Chapter 59: Avenue of Stars

Naturally, there was going to be some celebration next, and everyone returned to the Roosevelt Hotel, which was the favorite hotel of many Hollywood superstars, and the first Academy Awards were also held here.

"White, can you tell me about your troubles?" The host and guest entered the table, and Li Zitao joked about the encounter yesterday, finally getting to the point.

"Charlie, after creating Mickey, I have a lot of inspirations in my mind, but I can't realize it due to financial constraints. Now... the trouble is solved."

White raised his glass and said with a smile: "All this is thanks to you. It is your sincerity that broke my inherent understanding of capital. To Charlie."

"Regard Charlie." Everyone laughed together.

This flattery was good, and Li Zitao stretched out his hands in satisfaction, "White, I believe that under your leadership, Disney will become a great company, respect Disney."

"Respect Disney." Everyone carried the sedan chairs, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.

There was only Lawrence, sitting beside him alone, saying, "The hot girl has gone, the shares are gone, the stock price has increased by 5 times, more investment, more interest, so pitiful." '

After the celebration, White Disney left in a hurry, "Charlie, those wonderful ideas in my mind are about to drive me crazy, I must let them appear in this world quickly"

The persistence of animation fanatics is of course irresistible. Li Zitao hopes that he can maintain this kind of madness and eventually lead Disney to become popular all over the world.

"Charlie, I want 10% of Disney's shares." After sending White back to the hotel, Lawrence rushed over with a strange middle-aged man.

"Dude, don't get excited, do you have $50,000?" Li Zitao asked while sitting on the sofa.

"I applied for a loan from my father, $50,000, with a monthly interest rate of 16 percent." Lawrence sat down with a black face.

Originally, his plan was to borrow $20,000 with a monthly interest rate of only 10%, but because of Li Zitao's sudden change of mind, he now needs to pay higher interest.

"10% is too high, how about 5%?" Li Zitao is not short of money, he still has 200 million yuan in his hand, and he cares more about shares than 50,000 dollars.

But he did make his own claim. Without discussing with Lawrence, he directly valued at 5 times the price and bought 40% of Disney's shares.

Therefore, Li Zitao could not refuse his request, but only hoped to reduce the shareholding to 5% and sign a secret contract.

5% of the shares are still in the name of Li Zitao, but the actual investor is Lawrence, and Li Zitao will continue to exercise the rights and interests other than dividends.

"Okay, no problem." Lawrence agreed boldly.

When Li Zitao raised the price on his own initiative, he felt a little dissatisfied. They were partners, and Rockefeller was an industrialist, not a capitalist. They paid more attention to commitment.

But Lawrence also knows that the world of capital is not merciful, and now that Li Zitao can give up 5% of the shares, he is already very satisfied.

"This is my father's housekeeper, Elan Sticknard." Lawrence introduced the middle-aged man beside him.

"Hello, Mr. Sticknader, this is Mahathir, my chief lawyer." After introducing both parties, there was nothing left to do with them.

"Lawrence, where's your girlfriend?" Li Zitao began to provoke little Lawrence again.

"Charlie, you will lose me this way." Lawrence looked at him resentfully.

"That's really... an honor." Li Zitao teased.

"Maybe we should go back, Hollywood is not suitable for me." Lawrence was full of aggrieved, he proposed to come to Hollywood, why did it become like this?

"Charlie, do I still have to audition?" After struggling all morning, Bergman still didn't want to give up this opportunity.

"You really want to act?" Li Zitao was a little surprised.

"Well, I think." Bergman nodded.

Bergman wanted to be the star that the audience focused on,

If not, she would not have applied for the Royal Drama Theater, but she had no intention of coming to Hollywood.

Bergman was conflicted. She was afraid that Li Zitao would have a grudge against the better opportunities and the cruelty and chaos of Hollywood.

"Complete your studies first, and I will arrange for you after graduation." For Hollywood, Li Zitao has his own plan.

Now he can buy a company to film for Bergman, but Hollywood has its own operating model and rules.

Content is king, he didn't realize that by waving a lot of money, he could get directors, editors, and distribution companies to cooperate with him, all of which would take time.

"Maybe I should make some contributions to the academy, how about building an Avenue of Stars?" Li Zitao looked at Lawrence and asked.

"Avenue of Stars? Sounds good, how is it?" Lawrence asked with interest.

After explaining the concept of the Avenue of Fame in the previous life, Lawrence and Bergman's eyes lit up: "Eternal Memorial, Charlie, this is really great."

Bergman wrapped his arms around his neck, looked at him with blurred eyes, and sent a hot kiss.

Lawrence didn't mind being sprinkled with dog food, and said excitedly: "Charlie, you should start this plan now, it will gain you countless favors."

"Lawrence, maybe you can help me contact the masters of the academy." Li Zitao smiled while hugging Bergman.

"No problem, Uncle Elan..." Lawrence turned and rushed towards Elan Sticknard.

"Avenue of Stars, Mr. Li, how did you come up with it?" Explaining to Elan again what the Avenue of Stars is, the other party looked at him with flickering eyes and asked.

"I got an idea, ding..." Li Zitao pointed his temples with his fingers and turned around, opened his bright eyes and said, "That's how I thought of it."

"..." Brother, are you serious about being so casual?

"Louis is my friend, maybe I can introduce it to you." Elan said softly.

"Louis? Louis Meyer?" Li Zitao was a little surprised.

Paramount, Fox, Warner, Columbia, RKO, MGM, United Artists, Universal Pictures, these are the original eight giants of Hollywood.

At this time, Fox had not yet merged with Twentieth Century Films. Its owner was film tycoon William Fox, who had many distribution theaters across the United States.

Among the eight major companies, Paramount and MGM have the highest status, which can be said to overwhelm other companies.

At this time, MGM was in the limelight. With the help of "Ben-Hur", MGM established a high-quality image. In just one year, it surpassed Universal to become the number one studio in Hollywood.

CEO Louis Meyer founded the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, chaired the Academy Planning Committee, and presided over the first Academy Awards.

Unparalleled power is unmatched in digging out movie stars, confronting the company's top executives, and sabotaging William Fox's acquisition of MGM shares with antitrust laws.

As the earliest large company, Paramount has many well-known actors, studios, distribution channels and a deep network of relationships.

It can be said that since this period, Paramount has been like his logo, sitting firmly on the top of the mountain, watching the changes in Hollywood with a smile, and no one can shake its position.

In Hollywood, Louis Meyer, who led MGM to turn around in one fell swoop and came from behind, is called the king of Hollywood.

And Paramount is known as the giant among the giants.

So whether it's MGM or Paramount, everyone in Hollywood respects them. Even if they don't admire them, they still have deep fears.

In terms of personal prestige, Louis Meyer is even better. "Annoying the father of the funder can still firmly control the MGM Hollywood studio. The rights are not affected in the slightest. Not everyone can do it."

"Uncle Elan, I'm very interested in meeting Mr. Meyer." Li Zitao hit the snake with the stick, and directly called Elan "uncle", which made Lawrence roll his eyes.

"You're too polite, Li, I'm just a housekeeper." Elan smiled politely, with a clear meaning of rejection in his words.

"Uncle Elan is not an ordinary housekeeper, he is my grandfather's godson." Lawrence broke the stage directly, "Calling you uncle will never hurt you."

Lawrence pointed out Elan's identity and expressed his approval of this matter, which can be regarded as reciprocation. He thanked Li Zitao for his concessions on the Golden Arches and Disney.

Of course, whether to accept it or not depends on Elan, but as the third generation of Rockefeller's suggestion, Elan cannot completely ignore it.

"..." Elan, who was sold by his young master, was very innocent. Looking at the enthusiastic smile of the Chinese boy in front of him, he could only smile and nod helplessly.

"Then I'll trouble Uncle Elan." Li Zitao smiled like a little fox.

With Lawrence's words, "Uncle" is not called for nothing. When he needs it, Elan will use his own connections to solve many troubles for him.

"Isn't that how the relationship network came about?" Li Zitao thought happily.

"I'm going to make a phone call." Elan left, and Li Zitao and Lawrence took out their pens, waved their ink-stained hands, and signed the contract gracefully.

"Charlie, Louis and Fairbanks are coming. They are very interested in the Avenue of Stars you mentioned." Elan brought the good news after the phone call.

"Mahathir, ask someone to prepare a reception room." Li Zitao looked at Elan and said with a smile, "I will trouble Uncle Elan later."

"I'm going back to rest, Charlie, call me when I leave." Lawrence blinked and walked towards the elevator alone.

"Thank you, Lawrence." Li Zitao stood up and waved his hands.

"Charlie, Louis has a strong desire for control. As the chairman of the college's planning committee, he has a huge influence on the college and even Hollywood. As for Fairbanks, Louis' opinions are often his opinions."

After Lawrence left, Elan began to analyze Louis' character and the Academy's current influence in Hollywood for him.

The original purpose of the academy was to deal with the conflict between labor and management. The actors wanted more remuneration, while the management wanted to reduce costs.

When the actors wanted to fight against the management with the trade union, Louis successfully formed the academy by virtue of his highly provocative speech, turning the actor's guild into an empty shell.

After the first Academy Awards were held, the influence of the academy further spread, and Louis' influence on Hollywood also increased day by day, which brought about a stronger desire for control.

As for Fairbanks, the chairman of the academy, he has no sense of presence more often, or it is more appropriate to describe it as Louis' puppet.

The planning committee is responsible for the development of the academy, and the academy is responsible for selecting outstanding films and filmmakers. It seems that the division of labor is different, but in fact they are all in the hands of Louis.