America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 148 Martin is the male protagonist

Thomas arrived at the company early Monday morning; it was early, and there weren't many people inside yet.

As soon as I entered the lobby on the first floor, the receptionist Natasha greeted me warmly: "Good morning."

"Good morning." Thomas could clearly sense that Natasha's smile was exceptionally bright today, comparable to when she was with her business partners.

Natasha beamed, "Congratulations on topping the North American box office charts."

Thomas understood and corrected, "Not me, it's Martin, my client Martin Davis."

Natasha took a step closer: "The clients you've cultivated, huh?"

Thomas knew very well that he had indeed put in a lot of effort, but many things were not his responsibility, such as the film and the roles; the resources were mostly obtained by Martin himself.

Natasha's position as a front desk assistant falls under the mailroom management. She joined the company in the summer, and the front desk assistant position wasn't considered a particularly desirable one among the many positions in the mailroom.

She took another step toward Thomas: "You've cultivated Martin as a star client; I think you'll soon have your own office. Thomas, if you need an assistant, don't forget me."

Thomas quickly stepped to the side: "I'll remember that."

As he was heading to the elevator, he looked up and saw senior partner Jim Witt, and quickly greeted him.

Jim Witt nodded in response, then stopped and called Thomas over: "Martin's the lead actor at Madame Tussauds, right?"

Thomas said, "Yes, he's the absolute leading man; he gave the company another box office champion this year."

Jim Witt was pleased: "Martin did a good job, and you did too."

Thomas laughed, not forgetting to use the client's name to brag a little: "Martin often says that he and I are a golden team."

"Keep it up!" Jim Witt encouraged. "Martin has a lot of potential, and I'm optimistic about his future."

Thomas was initially delighted, but then suddenly became startled when Jim Witt walked toward the private elevator for the upper floors.

It's not uncommon for agents to poach each other's clients, especially within the industry. It's also not uncommon for partners within the same company to steal clients from junior agents.

Previously, Martin was just a potential actor.

The success of the wax museum will likely attract a lot of attention.

As Thomas went upstairs, he remembered something important: Martin's contract!

Martin is a new client, and according to laws and regulations, WMA can only sign a one-year contract.

Only after the one-year term is completed can an actor sign the longest three-year contract.

It's already October, and Martin's contract will expire in two months.

Even if Martin renews his contract with WMA, he can still choose a new agent.

Thomas was worried because his clients were unknown.

Thomas was still worried even after his client became famous.

Thomas sat down in the cubicle and couldn't help scratching his head, a dozen or so strands of hair falling down in a daze.

"Hey Thomas, congratulations."

The neighbor, who usually doesn't talk much, was now leaning on the partition in the left-hand cubicle, saying to the agent, "Your client won the box office champion with the lead role, amazing!"

He pointed to Thomas's partition: "Hey, you'll be able to move out soon."

Thomas shook his head: "That's not true."

A neighbor asked curiously, "Where did you find Martin Davis? Please share your experience. I can't seem to find such a good potential client."

Another agent passing by also became interested: "Thomas, the leading man who topped the North American box office, don't hold back."

The neighbor then said, "How did you manage to land the lead role in a $4000 million blockbuster? Tell us about it!"

The neighbor on the other side joined in the fun: "I won't let you introduce us for nothing. It's my treat after get off work today. Grapevine Estate or Avalon? The choice is yours!"

Thomas was taken aback by the sudden enthusiasm of his colleagues, whom he usually only knew by nodding acquaintance.

But he was still clear-headed and knew that all of this was because Martin, as the protagonist, had topped the North American box office charts.

These smiling colleagues might have secretly bought shovels.

Agents are part of the entertainment industry, and what Thomas had said to Martin in the past also applies to him. He smiled and declined, saying, "I have to go to a meeting. We'll talk later."

…………

Atlanta, just past noon, Beast House Club.

Vincent stretched and came out of the break room, only to see Hart rushing in from outside.

The guy ran while shouting, "Big news! Big news!"

Vincent reached the second-floor railing: "What's going on?"

Hart waved the newspaper in his hand: "The movie starring Martin Scorsese, that one called 'House of Wax,' topped the North American box office! It grossed $2013 million in its opening weekend!"

Upon hearing this, Vincent disregarded his boss's airs and started walking down from the second floor. In his haste, his loosely worn cowboy hat fell off, but he didn't even turn back to pick it up.

He took the newspaper from Hart's hand, saw the box office champion and figures, and Martin's image on the movie poster, and couldn't help but laugh.

His smile was so broad that his large, hooked nose twitched: "I knew it! Martin's a real talent! See? I wasn't wrong about him!"

Hart nodded repeatedly beside him: "Martin's father can get along anywhere."

Vincent, however, said, "It's because I had good judgment, gave him the opportunity, and discovered him."

Hart had a different opinion, but Vincent was the boss, and the boss made the decisions.

Carrington came in from outside, and Hart shouted at him, "Martin's dad has won the North American box office! We're booking tickets to Thailand now; Martin's dad has always wanted a daughter!"

"Martin's dad is amazing," Carrington exclaimed, then added sadly, "Hart, we've missed our best chance."

Hart understood that the best opportunity to go to Thailand would have been while he was in Atlanta; now it was too late!

His eyes were red and swollen, and he cried out in anguish, "It's all our fault for lacking resolve!"

Vincent put down his newspaper and called his stepmother Sophia to tell her the good news.

The more successful Martin is, the greater the potential success of their investments in "The Hills Have Eyes".

Marietta Community Theatre.

A van pulled up in front of the theater, and Robert brought several students to pick it up.

The driver opened the rear door, which was full of cases of Coca-Cola. He asked, "Unload now?"

Robert stood with his hands behind his back, exuding the air of a seasoned acting teacher. He beckoned to a few students and instructed them, "Make sure you check the production date. Don't buy any Coke that isn't from 03."

One student asked curiously, "Teacher, why did you specifically choose the 03 Coca-Cola?"

Robert thought for a moment and came up with a suitable reason: "Martin Davis's favorite drink is the 03 Coke, so I bought it to keep for him."

Another student asked, "Was it Martin Davis, the one who just won the box office champion award at the theater?"

Robert said, "It's him."

These students were all full of energy, checking production dates, carrying Cokes to Robert's office, and dreaming of becoming the next Martin Davis.

Half of the train car was filled with Coca-Cola produced in 03. Half of it was unloaded at the office, and Robert had the driver deliver the other half to his home as strategic supplies.

Martin gave Robert a car.

Robert will repay him with countless bottles of 03 Coca-Cola.

What Martin didn't know was that before the release of "House of Wax," Robert solemnly performed Coca-Cola rituals facing west in both his office and home.

The effect seems to be very good.

Inside the somewhat dilapidated basketball court at Marietta Public High School.

Lily, accompanied by a few followers, cornered the blonde girl Lindsay in the locker room.

Faced with the school's female bully, Lindsay instinctively backed away: "What do you want to do? I'll tell you..."

Lily strode forward: "Bitch, did you publicly declare that House of Wax is a terrible movie and urge everyone not to see it? Did you say that?"

"What I'm saying is none of your business!" Lindsay slammed her back against the closet, with nowhere left to retreat.

Lily approached step by step: "Do you know that Martin is my neighbor? We grew up together!"

She swung her long arm and said, "Hold her down. I'm going to teach her a lesson and show her what she can and can't say."

Six burly girls from the basketball team came out from behind and easily subdued Lindsay.

Lily didn't go too far; she just gave a stern warning, stuffed a smelly sock into his hand, and then left with her men.

On the school bus home, Lily pulled out a copy of The Hollywood Reporter that she had gotten from the Marietta Community Theatre Company; it only had the entertainment section.

On the second page, there was a large photograph of Martin, along with a news report.

"A New Force in Hollywood: Martin Davis!"

Lily read carefully and found many familiar shadows.

"Martin Davis was born in 1981 in a poor neighborhood in Atlanta. When he was five years old, his parents separated. His mother drove drunk and fell into the river, and his father was a drug addict and con man who was addicted to alcohol and drugs. It was in this environment that Martin fell in love with acting and made it his goal..."

"Martin's childhood was not happy. Poverty and loneliness accompanied him. Due to the irresponsibility of his guardians, he had to work odd jobs to support himself when he was young, which left him without friends at school and made him the object of ridicule...Martin once wanted to give up acting, but it was Martin's dream after all, and he eventually took this path."

Then came all sorts of hardships and difficulties in life, even more exaggerated than what Lily actually experienced.

Lily knew very well that Elena had borne most of the family's hardships, and she had experienced far less of it directly.

"Martin has always worked hard and never given up. Finally, last year he got his chance and made his debut in 'Zombie Dancer,' a film invested in by Gray Pictures, officially entering the film and television acting field. And then he became the male lead in 'House of Wax' today!"

"This is a young actor who has overcome hardship; he possesses outstanding acting talent, is independent, self-reliant, and hardworking! This is an excellent leading man, handsome and with superb acting skills..."

Lily, who was familiar with Martin, couldn't stand it anymore; the praise was too much.

It's almost as if they've directly stated the true nature of the American Dream.

She is one of the people who knows Martin's personality best.

In addition, Lily was not happy, as she and the Carter family were not mentioned in the article.

Martin is clearly a gigolo who survived by living off women!

(End of this chapter)