Chapter 370

During the summer blockbuster season, the first hit was Marvel Studios' second self-produced film Thor. Its competitor was Warner Bros' Speed Racer, a big-budget special effects film directed by the Wachowski brothers based on the anime of the same name.

With the successful experience of Iron Man, Thor was also heavily promoted. Eva Green, who had just appeared on a TV interview, came to Charles' beachfront villa in Palisades, Santa Monica, in the evening.

Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci was also caught up in a Hollywood scandal. Eva Green's debut film, The Dreamers, was directed by him.

Of course, when questioned by reporters, Eva Green claimed she wasn't very aware since she was just a newbie and had only worked on one film with him.

In the bedroom, Eva Green, on top of Charles, screamed and collapsed on him, satisfied. "I can't take it anymore!"

Afterwards, she rolled off, and after a bit of shuffling, rested her head on Charles' chest.

Charles patted Eva Green's head and smiled. "Satisfied?"

"Mhm, felt like I was in heaven!" Eva Green replied weakly.

"I've seen a lot of media criticism of French director Roman Polanski recently. He's being boycotted by international film festivals. Looks like he's really done for," Eva Green sighed.

"Ha, one shouldn't mix up work and personal ethics. Polanski should have paid for his sins ages ago," Charles said, rubbing her back.

"Yeah, and Bill Cosby went to prison for drugging and assaulting women. Over 15 women have accused him, and his prison term could easily last 20-30 years!"

Moreover, Bill Cosby was already 71, and it was likely he wouldn't live to see the outside of a prison again.

Eva Green nodded. "Many actresses are relieved about Harvey Weinstein being expelled from Hollywood. He was a menace in Europe too!"

Hearing Eva Green's words, it seemed many actresses were tormented by Harvey Weinstein for a long time.

"Well, he's got nothing now, hasn't he?" Charles chuckled.

"Now, you're my lady, who would dare mess with you?" Charles yawned. "Let's get some sleep."

...

Capet Pictures' annual conference in Los Angeles lasted over a week, with department heads and top executives in attendance, including TV company president Roger Anderson and home entertainment president Jack Paul.

James Tunan, responsible for European operations, and Xu Xiaoling and Masami Takahashi, in charge of the Asia-Pacific region, also attended.

Charles arranged for the executives to vacation at Paradise Island Resort near Nassau in the Bahamas.

Charles brought Alexandra Daddario along. If Eva Green hadn't been in Europe promoting Thor, he would have brought her too.

Scarlett Johansson and Kate Beckinsale were filming Iron Man 2; Blake Lively was filming Gossip Girl Season 2; Anne Hathaway was busy with Bride Wars; even Emily Blunt was occupied with Sherlock Holmes!

However, with Alexandra Daddario's 36E and Phyllis Jones' 36D, Charles felt quite satisfied.

On the beach, Charles lay on a chair, drinking juice and watching Alexandra Daddario and Phyllis Jones playing in bikinis.

...

After the meetings, Charles Capet returned to his room and only saw Phyllis Jones sitting on the sofa, watching TV.

He walked over, hugged Phyllis Jones, feeling her 36D chest, and after some intimacy, he asked, "Where's Alexandra?"

"In the shower," Phyllis Jones pointed towards the bathroom door, then wrapped her arms around Charles' neck, rubbing her chest against him, "Isn't Alexandra's chest really alluring to you?"

Charles chuckled and said, "Relax, you're the best. Yours aren't small either."

"Should I compare with her?" Phyllis Jones flirtatiously asked.

Hearing this, Charles immediately stood up, took off his clothes, and pulled Phyllis Jones into the bathroom.

In the shower, Alexandra Daddario suddenly saw Charles and Phyllis Jones come in. Before she could say anything, Charles pulled her into a kiss.

"Sweetie, Phyllis says hers are bigger than yours," Charles said as he held Alexandra Daddario, and waved to Phyllis Jones.

"I'm a 36E!" Alexandra Daddario proudly pushed out her chest.

"Yeah, I know," Charles said and kissed Alexandra Daddario again, and Phyllis Jones, understanding the situation, joined in directly.

They took an incredibly steamy shower for three hours before they came out of the bathroom!

The next morning, Charles was on the sofa with Alexandra Daddario, while Phyllis Jones reported, "Since last year, a lot of print magazines and newspapers have been losing money. Hearst Media is looking for a buyer for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, which has a 140-year history.

The Washington Post Group's Newsweek, one of America's top three news weeklies, is also looking for a buyer.

Another news weekly, U.S. News & World Report, and the mainstream newspaper, The Christian Science Monitor, are considering stopping their print editions and switching to online newspapers!"

"Hmm... Print newspapers definitely won't disappear. In the future, newspapers will have online editions, but many will continue publishing print editions. Whether it's out of tradition or habit, print newspaper subscriptions bring in more revenue than online subscriptions."

In the future, the prices of major newspapers like the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post were so low mainly because of the decrease in print subscribers.

The era of internet media is unstoppable. All media groups launched online news, and most online news was free, just a way for companies to attract traffic.

"Oh, is the boss interested in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer or Newsweek?" Phyllis Jones asked again.

"Heh, if their parent company can reduce some debt, I'd be interested," Charles shook his head with a smile. He remembered that Newsweek was sold for just $1 in the future!

Of course, it wouldn't be at that price now. Even with high debts, it was estimated that in two years, print media would see their sales cut in half, and then...

Alexandra Daddario, sitting nearby, was a bit confused, staring with wide eyes and asking, "I think I heard the Tribune Company has a high debt!"

Phyllis Jones raised her head and laughed, "The Tribune Company is heading for bankruptcy!"

In 2000, the Tribune Company, which owned the Chicago Tribune and Baltimore Sun, as well as 15 TV stations, acquired the Times Mirror Company, which owned the Los Angeles Times, Dallas Morning News, and Denver Post, as well as 7 TV stations, for $8.3 billion. This made the Tribune Company the third-largest newspaper group in the US by circulation and the second-largest by revenue.

Last year, Chicago real estate tycoon Sam Zell acquired the Tribune Company for $8.2 billion using high-leverage financing and employee stock plans, less price than the 2000 Tribune purchase of Times Mirror.

"The Tribune Company now has over $12 billion in debt, with assets only worth about $7-8 billion. Filing for bankruptcy restructuring might be a good choice," Charles actually had thoughts about the Los Angeles Times. If the Tribune Company was willing to sell it separately, Charles would be interested in discussing the purchase price.

"Alright, get ready, we're leaving here today," Charles stood up. Capet Pictures had big plans this year. Besides movies, they also had to start preparing studios in Toronto, Canada, and Atlanta, Georgia!

The financial crisis had increased tax breaks and financial subsidies for the entertainment industry in many places, and Capet Pictures needed to keep growing.

On Charles' private jet, looking at Alexandra Daddario's perfect figure, especially recalling her bikini girl charm earlier.

Charles thought of a movie that was very suitable for Alexandra Daddario, and that was Piranha 3D, a sensual and bloody horror thriller!

"Phyllis, what do you think about having Alexandra Daddario star in a Piranha movie?"

Charles said as he hugged Alexandra Daddario with a smile on his face.

*****

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