Hollywood Director 1992

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After the first week's box office results were released, many media outlets came to join in the fun, reporting the news that "Speed" had defeated several major films released at the same time to win the weekly box office championship.

Guess Pictures' publicity department took the opportunity to arrange for film critics to vigorously praise the film, promoting it as a well-made production with gunfights, car chases, explosions, handsome men and beautiful women, no dull moments, and thrills from start to finish, making it the must-see action movie of this year's summer season.

Meanwhile, several films released at the same time had their publicity budgets drastically cut due to poor box office performance, in order to avoid further losses.

Currently, in terms of publicity, apart from "The Lion King," which was released on Friday, other films cannot compare with "Speed."

Affected by the publicity, "Speed"'s box office in the second week did not fall but rose, taking in $29.23 million, with a cumulative total of $49.98 million in two weeks.

However, this week's box office results only ranked second.

The champion was "The Lion King," which took in $44.65 million in 2,552 theaters, with an average daily box office revenue of $16,000 per theater, which is also the highest among large-scale commercial films.

Ranking third was "Wolf," which was released this week, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Jack Nicholson, with a first-week box office of $17.91 million, which is also a good result.

While these three films were selling well, the box office results of several other films quickly shrank, with the highest, "Beverly Hills Cop III," only taking in $7.36 million, which is destined to bring huge losses to Paramount Pictures.

"Link, while things are looking good, should you consider cashing out and releasing some more shares? I believe that at this time, someone would be willing to invest at a valuation of $600 million."

On the Pelican Hill Golf Course, under the blue sky and white clouds, with green grass like a carpet, three men wearing white golf shirts and light-colored casual pants were carrying golf clubs, walking and chatting.

"Too fast. The first round of financing was at the beginning of the year, and the second round should be no later than the second half of next year."

Link, wearing a baseball cap, walked in the middle, with Jerome Preston and Jay Maloney on either side, both of whom were slightly shorter and thinner than him.

"Then you should also release a timetable for financing in advance, indicating that you are willing to continue financing, otherwise you will be targeted by entertainment capital as opponents. The competition in Hollywood is not as simple as public opinion and box office competition."

Jerome Preston raised his thick eyebrows and said.

"I understand. However, things are not that serious. The rise of Guess Pictures has not only divided the box office of the Big Seven studios, but has also intensified the competition and survival of the fittest in the Hollywood film market, forcing the Big Seven studios to make changes in order to improve the competitiveness of their films. In this regard, the existence of Guess Pictures also conforms to the interests of entertainment capital, and they are also happy to see this kind of competition."

"Catfish effect?"

Jay Maloney shook his head, "You Guess Pictures are not a catfish, but a great shark. Last year, Guess Pictures' total box office ranked sixth, and this year's total box office may be even higher, which means that the entertainment capital behind Hollywood is making less profit, and they will not tolerate this happening."

Link said, "You also said tolerate. As of now, it hasn't reached the point where they can't tolerate it."

On this matter, he had exchanged opinions with Vanguard Capital and Morgan Investment.

He stated that Guess Pictures' next round of financing would be over $1 billion and would prioritize accepting investment from friendly parties.

Friendly parties refer to those who are willing to provide assistance when Guess Pictures is suppressed by the outside world.

Vanguard Capital and Morgan Investment saw that Guess Pictures' films released this year had good results: the first one had a small loss, the second one currently has a North American box office of $125 million and a global box office of $220 million, and the third one broke $100 million in North America in five weeks.

This result is better than the films of the Big Seven studios.

As shareholders of the company, they are also beneficiaries and want to continue to benefit and obtain more advantages.

Hearing Link say that the second round of financing would prioritize accepting investment from friendly parties, the two investment companies immediately expressed their friendly attitude, saying that they would provide some assistance within their capabilities and asked what they could do to help him.

Link said that he didn't need help, he only needed to give Guess Pictures a fair chance to compete with the Big Seven studios, and the capital behind the Big Seven studios could not interfere before the outcome was decided.

Morgan Investment and Vanguard Capital, as the two largest investment companies behind the Hollywood film industry, have the ability to do this.

After discussing it in a meeting, the two companies agreed to his request.

But there was also a request: if he lost, he would give up the controlling stake in Guess Pictures while remaining as chairman of Guess Pictures for at least five years.

Link agreed.

After becoming a shareholder of Microsoft, he had enough capital on hand and no longer needed to make money by making movies.

And the reason why he continued to be a director and make movies was to make more good movies, improve his film production skills, and also improve his physical fitness and strengthen his physique.

It didn't matter if he lost and continued to be the chairman or a director.

However, he also made a request: if he won, the two investment companies would need to support him in acquiring one of the Big Seven studios.

Vanguard Capital's Chief Investment Officer Greg Davis and Morgan Investment's Senior Partner Hank Paulson were stunned when they heard his request.

This guy is too ambitious. He not only wants to defeat the Big Seven studios, but also wants to acquire one of the Big Seven studios through Guess Pictures. A python swallowing a dragon, this guy is not afraid of choking to death.

The two agreed to his request.

First of all, Link's chances of success are not high.

Secondly, if Link succeeds, the two companies will also be beneficiaries and will be able to share the spoils of victory.

Finally, if Link can defeat the Big Seven studios and acquire one of them, it shows that Link is a very capable person, and it is also a good thing to let him become the head of one of the Big Seven studios.

After receiving the guarantees from the two companies, Link was also able to compete with the Big Seven studios with peace of mind, and he could also take the time to play golf when he was free.

And unlike what outsiders thought, facing the suppression of the Big Seven studios, he was panicked, under great pressure, working until late at night every day, and became a workaholic.

No mistakes, one first, one hair, one inside, one capacity, one is one look!

"Link, the Big Seven studios are coming on strong. Are you confident that you can hold out until next year's financing?"

Jerome Preston asked.

"Almost. So far, the company's operating condition is still good."

Link walked to the golf ball, looked at the distance, pulled out a 5-iron, aimed the clubhead at the side of the ball, tried the angle and distance, then raised the club and hit the ball with moderate force.

Whoosh!

The white ball soared into the air, landed in a flat area more than thirty meters away, rolled forward for more than three meters, and stopped less than five feet from the hole.

"Good shot!"

"Another birdie."

Jay Maloney and Jerome applauded.

A birdie is a score of one stroke under par. A score of two strokes under par is an 'eagle,' and a score of three strokes under par is an 'albatross.' The fewer strokes used, the better, which is similar to playing billiards.

Like the four-par hole that Link played, getting a birdie is a good level, and there is a chance to enter the top three rounds in a professional competition.

After playing a round of golf, the three came to the club bar for drinks and chat.

Link and Jay Maloney chatted about the situation of the CAA agency, asking if CAA was preparing to block Guess Pictures and prohibit its artists from cooperating with Guess Pictures' films.

Jay Maloney said that there were also disagreements within CAA on this matter.

Michael Ovitz wanted to block Guess Pictures and prohibit his artists from participating in films produced by Guess Pictures.

However, the vast majority of artists under CAA are unwilling to participate in the struggle between the two companies and are willing to cooperate with any film company, as long as the film role is good enough and the salary is rich enough.

Michael Ovitz was worried that the artists would switch jobs because of this matter, and he did not explicitly prohibit his artists from participating in Guess Pictures' projects. He only made this request to CAA's important clients, and the decision to agree or not was up to the client himself.

Link also stated that he did not intend to block CAA artists. When casting films, he would treat CAA actors who came to audition fairly.

While chatting, he noticed that Michelle Pfeiffer also came to the small bar, accompanied by Winona Ryder. The two had worked together in "The Age of Innocence."

Link invited the two to come over and chat.