America gains both fame and fortune

Chapter 438 Infused with Soul

In Warner's No. 1 screening room, many senior executives affiliated with Warner Bros., including Warner Bros. CEO Barry Meyer, Warner Pictures President Alan Horn, and DC Creative Director Orlin, were all staring at the screening of The Dark Knight.

Behind them were the main creators of the crew, including Martin and Nolan, as well as guests specially invited by the crew to watch the film, including Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty.

Everyone's energy was focused on the movie.

The effect presented by The Dark Knight is so amazing that it far exceeds the average superhero movie.

Although dark, heavy and depressing, it is full of charm.

It's like a sexy beauty wearing a black tight leather jacket and holding a whip. Everyone can see that she is black from the inside out, but you can't help but want to look at her and stare at her.

The one who brought this feeling was not Warner and DC's signature character Batman, but the Joker!

Almost everyone who watched the film had a similar thought: the film's top protagonist is not Batman at all.

Bruce Wayne is just a tool, a tool for the Joker!

After the preview ended, the picture on the screen went out, and when the lights were turned on, warm applause broke out in the screening room.

People around them looked at Nolan and Martin.

Everyone is sure that these two have truly injected soul into a comic-based movie.

The former uses a camera, the latter uses a crazy performance.

"Chris, this is a true masterpiece. I am 100% sure that it will push comic book superhero movies to unprecedented heights!"

Barry Meyer believed in his own eyes and judgment. He first came over to shake hands with Nolan, and then shook hands with Martin: "Your performance, I...I can't describe it, I can't find the right words, there are too many words of praise in English." There is no way to express the shock brought by your performance and role!"

Martin grinned. "I think so, too."

The strange and evil smile that suddenly appeared before his eyes made Barry Meyer unconsciously let go of Martin's hand, subconsciously took a step back, and said: "You are a dedicated and good actor."

There was something he didn't want to say in public, so he planned to tell Charles Roven later and have the crazy actor in front of him see a psychiatrist immediately.

Alan Horn finished talking to Nolan at this time, came over to Martin and said: "It is a great regret that I couldn't invite you to star in "Terminator 4"."

The two had some unpleasantness on this project, but they never completely fell out.

Martin even considered that if Alan Horn really wanted to do something, he would follow Cody Horn's path and do it directly.

Now that Christian Bale has joined the crew of "Terminator 4", the contradictions between the two sides have faded over time, and that conflict has not harmed the core interests of both sides.

Martin smiled and said, "There is still a lot of time, there will always be opportunities for cooperation in the future."

Alan Horn also laughed. Stars like Martin are valuable in his eyes.

Orlin, who had been on the set for a long time, came over to bump fists with Martin and said, "Man, you've given DC a difficult problem. What's going to happen to the Joker character in the future?"

Martin half-jokingly said: "If you have a suitable script, you can always come to me."

Orlin, the DC director, thought a little further: "You have created a crazy and classic character that will be hard to surpass in the future."

Martin shrugged: "Continue with the realistic approach."

Orlin nodded slightly: "It's a pity that Director Nolan will not consider the Joker in his next film."

Outside of the main creative staff, Nicholson sighed and said, "This guy is a jerk at what he does, but he's really good at acting."

Warren Beatty knew he was talking about Martin and the Joker, and responded: "If it weren't a comic book superhero movie, this role would definitely deserve a Best Actor award."

Nicholson agreed: "Martin has put so much effort into this role, and the results are obvious." He then asked: "What about Best Supporting Actor? Martin, this bastard, has already been nominated for Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor, so he has some qualifications. The role in this movie is really outstanding."

Warren Beatty said: "There is nothing wrong with the performance and the role. It is even much better than many Oscar-winning Best Actor performances, but the type of film is a problem."

Nicholson nodded: "Let's see how he does it later. After all, this is the Oscars."

"Yes, after all, this is the Oscars." Warren Beatty himself works in the Academy and is the core of the core of the old white core. He has seen all kinds of things in the Oscars in recent years very clearly: "Role acting is only the most basic, operation is the key."

Warner staff came over and handed each person a questionnaire with only two items: give an internal score to "The Dark Knight" and write down the biggest highlights in their eyes.

Warren Beatty gave it an A+ without any hesitation. When it came to the highlights of the film, he only gave it a little thought and wrote down a single word - Joker!
He turned to look at his old friend Nicholson and got the same answer.

All the questionnaires were collected by Warner staff and handed over to the crew's producer Charles Roven.

This concludes today's internal audition.

Warren Beatty had something to do and left the Warner Building first.

Nicholson and Martin went into a reception room and had a brief chat.

"You did a great job. I, at the same age, couldn't do it like you." Nicholson said, "Martin, you bastard, I don't know how to describe you."

Martin said, "You don't have the right adjective? I believe that Jack, who is full of talent, can come up with the best sentence." Nicholson pushed up his brown sunglasses and said, "Why did I believe your nonsense last year and play this kind of hell game with you?"

"Because it's fun." Martin said confidently: "You need fun, I will provide it for you."

Nicholson said: "Well, teasing public opinion and the public is indeed interesting. It is more fun than Leo suffering in a mental illness center."

Martin couldn't help but lament: "This guy didn't go crazy."

"I think you're going crazy." Nicholson patted Martin on the shoulder and said, "If you can't hold on any longer, go see a psychiatrist. Don't just hold on."

Martin was helpless, and spread his hands and said, "Am I that fragile?"

Nicholson laughed: "I think you will be admitted to a mental illness center earlier than Leo." He returned to the point: "Let Warner and the crew arrange an interview program as soon as possible."

Martin said: "It has been arranged."

Nicholson was not polite to Martin: "It's fun, but I want something more fun."

The old bastard had nothing to say to his best friend, so Martin agreed immediately: "Let me think about it and see where I can find something more fun."

Nicholson was about to leave and sighed, "It's a lot less fun without Meryl."

Martin reminded, "You still have Naomi Campbell."

Nicholson gave him the middle finger and said, "I'll give it to you for free."

Martin sent him downstairs and when he came back he found Nolan and Emma Thomas, both of whom seemed to be in a good mood.

Charles Roven was there, holding a questionnaire for the internal screening.

Martin asked, "It looks like our internal screening was quite successful?"

Nolan seemed somewhat relieved: "All guests at the internal preview gave an overall rating of A+!"

Charles added: "A total of 23 people attended the preview, and 17 of them wrote that the biggest attraction was the Joker."

Martin let out a long sigh: "Our work results have been initially recognized. Our hard work has paid off."

Nolan nodded frequently: "I can feel that we are getting closer and closer to success."

The commercial response of the previous "The Prestige" was not good, even quite bad. If this one is not successful, it will be really over.

Charles Rowan asked, "Have you talked to Jack about this?"

"No problem." Martin said, "Jack thought it was fun, but he wanted something even funnier as a reward, which worried me to death."

Charles Roven thought for a moment and said, "Warner Bros. can also provide you with some help when necessary. I can still make the decision on this."

Martin smiled and said, "I won't be polite to you when I need to."

Charles Roven said: "The film's internal preview received a very good response. We must release this news as soon as possible. The next publicity will be divided into two parts, conventional and unconventional."

Nolan said: "I have communicated everything with Martin."

Martin also made an OK gesture.

Charles Roven said: "The preview word-of-mouth will be officially released to the media tomorrow, and a new movie trailer will be released at the San Diego Comic-Con, which will still focus on the duel between Batman and the Joker. In addition, there will be a viral marketing gift that will be sent to major entertainment media."

Martin added: "Nicholson will be on the Helen show on Warner TV this week and completely change the perception of my version of the Joker."

Nolan said: "Your meeting with Bale is ahead of the Helen show, and it's right before the San Diego Comic-Con, and both of you are going to attend. This is your first meeting since the filming of The Dark Knight, and Batman and the Joker will have a head-on confrontation."

Martin was prepared and said, "No problem on my end."

Nolan nodded: "I have already communicated with Bell."

After discussing for a while, several people left the office together.

When they went out, Nolan and Charles Rowan walked in front.

Emma Thomas deliberately lagged behind and asked Martin in a low voice, "Where is your friend Mene? He didn't answer my calls recently. Do you know where he went?"

Martin certainly knew, but he could only vaguely say, "I haven't contacted him since we separated in New York. I don't know where he went."

Emma Thomas complained: "This guy..."

After Martin left the Warner building, he asked Bruce to contact Ivan, and then reported to the psychological clinic on time to continue to develop his character's personality that caused him psychological problems.

For the next six months, Martin will suffer from clown syndrome.

Relying on the powerful media owned by Warner Bros., it is easy to create momentum in this regard. Heath Ledger had already finished filming another movie, and he suddenly created a similar situation.

(End of this chapter)