Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 1464 Shopping at Paramount Supermarket
"My dear, you are amazing, whether it's making movies or running a company, and now that the stocks are listed, you are also so amazing!"

"Hahaha, I'm also great in many other areas..."

“Hmm…Hmm…Hmm…”

Helen Slater's cheeks flushed. The fund that Ronald prepared for her had increased a lot of wealth after DDH went public. However, as a woman who didn't care much about money, she valued more the ability of the man she loved!

"Do you want to go shopping or something?" An hour later, Ronald took the orange juice Helen poured and drank it all. Now that his worth is different, he doesn't have to chat about art with Helen like before. Going shopping directly to express his love is a more convenient choice.

"Honey, I'm not a high-maintenance girl. That money has long exceeded my needs." Helen also drank a large glass of lemon water. She now puts a lot of energy into maintaining her figure, doing half an hour of aerobic training and half an hour of yoga every day.

Besides taking care of her children, Helen still went to her acting troupe "Naked Angels" to learn acting skills. She realized her dream in high school, doing drama, meeting her lover, playing the piano, singing, painting, and chatting about art with some close friends.

"My dear, you are certainly not a high-maintenance girl. You are the representative and role model of independent women... I am very lucky to meet you..." Ronald quickly confirmed that although Helen is low-maintenance when it comes to spending money, her artistic pursuits are no less expensive than those of a shopping addict.

"I get a lot of royalties every year, plus the dividends from the trust you gave me, I have more money than I can spend... Dear, let me discuss with you whether we can use this money for charity?"

Helen has never been very demanding in satisfying her desires. But her hobbies are not cheap. Ronald couldn't help but feel a little nervous. You don't want to make a movie, do you?

"As you know, many off-Broadway actors in New York have no income and have to work in restaurants. I want them to have a place to hone their acting skills and collect some performance fees to supplement their income. So I want to find a place for Naked Angels to rehearse and perform. What do you think?"

Helen then showed Ronald a proposal. Ronald opened it and saw that Helen had set her eyes on a former picture frame factory on West 17th Street in Manhattan and wanted to use it as a performance venue.

"That's fine, dear. Your idea is a very good one, and it won't cost much."

"I knew you would agree, hehe...Also, if the plays we rehearse and perform here are well received by the audience, I plan to invest in making them into low-budget movies. I will also invite students from the film departments of several universities in New York to apply. This will also help cultivate future talents in drama and film. What do you think?"

"I think you are amazing. Maybe someone will call you the godmother of New York theater and independent films..."

"Hahahaha...you agreed? I have one more thing to ask of you..."

"what's up?"

"When you are free, can you give lectures or courses at Columbia University and New York University's film department?" Helen looked at Ronald with stars in her eyes. She liked this kind of thing. Her lover being respected brought her more pleasure than having money.

"What can I say? Honey, I'm technically still on leave from my undergraduate studies at New York University..."

……

The stock price increase on the first day did not last long, and soon some hedge funds began to sell stocks and walk away with profits.

However, contrary to the expectations of some analysts and Goldman Sachs' investment banking department, a strong buying force directly took over these selling orders, giving the market great confidence. DDH's stock price rose instead of falling and began to hit US$35. By the close of the weekend, it had stabilized around US$34.

This price made all the subscribers overjoyed. On paper, they made a lot of profit, so they were very enthusiastic about DDH's IPO. Therefore, DDH's CEO Ed Bastian said that he would consider debt financing in advance... This statement continued to receive praise from Wall Street...

Ronald later found out that this was the Renaissance Fund where Donna worked. Through data analysis, they discovered that on the day of listing, DDH's stock price met certain special fingerprint samples. Donna's boss, Dr. Simmons, began to buy large amounts of DDH stock, which led to such good performance.

Ronald stayed in New York for several days until DDH's stock price stabilized, and then he returned to Los Angeles. As the chairman of a listed company, he also had to improve his social status.

Bodyguard Daniel first expanded the security level. Now Ronald always has him with him whenever he travels. If there are major events, such as the Oscars, there will be an expanded security team.

In addition, he began to expand his fleet of vehicles, ordering security-upgraded models of Rolls-Royce and Mercedes-Benz that could protect against shooting with ordinary firearms.

Ronald also plans to buy a yacht when he has some spare money, which is also a standard for rich people. Without these money-losing equipment, it always seems that being a billionaire is a bit incompetent.

"I really don't like these. It reminds me of when I first came to Los Angeles and was almost tricked into working as a yacht waiter..."

Diane was a little unhappy when she saw the yacht magazines that Ronald brought with him. When she first came to Los Angeles, she had no relatives or friends. If Ronald hadn't helped her, her life would have been miserable. She had to be accompanied by other male stars to the Oscars, and she had no good clothes to wear, so she went there with just a pair of ordinary sandals.

"Then don't buy it. I have other things to do with the money."

"This is my brother Ronnie..." Diane came over and kissed Ronald. The two of them were still not used to such big toys of the super rich and would rather live a relatively low-key life.

"Why do the people at Paramount still have to evaluate your movie now? I thought they had long considered that what you shoot is a product that is exempt from inspection." Diane helped Ronald put on his coat, and then she also rolled up the collar of her clothes. Now, she has several sets of matching clothes for any occasion, and she is no longer the wild girl in the past.

"Salfred Redstone just bought Paramount, and he probably wants to meet me..." Ronald smiled at the mirror. This old man must be showing off in front of him to make himself feel good. What would he say? His company, Redstone, is worth tens of billions, and his own is only three billion?

"He wants to see you, why?"

"Maybe I rejected one of his requests... It doesn't matter. I am no longer someone he can manipulate easily."

……

"Mr. Lei Shidong..."

After sitting in the Paramount screening room for a while, Shirley Lansing came in with Redstone. Ronald stood up and shook his hand.

"Ronald, can I call you Ronald? The last time we met, I told the people around me that you would become one of us one day. I didn't expect that you would fulfill my prediction so soon..."

"Huh?" Ronald was almost startled by Lei Shidong. I was just about to have a verbal fight with him, but why did he suddenly change his tone and become a successful senior who was helping me, a junior?

"You must be Miss Diane Lane. I just took over Paramount and am still getting familiar with Hollywood actresses..."

"Hello, Mr. Redstone, Ronnie told me a lot of stories about you." Diane glanced at Ronald. He seemed different from the arrogant old money playboy you mentioned.

"I hope they are all good things, hahahaha... You know, when I look at Ronald, it's like seeing my younger self. I acquired Viacom and founded the MTV channel. It's like they are still in front of me, and I am still so full of vigor and vitality..."

"Ahem..." Ronald coughed beside him. This old pervert has held Diane's hand for too long. Besides, you were already over 60 when you founded MTV. How can you be the same as me? Besides, you inherited your father's business, but I started from scratch...

"Let's go watch a movie..." Redstone waved his hand, and regardless of Shirley Lansing's high position in Paramount Pictures, he treated her as an ordinary assistant and ordered her to turn off the lights and start the screening.

Although Ronald waved his hand and called his assistant to do this, Shirley Lansing was still very embarrassed for a moment. Fortunately, Ronald did not make any fun of her, and even gave her a smile that said, "We are in the same team, and you have to say something good for me in front of your boss when the time comes." This eased her embarrassment a lot.

Finally, at the end of the movie, little Forrest Gump got on the school bus and talked to the same female driver he had taken to school. The white feather flew up again with the theme song...

Redstone coughed twice and told Shirley Lansing to turn on the lights and end the screening.

During the screening, Shirley Lansing finally figured out her position. This time, she remained calm and treated herself as Ronald and Redstone's assistant. She personally ended the screening of the cast and crew subtitles and turned on the lights.

When she came back, she was surprised to find that Lei Shidong was actually very friendly and talked to Ronald about some things about the movie "Forrest Gump".

"I heard that the last movie Hidden Dragon used footage of old George, which caused quite a stir. You used footage of him playing table tennis again this time. Will there be any trouble? If so, I can help you solve it..."

"I have talked to old George Library and his eldest son, and they don't mind such friendly teasing..." Ronald replied with a smile. Maybe Redstone heard something, and he was so kind and amiable to him, just like a yacht salesman facing a wealthy man.

"That's great. If all my subordinates had your abilities, please don't mind my analogy. I really regret not finding you to work for me when you were young. If I had known your abilities earlier, you might have gotten everything you have today sooner..."

"You're too polite. I've always been grateful to MTV for playing the music videos of my two musicals..."

"Ah, Shirley...", Lei Shidong pretended to have just discovered Shirley Lansing, "I don't need to teach you what to do, this movie needs your full support..."

"Of course, Mr. Redstone. It is an honor for Paramount to work with a director like Ronald. I have already made a marketing plan, and this film will receive the highest level of support from Paramount Pictures in all aspects, from distribution to marketing to Oscar public relations."

"Look, people like us need the help of the top talents in the industry..." Lei Shidong praised Shirley Lansing in front of Ronald, but he also obviously belittled her to a level lower than himself and Ronald.

"Shirley has always been very concerned about and invested in strong films, which is the most needed quality for the head of a Hollywood studio. She may be the studio president in Hollywood who is best at identifying blockbuster films. If she were not a woman, she would have been the leader in the industry in 1982. In this regard, I can't say that I am better than her."

Ronald knew that old man Redstone must have something to ask of him, so it was a good opportunity to give Shirley Lansing a little benefit.

"You're absolutely right. This position requires the ability to identify the box office potential of a movie. I'm glad that I have a top Hollywood talent like Shirley to assist me..." Seeing this, Redstone also affirmed Shirley Lansing's ability. Lansing was very happy. In front of her biggest partner, her ability was affirmed by the big boss.

"Now, Shirley, I have something to talk to Ronald about. Can you give us a little privacy?"

“I’ll go get you some coffee…Shirley Lansing is feeling pretty good about being an assistant now.

"I'll go with you. I know what kind of coffee Ronnie likes..." Diane was very happy. Shirley Lansing, who she had to work hard to curry favor with back then, was now so respectful to Ronnie...

"Ronald..." When everyone left and only the two of them were left, Lei Shidong stopped talking and asked directly, "Paramount has some assets that need to be sold. Is your DDH interested?"

"That depends on what the asset is and the price..." Ronald leaned back gently, and his body language fully expressed that I am the buyer now, and you have to show the spirit of a salesman.

"I like direct people. Paramount has a lot of non-core assets that need to be sold, and your DDH can just take over these assets... If you miss this opportunity, it will be difficult to buy TV stations and radio stations in batches in the future..."

As he spoke, Redstone took out a list and handed it to Ronald. There are only a few media companies that have enough cash to buy Paramount's assets and raise cash to prevent Viacom-Paramount from going bankrupt at the end of this year.

The people at the helm of other media groups are all experienced and will definitely bargain hard when they get the chance. Only newcomers like Ronald can find ways to cheat and sell at a high price.

Therefore, I have to give Ronald enough face today. Maybe this young man, after being praised by me, will have the idea of ​​defeating me mentally, so I can get the better deal on the price?

Ronald took it and looked at it. It was similar to what he knew. After Paramount, Viacom and Blockbuster merged, there were some assets waiting to be sold.

He circled some of the assets on the list, indicating that he might be interested in acquiring them.

Including 110 million cable TV subscribers
VH-1, Nickelodeon, Showtime, Movie Channel, Sci-Fi Channel
Over a thousand screens in America and Britain

As well as 12 TV stations and 14 radio stations in Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C., Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, etc.

"I am interested in these. Let me and your subordinates negotiate a purchase price for these assets..."

"I have to say that you are a man with vision. If you continue with this momentum, you will become a mature media tycoon by the time I am old enough to acquire Viacom."

Seeing that Ronald was not fooled and left the acquisition to professionals, Lei Shidong regained his usual arrogant look.

However, there are still benefits to trading with Ronald. The money raised by his listed company may be difficult to negotiate with others. He may just buy a basket of assets that Redstone wants to sell. These hundreds of millions of yuan will allow Viacom-Paramount-Blockbuster to get through the difficulties at the end of the year.

Lei Shidong was about to stand up and leave. You, a young man, still have a lot to learn. Don't think that you can do anything by raising money through listing. Didn't your Blockbuster stock fall by half? In front of me, you are just taking advantage of a little cash. Wait for me to slow down, hehe...

"Wait, I'm not finished yet..." Ronald raised his hand.

"what?"

"I saw these in your list..."

Ronald circled the biggest assets at the bottom of the list, which were New York's Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks basketball team that used the garden as its home court, the New York Rangers ice hockey team, and MSG TV...

Blockbuster also owns some professional teams, such as the Florida Panthers (ice hockey), the Florida Marlins (baseball), and the Miami Dolphins (football). According to the rules of the professional league, after the merger, these teams have one owner, and one of the teams in the same league must be sold.

As for Madison Square Garden, it is the largest and most historic stadium and performance venue in New York, and MSG Network is a cable TV station that broadcasts the regular season games of these two professional sports teams in New York.

Taken together, these are the largest single asset that the combined Viacom-Paramount-Blockbuster group could sell.

"Where did you get so much money?" Lei Shidong was shocked. This transaction was the asset he wanted to sell quickly, because a single transaction could recover about $1 billion in assets. But for a while, there was no such a big buyer in the New York area. Who knew Ronald actually wanted to take it.

"I have my own way of making money, Mr. Redstone." Ronald replied with a smile. Redstone actually asked such an impolite question, which must have made him extremely unhappy. However, because he needed to sell the property quickly, he would not give up on himself as a buyer.

It just so happens that he was in a bad mood, so he might make mistakes in the negotiations and let himself get an advantage.

"Let my people contact your people!" Lei Shidong calmed down. Ronald was definitely not bluffing. He was too lazy to find out which rich people he represented. The most important thing was to get 1 billion in his pocket. Charles Dolan, who was in charge of the operation of MSG TV Network, was slow in finding financing for an MBO. If he didn't speed up, he would sell it to Ronald.

"Mr. Redstone, Ronald..." At this time, Shirley Lansing came over with coffee.

Lei Shidong took it up angrily and took a sip, "Puff..."

He ended up spitting out his coffee and storming off again.

"What's wrong?" Shirley Lansing's face changed drastically. She had just left for a while, so how come the two of them seemed to have broken down in their conversation?
"Don't worry, Mr. Redstone doesn't like your coffee..." Ronald picked up his cup, took a sip, hmm... it's okay, better than Diane's.