America's Road to Wealth

Chapter 224 Experience the Feeling of a Hollywood Emperor
Los Angeles,
Hollywood Walk of Fame, entrance of Huaxia Theater.

The tens of meters long red carpet begins.

A Cadillac sts sedan slowly parked.

Cadillac sts are rarely sold abroad, but not many are sold in the United States.

But the more traditional American rich people generally like to ride Cadillac or Ford Lincoln.

When the Cadillac sts drove over, the reporters frantically used their brains.

"Who in Hollywood likes to ride in a Cadillac?"

The Los Angeles Times reporter couldn't help asking.

"It seems not." A "Hollywood Daily" reporter replied:
"You know. The people in Hollywood are either Mercedes-Benz or BMW. The more advanced ones use Rolls-Royce, and those who like to show off drive Ferraris or Lamborghinis."

"They all think Lincoln and Cadillac are corny"

The words of the "Hollywood Daily" reporter were endorsed by several colleagues around.

The West Coast is different from the East Coast.

On the west coast, most of them are newly rich.

There are really not many people who really like American luxury cars like Lincoln or Cadillac.

"Wait a moment."

At this time, the reporter of the Los Angeles Times suddenly said:

"I remember a Hollywood tycoon who seemed to really like Lincoln and Cadillac."

"Huh? Who is it?"

"Abel Smith"

"Isn't he a Wall Street giant? Oh, yes, strictly speaking, he is also a media giant!"

As soon as the reporter finished speaking, the Cadillac STS had already stopped at the beginning of the red carpet.

None of the reporters spoke, and many of them held their breath.

Aim their eyes at that side with the video camera and camera in their hands.

The Cadillac STS came to a standstill in less than three seconds.

A black driver stepped out of the cab.

Another white man in a suit stepped down from the passenger cab.

These black and white twins are each more than two meters tall.

The two of them looked strong in suits, so they didn't look easy to mess with.

Among them, the black male driver in a suit came to the rear compartment door and bent down to open the door.

A leather shoe stretched out first and stepped on the ground, and then a tall and handsome young man walked down.

The moment he came down, hundreds of reporters in the audience fell silent.

Huge cheers and shouts followed.

"Abel Smith! It's Abel Smith!"

"Hey! Smith is here!"

"I'll just say it. Michael Eisner and Robert Iger can't make the finale. So who else? Only Abe Smith, of course!"

"Look this way, look this way. Mr. Smith, please look this way!"

"."

In an instant, the eyes of the entire Hollywood Boulevard were attracted by this side.

If it weren't for the fact that there are many policemen here to maintain order.

Tourists and idlers, if there is no way to come over.At this moment, thousands of people may have already crowded here.

But just that, hundreds of journalists and their photographers, their cameras and video camera flashes.

In an instant, the vicinity of Abel flashed like lightning, extremely dazzling.

Abel, who had just got out of the car, touched his sunglasses.

He is now glad that he got himself such a mirror before getting out of the car.

Otherwise, the exaggerated magnitude of the flash would probably dazzle the eyes.

Thinking of this, he bent slightly and stretched out his hand, and handed it to Anne Hathaway, who was present in full dress.

The latter smiled like a flower, and looked very happy.

Holding Abel's hand from the car, Annie got off wearing a pure white off-the-shoulder dress.

Her beautiful collarbone is faintly visible, and the material of the skirt is so white that it seems to be transparent and slightly reflective, like angel wings, but it is not exposed at all.

The hem of the skirt was made of high-shine silk that reached to her knees, exposing her long, thin legs.

The chest is embroidered with a high collar that looks more conservative, and the skin against the snow is like a blooming white lotus under the light of the flash.

Matched with Abel's custom-tailored black suit, a pair of lovers, one black and one white, walked onto the red carpet holding hands.

The reporters on both sides and the onlookers who underwent the security check were already crazy.

But listen carefully, even in this state Annie is amazingly beautiful.

There is a bit of Audrey Hepburn's peak state.

But what everyone shouted and paid attention to was actually more on Abel.

Abel, who walked this kind of red carpet for the first time, faced this situation.

He was a little unaccustomed, and while walking, he whispered to Anne who was trying to smile:

"You don't even wear a pair of glasses. After being photographed by the flash for a long time, you will lose your eyesight."

Annie smiled and waved to the reporters on both sides, while replying to her boyfriend:
"Honey, do you think that everyone who appears on the stage will be as eye-catching as you? Even if the first-line A cafes appear on the stage, their ability to attract flashes is not as strong as yours!"

"Oh." Abel nodded, thinking it would be fine if that was the case.

If only the flash was so exaggerated every time.

For those stars who cannot wear sunglasses, it is estimated that their eyes will really be flashed.

Thinking so boringly, he quickly accompanied Annie to the middle of the red carpet.

Annie pulled him gently, Abel turned his head, and she said:
"According to the usual practice, we should stand down at this time and take some pictures of them."

"Oh." Abel cooperated with her and stood expressionlessly wearing glasses.

Annie held his hand and smiled sweetly beside him.

This action of the two made the reporters even more crazy.

The hissing and shouting of inquiries, as well as the voices of the onlookers, did not stop from the beginning to the end.

The sound of the shutter of the video camera and the camera rang like a continuous cannon.

Accompanied by it, there is always a sea of ​​flashing lights like daylight.

After standing for about 3 minutes, Annie said softly:
"All right, honey, we can go in."

Abel nodded, and the two walked inside holding hands.

The red carpet of tens of meters was quickly finished.

At the end is the entrance of Huaxia Theater.

There is a big sign at the door.

On the sign is Anne in "Princess Diaries", the most beautiful look of the heroine Mia.

There are also two hosts standing there.

Abel only thought that one of the short-haired female hosts was familiar, and he had seen it in some videos before he was reborn.

He only remembered that she seemed to be a lace, but he didn't remember anything else.

Another male host, Abel did not know.

He didn't know him, but Annie next to him did.

Seeing these two hosts, Anne was a little excited.

Because that man's name is Billy Crystal, and he is a big host who has hosted nine Oscars.

The Oscars at the end of March this year was hosted by Billy Crystal.

The female host next to her is named Ellen DeGeneres.She was younger and not as famous as Billy Crystal.

But Ellen DeGeneres is also a rising star in the American hosting industry, and many people are calling on her, maybe she can host an Oscars party.

This time Disney let these two people serve as hosts, which is enough to prove that Disney attaches great importance to it.

"Hi~"

From afar, Billy Crystal greeted Abel and Annie.

"Mr. Smith, Miss Hathaway, good evening!"

Ellen DeGeneres also greeted with a smile.

Annie responded immediately, and Abel nodded slightly with a smile.

The two hosts both looked a bit hypocritical.

The main reason is that Abel's aura is too scary, and he has been expressionless all the time.

So the interviews between the two were mainly on Annie.

The two asked Anne many questions.

But these questions, in fact, Annie has already answered the standard answers.

She answered naturally and impeccably.

At a time like this, it's impossible for the two hosts to embarrass her.

In the end, Annie had almost answered, so Billy Crystal had no choice but to bite the bullet and put the question on Abel.

"Mr. Smith! Why did you attend the premiere of The Princess Diaries?"

"Because I am one of the investors. I naturally hope that the box office of this movie can be good, so that my investment can be recovered."

"Oh~ Then what is your relationship with Miss Hathaway?"

"We're friends. Good friends from New York."

"Oh, Mr. Smith, then I have no problem."

Billy Crystal is dead.

Facing such a giant.

Even a courageous host like him didn't dare to ask random questions.

The two questions just now were compared in advance, so Billy Crystal dared to ask.

Didn't you see Ellen DeGeneres next to her, just smirked and didn't speak from the beginning to the end?
You must know that this is a big boss who even a giant like Sony Columbia has to obediently send back the little spider that was eaten in his mouth.

Even the Hollywood giants can't afford to offend them.

Hosts like them are fine when facing ordinary stars.

Facing such giants, they are basically like ordinary people.

The more intelligent and rational people are, the more they know this.

But cleverness and rationality have always been necessary conditions for a host.

"Aren't there any other questions?" Abel said softly:

"Then let's go first."

Billy Crystal thought I might as well ask a question, but dare I?
He looked at Ellen DeGeneres.

The latter immediately averts his eyes - if you have any questions to ask yourself, ask yourself.

"No problem, Mr. Smith." Billy Crystal could only smile.

Only then did Abel join hands with Annie and entered the Huaxia Theater.

The interior of the Huaxia Theater is a typical Western-style layout of high and low steps, with the theater stage at the bottom.

What is different from other American theaters is that the decoration of this theater is full of strong Chinese style, both inside and outside.

The huge auditorium has 2200 red seats.

The red carpet on the ground is cleaned very neatly every day.

Directly above the auditorium, a magnificent chandelier hangs in the middle of the theater, forming a huge and gorgeous starburst.

Surrounded by a ring made of dragon patterns.The relatively small but oriental wall lamp is inlaid in the middle of the intricately carved stone pillars and is responsible for the lighting on the side of the auditorium.

On the top is a corridor, which connects all the seating areas.

When Abel and others came in, there were already many people sitting inside.

But it was not full, and the people who sat inside were mainly stars and Hollywood executives.

Later, before the premiere officially started.

The media will also be arranged to enter the venue, as well as some lucky spectators.

The premiere will not officially start until everyone is here.

The hosts are Billy Crystal and Ellen DeGeneres.

Therefore, when Abel and Annie walked in, there were only 2200 people in the 200 seats.

All are insiders.

But it seems that everyone in these industry insiders is paying attention to the entrance.

When the figures of Abel and Anne appeared in it.

The big Hollywood stars in the theater, as well as the executives of Disney and MGM, all stood up and looked at them.

I don't know who applauded first, nearly 200 people in the theater began to applaud to welcome the arrival of Abel and Annie.

Annie looked at the very familiar superstars who had seen countless times in many movies and entertainment news.

With a smile on his face at the moment, he applauded and looked this way.

Annie's feelings at this time are really indescribable in words.

At this moment, Anne felt as if she had become the queen of Hollywood.

And by her side, of course, is the unique Hollywood emperor.

Abel is okay, he doesn't have a sense of magnificence, but he has the feeling that a Hollywood superstar is nothing more than that.

In the face of wealth and power, they are like them, in fact, they are no different from actors in ancient China.

Abel was complaining in his heart for entertainment, and he liked to engage in these exaggerated things.

He was holding Annie's hand while trying to find his own seat.

No need for him to find them one by one.

Robert Iger had already left his seat and walked towards Abel and Anne.

"BOSS." Robert Iger smiled all over his face: "Go this way. Your seat is here."

When Abel walked to the edge of the seat.

Michael Eisner next to him smiled, stretched out his hand and said to Abel:
"Hello, Mr. Smith. This is Michael Eisner."

Abel smiled and shook hands with him: "Hi, I'm Abel Smith. Mr. Eisner."

From start to finish, Abe pretty much just shook hands with Michael Eisner.

Then the two sat down.

Next to Annie is Robert Iger, and next to Abel is Michael Eisner.

The normal process of the premiere show continues.

Then it was the turn of the media to enter the arena, and hundreds of reporters and film critics entered the arena.

Michael Eisner took the initiative to strike up a conversation with Abel.

It was Abel's talking style that made Michael Eisner, who had always been unique in Hollywood, a little uncomfortable.

Because Abel said to Michael Eisner at the very beginning:

"Mr. Eisner, I actually thought about buying Disney."

His opening remarks made Michael Eisner, the CEO and chairman of Disney, not know how to speak.

Michael Eisner could only feel depressed, and said softly: "Mr. Smith, that's not that easy."

It is different from several other Hollywood giants that have had their ups and downs, had glory and dimness.

Disney has been popular for more than ten years since Michael Eisner took over in 1984.

In 1995, Disney even acquired the American broadcasting station ABC at a sky-high price of 190 billion U.S. dollars, forging its current status as the number one giant in Hollywood.

Disney currently has a total share capital of about 18 billion shares, and the current stock price is around US$20.

Its total market capitalization is more than $360 billion.

The key is that its equity is dispersed, and there are more than [-] long-term holding institutions, which cannot be counted by retail investors.

The difficulty of acquiring it is higher than the acquisition of American Express.

Even when Abel said this, Michael Eisner didn't dare to say anything directly.

If it were someone else who said such a thing, Michael Eisner would probably be able to directly push it back.

Who is Abel not long ago, just bought half of Pacific California Electric, which is about the same size as Disney.

By the way, Sempra Energy, which is half the size of Disney, was directly privatized and delisted.

It's just that Abel bought the financial power reflected in these two companies.

If you get serious about engaging in Disney, there is hope that Disney will be bought.

With Abel's terrifying financial resources, Michael Eisner did not dare to be too complacent when Abel said this.

"It's just not that easy, so I dismissed the idea for the time being." Abel smiled.

Michael Eisner breathed a sigh of relief.

A Wall Street crocodile with countless golden bullets and who is so interested in the media and Hollywood.

For practitioners in the media industry like them, it is really too threatening.

This is why after learning that Abel will come to participate in this premiere show.

Michael Eisner will stand up and let Disney make the show so big, the reason why the scale is so exaggerated.

This is the result of discussions between Michael Eisner and Disney Media Group executives and consultants.

That is to find a way to please the Wall Street giant so that he will not focus on Disney.

Even if Abel is obviously the boss of MGM and one of Disney's competitors.

Abel, who has the prestige of privatizing Sempra Energy, has become the nightmare of many listed companies in the United States.

The two of them still wanted to talk, but they started chattering.

It was the lucky audience who started to enter.

One thousand spectators will be let in today.

Every lucky audience has to go through strict inspections and is selected by lottery.

Including media workers and Hollywood personnel, more than half of the 2200-seat Huaxia Theater was occupied.

The audience came in, and Annie, who had been eavesdropping on Abel's conversation with Michael Eisner, was going to play.

After all, no matter what, she is the real protagonist of today's premiere.

After Annie left.

Robert Iger immediately took her seat, sandwiching Abel with Michael Eisner.

The program schedule for the premiere show has been opened above, and the crew members have all gone up.

The two Hollywood giants talked softly with Abel.

Abel's identity is here.

When Robert Iger and Michael Eisner talked with him, they naturally lowered their expressions and attitudes.

Of course, this scene will fall into the surrounding dozen Hollywood superstars, as well as dozens of second-tier actors.

And in the eyes of those media workers above, or viewers of good things.

The result of this is that Abel already has a very high status in their hearts.

Invisibly, it has been raised a lot.

This is a giant that even giants want to please. It is no longer a giant but a giant.

Obviously, Abel's media group at this time, whether it is MGM, AMC TV, or newspaper group.

It's not even the best in the industry.

But because of his other layer of identity, he also appears to be as authoritative as an emperor in the media and Hollywood.

Even Michael Eisner, the CEO of a rival media conglomerate, looked respectful in front of him.

It can only be said that although Hollywood is used to Wall Street.

But the Wall Street they pitted is only a small part of the inflow.

When the real giants of Wall Street arrive.

Hollywood and the media giants simply cannot ignore it.

After all, Wall Street is one of the real troikas in this country.

(End of this chapter)