
James Wan sat up too, looking confused,