Chapter 260: Lady Gaga

New York, Downtown Manhattan, in Charles's villa by the Hudson River.

"Lady Gaga, born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, released an EP Red and Blue this year that didn't do well. She signed a contract with Def Jam but was quickly dropped.

She changed her name to Lady Gaga when she signed with Def Jam. She attended New York University but dropped out after a year to pursue music.

She formed a band and wrote songs for other artists..."

"Instruct Capet Records to sign her, just like we did with Katy Perry, support them to release albums," Charles said, hearing Phyllis Jones's response over the phone, a smile on his face but his tone showing exhaustion.

"Got it, boss!"

After hanging up the phone, Charles collapsed onto the sofa, smiling, "Tonight, luck's on my side!"

Scarlett Johansson sat next to Charles. "Were you just signing that bar's resident female singer?"

Charles nodded. "My intuition is never wrong."

That style, Charles was immediately reminded of the unique Lady Gaga, and it really was her when Phyllis Jones reached out.

Luckily, she had already changed her name to Lady Gaga, so no further verification was needed, just like Charles didn't know Katy Perry's original name.

Katy Perry changed her name last year and was signed by Capet Records this year. Lady Gaga had better luck, she was discovered by Charles in a bar shortly after changing her name.

"I am also preparing to release an album. Will Capet Records support me?" Scarlett Johansson suddenly asked.

"You releasing an album?" Charles looked at Scarlett in confusion, you can sing?

"I can sing. I originally debuted as a child star, many actors release albums," Scarlett Johansson explained.

Charles smiled. "Of course, Capet Records can definitely support you!"

Whether or not Scarlett Johansson could sing didn't matter; she could still release an album. Besides, what's wrong with his girl wanting to dabble in music?

"By the way, recently Weinstein Company and MGM have a project for me to replace Julia Roberts in a role," Scarlett Johansson said, looking at Charles.

"The Nanny Diaries, from the novel that's on The New York Times bestseller list!"

"Should I accept it? The original lead, Julia Roberts, turned it down, and now they've come to me, but the budget is much lower. It's just a low-budget comedy."

"The Nanny Diaries, published early last year, I think, bought by Harvey Weinstein," Charles chuckled. Weinstein Company's North American distribution was in cooperation with MGM; after all, it was a newly established independent film company without the capital to set up its own distribution system.

"Meaningless novel," Charles shook his head and suggested, "Refuse it. Besides, collaborating with that sexual predator might be risky. The Nanny Diaries made into a movie won't have much of an expectation."

"Oh, alright, honestly, I didn't really want to work with Harvey Weinstein," Scarlett Johansson said. Now that she had Charles Capet as a strong backer, she didn't need to fear Harvey Weinstein's retaliation.

"MGM, Weinstein Company, Lionsgate, and Summit Entertainment," Charles grinned, now these independent film distribution companies were no longer competitors to Capet Entertainment.

...

While Charles Capet was in New York enjoying a wonderful evening with the sexy star Scarlett Johansson, on the West Coast in Los Angeles, at Sony Pictures headquarters in Culver City, Sony Group President Ryoji Chubachi from Japan met with Sony Computer Entertainment Chairman Ken Kutaragi and Sony Pictures Co-Chairpersons John Calley and Amy Pascal.

"Capet Entertainment isn't particularly interested in MGM, Charles is only interested in MGM's film library and the ownership of the 007 series," John Calley said.

Ryoji Chubachi nodded. "When I met Charles Capet in Tokyo a while ago, although young, he had very clear goals. He knows exactly why we are acquiring MGM."

Ken Kutaragi frowned. "Now Toshiba's HD DVD players are cheaper than our Blu-ray players, this is a disadvantage for us."

Ryoji Chubachi turned to look at John Calley and Amy Pascal, expanding the electronic consumer market through content had always been Sony's strategy.

"The home entertainment market has always been a major income source for Hollywood movie companies. The importance of the DVD market to film companies cannot be overstated," Amy Pascal said, sighing.

"The uncertainty in the new high-definition DVD formats isn't good news for Hollywood. Besides standard DVDs and VHS tapes, film companies would also have to release two types of high-definition DVDs, directly increasing distribution costs!"

Ryoji Chubachi said helplessly, "The high-definition DVD format war, which Hollywood film companies choose to support is really crucial."

*****

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