Chapter 44: Morris Films

……

Cesar Chavez Avenue is part of the Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles and is named in honor of César Chavez, a Mexican American union leader. Starbucks is located in the middle of the main street and has won the favor of white-collar workers in the United States and the world with its stylish and minimalist model.

"In the future, Starbucks will be a good investment target!" Recalling the prosperity of Starbucks in China in later generations, as well as its skyrocketing market value, Guo Shouyun couldn't help but have this idea in his mind.

Perhaps because he is too eager to make money and succeed, now in addition to writing books and starting a business, the most important thing in his mind is investment.

Pushing open the glass door, walking into the hall, and seeing a middle-aged black man sitting in a corner, wearing a black suit, a little fat, and a little sad on his face, Guo Shouyun strode over.

"Mr. Morris?"

"Are you Mr. Guo?" the black man raised his head, glanced at Guo Shouyun, and quickly stood up.

"Yes, I am!"

"Hello, I'm Buddy Morris, everyone at Morris Films!"

"Hello!"

After briefly shaking hands with each other and exchanging a few polite words, the two sat down again.

"Mr. Morris, I have brought the contract. If you don't have an opinion, we can sign it now. After the contract is signed, we will take on all the bank debts of your company. And the $1.2 million acquisition fund will also be credited to your account after we sign the contract. ”

Accepting the contract handed over by Guo Shouyun, Buddy Morris's swarthy face showed hesitation.

"Is there anything wrong with the contract?"

"No, there is no problem. However, before signing the contract, I hope that Mr. Guo will agree to one condition for me!"

"Mr. Morris, we have already communicated the terms of the merger over the phone before. And, I guess the appraisal company's assessment of Morris Films' property is also accurate enough. If you still want to take the opportunity to increase the price, I can't agree!" Guo Shouyun said seriously with a slight frown.

"No, no, you're mistaken! I'm not trying to raise the price. Just hope that after the acquisition of Morris & Co., try not to lay off the employees of the company. They all have their families to take care of, and without this job, many of them will lose their livelihoods. Moreover, the reason why the company is in trouble this time is also caused by my decision-making mistakes, and I can't let everyone follow me to be unlucky. ”

Looking at the guilty expression on the other party's face, a flash of thought flashed in Guo Shouyun's eyes, and after a moment, he nodded, "I can promise you!"

"Really?" said Buddy Morris.

"Of course!"

In fact, the reason why he fell in love with Morris Pictures among countless Hollywood film companies is because although it is not big, it has a group of experienced film practitioners. Therefore, even if the other party does not say it, he will not dismiss the employee.

"Great, Mr. Guo, I thank you for all the employees at Morris, and I assure you that they are the best in the industry!"

Guo Shouyun smiled and nodded, and generously accepted the other party's thanks.

"Now you can sign a contract, right?"

"Yes, yes!"

After signing the contract and looking at it for a while, "Mr. Morris, can you take me to the company?"

"Now?"

"Now!"

Although the time was close to evening, according to the plan Guo Shouyun had set for himself, every day was precious, and he didn't want to waste it.

Buddy Morris nodded, got up and took Guo Shouyun out of Starbucks, and then drove to Santa Monica. Compared to Burbank, Universal Studios, Wilshire Boulevard, etc., Santa Monica is preferred by smaller independent film companies and individual studios. Lionsgate is best known here, and Morris & Co. is also a member of it.

The company that Guo Shouyun can look at is of course not the grass platform team. In fact, it has some well-known names among Santa Monica's studios. However, it is not concentrated in the film industry, but in the niche industry of documentary filmmaking.

Before it began to shoot feature films, Morris Film maintained an annual profit of $400,000 by shooting documentaries alone, with a production, marketing, distribution, administration and logistics department, a staff of about 150 people, and an office space of about 280 square meters.

If it weren't for Buddy Morris's attempt to transform the company into a real film production company, which resulted in a major loss due to investment mistakes, it would have been clear that $1.2 million would not have been able to take Morris.

“Boss！”

After the two entered the door, the blonde girl at the front desk quickly stood up.

"Heidi, I'm not the boss of the company anymore!" Maurice shook his head in frustration.

A hint of gloom flashed on Heidi's pretty face, and when she looked at Guo Shouyun who was standing next to her, there was a trace of nervousness and worry in her eyes.

After Guo Shouyun's eyes turned around the two of them, he didn't speak, and walked towards the office area. Morris waved his hand, and after letting Heidi go back to work, he hurriedly followed behind Guo Shouyun.

“Boss…！”

After seeing Morris, almost everyone in the office area raised a voice of concern and concern. Obviously, everyone knows the current situation of the company.

If nothing else, the young man who walks in front will be the new boss of the company in the future.

In the complicated eyes of everyone, Guo Shouyun pushed open a room marked the general manager's office. After sitting down on the sofa in the sitting area next to it, the right hand has been facing the sofa. Buddy Morris, who understood, hurriedly sat down.

"Mr. Morris, I can see that you are very respected in this group of employees!"

"Maybe that's the only thing I'm thankful about right now!" exclaimed Morris.

Guo Shouyun nodded, "I saw on the information provided by Merrill Lynch that Morris Film Company was sold because of an investment mistake and owed $5 million in bank loans that could not be repaid?"

"Yes!"

"Can you elaborate on that?"

Morris nodded bitterly.

"It's me who is too greedy. … My biggest dream has always been to grow Morris into a big film production company like Lionsgate and DreamWorks. So last year, we started investing in feature films. At first, the luck was not bad, and both horror films were profitable. It's not much, but it gives me a lot of confidence. Finally this year, we decided to expand our investment. Morris & Co. invested $3 million, and then borrowed $5 million from the bank to make a feature film!"

"What's the name of the film?"

"Legally Blonde!"

"You mean Legally Blonde?" Guo Shouyun was stunned for a moment, and his eyes widened suddenly.

Although he didn't understand why he was so surprised at the moment, Morris nodded earnestly.

"Legally Blonde, Legally Blonde...?"

After muttering a few words, Guo Shouyun took a deep breath and hid the surprise and excitement in his heart. Although he has forgotten that the film was produced and distributed by that company, the words 'Legally Blonde' are not unfamiliar to him. Not only did he download it online and watch it several times, but he also remembered that it was a box office hit.

"Where's the film?"

Guo Shouyun hurriedly asked.

If everything goes his way, the acquisition is a big deal.

"It's not over yet!"

Morris shook his head with a wry smile.

"Didn't finish the film?"

"Yes, the original budget was $8 million, but after the money was used up, the film was only two-thirds of the way through. The remainder, as well as post-production, is over $5 million, and we don't have that much money!

"Haven't you thought about working with other film companies?"

"Of course I thought about it, but now it's the NASDAQ crisis, the economy is sluggish, and everyone is cautious when it comes to high-risk film investments. Even if you are interested in taking over the film company, the conditions are very harsh!"

Guo Shouyun nodded clearly, and was about to speak. I heard the sound of hurried footsteps from far and near, and then the office door was slammed open.

"Buddy, I just talked to the guys at MGM and they're willing to pay $500,000 and take on all the bank debts to buy all the rights to Legally Blonde and the film that's been filmed...!"

After seeing that there was another stranger in the room, the middle-aged man who was originally excited slowly stopped talking.

"Robert, let me introduce you to Mr. Bruce Guo, an investor from San Francisco. We've just signed a contract for the acquisition, and Morris is no longer mine... Mr. Guo, this is Robert Luktic, the director of "Legally Blonde"!"