America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

Burbank, Davis Studio.

Jonathan Nolan had just started his day when he hurried over to meet Martin, bringing with him the completed first draft of the "Split" screenplay.

It had taken nearly a year and a half to prepare since last year.

Martin carefully read the screenplay.

In his memory, it was hard to judge Jonathan Nolan's directing level, but his screenwriting had always been quite good.

Although it was only the first draft, with ten years of experience, Martin judged that the screenplay was of a high degree of completion.

After going through it once, Martin said to Jonathan, "The main storyline is good, I will later give it to Director Finch and integrate his feedback."

Jonathan nodded slightly, "I abandoned all macroscopic aspects and purely approached from a personal perspective, focusing all viewpoints on the character Billy, but it's impossible to present more than twenty personalities in the film without overcrowding it and making the audience dizzy. I focused on selecting a few particularly representative personalities to build the plot around."

Martin counted briefly and said, "It seems like there are seven personalities."

"Exactly, seven," Jonathan added, "One of my subordinates gave me a suggestion."

Martin made a welcoming gesture, "Go ahead."

Jonathan thought about his wording and said, "The subordinate suggested during the screenplay writing to add specific powers to some personalities, like making the 'Beast' personality not only brutish in nature but also physically stronger and bigger..."

His screenplays in recent years, although the protagonists were all mentally unstable, were almost all science fiction, so he didn't oppose these surreal elements, "Specifically, it would depend on your opinion."

Martin thought to himself, personality disorders plus superpowers, isn't that X-Men? He remembered the bald professor had a son, who seemed to be in a similar situation.

After a brief consideration, he said, "This is a film based on real people and a realism theme, let's not incorporate those surreal elements."

Jonathan appeared slightly disappointed, but as a good screenwriter, the demands of his employer were most important, and he immediately nodded and said, "I understand."

The two discussed screenplay details and adjustments for a while.

The screenplay was only a first draft, with the main direction and storyline being correct, but it still needed fine-tuning.

Jonathan estimated that the final draft wouldn't be ready until the end of the year.

Martin had been in touch with David Fincher, who had finished shooting all the shots for "House of Cards" and was currently in post-production, and wouldn't be free until before next summer.

Just as Jonathan left, Bruce entered the office, closed the door, and said, "Alexandrovich just contacted me through an encrypted satellite phone, the Ukrainian Security Bureau has verified a lot of evidence and data involving the French fashion godfather Brunel, and the Ukrainian authorities are seriously negotiating with the French side."

Martin nodded, "As expected, individuals, even billionaires, are insignificant before the power of a nation."

Bruce smiled, "The French still have the same attitude."

Martin wasn't surprised, "What did Alexandrovich say?"

Bruce said, "He followed your advice and sent people to Fleet Street."

...

England, London.

In "The Sun" editorial department, Chief of Operations Rebecca came in hurriedly from outside with a heavy briefcase, heading directly to the Editor-in-Chief's office.

She told the assistant, "I need to see Editor-in-Chief Dominic."

The assistant said, "The Editor-in-Chief is currently..."

"Urgent news!" Rebecca placed the briefcase on the assistant's desk, "Extremely important scandal and secrets, no time to delay!"

"The Sun" was renowned for reporting gossip and scandals, which was also a core competency.

The assistant dared not delay and quickly pressed the intercom, "Boss, Rebecca has urgent news, she wants to see you, she's right outside your office."

"Let her in." The assistant turned off the intercom, stood up and led the way, "This way."

Once in the office, Rebecca came to Editor-in-Chief Dominic's desk, placed the heavy briefcase on it, unzipped it, and started taking out a stack of thick documents, laying them out on the desk.

Almost completely bald Dominic looked somewhat surprised, "What are these? Whose dirt is this? So much?"

Rebecca said, "The Ukrainians dug this up, concerning the disappearance cases of Ukrainian female models."

Dominic's interest vanished instantly, "Disappearances are common there every year, no one's interested..."

Rebecca quickly said, "All these materials point towards France's Carly Model Company and billionaire Jean-Luc Brunel."

"The French!" Dominic immediately perked up, well aware of the big names Carly Model Company and Brunel.

Rebecca handed him the key external hard drive, "I've reviewed them carefully, these can pin the Frenchman to the pillar of shame because he's involved not just in trafficking women, but also a large number of minors."

Dominic took the external hard drive, connected it to his computer, and started looking, chuckling as he said, "Very good! Very good! The French will have a headache now!"

After Dominic looked over the key evidence and materials, Rebecca asked, "Editor-in-Chief, should we publish it?"

"Why not?" Dominic knew what Rebecca was worried about and said with a smile, "A French billionaire, a French modeling agency, covered by our British media—it's only proper! What can the French say about that? Even if they have objections, they'll have to endure!"

As a traditional British media professional, Dominic had had countless verbal confrontations with the French over the years, "If the French want to take any action, they should ask whether Britain agrees! By then, the whole kingdom will back us!"