Chapter 128: The Business Card

To make things more convenient, especially in terms of expenses, the film crew decided to hold their routine script reading sessions in Cabo San Lucas.

Inside the conference room of the Seaview Hotel, the entire main cast and crew gathered together for the first time.

The crew's most formidable trio comprised Craven, Ajia, and Martin, who represented the investors.

Sofia, who had tagged along for a vacation, was also present, although she remained curious and silent.

Martin couldn't recognize any of the other actors.

The actress cast as his on-screen wife, Ryan, was Vanessa Shaw, who had started her career as a child star.

Martin struck up a conversation with her, getting to know each other better since they were going to portray a married couple in the film.

"I actually struggle with severe dyslexia," Vanessa admitted when they began discussing the script. She chuckled, "I often rely on assistants to help me read scripts." Martin was well-aware of the importance of treating people fairly and responded, "We can discuss it later, after the script meeting."

Vanessa nodded in agreement. She had started working as a child model in commercials at a tender age and transitioned into film and television shoots in her early teens. Her childhood memories mostly revolved around film crews, studios, and cameras. As for formal education and family upbringing, they were more like a box to check to comply with Parent-Teacher Association regulations.

Lately, Martin had been interacting with more actors and had begun noticing that dyslexia was relatively common in this field, especially among actors.

The script reading session was led by director Ajia. He focused on the scenes involving Vanessa and several others, as there wasn't much to discuss about Martin's scenes.

The two significant actors who couldn't attend were represented by their respective agents.

One represented the protagonist's son, while the other was the dog actor.

In terms of daily pay, the latter ranked second only to Martin among all the actors in the crew.

At the conclusion of the script meeting, Ajia suggested that the lead actors get to know each other as quickly as possible to facilitate the filming process.

Craven stressed the importance of crew safety. Cabo San Lucas was a tourist destination in Mexico, and security was much better than in Tijuana and Juarez. However, he advised against going out alone, especially venturing into the old town away from the bustling areas. The crew had also hired several professional security guards for location shoots. While they couldn't engage in physical altercations, they were well-versed in dealing with various local factions.

In simpler terms, the crew paid protection fees.

Martin arranged to meet with the lead actors, including Vanessa, to visit the beach, enjoy the scenery, and discuss their respective roles.

The protagonist's in-laws were portrayed by two seasoned actors with decades of experience in the industry. Their acting skills and grasp of their characters weren't in question. The sultry actress cast as the sister-in-law introduced herself, and Martin recalled that she was Milly, the stripper who was working part-time as an actress and had joined the crew through Ajia's connections.

It was becoming increasingly clear to Martin that actors were abundant in Los Angeles.

In the afternoon, Martin joined the crew at the studio area near the hotel to get acclimated to the environment and rehearse.

All the indoor scenes for the film would be shot there.

The studio area was conveniently located close to the beach, and there was a football field being constructed nearby.

Bruce inquired about it and returned with information, "It's the set for 'The Sisterhood of travelling pants.'"

Martin found a higher vantage point and observed, "The crew has many scenes, and they're filming a women's football training camp."

Bruce jokingly cautioned, "Man, you're an actor, not a peeping Tom."

Martin looked innocent, replying, "What did I say? It's just a women's football training camp..."

Just as they were discussing this, nearly a hundred young and beautiful women, sporting various hair and skin colors, began arriving on the nearby lawn. They were all in their twenties, in great physical shape, wearing shorts, and, well, rather attention-grabbing in front and behind...

Yet, it was the crew for "The Sisterhood of Traveling Pants" that had selected these female soccer extras.

Hearing the commotion, Ajia, also known for his playful nature, joined Martin, standing next to him and remarking, "coming of age film crews always seem to catch the eye. Maybe I'll have to start making youth films in the future."

Bruce, with his share of playfulness, chimed in, "I do have a fondness for crews with plenty of actresses..."

Ajia nodded in agreement, stating, "Our entire cast and crew combined can't match the number of actresses they have."

Martin interjected with a practical question, "Over there, they're all beauties, and here we're all perverts." He grinned, thinking it was the perfect opportunity for a social gathering. "Ajia, when we have some free time, how about you go over in the director's name, and both crews can have a joint party?"

Ajia, an artistic French director, readily accepted the idea. "Sure, I love the idea, but we'll have to wait a bit. The other crew is still sending over some preliminary personnel. We'll wait until their main members arrive. Plus, we need to shoot the outdoor scenes first."

Back at the studio, Martin encountered two well-trained dog actors, both of them German Shepherds.

"Can I interact with them?" he asked.

The two German Shepherds wore muzzles, appearing quite docile.

Their owner, Daniel, advised, "Take your time, get acquainted gradually."

Although Martin had never owned a dog, his past life experience as a police dog trainer came in handy. After a bit of interaction, he asked Daniel to remove their muzzles and even gave them some treats.

Hollywood's animal actors undergo extensive training and are exceptionally intelligent among their kind. They also command impressive paychecks.

With Daniel's approval, Martin fed the dogs, and soon enough, they were playfully circling around him.

Daniel then suggested, "It's about time to take them for a walk. You can hold the leash and lead them."

In filmmaking, cooperation between humans and animals is crucial. Martin took the leashes, and the two dogs followed him out of the studio.

Daniel followed closely behind, and Bruce stayed nearby in case any unexpected situations arose.

Vanessa disembarked from the trailer and noticed the two German Shepherds. "They're adorable. What are their names?"

Martin smiled, "They're not just cute, they're smart too. The female on the left is Beauty, and the male on the right is Beast."

Vanessa chuckled, "Beauty and the Beast, what fitting names."

Martin gestured toward the beach, "Let's get acquainted with Beauty and the Beast while discussing our roles."

As they strolled along the beach, Vanessa initiated a conversation about their characters. "You and my family have a lot of conflicts. I act as a mediator, right?"

Martin led the dogs to the shoreline and replied, "I didn't want to come on this trip. You dragged me along just to ease the tension with your father."

Vanessa got into character, "Yes, both you and my father have strong personalities, which led to constant clashes. But it's not really about him."

Martin added, "The main reason is what happened to you. You were killed by those perverts, and they took our child. So I became furious and decided to take matters into my own hands."

Vanessa nodded in agreement, "So, you took revenge and eliminated all those perverts."

Feeling slightly ignored, the dogs turned and looked at Martin.

Quickly, Martin assured them, "I'll play with you in just a moment."

Daniel brought a Frisbee to the beach.

This beach was part of the studio area and had been rented by the crew. Martin removed the leashes and muzzles from the dogs, and the two German Shepherds eagerly ran towards the sea.

During their playtime, one of the dogs suddenly turned back and barked, prompting Martin to recall a sports game that a colleague often organized, one involving Frisbee. At the time, Frisbee games were quite popular, drawing participation from many in the entertainment industry and offering substantial winnings. The games often featured participants in yoga pants, camel toes, and tights, adding excitement to the matches.

Martin threw the Frisbee, and the dogs leaped to catch it, then eagerly returned it.

Several other actors working with dogs also joined in.

After playing with the two German Shepherds for a while, Martin handed the Frisbee back to Daniel. He then spotted Sofia approaching from the other side of the beach, accompanied by her younger brother Scott, who carried a bag.

Sofia donned a revealing three-point swimsuit, displaying her well-defined muscles and resembling a female version of King Kong.

Waving to Martin, she invited him, "Let's go swimming in the sea together!"

Martin casually responded, "I'm not a great swimmer."

Sofia reassured him, "That's okay, Little Martin. Follow me, and my aunt will protect you."

As she walked away, Sofia reached back, and Scott handed her a pink water bottle from the bag. Sofia took a sip through the straw while keeping her eyes on Martin as he drank water.

All eyes on the beach turned in their direction.

Vanessa pondered her scenes and asked, "Am I going to use this prop in the film?"

Catherine, the veteran actress portraying her mother, chimed in, "That's a symbol of liberated women."

Vanessa had a scene where she used a bottle against an abnormal freak.

When Sofia waded into the water, Scott approached Martin with a warning, "Idiot, stay away from Sofia."

Martin jokingly raised his middle finger, "No worries, nobody's competing with you."

Scott issued a serious threat, "If you dare to steal her from me, I'll spill the beans about your father getting it on with my wife. Remember, you bastard got my daughter pregnant!"

"Enough!" Martin reminded him, "Emma has returned, and Jack has nothing to do with me."

Scott glanced at Sofia swimming in the sea, "It might be better if she doesn't come back. I'll divorce her sooner or later."

Martin inquired, "Because of the rich woman?"

Scott proudly declared, "Aren't rich women attractive? I won Sofia over with my charm, and she's willing to spend money to give me the luxurious life only a rich man can enjoy."

Martin proposed, "In that case, you can enjoy a comfortable life taken care of by a wealthy woman, and I can focus on my work without any disturbances. How about that?"

Scott considered the offer and realized that Martin could make it worth his while by not competing. "Deal," he agreed. Just before departing, Scott remembered something else. "One more thing, idiot. Stay away from Elena and Lily in the future."

Martin pretended not to hear.

Scott felt victorious and strutted away, twisting his behind as he left.

Before leaving, Martin handed Scott a business card from Bruce and suggested, "Keep this; you might need it someday."

Scott noticed it was a business card for a personal doctor. "What's this for?"

Martin Said: "The best anorectal surgeon in Los Angeles, nicknamed hyena."

Scott didn't lose his temper this time, but put the card away seriously, and walked away.

The business card Antonio had geven him, finally got into the hands of the person who really needed it.