"Wow, this looks pretty good—Ilian will definitely love it."
At the entrance of the TCL Chinese Theatre, where the Transformers premiere was being held, stood two massive models—Optimus Prime and Bumblebee—each about five or six meters tall. They immediately drew everyone's attention.
The moment Scarlett arrived on site, she felt the full impact of Transformers' appeal. Even she, who wasn't exactly obsessed with robots, found those enormous figures fascinating—let alone the boys who were crazy about them.
Gilbert was also quite pleased. "Looks like David Ellison has someone capable on his team. He can still handle this kind of setup well. Just placing these two at the entrance gives an incredibly powerful effect."
"Definitely," Scarlett agreed. "Just look at the fans' eyes—if there weren't barriers holding them back, they'd probably rush over and take down Optimus Prime and Bumblebee on the spot. I think the movie's merchandise will sell better than The Last of Us. David Ellison might actually beat you in that area."
Gilbert chuckled. "Oh, it'll sell well for sure. With today's technology, effects that used to seem impossible are now easily achievable. This kind of project doesn't even rely that much on story content. If David Ellison still manages to mess this up, he might as well just go work for his father's company."
"That's true," Scarlett nodded.
In the VIP waiting area near the red carpet, many guests had already arrived to show their support. Quite a few familiar faces greeted Gilbert briefly but didn't stop to chat.
Renowned producer Jerry Bruckheimer came over and exchanged a few words with him.
"Has Michelle been available lately?"
"I think she should be," Gilbert replied with a smile. "Jerry, are you planning to collaborate with her on something?"
"Of course," said Jerry Bruckheimer. "Our work together on National Treasure went great. National Treasure 2 is about to start production, and Michelle's the female lead—she can't miss out."
Gilbert laughed. "Don't worry, Jerry. She's been looking forward to starring in the sequel."
Jerry nodded, then turned to Scarlett. "Miss Johansson, when are we going to make a movie together?"
"Well…" Scarlett glanced at Gilbert before answering, "If it's not a good project, I'm not joining in."
Jerry grinned and pointed at Gilbert. "Don't worry. As long as Gilbert's around, I'd never offer you a bad project."
"Then I'll look forward to working with you."
"Looking forward to it," he replied.
As one of Hollywood's top producers, Jerry Bruckheimer's projects were always in high demand. Still, even though Scarlett was considered a second-tier actress at the moment, she didn't lack offers for films of that scale.
The reason was simple—Hollywood wasn't just about talent; connections mattered too. With Gilbert backing her, Scarlett naturally had a big advantage when competing for roles.
Before long, it was Gilbert and Scarlett's turn to walk the red carpet.
Their appearance came as a pleasant surprise to many, and although no one had expected the two to attend the Transformers premiere, the crowd erupted in cheers and excited screams when they saw them.
The host began introducing them: "Walking down the red carpet now is director Gilbert, accompanied by the renowned actress Scarlett Johansson!
Director Gilbert hardly needs an introduction—you all know him well. His latest film, The Last of Us, has grossed $157 million at the North American box office and $394 million worldwide, an outstanding success.
Miss Scarlett Johansson is known for her roles in Lost in Translation and Flipped, both of which are beloved by audiences…"
By the time the host finished, Gilbert and Scarlett had just reached the end of the carpet.
The host quickly caught them for a brief interview. "How do you feel attending the Transformers premiere tonight?"
Gilbert replied, "I've always been a big Transformers fan. When David invited me, I didn't hesitate at all."
Scarlett added, "I'm here with Gilbert, but I have to say—the atmosphere is fantastic. I really like the energy here."
After the short interview, the host let them go. As they made their way into the theater, they spotted David Ellison standing at the entrance, personally greeting guests.
With so many people around and it being a public event—Gilbert and Scarlett behaved with flawless courtesy. David Ellison, on the other hand, looked a bit awkward when he saw Scarlett—probably still traumatized by her prank the last time they met.
"Hi, David. Congratulations on the premiere," Gilbert said as he extended his hand.
David forced a smile. "The premiere doesn't mean much yet—it's the box office that really matters."
"True enough," Gilbert said with a grin, pointing toward the towering Optimus Prime and Bumblebee models. "Those look impressive. Seems you've moved past the rookie stage."
"Thanks to you," David said flatly. "Your guidance helped me improve so quickly." His words were polite, but his tone carried no real gratitude.
Gilbert didn't mind. The fact that David could restrain himself from losing his temper in public already made Gilbert look at him in a new light.
After their brief exchange, Scarlett, who had only greeted David with a perfunctory smile earlier, said nothing more. Once they were inside the theater, she nudged Gilbert lightly in the side.
"Gilbert, look over there," she whispered.
"What is it?" he asked.
Following Scarlett's gaze, Gilbert saw an old acquaintance — Mel Gibson.
"Well, well, an old friend is here. I should go say hello," Gilbert said with a grin. He walked over with Scarlett, calling out from a distance, "Hey, Mel! Long time no see! When did you get out?"
Mel Gibson, who had been chatting animatedly with a few guests and trying to drum up interest in his new project, suddenly froze when he heard that voice — the one he hated most.
The nearby guests quickly stepped aside. None of them wanted to get caught between the two; Gilbert was someone they couldn't afford to offend, but they also didn't want to antagonize Mel Gibson. The best option was to pretend they hadn't seen anything.
Gilbert strode right up to him and extended a hand. "You look just as spirited as ever. I'm relieved to see that."
Years behind bars hadn't completely worn away Mel Gibson's temper. The cheerful smile that had been on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, stony expression.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded.
Gilbert shrugged innocently. "David invited me personally. I couldn't just ignore the gesture, could I?"
"Hmph," Mel snorted. "You're here to laugh at me, aren't you?"
"Absolutely not," Gilbert replied, looking as sincere as ever. "It's been over a decade — let bygones be bygones.
This is Hollywood, Mel. I imagine you still want to stay in the business, don't you?"
Mel's face darkened with fury. "What's that supposed to mean? That if I hold a grudge, I'll be driven out of Hollywood?"
"Think whatever you like," Gilbert said lightly, his polite smile matched with a calm, disdainful gaze — as if he were looking at a stray dog by the roadside.
Mel's face flushed red with anger, his fists clenching tightly.
Just then, Michael Ovitz hurried over. "Mel, calm down," he said quickly.
Mel snorted again and turned his head away, refusing to meet Gilbert and Scarlett's amused looks.
Michael gave an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry for Mel's rudeness."
"It's fine, Michael," Gilbert replied casually.
Then he pulled out a wet wipe and carefully cleaned his hands. Even though Mel hadn't shaken them, his gesture made it perfectly clear, he found the very idea of contact with Mel Gibson distasteful.
...
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