America gains both fame and fortune

Chapter 152: People's Favorite Gossip

The areas where luxury homes in Los Angeles are located are basically "scarce" areas with few cars, few people, and few houses.

The girl in school uniform stood alone on the roadside, with her right hand extended and the thumb raised, waving towards Martin.

Martin saw it once, pulling up next to the man with the passenger window lowered.

The girl bent down and looked to make sure she had recognized the right person. She waved her hand at Martin and said, "Hi, handsome guy, we've met before."

Martin glanced at the slightly chubby face and asked, "Are you Elizabeth from the Olsen family?"

Elizabeth Olsen smiled sweetly: "Are you going to Louise's place? Can you take me home with you?"

Martin opened the passenger door: "Get in."

Elizabeth got in the car, her bag on her lap: "Thank you."

Martin drove: "You can stop any car you want, you don't have to worry about meeting bad guys."

"Are you a bad guy?" Elizabeth turned and looked at Martin: "I recognized your car, so I dared to stop it."

Martin was surprised: "We have only met a few times."

Elizabeth reminded, "You often go to Louise's place, and every time you go, you have to pass by my house."

Martin asked, "Are all girls as smart as you now?"

Elizabeth giggled, "Handsome boy, you speak so nicely. By the way, I don't know your name yet."

"Martin Davis."

"Sounds familiar. I seem to have seen him in the newspaper recently." Elizabeth remembered: "The protagonist of a horror movie."

Martin nodded and asked, "Didn't your sister drive you around the few times I saw you?"

Elizabeth explained simply: "They were very busy today, so I took a leave of absence and came back here. I took the bus here, but there was no public transportation further ahead, so I was planning to walk back, and I happened to meet you."

"You're lucky," Martin said.

Perhaps the favorable environment she grew up in gave her unusual confidence. Elizabeth said, "Of course, I have always been lucky."

Martin drove up the south hill, and Elizabeth said, "No need to stop, just go to Louise's house, there's no one at my house."

"Really?" Martin didn't listen to her and called Louise first.

Louise said, "The Olsens are all at a business event, let her come over."

Elizabeth said, "I don't know Louise well, but my sister knows her well."

Martin drove directly into the gate of Louise's house and parked the car next to the villa.

Elizabeth got out of the passenger seat and saw Louise standing at the door of the villa. She greeted her politely and said, "I have nowhere to go for the time being. Can I stay here for a while?"

Louise invited, "Come and have lunch together."

Martin took the gift from the armrest box and went into the villa to give it to the housekeeper Mary.

"What is it?" Louise asked.

Martin said, "I ordered you some wine from overseas. You can taste it in moderation. Don't drink too much. One glass can make a donkey fall down."

Louise nodded: "Got it."

Ten minutes later, the three of them sat at the dining table.

Elizabeth saw the beautifully prepared roast meat and said, "Meat, I like it best."

Louise said, "You're welcome, eat whatever you want."

Martin didn't talk much, and the barbecue was more attractive.

Just like last time, Louise specially invited a chef to come and make barbecue.

After lunch, the three chatted for a while. Elizabeth had the habit of taking a nap at noon, so Louise asked Mary to arrange for her to rest in the guest room and send her home when she came back from next door.

Louise got in Martin's car and went to Warner Studios together.

Passing by the next door, Louise pointed: "The real rich woman is here."

"The Olsen sisters? Richer than you?" Martin asked curiously.

Louise said, "Maybe one day he'll be a billionaire."

Martin smiled: "I still want you to support me."

Louise changed the subject and asked, "Has the wax museum promotion come to an end?"

Martin said: "It's over. The distribution company has not arranged any overseas promotion. Yesterday's celebration party was the last public promotion event."

Louise sat crookedly in the passenger seat and asked, "What are your plans?"

Martin thought for a moment and said, "I have to go to the crew of The Hills Have Eyes to do post-production in the next few days. Some shots need dubbing." He turned into the main driveway and said, "Originally, Zomi told a horror story. He received the first draft of the script yesterday and showed it to me when he went to the bar. Unfortunately, it is not suitable for me."

Louise asked, "That dwarf murderer you were talking about?"

Martin simply said: "The script written by Zomi's friend is centered around a perverted heroine with dwarfism and a supporting actress. The supporting actor is not outstanding and is killed by the heroine in the end."

During the filming of House of Wax, Martin would have been interested, but after playing the leading role, it was impossible for him to play such a role again.

Louise gave a little advice: "Whenever possible, choose the protagonist first. Even if you choose a supporting role, it should be a supporting role with characteristics, not a stupid supporting role that sets off other characters."

Martin thought of "Alexander the Great" again: "If you are interested, you can take a look. I think the script is very interesting, and Zomi's directing ability is also good."

The reason I mentioned this to Louise was not because his previous life, Orphan, received a very good response.

Many Hollywood movies that were once highly praised on the Internet have a high chance of being box office flops in North America. There are too many movies that have great reputations but terrible box office performances.

Martin's judgment was based on the fact that the film had a sequel.

Louise was somewhat interested, after all, Zomi had just achieved success: "When he finishes the script, let him submit a copy to Pacific Pictures."

When he arrived at Warner Studios, Martin called Zomi and reminded him to finalize the script and send a copy to Pacific Pictures.

The post-production studio where the Hills Have Eyes crew was located was right next to the Alexander crew. When Martin and Louise came over, they saw Angelina Jolie.

Louise seemed to be quite familiar with her and chatted with her for a while.

In the first half of this year, gossip media published reports about Pitt's affair with Jolie, but not many people paid attention to it and it hasn't become a big deal yet.

When Martin entered the post-production studio, he looked back at Julie.

It is said that this woman never hires professional public relations, and all public relations and self-marketing plans are done by herself.

Jolie fully embodies one thing: no matter how well a movie is made, it is not as good as good publicity.

Martin found director Ajia and went to the post-dubbing room. Many shots shot on site were disturbed by the environment and could not achieve the desired effect, which could only be solved through post-dubbing.

He spent half the afternoon in the dubbing studio and his work efficiency was pretty good, re-dubbing more than 30 shots.

When Martin came out, Wes Craven returned from a meeting at Warner Bros.

Together with Ajia, the three of them entered the producer's office.

Craven said the important thing first: "House of Wax received good box office response, and earned you a lot of points, Martin. Warner Bros. attaches great importance to this film with you as the absolute protagonist. It was originally planned to be released in April, but finally decided to advance it to early February, the weekend after the Super Bowl."

Martin asked, "Will the film be advertised in the Super Bowl?"

Craven said: "I have mentioned it, but the details will depend on Warner Bros.' arrangements."

Ajia flicked her hair and said, "It is said that the Super Bowl ads were very effective."

"The most watched show in the United States." Craven watches it every year: "When it comes to TV commercials, there is no better show than the Super Bowl."

Martin pondered for a moment and said, "I have some ideas about the promotion of the film."

Ajia was curious: "I heard that the wax museum used a lot of your suggestions in its promotion?"

Martin is not one to be modest about such things: “Partly.”

Craven said, "It's definitely not the conventional publicity. Those are all over the place. In that case, Paris Hilton?"

Martin just smiled, neither confirming nor denying.

Craven said, "In a few days, Warner Bros. will hold a film promotion meeting. One of you is the director and the other is also the production manager. You should go together then."

Martin responded, "No problem for me, call me when you're ready."

Craven acted as a producer for who knows how many times, reminding him: "Martin, The Hills Have Eyes is completely centered on you. You are the main focus of public opinion."

He offered similar advice to Thomas: "The wax museum brings you some popularity. Try to maintain that popularity. It will benefit your next film."

Ajia was quick-witted: "I'm going to have a party and invite some French female stars to come? Martin, can you pick one up?"

Martin said righteously: "Why is it that when you talk about creating hype and topics, the first thing you think of is women?"

Ajia spread his hands and said, "Because the public loves to read gossip, and the things between men and women are the easiest and most effective way to create gossip."

Martin said: "Unless you invite Sophie Marceau."

"It's no use. You'd better find a Hollywood actress." Craven has been in the industry for decades and understands the market and audience better than Martin and Aja: "Sophie Marceau has no appeal in North America, and she is not very popular."

Martin realized that not only Sophie Marceau, but also Monica Bellucci, had average appeal in North America.

It's not Europe after all.

Afterwards, the three of them went into the post-production editing room together to watch the initial cut of the sample film.

Craven and Aja discuss how to do a second edit.

Martin listened attentively without saying a word.

Although I am not a layman in this area, I have had less exposure to it before and cannot compare to Craven and Ajia.

The final editing of the film rests with Craven.

He is not called the Godfather of modern Hollywood horror films for nothing.

After spending two days in the post-production studio, Halloween is approaching. At this time of year, all the monsters and ghosts in Hollywood and even the United States will come out.

Martin originally wanted to ask Louise to attend the Halloween parade, but Louise was not interested.

He thought about it for a moment and called Anne Hathaway.

"I remember your crew hasn't started filming yet, are you free for Halloween?" Martin invited, "Let's join the Halloween parade together."

Anne adheres to the principle of not refusing and not being responsible, and said: "The crew will have a holiday at that time. I have participated in the Halloween parade in Greenwich Village, but not in Los Angeles."

Martin immediately said, "My princess, can your loyal guard accompany you to patrol the territory?"

Annie smiled: "Okay, but you are responsible for the princess's look and dress."

Martin responded: "No problem."

It’s the last day of the month, and I’ll send you the third update. Friends who still have monthly tickets, please vote for me. Thank you.

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(End of this chapter)