America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 734 Chain Reaction Car Crash

Upon arriving at Louise's office, Martin pulled out a chair and sat down, saying, "I have someone to recommend for the lead role."

Louise sat opposite Martin and asked directly, "Which actress have you taken a fancy to this time?"

She couldn't help but laugh: "Or rather, have you taken a fancy to someone's wife or fiancée?"

Martin said, rather exasperated, "Am I really that boring?"

Louise crossed her arms and stared at Martin, her meaning very clear.

Martin got back to the point: "Saoirse Ronan has been practicing singing and dancing since the middle of last year. The only problem is that she's a bit too young."

"Oh, your student," Louise asked. "I remember she's 18?"

Martin said, "Her acting is good, her singing is probably at a professional level, and she had professional dance training when she was young. As for her age... you've seen her a few times, she looks a bit older than her age, but with makeup, it's not a big problem."

Louise thought for a moment and said, "Let her participate in the audition. After all, she's a little too young. Let's see how she looks in makeup."

"Oh, and there's also a musical," Martin added. "I'm working with Disney to produce a live-action version of 'Beauty and the Beast,' and you'll be in charge of the production."

Louise had become accustomed to working with Martin, and readily agreed: "No problem."

Martin said, "Actually, Saoirse was more suitable to play Belle."

The original Belle was played by Emma Watson, but now Emma Watson's reputation is often associated with things like being utterly disgraced.

Let alone Martin's involvement in investment and production, even without him, Disney Studios probably wouldn't have invited her today.

The two were discussing matters related to their work on the film set.

Daniel Villeneuve won the director's job on the "Prince of Thieves" project by passing the interview with Louise Graham with a hardcore video he shot.

The La La Land production team is recruiting directors from across Hollywood, and several young and middle-aged directors have already submitted their resumes.

Martin didn't leave the studio until 4 p.m. after discussing work.

Next door to La La Land, another production studio has just been established: Marvel Studios' Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

People were coming and going, keeping the place very busy.

When Martin came out, he called Saoirse Ronan and told her directly, "There are two musicals. One is about working-class actors in Hollywood, called *La La Land*; the other is Disney's live-action fairy tale *Beauty and the Beast*, with Belle as the character."

He deliberately asked, "Which one do you want to choose?"

Saoirse glanced at her mother, Monica, and asked cautiously, "Teacher, is it okay if I choose both?"

Martin said, "Get your resume ready and have your agent submit it to the La La Land production team first. The Beauty and the Beast project hasn't been officially approved yet."

"Thank you, teacher!" Saoirse pumped her fist, all the singing and dancing practice she had done over the past few months had paid off.

She knew she was deeply involved with Martin and understood that Martin was her biggest support in Hollywood. She said, "Teacher, I've practiced a lot of dance. I'll perform for you on my eighteenth birthday."

Martin's voice came through the phone, reminding me: "Don't stop singing and dancing practice."

Even though she couldn't see from the other side, Saoirse nodded repeatedly: "I will persevere."

Suddenly, a cry of "Ouch!" came through the receiver, as if there had been a collision, and then Martin's voice came through again: "Let's leave it at that for now."

Saoirse glanced at the phone that had been hung up, then clenched her fist and said to Monica Ronan, "Mom, I have a new role!"

Monica smiled and nodded: "You decide for yourself."

Saoirse hugged her mother and said, "I will." She packed her things, picked up her car keys, and said, "I have to go to my dance class."

The dance teacher said that when she first came to Los Angeles to make a living, she had no money and no job, and she used to do pole dancing in dance bars.

Saoirse plans to have some free time these next few days and consult with a dance teacher to learn properly.

…………

At the Disney studio, two people on the phone nearly bumped into each other.

Martin was making a phone call with his back to the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. studio when a woman on the phone came up behind him. Just as she was about to bump into him, Bruce appeared in time to stop her.

"Sorry, sorry." The woman quickly hung up the phone, apologizing profusely, "I was distracted, I didn't notice..."

Her long, golden-red hair was styled in large waves, and her features had the delicate features of an Eastern European. A gray V-neck top and skinny jeans accentuated her figure, which was no less impressive than Blake Lively's. The moment her bright brown eyes saw Martin, they widened instantly: "You're Martin? I was so careless."

Martin's gaze swept quickly over her, and after saying his last words to Saoirse, he hung up the phone and said, "It's okay."

The red-haired woman patted her chest and said tremblingly, "My God, I almost bumped into you, into one of Hollywood's top stars."

Martin, having been tested by Alexandra Daddario, saw this swaying as nothing: "It's a small matter, don't worry about it, please go ahead."

The red-haired woman quickly opened her bag and took out a pen and notebook: "Could you sign this for me? I know it's impolite to do this at a film studio, but I'm a fan of yours and have seen all the movies you've starred in."

Martin took the pen and notebook and signed it.

The red-haired woman took this opportunity to introduce herself: "My name is Elena Satine, a small actress in the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Martin returned the pen and notebook to her.

Elena Satine quickly put it away and thanked him profusely, "Thank you, Martin."

Martin nodded slightly to her and walked towards the entrance of the Disney studio.

Elena Satin, who had originally been heading in that direction, quickly followed, but seeing that Martin didn't seem inclined to speak, she didn't dare to say anything more.

Bruce turned his head slightly, glanced at her, and pretended not to see anything.

They soon arrived at the parking lot near the studio gate. Just as Martin was about to get into his car, Elena Satine stood in front of a Hyundai and waved, "Goodbye, Martin."

Martin politely raised his hand: "Goodbye."

Elena Satine got into the Hyundai and left the parking lot first.

Martin got into the passenger seat of the Cadillac and asked, "Did she do it on purpose?"

"It was definitely intentional." Bruce was used to it, because ever since Martin became famous, there were too many women who wanted to bump into him like that. Not every day, but every week.

He roughly said, "When she was about five meters away from you, she secretly glanced at you."

Martin sighed. "It's really not easy being a man out there. You have to protect yourself at all times."

Bruce wholeheartedly agreed: "Yes, you have to protect yourself. If you don't protect yourself properly, you can easily break your pelvis."

He turned the car around and drove out of the parking lot: "But that woman was really beautiful. Even in the whole of Hollywood, she would be considered one of the most beautiful. Beautiful redheads are very rare."

Martin casually remarked, "Nicole Kidman and Jessica Chastain are both redheads." He received a text message and glanced at it: "Head to Rodeo Drive first; Lily and Elizabeth are shopping there."

At the next intersection, the Cadillac turned, not taking the usual route.

The car made two turns and stopped at a traffic light once in between. Bruce's phone rang, and he pressed the comms on the car's hands-free phone.

The bodyguard behind said, "A Toyota Prado is following us."

Bruce asked, "Paparazzi? Reporters?"

"It doesn't seem like it." The two bodyguards had been with Martin for several years and were used to entertainment reporters and paparazzi. They could tell at a glance: "The people in the car didn't have cameras or video cameras. They don't seem to have the professionalism of entertainment reporters and paparazzi."

Bruce said, "Keep an eye on them."

Martin glanced at the Toyota Prado in the rearview mirror and observed it for a moment: "They're not paparazzi, nor are they professional trackers; their tracking skills are terrible."

Bruce perked up and occasionally made phone calls to the two bodyguards behind him.

Martin called Elizabeth and told them that something came up and he couldn't make it, and that they should go home with the bodyguards as soon as possible.

Lily, being shrewd and knowing Martin very well, immediately replied and pulled Elizabeth home.

In the Prado following behind the Escalade, besides the driver, there was another person in the passenger seat who kept making phone calls to his companion: "Where are you? Why aren't we here yet?"

"It'll take me time to get here!" The man on the other end, whether drunk or on drugs, spoke with a raucous excitement: "The wiring you guys got is completely inaccurate, otherwise we would have already overturned them!"

The passenger in the front seat said, "They always take that route; who would have thought they'd suddenly change their way today?"

"Stop talking nonsense! Tell me the exact location!"

"There's only one intersection ahead on this road: 14th Street. Go there beforehand and get ready!"

"I'll be there soon!"

"Okay!" said the passenger, "For Johnny!"

The people over there shouted, "For Johnny!"

As the Cadillac approached the intersection of 14th Street, Bruce remained highly focused.

Martin glanced at the rearview mirror again and noticed that the Prado was gradually falling behind the traffic and the distance between them was increasing.

The traffic light turned green, and Bruce drove out of the intersection, but as soon as he was out of the intersection, he slammed on the brakes, and the car came to a sudden stop.

The immense inertia propelled Martin forward, only to be pulled back by the seatbelt.

The sudden braking caused the Volkswagen behind to crash into the rear of the Escalade with a loud bang.

Fortunately, this Escalade was very sturdy and heavy, so it barely moved.

At that very moment, a black Hummer sped past the Escalade like lightning.

The Hummer did not slow down at all, shoving aside a car in the other lane and crashing onto the sidewalk like a tank, before colliding with a lamppost.

The speed was too fast and the force too great; the lamppost tilted and crashed onto the roof of the Hummer.

The car that the Hummer crashed into triggered a chain-reaction collision.

(End of this chapter)