Malibu, a huge mansion, occupies an entire hill by the sea on its own.

Standing on the top of the building, looking out over the Pacific Ocean to the west, the beauty of the sea and sky is undoubtedly one of the selling points of this house.

Real estate agent Schneider is on the phone from a distance to communicate the price with the homeowner.

Harris was not in a hurry and waited patiently.

After a while, Schneider hung up and came back, saying, "The homeowner has a minimum of $30 million, and he doesn't feel the need to sell it." ”

Harris understood the homeowner's situation and shook his head: "$20 million, this is my highest offer." ”

Schneider didn't let go: "You say that, we can't talk about it." ”

Harris shrugged and said, "There are a lot of luxury homes to choose from in Los Angeles, so let's stop here." ”

This is a fundamentally unequal bargain, the homeowners over there are constantly urging to close the deal as soon as possible, and Schneider also knows that it is not always possible to meet someone who can spend such a large sum of money on the purchase of a luxury property in a short period of time.

He was helpless: "Wait, I'll call again." ”

Harris felt that it was about to be done, and added an important weight: "I have sufficient funds on my side, so I don't need to take a loan or anything like that, and the transaction will be paid in full directly." ”

Schneider called again, and the house, which was listed for $36 million, was finally sold for $20 million when the seller was in dire need of money to continue his life.

The seller also put forward the necessary conditions: the delivery procedures and the transfer of funds as quickly as possible.

The two sides agreed, and Harris prepared to go downstairs and leave.

"Wait, Mr. Carter." Schneider stopped him and took the initiative to ask: "You told me before, pay attention to the houses in downtown Los Angeles, I have a penthouse mansion here, occupying the top floor of an entire building, the owner bought it for as much as $18 million, and now he is willing to sell it for $13 million." “

Harris understood where he was talking about the house as soon as he heard it, and said, "Well, let's go over and have a look tomorrow." ”

Schneider smiled and said, "Yes." ”

Harris went downstairs, got into the car, drove away from the mansion, and dialed Martin's phone.

Martin interconnected, asking, "Did it go well?" ”

Harris said directly: "The deal for that house in Malibu was closed for $20 million. ”

Martin smiled and said, "Good job. ”

"It's not how good I'm doing, it's that the homeowners need cash so much." Harris modestly said, "The real estate agent specially invited me to see a penthouse in the city tomorrow, I think it may be Depp's." ”

Martin said: "If the price is right, take it, and if you go for a long time, these houses will not be sold." ”

If it weren't for Depp's eagerness to use money, such a price would not have to be thought of.

Davis Studio, Martin hung up the phone, the mouse refreshed the web page, and on the TMZ homepage, Amber Heard and Johnny Depp's daily spraying appeared again.

The court will not start so soon, this bad battle will inevitably continue, and Johnny Depp's little remaining good reputation will slowly dissipate.

For the most part, Amber Heard is pure rumor-mongering.

But there are some of them that are not rumors, such as the part about Lily Depp.

It is conceivable that when Lily Depp grows up, she will likely become something like Robert Downey Jr.

There was two knocks on the office door outside, and Bruce pushed it in and said to Martin, "Ivan just got interesting news. ”

Martin closed the TMZ webpage and asked, "What's the matter?" ”

Bruce said simply: "Recently, there has been gossip circulating that Annapurna Pictures is preparing to sell the rights to 'The Seventh Son'.

Martin couldn't help but laugh: "Megan Ellison has no confidence? He pondered for a moment: "This is planning to sell the copyright to get back." ”

Bruce pulled out a chair and sat across from him: "Quite possibly. ”

Martin tapped his fingers lightly on the table and said, "We can't miss such a good scene, let Ivan pay more attention to the situation of this film." ”

"I asked, there were too many special effects shots used in this film, and the post-production was not finished yet." "Even if it's a deal, it's going to wait until the film is done," Bruce said. ”

"We're also fighting for rights," Martin said. ”

Bruce didn't understand: "Why? ”

"Epic big productions, many Hollywood companies like it." Martin simply explained: "It's like Ridley Scott screwed up again and again in the epic genre and can pull in huge investments, maybe some companies will get confused and buy the rights to 'The Seventh Son' at a high price." ”

He is ready to participate, of course, to make trouble: "We can join in, we can grasp the dynamics in time, and we can take action at critical moments to bring down the copyright transfer fee of the film." ”

Bruce said, "This film won't work out? ”

Martin said seriously: "The success rate of "The Lone Ranger" is higher than that of "The Seventh Son". ”

After the new century, Hollywood has eliminated the "Lord of the Rings" series of costume epics, and there are too few of them.

Bruce went to call Ivan.

Martin finished his work, took a gift box of bracelets specially selected from Cartier, and left the studio.

Crossing the overpass between ABC and Disney headquarters, Martin entered the Disney studio, and Bruce was just about to drive the battery car when a car came from behind and stopped next to the two.

Elena Sartin sat in the driver's seat and beckoned to the two: "Martin, Lao Bu, get in the car." ”

Martin and Bruce get into the battery car together.

Elena Sartin drove inside and said, "I haven't been here for a while, I didn't expect such a coincidence, and I ran into you as soon as I came today." ”

Martin asked casually: "Didn't you star in Marvel's "S.H.I.E.L.D.", are you busy with filming?" ”

"I'm playing a small role." Elena Sartin specifically said, "A banshee named Lorelei, a fugitive from Asgard to Earth. ”

Martin followed her words and asked, "What superpowers does she have?" ”

Elena Sartin smiled: "You can use your voice to charm men and control men. ”

Martin nodded: "Very good superpower." ”

"Eastern European actors like me can basically get this kind of role." Elena Satin smiled helplessly: "A serious good role, it's hard to fall on our heads." ”

Martin couldn't make out her accent and asked, "Which country in Eastern Europe are you from?" ”

"I'm Georgian, but I grew up in Russia. ”

"Here we are." Martin pointed to the La Land studio in front of him: "Just park on the side of the road." ”

When the battery car stopped, he picked up the handbag containing the gift box and got out of the car, and said to Elena Sartine: "Thank you." ”

"Goodbye." Elena Sartin beckoned and continued on her way.

Martin entered the studio, and the girl at the front desk said, "Mr. Davis, Ms. Mel told you to go straight to her office." ”

"Got it." Martin smiled at her and nodded, heading straight for Louise's office.

Seeing Martin come in, Louise turned on the TV, pulled out a DVD, and stuffed it into the player.

Louise said simply: "A young director sent me, he really wanted to be the director of "La La Land", his name is ......"

Glancing at the information on her desk, she said: "His name is Damien Chazelle, born in 1985, he is younger than you, he has no resume that he can handle, and he has only directed one song and dance film called Guy and Adeline on the Park Bench in the past. ”

Martin used to pick up the director's information, which he should have heard, but Louise said that he didn't remember seeing the film.

Louise said: "He knows that he has little qualifications, and yesterday when the director auditioned for the first time, he gave me this DVD, which was a short music film he filmed, and I watched it, which is very distinctive. ”

Martin said: "I'll watch the short film first. ”

Louise had already pressed play.

At the beginning of the film, there is a dense sound of jazz drums.

A young drummer, sitting in front of the jazz drums, practiced the drums almost frantically, practiced until his hands were bleeding, and practiced until he put on a band-aid to continue.

It's a coming-of-age story of a young drummer, probably limited by funding, and only about 20 minutes long.

The story is incomplete, but it is enough to remind Martin of a film.

"Burst Drummer".

The almost crazy jazz drummer, coupled with some familiar director's name, Martin felt that the possibility was very high, and it was necessary to look at the script.

At the end of the short film, Louise said: "The director wanted to make a film based on his experience in a band in high school, but he couldn't find the investment, so he had to fund this humble short film to attract investors, and I think this short film is very distinctive." ”

Martin pointed to the DVD player: "You call him and ask him to come over in the next few days, I am interested in investing in this project." ”

Louise is now almost superstitious about Martin, and has no hesitation: "This project is part of Pacific Pictures. ”

Martin nodded: "Let's talk to him and let him shoot a clip of "La La Land", if he can pass our evaluation, this director position is his." ”

Louise said, "Maybe he can surprise us." ”

"I'm going to practice the piano, and I'm coming to the music room for something." Martin leaves Louise's office.

On the way to the music room, when he passed by the dance studio, he went over to see that Mandy Moore was rehearsing the dance, and Saoirse Ronan was also here.

Martin waited until they had finished the dance and waved at Saoirse Ronan.

Saoirse, who was wearing a dance costume, immediately ran over and asked with a smile, "Is there something wrong with me?" ”

Martin handed her the handbag in his hand: "Happy eighteenth birthday, a gift for you." ”

"Thank you." Saoirse saw Cartier's sign and asked, "Can I open it now?" ”

Martin made a gesture of please: "You are free." ”

Saoirse opened the gift box, and there was a beautiful white gold diamond bracelet lying inside, and she stretched out her hand, revealing her white wrist: "Can you help me wear it?" ”

Martin took out the bracelet and placed it on Saoirse's wrist.

Saoirse raised her arm, shook it in front of her eyes, looked at it both front and back, and the more she looked at it, the happier she became: "It's so beautiful, I like it very much." ”

Martin pointed to the front: "I'm going to practice." ”

(End of chapter)