Chapter 317: Continuous Output

Chapter 317: Chapter 317: Continuous Output

The next day, the closed-door shareholder meeting was held again at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

The conference room was filled with Wall Street investors, and MGM representatives were also invited to attend, arrogantly emphasizing the advantages of "one-time full payment + debt waiver."

When it was Irene’s turn to speak, she didn’t refute directly, but played a segment of data first.

The data showed that MGM’s distribution team hadn’t updated their distribution strategy in three years, leading to a 30% drop in shelf turnover rates on rental platforms like Blockbuster. Meanwhile, Echo Pictures’ Pirates of the Caribbean achieved full-channel coverage from theaters to DVD in just two months, with astonishing efficiency.

Afterward, Irene handed over a supplementary proposal: "Regarding everyone’s concerns, we have made three adjustments: First, the acquisition payment will be made in two installments, with 60% paid initially and the remaining 40% paid in full once Future World achieves quarterly profitability. If targets aren’t met, we will bear all losses. Second, we will retain 20% of Future World’s core employees, led by Echo Pictures’ distribution director, to optimize the management structure without a ’one-size-fits-all’ approach. Third, we invite Mr. Webster to serve as an honorary consultant for Future World, participating in major project decisions, so your twenty years of experience can continue to shine."

She changed her tone and looked at the MGM representative: "As for the debt waiver, MGM’s debt rating report shows that your debt-repayment ability can only last for half a year. May I ask, if MGM itself goes bankrupt in six months, will the shareholders have to bear Future World’s debts again?"

This point struck the core concern of the shareholders, and whispers immediately broke out in the conference room.

The MGM representative’s face turned ashen, but they couldn’t refute it. Their bridge loans indeed hid risks that couldn’t withstand scrutiny.

Seeing the reaction on-site, Irene chose to keep increasing the pressure.

"We promise to plan at least 10 movies over the next five years, covering commercial blockbusters, Oscar contenders, and the low-budget B-movies that Future World used to excel at. MGM can give you channels, but they can’t give you content. What we can give you is the ability to ensure those channels never lack good content." Irene hit the mark. "This isn’t a one-time acquisition, but a long-term community of interests."

Webster looked at the profit-sharing agreement and distribution forecast report in his hand, then at the several wavering shareholders beside him, and finally spoke: "Everyone, although Echo Pictures’ proposal isn’t the highest bid, it has the lowest risk and the clearest plan. We’ve invested twenty years, not to watch the company collapse after a one-time cash-out."

For the next two hours, the shareholders engaged in a heated discussion.

Robert took the opportunity to distribute the compiled rumors of MGM’s debt defaults and the channel complementarity analysis between Future World and Echo Pictures to each shareholder.

Finally, the voting results were out—75% of the shareholders agreed to sell Future World Pictures to Echo Pictures.

When Webster shook Irene’s hand, the formal smile in his eyes turned into genuine recognition: "Miss Irene, you won because you are ’reliable.’ Wall Street doesn’t lack high bids, but it lacks certainty."

As they walked out of the hotel, the setting sun was vibrant.

Robert let out a long sigh of relief: "MGM’s side is probably going to be livid."

"They shouldn’t have waded into these muddy waters in the first place." Irene looked at the distant skyline, her tone calm. "MGM only saw Future World’s channels but forgot that the film industry is ’content + stability.’ And we have both."

Afterward, Echo Pictures’ acquisition plan proceeded in an orderly manner, with busy figures everywhere in the office.

Robert pushed open the office door and walked in, his face carrying a hint of gravity: "I found some news. This sudden intervention by MGM was actually being pushed by Universal Pictures behind the scenes."

"Universal?" Irene looked up, her gaze instantly turning cold.

She didn’t have any direct conflict with Universal, so why would they interfere like this?

"They certainly know how to stir up trouble from the shadows. I knew MGM was barely staying afloat and had never expressed interest in acquiring other film companies before. Their attitude toward B-movies has always been dismissive. Why would they suddenly want to acquire Future World? It turns out Universal was providing financial support behind the scenes just to ruin our acquisition."

"Indeed." Robert handed over an investigation report. "I verified through Wall Street connections that Universal’s CEO personally called MGM’s shareholders, promising that if they could stop Echo’s acquisition, they would collaborate with MGM to develop new IPs and even prepaid a $2 million ’cooperation deposit.’ However, now that the acquisition is finalized, Universal’s money has essentially gone down the drain."

Irene flipped through the documents. "So stingy, only giving $2 million. Why didn’t they give more?"

She detested this kind of backstabbing behavior. Universal Pictures was a Hollywood giant on the surface, but using such despicable means to suppress a rising company was truly contemptible.

"It seems these people are too idle. I need to find something for them to do, so they don’t spend all day staring at our moves." She put down the documents, a flash of cunning in her eyes, and after a moment of thought, she suddenly laughed.

"Robert, go and quietly spread some news for me." Irene leaned forward slightly, her tone carrying a bit of mystery. "Say that I’m about to start a brand-new action-adventure project, inspired by my father’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula. This movie is going to be big, bringing together the three major monster giants: vampire, werewolves, and Frankenstein’s Monster—putting all the horror figures I was afraid of as a child into one movie to create the opening of a ’Monster Universe.’"

Robert nodded subconsciously at first, then frowned with a skeptical look: "Will the pacing of such a movie be too hard to control? The three major monsters each have their own backgrounds, the character system is complex, and the filming difficulty is extreme. The special effects costs would likely be astronomical. Even if it can be filmed, the audience might not buy it."

"The point is for the audience not to buy it." Irene couldn’t help but laugh out loud, winking at Robert with a hint of mischief. "A movie that gathers multiple monsters is naturally prone to a messy logic line, and the special effects requirements are high. It’s purely a thankless task. I just want to dig a hole for those who stare at us every day and love to pull little tricks, to see who will be foolish enough to fall for it."

Robert was stunned for a moment, then realized, a knowing smile appearing on his face: "You want Universal or other companies to follow suit? If they really believe this news and invest heavily in similar projects, they’ll most likely lose everything in the end."

"Exactly." Irene nodded, her eyes sharp. "Doesn’t Universal like to interfere? They have many horror IPs under their belt and will definitely be interested in the concept of a ’monster assembly.’ As long as they’re tempted and start preparing similar projects, it will divert their energy and funds, and they won’t have time to target us in the short term. Meanwhile, we can take this opportunity to focus on promoting the channel integration with Future World."

She paused and added: "Remember, this news must be ’quietly’ leaked. Find a few famous gossip bloggers in the industry, and spread it privately through former Future World employees. Make it as real as possible. Say I’ve already started polishing the script and even intend to invite Leonardo to play the vampire lord. That will make it more convincing."

"Understood." Robert agreed with a smile. "I’ll arrange it perfectly to ensure the news looks as real as can be."