Chapter 172: To Secure The Role

Julie arrived at Los Angeles International Airport, carrying a toddler of fewer than four years old, and entered the VIP lounge with her assistant.

Louise greeted her with a wave, and Julie approached Martin and Louise to exchange greetings before taking a seat across from them.

Martin glanced at the little boy with black hair and a yellow complexion and asked, "Who's this little handsome guy?"

Julie introduced, "This is my son, Maddox. I want to go back to Cambodia mainly for him and to find some peace and quiet."

Martin understood that Maddox was Jolie's Cambodian adopted son.

Louise chimed in, "As cool as you are, he'll probably grow up to be as handsome as Martin."

Julie playfully added, "As long as he's half as handsome as Martin, I'd be satisfied."

The little boy was shy around strangers and kept his head buried in Julie's shoulder, too afraid to speak.

Louise, not particularly fond of children, didn't engage much with Maddox. She asked Julie directly, "The film didn't work out. It seems like you've been under a lot of pressure, hence the overseas getaway."

Julie gently patted Maddox's back and smiled, saying, "It's not as stressful as what you're facing. How are things going on your end?"

Louise downplayed her situation, saying, "A dozen or so investors just backed out. I'm going abroad to seek new investments."

Julie commented, "From what I've heard, there are many overseas investors interested in Hollywood. Some even use Hollywood movies for fraudulent schemes, easily attracting funds." She then looked at Louise and added, "Are Cambodians also interested in investing in Hollywood?"

Julie pondered for a moment before saying, "There might be some interest, but I haven't noticed it. With your experience and credentials, as long as the project is good, attracting investment shouldn't be a problem."

Louise steered the conversation toward her main agenda: "I have a project in hand, and I'd like to invite you to be a part of it."

Julie was surprised, "Aren't you worried that I might cause it to fail again? I've had three consecutive failures."

Louise replied, "We've been friends for many years. We can't just stand by and watch you struggle. Can you lend me a hand? We're all in this together."

She began with a compliment and then got straight to the point, "Of course, the project won't be able to afford a high salary." In tough times, it was rare to find people willing to help in Hollywood.

Julie admitted, "I nearly lost all my confidence."

Martin, aware of his own influence, listened but didn't interject.

Louise continued, "Let's work together to make a comeback and show Hollywood that we're far from finished."

Julie handed Maddox to her assistant and inquired, "What's the project about?"

Louise revealed, "It's an action-packed, gun-battle film based on Top Cow Comics' 'Wanted.' Martin is the male lead, and we'd like you to be the female lead."

Julie responded, "I'll take a look at the script. If the character and script are appealing, everything else can be worked out."

Having faced failure with "Alexander the Great," Julie knew her opportunities in Hollywood were limited. Her chances for success hinged on the upcoming release of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith."

Louise mentioned, "I'll arrange for someone to speak with your agent later."

Julie glanced at Martin, realizing he had a movie set to be released soon. Its success might influence her decision to work with someone who was succeeding. If it failed, she might have no choice but to turn down Louise's offer.

With their backs against the wall, they had no room for further setbacks.

Changing the topic, Louise asked, "Do you have good connections in Cambodia?"

Julie looked at her son with affection, saying, "I've established a foundation there, and the King of Cambodia is set to confer upon me an honorary national title."

Louise responded, "Next time I get the chance, I'll visit Cambodia and contribute."

After some more conversation, when it was time to board the plane, Martin and Louise headed to the first-class cabin.

Seated together, they lowered the divider, allowing them to lie down side by side for their conversation.

Louise took Martin's arm, using it as a pillow beneath her head, and said, "If 'The Hills Have Eyes' succeeds, Julie's situation won't be an issue."

Seeing Martin with an earphone in one ear, she asked him to remove it to listen.

Martin explained, "It's a Boston accent. Scorsese's new project is a gangster film based on the hit Hong Kong film 'Infernal Affairs.' Leonardo is the lead, and I want the second lead."

Louise, listening through the returned headphones, remarked, "That's a tough competition to win."

Martin replied, "The easiest way is to bring in some capital."

Louise glanced at Martin and surmised his thoughts, "You'd need over ten million dollars for that."

Martin proactively suggested, "So, rich lady, I'll have to rely on you once again."

Louise expressed her dissatisfaction, saying, "When you need something, you call me a rich woman, but when you don't, it's drunkard, pervert, and slut. That's you."

Martin grinned, emphasizing, "Well, the first part is sincere, and the second part is just to keep things interesting, isn't it?"

However, Louise shook her head slowly and replied, "Scorsese's movies, like Quentin's, have struggled at the box office, and they require extensive promotion to recoup the investment. Bad boy, do I need to remind you? Time is money, and Pacific Pictures doesn't have many investors left."

Martin remained silent for a moment, reflecting on his experiences during the promotion of "Zombie Stripper" in Atlanta. He had gone to great lengths to boost the film's visibility and had pulled some creative maneuvers.

Martin was aware that the film industry had its share of dubious dealings, and he inquired, "What if I told you I have an idea that could potentially help you make money using other people's funds?"

Louise raised an eyebrow skeptically, asking, "Are you being generous now? What's in it for you?"

Martin calmly responded, "I'd receive several million dollars in salary and a role in Scorsese's crew."

Louise gazed at him, waiting for more details.

Martin continued, "Pacific Pictures has been established for almost ten years. You've been involved in numerous film productions during that time, and the Pacific Pictures logo can be seen in the credits of many films."

Louise sighed, "Most of them were mid-to-low budget productions, nothing major, except for that one big flop."

Martin reminded her, "You mentioned wanting to expand outside of North America, to get away from the shadow of 'Alexander the Great' and look for investors overseas."

Martin carefully pitched his idea, saying, "What if we use the names of Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio to attract investment for your projects?"

Louise, who had worked on many film productions, understood Martin's implication, "So, you want Pacific Pictures to use their names to draw in investors, and in return, I help you secure a role in the crew?"

Martin affirmed, "I have reliable information that the crew will be assembled in February for a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio. With his star power, there should be plenty of interested investors. Pacific Pictures can earn management fees and profit shares while leveraging their reputation."

Louise pondered the proposal. She had been considering overseas investments lately and concluded, "It can only work overseas, preferably not in Europe. With Leonardo's appeal, establishing a studio in Hollywood shouldn't be difficult, and once the news breaks, attracting investments won't be a problem."

Martin added, "With your organizational skills, even if investors want to visit Hollywood and see the crew, you can arrange visits to Warner Bros. Studios and handle negotiations."

Louise, confident in her abilities, assured him, "That's not a big deal. I'll take care of it."

Martin knew that he had sufficient financial capital but lacked the brand capital he needed to succeed in Hollywood. He revealed his plan, saying, "Think about it differently, dear. When I become famous and have market appeal, you can leverage my reputation to attract investments."

Louise laughed at first, but then shook her head, stating, "By that time, you might abandon me."

Martin put aside his playful demeanor and asked seriously, "In your eyes, what kind of person am I?"

Louise was taken aback and fell silent. The failure of "Alexander the Great" had been a devastating setback, but Martin and Kelly had stuck by her side when most investors had deserted Pacific Pictures.

After a moment, Louise replied, "We'll discuss that in the future."

Their flight successfully landed in Hong Kong, and Louise promptly contacted Pacific Pictures upon arrival. She instructed the company to reach out to Warner Bros. and express their interest in investing in Martin Scorsese's upcoming project.

Securing investments worth tens of millions of dollars typically involved lengthy negotiations.

Representatives from the International Bartenders Association greeted them at the airport, and the two of them stayed in a luxurious suite at the Four Seasons Hotel.

During their stay, Martin acted as Louise's companion, accompanying her to meetings with the chairman of the Bartenders Association and several senior bartender masters.

The upcoming International Bartenders Conference would attract bartenders and connoisseurs from around the world, and the conference venue was the renowned convention and exhibition center.

Martin played an active role in preparing for the event, studying the meeting agenda and guest list meticulously.

Meanwhile, Louise focused on drafting a comprehensive plan. She noticed Martin deeply engrossed in the information and inquired, "What are you looking for in those documents?"

Martin replied, "I want to identify potential clients among the attendees."

Louise nodded and encouraged him, saying, "You're diligent, keep it up."

After going through the information, Martin identified several key targets. With Louise's connections in the Bartenders Association, he obtained more public information to assist with his preparations.