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Sunset Boulevard, Grapevine Estate Bar.
Martin entered the private room on the second floor, where only two people were present, Musk and his new girlfriend Amber Heard.
The room was well soundproofed, and once the door was closed, no noise from outside could be heard.
"Hi, my friend!" Musk got up to greet Martin, opening his arms for a brief hug, "You've finally left the chilly East Coast and returned to sunny Los Angeles."
Martin, seeing three lipstick marks on his face, remarked, "You have a very unique look tonight."
Musk laughed heartily and glanced back, "Amber gave these to ."
Amber waved from behind, "Hi Martin, we et again."
Martin nodded at her and took a seat on a single sofa, opening the bottle of wine he brought, "Try the good wine I've brought."
Amber took the bottle and poured the drinks one by one.
The three of them had a drink together.
Musk was direct in his approach, "The reason I invited you for a drink is to seek your advice on sothing."
Martin put down his glass, "Go ahead and tell ."
"Amber's divorce trial with Depp is about to start soon and will last for several days," Musk said, though he was a scoundrel, he was attentive to his girlfriend, "You've been tangled with Depp for so long, do you have any advice that could help Amber secure more favorable terms?"
Despite the dia's portrayal of Depp's dostic violence, which sided overwhelmingly with Amber Heard, Martin did not believe a word she said.
Nevertheless, he would be pleased to see Depp's misfortune and, after thinking for a mont, only nad one person, "Lily Rose Depp."
Amber took over the conversation, "Depp has done drugs nurous tis in front of his daughter and even induced her, providing her with seaweed, all of which I have recorded!"
Musk instructed her, "Make sure to communicate well with your lawyer, if these can be substantiated, Depp's words will beco less credible in court. How can a person that doesn't care about his own daughter care about anyone else?"
Martin didn't respond further, just poured himself another glass of wine and slowly savored it.
Musk asked again, "Martin, is there anything else you can think of?"
Martin shrugged, "Lawyers are more professional in other aspects."
Musk gestured to Amber, "Go talk to your lawyer then."
Amber wanted to say more, but noticing Musk's expression, she quickly left the private room.
"That woman is very scheming." Musk, being experienced, could clearly see what kind of woman Amber Heard was, "She also has a particularly wild heart."
Martin offhandedly warned, "Careful not to get bitten by the snake you play with."
Musk said, "If the snake doesn't behave, I'll put it in a rocket and shoot it off to Mars."
After a brief pause, he suddenly asked, "What do you think of Amber's looks?"
Martin spoke honestly, "Just in terms of appearance, she's top tier in Hollywood."
Musk questioned again, "Are we good friends?"
Martin casually nodded, "Of course."
"I've been reading entertainnt gossip recently, and it seems like you've gotten yourself a pair of sisters?" Musk, wealthy and idle, couldn't help but gossip, "Next ti I throw a party, will you bring them along?"
Martin regarded the chubby man warily, "What are you up to, Elon? You know, my shooting is very accurate. Blowing soone's head off from 800 ters away is almost as easy for as eating and drinking."
Musk had done his research on Martin and believed him to be one of the most physically formidable billionaires. He hurriedly explained, "No other intentions, just want to play a swap ga. I'm not the type who freeloads. I'll bring Amber Heard and Talulah Riley with ."
He added specifically, "Talulah is not just a beautiful actress, she's also a quantum physics doctoral graduate from the California Institute of Technology."
"Wait!" Martin was sowhat perplexed by this, "If I'm not mistaken, Talulah Riley is your wife."
Musk replied, "She's my ex-wife now, we've divorced."
Martin asked, "A friendly split?"
Musk nodded, "I gave her $16 million. We remained friends after the divorce. She's planning to return to Hollywood, and of all the Hollywood bigshots I know, you're the most dependable..."
"Stop! Stop!" Martin halted Musk, "Your gas are too wild for , I'm more conservative and can't handle that. Let's not talk about swapping Amber and Talulah anymore. I respect a woman's right to choose freely, let's not discuss this matter any further."
Musk shook his head persistently, "I can't believe you're that kind of person."
Martin retorted, "Compared to you, I'm a good man."
"Good guy Martin, do a favor," Musk, seeing that Martin wasn't taking the bait, simply gave up on the price he was prepared to pay and cut to the chase, "I've read reports that you've already reached a collaboration agreent with the 'Interstellar' crew as the lead actor and producer. An interstellar travel movie like this is a perfect fit for my SpaceX as the main sponsor."
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Martin asked, "The main sponsor?"
Musk replied, "I've read the script and I'd like the space station in it to beco a SpaceX base. I talked to Spielberg, and he said that the film's plot and production matters are mainly up to Director Nolan. But I'm not familiar with Nolan, and I've heard he's quite stubborn and conservative. If I can't make a good impression the first ti, it'll be hard to convince him later."
He looked at Martin, "I've specifically found out that you have a very good relationship with Nolan. Tesla will soon go through another round of fundraising, and I've reserved the sa share for you as last ti…"
After thinking for a mont, Martin said, "I can introduce you to Nolan, and if he seeks my opinion, I will support you. But as for the specifics, that's sothing you will need to handle."
In order to promote SpaceX and Tesla, Musk was willing to try various thods. He imdiately said, "No problem."
The two hadn't finished their bottle of wine when Martin took his leave, heading back to Beverly Hills.
Lily and Elizabeth were in Los Angeles, so he would return to Davis Estate every day.
The following morning, after his routine dance and piano practice, Martin t with Jonathan Nolan in Louise's office.
Shortly after, David Fincher also arrived.
The four of them talked for half an afternoon, and they basically reached a tentative agreent on the multiple personality project.
Following Martin's suggestion, the project was officially nad "Split."
Jonathan Nolan would be the principal writer of the script.
"I need about one year's ti to complete the script," Jonathan told Martin. "Aside from two biographies and 'The Crowded Room' script, I also need to talk with Billy himself and the doctors from back then. It would be best to go to Ohio to find the parties involved in the case to get a more detailed understanding."
Martin, who was quite familiar with Jonathan and knew his writing style—a scriptwriter who wasn't prolific but ticulous—imdiately responded, "That's fine. Let's do this, by next September, the script should be finalized."
David Fincher was supposed to produce "House of Cards" for Netflix next year and didn't have ti to direct.
Jonathan said, "I'll have my agent co over to discuss the contract with you."
Once the eting concluded, Martin stood up to shake hands with Jonathan and David Fincher, "Let's keep in touch and communicate promptly if any issues arise."
This was Jonathan Nolan's first work since leaving Christopher Nolan. His goal was very clear: to prove to all of Hollywood that, even without Christopher, he was still a top-tier scriptwriter.
As for directing a work on his own, Jonathan, familiar with the Hollywood machinery, knew not to hurry and needed to take it step by step.
After seeing off David Fincher and Jonathan Nolan, Martin discussed further with Louise.
A golden scriptwriter like Jonathan Nolan would charge no less than 3 million US dollars.
The very top scriptwriters in Hollywood could command a single script fee of 5 million US dollars.
Currently at the pinnacle of Hollywood scriptwriting were Ellen Sorkin and Paul Haggis. The forr was more inclined towards television productions, with "The West Wing" being one of his representative works. "Moneyball," which competed directly with Martin last award season, was also written by him.
Paul Haggis had a bigger reputation. His self-written and directed film "Crash" won an Academy Award for Best Picture, and his subsequent projects as a scriptwriter, including "Million Dollar Baby," "The Last Kiss," "Flags of Our Fathers," "Letters from Iwo Jima," "Casino Royale," "Quantum of Solace," and so on, all provoked strong reactions.
However, the styles of these two didn't suit "Split."
A few days later, Martin gathered the Face Gang to go to Night Color Club for a spa day and invited both Nolan and Musk, taking the opportunity to introduce the two n.
eting in this kind of environnt was conducive to fostering their relationship and trust.
Especially after a spa day which leaves one refreshed, talks about business tend to go more smoothly.
Nolan, a comrcial director with Martin helping out, was not averse to comrcial sponsorship as long as it did not negatively affect the film production too much.
Moreover, with the developnt of computer effects, it has almost completely reversed with large-scale location shooting.
For big production movies, many scenes are vastly more expensive when fild with physical sets, whereas CGI is now often cheaper.
Nolan was a director who insisted on shooting with real locations, and for a film type like "Interstellar," real location shooting ant huge investnts.
Musk was able to offer an 8 million US dollar sponsorship.
Nolan wanted to include this sponsorship in the filming budget rather than the film's revenue.
Specifics still had to be negotiated with several companies together.
After the spa, as they left the building, Musk deliberately lingered behind with Martin.
The jovial big man said, "I have to really thank you for today; when you have the ti, I'll arrange for Talulah and to join you for dinner."
Martin replied resignedly, "Even though you're divorced, you don't need to push your ex-wife on ."
As they walked, Musk continued, "Compared to the weirdos in Hollywood, you're trustworthy. You'd definitely take good care of her."
Martin responded, "Don't forget your commitnt with Tesla. Talulah or whatever, I'm not interested."
Suddenly ca to a realization, Musk slapped his forehead, "I almost forgot; you're interested in other people's wives. Talulah divorced ... How about this, I'll find a chance to remarriage her and then invite you?"
Hearing all this, Martin suddenly rembered a phrase: It's easier for freaks to et other freaks.
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