Entertainment: Starting as a Succubus, Taking Hollywood by Storm

"Martin, vote for me, and help me campaign for votes, would you?"

Leonardo's sycophantic tone was almost unbearable for Martin.

Sitting up from his beach lounger, Martin gave him a sideways glance and said, "Now you know how to butter me up. Where was this attitude when you were being so stubborn back then?"

"Sigh, youthful arrogance, not knowing my place," Leo sighed deeply, regret plastered all over his face.

"It's too late for regrets now. Those old guys are incredibly stubborn."

"A group of 62-year-old geezers on average—honestly, I don't even like them. They don't like people like us either. Especially seeing us achieve so much at such a young age while they're halfway to the grave. How could they not be jealous?"

"And considering you've offended them before, naturally, they're not going to want to vote for you."

"Look at Robert De Niro. A legend, right? Yet his performance in Taxi Driver didn't win him Best Actor. Once Upon a Time in America didn't even get a nomination. Al Pacino? Another titan. It took him until he was 52 to win Best Actor for Scent of a Woman."

"You, kid? Even with my help, you'd need to wait at least 20 years to get an Oscar!"

Martin's relentless string of disparaging remarks left Leo looking utterly dejected.

Counting on his fingers, Leo did some quick math before exclaiming, "Wait a minute! That means if you want to win Best Actor, you'd need to wait at least 30 years!"

Martin couldn't help but internally ridicule, How do you need to count fingers for such simple math?

Out loud, he said, "I'm different. I've already infiltrated the Academy's inner circle. Plus, I haven't offended them. As long as my performance is stunning enough, I can take Best Actor anytime I want. Age isn't a factor."

"Oh, shit!" Leonardo couldn't help cursing.

But Martin continued, "Don't lose hope, though. I'll put in a good word for you within the Academy. You just need to keep delivering standout performances. They might ignore you once, twice, or three times, but they can't keep ignoring you forever. Show them your sincerity and determination. Those old folks aren't emotionless. You might just move them. Besides—"

"The Oscars are still a commercial show at heart. They're scared of alienating the audience."

"So, I've got an opportunity for you. Do you want in?"

"What kind of opportunity?" Leo asked, immediately intrigued.

He thought Martin's analysis made sense. As long as he kept getting nominated, the Academy couldn't keep him on the sidelines forever. Someday, their consciences might even wake up!

"Brokeback Mountain," Martin replied.

Leo frowned. "That name rings a bell."

"Oh!" He remembered. "Isn't that the controversial novel about gay cowboys? Did you buy the rights to adapt it?"

"Exactly," Martin confirmed. "Eight hundred thousand dollars for all rights."

"Gay cowboys, huh? Won't this affect my public image?" Leo stroked his face thoughtfully.

Martin snorted in disdain. "What image? Look at your filmography. A naive kid with intellectual disabilities (What's Eating Gilbert Grape), a poor guy stealing someone else's fiancée (Titanic), a ruthless gangster (Gangs of New York), a charming con artist (Catch Me If You Can)..."

Leonardo: "..."

Martin wasn't done. "A lovesick dreamer drowning in fantasies (Romeo + Juliet), a masked cross-dresser (The Man in the Iron Mask), a guy hopelessly crushing on someone else's girlfriend (The Beach)—"

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Leo couldn't take it anymore, cutting Martin off mid-sentence. "Fine, fine, I'll do it! Damn it, just shut up!"

Martin burst into laughter but finally stopped talking.

"When's the shoot?" Leo asked.

"Uh-huh!" Martin replied.

"Who's directing?" Leo pressed.

"Uh-huh!" Martin said again.

"Are you going to answer me or not?"

"You told me to shut up, didn't you?"

Murderous intent flared in Leo's eyes.

"Alright, alright. No more jokes. Shooting starts June of the year after next. Ang Lee is directing."

"Year after next? That gives me plenty of prep time. But is Ang Lee the right choice? You mean the guy who made Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon?"

"That's him. We've already worked it out. He's shooting Hulk for Universal in 2003, and he's saving 2004 for me. His directing style is meticulous, perfect for a visually poetic love story like this. Honestly, I don't think Hulk will suit him. His storytelling approach doesn't mesh with pure blockbusters. If he tries to tell too much story, he'll lose."

Martin chuckled as he finished.

Leo immediately understood. "You sly bastard, you're planning to lowball him afterward, aren't you?"

"Why not?" Martin shrugged.

"Fine, fine. Just send me the full script when it's ready. Or I'll have my agent pick it up."

"No need. The script's on my computer. I'll email it to you, and you can print it out yourself."

Leo nodded and switched topics.

"By the way, have you seen Chicago? Oh, Mrs. Douglas is stunning!" Leo said, visibly moved.

"Mrs. Douglas? Oh, you mean Catherine Zeta-Jones. She's a smart and hardworking woman," Martin said.

Leo caught on immediately. Martin's words meant she was also calculating. "Do you know some insider stuff?"

Martin shook his head. Could he tell Leo that Zeta-Jones had to endure Harvey Weinstein's infamous casting couch, even after marrying Michael Douglas? He'd witnessed it himself through his magical surveillance spells, and despite Zeta-Jones's beauty, the sight had been stomach-churning. Mainly because Harvey was just... repulsive.

Still, Zeta-Jones had no beef with him, so Martin didn't feel like gossiping.

Smoothly changing the subject, he said, "Have you seen her in Entrapment?"

Leo took the bait. "Of course! That scene with the laser grid was incredible. She didn't show much, but those curves, that graceful movement—"

Leo even paused to audibly swallow before continuing, "It's the stuff of dreams. And that scene where she's lying on the bed under a silk sheet? My heart almost stopped!"

Martin gave him a disdainful look. What a simpleton.

"If you really want to admire her figure, check out Blue Juice and The Darling Buds of May. Especially the latter—it was her debut, directed by the French. You know what that means."

"Oh?" Leo perked up. "Hold on, let me note this down."

He whipped out his phone. "Blue Juice and... what's the other one?"

"The Darling Buds of May."

"Got it."

Leo saved the titles in his phone, determined to look them up as soon as he got back.

[GodOfReader: Should i just skip the acting part of Brokeback Mountain? For me, i don't really have a problem with the kissing scene of that film. Since i haven't seen it.]