One day later, the anger of Ronald, Tom Cruise, David Geffen, and others was conveyed through various agents, and the entire Hollywood knew about these things being done by River Phoenix and his gang.
"Friends" caused huge losses to celebrities and producers, and banned these people.
This made several of River's friends who were signed to CAA very embarrassed. Social media said that they had killed River Phoenix, not to mention, they had also been blacklisted by less than half of Hollywood producers. They would be nothing in the next few years.
What a great opportunity.
Michael Ovitz put down his dignity and personally invited Ronald to talk. After drinking Japanese matcha and admiring the dry landscape garden, Ovitz asked Ronald if he could let Johnny go.
Depp and several other actors who are represented by CAA are in a hurry.
"Ronald, I know who you are. You won't hate these young people because of this thing, right?" Ovitz knew that Ronald was deliberately using this incident to embarrass and humiliate him in person.
Let me explain my own reasons. However, agents are a flexible business. Although Ovitz has not received this kind of treatment for a long time, there is no problem in lowering his profile for the sake of the future of several young stars he has tried his best to cultivate.
"God Damn, you're right, I just hate those little bastards. This is nothing personal, Michael. It's money, it's money... It's easy for me to let them go, put it in the paper and apologize for my actions, promise
I will not have anything to do with those rotten people in the future, then I will change my mind and go to a rehabilitation center for six months..."
Ronald's reason is also very true. Everyone was affected by this unexpected incident, which caused everyone to lose at least millions of dollars in budget. The worst thing was that it was led by David Geffen, and it was going to start in two weeks."
"Interview with the Vampire", re-casting and revising the script, coupled with the losses caused by the delayed shooting schedule and the adjustment of next year's release schedule, cost at least four to five million.
Ovitz couldn't refute this extremely legitimate reason. Ronald was the main candidate to ban the alliance, and he was the one who proposed it, but his Keanu Reeves issue has been dealt with, and the crew has resumed full production.
David Geffen, who suffered the most, was actually a man who didn't know much about Hollywood, and he joined the alliance when he was angry.
To solve the problems of these rising stars, Ronald needs to relent. But this guy has justice and public opinion at his disposal, plus Hollywood's biggest sin - paying compensation, is not willing to let these guys have an easy time.
The result of the final discussion will still be according to the method of Ronald and a group of big stars and producers. Most people will have to express their opinions to pass the test. If Ruifan's brother Joaquin does not break away from the Cult faction of God's Children
, don’t even think about acting anywhere in Hollywood. If you’re not convinced, you can go back to Venezuela with his stupid mother to make a movie.
…
At this unlucky time, things are happening one after another in Hollywood and the entertainment industry. Just after the Viper House incident subsided, new big gossip broke out about the Michael Jackson case.
The victim, a boy named Jordan Chandler, was treated in New York by psychiatrist Richard Gardner. Jordan Chandler was said to have had an affair with Michael Jackson in May.
Everything was told to Richard Gardner.
According to insiders who do not want to be named, if this recording is proven, MJ will be at risk of being convicted of criminal charges.
Jordan Chandler is likely to have a disease called Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS). Children with this disease behave like mild depression and are easily noticed by predators and become victims of aggression.
As an agent working in Hollywood, Richard understood the "seriousness" of this disease, so he explained to Ronald that parental alienation syndrome is a "disease" invented by Dr. Gardner himself. The most common place is not
Children's Hospital, but in a court where parents are divorcing and fighting for custody of their children.
In other words, this disease actually does not exist, or it is a combination of many children's emotional management problems and some mental symptoms. It has a very classy name and is used to deceive the jurors in court.
The child is given to the other parent and at the same time supports a large group of "experts" who go to court to testify that the child must have this disease to make money.
But Los Angeles is the capital of entertainment after all, and the plot did not develop in the direction expected by the public. A few days later, LPAD actually went to search MJ’s old house. They expected to find some photos and videos of MJ there.
Is there any evidence that he is overly close to his children?
Afterwards, the LAPD did not announce any results of the search. It seemed that the unnamed person who had "leaked secrets" to the media several times in the past did not disclose any results this time. So the public could only guess, and the media invited
Many "experts" went to talk about the consequences of this matter.
A day later, the Viper House news was forgotten. Popular talk shows, various tabloids, local TV stations, and local radio programs were all discussing the news that Michael Jackson might be criminally prosecuted.
Throughout Los Angeles, except for a few fans of River Phoenix who went to the Viper House to lay flowers and light candles in memory of him, a rising star was quickly forgotten. This is the biggest characteristic of Los Angeles people, they are forgetful.
While the public was still hotly discussing MJ's fall from the throne due to the scandal, a piece of news that only a few Hollywood industry insiders and Wall Street bankers paid attention to quickly spread in small circles.
There is a new bidder for the acquisition of Paramount Pictures.
The owner of the TV shopping channel, the former president and second largest shareholder of 20th Century Fox, and an old face in Hollywood, Barry Diller.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Barry Diller paid hundreds of millions of dollars more than Viacom's Redstone. Their offer was US$8.2 billion.
The price slightly exceeds Redstone's, and it also comes with some more favorable conditions, such as giving shareholders more cash instead of company shares.
"Is this TV shopping channel so profitable?"
Ronald was also surprised when he saw Barry Diller's offer. Redstone's Viacom is a media group, and he can understand it with considerable wealth. But Barry Diller was the head of 20th Century Fox.
At that time, his wealth was in the hundreds of millions, not much more than his own.
Why, after not seeing him for several years, did his wealth increase by orders of magnitude in such a short period of time after taking the helm of QVC, a shopping channel that is broadcast around the clock?
"No, it was only after the company went public that Barry Diller's company gained a market value of more than one billion. Then he mortgaged these assets to banks, obtained financing from many banks and funds, and used a lot of leverage.
The power of acquiring Paramount..."
Ed Bastian explained to Ronald the principles of capital operation.
"With such high leverage, if the acquisition fails, will we have to pay a lot in interest?" Ronald asked again.
"If the acquisition fails, there is actually no problem. But for the one who succeeds, interest may be the least of his worries." Ed Bastian replied.
"Is success more terrifying than failure?"
"It's like this. As a result of Shetonxiang's acquisition, you are saddled with a high level of debt and need the company's continued cash flow to repay the heavy interest. And now that two companies are bidding for it, it will inevitably lead to higher leverage financing.
Higher interest rates, and having to offer better acquisition terms to current shareholders and employees."
Ed Bastian introduced the pros and cons of this kind of acquisition. Unless the acquirer is very good at running the acquired company (much better than the original owner), it will often end up bankrupt after a few years, or the stock price will fall.
It fell and was bought by other Wall Street tycoons at garbage collection prices.
By that time, because the purchase price will be very low, there will be no need for any operating capabilities. Just dismantle and sell some of the company's assets and you can make a lot of profits.
In fact, the most feared thing about such a leveraged buyout is that there are multiple buyers bidding. If everyone can reach an agreement and not bid against each other, the purchase price can be lowered, reducing a lot of interest and operating burdens.
But neither of these two people is a fuel-efficient lamp. Barry Diller is a veteran of running large studios in Hollywood. If he joins Paramount, it is certain that Wall Street will be more optimistic about such a person who has worked at 20th Century Fox.
Very successful operator.
But those executives within Paramount may not like the boss who knows too much. Maybe Redstone, who comes from a wealthy family, is the noble son they like. When the time comes, everyone will fool such a boss who does not understand the film business.
Much more convenient.
In turn, Wall Street may want to lower Paramount's valuation when it sees Redstone entering Hollywood.
"How much money can we make from this acquisition?"
"Generally speaking, such an acquisition will increase the stock prices of Viacom and QVC, which proposed the acquisition, and Paramount's stock price will also rise. But if the two companies continue to bid and no one gives up, the price proposed will be
Exceeding Paramount’s true value. By then, I’m afraid the market’s punishment for the winner will be a sharp drop in stock prices.”
"Okay, continue to watch for me, and notify me immediately if anything happens. Our own financing plan must also be accelerated. Otherwise, this kind of acquisition will focus all the money and attention on Paramount.
Sometimes I might be able to pick up some cheap assets somewhere else.”
Ronald still didn't find the opportunity for the first wave of stock prices to rise. The second wave of opportunities Ed mentioned was to see if there was an opportunity to enter the market and eat some fat.
…
The news headlines this week are really coming one after another. Michael Jackson’s news has just subsided a little, and Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown’s first daughter was born. Photos of their couple and their children have been highly hyped.
High price.
Jonathan Demme finally rushed to arrange the Bruce Springsteen theme song into the opening of the film. Ronald was invited over to watch the first internal screening.
"Ronald, what do you think of the final edit?"
"It's really great. I was very excited when I watched it. I couldn't stop crying in the last scene...ahem..." Ronald actually went to see it as a director and producer, but after seeing
After more than ten minutes, I was deeply attracted by the plot and became like an ordinary viewer. I didn't even go to the bathroom until the end.
"Do you think there's anything wrong with the editing? Is the length a little too long? Ahem..." Jonathan Demme asked.
This is also a critical moment for directors and producers. Many famous directors and production partners had different opinions during the editing process at this stage, which resulted in them becoming enemies and never getting along with each other until death.
This is because producers usually have restrictions on the total length of the film, which in disguise limits some of the director's editing choices. At this time, the director must be dissatisfied with such forced deletions, and there is no standard answer to artistic questions.
, it’s easy to get into quarrels.
"I have to go and have some fun first... I'm so suffocated, this movie is so good..." Ronald ran away first.
"Ahem, cough, cough..." Jonathan Demi was proud, but also a little nervous. If Ronald could accept the length of this timeout, he would have the same feeling as when he created The Silence of the Lambs.
Ronald returned to the screening room and coughed for a long time as soon as he sat down. This caused Jonathan Demme and Michael Gray, who was in charge of marketing, to cough.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click the next page to continue reading the exciting content! The wildfire that ignited in Malibu a few weeks ago was not extinguished. Instead, the dry and fierce Santa Ana wind blowing from southern California at this time of year
With the help of others, the fever got bigger and bigger.
In the past two days, the headlines have turned to whether the wildfire will burn near Beverly Hills. Whether the resources mobilized by the state government can put out the wildfire.
Although Beverly Park, where Ronald lives, is far away from wildfires and is not afraid of being burned (in addition, the property taxes here are high and the fire brigade has sufficient funds). However, the burned area has reached 15,000 acres and hundreds of buildings have been burned.
Houses were burned down and many refugees were displaced.
The most troublesome thing is that the air pollution caused by wildfires, large amounts of smoke and harmful particulate matter, has enveloped the entire city of Los Angeles and is spreading to other parts of California.
Ronald and Jonathan Demme both had nose allergies, which caused them to cough and sneeze together, making everyone miserable.
"Ahem, cough, cough, I won't have any artistic opinions on the movie edited by Jonathan." Ronald finally made a comment.
Jonathan Demme is a little nervous. He doesn’t have any artistic opinions. Does he have commercial opinions?
"But I have some thoughts on marketing..."
This movie is actually quite bold and controversial. It has a very close relationship between the male protagonist Andy, played by Tom Hanks, and his lover, Miguel, played by the handsome Latino man Antonio Banderas.
There are two people kissing and a sex scene. It's rare that Jonathan Demme shot it very artistically without any objectionable emotions.
There is also Joe, played by Denzel Washington, who delivers a speech to his colleagues against discrimination against patients. It is very loud and clear, just like the patient version of Martin Luther King, I Have a Dream.
However, these are very shocking shots for the mass film market and may cause great controversy.
Maybe audiences will understand it in markets on the east and west coasts, but the box office in states like the Deep South and the Midwest is likely to take a big hit.
Therefore, Ronald proposed some modifications to weaken these controversial scenes. Don’t mention Andy, played by Tom Hanks, and Mi, played by Antonio Banderas, by name.
When you talk about Gale's relationship, you just need to understand it so that the audience can understand it.
In the same way, this kind of treatment can also be applied to situations of racial discrimination, etc.
"OK, cough cough cough... I understand what you mean. In fact, I also made a version that meets the required length." Jonathan Demi knew that he had not gotten through, so he came up with another version that was less controversial.
"Okay, okay, my opinion in this version is not to cut a single cut, cough, cough, sneeze," Ronald agreed after reading it. This time, you can also see a lot of Demi's ingenuity in filming and editing.
.
"Okay, great, this is the highest praise for me, cough cough cough..." Demi coughed again.
Ronald walked out of the screening room. The outdoor pollution PM value had exceeded the limit. He felt very bad, "Ahem...it's too bad. If this continues, I will run away with Diane and my children."