In the early morning, the first ray of sunlight struggled to pierce through the mist, settling steadily on the windowsill, coating the slightly worn sill with a faint golden hue.
However, Kazir frowned, his brow furrowed into a 'river' character—a cacophony of shouting came from outside the window, sharp and piercing, as if people were arguing fiercely, and the sound grew louder and louder.
The reason he chose this apartment was for its alluringly low rent.
Of course, he was also well aware that the area where this apartment was located bordered high-crime districts, so such noisy and even worse incidents were bound to happen.
A few seconds later, the commotion gradually subsided, like a sudden lull in a strong wind, leaving only a faint, lingering echo in the air.
"At least I didn't hear gunshots. Last week, someone fired a gun in the next block; that scene was terrifying, bullets whistling past, as if death was whispering in my ear."
Kazir gave a self-deprecating smile, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly, but with a hint of helplessness.
This place was indeed not peaceful, with worrying public safety, but for now, he could only make do here; after all, he was short on money and didn't have many options.
Anyway, he wasn't home most of the time, leaving before dawn every day and returning with his tired body only when night fell.
The filming of Se7en was nearing its climax; the plot was tense and exciting, and the filming tasks were exceptionally heavy, requiring him to be on set all day, helping to handle various matters, busy like a constantly spinning top.
After brushing his teeth, Kazir tidied himself up simply, then carefully locked the door.
He hurried towards the studio, his mind focused only on getting into the busy work as quickly as possible.
"Morning, Kazir."
As soon as he walked into the studio, a staff member greeted him warmly.
"Morning," Kazir responded with a smile, his eyes gentle and friendly.
He was usually easygoing and humble, never putting on airs, so the crew members were all quite polite to him.
Besides, he wasn't the director, so there was no need to act superior in front of everyone; they all got along very well.
At this moment, he saw David Fincher frowning at the schedule, his brows tightly knit, his complexion also not good, with faint dark circles under his eyes, as if he hadn't slept well, looking somewhat tired and haggard.
'This film is related to his future; he must be under immense pressure, like an invisible mountain crushing him, making it hard to breathe.' Kazir knew in his heart; he was very clear about the importance of Se7en to David Fincher.
If this film flopped, not only would David Fincher's reputation and career be severely affected, but he himself would also likely suffer a considerable blow, as he had invested a lot of effort into this film.
Se7en was regarded as a masterpiece by many, highly praised by film critics.
It also directly influenced the subsequent filming approaches and styles of crime films, becoming a milestone in the crime film genre.
"David Fincher, once we finish filming, you really should take a good rest and relax your taut nerves." Kazir walked over, his tone filled with genuine concern, his eyes full of worry.
"Thanks, but I can't think about resting until post-production is done. Post-production is also crucial; every detail cannot be overlooked." David Fincher looked tired, but his eyes were very bright, showing an unyielding spirit.
"Has the release date been set?" Kazir was quite concerned about this question, as it related to the film's box office and influence.
"September 22nd. There won't be much strong competition then; New Line thinks this date is good, a very good slot."
"Alright."
Kazir nodded, feeling much more at ease.
Hearing that it would be released on the original date made him even more confident—the box office would likely be quite stable, as there weren't too many strong competitors in that slot.
Today was March 2nd, and filming was nearing its end.
Gwyneth Paltrow had already finished her scenes; she packed her belongings and happily left the set.
Ronald Lee Ermey had also left; the crew members gradually decreased, with only a few core staff remaining at their posts.
Now, only the three main actors remained on set: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, and Kevin Spacey, all still working hard for the final shooting.
"As long as nothing goes wrong, we can wrap up today."
Kazir watched the busy crew, pondering to himself.
No wonder David Fincher was so tense, like a tightly strung bow; he probably didn't sleep at all last night, constantly preparing for today's shoot.
"David Fincher, take it easy, don't wear yourself out." Kazir expressed his concern again.
"Kazir, I'm not old enough to not be able to handle it; I can keep going. I still have enough energy and passion to complete this work." David Fincher smiled, a confident expression on his face.
"To have the opportunity to film Se7en, thank you. This has been an incredibly valuable experience for me, like a wonderful adventure that has taught me a lot."
"I should be the one saying thank you. To have the chance to work with a great director like David Fincher, I couldn't ask for more; it's my honor." The two exchanged smiles.
And so, the filming came to an end.
"What should I do next?"
After wrapping up, Kazir felt a bit lost.
David Fincher disbanded the crew and focused on editing the film.
Kazir's work was long done, and the money was in hand, so there was no reason to stay.
But he was troubled, unsure of his next step.
He took out a blank sheet of paper, sat at the table, and began to write and draw diligently, noting down all the insights and lessons he had gained during his time on set.
For four months, he had carefully observed David Fincher's working methods and management style.
It must be said that David Fincher was a born director; he possessed unique leadership charisma, managing the crew smoothly and efficiently, handling every aspect in an orderly fashion.
But Kazir himself was no pushover—including his past life and the original body's experiences, he had been a director for almost thirty years, with rich filming experience and unique artistic vision, no less experienced than anyone else.
What he lacked… he lacked opportunities, luck, connections, and a thick skin.
After observing David Fincher for so long, he finally figured out some tricks.
After alien 3 flopped, David Fincher didn't become disheartened but seized the opportunity of Se7en, not backing down.
He was also very stubborn; no matter what others said, he would stick to what he believed in until the end, even if others weren't optimistic, he would still film according to his own ideas.
As for the last point—luck, that's probably something only fate can decide.
But David Fincher was indeed lucky this time; nothing major went wrong during filming, and everything proceeded relatively smoothly.
Kazir nodded, his resolve becoming even stronger.
These were precisely the things he lacked.
Connections, needless to say, were his weakest link at the moment… He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, calmed himself, and then began to plan his next move.
If everything went smoothly, his plan would also proceed more smoothly.
"Oh, right, I almost forgot—take a gamble. David Fincher was gambling, putting all his dreams on Se7en; it was all or nothing."
Kazir made up his mind that he also had to take a gamble; how would he know if it would work without trying?
"No one believes me for big productions, so I'll start with small-budget films. I'll start with small-budget movies, slowly accumulating experience and connections, like building a skyscraper, first laying a solid foundation."
He began to list on paper all the low-budget films that could become hits, one by one.