America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

The sun had not yet risen, and several trailers were parked at the entrance of the soundstage, where the set inside had already been prepared, and the production crew was making final adjustments to the cameras.

David Fincher was in control of the overall situation, coordinating the work of the entire crew.

Background actors playing reporters gradually filed in, receiving vintage equipment from the prop master.

Seasoned actors Ellen Arkin and Alec Baldwin entered the soundstage one after the other.

A few minutes later, Martin, dressed in an old-fashioned suit, came in from outside.

Because of the makeup and the fake beard, he looked much more mature than his actual age.

David Fincher entered the set and pointed Martin to a side door, "When we start shooting, just stand over there, don't talk, act like a bystander."

Martin nodded, not saying a word, to fit the style of the role.

Tony Mendez had said that CIA agents like him, engaged in secret rescue operations, rarely spoke unless necessary.

Ten minutes later, the crew officially began shooting.

Martin stood by the side door, appearing like the most ordinary member of the crew, silently watching the "Argo" film crew hold a press conference.

This movie was fictitious, but all the preparatory operations were real; only a truly convincing fake film crew could deceive the target and achieve their goal.

It was interesting to shoot a film while also realistically preparing for a fake movie within the production process.

"Cut!" David Fincher called a halt to the shooting and said to the crew, "Give Martin a three-second close-up on the main camera."

The director of photography responded, "Understood."

Shooting resumed, with Martin standing by the door, hands in his pockets.

David Fincher called a halt again, saying, "Martin, tone down the look and the aura a bit. When you're not in action, you're just an ordinary person."

Martin still responded in a way that fitted Tony Mendez's style, not speaking but just nodding slightly.

The shooting started again and was stop-and-go; it took half an hour for the first shot, after which David Fincher finally called it good.

Even so, he still reviewed the footage once more.

The story of the script was quite legendary and relatively easy to shine; as long as it was well-made, there was great potential.

Throughout the morning, Martin appeared in many shots but did not have a single line, playing mute the whole time.

David Fincher announced the wrap for the morning, and the previously quiet set quickly became bustling.

Martin saw Tony Mendez by a table not far away and went over to ask, "How does it feel after the first scene?"

Tony Mendez smiled, "Your budget was much more ample than back in my day. We just had a small press conference; we didn't have anything as grand as this."

David Fincher joined them and said, "Well, a movie has to have a certain scale to be captivating, and the real events were so incredible that if we don't make it big and proper in the film, the audience will say we're just winging it."

Tony Mendez stood up from the chair and said, "You're doing great work; that's all for me today."

He shook hands with Martin and David Fincher, "I'm heading back now."

After seeing off Tony Mendez, Martin and David Fincher headed toward the catering truck together.

As they walked, David Fincher said, "A few days ago, Netflix's Randolph told me he had invited you to star in a Netflix TV series project."

Martin replied, "He told me you would be directing and producing, which piqued my interest enough to ask a few questions, but I don't have the schedule to act in it."
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He then asked, "A political drama series?"

David Fincher confirmed, "It's an adaptation of the British 'House of Cards,' focusing mainly on the internal political struggles of the Washington D.C. authorities."

Martin had seen all of David Fincher's work and naturally remembered the series, even recalling that the male protagonist seemed to be called Underwood.

David Fincher added, "I've reached a secret agreement with Netflix that after the 2013 Oscars, regardless of the outcome, I will join Netflix to shoot and produce 'House of Cards.'

He made his intentions very clear, "Escape from Tehran" might be my last work under the traditional Hollywood production model."

Martin encouraged, "The subject matter is very fitting; let's aim for a few more Oscars."

David Fincher spoke earnestly, "I don't have the perseverance of Leonardo and Scorsese. If it doesn't work out this time, I'm done playing with the Oscars."

Martin clearly remembered that David Fincher later became one of the most closely associated directors with Netflix in Hollywood.

After lunch, with nothing to do, Leonardo and Nicholson visited the studio.

Upon seeing the infamous Trio of Scoundrels from Hollywood together, David Fincher hurriedly found two assistants and instructed them with utmost seriousness, "Follow them the entire time, and if they look like they're up to something, notify me immediately."

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The two assistants sensed the gravity of the situation and promptly responded.

David Fincher glanced at the three scoundrels and thought to himself that Martin wouldn't be joking about a film crew he was investing in.

Inside the rest area, Leonardo handed a book to Martin and asked, "Interested in going to Africa for a spin?"

Martin took the book and questioned, "What for in Africa?"

Leonardo explained, "To film a documentary about mountain gorillas to paint a picture of animal conservation. Your flag is women's rights; mine is environmental protection."

Martin sized up Leonardo, "Just some nominal publicity. Is it worth going all out for? And to Africa, no less!"

Leonardo seemed quite serious, "We're actually going to the Congo. There's a civil war going on there, all sorts of powers fighting over natural resources. Many poachers are armed."

Hearing this, Martin didn't even glance at the book, tossing it back to Leonardo, "I'd be crazy to go to a place like that!"

Leonardo revealed his true motive, "I won't feel confident without you going."

"Look at me!" Martin pressed down on his face, "Flesh and blood, not made of steel, if a bullet hits me, my head would explode just the same."

Nicholson interjected, "I'm out too."

With no other option, Leonardo lamented, "See, if you're not going, Jack's out too. I was hoping the three of us could collaborate again."

Martin ignored Leonardo and turned to Nicholson, "Are you out of your mind? Do you want to risk a mother gorilla... you know what to you in the jungles of the Congo? Then we'd have to declare you non-human!"

"Leo made it sound fun, and I wanted to check it out—could be some entertainment," Nicholson had a change of heart, "But hearing what you said, I might end up being the gorillas' entertainment. Forget it."

Leonardo pointed at the two, "You two scoundrels have no sense of brotherhood."

Unconcerned, Martin responded, "I've got tens of millions in cash, hundreds of millions in assets, several Cola Cult priestesses dedicated to me, a dozen muses and close female friends, the only envoy for two major women's organizations, and I'm a member of the Face Gang and Trio of Scoundrels, always able to find amusement..."

He asked Leonardo, "Spending US dollars not fun enough for you? Not happy with beauties? Haven't found enough entertainment? Why would you go to an African country in civil war to suffer?"

Upon hearing Martin's words, Leonardo suddenly realized his own situation wasn't so different.

His mind quickly made the connection; Martin wasn't just refusing and showing off—he was actually persuading him.

Nicholson remarked, "Thinking about it, if something happens to me there, with money unspent and fun not fully had, it'd regretful."

Disinterested now, Leonardo concluded, "Alright, no more discussion, I won't go either."

Martin suggested, "If you want to shoot a documentary, just invest some money, find a professional filming team, and let them go to the Congo. Are we brothers short on cash? Don't you have Asian investors too?"

Leonardo proposed, "I'm prepared to personally invest one million US dollars and find a suitable partner." He frowned slightly, "My agent contacted the major TV stations and production companies, but they are all stingy and not interested in a losing project."

Nicholson added, "Production companies and TV stations are not charities, they're realistic; their investments seek commercial profits."

Martin thought of a suitable partner, "How about Netflix? I've heard they're focusing on original content. You could just be an investor and producer, no need to appear on screen. Cooperating with a streaming service like Netflix shouldn't be a problem."

Leonardo understood where Martin was coming from, "I've just won the Oscar for Best Actor, and this is a documentary. Even if I did appear on camera, it would only be to call for the protection of mountain gorillas. What could be the issue?"

He looked at Martin, "But I'm not very familiar with Netflix."

Martin, always ready to help his buddies out, took out his phone and called Netflix's Chief of Content Greg Peters, who happened to be in Los Angeles. They agreed to meet that evening in Beverly Hills.

Leonardo said, "I'll go to Pave Road Entertainment to get the proposal. When you've finished here, let's meet in Beverly Hills."

As the leading actor, coproducer, and investor of this film set, Martin couldn't just mess around for fun. Nicholson said bluntly, "I'll go with Leo; it's too boring here."

Martin waved them off, "Go ahead."

Shortly after they departed, the afternoon's shoot commenced.

The crew began filming all the scenes set in the studio.

After wrapping up for the afternoon, Martin arrived first at a business club in Beverly Hills and met the agreed-upon Greg Peters.

The latter greeted Martin with overwhelming enthusiasm, "I really don't know what to say, Martin, you're a friend of Netflix!"

Even if it was a documentary that wasn't highly regarded, the possibility of brokering a deal between Netflix and a project from Leonardo felt like no small feat to him.

This kind of collaboration is always the hardest the first time.

Smiling, Martin said, "I'm just making the introduction; whether it works out is up to you."

Greg responded, "Netflix is very sincere."

A few minutes later, Leonardo and Nicholson arrived. Martin made the introductions, then took Nicholson to bowl outside, leaving the businessmen to their negotiations.

By the time they returned, Greg and Leonardo had basically reached an agreement.

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