America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

Los Angeles, the Face Gang's headquarters at the Night Color Club's VIP room.

Leonardo, Nicholson, and Wes Craven had just finished a round of face cleansing services, comfortably leaning on their individual sofas, savoring the soft and slippery sensation.

"It always feels like something's missing," Nicholson said.

Wes Craven seemed to be asleep and didn't speak.

Leonardo continued, "It's missing the most bastardly of the creeps."

Taking advantage of the worst one being absent, Nicholson asked, "Martin has screwed with you, and he's screwed with me, but we haven't really screwed him over, have we?"

Leonardo replied, "We have, but not successfully."

Nicholson suggested, "Next time he's with another woman, we should set off some fireworks on him and watch him tear apart!"

"Great idea!" Leonardo agreed first, then furrowed his brows, "But that guy doesn't do it outdoor; if not at home, then he's at a five-star hotel, which is difficult to mess with.

Nicholson said, "We'll trick him into coming out!" He asked, "What's that guy doing now?"

Leonardo pointed eastwards: "New York, his new film's premiere is today."

Nicholson recalled, "'Limitless'?"

Wes Craven then opened his eyes and said, "This film is particularly important for Martin."

Leonardo confirmed, "That's right, this is Martin's first real test as a box office lead. I saw Warner's screening, Aniston is at best a supporting actress, Martin is absolutely the protagonist."

Everyone present was an old hand in Hollywood and understood the significance of such a film for a leading actor.

Wes Craven added, "If this movie is a big hit, Martin's career will advance further, stepping firmly into the A-list."

"If the box-office fails, it proves he can't carry it on his own," Nicholson took over, "For Martin to become a megastar or a superstar, the road will be much bumpier, or he may never get over that hurdle."

Leonardo recalled something he'd read in the newspaper: "There's been heavy snow recently in New York, the entire northeast might face days of continual snow, which could affect the local box office."

Wes Craven said, "As long as the film has enough pull, these won't be problems."

........

In Long Island, New York, Christian Bale walked with an umbrella over a path that had just been cleared of snow, arriving at a standalone house and shaking the snow off his umbrella.

The falling snow had piled up into a mound.

The door opened from the inside, and Michel Williams breathed out a big cloud of white air, "Come in quickly, the snow is falling heavily, and you still came over."

Bale entered, placing his umbrella in a cardboard box by the wall and taking off his coat to hang it up, then asked, "Where's Heath?"

Michel said, "He's upstairs in the study watching the snow."

Bale inquired about his recent condition.

"He hasn't been to the support group for a while, I suspect..." Michel sighed, a tear gleaming in her eye, her hand wiping her eye, "he doesn't know how to carry on, and neither do I."

Bale squeezed Michel's shoulder, "Once his career picks up, his mood will improve, and he won't focus on this anymore."

Michel led Bale into the living room, "After the huge fight with Martin Davis and Jennifer Aniston, everyone knows what he did on set, and there aren't many crews willing to hire him."

Drug abuse isn't rare in Hollywood, and actually, few people care, but when it happens on set, and if high he almost hits another celeb actor, who would hire him? Who would take the risk next time?

"I'll figure something out." Bale was very loyal to his friend, and didn't distance himself from Heath Ledger after last year's incident, but instead helped him climb out of the low point continuously.

He pointed upstairs, "I'll go talk to Heath."

Upstairs, entering the study, Heath Ledger stood inside the balcony, watching the falling snowflakes outside.

Bale took a quick look and noticed that after a short-lived weight gain during withdrawal, he had thinned down again, his complexion as white as the snow outside.

"Not planning to work anymore?" Bale asked.

Heath turned around with a strained smile, "It's not that I don't want to go, but no one will hire me."

He glanced at the newspaper on the desk, "The last incident ruined me."

Bale walked over from the other side of the desk and saw the photo on the newspaper, Martin Davis's new film holding its premiere in New York today.

At that moment, Bale thought of Pine Forest Film Studio, subconsciously spread his legs, feeling something unusual in a certain place.

Although the police announcement named Nicholson and Strip as the culprits, Bale always felt that that incident was connected to Martin Davis.

Those three bastards showing up together at Pine Forest Film Studio had to be related.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Bale joined Heath Ledger by the window, "I hope this heavy snow lasts till the weekend, with even lower temperatures when it melts."

Heath nodded lightly, "It would be best if everyone can't leave their homes, and if malls and theaters close down."

Perhaps at one point he truly felt he was wrong and his mindset became more peaceful, but from last year to now, being constantly unable to find work, and relapsing after attempting to quit, had greatly affected his mental state.

Heath said, "The weather is terrible, so no one is buying tickets to see Martin Davis's new film."

Bale had asked around inside Warner, and the film had received great feedback from test screenings. It seemed that only terrible weather could stand in the way of this film's box office success.

"Let's not talk about that jerk," he changed the subject. "I've got a role here, part of a Warner project. I'll be playing opposite you, and they're starting to shoot this year. The director is Nolan, whom I've worked with a few times. If you're interested, I'll strongly recommend you to him."

This rare display of friendship revitalized the despondent spirit of Heath Ledger, who asked, "Warner Bros. would use me?"

Bale replied, "They want me to continue playing Bruce Wayne, to star in the sequel to Batman, and of course, I have some conditions."

As the lead actor in a sequel project, one has a certain degree of leverage.

"Thank you, Chris," Heath Ledger knew well how rare this opportunity was for him: "I will definitely seize this chance, land the role, and turn around the industry's perception of me."

Bale patted his shoulder, encouragingly saying, "I believe in you."

......

At the Metropolitan Theater, Ted was completely absorbed in the movie.

Around him, all his companions were no different.

Ted didn't know why, but the film had a special ability to make one identify with the characters, immersing viewers so deeply that they felt as if they were the down-and-out protagonist with life hacks.

Starting off impoverished, the protagonist stumbles upon a smart drug. After taking it, he's transformed, completing his writing assignments with ease, earning his first payment, investing in stocks with his powerful data analysis and information-gathering abilities, and easily making his first fortune.

Moving in high society, wooing women, bluffing his way through anything—every piece of knowledge he ever learned was clear in his memory, able to pick up a new language or skill in just one day.

Even though the smart drug had side effects, the protagonist, in his moments of lucid alertness from the drug, didn't just enjoy making money, he also remembered to invest and hire people to research the drug, even personally studying chemistry and biology to work on it himself.

Along the way, he encountered various antagonists, such as gang members who wanted a share of his success upon seeing it or tycoons who also used the smart drug.

The protagonist always managed to outsmart and outmaneuver them with the intellect and agility from the drug.

Even against Wall Street tycoons, the protagonist could hold his own.

Ted felt like he was that protagonist, as if life was a game with cheats enabled, clambering upwards, living out a dream life.

The movie was like a daydream, and "Limitless," this particular daydream, had an even greater sense of immersion.

Audience members felt that the Martin on the big screen was them, as they watched the main character cheat his way up the ladder, experiencing a uniquely satisfying thrill.

"Limitless" lacked deep plotlines, explorations of human nature and life, philosophical discourse, or high art, yet it captured the daydreams of countless people.

Such a wish-fulfilment dream of a life taking off was something every spectator in the room, including the wealthy ones, had imagined countless times.

Alan Green's original novel tells the plight of a man, that is, the male protagonist.

But the film's script, according to Martin's thinking, was completely different.

The storyline of the movie was closer to the web novels that Martin had read in his previous life.

The taste of America's mainstream audience isn't superior to that of any other market; popcorn movies also originated from North America and have endured over time.

Explore more at empire

Not to mention the scatological comedies that could only become popular in North America.

This kind of daydream-like satisfaction is more likely to evoke empathy.

Martin's plan and goal were straightforward—for the average viewer, there was no need to think about anything complicated. Just get emotionally immersed in the movie, and feeling exhilarated is enough.

As for what critics might discern from it, Martin couldn't guess, for their thoughts aren't like ordinary people's.

Perhaps they could interpret deep thoughts the screenwriter and director never considered.

Kelly Gray and Louise were sitting in the second row. As the credits rolled, Kelly said, "This film is great, although I'm a woman, many of the things portrayed in it are things I fantasized about during my teen years..."

Louise nodded gently, "Me too."

Daniel from Warner Bros. chimed in from beside them, "Everyone wants to be the protagonist!"

Louise asked, "Have you also thought about these things?"

"Yeah," Daniel smiled, "From being an ordinary guy to quickly becoming a billionaire and a genius, enjoying life to the fullest, effortlessly navigating among the big shots, even controlling them."

Thunderous applause suddenly erupted from the ordinary viewer seating area, mixed with cheers of approval.

At the front row, the main creators of the crew collectively stood up. Martin first embraced Aniston, then high-fived Boyle, and shook hands with the rest of the key crew members.

The audience continued to applaud, full of enthusiasm.

Under the leadership of director Boyle and Martin, the main creators of the crew stepped onto the stage in front of the screen to take a bow.

After three curtain calls, the applause still didn't cease.

Hearing the enduring applause, the heavy snow weighing on Louise's heart suddenly stopped. She said, "Even if the box office in the Northeast isn't good, this movie won't flop."

Daniel agreed, "New York's heavy snow can't stop this movie's box office!"