Chapter 279: Money Coming In

At the Location of Burbank, Warner Bros. headquarters building.

Thomas had just entered the front hall and was on his way to the elevator.

An approaching man greeted him: "Hi, Thomas."

Thomas paused and responded, "Dario, long time no see."

The two were old college friends, but the middle-aged man named Dario seemed to notice a change in Thomas, saying, "It's been over a year since we last met. You've changed quite a bit, haven't you?"

Thomas was taken aback, asking, "Have I?"

Dario gestured to his own head, saying, "Why is your forehead bald?"

Thomas instinctively touched his forehead and realized that his hairline had receded.

Just then, a colleague called to Dario from the entrance. Dario hurriedly said, "I have to go now. Let's grab a drink when I have some free time."

Thomas nodded, continued to the elevator, and headed upstairs.

He glanced at the elevator mirror upon exiting, confirming his receding hairline and slightly bald forehead. Nevertheless, he carried himself confidently as he proceeded to Daniel's office.

With his current income and industry standing, Thomas wasn't concerned about his appearance, and finding a girlfriend wouldn't be a challenge. It was just not a priority for him.

He knocked on Daniel's office door, and the Warner Bros. executive welcomed him with a handshake, exchanged pleasantries, and inquired, "Weren't you going to New York with Martin?"

Thomas replied in jest, "I wanted to, but I'm saving money for Martin's expenses."

Daniel immediately recognized Thomas's intention to discuss financial matters and explained, "The box office revenue for 'Wanted' hasn't been settled yet, so it might take a bit of time."

Thomas clarified, "I'm not talking about 'Wanted'; I'm referring to 'The House of Wax,' 'The Hills Have Eyes,' and 'Sisterhood of Traveling Pants.'"

These projects adhered to the Screen Actors Guild's basic agreement, which covered various aspects like DVDs, video releases, and television broadcasts. Warner Bros. had signed an agreement with the guild due to its affiliation with the Producers Alliance.

Thomas inquired about when Warner Bros. would make the payment for Martin's share, as the union closely monitored this. Since Warner Bros. had a history of delaying payments, Thomas wanted to ensure this part of the compensation was handled promptly.

Daniel promptly placed a call and assured Thomas, "The payment will arrive before the weekend."

Satisfied, Thomas thanked Daniel and departed. Actors' offline earnings also fell under the purview of brokerage commissions. Thanks to Martin's efforts, the three films had maintained significant popularity, translating into respectable earnings from various sources, even though their share was a small fraction of the revenue.

In New York, where snow blanketed the streets and a chilling wind cut through the air, the crew of "Limitless" had to adjust their shooting plan due to the weather. They temporarily canceled street shooting and moved to a studio for the day's filming.

One scene took place in a café, featuring the protagonists sipping coffee.

Martin, appearing disheveled with worn clothes and unruly long hair, sat across from Aniston, who wore a beige business suit, exuding intelligence and sophistication. The scene depicted the challenging communication between a struggling yet-to-be-famous writer and a fashionable working woman.

Director Danny Boyle called for a halt, expressing concerns that Aniston's performance appeared too much like her iconic character, Rachel from "Friends." Aniston understood the issue and vowed to tackle it.

As Boyle resumed directing, Martin, now unrecognizable, had fully immersed himself in his character. Despite his renowned roles in "Wanted" and "The Hills Have Eyes," he had transformed into a convincing down-and-out character.

Aniston marveled at his ability to embody characters so convincingly and asked how he could appear entirely different in every role.

Martin attributed this ability to his life experiences, revealing, "Before last year, I was struggling, so I didn't have to act to be a down-and-out character."

Aniston, who had always been an actress and had never undertaken other roles, appreciated his perspective. Martin suggested that she stop obsessing over escaping Rachel and focus on her current character, as constantly worrying about shedding her previous roles might hinder her progress.

She recognized the wisdom in his advice, as dwelling on Rachel would likely prevent others from seeing her in a new light.

Filming resumed, but the interruptions continued.

Most of the issues seemed to revolve around Aniston, while Martin effortlessly handled his role as the needy Eddie.

After the clock struck three in the afternoon, the crew took a short break for rest and adjustments.

Aniston's chair was conveniently placed next to Martin's. As she sat down and accepted a sippy cup from her assistant, she turned to Martin and voiced her frustration, "I've spent over a decade in this industry, and it's frustrating to feel overshadowed by you, who's been here for only three years."

With one hand on his talent and the other on his unique experiences, Martin sported a confident grin and stated, "That's called talent."

Speechless but also recognizing Martin's extraordinary talent, Aniston remarked, "With looks, figure, and talent like yours, you were born to excel in this field."

As Martin leaned closer and whispered, "Are you referring to yourself as the meal?"

In her thirties and brimming with confidence, Aniston playfully responded, "I'll have you eating to your heart's content tonight."

At that moment, Bruce approached and shared, "Thomas called regarding the earnings division for 'House Of Wax,' 'The Hills Has Eyes,' and 'Sisterhood Of Traveling Pants.' After going through the Screen Actors Guild, it's now with the agency and will be transferred soon."

Martin nodded and turned to Aniston with a smile, inviting, "Let's spend the weekend together."

Aniston inquired, "Do you have the funds for that?"

Martin admitted, "I don't have the money or the confidence."

Aniston, like a close sister, speculated, "Your offline income share is part of the Screen Actors Guild's basic agreement, right? Just hold on to it. I'm content with staying in over the weekend."

Martin understood her intent, responding, "I'll be there with you." He was curious, "Does 'Friends' have yearly offline profit sharing?"

Aniston clarified her contract, saying, "I have a public supplemental agreement with the producer. I get 2% of 'Friends' omni-channel revenue annually. It's been relatively stable in recent years, averaging less than $30 million."

Compared to Martin's forthcoming $470,000, it seemed modest.

Aniston playfully prodded, "What's on your mind?"

Martin sighed, acknowledging, "I still have a long journey ahead."

His strong determination caught Aniston by surprise. But before she could respond, Martin added, "I need to accumulate enough blockbuster films. I don't just want the base salary; I aim for both online and offline revenue shares. When I can consistently earn $30 million annually in dollars, that's when I'll retire and live carefree."

Considering her own relationship with Martin, Aniston suggested with meaning, "Then be cautious about marriage. And when you do, ensure a comprehensive prenuptial agreement."

This was a prelude to her reminder, both for Martin and herself. She explained, "Do you know why Scorsese continues to make frequent films today? He's been divorced four times."

Despite Martin's eagerness, he knew that getting married wasn't the answer. Aniston assured him, "I prefer the life of Leonardo." She was alluding to her romantic past, but for now, it was more about their career and their playful moments.

After the break, Martin and Aniston returned to the set.

The weekend saw the snow cease, but the weather remained unusually cold. Martin and Aniston chose to stay in the hotel, dedicating their time to studying an important academic topic together, finding great happiness in each other's company.

In New York, the new week began with two more film crews settling into Brooklyn Studios. One belonged to Warner Bros., working on "I Am Legend," while the other featured many famous celebrities.

During a filming break, Martin encountered people from both crews. The actors from the former crew had yet to arrive, but the latter crew swiftly commenced their work.

Bruce joined Martin outside the studio and shared, "I found out the new crew is working on a Bob Dylan biopic called 'I'm Not There.'"

Martin spotted a familiar face from a distance and hastened towards the parking lot. After careful observation, he remarked, "That looks like Heath Ledger."

Bruce confirmed, "It is Heath Ledger. I watched 'Brokeback Mountain' recently, and I recognized him."

Prompted by Martin, he continued, "Are the Kardashian sisters no longer in the limelight?"

Bruce jokingly responded, "I'm male, and I prefer girls."

Martin teased, "I understand; I like ladies with curvy figures."

Beyond the building's obstruction, Heath Ledger disappeared into the parking lot.

Martin turned his attention to Christian Bale and Cate Blanchett, who were chatting at the neighboring studio's entrance. He pondered, "What's 'I'm Not There' about?"

Anne Stone, who had recently left the studio, overheard their conversation and explained, "It's a biopic of Bob Dylan." She revealed that she had auditioned for a cross-dressing role in the film the previous September but had lost to Cate Blanchett.

Martin, taking Aniston's perspective, remarked, "Cross-dressing? It's normal for you to lose to her." He added, "Blanchett might look unconventional, but your sweet and beautiful appearance is more suited for other roles."

Anne Stone sweetly smiled at Martin and mentioned, "The main issue was cutting my long hair; I couldn't accept that."