Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: Milo's True Identity

Throughout the party, there were those who had been specifically waiting for Milo's arrival. Spotting him, a white man in a suit, with a slight resemblance to Mickey Mouse, approached."Hello, Mr. Blackburn. Mr. Eisner has been expecting you." He greeted Milo warmly, then mentioned the host of the evening: Michael Eisner, CEO and Chairman of Disney, wished to have a word.This year had seen a frenzy of mergers in the media industry—Time Warner merging with CNN, Viacom acquiring CBS—and Disney had successfully acquired ABC for a staggering $19.5 billion. However, the finalization of the merger had been stalled. After Michael Eisner's visit to Milo's villa, Disney and the Blackburns' collaboration had proceeded smoothly, and the deal, after being held up for two months, had finally been approved the previous month.Disney's compensation extended beyond simply promoting Milo in Hollywood and investing $10 million in his film. The latter was a rather superficial gesture. Disney, known for its shrewd dealings even with Wall Street, could easily recoup its investment through distribution and marketing. Milo and the Blackburn family were no fools and wouldn't settle for such a paltry sum. These were merely sweeteners for Milo's role as the "introducer." What Disney had truly offered the Blackburns was a matter neither the family discussed nor Milo inquired about.Michael Eisner wanted to chat, and Milo saw an opportunity to leverage Disney's influence to further solidify his position in Hollywood. He readily agreed.However, Julie and the others couldn't join them. They said they were happy to wait downstairs. After all, it was Michael Eisner who had summoned Milo! Among the powerful figures present tonight, Eisner was arguably one of the most significant.The man sent to fetch Milo was Robert Iger. Iger, ever perceptive, noticed Milo's hesitation about leaving the women. He offered to have some of Disney's female executives keep them company. Reassured, Milo agreed to meet with Eisner, while Julie and her companions were escorted by Iger to a small circle of Disney producers.Milo was led upstairs by a waiter. The second floor housed a large reception room with a commanding view of the ballroom and the outdoor party area below. Soft, elegant music played, and several impeccably dressed individuals were engaged in conversation. Milo immediately recognized Michael Eisner at the center of the group. Among the others were familiar faces like Jeffrey Katzenberg from Warner Bros., Sumner Redstone from Viacom, Donaldson Duncan from CBS, Rupert Murdoch from News Corporation, and Oliver Miles, head of NBC's Los Angeles branch. These were all figures with immense influence in the media landscape."Ah, good evening, my dear friend! Milo, you've finally arrived! Are you enjoying the party so far?" Michael Eisner, who had been speaking with Sumner Redstone, turned and greeted Milo with a warm smile."Good evening, Michael. I just arrived and was immediately called up here," Milo replied, approaching and exchanging a brief hug with the slightly balding Eisner."My apologies!" Eisner said, his voice crisp and cheerful. "But there's plenty of time for you to experience the best of Hollywood. First, allow me to introduce you to these old fellows."Milo nodded, smiling at the group."Gentlemen!" Eisner announced, presenting Milo as if they were old acquaintances. "This is Hollywood's rising star director, the author who topped the New York Times bestseller list for ten consecutive weeks, the blessed recipient of the Gospel's message, son of the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications, our dear Mr. Milo Blackburn!" Eisner's introduction was lengthy.But Milo knew that what truly resonated with these American media giants was his lineage: "son of the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications." The other accolades—rising director, bestselling author, recipient of the Gospel's message—might impress ordinary people, but they held little weight with this crowd. Only his connection to the Subcommittee Chairman gave them pause.As expected, after Eisner's introduction, everyone in the room eagerly approached Milo, offering warm handshakes and introductions.These media moguls had, in fact, sent Milo numerous party invitations since Joseph Blackburn became Chairman of the Subcommittee and they discovered Milo's parentage. It was a stark contrast to the past, when Milo had to rely on Wendy to secure invitations.However, the past few months had been a sensitive time for Milo. The "Gospel" incident, while boosting his fame and driving his already successful book to even greater heights, also placed him in a precarious position amidst the turmoil of America's religious leaders. He had heeded his grandfather's advice and maintained a low profile, granting only one pre-arranged interview. The rest of his time was spent filming or relaxing with Monica and Zeta-Jones. He hadn't been socializing.The Hollywood elite had been frustrated by his inaccessibility. Only Eisner at Disney had been fortunate enough to connect with Milo beforehand. Now, Milo's first official public appearance was at a Disney event, causing a mixture of envy and resentment among the other media giants.The House Subcommittee on Telecommunications held a position in the U.S. government similar to China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, albeit with slightly less direct control. While officially tasked with oversight and recommendations, the Subcommittee wielded significant influence, especially during critical moments. In this year's media merger frenzy, no acquisition could proceed without the Subcommittee's approval.Therefore, Milo's position in Hollywood was akin to the son of the head of China's film bureau entering the Chinese entertainment industry. Imagine the reaction of figures like the Wang brothers, Yu Dong, or Wu Kebo!However, this aspect of Milo's identity was known only to figures like Michael Eisner. Ordinary actors, even internationally renowned directors, were not involved in the intricacies of mergers and acquisitions and were therefore unaware of the Subcommittee's role. To them, Milo was simply a bestselling author, a fortunate celebrity, and, of course, a wealthy young man who financed and directed his own films.