Title: The Oscar Strategy: Charlie Lee's Ambitions in Hollywood
"Wait for me downstairs. I'll be down soon," Charlie Lee said awkwardly as he closed the door.
The banquet downstairs had just concluded, and Aria was waiting on the sofa. Upon seeing Charlie Lee, Aria immediately stood up and greeted him, "Boss."
"Sit down and listen." Charlie Lee sank into the sofa, deep in thought. After a moment, he spoke, "Oscar's headquarters are set on the hillside of Beverly Hills. There are a lot of stars staying there, right? Let's buy more land, create a stir, and promote the Oscars. Build a villa for Bergman on it. The foundation's headquarters can be set at the foot of the mountain. We'll slow down investment in public facilities and focus on waiting for the first Oscar ceremony to build momentum…"
To be fair, the establishment of the Oscars hadn't provided Charlie Lee with any substantial help; it had been driven entirely by his own impulse. Hollywood's power remained in the hands of the big studios, and for the Oscars to truly earn their name, he would need the industry giants on board. Without their participation, the Academy Awards could only award lesser films and small productions, lacking real influence.
On the day of the ceremony, what good would the Oscars be if none of the major nominees showed up? It would only be a laughing stock.
Hence, Charlie instructed Aria to maintain a strategic fight with Hollywood's giants to see what demands they might have. He was certain that with time, he could bring them to heel.
Charlie wasn't completely unproductive, though. He had established valuable relationships with California Governor Elaine, Los Angeles Mayor Carl, and senior Republican Senator Laura Clara. He was also pleased with the performance and refinement of Ingrid's film "Pearl of Bergman."
Of course, this involved a huge investment of $20 million, along with a $10 million contribution to the Starlight Foundation. These funds would cover the Oscar trophies, the permanent upkeep of the Avenue of Stars, and the daily operational costs of the awards. Five million dollars would be allocated for the Avenue of Stars, while the remaining $5 million would focus on repairing public infrastructure, especially the roads leading to the avenue.
As part of his strategic red doctrine approach, Charlie understood that building roads was key to wealth generation. The repair and infrastructure work for Hollywood's roads was crucial for ensuring the success of his venture. The $5 million earmarked for this was enough to repair all of Hollywood's roads and even set up two tram lines. Still, each step needed to be prioritized.
"Boss, our team has made initial contact with Paramount, and the other party wants a seat on the jury," Aria leaned in and whispered.
"We can promise them that, as long as it doesn't interfere with the foundation's work. Everyone must compromise a little if we are to make Oscar truly valuable," Charlie replied.
Charlie planned to use the foundation to secure control over Oscar's financial resources. He would ensure that anyone seeking funding would have to approach the foundation, cutting off access to external investments.
"Give them what they want," Charlie instructed when Aria mentioned a $50,000 request from a rival theater. "The Oscar Star Theater must be built quickly."
The construction of the Oscar Star Theater couldn't afford any delays. Charlie intended for it to host the first-ever Academy Award ceremony, which meant they had to speed up the process and not waste time haggling over small amounts.
With just 70 days remaining before the awards ceremony, Charlie wasn't sure if the theater would be ready in time, but he had no choice but to accelerate the pace. His goal was to make the Oscar event so spectacular that it would exceed public expectations and create a buzz beyond imagination.
If small amounts like $50,000 could derail the Oscar's credibility, then Charlie would be faced with a disaster. But once the Oscars gained widespread attention, he was confident that even one-third of the population in the U.S. would care about the event. And then, Hollywood's giants would see who the real king was.
"Charlie, are you ready to go?" Lawrence descended the stairs, a young woman clinging to him. It was clear that he didn't want to part with her.
"Come here." Charlie's face darkened, and he gestured for Lawrence to approach.
"Man, look at my girls, they're hot, right?" Lawrence approached Charlie with a wide grin, clearly pleased with himself.
"Let them go, or you'll be staying here to enjoy yourself," Charlie said coldly. He didn't mind Lawrence enjoying his time with women, but there had to be limits.
Lawrence was clearly overindulging, and Charlie wasn't about to let him get too carried away.
"Oh no, Charlie, don't deprive me of my right to live life!" Lawrence whined, a hand pressed to his forehead in mock distress.
Charlie stood up and walked out without a second glance at him. Lawrence, still holding on to his two girls, chased after Charlie with a dramatic sigh.
"Man, you're cruel," Lawrence muttered as he slid into the car, glancing at the girls with a mix of longing and regret.
"If you keep talking like that, you can find your own way back to Chicago," Charlie warned, his tone harsh.
Lawrence fell silent, slumping back in his seat as he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
By the time they arrived at the airport, Charlie leaned over with a smirk. "Look at you now. I bet your father would love to see this. Want me to call Uncle Elaine?"
Lawrence groaned. "Charlie, my brother, don't do this to me. I promise I'll behave from now on."
Charlie chuckled, amused by his friend's sudden humility. Lawrence's father had a way of dealing with his son's wild behavior, and it wouldn't take much for him to impose a much stricter set of rules.
"Then protect your body and mind, and keep your lewd thoughts in check," Charlie said, shaking his head. "If you can't take care of yourself, how can you expect to live like me?"
By the time they returned to Chicago, Charlie still had several matters to attend to, including a mountain of paperwork that needed signing. Lawrence didn't come along this time, preferring instead to go home and discuss family matters.
"Boss, you're finally back," Aria greeted him with a mix of relief and exasperation.
"Yeah, I went to Hollywood for business," Charlie said with a self-satisfied smile as he sat down at his desk. In his mind, acquiring 40% of Disney's shares was a huge business success, even if others wouldn't recognize it as such.
"I trust you handled it well," Aria remarked, rolling her eyes as he flopped down on his chair and pulled out a stack of papers.
"I certainly did," Charlie said, barely looking at her as he started reviewing the documents.
"Joanna stewed for me," Aria said, patting her backside as she walked away without even waiting for a response.
"Am I a fake boss now?" Charlie muttered to himself in disbelief.
Sighing deeply, he picked up the first document. His heart sank when he saw the numbers.
"Has Theater 13 produced results yet?" he asked, skimming through the details.
"Has the acquisition of building 400 been completed?" More embarrassing details followed as he glanced at the reports on his desk.
The purchase price of Theater 13 was $910,000, and the 400 building cost $19.8 million. The two were worlds apart in value, though the 400 building would generate more immediate use, saving construction costs.
Charlie signed off on several documents before turning to the next pile of acquisitions, which included five copper mines in Arizona, totaling millions of dollars in investments. A serious decision in the energy industry. He was also exploring future opportunities, diversifying into public service management with his investment in public transportation.
At the end of the day, Charlie Lee had made some substantial moves, but at what cost? His resources were drained, and Hollywood awaited his next steps.
"Enclosure, buying buildings, constructing manors… seems like a good investment plan," Charlie mused, ready to push forward with his development plans, no matter the cost.
With a taste for luxury now, Charlie wasn't the naïve dreamer he once was. He had taken control, and Hollywood was just the beginning.