America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

Chapter 259: Chapter 256 Off-track Chase

Monday morning, Martin got off the electric car and promptly entered the Warner Bros. Studios' Warrant Order Studio.

With a loud bang, over a dozen sparkler bombs exploded, sending countless ribbons and glitter fluttering down, so that Martin was covered from head to toe.

Thunderous applause erupted, and everyone clapped their hands.

They were celebrating the film's blockbuster success, Martin as the male lead and project initiator, and of course, the bonus that they were going to receive.

In Hollywood, when a movie's box office sales skyrocket, all the official staff members of the crew benefit.

At the very least, everyone would get a bonus.

Martin clapped along with everyone else, loudly saying, "Thank you! Thank you, each and every one of you, for your support!"

He too was ecstatic, but he didn't lose his sense of self, nor did he become arrogant. Instead, he said, "Without you all, this film wouldn't have been a success! You are the foundation of this success!"

The applause sounded once again.

Martin waved his hand toward the back, and once Bruce and Mene each carried a case of wine inside, he said, "I'm treating everyone to a drink."

Many of the crew members behind the scenes might collaborate again, like Chad and Bradt.

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Martin had a drink with everyone and then headed to his office, with Chad following him.

"Have you got an outline for the new project?" he asked.

Martin took The Dark Domain novel from his desk and handed it to him, "Bradt is planning the script adaptation. According to my vision, there will be a lot of action scenes. If you're interested, continue as the action director and assistant director."

Chad replied, "I don't need to worry about finding a new job then."

Working with a successful person meant a higher chance of success. His previous work, Hell Detective, wasn't very successful, and Warner Bros. directly canceled the sequel project.

Right then, Martin's phone rang.

Chad, holding the novel, took the initiative to say goodbye and leave.

Martin answered the call; it was Leonardo calling.

"Buddy, congratulations, your new movie's a box office hit," Leonardo's voice was slightly chaotic, "Your new box office record is higher than the opening week of all my past movies."

Martin's reply was free of any false modesty, "Really? I've surpassed Leonardo; that's amazing!" He laughed heartily, "Your movies last longer though, much longer than you do."

Leonardo cursed and grumbled, "You bastard, just wait till I get a chance to get you back." He changed the subject, "I'm going to the spa again tonight, it feels great."

Martin chuckled, "Invite the old fart over; I'll call a few friends on my side, and we'll go together."

"Sure," Leonardo replied.

There was a knock on the office door. Martin hung up the call and invited the person in; a staff member walked in with Sophia.

Without mincing words, Sophia got straight to the point, "I want to invest in your new project, whatever it is, I want in."

With an investor offering money, how could Martin refuse? He said, "No problem, the script adaptation for the new project hasn't started yet. I'll let you know when it does."

Sophia nodded, "I'm returning to Atlanta today; just call me when it's time."

Martin escorted her all the way out of the studio.

Looking around, he thought to himself, there sure are a lot of good people.

There was an electric car parked nearby, and Thomas hopped off it, carrying a heavy briefcase.

Martin asked curiously, "What have you brought?"

Thomas smiled, "Many agents from the company have stuffed the profiles of their directors into my hands, hoping to join your new project."

He emphasized, "Not just new directors, but some well-known ones as well."

Martin led the way back into the studio, waiting for Thomas to catch up, and asked, "Am I that popular now?"

Thomas stopped smiling and said quite seriously, "Your latest film made $68.55 million in North America on opening weekend. You might not have a concrete concept of that, but let me put it this way—I haven't taken an actual count, but there haven't been more than 20 films that have achieved this in Hollywood to date! And if you exclude the sequels of big hits, it's fewer than 10."

Martin vaguely remembered that the first film to break a hundred million in North America on the opening weekend was "Spider-Man," and only adapted films or sequels had managed this feat. It seemed that no original film would achieve this in another twenty years.

Looking backward from the results, it made sense for Hollywood to undervalue original films.

Back in his office, Martin looked through the director profiles that Thomas had brought, proactively contacting more than ten of them!

After thoroughly reviewing the information, Martin divided the 14 directors into two groups: those with successful track records and the newcomers.

Among them, a British director named Danny Boyle caught Martin's attention. He flipped through his resume and realized he had seen two films directed by Boyle, "Trainspotting" and "28 Days Later."

The former seemed to be a film about drug-addled youths, while the latter appeared to be a zombie flick.

Martin called Bruce to buy back two copies of the films.

Additionally, Danny Boyle had crossed paths with Leonardo, who had starred in the adventure film "The Beach," directed by Boyle.

Pointing to the information, Thomas said, "He is the biggest name among all these directors here, with a second-tier status himself."

Martin asked curiously, "Did you contact him?"

Thomas explained simply, "No. After I entered the project into the company's database, Danny Boyle reached out to me himself. He's read The Dark Domain novel and is very interested in adapting it."

Martin said, "You talk to him first, and I'll find an appropriate opportunity to have a chat with him, too."

Meanwhile, at the Paramount Pictures Studios, the crew of "Off-track Chase" had just finished their last promotional activity before the premiere.

As the lead actress Jennifer Aniston stepped out of the studio, the magnesium lights had heated the air, making her feel particularly uncomfortable, as if she couldn't catch her breath.

The pressure wasn't just from the lights; there was also "Wanted Order," which had been a big hit the previous weekend.

"Off-track Chase" was going to be fully released that weekend, facing off against the second weekend of "Wanted Order." Aniston was going directly head-to-head with Jolie.

What would the media say if she lost?

If the first-week release couldn't beat a second-week release, would they say Aniston was no match for Jolie?

It would be an endless cycle of gossip mongering.

Lead actor Clive Owen passed by and greeted them with a nod.

Aniston smiled and nodded back, feeling somewhat disappointed; his box office draw was just too weak.

When they had shot the film, "King Arthur" had not yet been released, but it ended up being a complete flop in the market.

Aniston sighed inwardly. Jolie had Martin Davis, the Cola Cult Sect Hierarch, with his immense market pull. Owen was no match; he was just an arthouse type of actor.

Looking at Martin and Jolie, they turned scandal and rumors into an extravagant French meal.

"Hey, Jen," a familiar voice came from behind her.

Aniston turned around to see her ex-husband Pitt's face, which she found repulsive, and asked coldly, "What are you doing here?"

Seeing figures like Matt Damon and Harvey Weinstein behind Pitt, she had a rough idea of the situation.

Weinstein Films was one of the distributors for "Off-track Chase."

Pitt gestured towards a cafe across the street, "A quick chat? For old times' sake?"

Not wanting to have a row in such a public place, Aniston led the way out of the studio, crossed the main road of the studio lot, and entered the cafe opposite.

Pitt followed and sat opposite her.

Aniston faced him like a stranger: "If you have something to say, say it."

"Jen, give me a chance, will you?" Pitt seriously doubted he had been played by Jolie. Compared to the loose woman, he couldn't help but remember how good Aniston was: "I left Jolie, can we go back to how things were before?"

Aniston suddenly felt like laughing but held it back, saying, "You get dumped by her and then turn back to me? Do you think I'm easy to bully? Just because I don't want endless entanglements with you doesn't mean I'm stupid."

But Pitt insisted, "I just made a mistake that any man could make..."

Aniston cut him off, "Why did she break up with you? Weren't you two deeply in love?"

"Martin Davis! She's a promiscuous woman. Right after you left me, she got involved with Martin Davis," Pitt tried to remain calm: "Maybe, Martin Davis could love her more deeply."

His tone was sincere, "Jen, let's go back to the way we were."

"It's not possible anymore." Aniston, having figured out the cause and effect, no longer wanted to see Pitt and stood up to leave.

Pitt rose, wanting to follow her, but many people around were watching, and he cared about his image, so in the end, he didn't chase after her.

Aniston walked along the main road of the studio lot towards the main gate parking lot.

At that moment, Pitt's words echoed in her head, making her realize a truth.

Pitt got dumped by Jolie, and Aniston got hurt.

Jolie got dumped by Martin, and Pitt got hurt.

In this love triangle, the one who should be hurt the most and the only one who hadn't been hurt yet was Jolie!

Aniston appeared nonchalant in front of the media, as if she had completely let go of everything, but only a woman could understand the hate in a woman's heart.

She passed by a newsstand and bought a copy of the "Hollywood Reporter;" the front page featured a photo of Martin and Jolie together.

The two were the leads in "Wanted Order," and the film had just been a huge success. Jolie had successfully made a comeback, even going so far as to make herself out to be a super Madonna.

Aniston didn't care about kids, family, or any Madonna image; she just wanted Jolie to suffer.

What should she do?

She opened her bag, took out her phone, and flipped through her contacts, finding the number she had swapped with Martin at the Cody Community wine tasting event.

Her finger hovered over the call button, but she paused, flipped further through her contacts, and dialed her agent Steve, "I need some information on Martin Davis's recent situation."

The other side was a bit confused, "Because of the movie rivalry this weekend?"

"Not that, it's personal," Aniston stated plainly: "Find out his latest activities, and let me know as soon as possible."

"Give me a few days," her agent agreed.

Aniston put away her phone, and as an electric cart zipped by nearby, she saw Pitt, Damon, the Affleck brothers, and Harvey Weinstein all sitting in the same cart.

It looked like they were in it together.