America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 362 Third Party Interference

At the Sunshine Hotel, Heath Ledger received the news and stood there stunned, completely bewildered.

Bale said he would do everything he could to help him, but he couldn't even get into the final audition, let alone get the role.

The blow of seeing hope only to be met with despair is too great.

Heath Ledger picked up the phone and dialed Bell's number. He initially wanted to confront Bell, but thinking about everything Bell had done for him, the only words that came out were, "Why did it turn out like this?"

Bell sighed. "Your news is on TMZ." He could only say, "Sorry, Heath, I called you all the way from New York, but this is the result..."

Heath Ledger had already turned on his computer, seen the news on TMZ, and said, "It has nothing to do with you; it's my own fault for not being good enough."

Bell advised, "Quit it. Only by trying hard to quit can you get your career back."

"I'll give it a try." Heath Ledger didn't say much and quickly hung up the phone.

At this moment, the frustration in his heart was overwhelming, and there was only one way to relieve it.

Therefore, Heath Ledger decided to postpone his withdrawal until he returned to New York. After all, he had already lost the role, so it wouldn't be too late to withdraw when he got back to New York.

A dozen minutes later, a super excited Heath Ledger rushed out of the hotel.

Because of TMZ's news, many paparazzi and entertainment reporters were waiting in front of the hotel.

Immediately, people surrounded him: "Heath Ledger, what happened to you? What happened to you?"

Heath Ledger seemed not to hear, only yelling, "Michelle Williams left me because Martin Davis was a third party who interfered..."

Entertainment reporters and paparazzi were all excited.

…………

The game of Happy Landlords finally came to an end late at night.

The three of them took a shower and ate a late-night snack to replenish their energy.

Aniston looked Martin up and down: "I feel like you've changed. You're thinner than before, and your demeanor..."

Julie chimed in, "Like a psychopath."

Martin told the truth: "I've been a super weirdo ever since I played Dou Dizhu with you guys."

Aniston thought about what had happened in the past six months. Martin had stolen Pitt's woman and his treatment. Could a normal person do such a thing?

But it's not normal for her to be playing cards with Martin alongside Julie, her former enemy.

Or is it that this perverted trait can be transmitted through the things that come out of that thing?

Julie suddenly asked, "Today, a tabloid suddenly published a rumor that Heath Ledger claimed he broke up with Michelle Williams because you were the third party."

"Me? Interfering?" Martin knew better than anyone whether he had interfered or not: "How could that be! They're in New York, and I haven't been to New York in a long time."

Aniston asked, "Really not?"

Martin grinned. "Am I that weird?"

Julie and Aniston exchanged a glance and said simultaneously, "You do!"

"Very good! Very good!" Martin's expression was strange, the corners of his mouth turned up, and his smile was evil and sinister: "You say I'm a pervert, I won't let you down."

Julie and Aniston are still stubbornly insisting: "Did we say something wrong?"

Martin reached behind the sofa and found two clown statues, each nearly forty centimeters long, in his hands.

This is a newly carved mahogany clown statue, made by Lily according to his instructions and specifically in the style he described.

Martin's large hands gripped the Joker's legs as if they were gripping the handle of a weapon.

Julie and Aniston weren't afraid at all and continued to shout.

"Come on, who's afraid of who!"

"It's just your statue, we've used it before!"

Martin said ominously, "Let's see if your mouths are tougher, or my statue is tougher!"

Before dawn, Julie and Aniston quietly left the Four Seasons Hotel.

Martin had a feeling that he had taken another step forward in his understanding and interpretation of the character.

This is certainly not nonsense or hedonism, but a serious study on how a clown should deal with a beautiful woman.

To win the role, Martin not only competed fairly but also spent hundreds of millions to hire someone to help him with training sessions; he really went all out.

…………

In front of the film crew's office building, where the "Dark Knight" nameplate was officially hung and a Batman statue was erected in the lobby, Lily, with her long hair tied in a ponytail, showed the security guard her business card from the film crew, and the guard let her in.

Upon entering the lobby, Lily waited for a while before Louise's assistant, Nikki, came down from upstairs.

She had met Lily before and vividly remembered Lily's beauty and the special gift she had given her. Upon seeing her, she recognized her and greeted her, "Come over here."

Lily, carrying her bag, jogged over and handed over a small gift.

Nikki quickly refused.

Lily said, "I made this myself, you can keep it."

"Thank you." Nikki could see through the glass box that it wasn't a saltwater crocodile tooth pendant or a clown statue, but rather a small ornament carved from a beautiful green stone, so she accepted it.

She led the way, explaining the situation as she went: "Ms. Mel has spoken to the props team, but the production company is extremely strict in all aspects. Only if your abilities are up to par will the crew give you a chance."

Lily nodded: "I understand."

She had heard from her teacher that the director of the film crew was a realism fanatic and had extremely high requirements for the props team.

After establishing herself at school and in Los Angeles, Lily began preparing for her tuition and living expenses for the next academic year. Her teacher recommended that she try her luck in the props or art design department of a Hollywood film crew, so she simply contacted Louise.

Nikki led Lily to the props department's interview area, waited a short while, then took her inside and said directly to the three interviewers, "This is Lily Carter, recommended by Ms. Mel."

The interviewers nodded slightly; they could refuse the person Louise Mayer recommended if their abilities were not suitable.

But if we have the ability, we must give a fair and just result.

Seeing that Lily was quite young, Egerton, who was nearly 60 years old, asked, "Are you still in school?"

Lily said, "I studied sculpture at the California Institute of the Arts."

The interviewer didn't ask any more questions, but simply handed her a box of black clay and said, "I want a batarang."

"Okay!" Lily got to work.

The mud seemed to be completely tamed, and as Lily flipped her fingers, the black bat darts were already taking shape.

The interviewers nodded to themselves; the person they recommended was capable enough, and they wouldn't make things difficult for him.

Nikki looked at Lily with curiosity, never expecting that the girl would have such excellent handicrafts skills.

Not long after, a bat dart that had been quickly dried was placed on the table in front of the interviewer.

After a brief exchange among the three interviewers, Egerton, the one in the middle, said, "Leave your agent's contact information so that your agent can negotiate the contract with the production team."

Lily then remembered and said, "I'm sorry, I don't have an agent."

The female interviewer on the left advised, "You should find an agent as soon as possible."

"Okay." Lily washed her hands and followed Nikki out.

Nikki, knowing about her relationship with Martin, said, "You can give Thomas a call."

Lily said, "That's the only way."

She had Thomas's contact information and immediately dialed his number.

Thomas, who was not in charge of business outside of acting at WMA, obtained Martin's consent and contacted a female agent he knew well, and came to the Dark Knight Studio with her to discuss the relevant matters.

Just as Lily was on the phone, Christian Bell and his agent Parker passed by nearby.

The sudden appearance of a beautiful young girl made Bell subconsciously turn his head and glance at Lily a few more times.

Even though he'd seen countless beautiful women in Hollywood, his eyes lit up at that moment.

Bell didn't stop, but curiously asked the staff member who was leading the way, "Was that girl from the film crew?"

"I don't recognize him," the staff member said honestly. "But he looks somewhat familiar, though I can't quite place where I've seen him before."

A staff member said, "Director Nolan is waiting for you at the training area."

"Thanks." Bell walked over there.

The agent standing nearby reminded him, "The Heath Ledger thing is in the past, don't bring it up again."

Bell replied helplessly, "I know."

Upon entering the training area, Nolan beckoned Bell over and introduced him to the new action director.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the action director had to leave temporarily.

Nolan called Bale to a secluded spot by the window and said, "This project alone has a production budget of $1.8 million. Do you know how important it is to me?"

Bell understood immediately and said, "I'm sorry about Heath Ledger."

Because of his strong recommendation of Heath Ledger, Nolan no longer considered Bale reliable, saying, "If anything goes wrong with this project, your future, mine, and the other key members of the creative team will all be over."

Bell sensed the seriousness in Nolan's voice and said, "I promise there won't be a next time."

Such assurances are unreliable if problems arise even once. Nolan seemed not to hear this, and instead instructed, "You are one of the two male leads in the film. You should focus your energy on preparing for the role. Put everything else aside."

Bale replied, "I'm fully preparing for the role."

"Train hard and give it your best." Nolan ended the conversation and walked away.

Bell could sense that Nolan had developed a prejudice against him.

(End of this chapter)