America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 247 Hollywood is too conservative

On a hot New York street at midday, young Ted had just finished visiting a client. He parked his car next to a convenience store and went inside to buy an iced Coke.

Inside the transparent freezer, red aluminum cans were printed with brand new designs.

The convenience store owner suddenly said, "Blue is nice too."

"Red is my faith!" Ted opened the freezer, took out a red can, pointed to the brand-new image of Martin on it, and said, "He's my cult leader!"

Another young customer in the store suddenly exclaimed, "Cola Cult, Forever!"

Ted lifted a can and responded with the most famous quote from Martin Luther King Jr.'s Blessing speech: "May the world have Coca-Cola."

The convenience store owner muttered to himself, "The Coca-Cola Cult is a bunch of idiots brainwashed by Martin Davis."

Ted took another can, paid the bill, returned to his car, opened the can, and drank it in big gulps. In the hot weather, it was refreshing from head to toe.

He looked at the design on another can. The cult leader, Martin, had changed his appearance, was wearing ordinary clothes, and leaped up, throwing a can of Coca-Cola out with his right hand.

This is followed by the sentence: "I am in control of my life!"

Back at the company, Ted took advantage of his break to log into MSN, enter the New York fan group, and find that someone had posted pictures there.

The two images at the top are shocking—wanted posters!

First picture: Wesley!

Below is an image of Martin.

Ted picked up the unopened can of Coke and found that the image on the wanted poster was almost identical to the one on the can, the only difference being that Martin was holding a gun on the wanted poster instead of a can of Coke.

Another picture: Fox.

The image shows Angelina Jolie holding a pistol with an extended magazine.

This is clearly a movie promotion.

Earlier this year, Ted won a chance to attend a premiere through a viral marketing campaign called "The Hills Have Eyes." Shortly after returning, he joined Martin's fan club in New York, successfully bought a commemorative Coca-Cola, and became a member of the Coca-Cola cult.

The guy next to me rode over on his swivel chair, casually picking up an unopened can of Coke: "Martin's new movie, Wanted, is about to be released!"

"Go buy it yourself!" Ted snatched back the Coke and said, "This movie is a joint marketing campaign with Coca-Cola."

The guy pointed to the wanted poster on the computer, then to the picture on the soda can: "They even released a movie-themed Coca-Cola."

Ted said, "Coca-Cola has treated the cult leader well."

"It's all about business interests!" the guy said. "Didn't you see their latest financial report? This quarter, after signing Martin, thanks to the Coca-Cola cult's marketing, sales increased by seven percent!"

Ted handed him a Coke: "Never mind all that, it's releasing in November, you're treating!"

As October approaches, the promotional marketing for "Wanted" has begun in full swing, with the official release of the main promotional poster.

Martin and Julie stand on the left and right sides of the poster, respectively, while Morgan Freeman, whose image is nearly two-thirds smaller, stands behind and above the two main characters with his usual good looks.

All three star actors with considerable market appeal appeared on the main poster.

Even though Angelina Jolie has not yet returned from Africa, news about her is frequently making headlines, especially in international news sections.

A photo of her with war refugees.

Photo of him as a UNHCR ambassador.

An article written by hand.

They have appeared in mainstream media in North America.

America needed someone like that to step forward at that time, and to some extent, Jolie was also catering to the needs of the American mainstream.

Released in June, "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" grossed over $180 million in North America and over $340 million worldwide, giving Jolie a successful comeback in her main film career and boosting her star power.

Actively participating in current social events has elevated one's own image and expanded one's influence.

In the post-production recording studio at Warner Bros. Studios, Martin, wearing a headset, is dubbing several scenes.

"That fat woman is the most disgusting boss in the world. She makes us do repetitive work every day and doesn't even want to pay overtime. I'm about to explode from this suffocation! It's fucking awful!"

Martin delivered this line with great emotion and expression.

Director Leterrier, a Frenchman, shouted, "Well said, Martin! I seriously suspect you were abused by your boss!"

Martin took off his headset, came out of the recording studio, and asked, "What did you say?"

Leterrier repeated it.

Martin shrugged: "I've encountered some unscrupulous bosses in Atlanta."

Leterrier stated matter-of-factly, "If this happens repeatedly, you should unite and strike. We French are either on strike or preparing to strike."

Martin said, "After all, it's Paris."

Leterrier nodded: "Parisians are experienced and have a tradition in this regard."

Martin asked curiously, "The Paris PD doesn't suppress it?"

"They often get surrounded," Leterrier said, not sounding like he was joking. "Then they take off their arms and join the strike. Being a PD is a job, of course they have the right to strike."

Martin thought it made a lot of sense.

That concludes today's work; the two left the recording studio together.

A beautiful French actress was waiting at the door. Upon seeing Leterrier, she gave him a hug and then a passionate kiss.

Martin was about to leave.

Leterrier pulled away from his female companion and introduced, "This is my girlfriend, Ella."

Ella was tall and had a great figure. She took the initiative to greet him: "Hello, Martin."

Martin shook her hand and exchanged a few pleasantries.

Just like celebrities, famous directors are never short of female companions. Martin remembers that when the film started shooting, Leterrier's girlfriend was not this one. She changed boyfriends during filming, and then changed girlfriends again towards the end of the shoot.

Now, it seems my girlfriend has updated again.

Leterrier patted Ella on the back: "Go to the front hall and wait for me. I have something to talk to Martin about."

Ella was very obedient and went to the front hall.

Leterrier gestured with his eyes towards Ella's retreating figure: "How about it, pretty sexy, right?"

Martin praised, "You have excellent taste."

He initially thought the French director was just showing off, but Leterrier's next question was unexpected: "Interested in sleeping with her?"

Martin looked at Leterrier's head in surprise.

Leterrier was very open: "We can be together tonight."

Martin naturally declined this inappropriate invitation: "I have a steady girlfriend, and I love her very much."

Leterrier was somewhat disappointed: "Okay."

"Let's talk another day." Martin left first.

Bruce appeared around the corner and followed.

Leterrier frowned. "Hollywood is really that conservative?"

Martin went to the other conference room to wait for Thomas and the people from Warner Bros. to arrive.

Bruce came in, and seeing that there was no one else in the room, said, "The director is very disappointed."

Martin reminded him, "You forgot, he's a two-way plug; he had a boyfriend during filming."

Bruce said, "There are so many weirdos in this circle."

"Fame and fortune amplify human desires." Martin patted him on the shoulder, then pointed to himself: "Aren't we the same?"

Bruce replied, "It's different. We're not as twisted as them."

There was a newspaper next to him, and Martin immediately spotted Julie. He picked it up and discovered that the New York Times had published an article by Julie.

The title is very Angelina Jolie-esque.

How we respond to the refugee crisis in the future will become a yardstick for measuring freedom, democracy, and human rights.

The article lists various data points that Jolie obtained during her research trips to the Middle East and Africa.

It must be said that the fact that this woman was portrayed as a saint by the entire American media is partly due to the social environment, but the key lies in her own marketing.

The conference room door opened from the outside, and Thomas and Daniel entered together, each pulling out a chair and sitting down.

Daniel looked at the newspaper in Martin's hand and said, "I've spoken with Julie and asked her to come back in the middle or end of next month. Right now, she's constantly on the phone with Pitt, trying to keep him in touch until he returns to Los Angeles before officially announcing the breakup."

Martin understood: "There will be a huge surge in traffic, and the entire American media will go crazy over it again."

Daniel said, "Julie found a very good reason for the breakup. From now on, she will devote all her energy to charity and refugee relief, outside of movies and children, and will not have time to waste on personal relationships."

Martin was certain that Julie had awakened.

After this move, liberal media outlets will surely rave about her.

Daniel added, "So, the focus of the publicity during this period will be on you."

Martin readily agreed: "No problem, what's the specific plan?"

"Your relationship with Blake Lively is a key point." Regarding Martin's personal affairs, Thomas chimed in, "I've had thorough discussions with Blake's agent and her father, Ernie. We're just waiting for Blake to return to Los Angeles so you can go public with your relationship. Ernie's new project will also be announced at the same time."

Martin asked, "The moment Blake came out of the airport, the moment I went to pick him up?"

Daniel shook his head: "It's not suitable. The occasion is too chaotic, and there are too many uncontrollable factors in the resulting photos."

He explained, "The photos you release to the public for the first time must be stunning to attract more attention, so we planned a street photography shoot, a street photography shoot that is completely under our control."

"Street photography" has never been street photography. Martin understood this a long time ago and replied, "Okay, you guys handle the details."

Daniel asked, "If you end up living with Blake, please let the crew know as soon as possible."

Martin chose the path of stardom with this awareness in mind: "I will notify you at least three days in advance."

The ownership of the photos belongs to Martin and Blake, and they will be sold to the media later.

These are all standard publicity methods. Daniel provided a detailed plan, and some things that happened during filming were also used for publicity and hype.

For example, Martin humbly learned acting from Morgan Freeman and sought his advice on playing various roles.

Martin thought of something he could use for publicity: "Next month, there's a shooting competition in my community, Coty. If I get a good ranking, that can be used for news coverage."

"That works," Daniel nodded. "It fits the character's role."

As Martin left the studio, he ran into action director Chad, who lived on the outskirts of Malibu, not far from the Angels Shooting Club.

Martin simply invited him to practice shooting together on the weekend.

(End of this chapter)