Chapter 2 Good Opportunities

Investment? Who has the money to invest? ... He still wants others to invest in him...

The apartment is located in a Latin community, and like most houses in downtown Los Angeles, it is a low-rise building with considerable age. The security situation here is concerning, with many idle individuals living in the vicinity, and some characters resembling Ross often frequent the community.

This large production team has just begun preparations and is publicly recruiting numerous staff members, including graphic designers, costume designers, artists, and assistants, for a project titled "The Matrix"

Even as an outsider, Murphy knows that Hollywood has never been short of scripts. Not to mention the current six major companies, even the second-tier film companies have countless scripts lying in their libraries, waiting to gather dust.

He walked into his ex's studio, which he had also cleaned up to look brand new. The simple workbench, wooden chair, and the shelf behind it were no longer covered in dust. Neatly arranged on it were a laptop, a Canon handheld camera, and a car-mounted Los Angeles police receiver.

After locating the apartment based on the impressions in his memory, Murphy conducted a thorough cleaning and then took stock of the possessions he currently had at his disposal

Certainly, it is inadvisable to continue engaging in the heroin and illegal firearms trade as Ross intends to do

The other party's previous work was not complicated; it primarily involved roaming the streets and alleys of Los Angeles, capturing some news footage that attracted public attention, and then selling it to interested television stations

Such unreliable thoughts will only lead him to starve to death

Having only read a few lines, Murphy understood that this was a recruitment advertisement for the sequel to the two-part film "The Matrix" by the Wachowski Brothers, which was undoubtedly a great opportunity

Sitting in front of the workbench, Murphy opened his notebook and found some news videos shot by his predecessor. It was not difficult to discern from the videos that the guy primarily focused on social current affairs, such as car accidents, fires, and robberies. Later, he was lured by a substantial sum of money and foolishly chose to invade the personal privacy of Summer Leishidong.

Thinking of this, Murphy stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the starry sky in the distance. He then sighed, abandoning those unrealistic thoughts, and shifted his focus to the most practical matters, which was to first find a job with a legitimate income to solve his livelihood issues

Chewing on a hamburger without knowing the taste, Murphy's head kept spinning as he pondered how to make a living next.

The stock market? ... Not to mention that he has no capital at all, it is now June 2000, and the stock market crash triggered by the Nasdaq is in full swing, and he was once just a poor student at a low-tier film academy, completely ignorant of the workings of stocks

What remains are the films and scripts. The film academy he once attended is indeed not prestigious, but it does guarantee the most basic level of education. Moreover, he can be considered a relatively diligent student, as he is not only well-acquainted with the classic art films analyzed in class, but he has also studied many films of personal interest during his spare time

After traversing the stairs that were far more dilapidated and messy than the room, and enduring the unusual gazes of two Black men, Murphy returned to his room. After locking the door securely, he turned on the television, only to find that there were no channels available. It seemed that the service had been cut off due to a long period of non-payment. He had no choice but to turn off the television and quietly enjoy his dinner.

Many future non-adapted films will have scripts that have been sitting in the script libraries of major companies for many years

Murphy remembers very clearly that some of the scripts later placed on Hollywood's blacklist had already emerged in the 1980s and 1990s

Start by engaging in work related to the film industry, even if it is the most menial task, as it can help accumulate experience and seek opportunities

After reviewing two newspapers, Murphy meticulously transcribed several pieces of information that piqued his interest, intending to contact them by phone later. When he turned to the last newspaper, a large recruitment advertisement caught his eye, and his eyes instantly lit up.

Chasing dreams is one's own right, and Murphy can endure the maddening despair of life in prison for this, even going so far as to take on menial jobs for it

The likelihood of a newcomer’s script being selected by a film company is infinitesimally low, yet it is still a path worth considering. Even if the odds are appallingly low, there remains a glimmer of hope. Murphy intends to seek a stable source of income, and if successful, he may give it a try, treating it as a chance to test his luck.

Due to the forced confiscation of the property under his name as a penalty and compensation, Murphy confirmed that he would only be able to live here for a long time to come

He took out a ten-dollar bill, stuffed the rest of the money into his pocket, and left the room. Murphy went to a nearby hamburger shop and bought a hamburger meal to serve as his dinner

As night deepened, Ross made a phone call to inquire if Murphy needed anything. Given the current situation, which was more pressing than personal matters, Murphy did not hesitate to express his immediate need to borrow a car in order to go out and search for suitable employment

"Hasn't the suffering endured over the past year been enough?" Murphy suddenly laughed, whispering in a self-deprecating tone, "You are no longer that naive student; please refrain from harboring such lowly and foolish thoughts, alright?"

Given his current circumstances, his requirements are indeed very low; he only needs to be engaged in the film-related industry and receive timely payment for his services

In the course of a single day, Murphy returned from the state prison to downtown Los Angeles, cleaned his room, and his stomach was already growling with hunger. He took out the only money he had and counted it carefully: two hundred and forty-three dollars

After much contemplation, Murphy returned to the area in which he excelled, namely work related to the film industry. Although he was merely a student with limited practical experience, he had analyzed countless classic Hollywood films and scripts during his studies, and had also listened to many well-known movie songs.

Although he has given up those foolish ideas, Murphy still has some plans. This is Hollywood, where countless people are engaged in film-related work, and this is also his first choice for job hunting

Adjusting to a more comfortable sitting position, Murphy first dismissed the song, stating that listening to music and writing songs are entirely different experiences. He asserted that it would be impossible for someone like him, who has never received any formal training, to write a song, even if he were killed for it.

This is Los Angeles, the home of Hollywood, where thousands of film production companies and studios of various sizes are located. Every day, several film crews begin work, and similar job opportunities do exist

Although the sky had darkened and the security situation here was poor, Murphy did not encounter any dramatic robbery incidents. He thought that perhaps his strong physique played a role; after all, having experienced so much in prison, his entire demeanor seemed to carry a hint of ferocity.

In fact, the film industry around the world is the same; countless talented individuals are involved, yet very few achieve success. Often, opportunity is more important than talent.

Having been in this world for over a year, almost all of that time has been spent in prison. The hardships experienced have allowed Murphy to understand many truths. Before realizing his Hollywood dream, he must first find a job that can sustain him.

The furnishings inside the house are very simple, clearly indicating that the former Stanton family was just an ordinary member of the slums. The aunt who went to England left behind basic appliances such as an old color television, a refrigerator, and a washing machine. The furniture is equally simple, consisting of two chairs, a peeling dining table, a faded fabric sofa, and a foldable single bed

Here, there are not only videos, but also the usage methods of police receivers, the police codes of the Los Angeles Police Department, and the contact information of several news department heads from local television stations in Los Angeles

First of all, this house, which he can temporarily call home, uses British measurements as is common in the United States. According to Murphy's previous standards, the area of the house is not small, measuring a full 50 square meters. Excluding the kitchen and bathroom, there is a room that combines the bedroom, living room, and balcony, as well as a small studio, which was the workspace of the former freelance journalist.

However, Murphy does not intend to continue with such work; he is merely interested in these devices, as they can be exchanged for money that will allow him to continue living

Swallowing the food in his mouth, Murphy placed the remaining half of the hamburger on the peeling dining table. He leaned back in his chair, propping his head up with one hand, mobilizing all his brain cells to think of ways to get rich quickly

In an instant, a thought surged into Murphy's mind: he would write a script for a future classic film and send it to major companies in Hollywood. The executives from the six major studios in Hollywood flocked to him like travelers in a desert who had spotted a source of water, treating him as a super genius. From that moment on, Murphy Stanton embarked on a glorious path in Hollywood, filled with wealth, power, and beautiful women

Perhaps it was due to enough luck, or perhaps it was because this place was truly too dilapidated and remote, but this "Aunt"'s apartment had surprisingly not been visited by thieves throughout the year. The furniture and work equipment that Murphy had always scorned as left behind by that fool were still intact, which indeed gave him a moderate surprise

Although the previous occupant of this body was a fool, they did leave behind some useful things, such as this modest apartment

Certainly, Murphy also has another option, which is to continue with his previous job

Dinner only cost five dollars, and Murphy currently has no source of income, so he must plan the use of every cent meticulously

The greatest talent of humanity is the right to pursue dreams, but before chasing those dreams, one must first satisfy their basic needs. If one cannot even achieve the most fundamental aspect of survival, everything else is merely an illusion

Early the next morning, a young Black man delivered a relatively new Chevrolet to the intersection. Ross was very meticulous; the car was clearly filled with gas. Murphy parked the car in an alley beside the apartment building, bought breakfast and several newspapers, and returned upstairs. While eating, he flipped through the classifieds in the newspapers, hoping to find something suitable for himself.

These are the work equipment of the predecessor