Hollywood Tycoon [US Entertainment + Business War]

After the hiatus in New York, Jed returned to his home in Los Angeles.But what makes Jed a little depressed is that the directors of the Sherman Family Development Fund are here to prepare for the indictment!Because according to Jade's investment analysis at the time, December should be the time when Japan's economy collapsed. However, although Japan's stock market and foreign exchange market have experienced minor setbacks, there is no sign of a collapse.If the Japanese stock market and foreign exchange market still behave like this at the end of the year, then the Sherman Fund will be crying without tears in the futures index market.In this regard, Jed did not explain much, but just asked the directors to wait.

Don't look at Jed's calm surface, in fact he is also emotional.Because speculation in the Japanese stock market and foreign exchange market has already used up two-thirds of his personal assets, the Sherman Family Development Foundation also used nearly half of its capital for big bets.Jed is not Soros. Even though he failed to snipe the Hong Kong dollar at the beginning, he made a lot of money in Southeast Asia, and he didn't lose anything in the end.I and the Sherman Fund jointly speculated on the Japanese economy, which cost a lot of money. If the Japanese economy did not have problems as history said, then I and the Sherman family would suffer a lot.

But Jed can only put aside these troubles for the time being, the first thing he does when he returns to the company is to announce that Dongfeng Production is about to move.He showed the concept map of the future Dongfeng Building to all employees of the company. The building with oriental style has further enhanced the sense of belonging of many employees to the company.Why are many companies keen on building tall buildings?In addition to the factors of investing in real estate, the most important thing is to demonstrate one's own strength to employees and investors.Although Dongfeng Production has just started, such a large-scale effort is equivalent to telling all employees in the company that the company will be better tomorrow, and taking the opportunity to appease the employees' minds.

After all, with the popularity of "Will & Grace" and "Friends", more and more things come to Dongfeng Production to poach the wall.The joint personnel department of Jade has also taken measures to appease by category. For qualified and capable employees, they will naturally be promoted and given stock option incentives; for qualified but lacking employees, a certain salary increase will be given; For employees with less seniority or superior ability, they are given a preference in terms of bonuses; as for employees with no ability and no qualifications, Jed is naturally eager to be poached, so as to save himself a salary.Under a series of measures, Dongfeng's interior naturally calmed down.

The following Christmas, Jade distributed a big red envelope to all employees according to Chinese customs. Although the money in the red envelope was only one month's salary, it was quite a surprise for most of the employees.Although Christmas is a very important holiday in the United States, it is no different for Jed, who has lost his parents.He still locked himself in his study, finishing the third volume of his three science fiction novels.

As the novel boom passed, the three books accumulated their own regular readers. "Resident Evil" is still the best-selling and best-known book among the three novels, because Jed's humanistic value endowed by this book has made many serious literary book critics express their admiration. The sales volume of "Tomb Raider" is relatively low, but fortunately, there has always been a fixed female market supporting this book. The commercial value of "Halo" is relatively high. At present, Jed has received invitations for game adaptation, film adaptation and TV series adaptation, but Jed declined all of them. After all, this era is not suitable for "Halo" to be born.

In addition to three novels, Jed is also busy writing screenplays.This time, Jed is writing with the mentality of creating a script, rather than adapting his existing novel to a script.There is still a big difference between a script and a novel. The script focuses on concentrating dramatic conflicts within a limited time, while the novel focuses on a whole, so the direction of creation of the two is not the same.The scripts that Jed created this time are two romantic dramas. It can be said that romantic dramas have always been a popular theme in Hollywood.Such a theme is difficult to produce classics and sell super high box office, but the victory lies in stability.Many love movies will still be released in some niche theaters even after decades, but there will still be many audiences who will buy tickets to reminisce.As for the video rental market, romance is the second most popular genre after horror.So Jed intends to make a fortune in this slow-moving market.

When the Christmas holidays were over, Jed visited Lansing with his screenplay.After Lansing came to Dongfeng International, he actually did not have much work. Apart from the need to jointly acquire the "Guide Satellite" with Fox Broadcasting Company, he was in contact with the broadcasting station for the new version of "The Oprah Show".It has to be said that Lansing is worthy of the title of "Hollywood's No. [-] Strong Woman". The "Guidance Satellite Acquisition Case" only took three months to complete most of the work, and the rest was just some finishing work.The new "Oprah Show" has already reached broadcasting agreements with most of the big city TV stations in the United States. In addition, it has also reached a second round of broadcasting agreements with some smaller cities and towns.Even if "The Oprah Show" broke away from ABC, its influence in the United States will not be weakened in the slightest.And Jed came to Lansing this time to sell the script in his hand. With the guidance of the former general manager of Fox Films, Jed will not be aimless.

Lansing was a little surprised to see his boss coming to visit in his office.However, Jed didn't say anything politely to Lansing, and directly stated his purpose, and then handed the script to Lansing.Although Lansing is not a screenwriter or director, she has worked as a film producer and distributor for so many years, and she can still see the quality of the script.She first opened the first script, "Scent of a Woman".Lansing frowned slightly. After all, the name was too provocative, which made Lansing feel that the script seemed to be a movie with "too much meat".

But turned over slightly, Lansing showed a hint of surprise on his face.It turns out that the reason for "Smell" is that the actor's eyes are blind, and this movie that looks like a romance movie is actually a movie about the growth of teenagers and human nature.If Lansing hadn't watched it carefully, she would almost have thought it was an extremely vulgar romantic drama.This movie seems to have similarities with "Dead Poets Society" released last year, but "Scent of a Woman" is lighter and does not make the topic of education too heavy.Lansing can guarantee that this is not only a movie that will do well at the box office, but even a movie that has the strength to contend for Oscars.

"Mr. Sherman, you are really the most talented writer in the United States!" Lansing couldn't help but admire, "As long as there are suitable actors and directors, this will be a movie that will shine in North America. I recommend you Submitted to Universal Pictures, they have a soft spot for romance and heroes, and they are very good at such movies."

Jed nodded. After all, the script of "Scent of a Woman" was also handed over to Universal for filming in that time and space.Jed thought for a while, took another piece of paper, and wrote the names of the director and several leading actors on the paper.Lansing is also watching from the sidelines, she knows that Jed will definitely not just make a screenwriter.There are quite a few screenwriter-turned-producers in Hollywood, and I think this inspired Jed a lot.As an excellent producer, choosing a good script and forming an excellent team are his job responsibilities.

Because of Jed's own creative ability, Lansing is not worried about Jed's ability to pick scripts, but she is worried about whether Jed has the ability to read actors and directors.As long as a good producer chooses the right director and actors, then the film is at least half successful.The director Jed picked was Martin Brest, a name that made Lansing frown.Knowing that Martin Brest is just a freshman director who only made a movie the year before last, is it appropriate to control such a serious movie?However, considering that his last work was a comedy, it seems that Jed's positioning for this movie is still a romantic comedy.Immediately afterwards, the actor selected by Jed was Al Pacino.Lansing closed his eyes and imagined the "Godfather" star playing a blind colonel, and I have to say that this is an excellent choice.

And another male lead, Jed chose Chris O'Donnell.The name Lansing has no impression at all, could it be a newcomer?But if it was a newcomer, where did Jed know about it?Lansing couldn't help being a little surprised.Likewise, Gabrielle Anwar, who played the heroine, is not in Lansing's memory.A new director adds two new actors, and then uses an old drama to support the plot. This is exactly the rhythm of a low-cost movie.However, Lansing also felt that this film was suitable for low-cost production. After all, the box office of romance films is limited, and high investment means high risk.Therefore, from this perspective, the collocation of Jed's crew is still reasonable.

"Look at this script again, a movie based on the novel "Dracula." Jed pointed to another script.

"Vampire theme?" Lansing became a little interested.In Lansing's view, vampire-themed movies must be horror movies, and horror movies are almost the themes that make money in American commercial movies.Now, coupled with the adaptation by a talented writer, this should be a film that can achieve something at the box office.But after reading the script, Lansing realized that he was wrong again. How could this be a horror movie?Obviously it's a romance movie, okay?And faith is explored in romance films.However, Lansing found that Jade was very flattering, and let the vampire confess and finally convert to God before his death. This "right faith" movie will undoubtedly make 88% of the Christians in the United States happy. "It should do well at the box office, and I think Columbia Pictures will be happy to shoot it."

"I don't like Columbia films." Of course Jade knew that the genre was Columbia's specialty, but he hadn't worked with it since the company was acquired by Sony Pictures Entertainment in 1989.The supporter behind Sony is the Mitsui Consortium. Although Jade has no way to retaliate against the Mitsui Consortium for the time being, he can still refuse to cooperate with its film company. "Lansing, neither my company nor I will cooperate with Columbia Pictures, so please recommend another company."

Although Lansing doesn't know why Jed hates Columbia movies, she can feel Jed's disgust very strongly. "If you don't like Columbia, then Warner Bros. is a good choice."

"Then continue to trouble you." After Jed wrote down the expected director and actors on the script, he also handed it to Lansing.

Seeing the back of Jade leaving, Shirley Lansing picked up the phone and contacted the copyright departments of Warner and Universal respectively.The two companies also expressed great interest in Jed's script.Although Jed's "Thelma & Louise" and "The Uninhibited Sky" have not yet been released, judging from the feedback from MGM and New Line, the quality of Jed's script is very high.And they also said that if Jed provided a storyboard script, then don't hesitate to adopt it, because it is really good.

Some people say that you can meet a big star when you walk around in Hollywood, but Jed never thought that he could meet Spielberg while drinking coffee.This made Jed very excited. Although Spielberg hadn't become a god with "Schindler's List" at this time, he was already a top-notch director in Hollywood back then.Compared with Spielberg, Jed is just a rookie who has not yet started.So Jed trembled a little when he saw Spielberg, but fortunately, Spielberg was still enthusiastic about Jed.Since he is a major director in Hollywood, Spielberg has of course heard of this little screenwriter who has just entered the film and television industry.Spielberg even had the idea of ​​adapting "Thelma and Louise", but unfortunately the script in hand involved too much of his own experience.

Since Jed's mother was Jewish, according to Jewish law, Jed is also Jewish.Therefore, Spielberg became more and more enthusiastic about this "citizen", and even talked about his two rejections when he applied to the USC Film Academy.Jed naturally answered the senior's question respectfully, and then carefully brought the topic to "Jurassic Park".Spielberg is naturally very interested in this topic, but he also talked about some distress in his shooting.Although Spielberg's prop team made the dinosaur model lifelike, the effect of shooting it was not real.

"Or we could try some computer-generated effects?" Jed suggested cautiously.

"Computer special effects?" Although this term has not yet been born, it does not hinder Spielberg's understanding of this term.After all, he worked with the computer team in the production of "Jaws" to make the great white shark in the movie very real. "There are many big scenes in this movie. Can a computer do it? This is not Jaws, just a few shots."

"Mr. Spielberg, the future film technology will definitely be deeply integrated with computers. Although I admit that makeup and prop technology will still be an indispensable part of the film, computer special effects will gradually occupy a more important position than them. Sir, I think if this movie is going to be a landmark movie, then it has to be a little more daring."

Spielberg is definitely not a director who is content with the status quo. He was a little inspired by Jed's words and asked: "But there is no such company in Hollywood. If there is a company that can make real dinosaurs, I would like to work with them." cooperate."

"Yes, Mr. George Lucas's Industrial Light and Magic." Jed blurted out, "Their computer special effects technology is great!"

Spielberg was stunned for a while when he heard Lucas's name, and then laughed, "You can't so blatantly solicit business for your alumni! —Okay, I'll take some time to visit him. Yes Are you interested in joining my crew?"

Jed was a little embarrassed by Spielberg's ridicule at first, and he almost forgot that Lucas was his senior. It is indeed a bit "melon field" to recommend his alumni to other directors so openly.But soon he was surprised by Spielberg's invitation. Although Americans pay attention to independent struggle, there are many detours that can be avoided with the guidance of a famous teacher.Jed is not the kind of old-fashioned and old-fashioned, he immediately nodded and agreed.So Spielberg wrote down an address and a phone number, and told him to report to the crew the day after tomorrow.

Just when Jed was still happy that Spielberg appreciated him, the trader of the Sherman Foundation brought better news. Both the stock market and the foreign exchange market in Japan collapsed. The investment company of Yuan and Nikkei, Sherman Fund took a bite out of Japan's fat.Although this amount of money is not much compared to those big investment companies, for the Sherman Fund, this income more than doubled the fund's capital, and Jed himself made a huge profit. Pen.Immediately, Jed instructed that he should re-enter the Japanese stock market to buy bottoms at the right time.Naturally, everyone understands this, but no one expected that it was the Japanese Sony Group that Jade was planning to buy.Jed doesn't plan to acquire Sony Group, because it's too unrealistic, but he wants to make himself a key minority, so that he can pinch Sony's "balls" at the most important time so that it doesn't dare to mess around.

Of course, Jed doesn't need to worry about these things, and there will naturally be a professional trader to take care of them.At this time, Jed was going to Spielberg's "Jurassic Park" crew to report under the envy and hatred of all Dongfeng employees. "Jurassic Park" is a film co-produced by Universal and Amblin, while Amblin is Spielberg's own production company.Although the film does not have Spielberg's name as the producer, everyone knows that Spielberg is the real boss.For the boss to bring a young man to serve as the so-called "producer assistant" and "director assistant", everyone just silently accepted.But there are still many people who are privately jealous of this young man's good luck, but Universal is still very happy to join Jed, because the two parties are very likely to cooperate in a movie.