America gains both fame and fortune

Chapter 48 Healing the Soul
Robert turned into the lobby on the first floor with his head hanging. Martin saw him, waved and asked, "How is it?"

Robert looked depressed: "Can't they see that I have the same big celebrity head as Stallone, Willis, and Schwarzenegger?"

Martin took a step back and nodded as he looked at him. "As for your appearance, you are very distinctive and it's easy for you to leave a deep impression on the audience. Have you seen the trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean? If you put on a pirate costume, you will look more distinctive than those pirates."

Robert really saw it, and put his hands in his trouser pockets: "Man, I have a good psychological quality. I don't mind if you say I'm ugly directly."

He suddenly remembered what Martin often said and decided to scare him: "But next time you drink Coke..."

Martin was clever: "I swear, I will never drink Coke from a glass bottle again."

Robert's depression faded a lot, and he said, "Thank you, man, I feel much better."

Martin said, "You're welcome. After all, you helped me."

Robert was depressed again: Are you fucking done?
"I'd better be a background artist." He asked, "What's the result of your audition?"

Martin nodded: "I received the notice."

Robert said, "Congratulations." He sighed, "It's just one line. It's so difficult."

Martin patted his arm and said, "I can't help you with this crew, but after the filming is finished, we can stay on the crew and do odd jobs."

Staying in the crew means being able to get in touch with the main cast and crew of the crew.

In fact, his character’s scenes seemed to be quite a lot in the script, but who knows how much was left after the final editing.

It's not surprising that only a fleeting shot is left.

"Thank you." Robert said, "It's a rare experience."

Jerome hurried over from the other side of the hall, and seeing the two actors from the troupe, he quickened his pace: "Good news."

Robert failed the audition, but still had to rely on the troupe, so he asked, "Captain, have you agreed on the cooperation?"

"It's settled." Jerome emphasized, "Deputy Director Martin, you have made outstanding contributions to the development of the troupe."

He was so excited that he was about to explode, but he remained calm on the surface and said lightly: "The crew doesn't need many extras. After my efforts, the crew decided that all the extras will be provided by the Marietta Theater."

Martin understood that Andrew had contributed to this.

Jerome plans to use this opportunity to recruit new people when he returns.

Robert looked at Martin in surprise: "You became the deputy head?"

Jerome patted Robert on the shoulder: "You work hard, and in the future..."

In his excitement, he almost said that I could buy a new car later.

Martin turned the topic to himself: "Captain, my role has been confirmed. The crew asked me to find someone to negotiate my salary. I have no experience in this area. The person I trust the most is you, Captain."

"It's finalized so quickly?" Jerome was still a little surprised, but thinking that Martin never forgot about the troupe, he took on the responsibility and said, "Don't worry, leave it to me. I'll negotiate for you, but you have to be mentally prepared. The salary won't be high."

The crew came to Atlanta to shoot in order to save money. Martin said: "The role is more important than the pay."

Jerome nodded in approval. The more he looked at Martin, the more he liked him. This idiot might leave Atlanta someday. If he went to Los Angeles, he could say hello to Robert Patrick. Then the idiot would have some connections.

The three of them left Grey's Company together. Jerome generously paid for their lunch, and after lunch they went back to Grey's Company to discuss Martin's salary with the crew.

Although he is not a professional agent, Jerome has been running a theater troupe for many years and is familiar with many things in Hollywood.

As a small role, a small actor, and a non-union member, Martin only earned $600 a day.

In terms of other benefits, the crew has unified standards for food and accommodation, transportation subsidies and on-set insurance.

The next day, Martin signed a formal contract with the crew.

Towards evening, he received a call from Louise: "Hardcore, come out for a drink."

Martin asked directly: "Where to?"

Louise couldn't forget the new cocktail: "Come to my hotel suite, all the bartending tools are here."

Martin understood what she meant and went to the liquor store to buy some base wine.

When they arrived at the hotel suite, Louise was the only one there. She was sitting at the bar with a bottle of tequila in front of her, already drinking. Martin walked into the bar with a wine box, took Louise's tequila and glass aside, and reminded her, "You can't make a drink if you're too drunk."

Louise was surprised: "You really didn't prepare the new wine?"

Martin wanted to give the drunk woman a sense of participation, and a new cocktail was born from the hands of the two of them, which left a deeper impression than the kettle.

He said: "We have a prototype, but the specific formula still needs to be debugged."

Louise also went behind the bar, took out alcohol wipes to clean her hands, took out the cocktail shaker and meter, and said, "What are we waiting for? Let's get started!"

Martin opened the wine box, took out the wine and put it away one by one: "Are you more interested in wine than movies?"

"Movies are my job, wine is my hobby, they are different." Louise looked down again: "Wine is like spiritual food to me, I feel comfortable after drinking it."

Martin put on a serious face like a bartender: "It's time to make a drink, be serious."

Louise took out her black-rimmed glasses and put them on: "Let's get started."

"My idea for the new wine is to have the flavor of whiskey, with a strong taste and strong stimulation to the taste buds." Martin stretched out a finger and tapped Louise's high nose: "It can heal the soul of an alcoholic like you."

He wanted to mobilize Louise's sense of participation: "Which whiskey do you think is suitable?"

Louise is a typical alcoholic. After just a brief thought, she said, "Islay peated whisky." She considered a lot: "Price is also the key to the popularity of cocktails. Lagavulin is too expensive and not suitable. The only choice is between Caol Ila and Ardbeg. I suggest Ardbeg."

Martin fetched a bottle of Ardbeg and asked, "Why?"

"Are you testing me?" Louise said, "Among all the whiskies produced on Islay, Ardbeg has a strong smoky flavor and a light malty sweetness, which balances the taste very well."

Martin poured a small half cup of Ardbeg and added some lemon juice: "The taste is not rich enough."

Louise took it and drank a little: "Too sour."

Martin said, "Add a small amount of ginger syrup."

This is a common ingredient in cocktails. Louise took a small amount and added it to stir: "The whiskey flavor is weak."

Martin snapped his fingers. "Blended whiskey."

The two tried common brands one by one and changed the amount of each ingredient added. After nearly two hours of hard work, they finally found a suitable formula.

Martin was mixing the drinks, and Louise was quite serious. She even went to the bathroom to rinse her mouth to get rid of the excess smell of alcohol.

When she returned to the bar, the classic glass was filled with light golden liquor, decorated with lemon and ginger slices.

"Is this our wine?" Louise picked it up with great anticipation and took a sip slowly. The smoky, puffy and spicy flavor instantly filled her mouth, like a cannonball exploding.

What follows is mellow, round, sour and sweet.

The taste is rich and the layers are distinct, and all the ups and downs of life seem to be integrated into it.

Louise took another sip and then passed the rest to Martin.

Martin drank it and savored it carefully: "How does it feel?"

Louise took off her black-rimmed glasses, looking satisfied as if she had eaten nectar. "It was bitter at first, but then sweet. It got more and more exciting as time went on. I slowly got used to the swelling and impact it brought, and then there was a rich and wonderful flavor."

Martin admitted defeat: "Drunkard, are you talking about wine?"

"What else could it be but wine?" Louise raised her eyebrows. "Don't use your dirty thoughts to pollute the good wine we just invented."

Martin didn't bother to argue: "I'll give you a chance to name it."

Louise walked around the bar, returned to the front, and said with a smile: "I know you are playing tricks on me, but I can't resist the temptation of leaving my name in the history of cocktails."

Martin shrugged. "It just healed the soul of a drunk woman."

Louise thought for a moment: "Penicillin, it's called penicillin." She took out a pen and paper and quickly wrote down the formula: "Penicillin in the medical field has saved countless lives. It can heal the souls of countless alcoholics. I want to bring it back to Los Angeles and let it really spread."

Martin said: "You are one of the creators and you have that power."

"I'm not someone like Harvey Weinstein." Louise suddenly changed the subject: "After you finish your work on the crew, I will give you a comprehensive evaluation and suggestions, which will help you avoid many detours."

(End of this chapter)