Rebirth of America, this is my era

Chapter 250 I don’t deserve it!
"Finally, let me summarize."

"We at Warner have four main projects this year: movies, music, games, and comics."

"There's no big problem with the movie, you can handle it on your own, promote the music as normal, and do the comics directly. The only thing you need to pay attention to is the video games."

"Atari's games can be released normally, but we should not compete head-on with other companies. It's not that I don't believe in the ability of the production team, but the current situation is too chaotic."

"After we make the game, we can directly negotiate with North American arcade merchants and North American cinema owners to sell it, and make money quietly, okay?"

"Atari's New Generation product has officially been declared a failure. The inventory can be sold at a discount. We will try to recover all the funds in the first half of this year. Hmm?"

"We lost a lot in the gaming sector last year. If we lose again this year, it will be hard to explain at the shareholders' meeting. So, keep a low profile. This will be good for everyone."

"Okay, today's meeting ends here, everyone can go back."

Steve Ross clapped his hands and declared the meeting over. After the Warner executives left with a smile, he glanced at his watch, feeling free to do nothing. The five o'clock hand made him smell the time to get off work.

He stood up from the table and left the meeting room. As soon as he walked out the door, he saw his secretary standing at the door.

"Is today's work finished?"

"Help me book a room at the Millennium Hotel and make an appointment with Amanda for me."

"Thank you."

Steve Ross gave instructions casually as usual, and just as he was about to leave, wanting to enjoy his leisure time after work, the male secretary suddenly spoke up and said, "Boss, the work is indeed finished, but something unexpected seems to have happened."

"What?" Steve Ross stopped and turned his head.

Under his gaze, the male secretary reported: "The latest news is that around 1 p.m., Sidney Sheinberg, chairman of American Music and Universal Pictures, left Los Angeles and flew to San Jose. He was accompanied by Dennis Stanfill, chairman of Fox."

"At 3 p.m., Roy Disney also took a special plane from Los Angeles. Although we did not get his travel destination, judging from the direction, he was also going to San Jose."

"?" Steve Ross instinctively narrowed his eyes after listening to the report.

But the next second he laughed again, "Ethan Jones really has some old-school capitalist style~ When something happens, he lets others go to see him? Wow~ This is really cool~"

He looked at the secretary cheerfully and said, "His behavior reminded me of Francis Coppola's movie. You do not even want to call me godfather~"

"Ha ha ha ha--"

Steve Ross patted his secretary on the shoulder, and the joy that enveloped him reflected the mockery to the fullest!
Now he is laughing at Ethan Jones, laughing at his struggle in pain!

Now he is laughing at Sidney Sheinberg, Roy Disney and Dennis Stanfill, laughing at the fact that they have lived most of their lives, but in the end they are ordered around by a young man in his twenties. This is really living a dog's life!
However, just as Steve Ross turned around happily and wanted to leave, a voice called out from behind him, "Boss." Steve Ross turned his head again, "What's wrong?"

The secretary looked embarrassed and handed him a document.

This situation made him frown and look around.

When he found out that in the past five hours, the owners of North American theaters had flown to San Jose one after another, he, who had spent a lot of manpower and resources keeping an eye on his opponents from the very beginning, suddenly looked up!

"What's going on?" he asked.

“…” The male secretary was unable to answer.

Steve Ross threw the document at the secretary's chest because of the dull performance. After pacing back and forth, he cursed: "MFxxk! Go and call the legal department! Let them analyze the problem!"

"No! You call my personal lawyer and ask him to come see me!"

"And call Kirk Kerkorian and Ron Miller over here!"

"And Jack Valenti!"

"Those people in the Film Association are fucking trash!"

“I can’t do anything right!”

"Sxxt!"

Following Steve Ross's roar, the male secretary immediately took action. At the same time, Ethan also met the "entertainment tycoon" who came from all over the United States at the Destiny Game headquarters in Palo Alto.

After shaking hands with them one by one and inviting them in, Ethan also sat on the chair at the front of the conference table.

He looked at everyone with a smile and said, "Thank you all for coming to Palo Alto in such a short time. I am very touched by your support and help."

"Since everyone is here, you should all know what kind of business we are discussing today. However, in order for everyone to have an intuitive understanding of the upcoming cooperation, I have prepared a document. Please review it before communicating."

As soon as he finished speaking, the bald man appeared.

Steve Ballmer handed out the typed documents and stood behind Ethan.

The swish swish sound represents quick flipping.

The gurgling sound is the wheels of the swivel chair rubbing against the ground.

While various bosses were reading the documents, Ethan was also browsing the contents.

This is the cooperation proposal he rushed out in the past few hours, which briefly introduces the movie "Alien" and then marks the needs of Destiny Pictures and Universal Pictures:
They hope to obtain at least 40 percent of the global screening volume in the first week of the film's release, with the profit sharing ratio for the first week being 60:40, with the distributor and producer taking 60 percent and the theater chain taking 40 percent.

After the first week, if the box office of "Alien" does not exceed 10 million, the number of screenings in the second week will be reduced proportionally according to the performance of the first week. For example, if the box office of the first week is 7 million, the number of screenings in the second week will be cut by 30%, to 28%. The same is true for the third and fourth weeks. The percentage of the box office amount of the week to the expected amount of the first week multiplied by the base 40 is the number of screenings in the next week.

The same is true for the profit sharing algorithm from the second week to the fourth week. If the screening schedule in the second week is cut to 28%, the profit sharing will also be cut by 30%. That is, the distribution and production will get 42%, and the theaters will get 58. The same goes for the third and fourth weeks. However, there is a minimum guarantee for distribution and production, which is 28.

But if the box office reaches the standard of 10 million in the first week, or exceeds 10 million, then the number of screenings in the second week must not be less than 40%, and the increase will depend on the performance. At the same time, the 6:4 split will be maintained from the second week to the fourth week. Twenty-eight days after the movie has been released, the share ratio of both parties will fall back, starting from 5:5, and will be reduced by 5 points each week. After eight weeks, a 3:7 split will be achieved, that is, the producer and distributor will take 3, and the theaters will take 7.

Although this kind of long-term betting plan is very common in Hollywood, but...

After reading the documents provided by Ethan, the owners of North American theaters all pursed their lips.

"Mr. Jones, we have worked together twice. This is the third time and the second time we have come to Palo Alto (Star Wars was discussed at Fox), but every time we get the proposal, we feel like we are meeting for the first time."

"Because every time you come up with a plan..."

“It’s outrageous.”

GCC's boss Richard Smith closed the document in his hand.

As he opened his mouth, there was a burst of laughter at the scene.

Everyone understood what he meant. When the Film Association was stuck on the rating of "Alien" and Ethan Jones wanted to abandon the rating and directly push the movie to the market, the theater owners were actually the ones who took the initiative. In this case, Ethan took out a strong contract to negotiate with them?

this--

It's more or less inappropriate, right?

After everyone laughed, Richard Smith, the owner of GCC Cinemas, said, "Mr. Jones, we understand your confidence, but to be honest, we also have to take great risks..."

"Richard?" Just as he was about to continue speaking, Ethan suddenly interrupted.

"Don't be so polite, you can call me Ethan." He smiled at the other party, "Like you said, this is our third cooperation, we are all friends."

"Oh - Okay, Ethan." Richard Smith nodded with a smile and said, "Before coming here, Sidney, Dennis, and Roy all called us and told us your ideas."

"Of course we know that unrated movies can be shown, and since we accepted the invitation and came to Palo Alto, it proves that we also have the intention to screen Alien, but you can't use this 6:4 contract to perfunctorily deal with us, you have to show us your sincerity."

GCC's boss Richard Smith tapped the table with his index finger, looking serious.

Stanley Durwood, the owner of AMC, who was sitting next to him, nodded and took over the conversation.

"Yes, Ethan."

"If you were launching a mass-market film, we could show it without any ratings, but now everyone knows that Alien is a horror film."

"A horror movie released without a rating?"

"I think it's inappropriate."

"Because this will mislead some people and scare some people who don't like horror movies. When they become dissatisfied, the tsunami of public opinion that is aroused will directly swallow us up..."

Stanley Durwood spread his hands and looked around.

All the theater owners present nodded in agreement.

In fact, they have been paying attention to the movie "Alien" because when the national video game competition is just around the corner and the "Starfield" game is about to be released, these bosses all believe that "Alien" with the support of public opinion will definitely become this year's North American box office champion.

This fact can make them a lot of money!

Because of this, when they learned that that bastard Warner started to go crazy, they were actually the most angry group of people. As the saying goes, blocking someone's financial path is like killing their parents!
So, when they received the news and found out that Ethan Jones was ready to fight and wanted "Alien" to be released smoothly, they rushed to Palo Alto as soon as possible!
But no matter how angry they were, they did not let their anger get the better of them.

They want "Alien" to be released smoothly, but they don't want to see Ethan Jones desperately let the movie "Alien" run wild in order to rebel against Warner.

There's nothing we can do about it, since "Alien" is a horror movie.
Even if society continues to develop for a hundred years, this subject matter will never be accepted by all the general public!
After seeing the response from the North American theater owners, Ethan also turned his attention to Spielberg and Universal Chairman Sidney Sheinberg beside him.

Following his gaze, Sidney, who doted on Spielberg, also knocked on the table, motioning everyone to look over, "I know you are worried, so I brought a copy of Alien."

"If you don't mind, let's talk after we finish watching it?"

"Okay, that's a good suggestion."

Ted Mann, owner of Mann Theatres, dumped the files.

“It should be like this.”

Richard Smith, the boss of GCC, stood up.

AMC's boss Stanley Durwood also nodded and asked Ethan, "Where to put it?"

“Stanford’s Department of Art and Art History has an auditorium dedicated to showing films.”

Ethan smiled and said, “We can just go there directly.”

It is natural for North American theater owners to worry, and Ethan can understand that.

Or perhaps, when preparing the materials for the collaboration, he had already anticipated this scene, and asked Universal to bring a copy of the film, wanting to be honest and speak with facts.

While the group was heading to the Stanford School of Art, a group of people assembled by Steve Ross had also gathered in the chairman's office of Warner Communications in Los Angeles.

When Steve Ross told Ethan Jones the latest situation, Walt Disney's son-in-law and group president Ron Miller was shocked!
"Oh Sxxt! Is Ethan Jones planning to release the movie without a label?"

This statement made Kirk Kerkorian and Steve Ross frown at the same time.

"Ron, what do you mean?"

MGM boss Kirk Kerkorian didn’t get it.

"What does it mean to release without a label?"

Steve Ross didn't understand it either.

Although their behavior seemed a bit stupid, because both Warner and MGM were one of the seven major Hollywood companies, and as the bosses of one of the giants in the American film industry, they couldn't understand some professional terms? Isn't this hilarious!

But there was no surprise at the scene. Everyone knew that these two people were half-way into the entertainment industry. If you asked them what the killing radius of a .56 was, they might tell you directly, but if you asked them whether the entertainment industry was 100% accurate or not? That would be asking for their lives.

"No rating means it will be released directly without any rating."

Ron Miller felt that the matter was a bit serious, and explained quickly: "This behavior is allowed in our country, because there is no law in our country that requires movies shown in theaters to be rated and reviewed by the Film Association."

“WTF???”

Kirk Kerkorian's eyes widened. "How can such a thing exist???"

Steve Ross turned his attention to Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Association.

At this moment, he was also confused.

"This is indeed true, but no one has ever done this before..."

Hearing the stammering words, Steve Ross frowned and asked sternly: "If there is no law in our country that movies must be reviewed for ratings, then some local states prohibit showing movies to minors. Where do the legal provisions come from?”

This question stumped Jack Valenti, and Steve Ross's personal lawyer immediately spoke up and explained: "Boss, state law and federal law are two different things."

"Federal laws are enacted by Congress and apply throughout the United States, but state laws apply only to the state in which they are enacted and are a supplement to federal laws."

"According to Article VI of our nation's Constitution, when there is a conflict between state and federal law, federal law takes precedence."

"That is to say, when there is no federal legislation stating that movies shown in theaters across the United States must be reviewed and approved by the Film Association for their ratings, movies that have not been rated can be shown directly."

“This is also the meaning of freedom if there is nothing prohibited by law.”

"And, from a federal perspective, any regulation that says a theater can't show movies to a certain age actually violates our nation's First Amendment."

"Because such laws violate civil liberties."

"more importantly……"

"Even if some states have regulations on the release of movies, those provisions seem to only describe what level of movies theaters cannot provide to minors under a certain age."

"As far as I can remember, there doesn't seem to be a state that has a rule that unrated films can't be shown."

"???"

Steve Ross' eyes were as big as bells and his mouth was as open as a bowl.

"MFxxk!"

He held it in for a long time before uttering a curse word, "How could there be such a loophole???"

This is a question the lawyer cannot answer.

MGM boss Kirk Kerkorian didn't understand either.

Walt Disney's president, Ron Miller, knew, but he couldn't say it.

So he turned his attention to the president of the Film Association, Jack Valenti.

As Ron Miller stared, everyone present turned their eyes to him.

The guy who came up with the film rating system opened his mouth and said, "Because..."

"When the grading system was created..."

“No one has ever thought about this kind of thing…”

"If normal people want to enter an industry, they will definitely find a way to integrate into it, right?"

"The kind of lunatic who flips the table when he's wronged..."

"It seems we've only seen one so far...right?"

Although Jack Valenti did not say the guy's name, everyone at the scene knew that the madman was referring to Ethan Jones!
Since the beginning of his business, he has been trampling on all the ropes like a barbarian!
So far, the giants who have suffered losses at his hands could fill the entire Mississippi River!

But even so, he doesn't care?
Not only that, now he also wants to overthrow the autonomous alliance formed by the Film Association giants?
"Oh Sxxt!"

"Is this the excellent plan you mentioned?"

MGM boss Kirk Kerkorian glared at Steve Ross.

Steve Ross, on the other hand, stared at Jack Valenti, the president of the Film Association, with a frown on his face.

That vicious look seemed to cut Jack Valenti into pieces.

Thinking of Steve Ross' nickname "The Undertaker", Jack Valenti shuddered for a moment and said with a smile: "Steve! Things will never develop into that!"

"Because the Film Association represents the interests of the entire Hollywood!"

"There's no way Paramount and Columbia would just sit there and watch Ethan Jones mess around!"

"And...and...and Alien is a horror movie!"

“Without a bid, would North American theaters dare to screen the film?”

"They don't dare!"

Jack Valenti explained at the top of his voice.

Because he knew that Steve Ross, who was connected to the Mafia, might not dare to touch Fred Terman's people who had a military-industrial background, but he would have no problem killing the president of an association.

As he yelled, Steve Ross's eyes softened.

After staring at Jack Valenti for a while, he sat back in his seat.

His silence also made the whole office fall into silence.

While they were arguing, Ethan also accompanied the theater owner to watch "Alien".

Although Ethan could no longer remember the scenes and plots of the previous movie, he also didn't know how much this version of "Alien" had been modified compared to the previous one with the intervention of Spielberg and Lucas.

But he still understood one thing, that is, this version of "Alien" retained the original flavor of the previous "Alien". At a certain time, the male protagonist suddenly felt a sharp pain in his body, and then a baby alien broke out of his chest.

That bloody scene is horrifying!
It also made Ethan smell the original flavor of the movie!

In addition, there is another scene that makes people's scalp tingle. The captain of the spaceship entered the ventilation duct of the spaceship with a simple flamethrower, wanting to kill the alien. But because the light was too dim, he accidentally walked into the arms of an adult alien, and then...

oooo~
He is gone.

When these scenes that can make people's adrenaline soar crazily appeared, Ethan, who was sitting in the auditorium watching the movie, just wanted to shout for excitement, and as the lights came on, the faces of the theater owners...

It's even worse.

"MFxxk! Steve Ross is a fucking beast!"

AMC boss Stanley Durwood hammered the seat armrest hard.

"He is cutting off our source of income!"

These words caused other bosses at the scene to nod their heads, but precisely because they liked the movie so much, they were even more afraid to let the movie be released without a release date.

"Ethan, this movie is really not suitable for children."

"Or in other words, we can't let the children in without any prompting."

Ted Mann, owner of Mann Theatres, said, "So—"

"Shall we come forward and help you communicate?"

He stood up and looked back.

"With our North American cinema chain, plus Universal, Fox, and Roy Disney..."

"I think even if Warner, MGM and Ron Miller didn't want to, they had to agree."

"How about an R-rated one?"

"Children under the age of seventeen need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian?"

"I personally think this rating is reasonable, after all, Jaws also received this rating."

This statement won the approval of most people present.

"Yeah Ethan, we'll help you talk!"

"We'll just follow the normal process for horror films. Even if it's rated R, with the current media attention and the support of the game, it will be easy for this movie to break 150 million!"

"You don't have to worry about this anymore. Even if Steve Ross doesn't want to, we can make him agree!"

"Yes! Let's all take a step back! As long as you agree, we will sign the contract right away!"

"Yes! We are looking forward to your Star Wars next year!"

Everyone's persuasion made Ethan, who was sitting in the front, laugh.

Although he knew this was the most perfect solution, but——

He! Doesn’t! Want! To! Do!
Ethan Jones didn't do anything, why should he take a step back?
These people are happy when they are making money, but disappear instantly when something goes wrong?
There is no such good thing in this world!
"Sorry guys."

Ethan raised the microphone and said, "Now that the Film Association has spoken to me, I, Ethan Jones, will no longer accept the rating standards of the Film Association."

“Not just now, but in the future.”

"I have the final say over my movies, and no one else has the right to interfere."

"If you choose to stand on the side of Warner, MGM, and Ron Miller..."

"Then you can go."

"I, Ethan Jones, would rather release the film on video than in theaters."

As soon as these words were spoken, the smiles on the cinema owners' faces froze.

They understood that Ethan was threatening, but...

The threat worked.

Because when videotapes appeared, the income structure of film companies underwent a drastic change. Before, they lived for the box office, but now, the income from videotapes is higher than the box office!
Especially when Ethan Jones has a special game...

Put the game and the console together on the shelves of major shopping malls across the United States, and they will definitely sell well!

And this will cause their cinemas to lose a lot of money!

"Ethan, calm down! Calm down! We are not speaking for Steve Ross!"

GCC boss Richard Smith stood up with a smile.

I asked the staff for a microphone and said, "I think you all have the same idea as me. We just hope that this excellent movie can avoid the attack of public opinion."

"The irregularities in the film industry and comics industry before have caused us huge losses. So, if we want a rating that North American parents cannot afford to offend, then it really protects the movie Alien... right?"

He winked wildly at the crowd below.

The bosses who understood what he meant spoke up immediately.

"Yes! Ethan! We're not picking on you!"

"Now we want to kill that beast Steve Ross!"

“If we have no intention of showing it, why would we come here today?”

"What we call communication is really protecting your interests!"

Spielberg and Lucas were deeply moved by the noisy conversation.

Theater owners, like film studios, are actually at the top of the food chain in the film industry.

Normally, people working in the film industry would just try to please them, eager to get good scripts and more screenings, but now? They were begging Ethan not to release the film via videotape.

Even if everyone knows that Ethan's behavior is definitely harmful to others and himself, so what? When people gradually discover that Ethan is a madman who dares to overturn the table anytime and anywhere...

Going along with him is the only option.

Ethan may not make money from movies anymore, but they really depend on movies to make a living.

Ethan can use the game to make up for the loss, but they don't have the movie anymore...

Will Ethan still give them games?

If Ethan really makes next year's Star Wars game into a console...

That’s even if they showed Star Wars!

They are angry too!

It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to go from luxury to frugality!
"Okay, I understand what you mean." Ethan laughed at everyone's explanation and said, "Of course I know you all mean well, so I don't intend to hurt you."

"The movie Alien is indeed not suitable for children under the age of 18, so I will give them our own rating before promoting the movie."

"In other words, starting this year, our Destiny game products will be marked with the age group of children for which the game is suitable for sale. This rating will be the same as for movies."

"In order to make this rating more fair, I will invite the former governor of California to participate in the drafting of the rating. I will also seek help from the American Legal Services Company and ask their directors to give constructive advice from a legal perspective. At the same time, I will also invite Professor Ralph Bell, the inventor of video games, to participate in the creation. I will also invite presidents of bar associations from various places, such as Mr. Gates, the president of the Washington State Bar Association, to conduct third-party supervision."

"I believe that with everyone's efforts, the American people will be able to better choose the video games and movie entertainment that suits them in the market."

“I don’t know if you can accept this label.”

"If you can accept that, you can call now."

When these words came out, all the theater owners in North America were stunned!
They frowned and widened their eyes, their faces full of disbelief!
They understood what Ethan meant!
Ethan Jones has to overturn the table of the Film Association today!
When this fact came to light, they immediately turned their heads and cast their gazes toward Universal Chairman Sidney Sheinberg and Fox Chairman Dennis Stanfill.

As for Roy Disney?
You can tell with your own eyes that this guy would agree!

After all, there has never been a need for censorship for Disney movies!

As they watched, the former nodded with a smile, and Universal's meaning was very clear after being tricked by Warner.

The latter looked at Lucas. The bearded man with a broken leg was smiling and giving Ethan a thumbs-up. When he noticed that everyone was looking at him, he immediately said, "Star Wars will not be submitted for review."

"Because there are only two people in the world who can edit my movie."

"!!!" Lucas' words made the theater owners gasp. When the two North American box office record holders sat there motionless, they knew that something serious had happened!
After looking around for a while, GCC's boss Richard Smith suddenly stood up.

"I'm going to make a phone call."

With his disappearance, Mann Theatres owner Ted Mann, AMC owner Stanley Durwood and other theater owners also ran out of the theater one after another.

Soon, the phones at Paramount and Columbia were flooded with calls.

When Paramount Chairman Barry Diller learned that Ethan Jones had to kill this day, he immediately greeted the eighteenth generation of Steve Ross's ancestors.

He quickly called back Michael Eisner, who had already left work, to discuss countermeasures.

After Michael Eisner finished listening to Barry Diller's story, this top second-generation American was also confused. "Ethan Jones wants to do his own ratings? And he wants to involve the former governor of California? The wife of the governor of Arkansas? Ralph Baer? Old William Gates?"

"Oh--"

"Aren't these all Ethan Jones's own people?"

"more importantly……"

"This lineup is definitely more formal than the Film Association!"

Michael Eisner found the crux of the problem in an instant!
The former governor of California came from the golden age of Hollywood. Although he did not receive any praise as an actor, as the president of the Screen Actors Guild, he knows very well how the entertainment industry works!
Not to mention the director of the American Legal Services Corporation, who was a junior of Barbara Babcock and the wife of the governor of Arkansas? Moreover, she was a member of the House Judiciary Committee's impeachment investigation team during the hearing of the resignation case!
Although Ralph Bell's reputation in the scientific community is not as high as Fred Terman's, it is not much different. In particular, the sonar torpedoes he built for the Navy saved the lives of countless American soldiers! He also made great contributions in the Apollo program! This is also the reason why he accepted the position of consultant for the Destiny Game and authorized the patent openly, and Philips didn't even dare to fart!

As for old William Gates? Everyone knows that Ethan invested in Microsoft!
Any one of these guys would be more qualified than the current president of the Film Association, Jack Valenti!

In this case, Ethan's self-built rating is definitely more effective than the Film Association's!

"No no no..."

"We can't do this!"

Michael Eisner knew that Ethan Jones must not be allowed to get the rating done!
"Barry, my advice is to call Warner!"

He looked at his immediate superior, Paramount Chairman Barry Diller, and said hastily, "Make Steve Ross admit his mistake! Make Kirk Kerkorian admit his mistake! Make Ron Miller admit his mistake!"

"Because once Ethan Jones comes up with his own rating system, they will have the final say on their films from now on! In that case, there will be no need for the Film Association to exist!"

"More importantly, we lobbied for the restrictive laws in many states in order to reflect the legitimacy of the Motion Picture Association and the rating system. Those things are unconstitutional! If Ethan Jones exposes these things, we will all be finished!"

"Since Steve Ross caused such a mess, he must finish it!"

"If he doesn't admit his mistake, I'm going to kill him tonight!"

"Even if his wife is Amanda Cushing, she can't protect him!"

"I said!"

Michael Eisner's rant came as a relief to Paramount Chairman Barry Diller.

Even without Michael Eisner, he understood the seriousness of Ethan Jones's self-constructed ratings, but with Steve Ross as a backer, he couldn't do anything.

But when Michael Eisner, the old New York Union Jack, spoke, everything became simple.

Since they can't solve the Ethan Jones problem!

Then they tackle Steve Ross who made the problem!
Pick up the receiver and take a deep breath.

Press the button and dial.

then……

Didn't get through.

This situation puzzled Barry Diller.

After trying several more times and still failing to get through, he started calling Warner's pay phone.

After a series of transfers, he realized that Steve Ross's phone had been flooded with calls.

The owners of major cinema chains, the chairman of Columbia Pictures, Warner investors, and even some connections in New York were all lining up there, wanting to communicate with Steve Ross.

This fact made Barry Diller breathe a sigh of relief and put his mind at ease.

But soon, he stood up again and said, "Let's go to Warner."

At the same time, Ethan had already called Spielberg and the others to get up and enjoy dinner in the Stanford restaurant. Afterwards, Ethan also sent them to the hotel in San Jose.

Now that his friend has appreciated him, Ethan still knows the proper etiquette.

It was already ten o'clock in the evening when we were waiting for him to return to the company.

And the moment he appeared, Steve Ballmer also jumped out.

"Boss, someone is looking for you. The phone has not been hung up."

"several?"

"One."

"Who?"

"Steve Ross."

Ethan nodded at the news.

After he arrived at the front desk and picked up the phone, a tired voice immediately came from the other end of the receiver.

"Ethan Jones?"

"it's me."

"I'm Steve Ross."

"I'm not deaf."

“……” Steve Ross on the other end of the phone took a deep breath.

He seemed to be controlling his emotions, but more like suppressing the anger in his heart. After a moment, he said, "Ethan Jones, I, Steve Ross, only represent Warner to invite Destiny Pictures to join the American Film Association. The invitation letter will be delivered tomorrow morning, and the expanded meeting will be held this week."

“After the meeting, Destiny Pictures will become a part of the American Film Association.”

"At the same time, as a member of the American Film Association, we at Warner have also found out about the unfair treatment your company's films have suffered, which was the private behavior of your staff."

"We have fired all those who did not conduct the review and evaluation according to the work process, and will recall and re-elect the current president of the association after your company joins the American Film Association."

“We hope you can give us another chance and continue to support our work. We also believe that with your joining, the American film industry will have a bright future.”

"Hahahaha——" Ethan couldn't control his emotions and burst into laughter.

Such a voice also made Steve Ross on the other end of the phone clench his fists and grit his teeth.

Just as he was about to put on a stern face and smile at Ethan in order to avoid being attacked by the industry, a question suddenly came from the receiver:

"Steve Ross, do you deserve it?"

"?" This question made Steve Ross stunned.

The next second, anger rose!

Just as he suddenly stood up and was about to curse, the crowd in the office suddenly came into view because of his sudden sudden rise. The chairmen of Paramount and Columbia were staring at him coldly. Michael Eisner, the third generation of capital, had his hands on the table. In addition, some Warner directors living in Los Angeles were also frowning, as if asking him to think carefully about what he should say.

This scene made Steve Ross's cheeks tremble for a moment, and then he smiled.

"Ethan Jones, you're right, I don't deserve it."

"Ha ha ha ha--"

"As long as you know!"

"You do not deserve!"

“So I won’t go in.”

"Click——" Ethan hung up the phone neatly.

The busy tone made Steve Ross clench the microphone tightly.

Moving his eyes upwards, he saw that everyone present sighed in unison.

Note: ① The restrictions on film screenings in various US states mentioned in the article, such as the misdemeanor for allowing audiences who do not meet the rating requirements to enter the theater, are indeed in violation of the US Constitution. In 2013, all states deleted this law because the Tennessee law was directly reported to the federal government and confirmed to be unconstitutional. Even if there are laws now, they are actually very vague. For example, inappropriate movies cannot be provided to people who are not suitable for viewing movies. This kind of law actually has no meaning.

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(End of this chapter)