[Chapter 128: Starting Production of The Shallows]
On December 10th, the film The Shallows officially began production on Lord Howe Island, Australia. Linton, as the screenwriter and co-producer, was naturally expected to attend the kickoff ceremony.
He was a bit anxious himself since both Blake and Zack were taking on major roles for the first time, shooting in a faraway foreign land.
Blake was stepping into the producer role for the first time, and Zack was making his directorial debut.
Thinking it would be good to stay on set for a few days to support them and eliminate any potential risks, Linton planned his trip.
Blake and Zack had arrived on Lord Howe Island with the crew two weeks early. All preparations were complete.
The local government understood how Hollywood films could boost tourism, so they not only provided various conveniences and support to the crew, they also coordinated with the local coast guard to provide a helicopter free of charge for the crew's aerial shots for a whole month, plus offered a 30% tax rebate.
The only requirement was that the film credits mention Lord Howe Island.
The production's advertising deals went well, securing product placements totaling $1.7 million: $800,000 for surfboards, $600,000 for bikini swimwear, and $300,000 for sunglasses.
For a low-budget film with no stars or renowned director, this was a great achievement.
On December 8th, accompanied by Danny and Meena, Linton flew to Sydney and then transferred to Lord Howe Island.
With Blake and Zack, he thoroughly inspected the film preparations and was very satisfied -- everything was solid.
Industrial Light & Magic's special effects team was on track, producing a lifelike, terrifying shark model that perfectly met the film's needs.
The island's natural scenery was stunning with rich tourist resources, though it remained relatively undiscovered. The infrastructure was well-developed.
The crew rented a four-star hotel with around 200 rooms, sufficient for their needs.
The top floor had five executive suites occupied by Blake, Zack, and Cameron. Naturally, Linton stayed there as well.
After dinner, Cameron naturally followed Linton to his room, and once the door closed, she threw herself into his arms and kissed him passionately.
"You big bad guy, you finally came -- I've missed you so much." She hurriedly began undressing him.
Soon, a delightful, passionate encounter began, filled with sweet sounds...
Two hours later, the activity paused. Cameron lay contentedly on Linton's chest, absentmindedly tracing circles on him.
Linton asked about her movie preparations with concern.
"Darling, don't worry. I care more about this movie than anyone else. I know this is the key battle that will launch my Hollywood career."
"That's true. It's a strong female lead film. If you perform well, you'll really take off."
"I've been working hard -- surfing practice by day, acting lessons by night. I haven't even had time to have fun." ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net
"How's your surfing? Are your moves looking good? If not, I won't approve -- your beauty needs to shine from every angle, which is crucial for box office success."
"Don't worry, hon, the producer Blake and director Zack have already assessed it. No issues at all."
"Sweetheart, give it your best. I believe this film will be a box office hit."
"You're so good to me -- I have to thank you properly." She flipped atop him, kissed him from head to toe, and then...
The passion continued...
On December 10th, all the main crew gathered for a brief press conference. Unfortunately, the film's small budget, lack of big stars, and remote location attracted few journalists.
Most were local Australian media. Still, Linton's dual role as co-producer and screenwriter, combined with his hit single I Swear topping the Billboard charts, managed to draw three media outlets from Los Angeles.
Local press asked mostly film-related questions:
"Director Zack, what is the theme of The Shallows?"
"Why did you choose Lord Howe Island to shoot this film?"
"Mr. Anderson, since you wrote the screenplay, why aren't you directing?"
"Ms. Diaz, this is your first lead role in a commercial film. How are the preparations?"
The responses were polite and relevant.
However, the Los Angeles media showed a different attitude, mostly ignoring the film.
"Mr. Anderson, your single I Swear has topped the Billboard charts for weeks. Why not capitalize on this momentum with more promotion? Are you having issues with Universal Music?"
"Mr. Anderson, rumors say this film was made for Cameron. Did you break up with Naomi and get back together with Cameron?"
"Mr. Anderson, I heard there was no public audition for the female lead, and you appointed Cameron directly. Are you involved in casting couch practices?"
"Mr. Anderson, Shania Twain's new single reached #4 on Billboard last week. Rumor has it you wrote it for her and that she was your pick for the Step Up soundtrack. What's your relationship with her?"
These were all messy, trap-laden questions that left Linton speechless. After answering, he couldn't help but say, "This press conference is for The Shallows' production launch. Please ask questions about the movie!"
After the press conference, Blake handed each journalist a crew photo and a fee envelope.
The group then moved to the beach filming location.
Zack took a step-by-step approach. The first shot was of Cameron changing clothes on the beach, preparing to go surfing.
It was a simple shot but needed to highlight Cameron's stunning figure to captivate the audience.
Linton respected the director's authority on set and observed quietly.
Zack was skilled -- the scheduling, lighting, and camera work were solid, producing beautiful shots.
Cameron's swimsuit-clad curves -- ample chest, slim waist, curvy hips, and hourglass figure -- were beautifully captured in a very sexy way, sure to attract many admirers' attention.
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