America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 695 Can't Carry the Box Office

Hollywood, Grumman Theatre.

The premiere of "Dark Lands" was held here.

This is one of the top five most expensive films Warner Bros. has released this year.

Although top executives like Kevin Tsujihara didn't attend, the heads of the distribution and production companies all came to the theater.

Jon Berg arrived early at the VIP room to greet the guests attending the premiere.

To promote the film, Warner Bros. invited many celebrities and socialites they frequently collaborate with to lend their support.

For example, Robert Downey Jr. and his wife, who collaborated on "The Great Detective Sir Maximus" in the Gryffindor Golden Triangle in Los Angeles.

Jon Berg appeared relaxed and cheerful, but inside he felt like a stone was weighing on his mind.

Warner Bros. released several mid-to-high-budget productions this year, including some successes such as "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" and "The Hangover Part II".

There are also works that were so badly flopped that they were practically spitting blood, such as "Owls and Gods" and "Green Lantern".

The former are all sequels to successful films from the previous Alan Horn era.

The latter were all projects he promoted after taking office.

If the high-investment productions he promoted were only a few, that would be fine.

Compared to the former, Jon Berger felt utterly humiliated.

Daniel then came over and said, "Natalie Portman is very popular with the media, and recent news about her is also beneficial for the film's promotion."

Jon Berger knew why, because to the mainstream media, this Jewish actress who had specifically studied in Israel was one of their own.

He said, "Hopefully, this Oscar-winning actress can boost the film's box office."

Daniel said, "Natalie has always had a very good reputation among fans and the media."

Jon Berg was about to reply when he suddenly noticed Martin Davis entering through the door. His face immediately darkened, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "Who invited him?!"

"It wasn't me," Daniel said.

The failure of "Owls and Gods" made Jon Berg very annoyed to see or hear Martin Davis's name, so Daniel Bryan naturally wouldn't invite him to the premiere of his new film.

Martin, who had just returned from Istanbul, walked into the VIP room alone and immediately spotted Daniel and Jon Berger in front of him.

If the host is not hospitable, the guests cannot ignore the host.

Martin, being very self-aware, went over to greet them: "Daniel, Jon, good afternoon."

Daniel stepped forward and shook hands with Martin: "Welcome."

Jon Berg, suppressing his displeasure, stepped forward and shook hands with Martin: "Long time no see."

Martin nodded: "Yes, the last time we met was at the premiere of 'Owls and Gods'."

That film was such a disastrous failure that even Jon Berg's hand trembled slightly, and he couldn't be bothered to talk to that jerk anymore.

Just then, Emma Watson came in from the doorway. She released Martin's hand and went to greet her, saying, "Welcome, our magical princess."

Martin didn't mind and walked into the VIP room, where he chatted with Gillian Flynn for a few minutes.

Jon Berg exchanged a few pleasantries with Emma Watson's father, then turned around and suddenly remembered that Martin and Gillian Flynn were old neighbors.

This project was originally poached from Martin by McDonald.

For some reason, Jon Berger suddenly felt a tremor in his heart, and a feeling of unease began to spread.

But think about it carefully, before a movie is released, who dares to guarantee 100% success or failure?

Martin met up with his long-lost friend Susan Levine.

She changed her name to her husband's surname after getting married and is now called Susan Downey.

Martin Scorsese's first film in Hollywood was "House of Wax," produced by Susan Downey.

"Hi, Susan," Martin said, taking the initiative to greet her.

Although Susan Downey hasn't been in much contact with Martin in recent years, they used to have a pretty good relationship. She came over and hugged Martin, saying, "You're even more handsome than before."

Martin said, "You've always been so beautiful, is it because of love?"

Robert Downey Jr. came over from the other side: "Hey, hey, man, you can't steal his wife in front of her husband."

Martin could tell it was a joke: "Absolutely not, I wouldn't dare mess with Iron Man."

Susan rolled her eyes at Donnie and said, "Honey, this joke isn't funny at all."

Donnie came over and shook hands with Martin: "I heard we almost became comrades-in-arms."

"They could be enemies too." Martin knew what he meant and said seriously, "I read the Avengers comics; you guys had a civil war."

Susan leaned closer and said, "Martin has so many options, unlike you, Donnie, who doesn't have many paths to take."

Downey, being a fairly easygoing person, said, "Remember when I treated the cast and crew of 'House of Wax' to dinner in Australia? Back then, you were just an ordinary actor. And now?"

He had to look up to see Martin's face: "You've become someone I need to look up to."

Martin laughed and said, "You are the one and only Iron Man."

Susan said, "Actually, this is a choice made out of necessity. If I had a choice, I wouldn't have let Downey choose this path. Even if Marvel has a complete plan, how long can it last? Iron Man will eventually come to an end, and it will be too difficult for Downey to transition to a different role then."

Downey, however, was quite optimistic: "Honey, if Marvel doesn't give me $2000 million for the next movie, I'm definitely not going to talk to them."

He recalled something and looked at Martin: "When Kevin Feige approached you, you were already earning over 2000 million in film fees. The difference is striking..."

Martin casually remarked, "After a few sequels, your salary will catch up with mine."

Downey, however, saw it very clearly: "You have a much wider path than me. If I left Iron Man, I wouldn't even get half of my salary."

As his Iron Man image became more deeply ingrained in the public consciousness, the reception of his other films declined. The market response to "The Great Detective Flintstones 2" was not as good as that of the first film, and Warner Bros. has indefinitely postponed the planned third installment.

After chatting for a while, Martin saw Natalie Portman and Ali Emmanuel and was about to say hello when he suddenly felt someone staring at him from the side.

He turned his head and saw Emma Watson not far away, her gaze intense, her face showing obvious displeasure.

As one of the leading actresses born in the 1990s in Hollywood, Emma Watson has a very high opinion of herself. When her eyes met Martin's, she couldn't help but raise her chin, making her face look even more like a shoehorn.

Martin ignored the young girls and turned to walk towards Natalie Portman.

Emma Watson knew that this man was the teacher of her arch-nemesis, Saoirse Ronan, who repeatedly opposed her because Martin Davis was behind her.

Her once aloof and proud gaze now held a hint of resentment.

The two sycophants, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, noticed and asked, "What's wrong, Emma?"

Emma Watson gestured with her eyes: "That man is Saoirse Ronan's teacher. It's because of him that Saoirse Ronan dared to go against me."

Rupert, the sycophant, said, "To bully you is to go against the three of us!"

Daniel calmed down a bit and said, "Don't do anything reckless. Even the three of us combined are no match for him."

"I remember Martin was an American?" Emma Watson asked.

Rupert said, "Southerners from Atlanta."

Emma Watson pondered, "Saoirse is an Irish pig, and she used to spend most of her time in England. How did these two become so closely connected?"

Rupert, the sycophant, deduced in the most reliable way within the circle: "Because they're having an affair!"

Emma Watson thought so too: "I remember Saoirse Ronan was under 18, and the age of consent here is 18. She was more than ten years younger than Martin and was unprotected."

Daniel asked, "What do you want to do?"

Emma Watson glanced at the two sycophants and said, "Find a way to buy a miniature camera. I'll have someone keep an eye on Saoirse Ronan and Martin Davis. If we can get some footage of them... wouldn't it be interesting if these teacher and student turned against each other?"

Rupert said, "Leave it to me, I'll go buy it."

Daniel cautioned, "Don't do it yourself."

Emma Watson nodded: "Of course, I have a reliable handbag carrier."

Rupert warned, "Someone's coming..."

The three of them quickly shut up and stopped discussing the matter.

On the other side, Martin wished Natalie Portman a box office success and then went to chat with Ali Emmanuel.

Ali said, "This is Natalia's first film after winning the Oscar for Best Actress, and she is the absolute lead. If it becomes a box office hit, it will prove her ability to carry the film on her own, and Natalia will become a top star. She will have the opportunity to challenge for the title of Hollywood's leading lady."

Martin, who has no conflict of interest with Natalie Portman, said, "Good luck to her."

"Hopefully, that damn Oscar curse won't hold true." Ali knew all this, of course: "Last year's Best Actress Sandra Bullock's subsequent works have been well-received."

Martin also said a few kind words, but he wasn't sure if they would work.

Because he had no memory of this book, "Dark Lands".

I don't know the original author of "Gone Girl" or any other well-known works.

After the audience entered the premiere theater, a group of guests, including Martin, entered the screening hall and took their seats in the front row.

The main cast and crew members entered last.

The novel that inspired the film, riding the wave of the success of "Gone Girl," lingered on the New York Times bestseller list for over ten weeks. Although it never made it into the top three, the novel's sales were still quite good.

Like the screenplay for "Gone Girl," the film's script was adapted by Gillian Flynn herself.

However, unlike the previous screenplay, Gillian Flynn took David Fincher's advice in many places when writing the script.

The importance of a director to a film is undeniable.

After watching "Gone Girl" and then "Dark Place," the difference is quite obvious.

The former has a fast and tight pace, with well-timed plot twists.

The latter is slow-paced, dull, and tedious, with little suspense and conflicted characters...

Another crucial point is that Natalie Portman couldn't carry this film. It's fair to say that from the WMA to the production team and Warner Bros., everyone seriously overestimated her market appeal.

(End of this chapter)