Capítulo 732: Chapter 732: Martin, the King of Dance,
At the Angel Club's shooting range, Martin stood firmly at the shooting stand, his grip steady on the AKM as he tracked the targets zipping across the range. With each rhythmic pull of the trigger, the crisp gunfire echoed, and the metallic targets clattered to the ground in succession.
After emptying one magazine, Martin swiftly swapped it out for another, seamlessly resuming his barrage until three magazines lay spent.
Removing his earplugs, Martin turned to Mene, who had been observing. "How'd I do?" he inquired, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.
Mene nodded enthusiastically. "Bulls-eye every time," he confirmed.
Handing the AKM to Bruce, Martin rolled his shoulders, feeling the exertion. "This thing packs a punch," he remarked.
Alexandrovich, joining the conversation, mimicked Mene's tone with a smirk. "Boss, you've got skills," he chimed in.
Martin shrugged modestly. "Just a bit of practice," he admitted.
Alexandrovich, having tried his hand at shooting earlier, shook his head. "Not for me. That recoil's something else," he confessed.
Curious, Mene leaned in to Bruce. "What's the deal with Martin's interest in this Ukrainian fellow?" he whispered.
Bruce scratched his head, pondering Mene's question before a realization dawned on him, remembering Alexandrovich's fiancee. Could Martin be eyeing Alexandrovich's talent? he wondered silently.
Glancing at the time, Martin changed the subject. "How did the DVD signing go yesterday?" he inquired.
Alexandrovich beamed. "Over a hundred fans showed up. They loved it. Many even said I was the most captivating Napoleon in history," he relayed proudly.
"You nailed it with that film," Martin praised, patting Alexandrovich on the back. "Keep up the good work with 'Servant of the People'—aim for classic status."
Determined, Alexandrovich vowed, "I'll give it my all."
Though cheesy comedies like "Napoleon's Beauty" had a short lifespan, its success was undeniable. Despite its brief run in North American theaters, it raked in nearly $20 million, nearly quadrupling its production cost. Overseas, it added another $14.56 million to its tally.
With DVD sales nearing $3 million, the film's profitability was clear.
"Napoleon's Beauty" was set to conquer more overseas territories one by one.
Today, Alexandrovich paid a visit to Martin, preparing to bid him farewell as he geared up to return to Ukraine for the film's premiere and kickstart filming "Servant of the People" in Kiev.
Their meeting was brief, and soon Alexandrovich took his leave from the Angel's Club.
Martin and Mene waited until Chad, Chen Hu, and Marcus joined them, heading to the training hall adjacent to the shooting range to hash out the latest action scene designs.
In "Quick Chase 3," Mene, playing the main supporting role, would have his share of physical combat.
"This is all part of the groundwork for the series," Chad remarked thoughtfully to Mene. "Your portrayal of Winston's charm and prowess in the film sets the stage for expanding the series."
Accepting a towel, Mene wiped the sweat from his brow. "You're really thinking ahead," he remarked.
Unlike most directors, Chad, a seasoned action director, didn't harbor lofty artistic ambitions. "With Martin backing us, I plan to ride this series for life," he stated bluntly.
Having amassed a fortune as a director, screenwriter, and action director with the success of the first two films, Chad understood his success wasn't solely based on talent but on years of hard work and experience.
Martin turned to Chad. "Are you set on expanding the series with Winston as the lead?"
"I've done my market research," Chad replied confidently. "Mene has a strong appeal to audiences, and Winston's character is quite popular. Plus, fans are itching to explore more of the Continental Hotel setting. I'm planning to center the next film around it in New York."
Martin nodded in approval. "Once the third installment's fully mapped out, start the prep work."
Unlike Winston's portrayal in the past, Mene, in his prime at thirty-something, boasted energy and physical prowess, having honed his skills through a year of action-packed filming under Martin's guidance.
With a black lead, the series was poised to align perfectly with the future trends in the film and TV market.
Before noon, Martin bid adieu to the Angel's Shooting Club and headed to Burbank.
Alan Horn had invited him for lunch to discuss their collaboration on Disney Pictures' live-action fairy tale film "Beauty and the Beast."
He inquired of Martin, "Wasn't your last suggestion a musical?"
Setting down his cup, Martin nodded. "Indeed, Disney excels in this genre, infusing fairy tales with lavish song and dance numbers."
"To achieve the desired effects, we're talking a budget of over $100 million at least," Martin explained. "External financing is inevitable. Luckily, Alan Horn's fully on board. He's adamant: we can't skimp, aiming for a production budget of $150 million. Disney's looking to secure $50 million in external funding."
"I'm all in for strengthening ties with Disney. Funding won't be an issue," Martin assured.
Alan Horn pondered before remarking, "A project like this could take a year from scripting to pre-production. The musical aspects pose a challenge."
Martin, well-versed in the intricacies of musicals from his work on "La La Land," chimed in, "I've done some research. There have been successful Broadway adaptations over the years. We can draw from their strengths."
Alan Horn nodded in agreement. "When it comes to copyrights, Disney's fearless. If push comes to shove, we'll frame it as an innovative take on past cartoons."
With the general direction set, Martin and Alan Horn wrapped up their meeting. Post-lunch, Emily initiated formal discussions with Disney Pictures on behalf of Davis Studio regarding investment and collaboration on "Beauty and the Beast."
In the afternoon, Martin arrived promptly at the "La La Land" studio for his piano practice session under Sebastian's tutelage.
With each passing day, Martin's piano skills improved significantly.
During one session, Taylor dropped by and remarked that Martin's playing lacked soul—a critique Martin accepted humbly, acknowledging his amateur status.
His piano practice wasn't about mastering the instrument but rather preparing for filming.
Exiting the practice room, Martin noticed the door to the dance studio ajar and peered inside.
Louise was guiding a statuesque, blonde woman within.
"Hey, Martin," Louise greeted him, noticing his presence. "Let me introduce you to someone."
Martin stepped in, but before Louise could speak, the blonde woman approached, extending her hand. "Hi, Martin, I'm Mandy Moore—actress, singer, and choreographer."
Proudly displaying her badge, she added, "I'm also a fan of yours and a member of the Coca-Cola Cult."
Martin grinned warmly. "Nice to meet you, Mandy. Pleasure's all mine."
Louise approached with a beaming smile. "Mandy's just joined the crew as our choreographer. She'll be handling all things dance-related, from choreography to rehearsals."
Martin chuckled, slightly surprised. "I pictured choreographers as more... seasoned. You're a pleasant surprise."
Standing tall at nearly 1.8 meters, Mandy Moore exuded youthful energy, unmistakably under thirty.
"Disney Pictures brought me on board," Mandy explained with a grin, eager to share her credentials. "I voiced Princess Rapunzel in Disney's 'Rapunzel' and choreographed all the song and dance sequences. Plus, I've released six music albums, with all dance routines designed by yours truly."
Impressed, Martin commended her accomplishments. "That's quite the resume. With your expertise, I'm confident we'll create a musical masterpiece."
Upon hearing that "La La Land" was eyeing awards season, Mandy wasted no time steering the conversation toward casting. "Besides choreography, the actors will need ample time to hone their dance skills. We should finalize the main roles soon."
Louise picked up the thread. "Once choreography's locked in, we'll move swiftly with casting."
Mandy and Martin delved into discussions about the male lead, focusing on the dance aspect.
"I've had dance training in the past, and my flexibility's up to par from my martial arts practice," Martin assured.
Suddenly, Louise remembered Martin's film shot in Atlanta and chimed in, "Mandy, you should check out Martin's debut in 'Zombie Striper.' Plenty of dance scenes there."
Mandy recalled, "Wasn't there a zombie machine gun dance about six years back? It went viral. Turns out, it originated from Martin's film."
Impressed, she praised, "You were quite the dance sensation back then, Martin."
Martin shrugged modestly. "Never expected that dance to catch on like it did."
Taking notes, Mandy suggested, "Given your dance background and flexibility, you'll breeze through rehearsals. My recommendation is to cast a leading lady with dance skills. According to the script, she should be younger than you."
Louise nodded in agreement. "Finding actresses with dance experience won't be hard in the industry."
With a candidate in mind, Martin decided to discuss it further in private with Louise later.
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