America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 428 Do I look like someone with principles and a bottom line?

In a Brooklyn studio, on a set set resembling a hospital ICU ward, Alexandra finished filming her final scene and, accompanied by the grieving male lead, returned to God's embrace.

Chad announced that the shot was approved.

Alexandra threw off the white blankets, jumped off the hospital bed, and hugged Martin tightly, unwilling to let go for a long time.

Others automatically moved away from here.

Martin patted Alexandra on the back: "You can see me anytime you want from now on."

Alexandra nodded, released Martin, took a step back, and said, "But I may not see you for more than a month."

Martin asked in confusion, "You don't live in New York?"

Alexandra said softly, "My parents are planning to take Catherine and me to Sweden for a trip. They want to take advantage of the start of the midnight sun and stay there for a while longer. Once Catherine goes to university, we might not have time."

"Have a pleasant trip in advance," Martin said as he saw Chad approaching. "The crew has prepared a souvenir for you."

Chad took a prop bracelet and handed it to Alexandra: "This is the bracelet you wore during filming. Keep it; I hope you'll always remember this experience."

Alexandra asked Martin to help her put it on, and said with a smile, "I'll never forget it."

As she prepared to leave the set, many crew members greeted her, and Martin escorted her all the way to the outside of the studio.

Catherine also arrived and waited by the photo studio.

Martin waved to Bruce, who immediately brought over Martin's two-piece gift set.

Alexandra said, "You've given me so many gifts already, no need..."

"It's different. This is a special souvenir to commemorate working together." Martin then handed it to Alexandra: "It's not anything valuable, just some handicrafts. I give one to everyone I work with when they leave the crew."

Alexandra accepted it, opened it, and looked inside. It was a clown statue and a fang pendant; it wasn't anything particularly valuable. She said, "I'll take it."

No sooner had she finished speaking than she put the gift box aside, grabbed Martin, and gave him a passionate kiss.

Martin responded vehemently.

The two men moved in unison toward Martin's trailer.

Catherine was about to follow when she suddenly noticed sharp, piercing gazes fixed on her, and quickly stopped.

Sure enough, Martin's bodyguard or manager was giving her a warning look.

Catherine felt this man was a bit strange, so she decisively found a place to sit down and waited patiently.

Looking from a distance, she saw the huge trailer start to shake. She wondered how much force the people inside were using, and whether they were afraid of causing a death.

The two shameless men didn't get out of the trailer until the sun had moved to the west.

Catherine went over to Martin, found him, and said directly, "Martin, I want a souvenir too."

Alexandra retorted, "You didn't work on the set, so you're not qualified."

Martin readily agreed and did not give Catherine any souvenirs.

Alexandra went to retrieve the two gift boxes that Bruce had returned.

Catherine took the opportunity to slip a note into Martin's hand, made a phone call gesture, and then pulled Alexandra away.

Bruce said, "You two sisters, you're not human!"

Martin glanced at the slip of paper in his hand, which had a phone number on it. He crumpled it up and threw it into the nearby trash can, saying, "Do you think I'm a piece of trash like you? Old Brook, you have to admit, I'm more civilized than you, and I have more principles and a lower bottom line than you."

Bruce laughed: "I'm waiting to see your principles and bottom line."

Martin, head held high, faced Old Brooks and entered the studio.

After filming three consecutive days of suspenseful dramas, the crew returned to the routine of intensive action filming.

On the abandoned dock that had been set up, Martin engaged in a life-or-death struggle with the leader of the Russian mafia.

A veteran stuntman named Quinn plays the main villain Ivanov throughout the entire film.

This man was an old friend of Chad's, and after years in Hollywood, he was still a marginal supporting actor who had never played a significant role.

This is actually a reflection of the lives of most actors; they act their whole lives and remain unknown.

Even if one can become a supporting actor with some fame, like Menez, without a family background and sufficient connections, it requires extraordinary good luck.

Quinn is a good actor, has a strong physique, and is daring and aggressive.

Before filming, Chad briefly explained the precautions to the two actors so they could prepare.

Martin had practiced with Quinn before, and he specifically said, "My punches are simple and direct, mostly aimed at vital points. I will control my strength, and you should also be careful to dodge."

Quinn grinned, revealing two rows of bright white teeth: "Don't hold back, Martin, just come on, let's make this a spectacular show."

Having finally landed this role, he intends to give it his all.

The script supervisor came over and clapped the clapperboard, and filming began.

Quinn took off his suit jacket and threw it into the nearby trash heap, saying, "Jonathan, you killed my son! Just because of a fucking dog, you killed my son, you madman!"

Martin, his face grim, wiped the wound on his cheek and said slowly, "Daisy is the last gift Helen left me."

According to Chad's theory, that dog represents Jonathan's last glimpse into his normal self.

With the dog dead, Jonathan's humanity as an ordinary person was gone.

Quinn nearly went berserk: "You madman, you killed my only son for a dog!" He adopted a boxing stance: "Now it's just you and me, let's end this."

He threw a series of wild punches, but Martin dodged them all.

Martin found an opportunity, parried his punch, and kicked Quinn between the legs.

Quinn raised his leg and blocked it with his knee, but cried out in pain.

Martin grabbed his wrist and threw him into the garbage dump with a back throw.

The seemingly sturdy trash is actually made entirely of resin, with a mat placed underneath.

Martin lunged forward, but Quinn kicked out, sending him flying backward and crashing to the ground.

Both of them got up from the ground and started throwing punches and kicks at each other's vital points.

During the match, Chad called for a stop several times to allow the two players to recover their strength, and Chen Hu also came over to provide guidance so that they could fight more beautifully and attractively.

In the late afternoon, the scene was filmed to its finale. Martin first slit the throat with his palm, then gouged out the eyes with two fingers, and finally knocked down the villain with a groin kick.

Quinn, panting heavily, shouted, "Jonathan, we're people who uphold professional ethics and have principles!"

Martin struck him hard in the chest, coldly saying, "Do you see me as a man of principles and boundaries?" He punched Quinn in the chest, asking as he struck, "Do I? Do I need principles and boundaries?"

Quinn stammered, unable to speak.

Martin then delivered a series of heavy blows.

Quinn collapsed to the ground.

Chad then shouted, "That's it! Great! Excellent!"

Martin reached out his hand, waited for Quinn to take it, pulled him up, and asked, "Are you alright?"

Quinn squeezed his legs together and said, "My balls almost broke."

Martin couldn't help but laugh.

Quinn took a few deep breaths to catch his breath and said, "Your movements and strength were perfectly controlled."

Chad watched the playback again on the director's monitor, then got up and went to the set, giving Martin and Quinn a thumbs up: "You guys did a great job, that was fantastic."

Quinn said with a smile, "I risked my life for this movie."

He didn't have many expectations for the future; he just hoped to become a villain with a significant role in some action movies.

Martin joked, "I almost beat Quinn's brother to a pulp."

"I was worried too," Chad said specifically to Martin. "When you shouted that there were no rules or bottom lines, I was afraid you'd really gone crazy and would kill Quinn as an enemy."

Martin said, "When the opportunity arises, you should occasionally unleash your acting skills."

Today's filming went smoothly, and we finished the planned scenes ahead of schedule. Chad glanced at the time and shouted, "That's a wrap! Go back and get some rest. Tomorrow we'll film the gunfight scene in Act Three."

Daniel from Warner Bros. then entered the set, wanting to see Martin.

Martin went over and asked, "Is it urgent?"

Daniel reminded him, "The Metropolitan Museum of Art's charity party is this weekend, don't forget to attend." He then asked with concern, "You need to be high-profile right now, you need to help 'The Dark Knight' and 'John Wick' get attention, have you thought about a plan?"

Martin considered it for a moment, but still asked, "Does Warner have any plans?"

Daniel said, "Those idiots just want you to put more effort into the clothing."

Martin shook his head: "That's unlikely to be a breakout moment."

This fashion world's Oscars is a chaotic mess, with countless outlandish costumes appearing on the red carpet. Even if you covered your private parts with pieces of raw meat, the effect would be mediocre.

Daniel had no hope for Warner Bros.: "It's all up to you. Just tell me what you need."

Martin thought for a moment and said, "I'll let you know in a couple of days. Make sure it's kept secret. Oh, by the way, Leonardo arrived in New York today; he might be attending with me."

"No problem," Daniel said. "You guys are always good at causing trouble, let's cause trouble together."

The two discussed the METGALA together before leaving the studio.

After Daniel left, Bruce came over and said, "While you were filming, Leonardo sent me a message saying he and Nicholson came to New York together."

Martin removed his makeup on the trailer and said to Bruce, "Send him a message. I'll be at the hotel in half an hour. Tell him to get ready to treat us."

Bruce sat in a chair to the side and edited the newsletter before sending it out.

A little over half an hour later, Martin returned to the hotel where the film crew was staying. In the lobby lounge, he met Leonardo DiCaprio and Nicholson.

Nicholson adjusted his sunglasses and said, "That bastard Leo insisted on dragging me to some kind of fashion Oscars, saying he had a great idea to make us the center of attention in town?"

Leonardo shrugged. Anyway, he had already bragged about Martin's success, and if things didn't go well, Martin would be the one to lose face.

"Looks like I'm going to get serious this time," Martin said fiercely.

(End of this chapter)