America: Starting with the acquisition of MGM

Chapter 248 247. Never retreat

"Boss, Disney, Universal, Sony, Paramount, Fox and Warner together sent us a request to ban Mel Gibson!"

After Carol finished speaking, Eric's face instantly darkened, what a bunch of bastards.

"When did this happen?"

"Last night, it was said that people from six companies met and negotiated for a long time. They were all off work, and then the official letter was delivered to us at 11 o'clock in the evening."

"Considering that you might have rested, I didn't call and just sent a text message."

"Okay, I understand, thank you for your hard work."

"Boss, what should we do? They are pressing hard this time. Six major companies have joined forces to ban one person. This kind of thing rarely happens in the history of Hollywood."

After thinking for a moment, Eric said directly: "It's okay. Don't pay attention to them. If you don't reply for now, just say that I am filming abroad. This is not a trivial matter after all. Mel Gibson is not just Mel Gibson, he also owns a family." As for the company, we can wait until I return to China."

Understanding that Eric was looking for an excuse to use procrastination, Carol was even more certain that he must have expected to go abroad on the day of the movie's release.

Since the boss is not in a hurry, there is no need to be in a hurry if you are a secretary, just follow the arrangements.

After hanging up the phone, Eric shook his head to wake himself up. He had been fighting continuously last night, but he didn't pay attention to the text messages.

I washed my face, walked to the window and looked into the distance. It seemed that the person who came this time was not good.

However, Jews account for a large part of the senior management of Disney, Universal and Warner, so it is understandable that they want to ban Mel Gibson.

Fox also has reasons. After all, "American Idol" is about to compete with "The Voice", and people are eager for MGM to be in trouble.

What's more, the competition between Facebook and MySpace has reached a fierce stage. Murdoch will definitely support his son. Attacking MGM is equivalent to attacking Facebook.

Not to mention Sony. Because of the McNugget case, MGM has long had a deadly feud with the other party, and Little Japan has been looking for opportunities to retaliate.

The only one that had no reason was Paramount. MGM had no conflict with the other party. It was probably coerced.

Eric walked out of the room and headed to the restaurant, thinking about countermeasures as he walked.

As a result, when I thought about it carefully, I found that I had indeed had friction with Paramount.

At first, people also took a fancy to "Transformers", but they took away the copyright.

It would be fine if the movie failed. Paramount would just laugh and be glad that MGM helped it get out of the way and test the market reaction.

But if the movie sells well at the box office, then the other party will definitely have resentments and ideas.

"Honey, what's wrong with you?"

In the corridor, Theron's voice suddenly sounded behind her. She kept moisturizing every day, but her complexion was getting better and better, and her face was rosy.

"You're a little distracted, what are you thinking about?" Theron asked curiously.

Without hiding anything from her, Eric told the whole story.

Theron sneered after hearing this: "I think these guys are jealous. They are jealous that MGM is getting better and better, and they are worried that one day MGM will regain its dominance in Hollywood like it was in the last century."

"My dear, think about it. Ever since you took the helm, MGM's movies have not lost money. Movies are a high-risk, high-investment industry. MGM's performance is really scary."

"Well, actually there are also people who lose money."

"What?"

“‘The Devil Wears Prada’ hasn’t paid back yet.”

"Disgusting!" Theron punched Eric in the chest.

"In less than two years, we have paid off more than 2 billion US dollars in debt, and we have also led MGM to re-list. The market value has reached the third place among the seven major companies. If the stock price had not fallen in the past few days, it would have surpassed Warner Bros. Second place.”

"It controls a lot of popular IP cash cows, and also holds a large amount of equity in Double Star Entertainment and Marvel. It has also created Facebook and YouTube, two very promising emerging websites."

"My boss, they are scared. Anyone would be scared! Especially Disney, it must be the most scared. Maybe Mickey Mouse is the one leading this matter."

Eric nodded. What Theron said makes sense. In the early part of the last century, there was no so-called Big Seven in Hollywood.

At that time, there were only five strong film companies: Paramount, Warner, MGM, Fox and RKO.

The five companies have complete vertically integrated structures, including studios, theater chains, and international distribution networks.

Even the theater chain is in the hands of the movie company. Just think about how terrifying it is.

At that time, film and television companies were the absolute hegemons, and neither stars nor audiences had any choice.

You must film whatever I ask you to film, and the audience must watch whatever I want the audience to see. The overlord clause is non-negotiable.

In addition to the big five, there are Universal, Columbia and United Artists, but these three are very small, at most equivalent to the current Dimension.

Among the five major companies, Paramount was the earliest established. MGM was founded in 1924, 12 years later than Paramount, but the latecomers quickly took over.

How strong was MGM at that time?

It is hailed as the biggest miracle in the history of world cinema and claims to have more stars than the stars in the sky.

The average budget of each movie reaches US$500,000, which was US$500,000 in the 1930s and 1940s. The cost is much higher than that of other companies.

It has created countless classic screen images, and even the founder of the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was MGM.

Yes, Oscar was first initiated by MGM.

Due to the huge influence of the film, MGM's army logo once became a symbol of the United States.

This lion king was undoubtedly the largest, most influential, and most profitable super movie giant of that era that integrated production, distribution, and exhibition.

To use an analogy, it is equivalent to the United States today, which is the only super company. The Hollywood structure at that time was one super company and many super companies.

Does Eric want to bring MGM back to its former glory?

Of course, he has dreamed about it and is doing it.

After I become completely big, my first target is Warner Bros. Why do you want me to hide my ancestral property in your hands, and you also have DC comics.

You have a way to die!

Eric is still a non-Jewish person, and he may have anti-Semitic tendencies in his heart when he releases "The Passion of the Christ." I'm afraid the other party is really afraid of him, and it's not surprising that he will be targeted.

"Theron, do you have any good suggestions for the current situation?"

Theron frowned: "My dear, I don't know your trump card, but if it were me, I might give in when faced with pressure from the six major powers."

"Concession? Are you sure the other party won't make any further gains after you give in?"

"It depends on their true intentions. You must have made a decision in your mind, right?"

Eric snorted, he definitely couldn't retreat.

First of all, it will affect your own prestige.

It will also affect the integrity of MGM. If you betray your teammates when you are under pressure, others will definitely have scruples in doing business with you in the future.

In addition, small second- and third-tier companies such as DreamWorks, Lionsgate, and New Line are all watching, and they all want to see if MGM can withstand it.

If you can't stand it, these guys can be potential allies today and potential enemies tomorrow.

The most important thing is that Lionheart Network will be launched soon anyway.

This is a life-and-death struggle. As long as one side surrenders and gives in, it will be over!

Having made up his mind, Eric took out his phone and called Robert Mirren.

"Robert, how are the preparations going?"

Robert Mirren was visibly excited when he got the call.

"Boss, it has been completed a long time ago. I am just waiting for your order. Seeing that Facebook and YouTube are developing so well, everyone can't wait."

"Very good, the time will be set for next Saturday. I will give you a few days to prepare and it will be online at nine o'clock in the morning."

"In the past few days, you have to contact all major websites immediately, as well as shopping malls, big screens, subways, public toilets, in short, use them all except TV stations, and flood me with advertisements."

"It must be smashed overwhelmingly, to the point where no one in the entire United States knows about it."

"In addition, we will connect with Facebook and YouTube. They will help promote it. I want to launch information bombardment online and offline at the same time. As long as you are a person who is in contact with society, whether active or passive, you must know the name of Lionheart."

"Don't worry, boss, I promise to complete the task. May I ask what works we will launch in the first wave?"

"House of Cards, Supernatural, The Voice, and then Peppa Pig."

In the following days, the controversy caused by "The Passion of the Christ" continued to ferment, and a death occurred, which pushed the movie to the forefront.

A radio station in Kansas allowed its employees to watch a movie for free. When the movie showed the cruel scene of Jesus being crucified, Ms. Scott, a 56-year-old radio station marketing manager, suffered a heart attack. Although the movie theater immediately suspended the screening and sent her to an emergency room. He went to the hospital, but eventually died.

The news attributed Ms. Scutt's death to the movie, saying the picture was too cruel and caused strong discomfort among everyone.

Judaism and some social organizations clamored even more ferociously, demanding that Mel Gibson be held responsible for this.

Due to the huge pressure of public opinion, this veteran in the entertainment industry finally couldn't stand it anymore and chose to accept an interview with NBC.

He has repeatedly emphasized that he does not have any anti-Semitic tendencies and just wants to make a movie.

"I didn't expect things to get to this point. This was not my intention. I am not against Jews or Judaism. In fact, I have many Jewish friends."

"Really, I just want to make a profound movie. This is the pursuit of every director."

"If the plot of the movie has hurt anyone, I would like to apologize to you."

"I hope everyone will view "The Passion of the Christ" with a normal mind. Neither I nor the film has any sarcastic stance. I once again apologize to those who were hurt."

Mel Gibson's public apology finally appeased some people, and the opposition weakened a bit.

But the Jews are very strong, and the influence of Catholic, Protestant and other sects is also not weak. They openly support the film, and the two sides engage in a bitter war of words.

Finally, the topic was led to the ultimate question, which is who is responsible for the death of Jesus?

Everyone understands that this is not just an apology from Mel Gibson, but a contest between two camps.

During these days, Eric received calls from Carol every day.

The six major companies knew that he was trying to delay the fight between the two camps, so they pressed him even more urgently.

On the first day, I wanted him to return to China quickly and discuss the ban. Eric replied that he couldn't leave until the critical part of the filming.

The next day, the Sixth National Congress hoped that he would return to China immediately. The results of this matter must be brought out quickly to make the people angry. Eric's answer was that I was thinking about it and would give an answer immediately.

On the third day, the Sixth National Congress demanded that he ban Mel Gibson and also prepare "The Passion of the Christ" in advance. He no longer even pretended.

In response to this, Eric's reply was that you don't pretend anymore, and that brother doesn't pretend anymore either. Your request is just two words - no way!

On the fourth day, Liu Da hoped that he would think it over again and seemed to have softened.

Eric thought the other party was a paper tiger and was just bluffing.

Unexpectedly, on the fifth day, the six major universities suddenly issued a joint statement.

"In view of the huge controversy caused by "The Passion of the Christ" and its very bad social impact, Mel Gibson himself has shown strong racist and anti-Semitic tendencies."

"So after our discussions, we have decided not to establish or continue any work intersection with Mel Gibson in the future. We hereby declare!"

The signatures are the six presidents of Disney, Warner, Fox, Paramount, Sony and Universal.

The announcement of this statement immediately triggered shock and extensive discussion in the industry.

The so-called blocking can be achieved in China, a country with an optoelectronics bureau and administrative management.

But there is no real ban in the United States. Many stars suddenly disappear from the big screen, and some of them are their own fault.

For example, Ingrid Bergman in the last century, Hollywood was very conservative at that time, but she cheated and was boycotted by the whole people. She was banned by the audience, but she continued to act after the limelight passed a few years later.

There is also Megan Fox, whom everyone is very familiar with, which annoyed Afro Bay and Spielberg, but it is just that there are no big-budget movies, and small-investment movies can still be received.

In a money-oriented society like Hollywood, as long as a star is worth poaching, it doesn't matter even if you offend a few big guys, it won't really cost you your job.

But this time it is obviously different. Six major companies have joined forces to block one person. This kind of battle is unheard of and unprecedented.

Faced with such exaggerated efforts, Mel Gibson's company will definitely be doomed, and other small independent companies will not dare to cooperate with him anymore.

Because these small companies have a fatal shortcoming, that is, their issuance capabilities, and they can only rely on large companies in this regard.

But at the same time, many people have noticed that no, there is one less major Hollywood company. Where is MGM?

Just when everyone was wondering what happened, MGM also issued a statement.

"Mel Gibson is an excellent director, and The Passion of the Christ is also an excellent movie. We are very sure that he is an upright person, and the movie does not have any personal bias."

"MGM is willing to continue to cooperate with Director Gibson in the long term to bring you more excellent works."

Signed: Eric Cooper!