Chapter 129: Start Filming

In July, Baja California becomes extremely hot and humid, with wild mosquitoes swarming everywhere. The ordeal of wearing makeup for filming is unbearable.

Martin had come well-prepared, purchasing multiple three-piece sets beforehand.

Inside the makeup trailer, Bruce slapped his own face, smashing a mosquito to bits.

Martin moved closer to him, and scarcely any mosquitoes dared to approach him. "Bruce, your scent is attracting these mosquitoes," he teased.

Bruce fired back, "You, my friend, seem to have such foul blood and flesh that even mosquitoes avoid you. They wouldn't want to biting you."

Martin fetched his bag, retrieved a set of oil essence, cologne, and cooling oil, then handed it to Bruce. "Apply the first one on your eyelids, drink half of the second bottle, and rub the third one on yourself. Not only will mosquitoes steer clear of you, but you'll feel like you can fly."

Bruce, a bit skeptical, opened the bottle of wind oil essence and gave it a sniff, sensing something was off.

Martin, curious to see the effects, continued, "Also, you can use essential oil and cooling oil instead of Vaseline. Try it out next time you meet the Kardashians."

Bruce poured a bit of the oil, applied it to the back of his hands, and relished the refreshing, cooling sensation. He quipped, "Vanessa seems interested in you. Want to give it a shot?"

Martin replied with a chuckle, "I've tried countless times." He then headed to the gas station for filming preparations.

Bruce muttered a few words, dabbed on the wind oil essence, sprayed the cologne, and pocketed the cooling oil, planning to seek out gold when he returned to Los Angeles.

Martin arrived on set to rehearse Vanessa's scenes.

The two had practiced several times, and their chemistry was impressive.

This location was a dilapidated old gas station, a staple in American road horror movies.

Martin looked stylish in simple jeans, sneakers, and a T-shirt, his neatly cut hair contrasting with the station's rundown appearance.

Ajia approached him and commented, "You look great here. You may not belong, but for the sake of your wife's reputation, you'll have to force a smile."

Martin nodded, "Most of the time, I'll just tolerate my father-in-law and play the role of a good, old man."

Ajia, directing a Hollywood movie for the first time, was hands-on with many aspects and announced, "All departments are ready. We'll begin shooting in two minutes."

As the clapperboard was set, filming officially commenced.

Following the script, Martin proceeded to refuel the RV. His father-in-law, Bob, approached him, sparking a brief verbal spat between the two. Most prominently, the stubborn southern man accused his son-in-law of not cooperating.

Amidst the chaos, children cried, dogs barked, and it seemed like pandemonium.

Ajia, aiming for perfection, required three takes to approve the first scene.

Originally, the next scene was supposed to feature Martin visiting the baby actor, but the infant suddenly had diarrhea and cried inconsolably. As a result, they had to switch to a scene involving the dogs.

However, Beauty and the Beast were not ready, and Ajia repeatedly called for a hold. All the actors, including Martin, had to wait patiently.

Child and animal actors often proved to be more challenging than the actresses on set, introducing uncontrollable variables.

After the dogs had finally settled down, the scene began. However, just as they began shooting, the Beast suddenly burst out of the RV door, growling menacingly at a pile of rocks.

Daniel hurried over to calm him down, but the Beast continued to whine in warning.

Martin joined the crowd to see what had alarmed the dog.

At that moment, Bruce appeared and blocked Martin, warning, "Be careful; there's a rattlesnake."

Indeed, among the rocks, there lay a meter-long, earthy-yellow rattlesnake coiled and ready to strike, rattling its tail against the ground.

In the face of this highly venomous snake, Daniel carefully pulled the Beast away.

Dalot, the security chief hired by Craven, was prepared. He approached with long iron pliers, gripped the rattlesnake's head and neck, and removed it from the scene.

Ajia contemplated the situation and inquired, "Is there a doctor on the crew?"

A crew member raised their hand, indicating they were present.

Ajia asked further, "Do you have antivenom prepared?"

The doctor, experienced with film crews in Mexico, was well-prepared. "Film crews filming in Mexico typically require various types of common antivenom," they confirmed.

Filming resumed after the rattlesnake was safely removed.

For some reason, perhaps due to the incident of rattlesnakes, the baby actors stopped causing trouble, and Beauty and the Beast gradually settled into their roles. The crew's operations became more efficient.

Most scenes were successfully filmed within three or four takes.

The gas station scene was filmed consecutively for three days, and then the crew moved to nearby scenic spots for further shooting.

One such location was a valley with exposed bedrock, preserving the primitive, wind-eroded landforms. The rugged roads, rocky terrain, and sandy mounds gave it a desolate appearance.

Nearby, there's a natural stone pit that's become something of a makeshift graveyard for abandoned cars and other items left by deformed individuals.

Local Mexican officials were present on set to ensure the crew didn't harm the environment, with strict instructions to collect all trash after filming. However, they tended to turn a blind eye to local gang members who occasionally set fire to the abandoned vehicles.

While Hollywood crews followed rules, the same couldn't be said for the gang members. Interfering with these individuals meant almost certain death on the streets. To ensure their safety, every vehicle in the crew displayed an American flag. By hiring a local security company and paying the required fees, the Hollywood crew managed to avoid much harassment from the traffickers.

During a break, Craven mentioned a tough-on-traffickers Mexican politician considering a run for office and the potential policy changes. Martin, skeptical, commented that as long as Mexico and the United States shared a border, the problem would persist.

Bruce added to the conversation, revealing that the American market's size and profitability made it a tempting target. Not only were gang forces involved, but also various other entities, including elements of American officialdom.

Ajia wondered why the Mexican authorities couldn't deal with the traffickers. Craven responded with a sigh, saying they should wait and see if the new politician would declare war on the traffickers.

Martin vaguely recalled hearing about the Mexican authorities losing the drug war. Bruce chimed in, stating that a single trafficker wasn't the issue; it was the powerful forces behind them, such as the CIA, DEA, or other Washington-based entities. When Martin inquired about the CIA's role, Craven laughed, explaining that Washington's involvement in trafficking was an open secret. Bruce added that Washington was well on its way to becoming the biggest trafficker in Central America.

Ajia suddenly had an idea for a horror film centered around the CIA, depicting their torturous acts and killings of opponents. Craven approved, stating that as long as it didn't target the IRS, the CIA wouldn't mind.

The prop master passed by, holding several pink water bottles, and Ajia asked Martin about the idea behind them. Martin pointed to the words on the bottles, emphasizing the importance of individuals making their own choices in life. Everyone nodded in agreement, and Ajia reminded them that it was nearly time to prepare for shooting.

Martin headed off to find the makeup artist, while the three actresses were already seated at a small table in front of the RV, each with a pink water bottle in front of them. When filming began, they picked up the pink bottles to drink water.

In an upcoming scene, perverted men would invade the RV, and Vanessa would use a pink kettle to defend herself, ultimately smashing one of the assailants into submission. However, she would meet her demise at the hands of another perverted man.

The filming transitioned to a car graveyard. Martin, wearing a sun hat, marveled at the dozens of rusted and discarded cars. He opened the nearest car door, revealing a mud-covered teddy bear.

On the other side, the actor playing the perverted murderer prepared for his entrance, which would lead to a fight scene with Martin.

Bruce inspected the props, knives, and guns, ensuring their safety. He questioned why real guns were being used instead of prop guns, to which the prop master explained that real guns were cheaper and easier to obtain in the United States and Mexico.

Bruce mused, "Fake guns are harder to make than real ones. We're living in a bizarre world." The prop master shrugged, acknowledging the oddity.

The character actor, who would wield the weapons in the scene, came forward to collect them. Bruce carefully watched as the prop master handed over the weapons, which he had inspected earlier, before following the actor to the car cemetery.

The action scene was meticulously filmed, with each shot broken down into fragments, often requiring a new take for every action. The male protagonist would be attacked by a deformed individual in the car cemetery, leading to a fall into a pit, subsequent injuries, and the eventual death of the assailant.

Most dangerous scenes were performed by stunt doubles. Even in challenging action scenes, Martin preferred to use stunt doubles, unless absolutely necessary. Safety was paramount, and he passed the weighty responsibilities to others.

After more than two weeks of outdoor shooting, the crew completed all outdoor scenes and returned to the studio area near the hotel for the remaining filming. The studio had been converted from a factory and featured intricate sets, including a maze-like cave and a town in a valley for the final battle between the male protagonist and the deformed man.

As other actors wrapped up their scenes and returned to the United States, only Martin and a group of stuntmen remained to film the intense action scenes.

At the same time, the crew of "Sisterhood of Travelling Pants," filming next door, also arrived in Cabo San Lucas. The two crews presented a striking contrast, with one consisting mainly of men and the other filled with young and beautiful actresses.