Hollywood Hunter

Jonathan Friedman and others are still waiting for themselves at the WMA headquarters. In the afternoon, everyone will discuss the heroine of "Instinct." Simon recently picked a heroine candidate. After chatting with Amy, Simon left the company office building and Jennifer followed the car with a stack of papers.

The SUV shuttled through the streets of Los Angeles, and Jennifer handed Simon a meeting memo, saying: "Dad held a conference call with Sun executives in the morning to confirm joining the company's board of directors. So far, we have gotten 16 companies Seats on the board. Dad said that Apple’s waiting for a few companies is actually very promising. Are you really planning to join?"

Simon flipped through the memo in his hand.

The full name of SUN is Sun-Microsystems-Inc., which is a new technology company that mainly produces servers and workstations. The powerful Java language is developed by this company.

In Simon's memory, the market value of SUN at the peak of the Internet bubble exceeded US$200 billion. However, after the Internet bubble burst, the company began to decline rapidly due to various reasons, and was eventually acquired by Oracle.

During the stock price crash last year, Westeros began to buy bottoms when the market value of SUN was about $850 million. Counting the recent small increase in holdings, Simon spent less than US$45 million for only 5% of Sun's shares.

If history does not change, this stock will be worth $10 billion at the highest point in the future market value of SUN.

However, the potential return on investment of SUN is clearly not comparable to that of Microsoft.

Simon bought 4.9% of Microsoft’s shares last year for only 56 million US dollars. In the latest increase in holdings, he unknowingly increased his holdings to 3 million shares, which is relative to Microsoft’s 50 million shares at this time. , The shareholding ratio is exactly 6%.

Calculated based on the highest point of Microsoft's market value of US$600 billion in 2000, just this 6% of Microsoft stocks will increase Simon's personal wealth by US$36 billion.

Therefore, whether it is SUN or Microsoft, the next few years will be Simon's key target for holdings. Simon plans to increase its shareholding in these companies to at least 10%.

In contrast, Simon is not so interested in the current Apple.

Simon invested approximately US$150 million in 4.9% of the company’s stock at the lowest point of Apple’s market value of approximately US$3 billion last year, which is more than both Microsoft and SUN combined, and second only to Motorola’s US$250 million and Intel. $170 million.

However, according to the information in memory, Apple will begin to prosper and decline after its market value exceeds $7 billion in the next few years, and Simon naturally has no desire to hold it for a long time.

After reading the meeting memorandum at hand, Simon heard Jennifer’s question and said: "I made a promise to join the board of directors for three years without reducing holdings. Westeros must have no money now. The method lasts for three years. Therefore, we must take the initiative to give up some board seats."

Jennifer nodded and talked about another thing, saying: "Also, before the market closes today, we have bought 1.23 million shares of New World Entertainment, with an average price of about US$7.5, and a total expenditure of about US$9 million. New World Entertainment’s total share capital is 25 million shares, and we happen to be stuck at about 4.9% of the required filing. After filing the filing with the SEC next Monday, as the news becomes public, the stock price will definitely rise sharply. Dad plans to continue to absorb within $10. Then it will issue a takeover offer to New World Entertainment."

Due to problems with the capital chain, New World Entertainment’s current stock price is far below its actual value. In the acquisition plan discussed by Simon and James, a 50% premium was imposed on the final transaction price.

Simon said: "This matter, just let your father execute according to the plan. It is not necessary to tell me all the details."

Jennifer replied and handed over another thick folder, saying: "Also, this is some aircraft information you asked me to collect a few days ago. The price on the document is only the public quotation of the airline. In the actual transaction process, buyers usually get a certain discount."

For the work and travel needs of Amy, James and others, Simon decided to buy a business jet a few days ago and asked Jennifer to collect some information at will.

Glancing out of the car window, there is still some distance from the WMA headquarters, Simon opened the folder, and asked Jennifer: "Is there a type you like? I bought a plane, everyone can use it."

Although the man next to him did not look at herself, Jennifer dodged her gaze slightly, and said, "This, of course, is your own decision."

Simon smiled and looked at the information about the latest Gulfstream IV business jet in front of him, and said: "Speaking of which, I haven't officially thanked you for the videotape. If you have a favorite type, this time it will follow yours. I want to buy it."

Listening to Simon's relaxed tone, Jennifer was a little dissatisfied, and couldn't help saying: "It's yours that I bought. It's really not sincere."

Simon glanced at Jennifer and noticed that she had **** her hair again today, revealing her white neck: "If I change the ownership of this plane to your name, will your father think we have something? Beat me up."

Jennifer felt Simon's gaze, shrank her neck, and shook her head: "My dad won't, Miss Johnston will, maybe I'm going to be beaten."

Simon pretended to hesitate, and shook his head: "Forget it, it's not worth it that you have to be beaten for nothing."

Jennifer's face flushed suddenly, and a certain picture reappeared in her mind.

Noting that Simon turned his gaze to the information in front of him, he raised his hand and carefully touched the back of his head to sneak off the ribbon tied to his hair, feeling the loose hair, which made him relax.

I thought he hadn't noticed, but just as he was about to put the ribbon in the bag quietly, a voice came from her ear: "It's not pretty."

Oh my god.

Resisting the urge to jump off the car and run away, Jennifer clung to her shoulder bag and gathered the courage to glared at Simon: "I won't let you see it."

Feeling the girl's voice with a gentle trill, Simon stopped teasing, although he was still a little unsure, and focused on the plane information in front of him.

Due to the loose air control system, the private jet industry in the West is very developed and the price is not high.

According to the information in Simon's hand, the latest Gulfstream IV luxury business jet has a total passenger capacity of about 20 people and a cruising distance of close to 8,000 kilometers. The current official price is only $16 million. According to Jennifer just now, this price can be discounted.

Of course, cheap is definitely only relative.

According to the latest media statistics, Simon's current net worth of about 1.6 billion US dollars is enough to make him squeeze into the Forbes list of the 50 richest people this year. What's more, most of Simon's assets are stock assets that can be quickly converted into cash, which further enhances the gold content of his personal wealth.

In comparison, many billionaires who are worthy of Simon may not be able to easily come up with $16 million in cash to buy a private jet.

Looking over some of the small business jet brands in the front, Simon soon saw some models that he was more interested in.

The Boeing 747-300 has a price tag of 120 million U.S. dollars.

This is Simon's ultimate goal.

At present, the Boeing 747-400 is still in the development stage. The Boeing 747-300 is the latest model in the Boeing large aircraft series. As for data such as passenger capacity and cruising distance, if it is transformed into a private jet, there is obviously no need to pay attention. Such a model can connect to any two places on the earth when full of fuel. The six-story high body, the body length of 70 meters, and the internal space is also spacious enough to build a swimming pool.

but.

Simon can only see now that although the cost of 120 million US dollars is almost twice as cheap as that of the same type of large passenger aircraft more than a decade later, and he can also afford it, he cannot buy it now.

It's too public.

If Simon buys it now, he will definitely be drowned by the whole North American media.

Even if Simon didn't care about it, buying such a Big Mac, parking maintenance and other issues would definitely make him burned. In the final analysis, it is still a matter of background. If the Rockefeller family purchases such an aircraft, even if it will still be criticized, more people will take it for granted.

As for Simon Westero.

Ok.

upstart.

The car stopped outside the WMA headquarters on Camino Street. Simon has made a very wise decision to purchase a Gulfstream IV first. Compared with the large Boeing, the delivery period of this small aircraft is also very short. After the order is placed, it can be delivered in three months.

Bringing Jennifer into the WMA headquarters, Jonathan Friedman, Brian de Palma and others are already waiting for Simon.

Over the past year or so, Simon has changed from what he used to, but the turmoil within WMA has never stopped.

At the beginning of the new year, Ed Limato, one of the vice presidents of WMA, brought a large number of stars such as Mel Gibson, Steve Martin, Denzel Watsonton, Michel Pfeiffer, etc. under his name. I quit and went to ICM, which once again hurt WMA's vitality.

In Simon's view, this is almost inevitable.

The control of WMA is still firmly held by Norman Broca and other old men. Ed Limato is unlikely to go further in the short term, but the gold medal broker moved to ICM and immediately obtained the ICM partnership. The title of the person and co-president.

After Ed Limato quit, he represented a number of top movies such as Brian de Palma, Robert De Niro, Robert Duval, Matt Dillon, Sandra Bullock and Simon People, coupled with the support of WMA Chairman Lu Weis, Jonathan, who was not too prominent among a bunch of vice presidents, has unknowingly become a popular candidate for the next president of WMA.

Simon is actually very interested in the talent agency industry.

However, due to California's "Talent Brokerage Act" restrictions, brokers cannot get involved in the production field, and similarly, it is impossible for movie companies to intervene in the talent agency industry. Simon can only slightly interfere with the changes in the talent agency industry based on his limited influence, but he can't affect the overall situation.

In a large conference room at WMA headquarters.

Simon greeted everyone one by one, and soon came to a tall, black-haired actress who was the heroine of "Instinct" chosen by Simon, Linda Fiorentino.

In original time and space, Linda Fiorentino's most well-known role is the female forensic doctor in "Men in Black".

However, Simon chose the other party because she starred in another movie "The Last Temptation". This 1995 film in the original time and space is a horror and **** genre that obviously follows the trend of "Instinct." The femme fatale played by Linda Fiorentino in the film skillfully plays with the men around her between applause.

After "The Last Temptation" was released, Linda Fiorentino's performance almost won unanimous praise from the critics. It was only because that movie was first broadcast on HBO TV and did not meet the Oscar selection criteria, the actress unfortunately failed to get the Oscar nomination that year.

Simon and Linda Fiorentino shook hands, and everyone sat down around the conference table.

A few days ago, after Simon picked Linda Fiorentino in a group of actress profiles, he arranged an audition for her and Michael Douglas. The effect is also very satisfactory.

Today, Michael Douglas did not come again. He played the audition tape. Brian de Palma also expressed his approval. Everyone discussed the details of the film with Linda Fiorentino’s agent George Lipton. And contract matters.

Several big men were discussing eagerly, a certain husky female voice with obvious dissatisfaction, said: "Doesn't anyone want to ask my opinion?"

Simon and the others looked over together, and Linda Fiorentino’s agent George Lipton quickly said: "Linda, this way, you can go back first, and I will call you after get off work."

Linda Fiorentino gave her agent a slanted look, did not speak, reached out her hand as if to touch her jeans pocket for a moment, took out a pack of cigarettes, completely ignored George Lipton's almost demanding expression, and continued He took out a lighter, lit a cigarette, took a deep breath, expelled the blue smoke, and then looked directly at Simon, and said: "Mr. Westeros, George passed the resume for me. I didn't say to Play this role."

Simon looked at the woman's style with interest, and suddenly remembered some very difficult rumors about the actress in his memory, but just smiled and said: "Then why didn't you refuse and cooperated in the audition?"

Linda Fiorentino said: "I just want to try to play with a big star like Douglas."

Simon had a good temper and said, "So, now?"

Linda Fiorentino played the soot skillfully and said: "Your script is very good, but there are more **** scenes. If some of the scenes can be deleted, I can agree to play."

Simon directly made an inviting gesture and said, "Ms. Fiorentino, if you are asking for this, you can go out now."

Linda Fiorentino did not move, nor did she show a guilty expression. She took a puff again slowly and said: "Mr. Westero, as far as I know, "Instinct" will start shooting next month. , The schedule is very tight. You can't find a second actor who is more suitable than me in a short time."

Simon shook his head and said, "Actually, I already had a very suitable candidate before you. It's just that I hate the other person, so I don't plan to use her. Now, do you want to make yourself behave more hateful than her? "