America's Road to Wealth

Three hundred million dollars.

To current Rockets owner Leslie Alexander.

This is approximately equal to more than 70% of this guy's total net worth at this time.

To Abel.

This is only the total number of aircraft orders he has placed with Boeing and Gulfstream.

At the same time, for him, this is almost equivalent to someone with a monthly salary of 10,000 charging up 588 while playing games.

I can’t say it’s not worth mentioning, but that’s it.

Abel didn't even go to Houston himself.

Just let York West go over with the people and the check to sign the contract.

At the same time, Abel asked York West to bring it.

And he, the boss, has requirements for the upcoming Houston Rockets in the next six months.

Two words: crappy.

It's so bad that it can't be better.

He, the boss, wants the Rockets to be bad enough to get the No. 1 pick before June this year.

In addition, he also asked David Jones to make an international ocean call.

To the two heads of the Smith Capital branch in Shanghai.

Abel asked the two people in charge to find a young basketball player named Dayao in Shanghai.

These two people in charge are required to do whatever it takes to trick Yao into going to the United States for the draft this year.

Since Dayao would have come next year.

Then Abel felt that it was better to let him come over quickly.

The Houston Rockets have their own investment.

It will definitely allow Dayao to play for a few more years and prevent him from being scrapped and retired so quickly.

Wait until then, when this year's NBA off-season ends.

Next year, Abel will let all NBA basketball team owners know what a Western Dynasty is.

But for most NBA owners, that is, sports businessmen like Leslie Alexander, this is a lifelong career.

For Abel, it was just one of his games.

And he only added a few strokes of thick ink to his own character design.

At noon that day.

Alan Baker also returned successfully.

We all had a simple work meal in the MGM employee restaurant.

"Sony Columbia ultimately chose the third option."

Alan Baker reported to his boss while cutting the average-tasting steak:

"In other words, we will resell the Spider-Man copyright to us for US$20 million."

"But they have another condition."

"That is, when Spider-Man is filming a comic book movie, Sony Columbia must be given a certain amount of investment."

Abel, who was sitting opposite Alan Baker and eating the same work meal, nodded and shook his head:

"Go and reply to them. This request can be fulfilled."

“But they can only be allowed to invest in the first part, and they will not be given priority investment amounts in the future.”

Abel vaguely remembered.

The Spider-Man trilogy in parallel time and space has a better box office than the previous one.

The first one is the worst.

He also didn’t want to push Sony Columbia into a corner.

There are also three pounds of nails in the broken ship, which makes the neon cabinet and Columbian movies anxious.

If you let them jump over the wall in a hurry, things will easily get out of their control.

Being able to spend 20 million US dollars to buy back Little Spider is still a good deal.

Besides, Abel also wants to change the heroine design of the first part of the Old Spider trilogy and let Annie play the role.

Some plots need to be added or deleted.

I don’t know if it can be improved, otherwise it won’t do well at the box office.

That would allow Sony to participate in the investment, and it could also take some of the pressure off MGM.

If the changes go well, then MGM will film it themselves.

Alan Baker answered the boss while chewing the average-tasting steak:

"That should be no problem. I think those neon people will agree."

"here you go."

Abel praised Alan Baker.

He turned to look at MGM CEO Robert Iger, who was sitting next to him.

"Robert. You heard what we just said."

Abel smiled and said:

"It's time to start preparing the little spider that belongs to MGM. I hope your little spider can satisfy the Americans."

"Of course." Robert Egger smiled, he was also eating a cheap steak that tasted average.

There were about ten people sitting on either side of their long table.

They are all senior executives of MGM and senior attachés around Abel.

There are many people eating in the staff restaurant of more than 200 square meters.

However, anyone who wants to come in to eat here today must undergo a physical security check.

"We have been prepared for it for a long time. Marvel has been preparing the script for more than two months."

Organized by MGM with contributions from Marvel.

Abel's version of the Spider-Man script that Abel roughly requested.

Abel had seen it himself. He personally thinks it should be better than the Spider-Man trilogy.

If the special effects are better at that time, it may be able to surpass the box office of the first Spider-Man movie.

In addition, filming must start immediately.

The old spider in parallel time and space has such a high box office.

One of the big reasons is because of what happened in September this year.

After that, many Americans were on edge.

Spider-Man, the comic book superhero they have grown up with, can appear in movies after this.

This will give Americans who fantasize about superheroes protecting themselves at that time some psychological comfort.

At the same time, this is also the reason why other superhero movies in later generations can succeed.

Because after that, Americans really lost their sense of security to a certain extent.

They start craving superheroes.

This is ironic.

Hearing Robert Egger's answer, Abel smiled and nodded.

The chairman of MGM put down his knife and fork while eating. He couldn't stand the cheap steak.

"By the way. What about Spider-Man? There are so many superheroes in Marvel, which one are you going to make?"

Abel's previous request to MGM and Marvel was just to let them film Spider-Man first.

He didn't care about other comic book heroes.

Just let MGM do what they want.

He happened to be talking about this matter today, so he asked.

Robert Egger quickly replied:

"After Parker, our idea is to bring Thor to the screen."

Hearing this answer, Abel frowned slightly, and then quickly unfolded it.

Because Abel knew that Thor's popularity was among the top three among Marvel's superheroes, except for Parker.

Prior to this, the rights to Thor were also sold to Marvel.

When Abel bought Marvel last year, he asked Marvel to contact him.

The price doubled and the buyer quickly sold the Thor back.

After Spider-Man, if there is no way to get back IP such as Fantastic Four and X-Men.

Based on the popularity of Marvel IP across the United States, it is a normal decision to place Thor next to Spider-Man.

Forget about Iron Man.

The Iron Man of later generations can be said to have almost all the perfect attributes.

The kind of persona that even tall, rich and handsome people are not enough to describe.

But in the original Iron Man character.

It can be said that many plots of Iron Man are actually restricted settings.

This is everyone’s favorite part of GHS, and it was the original mission that Tony Stark took on in Marvel.

For this reason, in parallel time and space, in 2008.

Marvel is preparing to fight back with "Iron Man", which is actually a comprehensive transformation of Iron Man's character.

Eliminate the bad elements and keep the good ones to strengthen, and this is how we have the perfect Iron Man behind.

To be able to stand up to the gods with human strength, that is a super-modified character design.

Before this, Iron Man was only mid-range popular in Marvel.

In the entire American comic industry, he is at the bottom.

After thinking about it, to be honest, Abel didn't know what Thor would look like without Iron Man at the front.

This made Abel couldn't help but suggest:

"Maybe you can shoot Tony Stark first. I prefer this guy with a mean mouth."

Tony Stark at this time is labeled as bitchy, flirtatious, and GHS

After Robert Egger heard this request from his boss.

The CEO of MGM was slightly startled.

Then Robert Egger reacted, and he immediately said:

"Okay. We'll start market research right away. As long as it's suitable, I think it's best to film Iron Man first."

Abel shrugged and said with a smile:

"It's up to you to decide. Things like shooting movies should still be done by professionals like you."

It would be better if Abel didn't say that. His boss said so.

Robert Egger couldn't help but think about it.

The result of overthinking is.

Spider-Man was followed by MGM and Marvel.

There is a high probability that Iron Man will be the next main work.

Abel chatted with Robert Iger about Cameron again.

"You must send someone to urge him from time to time." Regarding Cameron, Abel emphasized:

"This guy James, if we don't rush him, he can delay what he finished in one year to two or three years. And this is just because he doesn't think it's perfect!"

"But you must know that as one of the best directors in the world, there are very few works that can make him feel perfect."

"In the market, I think a lot of times, the audience doesn't want perfection. What they want is good-looking and interesting."

"And we as studio owners and managers."

"What we want is a balance between costs and profits and expanding profits as much as possible."

"Robert, do you understand what I mean?"

Robert Iger will explain it even if he doesn't understand it.

Besides, he thinks what the boss said makes sense.

The main purpose of making commercial films is to make money.

If you really want to get involved in film art, then go to Europe.

Robert Egger nodded and said:

"I think so too. Boss, please rest assured. I will keep an eye on James myself."

With the assurance of Robert Egger, Abel nodded.

Robert Egger is very capable, and with him keeping an eye on Cameron, Abel feels that he can feel a little more at ease in this regard.

Abel, who had lost his appetite for the cheap steak in front of him, raised his head and looked at the MGM employee restaurant.

This is a restaurant of about two hundred square meters, maybe a little larger, with dozens of long tables, similar to a school cafeteria.

MGM employees, when they don’t want to go out to eat.

You can spend a relatively small amount of money here and have a work meal here.

If you don’t spend much money, don’t think about how good the taste is.

Abel also saw that this employee restaurant had a bit of history.

Both the decoration and the floor are a bit old, and it looks like the style of the 1960s and 1970s.

The MGM headquarters building itself has a bit of history.

It has been under construction for almost 30 years, and there are already a large number of buildings exceeding it in the surrounding area.

The only thing that is better than the surrounding buildings is its location and land value.

Thinking of this, Abel said casually:

"Wait until next year, if "007" and "Spider-Man" pass the box office. I will directly fund the construction of a new headquarters building for MGM near Beverly Hills."

Robert Egger was very happy to hear his boss's words.

A competition for the company to build a new headquarters, if the company does not have to pay for it.

Anyway, this is a good thing.

There are new, nicer and better buildings to work in.

It is also a symbol of the company's strength and will make the company's employees feel more happy when working.

Robert Iger was about to praise his boss a few words, but he heard the boss say again:

"The food in the staff restaurant also tastes really average. But with so many people coming to eat such average food, MGM has done a good job."

The boss's last words made Robert Egger startled.

The CEO turned his head and looked behind him consciously.

The CEO saw the MGM employee restaurant where only twenty or thirty people usually come to eat.

It was packed everywhere today, and many of them were actors who came to the company to do business.

There are really many people coming to eat.

Robert Egger suddenly understood something - these Hollywood bitches, ugh!!!

"Huh?"

Robert Egger suddenly heard his boss shout in surprise.

"BOSS? What's wrong?" Robert Egger quickly asked with concern.

"Over there." Abel pointed to Robert Iger in a direction behind the CEO.

Robert Iger looked over and saw his boss pointing at a young actress.

The actress saw Robert and Abel looking at her.

She quickly smiled back, then lowered her head to avoid looking.

This made Robert only see that the actress was beautiful and looked young.

"That actress, is she filming the company's movie?" Robert Egger heard his boss ask.

Robert Egger didn't even recognize who the actress was, but thought she looked pretty from a distance.

The MGM CEO immediately waved his secretary over.

Robert Egger gave his secretary a few words.

Abel waited quietly.

Two minutes later, Robert Egger told Abel the identity of the actress.

"Scarlett Johansson," Robert Egger said softly.

"This is her name. She is the actress who plays the heroine Susanna in the feature film "American Paradise" that our company is currently filming."

Abel thought to himself that it was indeed Scarlett Johansson.

Abel just glanced casually, and his eyes happened to fall on Scarlett Johansson.

Scarlett Johansson happened to be looking at him at this time, and their eyes met.

Abel thought she looked familiar, young and beautiful at the same time.

Scarlett Johansson herself quickly lowered her gaze, not daring to look at the super boss.

Out of curiosity, Abel asked Robert Egger who she was.

I didn't expect it to be Scarlett.

At this time, Scarlett Johansson had just turned 16.

But she was a child star and filmed her first movie in 1994.

She is only sixteen years old now, but she has already participated in filming and even starred in many movies.

At this time, the widowed sister was far from as beautiful and sexy as she would be in the future.

Abel saw her and thought she was beautiful and familiar, but he didn't recognize her immediately.

"Oh, I know." After listening to Robert Egger's introduction, Abel nodded and said nothing.

It's just that his boss didn't say anything, but Robert Iger secretly remembered the incident.

After all, it was rare that so many actors came to "eat" in the staff restaurant today.

There are many handsome guys and beauties, and even some A-list Hollywood actresses.

Abel didn't pay attention to anyone, but he paid attention to an inconspicuous actress with a former child star background, and even asked about it.

If Robert Iger, the CEO, doesn’t take it personally.

Then he is probably not a conscientious manager in Hollywood.

So when Abel planned to leave MGM in the afternoon.

Before Abel got in the car, he saw Robert Egger and hurried over.

"Hi! BOSS, I'm sorry." Robert Egger said:

"There is a document that I forgot to show you. I'm afraid you've already left, so I'll deliver it myself."

"Oh, what document?" Abel responded, but his eyes fell on Robert Egger who was following him.

Scarlett Johansson is staring at herself with a pair of beautiful big eyes.

Is this sending documents?

This is sending Scarlett Johansson away.

"It's a document about the budget approval of Parker's comic book adaptation of Spider-Man."

Robert Egger said matter-of-factly:

"Miss Scarlett Johansson happened to pass by my office at that time. I asked her to bring the documents over for me. Boss, this needs your signature."

"Oh, I understand." Abel smiled and seemed to be doing business.

"Then pass it to me, Miss Johnson." Abel smiled and extended his hand to Scarlett Johansson.

Scarlett handed over the document decisively and gave Abel a bright smile.

She added: "Here, Mr. Smith!"

She seemed calm and well behaved.

It was the chest that was already quite large that was rising and falling rapidly, revealing her nervous mood at this time.

After taking the document, Abel looked at it and found that according to the procedures and regulations, this document really had to be signed by himself.

Abel smiled and shook his head, quickly signing his name on it.

He said:

"In the future, I will authorize you to authorize similar documents, Robert, and you can be responsible for them yourself. There is no need to ask me to sign again. I believe you. You are a qualified subordinate."

"Thank you for your trust." Robert Egger smiled:

"Making you satisfied is the happiest thing for me today."

"Okay. Goodbye then, Robert. I'm going to Marbury later. The temperature is nice this afternoon and I want to go swimming there. I hope you have a good afternoon today."

Abel said goodbye with a smile, and also said goodbye to the young Scarlett Johansson:

"Miss Johnson, I hope you have a good afternoon too. Goodbye."