American Fame and Fortune Chapter 206

Chapter 206 Level Upgrade

After the meeting, Martin chatted with Mayor Villaraigosa and LAPD boss Bratton for a while. Seeing that they had important matters to discuss, Martin left in due course.

McLean walks Martin out of City Hall.

 Not only did he exchange personal contact information with Martin, he also gave Martin an "exemption card" on behalf of the LAPD.

Of course it is not an exemption from the law, but rather a certain preferential treatment within the scope of LAPD law enforcement.

Martin thought of McClain's position and said specifically: "I am developing in Hollywood and also involved in film project investment. Last year I established a studio, mainly affiliated with Warner Bros. and Pacific Pictures. In the future, I may be involved in film shooting. Trouble to the LAPD.”

LAPD can be said to be one of the largest partners of Hollywood producers. McClain is responsible for this area and said: "If you need anything, call me directly."

 Martin shook his hand and said goodbye: "I won't be polite."

Arrived at the side door of the city hall, Thomas was waiting here and said: "There are many reporters outside."

 Martin's face changed instantly, his head lowered and his mouth closed, with a heavy expression.

 When he went out, the flash lights kept coming on, and reporters were clamoring to interview him.

Several PDs stopped reporters, and Thomas protected Martin as he walked out. As he walked, he said, "Sorry, everyone, Martin is not feeling well right now..."

Bruce opened the door and Martin got into the back seat.

 After Thomas got into the car, Bruce started the car and left.

Thomas leaned on the back of the seat. He had worked hard these past few days and was too tired to move.

 Martin took out a can of Coke and handed it to Thomas: "Add some energy."

Thomas opened it, took a sip, and asked, "What position do I belong to in the CocCola Cult?"

Martin was not stingy in assigning positions: "Do you want to be a deputy leader or a counselor to the leader?"

 Thomas wondered: “What is the most important position?”

Bruce, who was driving, interjected: "Of course they are saints! Why does the CocCola Cult have ten saints, right?"

Thomas understands that the saint mentioned here is definitely not Joan of Arc.

"Ten? Old Boo, do you look down on me?" Martin rarely said what he was thinking: "I want a hundred anyway!"

Bruce reminded: "As agreed, the deputy leader has one of mine."

Thomas didn't want to stay away from Martin's small circle, and said: “I also want to be the vicar.”

 Martin thought to himself, before the horse-riding saint saw her shadow, the deputy leader came first, and a lot of them were wolves.

Bruce drove to Century City, dropped Thomas off, and returned to their North Hollywood apartment together.

As soon as he entered the apartment, he saw the landlord Antonio sitting in the hall like a door **** holding the gun of friendship.

 The paparazzi who was following from a distance saw the gun on the fat man's shoulder and walked back automatically.

Antonio pointed outside: "Martin, there are more and more paparazzi following you, and my tenants have a problem."

Martin said directly: "I'm going to Atlanta soon. I don't have time to look for a house now. I will look for a house when I come back."

"Someone offered us $50,000." It was not easy for Antonio. Is it possible for ordinary people to refuse such a big temptation? In other words, he is a veteran millionaire: "I can still hold on for a few more months."

 Martin patted Antonio on the shoulder: "Those who use the gun of friendship must value friendship very much."

Antonio pulled Martin to his side: "Come, let's take another group photo. The hero of Los Angeles is my tenant. There is a new screenwriter on the first floor. When the photo is developed, I will ask him to write an advertisement later and describe us in detail. Deep friendship."

Martin stood behind Antonio and asked Bruce to take a group photo.

 When Lao Bu and Martin went upstairs, Antonio muttered: "If the photo is enlarged and replaced, the rent can be raised again."

 Martin looked down and said, "I want a commission!"

Antonio raised his head: "You are a big star now and you have a golden key. Are you going to be short of money?"

 Martin said no more and came upstairs.

 Jessica stood at the door with a box at her feet, obviously waiting for them.

 Martin asked: “Where did the express come from?”

Jessica said: "It was mailed from Queensland, Australia."

Bruce kicked the box forward, opened the door to Martin's apartment, and kicked the box in.

 Martin asked casually: “Where is Emily?”

 Jessica followed Martin into the apartment and said, "Fans have been quite excited these past two days. She went to see Rachel."

 Martin was curious: "What's going on?"

 Jessica looked at Martin and whispered: "After the video about the CocCola Cult was circulated on the Internet, many people were clamoring to join the CocCola Cult..."

 Martin scratched his head for a while: "Everyone comes to join in the fun."

"There will be ordinary believers soon." Bruce rarely saw a business opportunity. Of course, bad people can only think of bad tricks: "The opportunity to cash in has come. Want to join the CocCola Cult? Pay the membership fee!"

He lowered his head and saw the large box of goods: "This can be used as a church badge. Isn't 50 US dollars a piece expensive?"

 Martin directly gave Bruce a middle finger: "You scumbag, don't show off your poor knowledge."

He had not thought about the CocCola cult for the time being. He said this at the time, partly to distract the shooter, and partly to attract some people's attention through Helen's video.    These two purposes have been achieved.

Martin said to Jessica: "Tell the members of the fan group that if you join the fan group, you will automatically join the CocCola Cult. We are just a loose interest organization. We have no plans to officially register for the time being. When we actually register, we will be there as soon as possible." Notify them."

 Jessica responded: "Okay."

Bruce opened the box at this time, took out the crocodile tooth pendant and bison horn, and put them into the large box on the side of the living room.

 Jessica went to help.

 Martin dragged out another box, took out a mahogany gift box containing jade jewelry, and put the gold key away.

I will be returning to Atlanta soon, so I need to prepare some gifts.

Although Martin rejected Lao Bu's bad idea of ​​monetizing CocCola, in the highly developed business society of the United States, personal fame and influence can really be converted into commercial value.

 In the week since the Burbank Middle School incident broke out, sales of the "Horror House of Wax Museum" disc, which could only sell less than 3,000 copies per week in North America, have skyrocketed, with sales exceeding 70,000 in the latest week.

"The Mountain Has Eyes", which has been withdrawn from North America, was once again promoted to the screening channel by Warner Bros. in conjunction with multiple theaters. It actually earned nearly 5 million U.S. dollars at the box office that week.

 This also allowed the film's North American box office to exceed US$110 million.

Relevant news has also spread overseas, especially in English-speaking countries and regions. The overseas box office of "A Eye on the Mountain" has once again made waves. It suddenly raised its head. The overseas box office collected another US$4.15 million that week, and the global box office accumulated US$180 million.

  The newly released DVD of the film has been selling well, with sales of US$19.54 million in the first week.

Although it is far from a DVD like "Spider-Man 1" that sold 50 to 60 million US dollars in its first week, this is just a horror film with a small investment.

Even "Zombie Gigolo", which has long been in the dark, has been dug up by many movie fans. In the past week, it has even rented DV and video tapes, generating more than 1 million US dollars in revenue.

  But this film has no direct commercial connection with Martin.

　　When Martin was filming Zombie Gigolo, he had not yet joined the Screen Actors Guild, so naturally he would not enjoy the post-production income sharing agreement between the union and the Producers Alliance.

　　The higher the post-production revenue from DVD and other movies, House of Wax Museum and The Mountain Has Eyes, is, the more shares Martin can enjoy.

Many established stars who were active in life and debauchery, after fading out of the film industry, rely on the post-production profits from the numerous films they starred in.

 As long as they are not as extravagant as Marlon Brando, most of them live a very nourishing life.

 At Warner Bros. Studios, the studio of "Wanted", the crew is packing their bags and preparing to move to Atlanta.

 The project will soon enter the filming stage.

　　Director Leterrier took the film crew and stunt team to Atlanta in advance.

 Jessica and Emily were going to stay in Los Angeles. Martin had just finished explaining his work to them when Mene ran in from outside.

“Boss!” Mene pointed at the door of the studio and said, “There is a very tall girl looking for you. She seems to be the heroine from the Jeans crew.”

 Martin knew who it was, Blake called him yesterday.

 He came to Bruce, and Old Bu handed him a small handbag and said, "The level has been upgraded."

“I was poor before and had no choice.” Martin carried his handbag and walked out of the studio when he saw Blake wearing low-waisted jeans and a navel-baring sweater.

He pointed to the front: "The truck will be here soon. Let's go to the coffee shop in front. The cold drinks there are good."

 Blake wanted to reach out and hold Martin's arm, but he was worried that the male idol would not agree, so he retracted his hand halfway up, pretending to pack his small backpack, and followed Martin forward.

“I've been very worried about you during this period. I called several times and couldn't get through.” She read the news report and said that Martin went to see a psychiatrist: “Are you okay?”

  Martin's real situation will not be told to anyone casually: “He is a bit autistic. He turns off his phone and doesn't want to contact anyone. He is much better now.”

 Blake finally reached out and grabbed Martin's arm: "If you have something in your heart that no one can talk to, you can tell me."

 Martin saw the coffee shop and said to the brown-haired girl behind the counter: "Mia, have a cup of black tea and a piece of skim ice cream."

He and Blake sat by the window, and Mia quickly brought drinks.

 Martin placed the handbag in front of Blake: "This is for you, a kind of amulet. Wearing it with you can eliminate bad luck."

 Blake was surprised, but more excited. He quickly took out the gift box and opened it. When he saw the emerald green jade plaque, he asked: "Is it emerald?"

“Emerald.” Martin said: “The investor I was looking for came from Asia, where this kind of gemstone is abundant, and I bought a few pieces.”

Blake picked it up and hung it around his neck: "Is it beautiful?"

 Martin nodded: "It suits you very well."

 Blake was a little annoyed: "I didn't prepare a gift for you."

 Martin smiled: "You can talk to me here, which is the best gift."

Blake was full of joy: "Yesterday you said you were going to Atlanta to shoot a movie?"

 “I'll leave the day after tomorrow.” Martin simply said: “It's an action shootout movie. I'll come back when Jeans premieres.”

 Blake calculated the time, it was the critical moment for her to apply for college, and it was difficult to go to Atlanta to visit classes.

 Thinking about it carefully, it's better to wait until after August.

 (End of this chapter)

Chapter end