New York, known as the world's largest open-air sound stage, was the first city to be destroyed by Hollywood movies.

The crew chose to shoot here instead of going to Boston for on-location filming because of the promise of a high tax refund from New York.

In the face of huge commercial interests, even a director of Martin Scorsese's level still has to compromise.

At a studio on the border between Brooklyn and Queens, the crew began filming.

In a phone booth set up on the outside wall of the studio, Martin holds the phone and speaks his lines quickly.

The recording engineer squatted outside, holding the recording microphone in place, and leaning down as much as possible.

Director of photography Michael controls the camera and glides slowly along the slide around the phone booth to shoot.

"Cards!" Director Scorsese shouted a stop.

Martin put down the phone and turned around.

With a wireless headset around his neck, Scorsese strode over and said directly: "The tone is not right, the mood is okay, but I think you can do better." ”

It was Martin's first scene, and he wasn't quite into the groove yet, saying, "I'll try again? ”

Scorsese reminded: "Pay attention to Colin's relationship with Frank, who has been instilled with his set of values since he was 12 years old, and Frank is in a sense the same as his father, or a very strict kind." ”

Martin listened carefully and showed 12 points of professionalism.

Scorsese added: "During this time, Colin already wanted to get rid of Frank, but he still lacked enough courage and action. ”

Martin nodded repeatedly: "I understand." ”

The photography is back in place and the shooting begins again.

Martin returns to the phone booth, picks up the phone and dials, and performs this one-man show.

His tone was sincere, without hesitation, but his demeanor was slightly helpless and bored, fed up with the repeated persecution from the other side.

"Stop! Good job! Scorsese shouted encouragement to Martin: "Mobilize all emotions and states, you can push the limit, let's do it again!" ”

Returning to the gangster movies he is good at, this big director has high requirements for every link, especially the actors' performances.

To Scorsese's praise, the shot was shot three more times, and Martin excelled each time.

When the director finally shouted through, Martin even took a few breaths.

Although the role of the two-faced man is very familiar, it is not easy to really interpret it in the camera.

Scorsese came up to him and said directly: "The first time I worked with Robert De Niro on Back Alley, he wasn't as good as you. ”

Whether this is an encouragement or a real thing, Martin is quite confident at the moment: "Director, you will find that choosing me is definitely not a mistake, but one of the most correct decisions you made in the production of this film. ”

Scorsese nodded: "I'll wait to see how you perform." He waved his hand: "Go and rest for five minutes, and then shoot the next one." ”

Martin didn't leave the set and came to the set of the next one, familiar with the moves and lines.

It was all in Scorsese's eyes, and although he didn't say anything, he felt that Martin was the right choice.

Not far from here, Daniel, a Warner Bros. program executive, and producer Granham King are sitting under a sun umbrella drinking coffee together.

The latter added sugar to the coffee cup and asked, "I heard that the schedule has been set?" ”

"Next September, it will have its North American premiere during the Toronto Film Festival," Daniel said. He took a sip of coffee: "The investment in the film is very high, and the box office is under great pressure to return to the cost, so we have to think of some ways to publicize it." ”

Granham said: "Leonardo Scorsese has enough appeal, even if the box office can't pay off, the subsequent DVD and TV rights market is enough for us to make an easy profit." ”

"Nobody doubts their appeal," Daniel said. ”

Graham added: "Jack is old, but there is still a large group of old crowds supporting him, and Matt Damon is not bad. ”

Daniel reminded: "Don't forget, there's Martin Davis. ”

"Look at me, I almost forgot about this newcomer." Graham asked, "I remember he was working with Warner Bros. all the time, how was that?" ”

Daniel said simply: "The best result is that there is an eye across the mountain, there was a round of re-screenings after the Burbank Middle School incident, and the North American box office ended up at $115 million, and the overseas screenings were basically over, with a global box office of $207 million." ”

Even a veteran producer like Graham is looking sideways at such box office figures: "It's a hit!" ”

Daniel smiled: "The North American DVD has sold 50 million US dollars, Martin is the absolute leading actor, he and the film achieve each other, and the popularity of the mountain has also continued to the summer of jeans in another film, originally Warner's North American box office was expected to be about 40 million US dollars, and now the North American box office has accumulated 72 million US dollars, and most of these extra things are thanks to Martin." ”

Graham said, "He turned out to be a treasure boy. ”

"Who's to say it isn't?" Daniel said: "Martin's new "Wanted" has just been rough-cut, do you know our internal estimates? ”

Graham was surprised: "It's hard to see the quality of the film with a rough cut. ”

Daniel shook his head and said: "As long as the quality of the film is not particularly bad, with Martin's momentum and Angelina Jolie, it is not difficult to exceed 100 million in North America." ”

Graham asked, "Warner Bros. has so much confidence in him?" ”

Daniel said the key point: "Not only is he good at acting, but he always has unexpected moves in publicity and marketing, the unconventional marketing of the wax museum and the eyes of the mountain was originally conceived by him, and jeans are the direct beneficiary of the Burbank Middle School incident, I believe in Martin's ability to make trouble, he has proven it three times in a row." ”

He took a sip of the coffee that had cooled down: "I think Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson are all behind in the marketing of this film, and Martin is listed behind Leonardo in the cast." ”

Graham said: "Damon's appeal ......"

Daniel reminded: "He has too few scenes. ”

The two seemed to be chatting, but they agreed on the idea of promotion and marketing.

The filming went on until half past eleven, and the crew temporarily called it a day and went to the dining car to pick up lunch.

Martin has his own rest trailer and has lunch with Bruce in the car.

Bruce said as he ate, "I just inquired that Matt Damon is coming to New York next week. He remembered something important: "Mane is also coming over next week, and he has spent a lot of money on Allen, and he can almost confirm that Meryl Streep is the only one who has been in and out of Jack Nicholson for decades." ”

Martin had a toothache: "Oscar-winning actress." ”

Bruce's words are not on the same channel as Martin: "I remember that Meryl has been married a long time ago, and from time to time she shows off her good wife and mother, and she plays so much in private, I now very much agree with your sentence, marriage is definitely a nightmare for Hollywood men." ”

Martin pondered for a moment and said, "As far as I know, Meryl Streep and Harvey Weinstein don't have a good relationship. ”

Bruce no longer idles about those useless things: "In this case, it's not surprising, Sophia and Harvey have clashed, with Harvey's ability, it's not difficult to find out that you have a relationship with Sophia." ”

Martin added: "I turned down Weinstein's invitation, and he wanted to use that invitation to disrupt my audition for this film, which should be for Damon's sake." ”

"Congratulations, no, it should be congratulations." Bruce's consciousness is quite high: "There are enemies everywhere. ”

Martin didn't care, pinched out five centimeters with his two fingers, thought about it and shrunk it to one centimeter: "The opportunity is just a little bit, can it fall on us without fighting or grabbing?" It's better to go back to Atlanta and be a dancer. ”

Bruce reminded this rotten man who was good at making trouble: "No hatred, let's get on a good relationship as soon as possible." ”

Martin nodded: "The heaviest scenes in the crew are Leonardo, Old Jack, and me." He picked up an apple and tossed it in his hand: "Leonardo will join the shooting in the afternoon, I want to ask him, what about the promised Victoria's Secret Angel?" ”

Bruce was very curious, also to learn: "Have you figured out the party theme?" ”

Martin couldn't help laughing: "I can find a hundred of them." ”

At two o'clock in the afternoon, Leonardo and Jack Nicholson appeared on the set one after another.

The trio took turns filming.

Compared with Martin, who adjusted his condition in the morning, and Nicholson, a talented veteran actor, Leonardo has the most NGs.

The fame and status of the actor actually have little to do with how good the acting skills are.

During a break in the shoot, Nicholson approached Scorsese, pointed at Martin and said, "This kid has a good talent, just a step worse than I was back then." ”

Scorsese didn't save face for the old guy at all: "At his age, you don't have such good acting skills." ”

At the rest place on the other side, Martin approached Leonardo: "Leo, we've been in New York for two days, what about the Victoria's Secret Angels you are talking about?" ”

Leonardo said: "The news that I am coming to New York will take a little time to spread. He was rather conceited: "If nothing else, someone will call this afternoon." ”

He asked Martin, "Got the theme right?" ”

Martin nodded and asked, "Yacht or villa?" ”

Leonardo said: "Yacht, let's go out to sea and avoid the boring paparazzi and amusements." ”

While the two were talking, Jack Nicholson came over: "Did you forget something?" ”

Leonardo asked Martin: "Your opinion?" ”

"As long as there are enough beauties, I don't mind taking this old bastard." Martin said according to the performance of the other party during the last contact: "Old Jack, in terms of the theme of the party, you must listen to me. ”

Nicholson smirked: "We have already played all the tricks that can be played, but I'll see what new tricks you can play." ”

The assistant came over at this time and said to Leonardo, "Miss Naomi's phone call, ask you to have dinner in the evening." ”

Leonardo said, "Let her call a few more people out and say I'm going to go with Martin Davis, the great hero of America." ”

Nicholson was anxious and poked Leonardo in the arm.

The latter added: "There's also an old bastard named Jack Nicholson. ”

(End of chapter)