Chapter 309: A Fool

Art finds its roots in life. The real experiences of life can ignite the flames of inspiration and passion in creators, empowering actors to craft explosively artistic characters.

Kate and Martin dedicated themselves to rehearsals, immersing in the scenes, living the moments, and nurturing their artistic pursuits together.

They aimed to achieve multiple objectives with a single effort.

The script contained a dozen scenes brimming with artistic potential. While only half would make the final cut, each demanded meticulous attention during shooting.

Martin, a dedicated actor with a profound commitment to his craft, had one minor issue. In most scenes, he played a passive role, with Kate dictating the rhythm.

As midnight neared, Kate prepared to leave.

With no more rehearsals, Martin extended an invitation, "Stay the night?"

Kate, casting a glance at Martin, replied with a smile, "Remember, we're here for work."

Martin had no choice but to concur, "I understand. It's for the perfect artistic portrayal of our characters and our shared artistic journey."

Kate decided, "I'll be back tomorrow night. We need to invest more in these scenes and engage in emotional exchanges."

Martin promised, "No matter what, I'll fully cooperate with you."

As Kate left, she mirrored a character from the script, lightly brushing her hand across Martin's face. "Don't stress too much. We're here to work. This is just a small part of our long artistic journey."

Martin nodded, "I've committed myself to this path of art."

Kate departed, leaving Martin to sleep peacefully until dawn.

The following morning, he arrived on set promptly.

After two days of absence, Martin rejoined the filming.

The crew operated smoothly, and both Kate and director Sam remained focused on their work.

Martin continued to act professionally without causing any trouble.

Before wrapping up for the day, Director Sam gathered the cast and crew.

He informed them that all scenes with the male and female leads together before their separation had been completed. The reshooting of artistic scenes would commence the next day, with only three days allotted. He emphasized the importance of quick adjustments and full dedication to their roles.

Martin nodded in agreement, while Kate expressed her readiness to embrace her character's emotions.

With that, the meeting ended swiftly.

Leaving the studio, Kate and Martin walked together. Kate proposed, "Shall we continue rehearsing tonight?"

Artistic and keen on perfecting these scenes, Martin asked, "Same time as last night?"

After leaving the studio, Martin drove Kate to the parking lot, and they departed in separate cars.

Kate arrived punctually at Martin's room after dinner.

They shared a silent understanding, following the script and their practiced scenes. Just like the night before, they connected emotionally and worked harmoniously.

Indeed, real experiences had a way of solving many performance challenges.

The next day during filming, Martin noticed a remarkable improvement in Kate's performance. She was in complete control, guiding him through the scenes.

The artistic shots that had been challenging were now smoothly executed.

Director Sam commended both actors. Martin received praise for his dedication, and Sam encouraged him to maintain his spirit.

Martin could only respond with a shy smile, resembling a leading actor.

Within two days, all the artistic scenes were successfully shot.

Martin marveled at the dedication of Kate and Sam. He knew that achieving this level of commitment was beyond his reach.

Someone once said that acting required a touch of madness. Martin had spent over two decades working his way up, and he'd never seen such dedication, not even among renowned actors.

He'd heard stories of actors like Daniel Day-Lewis, but witnessing it firsthand was a different experience.

Over the past two days, Kate seemed to have reached a new level.

In comparison, Martin felt like he was still at the level of an average actor with slightly better acting skills.

The artistic scenes were completed a day ahead of schedule, so the crew decided to take a day off.

This break allowed Martin to rest and recover. Filming such scenes was grueling, especially for an actor whose rhythm was often controlled by others.

That morning, I slept in, and in the afternoon, I went to the airport to bid farewell to Leonardo and Nicholson, who were headed to Paris.

Originally, the three of us had planned to have a weekend party. However, a female model named Poppy Delevingne had an appointment, so Leonardo rushed to Chanel's party, leaving Martin behind.

Nicholson, on the other hand, was returning to watch the Lakers' summer league game.

While on his way back from the airport, Martin received a call from Lily.

Lily was preparing to go to Los Angeles for school and wanted to know when he would return from London. She had already started packing her suitcase.

Martin explained that he wouldn't be back until at least August due to the ongoing film project and offered to have someone pick her up from the airport.

Lily expressed her slight dissatisfaction with her sister, Elena, who had refused to accompany her to Los Angeles. Martin reassured Lily, stating that the engraving materials for her college would be provided free of charge.

Lily couldn't help but wonder if this was why Martin had helped her secure a letter of recommendation for college. She knew her future college life might not be easy.

As Martin assured Lily that he would support her, she remained silent for a while, not wanting to engage in further conversation with the person on the other end of the line.

Eventually, Martin directed his assistant, Old Bu, to place an order for raw materials from Australia, doubling the quantity for Lily's upcoming journey to college. This puzzled Lily.

On the other end of the line, Martin responded politely, saying, "Martin, don't spend too much money."

Lily couldn't hold back anymore and said, "Elena called me. I'm sure it's about booking the flight. I'll call you after it's arranged."

Martin ended the call, initially planning to contact Jessica for a ride from the airport but then deciding to reach out to his agent, Thomas.

After two idle days without any assignments, Martin felt guilty about the agent's commission going to waste.

A good celebrity client ensures that their agent stays busy.

After a day of rest and regaining his energy, Martin fully immersed himself in the subsequent filming.

The teenage scenes featuring the male protagonist had all been shot, and the focus had shifted to the middle-aged version of the character, Michelle.

Kate had transformed into an elderly character, Hannah.

To secure an Oscar, they needed not only to sacrifice for their art but also to deliver a breakthrough performance.

As per the plan, both Martin and Kate would undergo significant transformations to align with the so-called Oscar standards.

Kate, in particular, had to portray an elderly and less attractive Hannah, while Martin remained a middle-aged handsome man.

It was not an exaggeration to say that their transformations were 50% acting and 50% makeup. Much like Charlize Theron's role in "The Devil Wears Prada," makeup played a pivotal role in creating the desired appearance. The Oscars valued such dramatic transformations, a departure from the standards of European film festivals.

The crew enlisted top makeup artists and stylists, dedicating nearly two hours each day to the actors' transformations. Sometimes, it even extended beyond three hours.

Bruce, the photographer, took the opportunity to capture Martin's makeup process and, with the crew's consent, shared it on Martin's blog, leaving fans in awe.

Fans commented, "Martin works so hard, enduring three hours of makeup."

Another fan expressed sympathy, "I feel sorry for Martin for those five minutes."

"Being a star is truly challenging and tiring. Martin, you're doing a remarkable job."

Fans from all around the world, regardless of their location, eagerly followed Martin's journey.

Between filming, Martin occasionally visited his personal blog and Coca-Cola's official website. Reading the fans' messages, he couldn't help but reflect.

"Bruce, you know what? I used to find these messages awkward and even distasteful," Martin admitted.

Bruce inquired, "Not anymore?"

Martin acknowledged, "Everyone loves to receive compliments. I've become the person I once resented the most."

In a moment, Martin remembered his encounter with Blake Lively and said, "I'm a fool. I even slept with a female fan!"