Jack Valenty resisted being steered by the young man in front of him: "Simon, the answer to this question is obvious. ”

"yes, obviously, the writers want more paid and better pay," Simon replied for Jack Valenty, and continued, "However, it's fundamentally because the writers and producers league have completely different positions. If there is a difference in position, there will be a conflict of interest, and the conflict is destined to become a loss, or even a lose-lose situation, just like the past six months. ”

Jack Valenty felt the calm and sharp gaze of the young man across the table, and suddenly felt that he was really a little old: "Simon, I understand what you mean, this is not a wise choice, you can't fight against the whole of Hollywood." ”

Simon shook his head and said, "Jack, you don't understand, I have no intention of fighting the whole of Hollywood. While I'm not afraid of that, for now, we're talking about positions. ”

Jack Valenty showed a puzzled expression: "Position problem?"

"That's right, the question of position," Simon nodded, "Jack, I don't asent the rating committee's differential rating strategy, where vested interests assert their own privileges, which is the instinct of almost any industry sector. The traditional seven major film companies are the vested interests of Hollywood, and even Orion, who can join the MPAA, is actually in the same vein as the seven majors, they are the 'players' in this industry, and they are the rule-makers, and the weak second- and third-tier film companies can only submit to the rules like 'chess pieces', which is very unfair, but it is also very fair. The problem now is that Daenerys Entertainment already has the strength to become a Hollywood 'player', but some people still treat this company as a 'pawn', which is pushing Daenerys Entertainment into a completely opposite position to themselves. ”

"Simon, since you understand this, you should also know that the change of status class in this world is never an easy thing, and you can't expect Daenerys Entertainment to be accepted by the traditional forces of Hollywood so quickly. ”

"Whether active or forced, people always have to face reality," Simon leaned forward slightly, looked at Jack Valenty and said slowly: "Next Monday, Daenerys Entertainment will resubmit the rating review of "Scream", which is the last time of the year, and it will also determine Daenerys Entertainment's position. If "Scream" still fails to pass the R-rated review, I will face the reality, cancel the film's schedule, and confirm my 'pawn' position. Then, I will stand on my own and lead other 'pawns' to rebel against the unfair treatment of second- and third-tier film companies by the MPAA Rating Committee for a long time. ”

Jack Valenty leaned back in his chair without a trace, but he didn't avoid the eyes of the young man opposite, and said, "Simon, do you think no one has ever done this?"

"When a real 'chess piece' is in the game, it is naturally difficult to resist the rules, but Daenerys Entertainment is different. The production cost of "Scream" is $10 million, which could be a decisive investment for many solo studios, who usually bow to the big studios and voluntarily hand over distribution rights to the Big Seven to avoid losses. But I don't care, Jack, $10 million, even if I lose it all, it doesn't matter to me, Hollywood shouldn't be able to find a second person richer than me," Simon said, suddenly adding a heavier tone: "But I'm definitely not going to be willing to bear this loss, they push a 'player' who is perfectly capable of breaking the rules onto the board, don't blame me for breaking the rules." If "Scream" still fails to pass the review, first of all, there will be a press release in the major North American mainstream media about the film's unfair treatment in the rating process, but this is only the beginning. And then I'm going to invest another $10 million in a documentary about the injustices that Hollywood's solo producers have suffered since the advent of the Voluntary Film Rating System, and Jack, I've had people list more than 30 similar films that I'm going to focus on for this documentary, and you can go ahead and open the documents in front of you. ”

Jack Valenty subconsciously reopened the folder in front of him, and after the rating review memorandum of "Instinct" and "Scream", there was indeed a long list of movies, many of which were familiar.

Simon didn't wait for Jack Valenty to respond, and continued: "Just by comparing the simple seven major films with similar plots of these films, it is very easy to prove that these films of independent producers have been unfairly rated. Then, as a 'player' who has been pushed to the position of a 'pawn', I will lead all the 'pawns' to change this extremely unfair film rating system. In view of the different positions, I believe that the Rating Committee should not be controlled by the MPAA at all, and that it should either become an official body of the federal government, or it should be headed by an association with a broader membership system, such as the Federation of Film and Television Producers, in order to maintain its independence and impartiality as much as possible. If necessary, I can lobby the federal government for another $10 million, and I'm sure that once the matter starts, the long-suppressed solo producers will definitely contribute to the process. Eventually, I could even initiate a special foundation to sue the MPAA for huge damages for films that had suffered commercial box office losses due to overratings in the previous 20 years, and even if I couldn't win, I would have persevered, and I wondered if the MPAA's annual budget would be able to sustain the expensive litigation costs. Jack, do you want me to continue?"

Jack Valenti felt a fine layer of sweat form on his spine.

If the documentary in Simon's narrative does come along, the MPAA will immediately fall into a very passive situation. Not to mention the list of 30 movies in the document, but the two rating review results of "Instinct" and "Scream" with very obvious differentiation, once announced, it is enough for Daenerys Entertainment to occupy the advantage of public opinion.

Once the public opinion storm arises, the federal government has to take it seriously, which creates the possibility for Daenerys Entertainment to lobbied.

Finally, the creation of a dedicated foundation to bombard lawsuits is a rogue tactic that is absolutely effective, and no company or industry association can withstand this fatigue offensive for a long time.

Public opinion offensive, money strategy, lawsuit bombardment.

Taken together, sometimes it is enough to subvert a regime, let alone an industry association like the MPAA, which is ultimately supported by just a few companies.

At one point, Jack Valenty even had a strong doubt about how the young man on the other side, who is only 20 years old this year, came up with these confrontation tactics that are even more spicy and sophisticated than many senior politicians.

There was obviously other information behind the list of 30 movies in the folder, but Jack Valenty found himself a little afraid to flip through it, and closed the folder that was getting heavier and heavier, and he looked up at the young man opposite: "Simon, this will not do you any good. ”

"I understand," Simon said with a serious expression, "but this is a matter of position, and it is the choice of some people themselves, Jack, since he has chosen the opposite, this is the inevitable result." ”

"Just for a scream?"

"If we can't solve this problem completely, Daenerys Entertainment will face more similar situations in the future, so, Jack, I won't back down. ”

Jack Valenty pondered for a moment and said, "Simon, you shouldn't have said these things to me. ”

"You're the president of the MPAA, Jack, and you have an obligation to lobby the federal government for bills that benefit the Hollywood film industry, and you also have an obligation to make the big Hollywood studios aware of their situation. Moreover, the old men are very good-looking, and when I talk about them to my face, I am afraid that they are too ugly, and even angry. So, I'm still a good junior. ”

"An aggressive and respectful junior," Jack Valenty tugged at the corners of his mouth and said, "Simon, don't you see that I'm already an old man?"

Simon shrugged, "It's a pity, Jack, but it's your job." ”

A few half-joking words made the tense atmosphere unconsciously relaxed. As lunch was served, Simon took the initiative to chat about something more light-hearted. However, Jack Valenty couldn't relax at all.

After lunch, Jack Valenty drove back to the MPAA headquarters.

Looking at the rearview mirror and standing at the door of the restaurant The young man who was still watching him, as soon as the car turned a corner, Jack Valenty picked up the car phone and dialed a series of numbers, and after connecting, he glanced at the folder on the co-pilot, and said in a serious tone: "Lu, I'm afraid we have to talk, talk carefully, I'll go to your side now." ”

Simon waited for Jack Valenty's car to go away, but instead of boarding his car parked on the side of the road, he just walked casually south along the north-south street outside the restaurant, combing through a lot of recent events in his mind.

Simon's words at lunch, Simon did not mean to bluff in the slightest.

After this time, if "Scream" still can't get the rating it deserves, Simon will not hesitate to stir up a storm and show the whole of Hollywood the presence of Daenerys Entertainment.

As for the result, let's do it first.

Walking around, you will come to the end of the street and see a low highway overpass, which is the 101 highway that crosses Burbank.

Looking at the overpass in front of him, Simon suddenly remembered the first time he came to Los Angeles after being reborn. He boarded the bus in Watsonville and followed the highway into downtown Burbank, and had to spend the night in the valley because he underestimated the lack of public transportation in Los Angeles.

Two years later, it seems like a long time ago, the public transportation in Los Angeles has not improved in the past two years, and he is no longer the down-and-out teenager he once was.

The two women he met at the beginning also unknowingly became the closest people around him.

Noticing a public phone booth down the street, Simon inexplicably wants to call Janet or Catherine.

When I walked to the telephone, I found that I didn't have coins in my pocket, and only a few brand new hundred-dollar bills in my wallet. Naturally, he was treated to lunch just now, but even the tips were paid by credit card, and Simon couldn't even remember the last time he used cash to buy something.

Janet takes care of his life so meticulously that Simon discovered a long time ago that women want to completely lose his ability to take care of his life and can only rely more and more on her 'little conspiracy'. As a human being in two lives, Simon naturally can't really become a person who doesn't divide grains, but he rarely bothers about these trivial things in life.

Neil Bennett, who had been driving slowly and following Simon, noticed the boss's actions and stopped the car with some confusion, wondering why Simon didn't choose to use the car phone and walked to the public phone booth instead. Noticing Simon's way of checking his wallet, Neil Bennett pushed the door and got out of the car, and offered to hand Simon a few coins.

Janet, who had just taken a trip around Europe on the phone yesterday, was now living in that mansion in Cannes, France.

During this time, Janet has looked at all the properties selected by Sophia Fesse and is currently working on a loan after confirming that there are no problems.

A total of sixteen properties, although he intends to buy them all, Simon has no plans to pay for them all, and he can't come up with the money now.

However, with Simon's current net worth, he wants to take out a loan for consumption, and banks in North America and Europe are very happy to lend him money. After all, the loan is very secure for the bank, and Simon's multi-billion dollar net worth means that he is fully capable of repaying it.

Even in the unlikely event that Simon can't repay the loan, the properties themselves can be repaid.

Although he remembered the phone number very well, the public phone in front of him could not make international calls, so Simon stuffed a coin into the telephone and had to dial Catherine's phone in New York.

After the absurdity of that night, Catherine had been living in New York all the time. The reason given by the woman was to make "Thunderbolt Blue Angels", but Simon could sense Catherine's confusion about the relationship between two or three people, so she deliberately avoided it.

It's afternoon work time in New York, and I don't know if Catherine is at home.

"Thunderbolt Blue Angel" is almost finished, but Simon knows that a woman's life is not monotonous. Catherine gets along well with the circle as New York is still the home of American solo films, and recently served as a producer on another solo film in the late stages of "Thunderbolt Blue Angels." When Simon learned about it, he also asked her if she needed to help herself, such as throwing in some money, but she refused.

Catherine was not in the apartment at this time, and the phone beeped a few times before turning to a message, because there was nothing serious, Simon hung up the phone, planning to call again in the evening. Unable to get through to each other, Simon put down the microphone and stopped wandering, turned to his Range Rover, and told Neil Bennett to return to Santa Monica.