American Fame and Fortune

Chapter 50 Humans and Ghosts

 “Very good, you did a great job!”

French director Michel rarely left the director's chair, entered the set, and said to Jim Carrey: "Your performance is Oscar-level, you deserve an Oscar!"

Jim Carrey just smiled and had no other expression.

 Michelle turned to her co-star Martin: "Boy, believe me, your acting skills are great."

 This is the director, and Martin is not qualified to remain silent. He bites the bullet and says, "Thank you, director, I will try my best."

 Outside the makeshift flea market, Kate Winslet's mouth almost touched her ears.

 Ever since the quarrel that day, she and the director had not spoken a word except for work.

 Michelle also had high praise for the other actors and seemed to want to express some emotion in this way.

 The crew is such a professional workplace, it’s normal for them to be at odds with each other.

 When some people feel comfortable, others will feel uncomfortable.

 Martin returned to the rest area, and just as he sat down, a chocolate-colored hand stretched out, holding the sippy cup with its slender fingers: "Martin, would you like some water?"

Martin raised his head and saw Rosa. She might be of mixed race. She didn’t look like a black person, so she looked prettier.

 “I’m not thirsty, no need.” He declined.

 Rosa was very enthusiastic: “Just call me if you need anything, I’ll be right next to you.”

 Martin politely said: "Thank you."

This woman has been around him from time to time since the day before yesterday.

Robert came in huffing and puffing from the outside with a Coke box in his arms, and placed the Coke cans on the table in the rest area.

 Martin was about to get a bottle, but he didn't get up yet, so he quickly sat back down.

Although it’s not a glass bottle, Robert’s Coke…

Robert came over, sat next to Martin, wiped his sweat, and asked, "Rosa is still pestering you?"

  Martin said: "I don't have the power to drive her away."

 “She’s interested in you.” Robert’s job is relaxed and purely leisurely: “You can easily ask her out.”

 Martin shook his head: "Man, the free ones are the most expensive. I'm going to have **** with her. What do you think she will want?"

Robert is not stupid: "If she pesters you again, I will help you."

“I do need your help with something.” Martin called Louise last night, and Louise specifically mentioned to him that Michel Gondry is a member of the French director gang in Hollywood.

 There are various forces in Hollywood privately, and the most obvious division is country.

 In the afternoon, the work of the crew came to an end temporarily, and many people left the studio one after another.

French director Michel has a weird habit of going to the bathroom and squatting before leaving.

 Fifteen minutes later, Michelle came out of the special compartment, and the sound of water flushing sounded behind her.

 He walked out and heard someone talking in the bathroom, with a local Atlanta accent.

“You invite me to eat at a British restaurant? Is there a restaurant in Atlanta that sells British food? Even if there is, who will eat there?”

 “Yes, they also published the British Good Food Guide?”

“I know.” Martin said mockingly: “The legendary garbage sorting guide.”

Michelle came out and couldn't help laughing when she heard this. Seeing that the speaker was Martin, she said, "How can an Englishman know how to cook delicious food?"

Martin seemed to retort: ​​"London has the top ten restaurants in the world."

 Michelle frowned slightly.

Martin's voice changed: "All the food sold inside is French food."

Michelle praised: "Martin, there are not many Americans who have a clear understanding of food like you."

“Because I have been poisoned by British food.” Martin’s face collapsed, as if he was recalling a very terrifying thing.

Robert, who plays with him, is an old background artist. He is standing behind Martin at this moment. There is no violation at all. He is naturally honest and loyal, which can also add points to Martin's words.

 Michelle was working continuously and was under great pressure, so she asked: "Is there a better French restaurant in Atlanta?"

Since Martin came here, he certainly did his homework: "Yes, in the city center, they definitely don't sell **** British food."

Michelle felt relieved and said, "Can I ask you, a local, to lead the way?"

Martin said: "My pleasure."

 During dinner, the two talked about the romantic city of Paris, the foggy London; the elegant French, the **** British football hooligans...

 Language is an art. Martin successfully obtained Michel Gondry's personal business card and exchanged contact information.

 A little earlier, in the office of the president of Gray Company.

 Director Benjamin Calvin hurried over and stopped Kelly Gray who was about to get off work.

 A script was placed on Kelly Gray’s desk. "This is what I and several screenwriters have just completed." Who doesn't have a dream to be a director? Benjamin doesn't want to spend his whole life making late-night movies: "The source of the idea is what you said about Martin lying on his body and watching the male and female protagonists fall in love."

Kelly was a little dazed: "That was what Martin was joking about."

Benjamin said: "Martin performed very well in the last Ma Zhen play. I got to know him specifically. He works in a gigolo club. I added this element based on my creativity."

 Kelly saw it and wrote the name of the new script directly: "Zombie Gigolo".

 She read a dozen pages and had a rough idea in her mind. She closed the script and said, "Ben, the cost is too high. If we shoot according to this script, even 500,000 US dollars is not enough."

 Benjamin made a simple budget: "It actually requires 800,000 to 1 million US dollars."

Kelly automatically ignored the $800,000 and said: "With $1 million, we can shoot at least 8 late-night dramas and sell them to cable TV stations, plus DVDs and video tapes. We will definitely make a profit without losing money. This much investment is spent on one drama." , the risk is too great.”

Benjamin fought hard: "Kelly, we can't make low-budget late-night movies forever, right? You don't want to enter theaters? Don't want the company to really develop and grow?"

Kelly shook her head: "I have worked hard in Hollywood. What proportion of Hollywood movies make a profit every year? They can rely on time to recover costs and accumulate profits. What about us? Throwing 1 million US dollars in and not getting it back in half a year will make the capital chain extremely tight. "

 There were some things she didn’t need to tell Benjamin, such as her interest in the abandoned production workshop of General Motors.

 Benjamin said: "I am sure of success with this script."

  This is a meritorious director of the company. Kelly could not refuse it directly. She thought about it and said, "Please make a budget and plan. I need to think about it carefully."

 Benjamin said: “I try to reduce costs as much as possible.”

 Out of the door, he kept scratching his head. Movies are an art, but in the end they are a business.

Going downstairs, Benjamin was about to go home and met the casting director Lynn.

The latter was wearing a Warriors championship commemorative baseball cap and asked: "How is it?"

Benjamin said simply: "My boss asked me to make a budget and plan, and she had to consider everything."

 Lynn said: “There is hope.”

 Benjamin replied casually: "Yes."

The two of them separated and got into the car. Linn thought for a moment and dialed a number: "Adam, I will wait for you at the black bar in half an hour and bring you the best goods."

Adam Smith, who had already returned home, hung up the phone, opened the hidden compartment on the shelf, took out the plastic bag, and went out for an appointment.

 …

Kelly left the company, went to a nearby bar, and entered a large private room with an independent bar.

 In addition to Louise and bartender Martin, there is also Kate Winslet in the private room.

 Louise made a formal introduction to Kelly and Kate: "You have never met formally before. In fact, I have known you for about the same time. I met Kelly in 1993 and Kate in 1995."

 Martin mixed four different cocktails and said to the three women outside across the bar: "Let's get acquainted."

 Four people clink glasses.

Kate Winslet took a sip of the refreshing Long Island black tea with extra ice, which somewhat relieved her irritability these days. She said: "That French director's head is full of shit. Please forgive me for swearing. I just can’t help it.”

 She pressed it for a long time: "Louise, if it weren't for your sake, I would have made a fuss and bullied him and forced the crew to change the director."

 Martin put down his glass and said: "He will cut off both sides of the French flag."

Kate was overjoyed and laughed.

 There were piles of European colored flags. Kelly couldn't tell who was who, and was surprised: "What do you mean?"

Kate explained with a smile: "The French flag cuts off the blue and red on both sides, leaving only white. This is what the French are best at doing."

Louise looked at Martin sideways, this guy is really a top-notch guy.

Martin said seriously: "Haven't you heard that no one can capture Paris before the French surrender?"

Kate picked up the wine glass: "Martin, I must give you a toast."

 Martin clinked glasses with her: "My pleasure."

 Louise still reminded: "Kate, if you want to use this drama to win the Olympics, you should restrain your temper, although he is only responsible for the filming on the set."

Like her eternal best friend, Kate is obsessed with the Oscars: "I was nominated several times and lost all of them."

Kelly asked: “Not enough public relations investment?”

Kate shook her head: "Those old men think I'm too young?"

Martin interjected: "I am an outsider, can you give me your opinion?"

Kate clinked glasses with him again: "Of course."

Martin thought for a while and said: "The main reason is that Kate, your appearance is too prominent, and it is easy for people to overlook your acting skills. I have seen the Oscar lists in the past ten years. What should I say?"

His voice slowed down and his tone became more intense: "That is a game where many women participate in the selection, and the only way to win is to become ugly and insane."

As soon as these words came out, the three women laughed at the same time.

 Kate Winslet took the wine bottle and filled the glass: "Martin, what you said is very reasonable. On behalf of all the beautiful women targeted by Oscar, I want to have a drink with you."

 (End of this chapter)