Hollywood starts with an agent

Chapter 641 The Peak of the Tech Bubble
In late February 2000, the Nasdaq Composite Index broke through the 5000-point mark, and the once-prosperous Tiger Hedge Fund was liquidated due to shorting technology stocks.

In addition, although the Quantum Fund made a lot of money in technology stocks in the two quarters last year, the continued frenzy of Nasdaq this year has made George Soros somewhat worried. At the beginning of the year, the Quantum Fund liquidated its technology stocks.

But now, with the liquidation of Tiger Fund and the Nasdaq breaking through 5000 points, Quantum Fund has returned to tech stocks, determined to reclaim the throne of the number one hedge fund on Wall Street, and is buying tech stocks on a large scale.
At the peak of the current tech bubble, the Quantum Fund's actions are undoubtedly digging its own grave!

In a luxurious seaside villa on Colonial Boulevard in Malibu, Aaron wakes up in bed with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Jennifer Connelly in his arms.

"Hey, the Dallas Mavericks were acquired by billionaire Mark Cuban for $2.8 million?"

Jennifer Connelly was flipping through a newspaper on the sofa in the living room.

Aaron, sitting on the opposite sofa, was reading a newspaper article about the Quantum Fund's aggressive buying of tech stocks and was secretly pleased, thinking that some Quantum Fund members were now losing money.

Soros, that old squid, is about to encounter his biggest setback!
“Mark Cuban, ha, I know,” Aaron put down his newspaper and nestled into Catherine Zeta-Jones’s arms.

"In the latter half of last year, Yahoo acquired a sports streaming website he founded in exchange for $59 billion worth of stock."

"Mark Cuban received nearly $20 billion in Yahoo stock, which he definitely cashed out; the $2.8 million acquisition of the Dallas Mavericks wasn't a loss for him."

"You should know that the Dallas Mavericks are building a new, luxurious home arena, American Airlines Center, which will be officially opened next year."

The internet boom of the past few years has indeed created many billionaires!

After Mark Cuban and his friend Todd Wagner sold their sports streaming website to Yahoo, the two formed 2929 Entertainment to venture into entertainment programming.

"He alone received $20 billion?"

Catherine Zeta-Jones leaned down and kissed Aaron on the cheek, looking surprised.

Aaron chuckled, reaching out to stroke the woman's thigh. "Isn't that right? Internet companies these past few years have been incredibly volatile!"

Jennifer Connelly clicked her tongue in amazement, "Well, Texas already has two strong teams right now: the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs."

"Now that the Dallas Mavericks have been acquired by a wealthy man like Mark Cuban, Texas will probably have three strong teams by then."

The future Texas Big Three?
"It doesn't matter. The San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks can't compete with the Rockets," Aaron waved his hand dismissively.

"But now, Philipp Anschutz, the second-largest shareholder of the Los Angeles Lakers, has been making quite a few moves!"

This Colorado billionaire, after building the Staples Center, running the NHL's Los Angeles Kings and the MLS's Los Angeles Galaxy, has now plunged into the entertainment industry.

"Is Mr. Philip Anschutz the one who owns 60% of the Staples Center, 50% of the Kings, and 27% of the Lakers?"

"Jennifer Connelly inquired. Aaron nodded. "Philip Anschutz entered the theatrical release industry, first by acquiring United Art House Cinemas;"

"Then he set his sights on Reign Cinemas, merging United Arts into Reign Cinemas to form Reign Entertainment, owning 58% of the company. This guy has now officially entered Hollywood!"

It can be said that Philip Anschutz has deeply integrated sports and entertainment, and his reputation in Los Angeles is growing day by day. Anschutz Entertainment (AEG) is also developing extremely rapidly.

Catherine Zeta-Jones smiled. "I remember Dawn has quite a few cinema chains under its umbrella, right?"

"Hmm, not bad, there are some."

Shares in Angel Cinemas and Landmark Cinemas in North America, EuroCinemas in Europe, Electric Cinemas in London, CGV Cinemas in Asia, and Sunrise Universal Studios (formerly Golden Harvest Cinemas) in Southeast Asia!

Angel Cinemas, in particular, is the first large-scale chain cinema with multiplex tiered screens as its main feature, with nearly 50 cinemas. Dawn controls a total of more than 550 screens in North America.
These cinemas deserve a lot of credit for Dawn Universal's ability to distribute its works globally.

Aaron immediately sat up. "By the way, how did the Berlin Film Festival go?"

Jennifer Connelly thought for a moment, then said, "The Golden Bear for Best Picture went to Paul Thomas Anderson's *Magnolia*."

The Grand Jury Prize, the Silver Bear, went to Zhang Yimou's film, *The Road Home*.

"The Best Director award went to Milos Forman for his film 'Man on the Moon,' and the Jury Special Award was won by Wim Wenders for 'The Million Dollar Hotel'!"

Aaron patted his knee. "This director of 'Magnolia,' Paul Thomas Anderson, seems quite young, doesn't he?"

Jennifer Connelly nodded. "Paul Thomas Anderson is just 30 years old this year. His 1997 drama film *Boogie Nights*, which he wrote and directed, received considerable acclaim and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay."

Tom Cruise really liked "Boogie Nights" so much that he contacted the director directly to ask to star in his next film, "Magnolia".

This is why the famous Tom Cruise would play a supporting role in a low-budget film.
Aaron had heard of the movie "Boogie Nights," starring Mark Wahlberg and Julian Moore.
Set in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the story focuses on Eddie Adams, a young nightclub dishwasher whose exceptional talent leads him to become a popular erotic film star, chronicling his rise and fall...

"In addition, Constantin Film is developing a Resident Evil adaptation of a Capcom game."

"We invited British director Paul William Scott Anderson, who wrote and directed 'The Fighter' a few years ago, to adapt the film;"

"Furthermore, Constantin Film returned the filming rights for 'Fantastic Four' to Marvel, but retained the right to participate in the investment!"

Jennifer Connelly used to be Aaron's assistant, and when she wasn't filming, she would help Aaron collect and organize company information.
Constantin Film is now undoubtedly the largest film group in Germany, and it has collaborated with many Hollywood film companies. Constantin Film acquired the adaptation rights to "Resident Evil" in 1997 and has been preparing for it ever since. Twilight Pictures is the North American partner of the project.

"Another Paul Anderson..."

(End of this chapter)