Chapter 201: Cameron, We Finally Found You

Words : 1156 Updated : Oct 8th, 2025

Cameron was quite curious how White Films knew about him. If it was just casual talk, he wouldn't have cared much; such things were normal in Hollywood. With the bad economic environment, life for producers was hard. Fools were becoming scarce, and unknown screenwriters and directors weren't welcome. It was very amusing, indeed, as resources became incredibly expensive. Ever since William White started acquiring various adaptation rights, the trend intensified. Hollywood was full of scripts. Many taxi drivers picked up passengers near the Writers Guild, and if you looked like a film company boss, they didn't mind pitching their stories to you. Meanwhile, Hollywood moguls were in a scramble for scripts, with popular novels being scooped up. Cameron was now basically in the same boat as those taxi drivers. Even better opportunities were very limited. When someone told him, "Our boss wants to see you, bring your script," he felt a mix of doubt, excitement, and worry. By the time he arrived at William White's office, Cameron couldn't quite determine his feelings. "Sit down, want some coffee? You look like you haven't slept well," said William White. Cameron could only muster a wry smile. He wouldn't have been able to sleep well; he couldn't even remember how many times he'd been rejected. "Coffee's good, no sugar. Here's my script." "Alright, I might need some time." "Take your time; I'm not in a hurry." William White looked at the script very seriously and slowly. After a cup of coffee, Cameron felt more awake. Up until this point, William White had been the most earnest person he'd met. Other people usually skimmed through it in five minutes and gave a half-hearted "not bad." "Hmm, this story is interesting, and the idea is unique. Are your conditions very strict? The script seems good; it shouldn't be left with nobody buying it," William White commented. Cameron felt a bit awkward. He knew why people said that -- the nickname "truck driver" came from his reputation. People interested in the script quickly backed off after hearing his conditions. "Mr. White, I want to make this film myself," Cameron said. "Ha, that explains it. What movies have you made before?" "Piranha 2." "Eh, that movie wasn't so good. Why do you think you can do better this time?" "Because I'm Cameron, and this story's been stuck in my head. I know I will succeed." "Okay, how much do you need to shoot this?" "Ten million, I can do it with ten million." "Have you seen Speed? How much do you think it cost?" "At least thirty million." "Ha-ha, your script needs more development. Add some action scenes, and believe me, it can't be done under fifteen million. And you can't use any big-name actors, or else even twenty million won't cut it." William White knew Cameron didn't make much money on this film. The initial budget was only six million, but it ended up costing nine million, almost leading to the film's collapse. "James, how about this? I invest fifteen million in the movie, the subsequent rights to the script belong to me, you handle the script and shooting, and I give you an 3% take from the North American box office. Of course, I can buy out future rights too, and your fee is 800,000 dollars. Think about it." "No need, this movie's yours." "Alright, if the North American box office exceeds 100 million, I'll increase your royalty by 1%." William White's terms weren't harsh. On the contrary, they were quite generous. "Let's grab a meal. I have more ideas and want your opinion." "Okay." Cameron wasn't what he would later become, but William White had already proven his mettle. There were only a handful of directors who didn't respect his opinion. Most importantly, Cameron's script was a mess. He could shoot it himself, but giving it to another director might lead to a disaster. William White was different. He had formal training, and his scripts could serve as textbooks. Of course, Cameron might not like such scripts. Even Spielberg didn't care for them much; while they're easy to shoot, they don't leave much room for personal style. "Mr. White, are you sure? Can these be done with special effects?" "Of course. Later, I'll take you to Industrial Light & Magic. Just keep it to two or three scenes, Lucas charges too much." "Ha-ha, they say he can do what would take five million for just over three million for you." "Yeah, that's true, but he's invested all that money. Given the current situation, he's probably made way more than five million. He's a sly old fox." Cameron thought, if Lucas is the old fox, you're the young fox. That's Hollywood consensus for you. Though inwardly mocking him, Cameron had to admit that William White had a unique understanding of films. "Cameron, since I've got you now, don't hold back. Help me make some good money," William White said, practically drooling at the thought. ... Having missed out on E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, he had to move on Titanic early. Before that ship came along, he had held the title of box office champion. Though William White didn't care much for titles, there was a bit of a sting. Given current box office trends, Speed might end up as the champion. William White needed to keep a low profile. He couldn't brag about being the champion, as once E.T. premiered, it could all come crashing down. "Mr. White, are you sure?" "It'll be a record, and for a long time, it'll hold the top spot." "Alright, I understand." Barry Diller called to report on America's Idol progress. He also wanted to know why they shouldn't laud Speed. William White didn't say not to promote it, just to downplay the box office champion aspect. As for everything else? Go ahead and praise it to the skies. ... Communications with Lucas were pleasant. He had no particular interest in Cameron -- the truck driver image stuck, and Piranha was a flop. The embarrassment wasn't even the flop itself; Cameron's behavior on set was worse. Saying it was bad was an understatement. The production was so chaotic it nearly fell apart. If not for help, the film might not have finished. Talent? He did have some. Film school graduates might get some ad or MV gigs, but getting to direct Piranha 2 was no small feat. William White knew Cameron's biggest issue was cost control. He needed a competent project manager, or else a 30 million budget could turn into a headache, possibly a disaster. ***** https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.

Chapter 201: Cameron, We Finally Found You

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