Chương 352: Chapter 352: Profesional Ethics
In the spacious courtyard, Nicholson and Leonardo playfully held brooms and pretended to help Martin clean up the yard.
Elizabeth, standing by the villa's entrance, observed the two with curiosity and then shifted her gaze to Martin at the main entrance, pondering how these prominent stars behaved in private. She found the bond between men intriguing.
Outside the door, Martin briefly explained the situation to the LAPD officers who had come to inquire. Seeing that everything was in order, the officers departed after reminding everyone not to disturb the neighbors.
Neighbor Jenna, looking embarrassed, admitted, "I thought something unexpected had occurred, so I called the police."
Martin reassured her, "No worries, it was my friends causing a bit of trouble."
Jenna wanted to inquire about the copyright for "Limitless," but she decided it wasn't the right time. She said, "I'm heading back." Martin waved and said, "Goodnight."
As Jenna disappeared into her house, Martin returned home and closed the door, casting a discerning gaze at Nicholson and Leonardo.
Nicholson seemed oblivious to the messy yard, saying, "Alright, the work is done. It's time to savor the fine wine that Martin has collected."
Leonardo, worried about upsetting Martin, resolved to get tipsy that night. He reminded, "You mentioned having a batch of fine wine from the East last time?"
Martin, questioning his own decency, replied, "Come on, let's have a drink."
The two friends approached the villa's entrance and noticed that Elizabeth was unfazed. However, Nicholson asked, "Hey, why are you here?"
Martin, concerned about Elizabeth's potential response, quickly explained, "I left my phone over there, and she kindly brought it to me."
Leonardo glanced back, somewhat surprised. Elizabeth Olsen, being young and without a boyfriend or husband in her records, didn't seem to fit Martin's usual company.
Martin retrieved a few bottles of wine from the cellar and, upon his return, Elizabeth bid her farewells.
"My sister called and asked me to return early," she said reluctantly, casting a somewhat annoyed look at Leonardo and Nicholson. "Martin, please see me off." Martin handed the wine to Leonardo and escorted Elizabeth outside.
The two friends shared knowing glances but chose not to follow.
As Martin walked her to the car, he reassured, "We're just used to having a good time; don't mind us."
Elizabeth, concealing her concerns, smiled, "It's alright."
She opened the car door but hesitated. "I'll call you later."
Martin nodded, "I'm available online anytime."
Elizabeth contemplated getting into the car but hesitated. Had her eighteenth birthday really passed in such a blur?
"I've been waiting for nearly two years," she thought.
With solemn determination, she turned and opened her arms, hugging Martin tightly.
Her chest lightly brushed against his, and their lips drew closer. Being a gentleman, Martin didn't hesitate to respond, and they shared a passionate kiss.
As they kissed fervently, Elizabeth felt Martin's strong embrace. Instinctively, she took a step back and accidentally bumped into the car door. It closed with a thud, and she leaned against the car.
After their intense kiss, Martin cupped her face and said, "I'll be waiting for your call."
Elizabeth nodded and finally got into the car. The car departed at a snail's pace, heading towards the gate.
Those inside the car frequently looked back until they were out of sight.
Upon Martin's return, he encountered Leonardo and Nicholson, who were still lingering.
"Aren't you leaving?" Martin asked.
Nicholson, despite his adventurous night, replied shamelessly, "I'll just stick around."
Martin glanced at Leonardo, who stood still. He decided to open a bottle of Maotai to make the two friends more comfortable.
However, the outcome was different than expected. Both of them ended up on the ground, inebriated.
Leonardo declared that Gisele Bundchen was his favorite, while Nicholson lamented that his greatest regret in life was not taking advantage of Marlon Brando's youth.
Martin captured the moment on film, and the following day, one of them sent them a copy.
The two friends eventually fled, and Martin, adhering to professional ethics as a photographer, deleted all video footage.
Later, he visited Davis Studio and met with Thomas and Chad.
"Unpleasant news," Thomas began. "Yuan Heping declined our invitation."
Chad added, "When it comes to close-quarter action combat, the Hong Kong City team is truly exceptional. Even if Hollywood studies them, there's still a considerable gap."
Due to time constraints, Martin had vivid recollections of the "John Wick" series, especially the close combat scenes, including the third film. Keanu Reeves, despite his age and lack of physical conditioning, appeared somewhat clumsy, with less precise movements.
Certainly, this also relates to the action design.
Chad continued, "I recall that Yuan Heping had a student who broke away from his team. When filming the second and third parts of The Matrix, it was that student who trained the actors and provided action guidance on set."
Martin, with a recollection, inquired, "Chen Hu?"
"Yes, that's his name," Chad added, "In Hollywood, they call him Tiger."
Martin promptly directed Thomas, "Find a way to contact this 'Tiger' as soon as possible. Chad, if he's willing to collaborate, you'll be in charge of the interview. You're an expert in this field." Chad agreed, "No problem."
Thomas, unfamiliar with this figure in the industry, said, "Let me first determine which agency he's affiliated with."
Following this, Martin inquired about the script's progress. Chad and Bradt had already commenced work on the initial script.
Shortly after, Bradt arrived to discuss the script's storyline with Martin and Chad.
Martin understood the script's critical topic, "You want my dog's life, I want your dog's life," and emphasized the importance of clarity and conciseness in the main story. Furthermore, the first part needed to establish the world of the High Table slightly. Any connections with other films would only occur after the success of the first one.
After Chad and Bradt left, Martin accompanied Thomas to the Warner Building. Following Thomas's contact with the cast of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," David Fincher expressed a desire to meet Martin in person.
In an ordinary office within the Warner Building, Martin met the accomplished Hollywood director.
After some initial small talk, David Fincher candidly revealed, "Originally, my first choice was Brad Pitt, and I didn't consider anyone else. However, unforeseen circumstances led me to explore other options." Martin recognized that Pitt had previously collaborated with Fincher on "Fight Club," making it challenging to compete on those terms.
However, the tide had turned for Brad Pitt under Martin's influence.
"Last year, I heard that Director Fincher was developing this project," Martin began, his words mostly truthful. "I read the source material and found the character Benjamin Button fascinating. He holds a special significance for me."
Nicholson's decades of mischief had led to a rule of thumb: troublemakers often needed to engage in peculiar activities to attain genuine satisfaction.
David Fincher inquired further, "Special significance?"
Martin discreetly conveyed his unique advantage, "Last year, I took on the film project 'The Reader,' directed by Sam Mendes. I worked alongside Kate Winslet, portraying a character from age 16 to 60. This unique acting experience greatly benefited me. I'm eager to tackle roles with more complexity."
David Fincher, who had heard of "The Reader," acknowledged, "Such an experience is indeed rare." He then probed, "What are your thoughts on Benjamin Button's childhood?"
Fortunately, Martin had recently studied the source material closely, and he provided a profound understanding. "I recall the novel's characters from my reading, particularly this stage involving questions about human life and emotional fragility. Benjamin grew up surrounded by elderly people, often confronting mortality."
He continued, "When Benjamin was a child, his psychological maturity was minimal, facing the challenges of being surrounded by octogenarians. I can only imagine that if I were in his shoes during that childhood stage, dealing with a large group of 85-year-olds, I might have crumbled."
David Fincher maintained his composure. After a brief silence, he concluded the meeting, "You'll participate in a third audition with makeup. I'll inform your agent once we confirm the audition date."
Martin knew it was time to leave and remarked, "It's been a pleasure, and I hope we can collaborate."
David Fincher shook hands with Martin and saw him off.
Upon reuniting with Thomas, Martin briefly recounted the meeting.
Thomas reminded him, "David Fincher's film projects are known for their lengthy preparation periods in the industry. Your audition may be at least two months away, likely more than half a year from now." He added, "Another advantage is that Daniel, who works with us, manages film distribution and holds some influence."
Martin replied, "We'll have to be patient."
For now, his focus was on two projects, vying for roles in Nolan's Batman sequel and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."
Just as they returned to Davis Studio, Louise arrived from Pacific Pictures across the street.
"I've just declined the investment offer for the fourth 'Terminator' film from Alan Horn," she informed.
In the office, Louise handed Martin a copy of the script, saying, "This is Jonathan Nolan's script for the Batman movie, codenamed 'Rory's First Kiss' for now. The official project name will likely be 'The Dark Knight.'"
Martin accepted the script and quickly reviewed it, finding that it adhered closely to what he had remembered.
"Dear, thank you," he said, turning to Thomas. "Please find an appropriate moment to decline Alan Horn's offer. I need to prepare for two projects, and the timing doesn't align."
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