America: My Time

Chapter 473 The Current State of Hollywood
Chapter 473 The Current State of Hollywood

"Damn it, these talent agencies are so stupid and weak. They've been given the opportunity and the stage, but these guys are hopeless and have backed down. Paramount Pictures isn't Universal Pictures, do they need to be so afraid? If these guys just stand up, they can deliver a fatal blow to Paramount and affect their 'Top Gun'. Those crazy fans will definitely impact the box office!"

"What's the use of saying all this now? The agency is unwilling to stand against Paramount, unwilling to face the stranglehold of Legendary Entertainment and Phoenix Group. What can we do? Even Tom Cruise has compromised. We have no way to do anything. The parties involved are unwilling to stand up and cause trouble. No matter how many ideas we have, they cannot be implemented. Even if we arrange some tabloids, it will not affect Paramount Pictures. Moreover, Top Gun has the power of the Navy behind it. We dare not be too obvious, otherwise we will be in trouble."

"But I'm not willing to give up. This is our best chance. If we can deliver a fatal blow to Paramount, we can drag Legendary Entertainment into this and make them pay the price. This will change our current pressure. Disney's situation is becoming more and more dangerous. Legendary Entertainment and Phoenix Media are both keeping a close eye on us and destroying our profits. If this continues, we won't be able to hold on for long and will face the crisis of bankruptcy liquidation!"

"Right now, those guys at Warner Bros. are unwilling to stand on the side of Legendary Entertainment and Phoenix Media, and they are unwilling to face their suppression. We are powerless to do anything about it. We should stop now and not make things too big, so as not to have a greater impact on ourselves. In fact, I think we should also make a change and move beyond animated films to live-action films. Otherwise, our situation will become more and more dangerous, and our enemies will suppress us even more frantically!"

"You think I don't want to change? It's just that we don't have the ability. Those big directors are all controlled by other Hollywood giants. We have no chance at all, and we don't have enough funds either. That's the most troublesome problem."

"We're doing this on their orders because we're seeking help. They can't just stand by and do nothing. They need to give us some assistance so we can have a chance to catch our breath. Otherwise, if we fall, no one in Hollywood will dare to stand up to Legendary Entertainment and Phoenix Media. I believe they don't want that to happen. And if those guys step in, we might be able to make some contact with those big directors, or even get them to help us make this transition!"

"All I can say is that I will do my best, but I can't guarantee the outcome. Those guys are more insidious, and we are just pawns in their game. It's hard to say whether they will provide any assistance, after all, those guys are more ruthless!"

"If they give us nothing, perhaps we can make a change of heart. We can turn to Legendary Entertainment and Phoenix Group, or tell that little fox John everything. Let's see what kind of expressions those guys will have then. Since we see no hope, they shouldn't expect to have an easy time either!"

"Unless absolutely necessary, it's best not to do this, and don't even think about it. Those guys are ruthless Wall Street crocodiles. In their eyes, we're just 'ants.' They can wipe out Disney with a wave of their hand. If we're put in a desperate situation, we have no power to fight them. We're not Paramount, nor are we Universal Pictures! We don't have a powerful media conglomerate behind us. Now we can only beg them to give us a way out!"

“We still have value to us. As long as those guys don’t want John, that little fox, to have a monopoly in Hollywood and to have no obstacles in the media field, they will definitely lend us a hand. After all, in the entire Hollywood today, only Disney has not compromised with Legendary Entertainment and Phoenix Media. We have value to us.”

This makes sense. If someone has value, they won't be completely abandoned. Even if it's known that Disney can't pose a significant threat to Legendary Entertainment and Phoenix Media, those with ulterior motives will still receive some assistance to prevent them from falling. If Disney falls, who in Hollywood can stand up to Legendary Entertainment and Phoenix Media?

The schemes surrounding 'Top Gun' and Tom Cruise's transformation are all part of a conspiracy and a calculation. Paramount Pictures is certainly aware of all this; there are no secrets in Hollywood. Paramount Pictures naturally understands that a competitor is plotting against them, but they cannot afford to confront them now. The enemy's scheme is just a minor one, and a confrontation would only harm Paramount's interests. They can retaliate later when the opportunity arises; there's no need to make a big fuss now.

In truth, everyone in Hollywood understood what was going on with Tom Cruise's change of heart. However, everyone was deliberately downplaying the presence of the hidden giants behind the scenes. No one was foolish enough to stand on the opposite side, and no one wanted to gamble with their future. Even Paramount hadn't said anything, so they naturally pretended not to know anything. Such calculations were perfectly normal in Hollywood. As long as no one's bottom line was crossed, there wouldn't be any earth-shattering storms. Now, all the pressure was on Tom Cruise, and all the responsibility fell on him. He had foolishly believed his agency and made this foolish move.

Is Disney's little trick worth Paramount's attention? No, the two are not on the same level now. Paramount is confident in facing all pressure, and Disney is already surrounded and on the verge of bankruptcy. With just a little more effort, it could destroy them.

Disney has been able to persevere this long precisely because they have powerful backers. These individuals are unwilling to see Disney collapse and are willing to give it a chance, using Disney's influence to restrain John's power in the media. Of course, other Hollywood giants are also involved; otherwise, Disney alone wouldn't have such capabilities. However, these other Hollywood giants remain hidden, unwilling to take the lead.

Before Phoenix Media acquired Paramount, Paramount Pictures was an enemy of Legendary Entertainment, as was Columbia Pictures. However, now that Paramount Pictures has been acquired by Phoenix Media and is now one of their own, and Columbia Pictures has been acquired by Sony, they dare not have any more ulterior motives. So, the situation among Hollywood giants has suddenly become what it is today, and Disney is under increasing pressure.

Today, Disney relies entirely on external support to survive. Without the support of those who are willing to help, they would have collapsed long ago. After John took over the Disney Princess series, Disney has been on a downward spiral, not to mention that they have been constantly suppressed and blocked by the two major media groups.

The concern is that this could cause turmoil in Hollywood and lead to even greater trouble. Otherwise, Disney would have ceased to exist long ago and would have already collapsed. Legendary Entertainment and Phoenix Media have been holding back, relaxing their pressure on Disney every time it faces bankruptcy liquidation, allowing these companies to catch their breath and recover. With the help of some people, they have been able to survive. In any case, Disney is one of the giants of Hollywood. If it were to fall, it would cause a huge storm in Hollywood and bring it to a terrible crisis.

The fall of a giant would be a devastating blow to the entire industry. John would not allow such a situation to occur without full preparation. Legendary Entertainment and Phoenix Media also understand the danger involved, which is why Disney has survived to this day and why these Hollywood giants have not suffered a devastating blow.

Before becoming a tycoon, John could act recklessly, but after becoming a Hollywood tycoon, he had to consider the entire industry. At the very least, he couldn't let his momentary impulses cause Hollywood to suffer a devastating blow, because that would not only deal a devastating blow to the enemy, but also bring a devastating disaster to himself.

If Disney and MGM were to fall, a terrible storm would rage in Hollywood. Even if Legendary Entertainment and Phoenix Media were placed in the eye of the storm, facing pressure from all sides, these two media giants could easily be broken up, which is not the outcome John wants. Therefore, both Legendary Entertainment and Phoenix Media are exercising restraint. It is precisely because they understand this that Disney and its ilk are so emboldened to provoke the two major media giants time and time again. And it is precisely because of their provocations that they have received help from those with ulterior motives.

This is Hollywood, this is the true face of the Hollywood industry today. Hollywood giants are well aware of this situation, and it is precisely because they understand this that Warner Bros. has gradually withdrawn from its confrontation with Legendary Entertainment and Phoenix Media. They do not want to follow in Disney's footsteps, do not want to be controlled by others, and do not want to become someone's henchman. Moreover, this would affect their own interests. Faced with interests, they chose to compromise and back down.

To be fair, MGM has considered emulating Disney, but they simply can't. MGM's bosses dare not offend John too much, lest they face a disaster and be crushed by the combined forces of the two major media conglomerates. It is precisely because they understand this that MGM has always exercised restraint, at least avoiding the combined attack from Legendary Entertainment and Phoenix Media, and thus avoiding a crisis.

(End of this chapter)