America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 456 Connecting the Dowry

A celebration party hosted by the Screen Actors Guild is being held at the Hollywood Heights Center.

Martin and Nicholson each took a glass of wine and went up to the top floor, where they could overlook most of the party.

Nicholson pointed discreetly: "Look to your left, they're coming."

"I see them." Martin spotted Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner.

This is a party hosted by one of Hollywood's two major screenwriters' unions, and many union members who are not currently working attend.

After all, this is an organization that can truly support actors in critical moments.

Nicholson asked, "Aren't you going up? Garner is only in her early thirties, and she's Ben's wife..."

Martin ignored his rambling and asked, "James Franco is here too?"

Nicholson, like a battle commander in control of the entire operation, said, "Lawrence came with him."

He surveyed the party scene with a sense of satisfaction, as if he were in complete control: "Don't worry, Martin, everything is under my control. They can't mess this up."

Nicholson is getting old and has slept with more actresses than many people have seen on screen. His substantial wealth and huge share of profits from various events allow him to live a very luxurious life. After semi-retirement, his biggest pursuit is happiness.

With Martin and Leonardo, he rediscovered the feeling he had when he had his share of trouble on Sunset Boulevard with Marlon Brando and Warren Beatty, and had even more fun than before.

Martin's phone vibrated. He took it out, glanced at it, answered it, said a few words, and shrugged: "The debt collectors are here."

Not long after, Julie and Aniston came looking for them.

The former kissed Martin's left cheek, while the latter, not to be outdone, kissed Martin's right cheek.

Nicholson said, "I have to go."

Martin nodded.

Nicholson gave Martin a thumbs-up, indicating he was in control of the situation.

He was the mastermind behind this operation!

"You mean we'll have another chance to shine?" Since becoming a #1 opinion leader for #MeToo, Aniston's aura has noticeably strengthened. "Are you planning something again?"

Martin pointed at Nicholson and, without hesitation, framed him: "It was him, not me."

Julie didn't believe her: "You get nothing in return?"

Martin stepped between the two men, putting his arms around their waists: "Of course, the benefits are for you. Pete is finished, and the #MeToo movement has lost its suitable target and its presence is diminishing. Jack and I are going to find a new target so you can have a good time shooting."

Julie, having become quite adept at playing the "Saint Mary Gami Rabbit" game over the years and having figured out the boundaries, said, "Martin, you know, we can't proactively touch certain people or things within the circle; that's playing with fire."

Aniston and Jolie had different opinions: "How could Martin let us take such a risk?"

Julie rolled her eyes: "Idiot!"

Aniston lifted her skirt and was about to take off her high heels to throw at someone: "You slut!"

Martin quickly reassured the two: "How could I let you take such a risk? Of course, you can join in after the media has given it widespread coverage."

Julie placed one hand on Martin's chest: "My teacher never disappoints."

Aniston chuckled: "That's my lover's love for me, you idiot!"

"Your lover, is he?" Julie's eyes lit up. "I like him."

She grabbed Martin with one hand and Aniston with the other, and tried to leave.

It's enough to show your face at this kind of place and give the union enough face. It's not as important as going back to have fun. Of course, it's not as fun to play with one or two people as it is with three people.

Martin told the two to wait a moment: "Don't rush, we have plenty of time tonight. Let's enjoy the show first."

…………

On the first floor, Jennifer Lawrence, with one arm linked with Franco's, said, "Teacher, there are so many celebrities here."

Looking at the silly girl he had only recently gotten closer to, Franco used his usual rhetoric: "Study hard and practice hard here. With your talent and potential, you have the opportunity to become one of them."

Lawrence is exceptionally talented and knows how to act among 18-year-old girls: "With a teacher to help me, I will definitely succeed."

These words were spoken with utmost sincerity, and Franco could tell that he was quite satisfied with this sensible girl.

The teacher Lawrence was referring to was, of course, Jack Nicholson.

Franco said, "Jennifer, you're great. I knew I was right about you."

Lawrence suddenly widened his eyes, excitedly covered his mouth, his hands trembling with excitement, and pointed to his right front, saying, "Ben Affleck! Teacher, I see Ben Affleck! He's my favorite male star..."

Franco was somewhat unhappy, but he acted very magnanimously: "Come on, I'll take you to meet him."

"Okay, thank you." Lawrence, like a fan meeting their idol, couldn't wait to walk over there.

Franco wasn't familiar with Ben, but they had known each other for many years in the industry, so he greeted him, "Hey, Ben."

Jennifer Garner was nowhere to be seen, and only Ben Wallace was there. He glanced at him briefly and recognized Franco: "James, you look younger."

"Maybe Jennifer makes me look a few years younger," Franco introduced the two.

Suppressing his excitement, Lawrence said, "Ben, you're my favorite movie star! You were so cool in Pearl Harbor and Hollywood Plantation!"

Ben Affleck, showing great poise in this situation, said, "Thank you."

"Could you sign this for me?" Lawrence opened her handbag, took out a pen and notebook, and handed them to Da Ben, smiling like a fool. "If possible, could we take a picture together?"

"No problem." Ben took the notebook and noticed that the cover read "Studio Four Performing Arts School," with James Franco's signature in the principal's column below.

He opened the notebook, signed it, and then had James take a photo of him and Lawrence together.

Lawrence was smiling the whole time, as if he had accomplished something extraordinary.

Ben handed the pen and notebook back to Lawrence and asked Franco, "When did you start your acting school?"

Franco smiled and said, "After Spider-Man 3 ended, riding the wave of the trilogy's finale, I created my own Studio 4 acting school, which I still run today."

Lawrence seized the opportunity to say, "I study acting at James's school." She looked at James with admiration in her eyes, "Many of my sisters wanted to come to Studio Four, but James was too busy. It's such a pity, they couldn't become James's students even if they paid."

Looking at this silly little girl, Ben knew very well that it was precisely people like her who supported the market for the Los Angeles acting school.

Franco didn't take it seriously, treating it as a casual conversation: "I'm an actor who struggled up from the very bottom, and I've always wanted to help actors like me, but one person's strength is limited, and I can only do a little bit."

That was a beautifully said statement, but Ben understood a different meaning.

Many people from the lower classes want to become stars and are willing to pay a huge price for it. Franco's abilities are limited, and he can only seize a small part of the market. There are many lower-class actors or people who want to become actors waiting for these so-called opportunities.

Ben thought of what he had heard at Adler School; the profit margins in the performing arts school sector were truly enormous.

The market is large, there are many consumers, and there is no shortage of new customers. Not only are the fees high, but the courses are also very short. The fast course can be completed in a week at most.

The profit margin is fast enough; unlike investing in movies, you won't see profits for at least two or three years.

Ben asked casually, "It seems your acting school is doing quite well."

Franco, with a hint of showing off, said, "The acting school helped me fulfill many of my wishes."

Ben, who already had this idea in mind, couldn't help but say, "You might not know this, but I work part-time as an acting teacher at Adler School, helping new actors just like you. I think we'll have a lot in common on this topic, so why don't we find a place to have a good chat?"

Franco had been looking for like-minded people lately, and after a moment's thought, he replied, "Let's go upstairs and find a quiet lounge."

He looked at Lawrence: "Sorry, Jennifer, Ben and I have something to discuss. You can do whatever you want."

Lawrence chuckled and said, "You can go about your business. I'll drive away myself in a bit."

Franco nodded to her, and he and Ben left the lobby, taking the elevator upstairs.

In the crowd not far away, Nicholson was chatting with his old friend Al Pacino about how to deal with his young girlfriend.

He had been keeping part of his attention on the distance and spotted Ben Affleck and James Franco leaving together in profile.

"Wait, Al!" Things were going smoothly, under his control. Nicholson mocked his old friend, "You just said your new girlfriend is Lucilla Sora? I know her, she's almost 30, too old."

Al Pacino scoffed, "He's almost 40 years younger than me."

Nicholson shook his head: "Do you know how old my new girlfriend is? She's a 90s kid!"

"You're such a bastard!" Al spat out a string of profanities. "You're even starting to corrupt those born in the 90s!"

Nicholson waved his hand: "So, you're outdated, you have to accept your age."

Al was furious: "You just wait, I'll find you a younger girlfriend soon enough!"

"I'll be waiting." Nicholson left unhurriedly.

He went back upstairs and found that Martin, Julie, and Aniston were all gone.

Without a doubt, those three people must have done something shameless.

Nicholson, being old and irritable, found a quiet place and waited for a while before dialing Martin's number. When no one answered, he switched to another phone and sent a text message.

"Emergency!"

It was also signed JJN.

When Nicholson called again, Martin answered quickly: "Something unexpected has happened?"

Nicholson didn't speak, but turned the receiver volume up to the maximum. He could faintly hear panting. He said, "I mainly want to remind you to wear a condom, so you don't end up with a godson or goddaughter for me next year."

"Fuck you!" It was clearly Julie's voice that came from the other end.

Aniston's voice followed: "Jack, you'll get hit by a car if you go out."

Nicholson hung up the phone with satisfaction, strolled out of the lobby, and arrived at the main entrance to get into his car.

Something suddenly fell from the sky and hit Nicholson on the head with a thud. He reached up and wiped it off, his hand was covered in bird droppings!

(End of this chapter)