America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 303 Being a kept man is too delicious

After removing his makeup, Martin saw Kate and Leonardo waiting for him and asked with a smile, "How's it going? Any good news?"

Kate went up to him and gave him a hug: "Congratulations, you've become my partner."

Leonardo bumped fists with Martin: "You always do a great job playing a pervert."

Martin retorted, "Because I have you as a friend, I don't need to experience life; I can just act like you."

"This isn't the place to talk," Kate said, gesturing for the two to the adjacent lounge. "Neither of you should criticize the other; you're both scoundrels who fall for every girl you meet."

Leonardo DiCaprio said with deep affection, "All these years, you have been my only true love."

Facing her best friend, Kate was just as fierce as when filming the big ship: "Leo, don't you feel guilty saying that? Look at you, your emptiness is making your stomach bulge out."

"Don't talk about me," Leonardo said, sitting on the sofa. "You're no better."

Martin looked at the two men and said, "Actually, a line from the Titanic is quite fitting for you two."

Leonardo knew this scoundrel had no good words, so he didn't bother asking.

Kate asked curiously, "What lines?"

"If you jump, I'll jump too," Martin gestured, adding, "Now, if you get fat, I'll get fat too."

Kate raised an eyebrow: "Women are better off being a little fuller-figured."

Martin nodded: "That makes sense."

Leonardo, however, said, "Kate, I suggest you be wary of this guy. He likes to flirt with the female lead whenever he's on a film set."

Martin retorted, "Stop slandering people. Did the crews of 'The Hills Have Eyes' and 'The Departed' ever do that?"

Kate's gossip-loving nature flared up: "So, the rumors about you with Julie and Aniston are true?"

Martin neither confirmed nor denied it.

Leonardo DiCaprio said, "He's just short of throwing a party with Jolie and Aniston, those two arch-rivals."

Martin changed the subject: "Your Appian Way was also involved in the investment?"

"Give Kate a hand," Leonardo said, half-jokingly. "Also, I heard you bastard are planning to be the male lead. As a member of the trio, I have to do my part."

Martin, utterly unconvinced by his nonsense, gave him the middle finger and then asked Kate, "When exactly does filming begin? Are we filming in Germany?"

Kate said, "Filming will begin next month and, if all goes well, will end in August. Except for some location shooting in Germany, most of the filming will be done on set at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire."

Martin knew about Pinewood Studios, Hollywood's largest filming location in the UK, where all the studio scenes for the Harry Potter and Bond series were filmed.

Leonardo said, "By the way, I heard from old Jack that his old flame will also be filming at Pinewood Studios this summer. There should be quite a few film crews there."

Martin said, "Perfect timing, I'm bored in London. You and that old bastard come visit the set, and we'll have a get-together in London."

Kate knows quite a bit: "You mean Meryl Streep and 'Mamma Mia!'?"

Leonardo nodded.

Martin pondered for a moment and said, "The firecrackers seem a bit weak. Do they sell fireworks shells in London?"

If you don't have fireworks, double-bang firecrackers will do; you don't need to get close.

"You have a good idea?" Leonardo immediately became interested: "Don't worry, I'll definitely drag Nicholson to London to visit the set."

The three of them chatted enthusiastically and got along very well.

In another office, the atmosphere was tense, and Thomas's negotiations with the film crew were quite heated.

It took two whole days to reach an agreement on basic pay and revenue sharing.

In Hollywood, male stars are generally paid more than female stars. Martin Scorsese is not as famous as Kate Winslet, but his base salary is the same as hers, both at $400 million.

When acting in art films, stars naturally receive lower pay than those in commercial films. This is partly because investors control early-stage risks and project investments are lower, and partly because most of the stars' income goes into post-production revenue sharing, which incentivizes the main creators to deliver better performances.

The same goes for Martin.

The revenue sharing in the later stages mainly involved North American box office revenue and DVD sales.

Once the North American box office exceeds the $3000 million cost line, 2% of the excess goes to Martin, which is the most common tiered revenue sharing model in the industry. The revenue sharing increases to 2.5% for every $1000 million, and so on, with a maximum cap of 4%.

In the DVD business, in addition to union standards, there is a 1.5% share of net profit.

This kind of offline net profit sharing has virtually no time limit, making it a true long-term meal ticket. After the beneficiary passes away, the profit can be inherited by a designated heir.

The film's revenue focus is not on box office revenue, but on post-production. The biggest benefit of winning a major Oscar award is reflected in DVD rentals and television rights.

Thomas subsequently reached an agreement with the production team regarding nudity.

Like the female lead Kate Winslet, the crucial point at the beginning cannot be revealed.

If the film is to be shown on a large scale in North America after its completion, it will at least be rated R. If the birds are really allowed to come out to find food, then it will become NC-17.

After Thomas finalized all the terms, Martin signed the actor's contract and took a photo with Kate during the costume fitting.

The production team of "The Reader" officially announced that Martin and Kate Winslet will play the male and female leads, and released promotional posters.

On the poster, Martin and Kate each occupy one side, indicating equal billing.

As soon as the news broke, Los Angeles critics, who usually cultivate good relationships with Martin, praised his choice.

Kenneth Turan, the leading critic of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, praised Martin's choice in his column in the Los Angeles Times.

"After solving his basic living problems through commercial films, Martin Davis has shown his artistic pursuits and ambitions to realize his acting talent. Hollywood will surely give birth to another artist in the future."

Several other well-known commentators also mentioned this in their columns.

Critics have a significant influence on award ceremonies and the Oscars.

Before leaving Los Angeles for London, Martin visited Louise's mansion.

Not only Louise was there, but Kelly also came from Atlanta.

Martin was a little surprised: "Why did you suddenly come over?"

Kelly sipped a glass of expanded screws that Louise had made and said, "I came all this way because this slut told me about something concerning you."

Martin went to the bar, took the glass of wine Louise handed him, pulled out a high stool, sat down, and asked, "What is it?"

Louise raised her glass, gestured to the two of them, took a sip, and said, "In the past two years, Kelly and I have made quite a bit of money through your projects, but I won't tell you exactly how much."

Martin deliberately said, "It must be at least tens of billions."

Kelly laughed so hard she almost fell over, pointing at Louise and saying, "She definitely has it, but I'm not sure if I do."

Louise pulled Kelly close and pinched her cheek hard: "We're talking about serious matters, don't go to the hair salon."

She said in a serious tone, "You care a lot about the two of us. Kelly and I aren't heartless people either. You want to get a nomination for the next Oscar, right? Kelly suggested that she and I jointly fund a PR team to help you with publicity and public relations."

Martin, of course, wouldn't refuse: "Have you finally had a change of heart and are ready to take care of me?"

Kelly let out a crisp laugh: "It's only a million dollars."

Martin, however, had a different idea: "Could we keep track of the expenses and use them in a pinch later?"

Although their relationship had grown somewhat distant over the past year, Louise still remembered the Alexander the Great incident, and the money she invested in Martin's starring projects had yielded substantial returns.

She said, "This is just this time, but there will be more in the future. When you really go all out for an award, Kelly and I will show our appreciation."

Kelly replied, "We'll hire a top-notch PR team for you then."

This gigolo is too tempting; Martin is utterly powerless to resist, both physically and mentally: "Once I win the Oscar, I'll chop it into three pieces, and we'll each take one piece."

Louise added, "Don't forget, the role is fundamental. While there have been situations like 'Shakespeare in Love,' do you want to be constantly dragged out and lashed out by the media like Gwyneth Paltrow?"

Martin said, "Of course not, although black and red are still red..."

Louise said, "I'll find a suitable PR team and arrange for you and Kate to meet after you finish filming and come back from London."

Martin stopped joking and said, "If you have arrangements on your end, I'll follow your lead."

Kelly, unable to contain her rage any longer, said, "We can talk about these things later."

She moved closer to Martin, and whether from drinking too much or tripping, she lost her footing and fell to her knees with a thud. She braced herself with one hand and looked up at Martin with pleading eyes: "Let's talk about how to thank us."

Martin knew that another business deal worth hundreds of millions was about to begin.

He has maintained a regular exercise routine and takes supplements in his diet, so he has no problems at all.

Kelly replied, "I don't want a shattered Oscar statuette, I want a complete Mr. Oscar. How about this: you use yourself as a model, have someone sculpt an Oscar trophy, and then give it to me..."

"No problem!" Martin readily agreed.

I'll call Atlanta later and tell Lily to carve a few out as soon as possible.

Kelly chuckled and said, "I'll give you a reward."

Louise walked around the bar and came over.

Martin is experienced in group fights. No matter how strong the opponent is, he always targets one person first and attacks them relentlessly until he has completely taken care of that one before beating up the others.

Moreover, in a group fight, the more opponents there are, the less united they become, and they may even end up doing more harm than good.

These experiences include Martin's practical summaries as well as on-site teaching and instruction from real veterans in the actor group from his previous life.

In the following days, Martin finished his business in Los Angeles, boarded the crew's chartered plane, and headed to London to go to Pinewood Studios to participate in the filming of the new movie.

(End of this chapter)