America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 370 Even God Can't Save You

Atlanta, Gray Film Production Center.

For the filming of "The Dark Knight", the crew rented seven sound stages, three large and four small, for set construction.

The Gotham street scenes were primarily filmed in the Heights and Peach Street areas.

Nolan originally wanted to film in Chicago and London, but Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures signed long-term contracts with Gray Center for Film and Television.

Inside Studio Six, the film crew has already begun shooting.

On set, Martin sat atop a mountain of banknotes, picked up a few, tore them into pieces, and tossed them down from a height.

The colorful scraps of paper resembled a celestial maiden scattering flowers.

Several men came over and poured prop gasoline on it.

Martin flicked on the lighter in his hand, then turned it off and extinguished it, then flicked it on again.

He kicked a large bundle of banknotes away, spread his arms, and said, "This stinking city is disgusting. I will make it fun."

The gang leader then entered from outside and, seeing the situation, shouted, "You promised me you'd give me my money back!"

"Don't worry, don't worry, I always keep my word." Martin laughed heartily, opening his arms: "Half of this is mine."

The gang leader wanted to rush forward and rob the money.

Martin's hands moved with lightning speed; the lighter in his hand transformed into a gleaming silver pistol as if by magic. With his other hand, he raised a finger and shook it, saying, "I have one good point: I keep my word!"

The gang leader stared at the mountain of money, his face contorted with greed.

Martin jumped down and slid down the money pyramid, the stacks of money scattering like quicksand.

The gang leader said, "I don't care about your half, you have to give me my half."

Martin laughed maniacally: "Of course I'll give them to you. I'll use them to cleanse your soul. You've been tainted by the stench of this city, and your mind has gone mad."

The gang leader tried to make a move, but Martin held him back with a gun.

Martin swung the butt of his gun at the leader's head, and the leader fell into the pile of banknotes.

Before the man could get up, Martin shot him in each leg: "I keep my word, you'll be with half your money forever."

The gun vanished from his hand, replaced by a lighter: "The flames will bring freedom to this city, and the exploding fireworks will proclaim the city's elevated taste!"

"Cut!" Director Nolan called for a halt to filming, saying, "Martin, that was good enough. I demand you do even better. Let's do it again!"

Martin twirled the lighter between his fingers and said with a smile, "No problem."

The laughter was sinister, sending chills down one's spine.

Martin stood still on set, and everyone, from the crew to the other actors, avoided this guy who exuded a crazy and gloomy aura.

Half an hour later, the set was back on set, and Martin climbed to the top of Money Mountain again, and the scene was filmed once more.

After three takes, director Nolan finally announced that the film was approved.

The scene then ended amidst raging flames.

Martin returned to the rest area, took the water bottle Bruce handed him, took a sip, and said, "Burning money is so damn satisfying, it's a shame it's fake."

Bruce suggested, "You have tens of millions of dollars in assets now. You can convert it all into cash and pile it up in the yard to burn for fun."

Martin said, "Let's go burn the Federal Reserve instead."

"You could blow up the White House, kill the president, and still possibly survive," Bruce said earnestly. "But if you target the Federal Reserve, you're dead. Not even God can save you."

An elderly Black man with his stepdaughter came over to greet him: "Hi, Martin, long time no see."

Martin turned his head and grinned at Morgan Freeman.

He still had scenes to film later, and he hadn't removed his makeup at all. I've gotten used to it over the past two months, but when he grinned at that moment, it was particularly frightening.

Startled, Adina backed away, grabbed Freeman's hand, and hid behind him, too afraid to show her face.

Freeman, a man of experience, composed himself and said, "Martin, you've frightened her."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to." Martin's smile widened, becoming even more terrifying. "I just wanted to make people happy."

Freeman said, "Your way of bringing joy is quite unique."

Martin's smile faded: "Instead of looking gloomy, enjoy life."

Freeman agreed, glanced at his step-granddaughter, and said, "How about one day you teach me some experiences of enjoyment?"

Martin smiled slightly: "In this respect, you are my teacher."

Freeman changed the subject, asking, "After filming for a few days, I've noticed something: the Joker has more screen time than Batman."

Martin said, "There are two main characters, but Batman represents justice, and I represent chaos and evil."

Freeman pointed out, "It's the Joker."

Martin replied, "Yes, it's the Joker."

Freeman, who was involved in the previous film, said: "It's not just his role; even Batman's fighting ability seems to have been reduced."

"Because we need to highlight... well, the Joker," Martin casually remarked. "If Batman's fighting prowess is too high, and he acts without restraint, how can the Joker survive?"

Upon hearing this, Freeman's doubts about the script vanished instantly. He understood: "The director and screenwriter confined Batman within various rules and regulations in the name of upholding justice, restricting his actions. As the villain, the Joker acts with impunity, without any scruples, and doesn't even have to worry about Batman killing him."

"Pretty much." That's Martin's personal feeling. Director Nolan gave Batman a reverse cheat code to highlight the Joker.

This is probably a super collision between justice and evil.

Soon, Martin was back on set filming, mostly scenes of the Joker clashing with the gangsters.

In the Joker's eyes, the Gotham gang, who commit crimes for money, have extremely low taste.

After filming for the day was finished, Martin beckoned to the screenwriter who was with him before removing his makeup, and held out his hand in front of him: "The script, bring it here so I can take a look."

The screenwriter quickly placed the notebook in Martin's hands.

Martin flipped through it and said to him, "Add a sentence: Martin was so immersed in the Joker role that he suddenly felt uncomfortable with Bell, who was dressed in a suit and looked like an angel of justice. It was as if he had brought the character's grudges into reality."

The screenwriter took out a pen and quickly wrote it down.

When I looked at Martin again, he was already far away.

He was puzzled, however, because Martin was clearly not stuck in the role and his mind was perfectly clear.

It seems that the character and the person are clearly separated.

When Martin came out after removing his makeup and was about to get into the car, he saw Christian Bale.

As a "good friend" on set, Martin offered, "I'm free tonight, let's go to some nightclubs in Atlanta."

Crew members came and went, and Bale seemed friendly: "Any good spots?"

Martin smiled broadly: "I'll take you to a club."

Hart and Carrington, among others, achieved great success and rarely performed on stage again, but they taught many students.

A few days ago, everyone had a meal together, and Martin heard them mention beforehand that there were homosexuals among the students.

Bell felt it was best not to take the risk, after all, this was where Martin made his fortune, and said, "Let's do it another day, I have an appointment with Michael Kane today to discuss the role and the scenes."

Martin didn't press the issue: "You can go anytime you have time."

The two went their separate ways.

Bell entered the photography studio.

Martin leaves the studio and heads to the Northville neighborhood.

Cadillac sponsored the film crew's vehicles.

The black Cadillac Escalade stopped in front of the Carter's house. Martin didn't rush in. He stood at the door and looked around carefully. The neat yard was covered in green grass, and there didn't seem to be anything special about it.

He shouted, "Hall, come out!"

The door creaked open, and Hall, who was almost as tall as Harris, peeked out and said, "Hurry up, Elena has prepared a sumptuous dinner."

Martin pointed in front of him: "You idiot, do you even know who Earth is?"

Hall said, "I'm not that bored anymore."

"If there's a hole in the ground..." Martin chuckled ominously, "You know the consequences."

Having grown up under the stern discipline of many, Hall had the lowest status in the family. Upon seeing Martin's eerie smile, he quickly shrank back.

Martin walked straight ahead and, without any unexpected incidents, entered the house.

"I never thought you, an idiot, would actually have a brain!" He placed the gift he brought on the table and asked, "Where's Elena?"

Elena popped her head out from the kitchen, like the head of the household: "Dinner will be ready soon, you two idiots go wash your hands and faces."

Just as Martin was about to leave, she said again, "Your smile is really ugly. Put it away, or I might not be able to resist hitting you."

Hall muttered, "He laughs like a freak."

When Martin came out after washing his hands, Elena had already set dinner on the table, which consisted mainly of meat, supplemented with vegetables and fruits.

Hall said, "You haven't cooked in ages. Martin's here is a completely different story than when he wasn't here."

Elena, true to form, said: "Shut up."

Hall sat down to eat, muttering as he ate, "Lily is so much better; she's so free and easy in Los Angeles."

Upon hearing Lily's name, Elena looked at Martin and asked, "That idiot hasn't called either, is he alright?"

"It's good." Martin ate a piece of roast meat; it tasted familiar. "No one dares to bully her."

Elena said, "I never worried that she would be bullied."

Hall chimed in, "The fact that she doesn't bully others is an act of kindness."

Martin nodded repeatedly and said, "Lily found a job as a sculptor on the film set. She can earn a lot of money, so you probably won't need to worry about her tuition next academic year."

Elena said, "Make her come back during the summer vacation. If she doesn't come back, you can force her onto the plane."

Martin gave a casual reply.

The two sisters are foul-mouthed and resort to physical punishment at the drop of a hat; it's best for him to stay out of it.

Elena went to the refrigerator, took out a cocktail, and placed it in front of Martin: "I made a new cocktail, have a taste."

Martin took a small sip and said, "The taste is pretty mainstream."

Elena said, "A manufacturer under Coca-Cola is preparing to launch a new bottled cocktail; a more mainstream flavor is what will sell."

Martin finished his drink and said, "You know more about this than I do now."

Not long after dinner, Hall was ushered into a room on the first floor by Martin to do his homework.

He then took Elena's hand and they went upstairs together.

The leader of the Cola Cult wants to check the Holy Maiden's homework.

(End of this chapter)