America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

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On the outdoor shooting range, Martin firmly gripped the M9 pistol in both hands and advanced rapidly with tactical movements. As the gunfire rang out, one by one, the cutout figures of thugs toppled over.

Safety area outside the range, club owner Cain commented, "Nice shooting. In Hollywood, you would certainly be among the very best."

Bruce, who also had a military background, found common ground with him and added, "He has some talent and is willing to spend time practicing."

Chad, curious, asked, "Why?"

Bruce explained simply, "In the kind of places we've lived, to be civilized, firearms are a basic guarantee."

The sound of gunfire then stopped, and Martin switched off the safety and came out from the range.

Cain glanced at his stopwatch, "One minute and fifty-five seconds, and not a single mistake. That's a pretty good score—even if I went up, I wouldn't do much better than you."

Martin put away his gun and asked, "The community shooting competition is tougher than this?"

Cain shook his head, "No, it's against stationary targets."

"That's my specialty," Martin bragged without any cost: "Whether with a pistol or a rifle, I'm spot on!"

Cain laughed, "I've met my match today."

At this moment, a staff member came over and said, "Boss, Marcus is here, and he's brought his two dogs."

Cain responded and walked back.

The three of them simply returned indoors.

The person looking for Cain was a burly man with a beard, holding two dogs on leashes.

Cain asked, "Are you getting ready to go back to Afghanistan?"

Marcus crouched beside the dogs, "They can only be left in your care now."

"You guys always leave your pets with me," Cain complained as he patted the dogs' heads, "Should I start charging you double?"

Marcus just laughed, looking over Cain's shoulder.

Cain said, "Let me introduce you to some new friends; the more friends you have, the easier it will be to find a new job when you get out of the army."

He called over a staff member, who first took the dogs away, and then brought Marcus over to Martin and the others for introductions.

Although Marcus wasn't a star-chaser, he still took a photo with Martin.

The group sat down in the resting area and chatted leisurely.

Marcus was currently serving in Afghanistan and was back on leave. In a few days, he would return to Afghanistan.

Bruce, being former military, was very curious about the situation in Afghanistan and found common topics with Marcus and Harold, leading to an animated conversation.

Martin only occasionally interjected a word or two.

Chad also asked quite a few questions.

Marcus took an interest in Chad and kept bringing up topics about action direction, "I have a colleague who joined the army after doing some extra work in Hollywood. He suggested that after I leave the army, I could consider this profession."

Having just met, Chad didn't want to outline the hardships and said vaguely, "Hollywood films a lot of gunfight scenes every year."

Marcus said, "I'll be able to retire next year. When I come back from Afghanistan, I'll ask you for advice."

Chad replied, "No problem, you have my contact information; feel free to call me any time."

Martin and Bruce exchanged glances, feeling that something was off.

Chad, an experienced stunt actor who had been in Hollywood for over a decade, also noted the issue.

According to the pattern of Hollywood movies, Marcus's words were a glaring red flag.

In Hollywood films, anyone who says such words is almost guaranteed to be doomed.

Marcus didn't stay long and soon said his goodbyes and left.

Martin and the others went to the stationary target range and continued practicing shooting.

Around noon, Thomas called. After eating lunch nearby, Martin and the others rushed to the studio.

Martin had enough funds, and this month Davis Imaging Studio officially moved out of Pacific Pictures' offices and rented the second floor of Warner Bros. Studios' building just across the street as their office space.

The equipment there was relatively simple, after all, it was a shell company intended for convenient investment and legal tax avoidance.

When Martin arrived, Thomas and Jessica were already waiting in the reception room.

The former began, "There's some information about the negotiations for 'Dark Domain' that I need to discuss with you."

Martin had assumed that acquiring the rights would be smooth sailing, "Is there a competitor?"

"No," said Thomas, "It's more complicated than we thought. Alan Green is a member of the American Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, similar to the actors' guild; they sent representatives to participate in the negotiations. Also, the book's publisher is Random House, North America's largest publisher; we can't bypass them for the adaptation rights."

Martin pinpointed the key issue with one question, "The cost for rights?"

Thomas said, "They want an upfront fee of $300,000 and a percentage of the returns as prescribed by the writers' association."

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Martin could understand this: by joining an association and paying dues, the association naturally protects the interests of its members, a model similar to that of the Screenwriters Guild.

Therefore, as long as the conditions were favorable, screenwriters or writers would actively join their respective organizations.

Martin bluntly said, "Push down the copyright fees as much as possible, and the back-end profit sharing can only be given at the minimum percentage."

Thomas glanced at the time and called Jessica over, "Let's go, we'll make one more trip and try to settle this today."

Getting Jessica out earlier would free him, the agent, from this burden.

These matters were not within the normal scope of work for an agent.

But Thomas had no choice, as Martin was the only client under him who could hold his own.

Two days later, the movie rights for the adaptation of "Dark Domain" were officially negotiated, with an upfront fee of 200,000 US dollars, plus a North American box office profit share of the minimum 0.55 percent stipulated by the American Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association.

As a member of the actors guild, Martin enjoyed the conveniences and rights that the guild provided and felt that the American guilds were truly great.

However, when he was on the side of the capital and faced other guilds and associations, he cursed and wished he could eliminate them all.

The relationship between one's butt and brain was really too complex.

With "Dark Domain" in hand, Martin also met with Bradt, the screenwriter who had collaborated on "Wanted Order," who expressed a desire to carefully read the novel before confirming whether he was up to the task.

Like actors and directors, screenwriters' careers could be affected if the project tanked.

In terms of directors, Martin could only confirm that the film would definitely not be from an A-list director like David Finch; as for the specific person, it was totally unclear. He would have to wait until the project took shape before recruiting a suitable director.

Some bad news came regarding the projects "I Am Legend" and "The Prestige."

Thomas had an initial contact with producer David Heyman.

"Martin has been working with Warner Bros., including the upcoming 'Wanted Order.' I'm well aware of that,"

David Heyman knew that Martin had connections both high and low and spoke politely to Thomas, "I've seen the internal screening of 'Wanted Order.' It's a very cool movie, and Martin's acting and charisma have truly shone. From my years of experience, this film will be a success unless something unexpected happens."

Thomas just smiled; these were the truth. The internal screenings at Warner Bros. had produced a positive response to "Wanted Order."

But the truth was often followed by another implication.

As expected, David Heyman added, "I have high hopes for Martin's future development. In a few years, he might be able to carry box office on his own. However, as for 'I Am Legend,' which starts filming next year, it requires a one-man show. We need a superstar who can carry the entire movie on his personal charm alone."

With that said, Thomas knew Martin no longer had a chance, but he still smiled and tried to maintain a good relationship with a frontline producer like David Heyman.

He said, "The one-man-one-dog-one-gun setup, Martin has executed brilliantly in 'The Hills Have Eyes.'"

David Heyman agreed, "Strictly speaking, it was the success of that film that made me determined to push the 'I Am Legend' project."

Thomas expressed regret, "We met at the wrong time, and all I can bemoan is what might have been."

David Heyman said the usual pleasantries, "There will be opportunities for partnership in the future. For this project, across all of Hollywood, there aren't more than five suitable actors."

Thomas ventured to ask, "David, who do you have in mind?"

After thinking for a while, David Heyman said directly, "I have extended an invitation to Will Smith; he is considering it."

Thomas gave up completely; Martin was nowhere close to Will Smith at the moment.

If it were not for the heroic effect of the Burbank Middle School incident and the spy saga, he could just barely catch a glimpse of Will Smith's back.

A super giant with a salary of 20 million US dollars plus back-end sharing!

With a heavy heart, Thomas left Warner Bros. Studios; this time, he didn't need Martin to call him, as he had already put himself through the wringer.

"The road ahead is long, and I won't be a partner in the firm until Martin becomes a superstar," Thomas touched his receding hairline, picked up his bag, and strode forward, "I believe in Martin, can't relax now, the million-dollar net worth is beckoning to me."

Later, he found Daniel and, through Daniel's connection, met with Nolan's wife, Emma Thomas, for a cup of coffee.

This was a very astute Englishwoman who, with her director husband Nolan, formed a husband-and-wife team.

One was responsible for filming and production, while the other managed the set and logistics.

Warner Bros. had already given the green light to "The Prestige" project.

After a brief conversation, Thomas immediately abandoned the plan to use the nuclear option Mene.

Emma Thomas and Nolan had a great relationship, and having Mene step in to fawn at this point would have been counterproductive.

Thomas presented Martin's information, along with the recommendation from the both well-acquainted Daniel, to Emma Thomas, seeking an opportunity for collaboration.

Having revitalized Warner Bros.' and DC's most important asset, Batman, the Nolans had gained some say in their own movie projects.

On Thomas' end, he was busy securing new roles and opportunities for Martin.

Martin was busy on his front as well. Read new adventures at m_v-l'e|-NovelBin.net

After more than half a month of negotiations, Ernie-Levitt secured a campus comedy script, and once both sides signed the buyout contract, he would return to Los Angeles with The Blake Siblings.

The Blake's project was officially set in motion, and Martin was also working on promoting his new movie.

The two sides hit it off instantly, planning to use Martin and Blake as focal points to attract attention and drive promotion.