The Wolf of Los Angeles.

Chapter 240: For example, eradicating the roots
Once you know which film project it is, it will be much easier to look up related film information.

By the evening, information about Ang Lee and Brokeback Mountain was already on Hawke's desk.

James Schamus, a producer with whom Ang Lee has long collaborated, has just formed a film company called Focus Features in partnership with Universal Pictures.

In addition to these two companies, the other shareholder is BlackRock's BlackRock Film Fund.

The project of "Brokeback Mountain" was initiated by James Schamus.

In the past, Hawke would have considered this a purely commercial film business.

But add BlackRock, and especially the Marginalized Population Initiative, and it's not hard to see the connection.

BlackRock promoted the project of Brokeback Mountain.

Hawke had a vague impression that the development of gay films in Hollywood, Brokeback Mountain, was a landmark event.

With the great success of "Brokeback Mountain" at the Oscars, the film had a strong impact in North America and even across the United States. Gay films began to enter the mainstream of Hollywood and developed step by step in the direction of LGBT.

"Hollywood has always been at the forefront of cultural trends." Hawke closed the information about Brokeback Mountain and said to Erica in the living room, "BlackRock has chosen the most appropriate entry point."

Erica, who was reading the novel Brokeback Mountain, responded, “Movies and entertainment stars have a huge influence on ordinary people.”

She herself doesn't like homosexuality at all: "Hollywood is already a chaotic world, and it's hard to imagine what it will become if BlackRock launches a marginalized population program."

Hawke said: "Monsters are rampant, for example, a man can go into the women's restroom as long as he considers himself a woman..."

This version is a bit ahead of its time, and Erica finds it hard to understand: "I don't even need to undergo sex reassignment surgery?"

Hawke shrugged. "If he identifies as a woman and you say he's not, then you're guilty."

Although he had not done in-depth research, he had seen too much related news on the Internet: "They even hired a group of transgender people to teach elementary school children, allowing minors to freely choose their gender and undergo surgery without the approval of their parents."

Erica asked, "How do we solve the money problem?"

Hawke thought for a moment and said, "The government can pay for it, for example, by diverting fire funds to gender diversity development."

"The current America is already magical enough." Erica couldn't imagine: "If it really develops like this, this country..."

She frowned. “The donkeys are crazy!”

Hawke stated a fact: "These people will become the donkeys' base. For their own privileges, they will spare no effort to support the donkeys."

Erica understood: "Is this what the Marginalized People Program is for?"

Hawke said: "At least it is one of the purposes."

Erica sighed, "Bryan has a tough task ahead."

Hawke nodded. "It's hard to say about other states, but given the social situation in California, this will become a general trend. If Brian wants to enter the Oval Office, he must defeat them."

Erica put the novel aside and asked, "Is this Brokeback Mountain the official start of the Marginal Project in Hollywood?"

"If I'm right, the film is going straight for the Oscars." Hawke remembered that Ang Lee won the Best Director Oscar for this film: "Focus Features and BlackRock will spend money to win the award."

Erica said: "What they want is exactly what we oppose."

The intercom rang at this time, and the security guard at the door reported that Jennifer Huey was coming.

She just came in from outside when Hawke and Erica arrived at the living room door.

During the day, Hawke made an appointment with her to meet here tonight.

Jennifer sat on the sofa and asked Hawke, "You said you wanted to talk about something in private?"

Hawke walked over to the couch, sat next to her, and said, "Remember the first time we met?"

“In Wyoming.” Jennifer certainly remembered: “You and Erica killed six armed bandits from a mining company.”

Hawke said: "I got the news that the investor behind the mining company was BlackRock Wyoming, and the person in charge at the time was Douglas Coster."

Jennifer nodded. "Yes, it was them. There were many casualties in the case. Under pressure from the FBI investigation, the mining company went bankrupt after paying compensation."

Hawke asked, "After I came back from Wyoming, I didn't pay much attention to the situation over there. How many dead bodies were found in the end?"

"The bodies of 17 people were found." Jennifer thought for a moment and said, "There should be some missing persons from outside. But you know the situation in Wyoming better than we do. It's a vast area with few people, so we have no idea where to start looking."

She guessed Hawke's thoughts and said simply, "The mastermind behind this case is BlackRock Wyoming. The case took place on an Indian reservation, and most of the victims were Indians who refused to cooperate with the prospecting company. There was no evidence in the case, and no one would look for evidence for the Indians. After the compensation was paid, the case was eventually dropped."

Most cases involving large companies and groups are resolved in this way: pay a sum of money and settle the matter.

Hawke asked directly: "Is there a family where multiple people died and there are still survivors?"

Jennifer hadn’t paid attention to the case for a long time and said, “I need to go back and find out.”

Hawke added, “There are also documents and files related to this case that could point to BlackRock’s Wyoming branch.”

"You're making me make a mistake," Jennifer said.

Erica replied, "Consider it as one I owe you a favor." Hawke's thoughts have always been clear: if you want to kill me, then I will kill you too.

Jennifer glanced at Erica, then at Hawke, and said, "I'll try to find it."

She was not polite at all: "I heard that your family will hold a social gathering next month, and you must invite me then."

Erica knew her target was Brian, so she responded, "No problem."

Jennifer checked the time and said, "I won't bother you any more." She stood up and said goodbye, and said to Hawke, "I will contact you as soon as I have any news."

Hawke and Erica walked her all the way to the car.

The two went back upstairs to rest, lying together and talking about what happened in Wyoming.

At that time, I left in a hurry because I was worried about safety issues, but I didn't expect that BlackRock was involved.

Although Erica wanted to find an opportunity to use the traditional skills of the LAPD, Hawke's idea was to either not take action at all or kill the person if he did so to avoid any future trouble.

In some ways, Hawke still retains the simple Chinese way of thinking.

For example, cutting the grass at its roots.

The next morning, when Hawke arrived at Twitter, he found that Edward had returned to work.

The savior was wearing a neat suit and looked full of energy.

Hawke entered the office and asked, "Are you sure everything is OK?"

Edward smiled with two rows of white teeth: "After observing for several days, the doctor said that I am very healthy and strong enough to kill a cow."

He asked, "Boss, was it really Miller Collins who was driving the car?"

Hawke said: "Yes, the FBI did a DNA test and it has been confirmed that it is Miller Collins himself."

"Damn bastard!" Edward vowed, "Boss, don't worry, I will accompany Maria Collins to his funeral!"

What can Hawke say? Of course he should encourage his most loyal brother: "Do a good job."

Edward nodded vigorously: "I will."

He started thinking, besides funerals, cemeteries, wedding photos, etc., what other scenes are suitable for this performance?
Edward decided to go back and look for some Holy Valley films to study.

There was a knock on the office door from outside, and Caroline, with her golden bangs, walked in quickly.

She took a few documents, placed them on Hawke's desk, and said, "These need to be signed as soon as possible."

Hawke took it and flipped through it, then said, "From now on, the authority to sign these will be delegated to you."

Caroline's delicate makeup can't hide the bags under her eyes from lack of rest: "Why do I feel that my work is getting busier and busier, and I have less and less time to rest?"

Hawke casually said, "As my abilities become stronger, I bear more responsibilities."

He also encouraged her: "You are about to become the operations director of a company valued at billions of dollars."

Caroline blinked her eyes, seeming to find it hard to believe: "Another investment company wants to make a valuation?"

Hawke took out the materials submitted by Peter Thiel and Reid Hoffman and said, "Long-term Investment Company is ready to participate in Twitter's next round of financing and share expansion. We will soon make formal contact with the company. You will be responsible for the specific work."

Caroline took two steps forward, and her high heels clicked on the floor like sheep's hooves. "I won't betray your trust."

Hawke knows that only practical benefits can motivate people: "You, the Savior, Sasha, Haaland and Kasim, you can all participate in the investment in this financing and share expansion."

"Miss Mee, do you have money?" Edward said, "I remember you always maxed out your credit card."

Caroline was different this time: "I saved most of my income in the past year. Haven't you noticed that I have been wearing discounted items that are out of season for the past six months? I haven't bought a bag in eight months."

Edward suddenly had an idea: "I'll introduce you to a good channel to buy luxury goods. It's much cheaper than the market."

Although Caroline worked hard to save money so that she could invest in Twitter as a shareholder, her impulse to follow trends over the years remained: "Forget discount stores."

Edward shook his head and said, "My black compatriots have a morning market street near Compton. The luxury goods they sell are absolutely cheap and authentic."

Caroline didn't believe it: "I believe it's cheap, but I don't believe it's authentic..."

Hawke reminded: "You're thinking wrong."

Edward explained: "Black people don't know how to make luxury goods. The cost they pay for the goods is just physical labor. If they make fake goods, won't the cost be higher and the profit be less?"

Caroline understood immediately that Twitter was about to raise funds and expand its shares, and the money had to be spent on critical areas. She said to Edward, "Take me there once you have time."

Edward said: "No problem, I'll only charge you 10% as an agency fee."

Hawke then said, "We will hold a press conference with Long-Term Investment Company." He looked at Caroline and said, "You will represent Twitter."

(End of this chapter)