America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 745 The Rich Man Stumped by Money

These past few days, Martin, Leonardo, and Nicholson have been thoroughly enjoying the gossip surrounding Johnny Depp's divorce, which has been both exciting and juicy.

The two attacked each other, revealed each other's secrets, and displayed their ugliest sides to the world through the media. It was more than just entertaining.

"Look, there's new juicy news today!"

In the office, Leonardo looked up from behind his laptop and said, "Still some juicy stuff!"

Nicholson, who was standing by the window texting Lorraine, almost jumped in front of her laptop.

Martin joined in as well.

Leonardo DiCaprio pointed to the news just published by TMZ and said, "Depp's team has dropped a bombshell about Amber Heard!"

The news report started with a picture of a bed, and right in the middle of the sheet was a large, brownish-yellow blob.

Martin and Nicholson instinctively pinched their noses and held their breath.

Leonardo DiCaprio said with great interest, "The photo was taken by Depp's nanny, and Depp claims it was left by Amber Heard."

The photo was accompanied by a video clip of Depp: "In the picture, there's some human excrement on my side of the sheet. It was left by Amber Heard!"

Recalling what she had witnessed at the Disney studio, Nicholson said, "I can't believe she actually did something so disgusting as to poop on her own sheets..."

Leonardo looked at Martin: "Your friend in Silicon Valley has some really unusual tastes."

Martin thought of the chubby man and said, "Maybe he just likes that kind of thing."

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are truly an eye-opener as a couple.

Soon after, Amber Heard released a clarification video, claiming that it was done by Depp's dog.

Depp then brought his teacup dog out of the photo: "A Yorkshire Terrier only weighs three pounds, it's impossible for it to poop bigger than itself."

Nicholson was thoroughly enjoying the gossip today, saying, "Depp should get a scale, put his dog on one side and that lump on the other, that would be more visually clear in the video."

Leonardo pondered for a moment and said, "Can fresh and old weigh the same?"

"Hey, hey, hey!" Martin realized this topic couldn't be continued: "You two are getting more and more risqué. Can we not discuss this anymore?"

Leonardo asked, "So what are we discussing?"

Martin asked, "How much of the $1 million settlement Amber Heard is demanding do you think she'll ultimately receive?"

Nicholson chimed in, "I remember Depp paid off his first tax arrears these past few days. Does he still have the funds to hire top lawyers to handle the lawsuit?"

"Depp will have to sell off more assets." Martin laughed. "Regardless of the final outcome of this divorce and domestic violence lawsuit, it has had a huge negative impact on 'The Lone Ranger.' The film was already performing poorly at the box office, and its performance will only get worse."

Leonardo agreed: "Many women's organizations on the internet are calling for a boycott of Depp's movies." He asked Martin, "Did you launch one?"

Martin shook his head: "No, given the current situation, we don't even need to lift a finger. Depp's partners over the years will crush him."

In the last five or six years, the number of production companies and crews that have worked with Depp is basically the number of enemies Depp has.

When a superstar falls rapidly from the peak, he will find that everyone around him is a bad guy.

Tom Cruise's situation is not an isolated case that only happens to him.

"The Lone Ranger" also ushered in its second weekend after its North American release. Dragged down by various negative news about its male lead Johnny Depp, the film showed almost no upward trend in box office over the weekend, creating a precipitous drop compared to its already dismal opening weekend in North America.

The following weekend, The Lone Ranger only grossed $438 million in North America.

After ten days of theatrical release in North America, this mega-production with a budget of $2.5 million only grossed $2654 million.

The precipitous drop in box office figures suggests that "The Lone Ranger" will ultimately only gross a little over $3000 million in North America.

Perhaps overseas screenings can slightly revive the film's box office.

But after Warner Bros. deducts advertising and distribution costs, how much of it will actually return to Annapurna Pictures?

A big-budget movie was a complete flop, and many people are getting restless.

Annapurna Films, President's Office.

"Ms. Ellison, according to our loan agreement, if your business performs poorly, we have the right to withdraw the loan." Judith was also under pressure, but some things had to be made clear beforehand: "The huge sum of two hundred million US dollars that your company borrowed from our bank was mainly used to invest in the 'Lone Ranger' film project, which is currently not performing well in the market..."

Megan Ellison raised her hand to interrupt her: "I will repay your loan on time."

Judith took out a document and placed it on Megan's desk: "This is an official letter."

Megan is now out of money and can only say, "My last name is Ellison."

Judith said, "It's precisely because your last name is Ellison that we're extending the loan term to the maximum possible level, rather than withdrawing it immediately."

"I understand," Megan Ellison said. "This loan is nothing."

Judith smiled, stood up to say goodbye, and said, "We will patiently await Ms. Ellison's good news."

Megan watched her leave and couldn't help but sigh. When things are going well, banks are eager to lend you all their money, but when you encounter difficulties, they want to suck you dry.

Two hundred million US dollars in cash, plus bank interest, would have been a considerable sum for her even in the past.

Where is she going to get this huge sum of money? Even selling Annapurna Films wouldn't be worth that much.

Megan Ellison instinctively picked up the phone, ready to ask her father for help, but after pressing a number, she hung up.

From childhood to adulthood, every time she got into trouble, her father always had to clean up the mess.

Megan Ellison doesn't want to rely on her father this time; she wants to solve the problem herself.

But how do we solve this?

Megan Ellison looked at the whiteboard opposite her, which listed the names of four movies: The Hurt Locker, Transcendence, The Lone Ranger, and Seventh Son.

The Hurt Locker was co-invested in by Annapurna Pictures, and the film itself didn't generate much profit, so their share was even smaller.

The revenue from "Transcendence" is negligible.

The Lone Ranger may not see any returns.

Only one film remains, "Seventh Son".

Annapurna Pictures has invested $1.5 million in the production of this fantasy epic project, which was also snatched from Martin Davis. However, the film will not be released for some time because the post-production special effects are not yet complete.

After the two disastrous failures of "Transcendence" and "The Lone Ranger," even Megan Ellison, with all her confidence, would have doubts about the remaining project.

If the film is successful, she can recoup some of her losses.

What if she fails? Not only will she lose all the money she brought to Hollywood to start her business, but she will also incur huge debts to the banks.

Megan Ellison suddenly had an idea: to sell the rights to Seventh Son to pay off bank debts.

This film, with a production cost of $1.5 million, is a fantasy epic, so it's reasonable for it to sell for $3 million, right?

With that in mind, Megan Ellison called Wilson and Dreett, her two right-hand men, to discuss the matter.

Warner Bros. is considering terminating the distribution contract.

Hearing his boss's words, Wilson sighed inwardly. Two big productions had failed in a row, and the boss's confidence had been shaken. Was he preparing to liquidate his stock and run away?

But as long as Wilson worked at Annapurna Films, he took responsibility for the day. After careful consideration, he suggested, "We need to finish the film first. We can release the news quietly to test the reactions of other companies. If there are many bidders, we can organize a bidding process, and the highest bidder will get the film's rights."

Dreit had no better solution.

Megan Ellison thought for a moment and said, "Let's do as you say and finish making the video first."

After her two subordinates left, Megan thought of Johnny Depp, the culprit behind the film's failure, and called Amber Heard again: "I want you to keep attacking Depp's weak points!"

Amber Heard really wouldn't let go, using the media and public opinion to torment Depp to the point of ecstasy.

…………

In a villa on the south slope of Beverly Hills.

Johnny Depp has moved out of his love nest with Amber Heard and is preparing to sell the house.

That place holds the worst memories of his life.

Depp poured himself a glass of wine and drank most of it in one gulp. He then took a treasured wooden guitar from the living room wall, gently plucked the strings, and produced a melodious sound.

Jerry, the loyal old bodyguard, then entered the living room, found Depp, and said, "Johnny, there's something I have to remind you. The security, driver, cook, and nanny teams haven't been paid for two months, and I can't keep them on their toes."

These people have followed Depp for at least five years, and Depp paid them extremely high salaries, costing more than $400 million a year.

Depp frowned: "Tell them to wait a little longer."

Jerry lowered his voice: "They have credit cards, mortgages, and other loans to pay; they can't wait."

Just then, agent Wriggs came in from outside.

Depp said, "Take some of the money from selling the yacht and use it to pay the salaries of my staff."

Whigham paused for a moment, then reminded Depp, "That money has already been used to pay off all the back taxes; you signed to confirm it a few days ago."

Depp thought for a moment, then remembered and said, "There's no money in the account?"

Whigham nodded, then stated a harsh truth: "The lawyer asked me to inform you that the legal fees from a while ago are due for settlement."

In the past year, Depp has encountered too many troubles, used lawyers frequently, and incurred high legal fees.

Depp sighed, a headache forming in his eyes: "Can't we wait?"

"The law firm has already given us three extensions." Whigham knew very well that if Depp didn't get his legal fees soon, he wouldn't even have a lawyer for a while: "They can't wait any longer."

Years later, Depp experienced firsthand what it felt like to be stumped by money, saying, "Sell the house as soon as possible, the price... is negotiable."

(End of this chapter)