America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

Especially about Susan Levin.

She was a rapidly rising female film producer; being thirty years old meant her future held limitless possibilities.

William Morris had detailed statistics on Susan Levin's resume, her professional partners, friends in her personal life, and main cast and crew members from past collaborations.

The day before Christmas, Martin and several tenants were on the apartment building's rooftop helping Antonio prepare for the Christmas Eve party when he received a call from Thomas.

"Come to the company, let's talk in detail,"

"It's not suitable over there," Martin, after negotiating with Thomas, felt it was time to crack the whip to make the donkey walk faster, "Buddy, no offense, but the lobby's too chaotic, and you don't have a private office. How can we talk seriously?"

Thomas was critically hit, falling silent for a full 20 seconds before he managed to piece his broken heart back together, haphazardly taping it up, and said, "Pick a place, I'll come to you."

Reflecting on Martin's robust physique and his own slightly bald but handsome appearance, he quickly added, "Hotels are out."

Martin, standing on the edge of the rooftop and leaning on the railing, said, "The Tiago Coffee House in North Hollywood. My treat to coffee."

Thomas agreed.

Martin put away his phone and found the landlord, who was round like a ball, "Antonio, I have business to discuss, I can't help anymore."

"Remember to come back for the party tonight, the entrance ticket is a drink or food," Antonio was a happy, single, fat man who was even throwing a small party for the tenants on Christmas Eve. He asked Martin, "Found an acting job?"

Martin was vague, "I'm fighting for it. Whether it will work out or not is hard to say."

Antonio flipped through his pockets, pulled out a business card from his cardholder, and handed it to Martin, "I've had quite a few male actor tenants, most of them used this."

Martin thought the landlord was kindly offering help, perhaps with special connections, and took it, looking down to find a private doctor's business card.

Antonio said, "He's best at proctology, nicknamed 'Hyena.'"

Martin unconsciously moved to touch his jacket, contemplating a civilized response, but the card of the civilized person had been dropped in Atlanta.

Antonio, completely well-meaning, said, "He's really quite good."

Martin tucked away the card and indicated with a hand gesture, "I'll bring wine tonight."

He walked downstairs to the coffee house and waited for twenty minutes before Thomas arrived with a laptop on his back and a file bag in his arms.

Martin ordered the coffee, and the two quickly got down to business.

Thomas took out Susan Levin's materials and handed them to Martin, "The company has reached a conclusion. She's a Jewish woman who graduated from the University of Southern California. USC alumni and Jews would have an advantage."

Martin was cautious, "I'm not Jewish, and I didn't finish high school."

He quickly flipped through Susan Levin's materials and under the personal life section, it explicitly stated Susan Levin's current boyfriend was Robert Downey Jr., who was just out of prison last year.

Great Scott!

Martin looked back at the photos and finally remembered, this was Robert Downey Jr.'s wife.

He asked, "How did Downey manage to win her over?"

"I'm not particularly clear on the specifics," Thomas recalled carefully, "I remember there were rumors within the circle that she was moved by Downey's transformation after tasting all the bitterness of life."

Martin spoke frankly, "Downey's experiences are called tasting all the flavors of life? Then I must have come out of a pile of dogshit."

Thomas said, "That's exactly the case. When the rich second generation and star second generation do those messy things, they call it experiencing the hardships of life. A somewhat normal life suddenly becomes a priceless prodigal son returning home. Don't feel imbalanced.

Once you become famous and popular, your experiences in a pile of dogshit will naturally turn into an inspirational legend, and you could even sell that story."

The logic was irrefutable, and Martin couldn't argue as he continued to sift through the materials.

Susan Levin's rise to a powerful producer hadn't been long, with only three regular film works including "Ghost Ship," "Shadow Man," and "Deadly Cradle."

She had personally confirmed three main male actors, Desmond Harrington, Robert Downey Jr., and Tom Arnold.

Martin also wanted their information.

Thomas pulled it out for him, saying, "A young man, a middle-aged man, and an older man, according to this pattern, she should pick a child or a dead person this time."

Martin asked, "Any others?"

Thomas yawned, rubbing his dark circles, "The company provides the data, we do the analysis ourselves." He took a sip of coffee for an energy boost, "I've been working overtime for three days straight, my head's a mess, don't ask me."

Those skilled at politicking always manage to find the most special things from seemingly ordinary people and information. Martin looked over the data once and said, "I see, the three prodigal sons returning."

Thomas asked, "The other two also did time? Are you going to land yourself in jail first?"

Martin circled something on the three sets of information, pushed them to Thomas, and said, "Harrington was a troublemaker as a teen, forced to drop out of school because of brawling, worked a stint as a bartender, joined street gangs, and then had an epiphany to become an actor. Tom Arnold's situation was somewhat similar, having been a bouncer at an underground bar, dealt with drugs..."

Thomas grasped the key point, "The difference with Downey is that he comes from a good background and family."

Martin turned to look at Susan's resume again, "She transferred schools twice in high school to get into the University of Southern California, and her alumnus father donated a large sum."

Thomas was quick to respond, "Susan graduated from the University of Southern California with excellent grades and received recommendations from many well-known professors."

That matched up, Martin said, "Personal experience shapes preferences, Thomas, how much do preferences impact the professional qualities of a producer?"

Thomas was very cautious and took his time to think and recall before asking, "If the basic qualifications are similar, would you choose someone you like, or someone you dislike?"

He reminded, "It's best to confirm it, if we get it wrong, it'll be troublesome."

Martin took out Harrington's information, "This guy grew up in Savannah, Georgia, I'll find a way to contact him."

If he wanted to move forward, he had to burden Thomas, "Everything else with the crew, I'm leaving it all to you."

Thomas then said, "Zomi Hill is a new director, previously only having made music videos and commercials, without any say in the main roles."

Martin said, "Buddy, let's get moving, time waits for no one."

Thomas nodded, grabbed his briefcase, left the coffee house, and headed to Warner Bros. Studios, where he had arranged to have lunch with Mary Gale, who might become the casting director, around noon.

Martin leisurely finished his coffee, continued reviewing Harrington's information, then took out his phone and called Robert Patrick's private number.

After arranging, Martin was set to visit after Christmas.

At noon, Martin went to Sherman Oaks to join Louise for lunch, specifically bringing up Susan Levin.

"We're all daughters from wealthy families, it's normal to be unruly during a rebellious phase," Louise somewhat understood, "Some sink into decline, while others return to the right path. I heard from Susan that she was quite wild during that time, but fortunately, she came to her senses in college."

Martin shared his thoughts, "I plan to find an approach in this regard."

Louise said, "It's a very targeted strategy, you might as well try it." She then asked, "I'm going home tonight, how will you spend Christmas Eve?"

Martin said, "The landlord has organized a simple party."

Louise didn't have similar experiences, "Is the landlord nice?"

Martin avoided a direct assessment, "Antonio gave me a card from a private doctor who specializes in proctology."

Anyone mixed up in Hollywood would understand the implication; Louise couldn't help but laugh, and after her laughter, she purposely said, "I think you might need it."

She was very curious, "Can I come to see your apartment tomorrow? I've never stayed in such a small apartment."

Martin would of course not refuse, "You're welcome any time."

......

As the sky darkened, the colorful lights on the rooftop of the North Hollywood Apartment Building switched on, the Christmas tree sparkled with festive colors, and festive music began to play, with Mariah Carey once again triggering her royalty harvesting mode.

Many single tenants brought drinks or desserts to join the party on the rooftop.

Martin brought a few bottles of wine.

Antonio donned a red suit, standing under the Christmas tree like an overweight Santa Claus.

Seeing Martin, he asked, "Did you see the doctor? He's good, isn't he?"

Martin flicked the back of his shirt, "You should be glad this isn't Georgia."

"Hey, mate, you live here too!" A familiar voice rang out, and Mene, whose skin was fast becoming paler, appeared before Martin. He placed the donuts and strawberry pie he brought on the long table and said to the landlord, "Antonio, you don't mind me joining the fun, do you?"

Antonio's standard was simple, "You don't live here, but since you brought something, you can join."

Mene was a sociable fellow, got himself a drink, toasted with Martin, and asked, "Mate, good news for you, I got... no, wrong, last night a casting director in her fifties had me, and she promised me a role, a small speaking part in a multimillion-dollar production."

Martin got some wine, poured it into their glasses, and said, "Indeed, good news, worth another drink."

Mene was magnanimous, "She wants me again tomorrow night, and told me to bring another, two against one. Mate, we get along well, so I'm telling you this access. If the path you're on doesn't work out, you might consider it."

Martin replied politely, "Thanks for the suggestion, but I've found other opportunities."

He gently clinked glasses with Mene, "Here's to success for us all."

Mene declared, "When I make a name for myself, I'll throw a party with twenty young and pretty girls."

For the sake of a future, always being with those in their forties or even fifties, his interest was rapidly declining; another couple of years and he might be finished early.

Martin left the party early, and when the time was about right, he made a round of calls.

The Christmas gifts he had mailed in advance were all received by Kelly, Elena, Robert, Jerome, Lily, and others.