297 Chapter 297: Debt

Inside the old western bar, extras occupied various spots, loosening their grimy collars and gulping down beer under the scorching, arid weather.

Amidst them, a local troublemaker, bearing a striking 50-60% resemblance to Brad Pitt, aimed to provoke the red-clad saint of the Coca-Cola cult. However, cult leader Martin swiftly subdued him and pinned him to the table.

Martin extended his hand toward Saint Elizabeth, who was dressed in red. She retrieved a glass bottle of Coke from her bag and handed it to the leader.

The bully, with the icy cola pressed to his head, surrendered involuntarily.

Martin unsealed the Coke and placed it on the table. The bully picked it up and began to drink, his expression rapidly changing...

"Cut!" Sam Mendes hollered, halting the shoot, and advised the Pitt look-alike, "Try to make your transformation more natural, less rigid."

Makeup artists converged to touch up the actors, and filming resumed shortly.

The morning passed with the crew capturing the interior scenes within the bar. These were more intricate compared to the straightforward outdoor shots. Sam Mendes held stringent standards, occasionally pausing the filming or even stepping in himself to guide.

Around noon, Kate Winslet arrived in Park Town from San Diego. She greeted Martin briefly and found a secluded spot to observe the filming.

Kate had crossed paths with Martin three years earlier in Atlanta, and he had already demonstrated exceptional acting skills at the time.

However, most of Martin's scenes in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" had been edited out, leaving only fleeting appearances in the final film, devoid of any spoken lines.

Kate subsequently watched all of Martin's films attentively, recognizing his capacity to master a variety of roles, from a youthful football coach to a mature adult.

Curious about his reputation, Kate reached out to her old friend Leonardo. He candidly informed her that within the crew of "The Departed," which included notables like Nicholson and Scorsese, Martin's acting prowess was seen as top-notch, transcending gender expectations.

Leonardo himself acknowledged this fact.

A few days prior, Kate had another conversation with Leonardo. His remark was rather intriguing: behind Martin's youthful and handsome appearance, a darker, more sinister persona than Nicholson might reside.

Turning her gaze back to the set, Kate noticed that the people in the bar were already enamored by the charismatic leader of the Coca-Cola Cult.

Once the commercial shoot concluded, the actors left the bar to remove their makeup.

Sam Mendes continued to sift through the footage.

After a brief wait, Kate approached and asked, "What do you think of Martin?"

Mendes offered his assessment, "Just from the two days of shooting this commercial, he's even more impressive than you described. His acting skills are superb, mature, and well-rounded. He effortlessly takes control of his roles. If I were to draw a comparison... there's no one in this commercial who matches him." After a moment's thought, Mendes added, "In my opinion, he's no less than Kevin Spacey during the filming of 'American Beauty.'"

Kate, being married to an Oscar-winning director, trusted his vision and judgment. It aligned well with what she had observed and heard.

Despite Martin's penchant for mischief, he was a capable actor who treated his friends well.

Kate was aware of the difficulties Louise faced after "Alexander the Great," and Martin had come to her aid, successfully securing her investments and enabling Pacific Pictures to overcome its crisis.

Mendes mentioned, "I told him yesterday that you were coming. I assume he'll come to meet you soon."

Kate nodded and inquired, "Have you given more thought to it? I still need someone to direct my new project. The overall director."

Mendes was contemplative, "I'll reconsider."

The crew proceeded to disassemble equipment like slide rails and cameras, while Kate found a quiet spot and waited patiently.

Martin soon returned to the bar, pulled up a chair, and sat across from Kate. He inquired, "On Oscar night, you mentioned you wanted to talk to me, but then you went on a trip."

Kate smiled and revealed, "That's right, I made a special trip to see you today."

Martin asked, "What's it about specifically? If you need help, just let me know."

Kate retrieved a book and a script from her bag and handed them to him directly. She explained, "Take a look at these first."

Martin accepted the materials. The book was "The Reader" by German author Bernhard Schlink, and the script was a movie adaptation of the same work.

Kate elucidated, "I mentioned this book to you, and I decided to approach the author personally to acquire the film and television adaptation rights. I collaborated with Anthony Minghella, the screenwriter and director of 'The English Patient' and 'The Talented Mr. Ripley,' to create this script."

Although Martin hadn't read the novel, he delved into the script directly. He noted, "I have a general understanding of the love story between a boy and a middle-aged woman."

Kate concurred, "The male protagonist ages from a teenager to middle age, covering a considerable time span. Some have suggested splitting the role into two actors: one as a teenager and the other as an adult. However, I believe that's not the way to go. The difference in appearance is too stark and could disrupt the narrative. It's important to maintain a consistent image throughout." Martin

. I've encountered plenty of life experiences, and I believe I can handle the demeanor and temperament of a middle-aged character with ease."

In contrast, dealing with appearance is the most straightforward part.

Martin asked directly, "Are you planning to use this film to win the Oscar for Best Actress?"

Kate's goal was crystal clear. She added, "When I first acquired the adaptation rights, I intended to invest in production and secure Weinstein Pictures for distribution. However, after a detailed chat with Louise, I learned about the issues between you and Harvey. So, I decided not to involve Weinstein Pictures in this project. Rest assured, we'll collaborate with others in the industry."

This film didn't align with Martin's usual taste and style. He would have turned it down if anyone else had approached him.

However, when Kate Winslet came with a request, it had to be taken into consideration.

In his journey to the top, Martin had often harnessed the power of influential women, including Kate Winslet.

For instance, while competing for the Saturn Award for Best Young Actor and The Mountain Has Eyes, he leveraged Kate's connection with Harvey's wife to establish a real rapport with Wes Craven.

On the set of The Departed, Leonardo supported him, not even knowing him, due to Kate's persuasive efforts.

Sometimes, a few words exchanged between her and Leonardo meant more than a thousand words for someone with whom Martin had a strained relationship.

Kate continued, "There's no rush in this matter. Take your time to read the script. If it doesn't suit you, I have other options."

Martin closed the script and asked, "Which category are you aiming for?"

"Next year, aiming for the Oscars is a bit too late," Kate planned ahead. "If all goes well, we'll release it in the second half of 2007 and aim for the 80th Oscars in 2008."

Martin pondered the Oscars of 2008. He struggled to recall the winners, the names of the people involved, or the films.

Given the circumstances, a large portion of the actors and movies were relatively unknown. Even if they won an Oscar, their influence would be limited.

Martin replied, "Leave the script and novel with me. I'll read them thoroughly and give you my reply."

Kate smiled and reassured, "There's plenty of time. No need to rush."

Martin inquired once more, "What about the director? Are you certain?"

Kate pointed to Sam Mendes, who was still busy, saying, "He's the first choice, but he hasn't confirmed yet." She added, "I've already secured investments from Louise, and there's some British investment as well, so funding for the project is not an issue."

Sam Mendes, as a former Oscar-winning director, had the competence to direct this type of film.

Martin was candid, "Kate, you hold quite a few cards. It's easy to promote a project."

Kate rubbed her forehead and admitted, "It's also quite challenging. I've had my fair share of worries. When I finally get that Best Actress award, then I'll have had enough of them."

Over the years, she had accumulated frustrations from numerous Oscar losses. She exclaimed, "The movies perform well at the box office, and I'm popular worldwide. What's wrong with that?"

Martin picked up the book, which depicted an elderly woman on the back cover. He inquired, "Let's discuss the appearance. Is the heroine genuinely old in the end?"

Kate affirmed, "Yes, old and unattractive." She justified her choice, "I'll strive to look uglier than Charlize Theron in monster."

At the mention of Theron, Martin couldn't help but shudder.

The two chatted for a while, and once Sam Mendes had finished his work, Kate and he left the bar together.

Martin also returned to the town's hotel, packing his bags to head back to Los Angeles.

Bruce, aware of Kate's visit, approached the situation with a manager's perspective as he packed. "This project doesn't align with your previous style. It's intended for Kate to act..." Bruce began.

Martin shook his head, "I skimmed through the script. In fact, the male protagonist's role is just as vital as the female protagonist's. From the script alone, it can be a coming-of-age story for a young boy or a woman's agonizing choice between dignity and suffering."

Bruce was surprised, "You don't really like these kinds of stories."

"If it weren't for Kate, even if it were Louise and Kelly coming to me together, I would have declined this script." Martin now had the conviction, "Louis and Kelly helped me, and by involving them in the investment, they earned substantial profits. But what about Kate? I still owe her a significant debt."

Bruce recollected that there were two outstanding favors, saying, "Listening to what you're saying now, I'm starting to doubt if you're still a scoundrel. If Leonardo and Nicholson find out, they might revoke your membership in the Bastard Club."

Martin couldn't help but laugh, "When someone helps you, if you don't repay the favor, it could tarnish your reputation in the future." He pondered for a moment, "Of course, I haven't decided if I want to repay it this time. At the very least, I need to return to say hello to Thomas and the agency and discuss it."

After packing his belongings, Martin headed out. He read the script and the original work and then went to the outskirts of the town to board a helicopter.

Also on the same plane back to Los Angeles was Elizabeth Olsen.