American fame and fortune

Chapter 878: Fire, don’t stop

 Time flies into 2015. After the New Year holiday, Martin returned to the crew of "Shark Beach" and was busy with the final editing.

Under the auspices of Louise and Joel Negron, the film was carefully edited, and what was presented to Martin was a 91-minute version without subtitles.

 Martin has watched the film several times and feels that certain scenes still need to be simplified.

A few days later, the final edited version of "Shark Tank" was released, and then added front and rear subtitles. The total length of the film was only 88 minutes.

“Isn’t the time a little short?” Louise adjusted her black-rimmed glasses. She always looked serious when working: “The main feature of the movie is only over 80 minutes, which is rare now.”

 Martin turned off the projector, turned on the light and said: "Short film has the advantage of being short. At least it can arrange more films."

Louise nodded: "I will let someone edit the last version of the trailer. It will be released less than a month ago. Please stop running around and cooperate with the crew in promoting it."

 Martin responded: "No problem."

This is his directorial debut. He has found so many industry experts to serve as assistants and created it with great financial ability. If he really screws up, it will definitely become a joke in the industry.

 There was one thing he didn't say in his heart. He hoped that Martin Davis could fall hard this time.

 DC’s Justice League plan has extraordinary significance for Warner Bros.

There are also people who support Martin. For example, "Variety" published an exclusive interview about "Shark Tank" and mentioned that the composition of the crew behind the scenes is all experienced players in the Hollywood industry.

　　"Directed by Martin Davis, starring Blake Lively, "Shark Tank" is coming soon!"

"Hollywood Reporter" full-time film critic Todd McCarthy was not optimistic and wrote in a column: "As far as I understand, Martin spends his spare time doing bad things with Leonardo and Nicholson, or chasing women. He didn’t learn much about directing, so he chose a project with an investment of more than 10 million U.S. dollars for his first film, so it’s probably difficult for him to grasp it.”

The final production cost of the film was US$25 million, and an additional US$25 million was invested in publicity and distribution.

 News, recommendations and hard and soft publicity about "Shark Beach" can be seen everywhere in large and medium-sized cities in North America.

Even so, as many promotional materials were released on social media, the comment area of ​​the two people was almost crowded.

“I’ve finally waited for Martin’s directorial debut, and I don’t know what the film will be like.”

In addition, given the current social situation, the heroine fighting the evil shark is also an excellent publicity point.

"It's too confident." Kevin Tsujihara had his own judgment: "It is true that Martin is a good actor and a Hollywood superstar with huge market appeal, but these have nothing to do with the director's level. He will completely destroy the Joker. "

Variety magazine, which just interviewed Martin about "Split", undoubtedly saw the most critical aspect of Martin's filming and production of "Shark Tank".

 …

Since "Shark Beach" has not yet held a trial screening, the media has received mixed reviews.

He paused and then asked: "Although the project is authorized by Warner Pictures, we still have the ability to interfere. Do you want to remind them that Martin cannot write, direct and star?"

 “Blake Lively fights the white shark wisely and bravely!”

“The films starring Martin are indeed very good-looking, but can the films he makes as a director be as exciting as the films he stars in?”

 Burbank, Warner Building.

These words reminded Hamada, who didn’t pay enough attention: “I think it’s possible.”

Hamada continued: "I watched the trailer of "Shark Beach". It is not difficult to see from several trailers that this is a movie with extremely simple scenes, characters and stories. Martin is just shooting in an opportunistic way. ”

“Watching the trailer feels pretty good, just Blake Lively in a bikini is worth the price of admission.”

  The crew released the final trailer.

Kevin Tsujihara tapped the armrest of the sofa lightly, thinking of the recent reports about "Shark Tank", and asked: "He doesn't want to direct this project himself, does he?"

 The same is true for Martin. He also has many fans on social media. However, top Hollywood stars operate differently from Internet celebrities and do not rely on social media themselves.

 The film's investment scale is limited, and the focus of publicity is on him and Blake Lively.

 “Queen S tore apart a great white shark with her hands!”

"Maybe Martin is a newbie, but the person who controls the entire film is the gold medal producer Louise Lane, and all his assistants are the best in the industry! Another point that cannot be ignored is that the billionaire Martin Day Weiss is not only a Hollywood superstar, but also the boss of a production company. The resources he can mobilize are far beyond those of ordinary new directors. "

“Martin’s directorial debut “Shark Tank” will be released soon!”

The two discussed some matters about "Batman v Superman", and the topic couldn't help but turn to the only DC superhero movie in the Justice League universe.

Kevin Tsujihara was also not optimistic about Martin's ability as a director. He thought about it for a while and started from reality: "Wait a minute, "Shark Beach" will be released soon. Let's take a look at the box office and word-of-mouth. Whether a movie succeeds or fails, the market is the criterion.”

Hamada said: "I will continue to pay attention to "Shark Beach"."

In addition to regular publicity in the media, Blake Lively's social media has been the most important promotional position since the filming period of the film. The Lace Master's new film has attracted the attention of a large number of fans.

Hamada didn’t pay much attention, but he also had a basic understanding: “Martin has found a screenwriter and is writing a script according to his ideas. He originally planned to invite Nolan and David Fincher to be the directors of the project, but both of them declined.”

 Kevin Tsujihara asked: “How far is the preparation for “Joker”?

 Many people have little confidence in Martin's directorial debut. After all, actors and directors are completely different. Although there is no shortage of successful precedents for films directed by first-line actors in Hollywood, there are more failures.

Various publicity and promotion efforts are also being made.

 …

 In the following days, Martin followed the crew to make promotional announcements. He also traveled from the West Coast to the East Coast and participated in various media activities.

 That is money making ability.

 After the regular meeting of the group, Kevin Tsujihara left DC co-chairman Hamada behind and chatted for a few words alone.

Most things in this world, especially those related to movies, can basically be solved with money.

Northern District of Sunset Boulevard, in the garden of a mansion.

The Oscar ballots mailed by the Academy before the New Year were scattered on a wooden table, with only a few of the blanks filled in. For example, for the Best Actor nomination, the first person filled in was Martin Davis.

Nicholson ran back and forth from the storage room several times, brought a bunch of targets made of metal sheets, and said to Lorraine: "You mess them up and let the servants hang them on some iron racks on the west side. "

Lorraine looked at her old father, then at his two idiot brothers, and asked, "What are you going to do again?"

 Martin carried a box out of the storage room and said, "Guarantee Oscar's fairness and justice."

 Lorraine didn’t believe a word of these words: “You?”

Leonardo is carrying a homemade iron pipe with a handle: "You will see it later and you will be amazed at the fairness and impartiality of our selection of Oscars, regardless of public relations, art, or film quality..."

 Lorraine opened the disc-sized target, which had the name of the movie written on it, as well as the names of the director, screenwriter and actors.

 She handed it over to the experienced driver at home, who carried the ladder to hang the target.

There was a support set up like a bare tree, with a hook on each branch.

The driver hung numerous signs on the hooks. Martin opened the box, took out the special ammunition ordered by Nicholson, and asked, "Jack, should we still use it the old way?"

Nicholson walked over, picked up a round firework bomb, and said, "It's different. This one won't explode when fired. If it hits the target, it will leave a colored mark on it."

 Martin picked up a few, stuffed them into his pocket, and asked, "Who will hit first?"

 Leonardo took the helmet, put it on his brain, patted the homemade launcher, and said, "Of course I'll do it first!"

The other side quickly hung up the target and shouted to this side.

Leonardo moved his hands and feet, came to the circular launch area designated by Nicholson, picked up the homemade launcher, and aimed it at one of the iron stands.

The trio of **** are experienced in launching this kind of fireworks. They even sent a generous fireworks gift to Johnny Depp and Amber Heard for their wedding.

 Leonardo got ready and shouted: "Martin, be my loader."

Martin turned on the windproof lighter, lit the fireworks in his hand, stuffed them into the barrel, slapped Leonardo on the helmet he was wearing, and shouted: "Fire!"

 Leonardo adjusted his aim slightly and waited for a few seconds before the fireworks flew out with a muffled sound.

Although the fireworks flew out in a parabola, the three of them were already proficient in playing this thing, and they hit the target on the first shot.

As the impact sounded, a cloud of colored smoke exploded from the iron shelf.

Nicholson picked up a telescope and took a brief look. There was an obvious red impact point on a metal target.

 He saw the name clearly and said: "Best Picture Nomination, "The Theory of Everything"!"

Martin, now the loader, said to Lorraine: "Quickly, write the name of this film in the Best Picture nomination column on our Oscar ballot."

Lorraine had just understood what these three **** were doing. Now she was the only one free and quickly picked up a pen to write the name of the movie.

She had just finished writing when she heard another muffled sound.

 But this time, Leonardo missed.

 Martin continued to reload and shouted: "Don't stop, keep going!"

 The third shot was fired, and there was another banging sound.

 Observer Nicholson raised his telescope and said: "Best Actress Nomination, Reese Witherspoon!"

Lorraine filled in Reese Witherspoon's name in the first line of her Best Actress nomination.

Seeing Martin reloading, she couldn't help but murmur to herself: This selection of nominations is really fair and just.

 No matter who the actor is, no matter what the role is, no matter what the movie is, no matter which company they come from, the main characters will be treated equally.

 After selecting seven nominees, the shooter was replaced by Martin, and Leonardo became the loader.

 The muffled sound of the explosion was endless.

 Martin's shooting accuracy is much higher than Leonardo's.

The latter can pick out an Oscar nomination in about two or three shots.

 Martin's hit rate is as high as 90%.

Lorraine thought to herself, if she filmed the way the three **** chose their Oscar nominations and sold them as breaking news, they would definitely make a lot of money.

 But she just thought about it.

You must know that her father, Nicholson, is now the benchmark for Hollywood acting, a model established by the Academy, and the mascot of the Oscars.

 Martin and Leonardo are also Oscar activists.

Now that these are announced, the authority of the Oscar awards will definitely drop sharply.

 After Martin finished playing, Nicholson came on.

 Old Bastard's hit rate was much worse. It took until the sun went down for the three of them to secure the Oscar nomination votes.

To ensure fairness and justice, Martin asked Lorraine to directly seal the ballot and mail it out tonight.

Nicholson stretched and said: "The annual carnival is over again."

 Leonardo said: “Next year it will be a more interesting way.”

 Martin asked: “Do you have a better idea?”

Leonardo, an old pervert, quickly came up with a bad idea: "Each of us hired a team of female models and hid the Morse code representing the candidates in their clothes, and then we randomly selected one and took off their pants..."

Nicholson waved his hand: "I'm old, I can't play these games anymore."

 He moved a chair, sat down and said, "Jennifer Lawrence, I'm also ready to let go."

 Martin understood what he meant: "No, you can't do it now?"

"A real man can't say no!" Leonardo added insult to injury and patted Nicholson on the shoulder: "It turns out you are the weakest one among us!"

Nicholson said calmly: "I am seventy-seven years old, at least I can still come here once a week." He looked at Leonardo with contempt: "You are a weakling who only has thirty seconds, and you will be here when you are sixty." No more."

 Martin shook his head: "Jack, you are wrong."

 Leonardo put his arm around Martin's shoulders: "You finally told the truth for once."

The blow came next, and Martin added: "It would be good if Leo can hold on until he is fifty."

 Leonardo let go of his hand and pushed Martin away: "You are really a complete bastard!"

The three of them taunted each other. When Martin saw that it was getting dark, he said, "Let's go have dinner and then wash our faces after eating. I'm treating you today."

Nicolson and Leonardo decided to go out for an expensive meal and empty Martin's wallet.

　　After securing the Oscar votes, Martin basically focused his energy on the promotion of "Shark Tank" and continued to follow the crew to make announcements.

 Before mid-January, Disney Pictures held three special screenings for "Shark Tank" including media screenings, fan screenings and theater manager screenings, and received pretty good feedback.

Of course it's not as good as the previous movies starring Martin, but it's not a bad movie either.

 Disney Pictures subsequently lifted the ban on the film's reputation.

 The Rotten Tomatoes freshness score is over 80%, and IMDB also has an initial score of 8.2.

These at least indicate that the film will not suffer a box office disaster.

 (End of this chapter)