Rebirth of America, this is my time

A few minutes later, we were in the car back in Los Angeles.

Lucas looked at Gary Kurtz, who had a complicated expression, and asked, Have you been scolded?

Yeah. Gary Kurtz responded with his nose and nodded slightly.

What did Ethan say? Spielberg asked with concern.

He said...he only gave Columbia a week to deal with the problem. If we can't resume work by then, then we will need to change our partners. Gary Kurtz repeated the boss's words. Of course, those domineering The oath was concealed by him.

This decision made Spielberg turn his head decisively. Lucas, who was leaning on the nanny car, opened his mouth to speak, but after a while, his thousands of words turned into a heavy sigh.

well--

In fact, when they were far away in John Bull, they learned that David Begelman, a good friend of Columbia Pictures, was involved in a check fraud case, which led to various projects within the company to be investigated by Ferber. They knew that this incident would definitely make Ethan very unhappy.

So, in order to calm down Ethan's emotions and explain the whole matter to Ethan, they immediately decided to fly from John Bull to San Francisco overnight, hoping to limit the problem to a controllable range.

The reason for this is also very simple.

Because the gameplay in Hollywood is obviously different from that in the video game industry.

The latter, when the sales channels are very unrestrained, any merchant with a store is willing to provide a place for excellent game arcades, and the production process of electronic games does not require cliques, Yi can produce excellent games based on his personal ability. Sen. Jones can naturally defy the heavens and the earth and defy the air.

But the former is just the opposite. The release of the movie relies on the North American Cinema Alliance, which was separated from the film giant. The promotion of the movie relies on the you know me, I know you relationship. The production of the movie also relies on it. Everyone works together to make a difference. When the whole process of a movie from inspiration to screening requires a tacit agreement between people, a good social circle is very necessary.

If Spielberg didn't know Sidney Sheinberg, then he wouldn't have been able to get a long-term contract from Universal Pictures; if George Lucas didn't know Francis Coppola, then he might still have to It took a while before I could get help from a noble person and shoot American Style Painting.

When a single character can burst out with huge energy, the human resources in the hands of a film industry giant that has been in business for decades cannot be underestimated. When Ethan Jones has publicly declared war with Warner Communications, he will threaten another No matter how you look at it, this is a very unwise thing for the film industry giants to do. They came here just to make Ethan calm down and wait a little longer.

Judging from the current situation...

Columbia Pictures is going to be furious after hearing what he said.

Lucas, who was leaning on the seat, closed his eyes helplessly and said: They are already very worried about David Begelman's matter, and then Ethan suddenly told them that he didn't want to wait? And also? Do you want them to deal with this matter as soon as possible on the grounds of changing partners?

Oh - I don't dare to think about the faces of those Columbia executives now -

If you were in my shoes, my cheeks would be red with anger.

Since we had communicated the itinerary to Universal before departure, the security guard who picked us up yesterday and the nanny car that left today were the business fleet provided by Universal. The privacy was very good, and the driver and bodyguard were his own, so Lucas didn't mean to hide anything when he spoke.

As he sighed, Spielberg also shook his head.

If their cheeks turn red with anger, they deserve it!

Since they don't have the ability to cover up this kind of thing, they should solve it quickly!

George, you think Columbia Pictures would be angry after hearing what Ethan said, but what if you were watching the whole thing from Ethan's perspective?

We were working well together on a project, and then suddenly it was stopped! The reason for the stoppage was not a natural disaster or a force majeure factor, but the director of the film company went out of his way to do some bullshit check fraud! In the end, What’s disgusting is that the film company already knew about this and then protected him! In the end, they were exposed before the cover-up was successful!”

Don't you think these things are a bit strange?

To be honest, I think Ethan's self-cultivation is already good!

If I could make 100 million a year, I would have told Columbia Pictures to get out!

Hollywood giants? What are you so proud of! Why should I pay for your illegal activities? You have been working for ten years, but you still don't make as much as I do in one year!

The suddenly raised voice made Lucas smile bitterly. Before they went to London to find a director, they had actually seen Fortune magazine's report on Ethan. That year, they were shocked by the fact that they collected 300 million yuan and the net profit exceeded 30%.

Although they had always known that Ethan was rich, they did not expect that Ethan could be so rich.

What is the concept of 100 million in cash a year?

All Hollywood studios combined may not have a cash reserve of 100 million!

Not to mention the real profits earned in a year!

When a company's annual revenue exceeds that of the rest of the industry combined...

Warner Communications announces ban on Destiny Game?

Columbia Pictures could be kicked out?

Then other film companies will still rush forward!

In front of the green and beautiful sword, all human relations are in vain!

Only making money is real!

Oh - it's precisely because we knew that this matter was too baffling for Ethan that we came directly after the incident, right? Lucas opened his eyes again and cast a helpless look at the two people beside him. eyes, According to our original intention, we want to stabilize Ethan.

Although Columbia Pictures did a terrible job in this matter, they have a very good relationship with CBS after all...

When Warner Communications has decided to fight Destiny Games to the end, it is a very unwise decision to provoke Columbia Pictures, which has media relations.

The idea of ​​coming to the Greater Bay Area first was proposed by Lucas.

His original intention was not to complain about Columbia Pictures, nor to complain about his friend Begelman, who had helped him many times, but he hoped that Ethan, who had set foot in the traditional entertainment industry, would not make enemies again.

If the temporary delay of the project can stabilize a media, it is an acceptable wait in his view. They who are engaged in entertainment know better than anyone what it means to be attacked by public opinion and what it means to be frightened by people's words.

Big brother Francis Coppola was highly praised after making The Godfather, but after the second film was released, he was criticized as boring. Even if Mike's character creation is perfect, the sense of difference in the era and the loneliness of the character are even It can be said to be the top level in Hollywood, but there are still countless people who are dissatisfied.

This also caused the third film to be urgently stopped by Paramount.

When The Godfather was making money, Paramount was licking Francis Coppola's DYZ to let him continue to make sequels. But after The Godfather Part II received polarizing reviews and the box office plummeted, Paramount immediately turned its back. I recognized him and started to blame him wildly in the media.

This capitalist behavior is still fresh in Lucas' mind.

If we use Paramount’s approach to view today’s events, on the surface, everything this time is the responsibility of Columbia Pictures. Ethan’s idea of ​​​​terminating the contract is reasonable, but human beings have never been rational. Standing on Columbia Pictures’ side, From a professional perspective, they would definitely feel that Ethan was adding insult to injury.

Since you left decisively when I was in trouble?

Then don’t blame me for trying to blackmail you!

George, although your intentions are good, I think Ethan did the right thing. Spielberg said: After all, what David Begelman and Columbia Pictures did this time was too outrageous. .”

Ethan wants to cut off from them. That's a perfectly normal thought.

and……

When Columbia Pictures has provoked the FBI, they still want to use the power of the media to attack us? Wow - they must have such an idea, but do they have the ability?

I do not know then.

George, I agree with Steven's point of view. Gary Kurtz said: From an employment perspective, my boss did the right thing. From a friend's perspective, David went too far.

We racked our brains to help him improve his performance, but in the end he blew up first?

If I had known that he had the idea or behavior of falsifying checks, I wouldn't have done Close Encounters of the Third Kind with him! One more minute of contact with him would mean one more minute of unlucky life!

We are all our own people, let me make it clear.

George, David may have helped you with Star Wars, but that doesn't mean we have to go into the water with him. All rewards have limits, Okay?

Although Gary Kurtz just tried to appease his boss, he just hoped that the boss would not offend all the Hollywood giants. Since the boss had made the decision, he would not say much, and even He himself also felt...'What's the point of this special code! ’

Okay, Okay, Okay... Lucas took a deep breath and said: I have no intention of helping David, and I don't want to help him with this kind of thing, Okay? He is really unlucky. He was obviously beaten. The things that were reported have been reopened, but I don’t know who the guy who reported him is?”

We can't control that much about this matter. Spielberg said: He has so many enemies, who knows which one? And this time the momentum is too great. Columbia, Fox, Universal, and Warner all have influence. If according to the Judging by the method of who benefits and who is the mastermind, it must be Paramount, Disney and MGM who reported the case... But the investigation is not our business, right? Let’s wait for the results.”

...Forget it! Let's not talk about this! Not wanting to continue talking about this fruitless matter, Lucas decisively changed the subject. Now that we have reached a consensus, who will be the next owner of Alien? He asked the two of them their opinions.

Go around the world. Spielberg was very decisive and directly reported his base camp.

If Alien is placed at Universal, I can copy all the terms that we negotiated with Columbia before. Sidney will sign it with his eyes closed like David, as long as it is the contract I gave.

As for Fox...

The FBI will definitely investigate them more harshly than Global Global.

I also think Universal can serve as a guarantee, but before that we can talk to Paramount and MGM to see what their conditions are like. Gary Kurtz expressed his opinion, Although Ethan may not care about movie revenue, but we have to show professionalism.”

Okay, Gary, I'll leave this to you.

Lucas slapped his thigh and said decisively: Notify Colombia first and give them seven days, then contact each company and ask for their price. Oh, by the way, you must pay attention to safety when you go to Colombia. I really think , they will get angry and beat people...

Lucas was right. When Gary Kurtz went to Columbia with the will of his boss Ethan Jones, Columbia Pictures immediately exploded after receiving the unilateral notice.

“What the fuck???”

Ethan Jones only gave us seven days to resolve this matter?

That's not fair!

Anyone with some common sense knows that when the FBI gets involved in a case, they can't shut down the network quickly in a short period of time! No matter how hard we communicate, it will take a certain amount of time to resolve the matter! And it will take a certain amount of time! Even if we don’t solve the whole thing and just restart the project that hasn’t been officially filmed, it can’t be done in seven days!”

The chairman of Columbia Pictures stood up from behind his desk, put his hands on the table, and said, Can you go tell your boss and give us a month?

The director of Alien has not been confirmed! Neither of us has even invested funds in it! In this case, pushing it back a month will not cost you anything! At most, the movie will be released a little later! And! This kind of thing is very common in Hollywood, isn’t it?”

He leaned forward and opened his eyes wide.

His bloodshot eyes were filled with anticipation and pleading.

Although the two parties have known each other for many years and have been friends for a long time, Gary Kurtz still shook his head decisively at this moment and said: It is precisely because neither of us has injected funds into it, so now is the best time for us to separate. Isn't it the right time? After we leave, you can handle the case with peace of mind and no longer have to worry about the project. The start-up funds for the project can also be used for public relations.

No!——

The cruel words made the chairman of Columbia Pictures roar.

It won't cost us too much energy to handle this kind of case at all! We at Columbia Pictures have the ability to operate multiple lines! Moreover, Steven's Close Encounters of the Third Kind is still in our hands, right? We will If we pay him on time, we will pay him dividends on time. I think this should be able to reflect our Colombia's ability to resist risks, right?

At this point, he seemed to have remembered something, and continued: Is your boss worried that our Colombia will implicate him? You can give us a message and say that everything here is very good! The so-called check fraud is just An accident!”

Really? Is this really just an accident? Gary Kurtz stared at the other party with burning eyes.

Of course! the chairman of Columbia Pictures said in affirmation, squeezing his neck.

Then please tell me, how did you allow this accident to happen? Gary Kurtz said mercilessly: This is not something that just broke out now! It was a case discovered by the IRS in February last year! Last year you The self-examination has already been completed, and as a result, someone reported me this year!”

Tell me, can this kind of thing be called an accident? Someone is obviously targeting it deliberately!

And now you may not even know who reported it!

In this case, how do you want us to continue to cooperate with you?

Bang——

Gary Kurtz slapped the table and stood up suddenly.

Eyes as wide as a bull's eye, staring at each other.

Under his gaze, the chairman of Columbia Pictures immediately gasped for breath, his right index finger kept trembling, and he wanted to angrily poke Gary Kurtz's chest, but he couldn't do it.

Okay, okay... the chairman of Columbia Pictures murmured: One week at a time...

We will definitely find out the truth within a week!

We will definitely find that guy with a rat head and a rat tail!

Just wait and see! he growled with veins popping up in his neck.

We'll see. Gary Kurtz smiled without a smile.

Without saying anything, he turned around and left Colombia.

After Gary Kurtz relayed what happened in Colombia to Ethan, Ethan didn't take it to heart at all. Whether he could find the real culprit behind the scenes was Columbia's business and had nothing to do with him. What's important is not the end of this case, but the beginning of filming.

As long as the movie can start production on time, then everything is fine!

What if it can't be opened?

Then get out of here!

Although Ethan is too lazy to care about these little things, starting from the 1st, Steve Ballmer, the media information director of Destiny Game who was personally appointed by him, will report to him the latest situation of Columbia Pictures every day, from media response to events Progress, from police investigations to stock price fluctuations, this bald man wasted no time and put all the public information he could find in front of Ethan.

The first three categories are not very bright, but the fourth category is very interesting.

Because after the check fraud case and the Columbia cover-up case broke out, Columbia Pictures' stock fell like a cliff, but even so, a large number of retail investors were still buying crazily every day.

On March 6, a new piece of news reached his ears.

Boss! Kirk Kerkorian, the actual controller of MGM Pictures, announced through the media today that he has taken control of 5.5% of Columbia Pictures! He is preparing to issue an acquisition offer to Columbia Pictures and will Columbia Pictures becomes MGM!

This news made Ethan quickly take over the newspaper.

After he finished reading the contents, his brows instinctively frowned.

Why did MGM suddenly acquire Columbia?

Did they do this reporting incident?

That's a question Steve Ballmer can't answer.

But while Ethan was puzzled, the bald man also left the company and rushed to the archives in San Jose to search for all information related to the boss of MGM. When he returned to the company on the afternoon of March 6th, the dozen copies showed the full story to Ethan.

Boss, I found out that after acquiring MGM, Kirk Kerkorian did not carefully manage their movie business, but instead built a casino in Las Vegas in the name of MGM. and hotels, this kind of dishonest behavior has also plunged MGM into a financial crisis.

So, since the 1970s, he has been selling MGM's own assets to external parties, including but not limited to commemorative props from movie shootings, the production rights of major movies, as well as MGM's record companies and companies Backlot locations, equity interests in theaters of overseas cinema chains...

“These sales at the time were all to raise funds for the construction of hotels and casinos in Las Vegas. After the hotels were built and the cash flow came back, they wanted to get back into the movie business. They wanted to buy back what they had sold. , but no buyer is willing to let them repurchase, so...

“That’s probably why they’re targeting Colombia.”

When Steve Ballmer told Ethan the facts he had connected together, Ethan, who was sitting in the office chair, suddenly looked confused, You mean...we are the ones affected?

He organized his words and said: MGM wanted to acquire Columbia, but they didn't want to accept their high value, so they spread Colombia's dirty information? We happened to have cooperation with Columbia, so we took action before they When, were we affected?

...Uh...I don't know about this either. Steve Ballmer didn't dare to guarantee it.

But the more Ethan thought about it, the more he thought it was okay.

Because MGM boss Kirk Kerkorian was famous in his previous life. At the time of his death, he was the second-oldest billionaire in the world, second only to David Rockefeller, who lived to be 100 years old. What made him famous was that he single-handedly built the super resort in Las Vegas.

According to media reports, the reason why he bought MGM was purely because he felt that a casino-style hotel must have a high reputation to the outside world, so that tourists can feel at ease. The MGM brand is very loud in America, and the golden lion is very suitable for the luxury of casinos, so he acquired MGM and turned a movie company into a hotel company.

His behavior made MGM synonymous with casinos and also earned him huge profits. And when he achieved great success in the hotel industry, he did rejoin Hollywood. After all, MGM had 007 in its hands, and it would be a pity not to film it.

Special code!

Is this a fire at the city gate that affects the fish in the pond?

The capitalists fought each other and ended up hitting me on the head?

Grass!

Why am I so unlucky!

Ethan felt that he had discovered the truth, so he called Destiny Pictures and asked company president Gary Kurtz to prepare to leave Columbia with the Alien project.

When the check fraud case and the hostile takeover case were linked together, Ethan didn't want to get involved in this mess at all. These messes were not only disgusting, but also troublesome.

But after he told him his arrangement, Gary Kurtz on the other end of the phone made a bitter voice, Boss, I have communicated with Paramount and Disney in the past few days, and now they are There was no interest at all in our film project.”

With Columbia and MGM temporarily unable to cooperate, the only choices we have are Universal and Fox, where Steven and George can decide everything.

What? Ethan was shocked.

Why? He was very puzzled.

Didn't they rush to cooperate with us before? Why are they no longer interested now?

Is this impossible?

Ethan's inquiry made Gary Kurtz a little silent, because he didn't know the reason. And just when the two were about to analyze the entire incident, a rapid knock on the door penetrated Ethan's ears.

Before Ethan could say please come in, a shout came from outside the door——

Boss! Something big happened!

Philips held a press conference in conjunction with Disney, Paramount, and MGM!

What the fuck? - Ethan exclaimed.

His mother! When did it happen? he asked loudly.

The next second, he realized something was wrong again, Steve, come in and talk!

Note: ① In reality, after the Colombia incident broke out, the boss of MGM bought a large number of shares when its stock price fell. But in the end the merger was not successful because it was suspected of being a monopoly. After this disturbance, Columbia was unable to operate, and was finally acquired by Coca-Cola. ② MGM's film business was indeed dragged down by the hotel plan. In order to build the hotel, they even sold all their shares in their North American distribution channels and global distribution channels. ③The whole thing is also very interesting. After David Begelman left Columbia Pictures due to check fraud and embezzlement, the boss of MGM invited him to join MGM. To use a conspiracy theory, it is a real business war.