Exploiting Hollywood 1980

  Chapter 836 The investment with the most lucrative return

   Ronald came to New York this time, and none of his friends in the circle told him. Kerkorian's reminder is right. Faced with such a large project, anyone may 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, and his relatives were the most trustworthy people. She drove here specially, picked up Ronald and drove to the Marriott Hotel.

"Donna, thank you for coming to pick me up. I will keep my itinerary secret from Hollywood. You are the one I can trust the most. If you ask for leave to pick me up, it won't delay your work." Ronald said in his own On the co-pilot of the car that delivered Donna, Dongying's car was well-designed. Although it was small, Ronald, a big man of more than six feet, could sit comfortably.

   "It doesn't matter, anyway, it is very difficult for me to ask those bankers out to chat. I usually have to ask them out a dozen times before there is one willing to meet."

  Donna's attire is also gradually approaching that of an office girl, and her overall level of competence is much better than when she was in college. Although speaking and acting, sometimes there is that immatureness unique to college graduates.

   "They will beg you to meet one day," Ronald said with a smile, the younger sister of the president of World Media Publishing Group, hahaha, Wall Street bankers will have to queue up at that time.

"I hope so," Donna also smiled. "Actually, those bankers who work on Wall Street are not bad people, and they are under a lot of pressure. It's just that sometimes I can't judge how much benefit I bring to them, so use it with caution." It's just time.

  I am now making unremitting calls to their secretary to express my sincerity. After all, our fund manages funds for several Ivy League universities. They will believe my sincerity when they see that I have made appointments with them ten times in a row.

  I am just a rookie who has just graduated from college, and Mr. Simmons does not 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, driving a Porsche and visiting with a famous watch, those bankers will know that they are rich people at a glance..."

   There will be good cars and famous watches. Ronald felt that this cousin still suffered a lot of grievances. When I...

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

"In fact, he is more of a mathematician. He only invests because he feels that he can't be top-notch in the field of mathematics." Donna is a top student in the MIT Department of Physics. She talked about Simmons' investment ideas, and many Rhone An academic term that Germany does not understand.

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

Seeing that Ronald was full, Donna hesitated and asked him, "I said, Ronnie, what's the matter with you this time? You can't be so mysterious because you invited the son of the current deputy commander to dinner, right?" ? I called Diane, and she didn't even know you were coming."

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

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

   "This matter needs to be kept strictly confidential. I didn't even tell my agent. All my friends in Hollywood didn't tell, so don't tell anyone else." Ronald wiped his mouth.

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

   "Actually, it's pretty much the same," Ronald told Kerkorian about MGM, Universal, and Paramount's preparation of a joint venture to enter the Huaguo market.

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

   "Huh? Is there a big movie market there? How did I hear that they are very poor and can spend so much foreign exchange to import American movie copies?"

   "Of course, you don't know it yet. Although their income is not high, there are not many households with TV sets. We are facing a huge market with five times the population, and everyone wants to watch 20 movies a year."

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

   "Well, I think it is indeed possible from a numerical analysis." Donna was serious, and did not hear Ronald's teasing tone, and instead worked as a staff member for her cousin.

   “And it’s a great concept, the money on Wall Street will love the idea, big enough, crazy enough, greedy enough to get your blood pumping.”

   "I'll say it's not bad, it seems that you also know how to invest." Ronald was very happy, and Donna thought so too.

"but…"

   "But what?"

"However, Mr. Simmons said that the only thing that can go wrong when investing with numbers is not the mathematics, but the source of those numbers. If those numbers are not intentionally distorted or fabricated, then according to the mathematical formula, it will not Wrong."

   "Well, what you said makes sense." Ronald touched his chin.

  Donna has been working in a fund company for a few months, and she already has some ideas from Wall Street investors.

  What she said is indeed very reasonable. There is nothing wrong with the logic of this business plan. If there is any problem, it will not be here, but hidden in the...

   "The devil is always in the details, Mr. Simmons always said."

   "You are almost becoming a die-hard fan of Mr. Simmons." Ronald said to Donna one by one fund boss.

   "Okay then, I'm going home first. I told my mother that she will get ready at home."

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

   "She said to prepare some baked biscuits for you, and leave the rest to little Doug." When Donna talked about little Douglas, a look of disgust appeared on her face. This brother's classmate still showed great hospitality when she saw her. Like a fool, can I be as superficial as those female stars in Hollywood?

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

  Maybe Hollywood's secrets can be kept a little longer, but Wall Street's secrets are obviously leaking quickly.

Ronald had just accepted Kerkorian's invitation, and carefully considered the job. Steve Bannon, who used to be on Wall Street, did not know where he got the news. Before Ronald left for New York , on the first call asking for an interview in Manhattan.

  Ronald was surprised by his well-informed, but Bannon said that this matter has been discussed on Wall Street for a while, but Hollywood artists have not yet noticed the commercial operation.

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

  So this time Ronald stayed at the Marriott Hotel in Lower Manhattan near the Financial District. The two made an appointment to chat the next day. Kerkorian's behavior made Ronald feel a little uncomfortable. He kept himself a secret from the people of Hollywood, but he went to Wall Street to show off, not knowing what to do.

  What Donna said just now also aroused a trace of doubt in Ronald. When he was in Los Angeles, he deduced the steps of the grand plan in his mind every day, and every detail was logical, and he couldn't see any flaws.

  But if the numbers entered into the mathematical formula as parameters are 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 needed to confirm Kerkorian's grand plan in detail.

  He took out the phone book, found Xiaoyan's phone number, and called Xiaoyan who was taking a community college course at Stanton College.

   "Xiaoyan? I'm your brother Luo. I just arrived in New York and I remembered you. Are you free tonight? Come to Manhattan to chat with Luo brother. I promised your father that I don't care much about you recently."

"Brother Luo, look at what you said. Don't I thank you for taking care of my TOEFL and going to school? Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to go to school at all. I'm in the dormitory. The ferry to Staten Island is still open. I'll go find you , what hotel are you in?"

   "Come here, I live in the Marriott, and I can just take a walk to the pier in Manhattan to wait for you." Ronald put down the phone and put on his coat. Slowly walked to the Battery Maritime Ferry Terminal in the southernmost part of the city.

  It 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 iconic skyline is reflected, the twin towers of the World Trade Center. The lights from the twin towers and some lower buildings around them are reflected on the blue-black water, the heights are scattered, colorful, very beautiful.

   Ronald was fascinated for a moment. Such a beautiful night scene is rarely seen in America. The population density on the west coast is relatively low, and such a super metropolis scene can only be taken for granted in New York City, the Big Apple.

   "Woo..."

  With a whistle, the yellow ferry docked. Awakened Ronald who was meditating. At a glance, he saw that among the small boats on the water, the yellow ferry JFK Kennedy was slowly approaching. It was several laps larger than other ships and was 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 make their home on Staten Island. Several female secretaries wore high hairstyles, and then, holding expensive high-heeled shoes in their hands and wearing lighter running shoes on their feet, they rushed to the pier, waiting for a seat after boarding the boat. After busy overtime work, To be able to take a break.

  When they get home, there will be housework waiting for them, such as tidying up the room, and maybe their boyfriend will come to eat the dinner they cooked. Ronald thought of the leg warmer's partner, Trisha Kate. She used to be such a hard-working secretary, and then she met herself. After selling the leg warmer business, she continued to work in the store and sell goods. She and her husband David have a lovely son, and her life has been out of the sea of ​​suffering.

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

   "Brother Luo, Brother Luo..."

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

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

   "How is it, are you happy going to school here?"

   "I thought you were going to ask me if my grades were good." Xiaoyan replied in English, no matter the accent, and now his fluency in English is much better than in China.

"I like Stanton University very much. The atmosphere inside is very free. I can choose any course I want, and I can sneak in to listen to the class that is not my own. My grades are still very good. We Chinese people can endure hardships here. I I also had a part-time job handing out leaflets in schools."

  Xiaoyan was very grateful to Ronald, and explained his situation well.

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

   "The master chefs here are better than domestic ones. The waiters are also very polite, unlike domestic ones who are indifferent." Xiaoyan lamented that the Chinese food here is no less than domestic.

   "Tips are also given." Ronald replied with a smile, there are advantages and disadvantages.

   "I'm looking for you, and I want to ask about the situation of the domestic film market. What is the ticket price for you to watch the movie?"

"Us? The children of our film studio have free invoices every month. There are also some imported copies that are only screened internally. If you take out these tickets, you can go out and ask out little girls." Xiaoyan answered while drinking tea. arrive. He relied on this trick to establish a relationship with the original object.

   "If you buy a movie ticket by yourself, how much does it cost? Can you buy it for one yuan?" The most important thing Ronald wants to verify is the unit price.

   "One dollar? It's a rental film, and the ticket price for arranging the film is very cheap, only one or two cents."

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

  "The film arrangement is the original plan to show, the head office purchases the plan, and then distributes it to various movie theaters, all of which are not good-looking, and there are re-screenings of old films.

  Rental movies are imported movies, such as your breakdance, Brother Luo, and those popular movies with good copy reservations. Movie theaters all have to pay copy rental.

  Nowadays movie theaters are also rewarding efficiency, and they can cope with that kind of film scheduling. If they can get copies of rented films, they have the ability. "

   "What is the ratio of those two movies?"

"It's still mainly about film scheduling, and the proportion of rented films is not high. Every year, there are only a few movies that audiences like. Film companies around the world saw snapped up movies at the film screenings, not many. Now domestic directors don't like it either. Auction. Anyway, all the auctions are planned purchases, and the price is the same. There will be bonuses for completing the planned tasks.”

   "What about the duration of the screening? There are always too many films to rent, right?" Ronald's heart was already a little dry, he thought about it, and then asked about the allocation of screenings.

"Hey, now the domestic copies are the production tasks set by the head office. Many movie theaters can't get the copies of the rented movies, and they have to find someone to run the movies. This movie theater released the first two copies and immediately transported them to the next place by bicycle. A movie theater never stops for a minute.

  Many movie theaters, especially those near Xiangjiang in the south, are still secretly showing pirated copies, and the head office doesn’t care anyway. "

   Ronald's complexion changed. All of a sudden, the estimated revenue has shrunk and shrunk. What McKinsey, I think they are sitting in the office and making up reports.

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

"Then the average employees in your unit now buy a lot of TVs?" Ronald still can't be reconciled after thinking about it. Even if the revenue is only 20% of the original, that is still a very strong market size. Besides, the economic development there It looks good too. What if there are more people watching Hollywood in the future? As long as TV doesn't enter homes so quickly, there's still potential.

   "Brother Luo, you also know that TVs are in short supply there? I didn't know that TVs are not such an expensive electrical appliance until I got here. Unlike our place, if you don't buy a TV, you can't even get married."

   "Huh?" Ronald wondered, why can't we get married?

  Xiaoyan talked about his own situation. His partner is because of his family’s housing difficulties. After marriage, he wants to live with his father, and the partner’s family is not willing. They proposed that Xiaoyan's family buy all kinds of electrical appliances, including TV sets, refrigerators, and washing machines. The little girl is a college student, so it is impossible for her to marry and wash clothes by hand.

   There are 48 legs of furniture, chests of drawers, large wardrobes, dressing tables, one must be missing.

  Xiaoyan's father's salary is not high, and he usually spends a lot of money on inventions. He couldn't make up that much money for a while, so the little girl's family broke up. It wasn't until Xiaoyan went abroad to study that he came up again to try to reconnect.

"Don't TVs cost more than a thousand dollars now? How much is your family's salary, and can you buy so many electrical appliances?" Ronald was surprised when he heard that. Marriage requires so many regulations. Can you afford it with this salary? ?

"I can't help it. The little girls nowadays are all staring at foreigners and those who have overseas relations. If it weren't for me and Brother Luo to help, my parents would have to live frugally, and borrow money to buy all these household appliances before they can get married. , especially this TV, cannot be saved, otherwise people at work will not be able to talk to you when chatting."

   "Shxt!"

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

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

   "You study hard in Staten Island. Let me explain to the daydreamers. Go there and do some part-time work to broaden your horizons. I will take you to buy some clothes. Don't wear this one all the time."

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

  When he arrived at Marriott, Ronald found out the phone number of Director Wu of the Northwest Factory and dialed it.

   "Director Wu? This is Ronald."

   "Hey, Director Luo, did you call from America?" Director Wu has a phone in his office, but the international call needs to be transferred before he can get through. He was very happy to hear Ronald's call.

   "I'm asking you to verify some data. Someone here wants to sell movies to you."

   "That's good, our people just want to see more advanced cultural life." Director Wu is happy to hear that he can see more Hollywood movies.

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

   "Who said that? How can there be so many?" Director Wu flatly denied, "I went to the head office for a meeting, and I don't know? Oh, by the way, if you add the projection team in the countryside, it will be similar."

   "What is a screening team?"

   "It is to take the copy to the countryside to show the movie to the peasant friends." Director Wu explained.

   It turns out that this is a unique system in Huaguo. In order for the majority of farmers to see movies, each county has a special projection team going to the countryside to show movies to farmers in the village.

  Generally, when a movie is shown, people from neighboring villages will also come to watch it, just like Chinese New Year.

   "How much are the tickets for the screening team?"

"Hey, how can there be any tickets, and you can exchange whatever you have in the village, pork, local specialties. And they are all old movies, not 35mm copies for movie theaters, but specially made 16mm copies, suitable for outdoor screenings, machines and The curtain, put it on the back seat of the bicycle, and ride it down to the village."

   "How much does this copy sell for?" Ronald felt even colder when he heard it. 16mm copies are something that some amateur photographers play in America. Just a little better than a kid's 8mm toy.

"It is all planned and allocated by the state. Every movie will have a production plan for 35mm and 16mm copies. Popular movies, local themes, and more will be produced. These are all planned, unlike 35mm copies. It is possible to rent films at the reformed price.”

   "I see, you have been of great help, Director Wu, thank you..."

   "It's easy to say, you must come to see the Terracotta Warriors and Horses next time."

   Putting down the phone, Ronald was so angry that he hammered the table several times.

   "Damn it, I almost fell for your old trick! The casinos in Las Vegas are all liars, liars!"

  …

   "Ding Dong", the doorbell rang.

  After sleeping until dawn, Ronald, who regretted trusting Kerkorian's highly provocative salesmanship, no longer had any hope for this business.

  He opened the door of the hotel, and outside was Bannon who came to chat with Ronald about the big project.

   "Why haven't you gotten up yet?" Bannon wondered when he saw Ronald in pajamas and unshaven. Ronald has always been a very hard worker.

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

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

"Wall Street is excited about this project, and many people have great expectations for the prospects. Kerkorian wants to use this new project to continue financing in the capital market. His MGM sale to Turner Television Network was unsuccessful. , Ted Turner has a deep relationship with the political world, and he dare not make mistakes.

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

  Bannon said some of the situation he has learned.

"Originally everyone had doubts about who would be able to open the Huaguo market, but when they heard that it was you, everyone felt that although it was you, it was unexpected, but it was also unexpectedly suitable. So..." Bannon's eyes revealed Ronald's two days ago A greedy light comes.

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

   Ronald yawned, picked up the phone and called room service, and brought breakfast.

"Why? Are you worried that you don't have time to continue your career as a director? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You spend two years in exchange for financial freedom. In the future, don't you just shoot whatever you want? Cooperate with whoever you want ?”

  " Ronald didn't say a word, he waited for the waiter to bring a delicious breakfast, then closed the door and started eating.

  Looking at Bannon who was in a hurry but resisted urging Ronald, Ronald smiled, took a sip of orange juice, and waved to him.

  The two approached, and Ronald said in a very low voice, "Whether it is investment or business venture, if there is no problem in logic, the only thing that can go wrong is not in mathematics, but in the source of those numbers..."

"what do you mean…?"

   "Why don't you go and find out about Huaguo's box office structure? I'll tell you two key words for free, film planning and rural screening teams."

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

  Bannon was so anxious to leave immediately that he was going to confirm the important clues given by Ronald.

  After finishing his meal, Ronald tidied himself up, then put on the carefully arranged handmade suit, and after getting dressed, he called a car and went to his home in Staten Island.

  …

"So what do you mean, you were cheated by Kerkorian? He used your relationship and your name to raise money for himself in the capital market?" Little Douglas brought the barbecue chef to Karen ahead of time. Aunt's house is going to receive little George's family.

  In the room upstairs, he talked carefully with Ronald about the whole details of the matter.

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

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

   "It doesn't matter, let's just make contact with each other? He is actually a good buddy. If his father's background is not counted, he should be barbecued with his neighbors."

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

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

   "Haha, they only provide family members with protection in the official residence. Laura and I are ordinary people when we go out." Little George was still wearing a checkered shirt, and 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. Henson."

  Several people sat in the garden, eating freshly grilled meat from the chef, and drinking fresh home-brewed beer from Hansen's house. Little George was very happy, here he could rarely relax and chat about some messy topics.

   "Let me tell you that at the end of the year, the commander-in-chief will have an interview with Mikhail, the general secretary of the alliance, about the reduction of strategic nuclear weapons between the two sides. In this way, the people of America are finally satisfied.

  You didn’t see the parade of anti-nuclearists in DC. I saw it upstairs. They came up with banners, and some girls were shirtless to attract media attention. "

  Little George drank a few glasses of beer and talked vividly about some things in Washington, DC.

   "Hahaha, they must be too hot." Ronald and Doug Jr. laughed with him.

   "Look, look, my wife Laura, how beautiful she is!" Little George pulled the two of them again, looking at Laura who was sharing the secret of baking cookies with Aunt Karen.

   "You're a lucky guy!"

   "No, I defeated many competitors back then."

  The guests and hosts had a great time, and George Jr. and Laura were about to say goodbye. It had been a long time since he had such a free and happy party with friends like college frat buddies, barbecued, drank beer, and made vulgar jokes.

   "What a happy day, we will come here a few more times." Ronald sent the couple to the gate of the yard.

  Little George let Laura get in the car first, and led 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, you just say, although I can't do much, but mother Barbara likes you very much..."

"No, No", Ronald thought, it's all right now, "We have said several times on the phone that you want to have a barbecue and drink beer together. I happen to be free in New York this time, so I asked if you would Empty? You can find like-minded friends who appreciate Texas barbecue, and there are not many in New York and the East Coast.”

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

  Little George was amused and laughed, "Laura and I have to go back, the child cannot be entrusted to the nanny for too long, we are very happy today, and Laura is also very grateful for your aunt's secret recipe.

  But I really have to go, if you have something to say, just ask. "

   "Can't I invite like-minded friends to have a barbecue?" Ronald said with a smile. It was really something, but now it's useless to ask.

   "You are the best friend I have made on the east coast. Those politicians in DC and New York are all idiots who want something from us, and say behind our backs that we are blue blood and know nothing about it."

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

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

   "Bye!" Laura was holding a box of Aunt Karen's biscuits on the co-pilot, and waved to Ronald with a smile. With this Hollywood director, Laura felt that her husband had returned to the way he was when he was courting her back then, seeing her in a different way.

   "Ronald!" Little George stuck his head out from the driver's seat, "I thought about it, and I still want to tell you that you are my true friend, and true friends should not hide from each other, right?"

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

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

   "Of course, of course."

  Ronald suddenly got an unexpected message, murmured a few responses, and then bid farewell to Little George.

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

   "Do you know what happened to the manager of the Grand Commander's campaign team?"

"He...?" Little Douglas glanced at the car going away, "This is a big investment, Ronald, no less than the opportunity Kerkorian said, even the most risky and rewarding investment in America." invest."

  (end of this chapter)