After officially signing the contract with the crew, Martin didn't care about anything else and immediately threw himself into the preliminary preparations.
Compared with any of the previous roles he played, Benjamin Button's styling work was much more troublesome.
Industrial Light and Magic sent a special effects team of dozens of people to Paramount Studios.
Martin's first half month of work was all about cooperating with the special effects team on modeling.
Mainly because of his face.
In the special effects room, Industrial Light and Magic's project supervisor Eric led Martin to sit down in front of an instrument and said to the operator: "Get ready to start."
The face-shaped platform automatically turned around and stopped in front of Martin.
Eric explained: "Martin, please move forward, put your chin on the bracket, and look directly at the camera. We need to model the smile in old age."
Martin nodded: "No problem."
This was different from a live performance. It was also Martin's first time. He was not used to it at first, and the effects of the motion capture lens were not very good.
He has a strong ability to adjust himself and said decisively: "I'll adjust for a few minutes."
Eric and his team have done special effects capture modeling for many movies. It is normal for actors who are used to traditional performances to have difficulty adapting to special effects capture performances for a while.
The modeling work is very delicate and cannot be rushed.
Not everyone is as talented as Andy Serkis.
Martin stood up, walked back and forth a few times, and asked Eric again: "When shooting, can I save a lot of makeup?"
"It can save a lot of time. You don't need to put on the non-breathable silicone every day, and you don't need to wear a hood on your head." Eric suddenly brought a hat over: "Wear this when the time comes, and we will see the effects on your hair." Generated through post-production special effects.”
When Martin saw the color of the hat, his face was as green as the hat, and he asked, "I remember that it's okay to use a blue screen?"
Eric said: "If the protagonist's eyes are blue..."
"I'm not blue." Martin pointed to his pupils: "I'm dark brown."
Eric would not care about such trivial matters with celebrities. After taking a closer look, he found that Martin's eyes were indeed dark brown and said, "There is no difference between green and blue."
"Blue," Martin said.
Eric nodded: "Okay, I'll have someone prepare and wear a blue hat during the shooting."
Martin gave him a thumbs up: "Smart decision."
Although Eric couldn't understand it, he felt the kindness released by Martin and immediately smiled back.
Martin relaxed and sat back in front of the camera. This time he quickly found his groove. Under Eric's reminder, he made various expressions such as joy, anger, sorrow, and joy.
The expressions captured by the lens are automatically generated through the professional software of Industrial Light and Magic to generate corresponding models.
When it comes time to actually shoot, Martin’s face can be put into the special effects model.
Compared with real-life shooting, which requires three to four hours of makeup every day and has various restrictions, digital technology saves both the crew and actors time and effort.
There will only be fewer and fewer directors who insist on real shooting like Nolan.
In the afternoon, Martin put on the blue hat prepared by the crew again and tried out the shooting effect.
At the end of the day's work, Eric accompanied Martin out of the special effects room and said as he walked: "This week, the main thing is to sample and model your expressions, and next week the focus will be on words and deeds."
Martin responded: "No problem, I have made a lot of preparations during this period."
Eric accompanied him out of the studio: "We have plenty of time to finish before we start shooting."
Martin said: "This is my first real contact with special effects shooting. If I don't do well enough, you can correct me in time."
Eric smiled and replied: "You adjusted quickly today, just maintain your condition in the afternoon."
The two came out of Benjamin Studio. Martin met Bruce and waited for a while. Thomas came out with the representatives of Coca-Cola and Briony in Los Angeles.
A few people went to a nearby coffee shop and chatted briefly.
Coca-Cola will still sponsor a big investment film starring the leader of the Coca-Cola Cult.
Brioni will sponsor the clothing of several major male characters.
The combined cost savings and commercial revenue generated for the crew can amount to millions of dollars.
When David Fincher chose Martin, acting skills and auditions were just the basis, and the business considerations behind them were the key.
Except for a very small number of people who have pitfalls, which director doesn’t want his movie to sell for a good price.
After sending the two business representatives away, Martin and Thomas got into the Escalade driven by Bruce.
Thomas answered the phone and said to Martin after hanging up: "Elizabeth Olsen's agent, who also belongs to WMA, called and wanted me to do a favor. Elizabeth Olsen is going to audition for the Benjamin crew. One character, Caroline, the daughter of the heroine Daisy, in her teenage years.”
Martin remembers that this character didn't have many scenes, so he was just a little better than an extra. He probably didn't have 20 lines in total. Maybe after editing later, it would just be a background plate showing his face.
He thought for a moment and said, "If it's not too much trouble, I can help you."
Thomas nodded: "I understand."
For such a trivial matter, Martin didn't need to speak. With just a word from his agent, it was easy to bring in a few actors with small roles.
Martin is Thomas' biggest trump card and reliance.
Thomas immediately made a call and by the time he got off the bus in Century City, the matter was basically settled.
Martin shook his head secretly, as if he hadn't seen Elizabeth Olsen for a while.
Thinking of this, I couldn't help but feel so angry at Nicholson and Leonardo that my teeth ached.
I kicked these two bastards in the butts at that time. The kick was too light. I should have put a large two kicker behind each of them!
Martin wondered how he could get them to take a plane ride.
Bruce suddenly said: "Shall we go from West Hollywood?"
"Okay." Martin agreed first, and then asked: "A detour? Old Bu, what do you want to do?"
Bruce turned around and said simply: "Kim's video DVD was released yesterday. There is a Sacred Valley store in West Hollywood that specializes in selling such films. Let's stop by and take a look."
Martin became interested: "Go, you must go!" He shouted: "Boss, do you want me to communicate with Jenna and ask her to apply for the AVN Best Newcomer Award for you next year?"
Bruce disagreed: "I didn't even show my face."
"It doesn't matter whether you show your face or not." Martin laughed loudly: "Just show your face!"
Bruce raised his hand and gave it to the asshole in the back seat with his middle finger.
Martin took his middle finger and gave him a reward: "Old Boo, don't you think about it. If you don't win an award, will you be worthy of Hart and Ivan? Are you worthy of Sofia's careful teaching?"
The first sentence seemed normal to Bruce, but as soon as the second sentence came out, his nose crooked and he emphasized: "This has nothing to do with Sophia! It has nothing to do with it at all!"
When Martin saw that he had replied, he was not willing to let it go easily: "There is no direct relationship, but there is an indirect relationship, right? Think about it..."
"Shut up!" Bruce simply threatened, "If you keep talking, I'll hit the light pole with my car."
Martin was honest and immediately kept his mouth shut, but in his heart he was planning to ask Jenna about the AVN later.
The Escalade arrived in West Hollywood and parked near the Shoepeg Theater, where the AVN Awards Ceremony was held, and across from a tape rental store.
At this moment, a large poster was hung above the store. The poster said that the hacker video was officially on sale. The picture did not use any part of Kim Kardashian, but people could tell that it was Kim Kardashian just by looking at the ghost of the poster. Shan.
The DVDs and videos released by Jenna's company claim to be from so-called hackers and have nothing to do with Kardashian.
There was a long queue at the door of the store, with hundreds of people waiting to enter the store to buy. Among them were some entertainment bloggers. In order to attract attention, they wore special T-shirts with words like "Jin I love you" written on them.
These smart people have learned the secrets and tricks of traffic from the Kardashian hacker.
Martin watched for a while. As the off-duty time came, people gradually joined the queue.
If there is a queue outside, it means that the number of customers in the store has reached its limit.
Bruce counted them silently and said, "It seems to be selling well."
Martin said casually: "Kin is rich, don't you want a share of it from her?"
"Forget it." Bruce thought about using the most prominent part of Jin for several years, and it was rare for him to have some conscience: "Just think of it as the breakup fee."
Martin gave Lao Bu a good guy card: "I didn't expect you to be a good guy."
Bruce's next sentence revealed his true nature: "No matter what, Kim is Khloe's biological sister, and we will see each other often in the future."
Martin nodded and said seriously: "It turns out I was wrong, Old Boo, you are the scheming one."
Bruce was too lazy to talk to this bad guy anymore, started the car and drove onto the main road, leaving West Hollywood.
…………
Century City, WMA headquarters.
Thomas got out of the elevator and before he reached the office, he saw Elizabeth Olsen and her agent Martha arriving in front of the office door.
Martha came over and said: "Thank you, my friend, you have helped us a lot. The Benjamin crew just called and allowed Liz to directly participate in the audition with makeup. As long as Liz's acting skills are not a problem, she is very likely to get the award. This role."
She put one hand behind her back and waved.
Elizabeth immediately took a few steps forward and said, "Mr. Lane, thank you."
"You're welcome, and there's no need to thank me." Thomas is a mature agent who understands where all this comes from, and said specifically: "Martin asked me to do these."
Martha responded: "I will thank Martin personally."
Elizabeth looked surprised and whispered to herself: "It turns out Martin has always remembered me."
She came back disappointed that night, thinking that Martin would take the initiative to ask her out again, as attentive as he often went to Louise's house. Martin called her several times, but did not ask her out to meet.
Unexpectedly, Martin has been secretly paying attention to her.
Martha vaguely heard something, but didn't hear it clearly, and asked: "Liz?"
Elizabeth smiled sweetly: "Martin and I have known each other for many years, and Martin even saved my life."
(End of chapter)
