America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 290 The Price of Billions

At the open-air bar by the sea, a waiter brought drinks and poured them for two customers.

Martin tipped him and let him leave, raising his glass in a gesture that said, "The most Hollywood way to drink: start in the morning and drink until dawn."

Leonardo clinked glasses with Martin, and before drinking, he said, "You need to be careful, or you'll gain weight."

Martin stared at him deliberately: "I understand."

"Hey, what's with that look you're giving me?" Leonardo retorted. "Let me tell you, I'm a man of restraint and planning."

Martin nodded repeatedly, "I know, I know, you're playing a very big game!" He pinched his own face, deliberately making it wider and fatter, "Didn't you deliberately make yourself look like this to compete for the Oscar for Best Actor?"

Leonardo stared with his big, round eyes: "This was my plan? Why didn't I know?"

Martin took the bottle and poured drinks for the two of them.

Leonardo curled his lip: "With my abilities, would I need such underhanded tactics?"

"You're so high and mighty, so great!" Martin's words sounded like a curse: "In '98, you said you were afraid of stealing the spotlight and didn't go to the Oscars, but you still stole the spotlight from everyone else. Those old guys hold grudges. They're old and ugly, and they can't stand seeing others being pretty and handsome. You can't win an Oscar unless you cripple yourself."

He deliberately dragged out his words: "Leo, hurry up and become a greasy, fat middle-aged man!"

Leonardo pointed at Martin: "Everyone else curses me behind my back, but you, you bastard, curse me to my face!"

He grinned maliciously: "Don't talk about me. Don't you know your own situation? With your scumbag image, how could you possibly win an Oscar without ruining your reputation?"

"What you said makes so much sense, I can't even argue with it!" Martin sighed deeply, his face and words filled with deep helplessness: "Handsome guys like us are destined for a difficult path to the Oscars."

Leonardo DiCaprio can attest to this: "Because those old losers are envious and jealous of us!"

Martin asked, "Are you planning to do it again next awards season?"

Leonardo nodded: "Of course we'll continue. I'm not short of money, women, or film offers. A person always needs to have some goals."

Martin was devastated; that bastard on the other side was no human being.

Leonardo seemed to enjoy Martin Scorsese's blow, laughing and saying, "I have two films this year that could be contenders for Best Actor, besides 'The Departed,' there's also 'Blood Diamond.'"

Martin said, "I'm aiming for a Best Supporting Actor nomination."

Leonardo DiCaprio has been vying for the Oscar several times, so he simply said: "Prepare plenty of money. If you don't have at least a million dollars to invest, I don't recommend you participate. You'll just be throwing money away."

"The agency will invest resources," Martin said roughly. "Coca-Cola should provide a sponsorship fee."

He approached Leonardo DiCaprio primarily for one thing: "During awards season, how about we team up and create some buzz to get more attention from the judges?"

Leonardo, knowing Martin's penchant for creating trouble, was quite interested: "What good ideas do you have?"

Martin said, "Right now, we only have a simple idea. Once I've refined it, we'll gather the team to discuss it further."

Leonardo nodded: "Okay."

Martin offered him a toast: "I'll ride on your coattails then."

"Just don't rub your face on mine!" Leonardo joked, then said seriously, "You owe me a party!"

Martin thought for a moment and asked, "Anyone getting married at Victoria's Secret this year?"

Last time, he asked in detail that supermodels' bachelor parties often involve a lot of wild fun.

Leonardo's knowledge of supermodels is beyond imagination: "If I remember correctly, AA is getting engaged at the end of this year and will probably have a bachelorette party. They keep talking about how great you are..."

Martin, still reminiscing about Heidi Klum's last bachelorette party, said, "Shall we ask her more closely?"

Leonardo replied with great interest: "Wait for my news."

He acted immediately, taking out his phone and dialing Ambrosio's number.

Ambrosio said she plans to rent a small island in the Caribbean for her bachelorette party.

She specifically asked Leonardo to invite Martin over and have him design a carnival theme.

The last yacht party was a memorable experience for all the supermodels; they had a blast.

Leonardo hung up the phone and explained the situation to Martin: "Buddy, it's up to you now."

Martin readily agreed: "Don't worry, I've got it covered."

The two had another drink and soon parted ways.

After Martin got into the car, a crucial question suddenly occurred to him: what should he do if Gisele Bündchen went to a bachelor party?

This kind of thing seems to be quite common in Hollywood?

At noon, Martin arrived in Century City and had lunch with Thomas.

Thomas started with the bad news: "Yesterday, Emma Thomas informed me that I did not pass the first round of auditions for 'The Prestige.' She apologized, and then Christopher Nolan called to explain the reasons."

Martin wasn't surprised by the result; his real target for Nolan wasn't the Fatal Magic project.

Thomas continued, "Director Nolan thinks you're too young and lack that British gentlemanly air..."

Martin asked directly, "Anything else?"

"I've heard some rumors." Thomas also has a few informants on that set: "Christian Bale, the confirmed male lead, met with the Nolans this week, and then the Nolans decided to use Hugh Jackman as the other male lead."

Martin recalled his time in New York: "Bale and Heath Ledger seemed to be on good terms, and Hugh Jackman was a member of the Australian gang."

Thomas added, "In Hollywood, it's not about right or wrong, it's about stance."

Martin certainly understood all this. He used Heath Ledger's drug-impaired driving to do a lot of things in advance in order to pave the way for the next step of his plan, but there were also negative consequences.

He considered for a moment and said, "You maintain contact with the Nolans."

"I will." Thomas mentioned a new development: "At the last Warner party, Menez said that he had a good chat with Emma Thomas, and Emma Thomas also mentioned that Menez has a very good reputation in their group of female producers and directors."

Bruce suddenly spoke up, first telling Martin, "Don't worry about this." He then looked at Thomas and said, "Let's discuss the situation."

Martin glanced at Old Brooks but didn't say anything more.

Thomas quickly changed the subject and moved on to the next thing: "I spoke with Coca-Cola, and they said they would sponsor you to compete for major awards during awards season. They also hope you can go further and get an Oscar nomination."

Martin smiled and said, "This is good news."

Thomas added, "Ali has spoken with Warner Bros. and Pacific Films, and both sides will help you get nominated, but that's it, because the priority for 'The Departed' during awards season is Best Director and Best Picture."

"I'll go talk to Louise this afternoon." Martin was well aware that it might cost billions.

It's incredibly difficult for male celebrities to rise to the top!

Along the way, we don't know how many tunnels we'll explore or how many interesting ways we'll discover to explore the cable car.

Martin knew very well that if he were to write an autobiography in the future, there would be one thing he could never get around—Martin Davis slept his way up the mountain!

Thomas opened his briefcase, took out a very thin script, and handed it to Martin: "Coca-Cola's GG this year, once the specific filming time and director are confirmed, will contact me as soon as possible. The GG script is finalized and will basically not change."

Martin's signing with Coca-Cola was marked with a "GG" – a simplified version of the signing ceremony that required time to film; this is the first one.

He put down his knife and fork, opened the script, and began to read it carefully.

It starts with scorching sunshine, a desolate West, a chaotic bar, and handsome cowboys.

The plot is simple: the leader of the Coca-Cola Cult, who spreads the gospel in the West, encounters a local tyrant who tries to take advantage of the saints around the leader. The tyrant is beaten and subdued by the leader, who then pins him to the bar counter and awakens his conscience with iced Coca-Cola.

This is a game that will be broadcast on public television, so naturally it can't include things like a Coke bottle exploding on someone's head.

Martin quickly finished reading and said, "Isn't this just an adapted version of my fight with Pete at the bar?"

"That incident had a huge impact; it's still a trending topic on Google searches." Thomas, of course, had read the script: "Coca-Cola conducted targeted market research, and the vast majority of people were quite disgusted with Pitt because of this."

He explained in general terms: "Aniston is America's sweetheart, Pitt divorced her as the one who cheated, and then interfered with Aniston's freedom after the divorce."

Martin closed the script and put it away: "I reckon Pete will be very unhappy if he sees GoG."

"What's there to be afraid of!" Thomas said confidently. "Even Warren Buffett, the largest shareholder of Coca-Cola, has spoken up for you. Someone like him, let alone Pete, even CAA would have to shut up."

Martin said with a hint of regret, "It's a pity I didn't get to see Buffett in New York this time."

Thomas reassured him, "There's always a chance."

Looking at the time, Martin sent Louise a text message asking where she was.

He was quickly told to go to Sherman Oakes' house.

Martin told Thomas that he would go home to change his clothes first, and then drive alone up the mountain along Coty Street.

Upon arriving at the south hillside, he saw Elizabeth Olsen leading a golden retriever out of her house and parking her car on the side of the road.

Elizabeth recognized Martin's Volkswagen and immediately quickened her pace, pulling the dog along.

Martin lowered the passenger door and said, "Walking the dog?"

"Yes." Elizabeth, now more mature, leaned down and pressed her face against the car window. "I haven't seen you in so long."

Martin gave an excuse: "This line of work is always busy, and you have to travel all over the place."

Elizabeth's sisters are celebrities themselves, and she knows this: "Celebrities are all very busy people."

Martin glanced over there; because she was leaning against the car window, Elizabeth's sweatshirt collar had fallen down.

He turned back and said, "I have to go to your neighbor's house. We'll talk again when you have time."

Elizabeth got up, returned to the sidewalk, and waved to Martin.

Martin, familiar with the place, entered Louise's house to discuss Pacific Films' and Louise's support for his bid for awards in the next awards season.

A deposit of several hundred million is essential.

(End of this chapter)