Chapter 396: An Alternative Recruitment Advertisement

Chapter 396: Chapter 396: An Alternative Recruitment Advertisement

According to Los Angeles municipal ordinances, film production companies must apply for permits from City Hall in advance and promise to abide by a detailed "Code of Conduct," including controlling filming noise, disposing of waste, protecting scenery, and so on; there are even clear regulations regarding vehicle parking and engine idling times.

The Paramount production team had already communicated with the Los Angeles Entertainment Industry Development Corporation in advance and reached a preliminary filming agreement.

"Additionally, the film requires some beach and jungle scenes to shoot the confrontation between the military and the Decepticons," Lamb continued. "After screening, we believe Oahu and Kauai in Hawaii are very suitable. They have primitive jungles, vast beaches, and magnificent scenery, which can add visual impact to the film. Moreover, the Hawaii Tourism Authority is very supportive of film production and can provide us with certain conveniences."

However, filming in Hawaii also faces strict environmental requirements.

According to relevant US regulations, entering national parks for filming requires submitting an application 21 days in advance, paying a deposit, and ensuring no damage to the vegetation and wildlife safety within the area.

The Paramount production team stated that they would arrange for dedicated personnel to be responsible for environmental matters, ensuring that the location is restored to its original state after filming concludes.

After discussing the conventional filming locations, the atmosphere of the meeting became somber.

Lamb’s expression became much more serious.

"Irene, there is one more crucial filming location: the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. In the film, the AllSpark is protected by the military inside the Pentagon, and the Decepticons launch an attack on the Pentagon to seize it. This scene is one of the climaxes of the film, and it must be shot on location to convey a shocking effect."

He paused and stated the difficulty.

"But you also know that it has been less than three years since the 9/11 incident. As the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense, the Pentagon is the core symbol of U.S. military power, and its security level is extremely high. Over the years, only a handful of films have been able to shoot inside the Pentagon, let alone during such a sensitive period. We at Paramount have tried to communicate with the Department of Defense, but they are cautious and only said they would consider it without giving a definite answer, so we dare not make any promises."

The executives present all looked troubled.

The Pentagon is not only a restricted military zone but also a national symbol of the United States.

The scene of the hijacked plane crashing into it during the 9/11 incident is still vivid in people’s minds; the difficulty of applying to film an "invasion" movie there at this time can be imagined.

Irene fell into deep thought.

This scene was extremely important to the film.

If they could only use special effects compositing or build a set, the sense of realism would be greatly diminished, making it difficult to convince the audience.

But how could they persuade the Pentagon to agree to the filming?

She suddenly thought of the tradition of cooperation between the U.S. military and Hollywood.

The military often provides filming support for some movies, even lending military equipment and venues, in order to shape a positive image of American soldiers and promote recruitment.

"Lamb, I have an idea." Irene looked up. "We can communicate with the Department of Defense from a different angle. First, in the film, we will focus on portraying the bravery, fearlessness, loyalty, and patriotism of American soldiers. The character of Captain William Lennox is the core; he leads special forces to fight tenaciously against the Decepticons, protecting the safety of the country and the people, which in itself is positive publicity for American soldiers."

She continued: "Secondly, as a global blockbuster, Transformers is expected to be released in over 20 countries worldwide, covering billions of viewers. If the film can successfully shape a heroic image of American soldiers, it will undoubtedly enhance the influence of the U.S. military globally and even serve as a recruitment promotion. For the Pentagon, this is a low-cost, high-return publicity opportunity, more effective than any advertisement."

Irene’s words made everyone present brighten up.

Lamb immediately said: "This line of thinking is excellent! We were only thinking about how to apply for a filming permit before, but did not think about starting from the perspective of the military’s interests. If we can combine the film’s promotional value with the military’s needs, the possibility of approval will certainly increase significantly."

"There is one more thing," Irene added. "We can promise that the scenes involving the Pentagon in the film will strictly abide by the military’s requirements, not leak any sensitive information, and the filming team members will also undergo strict background checks. Moreover, we can invite relevant personnel from the Department of Defense to serve as the film’s military advisors to ensure that the military scenes and tactical actions in the film are realistic and credible, avoiding common-sense errors."

To increase persuasiveness, Irene also suggested: "We can separately organize the modified script segments, especially the parts involving the military, and submit them to the Department of Defense, allowing them to intuitively see our portrayal of the soldiers’ image. At the same time, we can promise to acknowledge the support of the U.S. Department of Defense in the film’s end credits to further satisfy their publicity needs."

Lamb nodded repeatedly and immediately arranged: "I will have the team prepare the application materials according to this line of thinking right away and conduct a second communication with the relevant person in charge at the Department of Defense tomorrow. If we can successfully get approval, the realism and impact of Transformers will definitely be taken to the next level."

The meeting lasted an entire afternoon, and the core issues of casting and location selection were clearly resolved.

When leaving the Paramount Pictures campus, the sunset in Los Angeles was painting the sky a warm orange-pink.

As soon as Irene sat in the car, her phone rang, and the name "Ang Lee" on the screen was particularly striking.

She swiped the answer key with her fingertip, and Ang Lee’s gentle voice came from the receiver immediately.

"Irene, is it convenient to talk for a few minutes? The leads for Brokeback Mountain have been decided, and I want to confirm with you one last time."

"Of course it is." Irene started the car, a smile rising on the corners of her mouth. "Ang, which two actors did you choose?"

"For the male lead Ennis Del Mar, I have decided on Heath Ledger; for the role of Jack Twist, I chose Jake Gyllenhaal." Ang Lee’s tone carried a hint of expectation and a bit of caution.

"Both of their audition performances were outstanding. The taciturn sense of forbearance in Heath, and the liveliness and persistence in Jack’s eyes, highly align with my imagination of the characters. I have already communicated with them preliminarily, and both are very enthusiastic about this project, but I still wanted to hear your opinion."

Hearing these two familiar names, the stone hanging in Irene’s heart instantly fell.

In her previous life, the reason why Brokeback Mountain was able to become a classic was largely due to the brilliant performances of Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal.

The tension in their scenes together became the key to the film’s success.