American TV series: Starting with exploiting young Sheldon

“Yes, he seemed quite anxious…” Lina nodded.

Mr. Randy resigned from his job as a drama teacher at Melford High School three years ago and came to Apple City to try his luck in the directing industry.

Three years have passed, but it seems there has been no improvement.

"Come on, let's call Peggy and go see Mr. Randy." Mike was quite enthusiastic towards this drama club teacher, who was someone he knew well.

So, after pulling Peggy, who was reluctant to leave the lab, the group arrived at the foot of the luxurious villa.

At the entrance, Mr. Randy stood in front of a refurbished secondhand sports car, admiring the luxurious villa before him with envy.

Owning a detached villa in the heart of Wall Street is the dream of many middle-aged people.

"Oh, you're Regina, Gretchen, and Karen. Your amazing figures have been all the rage these past two years. And your songs are really good~" Like a middle-aged man whose edges have been worn down by life, Mr. Randy greeted them with a smile as the villa door opened.

He unexpectedly met three big stars from the "Devil Body Group" here and showered them with compliments.

"You're Peggy! You're getting more and more beautiful, I almost didn't recognize you..."

Then, he recognized Peggy, who had fully grown up and was just as beautiful as the three big stars, Regina and her, and he showered her with compliments.

"Mike, you're getting more and more handsome~" Finally, Mr. Randy looked at his target and tentatively opened his arms.

"Hello, Mr. Randy~" Mike smiled and hugged him, jokingly saying, "You've gotten quite plump these days."

Yes, Mr. Randy is at least 20 pounds heavier now than he was three years ago.

His authentic brown suit could barely conceal his beer belly.

"Being able to eat is a blessing, and I have indeed gained quite a bit of weight." Mr. Randy laughed and replied when the other person teased him.

After exchanging pleasantries, Mike led Mr. Randy into the villa.

"What do you need me for?" Mike asked after snacks and drinks were laid out in the third-floor reception room.

"Well, I recently heard that a big Hollywood director is preparing a big movie. I was originally thinking of having you audition for the male lead, since you're so handsome..." Mr. Randy said, his emotions gradually settling down, "But now it seems you might not be interested."

This Mr. Randy had been very optimistic about Mike's acting talent back when he was a drama teacher in Melford.

When he left school three years ago, he specifically left Mike with many professional books on acting.

However, things change over time. Looking at the luxuriously decorated villa in front of him, Mr. Randy realized that Mike might not necessarily need to make a living by performing.

As for Mr. Randy himself, he came to Apple City three years ago with great enthusiasm to pursue a career as a director, but after only a few months of study, he found himself so poor that he couldn't even afford to eat.

Fortunately, during his most difficult time, he received help from a relative who was in the used car business, which prevented him from starving in Apple City.

To make a living, he also started a used car business with his relatives. However, he never gave up his pursuit of art.

Sure enough, after hearing that a famous director was raising funds for a new film, he got excited again.

However, lacking resources, he couldn't join the film crew, which is when he remembered Mike, who was studying in Apple City.

Yes, Mr. Randy only knew that Mike had been accepted to Columbia University, but he did not know that Mike was the mastermind behind the King Corporation.

This is why he was so surprised when he saw Mike's luxurious villa.

The student who was imagined to be poor has become a rich person.

Mr. Randy figured that his dream of becoming a celebrity agent might be shattered.

Before he approached Mike, his plan was to become Mike's manager and then join the film crew with him.

"A big movie? What's the name?" Mike, who wasn't used to reading minds of his own people, had no idea that Mr. Randy, sitting across from him, was thinking so much.

"Titanic is based on a true story and is currently in the pre-production stage. It's said that director Cameron will be casting actors nationwide. If you're willing to audition, you're sure to get the lead role..." Mr. Randy perked up again when talking about the new movie, probably wanting to try his luck again.

You should know that he had gone to Columbia University campus specifically to look for Mike, and after failing to find him, he made inquiries from various sources before finally finding out Mike's address.

The difficulty involved is considerable.

"Is Titanic already in pre-production? But the timing is about right..." Mike sorted out the information in his mind.

If I remember correctly, this movie was filmed in 1996 and released in 1997, so it should still be a few years away from now.

However, I heard that Cameron spent about six years preparing for this movie, so the timeframe is about right.

"Well, although the pay for the male and female leads in this film isn't high, it's guaranteed to make you famous. Would you like to consider it?" Mr. Randy began his persuasion.

"Awareness?" Mike pondered. This film certainly had many aspects that could be worked out.

For example, the ending theme song "My Heart Will Go On" is a classic and could be sung by the Devil Body Group.

Moreover, the copyright of this film is very profitable, and it will continue to generate income for another 10 or 20 years.

As for fame...

Ever since Mike discovered that his superhuman level could not be improved, he noticed that fame could provide him with [faith power].

As a one-time consumable, [Power of Faith] has no upper limit and can be stored as a backup energy source.

Just to become a star? Forget it.

Mike plans to use the internet to cultivate himself into a successful entrepreneur, like Bill Gates or Warren Buffett, once the internet becomes more developed in a few years.

Becoming a national "idol" and collecting "Faith Power" is definitely easier and more efficient than simply becoming a celebrity and entertaining everyone.

Of course, the pressure will be even higher.

"Forget about the audition..." Mike, having made up his mind, looked at Mr. Randy and said, "However, could you help me contact the production team and see if they are short of funds?"

Mr. Randy was already disappointed when he heard the rejection, but he never expected to have a day when he could represent capital. He excitedly asked, "How much money can you invest?"

Although it was known that Mike, who owned a luxurious villa, was probably not short of money.

But Mr. Randy was still a little worried. After all, making movies is very expensive, especially big-budget movies, which can easily cost tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of dollars. This is not something that ordinary people can handle.

"How much I can invest isn't important; what matters is how much funding the production team needs," Mike replied with a smile, looking very Versailles-like.

However, with assets worth tens of billions in the King Group, he certainly has the confidence to say that.

"Okay, I'll contact the production team for you in a bit." Seeing the young man's confident demeanor, Mr. Randy smiled as well.

“Then I’ll leave it to you.” Mike replied, “If this investment goes through, I’ll give you a surprise later.”

Although Mike didn't intend to become a movie star, that didn't stop him from investing in the entertainment industry.

Coupled with the terrible situation at the agency of the three girls from the "Devil Body Group," Mike decided to start his own comprehensive agency.

You can try to do business involving signing actors, singers, directors, etc.

Mr. Randy wants to be a director, right? If the situation is right, Mike wouldn't mind giving him a chance to be a director.

……

Mr. Randy did not disappoint. In just one week, he traveled all over Los Angeles by himself and brought back good news for Mike.

Fox was willing to let outsiders invest; if Mike invested $100 million in Titanic, he would receive 40 percent of the film's profits.

Fox is also an investment company whose main business is investing in the entertainment and film industry.

"I think you need to reconsider. One hundred million is still too much for making a movie." Randy, who knows a bit about the film industry, doesn't think he brought back good news.

Of course, this is indeed the case in today's market.

In the early 1990s, 100 million was no small sum, but to use it to make a movie and only get a 40% return would be hard for many people to understand.

However, this does not include Mike.

A movie that rakes in 2 billion yuan at the box office within a year, with an investment of 100 million yuan and a 40% return, is bound to make a lot of money no matter how you look at it.

“Investing 100 million is not a problem, it’s just that the 40% profit-sharing ratio is too low.” Of course, Mike wouldn’t refuse to earn more money.

As far as he knows, Fox's initial budget for the film was less than 100 million, and now it is clearly shifting the risk.

Since the other party wanted to get something for nothing, Mike didn't mind taking advantage of them a little more.

"A 40% cut is too low, and your company takes 55% of the profits. I wonder how much you plan to invest?"

During a later three-way video call, Mike confronted an agent from Fox.

The other party was an elderly white man with a kind and benevolent demeanor, which was very deceptive.

"I also plan to invest 100 million in the film and be responsible for any budget overruns or other issues," the silver-haired old Morgan explained, then continued, "Of course, if you're not satisfied with the allocation, I can give you another five percent. That's the limit of my concessions..."

As he spoke, the old man made a troubled expression.

Actually, Morgan's initial budget for this big movie was $75 million. He only increased the budget after new investors joined.

However, in his plan, the final cost of this big movie should be between 110 million and 170 million.

And he, who is in charge of the follow-up issues of the budget, can save at least 30 million.

By spending less money and earning more, Morgan felt he had won at least twice.

“OK, 45% split is acceptable…” Mike nodded and continued, “You draft the contract first, and I’ll come over to see you in a few days.”

If I remember correctly, the final production cost of this big movie was almost 300 million.

Morgan, who was trying to be clever, thought he had made a profit, but in fact, this investment almost drove him to bankruptcy.

"Mr. Mike, right? I wonder if you'd be interested in being the male lead in this movie? Your appearance is a perfect fit for the character of Jack..."

After the two investor bosses finished their conversation, Cameron, who was the director of the three-way video call, stared straight at Mike.

Whether it's appearance or temperament, Mike is in a class of his own, making it impossible for the director not to be tempted.

"Sorry, I'm not considering acting in movies right now," Mike shook his head and declined.

Why would a boss who can live a comfortable life choose to endure the hardships of filming? Is his life too sweet?

“Well, alright! I was being presumptuous,” Cameron said. “Then, when it comes to casting, could you come over and help with the selection?”

With such a super handsome guy as a template, the male lead chosen later won't be too bad.

"We'll see when the time comes!" Mike wasn't interested in chatting any further.

After exchanging a few more words, the video call ended.

Mr. Randy, who was standing by as an advisor, still felt a little unreal even after Mike ended the video call.

"One hundred million... just like that?" Mr. Randy said uncertainly, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.

It was at this moment that he gained a new understanding of Mike's wealth.

“To be precise, the money wasn’t spent before the contract was signed,” Mike said with a smile. “By the way, I’m planning to open a King’s Agency soon. If you’d like, you can sign with my company.”

……

Chapter 447 Urgent Mission

A few days later, Mike and Mr. Randy boarded a plane to Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, King Group has also added a talent agency in the Wall Street building, which currently only has one girl group signed with it: the Devil Body Group.

However, the future looks promising.

Meanwhile, Mike, who was flying to Los Angeles, met with Morgan Sr., the film's original investor, and Cameron, the film's director, at a local five-star hotel.

After discussions, the three parties clarified the film investment matters and profit sharing ratio, and then jointly signed a film contract.

It's worth mentioning that the renowned director James Cameron also received a commitment of several percentage points from the film's revenue.

And because of the addition of Mike as a major shareholder, the preparations for "Titanic" did not show any signs of lasting for several years.

Once the funding was secured, the recruitment of actors and the construction of sets for the film began in earnest.

Mike also stayed for a few days, accompanying director Cameron and working together on the casting process for the film.

A few days later, the actress chosen for the lead role of Rose was confirmed.

Starring Kate Winslet, who is signed with King's Entertainment, this actress with a gentle temperament does indeed have very... good acting skills.

"Unfortunately, the moonlight is a bit dim tonight..."

Night, seaside, beach...

Carter, dressed in a revealing outfit, reclines gracefully on the beach, while Mike, with his easel set up, is creating an artwork opposite her.

This painting, with its enchanting style, will be used in the film later.

Of course, Carter will use a body double for Rose's steamy scenes.

……

The next day, when Mike woke up in Rose's arms, he unexpectedly received a call from Ms. O from the Men in Black headquarters.