America gains both fame and fortune

Chapter 283 Each Has Its Own Standpoint
"Yesterday, Heath Ledger, the male lead of Brokeback Mountain, was detained by the NYPD. He was suspected of driving under the influence of drugs in a Brooklyn studio, and nearly injured the male and female leads of Limitless, Martin Davis and Jennifer Aniston..."

In a moving business car, CAA agent Kevin Howan quickly read the text and then looked at the pictures next to it, all of which were of his client Heath Ledger being controlled by the NYPD and taken into a police car.

During the incident, the NYPD used handcuffs and other police equipment.

He handed the paper to Shams and said, "The news has leaked out."

The latter is the producer of Brokeback Mountain and the founder of Focus Features, as well as a shareholder of Paramount Pictures.

This report will more or less have a negative impact on Brokeback Mountain's Oscar campaign. Shams said: "Too many people saw it yesterday, it was difficult to keep it secret. Martin and Aniston are not ordinary people, they are very difficult to deal with."

"I hope the trip goes well." Kevin glanced at his phone and said, "Harvey will be at the studio later."

The business car arrived at the border of Brooklyn and Queens and entered a slightly old studio.

Kevin and Shams each called their contacts and waited patiently.

What happened yesterday, but the crew of "Limitless" is still filming normally, but some of Martin and Aniston's scenes have been postponed.

Thomas and Aniston's agent Steve then approached the two and said, "They're here."

The two had discussed it carefully last night, and Martin said, "Those who are supposed to come will eventually come, so let's go meet them."

Aniston was afraid that her little puppy couldn't hold on, so she specifically reminded him: "If anything goes wrong, just push it onto me. I'm also a member of the Producers Guild."

Martin experienced the kindness of a caring older sister more than once, and was the first to leave the studio and come to the studio office area.

Kevin took the initiative to greet Martin, ignoring him: "Jane, you are radiant and getting more and more beautiful." He shook hands with Steve behind him: "Can the three of us talk alone?"

Steve glanced at Aniston and seeing that she had no objection, they went into the office together.

Shams came over and shook hands with Martin. "This is the first time we meet. From what Heath told me about what happened yesterday, I can tell you that you are even better than the rumors say."

"Jane and I are probably lying in the hospital because of our poor skills." Martin entered the meeting room next door and said, "If my bodyguard hadn't noticed the danger and reminded me, and I happened to react quickly, we wouldn't be able to meet today."

Thomas, who came in last, closed the door and said, "We never contacted the media from the beginning to the end. We thought that since we are all insiders, we should just let it be solved inside the circle. What happened? You even put pressure on us through Warner!"

Shams said: "The news has already broken out, which puts us in a passive position..."

"Then you blame me?" Martin sneered, and was so angry that he seemed to be losing control: "I let Heath Ledger take drugs? I let him drive out of control? I leaked the information to the media?"

Shams came to solve the problem, not to intensify the conflict, and quickly said: "That's not what I meant. Heath Ledger is in this situation now because he made a mistake and it was his own fault."

He smiled and said, "Martin, I came here sincerely to discuss how to deal with the follow-up."

Martin knew that he was the producer of Brokeback Mountain and the representative of Focus Features and Paramount Pictures, so he said directly: "I don't have to pursue this matter and take legal action. After all, we are all working hard in the industry."

Shams breathed a sigh of relief.

Martin certainly wouldn't let it go: "Yesterday, Heath Ledger insulted me, and then in front of so many people, he said he wanted to kill me. I want him to publicly apologize to me and explain the reason for his apology in an important national media like the New York Times."

Thinking of the fact that some newspapers even published pictures of the scene, Shams said, "It's fine on my end, but we need to communicate with CAA again."

Martin added: "Yesterday I was severely frightened and was in a state of shock. I couldn't work normally at all. The crew of Endless had to postpone my filming. I am not sure when I can solve these mental problems. I need Heath Ledger to compensate me for this."

He glanced at Thomas and said, "You two can discuss the details."

Thomas also gets a commission from the compensation he negotiated, so he is very motivated: "Leave it to me."

Martin nodded politely to Shamus: "I am emotionally unstable right now, I will go back first."

Shams was sure of Martin's attitude and didn't want to talk to him anymore.

This guy throws out piles of difficult reasons and excuses.

…………

In another office.

Kevin first reviewed his so-called friendship with Aniston over the years, and then talked about the difficulties: "As the awards season progresses, it has come to the critical time when the judges choose to vote. You know that many people like to vote with their feet, and negative news with huge impact will make the judges avoid the relevant people."

He spoke very quickly: "CAA invested a lot of resources and connections in Heath Ledger's Oscar nomination. If we let this news ferment, the negative impact will be too great, and the resources we invested will be wasted."

In the circle, the use of banned drugs alone is not a big deal, but since they almost ran into fellow actors Martin and Aniston in the studio, many judges must have considered themselves. The studio is the place they go most often, so will they become victims in the future?
Moreover, if the judges were asked to vote for Aniston for the Oscar, not many people would do so. If someone publicly hurt Aniston, most people would not have a good impression of the perpetrator.

Aniston temporarily suppressed her unhappiness and asked, "What do you want to do?"

Kevin tried to say, "How about this, let Heath apologize to you privately and compensate you, and you and Martin issue a statement saying that this was a misunderstanding?"

He emphasized: "The amount of compensation will definitely satisfy you. In the next six months, I will mobilize my connections to provide you with resource support."

Aniston looked at her agent Steve: "Kevin, is this your idea or the company's?"

Steve immediately made his position clear: "I don't know about this." He said loudly: "Jane is the victim, why should she swallow her anger?"

Kevin didn't dare to offend Aniston too much, and quickly said, "This is just a suggestion."

Steve could see what Aniston meant: "We will never accept that!" "There's no need to continue." Aniston got up and left.

Steve was about to leave, but Kevin stopped him: "Wait a minute."

"Is something wrong?"

Kevin closed the door: "Don't forget your position."

Steve said, “Customers come first!”

CAA claims that all agents are equal, but in reality it is another matter. Senior partners and associate partners make up the company's top management, and Kevin is one of them. He said sternly: "The premise must be in the interests of CAA!"

His tone softened a little: "Steve, try to convince Jen. She is where she is today thanks to CAA's promotion."

But Steve saw clearly that the other party only cared about his client: "I can't go against the client's will!"

Kevin was so angry that he turned around twice: "You, me, and Brian, haven't we done enough things against the will of our customers?"

It’s like a superior scolding a subordinate: “You are a member of CAA!”

Steve didn't respond and turned and left the office.

Aniston, who has worked with him for many years, asked, "What's wrong?"

Steve said, “Senior partners are so impressive!”

Aniston mused: "I can feel that for me, CAA is no longer the same CAA after Friends ended."

At the same time, Martin, who was leaving the office building, met Harvey Weinstein.

In other words, the other party was waiting for him here.

Harvey Weinstein said: "Long time no see."

Martin smiled and asked directly: "For Heath Ledger?"

Harvey put his hands in the pockets of his woolen coat and took the initiative to walk forward: "As soon as the project of "I'm Not There" was approved, I signed a distribution contract and invested in the name of other studios."

Martin followed up: "No wonder we were able to invite so many big-name actors, it turns out it's your appeal, Harvey."

Harvey stressed: "Tens of millions of dollars of investment cannot be wasted just because of what happened yesterday."

Martin said: "I didn't think of doing anything to Heath Ledger. He apologized to me publicly in the newspaper and gave me some compensation, and that was it."

"Do you know why I chose Heath Ledger as one of the protagonists?" Harvey didn't need Martin to answer: "Because based on my many years of experience in running the Oscars, I know Heath Ledger will be a big hit after this awards season."

He shook his head slightly: "His fire may be extinguished as soon as it is lit."

Martin quoted Michelle Williams as saying: "It's just the pressure he's under."

"I have a suggestion with CAA." Harvey said something similar to Kevin Howan.

Martin certainly wouldn't accept it: "I am an honest person and I cannot lie to the public. This kind of lie is too easy to be exposed, and then my reputation will be damaged."

Harvey suddenly changed the subject: "Actually, I'm optimistic about your future. You're a very good actor. The Oscars shouldn't ignore you."

"Thank you for the compliment." Martin said truthfully: "I have a movie called The Departed this year."

Harvey stopped pushing: "Good luck."

Martin turned and walked in the opposite direction.

Bruce, who was hanging behind, quickened his pace and caught up with Martin: "Doesn't look very pleasant?"

"This is the most peaceful conversation I've ever had with him." Martin was very aware: "It's not easy to cut off someone's source of income."

Bruce suggested quietly, "How about calling Sofia?"

Martin shook his head: "This is New York, where the Weinstein brothers made their fortune, not Georgia or Los Angeles."

Bruce then said, "Cooperate with him?"

"I've thought about it, but it's too difficult." Martin was really worried: "I'm a member of the Face Gang, I might not be able to stand the initiation ceremony of the Foot Gang! Also, even if I switch to the Foot Gang, he asks me to deal with the actresses he raped, what should I do? Can I become a big star by deceiving them and enduring it?"

Bruce said: "This can only mean one thing, you are not as bad as this fat guy!"

Martin walked forward slowly, thinking as he walked. After a while, he said, "Old Bull, call Atlanta and ask Ivan to come over."

"Are you going backwards?" Bruce suspected that Martin was going to take action against that guy Ivan.

Martin said, "Don't worry, just move your mouth."

Bruce wondered, shouldn't he ask Mene for help?

(End of this chapter)