American Fame and Fortune

Chapter 86 HBO Project (please subscribe)

 In the audition room, the casting director Thomson looked at the list and said: "Let Martin Davis come in."

The Latino aunt at the door went to call someone.

The assistant reminded in a low voice: "Recommendation from WMA, Thomas Lane's client."

"I know." Thomson's voice was also low: "Look at the audition effect."

　　If the person is too arrogant, there is no need to consider the favor.

Martin followed the Latino aunt into the audition room and saw a total of seven people sitting there, including the photographer.

 Six of them are very serious, and one is playing PSP.

 No need to guess, it must be a related household.

No crew is indispensable.

 Martin recognized Thomson and went over to shake hands: "Director."

Thomson nodded slightly: "The role you are auditioning for is an independent film director. There is no script yet. You perform a part."

Martin came to the visor, worked up his emotions for a while, recalled Benjamin's words and deeds when he was crazy, and quickly entered into it.

 This is the director he is most familiar with.

"With one million US dollars, this film can be launched with another one million US dollars!" Martin had seen many independent film directors who were worried about filming funds. His face showed excitement, helplessness and madness: "Man, tell me, who can Give me $1 million! Who can invest $1 million in my project?”

He was hysterical and his voice was high: "As long as he pays, I will sell my **** to him! I can kneel on the ground and blow for him ten times, no problem!"

  Thomson said that the company is quite reliable and the people he recommended have good acting skills.

 When Martin's performance was over, Thomson said: "That's right, you can go back and wait for the news."

 Martin said thank you and left the audition room.

Thomson asked the people around him: "What do you think?"

 The assistant understood what he meant and was very cooperative: "It showed the difficulties and helplessness of an independent film director."

The woman next to me said: "Among the seven people who completed the audition, he is the best and his acting skills are very good."

 Thomson made his decision, but still had to show it: "Go on, let the next one in."

 Martin came out of the audition room, asked the receptionist, checked his cell phone number, and left the small office building.

Walking to the parking area, he thought for a moment, took out his mobile phone, and dialed Robert's number: "Hey, buddy, what are you doing?"

"Why did you think of calling me?" Robert's high spirits could be heard in his voice: "I'm teaching acting to rookies."

Martin said directly: "As a moving favor, go get a bottle of Coke, whether it is a glass bottle or a can, and put it on the table facing Los Angeles."

Robert was surprised: “Why?”

  Martin explained: "I just participated in the audition and am competing for a role. It is very important and is related to whether I can join the Screen Actors Guild as soon as possible."

Robert understood: "Man, the Coke isn't working."

"I know, ordinary Coke is useless." Martin emphasized: "I want the Coke that Robert blessed!"

"Okay, I'll do it now." Robert was already numb. He hung up the phone and went to the theater sales office to buy a can of Coke. He came to his office on the second floor. His desk was moved to the west and he put the Can of Coke.

After thinking for a while, he found some olive oil, spread it on the can, made the sign of the cross, took a picture with his mobile phone, and sent a MMS message to Martin.

Martin felt inexplicably relieved when he received the MMS, and made a special call to Benjamin: "Director, it's nothing, I just want to say thank you."

　　A woman's laughter and Benjamin's words came from the receiver: "Thank me for what?"

Martin said: "Congratulations on coming out, I won't disturb your happiness, just hang up."

 The last call was made by Martin to Thomas. The agent seemed very busy, so he called twice before he got through.

 Thomas was simple and clear: "Just wait for the notice."

　　He hung up the phone without waiting for Martin to reply.

On Friday morning, Martin was notified by the crew that he had landed the role.

In the afternoon, he and Thomas met at the entrance of Warner Studios and went to the small building where the crew was located.

 Thomas wears a suit and tie and carries a black briefcase. A man dressed like this would be a standard stockbroker in New York.

 In Los Angeles, it’s naturally an entertainment agent.

"You are not a union member, so the salary will not be high, up to 3,000 US dollars." Thomas said quickly as he walked: "Don't care too much about the salary at this stage. Getting the opportunity to get a role is more important than anything else. The crew will start filming soon, and you can start filming soon." Only when the union submits an application will we be eligible to seek a more important role.”

Martin said: "You're a professional."

 The two came to the office building, Martin was waiting in the lounge, and Thomas went to negotiate salary with a producer, but he would be back in ten minutes.

He said to Martin: "The salary for the role is 2,800 US dollars per episode. You can appear in two episodes at most. Transportation, meals, accommodation and insurance follow the normal standards of the crew. If there is no problem, sign the contract. After signing, you will get a few pages of character scripts." ”

 Martin really didn’t care about the pay for the role: “No problem.”

Thomas said to the assistant who followed him: "Notify your boss that the contract can be signed."

There is a ready-made template for actor contracts. Martin followed Thomas to another conference room, took the contract sent by the assistant, reviewed it carefully, and signed his name.

Thomas asked, "Is there a problem with the contract?" Martin shrugged: "Of course I have to read the contract I signed."

“Very well, remember this.” Thomas emphasized: “Don’t trust anyone.”

 Thomas’s words were not pleasant, but they made sense. Martin had seen many celebrities being deceived by those around them.

 Such as a certain root or something like that.

The contract was officially signed, and the assistant director sent a few pages of the script and told Martin: "This is a part of the character script that the screenwriter came out yesterday. You should familiarize yourself with the character setting first. It may change later in the plot, but the character setting will not change." ”

 Martin took over: "I will think about it carefully."

The assistant director warned: "Keep it confidential."

 Martin quickly glanced at the first page. The title of the film on the header was the code name - "star".

 In conjunction with his role as a director, it is temporarily named "Star".

In addition, HBO is printed on the corner of the contract.

This is Warner Studios, and HBO is owned by Warner Bros. Martin couldn't help but have a bad association, with blood and **** flying together.

 He ​​has just jumped out of the mire of late-night dramas and zombie machine-gun dances, and will he fall into the trap of HBO's "Porn and Violence" again?

Martin asked Thomas: "Is this an HBO project?"

"Probably." Thomas simply said: "Film and television projects change a lot. HBO projects are sometimes pushed to Warner TV. The details depend on post-production operations."

He is an agent and is good at understanding people's psychology: "Resisting large-scale dramas? You shouldn't. I specifically watched "Zombie Gigolo" and the late-night drama starring you. HBO's scale will not be bigger than Ma Zhen."

 Martin said in his heart that news of Ma Zhendu came to Los Angeles.

 Thomas added one more thing: "You are good at acting, and you know a lot of other skills. The crew should be smarter."

Martin decided to set the record straight: "I grew up in the gang-ridden slums and gigolo clubs of Atlanta and was never afraid of competition and challenge."

 When the two went out, they met the casting director Thomson in front of the office building.

Thomas stepped forward to shake hands with Thomson and said enthusiastically, "Thank you very much this time."

"You're welcome." Just as Thomson was about to look at Martin, Martin was already in front of him, grabbed his right hand and squeezed it hard: "Director, when are you free? Let's have a casual dinner together?"

Seeing that the person was sensible, Thomson smiled slightly: "No need." He was very direct: "Give me your personal contact information."

 Martin understood that a treat could not offset the favor, so he took out his business card and handed it to Thomson: "If you need anything, call me."

 Thomas put away the business card, nodded to Martin, and then asked Thomas: "Where did you find the new guy? He's pretty good."

Thomas said: "He has some sense."

 Martin didn’t say much and automatically acted as the mascot.

　　Thomson walked towards the office building: "You are busy, it's time for me to work."

Thomas had a vague feeling that the new people assigned by the company this time were not simple.

The status of a broker is directly proportional to the number of clients it has.

If Thomas recruits Tom Cruise, he will immediately become a senior partner of WMA.

As he walked out, Thomas said specifically: "Martin, you are a little clever and have connections behind you. As long as you cooperate with me, I guarantee that you will definitely become popular."

  No matter what he thought in his heart, Martin said very pleasantly: "Boss, I believe in your strength, and we can become the best partners."

 At the parking lot, Thomas drove away first.

 Martin got into the car, but without starting it immediately, he took out a few pages of the character script from his bag and read it carefully.

 The content of the script on the first page is very normal. An independent director gathers a lot of ordinary actresses to have a pool party and have fun.

The exhaust pipe is not that bad, and HBO can’t reach this level.

However, the director is very cruel and a lot of people may collectively mess up.

 HBO’s style is natural to anyone who knows it.

 The second and third pages of the script have almost the same content. The male protagonist goes to find the director. The director emerges from a group of women, and the two of them sit among the women and chat.

 The fourth and last page is a conversation between the male protagonist and the director about the movie.

 The film is about to be made by an independent director, and the male protagonist wants to be the protagonist.

The independent director admired him very much, but made a request, and the leading actor personally performed it for him!

This is a dialogue between two people. Whether the male protagonist agreed or not is not written later.

Martin guessed that the screenwriter probably didn't think about it well.

“It’s not yet the era when LGBTQ people have become active, and HBO’s scripts are so wasteful?” Martin tried to recall: “Ang Lee’s “Brokeback Mountain” is a landmark event, and it must not have been filmed yet.”

Hollywood is not the European film industry after all. Even if similar scenes exist, they will not be shot in real life.

Not worried, Martin collected a few pages of the script and went to the film library in Burbank to look for books such as autobiographies and interviews with independent film directors.

Even if it is just a small role with not many roles, Martin is still preparing with a 100% attitude.

 (End of this chapter)