America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 857 Cheating

When filming on a boat at sea, the tides can make everything unpredictable, so when the weather turned bad, Martin immediately moved to the studio and used the set to recreate the real sea environment.

Green screens have already been erected around the pool in the studio, so the shots can be changed to the corresponding sea background in post-production.

The director's position was set up on the rising platform, and Martin stared at the monitor, watching a close-up of Blake Lively.

The scene being filmed is of the female lead being attacked by a shark and lying on the rocks screaming in pain after being injured.

It contains several close-up shots of faces.

Blake Lively was still screaming in pain when Martin took off his headset and yelled, "Stop!"

Filming has been suspended.

Blake thought she had messed up again; she had had quite a few takes in the past few days due to performance issues.

Martin said to the crew, "This is none of your business." He then looked at the film crew and said, "Dan, come here for a second."

Cinematographer Dan Rostersing immediately came to the director's position.

Martin reviewed the footage shot earlier and said, "Look at this close-up; it still feels a bit distant from the actress. I wanted to zoom in as much as possible, to make the shot very, very close to the actress's face, so that the audience could feel the protagonist's pain through more subtle expressions."

After a moment's thought, Rostens immediately came up with a solution, saying, "We'll set all the sensor power to maximum, use a spherical lens, and adjust the frame rate to between 120 and 150 frames per second. This will allow for more flexible and varied shooting effects."

Martin raised the question, the director of photography found a solution, and filming resumed.

The visuals achieved the effect Martin wanted.

No matter how thorough the preparations are during the pre-production phase, various new problems will still arise during filming.

The following day, Martin called over the lighting director again, requesting further adjustments to the lighting during filming to synchronize the studio and outdoor scenes.

Lighting engineer Thomson and his team set up a huge suspended cable system that not only controls hundreds of different light clusters, but also has two sets of reflectors installed on it, one horizontal and one vertical. The reflectors also have two modes, one black and one white. The former can absorb light, while the latter can reflect light back. Combined with computer-controlled data modeling, this allows for changes in light at different times and in different weather conditions.

The color of the seawater was constantly changing, and Martin demanded that the color of the seawater in the pool be synchronized with that of the bay.

The difference shouldn't be too great.

Martin, the director, obviously didn't know how to solve the problem, but his professional team found a solution.

The props team, stunt team, and lighting team collaborated to install special ambient lighting at the bottom and around the pool. The lighting was controlled by an intelligent system to achieve different color variations of the seawater, from deep blue and light blue to cyan and blue-green.

The color of seawater itself changes constantly with the influence of sunlight and tides.

Martin didn't understand these things, but it was enough that his subordinates did.

Overall, filming was more difficult than Martin had anticipated, but all the problems encountered could be solved with money.

In addition, Blake maintained a social media posting frequency of about one post every five days, constantly attracting fans' attention to the film through the internet.

Every time she posts on social media, she always includes a selfie from the event.

From glamorous to scarred.

This movie is all about torturing the girls to death.

Blake Lively was exhausted, with filming sessions lasting up to ten hours a day. She spent most of her time in the water and didn't even have the energy to go to Martin's room at night.

Martin focused all his energy on filming, spending most of his time, apart from occasional conversations with Louise, researching how to make the film even better.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Nicholson flew from Los Angeles to Rosarito Island specifically to visit the set.

Or rather, to laugh at Martin.

Inside the studio, the film crew is shooting smoothly.

Leonardo and Nicholson sat at a distance, watching Martin calmly direct the entire crew, not at all like the chaotic scene they had imagined.

During a break in filming, Leonardo DiCaprio asked, "This guy, could he actually have a talent for directing?"

"He has talent." Nicholson, a seasoned veteran, saw it very clearly: "It's all talent bought with money."

Leonardo wasn't stupid; he immediately understood what Nicholson meant: "In Hollywood, money is the greatest power."

Nicholson said, "See? Aside from that idiot Martin and that pretty face Blake Lively, the rest of the crew are top-notch professionals. You can imagine it will be the same in post-production."

Leonardo suddenly turned to look at Louise Mayer in the corner and said, "Ms. Mayer is the best female producer in the industry. Even Catherine Kennedy has praised her abilities. With her leading the post-production and hiring an excellent editing team, the film won't be bad."

Nicholson then added a key point: "Martin is also a master of publicity and marketing; he always manages to create buzz."

Influenced by Martin, he is still active on social media despite his age: "Blake Lively's social media account has seen a surge in followers to 80 million in the past two years since she changed her social media profile to 'Gossip Queen.' Now she continues to operate on social media, and the film is very well-known. At that time, her fans alone may be able to attract millions of viewers."

Leonardo couldn't help but exclaim, "That bastard Martin is cheating!"

"I used to think you were the winner of that bet," Nicholson shook his head. "But seeing Martin's financial prowess, and mainly because you're not up to par—all these years later, you're still the same old frowning, glaring, and yelling. You haven't improved at all. Now I think Martin is more likely to win."

Leonardo pointed towards the pool and sneered, "Jack, do you think Martin can win an Oscar for Best Director for such a simple horror film? What a joke."

Nicholson shook his head: "This film is unlikely to win an award, let alone be nominated. But you have to understand, this is Martin's first time directing. He's more focused on getting familiar with the profession and the job. If he can grasp the essence of it and make a film that's good enough to compete for awards, and if the quality is even slightly good, with his shrewd tactics and the increasingly bizarre selection criteria of the Oscars in recent years, he might actually win the Best Director Oscar."

Leonardo DiCaprio is keenly aware of the changes in Hollywood and the Oscars, and he has to admit that Nicholson's words make a lot of sense.

Ability and film quality are becoming less and less important in the award process.

Nicholson added, "When it comes to manipulating the odds for the jackpot, you're far inferior to Martin."

Leonardo DiCaprio couldn't refute this point. Both of them played the victim to win awards, but Martin Scorsese helped him win Best Actor, while he himself made a fool of himself.

"That bastard Martin cheated! I'm a gentleman, I don't play his game!" Leonardo, of course, was unwilling to lose the bet and solve a lifelong puzzle. Thinking of the old scoundrel beside him with three Oscars, he said, "Jack, you have to help me!"

Nicholson nodded: "Helping you isn't out of the question."

Leonardo suddenly had a bad feeling and preemptively warned, "Don't even mention marrying Lorraine. Unless Martin gets married, I will never get married in my life."

"That sounds really awkward," Nicholson thought to himself, but his face remained serious. "Find a character who's gay, transgender, and Black, and you'll definitely get the Best Actor award."

Leonardo paused for a moment, then asked, "Like Robert Downey Jr. in 'Tropic Thunder'?"

Nicholson said, "I remember Martin saying a new version that transgender people are a bit outdated, maybe shopping bags or helicopters are more suitable for you."

Leonardo understood what he meant, thought about it seriously for a while, and said, "Let's forget about it. This would completely ruin the image I've painstakingly built up over the past twenty years. Although winning an Oscar can damage one's image, it can't be done like this."

The film crew paused filming at this point, and everyone took a break.

Martin left his director's seat and came over.

Leonardo walked up to him and punched him lightly, saying, "Looks like a big director."

Martin waved his hand: "Don't even mention it, this job is much more troublesome than being an actor."

Nicholson scoffed, "You're only just realizing that? Too late! Do you know why I've never touched directing all these years? It's exhausting and stressful, and you don't earn as much as I did as an actor, plus you don't have the same carefree life."

Leonardo DiCaprio countered, "You're wrong. Directors are more likely to attract female stars."

Nicholson disagreed: "It seems like you and Martin attract more beautiful actresses than all the other directors in the industry, doesn't it?"

Martin said, "There's nothing I can do about it; everyone knows I'm a good person with substance."

He walked out of the studio: "I need to get some fresh air. I've been busy all day, and my head is spinning."

Leonardo and Nicholson followed Martin out of the studio, and the three of them walked along the main road to the infinity pool, heading east along the pool.

"See that? This is it." Leonardo pointed to the location of several gantry cranes: "James built the Titanic right here."

Martin asked, "They're all torn down? It could have been a tourist attraction."

Leonardo DiCaprio said, "That ship cost more than $60 million to build. We could recoup some of the money by dismantling it. Who would have thought that Titanic would be such a success? To alleviate financial pressure, 20th Century Fox sold the North American distribution rights to Paramount Pictures for $65 million."

Martin had heard about these things too. During the film's production, Fox executives were forced by James Cameron to sell their buttocks to raise additional investment, since the sunk costs were too high.

After the film's release, Fox executives almost sold their jobs to appease News Corporation and the Murdoch family.

In North America alone, it grossed over $6 million at the box office, in addition to videotape and television rights.

Nicholson then said, "In the industry, all the large props and sets are eventually dismantled and disposed of as scrap."

Martin and Leonardo nodded in unison, saying that the Black Pearl, which was used to film pirate movies here, was built and dismantled three times.

It's virtually impossible to figure out how much the ship cost.

The three chatted for a while about Leonardo's filming experience there. Martin, recalling the phone call Jonathan Nolan had given him a few days earlier, asked Leonardo, "I remember you went to a mental health treatment center to experience life there before you filmed 'Shutter Island'."

Leonard recalled: "Back then, I asked you and Jack to visit me often, but you two ungrateful bastards just left me there and ignored me. I almost had a mental breakdown."

Martin said, "We both have faith in you."

"That's right." Nicholson launched a direct psychological attack: "We all know you're an idiot and won't be influenced by those mentally ill people."

Leonardo simply put his middle finger up in front of Nicholson's sunglasses.

After teasing Leonardo, Nicholson didn't forget Martin: "What, are you going to a mental hospital to experience life too?"

Martin said, "As I mentioned last time, the schizophrenia movie based on Billy Milligan's character is expected to start filming in the second half of the year."

Leonardo recalls: "That guy who supposedly had 24 personalities?"

Martin nodded: "That's right, it's him. Jonathan Nolan has finished the script, and after I finish 'The Shallows,' I'll be working on this project very soon."

Nicholson asked, "You're not thinking of directing and starring in it yourself, are you?" He reminded him, "You've played an extremely chaotic character like the Joker, so it wouldn't be difficult for you to handle such a role with your acting skills, but this kind of film really tests a director's ability."

Martin understood what he meant: "I'm not qualified to direct and star in such a complex project. I've contacted David Fincher, who will be the director of this project."

Leonardo DiCaprio said, "David Fincher is best suited to make this type of film."

Martin looked at Nicholson: "By the way, there's a psychiatrist character in the film, who's kind of Billy's mentor. I think that would suit you perfectly. Would you be interested in a cameo role?"

Nicholson flatly refused: "Aren't the Lakers' games interesting enough, or isn't Jennifer Lawrence fun enough? Would I be asking for trouble by playing a role in such a dark film?"

He said, "I'm retired, I have plenty of money, and I won't be taking on any roles anymore."

Leonardo said, "You're too lazy. Look at Ridley Scott and Clint Eastwood, who are your age, and they still keep working."

Martin recalls that, seemingly ten years later, these two were still making movies non-stop, showing no signs of slowing down.

But everyone's pursuits are different. Nicholson just wanted to enjoy his retirement and have fun watching the excitement.

However, he and Leonardo came hoping to see Martin make a scene, but they didn't see anything.

The entire production crew was incredibly stable.

Louise Meyer remained on Rosarito Island, managing the crew's daily operations and providing Martin with all sorts of logistical support.

Martin led the crew to two filming locations, the studio and the bay, constantly issuing orders based on the plan.

The crew of experienced behind-the-scenes staff were responsible for fulfilling Martin's requirements.

Although the crew encountered a storm and had to stop filming for four days, the schedule was not delayed, and all scenes were completed by the end of April.

(End of this chapter)