Nicole put down the menu in her hand, a little puzzled, and asked, "Who else wants to rush to the Olympics?"

"Julia has been preparing a biopic recently, and according to the preparation schedule, it will probably be filmed early next year and released by the end of next year," Eric explained, looking at the script in his hand. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

There are two words written on the cover of the script, "Moulin-Rouge", which translates to the well-known "Moulin Rouge". It's hard not to be impressed by Nicole's peerless brilliance in this film, even if you're not interested in cabaret at all.

Eric has naturally watched "Moulin Rouge", this film gives him the feeling that the plot is general, even a little cliché, but Nicole's beauty in the film is upside down. In the nineties, even if she had the identity of Tom's wife, she was not too famous. It was through "Moulin Rouge" that many people learned that there was such a Hollywood actress named Nicole Kidman.

Hearing that it was Julia, Nicole smiled with a shallow and somewhat strange smile on the corner of her mouth, and said, "Then I won't fight with her, hehe." Actually, I haven't even thought about the Oscars, but I'm more interested in the subject, and Pat suggested that I try something new. Moreover, the investor of this script has not yet been found, so I will show it to you. Screenwriter Buzz Luhmann, who is Australian, personally came to the set of The Mummy 3 in Nevada last week to talk to me about the script and wanted me to be involved. ”

Hollywood's Australian gang has always been relatively low-key, and there is no British gang actor who is generally distinctive in terms of personality and accent, but this small circle is also quite grouped.

It's just that the biggest supporter of Hollywood's Australian gang should actually be Twentieth Century Fox, a subsidiary of News Corporation. Many Australian directors and actors have made their mark through Twentieth Century Fox's films. The Buzz Luman that Nicole is talking about at this time is a prime example.

A few years ago, Buzz Luhmann's first Hollywood film, Romeo and Juliet, was produced by Twentieth Century Fox. This modern version of "Romeo and Juliet" used to have a good male protagonist, but due to the advance of "Titanic", the actor was changed, but the box office of the film is still good.

In the past, Buzz Luman produced several films in a row by Twentieth Century Fox, and also worked with actors such as Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman from Australia very frequently.

Eric flipped through the script and read two pages, heard Nicole's explanation, and asked, "Buzz Luhmann's last work, Romeo and Juliet, seems to be doing well at the box office, and I happen to remember that the film was made by Fox." Why didn't Buzz Luhman work with Fox this time?"

"I've been exposed to it, but because it's a musical and dance film, and it's an original musical and dance film that doesn't have a Broadway popularity base, Fox doesn't have much interest. Hollywood's last big-box office song and dance film, Eun ...... For a while, I can only think of 1978's "The Hot Prodigal," which was twenty years ago. Nicole tilted her head slightly and thought for a moment, then added: "Moreover, Buzz Luhman needs an investment of $60 million, which should be the reason why Fox is reluctant to accept this project." $60 million is already a big-budget project, but the film doesn't have the box office potential of a big-budget film. ”

Eric remembers that the opening logo of "Moulin Rouge" used to be the Fox logo, but now that Elizabeth is in charge of Fox's film production department, a lot has changed.

After thinking about it for a moment, although he had already made up his mind in his heart, Eric couldn't nod his head immediately at this time, but said: "Then I'll read the script first, and if I think it's good, I'll talk to Leaz, and continue to let Fox invest, I don't want to be complained by her about always stealing projects from Fox." If not, you can only let Buzz Luhman pull the investment himself, but as long as you nod and join, I think there is a good chance that Buzz Luman will find an investor. ”

Many Hollywood projects are based on accumulating a starring cast and then pulling investment, and if they can get a contract with a superstar, the producer can easily lobby the film company to invest, or directly raise production funds through pre-sale distribution rights.

With a global hit "The Mummy" series, coupled with the box office results of previous films, Nicole can definitely be regarded as the most box office appeal actress in Hollywood now, even better than Julia. She nodded her head to indicate that she was interested in the project, and there were definitely a lot of film companies that Hollywood was willing to invest in.

Nicole nodded and said, "Okay, but this script is actually not very good, I appreciate the shooting concept depicted by Buzz Luhmann, he wants to show this story in a very gorgeous drunken video style, so you better take the time to talk to Buzz Luhman in person." ”

Eric smiled, "Since you like this story so much, then I can just say yes." ”

"Okay, if you dare to promise, I will nod my head, and I will give you a nine-percent discount on the salary," the corners of Nicole's mouth curled, and she looked at Eric with bright eyes, and said: "However, in this case, you'd better not let Fox invest, I don't want to lose money, and Liz will be a villain to stab me in private." ”

"Well, I don't want to," Eric said jokingly, grimacing with a scared expression. Seeing the waiter coming over with lunch, the two temporarily stopped talking, and after the other party put down the plate and left, Eric said seriously: "Then when I finish reading the script, I will take the time to talk to Yobazz Luman." How long are you going to stay in Los Angeles?"

Nicole is currently filming Universal's "The Mummy 3" and has also made a cameo appearance in the "The Mummy" spin-off "The Scorpion King", and Eric thinks that she will leave the group at this point in time, most likely for the premiere of "The Scorpion King" that will be released next week. It's just that the release date of "The Scorpion King" is the 17th, and there are still ten days before now, even if the premiere is held a few days earlier, Nicole seems to be back a little early.

Nicole picked up the cutlery, cut the steak, took a small bite, and said, "I only took two days off, tomorrow to shoot a print ad for an endorsement brand, and the day after tomorrow I will go back to Nevada." ”

Eric secretly overcame the psychological barrier, then picked up the knife and fork in front of him and said, "I thought you rushed back for the premiere of "The Scorpion King"." ”

"Well, I'm going to come back again next week, you don't know how much money the crew has to burn a day, how can I be away for so long," Nicole said, seeing Eric's slightly struggling expression, she raised her knife and fork with a smile, and teased: "Otherwise, you use mine, I've tried poisoning, look, I'm fine." ”

Eric smiled and cut down on the steak in front of him, he has been trying to reverse his increasingly serious cleanliness habit recently, and said: "Maybe it's a special poison, I've seen some martial arts movies in the East, there is a poison called, well, three steps down, wait for you to get up, take three steps, and then there will be no more." ”

"Hehe, how can there be such a poison, it doesn't make sense at all?"

"I think there is some truth to this, it should be similar to blood toxoids, like snake venom, after poisoning, once you are excited or struggling, the heart beats and the blood flow rate increases, and the toxin attack speed becomes faster. After saying this, Eric turned to say: "Since you have only been back for two days, stay with me in the studio in the afternoon, that suggestion you just made has helped me solve a big problem, maybe you can help me think of some better ideas, and we will go back to Malibu together in the evening." ”

"Not this time," Nicole shook her head regretfully, "I happen to have some other things, and I can't be with you for the past two days." ”

Eric wondered, "Huh?"

"It's a friend, she came from RB and wants to develop in Hollywood. In the afternoon, I took her to meet Pat and asked Pat to help her arrange an agent first, she is my best friend, if she has free time in the past two days, of course I will accompany her to familiarize herself with Los Angeles. ”

Eric was even more curious: "Do you have any Asian friends?"

Nicole shook her head and said, "Not Asian, she's also Australian, but she's been working at RB for the past few years." ”

Eric was just distorted by Nicole, but when she said this, Eric immediately reacted, Nicole's best friend, isn't that Naomi Watts.

Quietly bowing his head to cut the steak, Eric said casually, "Since it's your best friend, let's bring it over and get to know it." ”

Nicole gave Eric a light glance and said, "I'm afraid that if I bring it to you, she and I won't be best friends soon." ”

Eric looked innocent: "You are not good like this, the most basic trust between people." ”

Nicole said in a quiet tone: "The ghost will believe you bastard, Jenny hasn't said a word to me in all these years." ”

Eric immediately raised his hand in surrender: "Okay, I'm guilty, but I've changed my ways now." ”

Nicole rolled her eyes again and said, "I don't believe you're going to change now." ”

The two were eating and chatting, Nicole's cell phone rang, and listening to Nicole crying in a low voice and excitedly, Eric was 100% sure of the identity of a girl over there.

It's just that Nicole looks like a fire-proof, anti-theft and anti-someone, and Eric doesn't dare to mention Naomi Watts's matter anymore, and when Nicole hurriedly hangs up the phone, Eric takes the initiative to change the topic.

After lunch and seeing Nicole off, Eric returns to the Gravity studio with the copy of the Moulin Rouge script she left behind, and begins to discuss with Nickel Frank and the prop master about setting up safety slides inside the lightbox.

Compared to Eric's methodical pace of life in Los Angeles, many people in New York are on a rollercoaster ride these days.

At the end of June, under the pressure of the resignation of all the management, Firefly Investment Company gave up the plan to remove the CEO of AOL and redefine the direction of the company's development, and finally even completely gave up the constraints on AOL, and all three AOL directors of the Firefly system resigned.

After a brief period of volatility stimulated by a series of positive news operated by Steve Case, AOL's stock price began to climb again, and as of last Friday's close, AOL's single share price had rushed to $281.01, with a market capitalization of more than $46.1 billion.

However, on Monday, at a small press conference held by ABC Group due to the departure of ESPN CEO Steve Bernstein, I don't know whether it was intentional or unintentional, Robert Iger faced reporters' questions and publicly confirmed the news that Firefly Investment will reduce its holdings of AOL shares in the next few months.

The media and the market have been circulating rumors on a small scale that Firefly Group will reduce its holdings of 10% of AOL shares at one time, and at this time, it was confirmed by the core executives of the Firefly system, and Wall Street was in an uproar.

Anyone with a modicum of stock knowledge knows what the catastrophic consequences of a large-scale reduction of shareholder holdings by a company like Firefly Investment.

Under the panic of the market, the stock price of AOL, which was still rising at the beginning of Monday, plummeted 5.7% again on the same day, and the next day, the stock price fell by 3.3%, and in just two days, AOL's market value fell from a high of $46.1 billion to $41.9 billion, and more than $4 billion of wealth disappeared.

In order to boost market confidence, AOL used the funds raised by management to continue to absorb stocks sold in the market, and at the same time, Steve Case decisively released AOL's financial results for the second quarter of 1998 ahead of schedule.

From April to June, in three months, AOL's second-quarter revenue reached $922 million, and the single-quarter net profit was $135 million, although the quarterly net profit of $135 million was not much, but it increased by almost 70% compared with the same period last year. This growth rate is rare in the entire United States.

At the same time, AOL predicts that at the current growth rate, the company's net profit for the year will reach $500 million, which is almost double that of last year.

If AOL can continue to maintain such a high growth rate, then, in less than five years, AOL's price-to-earnings ratio can return to the normal level below 30.

On the other hand, the rapid expansion trend of the Internet also proves that AOL has this potential for growth.

After a lot of hype about its stellar quarterly earnings report, AOL's stock price finally stopped its streak of sharp declines.

However, under the shadow of Firefly Investment's reduction, the market's attitude towards U.S. online stocks has also begun to become cautious.

In the World Trade Center in Manhattan, in the president's office of Morgan Stanley, it was another Friday, and John Mark didn't have the heart to think about the weekend off.

In the past few days, Eric has been reading about the Russian economy, and the more he learns, the more John Mark realizes the correctness of Eric's original opinion, that the Russian ruble cannot escape the fate of the collapse.

Not to mention anything else, but the current scale of Russia's external debt has reached more than $120 billion, and a very large part of it is short-term foreign debt in the nature of tearing down the east wall to make up for the west wall.

But on the other hand, the foreign exchange reserves used by Russia as a whole to resist foreign exchange financial risks and repay maturing foreign debts are only 13.6 billion US dollars, which is almost one-tenth of the size of Russia's foreign debt.

It is entirely conceivable that once international currency speculators launch an attack on the Russian ruble, Russia will not have any power to fight back at all.

Just as he was looking through the materials in his hand, John Mark's assistant knocked on the door and handed over a folder, saying, "Mr. Mark, this is the approximate data analysis of the Nasdaq at the end of today's market, as well as the latest stock price information of AOL." ”