Chapter 73

Just recovered from an illness not long ago, George stretched lazily.

At the age of 16, George finally had his own car. Just as George was completely engrossed in racing, a car accident changed his outlook on life. The accident happened a few days before his high school graduation, and George's lungs were crushed, but he surprisingly came back from the brink of death.

After recovering, George decided to focus on studying writing. At this time, a childhood friend who was also a car enthusiast encouraged him to apply to the film department at the University of Southern California, where he could continue to study writing and also continue his professional photography, which he had already mastered through racing. George went for a reference visit, and unexpectedly, he was admitted to the school.

Photography?

It sounds pretty good.

Next summer, he would be heading to Los Angeles.

And now, he decided to go see a movie. Christmas was the time for big releases, and the movies at this time were really good.

He bought a movie ticket.

It was "Wasteland."

The initial investment of $20 million had shocked a lot of people, especially since the investment came from a little girl.

However, when the $40 million "Cleopatra" was released, everyone's attention shifted.

"Cleopatra" was great, even classic, but it was somewhat out of place and too artistic, with too few "high points." It could only be a classic in art, not in business.

Due to the failure of "Cleopatra," many investors were scared, and many big production plans were canceled.

And at this time, "Wasteland" was about to be released.

That Miss Katharine Edson was really impressive.

Regardless of how the film turned out, George decided it was better to see it. And as a three-hour film, it was quite rare in history.

In fact, many people were also looking forward to "Wasteland."

After all, the failure of "Cleopatra" was simply terrifying. If "Wasteland" also failed, all big production plans for the next ten years could be canceled.

He bought a movie ticket and then entered the panoramic cinema.

Soon, the movie began.

"War, war never changes."

A hoarse narration, the voice was so distant yet so heavy.

But the screen was still pitch black.

At this moment, a melodious guitar sound began.

"Free at last, free at last

I thank God I'm free at last

Free at last, free at last

I thank God I'm free at last

I thank God I'm free at last

Me and my Jesus going to meet and talk

I thank God I'm free at last

On my knees—free at last

Tho' my soul would fly

I thank God I'm free at last

Some of these mornings, bright and fair

I thank God I'm free at last

Goin' meet King Jesus in the air

I thank God I'm free at last..."

"Free at Last."

As the song began, the screen gradually brightened.

George vaguely remembered where he had heard this song before.

George's seat was not good, near the aisle, and opposite the seats for Black people. In many places, Black and White people were still segregated, so the seats for Black people were often in less desirable locations.

When they heard this song, they were initially confused, then there was a sudden commotion, and they quickly quieted down, leaving George puzzled.

Then, he suddenly remembered.

On August 23rd, Martin Luther King Jr. ended his speech with this song.

In the distance, it seemed like the rising sun.

Then the camera slowly zoomed in and moved downward.

A hat appeared on the screen, and the camera continued to move down.

The whole person appeared.

A man playing a tune.

He was sitting on a wrecked blue car, with an endless wasteland behind him.

A gust of wind blew, stirring up clouds of yellow sand.

Sean Connery.

He was facing away from the rising sun, strumming his guitar, his eyes so focused and profound.

Free, finally free.

When the old Black spiritual, accompanied by the guitar, ended, Sean Connery's eyes suddenly became sharp, and he took the rifle off his back.

Then, he crouched beside the car, using it as cover.

He quickly loaded the rifle with bullets and suddenly stood up.

At this moment, the camera focused on the gun barrel.

Time slowed down at this moment.

"Bang!"

The bullet, accompanied by a flash of light, shot out of the gun barrel.

Incredibly, the camera then did a 360-degree spin around the bullet, following it as it pierced the head of a monster in the distance!

Bright red liquid splattered, but the scene was not at all nauseating. It seemed like a naturally formed work of art.

The entire film had no background music, just a storytelling method that presented the story to the audience in a gentle, narrative way.

White people, Black people, and Asian people all appeared in the film.

The scenes were incredibly realistic, even the monsters were flawless.

It seemed like this was real footage of the future, just transported through time to here.

Everyone was deeply engrossed in the film.

George was also completely immersed in the film. Despite the poor angle and the Black person next to him, he was thoroughly captivated.

In this world, there seemed to be nothing more beautiful than this.

The entire world seemed to disappear, leaving only the scene on the screen.

But suddenly, the screen went black, and the lights came on.

"Hey, what's going on?!"

According to the cinema rules, if the film was too long, there would be a 15-minute break in the middle for people to use the restroom.

"Hey! Keep it going!"

"You can't do this! Hey! Keep playing!"

More and more people were shouting, seemingly unable to tolerate being pulled back to reality from that world.

George also joined in the shouting.

This was too much. Such a visual feast, such an engrossing film, how could there be a break in the middle?

A film like this should be shown in one go to give the audience the most complete experience!

The cinema staff were at a loss, but in the end, they decided to "follow public opinion" and immediately continued the second half of the film.

At the end of the film, Sean Connery left a thought-provoking "a man" and then walked away from the group.

George thought the film should end there, but it didn't.

In the final scene, Sean Connery walked across the wasteland, and this scene lasted for a full 90 seconds. Then, he walked onto a broken bridge and looked into the distance.

At this moment, the camera followed his gaze, quickly advancing across the wasteland, and then facing the rising sun...

And then it ended.

There was no music, no credits. When the screen froze on the rising sun, everything ended.

There was no title or logo at the beginning, and the ending was just as abrupt, but the film seemed to be just right this way.

At this moment, George realized that many people had already stood up and were queuing in front of the restroom. He also realized that he had to go to the bathroom. After all, he had been sitting for three hours.

Finally, it was his turn, and he felt much better. Strangely, he hadn't felt this way while watching the film...

He washed his face and looked at himself in the mirror.

"George... George Lucas, this is the kind of movie you will make in the future, this is the path you will take..."