America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 488 North American March Box Office Record

In his apartment near Central Park, Martin washed his face with face wash and was panting heavily; it felt so good.

Alexandra Daddario's talent advantage is simply too great.

Martin caught his breath and said, "I was suffocating!"

Alexandra got up to pour two glasses of wine, handing one to Martin and asking, "Was that the director on the phone just now?"

Martin took a sip of his drink, feeling that his breathing was truly smooth, before saying, "Chad went to see a midnight showing; he must have been traumatized."

Alexandra clinked glasses with Martin, and before drinking, she said, "Can you come visit me in New York often? I'm so lonely all by myself."

As she spoke, she sat on Martin's lap, her talent laid bare before him.

Martin is a kind-hearted man. He had previously introduced Alexandra to a project produced by Wes Craven, where she would play the lead role in a horror film called "The House of the Demons".

Actresses in horror movies don't necessarily need to have high acting skills, but they usually have outstanding figures and looks.

Therefore, Alexandra was proactive and assertive.

Martin was certain that Alexandra was very talented. He took a bite and said, "Of course, you should come often."

In the morning, as Martin and Alexandra sat in the dining room enjoying the breakfast the latter had prepared, Martin's phone rang.

The displayed number is an unknown number.

Martin answered the phone, but Chad's voice came through: "I went to see a midnight movie last night, chose a secluded theater, and ended up getting robbed. A clown stole my phone..."

Upon hearing Chad's description, Martin couldn't help but laugh: "You have too much confidence in New York's safety, going to a secluded movie theater all by yourself."

Chad said, "I think that kind of place is more representative."

Martin thought for a moment and said, "I'm not at the hotel right now, I'll be there in a bit."

After quickly finishing breakfast, Alexandra drove Martin back to the Hilton Hotel.

The crew rented a conference room at the hotel. When Martin went in, in addition to Chad and Marcus, Louise and Danielle were also there.

Daniel said, "Anyway, this is an eye-catching news story."

Chad wasn't as thick-skinned as Martin, and said, "It feels a little embarrassing."

Louise said, "Don't you want the movie to be more newsworthy? And you've already called the police, so there will be related reports by tomorrow at the latest."

Chad thought about the movie's box office performance, gritted his teeth, and said, "Okay!"

Martin thought further: "The person who robbed Chad was dressed as a clown... How about this, I try to persuade him to return Chad's phone."

Louise chimed in, "He'll return it? Won't the PD use this opportunity to arrest him?"

"We'll just say he borrowed Chad's phone." Martin knew the PDs' style: "A regular iPhone costs only a few hundred dollars. Even if the NYPD arrests him, the expenses far outweigh the gains. Generally, they'll turn a blind eye to these kinds of things."

Even for small cases like these, the producers (PDs) are aware of the financial implications.

Daniel immediately grasped the essence of the matter: "Doing this will attract media attention."

He asked a crucial question: "What if he doesn't return it?"

Martin laughed: "What we want isn't phones, it's attention."

He looked at Chad: "You don't have to force yourself if you don't agree."

This was Martin's directorial debut, and he didn't care as much as Chad wanted the film to be a huge success. After only two seconds of thought, he said, "Okay, do as you say."

Martin nodded and asked, "You don't have any nude photos or anything like that on your phone, do you?"

"No." Chad was confident enough: "I've been focused on movies since you gave me the phone last year. I haven't had the time or energy to deal with women."

The group devised a strategy and immediately notified the professional team. However, just half an hour later, a new message appeared on Martin's personal blog.

"Last night, Chad Stahelski, the director of 'John Wick,' lent his phone to a fan. Because he was in a hurry when he left, he forgot the phone. We hope that the fan can contact the crew or Chad himself to bring the phone to the front desk of the Hilton Manhattan Hotel."

There is also a temporary contact number.

Soon, the news was reposted by many websites.

Before noon, a large number of reporters had already gathered in front of the Hilton Hotel.

Anyone with even a basic understanding of social realities can see that the so-called "borrowing" is just a euphemism.

In an instant, the already popular film was further fueled.

Raya also saw Martin's statement; he has been a fanatical admirer of Martin and the Joker since the Dark Knight was released last year.

Originally a poor person, he naturally tried to learn from the clown, dressed up as the clown, and frequently made free purchases.

The Santa Monica Pier incident made him admire Martin even more; he was a Hollywood star who was truly capable of fighting.

After watching the midnight showing of "John Wick" last night, Raya was in high spirits. The movie was so exciting that he wanted to celebrate, but he ran into an unlucky guy with an iPhone.

If you encounter it, you definitely can't miss it.

Raya never expected that the unlucky guy he robbed would turn out to be the director of his favorite movie.

After thinking about it at home for a while, Raya logged onto the website again, checked out Martin's blog, and gave up on the idea of ​​selling the phone.

He not only liked clowns, but also joined the Cola Cult, so of course he had to respond to the cult leader's call.

But Raya wouldn't take it to the front desk of the Hilton Hotel, given his history of numerous robberies.

He might consider it if he were put in Arkham Asylum.

Raya thought for a moment, then picked up his phone, left home, went to Manhattan, looked at the Hilton Hotel in the distance, put on a common tattered hat, found a public phone nearby without surveillance cameras, and dialed the number he had written down.

Once the call connected, he said in a strained voice, "The first red trash can on the southwest side of the back entrance of the Hilton Hotel."

After saying that, he hung up the phone and slowly walked over, then threw the phone, which was wrapped in a black plastic bag, into the trash can as if it were garbage.

He walked around and came to the hot dog stand across the street, bought a hot dog, sat behind the glass wall, and looked at the trash cans over there.

Raya hoped that the cult leader and the celebrities he worshipped would not disappoint him.

Inside the hotel, Chad put down his phone, looked at Martin and Louise who were chatting, and said, "The phone rang. It's in the trash can by the back door of the hotel."

Louise picked up her phone and dialed a number: "Spread the word that there's been a message on the phone."

The assistant downstairs immediately sprang into action, leaking the information to the reporters and paparazzi at the door.

Martin straightened his clothes slightly, then very professionally put on the Cartier watch that was lying to the side, and held the new Nokia phone in his hand, making sure that the side with the logo was showing.

When it comes to getting paid to do something, Martin has always been reliable.

Chad hurriedly walked out.

Martin quickly followed.

Chad asked, "Are all the reporters at the front door?"

"It should be." Martin passed by a window and took a special look.

Chad, a novice at creating hype, was perplexed: "But the phone is over there in the back door."

Martin suggested, "Can't we just go out the front door and then go around to the back door?"

"That works too!" Chad realized.

The two took the elevator downstairs and, escorted by several hotel security guards and Bruce, exited through the hotel's main entrance.

At least twenty or thirty reporters surrounded them, loudly asking, "Martin, has Director Chad's phone been found?"

"Did someone say the phone has been delivered?"

Where is he? Will he be available for an interview?

Martin didn't speak, but glanced at Chad. Chad said loudly, "Let's go get our phones now, make way."

The reporters and paparazzi in front automatically made way.

Martin and Chad bypassed the hotel and came to the vicinity of the back door, where they immediately spotted the red trash can on the southwest side.

Chad ran over and reached for his phone, only to find his hand covered in a milky white liquid from an unfinished ice cream that someone had thrown away.

The surrounding cameras and video cameras simultaneously captured the embarrassing moment of this up-and-coming action film director.

With such high popularity, John Wick has no shortage of attention.

These related news items all represent traffic and money.

Chad wiped the milky white residue off his hands and finally pulled out a black plastic bag. Inside the bag was an iPhone.

Flashes went off like crazy as Chad, under the scrutiny of over a dozen cameras, entered his passcode and unlocked his iPhone. The background image on the phone was a photo of him operating the camera on set.

"It's my phone!" Chad, having learned a thing or two from this experience, showed the reporters his phone screen: "He returned it!"

After taking photos of the phone, the reporters turned their cameras elsewhere, trying to find the person who delivered it.

At the hot dog stand, Raya leisurely finished his hot dog and couldn't help but laugh as he watched the reporters surround Chad and Martin once again.

The leader didn't disappoint him; he didn't bring the NYPD with him!

Raya is a veteran of zero-dollar purchases; he can smell the scent of PD products from fifty meters away.

He pulled out a Blackberry phone he had stolen last month, turned it on, logged into the IMDB website, opened the "John Wick" section, and posted a comment.

"Martin is a great celebrity who actively protects his fans. I will always admire Martin! Long live the leader!"

After posting the comment, Raya left the hot dog stand and moved away from the Hilton Hotel.

News and updates related to "John Wick" constantly fueled audiences' desire to go to the cinema. Although it's not a PG or PG-13 family film, and the film's R rating would lose a significant number of teenage viewers, all theaters showing "John Wick" still maintained extremely high occupancy rates.

On its opening day in North America, the film grossed $2178 million in 3806 theaters, setting a new record for the highest single-day box office in North America in March!

In the past, no Hollywood film has ever grossed more than $2000 million in a single day during March, a traditionally slow season.

(End of this chapter)