Chapter 390: Not Afraid

In the Sunset Boulevard psychological clinic, Laura appeared to be casually flipping through books on the table, but her gaze was fixed on Martin, seated across the couch.

Martin opened his eyes, rose from his seat, and nonchalantly folded his blanket, saying, "It's time to go."

Laura checked the time and inquired, "Is it this early today?"

Martin replied, "I have an audition to attend, and I'm running late. Not a good start."

Laura nodded and quipped, "It's a relief when you don't spout crazy notions about destroying the United States."

Martin grinned, stating, "Those thoughts are not madness. They're the truest feelings in my heart."

With his bag in hand, Martin left the clinic, and Laura requested, "Please close the door. Thank you." She couldn't help but feel that this Hollywood star possessed at least two distinct personalities. Based on her observations, those "crazy" statements must reflect genuine thoughts. Did he have a second, antisocial personality?

After leaving the psychological clinic, Martin relaxed slightly and stood at the door for about half a minute, allowing Ivan to capture some candid photos.

Bruce's car pulled up, and Martin hopped in, instructing, "Take me to Paramount Studios."

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" was a co-production between Paramount and Warner Bros., and the last film directed by David Fincher, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," had been co-produced by the same studios. Despite the online box office reception of "Zodiac" not being stellar, it had fared well in offline DVD and TV rights sales, ultimately covering its costs. Consequently, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" secured a substantial $100 million investment.

DreamWorks also contributed one-third of the financing.

Upon reaching the studio, David Fincher's assistant, Bob, came out to greet Martin. Bob accompanied Martin to the dressing room and informed him, "Makeup will take several hours, and the audition is scheduled for three in the afternoon."

Martin replied, "That works for me."

Bob exchanged a few more words before leaving Martin to prepare.

The stylist entered at that moment and reminded Martin to visit the restroom before the makeup application began.

Martin proved to be patient and cooperative throughout the entire process.

Bruce, who had been seated nearby, caught the girlish makeup artist's eager gaze. Suddenly, his girlish demeanor gave way to a more typical masculine presence.

When it comes to audition makeup, especially transformations like turning from a young man into an elderly one, styling is the most time-consuming aspect.

Martin had previously learned that the crew would use makeup and post-production special effects to depict Benjamin's aging process, from an infant to an old man. Industrial Light and Magic had been enlisted for special effects work.

David Fincher wasn't as obsessed with practical shooting as Christopher Nolan; he cared most about achieving the desired effect, regardless of how it was achieved.

The makeup and styling process took nearly four hours, and at noon, Martin briefly dozed off.

In the midst of it, Bruce received a call from Robert, confirming that the ceremony had concluded earlier in the day. With this assurance, Martin had the basic security and inner peace he needed.

As the afternoon neared, Martin walked into the audition room for the second time that year.

Upon entering, he first greeted Fincher, saying, "David."

Fincher proceeded to introduce the individuals participating in the audition, "This is Katherine Kennedy, and this is Frank Marshall..."

The couple represented DreamWorks, and in the industry, it was well-known that they were Spielberg's right-hand people. Katherine Kennedy held the esteemed position of the industry's leading female producer.

After exchanging greetings, Fincher announced, "Let's get ready to begin."

Martin returned to the camera's lens and instinctively glanced behind the producers and directors. When he saw representatives from the union and insurance companies comfortably playing video games, he felt a sense of contentment and ease wash over him. Everything he needed to perform at his best was in place.

When the audition commenced, Martin began by reciting a narration line, as per David Fincher's request.

This task posed no difficulty for Martin.

Next, he embodied the appearance of an old, decrepit character. It was a physical transformation rather than a shift in personality or psychology, making this phase of the character's aging process relatively straightforward.

The audition proceeded swiftly and was wrapped up within five or six minutes. David Fincher's approach to auditions differed from other directors, and in Martin, he had his first choice. After consulting Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, he made a direct announcement on the spot, saying, "Congratulations, Martin, you've landed the role."

Martin descended and shook hands with David Fincher, expressing, "It's my honor."

He proceeded to shake hands with Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy individually, remarking, "Thank you for the opportunity. It's a tremendous honor."

Martin's good looks and articulate manner left a positive impression on the couple, who commented, "Your performance is expressive and perfect for this role."

With these pleasantries concluded, Martin exited the audition room and returned to the makeup room for removal.

As he strolled down the corridor, he encountered a young actor, approximately 20 years old. This American youth exuded a powerful aura, radiating a sense of invincibility that seemed to declare, "I'm the real deal, who dares challenge me."

Martin recognized him as Shia LaBeouf, the lead actor in the "Transformers" live-action film series and Steven Spielberg's favored godson. In fact, Spielberg held him in even higher regard than Drew Barrymore during her earlier years in the industry.

In Martin's previous life, Shia LaBeouf had been a frequent subject of discussions among various circles. People had wondered why Spielberg was so fond of someone who appeared carefree and thoughtless, to the point where some gossip even speculated that he might be Spielberg's illegitimate child.

As the two were about to pass each other, Shia LaBeouf's curious gaze landed on Martin. Considering that Martin was in old man makeup, he might not have recognized him, so Shia playfully quipped, "Hey, old man, you're looking cool!"

To his surprise, Martin suddenly grinned, and the old man's makeup transformed his smile into something rather eerie. He replied, "Why don't you take things more seriously?"

Shia LaBeouf, who was already in an unstable state of mind, stood there dumbfounded for a moment before leaping to the side of the corridor, putting his hands over his vital areas. He stammered, "What are you doing? I'm a guy!" It suddenly occurred to him that even men might not be safe.

With his back pressed against the wall, he exclaimed, "Don't mess around, or I'll call Bumblebee!"

Martin paid no attention to his antics and continued on his way, leaving Shia LaBeouf behind.

As they walked away, Shia LaBeouf breathed a sigh of relief and asked the production assistant guiding him, "Who's that weirdo?"

The assistant cautioned, "Don't make unfounded comments," and then explained, "That's Martin Davis. He just secured the lead role in the show after passing the audition."

Shia LaBeouf rubbed the back of his head and muttered, "This guy is a real oddball. I originally wanted to secure the lead role, but I ended up auditioning for a supporting part."

Though the assistant refrained from commenting, inwardly, he didn't hold the same view.

Within the crew, rumors had long circulated about Shia LaBeouf's attempts to snatch the lead role. Not only did David Fincher take issue with this, even Spielberg had reprimanded him. The man lacked any self-awareness.

Returning to the dressing room, Martin found the stylist there, ready to remove his makeup. He informed Bruce, "Notify Thomas and arrange for negotiations with the crew tomorrow."

Bruce reached for his phone, saying, "Such prompt news."

Martin remarked, "I appreciate this efficient crew."

Bruce made the call to Thomas.

As Martin's makeup was removed, and he changed back into his regular attire, he spotted Bruce engaged in another phone conversation. He waited briefly until Bruce finished.

A few minutes later, Bruce hung up and conveyed, "Kim called." Martin collected his belongings and walked out, inquiring, "Has the video been released?"

Bruce replied in a hushed tone, "Distribution has commenced. Jenna's company will officially launch it on Monday."

Martin questioned, "You truly didn't reveal your face, did you?"

Bruce affirmed, "Absolutely not! My upper body wasn't even exposed."

"Congratulations to you too," Martin said earnestly, "for landing the lead role."

Despite feeling perplexed, Bruce had indeed secured the lead role this time.

Given the current circumstances, selling millions of copies of the CD should not be a difficult task. Martin's unconventional suggestion has the potential to not only bring fame and popularity but also substantial financial gains.

As they turned out of the corridor, a production crew assistant caught up with them and said, "Mr. Davis, please wait."

Martin halted and inquired, "What's the matter?"

The assistant, out of breath, replied, "If you have the time, Director Fincher would like to have a conversation with you."

Martin nodded and agreed, "Alright, please lead the way."

The assistant guided them to the director's office.

After participating in the audition for the male lead, David Fincher had returned to his office. He was confident in Martin's performance and had no concerns regarding the male lead role.

The audition for the female lead had also been completed, but no decision had been made yet.

Sitting in front of his computer, Fincher played the video of the audition for the heroine, and Cate Blanchett's performance filled the screen.

Previously, Fincher had conversed with Martin's agent, Thomas, and had discerned the tension between Martin and Blanchett.

Though it hadn't been explicitly stated, the message was clear.

Martin didn't want to work on the same set as Blanchett.

Fincher's last film, "Zodiac," had underperformed commercially, and with a $100 million investment in this upcoming project, he felt a significant amount of pressure.

For the male lead, Martin, who had a strong commercial track record, was his top choice.

However, for the female lead, Fincher wasn't looking for a mere decorative piece. Blanchett had delivered the most compelling audition and seemed the most suitable choice in his eyes.

The age range of the female characters also presented a challenge - they couldn't be too young or too old.

A knock at the door interrupted their discussion, and the assistant ushered in Martin. Fincher, not wasting any time, emphasized, "After signing the contract, you must join the crew promptly. Industrial Light and Magic needs you as a modeling prototype for the special effects production."

Although Martin wasn't well-versed in post-production special effects, he understood that it required extensive preparatory work. He assured, "There's no problem on my end. As soon as the contract is signed, I'll be ready to join the team and commence production."

"As for the choice of the heroine, I plan to select Cate Blanchett," Fincher revealed. He was a renowned director, and Martin's input held relatively little weight in his decision.

Directly addressing the apparent tension between Martin and Cate Blanchett, he inquired, "I've heard that you and Cate Blanchett don't get along."

This brought to mind the conversation with Nicholson and Leonardo. As a member of the Bastard Trio, Martin was unafraid of such challenges. If the crew indeed wanted to cast Blanchett, he wouldn't stand in the way.

After a moment's contemplation, Martin replied, "Director, if you believe she's the right choice, I have no objection."

Fincher chuckled and said, "Whenever you have the time, we can sit down and discuss it further."

Martin, seemingly amused, responded, "No problem."