Chapter 387: Taking Initiative

In the morning, Martin left Louise's house, heading to Century City. Thomas had just returned from Atlanta with fresh crew updates.

Originally, they had planned to enjoy the weekend together, but Louise's parents had some urgent matters, so Martin left.

Sherman Oaks was conveniently close to Beverly, a quick drive away. While passing Rodeo Drive, he noticed a new designer store adorned entirely with glass, featuring a bitten apple logo above the door.

Suddenly, Martin remembered that Apple was launching a new mobile phone at the end of June. He parked his car, entered the store, inquired, and bought 20 of the new mobile phones, intending to distribute them.

Martin had been steadily increasing his holdings in Apple's individual shares over the past few years. As a long-term shareholder, he profited consistently despite fluctuations in Apple's stock price.

The era of smartphones was rapidly approaching.

Upon arriving at Century City, Martin parked his car, took out two iPhones, entered WMA, and proceeded upstairs to find Thomas.

As usual, agents he encountered greeted him with smiles, emphasizing the pleasant atmosphere.

Martin ascended to the upper floor, placed one of the mobile phones on Natasha's desk, and said, "This is for you."

Natasha looked pleasantly surprised, accepted the gift, and replied, "Thank you, Martin. What a wonderful gift!"

"You're welcome," Martin replied before entering Thomas' office.

Thomas, seeing Martin, remarked, "Perfect timing. I have a question about Christian Bale, so there's no need to call you."

Martin handed another mobile phone to Thomas and said, "This is the newly released Apple phone."

"Thank you," Thomas acknowledged, then shifted the conversation to business. "I've reached an agreement regarding Bell."

Sitting on the office sofa, Martin inquired, "What's the situation?"

"Christopher Nolan and Charles Rowan both applied pressure on Christian Bale," Thomas explained. "After several discussions with Christian Bale's agent, Parker, they finally agreed to provide $1 million as a gesture of goodwill."

Martin promptly stated, "When the money comes through, you'll receive 10%."

Thomas smiled, expressing his agreement, and added, "No problem."

Over the past two years, his additional earnings amounted to over $100,000.

Thomas continued, "Because of Heebie's impending divorce, Christian Bale has been sent back to the UK for recovery. His condition is somewhat more stable, but he reacts strongly when he hears your name and the clown's. If he were to..."

He paused, shrugging.

Martin understood the implications; Christian Bale couldn't handle any triggers. He inquired, "What about publicity and marketing?"

Thomas explained, "I had a private discussion with Director Nolan. He believes it's not appropriate for you to appear alongside Christian Bale at the moment. We'll wait until next year during the intensive publicity period to arrange a suitable time and place for you to meet."

Martin understood that Nolan would seize any opportunity to use Christian Bale for publicity and hype. It was no different for him, given the immense $180 million investment at stake.

In a hushed tone, Thomas added, "Nolan also requested that I convey he intends to personally discuss other matters with you."

Martin grasped the plan and nodded, saying, "We shouldn't abandon the preparations we've made."

"I understand," Thomas acknowledged before delving into a discussion about a potential Cartier watch endorsement. As a top-tier luxury brand, many Hollywood stars expressed interest in endorsements. Thomas had already forwarded Martin's information to the relevant Cartier personnel and was in negotiations on that front.

It all hinges on Cartier's decision.

Thomas added, "The Reader" has a confirmed release date, starting in November. Initially, it will be screened in just one theater during the first two weeks."

Martin replied, "I spoke with Kate over the phone, and we're positioning the film as an award-winning one."

The conversation between the two then revolved around the promotion and distribution of "The Reader."

The film's goal was crystal clear: it aimed to target the awards season, with even the commercial success of the movie greatly influenced by awards garnered during this period.

"The Reader" would be available on demand in November of the current year, and, for the initial two weeks, it would be exclusively released in a single Los Angeles theater. Restricting the initial audience size allows better control of the film's reputation.

During the awards season, the primary focus for "The Reader" was on winning accolades, particularly Best Actress, followed by Best Actor. Martin aspired to secure another Oscar nomination, whether to enhance his status or win the ultimate award.

Not long after leaving WMA, Martin bid farewell and returned home.

During the weekend, without studio obligations, he brought out a wicker chair, made some tea, and sat beneath a patio umbrella by the pool. He pulled out the character script for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and studied it meticulously. From time to time, he recalled movies he'd seen to reaffirm his understanding.

Next week, he had a makeup audition for the crew. Technically, the complexity of the role of Benjamin Button lay in makeup and special effects. Character complexity alone didn't surpass that of the male lead in "The Reader."

After thoroughly reviewing the character script and checking the time, it was nearly noon, and Bruce had not returned yet. It seemed like he had a tough night.

Martin pondered, realizing that not only was Bruce the lead actor, director, and cameraman, but he also played the roles of screenwriter, lighting technician, costume designer, producer, and equipment technician. Perhaps he was just overwhelmed.

Moreover, he shouldered the responsibilities of publicity production and overseeing the film. Martin suddenly realized that the most versatile person in Hollywood was right beside him.

"I can't do without Bruce," Martin mused, sipping his tea. "Just like the West can't do without Jerusalem."

After delving into the script, Martin picked up the original novel to continue reading. The more he prepared, the smoother the process would be later on.

As it neared noon, Martin contemplated where to have lunch when the garage door automatically opened, and Bruce pulled in with a car.

He waved at Martin, saying, "I brought you lunch."

Martin set aside the novel, went to the garage, and received the pizza and barbecue Bruce had brought. He sniffed and remarked, "It smells delicious."

Bruce, looking a bit fatigued, got out of the car and yawned. "All your favorite flavors."

Martin carried the lunch to the poolside, returned to wash his hands, and brought utensils and beer. Bruce had already packed up his books and shifted a chair to sit across from Martin.

He grabbed a slice of pizza and said, "I'm famished."

Martin handed him a can of beer, asking, "Were you overworking?"

Bruce, while chewing, replied, "I nearly died of exhaustion. No wonder Jenna said that the most challenging aspect of filming Sacred Valley is being an actor."

Martin suggested, "Now that you've experienced it, you might consider pursuing a career in the San Francisco Valley."

Bruce opened the beer can, took a long swig, and said, "We have to act and shoot scenes. You need to be ready at any time and in any place; it's much tougher than you think. It's not enjoyable at all; it's torture. I suspect some of those actors must be taking some kind of medicine."

Martin nodded and pointed to the adjacent house, "Next time you meet Jenna, you should ask her about it. She's both an exceptional actress and director."

Bruce clinked glasses with Martin, saying, "No, I'll never do this again. This was my first and last time. Once."

Martin chuckled, "I hope so, but I don't think you can escape Kim..."

The two enjoyed their lunch and finished all the beer. Bruce collected the trash and disposed of it.

Martin contemplated the newly acquired mobile phone. "You've got the latest Apple smartphone in your car. You need to distribute it to a few people. Feel free to take one for yourself."

Bruce walked over, opened the car door, and retrieved one. He unwrapped it, examining the large screen. "It looks impressive."

Martin picked up the one intended for his own use and inspected it. "According to Steve Jobs, it's a revolutionary product, a game-changer in the world of mobile phones."

He recalled the hype surrounding this device. "It might even be a heavyweight among smartphones."

Then it struck him that this conversation was inadvertently turning into a commercial for a certain mobile phone brand from across the Pacific.

Bruce had kept an eye on the relevant news and advertisements. "These smartphones provide seamless internet access. I read in the promotional articles that they'll also offer network storage services, allowing users to store personal files on Apple's network hard drive."

These words jogged Martin's memory of the Hollywood iCloud scandal and the content he had recorded just yesterday. He offered a specific warning: "Be cautious about what you store. Avoid putting sensitive data in there. Hackers could easily steal them. Those low-tier hackers would use them to extort money from you and expose your private information."

Bruce responded, "I certainly won't be storing any risqué photos." Then, a recollection struck him. "What about the video I recorded for Kim last night? Can that be stolen from inside?"

Martin replied, "This service hasn't been launched yet, and you're already thinking about leaking the video? Bob, I have to say, you seem to have exhibitionist tendencies and some psychological issues!"

Bruce retorted, "You're the one with issues. Haven't you seen the media reports? Martin Davis's portrayal of the Joker caused psychological and emotional distress; you're on the verge of becoming a psychiatric case."

Martin shrugged, admitting, "Alright, maybe I am."

Bruce moved away from the playful banter and sought advice. "You've always been adept at handling the media and public opinion. How can we fully utilize the video I shot last night to maximize its impact? We can't let Kim overshadow Paris."

"Do you know why we just discussed hackers and videos?" Martin responded without directly answering Bruce's question. "I was giving you a hint."

Bruce thought carefully about Martin's earlier comments and inquired, "Are you implying that the video was deliberately stolen by hackers?"

Martin explained, "I highly doubt hackers would go out of their way to steal your videos." Bruce scratched his head. "So, what's the plan? I brought it to you for lunch; inspire me."

Martin set aside the light-hearted tone and became more earnest. "Building on our previous discussion, let's say the video of you and Kim was stolen by a hacker. This hacker contacts Kim and demands a ransom. What do we do?"

Bruce responded, "Kim's initial intent was to expose the video."

Martin expressed concern, "That's too passive. In fact, there's a way to not only counter the blackmailer but also take control of the situation."

Bruce urged him to share the strategy. "Don't keep me in suspense, spill the beans."

Martin continued, "Before the blackmailer can act, proactively expose the stolen images or videos. Of course, don't publish them directly. Instead, contact the police and issue a press release to inform the public. Let everyone know what's happened to you, how vulnerable you are, and you have to expose yourself…"

Bruce's realization came quickly, and he thought about the potential outcome. "Not only will the public not criticize, they might even sympathize with Kim. If Kim holds a tearful press conference, the majority of the media and public opinion will likely side with her."

Martin inquired, "Is Kim okay with the video being exposed?"