America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz-Chapter 921 - 863 Nolans New Project_2
Chapter 921: Chapter 863 Nolan’s New Project_2
Chapter 921: Chapter 863 Nolan’s New Project_2
…
Warner Bros. Studios, “Interstellar” studio.
Martin, Nolan, Annie-Hathaway, and Jessica Chastain, dressed in formal attire, stood in front of a black backdrop, allowing a photographer from “Time” to take pictures.
This sci-fi blockbuster was scheduled to premiere in mid-July, with three major production companies, DreamWorks, Paramount, and Warner Bros., going all-in on promotion. The barrage of TV and internet advertisements touted it as “a poetic journey through space and time,” among other promotional hype.
As for the actual behind-the-scenes footage, it was an essential part of the marketing for every Nolan film.
Things like planting hundreds of hectares of corn and using his daughter’s name as the film’s codename were typical marketing ploys by Nolan.
Warner Bros. had contacted “Time” magazine, arranging for Martin, Nolan, and the other four main creators to be featured on the cover of the July issue of “Time.”
The photographer kept pressing the shutter button, then politely asked Nolan and Martin to change positions, moving from the sides to the center, and continued shooting.
After the photographs, there was a brief interview.
Martin, Nolan, Annie-Hathaway, and Jessica Chastain sat under the studio lights, engaging in a mutual praise session and leaking some “secrets” about the production.
For stars and directors, such activities were basic promotional skills, especially since the production team had prepared the scripts in advance.
The group was busy until late afternoon before they finished their work.
Martin headed to the dressing room to change, and as he approached the door, Jessica Chastain came up from behind.
“Do you have time tonight?” Being in Hollywood, the hardworking sister had become accustomed to such inquiries, “Martin, it’s been a long time since we spent the night together.”
With his official girlfriend not currently in Los Angeles, Martin certainly would not refuse such an invitation, “You know my room at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, where shall we have dinner together tonight?”
Perhaps because of her overly pale skin, Jessica Chastain’s face always seemed a bit flushed, “Sure, I’ll be there before seven.”
She winked at Martin and entered her own makeup room.
Martin opened the door to change and remove his makeup, and just as he had changed back into his casual clothes, there was a knock at the door.
His bodyguard went to open the door, and there stood Annie-Hathaway, dressed in a skirt suit, stockings, and high heels.
Martin said, “Come in and take a seat.”
Annie entered the room, sat on a chair with her legs together, and her hands in front of her lower abdomen, looking very much like a lady.
She glanced at Martin across from her, feeling a surge of regret that made her head spin uncomfortably.
Seeing her put on this demure ladylike appearance without speaking, Martin took the initiative, “Annie, do you need something?”
Annie’s lips pressed into a line, first showing a charming smile, then she said, “These past two years, you’ve helped me a lot. Can I take you out to dinner tonight?”
Martin thought of Jessica Chastain.
Seeing he did not respond immediately, Annie quickly added, “Martin, you have to give me a chance to express my gratitude.” She clasped her left breast, “Otherwise, I’ll always feel uneasy.”
Martin considered for a moment, then said directly, “Jessica also asked me to join her tonight, and I’ve promised her we would go to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.”
Annie was well aware that Martin’s long-term suite was at this hotel, and she also knew about Jessica Chastain’s numerous affairs with Martin.
The purpose of asking Martin out tonight was obvious.
Annie asked, “Can I come along?” She looked toward the wall separating the dressing rooms, “I’ll speak with Jessie; she probably won’t refuse.”
Martin glanced at the time, “Director Nolan is looking for me, it’s about time, I need to head over now. If it’s okay with you guys, let’s meet at seven tonight at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.”
“Sure, I’ll go talk to Jessie.” Annie stood up and went next door.
Martin picked up his belongings, left the dressing room, and headed to the director’s office.
Nolan was waiting for him, smiling as he said, “I have good news for you.”
Martin sat down on the couch next to him, “Are presales high?” His compensation included a tiered share of the box office, “I hope the presales could reach 50 million US dollars.”
“Currently, there are only 18.5 million US dollars in presales,” Nolan was well aware of the film’s market prospects, “This is an original hard science fiction film; it can’t explode at the box office like your ‘Speeding Chase 3’.”
Martin agreed, “That was the finale of a trilogy, and the first two films had built a solid audience base.”
The market faced by original films, especially at their openings, was far narrower than that for adaptations and sequels.
Nolan said, “If this film can achieve half the North American box office of ‘Speeding Chase 3,’ that would be sufficient.”
Martin, with a smile, said, “I think 300 million US dollars won’t be a problem.” He then asked, “What was the good news you mentioned?”
Nolan simply stated, “Steven Spielberg and I invited many directors from the industry, including Ridley Scott, James Cameron, George Lucas, David Finch, and others, to a private internal screening.”
He added, “You were also supposed to be invited, but you were in Hawaii at the time. The screening went well, they all rated the film highly.”
It was the first time Martin, who had collaborated with Nolan many times, had organized a private screening with many of his peers.
He immediately grasped the key point in Nolan’s words and asked, “Chris, are you planning to push ‘Interstellar’ for the Oscars?”
Nolan responded, “Yes, I have already communicated with the production team, aiming mainly for three nominations: Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Film.”
Martin had long achieved fame and fortune, and so had Nolan, but he lacked something crucial compared to Martin: recognition from major awards.
Nolan had never won an Oscar, never received one of the three big European film awards, and not even a British Academy Film Award.
Although lacking these awards did not affect his standing, something was still missing.
Nolan directly asked, “Regarding PR and marketing, do you have any specific advice?”
“Not at the moment,” responded Martin, who hadn’t really considered these aspects. “Just the standard PR and marketing should suffice, given our reputations, getting nominated shouldn’t be hard.”
He honestly added, “Winning, however, might be more challenging.”
Nolan was prepared for this and said, “Let’s aim for nominations this time, I will give my all for awards in my next film.”
Martin wasn’t surprised, only asking, “Do you have a new project?”
Nolan opened his office drawer, took out a thin script, and handed it to Martin, “The synopsis and settings, I just wrote them.”
Martin took it, glanced at the cover, which read a place name—Dunkirk!
Nolan explained, “This is an ensemble film, the main characters are all British, there are no significantly weighty roles.”
Martin understood his intention, briefly flipping through the synopsis, and said, “This doesn’t really suit me, you should indeed use British actors.”
This was a film that in a previous life had broken his perceptions of Hollywood and Nolan’s film filters, other aspects need not be mentioned—the beaches of Dunkirk, cleaner than if licked by dogs, were simply absurd.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.
One would think, unaware, that the British had knocked down the Germans and then went home.
The decline of Hollywood films wasn’t without reason.
Nolan continued, “Winning an Oscar with a sci-fi movie is too difficult, a film adapted from real events is more to the taste of the Oscars.”
Martin nodded, “Indeed, the Dunkirk evacuation is world-renowned, almost as famous as the Normandy landings, naturally attracting attention.”
Nolan stated, “I intend to focus this film on humanitarian care and civilian rescue, rather than the grand evacuation itself.”
Martin remembered this as a great escape by the British after appeasement failed and knew little about other aspects, so he didn’t comment much.
In comparison, he thought the key to World War II in Europe was Stalingrad, on the Eastern Front under the former Soviet Union.
But this world’s narrative was controlled by the Western world, ultimately, it was the American soldiers who saved everything.
Martin discussed Oscar campaigning with Nolan but had no comments on his new project.
After chatting for more than an hour, Martin left Warner Bros. Studios and went to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
World War II, East versus West, and related topics quickly slipped from his mind.
Martin enjoyed the present.
