Chapter 124: Securing Investment

At a North Hollywood restaurant, Martin and Bruce were enjoying breakfast when they tuned in to the morning news on the TV in front of them. The news showed paparazzi footage of Paris Hilton being detained by the police for dangerous driving the previous night.

Martin nudged Bruce, saying, "I met someone last night, didn't expect this to happen so soon."

Kim, Paris' temporary spokesperson, appeared on screen defending Paris to reporters. He seemed unprepared for the media attention.

Bruce's phone suddenly rang, and after checking a text message, he said, "TV stations and newspapers want to interview Paris, but she's not up for it after being released on bail. Let's have Kim handle it."

Martin quipped, "Using Paris to gain fame, huh?"

Bruce shrugged, "It's all part of the entertainment industry game."

Martin thought for a moment and asked Bruce for a favor. "You've been studying and observing for so long. Help me out. I need to promote a movie where I'm the real star."

Bruce pondered, then suggested, "Let's stir up some controversy. How about claiming you invented a Pink Water bottle and that it's become iconic for self-defense? It's sure to grab attention."

Martin chuckled, "You've got quite the imagination."

Bruce grinned, "Only slightly better than you."

Martin considered, "But maybe kettles should be associated with women or minorities. Still, I can use the fact that I'm the inventor. People know me thanks to that kettle."

He grabbed a notepad and started jotting down ideas. Marketing folks always had bigger plans.

After breakfast, Martin headed to his agent Thomas' office. He noticed Thomas' receding hairline, a sign of hard work.

Thomas advised Martin, "You should visit Craven and Ajia regularly to prevent others from exploiting opportunities."

Martin agreed, "I'll be at Craven's studio daily."

Thomas added, "I've applied for the 'Sisterhood of travelling pants" project for you. It's a football coach role, and if you get it, I can negotiate a salary over $200,000 for a shooting cycle of about a month."

Martin's focus was elsewhere, "Let me know when the audition's scheduled, and you can handle the arrangements."

Thomas assured him, "No problem."

Martin briefly explained his recent idea with Bruce. "You're a professional, Thomas, can you make it work?"

Thomas thought of the kettle and said, "It can work, and with the right execution, it'll generate buzz. It taps into current social topics and mainstream values."

Martin didn't linger at the agency. Soon, he discussed a similar plan with Craven.

Craven considered, "As long as the main plot remains intact, we can tweak characters. Publicity sometimes matters more than film quality."

Ajia chimed in, "Hollywood is more playful than European cinema. They focus on showcasing the dark side of humanity and skip marketing."

Martin saw both sides, "Some big movies are enjoyable, though. I'm a fan of Sophie Marceau."

He confessed to skipping through her movies to a particular scene, now made easier with the internet.

Three days later, Craven's team outlined a preliminary budget for the film. Despite having a limited cast and scenes, the production cost was estimated at $10 million, but realistically, it would be closer to $16 million.

Post-production offered plenty of opportunities for promotion.

Martin called the Atlanta support team. "It's Martin. Remember our chat about investable projects? The one I mentioned earlier is confirmed."

Vincent from Atlanta replied, "Sofia and I have been waiting for your news. Let's discuss it in detail."

Martin provided some details, saying, "The horror film is in the hands of Wes Craven, a Hollywood horror legend, with Alexandre Aga, the renowned French director, as the director. I'll be leading, and Pacific Pictures, led by Hollywood producer Louise Meyer, is organizing it, with Kelly Gray Pictures also joining."

Vincent and Sophia, eager to invest again, asked directly, "What's the investment amount? Please give us a figure."

Martin replied, "I'll send you the budget later; it's $16 million."

Vincent was thrilled, "Reserve $12 million for me and Sophia. We'll head to Los Angeles as soon as possible to handle everything."

Martin responded promptly, "I've prepared the materials here. Take a look and come back if you like what you see."

With the support of his hometown team, Martin had the confidence to proceed.

He then contacted Kelly Gray.

Shortly after, representatives from Pacific Pictures and Craven Studios secured an office at Warner Studios and formally established "The Hills Have Eyes" film studio. The studio had its own financial accounting and welcomed investment.

After receiving a total of $1 million in investments from Pacific Pictures and Gray Pictures, the crew was officially established. Wes Craven served as the screenwriter and producer, Alexandre Aja as the director and executive producer, and Martin, representing Louise and Kelly, held a co-producer role alongside his leading actor position.

Martin's combined salary from these roles amounted to $600,000, provided they could secure the necessary investments.

...

At Los Angeles International Airport, Martin and Mene waited at the VIP exit.

Mene asked, "Why isn't Bruce coming, boss?"

Martin casually replied, "Bruce is a bit scared."

The reason was straightforward; both Vincent and Sophia were coming, and she was a presence that civilized people couldn't easily forget.

Soon, four figures turned the corner and walked down the corridor. Sophia led the way, displaying her muscular physique. Vincent still wore his cowboy hat, followed by Ivan with his suitcase. Unexpectedly, the person handling Sophia's luggage was Scott.

Martin greeted him, "Boss, Sophia."

Vincent embraced Martin warmly, "My friend, my brother, I knew you were something special. When you're in Los Angeles, you're just outstanding."

Martin remained humble, "I hope I won't disappoint you." He then shook hands with Sophia, whose grip was as firm as a rock. She smiled, "You've surprised me."

Martin instructed Mene to lead the way to a luxury business car. As they boarded, Scott approached and whispered, "You're doing well, kid."

Martin gestured to Scott's attire and the donkey tag, saying, "I can't match your success."

Scott walked proudly and got into the car. Martin asked, "Should we go to the hotel first?"

Sofia was eager, "Let's head to the movie studio."

Martin informed Mene, "Warner Studios."

Vincent inquired, "You're partnering with Warner Brothers?"

Martin clarified, "We've rented the studio's office space. We're currently negotiating distribution with Warner Bros. We've signed a global distribution contract, and the box office proceeds will be shared."

Sofia, knowledgeable about the film industry, noted, "Sharing the box office is excellent!"

Martin added, "We plan to shoot the entire film in Mexico. We've set up a studio in California for interior scenes and are scouting locations for exterior scenes."

Sofia smiled, "Mexico is a fantastic place for filmmaking."

She gave Martin a thumbs up, "You've thought this through."

Martin replied, "With your investment, I want to ensure the crew is well-prepared."

Arriving at Warner Studio, they quickly reached the rented office. Martin called Ajia and Craven, and the two parties were introduced.

Sofia seemed intrigued by Craven's artistic presence, while Scott's demeanor didn't sit well with Martin.

In the studio, Craven provided an update on the project. Sofia appeared genuinely interested, asking questions. Before discussing investment with the studio head, she invited Craven to dinner.

Once in the conference room, Craven talked to Martin about Sofia's demeanor, comparing her to a female hyena.

Martin asked if Craven had feelings for her, to which Craven responded, "Are you kidding? I'm normal; I wouldn't like a woman like her. Her arms are thicker than my legs. You're the pervert."

Martin advised him to avoid her for the sake of the investment.

Investment negotiations progressed smoothly, and preliminary agreements were reached before the end of the workday.