Chapter 751: Strong Cooperation

After exiting the conference room, Jon Berg strode back into the building with assistant McDonald trailing behind, noting the tense set of his boss's jaw, a telltale sign that the meeting hadn't gone as planned.

"Any progress with the legal wrangling against Nolan and Martin Davis?" Jon Berg inquired as they walked.

McDonald, opting for transparency, replied, "They're pushing to breach the contract, threatening to keep the lawsuit alive unless we comply."

Jon Berg's pace slowed momentarily as he mulled over the dilemma. "Stall them," he decided, pausing again to add, "And see if you can reach Emma Thomas. If Nolan agrees to drop Martin, I'll greenlight the project, personally."

"Got it," McDonald nodded, already fishing out his phone to make the necessary calls.

As Jon Berg made his way back to the Warner Building, thoughts of Martin Davis's potential departure lingered. Exes, he reflected, always brought an extra layer of complication to the table.

Upon his return, Jon Berg sought out Daniel to discuss the upcoming release of "Jack the Giant Slayer," mindful of the dwindling time until its North American premiere.

Despite its ballooning budget of $250 million, Jon Berg had meticulously curated a team of expert reviewers to meticulously dissect the film, spending months fine-tuning six distinct edits before meticulously selecting the most impactful shots and clips.

Forgoing traditional test screenings, Jon Berg was confident in the product of his method, likening it to James Cameron's approach with "Avatar." He believed this innovative editing process would revolutionize Hollywood's post-production standards, potentially even earning the moniker of the "Jon Berg editing method."

Back in the office, Jon Berg's attention was diverted by an assistant bearing an invitation.

"Meryl Streep," the assistant announced, presenting the invite. "She's hosting a bash at her Malibu estate this weekend, inviting industry insiders."

Jon Berg perused the invitation, spotting Meryl Streep's signature at the bottom. Given her ties to Warner Pictures, he resolved, "I'll attend."

The assistant noted the acceptance before preparing to convey Jon Berg's RSVP to the esteemed actress.

In the opulent lounge of WMA headquarters in Century City, Nolan vented his frustrations to Martin about the disastrous project coordination meeting led by Spielberg. Despite Spielberg's intent to resolve issues, the meeting only seemed to exacerbate tensions, leaving Nolan seething.

"I swear," Nolan fumed, his frustration palpable, "I'll never touch a script like this again if I don't have full creative control!"

The screenplay bore Nolan and Jonathan Nolan's names, but its genesis stemmed from DreamWorks' Linda Obst. With DreamWorks teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, Spielberg brokered a co-production deal with Paramount and Warner Pictures, resulting in a convoluted mess of conflicting interests and incessant problems. Some even likened Warner Pictures' Jon Berg to a trouble magnet.

Martin, sensing the underlying vendetta against him, remarked, "It seems Jon Berg's objections are more personal than professional."

Nolan nodded vehemently. "Absolutely. His rationale may sound lofty, but it's all driven by personal vendettas."

In a fit of frustration, Nolan revealed, "McDonald, Jon Berg's lackey, reached out to Emma privately, offering to greenlight the project if I dropped you as the lead."

Martin waved off the notion, opting for patience amidst the storm.

Recalling Nolan's unwavering support during a prior crisis, Martin expressed gratitude, "Chris, thank you."

Nolan, adopting an American gesture, bumped fists with Martin. "We're in this together," he affirmed.

Christopher Nolan then lauded Martin Davis, declaring, "With you on board, Martin, it's a guaranteed box office hit!"

Martin reciprocated the praise before addressing the elephant in the room. "Jon Berg's targeting us, but the more resistance he puts up, the more determined we become."

Nolan concurred, "Agreed."

Martin, ever the strategist, queried, "Chris, do you think Jon Berg's 'Jack the Giant Slayer will succeed?"

Nolan paused, considering the question carefully. "Jon Berg's a creative genius," he acknowledged. "But success isn't guaranteed, especially with the obstacles he's facing."

Nolan pondered Martin's insights, his brow furrowed in contemplation. "I can't fathom what Jon Berg was thinking, devising this peculiar editing method. But personally, I question whether a film produced under such conditions can truly maintain its artistic integrity."

Martin interjected with a grim assessment. "I'd put the odds of success at less than 10%."

"I share your skepticism," Nolan concurred, "though some speculate it's even lower, perhaps as low as 5%."

Having collaborated with Martin on numerous occasions, Nolan had a keen understanding of his colleague's perspective. "Word around Warner Bros. is that this film's production budget sits at a staggering $250 million, with an additional $200 million earmarked for marketing and distribution. Even with most of the marketing budget allocated for the North American market, the actual investment could still exceed $100 million. If this project tanks, it'll rival the debacle of 'Green Lantern'."

Martin delved into Warner's troubled recent history, citing previous flops like "Pharaohs and Gods" and "Dark places," all helmed by Jon Berg. "If 'Jack the Giant Catcher' goes south too, will Berg face repercussions from the Warner board?"

Nolan acknowledged the high stakes. "Berg's banking on this project to salvage his reputation after a string of failures."

"Let's hold off judgment until 'Jack the Giant Catcher' hits theaters," Martin proposed optimistically.

Nolan, still reeling from the challenges of "Interstellar," expressed his frustration with Berg. "If only Warner would replace him, we'd have smoother sailing."

Though changing leadership in a film company was typically an uphill battle, Jon Berg's audacious maneuvers made him an exception.

Martin extended his fist in solidarity. "We make quite the formidable team."

Nolan reciprocated the gesture, his resolve firm. "If Berg's unhappy with us, and we're unhappy with him, we'll find a way to oust him."

Martin nodded vigorously, aligning with Nolan's determination.

Their agreement wasn't about personal vendettas, but rather strategizing to replace a key figure within Warner's hierarchy.

As Emma Thomas returned from her meeting with Ari Emmanuel, she exchanged a few words with Martin before departing alongside Nolan.

Later, Thomas approached, revealing, "Emma's lobbying Ari to throw full support behind Nolan's 'Interstellar' project."

Martin asserted, "Tell Ari I want the lead in 'Interstellar'."

With Nolan reigning as WMA's top director and Martin as its premier actor, the agency had little choice but to comply with their demands.

Thomas reassured, "I've spoken with Ari. WMA's fully behind you."

"Excellent. I'm off," Martin declared, eager to unwind at the dance event tonight.

He received a message from Saoirse Ronan, promising a new dance routine, a reminder of the uplifting power of art.

Thomas mentioned, "There are a few matters with colleagues and clients..."

Martin waved it off, delegating, "Handle the small stuff. For any urgent matters, Jessica's your go-to."

With no further explanation needed, Martin departed WMA and slid into the car driven by Bruce.

Bruce handed back Martin's phone, relaying, "Harris called. Depp just snagged the penthouse at the Columbia Building for $9 million."

Martin grinned, "Good to hear."

"Now with that cash," Bruce continued, "we've got taxes, team salaries, Amber Heard's lawsuit, legal fees against the Mandel brothers, and Depp's living expenses covered. Harris plans to offload Depp's other assets gradually."

Martin nodded in agreement, "Patience. We'll get through the next cycle."

While the money seemed substantial, it barely covered Depp's extensive expenses. With a reported minimum monthly spending of $2 million, the funds evaporated quickly.

As Martin neared the dance villa, Nicholson phoned.

"Meryl's throwing a shindig in Malibu this weekend, inviting the three of us," Nicholson informed Martin. "Can you make it?"

For the sake of his longstanding relationship with Meryl Streep and his boss, Martin obliged, "Count us in."