Chapter 346: Acting Is Hard

In sunny Los Angeles, Barry Meyer, the CEO of Warner Bros, arrived at his office punctually. His secretary had prepared a fresh cup of coffee on his desk. The temperature inside was just perfect, and all the necessary documents were neatly arranged where he could easily access them.

Barry Meyer took a sip of his coffee and began reviewing the documents. One of them captured his attention, and he spent a significant amount of time studying it.

Last weekend, Warner Bros.' latest film, "Limitless," had a remarkable run at the box office. In North America alone, the film's earnings in the first week surpassed its production costs.

This success extended to other countries like the United Kingdom, France, Mexico, and Australia, with the international box office reaching $27.56 million within the first week. In just three days, the global box office exceeded $60 million.

One name was becoming synonymous with box office success – Martin Davis.

Barry Meyer powered up his computer to verify some data. With the exception of "The Sisterhood of Traveling Pants," all of Martin's movies since "The Hills Have Eyes" had grossed over $100 million in North America. This was a remarkable achievement and, of course, Warner Bros. reaped the most benefits.

In the film industry, celebrities were invaluable tools for profit. Naturally, those who brought in the most revenue deserved the spotlight.

Barry Meyer wasted no time and dialed Ali Emmanuel from WMA. "Ali, it's me. When are you available? Let's meet at the country club for a round of golf," Barry suggested.

Ali inquired, "Is there good news that brought this on?"

Barry Meyer responded, "I'd like to discuss strengthening the collaboration between our two companies."

Ali understood that Martin was the catalyst for this meeting and suggested, "Call Allen. I'll contact Thomas, and the four of us can have a discussion."

Barry remembered that Thomas was Martin's agent and agreed, "Sounds good."

Much like Will Smith's agent, Thomas had a seat at the table when it came to these negotiations.

While heading to see Alan Horn at the studio, Barry Meyer's thoughts drifted to Will Smith. Smith had maintained a string of successful movies since 1996, becoming a dominant figure in Hollywood, especially in terms of commercial appeal.

Recently, Will Smith had even surpassed the likes of Tom Cruise and Leonardo DiCaprio in terms of popularity.

Martin Davis appeared to be following a similar trajectory, with the potential to achieve even more in the future. If he continued to succeed in his upcoming movies, his commercial appeal...

Barry Meyer couldn't help but think that Martin might eventually surpass Will Smith's level of commercial success, even though the latter was a well-established African American actor.

When Barry met with Alan Horn, he was informed about a new Terminator movie project that Alan intended to promote. With Alan's influential position as the CEO of the film company, he could make this happen.

Barry simply responded, "Do you have a plan?"

Alan Horn nodded, "After the success of the third installment a few years ago, we invested in acquiring the series' copyright. The third movie was profitable, and it's time to greenlight the fourth."

Barry Meyer didn't express much opinion. Warner Bros. had a rigorous internal review process, and any project needed a green light to proceed.

...

As the week progressed, heavy snowfall in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada subsided. The weather improved, with the sun emerging from behind the dark clouds, bringing warmth back to the region.

Martin and the rest of the cast and crew left New York to continue the promotional tour for their film. They headed to Washington for the next leg of their journey.

After appearing on a TV program, Martin left the station and joined Kelly Gray, who had been in Washington for a week. They were about to attend an event at a club.

As Martin got into Kelly's car, she explained, "This is a high-profile political gathering attended by many liberal cultural and sports icons."

Martin, recalling his activism in Atlanta, smiled and said, "I guess I can be considered someone who's contributed to freedom and democracy."

They arrived at a luxurious club located in the suburbs. Martin followed Kelly inside, where they waited to meet with members of the Atlanta Liberty Club, including President Julia and Councilor Erica, who had pink water bottles symbolizing their passion for freedom.

This time, Martin was no longer silenced in their presence. Julia and Erica greeted him warmly, and they engaged in a conversation.

The group then entered the banquet hall together. Martin scanned the room and spotted Senator Raphael Warnock, accompanied by his wife, mingling with the guests. Additionally, Hollywood's prominent left-wing figures, Meryl Streep and George Clooney, were present – both known for their political activism.

They approached the senator and exchanged pleasantries. Raphael Warnock had a casual conversation with Martin and even joked about the "smart medicine" Martin was working on.

Martin replied, "It's currently in development, and I'm waiting for Congress to allocate funds. Congressman, your support would be crucial."

Raphael Warnock assured, "No problem." He then praised Martin for his film "Limitless" and the dreams it invoked. Martin humorously added, "If Congressman's endorsement were publicized, it might boost the film's box office by $20 million."

After some light conversation, Raphael Warnock shifted the topic to Martin's work in Atlanta, expressing his admiration for Martin's efforts to promote freedom and democracy.

As the evening continued, Martin left to meet other notable personalities, guided by Kelly Gray.

Kelly delivered the news with simplicity, "Next month, Raphael Warnock will formally declare his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election next year."

Martin glanced in that direction and whispered, "The potential black president."

Kelly responded thoughtfully, "That might be seen as a disadvantage, but if he manages it well, it could become a unique advantage."

After a donation, Martin encountered May Lil, who didn't seem surprised by his presence. She remarked, "I didn't expect that our political views align."

Martin, without hesitation, admitted, "I've watched many of your powerful speeches on political and social issues."

Meryl chimed in, "Lagging behind Julie and Aniston."

Martin complimented, "They are indeed remarkable independent women."

Meryl jokingly remarked, "Leading the charge for freedom and justice, haha."

Martin chuckled in agreement. Although the MeToo movement had begun, the social landscape and its driving forces were different. Beyond some minor advancements, substantial change had yet to occur.

The future remained uncertain, and Meryl's voice lowered as she said, "Many female professionals in Hollywood owe a debt to Julie and Aniston. Their actions may improve the conditions they face for some time."

Martin added, "It's not easy for male actors either."

Meryl looked at Kelly Gray, then thought of Louise Meyer, and said, "You're luckier than most, and the person willing to support you is a woman, at the very least."

From this perspective, Martin indeed considered himself fortunate.

He had never needed the business card of the proctologist given to him by his landlord, Antonio. In contrast, many of Antonio's male actor tenants had used it with little success.

As Kelly Gray approached, Martin suggested, "When we return to Los Angeles, let's go out with Jack Nicholson for a game."

Meryl quickly agreed, then asked, "What are the three of you planning? Can't I join in?"

Martin's tone was hushed, "Not suitable for ladies."

Before Kelly Gray reached them, Meryl headed in a different direction.

Martin continued to socialize with Kelly, realizing that networking was essential in political circles.

The crew spent two days in Washington, D.C., before moving on to Chicago for a series of promotional events. Their goal was to draw more viewers into the theaters and maintain the film's momentum.

Martin's journey mirrored that of his character in the movie, from an underdog to a success story.

Jennifer Aniston took the time to share details about Brad Pitt's past, including her experiences with Angelina Jolie and their eventual reconciliation.

Even Robert De Niro revealed aspects of his decades-long relationship with Al Pacino.

The crew had prepared behind-the-scenes content to share in every city they visited, building excitement and intrigue among the audience.

For example, the crew revealed they had initially considered Kate Winslet and Julia Roberts for the lead female role before choosing Jennifer Aniston.

Throughout the promotion, they concocted interesting tidbits to keep the buzz alive.

Despite the typical off-season for movies, "Limitless" maintained a steady box office performance.

As the weather improved in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada, pent-up enthusiasm among viewers was unleashed.

In the second weekend, "Limitless" faced competition from new releases, but its box office only dipped about 30%, bringing in $26.82 million.

After ten days, the North American box office total stood at $81.05 million, closing in on the $100 million milestone.

The film expanded to Latin American markets like Brazil and Argentina, as well as East and Southeast Asia, accumulating a total overseas box office of $51.14 million.

Meanwhile, another Martin movie, "The Departed," was in its final stages of screening in North America, surpassing $300 million in global box office revenue.

While the typical strategy was to withdraw it from theaters and release it on DVD and video, the crew decided to keep it in theaters, even giving up 80% of future box office revenue to compete for Oscars.

"The Departed" would not be released on DVD or video until after the Oscars, hoping that a major award win would boost sales significantly.

In this era, Oscars played a significant role in boosting the market, and in several years, even the ratings of the awards ceremony itself would be a concern.

With multiple Hollywood Guild Awards in hand, Martin Scorsese and his film became top contenders for that year's Oscars.

"Babel," which won the Golden Globe for Best Feature Film and Best Director, wasn't expected to cause an upset.

In early February, the 2007 Oscar nominee luncheon was held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, marking an important step in the run-up to the Oscars.