America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 174 Operational Objectives

Last year, a master bartender emerged in Los Angeles, creating a variety of new cocktails with her genius creativity and skill, including paper airplanes, penicillin, expansion screws, and Italian cannons!

Hundreds of people gathered at the venue, where the president of the International Bartenders Association was on the stage preparing to present an important award: "She is Louise Mayer, a new master, a new legend in the bartending industry. Therefore, we will officially confer upon her the title of master and present her with a special contribution trophy."

He raised his voice: "Welcome Louise Mayer to the stage!"

Martin stood up and applauded. Louise stood up, gave him a tight hug, excitedly bit his ear, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Thank you."

At that moment, her smile was exceptionally radiant; there was no greater joy in life than this.

Filmmaking is just work, bartending is a hobby.

Louise, wearing a long dress, strode toward the podium.

Martin gestured for the people around him to stand up.

International bartender Louise created an astonishing number of new cocktails last year, prompting the surrounding bartenders to stand up and encouraging everyone in the venue to do so.

When Louise went on stage and received the jade trophy shaped like a wine glass, most of the people in the hall stood up and applauded.

The atmosphere inside the guild hall was extremely lively.

Louise raised the Emerald Trophy, her eyes slightly moist, and stood in front of the microphone, saying, "Thank you to my assistant Martin; without him, I wouldn't have achieved what I have today. Also, I've brought two new cocktail recipes: Godmother and Overturning Clouds. There are also three improved recipes for classic cocktails, which you are welcome to sample at the party later."

The attendees were either bartenders or seasoned drinkers, and upon hearing this, they applauded even more enthusiastically.

As Louise stepped off the stage, countless bartenders greeted her along the way.

In recent years, there have been very few new cocktails that have become widely popular and can be called classics. Louise created several of them last year alone.

Louise returned and handed the Emerald Trophy to Martin: "Half of it belongs to you."

Martin said deliberately, "What an honor, to have half of me in it."

Louise was thrilled and excited, and hugged Martin and gave him a long, passionate kiss.

Seeing Louise's burning passion, Martin simply gave her a wet kiss.

After a long while, the two finally separated.

Louise said, "I suddenly have an idea?"

Martin could tell what position she wanted to adopt just by looking at her sticking her butt out: "You're not thinking of making your own biopic, are you?"

Louise was utterly shameless, nodding repeatedly: "That's right! The only female master bartender, in a few years she'll definitely be the Queen of Bartending, a world-class legend. If an autobiography of me were made, the actress would win an Oscar!"

Martin asked, "Am I playing myself?"

"No, I can't have you, I absolutely can't have you." Louise realized a crucial issue: "I'm the queen of bartending, not the queen of fraud."

As the evening party began, Louise's excitement wore off, and she gradually returned to normal, never mentioning the matter of making her own biopic again.

She personally demonstrated several new cocktails, taught a group of bartenders, and gave up her bar.

A large group of people came over to greet Louise, and Martin accompanied her in greeting them, searching for their target based on their names and the information he had reviewed the previous night.

Unexpectedly, one of the people I was targeting came over to say hello.

The chairman personally accompanied a dark-skinned, thin middle-aged man, followed by a girl in her early twenties.

"Ms. Mel, Mr. Davis, this is Mr. Wu Maoting from Myanmar, and this is his daughter, Miss Wu Dan," the chairman said specifically. "Mr. Wu is a jewelry merchant, and the jade used in this trophy was entirely sponsored by him."

Louise and Martin shook hands with Wu Maoting politely and then greeted Wu Dan.

Both of them can speak relatively fluent English.

After exchanging a few words about cocktails, the Wu father and daughter each received a cocktail that Louise had just personally mixed, and then went elsewhere.

Martin glanced at Wu Maoting again.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, Louise asked, "Is there something wrong with him?"

This is one of the people Martin highlighted last night: "I looked at his information last night; to be precise, he is a jade mine owner."

"Suitable potential investors?" That was the only thing Louise could think of, because she knew nothing about Myanmar.

Martin explained, "Many of the wars in Myanmar are fought over jade mines. The mine owners are actually small warlords or agents supported by warlords. They may rise to power this year but fall next year. Even if they can keep their family business for a long time, they like to arrange a more secure path for their descendants."

Louise understood: "He invested in the film industry?"

Martin nodded: "Yes, the public information I saw yesterday shows that he and his only daughter are shareholders and directors of a film and television production company in Hong Kong."

Jade seems to be most recognized in East Asia and Southeast Asia, and Hong Kong is an important consumer market for it.

Louise said, "You have a kind heart."

Martin said, "Although my brain isn't the best, I made a point of looking at a few people connected to the film and television industry more closely."

Louise nodded: "Not bad, you're working very hard."

Martin said frankly, "If I had your background, I would never have started a business; I would have just coasted along and waited to die."

Seeing that Wu Maoting was alone, he said, "I'll go test the waters; if it doesn't work, I'll retreat."

Louise encouraged him: "Your efforts now are related to your bright future."

This is very similar to what Martin often said to Thomas: those who are bullied will eventually be bullied themselves.

Martin took a glass of wine, wandered around, and quietly came to Wu Maoting's side. The two happened to bump into each other while walking around.

"Hi, Mr. Wu," Martin said with a smile, "that jade trophy is very unique. This oriental green jewel gives people a sense of noble beauty."

He asked, "I've heard there's also a top-grade imperial green jadeite?"

Wu Maoting replied, "It's quite rare and very precious."

Martin asked, "Does Mr. Wu have any? Louise is going to a premiere soon, and I'm planning to give her a special gift. An imperial green heart-shaped pendant would be nice."

"I don't have any in stock." Wu Maoting caught something of interest in Martin's words: "Premiere? Movie premiere?"

Martin was told this: "Louise and I are not just bartenders. She is the owner of Hollywood Pacific Pictures, and I am a Hollywood movie star. I don't know if you have seen 'House of Wax,' I am the male lead, and soon I will have a movie that Louise invested tens of millions of dollars to release."

Wu Maoting didn't care much about Hollywood stars, but he thought highly of the Hollywood film company boss: "I didn't expect Ms. Mel to be so outstanding."

Martin knew that Louise was the key: "Hollywood's youngest female millionaire, one of the most successful female producers, attracting investment from all over the world to assemble and produce films, an outstanding businesswoman and artist."

Considering that Wu Maoting only has one daughter, he added, "She is also a distinguished alumnus of the USC School of Cinematic Arts."

Following the rise of large ships, Hollywood movies dominated the globe, and Wu Maoting was quite curious about Hollywood: "Does it attract investment from all over the world?"

Martin said with a smile, "Hollywood is an open film and television production center that attracts talent, technology and capital from all over the world to make one wonderful film after another, promote the development of film art, and give back to all investors. There are many filmmakers from Hong Kong working hard in Hollywood."

Wu Maoting said, "Jack Chen."

Martin said, "Kung Fu is very impressive." He sighed, "I've seen many Hong Kong kung fu films, from the early Shaw Brothers films, to the later Wong Fei-hung films, Jack Chen's Police Story series, and John Wu's action gunfight films, etc., which are all classics."

Upon hearing this, Wu Maoting was impressed with Martin: "It is indeed a classic. My daughter and I are both film lovers, but unfortunately the Hong Kong film market has shrunk, and there have been few good works in recent years."

Martin continued, "Many filmmakers from Hong Kong have gone to Hollywood to develop their careers, and most of them have done quite well. Compared to Jack Chen and Jet Lee, I am just a nobody. There is also John Wu, whom Tom Cruise specifically asked to direct Mission: Impossible 2 and even asked to design the gunfight scenes himself. Mr. Yuen Woo-ping's action choreography team was also the key to the success of The Matrix series."

He didn't mention the failures at all, as if going to Hollywood would guarantee success for Hong Kongers.

Wu Maoting, who has investments in Hong Kong Film Company and is interested in Hollywood, asked, "Ms. Mel's visit this time wasn't just for the bartenders' convention?"

"And by the way, let's attract investment. Hollywood produces too many movies a year; most of them need to be pieced together," Martin briefly explained the concept of a piecemeal production. "Louise is preparing to invest in a big project this time. I wonder if Mr. Wu has heard of the two Hong Kong filmmakers, Felix Chong and Alan Mak?"

Wu Maoting nodded: "I know them."

Martin thought to himself, "Perfect timing: The project is related to them. Warner Bros. bought the adaptation rights to the Hong Kong film 'Infernal Affairs' and is preparing to shoot an American version."

Wu Maoting recalled, "I think I've heard someone mention it before."

Martin continued, "The American version is directed by Martin Scorsese and stars Leonardo DiCaprio."

"One of Hollywood's four great directors?" Wu Maoting wasn't just interested, he was extremely interested: "Leonardo DiCaprio of Titanic?"

"Yes, it's them!" Martin said, revealing the key point: "Louise's Pacific Pictures is preparing to invest and has already contacted Warner Bros. for negotiations. The total investment in the film may be around $1 million, so Louise and I came out this time to find like-minded investors."

Wu Maoting immediately understood why the other party had approached him.

Martin then took out Louise's business card and handed it to her: "Mr. Wu, if you are interested, please contact us."

After a moment's thought, Wu Maoting accepted it.

While Martin went to find the others, Wu Maoting left the party, called his entourage, and took out his phone to make a call.

He knew Zhuang and Mai, but wasn't familiar with them. However, he had connections with the film companies they invested in.

The following morning, Wu Maoting received detailed information, as well as relevant materials faxed from Los Angeles.

This is delivered at midnight; please vote with monthly tickets.

(End of this chapter)