Chapter 404: A Good Student

In the hotel restaurant, each of them had their own private room, and they enjoyed a succession of fresh seafood feasts. Martin signaled the waiter to pour some wine, dismissed the staff, and raised his glass with a warm smile. "Welcome to all of you."

Everyone raised their glasses and drank together.

When Martin set down his glass, Elizabeth had already peeled a crab leg and placed it on his plate.

"Thank you," Martin replied with a smile.

Nicholson brought up the topic, "Did Cate Blanchett apologize and make amends?"

Martin took a moment to finish chewing the crab leg and then replied, "It happened about an hour ago."

Jack Nicholson appeared disappointed, "I rushed here after her. All that enthusiasm, and now there's nothing to be done. Everyone's made amends, and you can't bully the weak, it only makes it boring."

Leonardo chimed in, "How often does this sort of thing happen?"

Both Bar Refaeli and Elizabeth remained silent, quietly enjoying their meal.

Martin raised his wine glass again, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I've stumbled upon something far more intriguing, much more captivating than Cate Blanchett. Maybe you'll discover it when you arrive on set tomorrow." Nicholson inquired, "What is it?"

"Sorry, it's a secret," Martin replied with a grin. "If you know in advance, there won't be any surprises."

Leonardo's curiosity got the better of him, "Is David Fincher causing trouble?"

Nicholson shook his head, "David Fincher isn't that kind of director. He's openly stated that he doesn't make films just to please and entertain the audience."

Meanwhile, news about Martin passionately kissing a young woman in the hotel lobby spread like wildfire.

Simultaneously, word spread that Leonardo and Nicholson were visiting the set.

After spending some time meditating in his room, Shia LaBeouf emerged smelling of cigarette smoke. He got the news from fellow crew members and felt a surge of inspiration like an electric shock. His creative block crumbled, and artistic ideas flowed freely.

Shia LaBeouf had lost his appetite and skipped dinner. He rushed out of the hotel, hailed a taxi, and headed straight to the local commercial district, entering an adult store to make a significant purchase.

After all, artists often need props for their performance art.

...

Martin and his group left the private room, set a meeting for their visit to Michoud Studio the next day, and went their separate ways.

Elizabeth linked her arm with Martin's, and they ascended the stairs together.

As they entered their room, the door closed behind them, and they lost themselves in each other's embrace.

Elizabeth's passion matched the fiery hue of her hair.

Suddenly, Martin pulled away from her, saying, "Wait, Liz, hold on."

Elizabeth looked at him with misty eyes, her hands cradling his face. "My dear, don't make me wait."

Martin gently pressed his finger to her lips.

Elizabeth suppressed her impatience and let go of him.

Martin approached the door, flung it open, and stuck his head out.

Not far away, about five meters down the hallway, a young woman with golden-brown braided hair stood against the wall, sneaking towards their room.

Saoirse's eyes met Martin's, and she quickly straightened up, putting on a smile. "Teacher, I..."

Martin pointed to her pocket. "Hand it over."

Saoirse retrieved a recording pen and handed it to Martin, explaining, "I just bought it while you were eating. I haven't even used it once."

Martin inspected it and then handed it back. "What's your curiosity driving you to do?"

"Teacher, I'm just curious," Saoirse replied, adopting the role of the earnest, inquisitive student. "I know that once the door is closed, I can't hear anything, but I couldn't resist my curiosity."

Martin issued a warning, "Don't let it happen again, or I'll call Leonardo over."

Saoirse hastily covered her mouth, her eyes wide with fear, afraid of any repercussions.

Martin then instructed, "Let's go."

Saoirse left in disappointment.

Across from Martin's suite, the door was already open, and Bruce had a friendly smile as he looked over.

"It's alright," Martin reassured as he re-entered the room.

Inside the suite, the only remnants of clothing were scattered about, from sneakers to socks, jeans to sweaters, like a trail through the wilderness, guiding Martin in the right direction.

The sound of running water came from the bathroom, and a graceful silhouette was reflected on the glass wall.

Martin walked in with determination.

...

New Orleans, once battered by hurricanes, was susceptible to storms at any moment. Martin took a less-traveled route due to the common roads being in disrepair.

The dark sky loomed, and the car's headlights illuminated the unfamiliar path.

The heavy rain had made the road wet and muddy. Martin drove cautiously until he got the hang of it, then picked up speed toward the studio.

The road was uneven with many ups and downs, but Martin, skilled in action scenes and with exceptional driving prowess, navigated without any accidents. Although it took longer, he arrived at his destination safely.

When the car came to a stop, he honked the horn, producing a bright and clear sound.

The rain had stopped, and Martin entered the makeup trailer on time to begin his day's work.

Around the same time, Cate Blanchett stepped into another nearby trailer.

Today, the scenes involving the male and female leads were scheduled for filming.

Martin discarded his crutches and stood tall, no longer stooped, finally able to grace the set like any other actor.

The studio buzzed with activity. Crew members hurried to drain water and used powerful blowers to dry the ground, ensuring that filming could commence as planned.

Martin and Cate Blanchett exited their respective makeup trailers one after the other. They exchanged a glance, ignored one another, and walked onto the set as if they were strangers.

Saoirse, having completed her scenes as Daisy, chose to remain on the set, claiming she was there to observe and learn.

Wearing her braided hair and a camera around her neck, she kept a close eye on Blanchett's trailer. When the stylist emerged, Saoirse checked her coat pockets, let out a whistle, and approached.

"Good morning, Tina," Saoirse greeted warmly, having made friends with many crew members.

Tina smiled at her. "Are you finished with your scenes?"

Saoirse beamed, "I plan to stay on set for a while, especially to observe Cate Blanchett. She's my favorite actress, a true talent. Watching her perform live is a rare learning opportunity."

Tina looked at Saoirse with maternal fondness and praised, "You're a hardworking young lady."

"Thank you," Saoirse responded with an endearing air. "I'd love to get closer to Blanchett. You're her makeup artist. Do you know what she doesn't like, or have you heard any complaints from her?"

Tina shook her head. "While I was doing her makeup, she hardly spoke about anything other than the styling."

Saoirse scratched her head, appearing perplexed. "So she's not much of a talker and not easy to get close to, it seems."

Tina chuckled, finding the young girl even more adorable.

Saoirse inquired further, then devised an excuse to distance herself from Tina, lingering near the fringes of the set. She strolled around a crane truck and blended in with a group of extras.

"Aren't women all so petty? Take me, for instance; if Emma Watson were to upset me, I'd take the risk and give her a piece of my mind." Saoirse muttered to herself, pondering, "Did Cate Blanchett truly reconcile with the teacher?"

She thought that her encounter with the teacher the previous night might have left a negative impression. She aimed to gather some substantial material today to regain lost favor, but her efforts yielded nothing.

At that moment, David Fincher's voice echoed across the set, "Every department, be ready; we're starting filming in five minutes."

Martin and Blanchett were already well-acquainted with their positions, making their final preparations.

Once the time came, the clapperboard snapped, and filming commenced promptly.

Blanchett ascended to the raised stage, gazing affectionately at Martin. She unbuttoned her coat, performed various ballet movements, and delivered the lines about her desire for Benjamin.

Before Martin could respond, David Fincher intervened, saying, "Cate, more emotion! Your lines are too dry, and your eyes lack expression..."

Cate Blanchett raised her hand, "May I ask a question?"

She glanced at Martin, attempting to put aside any unpleasantness, whispering to herself, "I'll pour all my emotions into it; I just want to make love, with any man standing opposite me, I just want it!" Filming resumed.

Cate Blanchett's performance improved significantly, and David Fincher's interruptions dwindled.

However, in comparison to Martin, who had been in excellent form since joining the production, she still lagged behind.

David Fincher requested another take.

After several back-and-forths and much effort, they eventually got the shot.

Martin's professionalism shone through; he never complained. Although he didn't have fond feelings for Cate Blanchett due to their personal differences, he could see that she had prepared rigorously for the role, executing each ballet move with precision.

David Fincher sensed Cate Blanchett's exhaustion and called for a break.

He felt a sense of relief about Martin and Cate Blanchett. As long as they didn't disrupt the workflow, he was indifferent to any private squabbles.

It seemed the crew's biggest troublemakers were not among them.

Ten minutes later, filming resumed. Blanchett gradually found her rhythm, and the number of retakes decreased significantly, resulting in a smoother shoot.

However, by the end of the morning, they still hadn't completed the scene where Daisy actively pursues Benjamin.

Martin looked a bit puzzled and turned to Bruce, asking, "Those two fellows didn't show up?"

Bruce checked his cell phone and replied, "Their car got stuck on that old road, but it's on its way now."

After lunch, a piece of news spread swiftly through the crew: the big star Leonardo and the Oscar-winning Nicholson were coming to the set for a visit!

The presence of these two big shots together was sure to create a stir.

Many crew members, especially the locally recruited extras and staff from New Orleans, hurried from the break area. They hoped to seize the opportunity for photos and autographs.

Typically, when major stars visited non-working crews, they were gracious and approachable.

Martin and Bruce also emerged, and as the crowd gathered near the studio, the two of them climbed up onto the trailer's roof.

Not long after, Saoirse Ronan hiked up with her bag slung over her shoulder.

Martin pulled out his top-of-the-line iPhone, ready to capture the moment. However, his focus wasn't on Leonardo and Nicholson, who were surrounded by fans, but rather in the distance to the west.

He reminded Saoirse, "Turn on your camera."

Saoirse swiftly complied.

To the west, the artist Shia LaBeouf made his solitary entrance.