Strictly speaking, it was Daniel's first time in the MPAA's conference room in Los Angeles.

This is what Christopher, the president of the association, told him, Lang. Meyer and Melissa. Ryan, and even Davey, among others, have represented MGM at the conference—essentially a consortium of MGM and DD Pictures. Daniel has also been briefed many times on the work of cooperation agreements within the MPAA, sometimes from many sources, sometimes as the head of the permanent establishment of the MPAA, sometimes as his subordinates, the MPAA is definitely not an idle agency, except for the constant busyness of its rating department. It also entails developing a number of important proposals for designing the film industry, which are usually presented to members of the California Congress, who then send them to the State Department for implementation or discussion to help the Hollywood film industry gain more advantages than other industries in North America.

Hollywood's enemies are definitely not limited to their European or Asian counterparts, and in fact, these forces do not seem to give Hollywood a sense of crisis at all. Their biggest enemy is other industries, the country's funds are limited, policies are also limited, compared with other industries that also require the government, Hollywood is very special, but not huge. This means that there is a lack of hard power, and it is a natural step to express one's huge influence advantage -- including sometimes seeing a lot of Hollywood stars stand up against the government, or support an argument, and it's hard to say that there is no MPAA behind it. There is indeed no shortage of mavericks in the United States, but there are definitely not many of them, especially in the face of an association like the MPAA that dominates the industry, few people can be tough.

As the core force behind the MPAA, Daniel certainly knows all about these contents. In fact. The enormous influence he wields in politics is an effective channel that the MPAA often borrows -- it doesn't make Daniel owe so-called favors or anything like that, and it's relatively easier for governors or lawmakers who work with Hollywood to get attention -- in an elected society, people don't know what you are, if you're famous. Then you will easily gain trust and votes. That's why Hollywood stars have been warned from the beginning to avoid explicit involvement in politics, while countless stars are still willing to take sides on social issues. Except for George. In addition to people like Clooney who are interested in gaining political status, celebrities are sometimes asked to support politicians who are interested in gaining influence, as the Democratic Party has always lobbied for Daniel.

When Daniel walked into the conference room, Robert . Iger is not there, Brad. Gray wasn't there either. But he saw Dick. Cook and one of Paramount's senior vice presidents, apparently, were deliberately avoided or indeed inappropriately timed.

Christopher is clearly trying to reduce the tension of the day by putting together a number of agendas that are easy for everyone to agree on. For example, asking Congress to take a decision on the issue of online piracy - this is a cliché. The nature of the online world is still uncertain, and some unauthorized films, television, and music works are distributed for free on the Internet - which of course brings great losses to content providers. The MPAA has been working on this requirement for a long time.

In addition to Mike. Linton casually said, "Daniel should make some effort on this", and overall, the atmosphere was relatively relaxed when it came to the issue of DD Pictures.

Before Christopher could speak, Daniel glanced at Mike. LINTON – Sony and Warner are by far the two most damaged studios, owning more than half of Hollywood's film and TV series rights. In particular, the exclusive license of the MGM film library in Warners' hands. At present, there is no contradiction between the interests of the two parties after the transaction, which means that there is now an infringement on the Internet. The interests of the infringement really belong to Warner Bros.

"MGM or DD, neither lobbying business, Mike, we can't take this order."

Daniel's response made Christopher's previous work basically useless. Linton didn't continue to speak. His intention was nothing more than to suppress Daniel's momentum at the beginning, so that the subsequent negotiations could go more smoothly. Unfortunately, Daniel, who is not a three-year-old, understands his tricks very well and responds to him neatly.

"Okay." Christopher opened his folded palms. To these top Hollywood figures, "Sony and Paramount both submitted a report to the association, and they believe that if DD Pictures tries to reach a deep core cooperation with the Chinese film industry, it will have a huge impact on Hollywood in the long run, and everyone should be explained by DD Pictures." ”

"Yes, Paramount is worried about that, very worried." Rob. Moore, Paramount's global vice president of overseas operations, echoed Christopher's words, "I think one thing, Mr. Sandler wouldn't deny, is that Chinese mainland will be a big booming market." Although it is still far from the big box offices such as the United Kingdom and Japan, everyone knows how great the potential of a country of 1.3 billion people is, and every move involving China should be cautious enough. ”

"So Paramount decided to govern this big market of the future?"

The question was not asked by Daniel, but by Dick, the CEO of Disney Pictures.

Moore was a little surprised, but he clearly did his homework, "Yes, I understand that due to the Chinese government's restrictions on foreign films and the size of it, we are now limited in what we can make from the Chinese market. But our approach to other markets will also help us win in the Chinese market in the end. ”

Daniel smiled contemptuously, "Rob, it's a pleasure to see you here. ”

Of course, no one could see his joy.

"If we understand it wrong, your so-called way to conquer other markets is to put pressure on China through the secretary of state and diplomatic channels to open up the film import market, and then let Hollywood movies, like jaguars break into sheep farms, to harvest the Chinese box office?"

After a pause, Daniel looked at Moore.

Moore had to nod his head, and this is the successful model of Hollywood in Europe, Japan, Taiwan, and so on.

"It's stupid!" Watching the look of disbelief slowly appear on Moore's face, Daniel repeated with certainty, "Moore, you're so stupid. ”

"China is not Europe, and it is not Japan. That country has 1.3 billion people, has defeated American troops in North Korea and Vietnam, and our decades-long blockade of them has not affected anything in this country. They have very different values than we do, or in the words of the politicians in Washington, they are not a democracy, of course. Everyone knows that democracy is a joke. Moore, do you understand? Even if they are forced to provide more import quotas under the pressure of trade freedom, first, the United States will have to make concessions in other industries -- dealing with China, only trade, and no coercion. Which industry allows its own interests to be ceded away? Manufacturing? Agriculture? Oil giants? Secondly. The Chinese still have countless means to deal with us, and if you go to China to release it, the Chinese have the right to determine when you will release it - and then they put several, a dozen Hollywood movies in the same month, well, how much box office can you get at this time? "Titanic", "Jurassic Park", "The Lord of the Rings is a Trilogy", "Pirates of the Caribbean" and so on were released on the same day, think about it, can they still get 300 million or 400 million in North America? What a naïve dream. ”

"Yes, maybe you'll say. One day, our Secretary of State will make a leap forward. They're going to completely open up their own market, let you distribute it yourself, and decide on your own release schedule – so, when was that? Decade? Twenty years? Or thirty years? So Hollywood is going to wait like this for thirty years? Waiting for an uncertain answer, or is it a menacing, already very powerful Chinese film? ”

Daniel stood up. His eyes were sharp, his face was cold, and his tall and strong figure made him very imposing.

He waved his arm.

"Moore, tell me, what is Paramount going to do?"

Rob. Moore was clearly caught off guard. He had an exchange with Daniel at a party, but it was a polite and very gentlemanly Daniel. Sandler was very different from today's sharp, even aggressive, Daniel. As for the topic of opening up the Chinese market, even Capitol Hill is helpless, let alone him, the vice president of Paramount.

"Maybe, I mean, maybe there is some truth to what you say, but it is a crime to finance our adversaries. I insist on that. Moore wisely avoided going toe-to-toe with Daniel, and he looked at Mike. Linton, "Mike, you're going to support that, aren't you?" ”

Mike put down his Cuban cigar pinched between his index and middle fingers, it was not lit because of the presence of the Stasi, and the room was basically non-smoking. Many Hollywood ladies are tobacco lovers, but the Stasi hates it.

"Yes, Daniel, you have a point." Mike said in the affirmative, but shook his head, "But you can't say that the time to compromise is today. ”

Moore's eyes lit up, and he relaxed as he listened to Mike continue.

"Maybe, maybe Hollywood will have to compromise with China one day, just like the auto industry. But not now, now we still have the capital to wait, what do you think? China's annual box office is less than 300 million, and we don't have to give up our own major interests at this time. A little later, a little later, is appropriate. ”

"Daniel, I understand your intention to make DD Pictures grow faster." Mike's voice even sounded sincere, "You've been doing it all along, the legendary DD Pictures and F2F are your great achievements." So, if you're going to go to China to get some goodwill, give the Chinese some exciting moments. I'm not against it, and I don't think anybody is against it, and even, if you need it, we can help, and you have to get a couple of stars or senior executives to go to their Shanghai International Film Festival. But the core of the collaboration, no, is not the time. Daniel, we're serious about telling you that. No one should betray Hollywood. ”

The conference room fell silent.

Mike. Linton's persuasive power was far greater than Robb's. Moles.

Daniel was still standing, his handsome face familiar to everyone without a look of frustration, and Daniel glanced around at everyone.

"Mike said, we still have time." Daniel sat back down and calmly told everyone, "No, we don't have time, five years." ”

Daniel held out an open hand.

"It only takes five years, 2007-2008-2009-2010-2011, and then in 2012, the sixth year, China will overtake Japan and become the second only box office market in the United States."

"Are you crazy, are you saying that China, which is less than 300 million, will surpass Japan with a box office of 2.5 billion in five years?"

Even Warner Bros.'s Jeff, Fox's Bill, and Universal's Stasi, who have been quiet, all focused on it.

"That's DD's prediction and it's an indication of everything we do." Daniel's face softened, but his language grew harder, "DD never goes against his own judgment – just as we did in the Greek Wedding, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Hangover, and Saw franchises. Regardless of today's outcome, DD's actions will remain undisturbed. ”

Before the CEOs entered the conference room, they had all wondered what they would do if Daniel had gone his own way.

But now, when Daniel said that, they did feel the oppressive force like never before.

Daniel, is a living legend in Hollywood!

All of his accomplishments build up prestige, power, and credibility for him, layer by layer.

At this moment, when he said lightly that he would not be moved, the unified action of everyone was to remain silent.

"With the full support of DD Pictures, how many years will it take for Chinese films to catch up with Hollywood?" Stasi, the only lady who broke the deadlock and silence, was relieved by everyone, except Daniel. He understands that people are thinking about his predictions and previous statements, and the more time passes, the better it will be for him.

"If there is a moment, it should be in the unseen future."

Dick. Cook grimaced.

"Yes, that would be a distant story. If, if, although it's hard to believe, I say if, in five years, China is the second largest box office market after the United States. So wouldn't it be a good thing to have DD in it now? At least as long as DD Pictures profits, the Chinese government will not be able to exclude other American films. ”

"Stasi, this is too risky."

"When Sony bought Columbia's Samsung, did it feel like it was a risk?" Stacy looked at Mike. Linton, "I'm sure Hollywood people thought it was too risky at the time, both for you and for us. Actually, it's not that serious, is it? Sony became one of us. I think DD Pictures' entry into China will eventually provide impetus for Hollywood films to go global, and make the Chinese market a place where Hollywood films can make profits. ”

Rob. Moore looked at the CEOs who nodded slightly, and understood that Paramount couldn't get revenge here.

Marvel Studios has begun filming its own "The Incredible Hulk" and has put its packaging and distribution deal with Paramount on hold indefinitely, and Paramount is now busy looking for new opportunities. (To be continued......)