Chapter 375: Fire

In the Northville community, a black Escalade was parked by the roadside. As Thomas stepped out of the car, he spotted Martin emerging from a nearby door.

Mene exited the vehicle and curiously examined the house ahead of him. It wasn't an exceptionally large independent villa, featuring a front lawn and a small backyard garden. This house stood solid with a brick and concrete structure, avoiding cheap wood.

Martin greeted them at the door, saying, "Let's chat inside."

Bruce parked the car and joined the group as they moved toward the villa.

Upon reaching the villa's entrance, Thomas was pleasantly surprised to find a young woman in her twenties coming out to welcome them. She bore a striking resemblance to Lily Carter.

Martin proceeded to introduce everyone one by one, starting with Elena, Lily's sister, followed by Harris and Hall, her brothers. Then, he introduced Mene and Thomas.

Elena warmly greeted them and said, "Please come in."

Thomas and Mene presented the gifts they had brought for Harris and followed Martin and Elena into the living room.

Noticing Hall's frequent glances, Mene whispered, "Don't you remember me? We met during the filming of 'Wanted' when you visited the crew."

Hall nodded and replied, "I never forgot you, especially because you're known for your charm with older women."

Mene seemed to have found common ground with Hall, saying, "Have you found a girlfriend? Need some tips? Whether it's a classmate or a teacher, I can guarantee success."

Huo questioned Bruce, "Is he exaggerating?"

Bruce, unable to tell a lie, confirmed, "Mene is quite skilled in this area, especially with women over forty."

Proudly, Mene declared, "Many people pay to learn from me, but Uncle Mene doesn't need their money."

Hall eagerly asked, "Teach me quickly; you're the master..."

As those two went aside to chat, Thomas engaged in a conversation with Martin and Elena about some interesting Hollywood stories.

Then, he broached the topic, "David Fincher has provided the audition date and invited you to Los Angeles for a makeup audition with the crew."

Martin responded, "It doesn't clash with my schedule here. Just reply to him directly."

Seeing the two discussing work matters, Elena excused herself, saying, "I'm going to prepare some black tea."

Thomas waited until she was out of earshot and asked Martin in a hushed tone, "I heard Christian Bale caused some issues on the set?"

Martin confessed, "Well, Bale isn't as rule-abiding as I am."

Thomas refrained from asking more questions and offered his help, saying, "If you need anything, just let me know."

Martin smiled and said, "You can handle things in Los Angeles."

Thomas added, "One more thing. I came here not only to visit you but also for potential work. Cartier is looking for global spokesmen for their men's watches, and I've initiated contact with them."

Martin, intrigued, inquired, "Have they shown interest?"

Thomas replied, "They have expressed some interest. We need to discuss the details."

Martin nodded and advised, "You handle the negotiations, and if you can seal the deal, that's great." He also asked about any conflicts with other endorsement brands, to which Thomas assured, "No conflicts."

Harris brought black tea and distributed it to Martin, Thomas, and himself.

Martin looked around and noticed Bruce was missing. He asked, "Where's Bruce?"

Elena chimed in, "He's in the back with Hall and Mene in the small hall."

Harris explained, "Bruce, Elena, Mene, and I jointly invested in an import-export company. We acquired the necessary qualifications and secured a supply agreement with the crew."

Bruce had also brought Mene along, who excelled in handling business affairs within the crew.

Uncle Mene had always been skilled in negotiations.

Mene and Hall emerged from the small hall, looking like close friends.

Martin inquired of Bruce, "What were those two up to?"

Bruce explained, "Mene was teaching Hall some of his tricks."

Martin observed Hall and saw him grow up in an instant.

It seemed that when Harris was Hall's age, he had already mentored a pair of twins, teaching them diligently, and sometimes even under the table.

Elena, checking the time, suggested, "Dinner is ready; let's chat while we eat."

The group transitioned to the dining room.

The following morning, Martin continued filming at the Gray Film and Television Center.

Thomas headed to Coca-Cola headquarters to discuss a new endorsement contract with Coca-Cola. They were on the verge of signing a new global endorsement contract, with plans to increase Martin's endorsement fees to tens of millions of dollars per year.

At the Gray Film and Television Center's studio, the crew held a meeting with the producers and director before commencing today's shoot.

Martin was invited to attend a meeting due to the crucial scenes involving the Joker.

Emma Thomas informed, "We purchased an abandoned candy factory in the outer suburbs, where we filmed the scene where Rachel was killed. Then, we gave it a fresh coat of paint and renovated the exterior. It now resembles a hospital building from the outside."

She sent a photo of the place to Charles Rowan and Martin, adding, "In a few days, this place will be entirely demolished."

Martin examined the photo closely, noticing a substantial building in the picture.

Nolan told Martin, "This is the hospital building that the Joker is going to blow up."

Martin, with a grin, asked, "No one's going to come after us for compensation, right?"

Charles Rowan reassured him, "This place has been abandoned for years, with no residential areas nearby, and we've gone through the necessary approvals."

Emma Thomas chimed in, "You can go ahead and blow it up."

Martin nodded, "I'm on board with that."

Nolan handed him a few pages of a revised script, saying, "I've had someone make some adjustments based on the on-site conditions. The crew will follow this new script closely."

Martin quickly skimmed through it and responded, "I'm fine with this."

The director's only request was for everyone to adhere to the terms of the contract, deliver quality work, and maintain professionalism.

Charles Rowan cautioned, "Emma, please get in touch with Atlanta's fire management department, just in case."

Emma confirmed, "I've already taken care of that." The crew had received substantial support, including state tax rebates and full cooperation from Atlanta.

The meeting concluded in under ten minutes, and the group headed to the studio to begin filming for the day.

After a short break for adjustments, Bell returned to the set.

Martin approached him, saying loudly, "Hi, Bale, I heard you've been facing some challenges. If you need any assistance, feel free to ask. This is Atlanta, and I might be able to come up with solutions." His words were meant kindly, but Christain Bale stared at him with anger.

Many crew members heard Martin's offer and saw Christian Bale intense reaction, causing some to have a negative view of Bale.

Christian Bale retorted, "Go away! Stay away from me, and don't pretend to be a good person in front of me!"

Martin's face showed his hurt feelings as he responded, "I'm pretending to be a good person? Haha..." He shook his head, smiled, and walked away.

Christian Bale glared at him like a furious wolf.

There was immediate discussion among the crew.

"Why is he so unpleasant? He's causing problems and taking it out on others."

"Martin meant well. If he doesn't want help, he could have declined politely."

"That's true. Martin is more capable and has a better temper. Looks like he's the greater person here."

Christian Bale overheard a few Atlanta extras murmuring and became further frustrated.

Despite wanting to curse, he refrained, knowing that Director Nolan had been dissatisfied with him recently.

Christian Bale took a deep breath, realizing that there were no good people in this crew.

Even Morgan Freeman and Maggie Gyllenhaal had spent a lot of time with Martin Davis, and the mockery continued.

Christain Bale's anger didn't affect the filming since most of Batman's scenes involved him being provoked by the Joker.

During breaks, Morgan Freeman sat down with Martin again, stating, "I've been in the film industry for decades, and the Dark Knight crew is the most interesting."

Martin grinned, "Really? More entertaining than the crews in the '70s and '80s? I heard those times were quite lively."

Freeman explained, "It's different. Back then, actors were actors, and directors were directors."

He gestured towards the director's monitor and said, "Look at this crew now. The director isn't just a director, and the lead actor isn't just a lead actor."

Martin agreed, "So, Morgan, we're part of a new era in filmmaking. The actual filming is only a small part. The rest is crucial for the film's success."

Freeman sighed, "I'm getting old and finding it hard to keep up. Maybe in the future, directors like Nolan will become the mainstream in Hollywood."

Martin inquired, "Why is that?"

Freeman explained, "Because whether a movie becomes a hit is more about marketing, hype, and gimmicks than the actual film itself."