America: Starting with the acquisition of MGM...

Chapter 68, Section 69: The Price

Eric sat back down on the sofa, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the Olsen sisters.

"Ashley, Mary, what movies have you made over the years?"

The two sisters quickly began to recount their experiences over the years.

"My Father's Great Escape"

"The Story of Stealing the Beams and Replacing the Pillars"

"Random Truths"

"Holiday in the Sun"

"What genres are these movies?"

"Family comedy, youth campus – that's the positioning our agent gave us, which is beneficial to the company's development."

"So how are your merchandise sales?"

Mary Olsen shook her head slightly: "Things were alright a few years ago, but not in recent years. It feels like the times are abandoning us, so we want to transform."

Eric nodded: "But your transformation failed, which means you went in the wrong direction. In my experience, there's not much of a market for this kind of lighthearted campus comedy. The only one that's successful is 'American Pie'."

"Now I have a question for you, and you must answer it seriously: do you want to focus on being a businessman or an actor in the future?"

Ashley Olsen, the older sister, immediately replied, "Of course, it's acting. A business empire needs to be supported by an acting career; only enough fame can sustain commercial success."

"A smart answer. So, if you really want to have a long career as actors, and even evolve from child stars into serious actors, I have a script here with two female leads. I wonder if you dare to take it?"

"catch!"

The two sisters spoke in unison, without the slightest hesitation, neither of them wanting to be a child star for life.

However, as an elder, Elena was clearly more experienced and decided to ask first.

"Eric, could you give me a sneak peek at the movie's plot?"

"Sure, but it has to be kept secret. The movie is called 'Blue Is the Warmest Color,' a film about women's love. The two female leads are high school students about to graduate, which is suitable for your age."

"Female love? Is it lesbian love?" Ashley Olsen asked, frowning.

"You understand correctly. This film is quite daring and can be considered an art film. It's completely different from the slapstick comedies you've acted in before, and it requires a certain level of acting skill."

"Wait, you're not talking about two female leads, are you? You mean I'll play a couple with Ashley?" Mary Olsen asked tentatively.

"If you want to win a Golden Globe or an Oscar for Best Actress, you have to do this!"

"What!"

Upon hearing about the Golden Globes and Oscars, the two sisters instantly lost their minds. They had been in the industry for seventeen years, and even the most boastful directors and producers wouldn't dare tell them that playing this role would guarantee them an Oscar!

Although they are actresses, the Olsen twins are aware of their limitations. They might still have a chance at an MTV award, but as for the Golden Globes and Oscars, they are just unrealistic dreams. It's better to stay realistic.

"You mean you mean we can win an Oscar with this movie?" Ashley asked, somewhat stammering.

Eric remained calm: "Winning the Best Actress award is a bit difficult, but getting a nomination shouldn't be too hard, as long as you do some maneuvering. After all, this kind of sensitive subject matter has always been a favorite of the judges, but the prerequisite is that your acting skills are up to par."

"Even if you don't win an Oscar, you'll still get a Golden Globe, Cannes, Venice, or Berlin Film Festival award. And just winning one of those will allow you to completely shed the child star label—that's true transformation!"

Since Eric dared to make such a statement, he must have been confident.

The original film, *Blue Is the Warmest Color*, was a French film that won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and also received the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Most people on IMDb gave it an 8 out of 10, but the rating dropped later due to the influence of anti-LGBT groups.

"Eric, will there be any explicit scenes in the movie?"

"Of course, and it's a must. For art films with sensitive themes, do you expect to win awards without explicit scenes?"

"The judges would only say, 'How can an actor be considered professional if they can't even let go of themselves?'"

The two sisters looked at each other somewhat awkwardly: "But we're sisters after all, it's not really appropriate for us to film this kind of movie, and what if our fans object? After all..."

"After all, you still need to sell merchandise, right? Are you worried it will affect your business?"

The two sisters nodded. This was the reason why they always acted in campus-themed light comedies.

"Hehe. There's a saying, 'No destruction, no construction.' Your image has been fixed for over a decade. Only with a major breakthrough will the audience realize you've grown up, and directors will realize you're no longer child stars. Understand?"

"Besides, this movie is at least NC17 rated. How old is your target audience? Kids under ten. They won't care."

"But what about these children's parents? Everyone knows that children's spending comes from their parents." The Olsen sisters were still worried.

"Ashley, Mary, this is not 1903, nor is it 1803. Our society is incredibly open-minded. Although there are still a small minority of people who are homophobic, the general public is very accepting."

"The Netherlands, France, and Belgium all allow same-sex couples to marry. I've heard that even Massachusetts is about to pass a similar bill. If the bill passes right after the movie is released, do you know how much impact that would have?"

"You will become the new representatives of public opinion, and your identities will be more than just two female celebrities. I guarantee your products will sell out!"

After Eric's long and sweet talk, not only the Olsen sisters, but even Elena was a little confused.

"Can all of this really be achieved?" Mary Olsen asked incredulously.

Eric pointed to himself: "It might be difficult for the two of you because you have so few resources, but it's much easier for me."

"Think of Gwyneth Paltrow, think of Shakespeare in Love, do you really think it can beat Saving Private Ryan? It's all thanks to Miramax's management behind the scenes."

"Compared to Miramax, MGM has more methods. With my operation, many impossible things will become possible."

Swallowing hard, the Olsen twins were nearly overwhelmed by Eric's grand promises, especially the Best Actress nomination—a dream for every actress. Their resolve had been severely shaken.

Seeing that her niece's defenses were about to be breached, Elena hurriedly asked, "Wait, there's one more crucial question."

"What?"

The senior manager took a deep breath and asked, "What's the price? There's no such thing as a free lunch."

"Eric, you're offering too much. I'm worried these two kids won't be able to afford it!"

Women in their 30s have more to think about and consider.

Eric smiled slightly: "I don't want much, just shares in DoubleStar Entertainment!"

I'll try to save up as many drafts as possible these next few days.

(End of this chapter)