America gains both fame and fortune

Chapter 453: The Iron Fist

At Warner Bros., Martin and Taylor entered the John Wick studio together.

The latter's agent was waiting in the front hall.

Martin saw the dog Chad was holding and called out, "Daisy!"

The dog immediately dragged Chad over here. Martin took out a bag of biscuits from his pocket, took out a piece and threw it to Daisy, and introduced her to Taylor: "Chad, you know the director of the crew. This is Daisy, our animal star."

Daisy finished her biscuits and looked at Martin eagerly. Martin felt the look in her eyes and took out the remaining biscuits and put them all on the ground: "All for you."

Taylor came over and asked, "You like dogs?"

"You only like other people's dogs." Martin felt that some problems could be contagious. He rubbed Daisy's head and said, "You can pet other people's dogs and play with them anytime. It's too troublesome to raise one yourself."

Taylor felt that something was wrong with this, but he couldn't put it into words. He followed Martin's words and said, "I have a Scottish Fold cat named Menedice. I'll bring it to you next time I have time."

After Daisy finished her cookies, Chad handed Daisy to his assistant and said, "Let's get to work."

The group left the lobby and entered the conference room. Louise, the producer, and the crew's composer also came over.

The "John Wick" crew signed a letter of intent with Taylor when they were in New York. The latter would compose and sing the theme song specifically for the film, and the remuneration was so low that it could be ignored.

Unlike Martin's song, which was inspired by a chicken just last night, Taylor has been busy with movie songs in recent months.

Both she and the Big Machine Records company behind her were aware that this was a good opportunity for self-promotion.

Taylor's new album will also be released after the movie is released next year.

For new stars, riding on the trend is basic homework.

Louise was more in control of the overall situation and didn't participate much in the specific post-production. She asked Taylor: "Is the song in the country style that you are good at?"

Taylor told the truth: "It's more alternative country style."

Chad continued, "This song was prepared for the end of the film, and the country style was something I carefully considered."

He explained in detail: "At the end of the film, the male protagonist Jonathan is bruised and exhausted. The video he shot with the female protagonist inspires his desire to survive, and then the film ends. After the audience has experienced the high-density action scenes, the ending needs to soothe their emotions. The song I asked for should stand in the female protagonist's position and express her expectations and blessings for the male protagonist."

Louise nodded slightly.

Martin looked at Taylor: "Is the song ready?"

Taylor nodded, "I finished writing it last month, and finished the final arrangement after coming to Los Angeles. The song is called "Safe and Sound."

Martin said directly: "Play the demo tape."

Taylor's manager stood up and handed the recorded demo tape to an assistant, who immediately put it into the music player.

Taylor's singing style is obviously different from last night, with the acoustic guitar accompaniment still the most common in country music.

"I remember the tears flowing down your face, and you telling me not to leave me alone, but tonight, all of that, the threat of death, is over. Open your eyes, the sun is about to rise, and you will be safe. No one can hurt you now. The dawn has come, and you will be safe..."

When the song ended, the meeting room was silent for a moment. Chad looked at Martin and said, "I think it's very suitable for Jonathan who survived the war."

Martin thought for a moment and said, "Wouldn't it be better to add a DV video of Jonathan and the heroine at the end of the film?"

Chad asked, "To act as the warm sunshine after the cold and bloody fight?"

"In your setting, this is the motivation for Jonathan to survive." Martin said, "How to use it specifically is up to you."

Chad said: "Your suggestion is very good, I will seriously consider it."

Taylor will not have any say in how the song is used.

Louise didn't say much, and Chad was still responsible for most of the post-production.

After this meeting, it was decided that "Safe and Sound" would be the film's ending song.

Martin and Louise went into the producer's office.

He asked, "Has Warner Bros. confirmed the release date?"

"Two choices." Louise pulled out a chair and sat down: "Either after the Oscars, or in the second half of the fall."

Martin thought for a moment and said, "Let's choose after the Oscars. The post-production progress of Benjamin is average, so it will definitely be released in the second half of next year. The film also needs to cooperate with David Fincher to win awards."

Louise nodded: "One in each half, it will be more beneficial for you."

"It's good for all of us," Martin stressed. "As long as John Wick is run well, even if the box office doesn't explode, the DVD and other offline markets can still explode."

Louise said, "The world view of the first part has just been unfolded, and the plot and ending have been left clues. Are you planning a trilogy?"

Martin didn't need to hide it from her: "As long as the topic of the first part can be hyped up, at least a trilogy, one every two to three years, not too often."

Louise smiled and pushed up her black-rimmed glasses: "To be honest, Martin, I never thought that one day I would have to take the lead in a movie with you."

Martin went straight to the point: "Dear, because I can help you make money."

He made no secret of it: "When I was in the most difficult time, it was you and Kelly who supported me and helped me avoid many detours..."

Louise chuckled: "You took the shortest way, but the road was bumpy and wrinkled."

…………

Inside the academy studio, Lily sat on a chair, staring at a piece of snow-white marble.

Martin had called her before and said that Leonardo wanted her to carve a large work by herself, and the price would definitely satisfy her. Lily immediately found her mentor and applied to buy a piece of stone.

She hasn't decided what to carve yet.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. After Lily said "Come in", one of her followers in the academy ran in.

"Big sister, please watch the news on TV."

"What's going on?" Lily pointed at the remote control.

The attendant quickly picked it up, turned it on, adjusted it to the corresponding TV station, and pointed at it: "Look, isn't that the person who often buys your carvings? His name seems to be Casey Affleck, a Hollywood star."

The news had reached its end, and a man dressed as a lawyer was seen accompanying Cassie out of the police station, getting into a car and leaving.

Lily asked, "What happened to him?"

"He beat up a man who was trying to sell him a clown statue, and the victim was said to be seriously injured..." the henchman said quickly.

There was a computer in the studio. Lily opened the browser, skillfully went to the TMZ website, found the relevant news, and read the whole story.

The latest news is that Casey Affleck paid a high bail and temporarily left the police station.

The victim has reported the case and filed a lawsuit for compensation. Cassie will face a huge claim.

Others might not think it was a big deal, but Lily always felt that it had a familiar smell.

That Cassie had bad intentions towards her, so she took the opportunity to sell him some worthless training items, and she thought that was the end of it.

But Cassie soon ran into bad luck.

Lily closed the webpage and said, "Come on, let's go for a walk."

The follower quickly followed Lily out of the studio.

Lily sent the people away, found a deserted place, and called Martin: "Hello, this is Lily."

"I'm very busy. If you have something to say, just talk about it." Martin's tone was as bad as ever.

Lily was used to it and said, "I just read the entertainment news. Thank you."

But just as she was getting excited, she was dealt a heavy blow: "Verbal thanks are useless. The grass in the front yard of our new home is growing too fast. Can you come over tomorrow or the day after tomorrow and mow the lawn?"

Lily was stunned. Such a big lawn...

Martin asked, "Did you hear that?"

Lily came to her senses and realized that she couldn't just say thank you and then throw it away, so she said, "I'll go back tomorrow and mow the lawn for you."

Although Martin was sometimes very bad and annoying, Lily felt that he, like Elena, was someone who truly cared about her.

What happened to Casey Affleck proves this point.

…………

In Santa Monica, Cassie entered the law firm accompanied by her lawyer.

Ben Affleck was waiting in the lawyer's office, and when he saw Cassie, he asked, "What's wrong with you?"

Cassie spread her hands and said, "He provoked me!"

Ben has seen the video: "That person was just trying to sell you a clown statue. If you don't like that bastard Martin, you can just not buy it. Why did you hit him? And why did you hit him so badly?"

He spoke louder and louder: "More than one person filmed the scene. The video of you beating people was on TMZ. And it was filmed from different angles."

Cassie sat down, rubbed his face, and said, “They deliberately provoked me and deliberately framed me!”

"Yes, this possibility is very high, but the problem is that you can't prove it." Big Ben said angrily: "I asked you to calm down, why didn't you listen?"

Cassie lowered her head and didn't want to talk.

Big Ben asked the lawyer, "Evan, what's your opinion?"

"At this point, all the evidence is extremely unfavorable to us." Lawyer Evan said directly: "Once a criminal lawsuit is filed, Cassie will be in great trouble. I suggest that we deal with the victim as soon as possible and sign an out-of-court settlement agreement."

Cassie looked up: "Impossible!"

Big Ben pointed at him and said, "Okay, when you go to jail, remember to bring soap with you. The Latin guys and black guys in there will teach you how to use soap!"

"That bastard wants $300 million in compensation!" Cassie said, "Where can I get $300 million?"

He shook his head repeatedly: "That person said that I broke his nose and left a wound on his face, which would cause him serious mental trauma in his future life. These are all excuses to ask for more money!"

Big Ben ignored Cassie and looked at the lawyer instead.

Evan said: "The injury assessment is also very unfavorable to us. We have videos, injuries and witnesses. The suspect is a Hollywood star. With the precedent of Brad Pitt, the victim does not even need to pay any lawyer fees in the early stage. There will be a large number of lawyers to help him fight this lawsuit."

Big Ben couldn't let his brother go to prison to experience the ten thousand uses of soap, so he said, "Evan, you should contact the other party's lawyer first and reach a settlement at the lowest price possible."

Cassie said, “I don’t have any money.”

Da Ben takes good care of his brother: "I'll find a way to raise money."

(End of this chapter)