Richard Lovett was in a hurry for the possible crisis of confidence in CAA. Just a few kilometers away, the MGM headquarters, also in Century City, was also restless.
Just over an hour after the news that the 007 series will re-select the actor, a group of movie fans gathered outside the MGM headquarters, holding various signs to protest MGM's decision to replace Pierce Brosnan. Another group of reporters from major media also waited outside the gate of MGM headquarters, hoping to get more news. In order to avoid any accidents, Amy Pascal had to send most of the company's security guards outside the building to maintain order.
MGM's stock price, which has been flying high in recent weeks due to the box office success of "Casino Royale", suddenly began to fall as the news was announced. Thanks to the continuous acquisition of E! With the acquisition of Entertainment TV Station, the investment in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, and the possible equity transaction with Rainbow Media, MGM, whose funds are gradually tight, has already launched a new round of debt financing plan. At this time, the company's stock price suddenly fell. Absolutely Not good news.
Within an hour after the news was announced, the mobile phones of several MGM senior executives were directly blasted by calls from various parties. A member of the company's board of directors even flew from New York to Los Angeles and asked to hold an emergency board meeting to re-open. Talk about replacing Brosnan.
MGM completed the last share issuance, Drew's shareholding ratio has dropped to 33.5%, and LTD's shareholding ratio has also dropped to 8.4%. The French Vivendi Group, which jointly participated in the acquisition of MGM, held 16.8% of the shares, several European film funds held 15.1% of the shares, and the remaining 26% of the shares were all tradable shares. Since they also came from Europe, Vivendi and several other film funds naturally formed a group. Although they were doomed to be unable to gain control over MGM, it was impossible for MGM management to completely ignore the influence of the other party.
The director named Pierre Truc who has come to Los Angeles from New York is the spokesperson of Vivendi and several film funds on the board of directors of MGM. MGM’s board of directors has a total of seven members. Except for the four external independent directors hired in accordance with the regulations of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the other three are Drew, Amy Pascal, and Pierre Turtle. Luke, the other party is the CEO of the US branch of Havas Group, an advertising media giant under Vivendi.
At the end of a corridor in the MGM headquarters, Amy Pascal, who was standing by the window, hung up Richard Lovett's phone, with a relieved expression on her face, handed the phone to the assistant, and asked her to answer the phone for herself. When the call came in again, I pushed open the door of the conference room and walked in.
In the conference room, Drew, Frank Macasso and John Carley were discussing with Peter Jackson the casting plan for the trilogy of "Lord of the Rings".
In the past two years, Peter Jackson has only directed a low-budget thriller for practice, and most of his energy is still on the preparation of the "Lord of the Rings" series. Not only has he completed all the scene work in the early stage of the film, but also, In the first half of the year, he also did an internship in the Australian branch of the digital field for three months, learning about the production process of CG special effects in detail. Now, the entire "Lord of the Rings" trilogy can be said to have been completely installed in Peter Jackson's mind. As long as he gets the budget and officially starts production, he has 100% confidence that he can perfect this legendary epic of Tolkien. presented on the big screen.
Seeing Amy Pascal walk in, Peter Jackson couldn't help but pause. Of course he knew what happened to MGM today.
Frank Macasso and John Carley looked over at the same time. They had completed the acquisition of MGM. Considering that this old movie giant might re-emerge with the support of Firefly Group, the two of them had no choice. Leaving the company now proves the correctness of their original choice. It's just that today's incident is really enough to catch people off guard. They still can't believe that Eric will really decide to give up Brosnan. Although the mobile phone has been turned off, the continuous ringing of the phone is still lingering in the minds of the two of them.
Although Drew also looked up, there was no worry on the face of the others. As long as it was Eric's decision, she didn't care even if MGM went bankrupt. However, the girl still took the initiative to ask: "Amy, who is this time?"
"Richard Lovett," Amy replied, sat down next to the girl, and continued: "Richard hinted to me just now that this matter seems to be the idea of Brosnan's manager Rick Kotzman. Cha has fired Cozman. Drew, they want to talk again."
Although some rumors have been heard, due to Richard Lovett's efforts to cover up, no one in Hollywood knows in detail the ins and outs of Rick Cozman's private refusal of the 007 salary contract. Drew naturally took Amy's "hint" from Richard Lovett as an excuse, which may actually be what Richard Lovett wanted to see.
However, Drew obviously didn't care about this, he just said: "They refuse if they want to refuse, and renegotiate if they want to renegotiate. Are they teasing us?"
"Drew, I think there may be some misunderstandings in this. It stands to reason that even if Pierce disagrees with Eric's offer, it is impossible to refuse so simply," Amy continued to persuade: "And, give up Brosnan It doesn’t do us any good, we are about to carry out debt financing, and Morgan Stanley has already called, and they feel that if Brosnan is replaced, it may affect the market’s enthusiasm for investing in MGM bonds.”
The girl blinked twice, spread her hands and said, "Why don't you discuss it with Eric, I'm just a puppet."
…
"Now there is a rumor that Brosnan seems to be completely unaware of your remuneration terms. When you had a meeting in the morning, Amy called again and said that CAA hoped to re-negotiate." Firefly Burbank Headquarters It was already noon in the restaurant, Kelly and Eric sat together for lunch, and by the way talked about what happened this morning.
Eric finished a mouthful of spaghetti, looked up and said, "Do you believe that Brosnan really doesn't know?"
Kelly thought for a while, and said: "I think, even if it is true, CAA will pass it on as false. After all, CAA will be in big trouble if it hides such an important matter from customers. No star would want to let an agent who likes to assert himself take care of his affairs. However, I don’t think CAA’s agent would be stupid enough to hide this from Brosnan, and this is a $70 million contract.”
"so what?"
"So, this is likely to be a fake news from CAA, just trying to find an excuse to save this matter."
Eric smiled, didn't say anything, changed the subject, and said, "So, have you picked a good candidate for my new personal assistant?"
Kelly actually wanted to ask Eric what his plans were, but when he changed the subject, he had no choice but to say: "One is very suitable, but I think she shouldn't be sent to you, a bad guy. "
"Oh, it seems that you prefer to do this by yourself." Eric teased, watching Kelly's face turn red instantly, and said with a smile: "You mean Caroline?"
Kelly nodded and said, "I talked to Caroline, and she is quite willing. But, Eric, Caroline is such a good girl, don't hurt her."
Eric thought about it, and felt that he really couldn't guarantee it, so he said, "How about changing someone?"
Kelly gave Eric a blank look, but then said softly: "Eric, I can see that Caroline is looking forward to being by your side. So, if you don't want to do this, talk to her in person Let's talk, better, better get her to get another job, you know what I mean."
Eric hesitated for a moment, then nodded with a solemn expression: "Okay, I will take some time these two days."
Having said that, Eric's cell phone rang, and he said hello after he connected, and after hearing a few words from the other side, Eric said with a slight sneer at the corner of his mouth, "Amy, do you think it's still ten years now?" In the past, was it the era when those agents could just break into the executive offices of film companies... Well, if they are really sincere, don’t even think about sharing contracts. It’s still yesterday’s four-film contract, $60 million, and it’s signed tomorrow morning. I don't care if Pierce really didn't know, even if it was true, it was his own mistake, this is the last chance... Pierre Truc? Just send it away, I'm going to San Francisco in the afternoon, that's all, there's nothing else, don't call me again."
Kelly watched Eric hang up the phone and casually left the phone beside him, and couldn't help reminding: "Eric, Pierre Truc is the spokesperson for MGM's European shareholders."
"I know."
Kelly froze for a moment, and said, "Then you still..."
"For those who don't care, just pretend not to know." Eric shrugged, looked at Kelly's astonished expression, sighed rarely, and said, "Perhaps, everyone now thinks that I am going my own way. Is it right?"
Kelly noticed the slight loneliness in Eric's expression, subconsciously shook her head, but then nodded slightly.
Eric just shook his head again, and said: "Judging from everything that happened today, you, Amy, and many, many people around, and even the media, have been firmly trapped in Hollywood's existing Everyone seems to think that "Casino Royale" is so good at the box office. As the leading actor, even if Brosnan gets a salary of 100 million US dollars, it seems that he deserves it, but I never think so, and I don't think so. I think Brosnan is worth the price. The most important thing in Hollywood is actors. Even if I offer 007 the fixed weekly salary of the big studio era, people who want to get this job can line up from Malibu to Burbank. .So, from today, no, from yesterday, I will slowly tell everyone that nothing is taken for granted. If you want to take it for granted, then go back to the era of the big studio. At that time, everyone They also feel that it is natural for actors to get a fixed weekly salary."
Kelly quietly looked at Eric, whose tone became more and more firm, and gradually understood something, and said softly: "But, it's difficult."
"Look," Eric put down the cutlery, scratched his palm in the air, and said, "Now I own half of Hollywood, and I will definitely own the whole of Hollywood in the future. If this is the case, then there is nothing difficult .”
…
"Fuck, Fuck, Fuck!" At the CAA headquarters, Richard Lovett almost jumped to his feet and cursed several times in a row, smashing the phone in his hand on the floor, and the shattered parts splashed everywhere. Taking a deep breath, he immediately roared again: "Peter, help me get a new mobile phone."
An assistant opened the door tremblingly and handed over a new mobile phone.
Richard Lovett took the phone, pressed the buttons a few times, then smashed it to the ground, and yelled at the door: "Peter, you can get out, Eric, oh no, I've never been here in my life." I don’t want to hear this name again, who the hell, you can get out, is there anyone alive, help me get a mobile phone with an address book.”
Dozens of seconds later, just when Richard Lovett couldn't help kicking at the office door, the door finally opened again, and a terrified girl pushed open the door, holding a mobile phone in her hand: "Mr. Lovett, here you are."
Richard Lovett snatched the phone, opened the address book, quickly found a series of numbers, dialed, and immediately lowered his voice a few degrees, and said very enthusiastically: "Hey, Terry, it's me... Haha, today is indeed Encountered some trouble, this time it is more urgent, you must help me, I remember you know Pierre Truc, the director of MGM... Of course, about the contract between Pierce and MGM... I know this It's up to Williams to decide for himself, but you have to try it out, I heard Pierre is coming to Los Angeles, can you please contact me, I want to meet him as soon as he gets off the plane... then thank you Oh, oh, Lina wants to go to the opening party of the Titanic exhibition hall, no problem, absolutely no problem, I will have a few tickets delivered to your house this afternoon, and that's it. Of course, I still owe you A favor that I will never forget in my next life, okay, okay, I will definitely pay it back in this life, haha."
After laughing heartily a few times, Richard Lovett dialed the mobile phone of David O'Connor, the partner of the company, and said in a low voice: "Dude, we are in trouble, and we don't have time to explain so much now, you All that needs to be done is to arrange for people to contact the various newspapers immediately. In today’s evening papers, there must be articles in which Brosnan deliberately claimed to be ignorant of MGM’s salary conditions in order to save the contract. The more the better, understand... Then In this way, I have to rush to the airport now, and I will guard him, support him, coax him, and try to delay as much as possible.” (To be continued.)