Hollywood starts with a broker

Following MGM's change of ownership, within less than a month, MCA Group and Matsushita Electric also announced successful transactions in New York and Tokyo respectively;

Japan's Matsushita Electric acquired MCA Universal for $6.59 billion!

In his West Hollywood apartment, Aaron sat on the sofa watching the financial news on TV. Matsushita's acquisition included quite a few assets:

Universal Film Group, Universal Studios and Resorts Group (Hollywood Universal Studios and 50% equity in Orlando Universal Studios, which just opened this year), MCA Television, MCA Home Video, MCA Records, Putnam Publishing, 40% equity in Cineplex Odeon cinema chain, and 50% equity in USA Cable Network!

Getting up, Aaron poured himself a glass of wine and took a sip. Twentieth Century Fox, Columbia, MGM, and Universal were successively acquired;

Adding to the merger of Time Warner, Paramount would be next. This was another reshuffling of Hollywood!

The next day, "Fox" and "The Wall Street Journal" also detailed Matsushita's acquisition of MCA.

In particular, CAA, as the main consultant for the acquisition, caused an uproar in Hollywood. Matsushita offered a service fee of $135 million for this acquisition;

After paying the fees for other bankers, lawyers, and other consulting teams, CAA alone received $60 million in commission!

And Michael Ovitz, after assisting Sony in acquiring Columbia TriStar last year, once again led Matsushita's acquisition of MCA this year. "Premiere" magazine ranked Michael Ovitz as the number one most powerful person in Hollywood for the second consecutive year.

In the evening, Aaron, Jack Welles, and Quentin Tarantino were hanging out at a bar. "'Boyz n the Hood' was submitted again, right?"

"Yeah, it was still rejected. John will continue to revise it," Quentin Tarantino explained.

Jack Welles paused, "There's too much shady stuff in the MPAA. Some works full of violence and sex can still be rated R!"

Aaron curled his lip, "Fuck, they're just a bunch of nitpickers. Aren't those so-called judges all listening to the Seven Majors?"

"Look at Los Angeles now. It's already a lewd, low-class, and crime-filled city. Ubiquitous vulgar souvenir shops, drug dealers, drug addicts, beggars, vagrants, and prostitutes fill every street;"

"Rape, brawls, robberies, and murders happen every moment!"

Saying that, Aaron looked at Quentin Tarantino again, "By the way, did you sell your 'Natural Born Killers' script to Oliver Stone?"

"Yeah, I specially invited you guys out for a drink, and I'm preparing my own story, hoping to film it next year."

"Okay, when you're ready, show me the script..."

Quentin Tarantino is a genius anyway. This guy's works are still quite commercial.

Dawn Films was busy revising "Boyz n the Hood" to meet the R-rating requirements, and was also preparing "My Own Private Idaho";

Aaron also specifically met with director Gus Van Sant and the two leading actors River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves!

"After Thanksgiving, the crew will officially start shooting in Portland. There will also be location shooting in Idaho and Rome;"

"However, the filming time will definitely not be long, and it should be completed in less than ten weeks."

In the office of Dawn Films, Gus Van Sant was very grateful for Aaron's support.

Aaron nodded and looked at River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves on the side, "You guys seem to be getting into the mood?"

River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves bumped fists with each other, "We are professional actors. I didn't expect to cooperate so quickly!"

Looking at the two of them, it was estimated that the "My Own Private Idaho" crew would be rampant with drugs. This kind of decadence should have been acquired from quite a bit of drug use.

"Okay, anyway, it's getting late, why not go to a bar for a drink?"

Aaron suggested.

"I won't go. I still have to talk to Ms. Parker about the details of the movie later. You young people go!"

Gus Van Sant said with a smile.

River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves had no objections and readily agreed. Aaron Anderson was also a film company boss after all;

It's always right to have a good relationship with him.

Not long after, Aaron and the others arrived at a bar in West Hollywood. On the way, they also saw the movie poster for "Home Alone" which was currently being screened;

The Twentieth Century Fox family comedy "Home Alone," which was released earlier this month, showed excellent word-of-mouth and box office results as soon as it was released!

The opening performance was 17 million US dollars, and it has accumulated 48 million US dollars in 10 days of release. The 10-year-old child star Macaulay Culkin is also a hit.

"Come on, have a drink," in the bar, people were toasting and indulging!

Soon, Nicolas Cage and Johnny Depp also came to the bar together, and the atmosphere became more and more high.

Nicolas Cage's "Wild at Heart," which was released this year, won the Palme d'Or at Cannes;

However, the box office was not high, only about 17 million US dollars, which is not as good as "Phone Booth"!

"By the way, Aaron, have you seen 'Edward Scissorhands'? I heard you mentioned it before, what do you think?"

The fantasy romance film "Edward Scissorhands" co-starred by Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder will be released next month. He wanted to ask the other party's opinion.

Aaron smiled, "I've seen it. I think this movie will become one of Tim Burton's and your representative works;"

"Black Gothic elements are Tim Burton's symbol. Have you noticed that you are very suitable for this type of work?"

Johnny Depp nodded, "I also think it's very comfortable to work with Tim Burton. This gloomy black style is also very similar to me;"

"During the filming process, I can always quickly understand Tim Burton's ideas, and he is also very relieved to let me express myself according to my heart!"

Aaron spread his hands, "That's it. It's enough to be able to understand each other's meaning."

"Okay, let's have a drink!"

Nicolas Cage raised his glass.

After a while, Keanu Reeves suggested: "Want to do something exciting?"

Aaron shook his head, "Recently, one of my movies is being returned by the MPAA for revisions, which is annoying;"

"You guys go and have fun!"

Soon, River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves, Johnny Depp went to the bathroom to enjoy the excitement together.

Nicolas Cage shook his head and smiled and comforted: "Aaron, many filmmakers have been rejected by the MPAA, don't worry!"

Just as Aaron was about to say something, he suddenly saw Warren Beatty, who was flirting with a barmaid not far away in the bar;

It was this bastard who always slandered himself in front of reporters. He actually ran into him here. It would be really unreasonable not to say hello.