America gains both fame and fortune

Chapter 8 Another Debt

"The troupe will no longer be rehearsing new plays for the time being. For your future considerations, our focus will be on securing roles in film and television projects." Jerome looked passionate, but he had other plans in his mind.

Once rehearsals start, money starts flowing like water.

The Marietta Community Theater is a non-profit organization, with income coming primarily from donations from charitable organizations and cultural funding from the local government.

For example, the ownership of the theater is in the hands of the city hall.

Rehearsing a play is as easy as shooting a movie, and the money saved naturally flows into the pockets of several people in charge, headed by him.

Jerome said with an expression that he was doing this for you, emphasizing, "In the future, I will personally guide your performances. Believe me, there is no one more professional than me in Marietta!"

Martin was thinking as he listened. Facing a film and television crew, a troupe has an advantage over an individual, but $300 a month...

The money in his hand was earned at the cost of the pain of a broken arm.

The one with the broken arm is Harris? He respects Harris's contribution.

Martin didn't see the benefit and wouldn't throw it away easily.

The newcomers were not stupid. Someone asked, "Captain, why do you want to film the movie you mentioned in Atlanta?"

Currently, Atlanta is inconspicuous in the Hollywood film and television industry chain.

Jerome smiled confidently, "The state government just passed a bill before the New Year. Any film or TV production shot in Atlanta with an investment of more than $50 will receive a % tax break. If the film is marked with the Georgia logo, another % discount will be given."

He saw it clearly: "Hollywood film and television production companies will never miss the opportunity to make more profits. More crews will come to Atlanta to shoot in the future. Now the opportunity has come, are you ready?"

Another person asked: "I saw on the forum that actors have to go through agents to find work, and I don't have an agent."

"Never mind the damned agents, never mind the damned rules and regulations of the Screen Actors Guild, the California talent bill doesn't apply to Atlanta!" Jerome asked the man, "Do you want your agent to take 3000% or do you want to pay $ to join the Screen Actors Guild and pay a large membership fee every year?"

The man was moved by Jerome and shook his head repeatedly: "For $3000, I would rather buy another car."

Martin has always been very quiet and would not speak rashly even if he had different opinions.

After the chicken soup meeting, the troupe's accountant set up the table to collect money. Only one of the ten newly recruited people left, and the other nine all paid their dues.

Even old men like Robert still choose to stay in the troupe. Martin has experienced this stage and understands their psychology, which is no different from that of countless other actors in Hengdian.

After hearing about the two crews, Martin kept thinking about how to make Jerome think of him first.

Martin waited until everyone left before limping to the accounting desk, his face filled with shame: "Mr. Mitchell, I... I have no money left and cannot pay the dues."

Jerome Mitchell frowned: "Martin, don't embarrass me."

Martin got emotional and took out his pants and shirt pockets. He found only $7. "I'm very sorry. I fell and broke my leg while doing roof repair work. I spent all my salary on treatment. My boss refused to compensate me and fired me. Can I postpone my dues for a while?"

He was very comfortable with simple plays that he had experienced personally: "I am looking for a new job and will make up for it when I have money. Yes, isn't there a play next week? As soon as I get the salary for the role, I will immediately make up for it to the troupe."

His predecessor Martin Davis' consistently good performance in the troupe is the basis for what he said.

Jerome looked at Martin's shame and helplessness, and remembered the most difficult time when he was young. He actually felt a little soft-hearted: "Don't let me down."

"Thank you!" Martin thanked him hurriedly, his eyes sweeping over a book under the accounting form, the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly. He pointed at the magazine and said, "Mr. Mitchell, you know I like Hollywood News the most, but I don't have the money to buy it. Can you..."

Jerome waved his hand: "Take it."

Martin took the book and limped out of the theater.

Jerome was too soft-hearted to do a deal at a loss, so he kept a record of Martin's debt.

No one can owe him a debt for a long time. This poor guy can't pay it back, so just find an opportunity to push him out to work and pay it back.

In Jerome's subconscious, those who paid the membership fee could sit in the back row, after all, they could not squeeze oil this month. Martin waited for a long time before the dilapidated minibus arrived. He found a seat at the back and read a magazine.

After reading a magazine for a while, the minibus suddenly shook and the driver shouted, "The bus broke down!"

A chorus of curses rang out, including from Martin.

"Damn public transportation!" Martin had no choice but to get off the bus with everyone else.

Halfway through the journey, the next minibus might have to wait a long time. There were no taxis running around the city of Atlanta, so if you wanted to take a taxi, you had to call one specifically. So Martin simply walked.

A Dodge pickup truck drove up from behind and stopped beside the sidewalk. The car was spray-painted with the image of the Beast's House.

The right window rolled down, and Bruce, wearing a jacket, waved: "Martin Davis, do you want a ride?"

Martin looked at him: "Okay?"

Bruce pointed ahead and said, "I live in the Baca community south of Clayton. It's on the way."

Martin pulled the passenger door open and got in the car: "What a coincidence?"

Bruce stepped on the gas: "I just collected some money for my boss." After the car drove a few hundred meters, he suddenly said, "I almost forgot, you have to pay me $5 for the fare."

Martin slammed the car door: "Hey, man, can you be a human being!"

Bruce held the steering wheel with one hand and lifted his jacket with the other: "The boss said that the employees of Beast House must be civilized people who abide by the law."

Martin saw the pistol under his arm and recognized Bruce as a civilized man: "Pay at Clayton."

"Deal!" Bruce smiled innocently.

Martin didn't want to talk to him, so he picked up a magazine and started flipping through it.

Bruce turned his head quickly, just in time to see the cover: "Entertainment Weekly? I like this magazine? There's a poster for Lost in Translation on the magazine!"

Martin's mind raced: "A fan of Scarlett Johansson?"

Bruce looked back reluctantly: "I collected the poster of this movie, but it's broken."

Martin asked, "What broke?"

Bruce pursed his dry lips and said, "The poster was accidentally damaged by the wind."

Martin raised his thumb and imitated Harris' tone: "I am now 100% sure that you are a civilized person." He picked up the magazine and shook it: "Man, the latest Entertainment Weekly, it's hard to buy in Atlanta. Not only the cover, but also the complete set of photos of Lost in Translation."

Bruce reached out to take it, but Martin took it back: "The fare is waived, $10."

"You are a profiteer!" Bruce said this but he kept looking at the cover.

Martin rolled up the magazine again and said, "My neighbor Carter's idiot also likes this poster. I can sell this magazine for at least $20."

Bruce took out two $5 bills and threw them to Martin: "You win."

Martin took the money, handed the magazine he got for free to Bruce, and said nonsense: "Hey, I'm an actor. When I become famous in the future, I will get you a signed photo from the crew..."

Bruce didn't want to talk to this man anymore. This man was not a human being, so he simply used his killer move: "Think about how to pay back the money."

"I remember." Martin planned to stay in Atlanta for a while, and this account had to be settled. He said, "I want to see your boss."

"Tomorrow night, the boss will be at the Beast's House." Bruce shook the magazine in his hand. "For its sake, let me tell you one thing. If you can prove your worth to the boss, you will be treated preferentially."

(End of this chapter)