America gains both fame and fortune

Chapter 50 Humans and Ghosts

"Very good, you guys did a great job!"

French director Michel rarely left the director's chair and entered the set, saying to Jim Carrey: "Your performance is Oscar-worthy, you deserve an Oscar!"

Jim Carrey just smiled and didn't say anything else.

Michelle turned to Martin, who was acting with her, and said, "Boy, trust my judgment. Your acting is great."

This is the director. Martin has no right to remain silent. He said with a stiff upper lip: "Thank you, director. I will try my best."

Outside the makeshift flea market, Kate Winslet's mouth was almost turned up to her ears.

Since the argument that day, she and the director no longer spoke a word except about work.

Michelle also praised other actors, as if she wanted to express some emotion in this way.

The crew is just a fucking workplace, it's normal for people to fight against each other.

When someone is comfortable, someone else will be uncomfortable.

Martin returned to the lounge area and just sat down when a chocolate-skinned hand reached out to him, with slender fingers holding a straw cup: "Martin, do you want some water?"

Martin looked up and saw Rosa. Maybe because she was mixed-race, she didn't look like black, so she looked prettier.

"I'm not thirsty, no thanks." He declined.

Rosa was very enthusiastic: "Call me if you need anything, I'll be right next to you."

Martin said politely: "Thank you."

This woman has been appearing around him from time to time since the day before yesterday.

Robert came in panting, holding a box of Coke, and placed the cans of Coke on the table in the lounge.

Martin was about to get a bottle, but before he could get up, he quickly sat back down.

Although it's not a glass bottle, Robert's Coke...

Robert came over, sat next to Martin and wiped his sweat, and asked, "Is Rosa still pestering you?"

Martin said: "I have no right to send her away."

"She's interested in you." Robert had an easy job and was just idle: "You could easily ask her out."

Martin shook his head: "Man, free things are the most expensive. I want to have sex with her. What do you think she will want?"

Robert is not stupid: “If she pesters you again, I will help you.”

"I do need your help with something." Martin called Louise last night, and Louise specifically told him that Michel Gondry is a member of the French director gang in Hollywood.

There are various forces in Hollywood behind the scenes, and the most obvious division is based on nationality.

In the afternoon, the crew's work came to a temporary halt and many people left the studio one after another.

French director Michel has a quirk: he goes to the bathroom to take a dump before leaving.

After a standard fifteen minutes, Michelle came out of the private cubicle, and the sound of flushing was heard behind her.

He walked out and heard someone talking in the bathroom with an Atlanta accent.

"You're inviting me to a British restaurant? Are there any restaurants in Atlanta that serve British food? Even if there are, who's going to eat there?"

"Yes, they also published a British Food Guide?"

"I know." Martin said sarcastically, "The legendary guide to garbage sorting."

Michelle came out and couldn't help laughing when she heard this. Seeing that the person who spoke was Martin, she said, "The British don't know much about food."

Martin seemingly retorted: “London has the top ten restaurants in the world.”

Michelle frowned slightly.

Martin changed the subject: "All the food sold in there is French."

Michelle praised: "Martin, there are not many Americans like you who have a clear understanding of food."

"Because I've been poisoned by British food." Martin's face fell, as if he was recalling something very horrible.

Robert, who is acting with him, is a veteran background artist. At this moment, standing behind Martin, there is nothing out of place. He looks honest and loyal by nature, and he can also add points to Martin's words.

Michelle was working continuously and was under a lot of pressure, so she asked, "Are there any good French restaurants in Atlanta?"

Since Martin was here, he certainly did his homework: "Yes, in the city center, they definitely don't sell damn British food."

Michelle was relieved and asked, "Can you, a local, lead the way?"

"It's an honor," Martin said.

During dinner, the two chatted about the romantic city of Paris, the foggy London, the elegant French, and the damn British football hooligans...

Language is an art. Martin successfully obtained Michel Gondry's personal business card and exchanged contact information.

Earlier, in the president's office of Gray Company.

Director Benjamin Calvin rushed over and stopped Kelly Gray who was about to get off work.

A script was placed on Kelly Gray's desk. "I and a few screenwriters just finished this." Every director has a dream. Benjamin doesn't want to shoot late-night dramas all his life: "The source of the idea is what you said about Martin lying dead and watching the hero and heroine fall in love."

Kelly was a little stunned: "That was Martin joking with me."

Benjamin said, "In the last Ma Zhen play, Martin performed very well. I made a point to learn more about him. He works in a gigolo club. I added this element to my creative work."

Kelly saw that the new script had the title written directly: "Zombie Dancing Man".

She read a dozen pages and had a rough idea in her mind. She closed the script and said, "This is too expensive. Even $50 won't be enough to shoot according to this script."

Benjamin did a simple budget: "It would actually cost between $80 and $100 million."

Kelly automatically ignored the $80 and said, "With $100 million, we can at least make eight late-night dramas and sell them to cable TV stations. Add in the DVDs and videotapes, and we'll make a profit. It's too risky to invest so much in one drama."

Benjamin tried his best to fight for it: "Kelly, we can't always make low-budget late-night movies, right? Don't you want to enter the theaters? Don't you want the company to really grow and develop?"

Kelly shook her head. "I've worked in Hollywood before. What percentage of Hollywood movies are profitable every year? They can rely on time to recover their costs and accumulate profits. What about us? If we throw in $100 million and don't get it back in half a year, our capital chain will be extremely tight."

There were some things she didn't need to tell Benjamin, such as her interest in General Motors' abandoned production workshop.

Benjamin said, "I am confident that this script will be a success."

This is the company's meritorious director. Kelly couldn't reject it directly. After thinking for a while, she said, "Please make a budget and plan. I need to consider it carefully."

Benjamin said: "I try to keep costs down as much as possible."

After going out, he kept scratching his head. Film is an art, but ultimately it is a business.

Going downstairs, Benjamin was about to go home and met the casting director Lynn.

The latter, wearing a Warriors championship commemorative baseball cap, asked: "How is it?"

Benjamin said simply, "My boss asked me to make a budget and plan, and she wants to consider everything."

Lynn said, “There is hope.”

Benjamin replied casually, “Yes.”

The two separated and got into their own cars. Lynn thought for a moment and dialed a number: "Adam, I'll be waiting for you at the Black Bar in half an hour. Bring your best goods over."

Adam Smith, who had already returned home, hung up the phone, opened the secret compartment on the shelf, took out the plastic bag, and went out to keep the appointment.

…………

Kelly left the company and went to a nearby bar, entering a large private room with a separate bar.

In addition to Louise and the bartender Martin, there was also Kate Winslet in the private room.

Louise formally introduced Kelly and Kate: "You have never formally met before. In fact, I have known you for about the same time. I met Kelly in 93 and Kate in 95."

Martin mixed four different cocktails and said to the three women outside the bar, "Cheers to our acquaintance."

Four people clink glasses.

Kate Winslet took a sip of the cool and refreshing Long Island black tea. The coolness of the extra ice helped to relieve her irritability over the past few days. She said, "That stupid French director has a head full of shit. Please forgive me for swearing, I just can't help it."

She suppressed it for a long time: "Louise, if it weren't for your face, I would have made a scene long ago, bullied him and forced the crew to change the director."

Martin put down his glass and said, "He'll cut both sides of the French flag then."

Kate was so happy that she burst into laughter.

There were piles of colored flags in Europe, and Kelly couldn't tell which was which. She was surprised: "What does it mean?"

Kate explained with a smile: "The French flag cuts off the blue and red on both sides, leaving only the white. This is what the French are best at doing."

Louise looked at Martin sideways, this guy is really a top-notch one.

Martin said seriously: "Haven't you heard that no one can occupy Paris before the French surrender!"

Kate raised her glass: "Martin, I must toast you."

Martin clinked his glass with hers: "My pleasure."

Louise still reminded him, "Kate, if you want to win an Oscar with this movie, you should control your temper, even though he is only in charge of the filming on the set."

Kate, like her long-lasting friend, is obsessed with the Oscars: "I was nominated several times and lost all of them."

Kelly asked, "Not enough PR investment?"

Kate shook her head: "Those old men think I'm too young?"

Martin interjected: "I am an outsider, can I give you my opinion?"

Kate clinked glasses with him again: "Of course."

Martin thought for a moment and said, "It's mainly because your appearance is too outstanding, Kate, and it's easy for people to overlook your acting skills. I looked at the Oscars list over the past decade, what do you think?"

He slowed down his voice and emphasized: "It's a game where many women participate in the selection. Only those who become ugly or psychotic can win."

As soon as these words were spoken, the three women laughed at the same time.

Kate Winslet took the bottle and filled the glass: "Martin, what you said makes a lot of sense. I want to have a drink with you on behalf of all the beautiful women who have been targeted by the Oscars."

(End of this chapter)