Chapter 139: Seven Steps

"How many days?"

"Six days."

"Have you been inside? What's the situation in there?"

"Hmm, hell, I guess."

Joe Farrow, the assistant director of *The Dark Knight* crew, walked over, looked at the two hotel waiters gossiping in the hotel corridor, and reprimanded: "Is this how your hotel discusses guests behind their backs? Where is your manager?"

"Sir, I'm sorry, it won't happen next time." The two hotel waiters didn't expect their private conversation to be overheard, immediately apologized, and ran away in a flash.

Joe Farrow stood at the door of room 921, took a deep breath, and then pressed the doorbell.

"Ding-dong, ding-dong."

Joe Farrow felt he truly had bad luck. Why was it him who encountered this when he came over that day?

If it weren't for this, why would he be responsible for the liaison between the director and him now?

Pressed it again.

With a "click," the room door opened.

Looking from the brightly lit corridor, the room was pitch black, as if the owner of the room had pulled the curtains, not letting a single ray of light leak in.

Joe Farrow didn't want to walk into such a gloomy and terrifying place at all, but there was no way. Nolan sent him over to discuss tomorrow's shooting plan with him, and he had to say it face-to-face.

"Chen, can I come in?" Joe Farrow coughed and said.

"Of course you can."

The door was pulled open a little. The person inside didn't show his face, and the voice seemed to be produced by some kind of resonance in the throat and nasal cavity; it didn't sound like a normal person talking.

Joe Farrow felt this voice reminded him of his grandfather.

That 80-something-year-old man who had been lingering on a hospital bed for more than 10 years. Before filming started a while ago, when Joe Farrow went to visit him at the Montana State Hospital, he greeted him in a similar tone while lying in bed.

This kind of voice didn't feel strange or weird, but it just made people uncomfortable... made people feel oppressed, blocked.

Joe Farrow remembered that he didn't seem to be talking like this yesterday. How did it change all of a sudden today?

Was it intentional or unintentional, was he pondering lines and acting, or did he have a cold? Joe Farrow had some questions in his heart.

However, thinking so much made no sense; he was just an assistant director, a small fry running errands.

"Okay. Thank you." Joe Farrow said thank you and walked into the room.

He had communicated with him all at the door before; this was Joe Farrow's first time walking into 921.

After entering, he realized that the room wasn't entirely dark. A small desk lamp was placed on the floor in the corner of the room, emitting a gray, hazy light.

On the floor??

What the fuck!?

Joe Farrow reacted instantly, and then was shocked.

Although the hotel arranged by the crew couldn't be called luxurious, it was also a local three-star hotel in LA. The room had everything it should have, such as wardrobes, desks, safes, TVs, sofas, etc. It was absolutely impossible to be like this in front of his eyes now.

The room was empty, almost nothing was left. There was only a small bed in the middle of the room, and a full-length mirror opposite the bed. Beside the full-length mirror was a lamp. The carpet had been ripped off, revealing the pitch-black cement floor, and the wallpaper was gone, revealing the pitted brick wall.

No wonder the waiter just said it was hell.

Suddenly entering such a simple and ugly room from the beautifully decorated corridor truly gave a feeling of crossing from the beautiful human world into the scorched earth of fire, making Joe Farrow think of scenes from *The Exorcist*.

Joe Farrow could guarantee that the crew had never negotiated this with the hotel; it must have been the actor himself who went to talk to them.

He must have paid a considerable price for this. Otherwise, under normal circumstances, how could the hotel agree to let a guest mess around like this.

Not only that, Joe Farrow also saw that the brick wall opposite the bed was covered with sheets of paper.

A3 size, covering all the space that could be covered. They weren't words, nor were they any scripts, but pictures.

Although they weren't drawn well, they could be called crude, but Joe Farrow could tell that they were faces.

I don't know if they were the same person, but in short, they were different angles and different expressions.

Fine, it didn't look like there was any place to sit, so Joe Farrow didn't walk forward anymore. He turned around after a few steps in the door and said: "Chen, the director asked me to tell you, tomorrow we'll film............ WTF."

Before he finished speaking, Joe Farrow was startled.

That day, he took him to do the makeup, and after the makeup was finished, he also took him to change into the costume.

He had participated in the entire makeup process, so Joe Farrow could determine that the makeup on his face now was exactly the one drawn that day, and the suit he was wearing was also the one he chose himself.

Mysterious and noble purple, now worn wrinkled by him, presenting a color close to pure black in the dim light, while giving people a feeling of being mixed and dirty.

Joe Farrow had been an assistant director in major Hollywood crews for many years and could definitely be considered experienced and knowledgeable, but he had never seen this kind of person.

"My God, Chen, you haven't changed clothes for so many days? You haven't taken off your makeup? Have you been like this the whole time?"

The other party didn't speak, just pulled the corners of his mouth with that terrifying smiling face.

Joe Farrow couldn't take it anymore. Staying alone with such a terrifying freak in a gloomy room, his calves were truly trembling a bit.

He coughed lightly and said: "God is my witness, you are definitely the most dedicated actor I have seen in these years. Fine, let's talk business. Nolan asked me to come over and tell you, tomorrow is your first scene, the content is..."

Joe Farrow tried his best to be concise and said the matter. Seeing that the other party had no questions or opinions, he didn't want to stay in this room for a second longer and left immediately.

The hotel door closed.

Chen Nuo returned to the bed and sat down, facing the full-length mirror.

Inside was a real and terrifying person.

John Caglione's makeup technique was much better than his half-baked one. The face he had gained weight for also gave this makeup master enough room to play.

With his cooperation, John Caglione used white chalk foundation and coffee-yellow makeup pigments to draw wrinkle effects that were almost real on his face.

Not only several deep and thick forehead wrinkles, but also crow's feet at the corners of the eyes, nasolabial folds at the corners of the mouth, and fine laugh lines on both cheeks, densely spread on the white clown's face, making his entire age jump up by a large margin.

Moreover, John Caglione was still not satisfied with this; he was determined to make the audience unable to see Chen Nuo's real age.

But there wasn't much room for play on the face, so what should he do?

John Caglione had a way.

He pushed back Chen Nuo's hair, pushing his hairline back by about an inch alive.

Especially on both sides of the forehead, it was more than an inch.

If someone in reality had this hairline, applying minoxidil definitely wouldn't save it.

Finally, John Caglione looked him up and down and found another flaw.

He asked Chen Nuo to open his mouth and used a special edible pigment to paint his two rows of teeth yellow, just like a 10-year-old heavy smoker.

Only then did he stop.

This wasn't over yet. After makeup artist John Caglione, it was the turn of costume stylist Lindy Hemming.

Even though Chen Nuo had gained more than 20 pounds, Lindy Hemming still felt that Chen Nuo's Asian physique was a bit thin.

So she sewed shoulder pads and sponges into the costume's shoulders and back, making Chen Nuo's shoulders wider and thicker and his back hunched when he put it on.

Then she matched him with a pair of wide and thick suit pants, making his whole person instantly look another 10 pounds heavier.

This was what Chen Nuo saw of himself in the full-length mirror now.

A pink wound split to the ears, two pitch-black shadows around the eyes, age around 35, a bit fat, a bit balding, opening his mouth, a mouthful of yellow teeth.

Under the heavy makeup, it was difficult to distinguish his specific race.

Because he had a physique like a middle-aged white man, which could be called burly. He had locked himself in the room for these few days with only one purpose.

To find out how he should walk, smile, and speak in this new makeup.

He adjusted many times for this.

Even to practice the smile more accurately, he first drew many graffiti, stuck them on the wall, and then imitated them one by one.

Finally, he faced the mirror to carefully distinguish the differences between each smile.

He turned off his phone. Except for the hotel waiter who delivered his meals every day, he completely cut off all contact with the outside world.

He locked himself in this enclosed space, letting the darkness all around press on him, forcing him to devote his whole heart and soul.

He not only practiced smiling, but also walking, talking, and even every move.

This wasn't difficult for him, because through more than three months of immersion, he clearly had such a dark figure in his heart.

All he had to do now was to externalize him and show him in the real world.

Finally, last night, he did it.

He re-learned how to smile, how to talk, how to walk, how to move.

At this moment, he deeply realized that, just as Christopher Nolan said at the beginning, the Joker is not a demon; he is just a mortal.

That's right, indeed.

It's just that this mortal believes that evil itself is the deepest base color of this world, and everyone in the world is evil.

In his heart, there only exist existing villains and immature villains in the world. As long as the environment is suitable, everyone can become a "Joker."

His evil was never for simple private desires, not to rule Gotham or take revenge on Batman.

He had nothing, didn't want to get anything, and everything he did was just to share his beloved evil and chaos with others.

He believes that evil is universal and absolute, and does not only exist in the dark corners on the edge of society.

Evil is actually stirring in everyone's heart.

This is the Joker that Chen Nuo finally formed, a "missionary of evil."

Now, he is ready.

June 6, 2006, 10:00 AM, Warner Studio.

Christopher Nolan didn't know if it was God's will, so that the first scene of filming the Joker was strangely arranged on 666, the mark of Satan.

This made him feel that there was a destined feeling in the dark.

His brother Jonathan, as the screenwriter, and producer Charles Roven also came to the scene today.

And, Christian Bale, the Batman in the play, the Joker's nemesis, although he didn't have his scenes today, he still came.

Everyone came just to see if this Chinese boy, who had dared to defy the world and was chosen, could meet their requirements.

Christopher Nolan was doing the final scheduling and preparation before filming. Chen Nuo stood aside with several black supporting actors and listened very carefully.

Not far away, these core figures of *The Dark Knight* crew stood together, chatting while watching.

Bale hadn't seen Chen Nuo before, nor had he seen the Joker makeup, and first praised it, then asked frankly: "Charles, I still can't believe until now that you guys actually replaced Heath Ledger and chose this Chen."

"I don't want to question his age or anything else, just starting from acting, do you guys really think he can handle the Joker role?"

"Jonathan's script is too great, and the Joker is undoubtedly the most wonderful character in the entire script. Handed over to this Chinese boy, aren't you worried he'll mess it up?"

Charles Roven shrugged: "Regarding this question, I suggest you ask Jonathan. This boy was picked up by Jonathan on the side of the road in Hong Kong. He was the one who brought him to Hollywood and bet his reputation to convince us."

Jonathan Nolan laughed and said: "Charles, I really admire your ability to talk nonsense and this damn humor. I think Susan agreed to marry you back then, maybe she was deceived by you."

"Christian, don't listen to his nonsense. I am indeed good friends with Chen's agent; he is my former alumnus at Georgetown University. Chen is not someone picked up on the side of the road; he won the Berlin Film Festival Best Actor before this."

Christian Bale laughed. "Then he's really amazing."

Jonathan Nolan looked at the other party's expression and knew that the other party was saying one thing but meaning another.

He knew that there were many people in *The Dark Knight* crew who had similar thoughts to Christian Bale, from actors to staff, almost no one didn't have doubts about Chen.

Otherwise, Chen just locked himself in the room for a few days, which was undoubtedly to immerse himself in the role, and there were so many rumors spreading in the crew.

The most outrageous one was that the Chinese boy was scared and had already slipped back to China, and the crew was preparing to re-select the role. This rumor spread to the outside world, and there were really actors submitting resumes to the crew.

Charles Roven brought a hint of inexplicable smile and also talked about this matter: "I heard he has been locking himself in the room these days? My God, he is truly dedicated. Christian, if it were you, would you need to do this?"

Christian Bale also laughed: "Charles, I understand Chen's approach. Although for experienced actors, this role can give them a lot of room to play, but for newcomer actors, a role like the Joker will indeed put huge pressure on them. Such immersive experience can make them closer to the role."

Charles Roven laughed: "My question is, then if it were you, would you?"

Bale shrugged: "Don't know, maybe, maybe not. However, take today's scene, a gangster boss is plotting against the Joker, but is suddenly broken into and killed by him. Among them, the action scene is not difficult. The difficulty lies in the Joker's monologue."

"We have all read the script. Jonathan's writing is not like a general superhero film. His excavation of the inner heart of the characters inside is absolutely an unprecedented attempt. I already felt it when filming the first part, but in the second part, Jonathan went from bad to worse, not only for me, but also for the Joker. Chen wants to act well in today's scene, he definitely needs to challenge his limits."

Charles Roven sighed and said: "You are right. I originally thought *Batman Begins* was heavy enough, but now I have to accept the fact that *Batman 2* is stepping into a deeper abyss. Jonathan, although we have discussed it many times before, I still don't agree with your darker style."

Jonathan Nolan said: "We have discussed this issue many times, Charles."

Charles Roven said: "Right, although I also agree with part of your opinion, indeed pulling Batman off the altar and letting him become a person like the Joker, only in this way can we write a new chapter on the invincible Batman image of the past. But in the script of this second part, have you gone too far? I'm really worried that Batman's comic fans can't accept such a heavy theme."

Jonathan Nolan said: "Charles, on this point, I still hold the point of view from the beginning. Excavating the human side of superheroes and exposing their pain and struggle might make some comic fans unable to accept it, but such tragic heroes, undoubtedly, can attract more ordinary audiences to walk into the cinema."

Charles Roven said: "I still don't agree with your radical approach. You know, when I finished reading your script, God, I even felt that the Joker's character was more attractive than Batman's. Although he is a demon, a classic villain, will he be too outstanding, so as to cover up Batman's light?"

Christian Bale said dissatisfiedly: "Charles, although I agree with part of your point of view, I don't agree with what you said, that the Joker can cover up Batman's light. The script is just a script after all, and how the final effect is filmed still cannot be separated from the respective interpretations of the actors."

"I don't think the Batman I act will be worse than the Joker acted by the Chinese boy. Even if my face is covered by a mask most of the time. But please have some confidence in me. Two gentlemen, I think I can make him lose completely with just one mouth exposed."

Christian Bale's last few sentences sounded like just a joke, seemingly wanting to reconcile the vaguely tense atmosphere just now.

However, Jonathan Nolan knew that this should be his true words.

Which Hollywood superstar who entered the 20 million club is not arrogant?

No matter how humble they look on the outside, they are all illusions.

Not to mention anything else, just the experience of standing out from the thousands of handsome men and beauties in Hollywood is enough for them to despise everything.

If you want them to look at you squarely, besides your past box office records, there is only your own acting strength.

At this time, Christopher Nolan finally arranged the on-site camera scheduling and the positioning of several actors, walked over, and smiled at several people: "Gentlemen, this is Chen's first scene. With so many of you here, it will increase his psychological pressure. Especially you, Christian, with you here, I'm worried Chen will perform abnormally."

Bale also smiled and said: "I don't think so. At least I noticed just now that he didn't look at us. He should be very involved now, right? Christopher."

Nolan sat by the monitor and said: "Honestly, I don't know. He didn't say a word from beginning to end. I hope he is involved in the role, not that he has developed some psychological problems in the hotel. Alright, let's start."

After speaking, he picked up the walkie-talkie and said to it: "Action."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 140 =====