Tom Cruise's star power is no joke, and with Brad Pitt steadily making a name for himself, having two heartthrobs together was enough to drive fans wild. When the two handsome actors walked the red carpet with Kirsten Dunst at the premiere, some female fans practically swooned with happiness.
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Afterward, one fan told a reporter, "Once you look into Tom Cruise's eyes, nothing else matters. To you, he's your whole world." Similarly, fans showered Brad Pitt with praise: "He's just as charming as Tom Cruise on stage; Brad Pitt is really handsome too."
'Interview with the Vampire,' based on a popular novel and starring heartthrobs Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, became the most anticipated film of August. Gilbert figured Naomi Watts still had that "frenemy" thing going on with Nicole Kidman, so he brought Naomi Watts along to the premiere. When they arrived, they were met with enthusiastic cheers from fans on both sides of the red carpet. Of course, Gilbert and Naomi Watts handled it like pros, signing autographs, posing for photos, and generally being cool. Compared to Hollywood's golden couple, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, it seemed Gilbert and Naomi Watts weren't far behind.
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After snapping some photos, a reporter remarked, "Looks like Hollywood has another golden couple!" A colleague disagreed: "I remember Gilbert also being linked to Cameron Diaz, and lately, his relationship with Charlize Theron seems pretty serious too." Another colleague added, "Gilbert isn't a popular actor who needs to worry about fan reactions; he lets his work speak for itself." That's true; Tom Cruise's fan base, which he relies on, means nothing to Gilbert. That's why people barely react when they hear rumors about him and two or three popular actresses at the same time. For the actresses linked to Gilbert, it doesn't seem to be a loss at all. Their fame doesn't suffer; in fact, it increases, and they occasionally get the chance to appear in films directed by A-list director Gilbert—a huge win...
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After interacting with fans, Gilbert gave a quick interview. "I've always admired Tom Cruise; he's one of Hollywood's best actors. I'm really looking forward to this movie and believe it won't disappoint fans."
A reporter asked, "So, do you want to work with Tom Cruise?" Gilbert sidestepped the question, not answering directly: "In Hollywood, who wouldn't want to work with the famous Tom Cruise?" His words alone had Tom Cruise's fans already imagining the two of them collaborating.
After handling the interview, Gilbert led Naomi Watts into the theater, where Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman had been waiting for a while. The four posed for media photos at the theater entrance, then exchanged a few pleasantries before heading into the screening room.
During the movie, Gilbert couldn't help but yawn. He found the film a bit boring. "What's wrong? You don't like it?" Naomi Watts whispered.
"It's alright, an above-average movie. Just watching the handsome guys is easy on the eyes, but too bad I'm a man," Gilbert said.
"I think it's pretty good. That little girl, Kirsten Dunst, did a great job acting," Naomi Watts said, admiring the young actress in the film. Even though Gilbert thought it was just okay, the occasional screams from the back rows proved that the movie was a big hit with female fans. Indeed, the combination of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt had a fatal attraction for female moviegoers.
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After the premiere, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman specifically sought out Gilbert to talk to him. "Gilbert, I heard from Pat that you have a role in your new project. How about giving it to me?" Tom Cruise's eyes were filled with anticipation. The role was already cast, and suggesting an audition wouldn't be appropriate. Asking a superstar like Tom Cruise to audition, and then rejecting him, might make him feel insulted. While offending Tom Cruise wouldn't be the end of the world, Gilbert didn't want to intentionally create conflict.
So, Gilbert said directly, "Sorry, Tom, that role is already cast. If you'd like a cameo, I can arrange a role for you."
Tom Cruise looked disappointed and pressed on, "I want to know, who did you choose?"
"Director Coppola's nephew, Nicolas Cage. You probably know him."
Tom Cruise immediately dropped the idea of trying to snatch the role. He might be arrogant, but he wasn't brainless; he couldn't afford to offend the Italian-American mob. Because of that, Tom Cruise could only express regret: "Looks like we'll have to wait for another opportunity to work together."
Gilbert patted Tom Cruise's shoulder. "Tom, that day will come when we work together." He actually had a project in mind to work with Tom Cruise, but it had to wait. The original actor for that role was terrible. If Tom Cruise was willing to take a pay cut, he'd be the perfect choice.
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On the way home, Naomi Watts asked Gilbert, "What movie are you planning to work on with Tom Cruise?"
"How about a musical?"
"A musical?" Naomi Watts frowned. "Aren't those a bit outdated?"
"Haha," Gilbert clapped his hands and laughed, "I think those old guys at the Academy would really miss the golden age of musicals. So I'm planning to make a musical to go for an Oscar."
As Gilbert's closest confidante, Naomi Watts had a general idea of his film plans. Her eyes lit up. "Are you talking about 'Chicago,' the one you mentioned to me? I even started practicing dancing after you told me about it."
"Yeah, that's the one. Keep practicing, Naomi. This is your ticket to an Oscar," Gilbert said, placing his hand on Naomi Watts's head and stroking her hair. Naomi Watts purred contentedly, like a little kitten. She hadn't expected Gilbert to remember his promise to help her go for an Oscar. In that sense, she was getting more attention than Cameron Diaz and Charlize Theron.
Through Scarlett Johansson's connection, Gilbert also visited Melanie Sloan's home. Eventually, with Ms. Sloan's help, he secured the adaptation rights for the classic Broadway show 'Chicago.' Things went smoothly, with no obstacles, and the outside world didn't pay much attention, as their focus was on the summer blockbusters.
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After attending the premiere of 'Interview with the Vampire,' and with the director's cut of his earnings in hand, thanks to Jeff Robinov, Gilbert purchased a mansion in Malibu, Los Angeles County. At this time, North American real estate prices were still pretty high. The mansion Gilbert bought was in a luxurious, wealthy area of Malibu.
The estate's main gate connected directly to the road, allowing for direct drive-in access. Upon entering, both sides of the road were lined with well-maintained trees and lawns, which served as excellent privacy screens. Passing through the trees, you'd arrive at a fountain garden plaza, with the main estate building situated directly in front of it.
The entire estate was built in a very European style, with turrets, making it somewhat resemble a castle. The whole house had four floors, with two living rooms, a gym, and a small private home theater, as well as a dining room, kitchen, and two studies. Besides the master and secondary bedrooms on the third floor, there were also eight guest rooms, all with their own bathrooms. The fourth floor was a semi-open space, with most of the area being a balcony where you could grow flowers or use it as a bar, perfect for throwing a party.
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Directly connected to the estate's backyard were a garden and a swimming pool, as well as a small basketball court. A stone path to the left led directly to the beach, where you could swim in the ocean or go for a run along the shore. A small gate to the right bordered a cliff, with a staircase built along the cliff leading up to the top. There, you'd find a lighthouse, and from its peak, you could take in the entire view of the bay. You could say this estate was definitely the kind that's highly sought after; its location was excellent.
The real estate agent, during the showing, also mentioned, "If you have the means, you could also build a small dock on the beach, where you could berth a yacht. Going out fishing would be a great option." The agent added, "Also, Mr. Landrini, this place isn't far from a small airport, where you can park helicopters and small private jets." These days, it was popular for wealthy North Americans to buy private helicopters or planes for travel; it was quite the trend.
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Charlize Theron accompanied Gilbert on the estate tour. She bounced around, inspecting every corner of the estate, clearly calculating which room she'd stay in. You could tell she really liked the place. Gilbert nodded, satisfied, and told the real estate agent, "Nice, this is the one!" The agent beamed with joy. "I'll go handle the paperwork." With that, he stepped aside and started making calls.
Charlize Theron, light as a feather, flew to Gilbert's side and linked arms with him. "Sweetheart, this estate is great! I really love it."
"You like it, huh?" Gilbert asked Charlize Theron, "Charlize, why don't you give the estate a name?"
"Name it?" Charlize Theron thought for a long time before finally coming up with a name: "How about 'Watermelon Estate'?" Gilbert was speechless. After a moment, he said, "Your name... it's so unoriginal." Well, it seemed Charlize Theron was also terrible at naming things.
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This estate wasn't cheap; it cost Gilbert two point eight million dollars. Many suburban villas actually aren't that expensive, usually around two hundred to three hundred thousand dollars. But villas in certain areas, like affluent neighborhoods with great environments, large sizes, and good security, tend to have higher prices. The two point eight million was actually a discounted price, thanks to Jeff Robinov's influence. The original owners had moved to New York, which was why they put the estate up for sale; otherwise, Gilbert might not have even gotten his hands on it.
With the house settled, Gilbert had long disliked his Japanese Toyota car. He decided to get a new ride, a Cadillac SUV for his personal use, and a Rolls-Royce Phantom VI for formal events. Similarly, the estate also needed staff, and Robert Iger helped out with that. He introduced Gilbert to a reliable English butler named Martha, along with a gardener, housekeepers, a culinary team, and estate security.
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Gilbert also had the house renovated. He hired two designers from Chinatown to design and convert a tea room and transformed one of the living rooms into a Chinese-style living space. To find these furnishings, Gilbert even made a special trip to San Francisco's Chinatown. The rumors outside said he was obsessed with Chinese culture, so he just went all out with the renovation to confirm the rumors. He also bought a landscape painting by the late Ming and early Qing Dynasty painter Shitao from a Chinese gang leader in Chinatown. He wasn't sure if it was real or fake, but the accompanying Chinese appraiser said it was authentic. This painting was hung on the wall of the Chinese-style living room for guests to admire.
When Chinese people move into a new house, they celebrate the "joy of housewarming," and Americans have similar customs. After the estate renovations were complete, on the very first day of moving in, Gilbert invited his friends over to visit. For this, he even hired Chinese chefs from Chinatown to prepare a Chinese meal for his guests. Of course, the Chinese food from Chinatown would have been adapted to local tastes. Gilbert also showed off his cooking skills, making classic braised pork and his favorite, Szechuan boiled fish.
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After eating and drinking their fill, everyone gathered on the fourth-floor balcony, watching the distant sunset, chatting and sipping drinks.
"Matt, what have you been up to lately?" Gilbert asked.
Matt Damon took a sip of his drink and said, "I've been writing a script; I told you about it."
Gilbert's heart stirred, but he smiled and asked, "Do you want me to recommend you to a film company? I can even invest directly."
"Thanks," Matt Damon clinked glasses with Gilbert and then added, "Actually, I'm looking for a suitable director. I wonder if you'd be interested?"
"Sorry, Matt, I've got my own work to do," Gilbert waved his hand, pointing at Sophia Coppola, who was chatting with Dur Randolf. "I recommend Sophia."
"Sophia?" Matt Damon looked doubtful. "Can she handle it?"
"Of course she can. Sophia is very capable and has been learning from me for a long time. Once your script is done, you can talk to her," Gilbert's suggestion intrigued Matt Damon.
Sophia Coppola heard the commotion and walked over. "What are you guys talking about? Sounds like you're talking about me?"
"We're talking about your directing career, Sophia," Gilbert said with a smile. "Matt has a script and wants you to direct it."
"Really?" Sophia could barely believe it. Someone actually wanted her to direct?
"Of course. Gilbert recommended you to me. Want to chat sometime?" Matt Damon invited. Sophia saw that Matt Damon seemed serious, and she'd always dreamed of directing a film herself, so she agreed. "Alright, we can have a good talk sometime."
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Actually, this was a good opportunity for Gilbert too. It seemed Matt Damon's 'Good Will Hunting' did well at the box office and could make a good amount of money.
The party that night was a lot of fun, and everyone had a great time. After the guests left, Charlize Theron stayed behind, ready to experience the new house with Gilbert that night. Cameron Diaz and Naomi Watts hadn't moved in; after all, they were established actresses, and eating out and going shopping with Gilbert, or checking into hotels together, wasn't an issue. But if the media caught them living with Gilbert, it could cause some trouble. Of course, the two women wouldn't just give up the chance to have the estate to Charlize Theron; each chose a room and moved some of their stuff in.