The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 336

After making the introductions, Jennifer discreetly excused herself, though she couldn't help but cast curious glances their way from across the room. Rumors had been swirling all year that Matthew Horner was a classic schemer. What, she wondered, could he possibly want with a young, relatively inexperienced man like David Ellison?

Her curiosity was piqued, and she had a feeling the rumors were true. A man who could climb from being a mere driver to a B-list star was certainly no simple-minded fool.

“David.”

Across the room, Matthew initiated the conversation. “You can call me Matthew.”

“Matthew, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” David replied.

“The pleasure’s all mine.” Matthew extended his hand, and they shook. “It’s great to meet you too.”

David smiled but didn't say anything further. He was young and inexperienced, but he wasn't a fool. He knew for a fact they had never met before.

What could Matthew possibly want from him? David studied the actor’s chiseled features, his mind racing.

Matthew raised his wine glass.

David's mind spun. Considering the commercial value and box office appeal of the man before him, he raised his own glass in response.Matthew smiled, and they clinked their glasses.

As Matthew set his glass down, ready to steer the conversation to his purpose, he was surprised when David spoke first. “I just rewatched Pirates of the Caribbean last week, the one with you and Johnny Depp. It’s a fantastic movie—makes you want to watch it all over again, even after seeing it last year.”

Hearing this, Matthew had a good idea of where this was going and held back what he’d been about to say.

“A movie that good always leaves you wanting more,” David continued, just as Matthew expected. “So, Matthew, when does the sequel start filming?”

“Soon,” Matthew replied after a moment’s thought. “Probably in May.”

David pressed on. “Is the budget going to be big? How much is Disney looking to raise for production?”

Matthew gave a vague answer. “I’m not sure of the exact amount myself.”

He glanced at David. “But it’ll definitely be over two hundred million dollars.”

“Two hundred million dollars?” David looked slightly taken aback. “That’s a staggering number.”

But a moment later, he added, “Two hundred million for one film, which means four hundred million or more for two. It seems to me that even a studio like Disney can’t front that kind of cash on its own.”

Matthew nodded. Getting Disney to allocate a budget of over four hundred million dollars was indeed unrealistic.

Finally, David got to the point. “Matthew, I have a significant amount of capital, and I’ve been looking for the right film project to invest in.”

He mentioned deliberately, “You know, I invested in a James Franco film, The Ape. It’s coming out in June.”

Matthew immediately played along. “Oh, a premiere? I’ll definitely be there to support it.”

But David hadn't mentioned it to get Matthew to attend the premiere. He pressed on, “Matthew, the thing is, I was hoping you could introduce me to the right people at Disney. I’d be in your debt.”

“Of course, I can introduce you to people at Disney,” Matthew replied, quickly formulating his response. “But you’re looking to invest in the two Pirates of the Caribbean sequels, right?”

David admitted at once. “That’s right.”

Putting on a serious and sincere expression, Matthew sighed. “In that case, an introduction from me won’t do you any good.”

He explained, “First, Disney has already secured its financing. Second, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is a guaranteed goldmine. Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films won’t let anyone else get a piece of it. The financing is purely through bank loans, so they won’t be sharing the profits with any outside investors. And third, you’re overestimating my influence.”

Matthew added, “When I was negotiating my own contract with Disney Pictures, I offered to bring in some outside capital...”

This, of course, was a lie, but everything else he’d said was true. There was certainly no shortage of funding for the two Pirates of the Caribbean sequels; after all, they were the follow-ups to a mega-blockbuster.

David asked curiously, “And Disney didn’t agree?”

“Absolutely not!” Matthew said, mixing a few lies with a lot of truth—lies that, at least, were consistent with how the industry worked. “Disney would rather raise my salary than let me bring investors onto the project.”

He added firmly, “And it wasn’t just me. Countless film funds and investment companies were interested, and Disney turned every single one of them down. No exceptions.”

David said regretfully, “I was hoping I’d get to work with a star of your caliber. It seems my chances are slim now.”

Matthew paused before asking, “David, are you serious about wanting to work with me?”

David’s earlier comment had been pure courtesy. Hearing Matthew’s direct question, his first instinct was to shake his head, but then he caught himself. He was standing in front of arguably one of Hollywood’s most commercially successful male stars of the past two years.

“Well...” David replied after a brief hesitation. “Of course.”

He quickly came up with a reasonable explanation. “I’m an investor, and you’re a huge box office draw. Of course I want to work with you. Ask any investor in town—who wouldn’t want to work with a star like you?”

Even if the Pirates of the Caribbean sequels were off the table, there were still plenty of other bankable films starring Matthew Horner. Sequels to National Treasure and Dawn of the Dead, for instance. Investing in those would be a smart move.

At this point, there was no need to beat around the bush. Matthew said, “I have a project in the works, it’s just getting started, and I’m looking for someone to invest.”

David caught Matthew’s implication that this wasn’t a sequel to one of his previous blockbusters and couldn’t help but ask, “What kind of project?”

The talk in Hollywood was that he was a brainless rich kid, but he certainly didn’t believe in throwing his money away.

“Are you familiar with the graphic novel 300? Zack Snyder, the director of Dawn of the Dead, and I are planning to adapt it into a film. We’ve already gotten Frank Miller to agree to give us the rights.”

These days, David was more of a private investor than a studio representative. Having only recently graduated, he hadn't yet made a name for himself in Hollywood.

“I’ve read the graphic novel,” David said, proving not to be as impulsive as the rumors suggested. “You’re adapting it, but it’s not a sequel...”

He hesitated slightly. “A graphic novel is a completely different beast.”

After all, he had studied at the USC School of Cinematic Arts; he still had some basic industry sense.

Matthew reminded him, however, “David, have you seen Sin City? It just came out. It’s also based on one of Frank Miller’s graphic novels, and it’s getting rave reviews and doing great at the box office.”

David frowned, considering this, before asking, “Let me ask you one thing: are you starring in it?”

He didn’t know Zack Snyder, but the man standing before him was widely considered one of the most promising young actors in Hollywood. His commercial box office appeal, in particular, was simply unmatched by any of his peers.

“Yes.” Matthew realized he was gradually developing a brand effect of his own. “I’ll be playing the lead.”

David didn’t answer right away, instead asking more detailed questions, all of which Matthew answered accordingly.

If you wanted to get someone to invest, a little patience was the least you could offer.

Shortly after, Helen Hermann arrived at the Regent Hotel and joined Matthew and David. They soon said their goodbyes to Jennifer Aniston, left the ballroom, and requested a private meeting room for a confidential discussion.

Although David hadn’t given a definitive answer about investing, his intentions were already clear.