Entertainment: Starting as a Succubus, Taking Hollywood by Storm

Martin could tell that David Scott was tempted.

But after some consideration, he still rejected the idea of replacing the American workers on the oil rig with Chinese laborers.

After all, he was an American. If he went too far, he might draw backlash from domestic labor unions and those with ulterior motives.

So, as much as he wanted to, he couldn't.

Not only could he not replace these workers, but he also had to show that he cared deeply about them.

During the lunch break, Martin approached two union leaders and said, "I've noticed that the living conditions on the oil rig aren't great. I'll arrange for better coffee and food to be delivered. I'm also planning to install air conditioning in the workers' break rooms. Oh, and there's not much entertainment, so I'll get a few gaming consoles. We could even set up a pool table in the break area…"

Soon, as the two union leaders relayed Martin's words to the workers, cheers erupted across the oil rig.

"You're truly a kind boss!" David Scott flattered him.

At the end of January, Martin returned to Los Angeles and headed to Jeff's office at CAA.

"Martin, take a look at this script."

Martin casually took it and glanced at the cover.

"Music High?"

It was a title he didn't recognize from memory. He flipped open the first page and skimmed a few lines, but soon found himself engrossed.

The story followed Tyler, a rebellious youth from the underbelly of Baltimore, and Nora, a talented ballet student from an elite arts school. Nora needed an exceptional dance partner for a prestigious competition, and Tyler, who was serving community service at the arts school, caught her eye.

Tyler's effortless street dance moves captivated Nora, and as they collaborated on stage, the two art-driven teenagers sparked a dynamic connection.

The script wasn't long, with large sections dedicated to describing street dance performances, while the plot itself was relatively simple.

"Who's the screenwriter?" Martin asked.

Jeff, who had worked with Martin for nearly five years, immediately noticed his interest.

"Anne Fletcher. She's a newcomer. She's been active in Hollywood as a choreographer, having danced in Titanic and Bring It On, and worked as a choreographer for My Fair Lady and Cheerleader Nation. So, what do you think? Does the script have potential?"

Martin nodded. "The plot is pretty straightforward—just a simple love story. But the concept is fresh. Since Breakin', there haven't been many Hollywood films that bring street dance to the big screen. I think it's worth investing in."

Jeff smiled. "She's not just looking for funding. Anne Fletcher has big ambitions. She wants to direct this film herself, and—" Jeff paused, looking at Martin, "—she wants you to star in it."

Martin stroked his clean-shaven chin, recalling the box office performance of this film in the original timeline—around 120million,withamodestbudgetof120million,withamodestbudgetof12 million. If he were to star in it, even with a discounted fee, the budget would likely exceed $30 million. But Martin was confident.

He believed that the name "Martin Meyers" alone could boost the film's box office by more than $30 million. Besides, if Meyers Pictures invested in it, the extra salary would just be moving money from one pocket to another.

"I'm in."

"Wait, you're really going to do it?" Jeff was surprised. He thought Martin had moved past small-budget films.

"I'll do it, but I get to choose the female lead."

The female lead in this film would be perfect for Jessica. She had a solid dance background and was stunning—definitely more so than the original actress from the timeline.

The next day, Anne Fletcher, dressed to impress, arrived at the agreed-upon café, barely able to contain her excitement.

As she sat down across from Martin, her enthusiasm was written all over her face.

"Hi, Martin! I'm a huge fan. Could I get your autograph?"

Yes, Anne Fletcher was a fan of Martin's looks, especially his portrayal of Legolas.

Martin hadn't expected her first words to be a request for an autograph, but he chuckled and agreed.

Once Martin signed the autograph, Anne Fletcher eagerly pulled out a small, exquisite photo from her bag—a still of Legolas from the films. She was already planning to have it laminated and preserved forever.

Then, they got down to business.

"...What I want to emphasize in this film are two things: first, how street hip-hop and elegant ballet can perfectly complement each other on stage; and second, the romantic chemistry between the male and female leads. I want to tell the story through extensive dance and body language, with hip-hop street dance as the central theme..."

At this point, Anne Fletcher glanced at Martin and asked, "How much do you know about street dance?"

Martin smiled. "Not much, but I'm a fast learner."

And soon, Anne Fletcher would find out just how fast Martin could learn.

By early January, the crew was assembled.

Three days later, casting was complete.

Aside from Martin and Jessica as the leads, Anne Fletcher recruited a host of professional dancers and even planned to invite a few Japanese superstars for cameo appearances.

Then came the dance training for the leads.

Anne Fletcher had initially scheduled a month for training, which she thought was already ambitious, given that both Martin and Jessica had dance experience.

But—

Three days later.

The black dancer responsible for teaching Martin street dance stood with his mouth agape in shock.

He turned to Anne Fletcher, who was equally stunned, and said, "What the f***? He's a freak of nature. I've got nothing left to teach him. His body is literally made for dance—his coordination, rhythm, flexibility, and strength are all top-tier!"

Anne Fletcher, hands on her hips, glanced at Jessica, who was still sweating and struggling nearby, and then at Martin, who wasn't even breaking a sweat. She finally understood just how fast his "fast learning" really was.

"Martin, your training is done. If you have time, maybe you could help Jessica out."

Martin shrugged. "No problem, but I've got to fly to China first to sign a contract. I'll be back in about two weeks."

"Oh, and one more thing," Martin said as he was about to leave. He turned back to Anne Fletcher. "The title Music High is too generic. It won't help with promotion. How about we change it?"

Anne Fletcher blinked. "Change it to what?"

"How about... Step Up?"

[TL/N: I'm back! Apologies for not uploading yesterday—I had a hard time focusing on translating due to an unexpected visitor at the hospital. Anyway, I heard from my sister that someone was complaining about no updates. Let me make this clear: the only reason I'm translating this novel is for my own entertainment. Be grateful that I stopped uploading it to Patreon and don't charge you for it. If I had kept it there, this novel would still be stuck at 100 chapters on Webnovel instead of over 390+.]