America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

Beverly Hills Century City, in the lobby of the WMA headquarters, partners including Whitesell and Jim Witt gathered, awaiting the day's protagonist, also a key member of the agency's most important acting clients—Martin Davis.

In the lounge off to the side of the lobby, Thomas personally checked Martin's outfit and said, "Perfect."

A gloomy temperament showed faintly on Martin's face, as if he was weighed down with heavy thoughts.

Thomas stepped back a few paces and said, "I think it's a bit too much."

Martin's brow relaxed slightly, and the stern expression on his face softened a little, "How about now?"

"OK!" Thomas gestured and said, "Just right."

He turned his head and asked, "Old Cloth, what do you think?"

Bruce looked carefully and said, "It's just right now."

"It's already 2008." Martin walked toward the door, "I need to get ready for promoting 'The Dark Knight'."

In Thomas's mind, his client was definitely the most premium of stars, who proactively helped the production attract attention.

Martin waited inside the lounge.

On the temporary stage set up in the main hall, Ari Emanuel walked up to the microphone and said, "At the start of 2008, WMA has come to a crucial moment, reaching an agreement with one of the company's most important clients to continue our partnership."

He raised his voice, "There's a star who, in just four years, went from a fringe actor to an A-lister, soaring from a salary of 100,000 US Dollars to 15 million US Dollars, recognized by industry professionals and critics alike as the representative of the younger generation of skilled actors!

He's received an Oscar nomination, accomplished an artistic leap, starred in four films with North American box office earnings over a hundred million, and his influence among the new generation is unparalleled!"

Ari pointed his hand toward the door of the lounge, "Please welcome Martin Davis!"

Passionate applause erupted on the scene.

Martin left the lounge, waved to the crowd in the hall, and got on the stage.

Taking the microphone, he said, "Thank you for the praise, Ari, you've gone too far."

Having secured enough benefits in the actual contract, Martin didn't mind displaying his sentimental side, "I never thought of leaving WMA, it was the first agency I signed with, Thomas Ryan was the first agent I signed with, accompanying my growth up to this day, and I will continue witnessing glory with WMA."

Thomas stood at the edge of the stage, with the lights shining on his head, reflecting brightly.

Hearing Martin's last words, he moved forward a step, and the obligations of an agent naturally sprang to mind: If Martin left WMA, it would be because he, as his agent, had interfered, souring the relationship between Martin and WMA, and it wouldn't be Martin's fault.

CAA had been in touch with him, and he had used the pressure from CAA to compel the company to agree to incredible terms for Martin.

In the eyes of the company and Ari Emanuel, Thomas had been a traitor to WMA during the negotiations.

But Thomas didn't care.

To this day, as long as Martin continued to work with him, he was a top-tier agent in the industry.

On stage, in the presence of the actors' union representative, Martin signed a new three-year agency contract with WMA.

Exchanging contracts, Martin shook hands with Ari, who, after the handshake, also opened his arms and hugged Martin tightly.

Ari asked with concern, "You don't seem to be in the best spirits?"

Martin nodded, "Been facing some psychological barriers, it's not a big problem."

"Don't ignore it," Ari advised, "See a doctor in time."

The contract signing ceremony, which boosted the company's morale, thus concluded, and there was a celebration lunch at noon.

Martin stepped off the stage, saw Thomas's nearly reflective forehead, and went over to bump fists with him, "Congratulations, partner!"

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Taking the opportunity of Martin's contract renewal, Thomas had also reaped significant benefits, becoming a partner at WMA.

Thomas meant to just smile, but he couldn't stop himself from breaking into a loud laugh.

There was no helping it, the tangible benefits were too substantial and his mood too good, it was impossible to suppress.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

But Thomas's head wasn't in the clouds, he knew where it all came from and said, "In the future, no matter what it is, even if you ask me to take down an enemy like Pitt, just command and I'll do it!"

Martin couldn't help shaking his head and laughing, "We're all law-abiding citizens, how could we do those dirty deeds?"

Thomas said, "A mere metaphor."

Martin said, "Let's go to the hotel together."

Outside WMA, Ari Emanuel gave an interview to reporters, announcing the renewal with Martin.

In the new agency contract, Martin's salary included online profit sharing, and the agency's commission was reduced to five percent.

In the breakdown of offline income, the union-mandated profit-sharing category no longer takes a brokerage cut from WMA. During the one-year window of the film's offline market, Martin's brokerage cut from offline income is 4%, decreasing by 1% each year until it reaches zero.

These are treatments reserved for the superstars.

WMA's agreement to such terms was significantly pressurized by CAA's frequent contact with Thomas, with Ali leading the management team that would never allow a promising star nurtured by them to be poached by CAA.

Furthermore, Martin's commercial appeal is strong enough on its own.

Since its limited release in November, 'The Reader' has expanded from single theater showings to major urban areas including Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago.

In North America, on its first weekend, thanks to numerous seats in independent cinemas, 'The Reader' earned $39,000 at the box office per theater.

Later, as the screenings expanded, although the film had little commercial attribute, thanks to Martin's large fanbase and supporter group, there were always viewers in red Cola Cult T-shirts, filling most of the seats in the theaters.

Most importantly, the film wasn't especially dull; spending a few dollars to see most of Martin's body barring the crucial parts, and nearly bare Kate Winslet in action scene after action scene, was worth the ticket price.

'The Reader's' reputation was very resilient, particularly among Martin's fans.

Many female fans went crazy upon seeing his back and buttocks sculpted like marble, flooding movie websites with rave reviews and high ratings.

As for critics, this kind of subject matter naturally carries the advantage of an extra star in reviewers' eyes.

Today, after 12 weeks of limited release, the film's ratings, both from audiences and the media, are frighteningly high; MTC media average score is 85, while IMDB general audience rating is 8.4.

Good word of mouth, even with the careful operations of the crew and Warner Bros., still reflects market trends and mainstream media opinion.

Entering 2008, 'The Reader' has expanded to 1,566 theaters across North America, with a cumulative gross of $58.89 million.

In terms of individual awards during the awards season, it was almost a trophy harvester.

Kate clinched the Best Actress title at eight different awards, and even Martin, who hardly campaigned in person, pocketed five Best Actor trophies, including the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award.

This was second only to Daniel Day-Lewis's nine trophies.

Moreover, Martin was already shortlisted for the Best Actor nominations by both the Screen Actors Guild and the Producers Guild of America.

At the Golden Globe Awards to be held in January, he also scored a nomination for Best Actor in a Drama.

If it weren't for Daniel Day-Lewis standing in the way, and if Martin didn't know that the old Academy members had a deep fondness for Lewis that could cause endless trouble if spurned, he would have already gone all out for the Best Actor Oscar.

After attending a luncheon at noon, Martin appeared at the latest celebration party for 'The Reader' in the afternoon.

The so-called celebration party was not really to celebrate but served a formal pretext to invite many celebrities for further publicity and public relations.

After all the socializing and networking, even someone like Martin felt a bit worn out.

He finally found a moment to speak with an energetic Kate Winslet.

"After I came back, I first met with Nicholson and Warren Beatty.

I don't have hopes for winning an award; getting the nomination is enough," Martin said, keeping a long-term perspective and thereby not in a hurry, but he reminded Kate because it was different for her, "Blanchett is being neglected by various precursor awards, she didn't even get a nomination from the Screen Actors Guild, there's no threat, this year is your best chance."

"Thank you for taking care of Blanchett in advance for me," Kate appreciated Martin and believed that he, along with Nicholson, had strategized against Blanchett for her sake.

Martin didn't hide his intentions and spoke candidly, "I have no hope of winning an award; the only chance for a significant trophy lies with you. If you win Best Actress, the film will sell better. I've signed a profit-sharing agreement, whether or not you win affects my earnings."

"You've just made the pressure on me even greater," Kate said, massaging her temples, "What will you do if I don't win?"

Martin replied fiercely, "I'll sell you to Africa by the pound!"

Kate was puzzled, "Why by the pound?"

Martin said seriously, "Because it'll fetch more money."

Kate suddenly realized, "Martin, last time you said whether pressing from above or bumping from behind, it all felt especially comfortable. Now you're saying..."

Martin, who had returned yesterday and had been busy with Elizabeth until late at night, said with a hardened tone, "Darling, you need to control your diet."

Kate was so annoyed she didn't want to talk to him anymore.

But Martin could easily spark her interest again, "Blanchett might be out, but don't be careless, especially watch out for the Frenchwoman."

Kate asked, "Marion Cotillard from 'La Vie en Rose'?"

"Yes, her, be wary," Martin, as well as from the news he got from Warren Beatty, thought that Kate surpassed Marion Cotillard in terms of experience, character, performance, and even publicity and reputation, but he remembered the woman had somehow won the Oscar.

Kate nodded, "I'll keep an eye on her."

Oscars can spring surprises in the most unexpected ways, and it has happened before.

"Don't get upstaged; if that happens, no one will sympathize with you, they'll just mock you. The French could launch a new round of their daily British insults," Martin said provocatively, spurring Kate's competitive spirit to increase his share of the profits, "By then, the French might start a new series of daily British ridicule."