Chapter 405: Villains Not idiot

It wasn't just the three Martins on the trailer roof. Others who had initially focused on Leonardo and Nicholson also shifted their attention to the lone figure with an unusual appearance.

A few people recognized the person as Shia LaBeouf.

Leonardo also turned his gaze in that direction. "Is this the surprise Martin mentioned?"

Nicholson adjusted his sunglasses and chuckled, "Haha, this is intriguing."

Atop the trailer, Saoirse set up a tripod, stood behind it to control the camera, and remarked, "He's engaging in performance art again."

Martin noticed that the smartphone camera wasn't capturing the scene well, so he stopped filming and joined the spectators, saying, "The man who's stealing the limelight of the entire crew has arrived."

Shia LaBeouf had a supermarket paper bag on his head with holes cut out for his eyes, mouth, and nose. The bag had crookedly written words that read, "I am the normal person."

His attire consisted of several belts wrapped around his chest, legs, and other parts. These belts were adorned with metal rivets, with long spikes pointing skyward, making him look like a human porcupine. A whip hung from his waist, trailing on the ground like a devil's tail.

Shia walked forward in silence, and the people surrounding Nicholson and Leonardo automatically parted to make way for him.

"Is he coming for us?" Leonardo wondered. "What new antics has Martin devised?"

Nicholson was bewildered, "Martin can't be that eccentric, can he?"

Shia knelt in front of Nicholson with a thorny contraption on his knees digging into the soil, creating a bizarre posture.

He removed the whip from his waist and raised it high, saying, "Jack, allow me to join the trio of troublemakers!"

Nicholson remained unfazed.

Leonardo dismissed the notion.

Shia shouted, "Please whip me as a testimony to my joining!"

Nicholson didn't touch the whip, merely grinning.

Wearing a paper bag on his head, Shia was resolute. As an artist, he was prepared to undergo the most severe trial, declaring, "To prove my commitment and artistic integrity in joining the trio of troublemakers, I will kneel here for an extended period without making a sound or resisting. You can whip me or test me in any way, and I'll prioritize artistic ethics, never attempting to evade or resist."

The onlookers were in an uproar.

Even in Hollywood, a place accustomed to peculiarities and eccentricities of celebrities, Shia LaBeouf's antics were astounding.

Even Johnny Depp, known for his eccentricity, hadn't reached this level!

Nicholson was thoroughly amused.

Leonardo found it rather comical as well.

Yet, neither of them touched the whip.

Leonardo pointed to a trailer behind him, "I saw Martin."

Nicholson turned to look, saying, "Let's head to his place and continue enjoying the spectacle."

The two men turned and walked away.

Shia LaBeouf remained kneeling, seemingly unfazed by the departing audience.

Nicholson glanced back, chuckling, "Where did Martin find such a character? It's like a wild ride."

Leonardo agreed, "It's certainly a big surprise."

As they reached the trailer, Martin and Bruce had just exited their car.

Saoirse glanced at Leonardo and decided to continue filming from her vantage point, saying, "I'll keep shooting for a while longer."

She wanted to see if anyone would engage with Shia LaBeouf's performance.

Martin summoned Nicholson and Leonardo into the trailer, where they settled down by the window that offered a clear view of the ongoing spectacle.

"The performance artist you brought in?" Leonardo's interest in art was unwavering.

Nicholson quipped, "It's not easy to find such a prankster, is it?"

"It has nothing to do with me," Martin responded, inquiring, "Didn't you recognize him?"

Leonardo rationalized, "The man had his head completely obscured by a paper bag. He was even more incognito than Batman. How could we recognize him?"

Nicholson agreed, "How indeed?"

Martin revealed the identity, "Shia LaBeouf, Spielberg's godson and the lead actor from the Transformers live-action film. Where else would you find such top-tier talent? He admires Jack due to Blanchett and wishes to be Jack's 'little brother.'"

He proceeded to share recent encounters with Shia LaBeouf.

Leonardo showed great interest, remarking, "What a talent; he should be dispatched to the San Fernando Valley."

Nicholson posed a question, "Do you believe Spielberg would agree to send his godson to such a place?"

Martin replied casually, "It's not an issue when they're not our biological children."

Observing Shia LaBeouf still kneeling outside, Leonardo inquired, "What are your thoughts on this?"

Nicholson, who had the air of a leader, responded, "Our trio of troublemakers are notorious for causing mischief and stirring the pot. We are elites in that regard, capable of handling the chaos."

He pointed to Shia LaBeouf with the paper bag on his head, adding, "If he joins our group, imagine how the world will perceive us. We'd go from being elites and troublemakers to simply being brain-dead."

Martin concurred, stating, "First and foremost, his inclusion would significantly lower our collective IQ. Judging by his behavior, the odds of him being duped are a hundred times greater than his ability to fool others."

Leonardo chimed in, "Furthermore, he'd seriously impair our overall attractiveness to young, beautiful women."

Both Martin and Nicholson directed their attention toward him.

Leonardo retorted, "What do you mean I'd lower your collective attractiveness? That's absurd!"

Martin knocked on the table, jesting, "Consider it a reminder, Leo; refrain from expanding horizontally, as you'll only drag us down. You have an average appearance."

Leonardo was on the brink of responding when Nicholson interjected, "Shia LaBeouf doesn't meet our trio's criteria at all. At best, he's merely an oddball. Weirdoes can't be villains, so there's no need to consider him."

Martin concurred, "Let's just watch for amusement."

It was still highly entertaining to observe.

Not only the onlookers, including the Bastard Trio, found it fascinating, but Shia LaBeouf himself seemed to be content while kneeling there, lost in his own world.

Happiness is a highly subjective concept.

While the crowd savored their little drama, Shia was reveling in the melodramas of dozens of people.

David Fincher stood alone at the studio's entrance, glaring at DreamWorks' godson, his frustration too profound for words.

He had acquiesced to the inclusion of this eccentric character in the crew.

David Fincher couldn't be bothered to intervene; if Shia was willing to kneel, he could kneel as long as he pleased.

Inside the trailer, Martin pointed to a car's roof, remarking, "Shia LaBeouf is simply average. The girl up there shows promise."

Leonardo playfully raised his voice, "Martin, aren't you renowned for being single-minded? When did your tastes change?"

"Quiet, Leo!" Martin's voice reached the open window. "Saoirse is a student I've taken under my wing, and I'm her mentor. Don't belittle a student I've recognized in front of her teacher."

Leonardo winked at Martin, quipping, "You're right; my mistake."

Nicholson, however, provided a more somber insight. "Since she displays potential, you should mentor her well, not only in acting but, more importantly, in how to navigate safely through Hollywood."

His tone grew sincere as he continued, "I'm getting older, and perhaps one day, as soon as I close my eyes and kick the bucket, I'll be off to meet God or Satan. That's one less troublemaker, and a successor will be needed."

Martin smiled and reassured, "Don't fret, old troublemaker; God won't accept you, and Satan won't dare to have you. They both fear being outfoxed by us!"

On the trailer's rooftop, Saoirse continued filming. Hearing the laughter and conversation from below, she felt that these three individuals were not the villains rumored to be but had a unique, endearing side.

Especially Martin, who considered her teacher to be truly exceptional.

Saoirse Ronan, a child star, had taken the initiative to seek Martin as her mentor. While her intentions were more complex, she decided not to dwell on them for now.

With Martin as her mentor, she believed she could navigate future challenges with more ease.

As for unexpected troubles, Saoirse had never been one to shy away. She had boldly clashed with Emma Watson at Pinewood Studios!

In the afternoon, filming continued in the amphitheater, featuring Martin and Cate Blanchett in a pivotal scene.

Not far away, Shia LaBeouf, still wearing his paper bag, remained in his kneeling position.

A studio security guard found the situation intriguing and approached to snap photos with Shia as a backdrop.

There was also a plus-sized female security guard who attempted to discreetly remove Shia LaBeouf's pants. If he hadn't resisted, who knows what might have transpired...

David Fincher had stationed a security guard on set in advance to discourage such antics.

Even though David Fincher was exasperated, he couldn't allow Shia LaBeouf to face any real danger on set.

But photographing and such were deemed permissible.

After some time, two stylists arrived. The young woman attending to Martin instructed Tina, "Strike a sexier pose; he won't be moving anytime soon..."

Tina adopted various sultry poses next to Shia LaBeouf and captured numerous photos.

The young woman scoffed and remarked, "I never expected there would be people of the 'sixth gender' in this world."

Tina, not well-versed in this topic, inquired, "I'm familiar with three genders; why 'six'?"

The young woman clarified, "Men, women, gays, lesbians, and shemales used to be the five categories."

She lightly tapped the paper bag covering Shia LaBeouf's face. "Now, this is the sixth category, the 'paper bag man'!"

Tina suddenly comprehended.

"Hey, Tina, hurry to the set!" Saoirse called out from nearby. "Cate Blanchett is furious, wondering what's so appealing about this imbecile with a paper bag on his head. She's asked you to hurry up and touch up her makeup."

Tina swiftly returned, noting, "Didn't you just have your makeup touched up?"

Saoirse nonchalantly slipped her hands into her pockets, whistled, and departed as if nothing had transpired.

Back on the set, she cast aside all distractions and closely observed her teacher Martin and Cate Blanchett.

Saoirse took to heart Martin's words that acting served as the foundation for everything, emphasizing that without a solid foundation, other elements couldn't be successfully developed.