Major Influences

The old mogul had his momentum going for him but he was bound to be disappointed.

"Well, we will just do our best to stay out of your way, Mr. Wassenberg!" Mark just said with a shrug of his shoulder. There was no need to waste his time on entertaining a clearly aggressive foe.

Lew Wasserman must have been spoiled by his decades of dominance in Hollywood that he would think this lowly means would work.

"I've given you your options. I hope you make the right choice." Mr. Lasserman dispensed off his smile and had his stern stare marring his face. Although the director in front of him is still stubborn, he knew that this inconsequential man would change his mind after a while.

Lew turned his eyes towards the quiet boy not far from them and said parting advice. "Take my word for it, Mark! You have a talented son to nurture. Don't waste it on pointless struggles where you are never bound to win!"

"Let's be on our way, Sid!" Lew and his Sid counterpart went as they came. The duo was left to prepare for contingencies as it was common in the business industry for giants to scuff out their little competitors.

These scenarios have become a bit annoying that Mark was considering hiring some enforcers that bring pain to those who come uninvited.

"You okay, Dad?!" Alexander finally let go of his naive facade and his demeanor was shouting irritation even without the irritable actions. "I hope those useless threats don't spook you!"

"I'm okay, Alexander! If I'm spooked by this little showing of theirs, I wouldn't have persevered in this cruel industry." Mark really had no time to care about what they can do. "It is not like their Oscars and critic buying can do much with our expertise being combined."

"True!" The boy grinned at that and looked forward to the face that the final media mogul would make when his efforts would come to waste.

The point in which they would worry is when the majors could somehow control the cinemas to boycott or ostracize the films that Cosmic Pictures would produce.

Too bad for them!

Cosmic is the pioneering cash cow of the up-and-coming rise of the cinema, Alexander vows to make sure of that. Universal didn't have a bad start with Jaws but the rest are still muddling through uncertainties.

It is true that the theater companies and the majors have a little connection due to their entanglements during the cinematic golden age but connections must guarantee interest.

Turning away the Kid Psychic series and other high-earning films would be stupid for the cinemas.

As for their collective threat through influencing critics and the Oscars, why the heck would they care for that?!

Critics and their enlightened guidance to the masses are just that. The mere hundreds of eloquent word writers have no swerving power when the mass millions of moviegoers enjoy the film.

Bad critical reception isn't necessarily a sign that a movie would fail. A lot of movies from the past and future can prove that critics aren't omnipotent.

It is important to note that Cosmic has already tided over a wave of bad reviews before, why not do it again?

The first Star Wars movie of the first Star Wars trilogy is an undeniable example of critics being crushed by audience acclaim.

As for the prestigious Academy Awards and all other film award ceremonies, for Alexander and Mark, are those awards even worth it?!

Sure! It is an uncontested indication that you are the best in the filming industry! You will be remembered throughout history when you've taken home a little golden man in your hands.

This glory is one to be cherished but not something to die for. Only a select few can win the glories back while millions can only watch and weep.

The truth of the matter is that the other millions mostly watch and the majority of them don't weep. The Creeds would pat their backs if they take one home but they will be just fine if they didn't.

Vain Sidney would be the only one who will weep if he found out that his ominous boast was treated as air by his competition.

Old Lew would probably waste his efforts when it would not accomplish the punishment he hoped it would achieve.

Their major influences seem moot in the face of contingencies that have long been prepared.

Critics and awards aren't that important compared to the value of money. Although it was only Alexander who would think of such ridiculousness, Mark would not be able to help himself but agree with it.

He is far from achieving any notable and Oscar-worthy works from all of his industry experience. This hadn't bothered him at all.

If winning against one gold man means fighting hard against powerful and influential oppositions, Mark would rather waste money and resources on making another film with his talented son.

In short, winning would be worth it yet also not worth it in the long run.

"By the way, Dad! Even if the public accuses us of hating and snubbing the Oscars and whatnot, their visit gave us irrefutable evidence that it isn't our fault at all." Little Alex's irritable sensation disappeared with his crafty and cute grin.

His little hands were waving around a microphone with a wire connecting to the underside of his clothed seat.

"Sneaky!" Mark smiled with pride and eyed the recording box that perfectly fit the dimensions within those cloth-concealed four legs. "Isn't that the perfect card to blindside some arrogant people?"

"It sure is." Alexander was always trying to find ways to get some benefit from the intruding executives. It was a good shot to borrow this certain equipment ahead of time.

If there is one thing he got from watching political and conspiracy dramas that Other Joe has watched, it would be that voice recordings table turners.

"I can't wait to say 'How the turn tables!' to people with smug plans and have no inkling of humor." His cute grin was too characteristic of the little devil that Mark knew of him.