Century City, in the WMA's reception room.

Martin sat in his armchair and flipped through the list of scripts provided by Thomas.

Diagonally opposite, Ridley Scott carefully flipped through the printed manuscript of The Martian.

Ali and Thomas, two agents, sat not far away and whispered.

Martin rummaged through the script catalogue and found nothing, and then put it on the table to the side.

Ridley raised his head at this time, shook his head to soothe his cervical spine, and said: "This book involves too many technical details, and it is difficult to complete the adaptation and filming without the support of NASA." ”

He asked, "Did the author do this work or research?" ”

"Andy Weir worked as a programmer at a game company before writing full-time. ”

This identity was unexpected by Ridley, he nodded, and said directly: "I'm very interested in this project, it's my favorite genre, second only to epic." ”

Hearing the latter sentence, Martin didn't know what to say.

Sure enough, science fiction films are just a means to make a living, and epic films are my favorite!

Ridley added, "If it's possible, wait for me for a while, and by the end of the year at the latest, I'll be able to finish Pharaoh and the Gods and start a new project." ”

Martin was worried, after all, Ridley was in his seventies, and he tentatively said, "Isn't time too tight?" ”

"Not nervous." Ridley Scott said, "One movie a year is a common pace for directors of my generation. ”

Ali interjected: "Martin, you don't have to worry, Ridley shoots and produces the most efficient, and it's not the same style as David Fincher." ”

"Wait until next year with no problem." Seeing the old man's gray hair, Martin simply said, "Andy Weir's will be completed soon, in fact, we can cooperate now." ”

Ridley directly vetoed: "I have to finish the project at hand first." ”

Ali shook his head at Martin slightly.

Ridley's determination and will are unshakable: "If I fall on an epic, I'm going to get up from it!" ”

Martin sensed an obsession in his tone and demeanor, and it seemed that he was not very successful, and he would never give up!

Ali interjected again: "Martin, don't you still have "Fast Pursuit 2" to film? When the schedule is empty, Ridley's side is almost over. ”

"Yes." Martin couldn't force this, he stood up and shook Ridley's hand: "We'll make an agreement!" ”

Ridley shook his hand heavily: "A word is a certainty!" He returned the manuscript to Martin: "There is still work on the crew, I'll go first." ”

Martin escorted the man out of the reception room.

Ali and Thomas also came out.

Martin wanted to leave, but the door to Ali's office next to him opened, and Natalie Portman and a tall and lanky man walked out.

"Hi Martin." Natalie greets.

Martin smiled and responded, "Hello, Nat." ”

Natalie introduced the man next to her: "This is my boyfriend, Benjamin Mipayer. ”

Martin shook his hand.

Ali pointed to the reception room and asked Martin, "Go in and talk?" ”

Martin asked directly, "Is there something wrong?" ”

Natalie said, "I have something to ask you about the movie. ”

Martin looked at Ali's sake and said, "Go in and talk." ”

Benjamin Midealed didn't seem very sociable, saying, "Talk, I have something to do with the Los Angeles Philharmonic." ”

Several people entered the reception room one after another.

Thomas closed the door.

"It's a shame that I couldn't play against you in "Gone Girl"." Natalie smiled very naturally: "I fell in the last round of the audition. ”

Martin said vaguely: "I believe that there will be opportunities to cooperate in the future." ”

Natalie Portman is Ali's number one female client, and Ali interjected: "It's very sad to miss the role of the amazing Amy, and I helped her run the heroine of "Black Swan", directed by Darren Aronofsky, a ghost talent in the independent film industry. ”

Martin has nothing to do with the independent film industry, and he has never heard of this director's name, but he knows "Black Swan".

Ali added: "This literary film has been fully produced, I have participated in the audition, a masterpiece of art, especially Nat's performance, deserves an award." ”

Martin spread his hands and said: "I have never made an independent film, and my only experience in literary films is "Life and Death Reading", which is seriously inexperienced and does not understand the relevant operations. ”

Natalie took over: "Martin, you have hit the Oscars several times, and you won the Best Supporting Actor last year, and you are very experienced in the awards, can you give me some advice?" ”

Hearing these words, Martin immediately understood, he didn't care about Natalie, but looked at Ali: "You planned it today, right?" ”

Ali smiled and said, "You always have a lot of ideas, help." ”

Martin looked at Natalie again and said, "You are born with an advantage, highly educated, Jewish, and known for your good acting skills." ”

Natalie said, "A lot of times, that's not the key to winning the award. ”

Of course, Martin understands this, for example, he is the best supporting actor, on the one hand, the joker is really good, but the key is the Santa Monica pier incident.

If it weren't for the shooting during awards season, Martin saved a lot of people and directly eliminated the possibility of causing a bigger disaster, it would have been very difficult for him to win the award.

In the case of Harvey, Ali's brother in the White House did not contribute less, and now Ali has come to help, and Martin is not easy to refuse.

Naturally, there must be contacts and contacts.

Martin stared at Natalie for a moment and said, "Your boyfriend ......"

Natalie misunderstood what Martin meant and immediately said, "If you need it, don't worry about him." ”

"No, Nat, you're mistaken." Martin searched through his memories and asked, "I remember reading in the newspaper that your boyfriend was from the crew of "Black Swan"?" “

Natalie didn't rush this time, and said slowly: "Yes, we met in the crew and fell in love. ”

Martin nodded and asked Ali, "You haven't made a strategy yet?" ”

Ali said: "Go to Venice first, you can get the best actress at the Venice Film Festival, and then there are those publicity PR, you know." ”

He took a sip of water: "Now that Xavi has fallen, it is estimated that many people will pounce on the Oscar to share the cake, and Nat wants to win the award in this edition, I think it is necessary to prepare some advantages that others do not have." ”

Martin joked, "I can't get a bunch of Russian spies and let Nat surprise them all." ”

Natalie followed his joke and said, "It's just me who gets sudden." ”

Reflecting on some of the gossip news he had read, Martin said, "I thought of a less plausible way to do it, which might be offensive. ”

Natalie said, "Just say it." ”

Martin nodded slightly: "Are you planning to have a child?" “

Natalie was stunned for a moment, but she was a very smart girl, and she had a lot of ideas, and gradually grasped the meaning of Martin's words: "You mean ......"

Anyway, if he doesn't say it, it is estimated that Natalie will soon be able to think of it, Martin simply said: "If you want a child, you will be stuck in the critical time period of the Oscar to show your pregnancy, and when you are pregnant, you will post more hard photos of you in the media, and you don't need to say anything, you will naturally get some preferential treatment." ”

According to the gossip news he had seen in his previous life, Natalie hit the Oscar for Best Actress twice, and twice showed her nostalgia during the awards season, which is also too "coincidence".

However, the first time it was successful, the second time the effect was mediocre.

Ali, the golden bachelor, came back to his senses and shouted at Martin, "You are a genius on horseback!" The Academy and the Oscars deserve a special contribution award just for you! ”

Martin said with a smile: "I don't want the special contribution award, Ali, just give me your property." ”

Thomas interjected: "Ali's properties are all over the world!" “

Ali knew that the two bastards were joking, and covered his chest and said, "You are murdering and want my life!" ”

Natalie sat on the couch, keeping a ladylike smile, but her head was racing thinking about Martin's words, and the more she thought about it, the more feasible she felt.

Preferential treatment of pregnant women is ubiquitous throughout society, as well as within the Academy.

When she shows her pregnancy, she will announce her engagement to Benjamin Miepide, which can also attract the attention of the media and the audience by the way, and even save a lot of money to buy the notice.

Natalie is not Martin, there are not so many sponsors behind her, and there is no strong support from a large group like Coca-Cola.

Ali came to Natalie's side, sat down on the sofa chair, and said, "I think it's okay, it's very operable, and it has the advantage of cheating!" ”

Martin didn't say much more, these PR propaganda that he could inspire Ali to inspire them, and that they were not as good as these professionals in making plans and doing it.

Natalie only thought about it for less than half a minute, then nodded and said, "I agree, what to do, Ali, you let people make a plan." ”

Ali pointed outside: "Your boyfriend?" ”

"Benjamin loves me very much, it's no problem at all, and I'm going to get engaged to him and not let the pregnancy turn into a scandal," Natalie said. ”

Ali said: "I'll take care of the rest, and this time I'll equip you with the best PR team!" ”

Martin stood up: "There's nothing else, I'll take my leave, the crew will leave for Europe tomorrow to do publicity, I'm going back to prepare." ”

Ali came over and slammed his fist into him and said, "Man, if you weren't a star, you would be the best in the industry as an agent and PR manager!" ”

Martin said: "With my education, I can't even enter the door of your company. ”

The lowest degree in WMA is also a bachelor's degree from a prestigious university.

Natalie got up to see Martin off, came to him and said, "Whether it is success or failure, I owe you a favor, when you let me pay it back, I will be on call." ”

Martin smiled, "Nat, don't be so polite. ”

After coming out of the WMA, Bruce, who was silent all the time, got into the car and asked, "Are you interested in Natalie Portman?" ”

"What are you kidding, I'm not interested in her." Martin fastened his seatbelt and said, "I'm doing it for Ali's sake." ”

Bruce started the car: "I'm sure you're not interested in her right now. ”

Martin was stunned: "What do you mean by that?" ”

Bruce said, "When she gets engaged to her boyfriend, you'll be interested in her!" ”

Martin reached out to touch the gun, and was angry: "Lao Bu, I will use the most civilized way to make you shut your stinky mouth!" ”

(End of chapter)