America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

Brentwood, a famous wealthy neighborhood in Los Angeles.

Martin specifically introduced Thomas, and Craven and Aga also introduced their respective agents.

Then, the three agents were sent off to the banquet hall.

Craven, Aga, and Martin had confirmed their collaboration, letting the agents get acquainted in advance to minimize conflicts later on.

"The outline of the story is almost there," Aga handed Martin a handwritten manuscript, "The character is based on you, we both think we should listen to your opinion appropriately."

Martin quickly scanned the outline: a family on a trip encounters a family of deformed mutants caused by a US nuclear explosion, triggering a massacre.

Due to his involvement, the outline had changed, but he was basically sure it was somewhat similar to "The Hills Have Eyes" he had seen before.

As Hollywood's recognized modern-day horror film godfather, Wes Craven's horror thriller projects are definitely a guarantee of success.

Craven glanced at the time and said, "This place isn't suitable to discuss, let's change to a place that stimulates the mind."

Martin promptly asked, "Wes, do you have a surprise prepared?"

Craven replied, "Definitely something that can get a man's mind active."

Leaving their agents behind, the three got into a car, with Martin taking the driver's seat, and arrived at a strip club per Wes Craven's guidance.

Martin was all too familiar with such places, the only difference being the strippers were female instead of male.

The three arrived early, and the club wasn't very crowded. On several stages, warm-up dancers slowly twisted their sensual bodies.

Craven was generous: "Order whatever you want, I'm picking up the tab tonight." He told the attendant who followed them, "The biggest VIP room upstairs, I've booked it."

The attendant ran back backstage, and after not too long, a dozen high-heeled dancers took to the stage.

Craven chose the youngest one, barely 18 and just old enough for this line of work.

Martin picked a Latin lady with golden-brown skin, wearing leather shorts and a black bra, resembling Jessica Alba from "Sin City."

Aga chose a blonde.

The three went upstairs, entered the largest and most luxurious VIP room, and asked the attendant to adjust the sofas so that three single chairs were arranged in a circle.

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Craven said, "Play some soothing music."

The dancers then came in and started lap dancing in front of their respective guests.

Craven, watching the dancer young enough to be his granddaughter take her top off, found his thoughts becoming more active and said, "I chose nuclear radiation as the story background mainly because this year, the issue of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction has been hotly debated across America, and with the elections coming up, it's bound to be rehashed. It naturally has heat."

Fixated on the swinging headlights, Aga swallowed and said, "My original idea was about voyeurism; a girl goes out, encounters a voyeuristic maniac. The voyeur can't help but harm the girls, and they figure out a way to take revenge."

Martin asked, "Like 'I Spit on Your Grave'?"

"Similar," Aga leaned forward slightly, as if hoping to experience the sensation of headlights crashing on his face, "the extent won't be that large. However, Wes thinks that in addition to voyeurism and overpowering, adding murder can further ignite the male protagonist's flames of vengeance."

The Latin lady on Martin's legs twisted her waist like a snake, slowly unbuttoning her top.

In that situation, Martin couldn't help but take a deep breath; his brain stimulated continuously, his thoughts became even more lively, "Here's an idea, let's add a newborn baby to the protagonist's situation, which also gets snatched by the mutants, and then the protagonist transforms into a mutant and goes on a killing spree."

Craven took out a $20 bill, stuffed it into the girl's shorts, beckoned at her, and said, "That's a good idea, a father willing to risk everything for his child."

Aga, seeing Craven's face rolled over by the headlight and deciding to follow suit, took out the cash from his wallet and stuffed it out, "As for the ending, the protagonist's team gets wiped out... "

He didn't finish his sentence because the headlight rolled over his mouth.

Martin, who was to play this role, said, "Is that a good idea?"

Craven temporarily freed himself from the rolling pressure and said, "Aga, that's the European style. You'll lose your audience that way. In the beginning, the unsuspecting protagonist's family gets ambushed by the mutants. The process of the slaughter has to be brutal: old people killed, wife killed, pets killed, arrange for all of it.

The more brutal the killing, the better to set the stage for a gratifying retaliation later on."

Martin interjected, "How about adding a sexy young girl being overpowered by a mutant? When I did late-night shows, the director... that Benjamin who likes messing with zombies, he said that contrasting beauty with ugly violence can evoke emotions to the greatest extent."

"Baldness and zombies?" Craven couldn't resist making a jab, "That night, I only saw ugliness colliding with ugliness..."

Speaking of that night, Aga still had regrets, "What about the snake woman and the succubus? I ran out of bullets before I got my turn."

The Miss upstairs moved closer to him, almost stuffing herself into his mouth, "With me, you won't have regrets."

As the only serious one among the three, Martin saw the conversation going off-track and hurried to steer it back, "If we add the mutant going around assaulting the young girl, wouldn't that be rated 17+?"

Craven, with his wealth of experience, said, "It's fine as long as you don't film the lower half of the body."

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"Should the mutants have a deformed brother, hook or spike?" Aga, true to his European directorial penchant, was full of artistic subtlety, "Which is better?"

Craven, reminded of his own children, and thinking of Jason and Freddy's weapons, said, "Martin's good at managing these things."

"Don't you guys think this is going off-topic?" Martin pointed out, "Aren't we using our active minds in the wrong place?"

Craven returned to the main topic, "What identity should we choose for the protagonist? A former soldier? A wrestler? A hunter who often goes hunting?"

Martin chimed in, "A Texas redneck? I'm from Georgia. I'm decent with guns, know some combat, and am good at action scenes."

Aga said, "A high school PE teacher, skilled in multiple sports, usually a nice guy."

"I think that's good," Craven asked symbolically, "Martin, what do you think?"

Martin shrugged, "I dropped out of high school."

The Latina approached, "Same here, I dropped out of high school too."

Martin asked, "May I know your name?"

The Latina's headlights swayed in front of him, "Jessie."

Martin saw that Craven and Aga were so overwhelmed they couldn't speak. Being with a freak, you could only be a freak too, otherwise how would you fit in with the group? Left with no choice, he pulled out a US dollar and handed it to Jessie, "Okay?"

Jessie leaned in closer, "You can't talk about this outside, or we'll be in trouble. It's illegal."

The rumbling wheels rolled back and forth over Martin's face.

After a round of dancing, Jessie and her two companions went out for a break, brewing for the next scene.

Martin and the rest continued their discussion.

The main focus was still the male protagonist, which was more in line with Martin's image.

Aga commented, "Usually a nice guy, sunny and cheerful, but once provoked, transforms into a crazy freak. Isn't that just like Martin himself?"

Martin was dissatisfied, "Hey, buddy, Good Guy Martin's reputation is known all over Atlanta! Ever heard of the Methodist Association? They're always grateful to me."

Craven moved on to a more critical aspect, "To move this project forward, we first need to find a reliable production company. You guys might have some money, but as a friend and someone experienced, let me remind you, only fools use their own money to make movies."

Martin said, "Wes, with you involved, are you worried we can't find a production company?"

Craven shook his head, "It's never easy for any director or producer to pull in investments."

Martin remembered his backers, "I should be able to bring in a few million dollars of investment, though I can't be precise about the amount."

Craven asked, "Louise?"

"Not her," Martin was vague, "Investors from Atlanta, you know how it is."

Craven laughed, "That's no big deal, we'll set up a studio and handle the finances separately."

Aga stretched and yawned, "I don't understand all that Hollywood stuff, I'm just in charge of shooting."

Craven said, "We'll have others set up the studio for us. When such an opportunity arises, plenty of people will rush in."

Martin thought of Andrew from Gray Company. Ever since he took the blame for setting up the "Zombie Stripper" studio, he'd been increasingly favored by Kelly.

He brought his thoughts back to the present, "It's settled then, I'll shake people down in Atlanta."

Craven said, "Wait until the first draft of the script and the project plan are out."

Although he was sure that with Wes Craven one step ahead, people would readily fork over cash, Martin decided to go with Craven's pace, saying, "I'll listen to you."

Aga, eager to proceed, suggested, "Shall we start the second round?"

The old but young-at-heart Craven said, "Let's get the second round started. Without enough stimulation, there's no inspiration for work."

Martin also found that such a mindset made him more agile, which was beneficial for boosting work efficiency.

Wanting the approval of his work partners, he naturally had to do the same things.

After the new round of dances, the three workaholics switched partners, and then six more dancers were called in.

By the time the place was closing, the romantic French director Aga left with four.

The lone Martin, along with the equally solitary Thomas, rode away together.

The driver was, of course, Mr. Thomas, the agent as well as chauffeur, who spoke of his conversation with the other two agents, "It's said that your last private party rekindled Craven's interest in horror films. He turned down an offer to direct an action thriller from DreamWorks, ready to work on this horror movie where both the protagonist and the antagonist are freaks."

Martin said, "Working with Craven, the chance of success is higher."

Thomas completely agreed, "Craven's films may not all be blockbusters like 'Scream,' but his horror films have a guaranteed commercial floor. Compared to this project, the roles I showed you during the day are too risky."

He added, "The most critical point is, I don't know how you did it, but that old man Craven really likes you and is willing to let you play the lead. With the others, who can guarantee a successful audition?"

Martin, tapping his head, said, "I still owe Craven a party. I need to think of a way to make it more entertaining."