This summer, there are quite a few blockbuster releases. Besides *Titanic*, the biggest name is Steven Spielberg's *The Lost World: Jurassic Park*. Other notable films include *Speed 2*, *Con Air* starring Nicolas Cage, and *The Fifth Element* directed by Luc Besson.
Among them, *The Fifth Element* poses the greatest threat to *Titanic*.
*Titanic* premiered on May 6, followed closely by *The Fifth Element* on May 7. It was a true battle of heavyweights.
Bill Mechanic even specifically asked Dunn about it. Dunn's response was simple:
"Whether it's *The Fifth Element* or *The Lost World: Jurassic Park*, my movie will sweep them all!"
Bill Mechanic chuckled. Spielberg was a tough competitor, but a film directed by a Frenchman? He didn't take it too seriously.
"Young man, I hope everything goes as you say."
As May ended, the great ship was finally ready to set sail.
On this night, the lights in front of the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles shone brightly. The red carpet was dazzling, fans were screaming, and photographers raised their cameras to capture every arriving star.
"Wow! A true superstar has arrived—Schwarzenegger! My god, he's so strong!"
"Of course, Schwarzenegger is Cameron's good friend. He's definitely here to support him. But I prefer—oh my god! It's Keanu Reeves! He's so handsome!"
"Sandra Bullock is absolutely stunning! She and Keanu make such a great pair. Now I'm even more excited for the *Speed* sequel."
"Wait… isn't that Spielberg? I didn't expect him to show up…"
---
For Bill Mechanic, *Titanic* was his last hope. This premiere was a grand spectacle, with A-list celebrities from all over. It was nothing short of a world-class film festival.
Suddenly, the biggest cheers of the night erupted at the entrance of the Chinese Theatre. A row of sleek black Mercedes-Benz cars had arrived, carrying the entire cast of *Titanic*.
"Leonardo! Leonardo!"
The deafening roar of the crowd was enough to make eardrums tremble. Leonardo DiCaprio, the film's leading man, was welcomed with overwhelming enthusiasm.
Kate Winslet was also met with loud cheers, though not quite at the same level.
But then…
"Huh? Who's that guy next to Kate? Is he her boyfriend?"
People were taken aback to see Kate Winslet, arm-in-arm with a young man, smiling as they walked the red carpet together. Speculations about his identity spread like wildfire.
"Boyfriend? No way. Is Kate into younger guys now? I think he's probably her younger brother."
"Brother? Come on, be serious. This is a huge event. Why would she bring her brother? He's probably an important character in the movie."
"Oh yeah, that makes sense. Maybe he's a supporting actor? He's pretty handsome, but I wonder if he can actually act."
"Are you guys serious? You don't recognize him? That's Dunn Walker!"
"Dunn Walker?"
A stunned silence fell over the crowd. Everyone had heard of Dunn—he was known for his sharp tongue and unfiltered comments. They knew he was the director of *Titanic*, but they hadn't expected…
…him to be *this* young.
"How is that even possible?"
As the realization sank in, gasps of disbelief rippled through the crowd. Even when Cameron stepped onto the red carpet, people were too shocked to react.
Dunn, however, remained completely unaware of the commotion his presence had caused. He walked confidently down the plush red carpet, and standing beside Kate, they made quite the striking pair.
Upon reaching the media interview section, a dozen microphones were immediately thrust in his direction.
"Director Walker, how would you rate Ms. Winslet's performance in the film?"
Dunn smiled. "Kate's performance is Oscar-worthy. No one could have played Rose better than her."
"Oscar?"
The reporters instantly latched onto the key word. Dunn was essentially saying Kate Winslet had a shot at next year's Oscar for Best Actress. That was a huge headline!
"Ms. Winslet, how would you describe Director Walker? Do you think his skills match his age?"
Unlike the inexperienced Dunn, Kate was well-versed in handling the press. She instantly recognized the trap in the question—saying he was a perfect match might sound forced, but saying he wasn't would be even worse.
With a graceful smile, she skillfully navigated the situation.
"Dunn is an exceptional director. Even though he's only eighteen, he's a genius filmmaker who has created a masterpiece. I'm grateful for his guidance and support throughout filming."
"Are you two dating?"
The question was blunt and intrusive, but typical of the media's tactics. They wanted to provoke a reaction—any slip-up on the red carpet could turn into tomorrow's biggest scandal.
Dunn was the first to respond, laughing, "We're good friends."
Kate's answer was even more direct. "Thank you for your concern, but I'm already engaged."
Cameron soon arrived and, with his seasoned experience, smoothly diffused the situation, leading the two young stars backstage.
---
In the lounge area, Dunn soon spotted the leads of *Speed 2*, Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock.
Both movies were produced by 20th Century Fox. Since Keanu and Sandra were here for *Titanic*'s premiere, next month, Cameron and Dunn would return the favor for *Speed 2*. This was Hollywood etiquette—supporting each other strengthened industry connections.
Dunn had little opinion of Keanu Reeves—his brooding expression always made him seem exhausted. But Sandra Bullock? Now she was someone he respected.
This woman was truly impressive. Even in her forties, she had managed to stage a second career breakthrough, winning an Oscar and securing massive paychecks—$20 million upfront plus 20% of worldwide box office earnings.
In Hollywood, that kind of career trajectory was *one of a kind*.
"Nice to meet you, Ms. Bullock. I really admire your acting," Dunn said, shaking her hand. He was surprised—her skin was remarkably smooth for someone in her thirties.
Sandra's eyes sparkled as she grinned. "Call me Sandy. Can I call you Dunn?"
By now, she was an A-list actress, but when facing a young director with unlimited potential, she knew the importance of showing respect and humility.
That was the golden rule of Hollywood survival.
Dunn immediately caught on—Sandra was making an effort to be friendly. "Of course! I'd be honored. Who knows? Maybe we'll work together in the future."
"Really?" Sandra beamed like an excited schoolgirl, tilting her chin up and batting her lashes. Dunn felt his heart skip a beat.
But just then, Kate discreetly tugged on his arm and, with a sweet smile, said, "Let's not stand around here. Shall we head inside?"
---
"Kate, what was that about?" Dunn wasn't convinced she was jealous—there had to be another reason she cut the conversation short.
Kate hesitated, glanced around, then lowered her voice.
"She's Sandra Bullock. You seriously don't know?"
"Know what?" Dunn was confused.
Kate bit her lip. "Everyone in Hollywood knows… she has a habit of 'collecting' men."
"Collecting men?" Dunn was stunned. "Like Madonna?"
Kate nodded slightly. "Something like that. But Sandra is much more discreet than Madonna. Most handsome young actors don't stand a chance against her."
A cold sweat ran down Dunn's back. He took a deep breath. "Thanks for the warning, Kate. That explains why she secretly traced my palm while shaking my hand. I almost fell for it."
Kate giggled, shaking her head. Then, in a low voice, she added, "Dunn, I think Leonardo said something that actually makes sense."
"Oh? What did he say?"
"He told me, if you're not planning to get married and just want to have fun, it's best not to date Hollywood actresses. It can damage your image. If you just want to play around, go for tall, blonde models. They're younger, prettier, and even if you change partners daily, it won't cause any scandals. Models don't have the same status as actresses."
Dunn laughed. "Wow, I didn't expect Leo to be so strategic. Are you saying I should do the same?"
"Wouldn't it be smart? Minimal risk, maximum… satisfaction."
Dunn smirked. "Models are fun, sure… but powerful women have their own kind of charm."
Kate blushed, rolled her eyes at him, and turned away in mock annoyance.
As the Fox TV host wrapped up, the lights in the theater dimmed one by one. A bright beam illuminated the massive screen.
After the iconic 20th Century Fox logo faded, one word appeared—
**Titanic.**
With the deep sound of a ship's horn, the legendary voyage began.