money player

Rome, Via Tuscolana.

The area between Cinema City and Capanel is commonly known as the Tuskolana Film Zone.

The area along this route is full of vacant farm warehouses and auto repair shops. Renting an old farm machinery warehouse, 300 square meters, costs only 8 lira per month. You can partition off a floor and have an office upstairs and a small set workshop downstairs.

This is a film and television startup street designated by the Rome government. Companies registered here can enjoy tax benefits, and there are countless shell companies on the street.

Ode Gambino was established here with an investment of $10 from Carlo Gambino and in partnership with Friendship Films, with the two companies holding 30% and 70% of the shares respectively.

The company's general manager was Gambino's sister, Anna, but she lacked management experience. Gambino sent Paolo Castellano to assist her through the company's early stages.

Rome in 1951 was an open stage on ruins, with political deregulation, an influx of dollars, and film sets operating all night, making the nights more lively than the days.

In Rome in 1951, the median income for female factory workers was 32000 lire, and a minor role in a film studio would earn about 4 to 6 lire per month. Of course, this was only income when working. Although the Italian film industry was recovering and prospering, minor roles could not work all year round; working for half a year was considered a very ideal situation.

第二女主角大约8万至10万里拉，全国Top10的一线女明星大约20万至40万里拉。

Top-tier female stars can negotiate overseas sales revenue sharing with production companies, but the figures they receive are not impressive; they are merely dismissive and can only console themselves with the thought that "it's free money if you don't take it."

In a horizontal comparison, the income of Italian actresses is basically on par with that of Hong Kong actresses, and even the top actresses earn less.

It was late, but the lights were still on in Ode Gambino's office. More than twenty actresses stood or sat on the first floor, their faces full of hope as they waited for the person in the attic to call their numbers.

Actresses from any country have higher living expenses than ordinary women. Although their income is also higher, it is common for them to run out of money for minor roles and second leading roles. As a result, they will look for various part-time opportunities, including seeking fast-food, compensatory Roman romances at American military clubs.

The second female lead is in a worse situation than the minor character. Her options for part-time jobs are limited, and she can only look for jobs related to acting. There are sponsors in bars and nightclubs who are happy to support girls in pursuing their dreams. Italian girls are known for their gratitude—they feel they can't repay the kindness of being saved, so they offer themselves in return.

Of course, not every girl will reciprocate with gratitude. Some will only offer emotional value in return for social companionship. Respectable people may call them Roman princesses, while those who don't care about appearances may simply call them hostesses.

If you don't like part-time jobs, you can put more effort into your main job. Get up at dawn, bathe in the first rays of sunlight, go to the banks of the Tiber River, carefully observe the fish swimming in the water, and meticulously analyze the direction of the fish's heads. God helps those who help themselves, and God will give them the ability to understand the whispers of producers and agents who have the power to cast roles, funds, and resources, sitting on the red sofa.

People usually like to give the good opportunities they have the ability to create to those who are kindred spirits. The process does not need a grand ceremony, just a "Ciao!" when strangers meet.

It's better if it has a slight accent, and not be too standard.

The lives of Italian actresses can be described as quite unstable; they are not poor, but they are very tired and have no security whatsoever.

In order to gain a foothold in Rome, Odé Gambino introduced a guaranteed contract. Actresses only needed to sign the contract to enjoy a guaranteed annual income of 36 lire. This income would not make them rich, but it would allow them to live quite comfortably.

In the attic, three tables were pushed together to form an interview table. Caroline Duncan, an executive who was often away from home, sat in the middle, with Paul Castellano to her left and Anna Gambino to her right.

Caroline asked the question, and Castellano translated.

After finishing his conversation with one actress, Castellano didn't rush to call the next one. Instead, he handed Caroline the resume of the next actress and said, "This one has a pre-contract with Thunder."

A preliminary contract is a contract signed by an actor before a formal long-term contract is signed. It is used to commit to the direction of subsequent negotiations, restrict the actor's contact with other parties, and even temporarily grant the production company some control.

Pre-contracts are similar to letters of intent, but they not only serve as moral constraints but also have legal effect. Once an actor signs one, the initiative is handed over to the Hollywood company. They cannot negotiate or sign contracts with other production companies or take on other projects. During the final contract preparation period, the company can ensure that the actor does not go elsewhere and can delay the signing of the formal contract.

The company can keep the actor hanging on without signing a formal contract. The actor has no recourse for three years. During the three to five years, the actor can hire a good lawyer to file a lawsuit and terminate the contract with a 100% success rate. After five years, the contract automatically becomes invalid.

A pre-contract is like someone finding a pile of cow dung in the mountains. Without a basket, they pick up a stone and draw a circle around the dung. Others see the circle and know the dung belongs to someone else, so they won't pick it up.

To put it simply, in order to avoid overly intense competition, Hollywood companies respect each other's prior contracts and will not hire the "actors" involved without permission.

Before Howard Hughes entered the film industry, pre-contracts were virtually unknown. It was Howard Hughes who made them shine. This guy turned pre-contracts into indentured servitude. He was clearly a playboy who could have remained untouched by worldly affairs and maintained his dashing demeanor, but instead, he turned them into something that forced women into prostitution.

Caroline glanced at the photo, then went to the window, circled her target Gina Lollobrigida among the group of women, looked her over, and returned to her seat as the main interviewer.

“Paul, she’s on Adam’s list.”

“From an Italian’s perspective,” Castellano offered a melodious, musical praise, “Che bella, che bella, che bella! Stai da dio!”

Castellano switched back to English, “How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful, as beautiful as a god.”

"Italy-style complimenting someone's beauty?"

“Yes,” Castellano said earnestly, “she is the most beautiful Italian woman I have ever seen.”

"It's no wonder Adam put her on the list of people he had to sign."

Caroline raised her hand to signal, and the staff member standing by the door called out to the first floor, "Next."

A few moments.

Lolo Brigida sat opposite the three interviewers.

Caroline looked her over for a few moments and said, "Gina, stand up and slowly turn around, showing yourself from every angle."

After listening to Castellano's translation, Lorobrigida smiled at Caroline, slowly stood up, and turned around, pausing appropriately at each angle.

After Lorobrigida finished spinning around, Caroline said, "Gina, please raise your arms."

Lorobrigida complied, and Caroline examined her sparse armpit hair. "Has your armpit hair been trimmed?"

"No."

"Very sexy, please have a seat."

After Lorobrigida sat down, Caroline asked, "Did you sign a preliminary contract with Raiden Corporation?"

"Yes."

Caroline chuckled and said, "You must have had an unpleasant experience in New York. Howard Hughes has a terrible reputation in the United States. People who have met him say he is a pervert."

"He's a pervert," Lorobrigida said angrily. "He's not looking for an actor, he's looking for a pet. He wants to control me."

“Gina, you’re not the first, and you won’t be the last. You signed a pre-contract, which is a big problem. You won’t be able to participate in any projects initiated by American production companies for three years.”

I need you to sign an authorization letter authorizing the company to sue him. We can't win the case, but we can force him to make concessions, allowing you to participate in projects initiated by American production companies outside the United States.

As Caroline spoke, she picked up a sample contract from Od Gambino. "This is a sample contract from Od Gambino. You can show it to your lawyer. I look forward to you coming to sign it tomorrow."

Laurobrigida was shocked by Caroline's way of doing things; it had only been a few minutes and she was already signing a contract.
She mechanically stepped forward to take the contract, intending to say something, but was interrupted by Caroline.

"The taxis at the entrance are provided by the company. When you arrive at your destination, write down the destination and '2774' on the driver's slip. You don't need to pay the fare. See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

Lolo Brigida went downstairs in a daze, then got into a taxi in a daze. It took her a while to come to her senses. After thinking about the numbers, she realized why she could remember them even though she hadn't been paying attention—it was her birthday.

In the office, Caroline interviewed the next person.

Lucia Bosè won the Miss Italy pageant in 1947. That same year, Lollobrigida also participated and only came in third place.

Lucia Bosè's career in the film industry has been mediocre. She made her big screen debut last year in "No Peace Under the Olive Trees," which was a box office flop but generated a lot of public discussion.

Because director Giuseppe Santis grafted Marxist class struggle into a quasi-Western film, the ruling Catholic Democratic Party in Italy demanded cuts. However, the General Confederation of Labour used the film as propaganda for a tenant farmers' strike, screening it in open-air theaters in rural areas, directly contributing to the Lazio-Abruzzo strike this spring.

Lucia Bosè was unwittingly drawn into politics, which had a significant impact on her. She had been out of work for a long time, so she signed a ten-year contract on the spot, with multiple renewals required, and the initiative was in the hands of Ode Gambino.

After Lucia Bosè, came Sophia Loren, another sexy bombshell, born in 1934, who was on Sin Yiu-man's must-sign list.

Despite the fact that this young girl had a boyfriend, the famous producer Carlo Ponti, Caroline easily won her over, signing a contract on the spot and asking the girl to invite Carlo Ponti over to talk another day.

In the original history, Carlo Ponti's significance to Italian cinema can be summarized in six words: the Italian Shaw Brothers.

Although they took different paths, their contributions to the local film industry were comparable.

Carlo Ponti was a talent that Ode Gambino desperately needed, so he directly offered him shares.

Monica Vitti, a student at the Silvio Damico National Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Vina Lisz, a young girl who was discovered and brought into the film industry because of her beauty.

Fourteen-year-old Luciana Paluz.

Marina Berti, an actress of Italian and British descent born in London, is a familiar face in the industry for ten years.

Pierre Angeli, who was signed by MGM, has a twin sister, Marissa Pavan. Paramount had already been in contact with her, and Caroline promptly signed her.

As soon as the interview ended, Caroline and her two companions set off to meet Alida Valley, who had just returned from Hollywood.

She was previously contracted with Paramount and participated in several films in Hollywood, but they were all poorly received at the box office, which made her somewhat discouraged. In addition, she couldn't stand David Selznick's high-pressure management and began to consider leaving.

She was one of the most dazzling stars in Italian cinema during the Fascist era, and was once hailed by Mussolini as "the most beautiful woman in the world." In Hollywood, she was known as "the next Greta Garbo," a title she carried.

She is on Sin Yiu-man's must-sign list and is number one. In the next two or three years, she will be the face of Od Gambino.

Under the lotus seed head.

Playful water droplets caressed Xian Yaowen's chest muscles all the way down to his abs. Suddenly hearing the door open, he shyly hid in the bushes.

Hearing the noise, Sin Yiu-man ignored it and continued scratching his head.

A face pressed against his back, a pair of hands covered his chest, and heavy breathing rose softly.

"Yaowen, how did you end up getting involved with the Wang You family?"

Sin Yiu-man turned off the tap, turned around and leaned against the wall, pinching Fei Po-ki's cheek. "Sister, you would never have used words like 'getting involved' before."

Fei Baoqi smiled sweetly, "We're already like this, do I still need to be careful what I say?"

“That’s true.” Xian Yaowen grabbed a towel from the sink and hung it on his head, saying casually, “There are two ways to say ‘getting together’. The first one is that she was after my money, and I was after her connections. It’s a powerful alliance.”

The second one I tried to seduce—a beauty I'd only ever seen in newspapers and photos—was standing right in front of me. It's hard for a lecherous man like me not to have thoughts.

"Because she's a celebrity?"

"almost."

"Did you start a film company just to satisfy your lust for celebrities?"

“Sister, you’re quite good at making connections.” Sin Yiu-man chuckled. “But you’re wrong. If you get too close, the flavor changes. Celebrities and the shift from distant to near are both indispensable.”

Fei Baoqi lightly punched Xian Yaowen's chest with her small fist, "Am I out of my mind to talk to you about this? Get out, I need to relieve myself."

"Oh."

After leaving the bathroom, Sin Yiu-man dressed neatly and went to the next room.

Wang Youjia had already woken up and was leaning against the headboard. As soon as she saw him, she smiled and said, "Awen, come here."

"what happened?"

Sin Yiu-man walked to the head of the bed and sat down.

Wang Youjia clung to his back like an octopus, one hand slipped into his shirt pocket and playfully scratched him, his lips close to his earlobe as he whispered, "I didn't sleep well, can you stay with me and sleep a little longer?"

Sin Yiu-man frowned, thinking to himself that perhaps retribution had come.

Last night, after a night of pleasure, Wang Youjia seemed to have undergone a complete personality change, transforming into a vine that clung tightly to him and wouldn't let go. This morning, it took him quite a while to tear her off, treating her like adhesive tape. Now that she's so sticky again, he can't help but think the worst.

He may have triggered an animal instinct in Wang Youjia, a physiological liking.

“Oh no, I have an appointment and I have to leave right away.” Xian Yaowen pried Wang Youjia’s hands off, stood up, and faced her directly. “You have fifteen minutes to wash up. I’ll wait for you in the restaurant on the second floor.”

Unable to cling to Xian Yaowen, Wang Youjia felt an emptiness in her heart. For some reason, when she was intimate with him last night, she suddenly felt a strange sense of security, relaxed, and able to be completely herself. She even felt that she could completely trust him.

Xian Yaowen noticed Wang Youjia's expression. He went through the process of how the two met. Without a doubt, Wang Youjia, who was shrewd all over, suddenly changed her mind at that moment last night. Her liking for him was not because of his appearance, smell or exposed physical characteristics, but because of contact, or the effect of force or chemical reaction.

That's roughly the truth. We should still be careful from now on. We're both shrewd people. Physical attraction can't lead to psychological attraction. What's the point of attraction anyway? Besides, he doesn't even have any intention of psychological attraction.

The thought flashed through his mind, and he gently patted the dazed Wang Youjia, "Don't be in a daze, it's time to get up."

Wang Youjia snapped out of his daze and said listlessly, "Alright, you go first...you go ahead."

Just as Sin Yiu-man was about to leave, the phone on his desk rang.

I walked over and answered it, saying, "Hello."

“Mr. Hepburn, a lady left you a message without leaving her name. Please call her back.”

"OK, thanks."

After hanging up the microphone, Xian Yaowen gave Wang Youjia some instructions and hurriedly headed to the Narcissus Manor.

He took the phrase "sparrow looking" from Narcissus's mouth, made a phone call to Li Guangqian's residence, and then hurriedly went out.

In the living room of Oxley Road's house, he met Xie Jingchen, who was using the alias Fan Wenfang.

"Yesterday, Chen Haiming and Li Yajiu, the new boss of 3721, conspired at 108 to arrest Xu Fangrong, force her to return the money, and also to kill Xu Shaoyu and take over Xu's business."

Sin Yiu-man asked thoughtfully, "What was the attitude between the two of them when they spoke?"

"Chen Haiming speaks in a rather assertive manner, but it doesn't sound like the attitude of a superior towards a subordinate."

Do you know when to make your move?

"tonight."

Xian Yaowen rubbed his temples. "Xu Shaoyu really shouldn't have changed Lan Gui Trading Company to Xu's Trading Company. It seems unlucky. Chen Haiming is a smart man. He knows I can't interfere now. He probably also figured out that I'd be happy to see Xu Fangrong die. He's just greedy. Come with me to the study."

Upon arriving at his study on the second floor, he sent Cheryl a fax, inquiring about the financial transactions between the Golden Company and the Xu Company, and whether they were fully capable of bypassing intermediaries and trading directly with Indonesia.

Cheryl's reply came quickly: Jinji Trading Company still owed Xu's Trading Company two payments totaling HK$65, and it was fully capable of eliminating intermediaries.

He sent another fax, instructing Cheryl to send someone to liaise with the Indonesian side as soon as possible.

On a cargo ship bound for Perak from Singapore, Tamarind unfolds a map and explains it to Seahorse and Frogman.

"Our mission this time is to reduce the amount of rubber exported from Perak. We will use any means necessary, such as setting fire to rubber plantations, seizing transport trucks, and blowing up ships."

The key and challenge of the task lies in timeliness and precision. Once the team leader issues an order, we must complete the task within one day, and the quantity must be exactly as required by the team leader; the margin of error cannot be too large.

Seahorse: "To achieve high speed, multiple approaches must be taken, but starting a fire is easy, controlling it is difficult."

Frogman: "Choose small, secluded rubber plantations to avoid affecting other rubber plantations."

While the three were discussing, Sin Yiu-man returned to the Raffles Hotel, picked up Wong Yau-ka from his room, and went down to the coffee shop on the first floor.

In one corner, Mai Zhihong sat at a table, his heart filled with excitement.

Last time, God gave him a chance to make a fortune, but he not only failed to seize it, but also lost a large sum of money and hasn't recovered yet. God has shown mercy and given him another chance to make a fortune. This time, he must seize it firmly.

Xian Yaowen led Wang Youjia to the table, and Mai Zhihong stood up to greet them, saying, "Mr. Xian."

Sin Yiu-man grasped Mak Chi-hung's hand and smiled, "Mr. Mak, we meet again."

Mai Zhihong shrugged and smiled obsequiously, "Mr. Xian must be making another big move this time."

Sin Yiu-man withdrew his hand, sat down in a chair, and waited for Mak Chi-hung to sit down as well. He then said softly, "Mr. Mak, before we begin our formal conversation, let me say something unpleasant."

Mai Zhihong bent down and leaned forward, "Mr. Xian, please speak."

"Whether it's before it begins, during it, or after it ends, don't reveal a single word to anyone. Keep everything to yourself. Don't force me to believe the saying 'Only the dead can keep secrets.'"

I've said my piece. Mr. Mai, please think carefully before agreeing, and make sure you can do it before you nod. If you nod but then break the agreement, it's tantamount to admitting that I can disregard all rules.

As soon as he finished speaking, Sin Yiu-man raised his hand to summon a waiter.

Mai Zhihong interpreted "no rules" as killing his entire family, which would have serious consequences. After careful consideration, he nodded and said, "Mr. Xian, I will keep everything to myself. If I violate this rule, I will accept whatever punishment I may receive."

“Alright.” Sin Yiu-man nodded. “Mr. Mak needs to abide by his obligations, and naturally he should also enjoy his rights. As for what rights, let me have a sip of coffee and explain.” (End of Chapter)