American Entertainment 1978: New York Night Fever

Chapter 111 The Executive Who Picked Up a Bargain

Back in Los Angeles, newly minted millionaire Zeke plunged back into school, preparing for his final exams in June, oblivious to the outside world's turmoil.

The advantage of having a high-achieving girlfriend is that you can get extra help anytime, anywhere. Judy's learning pace is much faster than his, so tutoring her is more than enough.

The air conditioning in the school library was very strong, and the two of them would bury themselves in their studies in a corner after school every day.

That evening, after finishing his day of study, Zik stood in front of the public phone in the school lobby, inserted a coin, and dialed Tino's number.

"Zick? How's your exam preparation going?"

"It's alright, mostly just rote memorization." Zeke cut straight to the point, "How's 'Friday Night Fever' going? What's the reception since its release?"

"Both box office and critical reception were less than ideal. Critics and media simply didn't buy it, calling it a black version of *Saturday Night Fever*," clearly implying it was a copycat film. Although the premiere was a grand affair with three screenings, the film's distributor, Columbia Pictures, obviously knew its limitations and allocated very few screenings. It opened in only 85 theaters in New York, grossing a mere $75.2 in its opening week."

"How are the soundtrack sales?"

"It's going really well here," Tino said, raising his voice slightly. "Last Dance has already hit the Billboard Hot 100, and it's really strong. The soundtrack is climbing rapidly on the album charts too, and I think it'll easily go platinum (one million copies). After all, Casablanca has a strong distribution network in the disco scene."

"Ha, looks like Casablanca hit the jackpot again," Zeke laughed. "The movie, soundtrack, and marketing costs combined only amounted to 300 million... By the way, how's the job finding me a senior executive going?"

"It's settled," Tino reported. "There's an old guy named Matthew Steinberg, who used to be in finance at Reprise Records, and later joined Mercury Records as an executive. Mercury Records had a big layoff last year and kicked him out. He used to help Mo Austin calculate Frank Sinatra's European royalties, so he knows all about international publishing."

"Sounds good," Zeke thought to himself. Reprise was the famous Ensemble Records, formerly Frank Sinatra's label, which was later acquired by Warner. "By the way, who's Mo Austin again?"

He had heard the name from Neil before, but he never knew who it was.

"You don't know Mo?" Tino was a little surprised. "Mo Austin used to be Frank's accountant, and later he was the general manager of Ensemble Records. After Warner acquired Ensemble, this guy used his skills to climb higher and higher in the company, and step by step he became the head of Warner Bros. Records. He's a big shot."

"From a celebrity's accountant to the head of a record company?" Zick exclaimed, his life trajectory more legendary than a movie. "So, Matthew was this big shot's old subordinate. Was he expensive?"

"If you hire him, he'll work for $28,000 a year," Tino stated the figure. "He even has to pay for his own health insurance now."

"Twenty-eight thousand? That's the price for Mercury Records' former CFO?" Zick was incredulous. While this might be considered a high salary for an ordinary person, it was practically a steal for a record company hiring a senior executive.

Matthew is a mid-level senior manager at Mercury. In Casablanca, he would be roughly at the same level as Cecil Holmes, a black executive before his promotion, and Erf Beagle, the head of New York. His annual salary would be between $40,000 and $65,000.

"He was 51 when he was laid off last year. Big companies don't dare to hire old men like that now. Wall Street only recognizes young MBAs these days. They think old guys are rigid-minded and always want to calculate too much, which is easy to offend people. Matthew's wife just passed away, his daughter got married, and he lives alone in Queens. He urgently needs a stable job and doesn't care about the salary."

"But his meticulousness is perfect for you. This guy doesn't like socializing, only trusts contracts and numbers, and wouldn't associate with someone like Jacques Morali."

This book is first published on 111k.com, providing you with a reading experience without errors or disordered chapters.

"Alright, he's the one," Zeke immediately decided. "Arrange for him to come to Los Angeles to meet me, and I'll reimburse his airfare."

"no problem."

"Oh, right, make him buy economy class. I don't have any suckers like PolyGram to help me pay the bill," Zike added. Money should be spent wisely.

"Haha, don't worry, Matthew won't waste money."

After hanging up the phone, Zik was quite satisfied. Tino's connections were quite useful; this kind of behind-the-scenes old man, who was well-versed in the industry's inner workings and international royalties, would have been impossible for him to find on his own.

He knew very well that in most industries, senior finance and legal professionals are actually more sought after with age, and the age of fifty is the golden age for balancing experience and energy. This time, he had gotten a bargain.

More importantly, Matthew, this old-school financial manager, can not only make the accounts clear for him, but is also a ready-made tax expert. He knows nothing about these things, but the IRS tax bills are really chasing him like a death warrant. Right now, he desperately needs a professional who can actually keep the money in his pocket.

"When is your record label opening?" Judy chewed gum as she walked over, smiling as she hugged his arm. "Will I be the first artist?"

Ever since Judy learned that he was preparing to start his own record company, she had always thought that Zeke was setting up the company specifically to fulfill his promise to get her a record deal.

Looking into her bright eyes, Qi Ke felt a little amused. Let her continue thinking that way; some misunderstandings are the sweetest promises in themselves.

It's a little past five in the afternoon, and the corridor is empty; the students have long since gone home after school.

Qi Ke casually put his arm around her waist and leaned down to kiss her: "Of course, you're definitely the number one artist. I can only rank second."

"Ugh, we're at school." Judy's cheeks flushed slightly as she gently pushed him, but she didn't flinch.

"What's there to be afraid of? There's no one here anymore, and paparazzi can't get in either." This private school is very strict, and outsiders can't get in at all, so Zik isn't worried.

"Zick," Judy said, somewhat tempted, squirming in his arms and lowering her voice, "Do you want to stay at school...?"

Qi Ke instantly understood her meaning, his eyes lit up, and his Adam's apple bobbed: "Of course, I've wanted to try it for a long time. To the classroom?"

“I have a better option,” Judy said, taking a bunch of keys from her bag and waving them in front of Zeke. The metal clattered crisply. “How about the chemistry office?”

The sound of a body hitting the door echoed.

The periodic table of elements hanging on the wall swayed rhythmically. Accompanied by the panting breaths around him, a scene from a movie flashed through Zeke's mind:

A pretty girl in a similar office... The soundtrack is a loud, distorted electric guitar solo and a rousing rock song.

Maybe you're right.

Maybe I'm wrong.

And just maybe you're right.

And0h. .

Maybe your mother told you the truth.

And they "re always be something there for you

And you "ll never be alone"

But maybe she's wrong.

And maybe I'm right.

And just maybe she "swrong"

Maybe she's wrong.