Chapter 105

Martin asked directly, "Charlize, the movie you need investment for, it won't be The Dive, right?"

Charlize quickly sensed the change in Martin's tone and hurriedly replied,

"No, it's not that one. We've already partnered with 20th Century Fox for The Dive. This is a different movie of mine."

20th Century Fox invested in The Dive?

Martin was taken aback for a moment, then figured out the reason. It was likely to secure some awards recognition.

Unfortunately, had it been twenty—no, even ten years later—this movie might've had a strong chance at winning an Oscar. But now... there was little hope.

"Oh, which movie is it then?"

Martin already had a guess but asked anyway.

It was likely The Devil Wears Prada, a film in which the South African beauty sacrificed quite a lot. After 2000, all the movies starring Charlize Theron were released. Martin, in his memory, had watched many of them in China, and he certainly appreciated her stunning looks.

The most recent ones were Return to Glory, In Dire Straits, Sweet November, Change the Day, and The Devil.

In the first two films, Charlize Theron wasn't the lead, so she wouldn't need additional investment. The middle two were commercial films that already had plenty of funding. Only The Devil seemed likely.

Sure enough—

Charlize Theron said, "I've purchased the film and television rights to Eileen Wuornos' biography, and I'm turning her story into a movie, starring myself."

At this point, Theron gave a self-deprecating laugh and added, "This is a typical award-worthy film, but no studio seems to think I'm capable. I've been rejected countless times."

"Eileen Wuornos? The highway girl who committed serial murders for her gay girlfriend?" Martin pretended not to know anything.

"Yes, that's her. Don't you think her story is legendary?" Charlize leaned toward Martin, her excitement palpable.

"Maybe, but the film is destined to flop." Martin remained indifferent, not swayed by her enthusiasm.

This beauty had already been well-known in Hollywood before becoming a star. She had rubbed shoulders with influential people at major parties and used her tragic childhood experiences to shape her image. However, everyone knew how hard she worked to climb the social ladder, often through connections with high-profile figures.

Martin appreciated her beauty but had no interest in adding her to his collection.

Compared to Charlize's complicated history, someone like Paris Hilton seemed like a blank canvas. Although it wasn't Paris's first time, Martin could tell from her unskilled movements that her experiences were limited. She may have had a boyfriend at 14, but it would be unreasonable to think she was still a virgin at 17.

Thankfully, Paris Hilton was just one of many lesser important figures in Martin's collection.

Charlize Theron, slightly disappointed and surprised, had expected a different reaction. She'd assumed this budding genius would be easily tempted, but his lack of response left her puzzled. She had secretly hoped to catch his interest.

Isn't this kid a flamingo? she thought to herself, frustrated.

(Flamingo was a term for gay men in the 1980s and 1990s, due to the bird's curved neck, implying a "bent" nature.)

At this moment, Martin changed the subject. "The movie might not be a hit, but if it wins awards, recouping the investment from the box office should be doable, and you might even make a small fortune in the video market."

"So, you're willing to invest?" Charlize's face lit up.

Martin shook his head. "It's not that simple. Let's talk after the premiere. If the movie's aiming for awards, you might need to make some sacrifices."

"Sacrifice? Dew point? No problem!" Charlize Theron quickly responded.

Martin smiled and shook his head. "I've said it before, it's not that simple."

He then took out a light gold business card from his pocket and handed it to Charlize. "Here's my card. Let's make an appointment after the movie's finished, and we can discuss it further."

Charlize Theron watched as Martin walked away, carefully placing the business card in her handbag.

The premiere of Little Island was relatively successful, with industry professionals praising Nicole Kidman's performance in the film. However, this same group of people also expressed doubts about its box office potential.

The media, too, was not optimistic about its success.

Is it because of Nicole Kidman?

The New York Times: "Martin didn't have much of a role in Little Island, where Nicole Kidman was the absolute star, but as we all know, the Australian beauty has never proven herself capable of carrying a box office hit alone..."

The Washington Post: "Choosing Nicole Kidman as the lead in Little Island was a huge mistake. This actress is known as Hollywood's box-office poison. Is Martin's first failure coming soon?"

The English Newspaper: "An excellent film, but it still lacks the brilliance of The Sixth Sense. Has our little genius exhausted his creative energy and now only relies on past achievements?"

News of the World: "Martin Meyers seems incapable of writing good scripts anymore. He's been stuck in the horror genre since The Sixth Sense. Little Island and the upcoming Hide and Seek are too similar. Is he content to stay in his comfort zone for the rest of his career?"

In Beverly Hills, west of Los Angeles, at Tom Cruise's renowned mansion, Nicole Kidman laid down the newspaper, her face creased with worry.

She couldn't afford another failure, or she'd lose the confidence of her investors.

Her last movie, Eyes Wide Shut, co-produced with her husband, who had always been a box office guarantee, was a huge letdown. The media had already labeled her "box office poison."

If Little Island, the movie she made with Martin, failed at the box office, she couldn't bear to imagine the fallout.

"Where's Tommy?" she asked.

"Madam, sir left early this morning," the housekeeper replied politely.

Nicole frowned. "Left? What did he go to do? Forget it, I won't ask!"

She waved her hand, dismissing the housekeeper.

In her own home, Nicole felt like an outsider. The servants' cold attitudes, their secret knowledge of things she didn't know, made her feel alienated. This situation was making her both anxious and angry.

And then there was the issue of Scientology, the belief system her husband was so involved with, constantly encouraging him to divorce her. But Tom seemed oblivious to this, still in close contact with those people.

Sometimes, Nicole felt as if her husband had been brainwashed.

[•———•——•———•]

𝙥𝗮𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣(.)𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧