America gains both fame and fortune

Chapter 359 Stepping on Martin to Get It Back

You can make a lot of money in big projects. Not to mention the amount of pay. Once the film becomes a big hit, you can get a large sum of money every year just from the profit-sharing agreement signed between the union and the producers' association.

There were many competitors, but Martin focused on one person and asked, "Was Heath Ledger recommended by Bale?"

Mene nodded. "Bell strongly recommended it. He is British and has a good relationship with Director Nolan, so the people he recommended are highly valued by Director Nolan. The casting team has already accepted the relevant information submitted by Bale and Heath Ledger's agent."

Thomas asked, "Does the crew dare to use him?"

Martin said: "Too many people use that thing. If it wasn't for me and Jane being involved on the set, no one would take it seriously. This is a sequel movie. If the leading actor Bale strongly recommends it and Nolan insists on using him, Warner Bros. and DC Comics may compromise."

Mene took the initiative: "How about I ask Emma for some advice, the crew..."

"No need." Martin just asked Mene to inquire about the news and learn about the crew's developments in a timely manner. There was no need to take risks and do anything else.

He thought for a moment and said, "We will win the competition in an upright way this time."

Mene and Thomas were fine, but Bruce, who had remained silent the entire time, knew as soon as he heard it that Martin had another bad idea.

Whether in Hollywood or the entertainment industry across the Pacific Ocean, auditions are just the basics. Ever since things like the red sofa were moved out of the audition room, the key to determining the success or failure of an audition is no longer within the audition room.

Mene got Martin's instructions and left quickly.

Martin asked Thomas: "Which insurance company did the crew purchase the completion bond from?"

Thomas had known about it long ago: "Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, more than 80% of Hollywood film projects are insured by this company."

Martin said, "Find out who is in charge of Batman-related matters."

Thomas responded, "No problem."

"Contact Bruce if you have anything to do in the next month." Martin picked up the script given by Louise and said, "I plan to open a long-term private room at the Four Seasons Hotel and concentrate on studying the script and the role."

Thomas said: "As long as you can pass the audition, I am sure I can negotiate a big contract for you."

Martin nodded slightly and said, "Go ahead and get busy."

After Thomas left, Bruce asked, "Do I need anything else?"

Martin said first: "Remember to remind those two bastards Leo and Jack. I'm afraid they'll be having too much fun and forget."

Bruce understood: "If you work hard, you should let everyone, including the crew, see it?"

Martin said as a matter of course: "Otherwise what's the point of working hard? No one will pay attention to the work you do secretly."

Bruce asked, "Have you thought about Heath Ledger?"

Martin did not answer, but asked, "Old Bull, how likely do you think it is that he will quit?"

"This requires extremely strong willpower." Bruce understood what Martin meant: "When I was in New York, I carefully observed Heath Ledger. He is not a man with strong willpower."

He talked about the latest news: "Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger broke up."

"I've seen it." Martin could make a judgment: "I don't think he can quit!"

In the past life, the Internet and media were flooded with news about Heath Ledger's death from depression due to playing the Joker, as if he had really dedicated his life to this role.

So, Martin now wants to be a good person. After all, saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda.

After a brief thought, he said, "The crew is based in Los Angeles, and all auditions are also in Los Angeles. Bale recommended Heath Ledger, so Heath Ledger will definitely come to Los Angeles. Didn't Ivan return to Atlanta? Let Ivan keep an eye on him and keep in touch with TMZ."

Bruce said, "No problem."

Martin remembered one thing: "You took a video when Jane and I had a conflict with Heath Ledger on the set in Brooklyn, New York. I remember you kept the video separately?"

Bruce roughly guessed what Martin wanted to do: "I've been keeping it."

Martin said: "After it is cleaned up, I will give it to Ivan, and let Ivan tell TMZ that Heath Ledger will be involved in the casting of Batman. Given TMZ's style of doing things, they will definitely keep a close eye on Heath Ledger."

Bruce said, "I'll do it right away."

Martin packed his things and went out with Bruce. He asked Bruce to take him to the Four Seasons Hotel to prepare for seclusion and training.

Not long after he arrived at the hotel, two beautiful women, Jolie and Aniston, called him and asked him to play Landlord.

In this case, it would be too humiliating to refuse, so Martin told them the address and waited for good news.

A good person should always care about the happiness of others.

When it comes to practicing in seclusion, it doesn’t matter a day earlier or later.

…………

Warner Bros. Pictures, officially named the project "Terminator 2018", held auditions for the leading actor.

Haggis, the screenwriter and producer, director Joseph Nicher, and the representative of the production company, Alan Horn, unanimously approved Christian Bale's audition and felt that he was the most suitable actor for the leading role.

Not only are his acting skills and image guaranteed, but he can also leverage the influence of the Batman movie.

Subsequently, Bale's agent Parker started negotiations with the crew and temporarily added a condition in addition to the film salary and normal treatment of the male lead.

Warner Bros., which wanted to invest in the Batman project, recommended Heath Ledger to play the Joker, another protagonist in the film.

This is nothing. In the eyes of Alan Horn, what happened to Heath Ledger is not even a big deal. There are too many similar things in the Hollywood circle.

Even Allen Horn himself was one of them.

The conditions were nothing, but Warner Bros. would not agree so easily and told the agent and Bale directly that they had to see the audition results and that Heath Ledger's level had to meet the requirements of the role.

Bale was willing to help Heath Ledger out of friendship, but Heath Ledger's own ability was also key.

He believes that with Heath Ledger's acting skills, it would be no problem for him to play the role of the Joker.

After negotiating these, Bell immediately rushed to the Santa Monica Hotel and found Heath Ledger who had just arrived in Los Angeles.

The two went to the cafe together.

At this moment, Heath Ledger had a ruddy complexion and looked energetic, which was in stark contrast to his depressed and listless appearance in New York.

It was as if that promising young Australian movie star was back again.

Bell ordered coffee and said, "I submitted your relevant information to the crew with your agent, and also won the support of Warner Bros., one of the investors. Warner Bros. and DC Comics already support me to continue playing Bruce Wayne. With me helping you in the middle, the chances of getting the role are very high."

Heath Ledger didn't know what to say. Such friendship was rare. He nodded heavily and said, "I will be fully prepared and give 200% of my performance in the audition."

He added: "Thank you, Chris. Without you, I would never have gotten over this."

Bell smiled and said, "Friends, don't say such polite words. Maybe one day, I will need your help."

Heath Ledger nodded: "If that day ever comes, I will definitely do my best."

Bell reminded: "You have to pay more attention to that aspect."

Heath Ledger assured: "Don't worry, I will never use it on the crew, and I will not make the same mistake as last time." He forced a smile: "I can only pursue my career now."

Because of repeated persuasion, Heath Ledger and his fiancée Michelle Williams had repeated quarrels and the conflicts could not be reconciled.

Michelle believed that Heath Ledger's behavior would seriously affect the growth of their children, so she took the initiative to cancel the engagement and broke up with Heath Ledger.

Even after losing his daughter and fiancée, Heath Ledger still didn't quit.

Bale knew all about Michelle's breakup with Heath, and he encouraged Heath to boost his morale: "I got the exact news that Martin Davis is also competing for the role and will also audition for the cast."

Heath instantly became motivated and said, "I must get this role."

He is in this situation now, his daughter left, his fiancée broke up, and it has a lot to do with the Martin Davis and Aniston incident

After a short period of withdrawal, he went back to his old ways again. Heath Ledger's brain was increasingly affected by those drugs: "Without Martin Davis, I wouldn't be in this situation now."

Bell also thought so. As a quasi-eyewitness at the time, he always believed that it was a small matter that could be resolved if both sides took a step back.

Later, after experiencing the sponge tearing at Pinewood Studios, he felt this more and more.

Heath added: "What I lost before, I will take back with my own hands this time."

He can also get it back by stepping on Martin Davis.

Bell would not underestimate that bastard, and specifically reminded him: "Don't be careless, you stay in the hotel and study the script and role, and prepare for the audition, and your agent and I will take care of the outside. I will leave a car for you, but you should go out less and try not to expose yourself to the media reporters, who are used to making random reports."

Heath promised: "Before the audition, I will not leave the hotel at all. At most, I will go to the hotel beach for a walk."

Bell stood up, patted him on the shoulder, and left the hotel.

………………

In Burbank, TMZ editor-in-chief Jody drove to an underground parking lot and met Ivan, a news informant and freelance paparazzi with whom he had worked several times.

Ever since their last collaboration, the other party has gone back to her old ways, buying a car and a professional camera, and shooting entertainment news for money.

From time to time, he would sell breaking news to TMZ.

Jody got into his car and asked, "What's the big news this time?"

Ivan turned on the MP4 player in his hand: "I bought an old video online, the one of Heath Ledger, the male lead of Brokeback Mountain."

"Brokeback Mountain" has a huge influence, and Jody immediately became interested and watched the video carefully.

The video is not long, only about twenty seconds, and it is all about a crazy Heath Ledger getting angry, but there is no way of knowing who the person on the other side is, and the latter part was obviously cut.

"The video is incomplete?"

"I only bought these. The seller said he took the photos with his phone, which happened to be out of battery."

Jody asked: "Heath Ledger publicly announced that he would quit smoking. Does that mean..."

Ivan said: "The time on the video has been processed, but it should have been a while ago, I can't tell." He was like a real paparazzi: "Are you interested in news about Heath Ledger? I'll get some, can you pay a high price?"

Jody was slightly surprised: "You're going to New York?"

"Didn't you read the American rumors?" Ivan said simply, "He came to Los Angeles, and someone broke the news to the American rumors that Heath Ledger was going to audition for the Batman crew and wanted to play the Joker."

Jody realized the value of the news: "If you sell me the news clues, you and my people can shoot it. If you can shoot the key, I will give you more."

(End of this chapter)