America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

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The personnel changes at Warner Bros. began to reveal chaos, with rumors circulating everywhere. Martin received relatively reliable information that the Warner Bros. decision-maker, Ellen Horn was about to leave the position, ready to join Disney Studios under Walt Disney to serve as co-chairman and CEO.

In the first decade of the new millennium, Warner Bros. dominated Hollywood.

In the next ten years, Disney might become the sole powerhouse.

Martin convened an internal meeting at the studio and consulted with Louise multiple times, making preparations on all fronts.

With every change of power, there always fell some well-known figures from the previous generation.

No one wanted to be the one who fell.

That day, Ari Emanuel made a call to set up a meeting with Martin.

Because Martin was at Warner Bros. Studios working on "Gone Girl," Ari went straight there.

They agreed to meet at the cold drink shop.

When Martin arrived, Ari was already there.

There was another person with him, Mark Wahlberg.

Martin didn't feel any embarrassment, after all, it was Matt Damon who had taken Mark Wahlberg's role in "Infernal Affairs," not him.

Wahlberg took the initiative to shake hands with Martin: "I've just joined WMA, please give me some guidance in the future."

Martin shook his hand: "Don't mention it."

Wahlberg was straightforward: "Actually, we have something in common – neither of us likes Matt Damon and his crowd."

Martin was slightly taken aback, then understood and laughed: "That's a good common ground."

As they sat down, Wahlberg took the initiative: "I've heard some things about the Foot Clan and Face Gang. I absolutely detest the Foot Clan. When I auditioned for 'Infernal Affairs,' the production team had initially decided on me for the role of Dignam but in the end, it was snatched away by Matt Damon due to the Foot Clan's manipulation."

Martin responded without changing his expression: "The Foot Clan really are a bunch of bastards!"

Wahlberg clearly tried to ingratiate himself with Martin: "It's a pity that asshole Matt Damon didn't go to prison with Harvey. I've heard from many media friends that there were a lot of victims and media who originally wanted to expose the truth, but were repeatedly pressured by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, and ultimately had to compromise."

Martin said: "These are only moral issues, not legal ones."

Recently, he had been concentrating mainly on Harvey Weinstein and hadn't focused on anyone else.

After all, Harvey was the core of the Foot Clan; taking him down would make dealing with the others easier.

Wahlberg said: "I won't let Damon off."

"He will definitely be greatly affected in the future" Ari, seeing Wahlberg sucking up relentlessly, quickly interrupted and said to Martin: "Old friend, Natalie Portman has been driving me crazy lately, complaining to me all the time."

Martin knew what he was referring to: "In the last audition, both David Fincher and the original author, Gillian Flynn, chose Charlize Theron, leaving me with no option."

Ari replied: "I see, she's just not outstanding enough. I'll stop Natalie from coming to bother you when I get back."

After enough groundwork, Ari abruptly changed the subject: "Mark has seen Marcus' autobiography 'Lone Survivor' and the script here with me, and he's very interested in the role based on Marcus' real life."

Wahlberg immediately followed up, saying: "I played many military roles in 'Edge of Tomorrow,' 'Three Kings,' and 'Shooter,' undergoing long periods of military and firearms training, giving me an advantage over other actors."

Originally, he had also enlisted Silsa Ronan from "The Lovely Bones," who played his daughter, hoping she would lend him a hand.

But Silsa Ronan was slipperier than a fish, saying a whole lot of pleasantries, yet never coming to speak to her teacher.

Ari looked at Martin and said: "Give Mark a chance; he's exceptional."

After some thought, Martin felt that Mark Wahlberg could be suitable. Right in front of the two, he took out his cellphone and made calls to Marcus and producer Aziva Gosman, recommending Mark Wahlberg.

What followed was simple; they asked Mark Wahlberg to prepare for a screen test in costume.

Hearing this, Mark Wahlberg immediately headed to the nearby studio for "Lone Survivor."

Ari stayed behind to have tea with Martin.

Martin asked: "You've been making a lot of moves recently, just poached him?"

Ari simply said: "He's been with me for a while. He has a broad range of roles, very promising commercially; he can play serious roles and also the dirty, gritty ones."

Setting Wahlberg aside, Ari continued: "The one I really want to poach is Christopher Nolan."

Martin had introduced the two, doing all he could, not meddling too much, and asked: "No change in Nolan's stance?"

Ari replied: "Not for now, but the pressure CAA is putting on Nolan has already caused a huge rift. As long as I persist, this rift will widen and eventually collapse the whole wall."

Martin smiled: "I hope you manage to break down that wall soon."

"I will" Ari finished his tea and also took his leave.

From behind the cold drink shop's counter, Mia had been observing Martin. Waiting for the two men to leave, she saw Martin getting ready to go and quickly picked up her bag and approached him.

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Martin had already seen Mia and greeted her, "Long time no see."

Mia cautiously said, "Martin, can I take a few minutes of your time to talk?"

Martin had known Mia since he was a small actor, and not having any urgent matters at the moment, he pointed to the chair opposite him, "Sit down and let's talk."

He asked, "I remember you left to focus on your Hollywood career, didn't you?"

Mia smiled embarrassedly, "Can't help it, life's pressures. Sebastian is concentrating on his music, but the pieces he's writing are too classical and don't fit with current trends. Plus, he lost his job at Smoky House, so I had to figure out how to earn more money."

Martin nodded slightly; these two were just a microcosm of the tens of thousands of workers in Hollywood's lower echelons.

In all of Hollywood, with possibly hundreds of thousands or even millions of people employed, only a very small minority make it to prominence.

"My talent in acting is probably average," Mia said with some resignation, "Even getting a role with lines didn't change my situation. There's been no improvement in my acting career."

Martin knew this was the case for most in the acting industry, "Often, hard work doesn't necessarily pay off equally. I've had similar experiences, just been luckier than you."

Mia nodded and then said, "Martin, do you remember what I mentioned last time? I wanted to try writing a screenplay. I've been using my spare time to write, but I find the stories I come up with are terrible, and I keep scrapping them."

Martin asked, "Have you come up with the right story?"

Mia opened her bag, took out a manuscript, and handed it to Martin, "I can't write fantasy stories, so I simply based it on mine and Sebastian's experiences and adapted a screenplay. I've got the beginning down, could you take a look for me?"

Martin took it and noticed it was a handwritten original draft. He kindly reminded her, "Next time keep the original manuscript safe, only provide photocopies. If someone takes your original, you'll lose even if you sue."

Mia, not even officially a screenwriter, was unprepared for these things and quickly nodded, "I'll remember that."

Martin quickly glanced through it. The story's female protagonist was indeed very similar to Mia and could be said to be similar to many of Hollywood's lower-tier actresses.

As for the male lead, Martin had only seen Sebastian as the pianist playing music at Smoky House and didn't know much about the rest.

The female lead is set as a Hollywood bottom-tier actress and playwright, working part-time as a waitress at Warner Bros. Studios, often needing to take time off to audition but never landing any significant roles and having to support herself with part-time work.

The male lead is of course the pianist playing in the restaurant, whose ideas are too outdated, steadfastly sticking to jazz music.

The two characters meet because of a traffic jam and later, due to their status as Hollywood down-and-outs, resonate with each other and come together, supporting each other in their careers.

The last scene in the manuscript, Martin is very familiar with, the male and female leads visiting Griffith Observatory at night and confirming their relationship as lovers.

There was nothing beyond that.

Clearly, the screenplay was unfinished and even the completed part, Martin, a novice in writing, could see many scenes had design and transition issues.

It was normal for Mia, a beginner, to have such problems.

Martin asked, "Not finished yet?"

Mia openly said, "While I was writing, I suddenly lost confidence, and Sebastian and I also had disagreements over the script."

She elaborated, "Sebastian read the screenplay and thought incorporating jazz and other music, making it a musical, would be more suitable, but musicals are long gone, and I think a romantic comedy would be better."

Martin nodded slightly, "The story is not bad."

Having had experiences of struggling at the bottom, Mia's story resonated with Martin.

Moreover, Martin saw the semblance to a movie he remembered, "La La Land," starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling.

He had a strong impression of that film for two reasons, one being that it wasn't too long ago, and the other being the huge mix-up at the Oscars during the Best Picture announcement.

An LGBTQ-themed film about black lives had won, but the presenters announced "La La Land."

Whether there was something internal, Martin didn't know. He forgot the name of the LGBTQ-themed film, but "La La Land" stuck with him. Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire

Seeing Martin silent, Mia asked, "Is it not worth anything?"

Martin thought for a moment and then said, "Your screenplay is very rough; there are many places needing revisions."

Mia hung her head, wondering if she should just leave Los Angeles and go back to her hometown.

Martin continued, "Here's what we'll do, Mia. First, finish the entire story of your screenplay."

Mia raised her head, her eyes filled with light again, and she promised, "I will stick with it and finish it."

Martin glanced at the counter and said, "I need you to concentrate on creating. Quit these part-time jobs and go to my film studio to find Jessica; you've met her."

Mia nodded, "I know her."

"She will give you a full-time writing job, and you can focus on writing your screenplay," Martin said in advance, "In addition, there will be a lump sum for the screenplay rights. You're a newcomer, so the price won't be high. I'll give you an above-average buyout price for a newcomer according to the Screenwriters Guild."

According to the new agreement signed by the Screenwriters Guild last year, a newcomer's screenplay could fetch at most thirty thousand US dollars.

Mia agreed without hesitation.