Chapter 283： Last night

"Robert, speaking, it’s been half a year since we first met."

Robert Shea put down the coffee cup and looked at Eric and nodded. "Almost."

“Remember the conversation we met for the first time?”

Robert looked up: "At the time we should have said a lot, what do you mean?"

Eric didn't care about Robert Shea's confession, reminding me: "I told you that there is not much time left for us."

Robert Xie looked out at the seascape outside the window, silenced, and bowed his head and picked up the coffee cup again.

Eric continued: "I said at the time that the merger trend of media groups and film companies has begun. If we do not seize the opportunity of this last few years, then we will completely lose development when this merger trend is over. The opportunity to grow can only become a vassal of several major media groups in the future."

Robert Shea is still silent.

Eric sighed a little. There are some things he can't tell Robert Shea. In memory, after 20 years, more than 90% of media channels in North America are controlled by the six media giants. If this happened. Twenty years later, Eric basically has no room for rebellion and can only compromise.

But now it is different. Now that the US media has not yet had a high degree of monopoly, it is in the hands of more than 50 media companies, large and small. Therefore, even if all the media resources in the hands of several major film companies are brought together, the channel of public opinion control can not exceed one-third. Although this storm seems to be raging, in addition to the media that dominate the direction of public opinion, Some of them just follow the tide, seeing the wind and turning the rudder.

Therefore, Eric is not completely unable to fight back, only. He has been waiting, waiting for his enemies to see the poor and show the last weapon. He can fight back. This time, the four lawsuits will once again hit his prestige. However, like the scandal at the beginning, it will not cause him fundamental harm. After all, although he is now a public figure, he is not a public figure who simply relies on fame to eat, even if it is because the storm makes him short. The guide can not be picked up during the time, but he can still lead the production of the film by other means.

So everything he does now. It is all about keeping fireflies.

Fireflies are like his own city. As long as he has this foundation, he can develop his strength and attack the city. Once he loses the fireflies, he can't show his skills even if he has a free skill. He can only mention others at most. The city pool takes care of the affairs and can never do the master.

The two men were silent for a while, and Robert Shea first said: "Eric, I heard that in order to calm down this time. You may have to use a lot of money?"

"Alright," Eric nodded, slightly guessing the intention of Robert Shea.

Robert Shay did not let Eric wait for a long time. Just said: "The last time you paid me $60 million, plus the dividends for the new line at the end of the year, although I spent a portion of my investment, I can still get almost $60 million."

This time it was Eric’s turn to silence, 60 million, not many, and quite a lot.

"Eric, 15% is too little, which makes me feel less secure. I think at least 25%."

Eric lowered his head. Looking at the three palm lines of his palm without saying a word.

Which one is the business line?

It must be the longest one.

Thinking for a while, Eric finally looked up. To Robert Shea, "I promise you."

The two talked about the specific details, and Robert Shea left with satisfaction.

When Robert Shea left, Eric sighed in disappointment. He originally wanted to incorporate Pixar Studios and the flower studio with many rights to the previous best-selling movies into the Firefly, but now it seems Still not doing this as well.

Because John Barrymore was injured, the trial of this case can only be postponed until one week later, and in the other three lawsuits, Eric did not have to appear in person and handed it over to his own lawyers.

However, although he tried to avoid this time in the public view, but one thing, he had to play.

On January 20th, the 47th American TV Film Golden Globe Awards was held at the Hollywood Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.

The fireflies won a total of 11 nominations for "Wind Moon Beauty", "Dark War", "Steel Magnolia" and "Small Island Cry" and "Friends" as a TV series, including Eric himself. The two best screenwriters in "Dark War" and "Small Island Cry", the Golden Globe Award is not the best director, or Eric will at least get a nomination.

If it weren't for this storm, Eric, who won two nominations at the same ceremony as he was less than twenty years old, will undoubtedly become the most beautiful on the red carpet. Although Eric also considered missing the Golden Globe Awards ceremony, doing so would mean showing weakness to the enemies behind him. Eric finally put his head on the red carpet.

This time, Eric did not bring any female companions, but was alone.

After the media interview area, Eric stopped to show a confident smile, let the flash madly lit up.

"Eric, Eric, can you say a few words?" a reporter shouted at this time.

Eric laughed undecided, neither agreeing nor denying it. If the other person asks something that is difficult to answer, Eric decides to leave directly.

"Eric, you haven't shown up during this time, so what are you doing in the Malibu Manor, are you preparing a new script?"

Eric squatted and couldn't think of the other person's question. Now, in this situation, he still has any mood to think about the script. However, since the issue is not too sharp, Eric replied: "I just registered a music company and may release a single during a while."

"Eric, can you first disclose the subject of the single?"

"Mr. Williams, what is the name of the music company?"

"Eric, are you going to give up the film and switch to music?"

Eric did not intend to answer the question again, was about to leave, and heard the last question. Still turned a blind eye: "Just playing tickets, my main energy will always be on the film."

After saying this, Eric no longer pays attention to these reporters. Go straight to the end of the red carpet.

Compared to last year, Eric’s achievements this year are even more dizzying. But the number of people who came to say hello was obviously much less, and most of them were men who knew him well. As for the actresses present, except Julia, Virginia, and Nicole, according to Eric’s prior instructions, Instructed to nod his head, the other actress scruples Eric's current reputation, no one dared to join the Eric.

Eric did not care, and it was the instinct of everyone to avoid disadvantages.

Waiting period. There are still stars in the red carpet.

About a dozen minutes later, in the cheers of a movie fan, Eric saw Aniston wearing a white tube top dress coming over and posing for a while in the media area, and came to the rest area.

The eyes of the two men were unexpectedly encountered together. The reporters who noticed the situation also raised their cameras and looked forward to the act of breaking up the news.

"Jane..." Eric didn't move, and shouted softly. After that day, Eric tried to contact Aniston more than once. But the chick seemed to be ironic this time, and he never took any calls from him. The letters sent did not respond. The flowers sent were also returned.

Aniston's gaze was only heard in Eric's face for less than two seconds, and he quickly turned away, and walked in the opposite direction to Eric if nothing had happened.

Eric sighed and didn't dare to get together on this occasion. He didn't care too much about his reputation, but for Aniston.

During this time, because Aniston had a relationship with him on the day of the incident, only a few of the close-knit women had not been attacked by Aniston. If this time he will get together. If there is a message such as a suspected compound, it will definitely bring trouble to Xiaoyan.

"Eric. Are you okay?" I noticed Eric's low look, and Jonathan Demi, standing next to him, comforted.

Eric shook his head: "It's okay."

Tom Hanks on the other side said at the moment: "Eric. I believe everything will pass."

"This is of course." Eric smiled confidently.

......

In the ceremony hall, Eric sat on the table of "Small Island Cry". Because this table was arranged later, Eric would feel comfortable and would not cause much concern.

Of course, the world will never be around a certain person. Therefore, the turmoil that Eric is encountering has not affected the lively atmosphere of this Golden Globe Award. Perhaps it has been received in advance. The host of this session did not ridicule Eric. During the entire awarding process, Eric’s name was not even mentioned, and the camera rarely slid to the table where Eric was sitting.

Eric is also gradually realizing that this is someone who intends to deal with himself coldly. Well, although the fireflies-related movie and TV series won 11 nominations this evening, they certainly won't get any heavyweight awards.

It was as expected by Eric, because the "Scent of the Woman" was missed the Golden Globe nomination, so the more important ones such as "Wind Moon Beauty" music comedy best film and "Steel Magnolia" plot The best film of the class, no matter what the exception is spent. The two best screenwriter nominations related to Eric were also lost. Even the most likely, the two nominations that former Julia had won awards, nothing, not to mention that Virginia was nominated for the best actress in the plot of "The Island". Any suspense fell on a "Baker Brothers" actress Michelle Pfeiffer with no memory of Eric.

In the end, Eric had no hope that the 11 nominations would all be lost. However, when it was the turn of the TV series, the best actress in the musical comedy category, Aniston unexpectedly won the best woman. protagonist.

Looking at the podium with a faint surprise saying that there is no mention of his award-winning chick, Eric’s mouth is a sneer, what is this, is it to warn the women who are close to me, as long as Eric. Will Williams break the award and win the award?

In the past two hours of the award ceremony, Eric did not intend to attend the subsequent party. Just about to leave, a strange waiter handed an envelope to his hand.

Eric took the car back to Malibu Manor before he unpacked the envelope.

There is only one piece of paper inside. There is a series of numbers written on it, 19900201.

Very well resolved. It means February 1, 1990.

Eric didn't have to think about it, he knew that this was the ultimatum that the manipulator behind him had given him.

It’s really unbearable, Eric thought, the past Michael Jackson was attacked by the media for three months. It’s only a month, and the spirit has not collapsed. 'killer 锏'?

Think of Michael Jackson. Eric couldn't help but discover that his current experience has many similarities with previous Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson suffered such a large-scale attack in 1993, not only because of his black identity, but also because he was from the original signing singer status, jumped to the position of Sony record boss, not only got Sony The 50% stake in the album also has the copyright of the songs of the famous superstars such as the Beatles and Elvis Presley.

In the 1990s, the record industry was still prosperous, only the copyright value of these songs exceeded $1 billion, not to mention the 50% stake in Sony Records.

And all of this. It’s an unbearable thing for the giants of the recording industry and the Western world dominated by whites.

So, after a storm of overwhelming. Michael Jackson began to quiet.

More than a decade later, in 2009, Michael Jackson was 50 years old and planned to hold 50 world tour concerts to commemorate. Many people thought that the 50-year-old pop musician would not be as beautiful as before, but things are not as many people imagined, totaling more than 750,000 concert tickets, after starting the booking. In just a few hours, it was swept away by fans all over the world. It turns out. The Emperor superstar is still the superstar.

So, a few days before the start of the 50 concerts. A generation of emperor superstars died inexplicably.

Thinking of this, Eric couldn't help but chill, and thanked himself for not being born again to a black man. Therefore, although he is now being squeezed out by several giants, he has not been discriminated against by the public.

After the Golden Globe Award, Eric and Robert Shea signed a contract to re-transfer the 10% stake in Firefly, and directly credited Robert Shea’s $60 million in cash to a New York-based investment company account.

Although Jeffrey and Chris have raised objections to this, I hope Eric will leave a cash for the unexpected, but Eric is determined to ask Chris to use the $60 million plus before The $10 million in accounts, totaling $70 million in cash, is the best way to win as many shares of Cisco as possible.

Before this storm, Eric had never been too valued about money. He felt that as long as he developed steadily and steadily, he would definitely step into the peak step by step in the future.

But after the storm, Eric discovered that money is the most important thing in this world of capital. It is like a talisman, if Eric was a billionaire with billions of dollars in property, even if He is younger, and now these people don’t dare to attack him like this.

Time passes by, every day endures the indiscriminate bombardment in the newspaper media, and Eric can hear good news from time to time, because most investment institutions are not very optimistic about Cisco's prospects, plus the current market value of Cisco. Only $225 million, so under Chris's price offensive, some investment institutions that had decided to buy Cisco stocks transferred their share of the subscription.

The share of the stocks from the beginning of the 7%, a sum increase, at the end of January, all of the $ 70 million spent, a total of 23% of Cisco shares, although according to Cisco's market value of 225 million US dollars, 70 million Getting 23% of the shares is a big loss, but if you calculate the market value of the $500 billion at the peak of Cisco, the value of this equity will be an astronomical figure.

Of course, Eric also knows that with the growth of Cisco, this stock will certainly be gradually diluted, but as long as it can maintain about 10% of the shares, it will still be a huge asset in the future.

At the same time that Chris spent all of the $70 million, February 1st finally arrived, and the four lawsuits were still entangled at the same time. The Los Angeles branch of the Federal Trade Commission of the United States' antitrust investigation agency held a press conference announcing that it would investigate the alleged monopolistic behavior of fireflies and joint elite brokers (uta).

When the news came out, the public opinion was lost again. A variety of analyses quickly appeared in the newspapers.

In the Malibu Manor, Edward Lewis walked into the living room in a hurry. Sitting opposite Eric, there were already a few people in the living room, Jeffrey, Robert Shea and uta's ceo Kapoor Sid are here.

"Edward, let me talk about the situation first?" Eric personally gave Edward Lewis a cup of coffee before he said.

Edward sipped the coffee and then took out a stack of thick papers on the coffee table and took out one of them. "Eric. This is roughly the case. The Federal Trade Commission has begun to work on fireflies and utas." Investigation and evidence collection, once the crime is established, then you may face huge sums of fines in addition to all the shares of uta."

"What is the penalty?" Eric asked his most concerned question. Colombia and Fox joined forces and owed a huge share of fireflies. Eric realized that the final killer must be related to money.

Edward Lewis found another document: "According to the anti-monopoly law, in general, it is based on 20% of the income generated by the illegal enterprise due to monopolistic behavior. But this number is not fixed. Quite large, if you do well, you don't even have to pay a penny. Just transfer the uta shares in your hand, but if..."

"Edward, sorry to interrupt you, you know, we all have a little knowledge of the relevant laws, so you directly say that I may have to pay so much fine."

"Amount, okay," Edward Lewis said. "According to the firefly and uta violations. You may have to pay a fine of up to $160 million."

Eric made a jump: "How could it be so much, uta's profit today is only a few million?"

Edward explained: "Eric. It's not your algorithm. You should put uta and fireflies together. Because uta and fireflies were your own industry. I used to be from Caroline Elliott. Ms. got some information, and your total account has reached more than 400 million U.S. dollars this year. Coupled with the possible income of the five movies still being released, because the violations of uta and fireflies are not serious, so 20 There is no possibility of an increase in the base amount of %, so, in total, you will have to pay a fine of up to 160 million."

Eric groaned and asked: "How long is the time limit for fines imposed?"

Edward knows what Eric is asking, saying: "According to the current situation, this lawsuit will not last more than three months, and after that, you still have three months to pay the fine, right, Eric, I just As you emphasized, the $160 million is only the worst possible. In fact, in general, the fine will be much lower than this number, even without paying."

"For half a year," Eric whispered to himself. He didn't ask Edward what would happen if he didn't pay the fine at the expiration. Obviously, nothing more than an asset freeze and then an auction. What is his assets, only fireflies.

Moreover, although the profits of these films at the end of the year may far exceed 160 million US dollars, Eric can be sure that after these movies are down, he will not be able to get the money except for the lawsuit. And waiting to win the lawsuit, half an hour is estimated to have passed.

Since things are irreparable, Eric will no longer suffer from the loss and say to several people around him: "Since this is the case, we should fight back."

Jeffrey had already sighed, because Eric lacked trust in others, so at the current position, only Jeffrey knew what he had left before: "Eric, need What do we do, let's say it?" (To be continued)