American Fame and Fortune

Chapter 83 Challenge your abilities

 After the fan meeting, Lionsgate hosted a mini reception at a nearby hotel to entertain media reporters and entertainment bloggers.

Like other industries, the production, promotion, distribution and even commentary surrounding the film and television industry are all businesses.

 Martin, Benjamin and Catherine received a promotion fee of US$5,000 from Lionsgate Pictures, so naturally they had to cooperate with Lionsgate and attended.

In addition, a senior executive from Lionsgate Pictures named Michelle came over specially.

 Blake introduced the three of them to Martin. Michelle just shook hands with Martin and Benjamin, and then turned her attention to Catherine.

 Catherine has not spoken to Martin since the theater, and she obviously has a prejudice.

 “Have you offended Catherine?” Benjamin asked, taking a glass of wine.

 Martin knows it, but won’t say it outright. After all, Benjamin and Catherine have a negative relationship: “I don’t know too well. Maybe it’s my menstrual period?”

Benjamin didn’t think too much: “Women’s emotions are sometimes very troublesome.”

 Martin has no time to worry about this: "Ben, don't worry, I'm not so narrow-minded."

Benjamin’s eyes turned to the opposite side, where Michelle was chatting with Catherine.

 I don’t know what he said, but Catherine smiled very happily.

Michelle's eyes were like hands, wandering around the beautiful actress, but what she said was serious words, "Your conditions are very good, you should come to Los Angeles earlier."

Catherine smiled like a flower: "I want to come too, but I never have the chance. I can't come and leave just like a passer-by."

 Michelle's eyes stopped on her beautiful face and said: "I have a project in hand, and one of the characters is very suitable for you."

 Catherine almost didn't think about it: "Really? Can you tell me in detail? I really want to stay."

ˆ Michelle extended the invitation very directly: "I didn't bring the script. If you are interested, you can go to my place and read it carefully, and we will study it together."

During the audition for the heroine of "Zombie Gigolo", Catherine just took off her clothes. Faced with the invitation from the top management of Lionsgate Pictures, how could she refuse: "No problem, when?"

 Michelle smiled: “The reception is over, I’ll wait for you in the hotel lobby.”

 The cocktail party ended quickly, and Martin was ready to leave and return to the hotel where he was staying.

 Benjamin said: "Call Catherine and go with us."

 He found Catherine at the door of the banquet hall.

 Martin will also go out and follow behind.

“Sorry, Ben, I can’t go back now.” Catherine has already made her choice: “Lionsgate has given me an opportunity, and I’m going to talk about it in detail.”

Benjamin understood what was going on as soon as he heard it: "Where should we talk? The hotel or his home?"

Catherine simply made it clear: "Michelle has a script and a role, and I can't miss this opportunity."

 Benjamin reminded: "You are too stupid, Hollywood is not that simple."

Catherine’s mind was full of red and purple colors and she couldn’t listen at all. She said sorry and walked towards the elevator without even thinking about it.

 When Martin and Benjamin arrived at the hotel lobby, they happened to see Catherine taking Michelle's arm and leaving.

 Benjamin couldn't help but say: "She is so stupid."

Martin said: "You can't change the path she chooses to take."

Benjamin sighed.

 The two got into the Lionsgate car and returned to the hotel.

 The hotel where he stayed had a bar, and Benjamin suggested: “Have a drink with me.”

Martin could tell that Benjamin was a little depressed.

There were not many people in the bar. When he came to the bar, Benjamin asked: "What do you want to drink? I'll treat you."

 Martin tried to ask: "Ben, you can't have real feelings, can you?"

Benjamin quickly denied: "We just lived together for a few months."

Any man who is kicked by his female partner and then watches his female partner fall into the arms of another man will not feel good even if they have no feelings for each other.

The bartender heard what Benjamin said and said: "I recommend you a new cocktail, Louise's Penicillin, which can heal the wounded soul."

He pointed to a poster and introduced it specifically: "This is the famous work of Los Angeles bartender Louise Mayer."

 Benjamin looked closer and was surprised: "Isn't she a producer?"

“I don’t know,” Martin said to the bartender. “Give me a bourbon.”

Benjamin asked for penicillin and gestured to the poster with his eyes: "Are you in contact with her?"

Martin did not deny or admit: "I heard Kelly say that after the crew of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" left Atlanta, she went to Morocco and seemed to be working on a big production in Mollywood with Warner Bros. and other companies. Kelly doesn’t know what it is specifically.”

“Hollywood movies always like to come up with code names.” The bartender brought penicillin, Benjamin took a sip and frowned slightly: “It is indeed very healing.”

 Martin clinked glasses with him and said, "Ben, be careful, there will be so many beautiful women coming to your door that your brother can't even lift his head."

I don’t know if the penicillin had an effect or if Martin’s words were effective. Benjamin felt better: "Brother, you are really good at talking. If I were a woman, I would definitely like you..." "Don't." Martin looked at his bald head. , quickly interrupted the spicy ear: "I want to live a few more years."

Benjamin said: “If you don’t have good connections, you might as well go back to Atlanta for development. You have already opened up a path in Atlanta.”

Martin said: "If I can't break out, I will definitely return to Atlanta and join you."

"No need." Benjamin mentioned something: "Do you have Jenna's contact information? Not far north of Los Angeles is the San Fernando Valley. With your talent and ability, it may be difficult to become a multimillionaire, but becoming a millionaire is definitely not a dream. ”

 Martin told the truth: "This is one of the escape routes I prepared."

 The two of them had a few drinks and went back to their rooms without staying too late.

 Martin specially kept the signature book, maybe he will use it in the future.

 When checking out the next morning, Martin discovered that Catherine had not returned.

 A Lionsgate staff member came and took her luggage.

Benjamin was going back to Atlanta. Before leaving the hotel, he asked Martin specifically: "Do you have a plan?"

 Martin said: “Find a house to settle down first.”

 …

 The weekend after Thanksgiving, a blog post by a female film and entertainment blogger was forwarded to a movie forum by B-movie enthusiasts, attracting some attention.

"It's rare to find a B-level movie that made me buy tickets twice in a row like "Zombie Gigolo." The movie itself is of average quality, with many shortcomings such as shoddy production and clichéd plot. However, the male protagonist of the movie gave a god-level performance. performance.”

The following are the movie stickers authorized by Lionsgate, as well as short clips of Martin's zombie machine gun dance and trapeze in the film.

 Lionsgate Pictures is not idle either, and no one can underestimate the imagination of professional marketers.

They teamed up with a well-known blogger and a film forum moderator to post a video of Martin doing the zombie machine gun dance in the movie on a well-known film forum.

 Originally, people automatically ignore it and feel bored.

Not long after the video was posted, some people actually posted challenge videos, but the pace was obviously much different.

 With someone taking the lead, more and more people are challenging it, and there are more and more related discussions.

“It’s impossible to maintain that rhythm and amplitude for such a long time. It’s just a clip from the movie “Zombie Gigolo”. The movie is not reality.”

 Doubters quickly emerged.

As doubts increased on the forum, someone posted a video of Martin doing the zombie machine gun dance at a fan meeting.

 “It’s actually true!”

 “This actor is so amazing! Is his waist mechanically modified?”

 “I worship the man with four kidneys!”

 It has gained a lot of popularity. Although it is not as popular as those popular movies, it has also attracted a certain amount of attention.

 The film’s attention means it has a box office.

The weekend after Thanksgiving, "Zombie Gigolo" was screened in 650 theaters, earning a box office of US$3.12 million in North America.

　Including previous income, the North American box office has accumulated US$3.88 million, far exceeding the cost of Lionsgate Pictures buying out the copyright.

 Lionsgate Pictures saw hope that it could recoup its investment by relying on box office and continued to expand the screening scale to 787 theaters next week.

 At the end of the new weekend, the North American box office of "Zombie Gigolo" exceeded US$6 million in one fell swoop.

 The film’s market potential has been basically exhausted because its reputation is so mediocre.

 On many rating websites, including IMDB, there is only a failing rating of about 5 points.

  B-level movies are only niche movies after all and cannot become mainstream in the market.

　　The enthusiasm caused by "Zombie Gigolo" and Zombie Machine Gun Dance is like waves washing up on the shore, hitting the rocks on the shore and dissipating as quickly as it comes.

However, many newspapers and film magazines mentioned "Zombie Gigolo" and Martin Davis's name.

Zombie machine gun dance is also popular in many gigolo bars.

 Meanwhile, Martin began house hunting in Los Angeles.

Single-family houses in affluent areas such as Beverly Hills and Santa Monica are not considered, as rents are relatively high.

Martin’s goal is to be relatively close to Burbank, where entertainment companies gather. The rent is not too expensive, the surrounding transportation is convenient, and the apartment type is sufficient.

 He ​​looked at several houses in the Glendale, Burbank and North Hollywood areas and decided on an apartment in North Hollywood.

It is close to Burbank and very close to Sherman Oaks where Louise Meyer and Robert Patrick live. It only takes ten minutes to drive.

  Before moving, Martin first bought an ordinary Volkswagen sedan, and also purchased essential electronic supplies such as a laptop computer and a small video camera.

 After many viewings, Martin finalized the apartment.

 (End of this chapter)