America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

Chapter 276: Chapter 273: Contending for Supremacy

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"This is Barry Meyer, the CEO of Warner Bros.,"

In the luxurious and spacious banquet hall, Louise took Martin to meet the host of the evening and specifically introduced him, "This is Ellen Horn, the President of Warner Bros." Pictures."

Martin courteously shook hands and greeted the two, who were the mainstays of Warner Bros. during its golden age.

The two shook hands with Martin but didn't say much. With Martin's status, he wasn't quite at the level to catch their eye.

However, Ellen Horn's daughter, Cody Horn, chatted with Martin a bit more.

She asked, "I heard you're pushing a new project, and I'm an actor too. Do you have a suitable role for me?"

Martin immediately responded, "If you come, there will be a role, but it may not be a big part."

Cody Horn handed him a business card, "You can send the role information to my email. If it's suitable, I'll have my agent contact your production team."

Martin took the business card and carefully stored it away.

He then followed Louise to another area.

Louise reminded him, "She's just acting for fun, don't take it too seriously."

Martin understood, "Rich family daughter seeking life experience? Not like you, who treat it as your career?"

Louise nodded slightly, "Exactly like that." She suddenly stopped and gestured with her eyes towards the entrance of the banquet hall, "Jolie and Aniston have run into each other, this is interesting."

Martin saw it too. Jolie and Aniston had both arrived, and since the banquet hall was not too large, it was normal for them to bump into each other.

Louise, the promiscuous one, made a suggestive comment, "If you bring them together, help them resolve their issues, I have a little villa with a room that has a two-way mirror..."

Martin said, "I'm a serious person."

Near the entrance of the banquet hall, Jolie and Aniston's gazes clashed, and neither backed down.

Unlike in the past, Aniston didn't avoid confrontation and instead stared back at Jolie.

With Jolie's personality, there was no way she would retreat first. Facing Aniston's gaze, she walked over.

Approaching her, Jolie said in a low voice, "Hello, loser."

Aniston had a biting retort at the tip of her tongue, but considering her image, she couldn't utter it in such a setting.

Jolie added, "You lost, in every way."

Aniston swallowed her fury and retorted with poise and confidence, "The winner isn't decided until the end."

Jolie turned away, picked up a glass of wine from a nearby table, and left alone.

Aniston also took a glass of wine, glanced briefly across the hall, and headed towards Martin.

She approached Martin, nodded slightly to Louise as a greeting, and said to Martin, "I'd like to talk to you about the script and my role."

Louise, who was just as bad-natured, and this could be seen in Kelly, excused herself quickly, "You guys talk; I see a friend, I'll go say hello."

Martin knew Aniston was just spouting nonsense, but a good man who sticks to principles should also know how to be accommodating, so he asked, "Is there a problem with your role?"

"A little," Aniston stepped forward, realizing they weren't close enough, and took another step forward before saying, "We are supposed to play a couple, but there's quite an age difference between us, it's hard to feel connected. I think we should start building a rapport in advance."

Martin very seriously replied, "Makes sense."

Aniston naturally reached out, grabbing Martin's arm, "This way it always feels a bit off."

Martin, being a good guy, cooperated by moving a step closer to her, "Is this any better?"

Not far away, Jolie walked through the crowd, her gaze falling on the two of them.

Aniston, with her arm linked in Martin's, looked like a couple with him.

Jolie bit down on her full lips, clenching her glass so hard she was shaking with excitement, unable to move.

Almost at the same time, Aniston noticed Jolie.

Seeing her strange behavior and the lip she was biting, Aniston's lips curled into a smile, as if she had won a battle.

Jolie steadied herself with one hand on the table and the other on her chest.

Aniston's smile grew even wider, triumphant as if she had won a battle.

At the entrance to the banquet hall, Brad Pitt, dressed in a beige suit, had just entered when he saw Aniston arm in arm with Martin. This time, not letting emotions cloud his judgment, he turned around and left the banquet hall.

He knew that it wasn't a place for conflict; causing a scene would reflect poorly on all of Warner, so he decided that it was better to be out of sight, out of mind.

Mene, dressed in a dark suit, followed him out of the banquet hall to the elevator area. When he saw Pitt waiting for the elevator, he opted to stand in front of a mirror as if adjusting his tie.

Pitt took the elevator and left the building altogether.

Mene, who hadn't found Pitt's mother, felt a bit disappointed.

He had wanted to stand up for his boss...

But the other party didn't give Mene the opportunity.

Returning to the banquet hall, Mene waited for a while and, seeing that Martin was alone, approached him, "Boss."

Martin patted him on the arm, "You're back?"

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Mene nodded, "I can take a break for a few days."

Martin called out to Mene, "Let's go, I'll introduce you to a few directors."

He met up with Thomas and headed toward the gathering of British actors and directors.

Christopher Nolan, with his blond hair parted, was getting a dessert for his wife, Emma Thomas.

Thomas took the lead and made the introductions.

Nolan shook hands with Martin, "I've seen Wanted Order and carefully examined the action scenes, very cool design."

Flattery is part of business, and Martin didn't miss a beat, "The Dark Knight showed us a Batman and Bruce Wayne who lives in the real world, not just a comic book symbol."

Nolan was rather modest, "I wouldn't call it a huge success, at best it's just not a failure." Enjoy more content from mvl

Driven by curiosity, Martin asked, "I like the film and the new style you've brought to Batman. I heard from people at Warner that Director Nolan, you already have plans for a sequel?"

"I have some preliminary ideas, but haven't organized them systematically yet," Nolan thought Martin was interested in the role of Bruce Wayne, so he specifically mentioned, "I have already asked Bale to start preparing."

Martin inquired, "At the end of The Dark Knight, the Joker card appears. If I may ask, is the Joker the main villain in the sequel?"

That was quite evident, and Nolan saw no need to deny it, "Unless something unexpected happens, the main villain will be the Joker."

"I'm very familiar with Jack Nicholson, who last played the Joker," said Martin. "Nicholson naturally has an evil quality."

Nolan, having also seen the gossip about the Trio of Scoundrels, said, "Nicholson's performance in '89 was exceptional, and that version of the Joker inspired me a lot."

He didn't want to dwell on the subject and changed the topic, "This film is still far off, I have other projects to finish before that."

Martin didn't beat around the bush, since his relationship with Warner Bros. was known to all, "The Prestige? I've read Priest's original novel, the rivalry between two greats."

Indeed, The Dark Knight continued that pattern, with Batman and the Joker also embodying the duel of the two greats.

Even so, the latter had more screen time.

Nolan, a director, guessed what Martin was implying, "You're interested in this project?"

Martin said directly, "I really like that novel and would love to have the opportunity to collaborate."

"You're a bit young," Nolan didn't dismiss the idea outright, knowing that an actor's age is only one consideration in casting, not the key factor, "You're welcome to audition for the part when it's time."

Martin knew when to stop; at the moment, getting acquainted was the main goal.

While Martin was talking to Nolan, not too far away, Mene was chatting with Emma Thomas.

Maybe it's just that Mene naturally appealed to middle-aged women, and in just a few words, he had Emma Thomas laughing non-stop.

After laughing, Emma Thomas commented, "You are quite interesting, no wonder so many people speak highly of you."

Mene was surprised, "Many people speak highly of me? Who are they?"

Emma Thomas clarified, "You don't know? Us women behind the scenes have formed an organization. During our meetings, many have talked about you."

In Hollywood circles, the number of women who truly hold power is quite limited, and these women naturally come together, forming a small but influential group.

In this group, there was more than one woman whom Mene had charmed thoroughly.

Mene wasn't the least bit embarrassed; instead, he was astonished, "I didn't realize I was so famous!"

Emma tilted her head, "Many are skeptical, though. Are you really that good?"

In such a setting, with a female producer and her husband present, Mene was more restrained, lightly rubbing his lips, "Maybe it's a natural advantage, a special gift from God."

Emma Thomas nodded and didn't probe further.

Compared to other women in the industry around their fifties, she was definitely a more respectable female producer.

Most of her time was spent looking after her husband's concerns.

After seeing Martin exchange business cards with Nolan, Mene politely spoke up and left the place with Martin.

Thomas lagged a bit behind and asked Mene, "Any gain?"

Mene shook his head, "She's different."

Thomas whispered, "Then don't mess around, play it safe."

Martin saw Will Smith and turned back to Thomas, "Is I Am Legend all set?"

Thomas discreetly pointed at Ellen Horn, who was talking to Will Smith, "Last month, she championed the deal with Warner Bros. to sign Will Smith with an acting fee exceeding 20 million US dollars, and it might even involve a share of the profits."

Martin was clear about the situation, "Superstar indeed, I still have a long way to go."

This was a gap in overall strength.

"In all of Hollywood, only Leonardo's status could rival his, everyone else falls short," Thomas said. "Even in terms of box office draw, Leonardo might not match Will Smith."

Martin knew this was a time when even a historical figure performing poorly could still sell out theaters.

"Keep striving, Martin," Thomas finally caught a moment to encourage Martin. "You have a long road ahead of you."

Martin immediately countered, "Our goals are clear, I'll become a superstar, and you'll become a senior partner."

Thomas, energized by these words, was filled with determination.