America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz-Chapter 793 - 786 Finch’s Blessing or Curse

Time has a way of healing wounds, and more than a month after the premiere gun shooting incident, things began to calm down, with almost no related commentary seen in the media, and in Hollywood, it had become a thing of the past.

Thanks to Vin Diesel, "The Dark Knight Rises" had already surpassed 450 million US dollars at the North American box office.

But now, the movie drawing the most attention wasn't this Batman installment, but rather "Escape from Tehran," which had run a trailer as a pre-movie advertisement.

With one month until it hit North American theaters, "Escape from Tehran" started its intensive promotional campaign.

Although the scale of its marketing wasn't on par with Batman, Disney Studios still invested heavily.

From the top five North American television networks, to the four major newspapers, to the top three social media platforms, one could see the figure of Martin, playing the lead role of Tony Mendez, everywhere.

Apart from television, trailers were also heavily promoted on the internet, through YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram.

This was a film about individual heroism, and the movie's main poster, which was a solo poster of Martin's character, was ubiquitous in urban commercial areas and across both new and traditional media.

"Escape from Tehran" also had a particularly eye-catching advertising slogan.

"Adapted from a real CIA case!"

"The most bizarre rescue operation in CIA history!"

"Six hostages trapped in Tehran, one CIA agent plans a mind-blowing ruse, deceiving the whole world to save them."

Alongside the character in the movie's main poster, Martin's Tony Mendez, there was also a corresponding promotional slogan—rescue mission imminent!

Ever since the film began shooting last year, the year's rescue incident had been fully exposed in the media, and the so-called ruse planned by a Hollywood film crew to rescue trapped personnel had piqued immense curiosity.

Tony Mendez naturally became a person of interest for the media.

The retired legendary agent was enjoying the sensation of being a celebrity, and the CIA also urgently needed an outstanding spokesperson.

Martin, David Fincher, and Tony Mendez also appeared together on "The Helen Show," where they shared the unbelievable rescue from the past and talked about the film adaptation.

The trio engaged in mutual business promotion on the show, each praising the other as paragons in their respective industries.

Since this was David Fincher's last assault on the Oscar for Best Director, he was no longer as silent as before; instead, he actively cooperated with the film crew's publicity efforts.

Over the years, David Fincher had also garnered a fan base that appreciated his dark style.

After the show ended, Helen found Martin for a private chat.

"I wanted to have you on the show after the last shooting incident, but you declined," Helen gossiped, "Did something happen?"

Martin shook his head, "Nothing special. So many people died, I was in a bad mood, and it wasn't suitable to say anything at that time. In the media's interpretation, whatever you say would be wrong. Better to keep silent."

"That's true," Helen smiled faintly, "Not every media outlet is as reliable as my talk show."

The most reliable among the media journalists Martin knew were Jody and Helen.

They almost never reported fake news.

Only occasionally did they create some real news.

The three of them left the Warner Television Network's studio, first dropped Tony Mendez off at his hotel, then went to Disney Studios.

In the car, apart from Bruce, there were only Martin and David Fincher.

David Fincher said, "Has Disney Studios talked to you?"

Martin replied, "They've talked to me, the main targets for this film's award push are Best Director and Best Picture."

He added another sentence, "I've been in touch with the White House, and they've confirmed Guanhai will watch the film, this politically tinted movie matches his interests very well."

David Fincher was impressed, "You're now the industry's number one expert on award campaigns."

"Not at all, I'm just giving it a try," Martin knew that the outcomes for Oscar campaign experts were not great, not to mention Harvey Weinstein.

In a previous life, Megan Ellison campaigned for awards until her company went bankrupt.

David Fincher knew that Guanhai viewing the film was influential; an Oscar wasn't just about the quality of the movie—there were many factors that influenced the awards, and politics was undeniably one of them.

The vast majority of Hollywood supported the Donkey Party to which Guanhai belonged.

That afternoon, Martin and David Fincher attended the test screening of "Escape from Tehran."

Including media, critics, and cinema managers, hundreds of people were full of praise for the film after the screening.

The cinema managers even gave the movie an average grade of "A."

In the past two years, through resource integration and the production of several films that received an outstanding market response, Disney Studios' distribution business made rapid progress.

Following the test screening, Disney Studios' distribution department sprang into action and soon there was good news—come October, "Escape from Tehran" would open in 3,850 theaters across North America.

Afterward, Martin also participated in a brand-new form of promotion, doing an online video interview on Twitter.

One promotional event followed another, and Martin and David Fincher started a routine of shuttling between the airport, hotels, and press engagements from Los Angeles to New York on the East Coast.

In addition, Disney Studios, David Fincher, and Martin sent out many invitations.

On Martin's side, Leonardo and Nicholson confirmed their attendance.

Elon Musk took the initiative to call and asked for three invitations.

Many old white men, including Academy President Tom Sherak, also received invitations co-sent by Martin, David Fincher, and Warner Studios president Ellen Horn.

Hollywood's environment and political correctness had been changing over the years, but it wasn't time for the old white men to exit the stage of history yet.

Those monster and ghost-related films would have to wait a few more years before they could dominate the Oscars.

In October, Disney Studios held a grand premiere for "Escape from Tehran" at the Chandler Pavilion of the Los Angeles Music Center.

The premiere followed the usual pattern with red carpets, interviews, etc., but the production team made meticulous arrangements. For the sake of publicity, they not only invited Tony Mendez himself to the event but also went to great lengths to find the hostages he had rescued back in the day or their descendants.

When these individuals stepped on the premiere's red carpet alongside Tony Mendez, all the media journalists present turned their attention to them.

The very use of a Hollywood production team for a fraudulent rescue had a legendary quality to it.

Thanks to the vigorous promotion by the production team and Disney Studios, this event had become a model for international rescue, a true legend.

And Tony Mendez had been shaped into a hero by the joint forces of Disney and the CIA.

This group gathered in front of the Chandler Pavilion for a group photo.

Around them, security personnel were on high alert.

Because on both sides of the red carpet, hundreds of clowns painted with ghastly white makeup and exaggerated smiles had gathered.

The Los Angeles Police Department also dispatched additional patrols on site, unlike the perfunctory presence at "The Dark Knight Rises" premiere.

As guests continued to walk the red carpet, the atmosphere became increasingly lively.

When this year's rapidly rising star Elon Musk walked the red carpet with his girlfriend Amber Heard and his ex-wife Talulah Riley at the same time, countless fans and media reporters were shocked.

A reporter from "People" magazine muttered, "The rich really know how to live it up."

A TMZ reporter said, "I heard he's good friends with Martin. Why are all of Martin's male friends such playboys?"

A "Vanity Fair" reporter added, "Probably can't enter Martin's circle without having five or six beautiful lovers."

Everyone around nodded in agreement, finding the comment reasonable.

These damned rich people lived too lavishly, taking away all the good resources.

Ordinary people could only look on with envy and resentment.

A black Escalade stopped in front of the red carpet, and Bruce was the first to exit the vehicle, scanning the area with a vigilant gaze before opening the rear car door.

Martin pocketed his cell phone after hanging up; Robert had just texted him that the arrangements were in place.

Exiting the car, he smiled for the cameras and strode forward amidst the flashing lights.

Many clowns had gathered on both sides of the red carpet. Upon seeing Martin, it was as if they had seen the god of their faith.

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Martin simply waved at them, then entered the Cola Cult area for the customary autographs and shared a toast with Coke.

Amidst the cheers, Martin entered the media zone in front of the Chandler Pavilion, gave a brief interview with the on-site host, and then joined the other production crew for a photo in front of the sponsor's billboard.

After the group photo, David Fincher walked toward the entrance hall, glanced at both sides of the red carpet, and said, "Good thing nothing happened."

Martin replied, "Can't always run into crazies and psychopaths."

David Fincher gave him a deliberate look but said nothing.

Martin helplessly said, "Don't lump me in with those people."

"But they are indeed learning from you," David Fincher joked for a change, "I've worked with Jodi Foster and heard her stories about Hinckley. Be careful you don't meet a female version of him one day."

Martin laughed, "David, is that a blessing or a curse?"

David Fincher asked, "Could that even be considered a blessing?"

Martin shrugged, "What if that female version of Hinckley is even prettier than Nicole Kidman?"

Once in the Chandler Pavilion, Ellen Horn came over and accompanied Martin and David Fincher to the VIP room.

The early guests had gathered in the lounge by then, waiting for the premiere to start.

After entering, Martin first went over to Tony Mendez, shook hands with those from the past and their descendants, and exchanged pleasantries.

In such matters, especially in public, Martin was always very careful.

After making the rounds, Martin found Leonardo and Nicholson.

Those two rascals were chatting with the rascal Musk from Silicon Valley.

But Musk's two companions had gone elsewhere to network.

"They want to make it in Hollywood; they're networking. They're not as pure as me," Musk said.

Martin replied, "You're too damn pure, walking the carpet with two women at once."

"Envious, are you?" Musk laughed, "Consider my proposal."