Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"Why is there no news?"

Ronald stayed in the old Wilshire Hotel, which was repeatedly checked by the temporary team brought in by Daniel to ensure that there were no security loopholes. When he woke up in the morning and looked at the newly delivered newspaper, he didn't see a single report he had arranged.

Diane glanced at him. Brother Ronnie looked irritable and nervous. She had rarely seen such a situation before after spending such a long time with him.

"Ronald, there is only one newspaper..." Michael Gray, a media relations consultant, knocked on the door and came in. He was holding a "Hollywood Report" and turned it to page 13, which was on the back half of the stack of newspapers. On the second half of the page, I found a small report:

"The arrest of an employee of the Beverly Police Department is related to leaking the whereabouts of celebrities to tabloid reporters..."

"This is not the news I want!" Ronald threw the newspaper away...

"The media in Los Angeles received a message last night not to publish our news. Only the editor-in-chief of The Hollywood Reporter called me. Because they accepted the advertisements for our two movies, they only published them on the least important pages. ...But their editor-in-chief told me that if you are willing to accept their exclusive interview, you can ignore the request of some powerful people."

"I will not accept an interview now. I can communicate with them. If there is a chance in the future, I can... Why did you reject our PR release? Where has the freedom of the press gone?" Ronald was still angered by the other party's countermeasures.

"Strictly speaking, ours is not an exclusive interview by the editorial department, but a public relations release that relies on advertising budget and negotiation with newspapers..." Michael Gray is very confident in the wisdom of Ronald as his patron, so what's the point? You can talk about things directly without worrying about the other party complaining about your lack of ability.

In fact, the report Ronald wanted to publish was not a product of press freedom. It also relied on money to influence public opinion.

"Then who held down our PR release? What did they rely on? All the media didn't respond?" Ronald felt bad about this all-round silencing ability. The enemy seemed to be more capable than he thought. Be strong.

"It's the same, no matter how we make the newspaper accommodating, they will suppress it."

"Well..." Ronald was no longer anxious. The other party also relied on the pressure of advertising to force the media to silence. This shows that the opponent is not the kind of person with good hands and eyes and the endorsement of a powerful department.

"So why is The Hollywood Reporter willing to accommodate?"

Seeing that there was only Ronald's wife Diane nearby, Michael Gray came up and said a few words in Ronald's ear, "Their boss is not a Jew..."

In the news and publishing industry, which is similar to the film and television industry, Jewish people occupy many executive and boss positions. Last year, the widow of the founder of The Hollywood Reporter sold the newspaper to Robert Dowling, a non-Jewish media publisher.

This is because the style of "The Hollywood Reporter" is relatively low. It is not as serious as "Variety", a more serious media that caters to high-income readers. It has a lot of gossip and advertising space, and it is not taken seriously by Jews.

Ronald was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect such a relationship. He crossed his hands on his abdomen and fell into deep thought. If someone is unfavorable to him, then at most he can influence one or two media outlets that advertise in the same way as himself. Such a large-scale silencing operation can only be accomplished by people who advertise on a large scale in all media every year.

Ronald had more evidence for his suspicions about his opponent. He asked Gray to call Robert Dowling, publisher of The Hollywood Reporter, to thank him personally and promise more advertising to promote the film.

Dowling happily agreed that he would facilitate Ronald's follow-up reporting. With this result as a basis, Ronald was even more certain that the other party only relied on money to gain certain influence in certain fields.

As long as powerful people within the government are not involved, the so-called "power" is nothing but a laughing stock. Since it was difficult to open up the situation here in Los Angeles, Ronald was ready to let the New York media begin to reveal the issue of being bugged.

Ronald also agreed with Michael Gray to start an attack on the New York Daily News, where he had a strong influence, and strive to attract the attention of influential media such as the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.

"FBI people have gone to the Beverly Police Department today. Craig Stevens is no longer so free." Lindsay Dole came over to inform Ronald of the latest development. Mickey Kanter watches the interrogation of suspects every day. After all, he is a veteran detective in the police department. Without the exposure of the news media, the internal investigation will not be too harsh. Now with the intervention of people from the FBI's Los Angeles branch, The pressure will increase a lot.

"Very good..." Ronald became happy. He could find out some content here, but it would not be so easy to cover up the media over there.

…

"Why did the FBI intervene in this case? Does the suspect have any suspicion of committing crimes across state lines?" Captain John of the Beverly Police Department looked at the two FBI detectives opposite him unhappily.

"The eavesdropping equipment suspected of being used by the suspect Craig Stevens is suspected to be intelligence equipment. We have reason to believe that this is a case related to national security," the younger of the two FBI detectives replied.

Contrary to what many people think, the FBI is also America's internal counterintelligence department, and they also have jurisdiction over such cases.

"Do you have any tangible evidence?"

"We have enough reasons to suspect, so we have to step in to investigate..."

"That means there is no such thing? This case is still led by the LAPD's Internal Investigation Department. When we have definite evidence, we will notify the FBI branch..." Chief John was very unhappy that the FBI wanted to do this kind of family scandal. Stick your nose in?

"We will report to the director..." The slightly older FBI agent stopped his excited companion. This matter was assigned by the superiors, but it did cross the line slightly. In the face of the resistance of the police station, it is better to do less than to do more. Young people need to learn more and stop focusing on seeking justice.

"However, we would like to conduct an interview with the suspect to confirm this allegation of national security." The older detective hinted to the police chief and gave them something to hand over.

"Okay, but our Internal Investigation Department will be present..."

"Please be clear, we are the FBI. Don't use the experience of dealing with your colleagues to apply to us?" The young agent, facing Craig Stevens in a small closed room, was very worried. Tough attitude.

He is an elite graduate of the FBI Academy. He deliberately raised the air conditioning temperature and drank coffee for Craig Stevens, which made the suspect very uncomfortable, and the carefully built psychological defenses were slowly crumbling.

"I..." Craig Stevens opened his mouth. He wanted a glass of water, and beads of sweat were flowing down his back. How come the FBI was provoked? Is the boss also being targeted?

"Who gave you the listening device you placed? We are pursuing this black market transaction. As long as you can accuse your boss..."

"I..." Craig Stevens hesitated.

"You want the judge to give you a promise, right? Your pension is gone, Craig. Is it necessary to go to jail again? For national security charges, you won't be able to get excited when you see a beautiful woman when you get out, right?

I'll plead with the judge, and there's a good chance he'll let you go, Craig. "

"boom……"

Just when Craig Stevens was a little loose, the door opened and a lawyer with a hump nose walked in.

"Mr. Craig Stevens is my client. The FBI is not allowed to interrogate him in my absence without reason. From now on, all interviews must be conducted in my presence."

As he said that, the lawyer glanced at Craig Stevens. The other person responded with an expression that I didn't show, and breathed a sigh of relief.

"If there is no evidence that my client is involved in the FBI's business scope, are you still going to continue?" The lawyer glanced at his watch and signaled that the interrogation would continue. With him present, the FBI would be even less likely to ask anything.

"Let's go..." The old FBI agent pulled his young companion, and the latter stood up and left unwillingly.

Craig Stevens was taken to an interview room with no recording equipment and where attorneys and clients enjoy confidentiality privileges. Craig immediately said, "I know everything..."

"Of course you didn't..." the lawyer interrupted him, "Antonio asked me to tell you, as long as you insist that these are civilian products imported from Israel, the FBI will have no excuse to intervene and you will be fine. LAPD pension , the big boss behind Antonio will compensate you, as long as you continue to be as smart as you are now, everything will be arranged."

…

"What? The FBI just gave up?" Ronald was furious when he heard the news.

"The FBI is also a group of bureaucrats. They are not as hard-working as in Hollywood movies." The lawyer Mitch Kanter who came here specially tried to calm Ronald down. "Now it is best to have the exposure of the news media to further increase their pressure... How is it there for you?"

"I'm in the process of doing it, you wait for two days..." The New York back-up arranged by Ronald needs time.

"Ronald, Ovitz invites you to come over. He wants to talk to you in person." Just as he was talking, Richard walked in and brought a message from Ovitz.

"What does he mean?" Ronald was already 70% certain that Ovitz was the mastermind behind this incident against him. Now suddenly he wants to meet him in person, and he doesn't know what that means.

"He said that he learned from the Hollywood Reporter that he might have a misunderstanding with you, and wanted to ask you to go to CAA to talk. He will explain the matter clearly and eliminate the misunderstanding."

"Then go ahead..." Ronald wanted to hear what Ovitz himself thought.

…

"Ronald..." Michael Ovitz still had the same smiling expression, standing at the door of the office to greet Ronald.

"Michael..." Ronald shook hands with him and gave him a perfunctory smile.

"Do you still remember the first time we met? At that time, you showed me the script for ten minutes, and I concluded that you were a screenwriting wizard. Look, it turns out that my vision is still inaccurate. Your achievements are more than mine. The wildest imagination at the time was ten times bigger.”

Ovitz didn't take it seriously. He asked Ronald to sit down, and then he sat on the sofa next to him, with matching socks exposed on his feet. He recalled the past to Ronald like an old friend.

"I heard that you have something to tell me?" Ronald didn't want to hear about something that happened so far ago.

"Hi, I do have something to do. Many media have obtained the press release you want to publish. I have some different opinions on this matter."

When Ovitz saw that the emotional talk didn't make sense, he got back to business.

His meaning is very clear. If this matter is exposed in the media, then everyone in Hollywood will be in danger, and many stars who have signed agency contracts with CAA may panic and switch to other agencies. Company turmoil. After all, Ronald himself is a client of CAA, and there were leaks in CAA's offices, so he admitted that he suppressed the news in the hope that Ronald would agree to resolve the issue internally and not make it public.

"I just want the truth to see who is behind it and wants something to happen to me, or do you already know who it is, Michael?"

"This is not the first time this has happened in Hollywood, nor will it be the last. Ronald, considering the entire industry, you don't want the Hollywood scandal to become known to the world, right?"

"Also, if you can find out who is behind the scenes internally, let him quit Hollywood forever."

"Ronald, don't be so extreme. This is how this industry is... It's not that I don't stand in your position. It's just that this kind of eavesdropping is too common. We usually solve it internally... We need to maintain the integrity of the industry. Benefit."

"I am also your client. How does CAA protect my interests?"

Seeing the difficulty of speaking, Ovitz had to slowly soften. He promised Ronald that he would definitely find out the man behind this embarrassment for Ronald. As long as Ronald could not make the scandal within the industry public this time, he would In future Oscar selections, more resources will be given to Ronald.

It was okay not to mention this, but Ronald became even more angry when he mentioned it, "Are you the only ones who can enjoy CAA's default resource support?"

"What do you mean by our people?" Ovitz was also a little uneasy. He felt uncomfortable hearing this title.

Ronald didn't speak, just looked at the most powerful agent in Hollywood with a smile. What else does it mean? Of course you are Jews.

"I think you may be referring to our ethnic group. You may have some misunderstandings about us. Our ability to stand out in the performance industry is the joint result of history and the efforts of people of our own ethnic group..."

"In Europe, we are restricted to only engage in certain industries. The church does not allow lending, so the lords and kings ask us to come. Ordinary citizens do not want to engage in entertainment work, so our ethnic group is just such a funny clown... "

Ovitz talked about a lot of history of how the Jews were bullied. The reputation of the Jews in history was deliberately created by the European lords and kings, as well as the church. On the one hand, they let the Jews do these despicable jobs, and on the other hand, when the people became dissatisfied because of social injustice, the Jews were thrown out as scapegoats.

For thousands of years, Jews have not been able to buy property in European cities and villages. Without land, they can only wander around and be thrown out every few decades as a punching bag for the public's anger. The survivors were then brought back by the kings to continue making dirty gloves.

The descendants of the Jews cannot accumulate wealth. They can only work hard in education to give their children a skill. Whether it is being a banker or a clown, it is always a skill that allows the ethnic group to reproduce.

In short, Ovitz wanted to show Ronald that the dominant position of Jews in these industries was achieved through their own efforts.

"But the American government doesn't restrict you from buying property..." Ronald didn't believe this excuse at all. Maybe they were treated unfairly back then, but now this kind of teaming up in the film and television industry has nothing to do with being persecuted. It has nothing to do with it.

They just want to monopolize the talent output of this industry through some soft means. It is difficult for those ugly young Jewish actors to enter the industry as it is for people of other ethnic groups. As a result, there are almost no handsome young men and beautiful women in the entertainment industry. In the long run, it will be impossible to know who is the sinner in the entertainment industry.

"America is a relatively fair place. People don't judge you because of your ethnicity. They still judge you based on your talent and hard work."

"Don't be ridiculous, look at history. When was the Chinese Exclusion Act canceled and when did blacks gain equal status?" Ovitz sneered.

"Let's not talk about these huge issues. I want to ask you, how do you plan to deal with this eavesdropping matter?" Ronald had nothing to say for a while. The phenomenon of discrimination in America is actually no worse than in Europe.

Ovitz laughed. He took a bottle of brandy from the drawer, poured a glass for Ronald, and said slowly, "Of course I hope you can enter this system. We are very open, as long as you are willing, You can handle it however you want, there is still a lot you need to learn in this industry, and over time, you will also benefit from it."

Ronald rolled his eyes. He had no intention of joining Judaism. Besides, neither Diane nor herself were Jewish, so how could she join?

"This is not difficult. For example, Spielberg's new girlfriend, Kate Capshaw, is not a Jew, as long as she is willing to respect Jewish customs. She proposed that she and Spielberg follow Jewish customs. wedding ceremony."

Ovitz was very satisfied with the Raiders of the Lost Ark actress. Her appearance was Spielberg's favorite type, and she actively moved closer to her ethnicity, which was enough to transform Spielberg, who originally didn't take Judaism seriously. Ronald can handle it the same way. "

"But do I want to change my family? You may not know that my grandfather's lineage was the first to come here on the Mayflower (of course, I also have the lineage of a young child studying in the United States, but I won't tell Ovitz about this. "

"It doesn't matter. Our ethnic group actually doesn't value the paternal line that much. As long as your maternal line has Jewish ancestry, is your grandmother, mother, or maternal grandmother suitable?" Ovitz didn't care.

"This is impossible. My grandmother is a British aristocrat, and my mother is a Quaker. You should know who they are and have nothing to do with the Jews." Ronald was really disappointed with the Jewish mentality. Don't understand.

"Why do I have to join you? Can't people of other ethnic groups succeed in the entertainment industry?"

"It's a pity that you got married too quickly. I have already found a good Jewish girl for you, who suits your preferences. She is a child star, has a plump body, and her face is rounder than traditional Hollywood actresses. In fact, you only need to do it now Just agree, the greatest advantage of our race is patience."

As Ovitz spoke, he began to deviate from the direction of the conversation. He was talking about the girl who played the childhood heroine in "Once Upon a Time in America," who had just turned eighteen and looked like a younger version of Diane Lane. Although these Hollywood directors don't say it, in fact, their aesthetics are relatively fixed, and they often like one type of girl all the time.

For example, Ronald, two regular girlfriends who have been together for a long time, both have round faces, explosive figures, and dark hair...

But for female celebrities, who doesn’t like younger ones?

"I don't want to discuss this disgusting topic with you anymore..." Ronald stood up. Ovitz's words suggested that Ronald would divorce and marry a Jewish girl, and he took the opportunity to have an attack.

"You should think more about it, Ronald." Ovitz shook the brandy steadily. These young people just don't understand the nature of the industry - they have to listen to the Jews... But young people can only learn it after hitting a wall. The advantage of the Jews is their patience. It took them sixty years to make Hollywood what it is now...

"Ronald..."

Ronald, who was walking out, saw Ron Meyer, another founding shareholder of CAA, in the aisle.

Meyer was dressed casually in a Hawaiian shirt, and next to him was movie star Elle McGraw, the heroine of the tear-jerker "Love Story" who still had her charm and had a passionate fight with Meyer.

"Mr. Meyer, Miss McCraw.", Ronald greeted them.

"Nisita told me about you. If you need me to come forward if you need anything, you can call me at any time." Ron Meyer whispered in Ronald's ear while they were hugging him. .

There seems to be something in this. Meyer may be cooperating with Ovitz, or he and Ovitz may not always stand together.

"thanks, I will."

Ronald didn't want to understand Meyer's true attitude now. He had other more important things to be busy with.

After rushing back to the hotel and having a simple meeting with several core staff, Ronald decided not to compromise. This matter has reached such a situation that there is no point in giving in anymore. After all, it is impossible for him to join them...

"Doug, I've encountered a lot of resistance in my matter. I need help from the first family. Can you ask George to see if he can arrange an opportunity to meet?" After everyone left, Ronald called alone. Little Douglas.

"Is it time to use this relationship?"

"Yes, I need some support from the top."

"Okay, wait for my reply and prepare the plane."