America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 325 Spreading Rumors Takes Only a Mouth

In a luxurious clubhouse in Beverly Hills, the film analysis session for "The Departed" had just ended. The group moved into the spacious entertainment hall, where the crew had prepared exquisite food and wine to make everyone who attended the session feel at home.

Martin moved among them, trying to make his presence felt among his colleagues, critics, and well-known journalists, hoping to leave as many impressions as possible.

Rita Baker's team, whom Louise and Kelly jointly funded, has spread out throughout the venue to conduct more professional lobbying.

Let alone Martin, a newcomer with only three years in the industry, even Scorsese, a veteran director with forty years of experience, is doing similar things.

In the eyes of the college, public relations is something that deserves respect and is a manifestation of competitive determination.

However, the white men, whose average age is as high as 62, are particularly pretentious, and their excessive public relations efforts are easily judged as an attempt to win awards for the sake of winning awards.

It takes a lot of thought to strike the right balance.

The film analysis session concluded, and the guests left with a wealth of insights.

Coca-Cola, as the sponsor of the film analysis event, prepared a suitable small gift for everyone.

The crew relaxed, their faces etched with exhaustion.

Martin felt ten times more tired than Heidi Klum’s two-day bachelor party.

Scorsese, standing next to him, looked utterly dejected, thinking about the two more months he still had to endure.

Of all those present, only Nicholson, holding three Oscars, seemed relaxed and at ease.

It was like watching a group of monkeys performing a monkey show.

Holding three Oscars, he remains remarkably calm.

Martin glanced at the other two members of the trio of bastards and invited Scorsese: "Director, there's a special way to completely relax and rejuvenate someone."

Scorsese said, "Don't do that nonsense."

Leonardo understood what he meant: "The three of us don't touch that stuff."

Martin stated, "We are mortal enemies of gambling and drugs!"

Nicholson said, "Why would we cheat you?"

Scorsese agreed: "Let's go."

Martin, along with three others, got into an inconspicuous car from the underground parking lot and headed straight for the Nightclub.

A new member has joined the Face Gang.

As the rolling wheels rolled over him, Scorsese's fatigue dissipated, and he was instantly invigorated.

"How is it?" Martin asked.

Scorsese gave a thumbs-up and exclaimed, "So this is a healthy way for you to stay alert! It works great!"

"Life is meant to be enjoyed," Nicholson said spiritedly. "Like you, working yourself to the bone, it's all for your children and ex-wife."

Martin and Leonardo didn't say anything, but they took it as a warning.

But everyone has different ideas. Scorsese is enjoying it and is even preparing to try for a seventh IVF cycle.

…………

Under the cover of night, countless secret activities are taking place in the City of Angels.

In another strip club, seven dancers emerged from a VIP room. Three of them had wrinkled, white feet, as if they had been soaking in water for too long.

Quentin pulled out a tissue, wiped his mouth, and said, "Getting something done isn't easy. Isn't sabotage your forte?"

Harvey's chubby face jiggled: "You're right. Even I have to go all out to win an Oscar during awards season, and I'm not entirely confident yet. But destruction is much easier than construction, especially since Martin Davis's weakness is right there, and it's an objective factor that can't be eliminated."

Pete swallowed his saliva, which smelled of feet, and said, "This is nothing, too simple."

Harvey smiled without saying a word, exuding the air of a big shot.

This confidence is built upon numerous successful examples.

During the 98 awards season, Saving Private Ryan was the hottest topic. When it came to the crucial moment of voting, Los Angeles was filled with negative stories about the private. Many British and American WWII veterans came forward and attacked the film through the media, saying that its portrayal was seriously inaccurate. In the end, Harvey's film won.

Oscar will never forget Shakespeare's classic victory over the soldiers.

The veterans, of course, didn't have that much leisure time, so they automatically jumped out to pay attention to the Oscars.

In 03, Chicago vs. The Pianist, the latter directed by Polanski, had a lot of scandals, so Harvey didn't need to do much to remind people of that past.

Another less successful attempt was to attack John Nash, the real-life inspiration for "A Beautiful Mind," for being anti-Semitic. This would have been a death sentence in Hollywood and even the American entertainment industry, but the attempt went too far and had little effect.

Harvey looked at Brad Pitt and said, "Didn't you invite someone over? When are they arriving?"

Pete said, "I'll be there soon."

Harvey waved his hand gently: "If you want to do it, don't hesitate, just do it boldly." He laughed: "Just do what we agreed on. You are the enemy, it's no big deal."

Thinking of Julie and Aniston, and of The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, which Warner Bros. has been pressuring for a release date that is still uncertain, Pitt got up and left the private room without hesitation. He waited for a while in the lobby, where he met Richard, the editor-in-chief of Empire magazine.

It was too chaotic here, so the two went to a quiet bar nearby.

Richard sat down in the booth and asked bluntly, "Big star, you wanted to see me?"

The two sides often cooperate, so Pete didn't waste any words and said directly, "Nothing big, just making some news."

Richard asked, "About whose?"

Pete carefully chose his words and said, "Have you noticed that most of the Los Angeles media are praising Martin Davis right now, saying how outstanding he is, as if the Best Supporting Actor award he's eyeing is already his?"

Richard knew more: "As far as I know, he was just aiming for a nomination."

Pitt added, "From the time of the House of Wax release, Martin has only been in Hollywood for a little over two years. This 25-year-old actor is already earning tens of millions of dollars a month and is preparing to compete for an Oscar. Tom Cruise was at that level back then. So many veterans who have worked hard for years are still waiting in line. What is he?"

"It's certainly a good topic." Richard understood that expressing a different opinion amidst praise was an easy way to attract attention.

Meanwhile, a reporter from American Rumors received a news tip and immediately rushed to the newspaper office to work overtime overnight.

…………

the next morning.

Martin returned from his morning run and was having breakfast.

Thomas called: "Quick, check American Rumors, there's a report about you."

Martin said something, and Bruce went to the mailbox by the door, took a lot of newspapers, and came back to find American rumors in them.

The newspaper published a news item in a prominent position on the second page.

Martin looked at it carefully.

"According to reliable sources, before famous actor Martin Davis made his fortune in Atlanta, he had complicated relationships with local gangs and drug dealers, resulting in numerous disputes. The specific details are shrouded in mystery. According to his old neighbor in Marietta, Martin once shot and injured someone..."

Martin pushed Bruce aside: "You know my past very well."

Bruce read it quickly and said, "These pen-wielding guys are real geniuses; everything they wrote is true."

Martin nodded: "The facts are cut off."

He did have entanglements with gangs and drug dealers, and he did shoot and injure people, but all of those were in self-defense.

But this report easily gives the impression that he's one of those bastards, and that he even shot people...

Bruce asked, "Should we send a lawyer's letter?"

Martin shook his head: "It's no use."

It's December now, and the emergence of this kind of news at this time is very clearly targeted.

Bruce said, "Did a competitor do it?"

"Possibly." Although it was news from a tabloid, Martin still took it seriously, taking out his phone to call Thomas: "I'm coming to see you."

The two left home and drove to Century City. Martin called Jessica again, asking her to keep an eye on online activity.

Jessica said, "There is no relevant information on the Internet at the moment."

Upon arriving in Century City, as soon as he entered Thomas's office, he handed Martin the latest issue of Empire magazine: "It must have been a premeditated and planned operation."

Martin took it; the magazine had already turned to the page with the relevant report.

"Martin Davis's performance in the currently showing film 'The Departed' has been highly praised, but he still appears green and inexperienced compared to veteran actors like Nicholson. This is understandable, considering that Martin Davis has only been in the industry for two years since his official debut on the big screen with 'House of Wax.' He is just a newcomer and naturally cannot compare to many seasoned veterans who have been working for many years..."

Bruce was right next to Martin and watched the whole thing too.

"It all seems to be true." He pondered it carefully, but then felt something was off: "There's a hidden meaning between the lines."

Thomas stated directly, "This report clearly tells everyone that Martin is a very inexperienced newcomer, having only been in the industry for a little over two years."

Martin chimed in, "The average age of Oscar voters is 62. Most of them have worked their way up for many years before achieving a certain status. Why was Tom Cruise rejected as a greenhorn back then? It's because it was too easy for him to become famous and make a lot of money at such a young age."

Thomas said, "The veteran members of the Academy have never liked this type of actor..."

He stated a reality: "The Oscars for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, from the nominations to the wins, have always been dominated by middle-aged and older men."

Martin knew this and said, "Spreading rumors at a crucial time... No, these aren't rumors at all, but objective realities, and they're definitely targeting me."

These are also his weaknesses, which his opponents seize upon and stab him in the back.

Bruce asked, "How significant is the impact?"

"The rumors in the US are alright, after all, they're from gossip media," Thomas said. "The Empire has a bigger influence."

Martin thought for a moment and said, "Let's move the interview forward."

He then said to Bruce, "Get in touch with Atlanta and Jody. I remember Jody went to work for TMZ."

Thomas cautioned, "It would be best to figure out who's pulling the strings behind the scenes."

As Martin looked at the Empire magazine, he remembered something: the endless stream of authors had been working on it for years.

(End of this chapter)