Chapter 330

The male lead played by Leonardo still told the "truth" about what happened between him and his lover one by one.

In his words, someone had obtained evidence of him and the lover character played by Jessica Chastain both cheating and betraying their families, and had even sent him blackmail text messages.

That was why he had taken 200,000 US dollars and gone with his lover to a hotel far away specified by the other party to conduct the transaction, wanting to redeem the evidence.

After all, 200,000 US dollars was a drop in the bucket compared to the half of the family assets that would be split in a divorce.

But upon going there, they waited for a long time without seeing anyone, and finally received another text message changing the transaction location.

"We thought it was a trap, so we immediately prepared to leave."

"And then?"

"I picked up the case with the money, and just as I straightened my back, I was knocked unconscious. I don't know how long I was unconscious; when I woke up, I heard the police knocking on the door, and she was dead..."

"Cut!"

Lin Nan called out softly.

Leonardo and Naomi Watts instantly walked out of their acting state.

"Lin, how was it?"

"Fantastic, you perfectly performed the image of a coward, remorseful, innocent, loving his wife and family, just an honest man who accidentally cheated, and a victim."

Lin Nan did not spare his praise at all; this was the truth.

"If you didn't read the script, who would have thought that the real male lead is a selfish, hypocritical, vicious, and scheming guy!"

Naomi Watts glanced at Lin Nan and Leonardo, joking with a smile.

When she first got this script, she was really stunned, because the characters and plot were infinitely reversing; it was very exciting.

"Alright, let's stop filming here for today. Later, we have to go on location to film the content of your lies over and over again."

Lin Nan said to Leonardo and everyone.

Hollywood has very strict requirements for film shooting time; he didn't want to be troubled by the union.

"Mm, okay. Then see you tomorrow." The two said in unison.

When returning to Beverly Hills, Lin Nan saw another party invitation.

"Which movie's cocktail party is it this time?"

Liu Yifei was already prepared to go take a shower, but seeing Lin Nan looking at the invitation in the first-floor living room, she asked casually.

"Ignore it, I'm not going anywhere tonight."

Lin Nan looked up at Liu Yifei and smiled pointedly.

Seeing this, Liu Yifei was clearly stunned, and a red glow immediately appeared on her face:

"I don't care where you go; I'm going to take a shower..."

As she spoke, she walked away without looking back, heading straight for the bathroom.

Lin Nan smiled and withdrew his gaze, humming a little tune, although he was a bit tone-deaf.

He looked again at the invitation in his hand from The Weinstein Company.

The next second, Lin Nan casually threw it into the trash can; he didn't want to deal with this guy.

Not to mention that the domestic impression of Weinstein was extremely bad, even in Hollywood, this was a notorious figure, disdained by many production companies.

Just because this guy was well-versed in Oscar public relations, and his methods were both dark and despicable.

Many directors, actors, large companies, and even giants had suffered losses and been smeared by him.

The next day, *The Invisible Guest* set.

"Lin, is Crystal not coming today?"

The two assistants stuffed the suitcases into the BMW at the back and sat in.

Liu Yifei followed Lin Nan into the Mercedes in the middle, while Tang Mu went to the G-Wagon at the front; he was responsible for clearing the path.

The three SUVs sped off in the direction of Hollywood.

The group had just arrived at Crystal Pictures when news of Liu Yifei appeared on domestic web portals; it was already ten in the evening there.

"Liu Yifei arrives in Hollywood; Director Lin Nan picks her up at the airport, embracing affectionately."

"Crystal Pictures boss Tang Mu travels with Director Lin and others..."

Lin Nan and the others didn't go to the company but returned to Beverly Hills.

Liu Yifei couldn't stay by Lin Nan's side every day; she still had to fly to Paris, Italy, and New York later.

"I expect that in the invitations sent by those cocktail parties over the next two days, there will be one for you as well."

After several films, Liu Yifei had gained some popularity here as well.

"Jessica Chastain? Naomi Watts?"

Hearing Lin Nan's words, Liu Yifei just nodded and began looking at the casting list.

"We went to see *King Kong* back then; is that her?"

Liu Yifei suddenly realized and asked Lin Nan in surprise.

"Yeah, I only realized it two days ago myself; after all, it's been seven years."

Lin Nan smiled and nodded, "Once we start filming, I'll introduce you to them."

"Mm, sounds good."

In the afternoon, Lin Nan met the candidate for the male supporting role, Tom Berenger, at Crystal Pictures.

Come to think of it, they had already collaborated once before, in *Inception*.

Lin Nan and Liu Yifei were members of the main cast, while he was just a minor supporting role with few shots.

The character he played was the helmsman of a family conglomerate, who only told his son before dying that the latter was the most cherished treasure of his life.

Although not very famous, his acting skills were solid; usually, besides appearing in some films, he did Broadway stage plays.

"Very happy to see you again, Lin."

Lin Nan also showed a smile and shook his hand.

"Me too, looking forward to our collaboration on this film."

His age was very appropriate; he was just right to play the father of an adult, and he didn't even need deliberate old-age makeup.

Having finalized the main actors, the remaining unimportant supporting roles could be easily found through the Screen Actors Guild.

"Leo, how are the preparations going?"

"OK, no problem."

"That's good. I saw the gossip news; they photographed you taking Margot Robbie back to your apartment?"

Lin Nan held the phone and teased with great interest.

"These paparazzi are still so boring..." On the other end of the phone came Leonardo's grumbling.

"Then get ready. I hope to finish this film within a month, like *The Hunt*, and return to China before the end of January. I don't want to spend New Year's Eve here."

Lin Nan spoke very seriously and glanced at Liu Yifei beside him; she nodded at him, clearly also in favor of returning before New Year's Eve.

"Rest assured, Lin. Believe in our strength."

Before Crystal Pictures announced the completion of casting, Liu Yifei had already kept her promise to her fans before coming here and posted the film's casting list on Weibo.

"Keeping my word, this is the final casting list for *The Invisible Guest*:

Male lead: Leonardo; Female lead: Naomi Watts; Female supporting role: Jessica Chastain..."

The focus of the media and the film industry was immediately drawn over.

Besides the well-known Leonardo, the other actors were quickly searched.

"Damn, the female leads from *The Ring* and *King Kong*, plus the female lead from *The Tree of Life*..."

"The big actresses in China losing to Jessica Chastain doesn't seem unfair at all. She was the female lead in the film that won the Palme d'Or last year!"

"Liu Yifei is capable; it seems Hollywood hasn't even officially announced it yet!"

"Nonsense, look at who this is!"

To be honest, seeing that Liu Yifei was truly not on the casting list, many young actresses felt inexplicably relieved.

Although Liu Yifei had previously clearly stated that she would not be in this film.

But only now did everyone truly believe it.

When it was still the last day of December in Los Angeles, China was already celebrating New Year's Day.

*Lost in Thailand* successfully crossed 1.1 billion, and at this time, the box office reached 1.11 billion.

Taking advantage of the New Year's Day mini-holiday, the daily box office might even increase a bit, approaching 10 million.

Jackie Chan's *Chinese Zodiac* continued its winning streak, taking 11 days to break 600 million, leaving the various producers both happy and heartbroken.

The reason for the heartbreak was that the extension key hadn't been approved, which would inevitably lead to a loss in box office revenue.

"StarMe's film *The Guillotines* has suffered another defeat, falling before the New Year's holiday, exiting with a box office of 70 million..."

"*The Last Tycoon*'s box office barely reached 92.4 million; the daily box office has fallen below 2 million, with no hope of breaking even, resulting in huge losses."

"*The Grandmaster* held its premiere ceremony in the capital and announced that it has been invited to be the opening film of this year's Berlin Film Festival..."

"Director Lin Nan's new film *The Invisible Guest* officially started filming in Hollywood at around 11 PM China time tonight!"

*The Invisible Guest* set.

Since *The Hunt*, Lin Nan hadn't touched a foreign-language film again, so he attached great importance to this one.

Naomi Watts, with short silver-white hair and old-age makeup, gave Lin Nan an OK gesture. Leonardo on the other side did the same.

"Then everyone take your positions."

Lin Nan prepared to start with the dialogue scenes, still using the flashback filming method, consistent with the plot progression; this was more conducive to actors getting into character and gradually reaching the climax.

Liu Yifei was arranged to be by Lin Nan's side, preparing to learn from the two Hollywood actresses.

"First scene, first shot, action!"

She carried a briefcase, exuding an extraordinary temperament, and walked into the hotel elevator with an expressionless face; the look in her eyes in the shot carried wisdom and an indescribable emotion.

Walking to a room, she pressed the doorbell; the person opening the door was Leonardo, who looked slightly tired and listless—he was disguised very well!

"Mr. Adrian, I am the defense attorney Virginia; your lawyer sent me..."

Leonardo rubbed his eyes and let her in, "Wait a moment, I need to change my clothes."

Naomi Watts, playing the elderly female lawyer, nodded and was immediately drawn to the TV news playing; it was introducing the investigation of a murder case.

The parties involved in the murder were the male lead played by Leonardo and the lover played by Jessica Chastain.

However, the introduction in the news didn't use definitive terms, only saying that the man was a major suspect in the woman's death, and the latter claimed that he was also a victim of a conspiracy.

The area outside the hotel was blocked solid; there were not only Hollywood media but also domestic media.

A film by a Golden Lion-winning director from the East, collaborating with Leonardo and others, was worth the attention of all Hollywood media.

They also hoped to obtain more news material.

And the domestic reporters stationed abroad were one more excited than the other.

Because before Lin Nan came here, he hadn't revealed a single word about this film in China.

Now everyone only knew the name of the film; as for the content, there was no way to know.

Filming continued, and Leonardo appeared incomparably calm.

"I am innocent; I have told you all the truth I should have, without any concealment..."

He said to the elderly female lawyer played by Naomi Watts.

"Your testimony has many loopholes; I need specific details to better defend you... I guarantee to help you win the case... In all these years, I have never lost..."

"The police have been watching me 24 hours a day; I feel like I'm in prison. If there was anything else to say, could I have waited until now?"

Lin Nan looked at the two people in the shot and nodded with satisfaction.

With good actors, a director only needs to make their requirements clear; there's no need to worry too much.