American fame and fortune

"As expected, Megan Ellison's first film failed."

Driving a golf cart on the green lawn, Nicholson said to Martin, who was in the same car: "Your Depp strategy is completely successful."

Martin raised his ball cap: "Actually, I didn't do anything, and Depp put himself on the road to death."

Leonardo pointed to his head: "Having been taking drugs for more than 20 years, his place is already broken."

He sighed: "Back then, Depp and Keanu Reeves both experienced the death of River Phoenix due to drug abuse. Unexpectedly, Depp didn't learn a lesson at all."

Martin said casually: "Maybe Depp tried to quit, but failed."

Nicholson suddenly asked: "Will Depp stage the return of the prodigal son that the media and the public love most?"

Leonardo sneered: "Do you think it's possible? The probability of Martin and I getting married is higher than the probability of Depp turning back as a prodigal son."

"If you want to get married, get married, and don't get involved with me." Martin got a headache when he heard about getting married. Isn't a free life nice?

He quickly brought Leonardo's distorted topic back on track: "I read a report this morning that Depp has been fighting alcoholism and drugs throughout his life and is a true fighter."

Leonardo almost spit out the water he just drank in his mouth, quickly swallowed it and wiped the corners of his mouth, and said: "I drink alcohol, I take drugs, I am late, I scold movie fans, these are all the bad habits I am fighting against. , so I’m a fighter?”

Martin and Nicholson both laughed.

Nicholson turned around and the car stopped near the hole. He asked: "Did the investment in Megan Ellison's film come from financing?"

Martin has learned: "When Annapurna Pictures started, the three projects taken away by Megan Ellison were Annapurna's first independent productions. There were very few people investing in them, and most of the funds were invested in them. Annapurna Films from Megan Ellison.”

Leonardo understood: "In other words, most of the money lost when the film failed was Megan Ellison's personal money."

Martin said: "It is said that she brought hundreds of millions of dollars to Hollywood, but the investment in those three projects was too high, and she did not have enough funds. She used the proceeds of her personal trust fund as collateral to finance "The Lone Ranger" with bank loans. Production budget.”

Nicholson parked the car: "If the project fails, all Megan Ellison will lose is her own money. When you say that, I am very motivated to do things."

Leonardo jumped out of the car, took out his club, and looked at Martin: "With Depp as the captain, it's really a sinkhole."

Martin carried the club to the ball holder, where the caddy had already placed the white golf ball.

He swung the club and hit it far away.

The ball fell into the bunker.

Nicholson shook his head and said, "Your skills haven't improved at all."

Martin casually found an excuse: "I haven't practiced enough, it's normal."

Among the three, only Nicholson is slightly better at golf, while Martin and Leonardo are both terrible.

He came to Los Angeles Country Club to play golf, mainly to have fun with Nicholson.

Martin can't drag the two of them to the Angel Club to practice shooting or fight. Leonardo can say that Nicholson is too old and needs to pay more attention.

The old bastard was born in 1937 and will soon be 75 years old.

However, many people born in this era in Hollywood are still active in front-line jobs. Ridley Scott, who was also born in 1937, shows no signs of retiring. Dong Damu, who is seven years older than them, is still active in front-line jobs. is directing films at the rate of one every two years.

At noon, the three of them had lunch at the country club.

While eating, Nicholson found a newspaper, read it for a while, and said to Martin: "On the first working day, the box office of "Transcendental" was only US$710,000."

Leonardo has his own production company and is very familiar with production and distribution in the industry. He made some calculations: "Looking at the current situation, this film is online and offline. Warner Pictures has deducted various distribution costs. Anna Purna Pictures won’t be able to receive much repayment, and the loss of more than US$100 million will not be able to escape.”

Martin picked up the cup and gestured to his two best friends: "Drink a drink for this good news."

Nicholson and Leonardo were both looking for fun and did not mind the trouble they caused. They picked up their wine glasses and clinked them with Martin.

After lunch, Martin had to go to the set of "La La Land" to practice piano in the afternoon and left the country club alone.

…………

Annapurna Pictures, Office of the President.

Megan Ellison sat blankly in the boss's chair all morning without doing any work.

The huge success of "The Hurt Locker", which she participated in the investment before, made her feel that it is not difficult to invest in a successful movie, and it is easy to make a movie alone.

Even by the end of the film's premiere, Meghan still maintained this strong confidence.

Reality dealt her a heavy blow. The North American box office was so low that she thought she was hallucinating.

The first film that was truly independently invested and produced suffered a disastrous failure, and Megan Ellison was inevitably hit.

The phone suddenly rang.

Megan Ellison finally came out of her daze. After answering the phone, her father's voice came from the receiver: "Such a small failure won't break you, right?"

"No, I can bear it." Megan tried her best to stay strong.

Larry Ellison said: "A small failure is nothing. Think about how many times your father and I failed when I started my business? Learn the lessons from this time and use the money lost this time next time." Just make it back."

Megan thought about her father's experience, and her confidence gradually returned.

The father and daughter talked for a while, and Megan Ellison returned to her high spirits.

She regained her confidence.

Once her confidence returned, Megan could think about problems normally again. After thinking for a while, she quickly found out the reason for the failure of "Transcendental Hacker".

The main reason is Johnny Depp!

Meghan recalled carefully that there were indeed some minor problems in the production of the film, but the bad things Depp did during the promotion period were even more problematic.

As for the project itself having problems, Meghan was the first to deny it, because judging from the way it was obtained, it was obviously impossible.

Megan called her personal boss Derrett.

Within a few minutes, Delete entered the president's office and quietly took a look at Megan's face. Seeing that it was not as gloomy as before, he was slightly relieved: "President?"

Meghan asked: "I remember Depp's last $8 million salary for "The Lone Ranger" has not been paid yet?"

"Yes, it won't be paid until the entire film is completed," Derrett said.

"Don't pay this remuneration to Depp yet. I remember there is a clause in the supplementary agreement. If there is a problem with Depp, we have the right to postpone the payment until after the film is released in North America." Megan Ellison made the decision: "You are responsible for communicating with Depp's side and informing them that if Depp does something excessive in the promotion of "The Lone Ranger", they will not be able to get the salary!"

Derrett responded: "I will make an appointment with Depp's agent Whigham right now."

Megan Ellison waved her hand: "Go ahead."

She completely regained the confidence and momentum of the domineering female president, picked up the phone and dialed Amber Heard's number: "It's me, how about what I asked you to do?"

Amber Heard on the other side said: "I collected a lot of things that are not good for Depp."

Megan said: "Go on, I want more! And you have to be there for me when I need it."

After being married for half a year, Amber is about to collapse. Depp is a good person, but he is also a bad person in life. Let alone a normal person, even she, who is not normal, can't stand it.

"Madam, I have always been on your side." She asked softly: "The promise you gave me?"

Meghan downplayed: "You know very well that those are small things to me, and I will make a mistake?"

When Amber thought about it, it was indeed true: "I will collect more."

Megan hung up the phone. The failure of "Transcendence" is inevitable, the loss may be nearly 100 million, and the main reason for the failure lies with Depp.

Regardless of whether "The Lone Ranger" succeeds or fails, she will make Depp pay the price he deserves!

Megan found that she had never hated someone so much.

…………

Oriental Columbia Building, penthouse.

Amber put away her phone and walked along the corridor to the study. She glanced in through the window. Depp was chatting with investment manager Joel Mandel. The topic seemed to be very speculative, and laughter could be heard from time to time. .

She didn't stay long, went to the cloakroom, found some key evidence in the collection, and looked at them one by one.

As long as these are exposed, Depp will inevitably face great trouble.

Amber read it over and put it all away, thinking about Meghan's new request.

If a married woman wants to accuse her husband, domestic violence is undoubtedly the best reason and excuse.

In the study, Joel Mandel took out an investment agreement and handed it to Depp: "This is the investment plan I talked about. Take a look at it carefully. I dare not say that you will get high returns 100%, but what are the chances? Ninety percent of them all.”

The failure of "Transcendence" did not have any impact on Depp. He was half drunk and half awake, and said: "Just in time, I have two paychecks that have just arrived. Let Robert transfer them to you and invest directly. .”

Robert Mandel is Depp's accountant and Joel's brother.

"Remember to call Robert." Joel made everything legal: "Read the plan and investment agreement carefully."

Depp took a pen and opened the plan. Without looking at the specific content, he turned directly to the place where a signature was required and signed his name on it.

Then he opened the investment agreement and signed it too.

He handed it back to Joel and asked casually: "Did the previous investments go well?"

Joel collected the two contracts and said, "The investment went very smoothly and the income was considerable."

Depp laughed: "That's good." He invited: "You stay, let's party together tonight."

Joel pointed to the two contracts: "I'll deal with these first to ensure investment returns."

Depp did not force him to stay, after all, he could live a comfortable life only if he had money.