America: My Time

Chapter 314 Reconciliation
Chapter 314 Reconciliation

"Boss, I want to relax too, but I can't. On the surface, we're fighting Warner and Disney, but behind the scenes, we're fighting the entire Hollywood. Luckily, Warner and Disney couldn't hold on, otherwise our own losses would be significant, and the pressure wouldn't be much less than theirs!"

"Legend Entertainment has funding problems? If so, I still have some funds I can invest!" John dared not take Legend Entertainment lightly; if the cash flow really ran into trouble, it would be a huge problem.

"It's not a funding issue, it's a manpower issue. We were previously on the opposite side of the entire Hollywood. The Screen Actors Guild and the Writers Guild were constantly targeting us, and other big players were also suppressing us. So in many cases, we didn't have enough manpower. Now, the problem has finally been solved!"

"Manpower is nothing compared to this. We absolutely cannot back down on this issue, or we'll face endless trouble. Only by taking the initiative can we face any challenge without fear and keep those greedy stars and their agencies in check!" John was unwilling to compromise on this matter. He was well aware of how crazy Hollywood would become in the future, with stars jumping on the heels of film studios and threatening them one by one. Legendary Entertainment had to resolutely and decisively refuse to let this happen. What other film studios thought didn't matter, but this situation could not be allowed to occur at Legendary Entertainment!
“I understand. Legendary Entertainment has undergone a complete transformation, focusing on blockbusters and series films. We absolutely cannot afford any problems with personnel management. We cannot give them the opportunity to threaten the company, otherwise they will take all the profits.” On this matter, Iger also stood on the side of the company’s interests.

“That means someone in the company has other ideas. If you think there’s a problem, then find a way to kick him out. We can’t let these guys ruin the company’s big plans!” John quickly understood Robert Iger’s thoughts and concerns. On this matter, John was determined to stop it and not let anyone ruin Legendary Entertainment’s long-term plans!
At this point, no matter how serious the internal problems at Legendary Entertainment were, John was absolutely on Robert Iger's side. He couldn't allow anyone to threaten Robert Iger's authority, otherwise the entire Legendary Entertainment would be in chaos. At this moment, John even suspected that someone had bribed these guys so that they were deliberately causing trouble at the company.

There's no way to verify this yet, because doing so would have too much of an impact. So, we can only let Robert Iger figure out a way to get rid of them, for whatever reason he wants.

John wasn't trying to be malicious, but reality is cruel. There are always some people who would betray the company's interests for personal gain; such people are numerous. As long as no one catches them red-handed, they can act with impunity, especially now that the Actors Guild and Writers Guild are causing trouble!
This is not the place to discuss all this. Both John and Robert Iger quickly stopped talking. If Cameron hadn't appeared, Robert Iger wouldn't have discussed these things with John. They could have talked about this issue later.

"Let's go, it seems someone is waiting for us!" Soon John noticed someone frequently looking at him and Robert Iger. John didn't recognize the person, although he looked somewhat familiar. However, his contact with Hollywood was limited, so he didn't know the person's identity. But one thing John was sure of was that this guy might be their representative.

"Boss, this is Steven Spielberg, and this is Francis Ford Coppola!" Robert Iger quickly introduced the two men who had been looking in his direction to John.

"It's a pleasure to meet you both. It's a bit noisy here, why don't we sit down over there!" Upon learning who these two were, John instantly understood who the lobbyist was: Steven Spielberg, the famous director.

After sitting down in the corner, John smiled calmly and said, "I know Steven, I know why you're here. Actually, I have no ill intentions towards you, and I didn't start the war. It was the people behind you who started it. This is America, and everyone has to abide by the rules. If someone breaks the rules, they will have to bear the consequences. I don't want to be your enemy, but I'm not afraid of threats either. I won't attack unless attacked."

“Mr. John, I am making this reconciliation with you on their behalf. This is not everyone’s wish, but only the decision of a small number of people. We only found out about it later!” At this point, Steven Spielberg couldn’t help but smile bitterly. To be honest, he had only found out about it not long before.

"Reconciliation is no problem. I'll say it again: I won't offend others unless they offend me. I'm just conducting normal business transactions. What you think is your own business. If anyone insists on blocking my path to wealth, then there's only one option: war. The United States is not their domain. Trampling on the rules will come at a price!"

Although Coppola understood what the two were talking about, he remained silent, as did Robert Iger. Their boss's willingness to reconcile was the best outcome. Anyone harboring unwarranted thoughts was simply overthinking things. As CEO of Legendary Entertainment, Robert Iger was acutely aware of his boss's power. Cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents—it's an irreconcilable hatred. Anyone who dares to touch John's interests will face his retaliation. Regardless of the intentions of those behind Steven Spielberg, anyone who tries to harm Gulfstream Aerospace's interests is a mortal enemy. Clearly, these guys were also intimidated by John's fierce reaction and dared not continue to provoke his bottom line.

Of course, more often than not, these guys received warnings from Morgan, Rockefeller, and other old-timers, and had to back down because they couldn't afford the worst outcome, which could be a disaster for them.

"Alright, let's leave the serious topics here, Steven. You can tell those people all this: I love peace, but I'm not afraid of war. I have no ill will towards you. All I'm pursuing is profit!" If John had to choose between a Middle Eastern tycoon and Israel, he would undoubtedly choose the Middle Eastern tycoon, because it offers endless wealth. He couldn't possibly give up such readily available wealth just because some people were dissatisfied.

Look at how extravagant Middle Eastern tycoons are. They spend huge sums on purchasing products from John's companies, which is unmatched by others. When faced with profits, John naturally chooses the side that benefits him.

This serious topic quickly came to an end. John had expressed his stance, and now it was up to those guys to choose. However, John wouldn't underestimate these guys, as he knew their true thoughts very well; each of them had serious psychological problems.

"Director Coppola, I think you should make a change. If you continue like this, you'll easily be abandoned by the market. Hollywood has never pursued art; it's all about profit. Without sufficient profit, no film company will accept you. Businesses pursue profit, otherwise they'll fall into crisis. If you're willing, Legendary Entertainment welcomes you to join us!"

Although Coppola's career was declining, John didn't believe he would truly disappear from Hollywood. John believed that if the director could wake up in time, he still had a bright future. In later years, when he finally realized this, it was too late. He had too many mediocre films, which thoroughly disappointed the Hollywood giants, and naturally, he could no longer gain any trust or investment, forcing him to temporarily withdraw from Hollywood.

"Director Coppola, I think the boss is right. You're a bit lost right now, gradually deviating from Hollywood's orthodoxy. Art has never been the goal pursued by major film studios. If they pursue it excessively, no film studio can afford the consequences. Unless someone can strike a balance and make the film profitable, like your Godfather!"

In Hollywood, countless directors have severed their ties with the mainstream in their pursuit of art. Every Hollywood giant doesn't look at a director's artistic achievements, but rather at their box office performance. Hollywood has never prioritized art; it's all about commerce. Box office revenue is the foundation of everything.

Today, the entire Hollywood knows about Universal Pictures' transformation and understands that it has fully shifted towards commercialism. While it's not exactly abandoning art entirely, there are at least no art films or award-winning films in Universal Pictures. This has almost become a consensus in Hollywood, but no Hollywood giant dares to underestimate Universal Pictures.

It was precisely because of Universal Pictures' radical transformation that it was able to revive itself, achieve its current success, and become the powerful Legendary Entertainment it is today. Other Hollywood giants didn't lack the desire to change; rather, they had far too many concerns and too many problems to solve. But none of this applies to Universal Pictures or Legendary Entertainment. Even if someone tried to rise to prominence, they would be forcefully suppressed.

John's previous remarks to Robert Iger reflected Legendary Entertainment's attitude: if a film studio can't even survive, what's the point of talking about art? Although Cameron is also pursuing his own vision of art, he knows he's making commercial blockbusters and won't jump into the vortex of art. That's why he was able to gain the approval of John and Robert Iger, and why he wasn't kicked out of the project even after going over budget!

(End of this chapter)