New Orleans, Louisiana.
In the Michoud Studio, it was just dawn and the sun had not yet risen. Several trailers drove in and parked near the largest studio.
At 7:30 in the morning, Martin showed up on the set on time and entered the largest trailer to put on makeup.
Bruce saw that the stylist was still the same as during the audition, so he followed directly to the trailer and kept staring at him.
The stylist's effeminate attitude dissipated very quickly under Lao Bu's wolf-like eyes, and he turned into a normal man again.
Bruce just sat in the corner and stared. He said that if you guard Martin's back, you will definitely guard Martin's back.
The other two assistants also worked diligently on Martin's styling.
The makeup lasted for an hour and a half. Before leaving, the stylist fetched a blue hat and carefully placed it on Martin's head, covering all his hair.
Martin stood up, picked up his crutch, and walked a few steps.
The stylist clapped his hands: "Perfect."
Bruce opened the trailer door and Martin got out of the trailer with his crutches.
Entering the studio, various actors and actresses behind the scenes are busy.
Martin naturally enters the role, like a dying old man entering the set with a trembling cane.
David Fincher was talking to a blond girl, accompanied by the girl's mother or tutor.
"Director, you don't have to ask your mother to communicate with me." Elle Fanning raised her little face and said to David Fincher seriously: "I have acted in many movies and I can understand what you are talking about."
David Fincher laughed: "Okay, I will tell you about the drama directly from now on."
He looked at Martin, who was tremblingly walking over, and looked carefully. No matter his expression, walking posture, or even the vicissitudes and innocence in his eyes, they were all the same as those of old people who were about to reach the end of their lives.
Martin walked over slowly.
Not only was David Fincher not in a hurry, but he praised: "Sure enough, my vision was right."
Elle Fanning's eyes were full of curiosity, and she asked: "This blue hat... Grandpa, wants to play this scene with me?"
Martin said hoarsely: "You are Daisy."
Elle Fanning, who is at most ten years old, tried her best to appear mature: "Hello, I am Elle Fanning who plays Daisy."
Martin remembered that she also had a sister named Dakota. These two sisters were particularly spiritual child stars.
Because of his appearance, his smile was a bit ugly: "My name is Martin, and the character I play is called Benjamin."
Elle Fanning circled around Martin: "You look nothing like Martin, more like my grandpa... That's not right, you are older than my grandpa."
David Fincher did not interrupt the communication between the male and female actors. He thought it was good for the filming. After all, the old ones are old and the young ones are small.
Martin asked: "How old are you? You're not ten, are you?"
Elle Fanning specifically said older: "She will be ten years old soon."
Martin asked curiously: "I remember that Daisy also had a lot of dramas for the fourteen and fifteen-year-olds. Could it be your sister?"
Elle Fanning stopped: "You know my sister?"
"Dakota Fanning." Martin said honestly: "I have seen a few movies in which she acted, such as "War of the Worlds."
Elle Fanning shook her head: "Dakota will not play this role. Her schedule is much tighter than mine, and there are always endless scenes to film."
She was envious: "It seems like she is more popular than me."
Martin once watched many of Dakota Fanning's movies. Fanning was so impressive as a child star that when she grew up, she didn't remember what she had played.
David Fincher looked around, clapped his hands and said, "Guys, get ready to shoot."
Before leaving the set, he came to Martin and said: "Keep in good condition."
Martin nodded slightly, and together with Elle Fanning, walked twice in a row among the actors with the same background to familiarize themselves with the moves.
As the scene notes were recorded, filming began.
Martin was well prepared and got into the mood quickly, and Elle Fanning was also very spiritual. The first scene of the two holding hands and chatting in a nursing home was quickly approved.
Although there are occasional interruptions in the next few chapters, the overall progress is smooth.
Originally, children and animal actors were known as the two most unstable elements that were difficult to control for the crew, but these were not seen at all in Elle Fanning.
Martin feels that it is not unreasonable for the Fanning sisters to receive so many film offers.
The crew entered the break period. Martin returned to the rest area, threw away his crutches, sat down on a chair, and played the role of an old man for most of the morning. It was actually very tiring.
The stylist came over quickly to touch up the makeup.
Bruce got Martin a sippy cup to drink from.
After the stylist and two assistants left, sitting on the left side of Martin was a young man who seemed to have tics.
Shia LaBeouf took the initiative and said: "Cool old man, I heard that you formed a badass trio with Nicholson and Leonardo?"
This is not a secret at all in the industry. Martin responded: "That's right, we were just messing around together."
Shia LaBeouf said seriously: "I want to meet Nicholson, can you help introduce him?"
Martin asked: "Why?"
"Last time, at Paramount Studios, as you saw, I helped Blanchett, and she scolded me." Shia LaBeouf's anger was written on his face: "Nicholas Sen did a great job and helped me get out of my bad mood."
Martin nodded: "You want to express your gratitude?"
Shia LaBeouf shook his head: "No, no, I want Nicholson to be a teacher, really! You see, the main creators in this crew are not normal, only me... no, and you, Martin , are normal people. There are too many people like Blanchett."
His brain circuit is not on the same line as ordinary people: "The working environment and living environment are too harsh. I want to learn from Nicholson how to protect myself."
Martin looked at Shia LaBeouf in surprise, making sure he wasn't joking.
Shia LaBeouf suddenly said: "I really hope my Bumblebee follows me at all times."
Martin did not respond to these nonsense, and just said: "Nicholson may come to visit the class in a while, and I will introduce you to him then."
Shia LaBeouf scratched his head and stood up: "I have to think carefully about what special way to greet Nicholson to shock him."
Martin feels that Jack Sr. may have something in common with Shia LaBeouf, but he and he are not on the same page at all.
When leaving, Shia LaBeouf suddenly remembered something. He and Blanchett had a kiss scene.
Thinking of this, his stomach tightened and he wanted to vomit but couldn't.
Martin reached for the crutches, stood up shakily, and slowly walked into the set to continue filming the scene with the child Daisy.
The scenes were passed one after another, and the actors were in good condition, which ensured the smooth shooting of the crew.
Midway through, David Fincher called Martin over to the director's monitor.
Martin put on his headset and watched all the morning's footage with Fincher.
After watching it again, Martin realized the problem: "The sound in my voice when I said the lines."
"Yes, you are working hard to change and you have done your best." David Fincher pointed out the objective conditions that cannot be ignored: "But your vocal cords are those of a young person after all. It is not difficult to pretend to be middle-aged. For For an old man who is about to be called by the Lord, he is still too young.”
Martin had no choice, let alone possibility, to undergo vocal cord surgery for such a role, and asked, "Can this be solved through post-production?"
David Fincher called Martin over to solve this problem and said, "I asked the technical department. It can be solved through voice changing technology in the later stage. You will be required to re-dub the young Benjamin during post-production."
Martin responded: "I don't have a problem."
The crew finished work at noon and had a two-hour break.
Martin couldn't take off his makeup, let alone bring it to the restaurant for lunch, so he simply asked Bruce to bring the food back to the trailer.
In New Orleans in November, the temperature at noon just reached 20 degrees, and the natural wind was particularly comfortable on the body.
Martin and Bruce simply set up a table and umbrella beside the trailer and ate leisurely.
The environment here is very good. It is currently Hollywood's third largest filming base in the United States after New York and Georgia, and its tax rebate can reach up to 42%.
The film industry has obviously contributed to the improvement of local brands and the tourism industry.
The most famous attraction in New Orleans, Oak Grove Manor, became famous because of "Interview with the Vampire" and has been visited by tourists for more than ten years.
Bruce said at this time: "I just heard a few producers on the crew discuss that New Orleans currently likes crews with war scenes or a lot of action scenes."
Because of the inconvenient shape, Martin ate very slowly and asked, "Why?"
"Similar to Atlanta, there are too many dilapidated and abandoned buildings and industrial parks. The local government will demolish them by themselves, which is time-consuming, labor-intensive and costly." Bruce inquired more carefully: "If the Hollywood crew wants to blow it up, the local government will only charge a fee for the trash. The crew will handle the rest of the cleaning expenses."
Martin couldn't help but said: "This deal is such a good deal."
Bruce nodded: "We can clean up abandoned buildings without spending a penny."
Suddenly, Martin saw a familiar figure passing by on the main road on the side of the trailer.
"You! Come here!" He said to the other side.
It was a girl of fourteen or fifteen years old, with long golden brown hair tied into a ponytail on the back of her head, and a camera hanging under her neck, as if she was going to take a photo in a studio.
Strangers wearing cameras cannot enter the studio.
Saoirse Ronan heard the sound, turned around, and saw an old man who was a little familiar but very strange.
The old man has a funny look, and the blue hat he wears covers all his hair.
But seeing the person next to the old man, Saoirse Ronan realized who she had met.
At Pinewood Studios, she had dealt with Bruce several times and was even caught by him.
Saoirse quickly moved her hands away from the camera to avoid being misunderstood. Although she was a little reluctant, she moved over step by step and said, "Hello, Martin, your look is really unique now."
(End of chapter)
