America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 759 The Middleman Makes the Difference

After finishing the bank scenes, the crew moved to the streets of Boston to film some outdoor scenes.

Filming on location in a bustling metropolis is quite troublesome, as it requires coordination with local government departments and consideration of traffic flow, pedestrian flow, and time of day.

In Charleston, an outdoor café was booked by the film crew for an entire day to shoot two scenes.

Martin, Alexandra Daddario, and Jeremy Reyner took turns appearing and chatting tentatively around the coffee table.

Villeneuve would occasionally call a halt and come over to personally instruct the three.

"You're not right. Your emotions and your expression are both problematic!" Villeneuve stared at Alexandra, emphasizing, "Lassie, the relationship between your character and the male lead isn't the inexplicable romance between a kidnapper and a hostage. You don't know Martin is a kidnapper! You think this is a perfect love story!"

He directly pointed out Alexandra's mistake: "What you're displaying is an emotion like Stockholm syndrome!"

Upon hearing this, Alexandra instinctively retorted, "I didn't! Absolutely not!"

Villeneuve stared at her.

Alexandra blinked her icy blue eyes, looked at Martin, and asked, "Did I?"

Villeneuve pointed out the problem: "Your current demeanor, combined with your appearance, makes you look like someone with Stockholm syndrome."

Martin glanced at Alexandra briefly and said, "Don't widen your eyes too much or blink too frequently. Try to keep your eyes relatively calm."

Villeneuve chimed in, "Let's try again."

Alexandra adjusted her mindset and emotions slightly, and said, "I can do it."

Filming resumed, with Martin and Jeremy Renner delivering consistently excellent performances, and Alexandra, after some adjustments, gradually found her rhythm as well.

A large number of movie fans and reporters gradually gathered outside the temporary film set.

Producer Graham King exchanged a few words with Villeneuve and Martin, and then gave a brief interview to the media after filming wrapped.

With filming underway, promotion and publicity naturally follow.

After lunch, Martin gave a joint interview to more than a dozen media reporters in a coffee shop.

One of the blonde female reporters asked first, "Hi Martin, I'm Peffer from The Boston Globe. Why did you choose a film set in Boston?"

The Boston Globe is the largest print media in Massachusetts. The original novel for the film has already been published. Martin smiled and said, "I filmed The Departed in Boston and I really like this kind of city with a rich history. After reading the original novel, I also resonated with the protagonist's background because I have a similar experience. I was born in the slums of Atlanta and almost went astray."

Another reporter immediately followed up: "Can you tell me what kind of wrong turn it was?"

Martin shrugged and said, "Many of my childhood friends in the same community joined gangs."

His tone was somewhat somber: "Many of them died just as they reached adulthood..."

"I'm sorry," the reporter said.

Martin shook his head, seemingly trying to shake off some emotion, and said, "I was facing choices and struggles back then, just like the protagonist of this novel, a man's painful struggle."

Many journalists who had read the original book nodded in agreement upon hearing Martin's words.

Martin continued, "We're all in a certain period of time, trapped in a place we desperately want to escape, and trying everything we can to change our lives. This kind of theme is very appealing to me, and I think many people can relate to it, especially when leaving a criminal environment."

Among the journalists were people from impoverished backgrounds who knew how difficult it was to escape such an environment in America.

Countless people around you want to drag you into the abyss.

He said, "Martin, you did it."

Martin smiled. "I hope more people across America can succeed."

The brief joint interview concluded, and that afternoon, extensive online media coverage began.

"The Town Thieves: Martin Davis's Painful Struggle!"

Martin Davis's new film is once again set in Boston.

"Women conquer men with stockings; Martin Davis conquered banks with stockings!"

The media coverage further increased the film's visibility and made more people aware that Martin Scorsese was filming a new movie.

The production team's promotional efforts certainly didn't stop there.

During a break in filming in the afternoon, Graham chatted with Martin for a while.

"We're helping Chuck Hogan run an award," he told Martin. "The Hammett Prize, awarded by the International Crime Writers' Association, has a certain influence in the fiction world."

Martin fully agreed: "The original work is more well-known, so the film adaptation will benefit accordingly. I will contact Disney Studios about this and ask them to assist the production team."

Graham said, "That gives us a much better chance."

Martin got Bruce's phone and immediately called Jessica, asking her to communicate with Disney Studios about the matter.

With these arrangements settled, Martin returned to the makeshift film set outside to continue filming.

After a morning of rest and adjustment, Daddario's condition improved significantly, and the afternoon filming went smoothly. All scenes were filmed before 4 p.m., allowing the crew to wrap up early.

Martin finished removing his makeup and got off the trailer. Just as he was about to get into his car, a girl suddenly appeared next to him.

She had the same long, dark brown hair as D'Addario, but her light blue eyes were much darker, and her bust was on a completely different level.

"Hey Martin, do you remember me?"

"You are..." Martin certainly remembered, but deliberately hesitated for a moment: "I remember now, you are Catherine. I saw you a few times a few years ago when I was filming 'John Wick' in New York."

Catherine's light blue eyes narrowed with a smile: "It's me, it's definitely me! We even took a picture together. Back then, many classmates envied me for being able to take a picture with you."

Martin asked, "I heard from your sister that you've become an actor?"

Catherine's smile vanished: "Yes, I saw how easily she became a big star, and I thought this industry was easy, so I became an actress, but I can only play a few minor, marginal roles."

Martin recalled his limited interactions with his sister and said, "This industry is extremely competitive, and it's not easy for your sister to succeed."

"If she can succeed, why can't I?" Catherine said. "I'm no worse than her."

Martin smiled without saying a word.

Catherine looked at Martin, then suddenly realized, and said, "I understand why she succeeded! Her success wasn't because of her own abilities, but because of your support!"

The more she thought about it, the more certain she became: "Martin, you are the key to her success!"

Martin disagreed, saying, "Your viewpoint is incorrect. First of all, your sister is exceptionally talented; most people simply don't possess her level of talent..."

Eyes and physique like Daddario's are extremely rare even in all of Hollywood.

While it may not be considered a case of exceptionally fine branches, Alexandra's shape and color are perfectly balanced, with small areas where they should be small and large areas where they should be large.

If you don't believe me, you can become a "real detective".

Catherine took a step forward and said, "I have great talent too, really."

Martin did not respond.

Alexandra Daddario is running this way.

When she ran, the earth seemed to shake.

Catherine also saw her sister and slightly pursed her lips. Who doesn't know these little tricks to attract men?

However... she wasn't as stunning and eye-catching as Alexandra when she ran.

Alexandra got off the trailer and saw her sister. She ran to Martin as fast as she could, grabbed his left arm, and looked at Catherine across the street, asking, "When did you get here? Why didn't you call me?"

Seeing that Martin's arms were all wrapped up, Catherine felt a pang of jealousy for her sister's talent and said irritably, "You're filming. I called you; could you pick me up from the airport?"

Alexandra asked, "What's wrong with you? Did you come all the way from New York just to argue with me?"

Catherine said, "No, no." She turned around and took her sister's arm. "I came here specifically to curry favor with you so you could help me find some roles."

Alexandra glanced at Martin furtively and said, "I'll keep an eye out for you."

Martin didn't get involved in the sisters' underhanded rivalry; their fighting was just a display of sisterly affection, but his involvement changed the nature of the conflict.

Catherine resisted looking at Martin, thinking to herself, "Even if you don't tell me, I still know that all the roles you can find come from Martin."

Martin tugged at Alexandra: "Let's go back to the hotel, dinner's on me."

Catherine, like a naive fangirl, said, "Sure, can I take a picture with you while we eat? Those bitches will be so envious!"

Martin smiled and said, "Of course."

The three got into the Cadillac that Bruce had driven and returned to the hotel where the film crew was staying.

After consulting with the D'Addario sisters, Martin treated them to a French meal that evening.

While Martin went to the bathroom, Catherine whispered, "Are you staying in a suite? Can I stay in your room tonight?"

Alexandra casually pulled out a room key and handed it to her sister: "The room number is on it. Just go there after you've eaten."

Catherine isn't stupid: "You openly lived with Martin on set?"

"Is that so strange?" Alexandra asked, not without a hint of boasting. "I have a high-quality life every day, and I feel refreshed and energetic the next day, which makes me more productive at work."

She pinched her cheek: "Have you noticed that my skin looks better?"

Even without close observation, Catherine could tell that her sister was radiant and looked as if she were only twenty years old.

Alexandra said proudly, "Martin specially provided me with seafood high-protein products, and everyone who uses them says they're great."

"Really?" Catherine said sarcastically, "Be careful not to eat too much and have an allergic reaction, or difficulty breathing!"

When Alexandra saw Martin return, she stopped talking about those things and changed the subject.

The three of them chatted and laughed together, and the atmosphere seemed very good.

After dinner, Alexandra followed Martin directly to his suite.

Catherine went to Alexandra's room alone, sat on the sofa and drank water. She felt very unhappy thinking about those characters from Martin who had to be middlemen like Alexandra to make a profit.

I hate middlemen who take a cut the most.

(End of this chapter)