America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 708 A Unique Taste

WarnerMedia's "The Helen Show" studio.

To promote "The Martian," Martin is preparing to appear on an interview program.

As an old friend who had gone through the Burbank High School incident together, Helen made a special trip to Martin's dressing room before the show started.

She discovered that the person accompanying Martin wasn't his agent, Thomas, but Leonardo!

"What is this?" Helen was quite confused.

Martin shrugged. "The content of the communication remains unchanged. The content that Jessica came to communicate with you was originally set by Leo."

Leonardo smiled at Helen and said, "Isn't that creative?"

Recalling Martin's experience in Atlanta, Helen nodded: "Martin really had a tough time."

Martin said, "There are too many people like me in America, but nobody pays attention."

The stylist then brought over a dress, which Leonardo glanced at and said, "No, this is too extravagant and doesn't fit today's theme."

It's quite remarkable that Helen managed to get both of them on one show.

Seeing that Martin didn't offer any opinion, she simply said nothing.

Leonardo walked to the clothes rack full of garments, searched carefully, and found a very ordinary outfit. He said to Martin, "I think this suits you well."

Martin glanced at the ordinary-looking jacket and said, "Okay."

Helen waved to the two of them: "I won't bother you anymore, see you on stage later."

Leonardo came up behind Martin, looked in the mirror, and said to the hairstylist, "Don't make your hair so neat, a little messy, more casual."

Seeing Martin nod, the hairstylist quickly fixed his hair.

After carefully examining him, Leonardo still felt something was missing. He crossed his arms and pondered for a moment, then suddenly remembered and said, "Dark circles! It's missing dark circles! Give Martin two more..."

Martin immediately gave him the middle finger: "I'm not a poisonous insect like Depp! Leo, can your sob story plan be a little more reliable?"

"Sorry, I got too into character." That's what he said, but Leonardo, that bastard, wasn't a little embarrassed: "Forget about the dark circles."

Martin got up and changed his clothes.

Seeing that he was a little relaxed, Leonardo said, "Buddy, tighten up! We're laying the groundwork for our Oscar for Best Actor, not going out to cause trouble, understand?"

Martin could only nod repeatedly, acknowledging that they were indeed laying the groundwork for the real plan.

Leonardo was very worried about him: "Look at your current mental state. If you keep this up when you're aiming for the awards, you'll be a runner-up for another ten years!"

Martin frowned slightly; why did those words sound so familiar?

Leonardo sighed: "Hey, you have to be serious about acting, and you have to be serious about publicity and public relations. Do you know why we asked you to play the victim? It's because most of those older white men like Jack and Warren come from the lower class. If you, who also comes from the lower class, play the victim well, it's easy to win their empathy."

Martin gave him a thumbs up: "Leo, you truly are an expert at winning Oscars."

"Of course!" Leonardo said deliberately, "That's why I have an Oscar for Best Actor, and you don't."

Martin covered his face, unable to refute it.

What an idiot!

With the time running out, a director came over to remind Martin that it was time to go on stage.

A dozen minutes later, Martin sat on the stage in the studio and talked to Helen about The Martian and their time in Atlanta.

These resumes didn't need to be fabricated, and Helen was very cooperative; Martin only needed to answer truthfully.

He was a scoundrel when he was young. Both his parents were alcoholics and drug addicts. His mother died in a car accident while on drugs, and his father ran away with all the family's property. As an adult, Martin suddenly realized his mistakes and lived out the American dream of a prodigal son returning home.

The Martian is currently showing in theaters, and this episode of The Helen Show has received a very positive response.

"It's really not easy for Martin to have struggled out of such a quagmire."

"This experience is so inspiring!"

"Heroes can emerge from the trash heap, like Martin!"

In Davis's studio office, Nicholson looked up from behind his computer, a satisfied smile on his face.

Although this gossip isn't as sweet or big as Emma Watson's, it's still a gossip from our own people, so it tastes special.

He glanced at Leonardo: "Not bad, that's getting to it."

Martin exposed his past: "That bastard Leo actually wanted me to pretend to be a drug addict like Depp. He should be cast into concrete and sunk into the sea."

Leonardo chuckled: "When you're playing the victim, you have to go all the way."

Nicholson said to Martin, "Your start is similar to mine back then, but you've developed much faster than I have."

"The main reason is that you're my guide," Martin said bluntly. "I avoided all the pitfalls you encountered."

Leonardo laughed: "What's the biggest pitfall Jack ever fell into?"

Martin said in a serious tone, "Marlon Brando?"

Nicholson said, "I want to shut you up with butter!"

Martin got back to the main topic: "You two can handle the publicity in Los Angeles. If you need anything, just go to the studio and talk to Jessica. I'll be traveling all over the world for gigs for the next few days."

The Martian has received rave reviews and box office success in North America, and its overseas release is about to begin.

Most of the key creative personnel, including Martin and Ridley Scott, had to travel the world to do premieres.

Leonardo asked, "Are they going to South Korea too?"

Martin nodded: "Of course, South Korea has always been a strong box office market for Hollywood, so we'll definitely have to hold the premiere in Seoul."

Compared to South Korea, Japan, with its larger population, has a low acceptance of Hollywood movies, and science fiction and superhero films have consistently received a poor reception there.

"You're so disloyal!" Leonardo roared. "You left me and Jack in Los Angeles while you went to Seoul to throw a lavish party. Do you even consider us brothers?"

Nicholson replied, "Remember to call me before you throw the silver party!"

Leonardo DiCaprio exclaimed in surprise, "You want Martin to do a live broadcast for you? Jack, won't you feel inferior watching that?"

Martin flatly refused: "I will not broadcast this live for you."

Nicholson sneered repeatedly: "Who said I wanted to watch that bastard Martin's livestream? I'm going to call the police and report him to the South Korean police!"

Martin scoffed, "You're just jealous and resentful!"

Leonardo said, "We'll wait for your call. If you're loyal to your brothers..."

Martin replied, "We'll discuss this further."

Leonardo and Nicholson left satisfied.

The following morning, Martin joined the film crew and boarded a chartered plane to London, beginning his European trip.

This time, there are a total of five premieres in Europe: London, Paris, Madrid, Rome, and Berlin.

Then came the trip to East Asia.

The focus is naturally on South Korea, where the box office revenue share for Hollywood films is not much different from that in North America.

On Thursday, with the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, the film crew did not return to North America.

On this day, North American box office revenue skyrocketed.

The Martian grossed $2687 million in a single day, and then another $4656 million over the next three days, bringing its North American box office total to $1.97 million.

Even so, the film still failed to achieve consecutive box office number one rankings in North America.

The Twilight series has reached its finale, with the fourth installment, Breaking Dawn, opening just before Thanksgiving with a $1.38 million opening weekend, ending The Martian's run for the top spot.

The influence and appeal of popular sequel movies are exceptionally strong.

But The Martian, which raked in $1.97 million in just ten days in North America, still shines brightly.

The film received a warm response overseas, sparking a viewing frenzy.

Britain raked in nearly $10 million in its opening weekend, France $8.1 million, and Spain over $5 million...

After this week, The Martian's global box office easily surpassed $3 million.

Hollywood's major box office markets, such as Latin America, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia, will see the film released later.

The film's merchandise is just as popular as its box office success.

In just ten days in North America, $3680 million worth of merchandise was sold, mainly Martin-themed items.

Martin receives half of the profits from merchandise using his image rights.

This film is bound to set a new record for Martin Scorsese's single-film earnings as an actor.

After leaving Europe, the "Mars Rescue" crew headed straight to East Asia, arriving in Seoul for the new week.

Samsung Group, as the film's sponsor, warmly welcomed the film crew.

After the film's premiere, a grand reception party was organized.

When the cast and crew, including Martin and Ridley Scott, entered the banquet hall, they were nearly overwhelmed by the sight.

This place brings together nearly a hundred South Korean actresses, models, and trainees.

Although some faces are difficult to distinguish, they represent a wide range of personalities and styles.

The aesthetics of the chaebols and their control over them are beyond question.

Martin easily blended in, chatting and laughing with the women around him.

One of them, whose English name was Clara, had a very outstanding figure, and Martin chatted with her for a while.

A little while later, Ridley Scott came over and said, "I suddenly had a bout of face blindness."

Martin looked around and said, "I'm about to have an attack too, just like you."

Ridley looked exhausted: "I'm too old for this. I'm leaving now; I have to catch a flight early tomorrow morning."

Martin said, "Let's evacuate together."

Although Martin had boasted to Leonardo and Nicholson about throwing a silver party before coming, he was relatively restrained in Seoul, after all, it's not Los Angeles, where it's too easy for someone to sabotage things.

That Korean dog will bare its teeth from time to time.

Martin used the excuse of going to the restroom to sneak out of the banquet hall with Ridley.

Clara noticed this and hurriedly followed, offering Martin her contact information.

Faced with such enthusiasm, Martin put it away.

Clara, afraid that Martin would forget about her, specifically said, "When you return to Los Angeles, if you need this number, you can call me anytime, and I will immediately take a flight to the United States."

Martin carefully put away the business card: "Perhaps we'll meet again."

Ridley followed Martin upstairs, saying as they walked, "When I was young, I was just as popular as you."

Martin believed, "Because you're the director!"

(End of this chapter)