Two days after the signing ceremony, a new movie business news from the Wall Street Times was released, and the article said: "Tom Cruise completed the acquisition of United States for US$220 million and officially announced the termination of its cooperation with Paramount. This is a complete acquisition. Of course, the Chinese partners of MGM and Cruise also own their shares.

This means not a capital-injected rescue acquisition, but annexation. Many commercial media have guessed Tom Cruise’s intention. A dilapidated United American company is worthless. So what will it do if it is annexed? How many shares do Chinese partners own? Although neither Tom Cruise nor Li Xiaole came forward to explain, this is a business secret, their opponents are speculating on Tom Cruise’s idea.

According to the situation, it is actually easy to get the result. Tom Cruise is definitely not for the United States trademark and the copyrights of hundreds of old black and white movies. They are interested in the power of the parent company Sony, and use the power of Columbia Media to check and balance the Viacon-Music Media Group behind Paramount.

In any case, the new acquisition of Lianmei once again shows that new forces in Hollywood are slowly rising, but everyone seems to have no idea that Lianmei is actually the ignored "Chinese partner". Many media have begun to express their opinions on this. The Los Angeles Times commented:

"2005 was the year of disaster for Tom Cruise, but at the beginning of the new year, it seemed that this former Hollywood darling seemed to want to get rid of his unlucky luck and start a new journey. He acquired United and joined MGM and belonged to Sony. Is this good or bad for Sony? You should know that Tom Cruise's company once made nearly 200 million US dollars in profits under Paramount."

The editor of Empire magazine obviously has a more negative comment on the news:

"Tom Cruise abandoned his old club and invested in a new company. It can be seen that his ambition is definitely not just about being an actor. Who can predict what kind of chaotic path this handsome guy who was brainwashed by science will take after losing Paramount's blessing?"

A week after the announcement of this news, Viacom Chairman, Paramount's Eco Redstone, publicly spoke to Tom Cruise in an interview with Vanity Fair:

"His recent weird behavior is tantamount to suicide... Although we personally like him, we think it's wrong to continue working together. Paramount can't stand his recent behavior." The Paramount helm said:

"When did I decide to fire him? I don't know, it was when he appeared on "Today's Show" (slamming Brooke Xiaosi for taking anti-postpartum depression drugs)? It was when he jumped on the sofa in the Oprah talk show? It was when he changed his assistant to his sister? His behavior was completely unacceptable to my wife and others."

In an interview, Redstone said that after falling in love with Katie, Cruise's behavior became quite weird - showing affection everywhere, jumping on the sofa on Oprah show, fighting with Brooke Xiaosi, and always promoting the scientific sect he believed in. Cruise's behavior made the people very disgusted.

This interview full of negative news has worsened and has continued to have negative impressions of Tom Cruise for a year. A survey on the qscores website of the celebrity popularity index showed that since Cruise fell in love with Katie, women who supported Cruise have dropped by 45%, and women who dislike Cruise have risen by 300%. Cruise's popularity has fallen to a new low in 2000...

When Paramount continued to spare no effort to slander Tom Cruise's image, what was Sony, who originally promised to bless Tom Cruise?

Sony seems to have been busy continuing to smear Mike Jackson after signing the contract. They have completely forgotten their promises and have not responded to Redstone's behavior at all, because in Sony's view, Redstone is just promoting "Mission: Impossible 3" to be released in the summer. If they respond, it will form a topic and create momentum for the other party.

Everything depends on MGM's own attitude.

In the MGM conference room, Le Canon, who is in charge of MGM affairs, is now playing indoor golf while accepting a report from Propaganda Manager George Carr about United States.

"This is the situation. It seems that Paramount is very annoyed that Tom Cruise is working with us. Now he is going to promote Tom Cruise's negative news "Mission: Impossible 3". United States is urging us to put pressure on parent company Sony. What should we do?"

"What should I do?" Canon put the ball into the hole along the artificial turf, then turned his head and sneered: "What are the benefits for us when United States has developed well? Sony is now evaluating whether Tom Cruise is still of star value. If he can't produce a decent movie after Mission Impossible 3, then Sony will negotiate with Paramount regardless of his life or death."

"I know what to do." George Carl nodded and pushed out of the room.

Canon picked up the ball from the hole, sat back on the bench with satisfaction, looking out the window, but in his heart he was mocking Tom Cruise who was waving his tail and begging for mercy at him. An actor who had completely destroyed his image wanted to make a living by acquiring United States salted fish? Don't be stupid, MGM will collapse again within 5 years. You, an idiot who only knows how to make movies, just jumped into another abyss of commercial financing.

At dusk, there are a lot of tourists in the coffee shop. After working for a day, we are dragging tired office workers here to sit, have a cup of coffee, and enjoy the charming dusk.

Li Xiaole and Lei Ting sat at a table next to the floor-to-ceiling window, each holding a cup of coffee to taste.

In the past few days, they have a brief review of Lianmei and completed the redistribution of company personnel. Now they have time to discuss the next plan. Although they have lost the media attention after coming to Hollywood and returned to a state of penniless life, it seems that Lei Ting and Li Xiaole both enjoy the process of building a career bit by bit.

"I have to admit that this is a good start. The question is what should we do next?" Lei Ting said while drinking coffee and looking at Li Xiaole, "Don't forget that we have to pay millions of US dollars in bank interest every month. The operation of the screenwriter's Republic is not enough to offset these burdens. The movies on Chinese companies also take time to convert them into profits..."

"Just rely on yourself." Li Xiaole smiled and raised his coffee and took a sip: "You know I haven't made movies in the past few years. I, the legendary screenwriter, still have dozens of first draft scripts to sell."

Although he only has time to complete more than ten carefully crafted scripts, he is still more than enough to write the first draft scripts, and he has no problem selling them to producers of the top six majors. Although he doesn’t have much money, it is perfect for dealing with bank debt collection issues in recent times.

"I don't think there is any need to be such trouble. Maybe we can use Lianmei's stocks to do some operations." Lei Ting shook her head. She had a better way. When she was operating Apple stocks with Li Xiaole before, she had mastered some stock skills. Although it was difficult to make a fortune in the stock market, she was confident that she would make a little profit to maintain the company's operations.

"No, our stocks cannot move. I have another purpose. I just want to tell you this." Li Xiaole smiled:

"Sister Tingting, please take our stock documents to the bank as a mortgage. The market value of our shares should be about 80 million. I plan to use this money to purchase the ten-year adaptation rights of several comics in Marvel. You have to help me draw up a mortgage contract. If we don't pay Marvel's 80 million cash in three years, United States will belong to them. I believe Marvel will not refuse."

"Have you decided?" Lei Ting was not too surprised. She knew that Li Xiaole had been conceiving this plan since a long time ago. Compared to the previous crazy, this time it was at least carefully considered. Although 80 million is a huge amount of funds, it is imagined to buy Lianmei's 180 million yuan and lose everything... It's really nothing. Lianmei's company was originally an empty shell, so it would be better to let the money move. But she had a question:

"Now we have purchased all the funds in Lianmei's shares, and then you mortgaged all the shares in Lianmei to Marvel to sign a contract. So what are we going to make movies? I think we can't even get $100,000 now?"

"Haha~" Li Xiaole couldn't help laughing and pointed at herself: "Sister Tingting, you seem to have forgotten that I am now the president of Lianmei and a member of the major alliance,"

"So what? You are not a hotel lady, you can get a higher price if you have a name." Lei Ting disagreed. Could it be that just because you are the president of Lianmei, someone will invest in your movies?

"Represents... I don't have to spend money on making movies, nor can I spend any money at all." Li Xiaole narrowed his eyes and explained: "In Hollywood, except for those truly independent production companies, the investment sources of all movies are from the financing of financial institutions behind the six major companies. If you don't let them invest and participate, your movies will not have any opportunity to promote in the cinema. Simply put, it is necessary to achieve equal sharing of the interests of the entire industry, and of course the risks will be shared.

Do you think the United States lacks rich people? But have you heard of any rich man who invests in making movies by himself? Even if you really have money to invest in making movies, you will have to share the money with them when you sign a contract with the Six Majors, and the result is the same.
Chapter completed!