America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 378 Nolan the Instigator

"I specifically asked around, so what did the production crew say?"

On the way to the Gray Cinema Center, Nicholson, with a strange expression, said to Leonardo beside him, "Constant trouble, full of excitement!"

Leonardo DiCaprio has a deep understanding of this: "When is there ever a quiet scene on Martin's set? But then again, stirring things up is what generates news."

Nicholson said, "I wonder who will go crazy first, Martin or Bell."

Leonardo disagreed: "Do you think that bastard would go crazy?"

The car arrived at the main entrance of the Gray Film Production Center. Nolan and Emma Thomas had already announced that Nicholson would be visiting the set. At this moment, there were not only local Atlanta media reporters, but also many reporters from nationally distributed entertainment media.

As soon as Nicholson got out of the car, these people surrounded him.

"Jack, are you here to visit Martin?"

"Have you made up with Martin?"

"Or are you planning to settle the score with Martin face to face?"

Wearing sunglasses and with his hands in his pockets, Nicholson exuded a boss-like aura as he said, "I'm here because of an invitation from Warner Bros. and DC. I think there's something wrong with the new Joker, so they asked me for help."

A reporter from Vanity Fair reacted incredibly quickly: "You still think Martin Davis is not up to the task?"

Nicholson snorted, looking like he couldn't be bothered to answer such an idiotic question.

The film set security guards came over to separate the reporters and let Nicholson and Leonardo through the gate.

Someone greeted them at the door and led them to the studio where the Dark Knight crew was located.

The crew had just finished filming the scenes with Batman and his butler Alfred, and Nicholson didn't see Martin's Joker.

During a break in filming, DC director Orlin led Nicholson and Leonardo to director Nolan.

Nolan shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with the two men, then said to Leonardo DiCaprio, "I considered inviting you to play Two-Face, but I didn't get a response."

Leonardo DiCaprio didn't seem to care much about the British director's opinion, stating directly, "Because superhero movies are not in my consideration."

Nolan wasn't embarrassed and smiled, "It seems I was being presumptuous."

Nicholson looked around and asked, "Where's Martin?"

"Martin was very immersed in the role. After the morning performance, he went back to rest." Nolan was telling the truth, but telling the truth may also have had ulterior motives: "His performance was amazing. I always felt that the Joker lived in this crew."

Nicholson frowned: "Is it really that good?"

Nolan continued to provoke, saying, "Martin is the Joker I wanted."

Nicholson curled his lips into a smile, seemingly disbelieving.

Nolan casually replied, "You'll understand once you've seen Martin's performance."

Nicholson nodded: "I'll enjoy it."

Leonardo stood to the side, like a bystander, watching the two men and listening to their conversation.

Martin isn't the only interesting person on this set!

No wonder when I talked to Martin on the phone, he said the film crew was so much fun. The director was always doing creative tricks, how could it not be fun?

Nolan still had work to do, so after chatting for a while, he went back behind the director's monitor.

Nicholson noticed someone writing something down next to him and asked, "What are you doing?"

The screenwriter quickly replied, "I'm a screenwriter, responsible for recording behind-the-scenes stories from the film crew."

Orlin chimed in, "This is a new way of working on set that director Nolan has adopted, allowing screenwriters to faithfully record interesting things that happen on set and during filming, which is beneficial for publicity later on."

Nicholson, who was quite familiar with the people in DC, asked without hesitation, "May I take a look?"

Nolan deliberately left the screenwriter here, and even if Nicholson didn't ask, Orlin would have shown him the behind-the-scenes footage of Martin: "No problem."

Nicholson took the script for the behind-the-scenes footage from the screenwriter and read it carefully. The most recent one was about how Martin saved a major explosion scene during yesterday's filming with a brilliant improvisation.

Looking further up, Martin's performance was so realistic that the feud between the characters affected the real-life relationship between the two lead actors.

Martin's manic performance on set also intimidated Maggie Gyllenhaal, who was acting with him for the first time, to the point that she dared not speak or look at him, and even made veteran British actor Michael Kane forget his lines.

Many actors even said that when Martin was on set, laughing maniacally, his unrestrained and powerful aura made it feel as if a real clown was right in front of them.

Nicholson remained expressionless, handed the script back to the screenwriter, stood there, watched another scene between Bale and Michael Kane, and then left the studio.

Once they were in a secluded spot, Leonardo couldn't hold back any longer and burst into laughter: "This film crew is fucking hilarious!"

Nicholson nodded: "Sure enough, wherever Martin is, there's something fun to do."

Leonardo DiCaprio specifically warned, "That director seems to be praising Martin, but he's actually trying to sow discord between you and Martin."

Nicholson also saw through it, and having experienced the first phase of his verbal sparring with Martin, he speculated: "They probably want me and Martin to continue our verbal battle so they can continue to make a fuss about the film's publicity."

Leonardo DiCaprio exclaimed, "This director has talent; he's a perfect match for Martin Scorsese."

"That screenwriter and script were probably shown to me on purpose." Nicholson had spent his entire life in Hollywood, and when it came to brains, even three Marlon Brandos combined couldn't compare.

He pointed out incisively: "The script is full of praise for Martin, saying he has outstanding acting skills, is too immersed in the role, and is a terrifying character. I guess the core of the publicity for this cast is Martin."

Leonardo said, "Martin is such a troublemaker, he can make headlines with just a little bit of his work."

In the distance, the door of a makeup trailer opened, and an actor with his face covered in greasepaint stepped out.

The man's head was tilted forward, and his face, covered in white paint, revealed a blood-red mouth. He walked with a swaying gait.

A group of young actresses approached. The man grinned, and the people who had been chatting and laughing instantly fell silent, scattering as if they had encountered a psychopathic killer.

The trio of bastards couldn't possibly mistake one of their own. Despite the drastic change in appearance and demeanor, Leonardo recognized Martin and said, "He seems completely different from your Joker."

Nicholson looked over there and said, "If he acts in my style, I'll roast him until he questions his existence."

Seeing Martin enter the studio from afar, he called out, "I guess he's in a scene; let's go check it out."

The studio doors were open, meaning the crew wasn't filming at the moment. Leonardo and Nicholson went inside together, found an inconspicuous corner, and watched the crew filming.

This is a scene where the Joker and Batman directly confront each other.

Bale, a child star who has been playing leading roles in movies since 1987, was completely overshadowed by Martin Scorsese.

Even seasoned actors, let alone Nicholson and Leonardo DiCaprio, could tell that Martin's Joker was far more outstanding than Batman's.

The Joker is evil, cunning, arrogant, and almost insane. His behavior is bizarre yet terrifying.

In contrast, Batman on the other side only showed anger and violence.

Two roles, two actors, the difference in quality is immediately apparent.

Nicholson is arguably one of Hollywood's top actors, and it's not hard to make that judgment; there must be a difference in the roles he plays.

The Joker's character design and positioning in the script are more outstanding than Batman's.

Martin's acting skills, that bastard, are equally undeniable.

The director yelled "cut," and Leonardo DiCaprio then whispered, "Martin was always a bastard and a pervert; this is just him being himself."

"He's a pervert!" Nicholson wholeheartedly agreed. "If he weren't a pervert, why would he kick a nearly 70-year-old man's ass?"

Filming continued, and both of them simultaneously shut their mouths.

When Nicholson was preparing to play the Joker, he read a lot of DC comics. He inevitably compared the fictional with the real, and he found that Martin's character was a step further than any Joker in any comic book.

After a day of filming, Martin didn't rush to remove his makeup. During a break, he saw Nicholson and Leonardo and went over to them.

He hugged Leonardo and said, "You should have come earlier or later; there was a good show to watch."

Leonardo DiCaprio asked, "Let's see how you, this freak, wreak havoc on the film crew!"

Martin punched him lightly. "If you'd come earlier, we could have set off fireworks together." He looked at Nicholson. "How about this Joker character? Do you want to continue the verbal sparring, or try to smooth things over a bit?"

"The director of the production team wants to provoke me into continuing our verbal battle with you. Why should I follow his lead?" Nicholson looked at Nolan in the distance. "I am not a puppet in his hands."

Martin understood what he meant: "Shall we ease the tension a little?"

Nicholson said, "I won't be as sharp as before. Let's really make up next year."

Leonardo shook his head: "That's as if you two are having an affair."

Not far away, Nolan, who was packing his things, watched the trio of bastards talking and discussing in a corner, paying particular attention to Martin and Nicholson.

The screenwriter, whose sense of smell had become increasingly acute and who had gradually developed an extraordinary awareness, arrived nearby early to make preparations.

He gripped the notebook in one hand and held a pen in the other, ready to answer the director's call at any moment.

Nolan was surprised that Martin and Nicholson hadn't started arguing. This wasn't part of his plan.

Could it be that the argument between the two stemmed solely from their roles, and that there were no major issues between them personally?

Nicholson visited the set today to watch Martin's performance and filming of the character, and approved of the Joker role.

Although unexpected, this small problem was no challenge for Nolan, the director who is good at creating realistic behind-the-scenes moments.

He beckoned, and the screenwriter immediately ran over: "Director?"

"Write this down first, as a draft for now." Nolan's inspiration struck: "Nicholson accepted an invitation from Warner Bros. and DC to visit the set. After seeing Martin's character in person, he was impressed by his superb performance and thought it was a powerful role. As a result, the conflict between him and Martin eased somewhat."

(End of this chapter)