America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 753 Face-to-Face Conflict

"Hey guys, welcome to my party."

At the entrance to the brightly lit banquet hall, Meryl Streep saw the trio of bastards approaching and went up to hug each of them.

Looking at the three infamous scoundrels of Hollywood, she deliberately said, "Actually, inviting you here was a huge decision and I overcame many difficulties."

Martin cooperated and asked, "Why?"

Meryl said, "I'm worried you'll tear the roof off the banquet hall and turn the party into a battlefield."

Leonard shoved Nicholson forward: "Don't worry, for Jack's sake, we won't mess up your party."

Now that there were no outsiders to mess with, Martin immediately turned his attention to Nicholson: "Jack, you should stand by Meryl's side and help her greet the guests."

Meryl Streep, who is divorced, has always had designs on Nicholson: "I think it's a good idea, we just need a male host tonight."

Nicholson retorted, "Don't be ridiculous, do you think just anyone can stand in that spot?"

Meryl's eyes were fixed on Nicholson, but her hand opened the handbag hanging on her arm, inside which there seemed to be a square box.

Martin had an expression that suggested he was looking forward to a good show.

Without saying a word, Nicholson strode into the banquet hall.

"Don't go." Leonardo pretended to pull him away, but just in time, he missed.

Meryl took out her makeup mirror, touched up her makeup, and snorted coldly, "What a coward."

Martin and Leonardo also entered the banquet hall.

Nixon peeked out from the side and looked towards the doorway, asking, "She didn't say anything, did she?"

"No," Martin asked. "What, are you worried that Meryl will propose to you in public?"

Nicholson said, "What if she goes crazy? If I refuse, we won't even be running buddies anymore."

The three scoundrels entered the banquet hall laughing and joking, found some acquaintances, and started chatting.

Suddenly, a blonde girl approached: "Hi, Martin, Leo."

She greeted Martin and Leonardo, but ignored Nicholson.

Martin's gaze swept quickly over her. The girl was tall with blonde hair and a facial structure that resembled Meryl Streep, but her features were more refined and she was prettier than Meryl.

"We've met before." The girl frowned. "Have you forgotten?"

Martin remembered: "You're Meryl's youngest daughter, Louisa."

Louisa Jacobson said, "We met in New York a few years ago..."

With her blonde hair, long legs, and exquisite beauty, Leonardo nodded: "You were just a little girl back then, I never imagined you'd grow up so much."

Louisa smiled at him, then turned to Martin and said, "I'm throwing a party next week, can you come?"

Nicholson suddenly floated past Martin like a ghost.

Martin understood what this bastard meant and said, "I've been quite busy lately, so I'm afraid I won't have time."

Leonardo was about to say he had one when Nicholson pulled him away.

"Let's talk again when we have time." Martin left as well.

Louisa watched Nicholson's retreating figure, her eyes filled with obvious resentment.

Once they were in a secluded spot, Leonardo said with displeasure, "Jack, what are you doing?"

Martin shook his head slightly and asked, "That wouldn't happen to be your daughter, would it?"

"Don't frame me!" Nicholson quickly retorted, "That's Meryl and Don Gummel's daughter."

Martin and Leonardo looked incredulous.

Nicholson knew these two bastards well and knew that explaining would only make things worse, so he simply kept quiet.

Leonardo has found a new target: "I'm going to find someone to chat with."

Martin also spotted a familiar face: "I'll go find someone to chat with for a bit too."

Nicholson was now all alone. He glanced around and went to find Meryl Streep.

Spielberg had just finished chatting with someone when he turned around and saw Martin.

The old man adjusted his signature round glasses and said to Martin, who was approaching, "I heard you almost made Megan Ellison explode the other day?"

"That's not true," Martin said from his own perspective. "Her newly completed film, 'Seventh Son,' wasn't very good. Even if I offered $3000 million, it would be risky."

He got straight to the point: "Nolan contacted me a few days ago and we talked about Interstellar."

Spielberg said, "For big productions and big projects, I think the absolute lead should be a superstar, and both you and Tommy are suitable for the role."

This is very Spielberg-esque, yet flawless.

Martin followed up, saying, "The key to this matter still lies with Jon Berger of Warner Bros.

Spielberg smiled and reminded him, "He's coming."

Martin turned around and saw Jon Berger of Warner Bros. walking towards him.

"You guys talk," Spielberg said, getting up and moving aside.

Jon Berg came over, pulled out a chair, and sat down opposite Martin: "Let's chat for a bit."

Martin smiled slightly: "Okay."

Jon Berg said, "A few years ago, when I was still at New Line Cinema, I often heard people talk about you. You were a new actor then, just starting to work with Warner Bros."

These resumes speak for themselves, and Martin wouldn't deny it: "Several films I worked on with Warner Bros. opened up opportunities for me in Hollywood."

Jon Bogner stared intently at Martin: "Without Warner Bros., you wouldn't be where you are today!"

He married Kevin Tsujihara's wife, a Japanese-American woman who is also heavily influenced by Japanese culture: "You have no respect or gratitude towards Warner Bros., and now you're leading a lawsuit against them?"

Martin said, "Business is business. Don't try to use moral blackmail. It's Warner Bros. that disrespected the business contract and breached it first."

Jon Berg sneered: "Warner Bros. made a settlement with you, but you rejected Warner's outstretched hand of friendship."

"So this is how casually you talk about breach of contract," Martin said. "By June, your breach of contract period will have exceeded six months. Don't you see the stipulated penalties and late fees in the contract?"

Jon Berger said, "Warner Bros. will pay your share of the profits, plus the corresponding bank interest, in full next month."

Martin, not wanting to say anything more, said, "Please have your legal department speak with my lawyer."

Jon Berg leaned forward, placing one hand on the table: "You'd better think this through. You're dealing with Warner Bros., Warner Pictures!"

He said coldly, "Warner Bros. has been around for nearly a century, and countless superstars have come and gone during that time. Without exception, these people have all fallen from grace after a brief peak in their careers."

Martin could hear the threat in his words. He said, "I remember Jack used to work with Warner a lot and he's living a carefree life now."

Jon Berger said, "Do you really want to face the wrath of Warner for a century?"

Martin shook his head and said, "It is indeed a century-old Warner Bros., but I have a question. How many presidents has Warner Bros. changed? Let me think... The president before Alan Horn only served for less than a year and a half before being dismissed by the group due to poor performance. In the 1990s, there were two others who served for less than two and a half years, messed up big-budget movies, and were forced to leave..."

Jon Berg's face instantly turned from white to black.

Martin got up to leave, but before he did, he said, "Jon, I wish your new film 'Jack the Giant Slayer' great box office success, and I wish you a promotion and a raise."

Jon Berger's mind flashed to the main poster of the film, and he suddenly remembered something: Warner Bros., the distributor, had seen Transcendence and The Lone Ranger both flop when they distributed Annapurna Pictures.

Warner Bros. terminated its distribution contract with Annapurna for "Seventh Son" as a result. Annapurna held a screening a few days ago to try and sell the rights, but no one wanted it for $4000 million.

It is said that Megan Ellison snatched all three projects from Martin Davis.

Warner Bros. also had projects snatched from Martin Davis, namely "Owls and Gods" and "Darklands".

Both films were failures.

Jon Berger felt his hands and feet go numb for a moment, and a chill ran down his spine.

Where did the project "Jack the Giant Slayer" originate?

Jon Berg remembers clearly that before the Davis Studios moved, he went with Daniel to the Davis Studios and saw two children's books on Martin Davis's desk—Jack and the Beanstalk and Jack the Giant Slayer.

The two books had curled edges and obvious signs of having been read, and a script of the same name was placed nearby.

Therefore, he initiated this fairy tale fantasy epic project.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible." Jon Berg shook his head. "Nobody expected me to go that day. I only discovered these two books by chance, and that's how this project came about."

He would never admit to being fooled: "Martin Davis's despicable tactics could not have escaped my notice."

Putting aside everything else, Warner Bros. has already poured over $2 million into the "Jack the Giant Slayer" project alone, with the distribution company contributing another $1 million. The sunk costs are staggering.

Jon Berg refused to consider that direction.

Because he couldn't afford the terrible consequences.

Jon Berg glanced again at Martin's retreating figure. With *Jack the Giant Slayer* about to be released, he didn't have the energy to deal with this bastard for the time being. He'd deal with it after the film's box office success…

Meanwhile, Nicholson glanced at Jon Berg, who was leaving alone, and asked, "Did he threaten you just now?"

Martin shrugged: "He warned me to my face that a mountain called Warner was about to come crashing down on me and turning me into mincemeat."

Nicholson laughed first, then said, "You should still be careful."

Martin nodded and said, "I had long anticipated that this day might come. After all, Warner's newly appointed management team is extraordinary, so I chose to cooperate deeply with Disney."

Leonardo then interjected, "Passive defense isn't our style; we need to find a way to get past him!"

Martin glanced at Leonardo and said, "You've been working with Warner Bros. lately. When the opportunity arises, say a word for me."

"No problem," Leonardo replied.

(End of this chapter)