Chapter 254: Chapter 254
"For the film to achieve today’s box office success, let’s toast Director Lucas!"
"Come on, let’s do it!"
Quinn Locke was a bit embarrassed by the cheers, and he raised his glass, saying, "Actually, for the film to achieve such success, I should be toasting all of you. My dream was nurtured for seven years, scorned, ignored, and ridiculed by countless people. It’s thanks to you all that I achieved it."
"Director Lucas, don’t say that. We all accomplished this together. If it weren’t for your excellent script, we wouldn’t be here today either."
"Yeah, that’s right!"
"Alright, enough with the mutual compliments. Let’s just drink!"
"Hey, wait a minute, there’s one more person I need to thank before this drink." Quinn quickly called out to everyone bringing their glasses to their lips. "That person is Mary! Mary is Anna’s manager, but even since the start of our crew’s preparations, she’s been taking on a lot. At our film’s premiere, when we couldn’t even book a few decent media promotions, she personally went to those critics and film influencers, asking them to write recommendations and reviews for us."
Mary was originally sitting in the corner with Anna, who was drunk, and Mary was taking care of her.
She didn’t expect the topic to suddenly shift to her, and although she was usually good at public relations and networking, her cheeks flushed. "Director Lucas, who knew! You’re someone who’s usually so taciturn, what’s this? Are you trying to dodge this drink by bringing me into it?"
"No, no, it’s just that I genuinely feel I should thank you."
"Well, your thanks is acknowledged. Anna’s already been made drunk by you all; don’t think you can get me drunk too. I still have to take care of her."
Mary made a joke, and Quinn really thought he’d caused a scene.
Seeing everyone about to toast Mary, he quickly stepped in front of her. "To show my sincerity, let all your toasts tonight come to me. Don’t trouble the lady."
Seeing Quinn say this, then get dragged away by the other guys saying he absolutely couldn’t leave on two feet tonight, Mary couldn’t help but laugh. "What a fool!"
"I think you look more foolish now!" Anna gave her a meaningful look.
Mary quickly changed the subject, "Anna, are you still feeling unwell?"
"Hmm, dizzy." Anna rubbed her temples.
"Who told you to drink so much?"
In fact, no one forced her; Anna drank herself.
Mary knew Anna must have been upset about something and used excessive drinking to cope.
"I’ll help you go out and get some fresh air."
"No need, I’ll go out myself. You stay here and watch your fool. He’s not good with alcohol."
Mary nodded, then realized something was off.
"I have nothing to do with him! Why would I watch him!"
Anna got up and walked out of the private room. Just as she caught her breath, her head was still dazed.
She didn’t know which private room’s door opened, but she heard someone singing a terribly out-of-tune "Friendship Forever."
Before Anna could think to cover her ears, someone grabbed her arm. "Hey beauty, why are you out here? Come back in, the big boss is still waiting for you."
"What big boss? Let go! I don’t know you!" Anna flung the other’s hand away.
"Oh, acting all high and mighty? Aren’t you that small-time celebrity? The one with that film that’s kinda popular... I’m telling you, we have big investors in our private room. Make them happy, and you’ll reap the rewards."
Anna was forcibly dragged into the private room, only to realize the off-key singing was coming from the room next door.
This room was filled with several portly middle-aged men who looked like investors.
There were also some young women who looked far better than the standard KTV hostesses; they must have been up-and-coming actresses in the industry. Read full story at N0veI.Fiɾe.net
Anna had encountered such situations when she first entered the industry.
Small-time actors had no rights, and accompanying meals and drinks was routine practice to vie for roles. Some had bad luck and had to accompany them to bed too.
Usually, directors or producers would take investments and enjoy bringing newcomers along, and at times, they would push them forward to take the hit if needed.
In such scenarios, it depended on whether one had the willpower and could protect themselves well.
"Oh, isn’t this Director Warner?" Anna recognized a familiar face in the room.
"Anna Thornton?" Hank Warner recognized her too.
The last time they met was at Marilyn Ford’s birthday party, and Anna Thornton was just an unknown actor. The only impression she left on Director Warner was rejecting the casting couch, being ungrateful.
This time meeting again, Anna Thornton was still a small actor.
However, she had turned down the second female lead in Director Warner’s movie, and the film in which she starred as the female lead suddenly became a hit.
It had clashed with Director Warner’s film’s schedule and consistently overshadowed their box office; Hank Warner couldn’t help but feel envious when seeing Anna Thornton again.
"I went to the wrong room, excuse me!"
Anna said, getting ready to leave.
Hank Warner suddenly called out to her, "Hold on! Since you’re here, aren’t you going to have a drink with the investors here?"
"I’ve already had enough; I can only drink so much today. Sorry!"
Seeing Anna’s refusal, Hank Warner’s face became even uglier: "Do you think you have the right to refuse me just because one of your films got lucky? Let me tell you, to get by in this industry, the most important thing isn’t talent or luck, it’s capital! If capital is in a good mood, it can lift you; if it’s not, it can pull you down. There are plenty of pretty actresses like you in the industry. The smart ones know to undress and open their legs early on, and fame and fortune will follow. The not-so-smart ones won’t even get a taste of the soup later. You should weigh your options."
Hank Warner’s words were directed not only at Anna but also at the other girls in the room.
His words were brutally explicit, yet true. The girls bit their lips and kept their heads down. None of them dared to oppose him.
The industry had these so-called big directors who held resources and, together with capitalists, enslaved others,
which just worsened the atmosphere further!
Anna didn’t initially want to get involved, but she had drunk too much today, felt emboldened, and didn’t want to wrong herself.
"Director Warner, all you’re asking is for me to have a drink with you. Why make it sound so unpleasant?"
Anna walked closer to him. Hank Warner thought she was about to give in.
Who would’ve thought Anna would take a wine glass filled with red wine from the coffee table and say, "You were wrong about one thing!"
"You said I thought that just because a film got lucky, I could reject you? The fact is, even before I was famous, I rejected you, didn’t I?"
Hank Warner was astounded that a newbie like Anna Thornton, who had just garnered some fame, dared to act so boldly.
But bolder actions were yet to come.
"You think you deserve a toast? Ha!"
Anna splashed the wine right in Hank Warner’s face.
Then, emboldened by her drunkenness, she lashed out at the few greasy capitalists next to him: "And you guys, just ’cause you have some money, you think you’re something, huh? Believe it or not, one call from me, and you’ll be in deep trouble!"
Mary hadn’t seen Anna return for quite some time, so she went out to find her, only to discover Anna was no longer at the door.
Her right eyelid twitched, worried that something had happened to Anna.
It turned out there was indeed a problem.
Mary had seen Anna acting out while drunk before. When she was abroad, sometimes she’d also cause a bit of a scene after drinking too much.
But Mary did not expect Anna would directly offend a well-known director and several wealthy and powerful investors this time.
Such a big situation was beyond what she could handle as a manager.
Mary had been hesitating whether to call President Sterling to pick Anna up since she was drunk?
Now, it seemed there was no hesitation needed!
"President Sterling, something’s wrong! Anna’s in trouble!"