America’s Road To Wealth

  Chapter 224 Experience the feeling of a Hollywood emperor

Los Angeles,

   Hollywood Walk of Fame, entrance of Huaxia Theater.

  The tens of meters long red carpet begins.

   A Cadillac STS sedan slowly parked.

   Cadillac sts are rarely sold abroad, but not many are sold in the United States.

  But the more traditional rich Americans generally like to ride in Cadillac or Ford Lincoln.

   When the Cadillac STS drove over, the reporters frantically used their brains.

   "Who in Hollywood likes to ride in a Cadillac?"

  The Los Angeles Times reporter couldn't help asking.

   "It seems not." A "Hollywood Daily" reporter replied:

   "You know. Hollywood people, either Mercedes-Benz or BMW, more advanced use Rolls-Royce, those who like to show off drive Ferrari or Lamborghini."

   “They all think Lincoln and Cadillac are corny”

  The words of the "Hollywood Daily" reporter were endorsed by several colleagues around.

  The West Coast is different from the East Coast.

  The vast majority of the west coast are newly rich.

   There are really not many people who really like American luxury cars like Lincoln or Cadillac.

"Wait a moment."

   At this time, the reporter of the Los Angeles Times suddenly said:

  “I remember a Hollywood tycoon who seemed to like Lincoln and Cadillac very much.”

   "Huh? Who is it?"

   "Abel Smith"

   "Isn't he a Wall Street giant? Oh, by the way, strictly speaking, he is also a media giant!"

  As soon as the reporter finished speaking, the Cadillac sts had already stopped at the beginning of the red carpet.

  The reporters stopped talking, and many of them held their breath.

   Aimed their gazes at that side with the video camera and camera in their hands.

   The Cadillac sts came to a standstill in less than three seconds.

  A black driver stepped out of the cab.

  Another white man in a suit stepped down from the passenger cab.

   These black and white double evil spirits are each more than two meters tall.

  The two of them looked strong and strong in suits, so they didn't look easy to mess with.

  Among them, the black male driver in a suit came to the door of the rear compartment and bent down to open the door.

  A leather shoe stretched out first, stepped on the ground, and then a tall and handsome young man walked down.

  The moment he came down, hundreds of reporters in the audience fell silent.

   Huge cheers and shouts followed.

   "Abel Smith! It's Abel Smith!"

   "Hey! It's Smith here!"

   "I'll just say it. Neither Michael Eisner nor Robert Iger will be the finale. So who else? Only Abe Smith, of course!"

   "Look this way, look this way. Mr. Smith, please look this way!"

  “.”

  In an instant, the eyes of the entire Hollywood Boulevard were attracted by this side.

  If it weren't for the fact that there are many policemen here to maintain order.

  Tourists and idlers, if there is no way to come over. At this moment, thousands of people may have already crowded here.

   But just that, hundreds of reporters and their photographers, their cameras and video camera flashes.

   In an instant, the vicinity of Abel flashed like lightning, extremely dazzling.

  Abel, who just got out of the car, touched his sunglasses.

  He is now glad that he got himself such a mirror before getting out of the car.

  Otherwise, the exaggerated range of the flash will probably blur the eyes.

  Thinking like this, he bent slightly and stretched out his hand, and handed it to Anne Hathaway, who was present in full dress.

  The latter smiled like a flower, and looked very happy.

  Holding Abel's hand from the car, Anne got off wearing a pure white off-the-shoulder dress.

  Her beautiful collarbone is looming, and the material of the skirt is so white that it seems to be transparent and slightly reflective, like angel wings, but it is not exposed at all.

  The hem of the skirt is made of high-shine silk up to the knees, revealing her pair of slender and long beautiful legs.

  The chest is embroidered with a high collar that looks more conservative, and the skin against the snow is like a blooming white lotus under the light of the flash.

  Coordinated with Abel's custom-tailored black suit, a pair of lovers, one black and one white, walked onto the red carpet holding hands.

  The reporters on both sides and the onlookers who underwent the security check were already crazy.

   But listen carefully, even in this state Annie is amazingly beautiful.

   They are all in the state of Audrey Hepburn's peak moment.

  But what everyone shouted and paid attention to was actually more on Abel.

  Abel, who walked this kind of red carpet for the first time, faced this situation.

  He was a little unaccustomed to it. While walking, he whispered to Anne who was trying to smile:

   "You don't even wear a pair of glasses. After being photographed by the flash for a long time, your eyes will go blind."

  Annie smiled and waved to the reporters on both sides, and replied to her boyfriend:

   "Honey, do you think that everyone will be as eye-catching as you when they appear on stage? Even if the first-line A cafes appear on stage, their ability to attract flashes is not as strong as yours!"

   "Oh" Abel nodded, thinking it would be fine if that was the case.

   If only the flash was so exaggerated every time.

  Those stars who cannot wear sunglasses, it is estimated that their eyes will really be flashed.

  Thinking so boringly, he quickly accompanied Annie to the middle of the red carpet.

  Annie held him gently, Abel turned his head, and she said:

   "According to the usual practice, we should stand down at this time and take some photos for them."

   "Oh." Abel cooperated with her and stood expressionlessly wearing glasses.

  Annie held his hand and smiled sweetly beside him.

  The actions of the two made the reporters even crazier.

   The hissing and shouting of inquiries, as well as the voices of the onlookers, did not stop from beginning to end.

  The sound of the camera and the shutter of the camera rang like a continuous cannon.

  Accompanied by it, there is always a sea of ​​flashing lights like daytime.

   After standing for about three minutes, Annie said softly:

   "Okay, honey, we can go in."

  Abel nodded, and the two walked inside holding hands.

  The red carpet of tens of meters was finished quickly.

  The end is the entrance of Huaxia Theater.

  There is a big sign at the door.

  The brand above is Anne's most beautiful look of the heroine Mia in "The Princess Diaries".

   There are two hosts standing there.

  Abel only thought that one of the short-haired hostesses was familiar, and he had seen it in some videos before he was reborn.

  He only remembered that she seemed to be a lace, but he didn't remember anything else.

  Another host, Abel doesn't know.

  He doesn’t know him, but Anne next to him does.

   Seeing these two hosts, Anne was a little excited.

  Because the man's name is Billy Crystal, he is a big host who has hosted nine Oscars.

   The Oscar Awards Gala at the end of March this year was hosted by Billy Crystal.

  The female host next to her is named Ellen DeGeneres. She was younger and not as famous as Billy Crystal.

   But Ellen DeGeneres is also a rising star in the American hosting industry. Many people are calling on her, maybe she can host an Oscars party.

  This time Disney let these two people serve as hosts, which is enough to prove that Disney attaches great importance to it.

   "Hi~"

   From afar, Billy Crystal greeted Abel and Annie.

   "Mr. Smith, Miss Hathaway, good evening!"

   Ellen DeGeneres also greeted with a smile beside her.

  Anne responded immediately, and Abel smiled and nodded lightly.

  The two hosts both look a bit hypocritical.

  The main reason is that Abel's aura is too scary, and he has been expressionless all the time.

  So the interviews between the two were mainly on Annie.

   The two asked Annie a lot of questions.

   But these questions, in fact, Annie has already answered the standard answers.

  She answered naturally and impeccably.

  At a time like this, it's impossible for the two hosts to embarrass her.

  Finally, Anne's answer was almost the same, so Billy Crystal had no choice but to bite the bullet and put the question on Abel.

   "Mr. Smith! Why are you at this premiere of The Princess Diaries?"

   "Because I am one of the investors. I naturally hope that the box office of this movie can be good, so that my investment can be recovered."

   "Oh~ what is your relationship with Miss Hathaway?"

   "We're friends. Good friends from New York."

   "Oh, Mr. Smith, then I have no problem."

  Billy Crystal is dead.

   Facing such a giant.

  Even a courageous host like him didn't dare to ask random questions.

  The two questions just now were compared in advance, so Billy Crystal dared to ask.

   Didn’t you see Ellen DeGeneres next to her, just giggling and not talking from the beginning to the end?

   You must know that this is a big boss who even a giant like Sony Columbia has to obediently send back the little spider that ate into his mouth.

   Even Hollywood giants can't afford to offend them.

   Hosts like them are fine when facing ordinary stars.

  Facing such giants, they are basically like ordinary people.

  The smarter and more rational people are, the more they know this.

   However, being smart and rational has always been a necessary condition for a host.

   "Is there no other question?" Abel said softly:

   "Then let's go first."

  Billy Crystal thought I would like to ask a little question, but dare I ask?

  He looks at Ellen DeGeneres.

  The latter immediately averts his eyes—if there is any question to ask yourself, ask yourself.

   "No problem, Mr. Smith." Billy Crystal could only smile.

  Abel joined hands with Annie and entered the Huaxia Theater.

  The interior of the Huaxia Theater is a typical Western-style layout of high and low steps, with the theater stage at the bottom.

  What is different from other American theaters is that the decoration of this theater is full of strong Chinese style, both inside and outside.

  The huge auditorium has 2,200 red seats.

  The red carpet on the ground is cleaned very neatly every day.

   Right above the auditorium, there is a spectacular chandelier hanging in the middle of the theater, forming a huge and gorgeous starburst.

   Surrounded by a circle composed of dragon patterns. The relatively small but oriental wall lamp is inlaid in the middle of the intricately carved stone pillars and is responsible for the lighting on the side of the auditorium.

   At the top is a corridor, which connects all the seating areas.

  When Abel and others entered, there were already many people sitting inside.

   But it wasn't full. The people who sat inside were mainly stars and Hollywood executives.

   Later, before the premiere officially starts.

  Access for the media and some lucky spectators will also be arranged.

   After everyone has arrived, the premiere will officially start.

  The hosts are also Billy Crystal and Ellen DeGeneres.

  So when Abel and Anne walked in, there were only two hundred people in the 2,200 seats.

   are all insiders.

   But it seems that everyone in these industry people is watching the entrance.

  When the figures of Abel and Anne appeared in it.

  The big Hollywood stars in the theater, as well as the executives of Disney and MGM, all stood up and looked at them.

   I don't know who applauded first, nearly 200 people in the theater began to applaud to welcome Abel and Anne.

  Annie looked at the very familiar superstars who had seen countless times in many movies and entertainment news.

   At the moment, smiling, applauding and looking this way.

  Annie's feelings at this time are really indescribable in words.

  At this moment, Anne felt as if she had become the queen of Hollywood.

   And by her side, of course, is the unique Hollywood emperor.

  Abel is alright, he doesn’t have a sense of grandeur, instead he feels like a Hollywood superstar.

   In the face of wealth and power, they are like them, in fact, they are no different from actors in ancient China.

  Abel likes to engage in these exaggerated things while complaining in his heart for entertainment.

   Holding Annie's hand again, trying to find his own seat.

   No need for him to find them one by one.

  Robert Iger had left his seat and walked towards Abel and Annie.

   "BOSS." Robert Iger smiled all over his face: "Go this way. Your seat is here."

  Wait until Abel walks to the edge of the seat.

  Michael Eisner next to him smiled, stretched out his hand and said to Abel:

   "Hello, Mr. Smith. This is Michael Eisner."

  Abel smiled and shook hands with him: "Hi, I'm Abel Smith. Mr. Eisner."

  From beginning to end, Abel almost only shook hands with Michael Eisner.

   Then the two sat down.

   Next to Annie is Robert Iger, and next to Abel is Michael Eisner.

  Continue to start the normal process of the premiere show.

   Next, it was the turn of the media to enter the arena. Hundreds of reporters and film critics entered the arena.

  Michael Eisner initiates a conversation with Abel.

   It is Abel's talking style that makes Michael Eisner, who has always been unique in Hollywood, a little uncomfortable.

  Because Abel said to Michael Eisner at the beginning:

   "Mr. Eisner, I actually thought about buying Disney."

  His opening remarks made Michael Eisner, the CEO and chairman of Disney, not know how to speak at all.

  Michael Eisner could only feel bored, and said softly: "Mr. Smith, that's not that easy."

  It is different from the other Hollywood giants who have had their ups and downs, have been brilliant and have been bleak.

  Disney has been popular for more than ten years since Michael Eisner took over in 1984.

  In 1995, Disney even acquired the American broadcasting station ABC at a sky-high price of 19 billion U.S. dollars, forging its current status as the number one giant in Hollywood.

  Disney currently has a total share capital of about 1.8 billion shares, and the current stock price is about 20 US dollars.

   Its total market capitalization is more than $36 billion.

  The key is that its equity is scattered, and there are more than 2,000 long-term holding institutions, and retail investors cannot count.

  The difficulty of acquiring it is higher than the acquisition of American Express.

  Abel said this kind of thing, and Michael Eisner didn't dare to say anything directly.

  If someone else said such a thing, Michael Eisner would probably be able to directly push back.

   Who is Abel not long ago, just bought half of Pacific California Electric, which is about the same size as Disney.

  By the way, Sempra Energy, which is half the size of Disney, was directly privatized and delisted.

   It's just the financial power reflected in these two companies by Abel's purchase.

   If you get serious about engaging in Disney, there is already hope that you can buy Disney.

   With Abel's terrifying financial resources, Michael Eisner did not dare to be too complacent when Abel said this.

   "It's not that easy, so I dismissed the idea for the time being." Abel smiled.

  Michael Eisner breathed a sigh of relief.

  A Wall Street giant who holds countless golden bullets and is so interested in the media and Hollywood.

   For practitioners in the media industry like them, it is really too threatening.

   This is why after learning that Abel will come to participate in this premiere show.

  Michael Eisner will stand up and let Disney make the show so large and exaggerate the scale.

   This is the result of discussions between Michael Eisner and executives and consultants of Disney Media Group.

   That is to find a way to please the Wall Street giant so that he will not focus on Disney.

  Even if Abel is obviously the boss of MGM and one of Disney's competitors.

  Abel, who has the prestige of privatizing Sempra Energy, has become the nightmare of many listed companies in the United States.

  The two of them still wanted to talk, but then they started chattering.

  The lucky audience started to enter.

  A thousand viewers will be let in today.

  Every lucky audience has to go through strict inspections and is selected by lottery.

  Including media workers and Hollywood personnel, more than half of the 2,200-seat Huaxia Theater is occupied.

  The audience came in, and Annie, who had been eavesdropping on Abel's conversation with Michael Eisner, was going to play.

  After all, she is the real protagonist of today's premiere.

  After Anne left.

  Robert Iger immediately took her seat, sandwiching Abe with Michael Eisner.

  The program schedule for the premiere show was opened above, and the crew members all went up.

  The two Hollywood giants were talking softly with Abel.

  Abel's identity is here.

  When Robert Iger and Michael Eisner talked with him, they naturally lowered their expressions and attitudes.

   This scene will of course fall into the surrounding dozen or so Hollywood superstars, as well as dozens of second-tier actors.

   And in the eyes of those media workers above, or the audience of good things.

  The result of doing this is that Abel already has a very high status in their hearts.

   Invisibly, it has been elevated a lot.

   This is a giant who even wants to please a giant. It is no longer a giant but a giant.

  It is obvious that Abel's media group at this time, whether it is MGM, AMC TV, or newspaper group.

   are not the top in the industry.

  But because of his other layer of identity, he also appears to be as authoritative as an emperor in the media and Hollywood.

   Even Michael Eisner, the CEO of a hostile media group, looks respectful in front of him.

   It can only be said that although Hollywood is used to Wall Street.

  But the Wall Street they pitted is only a small part of the inflow.

   When the real giants of Wall Street arrive.

  Hollywood and the media giants simply cannot ignore it.

   After all, Wall Street is one of the real troikas in this country.

  (end of this chapter)