The Wolf of Los Angeles.

Chapter 18 Don't be a freeloader

Country music floats in the log-style bar.

"What do you want to drink? Whiskey?" Eric stretched out his hand, revealing a dazzling gold Rolex watch. He poured Hawke a glass of wine and said, "'D.C. Heights' won't be allowed in theaters."

Hawke was a little surprised: "Didn't Castle Rock Pictures buy out the rights?"

Eric said: "They will push it directly into the DVD and videotape market. If they are quick, it will be in the video stores after the Oscars."

Hawke said: "At last, it will be seen by tens of thousands of people."

"Compared to most directors, I'm still a lucky guy." Eric toasted to Hawke: "I have Catherine investing in me, and I met you in Park City. Without you, this movie wouldn't sell, and I would be abandoned by Catherine, and I would never have another chance in the future..."

Hawke said vaguely: "Catherine is good to you."

Eric shook his head: "A director without successful works can't raise the style of the rich woman. What's the point of keeping him?"

He pointed at Hawke: "And you, man, have earned me the opportunity to continue making movies."

Hawke poured wine for the two and said, "I look forward to your next work coming out soon."

Eric obviously had an idea: "I will ask you to do the film operation then. You are the best I have ever seen in this area."

"Thank you." Hawke was also a little smug.

Eric's next words stung: "Of course, I haven't seen many movie operations."

Hawke quickly adjusted his mindset: "It's not about movie operations, I'm good at media operations."

Eric drank several glasses of wine in a row and was drunk. In addition to wealth, power and beautiful women, men also have a big hobby, bragging.

He pounded the table and said, “When I open a film company, I’ll ask you to be the director of media operations.”

Hawke had also drunk some wine, so he spoke without hesitation: "Will Catherine agree?"

"I already have enough money to start my own company, why would I need Catherine!" Eric blurted out his true thoughts: "Who would want to eat that stuff when I can raise funds to make a movie normally!"

Hawke continued to pour the wine and said, "Help me out."

Eric said, "As long as you don't let me eat that stuff, everything else is fine."

Hawke suspected that this guy would be traumatized for the rest of his life, so he said, "Please help me spread the word of mouth. You don't have to do anything. If someone calls you to ask about my operations, can you tell me the truth?"

Eric was surprised: "Haven't you succeeded many times?"

Hawke reiterated an old saying: "The crews I have worked with all think that they are a triumph of film art and that my work is insignificant."

"Shit!" Eric picked up his glass and clinked it with Hawke's. "If anyone suspects, just tell him to call me."

All things are difficult at the beginning. Hawke has made a great success at the film festival, so of course he needs to continue and make more money.

Before they finished their bottle of wine, Eric received a call from Catherine and had to leave early and go back to the hotel to be with his girlfriend.

"Take money from others and listen to their orders." He picked up the wine glass, drank it all, and reminded Hawke: "Don't be a freeloader!"

Hawke said, "Don't worry, if there is a free meal, I will eat it."

Eric didn't understand, so he waved his hand and said, "I will go to Los Angeles to develop my career. When you go to Los Angeles, remember to contact me."

Hawke had another drink with him: "I'll contact you when I need you."

Eric staggered away.

Hawke glanced at the remaining wine in the bottle and simply poured himself a drink.

The melodious country music on the stage was replaced by jazz. Hawke hummed a few lines, and the chair next to him was suddenly pulled away and someone sat down.

Female reporter Jinna hooked her finger and asked the waiter to bring a new wine glass. She asked Hawke: "Drinking alone?"

When the waiter brought the wine glasses over, Hawke poured her a glass and said, "Now there are two of us."

Jinna came over for a purpose: "Is there any big news?"

Hawke did not answer, but asked, "The response to the news this morning was very good?"

"It's an explosive effect." Jinna was in a good mood and took a sip of wine. "This is the first time in the history of the Sundance Film Festival that it has attracted the attention of the entire American entertainment industry. What's even more incredible is that George Hansen also had a ruptured intestine..."

Hawke was a little surprised: "So serious?"

Jinna followed the report and learned about the situation: "The thing that was taken out was nearly seven inches long. It was crazy."

She leaned closer and said, "This George Hansen has opened Pandora's box. It's a very bad precedent. In the future, if there is a copyright competition between the two crews, they might even switch off each other's films. It's strange to think about them switching off each other's films in the future."

Hawke clinked his glasses with hers. "Don't you like this kind of business war? The news is particularly attractive."

Jin Na returned to the previous topic: "If you have similar big news again, come to me. Money is not a problem."

Hawke shook his head. "If this kind of news was everywhere, I would have become rich a long time ago. Why would I be drinking alone here? Having two Hollywood actresses accompany me in a hotel is not as fun as having them in a bar."

Jinna looked Hawke up and down, and it was obvious that he was not a rich man. She took out a business card and gave it to him, saying, "Call me if you encounter any news. As long as the news is valuable, I will give you an informant fee."

Thinking of the $1000 he earned that morning, Hawke asked, "The bigger the event, the more valuable it is?"

"That's basically the case, but some industries are special," Jin Na said. "For example, I mainly cover the entertainment industry. The same incident has a completely different news value if it happens to a celebrity or an ordinary person."

She gave an example: "Take the Great Salt Lake Cinema incident. What if it was Spielberg who did it? Even $10 might not be enough to buy the video."

Hawke nodded slightly.

Jin Na continued the topic: "Speaking of Hollywood, there have been rumors that Tom Cruise is a senior gangster. Us Weekly and News of the World have privately offered a reward of millions of dollars for his gangster photos or videos. If anyone really takes a photo of him, they will become a millionaire immediately..."

Hawke smiled and said, "There is another possibility. He was sent into the universe by the Scientology bosses to meet their Supreme God."

Jin Na agreed: "So, if you want to stay in this business for a long time, you must quit while you are ahead and don't mess with people you shouldn't mess with."

Hawke gained something from this female reporter and ordered another bottle of wine.

Hawke, a practitioner in the fake media industry, also took the opportunity to get a lot of information from Jinna.

Jinna was drunk and wanted to drag Hawke home to study the camera.

Hawke wouldn't take advantage of someone who's drunk, not to mention Square Face against A. If he vomited, it would easily leave a trauma.

After driving Jinna's car to send her home, Hawke walked back.

He got some potentially useful information from Jinna: a Brazilian crew of a film called "The Intruder" was preparing for a media screening, hoping to gain some fame and get attention from the North American film industry.

Hawke went back to rest, and woke up the next day to start collecting information about the crew.

This time, not only Brand, but also Larson and several deputy captains came to help.

With one successful case, it is much easier to get the second business.

Hawke went to meet with the crew's director and producer Bedo Blunt, who called Eric and Castle Rock Pictures and signed a deal with him without much thought.

(End of this chapter)