Chapter 322: New Shooting Technique

"Martin Davis crafted an intricately layered character in 'The Departed' and delivered a brilliant performance as an undercover agent with stark differences between his public and private personas. His acting prowess places him among the best actors born in the 1980s in Hollywood."

Emma Thomas examined the newspaper she held carefully on the set of "The Prestige" at London's Pinewood Studios. She remarked, "In just three years since entering the industry, Martin Davis has already starred in three consecutive North American box office hits surpassing $100 million. Although he may not have the grandeur of box office actors like Elijah Wood and Hayden Christensen who were part of major franchises like 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'Star Wars' prequels, Martin's track record is undeniably impressive..."

Christopher Nolan, who had just wrapped up work for the day, approached Emma, looked at the newspaper, and asked, "What are you reading?"

Emma handed the newspaper to her husband and replied, "The North American box office for 'The Departed' has crossed the $100 million mark, and the global box office is nearing $200 million."

Nolan settled down, perused the newspaper, and observed, "It's on track to become Scorsese's highest-grossing film."

Emma emphasized the key point from the newspaper, saying, "Martin Davis has starred in three consecutive films with North American box office earnings exceeding $100 million. I believe he's one of the actors born in the 1980s with the strongest commercial appeal."

Nolan drew a comparison, "While Elijah Wood and Hayden benefited from their involvement in major franchises, Martin is also a very astute actor. He selects his projects with a purpose."

He continued, "In 'The Hills Have Eyes,' we had Wes Craven as a producer and screenwriter. He's the godfather of Hollywood horror, and Martin's role in the film was practically a guarantee of success."

Emma chimed in, "Then there's 'Wanted,' where he teamed up with Angelina Jolie. The publicity surrounding Jolie's love triangle with Pitt and Aniston couldn't be missed. Even though we're not sure if Martin was involved, the film's success owed something to Jolie's presence."

Nolan acknowledged, "And 'The Departed' is a Scorsese gangster classic that consistently draws audiences, not to mention the stellar cast with Leonardo and Nicholson."

Emma Thomas concluded, "In all of Hollywood, among actors born in the 1980s who possess exceptional looks, top-notch acting skills, and significant commercial appeal, no one dares to claim they surpass him."

Nolan offered an objective assessment, "Martin Davis is certainly exceptional. Yet, as of now, he lacks a film that could single-handedly dominate the box office."

Emma had a moment of reflection, "I somewhat regret giving up. I should have persisted in having Martin audition for 'The Deadly Magic.'"

Nolan countered, "Hugh Jackman is talented as well."

Emma disagreed, "Without Wolverine, how much appeal would he have left? After 'Van Helsing' flopped, he lost much ground. Without Wolverine, he'd be a secondary character at best."

Nolan concluded, "We've come this far in filming; there's no need to dwell on this. We understand that Hugh Jackman is highly recommended by Bale, and I will certainly give it due consideration..."

Interrupting Nolan, Emma remarked, "Bale's closeness to the Australian gang is a concern. I know you and I both prefer British actors, but when choosing between Australian and American actors, you have to consider that the biggest influence in Hollywood is American."

Nolan nodded, "I get it."

...

Los Angeles, Angel Club.

Mene wove through the crowd, located Bruce in the corner, took a Coke from him, and flexed his muscles, saying, "Look, I'm back to working out."

Bruce cracked open the can and asked, "Is it because Emma Thomas has been in London for two months, and you don't have her dragging you to eat sweets?"

Mene settled beside Bruce and responded, "Yeah, she's got a real sweet tooth, and she doesn't seem to care about managing her physique."

Bruce inquired, "Have you been in touch with her recently?"

Mene replied, "I called her two days ago. We discussed the plot of 'The Departed,' and she watched the film."

Bruce ran his hand over the Coke can, saying, "Just watched it, huh?"

Mene took a sip of Coke and disclosed, "She was quite impressed with Martin."

Bruce suggested, "If you encounter any challenges, you can reach out to me or Thomas."

Mene chuckled, "The only challenge right now is her being a bit too young. If she were ten years older, I'd have easily won her over. But in the current situation, she's quite persistent."

Bruce, aware of Mene's capabilities, said, "For now, it's a good position to be in. You have a direct source of information."

In the distance, a burst of cheers erupted as Chad Starski achieved impressive results in a combat-simulated shooting training exercise. Facing the target dummy, Chad had employed a relatively rare shooting technique often seen in Hollywood films.

He disassembled the gun, emptied the magazine, and exited the shooting range.

Martin extended his fist to Chad, saying, "Man, your recent training results are incredible."

Chad humbly responded, "My physical strength can guarantee a single round, but in the second wave, half the bullets might miss."

Marcus, who had accompanied Chad, added, "While it's not quite on par with Martin, your gun sense is impressive." He emphasized, "It's closer to real combat."

Martin inquired, "In actual combat, do you focus on speed when shooting?"

Marcus, who had recently returned from Afghanistan, explained, "Yes, drawing the gun and shooting quickly is essential when facing close-range enemies. You aim for larger areas, like the chest and torso, rather than the smaller target of the head."

Martin nodded, and Marcus continued, "However, the battlefield can be complex. Shooting an enemy in the chest might not be fatal, so follow-up shots are often needed."

Chad chimed in, "A dead enemy is a good enemy."

Martin demonstrated with his hand as if firing a gun, "Hitting the enemy first weakens their active attack ability, and then you can shoot again. This keeps the target stationary for a longer period or eliminates the threat."

Chad elaborated, "This is the shooting technique I plan to use in the new project, incorporating exceptional marksmanship and your combat skills. We'll use a variety of weapons, including pencils, to eliminate the target."

Martin, confident in his abilities, noted that even though the project was still in its early creative stages, he was in prime physical condition and wouldn't be hindered by aging.

Bruce and Mene joined the conversation at this point.

Bruce suggested, "When the time comes, Marcus and I can act as gunsmiths and action directors, and maybe even play some formidable villain bosses."

Chad laughed, "Great idea! I'll design unique action routines and scenes for you."

Marcus, a movie enthusiast, was delighted at the prospect of being in front of the camera.

Mene playfully asked, "What about me? Any special treatment for me?"

Chad, considering Mene's appearance, replied, "I'll carefully think about how to design a character for you."

Martin then inquired, "What about the plot?"

Chad, being a stuntman and action director, stated, "My primary focus is on action scenes and their design. The plot and characters serve to logically connect the action sequences."

Martin agreed, "The key in this kind of film is the thrill. It's not just about leveling up to fight monsters, but also about passing levels and defeating bosses."

Chad admitted, "I've considered that, but the plot is still quite simple. It's based on Marcus's real experiences, revolving around seeking revenge for dogs."

Martin advised, "Take your time with the plot. If you need a professional screenwriter, feel free to reach out."

Chad responded, "No need for now. I'll call you when necessary."

Martin turned to Marcus and inquired, "How's the memoir progressing?"

Marcus smiled, "It's going well. Robinson is doing a great job of organizing my memories into coherent words. It feels like I'm reliving those moments."

Since both parties had already signed an agreement, Martin added, "If you encounter any difficulties, don't hesitate to contact me or Chad."

As he and Mene walked ahead, Martin exchanged a look with Bruce.

Bruce deliberately fell behind, matched Marcus's pace, and asked quietly, "Have you settled all the matters related to Daisy and John?"

Marcus glanced around to ensure privacy, then whispered, "Those four disgusting old men will never harm anyone again."

Bruce, in hushed tones, consoled him, "Daisy and John can now rest in peace."

Marcus crossed himself, saying, "May God bless them."

Chuckling softly, Bruce remarked, "Let's leave it at that. It's not worth it to put yourself at risk for those despicable men."

Marcus concurred, "I've let it go. I'll focus on work to keep busy and hopefully forget the pain of the past."

November had arrived, and the North American awards season was gaining momentum with numerous frontrunners.

For instance, "Babel," starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, had its premiere in early November, garnering positive reviews and responses. Such films focused on Oscars, as they usually targeted award nominations and wins to boost commercial success.

Other films, such as "The Queen" and "The Last Dictator," initiated spot screenings to build and control word-of-mouth, aiming to achieve recognition during the awards season.

Martin's publicity and marketing campaigns were intensifying, especially among influential award bodies. Winning accolades could significantly increase his exposure.

After the Gotham Independent Film Awards declared its winners, the voting process began for various Film Critics Association Awards. This was the season when film criticism had the most impact.

Martin, who had a strong relationship with Los Angeles critics, was well aware of the importance of this season.