.
That night, MGM's official website released a one-minute video featuring Bumblebee's design, including a ten-second transformation sequence.
While it still looked a bit rough and not yet perfect, it only needed more refined polishing.
This design and action took over a month to complete, from MGM's initial draft to Weta Digital's preliminary stage.
This was already a short timeframe, achieved with Eric's hands-on guidance and on-site revisions.
Otherwise, getting it done in a month? Dream on! It would have taken at least three months.
In Park City, at Sweetwater Manor, Eric had opened another large villa.
Besides good wine and food, beautiful women were naturally indispensable. With a lot of money thrown around, high-class call girls soon arrived, and after some release, Sergei finally vented his frustrations.
At this moment, the two were soaking in the hot spring, and the old man finally stopped nagging.
"You look much better."
Sergei exhaled deeply, as if cultivating immortality, seemingly still savoring the recent experience.
"Those two women you found were really good. People in your entertainment industry are better in bed."
"Uh, you're mistaken, my friend. They're just high-class escorts, a $2000 delivery. I think the price has gone up, especially since it's the Sundance Film Festival now—peak season!"
"This time was too rushed. If you want to experience a female star, I'll arrange it next time."
Hearing this, Sergei became interested and tentatively asked, "Can you get Kate Winslet? I'm quite fond of her."
"titanic?"
The thirty-something-year-old man uncharacteristically became a bit bashful: "Yes, that's Rose. Many men's dream."
Eric was a bit speechless. Brother, you're almost forty, and you still believe that? Still playing innocent?
Noticing the look in Eric's eyes, Sergei quickly explained, "Actually, my family isn't happy. Rachel, my wife, and I have been separated for a long time. To be precise, we each do our own thing, and we don't bother each other."
"There was never any love between us. It was a high school thing. We just had a one-night stand, and then I hit the jackpot, and that's how our muddled marriage began."
"Sergei, with your status, what does it matter if you 'hit the jackpot'? If you didn't want it, couldn't you just give her some money? Was marriage necessary? The cost was too high!" Eric asked, puzzled.
Sergei shook his head helplessly: "No, you don't understand me. Although my surname is Hassenfeld, I'm only a distant branch, a very distant one."
"Back then, I was a young man like you, actually even younger. I never enjoyed the wealth and fame of this family; I was just a poor boy. State law didn't allow abortion, so I had no choice but to marry."
"Later, when I started working at Hasbro, I slowly gained my current status."
Eric gave a thumbs-up: "In that case, you're also self-reliant, strong, and accomplished at a young age."
Sergei remained silent, then after a pause, suddenly gave a bitter smile: "That's how it seems to outsiders, right? But in reality, it's not like that."
"The main reason I became the CEO of Hasbro was that Alan's two sons died in an accident, and he had no heirs."
"And I'm an obedient person, so the position eventually fell to me. That's how it is."
"Then..."
Suddenly, Sergei seemed to open a floodgate, or perhaps he had been suppressed for too long, and began to talk incessantly about his life.
Eric felt a bit depressed listening. It turned out that behind this seemingly glamorous man was such a miserable reality.
Rather than a CEO, he was more like a puppet, a puppet at the mercy of his uncle, who was already a distant relative.
This time, when Eric outmaneuvered Hasbro, Sergei naturally became his uncle's punching bag. In Sergei's own words, he felt like he was living like a dog, a dog circling at Alan Hassenfeld's feet.
His only pleasure was sex; only sex could make him regain some self-respect.
Sighing, Eric took a bottle of high-proof vodka from the cabinet.
"Have a drink. At least it will make you forget your troubles tonight."
Sergei didn't stand on ceremony, downing the 60-plus proof vodka directly. The burning sensation instantly flushed his face.
Shaking his head, Eric advised him not to overdo it.
Eric got up and left, and soon two tall, beautiful girls entered the hot spring.
Meanwhile, online, with the release of MGM's video, it quickly garnered a lot of attention, and the short one-minute video was rapidly reposted across various forums.
MGM then bought an advertisement on Yahoo's front page. As soon as people clicked on the website, the first thing they saw was Bumblebee's cool transformation sequence.
Many people who were initially uninterested in transformers were drawn in.
Although some die-hard fans complained that it was different from the animated version, this group was certainly outnumbered by the general public.
As for Eric directing, it naturally no longer received attention, because the core selling point of transformers was these metal giants.
No way, no way, who watches transformers to see humans? Isn't it all about seeing the Autobots and Decepticons?
As long as they could do those well, the movie was already largely successful, and the video released by MGM perfectly proved this point.
The next day, when Eric and Sergei met again, they tacitly avoided mentioning what happened yesterday. The latter seemed to have transformed back into the spirited CEO.
At 9:30 AM, as the market opened, Hasbro's stock price indeed surged.
"Hahahahaha, it's working! The stock price is recovering! Eric, you really are a genius!"
"Look at these people, they're all captivated by that video. Is this Bumblebee?"
"That's right. We've reached an agreement with General Motors. In the movie, it will be a Chevrolet," Eric replied with a smile.
Sergei marveled at the transformation sequence: "This is absolutely fantastic, a completely different feeling from the animated version. I have a hunch that when the movie is released, these transformers toys will sell like crazy."
As he spoke, the last clause of the betting agreement came to mind: "Four times the sales volume. Can it really be achieved?"
But in a flash, he cast the doubt aside: "Eric, since the matter is resolved, I should return to New York to report to Alan. However, I hope MGM won't make reckless decisions again."
Eric smiled and extended his hand: "Rest assured. I wish you a smooth journey, and I hope we have a pleasant collaboration in the future!"
"A pleasant collaboration!"
The two hugged, and Sergei got into the car.
His followers couldn't help but wonder why their relationship had suddenly become so good. They were almost fighting yesterday; how strange!
Watching the car leave, Eric couldn't help but recall their conversation from last night. Perhaps Sergei would become a very good asset.
The stock market segment temporarily concludes. This section was specifically written, as you can see, to prepare for taking over Hasbro in the future.