In the theater, there were very few audiences. Bruce looked at the movie being shown, grabbed the popcorn in boredom, threw it in his mouth, and chewed it crispy.

Martin picked up the Coke and took a sip. On the screen, Alexander commanded the Greek coalition to form a Macedonian phalanx and fight against the Persian army.

One of the most important highlights of epic films is the war scenes. What are the criteria for a good movie?

Everyone's judgment is different. But the studio's criteria are very uniform: to make money or not. Bruce couldn't stand it when he saw the glass dog's bloody heartbeat: "I'll go out and take a breath." Martin wasn't too interested in any of these either: "Let's go." The two got up to leave.

Martin found that in addition to them, there were also some people in the theater who were also leaving. More than a quarter of the audience in the theater.

This is bad news for any movie. Martin has long forgotten what the film was like in his previous life, except for Angelina Jolie, it seems that this film did not leave any other impression on him.

The two walked out of the theater and headed for the parking lot. Bruce said: "I watched King Arthur's V, and it was much more interesting than this one. Martin thought for a while: "Because King Arthur is rotten, but very commercial, this is more literary and artistic?" Bruce shrugged: "Maybe, I knew it was so boring, I went to find Kim, it's not more interesting than watching a bad movie with you." Martin asked, "Wind oil essence?" ”

"Kim only used a little, and he screamed uncomfortably, washed for a long time, and almost went to the hospital." Bruce wanted to tease his clothes again: "You rotten man, you want me to paint it there." Martin tugged at his clothes: "Don't mess around, p, be careful of being emptied of the magazine." He came up with an idea: "Gold uses wind and oil essence, and it is popular all over the world." Bruce gave him the middle finger: "You're such a pervert!" The two got into the car and went back to the apartment together.

Martin was a little worried and called Louise: "Drunkard, what are you doing?" Louise whispered back, "Stay with the family." She asked rhetorically, "What are you doing?" Martin had a lot of thoughts: "He Lao Bu just came out of the theater." Louise understood why Martin was calling: "I know, the film didn't respond very well, it's okay." ”

"I won't bother you." Martin voluntarily hung up. Sitting in the passenger seat, he pondered, focusing on the relationship between people.

Bruce sped up the car and asked, "Do you think this film will fail?" Martin said simply: "In the same theater, there are so many people who leave the theater halfway, which can always explain something." ”

"You're worried about Louise Mayer? Man, when did you have a conscience. Bruce said, "I thought you left your conscience in Atlanta." Martin said, "She's a multimillionaire, so I don't need to worry." ”

"Man, you're going to do a bad thing again?" Bruce had some bad premonitions. Martin said vaguely: "There are eye patches on this film across the mountain, and I am worried that the bad luck will continue." Bruce remembered one thing: "The Coke that Robert transferred arrived a few days ago, and I rented a warehouse to store it, and I took some and put it in the studio, and you can go and drink a can." He deliberately said: "Expired Coke, endless aftertaste." Martin shook his head and didn't speak.

………… Brentwood, a famously wealthy neighborhood in Los Angeles. In a mansion at the top of a hill, Louise stands in front of the window, putting away her phone, overlooking the night view of Los Angeles in the distance.

The status of Alexander the Great's film was actually determined before the release. The only uncertainty is how tragic the failure will be.

Martin was able to call at this time to ask about the situation, and Louise sighed lightly: "It's a bit of a conscience." Footsteps sounded behind her, and a woman in her 50s came up behind her: "Honey, do you have something to worry about?" Louise smiled back: "At work, don't worry, Mom, I can handle it." Madame Mel nodded slightly, and did not ask much: "You just need to remember that no matter what happens, your father and I will always have your back." ”

"Got it...... Louise grabbed her mother's arm, "Let's go, let's go have a drink." Mrs. Mel reminded, "You are drinking more and more intemperately, and you need me to send you to the Alcoholics Mutual Aid Society?" Louise said, "It's not that serious, I just have a drink once in a while to relax." The mother and daughter went to the small bar at home and just opened a bottle of low-alcohol liqueur.

Mrs. Mel asked, "The project didn't go well?" Louise took a slow sip of wine: "It is estimated that all the money earned this year will be lost." ”

"Business, it's normal to make money and lose money, and Buffett can't guarantee that every business will make money." Mrs. Mel also worked hard in the mall and was used to seeing the situation: "Since you graduated from USC, your career life has been going well, and setbacks are not necessarily a bad thing." Louise's face was about to collapse: "Mom, do you wish I fell hard?" Mrs. Mel never moved her glass: "I don't know much about the big truth, but when you fail, it is easier for you to see who you can trust, who can face the storm with you, and who will abandon you at any time." Louise put down her glass and thought about it.

Mrs. Melle picked up the wine and drank it slowly. After the full release of "Alexander the Great" in North America, Martin paid great attention to the market response of the film.

Some films have a good reputation, poor box office, and rely on long-term operation to always slowly return to their original costs. But the film's word-of-mouth exploded on the spot, from film critics to ordinary audiences to industry media, all of which were bad reviews, with an IMB score of 5.6 and an outrageous 16% freshness on Rotten Tomatoes.

Logically, in the opening weekend of North America, Alexander the Great only got $13.69 million at the box office.

The film's public production cost is $155 million. Its street impact is more tragic than that of "King Arthur" and "Van Helsing".

It can be called the No. 1 box office tragedy in Hollywood in 2004. All investors who participate in the platter will face huge losses.

The failure of an A-grade production will always have many repercussions. ………… Sherman Oaks, villa on the south slopes.

Louise sat at the bar in the lobby, opened a bottle of whiskey, filled her glass, and drank it in one gulp.

The personal cell phone that had been set aside rang at this moment. But it was Martin who called. Louise asked, "Is there something wrong?" Martin asked, "What are you doing?" Louise said, "It's a meeting, don't bother me for now." Martin replied, "You are busy first, send me a message when you are free." As soon as Louise put down her phone, the business phone on the other side rang.

She answered, "This is Louise Mayer." ”

"Hi Louise, it's me, Fairman." The person on the other side spoke very politely: "My Zero Foundation participated in your fundraising at that time, and the funds were invested in your Pacific Pictures in batches to participate in Hollywood's film platter investment, and the foundation is now in difficulty, and the second and third phases of investment cannot be put in place, and the first phase of investment is ......" How could Louise not understand what he meant: "Don't worry, I will return the first phase of the investment and the promised interest dividends to you within the contract period." Ferma laughed twice: "This is the best, there is a suitable opportunity for me to participate in your platter investment." Louise threw the phone on the bar, poured the wine again, and continued to drink.

Although she was mentally prepared, the film was so tragic, which was still beyond her expectations. Within a few minutes, the official phone rang again, and the same foundation was preparing to withdraw its investment.

Louise's Pacific Pictures, some of which are like Relativity Entertainment Media, which was set up with Wall Street money, raised funds from foundations and other investors to invest in Hollywood movie platter projects to make a profit.

The difference is that Louise invests herself. The investment platter project is profitable, and even as long as the return on investment, investors are endless.

Failure has reached such a tragic point that it is normal for investors to withdraw their capital and cancel their cooperation. Since the media officially disclosed the North American box office data last weekend, in just a few hours, Louise received 7 phone calls, all of which were unilaterally canceled by investors.

Even if she was mentally prepared, she was still annoyed. When people encounter such things, how can they be happy in their hearts. Louise was drunk glass after glass, and a bottle of 40-proof whiskey quickly bottomed out.

The private cell phone rang and Kelly Gray called. Louise's face was gloomy, and she pressed the turn button and released: "Wanderer, you're not ready to cooperate with me?" Kelly let out a crisp laugh: "Pervert, I do want to abandon you, but I want to see you fail a few more times." ”

"You have a conscience." Louise decided to give her a reward: "Next time, I'll not only let Martin open the outside screen, but also open the live screen." Kelly's teeth itched with hatred and said, "Aren't you and that bad guy preparing a new film to shoot in Atlanta?" I've got a surprise for you when you come over. Louise said, "I like surprises the most." The two didn't say much, the phone hung up, and Louise got up and took another bottle of wine and continued to drink.

Troubles can be left for tomorrow, and at least you can get drunk today. Louise had a few more glasses of wine, and when she was about to get the wine again, Mary, the butler, suddenly came over and grabbed her.

"You've drunk too much, don't drink any more." Mary advised: "The body will not be able to stand it. Louise looked sober: "I didn't drink much, that's just how much, I know in my heart, it's okay." Mary said, "I'll help you upstairs to rest." ”

"I'm fine." Louise waved her hand and suddenly whispered a few words to Mary. Mary hurried to the foyer.

Louise poured the wine and continued to drink. Mary picked up the phone in the foyer and dialed Martin's number. Picked up over there: "Louise?" Mary said, "I am Mary, Louise's butler." Martin found a place where no one was and asked, "Do you have something?" ”

"Mr. Davis, if you have time, come and persuade me, Louise has been drinking since this morning." Mary spoke quickly and seemed particularly anxious: "There are more than a dozen companies and foundations calling to end their cooperation with Pacific Pictures and ask for a full divestment, Pacific Pictures may not survive this hurdle, and it will hit Louise very hard......" She paused slightly: "There are still calls coming in, I am worried that something will happen to her, and I can't persuade her." With that, Mary waited quietly for a reply.