Chapter 250: Chapter 247 Hollywood Is Too Conservative

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In the midday heat of New York streets, the young Ted had just finished seeing a client and parked his car next to a convenience store to buy a cold cola.

Inside the transparent ice chest, the red cans bore a brand-new pattern.

All of a sudden, the convenience store owner said, "Blue isn't bad either."

"Red is my faith!" Ted declared, opening the ice chest and grabbing a red can, pointing at the new image of Martin on it and saying, "He is my Sect Hierarch!"

Another young customer in the store suddenly said, "Cola Cult, Forever!"

Ted held up the can and replied with the most widely circulated blessing from Martin, "May the world have Coca-Cola."

The store owner muttered to himself that all members of the Cola Cult were a bunch of nitwits brainwashed by Martin Davis.

Ted took out an additional can, paid for his purchase, returned to his car, opened a can, and took a big gulp. In the hot weather, it was a cool relief from head to toe.

He looked at the pattern on the other can, where Sect Leader Martin had changed his style, leaping up in common clothes and tossing out a can of Coca-Cola with his right hand.

Below it was a phrase, "I control my own life!"

Back at the company, Ted logged into MSN during his break and entered the New York Fan Club group, where he noticed someone had posted images.

The two images that greeted him were shocking — Wanted Orders!

The first one: Wesley!

Beneath it was the image of Martin.

Ted picked up the unopened can of cola and found that the image on the wanted poster was almost identical to that on the can, the only difference being that in the wanted poster Martin was holding a gun instead of cola.

The second image: Fox.

The image was that of Angelina Jolie, holding a handgun with an extended magazine.

Certainly, it was movie promotion.

Earlier this year, through a viral marketing sweepstake for "The Hills Have Eyes," Ted had won a chance to attend a premiere. Shortly after returning, he joined Martin's New York fan club, successfully purchased a commemorative Coke, and became a member of the Cola Cult.

The guy next to him swiveled over on his chair and casually picked up the unopened Coke, "Martin's new movie 'Wanted Order' is coming out soon!"

"Go buy your own!" Ted snatched his Coke back and said, "This movie is doing a joint marketing campaign with Coca-Cola."

The guy pointed at the wanted poster on the computer screen, then at the can's pattern, "They've also launched a movie edition Coke."

Ted remarked, "The Coca-Cola Company treats the Sect Hierarch well."

"It's all about commercial interests!" the guy said, "You didn't see their latest earnings report? After signing with Martin, their sales this quarter, thanks to the marketing of the Cola Cult, have increased by seven percent!"

Ted handed him the Coke, "Never mind all that, when it comes out in November, you're treating!"

As October approached, the promotional campaign for "Wanted Order" went into full swing, and the official main poster was released.

Martin and Jolie stood on opposite sides of the poster, with Morgan Freeman, his image shrunk to nearly two-thirds the size, standing behind the two main characters with his usual genial image.

All three stars, each with significant market appeal, appeared on the main poster.

Jolie hadn't returned from Africa yet, but the news about her kept making rounds, particularly on the international news pages.

Photos of her with war refugees.

Photos of her as a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees ambassador.

Articles written by her hand.

They kept appearing in North America's mainstream media.

America also needed someone like her to step forward, and to some extent, Jolie was responding to the mainstream needs of the United States.

The June release of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" garnered over $180 million at the North American box office and over $340 million worldwide, allowing Jolie to make a winning comeback in her main career, drastically increasing her pull.

Actively participating in social affairs, she elevated her status and expanded her influence.

Inside the Warner Bros. Studios post-production sound studio, Martin was wearing a headset, voice acting for several scenes.

"That fatso is the most disgusting boss in the world, making us do repetitive work daily, not even willing to pay overtime. I'm so oppressed, I'm about to explode, it's damn miserable!"

Martin delivered these lines with impassioned sincerity.

Director Leterrier, a Frenchman, called out loudly, "Well said, Martin, I seriously wonder if you've been abused by a boss!"

Martin took off his headset and came out of the recording booth, inquiring, "What did you say?"

Leterrier repeated it.

Shrugging, Martin said, "I've encountered some unscrupulous bosses in Atlanta."

Leterrier matter-of-factly replied, "If it happens repeatedly, you should unite and go on strike. Us French, we're either striking or preparing to strike."

Wryly, Martin remarked, "After all, it's Paris."

Leterrier nodded, "The Parisians are experienced in this area and have traditions."

Curious, Martin asked, "Doesn't the Paris PD crack down?"

"They tend to get surrounded," Leterrier said, not jokingly, "Then they take off their gear and join the strike. The PD is a job too; of course, they have the right to strike."

Martin thought it made a lot of sense.

They ended their workday there and left the sound studio together.

A beautiful French actress was waiting by the door; seeing Leterrier, she embraced him with a hug followed by a fervent kiss.

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Martin was ready to leave.

Leterrier extricated himself from his female companion and introduced her, "My girlfriend Ella."

Ella was tall and her figure was superb. She took the initiative to greet him, "Hi, Martin."

Martin shook hands with her, exchanging a few pleasantries.

A well-known director, like a star, was never short of female company. Martin remembered that at the start of the film, Leterrier's girlfriend wasn't this person, he had changed to a boyfriend during filming, and by the end, it was a girlfriend again.

And now, it seemed, the girlfriend had been updated once again.

Leterrier gave Ella a pat on the back, "Go wait for me in the foyer, I have something to discuss with Martin."

Ella obediently went to the foyer.

Leterrier, with a glance toward Ella's retreating figure, hinted, "What do you think, pretty sexy, right?"

Martin complimented, "You have very good taste."

Originally, he thought the French director was just showing off, but Leterrier's next words were unexpected, "Are you interested in sleeping with her?"

Martin looked at Leterrier as if he had grown another head.

Leterrier was very liberal, "We could share her tonight."

Of course, Martin had to decline such an indecent proposal, "I have a steady girlfriend, and I love her very much."

Leterrier seemed a bit disappointed, "Alright then."

"Let's talk another time." Martin took the initiative to leave.

Bruce appeared from around the corner and followed him.

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Martin went to another meeting room, waiting for Thomas and the people from Warner Bros. to arrive.

Bruce also came in and, seeing no one else in the room, said, "The director seemed pretty disappointed."

Martin reminded him, "You forgot, he's bisexual; he had a boyfriend during the shoot."

Bruce commented, "There are so many people with strange preferences in this circle."

"Fame and fortune amplify people's desires," Martin patted him, then pointed at himself, "We're no different."

But Bruce countered, "It's different, we're not as twisted as they are."

A newspaper lay nearby, and Martin's eyes immediately caught an image of Jolie. He picked it up only to find the "New York Times" had published an article signed by her.

The title was very Jolie.

"The Future: How We Address the Refugee Crisis Will Serve as a Measure of Freedom, Democracy, and Human Rights"

The article listed various data Jolie had gathered from her visits to the Middle East and Africa.

It had to be said, this woman managed to be hailed a saint by the entire American media, not just because of the social environment but due also to her personal marketing efforts.

The door to the meeting room was opened from the outside, and Thomas and Daniel came in together, taking seats.

Seeing the newspaper in Martin's hands, Daniel spoke, "I've communicated with Jolie. She'll come back middle or end of next month. Right now, she's on the phone with Pitt constantly, trying to sustain until she's back in Los Angeles, and then officially announce their breakup."

Martin understood, "By then, there will be a huge flow of attention, and the American media will go into a frenzy once more."

Daniel added, "Jolie has found a very good reason for the breakup. She plans to dedicate all her energy to charity and refugee relief outside of movies and her children, no time to waste on personal feelings."

Martin was certain, Jolie had awakened.

This move would set the liberal media ablaze with praise for her.

Daniel continued, "So the focus of the publicity during this period will be on you."

Martin of course was ready to cooperate actively, "No problem, what's the specific plan?"

"Your romance with Blake Lively is a key point." With the matter concerning Martin's personal life, Thomas chimed in, "I've already had extensive discussions with Blake's agent and her father Ernie. Just wait for Blake to return to Los Angeles, and you two will go public with your relationship. The new project planned by Ernie will also be announced at the same time."

Martin asked, "The moment I pick up Blake from the airport?"

Daniel shook his head, "It's not quite appropriate; the scene is too chaotic, and the photos shot have too many uncontrollable factors."

He elaborated, "The first photo of you two made public must look stunning to capture more attention, so we have planned a controlled street photoshoot."

"Street photoshoot" was never just a random shoot, Martin had understood that long ago, and replied, "Sure, you guys plan the specifics."

Daniel asked, "If you and Blake start living together down the line, please inform the crew in a timely manner."

Choosing the path of a star, Martin was prepared for such things, "I'll inform you at least three days in advance."

The ownership of the photos would, of course, belong to Martin and Blake, and later they would be sold to the media.

These were all standard publicity methods. Daniel provided a detailed plan. Various happenings during the shooting period would also be used for promotion.

For example, Martin humbly learning acting from Morgan Freeman or consulting him on the experiences and techniques of playing various roles, and so on.

Martin thought of something that could be used for promotion, "Next month, my local Cody Community is holding a shooting competition. If I can get a good ranking, it can be reported as well."

"That will work," Daniel nodded, "It fits with the character's profile."

When leaving the studio, Martin ran into fight director Chad. Chad lived on the edge of Malibu, not far from Angel Shooting Club.

Martin simply invited him to practice shooting together over the weekend.