Exploiting Hollywood 1980

Ronald did not tell any of his friends in the circle about his visit to New York this time. Kerkorian's reminder was right. Facing such a big project, anyone could be his competitor or tip off his competitor.

So it was his cousin Donna who came to pick him up at the airport. Ronald only called her. His relatives were the most trustworthy people. She drove over to pick Ronald up and drove to the Marriott Hotel.

"Donna, thank you for picking me up. My trip this time must be kept secret from Hollywood. You are the person I trust the most. I hope you will not delay your work if you take a leave to pick me up." Ronald sat in the passenger seat of the car he used to send Donna off. The Japanese car was well designed. Although it was small, Ronald, a big man over six feet tall, could sit comfortably.

"It doesn't matter. Anyway, it's hard for me to ask those bankers out for a chat now. I often have to ask them out more than a dozen times before one is willing to meet."

Donna's dress gradually became closer to that of an office girl. Her whole capableness was much better than when she was in college. Although her speech and actions sometimes still had the immaturity that is unique to college graduates.

"They will beg you to meet them one day," Ronald said with a smile. She is the sister of the president of World Media Distribution Group. Hahaha, all the bankers on Wall Street will have to line up by then.

"I hope so," Donna also smiled. "In fact, those bankers working on Wall Street are not bad people. They are under great pressure. It's just that sometimes they can't judge how much benefit I bring to them, so they use their time carefully.

I am now using tireless phone calls with their secretaries to express my sincerity. After all, our fund manages funds for several Ivy League universities. When they see that I have made appointments with them ten times in a row, they will believe my sincerity.

I am just a rookie who just graduated from college. Mr. Simmons also doesn't give me more support. He said that understanding the way Wall Street bankers do things is good for my career development. After all, I am not the child of those rich people. I drive a Porsche and bring a famous watch to visit. Those bankers can tell at a glance that they are rich people..."

Good cars and famous watches will be available. Ronald felt that this cousin had suffered a lot of grievances. When I...

"By the way, you seem to admire your boss, Mr. Simmons?" Ronald changed the subject.

"He is actually more of a mathematician. He just feels that he can't be the best in mathematics, so he comes to invest." Donna is a top student in the Department of Physics at MIT. She talked about Simons' investment ideas and many academic terms that Ronald couldn't understand.

The two arrived at the Marriott Hotel. After Ronald checked in, he had dinner with Donna in the restaurant.

Donna saw that Ronald was full, and after hesitating for a while, she asked him, "I said, Ronnie, what are you doing here this time? You can't be so mysterious just because you invited the son of the current deputy commander to dinner? I called Diane, and she didn't even know you were coming."

"What did you say to her?" Ronald put down his knife and fork and asked.

"I said that the son of the deputy commander asked you to discuss the film fund," Donna replied, and she also wiped her mouth. Diane, a childhood bestie, heard that Ronald came to New York mysteriously, and she felt a little unnatural on the phone.

"This matter needs to be kept strictly confidential. I didn't even tell my agent. None of my friends in Hollywood have told me, so don't tell anyone else." Ronald wiped his mouth.

"What's so secretive? No one wants to invest in you, right?" Donna was exposed to the investment company and felt a little familiar with Ronald's style. Many investment bankers like to keep projects confidential.

"Actually, it's almost the same," Ronald told Kerkorian about what MGM, Universal, and Paramount, the three giants, were going to form a joint venture to enter the Chinese market.

"Mr. Kerkorian is going to nominate me as the person in charge. For the time being, I will talk to George Jr. to see what his father thinks about the opening of China's film market."

"Ah? Is the film market there big? I heard that they are quite poor, and they can spend so much foreign exchange to import American film copies?"

"Of course, you don't know yet. Although their income is not high, not many families have TVs. We are facing a huge market with a population five times that of China, where everyone watches 20 movies a year."

Ronald told Donna about the concept of the $25 billion market, "What do you think of this business ambition? The future banker of Wall Street?"

"Well, I think it is possible from the perspective of numerical analysis." Donna was serious and did not hear Ronald's teasing tone. Instead, she acted as a consultant for her cousin.

"And this is a very good concept. Wall Street's money will like this idea. It is big enough, crazy enough, greedy enough, and exciting enough."

"I said it was good. It seems that you also understand investment." Ronald was very happy, and Donna thought so too.

"But..."

"But what?"

"But Mr. Simons said that the only mistake in using numbers for investment is not in the mathematics, but in the source of those numbers. If those numbers are not deliberately distorted or fabricated, then there will be no mistakes if you follow the mathematical formula."

"Well, you make sense." Ronald touched his chin.

Donna has worked in the fund company for a few months and has already had some ideas about how Wall Street investors think about problems.

What she said really made sense. There was nothing wrong with the logic of this business plan. If there was a problem, it would not be here, but hidden in...

"The devil is often hidden in the details, Mr. Simmons always says so."

"You are almost a die-hard fan of Mr. Simmons." Ronald said to Donna when he saw Donna calling him the fund boss.

"Okay, I'll go home first. I've talked to my mother, and she will prepare it at home."

"Little Douglas will arrange it, and tell my aunt not to be too busy."

"She said to prepare some baked cookies for you, and the rest will be left to little Doug." When Donna talked about little Douglas, a trace of disgust appeared on her face. This classmate of her brother was still courting her when he saw her. She looked like a fool. Could she be as superficial as those Hollywood actresses?

"Say hello to my aunt for me. I have to meet some people here tomorrow." Ronald sent Donna to the car and waved goodbye.

Maybe Hollywood secrets can be kept for a longer time, but Wall Street secrets are obviously leaked very quickly.

Ronald had just accepted Kerkorian's invitation and was considering the job carefully. Steve Bannon, who used to work on Wall Street, got the news from somewhere and called Ronald to meet in Manhattan before he set off for New York.

Ronald was surprised at his well-informedness, but Bannon said that the matter had been discussed on Wall Street for a while, but Hollywood artists had not yet noticed the business operation.

As for why the news of Ronald as a new candidate could reach him, Bannon said that Kerkorian took the initiative to leak the news to a limited number of senior executives of major banks on Wall Street.

So this time Ronald chose to stay at the Marriott Hotel near the financial district in downtown Manhattan. The two agreed to meet the next day. Kerkorian's behavior made Ronald feel a little unhappy. He asked him to keep it secret from the people in Hollywood, but he went to Wall Street to leak the news. I don't know what he was going to do.

What Donna said just now also aroused Ronald's doubts. When he was in Los Angeles, he was deducing the steps of the grand plan in his mind every day. Every detail was logical and there was no flaw.

But if the number entered as a parameter in the mathematical formula is wrong, no matter how correct the logic is, it is impossible to get the correct result.

Alone in the room, drinking Coke silently, Ronald felt that he still had to confirm Kerkorian's big plan from the details.

He took out the phone book, found Xiao Yan's phone number, and called Xiao Yan who was taking community college courses at Stanton College.

"Xiao Yan? This is your brother Luo. I just arrived in New York and thought of you. Are you free tonight? Come to Manhattan to chat with brother Luo. I promised your father that I have not cared much about you recently."

"Brother Luo, look at what you said, isn't it all thanks to your care for my TOEFL and schooling? Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to go to school at all. I'm in the dormitory. The ferry to Staten Island is still running now. I'll go to find you. What hotel are you in?"

"Come over. I'm staying at the Marriott. It's just right for me to walk to the Manhattan pier to wait for you." Ronald put down the phone and put on his coat. Slowly walked to the Battery Maritime Ferry Terminal at the southernmost end of downtown.

This place is close to Roosevelt Street and Whitehall Street, and not far behind is Wall Street, the financial center of the universe. On the wide water surface, the symbol of Manhattan's skyline, the World Trade Center Twin Towers, is reflected. The lights of the Twin Towers and some lower buildings around are reflected on the blue-black water surface, staggered and colorful, very beautiful.

Ronald was fascinated for a moment. Such a beautiful night view is rare in America. The population density on the West Coast is relatively low, and such a super metropolitan scene is only taken for granted in the Big Apple New York City.

"Woo..."

A whistle sounded, and the yellow ferry docked. Ronald, who was in deep thought, was awakened. He looked at a glance and saw that among the several small boats on the water, the yellow ferry JFK Kennedy was slowly approaching, several laps larger than other ships, and very conspicuous.

The crowd began to riot. There are many low-level secretaries on Wall Street who can't afford to rent a house in Manhattan and settle down on Staten Island. Several female secretaries, with their hair in high piles, rushed to the dock, carrying expensive high heels in their hands and wearing lighter running shoes, waiting to get a seat on board, so that they could rest after a busy overtime.

When they got home, they still had to tidy up their rooms and other housework waiting for them, and maybe their boyfriends would come to eat the dinner they cooked. Ronald thought of the partner of the leg warmers, Theresa Kate. She was such a hard-working secretary, and later met him. After selling the leg warmers business, she continued to sell goods in the store, and had a lovely son with her husband David, and their life had escaped from the sea of ​​suffering.

All these scenes gave Ronald a familiar feeling, New York, the ferry, the Statue of Liberty, the World Trade Center, and the hard-working secretaries, he seemed to have dreamed of such a set of scenes.

"Brother Luo, Brother Luo..."

Xiao Yan rushed down from the Kennedy against the flow of people and waved to Ronald.

"Xiao Yan", Ronald's thoughts were interrupted, and he stepped forward and took Xiao Yan's hand. After the two hugged, Ronald looked him up and down for a while. Xiao Yan's clothes were similar to those of native Chinese. In addition to his temperament, he also had the shadow of the mainland. His English accent was unique. It seemed that he had integrated well into the school.

"How is it? Are you happy studying here?"

"I thought you were going to ask me if my grades were good." Xiao Yan answered in English, regardless of his accent. He speaks English much more fluently now than at home.

"I like Stanton University very much. The atmosphere here is very free. I can choose any course I want, and I can sneak in and audit classes that are not my own. My grades are still very good. We Chinese can endure hardships here. I I also worked a part-time job distributing flyers in schools.”

Xiaoyan was very grateful to Ronald and explained his situation.

Ronald took him to a good restaurant in Chinatown. The two ordered barbecued pork and green leafy vegetables, soaked a pot of Pu'er chrysanthemums, and chatted.

"The master chefs here are better than those in China. The waiters are also very polite, unlike those in China who are indifferent." Xiao Yan lamented that the Chinese food here is no less good than in China.

"Tip is also required." Ronald replied with a smile. There are advantages and disadvantages.

"I came to you and wanted to ask about the situation of the domestic movie market. How much is the ticket price for watching movies?"

"Us? The children of our film studio get free invoices every month, and there are also some imported copies that are only shown internally. With these tickets, you can go out and date girls." Xiao Yan replied while drinking tea. arrive. He relied on this trick to establish a relationship with his original partner.

"What if I buy a movie ticket myself? How much does it cost? Can I buy it for one dollar?" The most important thing Ronald wanted to verify was the unit price.

"One dollar? That's for renting a movie. The ticket price for scheduled movies is very cheap, only one or two cents."

"Rent a movie? Arrange a movie?" Ronald's heart moved, and he still wanted to verify the accuracy of the data.

"The film schedule is the original planned screening, the head office's acquisition plan, and then distributed to various cinemas. They are all not good-looking, and there are re-screenings of old films.

Rental movies refer to imported movies, such as Luo Ge's Break Dance, and those popular movies with good copy reservations. Cinemas have to pay copy rental.

Nowadays, movie theaters have become more efficient, and they can just cope with the kind of film arrangement. If they can get copies of rental films, that means they have the ability. "

"What's the ratio of those two types of movies?"

"The main thing is to schedule movies, and the proportion of renting movies is not high. Only a few movies are liked by the audience every year. At film festivals, movie companies from all over the country see that there are not many movies that are snapped up. Now domestic directors don't like them either. Shoot. Anyway, the prices are the same if you complete the planned tasks.”

"What about the duration of the screening? There are always more movies to rent, right?" Ronald's heart was already a little worried. He thought about it and then asked about the allocation of screenings.

"Hey, domestic copies are now produced according to the production tasks set by the head office. Many cinemas cannot get copies of rental films and have to find someone to run them. This cinema released the first two copies and they were immediately transported by bicycle. In a movie theater, no one is allowed to stop for even a minute.

There are many movie theaters, especially those in the south near Xiangjiang, that still secretly show pirated copies, and the head office doesn't care anyway. "

Ronald's expression changed. All of a sudden, the expected revenue shrank again and again. As for McKinsey, I think they are all made up reports sitting in the office.

"Drink tea, drink tea, and call for snacks?" Ronald was in a bad mood and didn't want to touch the dishes anymore, so he asked Xiao Yan to eat more.

"Then, do the average employees in your unit buy many TV sets now?" Ronald thought about it and still couldn't reconcile it. Even if the revenue is only 20% of the original, it is still a very powerful market size. Besides, the economic development over there It looks good too. What if more people watch Hollywood in the future? As long as TV doesn't enter homes so quickly, it still has great potential.

"Brother Luo, do you know that TVs are in short supply over there? When I got here, I realized that TVs are not such expensive appliances. It's not like where we are. If you don't buy a TV, you can't even get married."

"Huh?" Ronald was confused, why couldn't he get married?

Xiao Yan talked about his own situation. His target family was not willing to live with his father after marriage because his family had housing difficulties. They asked Xiao Yan to buy various electrical appliances for his family, including a TV, a refrigerator, and a washing machine. The little girl was a college student and it was impossible to marry someone who could wash clothes by hand.

We also need furniture with 48 legs, a chest of drawers, a large wardrobe, and a dressing table, none of which can be missing.

Xiao Yan's father's salary was not high, and he spent a lot of money on his inventions. When he couldn't raise that much money, the girl's family broke off the relationship. It wasn't until Xiao Yan went to study abroad that he tried to renew the relationship.

"Don't TVs there cost more than a thousand yuan now? How much is your family's salary, can you buy so many electrical appliances?" Ronald was surprised to hear that there are so many regulations for marriage, how can you buy it all with this salary? ?

"There is no way. Today's young girls are all looking at foreigners and people with overseas connections. If I didn't have Brother Luo to help me, my parents would have to live frugally and borrow money to buy all these household appliances before we can get married. , especially this TV, you can’t save it, otherwise people at work won’t be able to talk to you.”

"Shxt!"

Ronald felt that it was impossible to eat the huge pie that Kerkorian had drawn.

The cultures of different countries are different. Who knew that if you want to get married, you have to buy a color TV?

"You study hard in Staten Island. I'll tell the daydreaming people that you can go do some part-time work there to broaden your horizons. I'll take you to buy some clothes. Don't wear this one all the time."

After dinner, Ronald saw that Xiao Yan was not well off financially, so he found him a part-time job, took him to buy some ordinary clothes, and then let him take the ferry back to school.

When he arrived at the Marriott, Ronald found the phone number of Director Wu of the Northwest Factory and called him.

"Director Wu? This is Ronald."

"Hey, Director Luo, are you calling from America?" Director Wu has a phone in his office, but international long-distance calls need to be transferred before they can be connected. He was very happy to hear Ronald's call.

"I want to verify some data with you. Someone here wants to sell movies to you."

"That's good. Our people just want to see more advanced cultural life." Director Wu was happy to hear that he could see more Hollywood movies.

"I heard that last year, 25 billion people went to the cinema to watch movies in your place throughout the year?"

"Who said that? How could that be so?" Director Wu denied it. "I went to the head office for a meeting, and I didn't know yet? Oh, by the way, if you include the projection team in the countryside, it's about the same."

"What is a projection team?"

"It's to take copies to the countryside to show movies to farmers." Director Wu explained.

It turns out that this is a unique system in China. In order for the vast number of farmers to be able to watch movies, each county has a special projection team to go to the countryside to show movies to farmers in the village.

When movies are usually shown, people from neighboring villages will also come to watch, just like the New Year's Eve.

"How much is the ticket for the projection team?"

"Hey, there is no ticket. You can exchange it with whatever you have in the village, pork, local specialties are all fine. And they are all old films, not the 35 copies used in the cinema, but the specially made 16 copies, suitable for outdoor screenings. The machine and the screen are placed on the back seat of the bicycle, and you can ride down to the village."

"How much does this copy sell for?" Ronald felt even colder when he heard it. 16 copies are something that some amateur photographers in America play with. It's just a little better than the 8-pack toys for children.

"That's all allocated by the national production plan. For each movie, there will be a production plan of 35 and 16 copies. Popular movies and local themes will be produced more. These are all planned, unlike the 35 copies that can be rented at the reformed price."

"I see, you've helped a lot, Director Wu, thank you..."

"Okay, you must come to see the Terracotta Warriors next time you come."

After hanging up the phone, Ronald was so angry that he pounded the table several times.

"Fuck, I almost fell for your trick! All the casino owners in Las Vegas are liars, liars!"

...

"Ding Dong", the doorbell rang.

Ronald, who slept until dawn and regretted believing in Kerkorian's highly inflammatory salesmanship, no longer had any hope for this business.

He opened the door of the hotel, and outside was Bannon who came to talk to Ronald about big projects.

"Why haven't you gotten up yet?" Bannon looked at Ronald in pajamas and unshaved, and was very puzzled. Ronald has always been a very hard-working person.

"Hey, don't mention it. I was on the phone all night last night."

Ronald yawned, "Tell me, what do your friends on Wall Street want to know?"

"Wall Street is excited about this project, and many people have great expectations for the prospects. Kerkorian wants to continue to raise funds in the capital market with this new project. His MGM was not sold to Turner Television Network successfully, and Ted Turner has deep connections with the political circles, so he dare not act rashly.

So Kerkorian wants to continue to raise funds in the capital market, improve cash flow, and then wait for the next buyer."

Bannon talked about some of the situations he had mastered.

"Originally, everyone had doubts about who could open up the Chinese market, but when they heard that it was you, everyone felt that although it was unexpected, it was also unexpectedly suitable. So..." Bannon's eyes showed the greedy light that Ronald had two days ago.

"Don't count on me, I won't accept this position."

Ronald yawned and picked up the phone to call room service for breakfast.

"Why? Are you worried that you don't have time to continue your directing career? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You have spent two years to gain financial freedom. In the future, you can shoot whatever you want and cooperate with whomever you want?"

"Ronald didn't say anything, waiting for the waiter to bring a delicious breakfast, then closed the door and ate.

Looking at Bannon who was very anxious but couldn't help but urge Ronald, Ronald smiled, drank a sip of orange juice, and waved to him.

The two approached, and Ronald said in a low voice, "Whether it is investment or business venture, if there is no problem in logic, the only place where mistakes can be made is not in mathematics, but in the source of those numbers..."

"What do you mean...?"

"Why don't you go and learn about China's box office structure? I'll tell you two keywords for free, planning and scheduling, and rural screening teams."

"Although I don't know what you mean, it must be very important, and you have my wholehearted gratitude. "

Bannon was so anxious that he immediately said goodbye and went to confirm the important clues given by Ronald.

After eating, Ronald tidied himself up, put on his carefully tailored handmade suit, and after getting dressed, he called a taxi to his home in Staten Island.

……

"So what you're saying is that you were deceived by Kerkorian? He was using your relationship and your name to raise funds for himself in the capital market?" Douglas Jr. brought the barbecue chef to Karen in advance. The aunt's house is preparing to receive little George's family.

In the room upstairs, he discussed the details of the incident with Ronald in detail.

"Yes, thanks to my cousin Donna who is a smart person and she was right to remind me."

"Donna, you are indeed a smart person." Little Douglas was silent for a moment, "What should we tell little George now?"

"It doesn't matter, let's just keep in touch, right? He's actually a pretty good buddy. If you don't count his father's background, he'd just have a barbecue with the neighbor."

"George, Laura, welcome." Hearing the sound of little George's car, Ronald went out to the yard to greet George and his wife.

"Where's your bodyguard?" Ronald looked back deliberately.

"Haha, they only provide protection for the family in the official residence. Laura and I are just ordinary people when we go out." Little George, still wearing a plaid shirt, walked in with his wife Laura on his arm.

"This is my aunt, Karen. This is my high school classmate and one of Daydream's shareholders, Mr. Douglas P. Hansen."

Several people sat in the garden, eating freshly grilled meat by the chef and drinking fresh home-brewed beer from Hansen's family. Little George was very happy. Here he could relax and talk about random topics.

"Let me tell you, by the end of the year, the General Commander will have an interview with Mikhail, the General Secretary-General of the Alliance, about the reduction of strategic nuclear weapons by both parties. In this way, the people of America will finally be satisfied.

You didn't see the anti-nuclear activists marching in DC. I saw them upstairs holding signs and some girls were topless to attract media attention. "

Little George talked vividly about some things in Washington, D.C., after a few glasses of beer.

"Hahaha, they must be too hot." Ronald and Little Doug laughed with him in amusement.

"Look, look, my wife Laura, how beautiful she is!" Little George pulled the two of them again to look at Laura, who was exchanging baking cookie secrets with Aunt Karen.

"You're a lucky guy!"

"No, I defeated many competitors back then."

The guests and hosts were having a good time, and little George and Laura were about to say goodbye. It had been a long time since he had been so free, having such a happy party with friends who were like college fraternity buddies, barbecuing, drinking beer, and making vulgar jokes.

"What a happy day, we will have to come here more often." Ronald saw the couple to the entrance of the yard.

Little George let Laura get in the car first, and he took Ronald to talk. He knew that Ronald would not come to him for no reason.

"Do you have anything to ask me for help? We are friends. Just say it. Although I can't do much, my mother, Barbara, likes you very much..."

"No, no", Ronald thought to himself, it was really okay now, "We have said several times on the phone that you want to have a barbecue and drink beer together. I am free this time in New York, so I asked you if you are too. There are not many people in New York or on the East Coast who share the same passion for Texas barbecue.”

"Hahaha... You are right. I think you are the only one who has the most vision after all these years in DC!"

Little George was amused and laughed, "Laura and I have to go back. The child can't be left with the nanny for too long. We are very happy today, and Laura is also very grateful to your aunt for the secret recipe.

But I really have to leave. If you have anything to say, just ask. "

"Can't I invite like-minded friends to have a barbecue?" Ronald said with a smile. Originally, he really meant something, but now it's all in vain.

"You are the best friend I have on the East Coast. Those politicians in DC and New York are all fools who want us, but in the blink of an eye they say behind our backs that we know nothing except that we are blue bloods."

Little George didn't expect that Ronald really didn't ask for anything, just to invite them to dinner. I really haven't felt so relaxed in a long time.

"Call me when you are free in the future." George patted Ronald on the shoulder and got into the car.

"Bye!" Laura held a box of Aunt Karen's cookies in the passenger seat and waved to Ronald with a smile. With this Hollywood director, Laura felt that her husband was back to the way he was when he was pursuing her, and he looked at her differently.

"Ronald!" Little George stuck his head out from the driver's seat, "I thought about it, but I still have to tell you that you are my true friend. True friends shouldn't hide from each other, right?"

"Of course!" Ronald didn't know what the other party was going to say and took a few steps closer.

"My father is going to announce his candidacy for the next leadership. I will serve as a campaign manager and join his campaign team. You are the first among my friends to know. If you are interested in helping me, I will be very grateful. ”

"Of course, of course."

Ronald suddenly received an unexpected piece of news, murmured a few words in response, and then said goodbye to little George.

"What's wrong with you? What did he say to you?" Little Douglas came over, looked at Ronald's surprised expression, and asked.

"Do you know what happened to the manager of the T\u0026T campaign team?"

"He...?" Douglas Jr. glanced at the car that was driving away. "This is a big investment, Ronald. It is no less than the opportunity Kerkorian said. It is even the riskiest and most rewarding in America." investment."