American Fame and Fortune

 Chapter 61 The Middleman

 Gray Film and Television Company has been busy for nearly two weeks. Benjamin Galvin received the preliminary budget for "Zombie Gigolo".

"1.2 million US dollars?" Benjamin almost collapsed when he saw this number: "I told the boss that it can be done with up to 1 million US dollars."

Prowse, the leader of the budget team, said: "Ben, you require the service to be online, stunts, and a lot of action scenes. It takes four months from pre-preparation to completion of post-production, so that you can catch up with this year's Savannah." Film Festival, $1.2 million cannot be less.”

 Benjamin sat down on the chair: "It's impossible for the boss to give the green light."

Prowse whispered: "There is another way to shoot according to the old model and make a late-night drama."

"Late-night movies? I'm fed up with stupid late-night movies!" Benjamin stood up immediately: "What I want to make is a theatrical movie, a movie that can be shown in theaters, even if it is only shown in Georgia."

Prowse said: "There is nothing I can do unless you can get investment from the outside."

Benjamin threw the budget report on his desk: "Where can I attract investment? Should I sell my butt?"

 Prowse picked up the budget report: "There is only one way, find a way to convince the boss."

Benjamin was silent, waiting until Prowse left, then picked up the phone and dialed Martin's number: "Martin, it's me, Ben, how are you doing over there?"

Martin said: "Kelly will return to Atlanta tomorrow, and there are some things that must be discussed in person."

 Benjamin asked: “How sure are you?”

 At the bar, Martin put down the newspaper in his hand and said, "Director, is there something new?"

 “The preliminary budget is out.” Benjamin was as weak as a man after a loss: “At least 1.2 million US dollars are needed.”

It was a little less than the US$1.5 million estimated by Martin. He paused for a moment, giving Benjamin a very embarrassed feeling, and then said after a while: "Let's all think of a solution."

Benjamin said: "That's all."

 Martin put away his cell phone, the music in the bar was soothing and melodious, and Elena stood behind the bar, talking softly to the middle-aged female boss.

 The middle-aged female boss had tasted a few glasses of wine made by Elena and recognized her level.

 Not long after, Elena came over quickly: "Tell you something special..."

She quickly changed her words, removing the curse words that she often talks about every day, and using words as civilized as possible: "Mary has decided to hire me. The salary is $7 an hour, and the tips are personal. I can go to work today."

"Congratulations." Martin stood up and hugged him hard: "I'm right, you can definitely do it!"

Elena kissed him hard: "You taught me well."

 Martin let go of his hand and asked her to sit down: "You have mastered all the flavors of paper airplanes. If anyone asks, just say that you invented the recipe. If someone wants to buy the recipe, you can sell it."

Elena said: "The paper plane is yours."

 Martin shook his head: "It's of no use to me, but it's useful to you. Elena, I looked carefully. You have more talent in bartending than me. Don't waste this talent. Paper airplanes can help you become famous in this industry."

Just like expansion screws and penicillin, these things are only valuable if they are used.

 Martin’s goal was not to be a bartender either.

Elena is not a coy person: "Okay." She suddenly winked: "I will reward you well when you go back."

 Martin tore off a corner of the newspaper, folded it into a delicate paper airplane, and handed it to Elena: "This is for you."

Elena took it, saw customers at the bar, and said, "I'm going to work."

Martin picked up the newspaper and continued reading. The focus section of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution was full of news about the DEA and APD's anti-drug campaign.

 They launched a heavy attack in Nancheng, destroying dens one after another and arresting many **** dealers.

The phone vibrated, and Martin took it out. It was Bruce's call. He connected and asked, "Are you here? I'm at Bishui Bar, a clear bar. I'll buy you a drink."

Bruce and Monica entered the bar together.

 The latter stayed at the bar, ordered a glass of wine and talked to Elena. Bruce came over and sat across from Martin.

 Martin ordered two glasses of wine and two plates of dried fruits, and asked, "Are you going to work normally?"

Bruce stared at Martin: "What kind of **** are you going to do again?"    In the entire Atlanta, apart from Elena and her sister, the one Martin can trust the most is Old Bruce. He said appropriately: "There is a deal, and the two of us will be the middlemen. ?”

Bruce was very happy: "Tell me who to do it with."

Martin was helpless: "Old Bu, we are good people and civilized people. Don't just mess with people." He asked cryptically: "You, a scavenger, besides messing with people, what else can you do?"

Bruce understood what Martin was asking, but did not answer. Instead, he asked: "Do you eat avocado? This thing is extremely popular in the United States, and the price is rising year by year. It relies heavily on imports from Mexico, but it is not easy to get an import license. "

 Martin didn’t understand avocado, but he understood Bruce’s words and said, “I want to lobby Vincent to invest in movies.”

 Bruce frowned: "Vincent may not accept it."

 Martin also wanted to talk to Kelly and said, "I'll go see Vincent in two days."

Bruce said: "The **** about the club can't be hidden from you, you stinking piece of shit, but I won't help you with this matter. You know where Vincent is and you can go see him at any time."

 Martin said no more, changed the subject directly, and talked to Bruce about other things.

 …

At Atlanta International Airport, Erica, Julia and Kelly Gray walked out of the exit with their respective assistants.

　　People from the ATL Free Association have already been waiting here to pick me up.

Kelly saw Martin at a glance, just nodded slightly, and sent Erica and Julia into their respective cars to leave.

 Martin took the luggage from Kelly and helped Ella put it into the trunk of the BMW.

Getting in the car, Kelly asked: "Why are you here."

  Martin showed his ID on his chest: "I am a formal member of the Free Association. Isn't it part of my job to pick up the vice chairman at the airport?"

Kelly felt that the way he spoke was not right: "What's wrong with your accent?"

“Practice Hollywood pronunciation every day,” says Martin.

 The two chatted for a while, and the car soon arrived at Kelly's apartment in the city center.

 Martin carried her luggage and sent her up.

　　After entering the door, Kelly kicked off her high heels, lay down on the sofa, and stretched out: "It's better to be comfortable at home."

 Martin walked to the wine cabinet: “Would you like a drink?”

"I'm not a female drunkard." Kelly tilted her head and looked at Martin, and asked, "I'm surprised that you didn't go to Los Angeles with that female pervert."

 Martin went over, sat next to Kelly, took out a USB flash drive and handed it to her: "Louise left it for you, suggestions on the transformation of the automobile production center. She said you know the encryption password."

 Kelly sat up and put away the USB flash drive: "This **** has a conscience."

 Martin looked hesitant: "There is one more thing. Director Benjamin asked me."

Kelly reacted very quickly: "He asked you to lobby for zombie gigolos?"

"Yes, he did say that." Martin was between Benjamin and Kelly, and of course his **** was sitting on Kelly's side: "The minimum budget made by the budget team was as high as 1.2 million US dollars."

Kelly nodded slightly: "The investment is too high."

Martin said: "When you were in Washington, Benjamin called me several times. I didn't know how to reply, so I asked Louise specifically. She discussed with me a topic you mentioned last time."

 Kelly asked: "What topic?"

 Martin lowered his voice: "You told Louise last time that you would rather cooperate with money launderers."

Kelly's attitude was similar to Louise's: "I thought it was a big deal, but it turned out to be this." She asked, "What, can you find the funds?"

 Martin nodded: "After you said it last time, I paid attention to it, and I had some clues."

 (End of this chapter)