[Chapter 532: Changes in Hollywood]
Hollywood officially entered the world of capital.
That might be a controversial statement, as capital had never really left here. However, this time, the involvement was thorough; they were no longer targeting a single project but attempting to seize control.
Yes, you read that correctly; they wanted to control everything to make Hollywood serve the capital better.
"Sir, Panasonic's acquisition of Universal is a done deal. They will finalize it in the coming months."
"Wow, I didn't expect them to be so ambitious, given how rough things have been for them. I have to admire that." Though he said admiration, the tone carried a hint of arrogance.
No one could deny it. White Films' position in Hollywood was unshakeable.
No matter how ruthless outside capital was, no one planned to take on White Films. If they could avoid it, no one wanted to compete with him.
The success of White Films wasn't due to capital operations. In some ways, it was the most traditional film company.
It's amusing that among Hollywood's heavyweights, White Films was still a small fry. Yet, that small fry was developing the best.
"Sir, there are reports claiming that Universal plans to build a Universal Studios in Osaka."
"Heh, that project might actually happen, but not anytime soon. I think Sony might also want to build a Columbia Studios, but unfortunately, they can't get it off the ground at the moment."
"Yeah, seeing Disney make money gets everyone wanting a piece. Their current economic troubles don't seem to be affecting Disney's business."
"You just don't get it, Filson; those folks over there are crazy about comics. To them, comic characters are way more lovable than real-world people."
"Is that a kind of psychological issue?"
"Ha, maybe it is, but that doesn't matter. If they're all sick, then let's make it worse. I will invest in Legendary Studios in Osaka, but not now. Give it three years. If their economy rebounds in that time, I'll put my money in."
"Sounds good, sir. We'll keep an eye on it."
It was funny to think about how Hollywood suddenly had two Japanese companies that weren't ordinary.
You could guess what attitude the Americans had towards these guys.
The owners of those two companies felt pretty restrained. People always tell them that they should do this or that. As for their own ideas, sorry, you shouldn't have any ideas.
As for the Japanese elements, no problem. As long as the sponsors were willing to fork over the cash, everything was negotiable.
What? Achieve that 007 kind of effect?
Well, take out a hundred million first; as for whether it works, you can be the judge. Nothing's guaranteed. Those seasoned pros in Hollywood wouldn't make promises like that.
In contrast, Sony was somewhat reliable, having been in America longer and clearly understanding the strength of White Films. Don't even mention William White's movies; even Police Academy isn't an easy target.
In North America, a box office of a hundred million meant little to White Films. But most companies and films still found themselves outside that boundary.
...
"William, the World Cup is coming. Are you going?"
"George, you just asked an awkward question. Are you talking about the Football World Cup? I thought it wasn't a cup, it's a bowl."
"Alright, alright, enough of the football jokes; you don't need to keep creating more."
"Isn't it in June? What are you so anxious about? If nothing unexpected happens, I'll be on vacation there."
"Damn, you're so lucky. Man, is there any chance we could step up America's soccer game?"
"Ha! You're joking, right? If you can get FIFA to change the rules, I might give it a shot."
"Change the rules? Like..."
"Like allowing ball carrying and canceling offside rules; you know, similar to our NBA where traveling and five-step layups are left unchecked."
"That's impossible! If you change those rules, it'll just turn into our football. It's just a different ball."
"Haha, but there are still things we could adjust, like disallowing back-passes and making the goals a bit bigger. If you want to promote this sport in America, the pace of the game has to speed up."
"Tsk, looks like you know a thing or two."
"George, my next plan involves expanding into the sports sector. I'm not that interested in basketball anymore."
Bush Jr. was left speechless; how could the Houston Rockets be such an oddity? They'd already won back-to-back championships, so of course, he could say he had no interest.
"Okay, I'll take that as a yes. We'll host the next World Cup."
"Isn't that too ambitious? What if it turns out like the Los Angeles Olympics and becomes a disaster?"
"Ahem, I'm just saying, the Olympics are pretty hot right now; you can't even get a spot."
"I need a contract. If there's no profit, I won't waste my time."
"Heh, I doubt anyone will compete with you for that. You know how uninterested Americans are in this sport."
Bush Jr.'s phone call caught him off guard; what was this guy getting worked up about? Still, hosting a World Cup sounded like a blast. No need to worry about potential profits; his status in the sports industry would definitely rise.
Though, it seemed unrelated to Bush Jr.? When had this guy ever shown an interest in sports? That truly was a strange affair.
*****
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