New York, known as the world's largest open-air studio, was the first city to be destroyed in a Hollywood movie style.
The crew chose to shoot here instead of shooting on location in Boston because New York promised a high tax rebate.
In the face of huge commercial interests, even a director of Martin Scorsese's level still has to compromise.
The crew began filming at the studio on the border of Brooklyn and Queens.
In the phone booth set up on the outer wall of the studio, Martin held the phone and spoke quickly.
The sound engineer squatted outside, fixed the recording microphone, and lowered his body as low as possible.
Director of photography Michael controlled the camera and slowly slid along the rails surrounding the phone booth to shoot.
"Stuck!" Director Scorsese shouted.
Martin put down the phone and turned around.
Scorsese strode over with a wireless headset hanging around his neck and said directly: "The tone is wrong, the mood is okay, but I think you can do better."
This was Martin's first scene. He had not yet fully entered the state and said, "Shall I try again?"
Scorsese reminded: "Pay attention to the relationship between Colin and Frank. Colin has been instilled in him by Frank since he was 12 years old. Frank is equivalent to his father in a sense, and he is still very strict. .”
Martin listened carefully and showed a very professional attitude.
Scorsese added: "During this period, Colin already wanted to get rid of Frank, but he still lacked enough courage and practical actions."
Martin nodded repeatedly: "I understand."
Photography returns to its original position and shooting begins again.
Martin returned to the phone booth, picked up the phone and dialed, performing this one-man show.
His tone was sincere, without any hesitation, but his expression was slightly helpless and bored, as he was fed up with the repeated pressure from the other side.
"Stop! Well done!" Scorsese encouraged Martin loudly: "Bring on all your emotions and states. If you can break through the limits, let's do it again!"
Returning to the gangster movies he is good at, this great director has high demands on every aspect, especially the actors' performances.
Amid Scorsese's praise, the scene was filmed three more times, and Martin performed better each time.
When the director finally called out, Martin even took a few deep breaths.
Although the role of Two-Face is familiar, it is not easy to actually perform it on camera.
Scorsese came to him and said directly: "The first time I worked with Robert De Niro on Mean Streets, he was not as good as you."
Whether this is encouragement or true, Martin is quite confident at this moment: "Director, you will find that choosing me is definitely not a mistake, but one of the most correct decisions you made in the production of this film."
Scorsese nodded: "I'm waiting to see your performance." He waved his hand: "Go and rest for five minutes before shooting the next one."
Martin did not leave the set and came to the set of the next scene to familiarize himself with the moves and lines.
All this fell into Scorsese's eyes. Although he didn't say anything, he felt that choosing Martin was the right choice.
Not far from here on the seaside, Warner Bros. project executive Daniel and crew producer Graham King were sitting under a sun umbrella drinking coffee together.
The latter added sugar to the coffee cup and asked, "I heard that the schedule is set?"
Daniel said: "It will premiere in North America during the Toronto Film Festival next September." He took a sip of coffee: "The investment in the film is very high, and the pressure to make back the money at the box office is very high. We have to think of some ways to promote it."
Granham said: "Leonardo Gascorse's appeal is enough. Even if the box office fails to recover the money, the subsequent DVD and TV rights market will be enough for us to easily make a profit."
“No one doubts their appeal,” Daniel said.
Graham added: "Jack is old, but there is still a large number of old audiences supporting him, and Matt Damon is also good."
Daniel reminded: "Don't forget, there is also Martin Davis."
"Look, I almost forgot about this newcomer." Graham asked: "I remember that he has been cooperating with Warner Bros., what exactly is it like?"
Daniel simply said: "The best-performing film is A View Behind the Mountain. It was re-released after the Burbank High School Incident. The North American box office ended up being 115 million US dollars. The overseas screenings are basically over, and the global box office is 207 million US dollars."
Even veteran producers like Graham looked askance at such box office figures: "What a hit!"
Daniel smiled: "The North American DVD has sold 50 million U.S. dollars. Martin is the absolute leading actor. He and the film have mutual success. The popularity of "Eye from Beyond" has also extended to another film "Jeans' Summer." Warner originally had no expectations for the North American box office. It was about 40 million US dollars, and now the total North American box office is 72 million US dollars, and most of the extra money is thanks to Martin."
"He turned out to be a treasure boy," Graham said.
"Who says it's not?" Daniel said: "Martin's new film "Wanted" has just completed rough editing. Do you know our internal estimates?"
Graham was surprised: "It's hard to see the quality of the film in the rough cut."
But Daniel shook his head and said: "As long as the quality of the film is not particularly bad, with Martin's momentum and the addition of Angelina Jolie, it is not difficult to make over 100 million in North America."
Graham asked: "Warner Bros. has that much confidence in him?"
Daniel made a key point: "Not only does he have excellent acting skills, he always makes unexpected moves in publicity and marketing. The unconventional marketing of Wax Museum and The Eye on the Mountain were originally conceived by him, and jeans were even the subject of the Burbank Middle School incident." A direct beneficiary of this, I believe in Martin’s ability to get things done, and he has proven it three times in a row.”
He drank the cold coffee in one gulp: "I think that in the promotion and marketing of this film, both Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson were put behind Leonardo, and Martin was listed behind Leonardo among the actors."
Graham said: "Damon's appeal..."
Daniel reminded: "He has too few scenes."
The two seemed to be chatting, but they reached an agreement on promotional and marketing ideas.
When the filming progressed until 11:30, the crew stopped work temporarily and went to the dining car to get lunch.
Martin had his own rest trailer and had lunch with Bruce in the car.
Bruce said while eating: "I just inquired that Matt Damon is coming to New York next week." He remembered an important thing: "Mene will also come next week. He spent a lot of words on Allen. It is basically certain that the only person who has been in and out of Jack Nicholson for decades is Meryl Streep.”
Martin felt a toothache: "Oscar winner."
Bruce's words were not on the same channel as Martin's: "I remember that Meryl was married a long time ago, and she would show off as a good wife and mother from time to time, and she had such a good time in private. Now I very much agree with what you said, marriage is definitely for Hollywood men. Nightmare."
Martin thought for a while and said: "As far as I know, Meryl Streep and Harvey Weinstein have an unusual relationship."
Bruce stopped talking about those useless things: "In this case, it's not surprising. Sophia and Harvey have had conflicts. With Harvey's ability, it will not be difficult to find out that you are related to Sophia."
Martin added: "I declined Weinstein's invitation. He wanted to use that invitation to disrupt my audition for this film, probably for Damon's sake."
"Congratulations, no, it should be congratulations to us." Bruce was very enlightened: "There are enemies everywhere."
Martin didn't take it seriously. He pinched out five centimeters with two fingers. After thinking about it, he reduced it to one centimeter: "The opportunity is only so small. If we don't fight for it, it will fall on us? It's better to go back to Atlanta and work as a gigolo."
Bruce reminded this bad guy who was good at making trouble: "If you don't have any grudges, just build a good relationship as soon as possible."
Martin nodded: "The ones who have the most important roles in the crew are Leonardo, Old Jack, and me." He picked up an apple and tossed it in his hand: "Leonardo will join the filming in the afternoon. I want to ask Ask him, where is the promised Victoria’s Secret Angel?”
Bruce was very curious and wanted to learn: "Have you thought of a party theme?"
Martin couldn't help laughing: "I can easily find a hundred of them."
At two o'clock in the afternoon, Leonardo and Jack Nicholson appeared on the set one after another.
The three of them took turns filming.
Compared to Martin and talented veteran actor Nicholson, who had adjusted themselves well in the morning, Leonardo had the most NGs.
An actor's fame and status actually have little to do with how good his acting skills are.
During a break in filming, Nicholson found Scorsese, pointed to Martin and said, "This guy has great talent, he's only a step behind me."
Scorsese didn't save any face for the old man: "You don't have such good acting skills at his age."
In the rest area on the other side, Martin approached Leonardo: "Leo, we have been in New York for two days. Where is the Victoria's Secret Angel you mentioned?"
Leonardo said: "It will take some time for the news of my coming to New York to spread." He was quite conceited: "If nothing else happens, someone will call this afternoon."
He asked Martin: "Has the theme been finalized?"
Martin nodded and asked, "Yacht or villa?"
Leonardo said: "Let's go on the yacht. Let's go to the sea and avoid those boring paparazzi and entertainment reporters."
While the two were talking, Jack Nicholson came over: "Did you forget something?"
Leonardo asked Martin: "What's your opinion?"
"As long as there are enough beauties, I don't mind bringing this old bastard with me." Martin said according to the other party's behavior during the last contact: "Old Jack, you must listen to me when it comes to setting the theme of the party."
Nicholson smiled evilly: "We have already done all the tricks we can do back then. I would like to see what new tricks you can come up with."
The assistant came over at this time and said to Leonardo: "Miss Naomi's call, I want to ask you to have dinner with me tonight."
Leonardo said: "Ask her to call a few more people to come out together, and tell her that I want to go there with the great American hero Martin Davis."
Nicholson became anxious and poked Leonardo's arm.
The latter added: "And an old bastard named Jack Nicholson."
(End of chapter)
