America: My Time

Chapter 690 John's Plan
Chapter 680 John's Plan
"Boss, can't those guys in Japan see through John's plan? Even if they're crazy, they wouldn't believe that a honey trap could succeed, nor would they think that a little fox like John would really be influenced by a woman. It's impossible that they weren't on guard at all, or that they weren't calculating at all."

"Of course. You know how cunning those Japanese guys are. They've always been wary of the US, but they're powerless to do anything about it. After all, their own market can't support their development. How could they not be wary of a little fox like John? But they're too greedy. Greed makes these guys even more arrogant and crazy. Even if someone warns them, they won't care. You know how crazy the Japanese real estate market and stock market are right now. So even knowing John has a scheme, they'll still step into the trap he's set, and they'll do it willingly. That's John's brilliance. What do you think John did to those Japanese guys in these repeated tests? He only compromised, selling off assets in Japan time and time again. And all of this was at the request of the Japanese themselves, it has nothing to do with John. Just like in the cooperation with Hughes Aerospace, even if the Japanese were to leave, it was their own fault, it had nothing to do with John. They should even be grateful to John for his magnanimity in not holding it against them, since they learned the most advanced aerospace technology from Hughes!"

"Boss, the Japanese wouldn't really think that way, would they? They've invested real money, after all?"

"Jimmy, you're wrong. That's how the Japanese think. Technology is priceless, especially such advanced aerospace technology. The amount of money Japan invested is nothing. Do you think anyone other than Hughes Aerospace would let them access such 'advanced' technology, let alone participate in it? And this time, with the undersea communication cable deployment, you saw Japan and Middle Eastern tycoons involved again, providing strong support and taking on their share of the 'responsibility' without any demands. That's also the allure of technology! John's repeated compromises and concessions have had a huge impact on those guys in Japan. In the eyes of the Japanese government, John is a friend, even if he needs to be treated with caution, he's still a friend they can cooperate with and support because John knows when to stop and is willing to give up all benefits. That's why John reached that agreement with those old guys like Rockefeller in the game world, giving them so much time to prepare—all because of Japan's existence."

"This is insane! John's plan is insane, unbelievable!"

"It's truly insane, even unbelievable, but that's the truth, an unchangeable fact. The Japanese are walking step by step into the trap John has prepared for them, waiting to clean up the mess. And we are his pawns. Unless we can give up our schemes against Japan, but do you think that's possible? Also, John's center in Asia will be China. China is his manufacturing center. In the end, Japan will only be left with entertainment and clothing, and that oil refinery. At least that's how it is now. Who knows what it will be like in the future!"

Countless people in the US are secretly studying John's plans, and Morgan is no exception. This isn't entirely Morgan's own idea; it's largely the result of calculations by their think tanks. Perhaps John's initial plan was to establish a presence in Europe centered on Britain, but the British were too foolish, responding in this way, which became a point of comparison John used to highlight Japan.

Compared to his constant concessions to Japan and his assertive response to the British, even a fool would assume John had a soft spot for Japan. However, the truth is quite the opposite; it was all part of John's scheme, his calculation. Both were investments, both were tests, but completely different attitudes. The Japanese naturally felt a sense of satisfaction; John could 'satisfy' their every desire, even providing them with resources like mines. Therefore, they subconsciously considered John a friend.

After being held hostage, they were given a huge reward, which gave the Japanese hope for resource self-sufficiency. Naturally, they were very happy and satisfied, because this was exactly what they needed most!

"Jimmy, have someone keep an eye on John, that little fox. This guy is no simpleton. With ASUS, Nvidia, and Dreamworld's strong emergence, this little fox will definitely choose to hide. I want to know all his whereabouts."

“I understand. From the information we’ve gathered, John will be leaving the US soon. He’s currently making final arrangements for Bentley Motors, given the significant losses Bentley suffered this time and the aggressive acquisitions that have created internal problems. I’ve heard that John intends to initiate a full-scale collaboration between Bentley Motors and Phoenix Media, and is planning some kind of film project. There are already some rumors circulating in Hollywood about this!”

"With media in hand, you have an absolute advantage in advertising. Just look at Bentley and the Forever Group to see how powerful the media can be for true industry experts. If John does this, I believe Bentley Motors will quickly recover its losses. To be honest, I don't understand why other Hollywood companies don't have this kind of power?"

It's not just Morgan Stanley who doesn't understand; even Hollywood itself doesn't understand. They all know about Phoenix Media and Legendary Entertainment's big-budget film projects, but why are their investments going down the drain with little return, while their competitors are making great strides? It's not that no one wants to learn, but they quickly find themselves facing a wall: they're far behind in special effects. Hollywood's giants have tried to catch up, but the results are limited while the costs are staggering. The investment and returns are completely disproportionate, and it gradually becomes a burden. While the Hollywood market is large, it can't accommodate too many special effects companies, and not all special effects companies can obtain all the resources they want.

What Hollywood least wants to hear these days is about Legendary Entertainment and Phoenix Media's development of blockbusters and film series, because that means facing strong challenges and immense pressure. It's not that no one has tried to target Phoenix Media with the issue of theaters, but it's useless, as Phoenix Theaters is independent of the film studio.

"Boss, there are many reasons for this. On the one hand, they don't have the support of a powerful special effects company. On the other hand, they don't have the strength of Legendary Entertainment and Phoenix Group, and they don't dare to stand against those stars. The revenue from launching a series of films is nowhere near that of their competitors. Most importantly, there's the script and censorship. So far, no one knows the full details of the two groups' censorship systems. Many Hollywood giants have studied them, but it hasn't been very effective."

"The two major media groups have used a strong attitude to suppress big-name stars and the screenwriters' association, keeping the initiative completely in their own hands. They have their own set of systems, which is the key to their success. It would be a problem if they couldn't win a series of publicity campaigns. It can only be said that those guys have not yet grasped the audience's psychology and have not gotten out of their predicament."

With Paramount Pictures' explosive growth, Hollywood has attracted even more attention and actors, all eager to learn more and participate in this blockbuster project. Legendary Entertainment and Phoenix Media no longer need to prove themselves; their blockbuster projects are invariably successful, making their participating actors famous. However, some have paid the price for their ignorance and arrogance, with Tom Cruise being one of them.

The assertive attitude of the two major conglomerates made it clear to all Hollywood actors that they had no right to negotiate with film studios. If you don't accept it, there are plenty of others who will. Even if there are various voices in Hollywood, or even if those guys in Los Angeles have their own ideas, they have no choice but to back down in the face of the assertive attitude of the two major media conglomerates.

If it weren't for the British's actions, some people might have been complacent. But now, no one dares to provoke the bottom line of the two major media groups. If they were to drive them away, the consequences would be too severe. They would be the sinners of Hollywood, and the entire Hollywood might face a crisis of collapse.

What kind of film project is Bentley Motors planning with Paramount Pictures? It's definitely related to automobiles, everyone understands that, but the details of the plan are hard to say, after all, it's a secret of the film company. However, as soon as the news of this collaboration came out, countless people were excited and had many ideas, but trying to pull strings and find connections was simply not feasible. All of this requires the approval of John, the big boss. After all, this is not just a problem for Paramount alone, but also involves Bentley Motors, which requires stricter requirements.

Without John's consent, no one at Paramount dared to make any promises. They understood the immense pressure behind such a collaboration and the potential consequences. No one was foolish enough to act on their own initiative; they couldn't afford the repercussions. If nothing went wrong, all was well; but if problems arose, they would have to bear the responsibility themselves. Especially considering the significant impact and cost Paramount inflicted on Tom Cruise's scandal. Such a massive investment in developing a star that failed to generate more profit for the company—that was a failure!

(End of this chapter)