Billy was completely soaked, gripping the railing of a ship. He was freezing, suspended at a 90-degree angle by a harness that kept him in place. He and Kate had agreed to take on a completely daring maneuver. Kate’s hand trembled as she clung tightly, swaying with the height—34 meters above the inevitable freefall.
-We’ll start filming in a moment. The ship will rise in slow motion, and you’ll hold onto the railing. When we call it, you’ll shift your position upward. The tilt won’t be too extreme, but you need to move quickly,- shouted the cameraman with commanding intensity.
After three failed takes, they kept falling into the trap of being caught off guard.
-You look frozen,- Kate said, her voice edged with concern.
-You look like an iceberg. Even your hair looks stiff. If you kiss me, you might freeze yourself too,- Billy joked.
Billy’s thoughts raced: Where will this take me? The ship began to tilt, swaying slowly. Some extras, true professionals, slid dramatically across the deck. A few even wore small wheels on their shoes to amplify the effect of slipping. Kate, though no longer as sick as before, was still pale, her face enhanced with makeup to fit the scene. She gripped his hand tightly.
"What do we do now?- Kate whispered, seeking comfort, though the end seemed inevitable.
They exchanged a fleeting look, and a shared sigh before Billy grabbed her by the arms and lifted her onto the railing. She clung tightly, her knuckles turning white.
Ten seconds later, Billy received the cue. Carefully, with precision and grace, he lifted Kate into his arms, ensuring she could move fluidly into position.
Jack: You need to hold on tightly. When the ship fully sinks, the pull of the water will drag us down. Please, Rose, wear the life vest—it’ll bring you to the surface. We need to jump at the right moment. A small push is all it will take to save us.
Jack: Jump when I tell you. I’ll let you know the exact moment.
Rose: We’ll get through this together.
The ship creaked and groaned as it tilted to a 90-degree angle. Extras shouted and simulated falling, some leaping dramatically through the air. Billy and Kate watched everything from the railing. The intricacies of large-scale scenes fascinated them.
Eventually, the extras were cleared, leaving only Billy and Kate on the ship. It was lowered into the water—just three meters for the effect of sinking. The two embraced, their actions captured with painstaking detail.
An hour and a half suspended on a ship—a unique way to spend the night, hanging from one end with no chance to move or do anything else.
-I think we’ve spent too much time on this ship,- Billy muttered.
-Apparently, that’s it for now. The director will begin shooting the water scenes tomorrow, but of course, you already knew that- Kate replied, now dressed in a simple, form-fitting dress with a large wool coat that made her appear smaller.
-Let’s get something to eat. Monica’s making dinner.-
For Pixar, it was a significant setback. Their software had become increasingly challenging to run on existing computers, even though those machines were dedicated exclusively to the task. It was a minor problem that often escalated into a major obstacle.
-There’s only one thing left to do,- said Randal McArthur, slamming his hand on the table. -"We need to make a statement. We used to have the hardware, but it was sold off. Now we just need a machine powerful enough to run our software."-
-We’ve made some operational integrity adjustments, allowing it to run, but it’s neither effective nor efficient. Billy Carson always says a company shouldn’t box itself into a specific task—it’s a long-term waste of resources,- added Ed Catmull.
-What we all want is to improve our work. This time, we’ll revive the old operations we used to rely on,- said Alvy Ray Smith.
-Pixar Developments.-
A Pixar built on hardware.
-We’ll focus on promoting graphical acceleration and improving storage, while simultaneously securing a contract with Apple. It’s a brilliant way to generate extra income through research, patents, and results,- Randal explained, his tone brimming with confidence.
ID Software was collaborating with Autodesk to enhance RAM and develop intelligent applications for process optimization. Meanwhile, Apple aimed to revolutionize RAM, CPU systems, and overall hardware design, striving for lighter, smaller components using cutting-edge semiconductors. Microsoft pursued advancements in processors, parallel computing, and system compatibility. They knew that several companies were already developing their own graphics cards and joining this aggressive technological race.
-Then let’s improve the technology in the way we envision. We’ll move forward with Pixar Developments,- Randal concluded.
The best way to thrive was through constant investment—investing in even the smallest details, however seemingly insignificant, to perfect the craft. Universities, brilliant professors, dedicated workers, and curious researchers were all part of a world pushing the boundaries of innovation.
-We’re just waiting for Billy’s approval,- John Lasseter chimed in. He was one of the few who knew Billy was acquiring 45% of Lucasfilm for $500 million, with an additional $50 million in commissions—a deal that had caught everyone’s attention.