hollywood system: art

July 27, 1996.

Cameron woke up one day completely out of shape, overwhelmed by an unshakable urge to start filming from scratch—not everything, but certain scenes that failed to satisfy him as they should have. They left him with a nagging feeling that he was heading down the wrong path. It was hard to admit, but he needed to talk to someone about his hunches.

-You have to listen to me. We need to redo the scenes—some things just don't align with my vision. When put together, it's a disaster, losing gold over something so trivial, - James told John Ladou.

-James, the costs will skyrocket… I thought we got it right. Everyone has pushed themselves to the limit, - John replied, his face showing exhaustion and his words laced with resistance to James' instincts. Cameron swallowed his frustration; yelling wouldn't help now, especially when he wasn't the director.

He spent the day venting his disappointment during the green screen shoots. Something about the scenes didn't feel right, though he couldn't pinpoint what it was. A gnawing sense that everything he was doing was wrong consumed him.

-Move like a rogue!- he yelled at Billy, who was drenched in water. Kate, standing nearby, made a face that Billy couldn't ignore, though Cameron was too lost in thought to notice. His mind was a tangled web of chaotic information, a director trapped in the stigmas of time. They had been filming for 63 days, over a year into production, fine-tuning every intricate detail.

-We'll shoot the scene again! - Cameron announced. The crew gathered around Billy to discuss the issues, while Cameron sat on a chair, casting a disdainful look at everyone around him—a now common occurrence.

He spoke with the editing team and the rest of the production crew, but they were unanimous: the story was perfect. He had to live with the unease of creating something that didn't feel right. Perfectionist—an accurate term to describe him, but it went deeper. In the days ahead, he would likely...

…

-He's angrier than usual,- Kate observed, frowning at Cameron.

-Not my business. His anger is like a ticking bomb, always ready to explode,- Billy replied.

Kate made a face. After a week of daily drenching, her cold was becoming obvious, accompanied by her usual headaches. It was clear she'd be bedridden with the flu soon. The studio, illuminated by giant bulbs simulating daylight, was devoid of windows, a testament to the magic of lighting with its blend of white and yellow tones.

Two crew members passed by, taking measurements as the actors braced themselves for yet another round of cold water. The water started warm but quickly turned icy after prolonged exposure.

-Let's go. We've got work to do,- Billy told Kate, who was soaked and shivering lightly in her coat.

-No choice,- she replied.

Cameron's shouts were intense, but they managed to complete two scenes that day. Only the final scenes remained—those requiring minimal action, just the actors at the ship's stern, awaiting the inevitable sinking. A meticulously designed set allowed extras to jump into the water.

Billy filmed the scene where he led Kate to safety, a race against time amidst the tragedy enveloping the young man. A few more scenes remained, but things didn't go as planned. Two key issues emerged: first, Cameron halted production to argue with the studio about why continuing as planned would be a mistake; second, several intermediate scenes with other characters were still missing.

…

-I heard you want to reshoot some scenes, - Billy said to Cameron, who sipped from a glass Coke bottle, wearing a thick black jacket, faded jeans, and a blue collared shirt. The man seemed defensive, as though under attack.

-What do you mean by reshoot? -

-That's exactly what I mean. You're redoing some scenes you think need another take, - Billy replied.

Cameron studied him closely, then decided to show him the footage from the camera, every take they'd done. Billy didn't see anything wrong. His mind raced, drawing parallels between the old and the new. Countless details about Titanic flooded his thoughts. He recalled Don Lynch and Ken Marschall's book, Titanic: An Illustrated History, which expanded on the tragedy. Compassion filled his mind as he reviewed every scene and image.

-I think you should redo scenes 23, 34, and 65—they're missing some life. You could add a few extra cuts. If it means making a short film, why not leave it at two hours and fifty minutes? For example, stretch our love scenes with Rose. Running by the engines could use some extra touches, - Billy suggested, pointing out scenes that hadn't been fully captured but lived vividly in his memory. He described each one in detail. Together, they worked late into the evening, delaying the schedule by an hour.

Cameron realized Billy was right. The film needed to be longer. Now that he had a broader framework to work within, his mind teemed with ideas. He could channel his energy into refining the scenes marked for reshooting. He envisioned an extended, character-driven sequence, but that wasn't the plan.

-So, we need a scene where Jack is desperate to see Rose, which shows his anguish as a man in love. He could steal a hat or a suit to sneak into first class, - Billy suggested, sketching adjustments he'd noted in his book.

-We have to do it, - Cameron replied, his confidence now unshakable.

The rest of the crew was shocked to see James enter the Titanic mega-set with a smile. It resembled a small lake with a metal structure on one side. Several scenes from the first act still needed to be filmed because production had mistakenly left space for later adjustments. The hotel was a 30-minute drive away, bustling with extras contributing daily to the Titanic illusion.

…

-We were going to grab some coffee, but you disappeared, - Kate said as they prepared for another long night.

-I was talking to Cameron. Looks like we'll be filming some additional scenes he deems necessary. We sketched out some ideas, - Billy explained.

-Another nude scene, Mr. Carson? - Kate teased.

-You wish. But no, we're leaning toward the kid-friendly side of things. James thinks some scenes need more depth. Though I could suggest you want more screen time nude, - Billy joked.

Kate laughed; she didn't mind nudity. Being completely bare was just part of the job for her, and in a film as romantic as this one, nudity carried an artistic and emotional significance.

-A body is a body—it's magnificent. I might regret it later, but maybe I'll remain intact in people's eyes. In twenty years, they'll see the beauty I was, - she said, her crooked smile returning.

-Oh, they will. Titanic won't be forgotten. When we're no longer here, people will revisit the film. Even future generations will take time to admire the great movies and say, 'They don't make love stories like this anymore,' -Billy replied. -To be eternal is a grace—being remembered as the best. When someone watches The Godfather for the first time, seeing Marlon Brando or Al Pacino's performances, they can't help but marvel at their brilliance. -

-Then it doesn't matter, - Kate concluded.

-Women, - Billy muttered under his breath, still lost in thought.

-Everyone will adore Mr. Billy Carson, who had the chance to date the most incredible woman in the world but gave it up for some Italian woman, - she teased.

...