Dual Star Entertainment Company.
Thorne sat alone in his office, lost in thought. He was facing a problem.
The conflict between the Olsen Sisters and him was irreconcilable. Since last year, apart from the contracted work they had already signed, they were even deliberately avoiding him when taking on new projects.
As their agent, who had nurtured them from the start, he received no respect whatsoever.
These two girls had been drifting further and further away from him, and judging by today's situation, staying at Dual Star Entertainment would inevitably lead to a complete fallout.
Currently, the Olsen Family held 55% of the shares, while he only had 45%.
When that time came, although the Olsen Sisters' parents had divorced due to marital discord, for the sake of profit, the family would surely stand together, and he might not be able to resist them.
Moreover, Dual Star Entertainment was declining, and the Olsen Sisters' commercial value was not what it used to be. Letting go and leaving seemed like a good option.
And MGM was precisely the ideal next step he envisioned. The Coopers' capabilities were evident in the market, and everyone was waiting for this lion to go public again.
He took out a pen and wrote down numbers on a piece of paper.
Robert Thorne was calculating his assets, and after a round of calculations, he realized that since losing a sum in the stock market, he only had a few million dollars in liquid funds left.
That amount of money was useless. If he wanted a piece of the pie at MGM, they wouldn't even let him through the door.
"Shares, perhaps it's time to sell my Dual Star Entertainment shares. If valued at 500 million, I should be able to find a buyer."
"Using that money to acquire 7% of MGM's shares, once it goes public again in a few months, I could at least earn over 100 million."
New York, HBO Headquarters.
Eric and Zack Thomas, the chairman of HBO, signed their names on the contract, then shook hands, and a round of warm applause immediately erupted.
Zack Thomas was a middle-aged man in his fifties. Although his hair was still black, it was most likely dyed, which could be seen from the deep wrinkles on his face.
Looking at the handsome and dashing young man in front of him, Thomas couldn't help but exclaim, "Eric, in Hollywood, I've met countless people, but you are the most capable young man I've ever seen."
Eric feigned surprise and modestly replied that he was flattered. Although Americans valued assertiveness, such a statement was too exaggerated and would attract a lot of hostile gazes if it spread.
"No, I'm not joking. A zombie TV series, this idea is simply brilliant! We have zombie movies; last year, the UK even made '28 Days Later,' but you are the first to do a zombie TV series."
"I heard Frank Darabont say that you provided the script outline, is that right?"
Eric smiled shyly, "That's right, I did write the script outline, because when I watched movies, I always had a feeling that the plot was too simple."
"You know, for the zombie movies currently on the market, they often can only show a corner of a city. It seems like the whole world is occupied by zombies, but the visual and atmospheric expression is not at all convincing.
"And those zombies move slowly, not looking like they have any combat power at all. Can you imagine? Zombies don't even eat people, they just bite them. I think this is abnormal, not bloody enough, not apocalyptic enough."
"Most importantly, movies are limited by runtime and cannot adequately portray the struggle of human nature, which is another major selling point of 'the walking dead.'"
"As an ordinary viewer, I would have this regret, and I think most people would feel the same way, which is why 'the walking dead' was born."
Zack Thomas looked at his subordinates beside him, "Look at him, look at this young man. You should all learn from his philosophy. HBO doesn't lack money; what it lacks are people like Eric who dare to think and dare to act."
Saying that, he grabbed Eric's hand again and said, "Although I've only seen the first episode, I am absolutely convinced that I made the right decision. I hope MGM treats every episode as if it were the first. I have a premonition that 'the walking dead' will become the viewership king of 2003."
"Don't worry, Thomas, 'the walking dead' is also MGM's child, and I will cherish it even more than you."
"Hahahaha."
After signing the contract, they had lunch together, agreeing that MGM would contact HBO first whenever they produced a new series. Both parties were very pleased.
After bidding farewell to Zack Thomas, Eric then met with Sergei Hassenfield. Since he was in New York, he naturally wanted to catch up with him.
On the surface, he was still the CEO of Hasbro, enjoying boundless prestige.
Behind the scenes, he was once again pouring out his grievances to Eric, a sign of them becoming more familiar with each other.
Sergei's complaints were the usual: dissatisfaction with work, boredom with family, and a lack of joy in life.
His child had also grown up and was studying out of state, only returning once every six months. When she did, father and daughter had no common topics and she was closer to her mother.
Even sex, after doing it too much, became meaningless. The call girls had the same old tricks, and he was tired of them all.
According to this old man, the thing he wanted to do most now was to spend time with Kate Winslet.
Preferably, they would start with a secret relationship, build up their feelings, and then, once they became lovers, they would play poker.
At that point, the atmosphere would be right, passion would ignite, and rolling around in bed in that state would be the most enjoyable.
What could Eric say to this old man's request? He couldn't say anything.
If he remembered correctly, Kate Winslet was indeed single at the moment, having been divorced for a few years, it seemed.
The problem was, you old man, you're married! How could she, a world-famous actress, risk public scorn to have a secret affair with you?
Did he think everyone was Angelina Jolie?
Moreover, Eric didn't even know Kate Winslet, so he could only defer, saying he would arrange a meeting between them if the opportunity arose in the future.
After saying goodbye to Sergei, he then had a few rounds with Elena.
They had agreed before meeting: only physical pleasure, no work talk.
Just get it done, but don't give him trouble with Dual Star Entertainment matters.
The seductive woman happily agreed, seeming not too concerned about her two nieces.
After flying back to Los Angeles, it was already one in the morning. By the time Eric arrived home, it was almost two in the morning.
Looking at Chen Xing, who had been dutifully in the passenger seat, Eric said, "Chen Xing, it must be tough since you became my secretary."
Chen Xing quickly replied, "Although it's a bit tough, I've learned a lot. Whether it's handling or planning things, I feel like I've grown a lot compared to a few months ago."
"And my parents and family all support me. They encourage me to work diligently and prioritize my job."
This answer was very Asian. A young person gets a decent and promising job, and as long as it doesn't kill them, they work themselves to death, determined to outdo everyone.
Although parents would feel for their children's hardships, for the sake of the future, any amount of suffering is worth it. They would also provide logistical support, being your strongest backing.
If it were white parents, a large portion wouldn't focus on these things. In the eyes of white parents, children have their own lives.
Parents at most offer suggestions, playing the role of an advisor, and would even encourage children to pursue freedom. If it's too tough, it's fine to quit and find another job; being happy is most important.
Chen Xing's answer made Eric think of his previous life. He suddenly asked curiously, "Chen, what are your hobbies usually?"
"Uh, before, on weekends, I would go cycling and then go to the cinema to watch movies."
"Good hobbies, combining exercise and art. With your girlfriend?"
"Yes, cycling alone is fine, but if I go to the cinema alone, some people always look at you with strange eyes, as if saying you're a loser who can't find a girlfriend."
Eric laughed heartily, "Yes, that's somewhat similar to school, a typical form of American bullying."
"But you're so busy with work now, you must not have much time to spend with your girlfriend. Let me guess, she often complains, right?"
Chen Xing looked back and said somewhat awkwardly, "Actually, we've already broken up. About two months ago, she couldn't understand me, and I really couldn't satisfy her."
A busy job cost him his relationship. It sounded much like a plot device in TV shows, such as Ross and Rachel in 'friends.'
Eric sighed, "Relationships are very personal matters, and I shouldn't comment, but this girl isn't suitable for you. Her mindset is still stuck in the campus phase, while you have already entered maturity. Conflicts would have inevitably surfaced sooner or later."
"Yes, I thought so too. And after just one argument, she decisively broke up with me. It felt like she didn't really love me."
Chen Xing's tone sounded somewhat indifferent already.
"And I've thought about it, boss. Before I achieve some success in my work, romance can be put aside; it's not important."
"And honestly, a few girls in the company have invited me out, but I've turned them all down. It's not that they're not pretty, but I just feel the timing isn't right."
"Hmm, office romance is not advisable; it only affects work efficiency," Eric agreed with this point.
"But suppressing your emotions all the time isn't good either. No sex for two months, how do you manage?"
"After you drop me home, you and Peter go find a place to unwind and release some youthful energy. He knows where the best services are."
The driver, Peter, grinned, "Yes, boss, there's no place in Los Angeles I don't know about. Whether you want women, men, or transvestites, I can find them."
"It's too late today. I think it's more important to go home and rest. There's still work tomorrow," Chen Xing said, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Eric waved his hand, "I'm giving you half a day off. Go enjoy yourself, young man! Otherwise, what's the point of receiving such a high salary from me?"
"And this is the entertainment industry. You must learn about this aspect early, otherwise, when I appoint you to an important position, don't tell me you can't even handle clients. Many people like this."
Beverly Hills, the Cooper Family.
He woke up at ten in the morning. An employee would naturally go to work on time, but who said he was the boss?
After washing up and going downstairs, he found his dad was also still at home, which was rare.
"Dad, nothing today? You seem surprisingly free."
"I promised your mom I'd go with her to San Francisco to visit Joshua. Your brother, since becoming a team starter, hasn't been home in a long time."
"When are you leaving?"
In the kitchen, his mom came out with a freshly baked batch of cookies, which she then sealed in a bag.
"Alright, we can leave now, dear."
His dad gave Eric a look, meaning, 'Now you understand what I was waiting for, right?'
Yawning, Eric picked up the remaining cookie crumbs from the plate and put them in his mouth, chewing as he said, "I'll go too. It's been a long time since I've seen Joshua. That guy has even called a lot less."
His mom looked at his dad, who immediately rejected the suggestion.
"You should stay at the company, just in case of any emergencies. And we'll be back in two days at most. We'll give your regards to Joshua."
"Alright, have a safe trip."
As he reached the door, his dad suddenly stopped, turned around, and said, "I almost forgot to tell you something. The Oscars have sent an invitation. Although we don't have any nominated works, you can still go and watch if you want."
"Wait, who is invited? You or me? Or both of us?"
"Of course, both of us, but I'm tired of attending those boring parties, especially when you don't have a film. You have to sit there dryly for hours."
"When the camera pans over, you have to fake a smile, and then a bunch of guys looking for investment will ask you to drink. I'm already annoyed enough by them usually, so I don't plan to attend."
"Moreover, we launched a military strike against Iraq a few days ago. Most of the public's attention is on the war right now. The media loves to ask political questions at times like this, and if you answer even slightly incorrectly, they'll hound you."
"But you can go and see. Meeting more friends is very helpful for work. After all, my network isn't the same as yours. You'll eventually need to build your own network."
His dad's advice was very pertinent. Eric nodded, "Okay, I'll consider it."
The date came to March 23rd, the day the 75th Academy Awards ceremony began.
Even though it was wartime and viewership might decline, it was predicted that at least 40 million viewers across the United States would still tune in to this annual Hollywood event.
Los Angeles, Hollywood Boulevard, Kodak Theatre.
At this time, outside the theater, crowds had already gathered. A red carpet stretched from the second floor inside the theater to not far from the entrance, with a total length of approximately 60 meters.
Is that long?
It was actually very short, because previously it would extend directly to Highland Avenue in the distance, with the red carpet length being at least 200 meters; a shorter length wouldn't suffice.
On this day, media from all over the world would gather in Hollywood. Even with limits on the number of reporters per media outlet, the quantity still exceeded the norm.
However, due to the war, this year not only was the red carpet shortened, but fan viewing was also canceled. Only the media remained on site, making it less lively than in previous years.
On both sides of the red carpet, due to the reduced length, reporters stood shoulder to shoulder, packed like sardines.
All sorts of cameras, both familiar and unfamiliar, were aimed at the center, awaiting the arrival of the first star.
Organizing committee staff were working hard to maintain order to ensure no incidents occurred later.
The Los Angeles police had implemented flight restrictions and deployed thousands of officers to closely monitor nearby streets, ensuring the safety of these big stars and major taxpayers.
And just one block away, an anti-war protest was underway.
Large numbers of people held high anti-war signs with messages like "Bush Betrayed America," "Bush is a Dangerous Element," and "Oscars Demand Peace," expressing their desire for peace.
But in contrast, on another street, a pro-war demonstration was also taking place. They sang hymns like "America, America" and held signs that read "God Bless America."
Division didn't start twenty years later; this country has always been like this.
Amidst the clamor, the curtain slowly rose on the Oscar awards ceremony.