Entertainment: Starting as a Succubus, Taking Hollywood by Storm

On set, Betty Gabriel not only impressed Martin with her acting skills but also won the approval of the two leads.

Daniel Kaluuya couldn't help but pull Betty aside and say, "My God, how did you do that? I mean that expression, and that, uh, crying from one eye. It's absolutely incredible."

Scarlett also crowded around. "Yes, your performance just now was amazing. That trick of crying from one eye—can you teach us?"

Betty Gabriel wiped her tears and said with a laugh, "It's actually just a small technique involving the control of eye muscles. With enough practice, anyone can learn it..."

The atmosphere on Martin's sets was always excellent. Even if actors had conflicts, they wouldn't dare to cause trouble on his set and affect the filming.

As the actors collectively got into their roles, and with the entire film already fully formed in Martin's head, his shooting pace became faster and faster.

In the end, it only took another half-month to complete shooting all the remaining scenes.

"Scene 162, Chapter 19, ACTION!"

Martin watched the monitor screen very relaxed.

This was the final scene of the play, not very difficult. He felt there were no issues.

On the 16-inch monitor screen, Daniel Kaluuya pushed the car door open and ran out.

At that moment, a figure rushed over—it was the groundskeeper from Rose's family.

The black actor playing the groundskeeper knocked Daniel Kaluuya down a bit and landed on top of him.

The force wasn't quite controlled this time. Daniel Kaluuya's forehead hit the ground with a thud, instantly bruising.

But he didn't call cut. He endured the pain and continued acting.

He personally pulled the camera out of his pocket, aimed it at the black groundskeeper blocking him, and pressed the button.

Click! The flash went off.

The brief burst of intense light temporarily restored the groundskeeper's self-awareness.

He released Daniel Kaluuya, turned around, and fought with Scarlett.

The moment he was injured, a single shot "killed" Scarlett.

The blood bag on Scarlett's body burst, blood splattering everywhere.

Then, the black groundskeeper aimed the gun at his own chin and resolutely killed himself.

"Cut!"

"Great! That's a wrap!"

Martin picked up the megaphone and walked to the center of the set.

"For nearly half a month of hard work, you have all amazed me. Whether actors, cinematography, lighting, or other crew members, and myself, we have proven to be a team that can accomplish anything together."

"I want to say, you—no, we are the best. I thoroughly enjoyed working with you all."

"Each one of you is a creator of this film."

"Finally, I declare the principal photography of this film officially over!"

"Don't leave everyone! There will be a grand party tonight, with delicious food and fine wine until you're full!"

"Oh! Yeah!" Everyone cheered.

......

In October, Los Angeles was already getting a bit chilly.

Martin buried himself in the editing room.

This film didn't have many special effects, so the editing process was also very quick.

Soon, the rough cut was ready. During the editing process, Martin also went ahead and completed the score.

Upon hearing the news, Drew couldn't help but say, "A highly efficient all-rounder like you is probably every film production company's favorite. You save people so much worry."

Martin was amused. "Then should I ask for overtime pay?"

Drew shrugged. "I don't mind, but you'd have to ask 'Boss' Martin if he's willing to pay 'Director' Martin overtime."

Then she looked at the USB drive containing the film in Martin's hand and said, "The test screening is scheduled for this weekend. How does that sound?"

"I have no objections."

"OK, then I'll call the representatives from those theater chains."

Saturday.

Meyers Pictures screening room.

Martin, Drew, Daniel, Scarlett, Betty, and a group of the film's key creative personnel were accompanying representatives from North America's three major theater chains, watching the film together.

Betty Gabriel was just a supporting actress. In theory, she shouldn't have qualified to participate in such a test screening, but Martin had still called her.

Clearly, Martin really liked this black girl's acting skills.

God only knows how excited Betty Gabriel's manager was when he received the invitation to the test screening from a Meyers Pictures staff member. He even began to fantasize that Martin fancied his actress, that kind of liking!

Betty Gabriel, however, was relatively clear-headed. She told her manager that Martin only appreciated her skills.

The manager, sobering up, also felt that Betty Gabriel's looks probably wouldn't allow her to become Martin's woman. But it wasn't bad to be appreciated by Martin for her ability. At least in the future, if Meyers Pictures had roles suitable for Betty, they would probably think of her first.

Inside the screening room.

As the projector stopped working, the lights in the room came back on.

After a moment of silence, enthusiastic applause broke out.

The representatives from the three major theater chains had seen countless films. They all felt this movie had blockbuster potential, especially amidst the current fervent climate of the Black equality movement. The film might achieve unimaginable results.

In the original timeline, Get Out was the only horror film to achieve such phenomenal box office success, capturing the right time, place, and people.

Although Martin produced this film three years earlier, its positioning and context weren't much worse than in the future. Moreover, being a film with a black lead as the sole protagonist—a lead role at that—was still relatively rare and not yet oversaturated. Its box office potential might even be greater.

While Martin, Drew, and the theater chain representatives were chatting, Betty Gabriel sat dazed in her seat, her emotions stirred.

This was her first theatrical film.

And in her view, the quality of this film... was truly worthy of being a Martin Meyers work. Simply stunning!!!

Over there, Scarlett was also extremely satisfied with the final film.

She patted Daniel on the shoulder. "Kid, ready to become famous?"

No response.

Scarlett looked over in surprise and found Daniel Kaluuya with reddened eyes, crying.

She thought about saying some words of comfort.

But after a moment's thought, she kept her mouth shut.

At a time like this, let the "leading man" experience these complex emotions by himself.

She had been through it; that kind of feeling was something to remember for a lifetime.

"Mr. Aron, I've seen the cut. It's truly an extremely stunning work—a combination of suspense, horror, humor, reversal, and social satire. A highly innovative horror film..."

On the way back, the AMC theater chain representative immediately called CEO Adam Aron to report his views on the film.

"I think we can allocate more screens. This film is so politically correct, it will definitely cause a sensation among the black community."