The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 583

For a week, Matthew and Charlize filmed with the crew, first on the backlot of Warner Studios, then on the streets of Los Angeles, before returning to the studio.

The action sequences were wrapping up.

"Cut!"

At last, the director, Peter Berg, shouted, calling a stop to the filming.

Matthew, his head and face dusted with artificial snow, helped Charlize up from the ground as several crew members began to clear the set.

After cleaning up, they each returned to their respective dressing rooms. Matthew removed his makeup and came out, then waited a short while before Charlize emerged, a bag slung over her back.

"Let's go," Charlize said, and they walked together toward the studio exit.

Once outside the studio, Matthew got into a Mercedes SUV. He first drove Charlize to her house to pick up her luggage, and then they headed for the Los Angeles airport.

"What's the rush?"

Caught in midday traffic at an intersection near the airport, Matthew asked Charlize in the passenger seat, "Even if you're in a hurry to get to Portland, you don't have to leave tonight. Is there trouble on the set of *The Burning Plain*?"Charlize shrugged. "No, but I can't keep the crew waiting."

Matthew was quiet for a moment before asking, "What made you take on a film like this?"

He had read her script, and it was incredibly complex. It didn't seem like a commercial genre film at all, with its multiple storylines and constantly intercutting scenes.

From his point of view, it was an uncompromisingly formal script. If you stripped away the parallel narratives, the story would become bland, its structure confusing and its dialogue verbose—an exercise in storytelling that would never connect with an audience.

"We all have different philosophies when it comes to film," Charlize replied vaguely.

As Matthew considered it, he realized Charlize was the kind of actress who did both arthouse and commercial films, though she generally leaned toward the former. The commercial success of *Mr. & Mrs. Smith* had certainly given her more freedom to take on smaller, independent productions.

Charlize continued, "I'm also a producer on this film, so I have a lot of say. The production will be guided by my vision."

The long line of traffic began to move faster, and Matthew pulled the car forward, soon dropping Charlize off at the airport entrance.

"I'll visit you in Portland sometime," Matthew told her.

Charlize simply nodded and walked into the terminal, pulling her luggage behind her.

Without another thought, Matthew got back into his car and headed for Beverly Hills.

***

Charlize's scenes were complete, but filming for *Hancock* was still underway. Matthew continued to report to Warner Studios on time each day to shoot his remaining scenes. The entire production was in its final stages, well ahead of schedule, meaning the crew could move on to post-production before October.

This would also give the visual effects team ample time to polish the sequences that were so crucial for a major commercial film.

A PR event with a supporting actor, a basketball game on a prison court, and other similar scenes—all were filmed in less than five days, thanks to the crew's seamless teamwork and Matthew's excellent form.

For the very last scene of the shoot, the crew set up in an old bar near a side entrance to Warner Studios.

It was also a dialogue-heavy scene in which a young girl, played by

Nina, strikes up a conversation with Hancock.

Inside the bar, Matthew sat at a table, a pile of empty bottles crowded in front of him. He looked as though he'd had far too much to drink.

Nina and another young woman entered the bar one after the other, spotted Matthew at once, and approached his table.

"Hey..." she greeted.

Matthew ignored her, grabbing a bottle of wine as he stood up and headed for the exit. Nina followed, speaking without a pause, "We've been looking for you everywhere! Every strip club, every nightclub... we've checked every single dive!"

***

Matthew and Nina left the bar and got into a car.

"Cut!" Peter Berg emerged from the bar and announced, "That's an official wrap!"

The crew instantly erupted in applause, grinning at one another, as Nina approached Matthew with a smile. "Want to catch a gymnastics show tonight...?"

Matthew said nothing.

Seeing his silence, Nina stepped closer, lowered her voice, and whispered a few more words.

Half an hour later, Matthew drove Nina to the hotel where she was staying.