Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Challenge Your Abilities

After the fan meet-and-greet, Lionsgate Films specifically held a small reception at a nearby hotel to accommodate the media reporters and entertainment bloggers.

Like other industries, the production, promotion, distribution, and even the reviewing surrounding the film industry are all business.

Martin, Benjamin, and Catherine collected the $5,000 publicity fee from Lionsgate Films and naturally were cooperating with Lionsgate's work by attending the reception.

In addition, a high-ranking executive from Lionsgate named Michel specifically came over for the event.

Blake introduced the trio to Michel, who only shook hands with Martin and Benjamin before turning his full attention to Catherine.

Since the theater, Catherine had stopped talking to Martin, clearly holding a prejudice against him.

"Did you upset Catherine?" Benjamin, grabbing a drink, asked.

Martin knew what was going on but wouldn't say it outright, given that his relationship with Catherine was on the rocks: "I'm not too sure, maybe her period came?"

Benjamin didn't think too much about it: "A woman's emotions can sometimes be troublesome."

Martin didn't have the time to worry about these things: "Ben, don't worry, I'm not that petty."

Benjamin's gaze shifted across the room, where Michel was chatting with Catherine.

Whatever he said, Catherine seemed very amused.

Michel's eyes, like hands, traveled over the attractive actress's body, yet what came from his mouth seemed decent enough, "You've got great credentials, you should have come to Los Angeles sooner."

Catherine's smile bloomed: "I've wanted to come, but never had the opportunity. I can't just come and leave, be a passerby."

Michel's gaze rested on her beautiful face, saying, "I have a project in my hands with a role that would be perfect for you."

Catherine hardly considered it: "Really? Could you tell me more? I'd love to stay."

Michel issued a direct invitation: "I don't have the script with me, but if you're interested, you could come over to take a detailed look, and we can discuss it together."

After her audition for the lead role in "Zombie Stripper," which had involved stripping, Catherine could hardly refuse an offer from a top Lionsgate executive: "No problem, what time?"

Michel smiled: "After the reception ends, I'll wait for you in the hotel lobby."

The reception ended quickly, and Martin prepared to leave for the hotel where he was staying.

Benjamin suggested, "Let's go with Catherine."

And he found Catherine at the entrance to the banquet hall.

Martin was also heading out, following behind.

"Sorry, Ben, I can't go back now," Catherine had already made her choice, "Lionsgate has given me an opportunity, and I have to discuss it in detail."

As soon as Benjamin heard this, he understood what was going on: "Where's the discussion taking place? At the hotel, or his place?"

Catherine bluntly clarified: "Michel has a script and a role that I can't miss out on."

Benjamin warned her: "You're being foolish, Hollywood isn't that simple."

With dreams of stardom clouding her mind, Catherine wasn't listening and, apologizing quickly, she walked towards the elevator without looking back.

When Martin and Benjamin reached the hotel lobby, they saw Catherine leaving arm in arm with Michel.

Benjamin couldn't help but remark, "She's really naive."

Martin said, "She chose her own path; you can't pull her back."

Benjamin let out a sigh.

The two men boarded Lionsgate's vehicle and returned to the hotel.

The hotel they were staying at had a bar, and Benjamin proposed, "Join me for a drink."

Martin could see Benjamin was feeling a bit down.

The bar wasn't crowded, and as they approached the counter, Benjamin asked, "What will you have? It's on me."

Martin tentatively asked, "Ben, you haven't really developed feelings, have you?"

Benjamin quickly denied it: "It's just that we've been living together for a couple of months."

Any man, dumped by a female companion and then watching her throw herself into another man's arms, would feel terrible, even if there were no feelings involved.

The bartender overheard Benjamin and suggested, "Let me recommend a new cocktail to you, Louise's Penicillin, it can heal wounded souls."

He pointed towards a poster explaining, "This is the signature cocktail of Los Angeles's mixology master, Louise Mel."

Benjamin leaned closer, astonished, "Isn't she a producer?"

"I'm not too sure either," Martin told the bartender, "Give me a bourbon."

Benjamin ordered the Penicillin, motioning towards the poster with his eyes, "Do you have contact with her?"

Martin neither denied nor confirmed, "I heard from Kelly that after the 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' crew left Atlanta, she went off to Morocco, apparently collaborating on a big production with Warner Bros. and several other companies in Moorish Hollywood. The specifics, Kelly wasn't sure."

"Hollywood films always like to play around with codenames." The bartender brought over the Penicillin, Benjamin took a sip, frowning slightly, "It does seem quite healing."

Martin clinked glasses with him, saying, "Ben, let it go, soon you'll have so many beautiful women throwing themselves at you that your brother will struggle to keep his head up."

Whether it was the Penicillin or Martin's words that worked, Benjamin's mood improved a bit, "Brother, you really have a way with words, if I were a woman, I would definitely fall for you..."

"Please don't," Martin quickly interrupted the cringe-worthy statement as he looked at his bald head, "I plan on living a few more years."

Benjamin said, "If you don't have solid connections, you're better off going back to Atlanta where you've already paved the way."

Martin replied, "If I can't make it here, I will definitely go back to Atlanta to join you."

"No need," Benjamin mentioned a contact, "You have Jenna's contact information, right? Not far north of Los Angeles is the San Fernando Valley. With your talent, becoming a multimillionaire might be difficult, but a millionaire is definitely not a dream."

Martin spoke candidly, "That was indeed one of my fallback plans."

The two of them had a few drinks but didn't stay up too late, each retiring to their rooms.

Martin took special care to keep the autograph book, as it might come in handy in the future.

When checking out of the hotel the following morning, Martin noticed that Catherine hadn't returned.

An employee from Lionsgate Films came to collect her luggage.

Benjamin was returning to Atlanta. Before leaving the hotel, he made a point of asking Martin, "Do you have any plans?"

Martin said, "First, I need to find a place to settle down."

......

The weekend after Thanksgiving, a blog post by a female movie entertainment blogger was shared by B-movie enthusiasts onto a film forum, attracting some attention.

"It's rare for a B-movie like 'Zombie Dancer' to make me buy tickets twice. The film itself is of average quality, with plenty of shortcomings like shoddy production and cliché plots, but the male lead delivered a god-level performance."

Below was an authorized movie still from Lionsgate, along with clips of Martin performing the zombie machine gun dance and flying stunts in the film.

The female blogger felt as though she experienced it firsthand: "The passionate dance of the male lead, Martin Davis, made my heart tremble with his rhythm... When he 'rat-a-tatted' on screen with his lower body, countless female viewers like me 'rat-a-tatted' along with their lower halves.

When those two 'rat-a-tatted's merged into one, the physiological and psychological pleasure made one feel like taking off on the spot." Sёarch* The nôvelFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Female viewers who could stomach B-movies became intrigued after watching the related videos, eager to see the film with their own eyes.

Lionsgate Films wasn't idle either; no one should underestimate the creativity of professional marketers.

They collaborated with a well-known blogger and a film forum moderator, posting the video of Martin's zombie machine gun dance from the movie onto a prominent film forum.

"Challenge your rhythm, challenge your manhood!"

The dramatic and intense swinging, with a breathlessly fast tempo, seemed like a challenge issued to all men.

At first, people automatically ignored it, finding it boring.

Not long after the video was posted, some people began uploading their challenge videos, but their rhythm and amplitude were clearly lacking.

With some leading the way, the number of challengers began to grow, and related discussions also increased.

"Maintaining that kind of rhythm and amplitude for such a long time is impossible, that's just a clip from 'Zombie Dancer,' movies aren't reality," the skeptics quickly voiced their opinions.

When skepticism on the forum grew louder, someone uploaded a video of Martin doing the zombie machine gun dance live at a fan event.

"It's actually real!"

"This actor is amazing! Is his waist mechanically modified?"

"I worship a man who has grown four kidneys!"

The buzz elevated quite a bit, and while it didn't match the hot topics of popular movies, it caught some attention.

The film got noticed, translating to box office sales.

The weekend after Thanksgiving, 'Zombie Dancer' expanded to 650 theaters and collected 3.12 million US dollars at the North American box office.

Including previous earnings, the North American box office totaled 3.88 million US dollars, far exceeding the amount Lionsgate Films paid for the rights.

Sensing the potential to recoup investment from box office alone, Lionsgate Films continued to expand the film to 787 theaters the following week.

By the end of the new weekend, 'Zombie Dancer' crossed the 6 million US dollar mark at the North American box office.

The market potential of the film was almost depleted, as the word of mouth was rather mediocre.

On several rating websites, including IMDB, it scored just around 5 points - a failing grade.

After all, B-movies remain niche and never become mainstream in the market.

'Zombie Dancer' and the zombie machine gun dance fever were like waves crashing onto the shore, quick to rise and quick to fade.

However, several newspapers and film magazines mentioned the name 'Zombie Dancer' and Martin Davis.

The zombie machine gun dance also spread through various male strip clubs.

Meanwhile, Martin began apartment hunting in Los Angeles.

Areas with standalone homes in wealthy neighborhoods like Beverly Hills and Santa Monica were not within his considerations, as the rents were relatively high.

Martin was aiming for an apartment close to Burbank, where numerous entertainment companies were clustered, with reasonable rent and convenient transportation.

After viewing multiple properties in Glendale, Burbank, and North Hollywood, he decided on an apartment in North Hollywood.

It was right next to Burbank and very close to Sherman Oaks, where Louise Mel and Robert Patrick lived, just a fifteen-minute drive away.

Before moving, Martin first bought a regular Volkswagen sedan and acquired essential electronics like a laptop and a small video camera.

After several viewings, Martin settled on the apartment.