The My Hollywood System
Chapter 128

The release date for [500 Summer days] was decided on 15 January 2012. Will half-thought, to wait another month and release the film on Valentine's Day, but thought better, because he wanted to speed up his other projects. The only thing that slowed him down was the original that the system had decided to dump on his head, plus right after the release of the [500 Summer days], he wanted to finish with [1917] and [Liberty City], he wanted to finish with [Liberty City], aslo. And then, he also had to start production for [Sherlock Holmes 2]. He had a lot of project ideas he wanted to implement and too little time to give them a proper justification.

Based on the premiere of [500 Summer days], estimates suggest that it will generate 50 million USD, at least, and given that the name Will itself is a selling point in Hollywood, he is pretty sure, he said, it would break its original record of 60 million and land safely somewhere in the low of 80 million, at a minimum. OP Studios has been working on promotional advertising and has set up a dedicated marketing team, just for this film.

The main cast, Clark Reed and Natalie Bergmann, were invited to many talk shows, and promotional events to promote the film. Will has strategized to show Natalie in the same light as Robert, promoting her as the next big thing in Hollywood. He deliberately leaked his audition footage, his life story, and other interesting details, with his consent, to generate more hype behind him as an actor. DTA and Dream Vision have formed a dedicated marketing team, just for her, to create a better image for her in the industry.

***

The crew, who had been working on [500 Summer days], had gathered around again to take the initial screen test of [Liberty City]. After many sleepless nights, martial arts training, and pacing in front of a mirror, like a madman, Leo managed to build a respectable body and also managed to memorize his dialogue.

He was wearing a black long coat, with a tie pinned. He had his hair oiled slickly, and had proper gangster attire, from the eighties. The scene he will play is inside a bar, where he meets Tommy Vercetti.

"Well, whenever you're ready, Leo," Will said, watching him give a screen test next to Amanda. On Leo's nod, he pointed to the technician who handled the synchronization board and called out "Action!" and the temporary actor, along with Leo, starts the scene.

Tommy Vercetti raised a glass. He and four of his men, along with Mario have gathered for drinks, at one of his bars. Mario is on one side surrounded by Vercetti's men.

Tommy looked at Mario and slowly said, after sipping a beer, "There is a threat inherent in that one commanding syllable. It's the only word some people need to hear."

His statement confuses Mario, who questions "What does it mean, the only word?"

"You're like Grotti. Nagasaki. Pegasus. Brand." Vercetti.

Let's reflect on the information "Brands. Interesting..."

Vercetti took the small gun in his hand and played the muzzle and trigger while continuing, "In Mario is a brand. And an established reputation requires less maintenance. Less violence, People naturally queue up. The club asked for our protection before we even offered it.

Mario slowly nodded, trying to figure out where he was heading, looking at the gun in his hand.

Vercetti confirmed, as he placed the gun in his pocket again and took out a large hunting knife, with a silver engraving engraved on it. "It's so thick."

Mario's mood slowly declined, as he thought about the glass in his hand, as Vercetti continued, "I happen to like a good bullet. Obligating someone on a rocky path. What's wrong with that?"

Enraged, at the innuendo, without warning, Mario smashes his glass into Tommy's face. As Vercetti falls to the floor, several men try to grab Mario and brandish their knives. Mario flipped the table he was sitting at behind and kicked his chair back to ************ the two men, who were trying to stab him. The men drop a knife one of which Mario takes and is thrown into the arm of Vercetti, who has pulled out his weapon, again. The gun falls to the floor, as Mario jumps over the overturned table, kicks the recovered person's head again, drops them due to his steel boots, and climbs the gun.

Vercetti kicks his gun, and uses his knife to slash Mario, who dodges it. Mario punches the hand with a knife, in Vercetti's arm, loosens his grip, and then pulls Vercetti into a chokehold.

Leo then exclaimed in his ear, "I'm holding your card! It's the mafia and I'm a player, okay? This isn't a fucking Pegasi!"

Vercetti tried to kick Mario's groin but failed, and instead clawed his eyes, and made it out of the chokehold. Standing up, he looked at his two remaining men again and said, "Circle him, I will serve you, you son of a bitch! And then, I'll play five-on-one with that woman you spoiled."

Mario throws a broken wooden chair at the two men who try to get behind him, knocking them down, and pushing Tommy who is climbing up to pick up his gun. He manages to overcome Tommy, to the ground again, and tries to get him in a powerful chokehold. Tommy grabs the knife that Mario threw at him, and thrusts it into Mario's shoulder, making him scream and loosening his grip.

Mario claws the knife, pulls it out, and attacks Vercetti, who again grabs the gun. Mario thrust a knife into the back of Vercetti's throat, bleeding him and clawing his neck. Mario slowly manages to catch his breath, unaware that Vercetti has been holding his gun, and points it at him.

BANGS.

"And Cut!" Will reveal.

There was complete silence in the studio. After a few seconds of staring, Amanda broke the silence and said, "For God's sake, where did you find this man?"

Will just chuckled and replied, "This is my specialty. So, what do you think?" He looked to the refuting department who took out a knife that could be pulled from Leo and nodded at him.

"What do I think? Will, this kid just did the whole set of stunts perfectly while still being a character. It's fantastic!" He cried out, rising from his seat. It looked like Christmas came early.

"I told you, didn't I?" said Will.

"Yes, I can see it works. It really works." He breathed, as he returned to look at Leo, who finally managed to catch his breath and looked at Will and Amanda, with hope written in his eyes.

Will got up from his seat walking towards Leo, and said, "You did well, son. The role is yours." On the look of his celebration, he continued, "But, I want the same dedication and passion that you have shown to progress. I don't want to see you laze."

Leo quickly shook his head as he hugged Will firmly and replied, "I won't let you down, Will"