The filming of The New Batman proceeded smoothly amid the chaos.
With Martin's backing, Christopher Nolan quickly took control of the set, avoiding the actions from the original timeline where he had dismissed nine crew members, including the director of photography, to establish his authority.
However, this might not have been a good thing.
In the second week after arriving in New York, the crew was scheduled to assemble at 9:30 AM, but by 10:00 AM, the shooting still hadn't started. Nolan kept checking his watch, and his growing frustration was evident.
The director of photography, Murphy Raphael, had not shown up, and worse still, his phone was unreachable.
Raphael, a New Yorker, didn't stay in a hotel like the other crew members but instead lived at his own home. The problem was, no one on set knew where he lived.
The role of a director of photography in a film is crucial, and without one, production comes to a halt.
Nolan wasn't the type to remain passive. After another failed attempt to reach Raphael, he finally exploded in anger.
"I'm going to fire him. Fuck, I'm definitely firing him!"
Steve, the producer sent by Warner, asked, "Is everything okay? Should we call the police?"
"Call the police!" Martin responded.
Before they could make the call, however, the NYPD was already on the line.
It turned out that during a routine check earlier that morning, they had found Raphael's car and discovered large quantities of leaves and white powder in it.
In the chaotic North American entertainment industry, using drugs wasn't a big deal, but hiding them was. What made it worse was that he had been caught red-handed by the police.
"Damn it!"
Nolan, now calmer, turned to Steve, "Get him out of here and make him leave. We can't afford a scandal on this set."
Steve looked at Martin.
Martin nodded slightly.
Nolan's response was entirely justified. If a crew member turned out to be involved in drugs, it would likely be exaggerated by the media as "crew members caught using drugs" or "drug-fueled parties." Such negative press might not harm other films, but what were they making?
A superhero film! Batman!
If the Batman crew was involved in a drug scandal, it would be a slap in the face!
If Raphael wasn't fired, this "evidence" would definitely be used against them by their competitors.
Nolan had certainly thought of this, and he acted decisively.
Martin watched him appreciatively.
Raphael was fired.
Until the new director of photography arrived, Nolan decided to take the reins himself.
Most directors have some understanding of cinematography, as it's a necessary skill.
Nolan, in particular, had an in-depth understanding of cinematography. Many of his films feature shots that he himself has personally filmed to achieve the desired effect.
Although many directors have this skill, it's rare for one to fully take on the role of cinematographer. The workload is too heavy, and it's easy to become distracted, especially on a big production like Batman.
So, the next day, when the new director of photography arrived, Nolan handed over the camera.
Production was back on track.
"The Moment of War, Scene 22, Act 3, starting now!"
The lighting on set had a slightly eerie vibe. An orange light cast on Katie Holmes' face gave her portrayal of Rachel Dawes a holy aura, reflecting her inner, unwavering faith.
At the edge of the orange light, where darkness met light, several burly men in black suits lay motionless on the floor.
A tall and muscular man hidden in the shadows spoke to Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes), "When your strength doesn't match your sense of justice, so-called perseverance is just a joke. First, you must protect yourself before you can protect others!"
Katie Holmes paused for a moment, turned to look at Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) in the shadows, and spoke with the same unwavering determination in her voice as in her expression:
"I have strength; the law is my strength! Crimes should be judged by the law, not like you, resorting to violence to resolve them!"
The tall figure in the shadows suddenly rose. His black outfit made him blend in with the darkness, as if he were the shadow itself. "Law? Who is the law? Who represents the law? Who enforces the law? In this city, the law is just for show. Only when people fear them will they relent, and then the law can be enforced! Otherwise, it's all just talk…"
"Cut! Ben, that was fantastic! Katie, I need your emotion to be a bit more intense, your…" Nolan calmly directed Katie Holmes.
Tim Burton and Jack Nicholson walked into the abandoned hotel, and after turning down a dark hallway, they saw the Batman crew filming in the lobby.
This was an abandoned hotel in New York that the Batman crew had rented and turned into a studio to shoot scenes set in Arkham Asylum.
Jack Nicholson took a look around and shrugged. "This atmosphere, you can tell it's another dark-themed Batman. Tim, what do you think?"
Tim Burton, his hair messy like tangled weeds, shook his head. "I'm not sure. Dark-themed superheroes are tough to shoot, but I've seen Martin's script, or I wouldn't have come."
Tim then gave Jack a puzzled look. "Why are you here? Did they invite you too?"
"No, not exactly," Jack Nicholson shrugged. "I'm here to find Martin. I'm here on behalf of another Martin."
"Another Martin?" Tim Burton didn't quite get it.
"Martin Scorsese," Jack Nicholson revealed the answer.
"Scorsese? What does he want with Martin?"
"He's interested in a Hong Kong film, but I heard the rights have already been bought by Martin. Since I'm coming to New York, he asked me to meet with him."
"A Hong Kong film? Seriously?"
Tim Burton, who had grown older and watched fewer films recently, still associated Hong Kong cinema with action and comedy, not something that would pique Martin Scorsese's interest.
Scorsese, the small Italian-American director, had become obsessed with winning Oscars. The films he wanted to make were those that could contend for awards.
"Yes, I recommended the film to Scorsese. I've seen the original, and honestly, it's amazing! But the Eastern style of storytelling is too restrained for me."
"That film is called—Infernal Affairs!"