Marvel Salted Fish Kryptonian

Such news makes the directors who have scripts or plans more enthusiastic.

Even those producers who have fixed film companies to cooperate with are happy to contact Henry's Stark Films. Some projects with higher risks may not be initiated by one or two film companies alone.

If more people invest and share the risk, the project has a greater chance of being approved. This is a good thing for many people.

As the night progressed, some of those who had enjoyed themselves left drunkenly, while others simply passed out, lying in bed with their playmates, not leaving until they woke up the next day.

Henry was about to leave when a white man who looked like the host came over. He raised his glass of mild champagne and said, "Mr. Brown doesn't seem very happy with today's party."

Henry said with a forced smile, "How could that be? I saw so many producers, directors, and those lovely beauties, and the way they all talked to me made me feel like the sun being chased by the stars.

"For a young man like me who has suddenly achieved a high position, this is an unprecedented experience. Can't you see that I feel dizzy. If this happens a few more times, I think I will fall into this state."

"Haha, it seems Mr. Brown is really dissatisfied with this level of banquet. My boss asked me to do this, which is really hasty."

"Oh, your boss is...?"

"Mr. Mitch Schulhof, President and CEO of Sony America."

"Ah, if it's Mr. Schulhof, and he wants to see me, he can just go to a bar and have a bottle of whiskey. I wouldn't dare come to a party like this again."

"There's a chance. I hope to see you again next time I invite you." The banquet host extended his hand politely.

Henry returned the handshake, said conservatively, "There's a chance," and left.

Chapter 339 Irresistible Invitation

Charlize Theron finally escaped from the endless audition hell and went to film.

Her first significant role in this world, a supporting role with lines, was as the protagonist's ex-girlfriend and dentist. The movie was called "That Thing You Do!"

The reason I chose this movie is that it is a musical comedy film written, directed and starred by Tom Hanks, who just won the Oscar for Best Actor in 93 and 94.

As an important member of the Jewish community in Hollywood, his business performance is not as honest as he was in "Forrest Gump", and he does not do things too evilly. There is no doubt that he is a person worth knowing.

In addition to this movie, there are several other movies that I have been offered the opportunity to appear in, and they have been scheduled. However, they are all supporting roles, with varying degrees of importance. Some may only have a few lines, and I have not been able to get the lead role.

According to JJ Harris, in the first year of his debut, he just needs to make himself known to as many people as possible. Not everyone is destined to become an overnight sensation.

The supporting roles are just right, and they don't have to carry the box office like the protagonists do. If a movie doesn't perform well at the box office and the leading actress is an untested newcomer, it will be a serious blow to the future of the star.

Even with Henry as the CEO of Stark Films as her backup, Charlize Theron doesn't have much leverage to fail. So JJ Harris suggests a more cautious approach.

And if she could get some supporting roles first and earn some living expenses, she could get out of the hell of working part-time jobs. In JJ Harris's plan, Charlize's part-time job to earn a living was the most shameful waste of her life.

In the process of competing for the role, JJ Harris occasionally used the name of Stark Films as a bargaining chip, and Henry also cooperated and assisted Charlize to win the role.

Of course, there are inevitably some investments and exchanges of interests in this process. However, from a business perspective, Stark Films is not just throwing money away to exchange for a role.

With the help of JJ Harris, an experienced producer, both Henry and Charlize can find suitable terms of exchange instead of being taken advantage of.

However, Mickey Schulhof, who had set a trap for Henry once, had not been in contact with him since that unsuccessful attempt. Until a piece of news came.

Sony Japan held a shareholders' meeting, officially assuming the role of president of Sony Corporation, Nobuyuki Idei, with former president Norio Ohga continuing as the company's top executive. Thus, Sony entered a dual-track era.

Mitch Schulhof, president and CEO of Sony America, a subsidiary of Sony, was originally a candidate for successor, but his failure to be selected has given him a sense of crisis.

Jon Peters and Peter Guber, who also ran Sony's important business in the United States and operated Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), were fired by the new president.

Sony Pictures Entertainment currently has no one in charge, and instead Japan has appointed lawyers to clean up the mess left by the two... well, what the Japanese call it. In fact, in the eyes of Hollywood, the two did indeed cheat the Japanese out of a lot of money.

Mitch Schulhof was not fired because of Ohga Norio's complete trust. Now, even if he doesn't fight for the president's throne, he must find a way to establish his achievements so that he can stay.

So the digital imaging technology mastered by Henry Brown once again appeared before the eyes of the drowning man.

Ever since that deceptive banquet, although Henry abided by his agreement with Tony Stark and did not completely reject similar invitations, he still kept his sights on that kind of banquets and that kind of people.

However, Henry still refused invitations that were not commensurate with his status. This was not to raise his own status, but to let "those people" know that he knew where he should stay.

For some people who think highly of themselves, it is a debasement to associate with people who associate with the lower classes. So their invitation to Henry is both a humiliation and a temptation.

There are so many rules to deal with that kind of people, there's nothing you can do about it.

However, not all invitations were in the hands of that group of people, and Henry didn't care about that. He only attended banquets that were appropriate to his status or where the inviters were equal to him.

Henry had learned a lot from attending so many fundraising banquets with Audrey Hepburn in the past and seeing so many nouveau riche, wealthy people, and real old money.

To enter a circle, it's not about how much money you have, how much power you have, or even just wearing designer clothes. Instead, it's about being recognized by the people in the circle, and this is the hardest thing to do.

For Henry, this was just another play. For this play, he had to show enough acting skills and put on a good enough disguise. Most importantly, he had to be patient.

So, Mitch Schulhof took the bait.

Although it wasn't known if he was one of those people, compared to Henry, who had more time to waste, Ohga Norio's trust in Mitch Schulhof wasn't unlimited. The pressure on Idei Nobuyuki was growing all the time.

In order to maintain his position, he sent Henry an invitation. The venue was a private club, not the usual Hollywood banquet format of renting a villa or holding an event at a celebrity's home.

Private clubs in the United States are essentially a kind of social circle, advertised as "no admission without invitation." Even if you are a dues-paying member, you can't invite anyone into the club just because they want to; they must first meet the "qualifications."

In serious cases, the invitationer's membership will be revoked and he may even end up missing.

However, there are also some places with less strict regulations. It depends on how much you spend in the game and what the corresponding benefits are.

Basically, you get what you put in. Without equivalent rewards, who would be willing to follow so many rules?

Henry didn't drive his old Cadillac, but someone from the club drove him there. If he had insisted on coming alone, he probably wouldn't have been able to even get into the parking lot after seeing the old car.

Just like some restaurants have dress codes, if you want to wear cheap clothes and drive a broken car, you must be prepared to be ruthlessly rejected by the club.

The aristocratic sentiment of the wealthy prevents them from being proud of walking around in baggy shorts. Even when they can't even get enough to eat, they still want to maintain their dignity, which is the last bit of stubbornness inherited from these old white men, a tradition inherited from the British.

Wanting to pretend he could fit in, Henry certainly didn't challenge their habits. He was wearing a navy blue Armani suit, his only luxury item.

Henry didn't have a famous watch, so he simply didn't wear one. Although this might be seen as a sign of poverty in the eyes of some, it wasn't disrespectful at all.

Inside the clubhouse, the marble floors and walls were polished to a gleaming shine. You'd think you'd stepped into a mirror maze at an amusement park.

During this time, there was no sound except for the sound of footsteps. The man who led the way was as reserved and silent as if he had been trained as a British butler.

Chapter 340 Mitch Schulhof

The room Henry entered was a small room with its own bar. There was no one in the sofa area, but there was a figure in a suit standing in front of the bar.

The bartender was a woman with a ponytail, and her white shirt perfectly highlighted her beautiful figure.

When Henry entered, she was swirling a shaker with a flourish. With a few tugs, she poured the drink into a tall glass. The liquid was clear and colorless, spiced with citrus peel.

From what Henry smelled, it was a Vodka Martini, a cocktail made with vodka, gin, and vermouth. A classic, old-fashioned cocktail.

The man in a suit at the bar picked up his drink, turned around, and raised it in a toast. "Henry, I'm glad to meet you. I'm Mitch Schulhof."

The waiter who led the way had already closed the door and left. Generally speaking, in Western etiquette, two strangers need an intermediary to introduce them.

If there is no middleman, according to etiquette, the host is expected to come out to greet the guest. If there is a difference in status, at least a servant will come forward.

But there were no extra people here, and who greeted whom would instantly determine the strength of the host and the guest.

Mickey Schulhof, the host, stayed at the bar while serving drinks, forcing Henry to approach if he wanted to greet them.

This old white man with Slavic features was a bit oversized, but not too plump. His thick hair was a plus at his age.

But his expression was serious, his eyes sinister. If appearance reflects the heart, then at this moment he looked like everything was going wrong, and perhaps he was blatantly plotting something evil.

Henry didn't respond to the greeting immediately, but instead came to the bar. He stared at the bartender's prominent position and tapped the table. "Girl, it's so hot outside. I'm dying of thirst. Give me a surprise."

Henry, who was now beside Mitch Schulhof, stated his needs but allowed the bartender to do as he pleased.

Holding out his hand, Henry then greeted, "Henry Brown. It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Schulhof."

Henry awkwardly extended his right hand to shake hands, but Mitch Schulhof's right hand was holding a wine glass, which made Schulhof feel awkward for a moment, not knowing whether to raise or put down the glass.

If he could have put down the cup and shaken hands smoothly, it would have been Henry who was being rude. But Mitch Schulhof froze for a moment, giving Henry a chance.

When he put down his wine glass and reached out to shake hands, Henry made an embarrassed expression and changed his left hand to greet.

Now Mitch Schulhof was embarrassed for the second time. Henry was disrespectful, but he lost his manners and showed his ugly side to others.

When he angrily switched to his left hand to shake hands, Henry did not switch hands this time, and the two finally shook hands successfully.

The first round was a mixed bag, but Mitch Schulhofer knew he hadn't achieved the desired result.

Suppressing his displeasure, Mitch Schulhof said, "Henry, did you go see Bad Boys?"

Looking at the smug expression on the old white man's face, Henry couldn't help but admit it in his heart.

This black film directed by Michael Bay and starring Martin Lawrence and Will Smith is indeed one of the few commercially successful projects since Sony acquired Columbia Pictures.

With a budget of 19 million, it earned 1.41 million at the box office.

Henry said frankly, "Yes, I went to see it. It's a rare good film from Columbia Pictures recently. Ignore the harsh words of those critics. Commercial success is success."

Ignoring the implicit sarcasm, Mitch Schulhof said cheerfully, "Ha, I like what you said. Movies should be big productions to be box office hits."

"It's a shame Jon and Peter are so shortsighted and incompetent. They only cared about making money and never thought about making a good movie. Now that they've been fired, are you interested in taking over SPE?"

What a sudden move! The bartender had just placed the drink in front of him. Henry, who was about to take a drink, paused unconsciously. He then picked up the beer-based cocktail and took a sip.

Mitch Schulhof certainly didn't miss any of these subtle changes. With a smile on his face, he continued, "Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), which manages Columbia Pictures, isn't comparable to a bygone company like Stark Pictures.

"Whether you have ambitions in the film industry or want to make your girlfriend famous, don't you think this is a better stage for you to perform? What can Stark Films, which produces less than one movie a year, do?"

What Walter White said was true. Although Stark Pictures had considerable advantages in equipment, the gap between them and the eight major Hollywood studios of the era was far from small.

At least Stark Pictures couldn't use its equipment to block any of the Big Eight, because Stark Pictures wasn't the only manufacturer of photography-related equipment.

Moreover, the eight major film studios all have their own studios with complete equipment, so they don't need to rent from Stark Films. Independent films and small production companies only need to rent to reduce equipment costs.

If this weren't the Marvel Universe, the chips offered by the old white man in front of him would indeed be quite tempting.

Even without considering Tony Stark's financial connections, Henry didn't think the old white man in front of him was a good choice. "Mr. Schulhof, I heard that SPE currently has no leader. But can you designate someone?"

"As long as you demonstrate your value, how could Japan refuse? The digital camera you're developing now is only at the HD level. UHD is still under development. I bet you can't imagine how much Sony wants this technology."

"If they want it, I'll give it to them, right?" Henry smiled.

"Of course, this doesn't mean you're handing over your technology to the Japanese. What I want is more leverage so I can eventually take over Sony. To do that, I need your help, Henry."

"But didn't the president of Sony hand over the baton to Nobuyuki Izui?"

"No, Ohga Norio is still here. Idei Nobuyuki is just holding the title of president. People who work as vice presidents still have the chance to be replaced. And you don't think that my goal is just to become the president of Sony, do you?"

"If you don't want to be the president, Mr. Schulhof doesn't want the entire Sony."

Mitch Schulhof's eyes flashed with enthusiasm. "Exactly! Don't you think it's right to teach those Japanese who threatened to buy America a lesson?

"Imagine their faces when Sony is no longer Sony of Japan but Sony of America. As an American, wouldn't you be happy?"

Again, if this wasn't the Marvel Universe, Henry might have given in.

But they use other people's chips to make their own profits. Although they give some small rewards, they still rely on empty promises to convince people.

Henry had long been trained to be immune to this kind of empty promises of PUA. So at this moment, he just laughed twice.

Chapter 341 Blockbuster Under Attack

Henry's meeting with Mitch Schulhofer ended on a sour note.

Henry didn't even use the ambiguous words that left a glimmer of hope. He directly rejected the old white man who wanted to embezzle Japanese assets.

Even if Henry did not rely on his foresight, and regardless of whether this was the Marvel Universe, it was clear from the industrial and economic news of the United States and Japan that the conflict between Sony Japan headquarters and Sony America was almost an open issue.

In addition to the blind trust that Sony's former president and current emperor, Norio Ohga, had in Mitch Schulhoff, Sony's top management had long been dissatisfied with Sony America's attitude of acting like a feudal lord, regardless of the king's (headquarters) orders, and doing things on its own.

Especially now, Mitch Schulhof's stay or departure is almost like a battlefield for the wrestling between former president Norio Ohga and current president Nobuyuki Idei.

If Nobuyuki Idei was the one who rose to power by rebelling, he would have fought a fierce battle with the retired emperor, Norio Ohga. But Nobuyuki Idei was also someone promoted by Norio Ohga himself!

Would Norio Ohga fight against the successor he chose in order to win the support of the Americans who caused Sony to suffer losses of more than 3 billion?

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Mickey Schulhof was going to be dropped sooner or later; it was just a matter of how. Why would Henry jump on a sinking ship?

Just to turn Japan's Sony into the big pie drawn on paper of America's Sony?

Even if Japan were to burst its economic bubble, it would not sit idly by and watch a major company like Sony be taken away by the Americans. If that were to happen, they would inevitably intervene.

After writing Mickey Schulhof's delusions into a regular report sent to Tony Stark's confidential email address, Henry no longer cared about the matter.

Of course, whether the young master read the report or not was none of his business. Anyway, he had fulfilled his obligation to report.

In Hollywood circles, Sony Pictures Entertainment is now the weakest of the weak. Aside from its wealth, it's looked down upon in every other respect. So Henry isn't afraid of pressure from Sony, and no one else will respond to Sony's call.

All they thought about was how to use the Japanese money to run their own business. The rest was out of the question.