The Hollywood Reporter isn't a top-selling paper, but it's deeply rooted in Hollywood. Decades of networking have built it a solid pipeline to first-hand scoops from the industry's biggest players.
That's why heavy-hitters like The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and The Wall Street Journal often reprint their stories.
Dunn picked The Hollywood Reporter for an exclusive interview because of its clout in the biz.
Like always, the reporter's questions were prepped in advance, and Dunn had already gone over the answers a dozen times.
"The Unsinkable, produced by Dunn Pictures, didn't exactly light up the box office in its opening week. It got overshadowed by Pearl Harbor—something unheard of in your past projects. Mr. Walker, any thoughts on that?"
It's just a newspaper gig, but there's a camera rolling.
Dunn's decked out in a sharp suit, exuding confidence. He glances at his assistant, Isla Fisher, by the office door. She's holding a little chalkboard with "normal" and "reputation" scribbled on it—his cues.
"The movie market's unpredictable," he says with a shrug. "Figuring out what audiences want is the toughest nut to crack for filmmakers. Sure, Pearl Harbor beat The Unsinkable at the box office that first week, but that's just numbers. It's not the big deal here. The Unsinkable's racking up great reviews, isn't it?"
He flashes a small smile and nods at Isla.
The reporter jumps in: "What's behind both Pearl Harbor and The Unsinkable dropping on the same day? Is it true what people are saying—that you've got beef with Disney?"
"Beef? That's pure nonsense. I've cleared this up a million times, but I'll say it one more time: Hollywood thrives on healthy competition. All this wild speculation from outsiders? It's just irresponsible."
Dunn chuckles and keeps going. "I've talked it over with Michael Eisner, Disney's board chairman, plenty of times. We're good buddies—honestly, it's not the mess people make it out to be."
"But Disney's been hyping Pearl Harbor big time," the reporter presses. "They're claiming it's the next Titanic—maybe even set to break its box office record. What's your take?"
"Break Titanic's record with a $50 million opening week? Good luck with that," Dunn says with a faint grin. "But them calling Pearl Harbor the next Titanic? That's been bugging me, and I can't quite figure it out."
"Oh? Care to elaborate?"
Isla flips the chalkboard. New keywords: "creation," "deception," "legacy."
"Everyone knows Titanic—produced by James Cameron, directed by me, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet," Dunn says. "Pearl Harbor? Honestly, not a single person from that crew worked on Titanic. I don't get how they're linked. It's a totally different creation."
He leans in a bit. "The Pearl Harbor team and Disney keep name-dropping Titanic in their promo. I don't know why—maybe it's just marketing? I don't buy that. Disney's a solid company; they wouldn't trick audiences into theaters with Titanic's name. There's got to be another angle. You'd have to ask them."
"As for Titanic," he adds with a laugh, "The Unsinkable is its real sequel in every sense. Same producer, same director, most of the same crew—it's a true legacy. Both stories center on shipwrecks. Titanic is a tragic sinking and a timeless love story. The Unsinkable? It's a miracle of life after a wreck—a celebration of human love!"
The reporter tees him up: "Mr. Walker, are you saying The Unsinkable is the true second Titanic? That you and Director Cameron are trying to redeem that shipwreck tragedy from four years ago?"
"Absolutely, no question!" Dunn says, dead serious. "Titanic was me and Cameron's baby. If anyone's going to recreate it, it's us—not Jerry Bruckheimer or Michael Bay."
"Is The Unsinkable really as gripping as Titanic?"
"Without a doubt! James Cameron directing, Mel Gibson starring—they're guarantees of quality. And me? I'm the producer. I've got total faith in my work!"
The reporter grins. "So you're saying The Unsinkable's box office might bounce back in the next few weeks?"
"Definitely," Dunn says coolly. "Titanic had a rebound too, remember? This time, Cameron and I are teaming up to recreate that magic!"
---
Shrek is a blast, but it's an animated flick already in its third week. The box office spotlight's still on Pearl Harbor and The Unsinkable—two commercial juggernauts in their prime.
"Hi, everyone! This is NB Channel's Movie Watch. I'm your host, Hannah, coming to you from the AMC theater on Sunset Boulevard in L.A. We're about to chat with some random moviegoers!"
Among America's big three public networks, NB's been slipping. Without a media titan backing it, its ratings are tanking. If it doesn't pivot soon, Fox Movie Channel might just overtake it.
But their outdoor show Movie Watch still pulls decent numbers—thanks in no small part to the blonde, blue-eyed, ever-smiling host, Hannah Wilmot.
The crew spots a group of excited friends spilling out of the theater, buzzing and shouting about something.
Hannah strolls over with a warm smile, introduces herself, and asks, "Hey, did you guys just catch a movie? Mind telling us which one?"
"The Unsinkable!"
A Black guy jumps forward, full of energy, clearly the loud one in the group.
Hannah's a stunner, and her constant grin puts people at ease. "What made you pick that one?"
"Uh!"
The Black guy blurts out a noise, not much of an answer.
A white friend steps up, grinning. "Mel Gibson's the star! He's a legit superstar. It's not an action flick, but it's still awesome, heh."
"And Dunn Walker!" another chimes in. "He's the producer—it's on the poster! Plus, Cameron's directing. That guy's amazing—I'm obsessed with Terminator. But this? Way better. I'm in love with The Unsinkable!"
"You all seem into action stuff," Hannah says. "Why not Pearl Harbor? I hear it's pretty intense."
Before she can finish, the Black guy spits, "That movie's a pile of crap!"
"Seriously!" another jumps in. "We saw it yesterday, and I nearly fell asleep! My buddy said it's from the same director as The Rock—no way, it's so boring. Felt like a French film or something!"
"Nah!" a third cuts in. "We only saw Pearl Harbor 'cause they said it's like Titanic. We all love Titanic!"
"Right? Then we watched it and wanted to cuss them out!"
"Yeah, total scam. I'd demand a refund if I could!"
"The lead actress was pretty hot, though, haha…"
---
That group wraps up, and Hannah moves on to a few more.
The big choices are Pearl Harbor and The Unsinkable, with Shrek and The Mummy Returns trailing behind.
She chats with about a dozen groups. Most who saw The Unsinkable can't stop raving—praising its heartfelt emotion, jaw-dropping effects, and rollercoaster plot. "So good!"
But Pearl Harbor? Every single viewer—yep, all of them—either trashes it hard or grumbles in disappointment. "It's not Titanic at all. If Titanic's a 10, this is a 1—no, a 0.1!"
When Hannah asks if they'd buy another ticket to rewatch, the split couldn't be clearer.
The Unsinkable fans mostly say they'd catch it again if they could. Even if not in theaters, they'd grab the DVD or tune in on TV later.
Pearl Harbor viewers?
"Watch it again? Are you kidding? Sitting through three-plus hours once was a miracle—don't make me do it twice. Guinness record challenge?"
"No way! It's such a letdown. I'd rather waste time on textbooks than that trash."
"Again? Pearl Harbor? God, spare me—I can't take that torture twice. The romance gave me secondhand embarrassment, and sorry, I don't have health insurance for that."
"Rewatch? Just kill me instead—it'd be quicker…"