[Chapter 858: Redefining Commercial Cinema]
Every industry needed regulations, and it was critical. William White believed that after this round of market fluctuations, some of the more impulsive venture investments would fail.
The era when anyone with money dared to invest would eventually conclude. The semiconductor sector was manageable, at least somewhat related to traditional industries, but software and the Internet were another story. If one didn't understand the industry, it was very easy to stumble.
Whether it was Microsoft or Netscape, they didn't serve as real benchmarks. Their success stemmed not only from their hard work but also from the quirks of history. Just because they succeeded didn't mean others would follow suit.
"Lucas, are you kidding me? Japan? Do I actually need to pander to them? Besides, most of this movie features BMWs. What do you think, Roger?"
Roger Spottiswoode found himself in a tough spot, having searched for a slew of Asian actresses, but there didn't seem to be much satisfaction.
William White felt equally frustrated, glancing at them and thinking, "I could tolerate the cute girl, but the tomboy just doesn't fit."
"Sir, from a storyline perspective, Japan isn't fitting. And isn't there supposed to be an expansion on this Asian character?"
"Hmm, that's just a preliminary idea. It might not even be under White Films' responsibility. Here, take a look at this, Li."
"By the way, Roger, she's from Montreal; I think she's your countrywoman."
"Ahem, boss, I don't know her. She has a great figure and face, but those fight scenes..."
"Don't worry, this time we've got the action choreography covered by a Hong Kong director. If worst comes to worst, we'll just use a stunt double."
The two men exchanged looks and decided to stay silent. Lucas was merely responsible for the special effects and didn't have much say despite his slight investment. As for Roger Spottiswoode, given the opportunity to direct a Bond film, he really shouldn't complain.
William noticed their shifty expressions but wasn't interested in clarifying anything. Hollywood worked like that; one just had to face it calmly. Over-explaining often led to misunderstandings.
Yes, William White was not the best guy, but he wasn't interested in just any woman. Tomorrow Never Dies was an important film, not only a cash cow but also a lucrative platform.
With production costs nearing one hundred million, he had no intention of covering that. Weren't they saying that their guy was shooting commercials? He was just setting it up for them--all the film's funding would come from sponsors.
While Hollywood was left reeling, a group of beautiful actresses was getting restless. In this era, a Bond girl was definitely something to aspire to.
Even though they were only at the project's initial stages, he was off running around, networking and promoting himself.
Everyone knew that the casting director had little power. Forget about the leading lady; secondary roles couldn't even be decided.
Well, William White wasn't too focused on that, but they could at least pick a couple of prettier ones.
"Anthony, what did you say? Haven't I already been rejected? How did this happen?"
"I don't know. Shouldn't you have told me something? Monica, I'm your manager."
Monica felt a bit dizzy. Happiness had come too fast, leaving her a bit confused.
"Anthony, I really don't know. As you know, I booked my flight back for tomorrow. This is just too sudden."
"Forget about that flight. I think you should call Mr. White."
Monica looked perplexed. William White? She needed to know him to call. She wouldn't mind if he took an interest in her, but the problem was, she didn't know him.
Watching this Sicilian beauty trying to carve her path in Hollywood, Anthony felt speechless. The director had made it clear--this was a direct selection from the boss. If she couldn't grasp the basics, best to quit Hollywood altogether.
"This is jealousy, Sophie. This role isn't right for you, and I don't want you sleeping with anyone, even if it's fake."
"Hmph, you're so stingy. Don't you know that Italian girl?"
"I swear to God, I absolutely don't know her. I fired this casting director; they were all a bunch of nonsense."
"Isn't Terry Hatcher beautiful? She's a smart woman, and Superman's girlfriend. Don't you want to play alongside Superman?"
"No way. I'm not comfortable wearing my underwear outside. If it were up to me, I'd choose not to wear anything at all."
William White had no intention of continuing that topic and kept his thoughts to himself.
Some things just couldn't be voiced. Since she was a naive one, maybe it was best to keep her that way. Being too direct might ruin the current flirtatious vibe.
With William White backing her, no one dared to lay a finger on her. It wasn't about desire; it was about fear. As for the others, she'd slept her way up.
William hadn't wanted to intervene much; a lot of things were just customary practices. However, they couldn't go too far.
He raged silently. If she wanted to play Superman, fine, but crossing the line was too much. Honestly, if it weren't for the potential backlash, he would just send that hassle off to Africa.
The young ones also needed some cleaning up. What a friend does is his own business; it wasn't for them to meddle in. It seemed searching for a female director would be the best choice; casting should be left to reliable hands.
What frustrated him the most was that he had mentioned expanding into the Japanese market, yet they brought him a Malaysian Chinese instead.
Well, that wasn't a complete disaster as long as she was beautiful and well-known.
The problem was that nothing fit. He had a grip on the fact that this wasn't just about sleeping; there were likely financial considerations involved too.
If that were the case, there was nothing more to discuss--scram, and he didn't want to see them again.
The beautiful young Sophie wasn't as naive as William believed. She had been in the industry since her teens, and she had seen her fair share.
Being a beautiful woman in this industry was inherently challenging. If you couldn't charm the people you needed to impress, it was time to call it a night; this business wasn't for you.
William was sleeping soundly, while Hollywood was erupting. White Films was starting a massive reshuffle, with many high-ranking executives being directly ousted.
"Do you know what's happening, Sherry?"
"Sir, there's an issue with the Bond casting; there are also problems in the advertising and planning departments. It seems our billionaire is thinking about keeping more power to himself."
Ray Stone pondered for a moment but chose to pass on the matter. He had lost interest in those who had been kicked out.
Sherry Lansing didn't understand. As a professional manager, all she needed to focus on was the return on investment. The rest was beyond her concern.
She understood Hollywood's grime well enough. If there were no more benefits to be had, why would anyone still fight for you?
As a boss, his thinking was different. It was fine to offer benefits, but it was something he had to give; what didn't belong to you shouldn't even be on your mind, regardless of its fate.
So, knowing this was the case, Ray naturally wouldn't budge. A professional manager needed to maintain their ethics. If you couldn't grasp that, no matter how capable you were, it wouldn't matter.
Barry Diller left NBC and figured he'd have to start his own venture. If he hadn't aimed at acquiring Paramount, he might have been running Warner Bros right now.
Jumping to buy a film company and then going up against the previous bosses? The idea was wonderful, but reality was brutal. Not only was it unlikely to succeed in acquiring the studio, but even if he did take control of Paramount, he would find himself targeted by all the other studios.
A boss is a boss, while a worker is a worker--never confuse the two roles.
*****
https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.