Chapter 184: Industry Going Downhill

Immediately after the video leaked, Martin and Anne swiftly organized a press conference. Laura, Anne's assistant, appeared on camera, sobbing inconsolably, claiming that she had accidentally misplaced the USB flash drive and appealing to the finder to return it.

The temporary spokespersons hired by Martin and Anne implored the media not to broadcast such privately sourced videos, asserting their right to pursue relevant parties, among other things.

Martin also took to his blog, urging the media not to let personal privacy consume public resources.

His blog was flooded with a multitude of comments, both supportive and critical, all of which attracted considerable attention.

The sheer volume of traffic caused Martin's blog to crash.

However, the entertainment media couldn't resist the allure of the story, and the louder the calls for restraint, the more eager they were to spread it.

In just over a day, Martin and Anne's selfie video skyrocketed to the top of Google's search rankings.

People had an inexplicable fascination with taboo subjects, particularly when it came to celebrity privacy. Even those who had previously been unaware of Martin were now acquainted with him due to the "selfie-gate incident" and the recent release of "The Hills Have Eyes."

A substantial number of fervent supporters of Martin and Anne "spontaneously" organized protests in front of the media outlets repeatedly airing the selfie video. This led to another surge in news coverage and web traffic.

Many passersby and onlookers flocked to the theaters, making generous contributions to "The Hills Have Eyes."

In a short span of time, Martin's fame had reached levels comparable to that of a top Hollywood star's new film release. As long as a fraction of this attention translated into box office revenue, all parties involved, including Martin, stood to benefit.

Subsequently, Martin conducted interviews with numerous television stations, advocating for the protection of celebrity privacy, which garnered responses from several other celebrities.

The marketing investment for Selfie Gate had been relatively small, yet the results were astounding. This event had the potential to reshape the industry.

Following in the footsteps of Paris Hilton, it served as further evidence that unconventional routes could lead to success.

A select few celebrities, particularly those with keen instincts, began to take notice of this trend.

...

During holidays such as Halloween and Valentine's Day, celebrities, public figures, and even politicians often emerged to flaunt their presence and gain attention.

Though displays of affection were often short-lived, numerous celebrities were eager to partake.

"Hitch" was slated for release on Valentine's Day, and its leading actor, Will Smith, also presented a gift to his wife, Jada. He had the crew film the exchange and distribute it to various entertainment outlets in a bid to seize some of the spotlight.

However, only a handful of followers emerged, as the spotlight had been effectively stolen by the so-called selfie video.

In terms of fame, Martin and Anne lagged far behind the Smiths. Nevertheless, this couldn't quell people's thirst for gossip and their strong desire to peek into celebrities' private lives.

In the living room of their mansion, Jada Smith channel-surfed through several entertainment stations with an air of resignation. "They're all reporting on Martin Davis and Anne Hathaway's mundane affairs," she commented, casting a glance at her husband, Will Smith. "These two newcomers stole our thunder."

Will, with his characteristic charm, responded, "It's not just us; they've stolen the spotlight for everyone on Valentine's Day."

Jada, not known for her patience, couldn't help but grumble, "Why didn't our video get released?"

Will, an industry veteran with a sharp mind, quickly discerned the situation. "It was probably intentional," he mused. "Martin's movie, 'The Hills Have Eyes,' is currently hitting theaters."

Jada was taken aback. "Intentional? Shameless! What an audacious couple!"

She reached for the laptop nearby and opened the web browser. Martin and Annie's selfie video had claimed the top spot in Google's trending search terms. She clicked on it to view related videos.

Upon closer inspection, Jada began to see the merit in her husband's words. "There weren't any revealing scenes. All they did was discuss 'The Mountain Has Eyes,' using the excuse of concern to garner publicity..." She paused, pondering the news that had coincidentally accompanied the video's release.

Will Smith, ever the pragmatist, declared, "They're all going crazy! The industry is really going downhill people are noe becoming increasingly cutthroat, and these newcomers are willing to resort to any underhanded tactics!" As he spoke, he couldn't help but glance at Jada, insinuating a possible course of action if their popularity dwindled in the future.

Jada understood the unspoken suggestion and promptly retorted, "Don't even think about it, you scoundrel!"

Will, aware that popularity was often fleeting, recognized the need to explore alternative avenues to attract attention.

"Is Jada disgusted with the video?" he wondered aloud, beginning to entertain the idea of an open marriage between him and Jada. Imagining the two of them seated on a talk show, openly discussing their unconventional marital arrangements and respective plans, he couldn't help but envision the media and the public's fascination with the spectacle.

When you're a star, your appearance becomes secondary.

Take a look at what the newcomer Martin Davis has accomplished. Even as a veteran in the industry, Will Smith couldn't help but admire him a bit.

This Valentine's Day was different from previous ones. Alongside the traditional romance films, many opted to watch the horror action movie "The Hills Have Eyes."

Will Smith's star power was undeniable, and these days he was synonymous with box office success.

"Hitch" pulled in a remarkable $43.14 million during the three-day Valentine's Day weekend in North America. It received an A rating from the CS live audience and was estimated to reach $170 million at the North American box office.

Securing the top spot at the box office chart was a clear testament to one thing: your Emperor is relentlessly dominant!

As expected, "The Hills Have Eyes" slid to second place on the box office list. However, due to the intense buzz generated by the selfie scandal mid-week, the typical steep drop in the second week that horror movies usually experience was absent. The decline in the following weekend was held at a reasonable $18.1 million, keeping the Valentine's Day total to a strong $59.11 million over five working days.

Warner Bros. swiftly negotiated a new distribution agreement with theaters, extending the screening duration of "The Hills Have Eyes" in North America to potentially cross the $100 million mark.

While this screening strategy wouldn't significantly boost box office earnings for distributors and producers, films with North American box office earnings exceeding $100 million were treated vastly differently in the TV and DVD markets.

In this era, Hollywood's top distribution companies no longer solely relied on commissions from box office receipts; they also profited from all rights associated with the film.

Moreover, it would take time for the producer to recover their funds from the distributor.

"The funds are linked to 'Wanted,'" Martin stated, standing atop the North Hollywood apartment building, seemingly observing a grand spectacle unfolding below. He was speaking to Louise over the phone. "Keep pushing," he instructed her.

Louise replied, "Don't worry. With the investment agreement in place, we can secure a bank loan using the expected repayment as collateral." She added, "My team has been in contact with Sophia and Vincent." Louise's strategic thinking in actual project planning far exceeded Martin's. She admitted, "You're more comprehensive in your thinking than I am."

Louise then joked, "So, is my Valentine's Day gift a stone clown sculpture fashioned after you? You're quite considerate!"

Martin smoothly replied, "That's a masterpiece by the sculptor Lily Carter, a true work of art!"

"Excellent!" Louise chuckled. "Lily Carter, a high school student from Marietta, Atlanta. Should I bring her to Los Angeles?"

Martin suddenly remembered that Louise and Kelly had sent Lily a gift in return. With so many gifts and letters sent out, he sometimes struggled to remember them all. He believed he needed to learn a new skill: time management.

Louise exchanged a few more words and hung up the phone.

Martin noticed Bruce observing the paparazzi through binoculars and asked, "Any new developments?"

These two audacious men were watching the surrounding paparazzi as if they were enjoying a show, searching for amusement.

Old Bruce pointed towards the parking lot. "There are two paparazzi, a man and a woman. They might have obtained some information each. They engaged in some car-based recreation while exchanging information. It just concluded."

Martin picked up the binoculars but could only see the man and woman who had exited the car tidying themselves up. Regret seemed to wash over them as they realized they had missed out on a significant opportunity.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Martin lamented.

He suggested, "Should we set up surveillance in the parking lot? Paparazzi seem to be multiplying lately, and their camera lenses are as focused as actors' performances."

Bruce, appearing somewhat exasperated, questioned, "Are you getting into secret photography?"

Martin, deliberately teasing, replied, "It's actually rather fascinating. You should give it a try, Bruce."

Bruce didn't want to discuss Kim, primarily because whenever the topic of Kim's sister came up, Martin's comments were anything but polite. He was keen on avoiding the subject.

He redirected the conversation towards Martin's recent test of love for Anne. "Aren't you planning to test Annie's love?"

Martin retorted, "What's happened to your sense of humanity? It's barely been Valentine's Day, and you're already suggesting I serenade someone else. A joyous breakup, is that it? What happened to morality and dignity?"

Bruce, too disinterested to argue, held firm in his judgment. Based on his assessment, Anne wouldn't pass the test.

He commented, "Tens of thousands of dollars in jade exchanged for a $99 box of chocolates."

Martin, displaying magnanimity, responded, "I gave it away. Do you think I'll ask for it back?"

All the gifts he gave were genuine, including items like crocodile tooth pendants, horn carvings, and stone sculptures.

After the first week's box office results for "The Hills Have Eyes" were released, Wu Maoting had airlifted a substantial amount of jade as a gesture of goodwill. Half of it was sold, and the other half was gifted to Martin.

Martin accepted the gift without hesitation.

The piece given to Anne Hathaway was one of the better jade plaques.

Martin directed Bruce, "Take two of those and give them to Kim and her sister."

Bruce emphasized, "I'll give them to Kim. As for what Kim does with them, I couldn't care less."

Martin's phone rang, and upon answering it, he discovered it was a call from Angelina Jolie.

"Hello, Angie," he greeted. "What made you suddenly think of calling me?"

Angelina explained, "I've officially signed a contract with the 'Wanted' crew. Since you initiated the project, I'd like to treat you to a meal—a dinner to express my gratitude."

Martin couldn't help but wonder why Angelina had decided to reach out. He agreed, "No problem."

Bruce quipped, "Pick up Julie and drop off Annie, realy a flawless plan."

Martin retorted with a middle finger gesture, "I won't be the one betraying this love."