The Best Actor in the Vase of Meiyu

Chapter 2037 Jedi Counterattack
With bright, focused eyes, Martin stared intently at Anson with a fervent, almost worshipful gaze.

Even the well-traveled Anson seemed a little reserved, and he said directly, "Martin, I'm sorry, we're not filming 'Sunset Boulevard' right now."

Martin paused, then realized his eagerness and chuckled. But he wasn't embarrassed; his gaze remained fixed on Anson, only less fervent. "Of course not. If it were Sunset Boulevard, you'd be enjoying that kind of gaze."

Anson burst out laughing.

Martin didn't pause, "Just like Marilyn Monroe, just like Anson Wood, I tried to dig out the truth beneath the labels in this character, his edges, his colors, his existence."

“When we use labels to define a person, it is very simple. One, two, three, four, five, list the label keywords and it seems to be a person; but in real life, people are very, very complex, with different aspects. He can be one, he can also be A, and he can also be Alpha.”

"It would be a great pity if we only saw one and then simply and crudely concluded that it must also be two, three, four, or five, while ignoring other possibilities."

"I want to explore one possibility."

Anson brought his thoughts back, "But in the end, they all met their destined fate because of their own nature."

Martin nodded. "Yes, we all have an essential attribute, which is hidden beneath various labels. What I'm trying to explore is this essence. Is human nature inherently good or inherently evil?"

Anson raised an eyebrow slightly. "Wow."

Martin laughed. "I know this is a very complex issue. Although I am a proponent of the idea that human nature is inherently evil, I do not deny that the other viewpoint has some merit."

Anson, "So, you're planning to make a serious film?"

Martin shook his head. "No. Comedy. I'm going to make a dark comedy."

"So when I saw the qualities you displayed with Jonathan Ross, I realized that I had missed a great opportunity because of my arrogance and prejudice."

"In my mind, this character possesses a wicked sexiness, while also having a vulnerable and humorous side. He is tormented by his own guilt, but at his core, he is a kind person."

Anson aptly grasped the key point: "But his profession is assassin. Kindness is a bad thing for an assassin, right?"

Martin: "That's right. That's why we have our story."

Taking a deep breath, Martin still looked at Anson. "I realize I made a mistake. I got caught up in stereotypes and rejected a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But now I hope I can make amends and win a chance to start afresh."

Anson didn't avoid eye contact. "What about Colin Farrell?"

Martin: ...

"Damn." The swear word came out directly, but it wasn't directed at Anson; it was more like an exclamation. "Sorry, please forgive my vocabulary."

Anson laughed directly. "I know you've been trying very hard to control yourself and haven't used any foul language so far."

Martin's eyes widened. "Really? Not a single word? Wow, I can't believe I managed to control myself, but..."

Martin sized up Anson for a moment, then couldn't help but exclaim, "Damn!"

Anson burst out laughing, "Haha."

According to statistics, the word "F" and its derivatives appear 126 times in the movie "In Bruges," averaging 1.18 times per minute.

It's comparable to Quentin Tarantino's films.

Martin touched his head, looking still shaken. "I didn't expect you to ask this question so directly. My heart is still pounding."

Anson remained unmoved. "Are you trying to change the subject to buy time to answer?"

Martin: ...

Looking at Anson, Martin couldn't help but sigh, "Are you always this smart?" Anson's voice rose slightly at the end, "Thank you for the compliment?"

Martin scratched his head, but still chose honesty, because he knew that honesty wasn't a bad thing with Anson—maybe?
“Investment,” Martin said frankly. “My script couldn’t find investors, even if Colin was willing to star in it. I think Hollywood lacks confidence in Colin.”

“But you are different. As long as you say you are interested, those film companies and producers will not even read the script, they will just wave the check at your door.”

"I...I just...know this..."

The usually assertive Martin became unusually incoherent, revealing a hint of panic and vulnerability beneath his strong exterior.

Anson could tell this wasn't an act. He believed Martin must have been turned away many times and deeply resented those condescending "gentlemen." No wonder he was so furious in London last time; Martin probably thought Anson was just another outsider trying to ruin his work.

It's truly hard to imagine how much courage Martin must have had to come to Los Angeles.

But that doesn't mean Anson will show sympathy. He needs to remain professional and rational. "What are you going to do if I refuse?"

Martin was stunned and didn't react.

Anson repeated the question.

Martin panicked. What if Anson refused? A sense of foreboding gripped his heart, making it hard to breathe.

Martin had to force himself to calm down, take a deep breath, and say, "Short film."

"Just like Christopher Nolan did back then, making a short film only costs between £10,000 and £30,000, and I can prove my ability with a short film."

Short film?

Anson paused, carefully searched his memory, and finally recalled—

"The Gun That Shoots Six Bullets" was indeed a 30-minute short film that Martin Scorsese made in his previous life. This short film later won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, and as Scorsese said, it did help him break into the market and find investment for "In Bruges," which was released in 2008.

As it turns out, Martin is indeed talented, perhaps a little different from Christopher Nolan, but he still found his moment to shine.

However, Martin was unaware of these things. He couldn't fathom what Anson was thinking; he simply felt tense, his mind a turbulent jumble of thoughts.

"Anson."

Martin's call pulled Anson back to reality.

"Investing is extremely important; believe me, it is the key."

“But I realized this last time at the BBC. If you had given your approval, investing would have been a piece of cake. Your broker made sure I understood this perfectly well, but I still turned you down then.”

Anson's lips curled up slightly. "So it's not because another company has rejected your script recently, that you're just grabbing at any straw?"

Martin could hear the sarcasm in Anson's voice. "If you're a lifeline, then this lifeline is worth far too much." After a small complaint, Martin continued, "No, I'm very desperate, but not so desperate that any random lifeline will do."

"Because I know that if I just grab any straw, the end result might be the failure of the film. So what's the point if I finally get the project released? My career will still be a mess."

“I like this project, I believe in this project, and I need this project to succeed and help me break into the market. I will not bow to reality.”

“Investment is only one aspect, I won’t deny that; but the real reason is because of you, Anson Wood, I believe you are perfectly suited for this role.”

“At the same time…” Take a deep breath, “you also need this script.”

(End of this chapter)