New Orleans, Louisiana.
At the Michoud Studio, the break of dawn had arrived, and the sun hadn't yet risen. Several trailers pulled in and parked near the largest studio.
At 7:30 AM, Martin arrived on set punctually and headed into the largest trailer to get his makeup done.
Bruce noticed that the stylist from the audition was still the same and followed directly into the trailer, his gaze unwavering.
Under Bruce's intense scrutiny, the stylist's more effeminate demeanor quickly faded, and he assumed a more ordinary appearance.
Bruce sat in the corner, never taking his eyes off Martin. He was determined to guard Martin's back.
The other two assistants were diligently working on Martin's styling.
The makeup session lasted an hour and a half. Before leaving, the stylist fetched a blue hat and carefully placed it on Martin's head, concealing all of his hair.
Martin got up, took his crutch, and took a few steps.
The stylist applauded, declaring, "Perfect."
Bruce opened the trailer door, and Martin exited with his crutches.
Inside the studio, various actors and actresses behind the scenes were bustling about.
Martin seamlessly slipped into character, portraying an elderly man with a shaky cane, as he entered the set.
David Fincher was engrossed in conversation with a young blond girl, accompanied by her mother or guardian.
"Director, you don't have to go through my mother to talk to me," Elle Fanning asserted, lifting her tiny face to David Fincher. "I've been in many movies, and I can understand what you're saying." David Fincher chuckled and said, "Alright, I'll speak to you directly about the role."
He observed Martin approaching with a tremulous gait. Regardless of his expression, his walking style, or the depth of experience and innocence in his eyes, he embodied an elderly person near the end of life.
Martin advanced slowly, and David Fincher remained unhurried, praising, "My vision was spot on."
Elle Fanning's eyes brimmed with curiosity, and she inquired, "What's with the blue hat... Grandpa, do you want to act a scene with me?"
Martin rasped, "You're Daisy."
Elle Fanning, no older than ten, made an effort to appear more mature, introducing herself, "Hello, I'm Elle, and I'm playing Daisy Fanning."
Martin recalled that she had a sister named Dakota, both talented child stars.
Because of his appearance, his smile felt somewhat awkward as he introduced himself, "I'm Martin, and the character I'm portraying is Benjamin."
Elle Fanning circled around Martin and remarked, "You don't look like Martin at all, more like my grandpa... Wait, no, you're even older than my grandpa."
David Fincher didn't interrupt the interaction between the young actors, seeing it as beneficial for the filming, as age differences could be crucial.
Martin inquired, "How old are you? You're not even ten, are you?"
Elle Fanning clarified, "I'm nearly ten."
Curious, Martin asked, "I remember Daisy was supposed to be around fourteen or fifteen. Is your sister not taking a role that suits her age?"
Elle Fanning stopped in her tracks, surprised, "You know my sister?"
Martin answered honestly, "Dakota Fanning. I've watched a few of her films, like 'War of the Worlds.'"
Elle Fanning shook her head, saying, "Dakota won't be playing this role. Her schedule is busier than mine, and she's always busy with scenes to shoot."
She expressed some envy, "It seems like she's even more popular than me."
Martin had watched many of Dakota Fanning's movies, and she'd left a strong impression as a child star. As she grew up, he wasn't familiar with her recent work.
David Fincher surveyed the set, clapped his hands, and announced, "Everyone, get ready to shoot."
Before leaving the set, he approached Martin and advised, "Maintain your energy."
Martin gave a slight nod and, accompanied by Elle Fanning, rehearsed the scene with fellow actors, walking through their motions twice to get acclimated before the shooting.
With scene notes in place, filming commenced.
Martin was well-prepared and quickly immersed himself in his role, while Elle Fanning displayed great enthusiasm. The first scene where they held hands and chatted in a nursing home was swiftly approved.
Despite some minor hiccups in the subsequent takes, the overall progress was smooth.
Children and animals were often considered the most challenging elements for film crews due to their unpredictability, but Elle Fanning proved to be an exception.
Martin couldn't help but think that the Fanning sisters received numerous film offers for a reason.
The crew entered a break period. Martin returned to the rest area, discarded his crutches, sat down on a chair, and contemplated how portraying an elderly man for most of the morning was surprisingly exhausting.
The stylist quickly arrived to touch up his makeup.
Bruce provided Martin with a sippy cup to drink from.
After the stylist and two assistants departed, a young man with noticeable tics sat down on Martin's left.
Shia LaBeouf took the initiative and said, "Hey, cool old man, I heard you formed a badass trio with Nicholson and Leonardo?" It wasn't a secret in the industry.
Martin confirmed, "Yes, we had some fun together."
Shia LaBeouf spoke earnestly, "I'd love to meet Nicholson. Can you introduce us?"
Martin inquired, "Why?"
"Last time, at Paramount Studios, as you witnessed, I assisted Blanchett, and she reprimanded me," Shia LaBeouf's annoyance was apparent. "Nicholson did a fantastic job cheering me up and getting me out of my bad mood."
Martin nodded, "You want to express your gratitude?"
Shia LaBeouf shook his head, "No, no, I want Nicholson to mentor me. Seriously! You see, most people in this crew are eccentric. Only you... no, you, Martin, are the sane ones. People like Blanchett have too many quirks."
He confessed, "Our minds don't run on the same track as regular folks'. The working and living conditions here are challenging. I want to learn from Nicholson how to protect myself."
Martin looked at Shia LaBeouf in astonishment, convinced he wasn't joking.
Shia LaBeouf suddenly added, "I really wish my Bumblebee could be with me at all times."
Martin didn't respond to these eccentric statements, simply saying, "Nicholson might drop by for a visit, and I'll introduce you to him."
Shia LaBeouf scratched his head and stood up, remarking, "I need to think of a special way to greet Nicholson and leave a lasting impression."
Martin mused that Old Jack and Shia LaBeouf were on entirely different wavelengths.
As he departed, Shia LaBeouf recalled something, he had a kissing scene with Blanchett.
Thinking about it, his stomach churned, and he felt like vomiting, though he couldn't.
Martin reached for his crutches, stood up unsteadily, and made his way back to the set to continue filming the scenes with the child Daisy.
The scenes were shot one after another, with the actors giving excellent performances, ensuring the crew's smooth progress.
Midway through, David Fincher summoned Martin to the director's monitor.
Martin donned a headset and, together with Fincher, reviewed the morning's footage.
After reviewing it, Martin identified the issue: "My voice during the lines..."
David Fincher acknowledged, "Yes, you've made an effort to change it, and it's quite commendable. However, your vocal cords are still those of a young man. Pretending to sound middle-aged is manageable, but for an elderly man on the brink, you still sound too youthful."
Martin had no choice but to speak in the role's elderly voice and inquired, "Can this be fixed in post-production?"
David Fincher had called Martin over to address this very problem and explained, "I checked with the technical department, and we can use voice-changing technology in post-production to rectify it. During filming, we'll need you to re-dub the lines for young Benjamin."
Martin agreed, "I have no issue with that."
At noon, the crew concluded their work for a two-hour break.
Martin couldn't remove his makeup or bring it to the restaurant for lunch, so he asked Bruce to fetch food and bring it back to the trailer.
In the pleasant November weather of New Orleans, the temperature had just reached a comfortable 20 degrees at noon. Martin and Bruce set up a table and umbrella next to the trailer, enjoying a leisurely meal.
The environment here was remarkable. It had become Hollywood's third-largest filming base in the United States, following New York and Georgia, with tax rebates reaching up to 42%. The film industry had significantly contributed to the region's reputation and the tourism industry.
One of the most famous attractions in New Orleans, Oak Grove Manor, gained popularity due to "Interview with the Vampire" and had been a tourist hotspot for over a decade.
Bruce brought up a discussion he overheard among several producers on the crew: "New Orleans seems to favor war scenes or crews with a lot of action sequences."
Martin, eating slowly due to his appearance, inquired, "Why is that?"
Bruce explained, "Similar to Atlanta, there are numerous dilapidated and abandoned buildings and industrial parks here. Locally, it would take time, effort, and money to demolish them. If a Hollywood crew wants to blow things up, the local government just charges a lump sum, and the crew takes care of the cleanup expenses."
Martin couldn't help but remark, "That's a fantastic deal."
Bruce nodded, "You can clear out abandoned buildings without spending a dime."
Suddenly, Martin spotted a familiar figure passing by on the main road beside the trailer.
He called out, "Hey, you! Come over here!"
It was a teenage girl, about fourteen or fifteen years old, with long, golden-brown hair pulled back into a ponytail. She had a camera hanging around her neck, like someone heading to a studio photoshoot.
Strangers with cameras weren't usually allowed into the studio.
Saoirse Ronan heard Martin's call, turned around, and saw an elderly man who seemed vaguely familiar yet quite odd.
The old man had an eccentric appearance, with a blue hat that concealed all his hair.
Seeing the person next to the old man, Saoirse Ronan suddenly recognized who she was encountering.
She had interacted with Bruce several times at Pinewood Studios and had even been caught by him.
Saoirse quickly moved her hands away from the camera, wanting to avoid any misunderstanding. Although she felt a bit reluctant, she approached step by step and greeted, "Hello, Martin. Your look is certainly unique now."