Hearing Gal Gadot's question, Murphy gave her a curious look, "Of course it's true. How could I joke about something like this?"
"But have you thought about it?" Gal Gadot turned to face Murphy, saying, "This will throw you back into the public's crosshairs."
Murphy dismissed the concern, "I don't care."
Gal Gadot raised her voice slightly, "But the paparazzi and journalists will destroy our lives."
She knew Murphy didn't care about reporters and paparazzi, nor did he care about the media and public opinion. Otherwise, he would have distanced himself from Ross long ago. To persuade Murphy, she had to appeal to what he cared about most.
"Have you thought about me?" Gal Gadot spoke earnestly. "Murphy, do you know how much pressure I will face? I'll be harassed by paparazzi daily, constantly asked if my boyfriend is a drug dealer. Have you considered how I will feel?"
Murphy fell silent. He hadn't thought of this.
It's foolish to say his issues wouldn't affect Gal Gadot. She would inevitably face media and reporters' questions.
"I'm very sorry, my dear." Murphy leaned in to kiss her forehead. "I overlooked your feelings."
Gal Gadot wrapped her arms around Murphy, burying her head in his warm embrace, hoping to sway him with her tenderness.
But Murphy continued, "If it were any other movie, I could give it up."
For some reason, Gal Gadot felt a bit aggrieved but didn't show it. Instead, she said, "Murphy, are you sure you're the best director for this?"
She knew that although Murphy wasn't stubborn, confronting him directly about Ross was foolish. Indirect, subtle persuasion was better.
"Hmm?" Murphy looked at Gal Gadot, not understanding her meaning.
"When you were filming 'The Wolf of Wall Street,' you said that the key to making a biographical film is the director
's and the film's stance," Gal Gadot reminded him. "Can you ensure that the film's perspective won't lean towards Ross? If you end up advocating for Ross, the film loses its purpose."
Murphy found himself momentarily speechless.
Frankly, he couldn't guarantee an unbiased stance because, from his perspective, Ross's situation was due not only to his own choices but also to societal factors.
Gal Gadot glanced at Murphy and then released him, guiding him to sit on the sofa. She continued, "I may not know as much about filmmaking as you do, but I do know that a biographical film with a biased perspective can become a laughingstock."
"Mm..." Murphy nodded lightly.
Regardless of Gal Gadot's intentions, her point was valid.
He sighed softly, contemplating her words before saying, "Alright, I'll give it serious thought. If I can't maintain an unbiased perspective, I won't force it."
Gal Gadot smiled slightly and gave Murphy a gentle peck on the lips.
Given Murphy's character, if he recognized his bias, he wouldn't push forward. Nowadays, finding a director for a biographical film in Hollywood wasn't hard.
She understood that Murphy might still decide to direct Ross's film, but with the right approach, she could gradually dissuade him over time.
In such matters, patience was key. Gal Gadot, although rarely needing to, knew how to wield her influence effectively.
Murphy checked the clock, then pulled Gal Gadot up from the sofa. "Let's go to bed. We have a lot to do tomorrow."
Holding Murphy's arm tightly, Gal Gadot followed him upstairs.
Just as Gal Gadot understood Murphy, Murphy also understood Gal Gadot. He had realized her intentions but still agreed to consider her perspective.
It wasn't about the director's stance on the film, but rather about her earlier points.
Murphy acknowledged that he had indeed overlooked Gal Gadot's feelings.
Facing challenges alone was different from facing them together. While he could handle the public scrutiny, he needed to consider whether it would harm Gal Gadot. Initially, his pursuit of her was partly influenced by her role as Wonder Woman, but over time, their bond had deepened into something more profound.
Though they hadn't married or even made formal commitments, Murphy already considered them a family. Gal Gadot's words had made him realize that he needed to think about their family before making certain decisions.
No matter what, he wouldn't let their home be harmed.
Therefore, he genuinely reconsidered Gal Gadot's advice.
With ample time, he could think it through carefully.
The next morning, the crew returned to the studio, and Murphy resumed filming his new project.
At this stage, Henry Cavill's on-screen time would decrease, with his stunt doubles taking over more frequently. Since the character would often wear a mask during these scenes, Murphy aimed to minimize Henry Cavill's involvement in action sequences.
Additionally, Murphy arranged for the crew to prepare specialized costumes and masks for Henry Cavill's character, Chris Darnell.
The costume, designed with Kevlar material, emphasized sharp, angular lines and practicality, aligning with the film's realistic style, predominantly in black.
The mask was simple, made using the latest carbon fiber technology, costly but effective. It covered the entire head, with a rectangular opening around the eyes for visibility.
The overall look wasn't particularly striking, resembling a black-clad soldier more than anything else.
Given the film's dark, realistic tone, Murphy didn't want a flashy costume for the protagonist, as it would undermine the character's grim, burdened mindset.
"Camera?"
"OK!"
"Lighting?"
"OK!"
"…"
After the routine checks, Murphy had the clapperboard announce the start.
The set was designed as a subway station. Chris Darnell, having just saved Jay Rachel from a group of thugs, was about to leave when she called out to him.
"Wait!" Margot Robbie took a step forward, causing the masked Henry Cavill to turn back. Through the mask's eye slits, his eyes flickered. Margot Robbie looked at him, hurriedly saying, "You're going to get yourself killed. At least let me know who you are!"
Henry Cavill hesitated briefly, then replied gruffly, "Who I am beneath the mask doesn't matter. What I do defines me."
With that, he turned and jumped towards the subway tracks. Margot Robbie exclaimed in surprise, "Chris?"
"Well done!"
With the actors in good form, Murphy immediately called the shot, "That's a wrap for this scene!"
As the actors went to remove their makeup and rest, Murphy moved to another set nearby. Michelle Williams and the action director were leading some stunt actors in filming a fight scene.
Murphy entrusted the action director with the entire sequence, not interfering but watching from the sidelines. The action director, experienced and skilled, designed moves that matched Murphy's requirements—no frills, purely practical combat.
During pre-production, 20th Century Fox had suggested using more flamboyant martial arts routines, but Murphy dismissed the idea. While Hong Kong's action choreography had transformed Hollywood action films, Murphy wanted a more grounded approach for this project.
He aimed for a realistic portrayal akin to Wonder Woman's combat in "Man of Steel." While flashy martial arts could look good, they didn't suit every film.
For instance, in his realistic film, having the protagonist perform flashy moves would disrupt the film's tone. Similarly, the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy wouldn't have benefited from martial arts choreography, as it would have been jarringly out of place.
After observing the action sequence and finding no issues, Murphy returned to his set, where the crew had moved to another green screen location.
After a brief wait, the freshly made-up Margot Robbie and Henry Cavill arrived on set.
Following some adjustments, Murphy announced the resumption of filming.
In the green screen setup, Margot Robbie cautiously approached Henry Cavill. They exchanged a meaningful look, their eyes conveying a complex mix of emotions.
Murphy watched their performance from behind the monitor. This long take required the actors to deliver a powerful, emotional performance.
"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you."
Chris Darnell's line carried a weighty implication. In this realistic film, the protagonist's fight against crime meant living in isolation.
"You don't need to apologize, Chris... I've been thinking about you, and about us..."
Margot Robbie drew closer, and the two embraced, seemingly heading towards a typical Hollywood happy ending. But Margot Robbie then pulled away.
"You're the dark knight, the nemesis of evil. Chris is left somewhere in this world. Perhaps when New York is truly safe, he'll return..."
The day was mainly focused on shooting scenes between Henry Cavill and Margot Robbie. As the day ended, Murphy called the lead actors to his office to discuss the next day's revised scenes.
Murphy always communicated changes with the actors beforehand, rather than surprising them with on-the-spot alterations like some directors.
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