Chapter 302: Sugar Momma

After removing his makeup, Martin emerged and found Kate and Leonardo waiting for him. He grinned and inquired, "Any good news?"

Kate stepped forward and embraced him, then declared, "Congratulations, you're my new co-star."

Leonardo and Martin exchanged fist bumps. "You guys always shine when playing such characters," Leonardo remarked.

Martin retorted, "Because I have a friend like you as a reference. There's no need to live life, just act it out."

Kate playfully chided them, "This isn't the place to chat about each other. You two have an uncanny bond. It's almost indecent."

Leonardo fondly responded, "For all these years, you're the only one I've loved."

Kate, addressing her best friend, was as feisty as when they were filming on the ship. "Leo, don't start this again. Do you have any shame? Look at you; you're as empty as a balloon."

Leonardo defended himself, "Don't talk about me. You're no better."

Martin, observing the banter between them, commented, "You know, a line from Titanic is quite fitting for you."

Leonardo recognized that Martin wasn't about to offer a compliment and decided not to inquire.

Curious, Kate asked, "Which line?"

"You jump, I jump," Martin gestured and joked, "Now you've gained a little weight, so I should too."

Kate raised an eyebrow, "For women, it's often better to be a bit plumper." Martin agreed with a nod, "Makes sense."

Leonardo chimed in, "Kate, I'd advise you to be cautious of this guy. Every time he joins a cast, he ends up falling in love with the leading lady."

Martin defended himself, "Quit slandering me. Did I ever do that with the cast of 'The Hills Have Eyes' or 'The Departed'?"

Kate's curiosity was piqued, "So, are the rumors about you and Jolie and Aniston true?"

Martin neither confirmed nor denied.

Leonardo added, "He once invited Jolie and Aniston, mortal enemies, to the same party."

Changing the subject, Martin inquired, "Did you also invest in 'The Reader'?"

"Helping Kate," Leonardo replied with partial truth. "And I heard this rascal is planning to play the male lead. As part of the trio, I need to have my say."

Martin didn't buy his lies and gave him a middle finger. Then he asked Kate, "When is filming going to start, and are you heading to Germany?"

Kate provided details, "Filming starts next month and, if all goes well, wraps up in August. While some scenes will be shot in Germany, the majority will take place at Pinewood Studios in Hampshire."

Martin was aware that Pinewood Studios was the largest filming base in the UK and where studio scenes for the Harry Potter and Bond series were shot.

Leonardo added, "By the way, I heard old Jack mention that his old flame is also heading to Pinewood Studios to film this summer. It should be a lively set."

Martin suggested, "I'm a bit bored in London lately. How about you and the old man come over and visit the crew? We can set up a little mischief in London."

Kate was informed, "You're talking about Meryl Streep and 'Mamma Mia'?"

Leonardo confirmed with a nod.

Martin pondered and said, "Fireworks might not pack enough punch. Is there anywhere in London to get some pyrotechnic bombs?" If not, a couple of fireworks should suffice. We don't need to get too close."

Leonardo, intrigued, asked, "You've got an interesting idea. Don't worry; I'll be sure to bring Nicholson to London for a visit." The three of them engaged in lively and harmonious conversation.

In another office, the atmosphere was tense as Thomas negotiated with the film crew. Two full days had passed, and they had only reached an agreement on basic remuneration and profit-sharing.

In Hollywood, male actors typically earned more than their female counterparts. Martin wasn't on the same level as Kate Winslet, but their basic salaries were equal, both at $4 million.

When it came to literary films, stars naturally received lower compensation compared to commercial films. This was due to the lower financial risks associated with such projects and the fact that most of the stars' earnings were allocated to later profit-sharing, which served as an incentive for the creative team to deliver top-notch performances.

The same principle applied to Martin.

Profit-sharing mainly revolved around North American box office revenue and DVD sales. For North American box office revenue exceeding $30 million, the additional 2% went to Martin's share, and a tiered profit-sharing system was common. When the share exceeded $10 million, it increased to 2.5%, and so on, with a maximum cap at 4%.

As for DVD sales, apart from union-standard rates, there was also a 1.5% net profit share for offline sales. This type of long-term net profit sharing had no time limit and could be inherited by a designated heir after the beneficiary's passing.

The focus of a film's revenue wasn't just the box office; it extended to the offline post-production period. Winning major awards at the Oscars greatly impacted DVD rentals and television rights.

Thomas also negotiated a nudity clause with the film crew, similar to what was in place for Kate Winslet. Key frontal nudity scenes were off-limits.

Once the film was completed, for it to receive a wide release in North America, it should be rated at least R. If it pushes the boundaries further, it might end up with an NC-17 rating.

After Thomas successfully negotiated all the terms, Martin signed the actor's contract and posed for a makeup photo with Kate.

"The Reader" crew officially announced that the male and female lead roles would be portrayed by Martin and Kate Winslet, unveiling a promotional poster.

On the poster, Martin and Kate each held one side, emphasizing their equal importance.

The news quickly spread, and even Los Angeles critics, known for their critical judgments and relationship building, praised Martin's casting choice.

Kenneth Turan, a prominent critic from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, lauded Martin's decision in a column for the Los Angeles Times.

"After solving life's basic problems with commercial films, Martin Davis now reveals his artistic aspirations and ambition to explore his acting talent. In the future, Hollywood will undoubtedly witness the birth of a true artist." Several other well-known critics also mentioned this in their columns.

Critics have a considerable impact on awards competitions and the Oscars.

Before departing Los Angeles for London, Martin visited Louise's mansion.

Surprisingly, not only Louise was present, but Kelly had also come from Atlanta.

Martin was taken aback, asking, "What brings you here all of a sudden?"

Kelly took a sip of the drink Louise had prepared, then explained, "I heard this gossip monger said something about you, so I came over."

Martin headed to the bar, grabbed a glass of wine from Louise, sat on a high stool, and inquired, "What's going on?"

Louise raised her glass and signaled to the two of them before taking a sip. She said, "Over the past couple of years, Kelly and I have made a considerable amount through your projects. I won't disclose the exact figures." Martin playfully guessed, "Must be in the tens of billions."

Kelly burst into laughter, pointing at Louise, and exclaimed, "She might have that, but I'm not so sure."

Louise playfully pinched Kelly's cheek, saying, "Let's talk business, not beauty salon gossip."

She continued, "You've been quite concerned about both of us. Kelly and I aren't heartless. Don't you want a shot at the next Oscar? Kelly has proposed that she and I jointly fund and hire a public relations team to assist with your publicity and public relations."

Naturally, Martin accepted, saying, "Have you finally found your conscience and decided to support me as my sugar momma?"

Kelly teased, "It's only a million dollars."

But Martin had his own thoughts, asking, "Can I keep the accounts and use them at critical moments in the future?"

Over the past year, although their relationship had grown somewhat distant, Louise remembered their time with Alexander the Great and the returns from investments in projects featuring Martin.

She assured, "For this time and the future, when you're truly gunning for the prize, Kelly and I will stand by you." Kelly added, "We'll get you a top-notch public relations team."

This soft financial support was too tempting for Martin to decline. He replied, "When I win that Oscar, I'll split it into three pieces, and we'll each take a piece."

Louise reminded him, "Don't forget, your character is the foundation. While there have been cases like 'Shakespeare in Love', you don't want to be dragged out and flogged by the media like Gwyneth." Martin agreed, "Of course not. Although black and red both look good..."

Louise assured him, "I'll find a suitable public relations team, and when you and Kate finish filming in London and return, we'll arrange a meeting."

Martin put the jesting aside and agreed, "We've got it planned, and I'll follow your lead."

Kelly couldn't stop fussing and said, "We can discuss all this later."

She moved closer to Martin, and whether it was the alcohol or her intentions, she lost her balance and fell to her knees on the floor. Supporting herself with one hand, she looked up at Martin with eager eyes and said, "Let's discuss how to thank us." Martin knew that another business deal worth hundreds of millions was about to begin.

He had been keeping up with his workouts and daily supplements, so he was in no trouble.

Kelly proposed, "I don't want a broken Oscar statuette; I want a complete Mr. Oscar replica. How about this? Create an Oscar trophy based on your likeness, get someone to carve it, and give it to me..."

Without hesitation, Martin agreed, "Absolutely!"

He decided to call Atlanta and have Lily carve a few replicas quickly.

Kelly chuckled, "I'll reward you for that."

Louise came over from around the bar.

Martin had rich experience in handling group dynamics. Regardless of his opponent's strength, his strategy was to focus on one adversary at a time, dealing with them before tackling the next. Moreover, in group confrontations, more opponents often led to discord among them, potentially working to his advantage.

His expertise in handling these situations included a combination of practical knowledge and real-life experience conveyed by veteran actors from his past life.

In the following days, Martin took care of Los Angeles affairs, boarded the crew's chartered flight, and headed to London, specifically Pinewood Studios, to participate in the filming of his new project.