Chapter 568: La La Land!

Amidst the ever-increasing turmoil of personnel changes at Warner Bros., rumors swirled throughout Hollywood, and Martin had received relatively credible information. It seemed Warner Pictures' spokesman, Alan Horn, was poised to depart and potentially join Disney's subsidiary, Warner Bros. Disney Studios, as co-chairman and chief executive officer.

In the first decade of the new century, Warner Bros. had reigned supreme in Hollywood. Now, as the next ten years unfolded, Disney appeared poised to take the lead.

Within the confines of the Warner Bros. studio, Martin convened an internal meeting, engaging in numerous discussions with Louise as they laid out their strategies.

Transitions of power invariably spelled the downfall of prominent figures from the previous generation, and nobody wanted to be the one to fall.

On this particular day, Ari Emmanuel reached out to Martin, requesting a meeting. Since Martin was at the Gone Girl studio on the Warner Bros. lot, he promptly made his way there.

They arranged to meet at a nearby café, where Martin found Ari already seated. Another individual joined them – Mark Wahlberg.

Martin harbored no awkwardness. After all, he had no involvement in the casting decision that had led to Matt Damon taking Mark Wahlberg's role in "The Departed."

Wahlberg extended a handshake towards Martin, displaying a friendly demeanor. "I'm new to WMA. I look forward to your guidance in the future."

Martin reciprocated the handshake. "You're very welcome."

Wahlberg adopted a candid tone. "Truth be told, we share something in common – our dislike for Matt Damon and his cronies."

Martin chuckled, understanding the sentiment. "That's indeed a shared sentiment."

As they took their seats, Wahlberg ventured further. "I've heard plenty about the Face Gang, and I can't stand the Foot Gang. When I auditioned for 'The Departed,' I was initially selected to play the supporting role, but thanks to the machinations of the Foot Gang, Matt Damon eventually snatched the role away from me."

Martin maintained his composure. "The Foot Gang truly is a despicable bunch."

Wahlberg seemed eager to align with Martin. "It's a shame that the wretched Matt Damon didn't fall with Harvey. Many of my media friends have shared stories about victims who initially intended to expose the truth but were repeatedly coerced by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, ultimately forced into silence."

Martin clarified, "These issues revolve around morals, not legality."

Recently, Martin had been primarily focused on Harvey Weinstein, and he hadn't spared much thought for others. After all, Harvey was the lynchpin of the Foot Gang, and dismantling him would facilitate addressing the rest.

Wahlberg vowed, "I won't let Damon off the hook."

Ari interjected, eager to change the subject. "I've been absolutely inundated by Natalie Portman's incessant complaints lately. She's been harping on and on."

Martin was well aware of the issue. "David Fincher and Gillian Flynn, the author of the original novel, both opted for Charlize Theron in the final audition. There was nothing I could do."

Ari empathized, "I understand; she just doesn't quite measure up. I'll speak with Natalie when I return, and ensure she doesn't trouble you any further, my old friend."

In a moment of foreshadowing, Martin had dropped a tantalizing hint, and then he shifted his tone abruptly, saying, "Mark read Marcus's take on 'Lone Survivor' and was intrigued by the character based on Marcus."

Wahlberg eagerly joined in, adding, "I've portrayed numerous soldier roles – 'Edge Warrior,' 'Three Kings of Gold,' and 'Sniper of Life and Death.' Extensive military and firearms training has given me an edge over my fellow actors."

Initially, Mark had also approached Saoirse Ronan, who played his daughter in "The Lovely Bones," seeking her assistance.

However, Saoirse Ronan proved elusive, offering more gibberish than help on the matter.

Ari looked at Martin and suggested, "Give Mark a chance; he's quite talented."

After some contemplation, Martin believed Mark Wahlberg was up to the task. He took out his mobile phone and dialed filmmaker Akiva Goldsman, recommending Mark Wahlberg.

The subsequent steps were straightforward – Mark Wahlberg prepared for the audition with the assistance of makeup.

Mark promptly headed to the nearby studio for "Lone Survivor."

Ali stayed behind, sipping tea with Martin.

Curious, Martin inquired, "You've been making significant moves lately. Did you just recruit him?"

Ari replied simply, "It's been in the works for a while. He offers a wide range of acting options and holds considerable commercial promise. He's adept at both serious and not-so-serious roles."

Ari shifted the conversation away from Wahlberg and confided, "The one I'm most keen to acquire is Christopher Nolan."

Martin introduced the two of them, recognizing his limited role without overstepping. He inquired, "Has Nolan's stance softened?"

Ari responded, "Not yet, but CAA's relentless pressure on Nolan has caused a significant crack. With continued persistence, that crack will widen and bring down the entire wall."

Martin smiled, expressing his hope, "May you dismantle the entire wall soon."

"Thank you," Ari said, finishing his tea and bidding farewell before leaving.

Behind the café counter, Mia had been observing Martin, waiting for the other two to depart. Spotting Martin's imminent departure, she quickly retrieved her bag and approached him.

Martin had noticed Mia earlier and greeted her, "Long time no see."

Mia cautiously requested, "Martin, could we spare a few minutes to chat?"

Since there was no pressing matter at hand, Martin gestured toward the empty chair across from him. "Please, have a seat."

Curious, he asked, "Didn't you leave Hollywood to focus on your career?"

Mia offered a sheepish smile, admitting, "I did. Sebastian focused on his writing, but his classical works didn't align with the current trends, and I lost my job at the smokehouse. So, I had to find other ways to make ends meet."

Martin nodded in understanding. These two were emblematic of the countless struggling actors and actresses in Hollywood. Among the hundreds of thousands or even millions working in the industry, only a fraction achieved real success.

Mia expressed her frustration, "My acting talents might be just average. I landed a few roles with lines, but it didn't change my situation. My acting career has been stagnant."

Martin acknowledged the harsh reality, saying, "Sometimes, hard work doesn't necessarily translate to proportional rewards. I've experienced something similar, although I've been luckier than most."

Mia continued, "Martin, do you remember what I mentioned last time? I wanted to try my hand at scriptwriting, and I've been writing in my spare time. But I feel like the story I'm crafting is awful, and I keep scrapping it."

Curious, Martin inquired, "Have you come up with a suitable story?"

Mia carefully produced a manuscript from her bag and handed it to Martin. "I couldn't come up with a fantasy story, so I adapted a script based on my experiences with Sebastian. I've completed the beginning. Could you take a look and give me your thoughts?"

Martin accepted the handwritten manuscript, offering a friendly tip, "Next time, keep the original manuscript and provide only a copy. If someone takes your manuscript, you'll have no recourse."

Mia, not even an established screenwriter, found herself unprepared for such an encounter. She nodded quickly and replied, "I remember."

Martin perused the script swiftly, discovering that the heroine bore a striking resemblance to Mia herself. In fact, she seemed akin to countless struggling actresses in the depths of Hollywood.

As for the male protagonist, the Sebastian character Martin glimpsed was merely a pianist who performed at the Smoke House. Little was known about the rest of his character.

The heroine, an actress and playwright scraping by in the lower echelons of Hollywood, toiled as a part-time waitress at Warner Studios. Auditions frequently led to time off from her waitressing job, yet substantial roles remained elusive. She eked out a living through her part-time work.

Conversely, the male protagonist was a staunchly traditional pianist rooted in jazz music, performing at a restaurant.

Their paths crossed due to a traffic jam, and their shared status as Hollywood strugglers forged a connection. Together, they offered mutual encouragement in their pursuits.

The manuscript's final scene struck a chord of familiarity with Martin. The hero and heroine visited the Griffith Observatory at night, sealing their relationship.

However, the narrative ended abruptly thereafter, leaving the script noticeably unfinished. Even an industry outsider like Martin could spot issues with scene design and transitions in the completed sections.

Being a novice, Mia's challenges were to be expected.

Martin inquired, "Is it incomplete?"

Mia replied candidly, "I was writing steadily, but then my confidence waned. Sebastian and I also had differing ideas about the script."

She elaborated, "Sebastian read the script and felt that it would be better to infuse elements of jazz and other music into a musical format. However, musicals have faded in popularity, and I believe romantic comedies are a more suitable fit."

Martin nodded thoughtfully, "The story has potential."

The narrative Mia wove about her experiences resonated with Martin, who also glimpsed shades of a film that had left a lasting impression on him – "La La Land," starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling.

Martin held vivid memories of that film. It had been relatively recent, and the notorious mix-up at the Oscars, where "La La Land" was erroneously declared the Best Picture winner instead of a film associated with Black Lives Matter and a gay theme, remained etched in his mind.

"Is there something in it?" Martin pondered aloud, realizing he couldn't recall the titles of the Black Lives Matter films but retained a vivid recollection of "La La Land."

Witnessing Martin's contemplation, Mia asked, "Is it not worth it?"

After a moment's reflection, Martin responded, "The script you've penned is rather raw and requires extensive revisions."

Mia's head drooped momentarily as she contemplated abandoning Los Angeles and returning home.

Martin continued, "However, Mia, I want you to finish writing the entire script."

Mia lifted her head, her eyes gleaming with renewed determination as she pledged, "I'll see it through."

Martin turned his gaze toward the café counter and conveyed his next step, saying, "Mia, I need you to focus solely on your writing. Quit your part-time jobs and head over to my film and television studio to meet Jessica. You've met her before."

Mia nodded, confirming, "I know her."

He went on, "She'll provide you with a full-time creative position, allowing you to write scripts without distractions." Martin added, "Furthermore, there will be a buyout for the script's copyright. As a newcomer, your fee won't be substantial. However, I'll offer you an above-average salary based on the Writers Guild's rates for script buyouts."

Under the new agreement inked by the Writers Guild last year, the maximum script buyout for a novice screenwriter was set at $30,000.

Mia responded promptly, her determination renewed.