Huayu: The Big Players Behind the Scenes

Kirk was a pure businessman; he never loved movies, only knives and music.

Whether it's making movies or winning awards through public relations, he sees it all as a business. He only takes action if his team analyzes the situation and believes it's profitable.

Just like this year's Oscars, MGM's stock price rose again by several points the following day, demonstrating the immediate effect of its public relations efforts.

While domestic media celebrated, American media were not to be outdone, with a constant stream of reports.

There are even dedicated forums that have thoroughly exposed Zhuang Huai'an's past experiences.

He debuted at the Cannes Film Festival and won the Palme d'Or for his short film "Andhadhun". "The Hunt" won Best Newcomer (Golden Camera), Best Screenplay, Best Actor and the Jury Prize at Cannes. These awards combined are comparable to a Palme d'Or.

At the Venice Film Festival that same year, "The Seaside Town" won the Golden Lion Award.

The following year at the Berlin Film Festival, "Gone Girl" won the Silver Bear for Best Director.

He made his second appearance at Cannes and finally won the Palme d'Or with "Parasite".

Not long ago at Berlin, he once again won two Silver Bears: Best Actor and Best Director.

That's just in terms of awards. His most brilliant move was using four low-budget horror film scripts to become the second-largest shareholder of MGM.

In the comments section of this post, some netizens even compiled the box office figures for those low-budget horror films.

Saw grossed $1.8 million worldwide, Insidious $2.1 million, Happy Death Day $1.9 million, and The Conjuring, currently showing in theaters, has grossed over $8000 million in North America.

Some people have done the math and found that Zhuang Huai'an has already made nearly $2 million from the revenue sharing of these few movies alone, not to mention that he also owns a 15% stake in MGM Studios.

A self-made director who has only been in the industry for two and a half years,

His net worth has exceeded $8 million!

This only represents Zhuang Huai'an's personal net worth, not even including the stock price of MGM that he boosted. It's no exaggeration to say that he almost single-handedly saved MGM from bankruptcy.

No wonder Universal Pictures is poaching talent themselves; it turns out they had this planned all along.

When this news broke, major Hollywood production companies were green with envy. If you have that kind of ability, why are you going to MGM?

"Damn it, Hollywood is no longer a place to stay!"

In a high-end restaurant, Zhuang Huai'an felt a sense of helplessness after rejecting the twenty-first American sweetheart who tried to chat him up.

It wasn't that he was being chaste and pretending to be reserved, but these sweethearts were truly only meant to be admired from afar and not to be touched. Not to mention that their origins were unknown and he was afraid of contracting diseases, their smell alone was enough to irritate the nose from a mile away.

Moreover, American feminism is far ahead.

He is truly not worthy of such a privilege.

[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name: 20 ...

If the advances of these American sweethearts are a happy kind of trouble, then the advances of those older white men are like toads crawling on your feet.

Looking at the bodyguards in suits sitting around him, Zhuang Huai'an felt a wave of exhaustion.

Kirk had anticipated the report following the Oscars and specially dispatched a six-person team to protect his benefactor.

Zhuang Huai'an's malicious conjecture suggests that while protecting him, it also implies surveillance. Of course, it's not about surveillance of him, but rather surveillance of those who come to poach his man.

"Boss, I also think you should go back to your country as soon as possible."

Across from him, Yang Chen looked serious. Having spent many years in the United States, he naturally knew how attractive an unarmed tycoon was to a local gang.

To put it another way, Zhuang Huai'an is like a child carrying gold through a bustling city, surrounded by green eyes staring at him.

"OK,"

Zhuang Huai'an understood. "After I get back, you need to quickly assemble a security team. Find top-tier security companies. Money is not an issue. You need people who can carry weapons. The number is tentatively set at six. You can arrange them while I'm not here."

Back home, with powerful relatives and brothers, safety isn't an issue. But in free America, unarmed powerful brothers are no different from a little girl.

In overseas regions, only two things are truly effective: the Knife and 7.62, and the two must complement each other to work synergistically.

"it is good."

"By the way, you could try poaching some special effects talent from DreamWorks or Industrial Light & Magic."

"Have you managed to find Sugar Heart Company?" Yang Chen asked.

"Hey," Zhuang Huai'an waved his hand dismissively, "How the hell can we let ourselves pay for something so expensive?"

Yang Chen immediately understood and tentatively asked, "You mean... make MGM spend money?"

"Bingo!"

Zhuang Huai'an snapped his fingers and laughed, "MGM has made a lot of money these past two years. As the representative of the second-largest shareholder, it's perfectly reasonable for you to apply to the board to upgrade the special effects team, right?"

"Understood," Yang Chen nodded, "Use their money to do our own thing."

"That's right."

Zhuang Huai'an nodded in satisfaction. Since everyone outside was saying that his takeover of MGM was a real-life version of "Parasite," why wouldn't he take advantage of the situation? Wouldn't the media have wasted their time spreading this news?

"In addition, you need to keep up with the treatment of James Wan and his colleague. Although they have huge breach of contract penalties with the company, we have cooperated for a while, so don't treat them like slaves."

"Boss, the company only has a contract with them for eight films. We've already filmed four, and with the upcoming 'Triangle,' there are three left. Should we consider signing another contract with them?"

"No need, I have other plans for this."

Zhuang Huai'an smiled somewhat wickedly, "Actually, I only prepared seven scripts for them. If they win all seven, I believe many companies will be willing to take the gamble of a mere 6000 million in breach of contract fees."

Yang Chen immediately understood, and gave him a thumbs up with a mischievous grin, "It has to be you, boss, you're the one with the ruthless heart."

"What are you saying? What are you saying?"

Zhuang Huai'an was displeased. He could do this himself, but others couldn't say anything. "This means I'm letting him fly, and I'll bear the pain. On one hand, it's letting you create and direct independently, and on the other hand, it's being my puppet. If you were James Wan, which would you choose?"

"It must be the latter!"

Yang Chen said with certainty, "Now that the horror movie quartet is successful, everyone is saying it's all thanks to you, boss. Nobody mentions the two of them as directors and producers. Who wants to always be in someone else's shadow?"

"Right." Zhuang Huai'an snapped his fingers. "So we're not in a hurry. Who's in a hurry, then?"

The two exchanged a glance and revealed a strange smile.

James Wan and MGM are in a hurry.

Anyway, it's neither Zhuang Huai'an nor the shell company Sugar Heart Pictures.

"You've been making movies ever since Saw, and now you've made a name for yourselves. MGM's stock price has also stabilized. After you finish filming Triangle, give the two brothers a short vacation."

Zhuang Huai'an said with some emotion, "Brother Yang, you should also go back to China and rest. We really owe you a lot for the past year."

"That's a very nice thing to say."

Yang Chen smiled and said, "Putting aside the fact that you've been taking care of my father, giving me peace of mind, the fact that you trust me so much to let me, a loser like Yang Chen, make a comeback in Hollywood is enough for me to serve you for the rest of my life."

Looking back on the past two years, Yang Chen was filled with emotion.

He was a top student at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, and it took him ten years to work at MGM to become a low-budget producer. But after working with John Chong for less than two years, he has already become the number two at MGM.

With this feeling, Yang Chen suddenly understood the lines from those mind-blowing dramas.

Ten years with you are not as good as one night with him.

Tsk, I misunderstood them.