The Best Actor in the Vase of Meiyu

Chapter 2036 Offensive and defensive transition
Anson's mind was racing, but he remained outwardly calm. He neither admitted nor denied anything, but simply looked at Martin with a slight upward inflection at the end of his voice.

"possible?"

He chuckled to himself, "I thought I was already an excellent actor."

Martin knew this was the perfect opportunity to flatter him, but he didn't want to.

When facing others, his rejection was purely a form of disgust; but when facing Anson, he believed that Anson wanted to hear the truth, and that sincerity was the right way to approach him.

So Martin said, "Okay, but not good."

Martin adjusted his position slightly, looking intently at Anson with unwavering focus and sincerity.

“Anson, you remind me of Marilyn Monroe.”

Anson raised an eyebrow slightly. "I thought you would say Montgomery Clift, or Paul Newman."

Martin shook his head. "Indeed, they are also trapped by their handsome image, but they are not trapped by the Hollywood system. Marilyn is different."

"Hollywood needed her sex appeal, needed her to be an icon, needed her to be a blonde bombshell, needed to erase her thoughts, her wisdom and her soul, and ultimately turn her into an empty shell. Look at her now, she is arguably the most iconic figure in Hollywood history, and even people who have no interest in movies should know that face."

"However, her presence as an actress and an independent personality has been completely erased, and even the name 'Marilyn Monroe' has become a synonym for sexiness."

"Hollywood, that money monster, devoured her and then continuously generated more profits for the film industry."

Anson pursed his lips and quipped, "A deal with the devil?"

Martin tilted his head, neither confirming nor denying, "But now, times have changed, and the systems and traditions of Hollywood's golden age are facing a full-scale impact."

"You can change, and you are changing."

"You're trying to break free from labels and symbols, to make your own voice heard, to refuse to be defined and restricted. That's why you founded Forest Pictures, right?"

"While others might guess that this is just a hobby or an investment, it is actually the first step you take to break free from the constraints of other production companies."

"You have the potential to become an excellent actor. Whether you can achieve greatness is something we cannot say for sure, but I believe you can become an excellent actor."

Anson gently raised his chin, his eyes full of laughter. "So, are you flattering me, or are you setting a trap?"

Martin met Anson's gaze. "None of that, because you don't need any of it. Obviously, you know your needs and goals very well."

Anson, "That's right. That's why I just told you I'm planning to take a break for a while."

Martin didn't back down, "But if you come across a good role and a good script, I believe you'd be willing to change your mind."

Anson's eyes flashed with a playful glint as he quipped, "Is that so?"

Martin could sense the sarcasm in Anson's words, but he wasn't nervous. He shook his head and said, "Sarcastic remarks and cynicism are my forte, Anson. They don't suit you."

"Haha." Anson burst out laughing. "So you're still willing to sit here with me and discuss the characters?"

Martin said, "That just proves you're an excellent actor, and I believe you can perfectly portray such a character."

“Oh,” Anson exclaimed, his smile widening. “That was a brilliant response. I admit, even though I know it’s flattery, I’m still very happy.”

Martin said earnestly, "Phew, it seems I finally did something right."

Anson: "Hahaha."

In the tense, back-and-forth atmosphere, a sense of relaxation and ease finally emerged. Martin clenched his fists, his hands sweating, but he couldn't let his guard down. Seizing the opportunity, he immediately continued, "I want to talk to you about this special role."

"It all started with one of my vacations. In Bruges."

Anson raised an eyebrow slightly—

Martin McDonagh and Bruges immediately conjured up images of the film "In Bruges," the original English title of which is "In Bruges."

“Bruges?” Anson said. “I thought you guys liked to vacation on the Spanish islands.”

Europeans have a kind of obsession with sunshine, so their vacation destinations are often the sunny beaches and cities around the Mediterranean.

But Bruges is located in Belgium, a city that is often gloomy.

Martin shrugged. "It's all EuroStar's fault."

Anson was taken aback, then burst into hearty laughter.

In 1994, the Eurostar began operating, crossing the English Channel and connecting London and Paris. Direct train service made driving much more convenient.

The train journey from London to Paris takes less than three hours; and the Eurostar also stops in Bruges, just two hours and twenty minutes from London, thus bringing the city into the view of English residents and opening a window for tourism.

Martin said, "To be honest, I don't know why I ended up in Bruges, but in fact, once I got there, I was fascinated."

“The medieval Gothic architecture there is well preserved. Although there are many similar buildings in London, the atmosphere of Bruges is completely different.”

"It is a city with convenient transportation, well-developed communities, and a constant flow of people; but at the same time, it has a kind of quietness, as if it has remained in a certain gap in the torrent of time."

"Words cannot accurately describe it; you can only truly feel it by being there in person."

Anson nodded slightly in agreement. "I can understand. Many small European towns have their own unique style, like places from a fairy tale."

Martin said, "I'm not sure I enjoy writing fairy tales, but Bruges definitely inspired me. As I visited museums and churches, two characters gradually took shape in my mind."

"One is obsessed with culture, the other is addicted to alcohol. Both are assassins, but beyond their roles as assassins, they have their own personalities."

"One of the hitmen was consumed by guilt and self-blame after accidentally killing a five-year-old boy. To outsiders, they were hitmen, it was their job, they were supposed to be cold-blooded and ruthless, they were supposed to be like killing machines, treating human life as worthless and without any emotion."

However, this is not the case.

"They also have their own feelings and their own predicaments. They are also trapped in their own cycle of cause and effect, just as Eastern Buddhism says, every sip and every bite is subject to destiny."

"In the story, besides the two of them, there is a third assassin. All three have their own destiny, and their personalities are the root of their destinies."

"One who believed in God and was compassionate and righteous died because of his sense of loyalty; one who adhered to his bottom line and was cold-blooded and ruthless died because of his principles; one who was cynical, ignorant, and reckless survived because of the last vestige of humanity he possessed."

"Three assassins, three types. I'm trying to explore life and the most essential nature of humanity through killing."

It was a long and splendid effort, executed in one go.

Actually, it's still a bit messy because there was no draft, but the words that came out all at once still clearly conveyed the passion and enthusiasm deep inside.

Martin must have poured countless hours and passion into this script. He looked at Anson and said, "Now you know why I think you're perfect for this role, right?"

(End of this chapter)