Chapter 216: Collaborative Cooperation

Crowded and busy, with an undeniable excitement in the air.

That was Julia Roberts' first impression inside the Burbank office building of Danerys Entertainment.

It was Saturday, yet most of the company seemed to have no intention of enjoying the weekend. However, recalling today's media feedback on "Mulan," Julia couldn't help but feel excited herself.

Besides the expected praise for the film overall, as well as for director Mark Rydell and lead Jessica Lange, many reviews specifically mentioned her portrayal of Shelby.

After analyzing the reviews in the morning and communicating with Danerys Entertainment, ICM President Marvin Josephson, who had personally taken over her representation, even suggested she might secure an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

At only 21, Julia didn't dare to hope for a win, but a nomination alone would give her a significant advantage over most actresses her age.

She was here for a marketing meeting, and Marvin Josephson hadn't come along, sending another agent with her instead. They were led to a reception room, where Julia was surprised to find Daryl Hannah, another lead in "Mulan," and her agent had arrived early.

Also under ICM, Julia would have normally looked up to Daryl Hannah.

At 28, Hannah made her debut in the 70s and gained attention in 1982 for her role as a replicant in Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner," participating in hits like "Splash," "Wall Street," and "Legal Eagles" over the years, making her one of the hottest stars of the 80s.

However, thinking of her five-film deal with Danerys Entertainment, Julia's confidence quickly returned.

She wondered if she'd meet Simon West today.

Unfortunately, that highly sought-after bachelor already had a girlfriend, and rumors suggested he preferred mature women, which supposedly influenced "The Beverly Hillbillies."

Of course.

A boy who grew up without much affection naturally yearned for a caring older sister figure. But who said young girls couldn't be nurturing?

With that thought, Julia greeted Daryl Hannah, who wasn't too warm in response. Julia didn't push it, and the agents kept up small talk to avoid awkward silence.

After waiting for over ten minutes, other key members of "Mulan" arrived. Yet, after the scheduled 2 p.m. meeting time passed, Danerys Entertainment showed no sign of starting.

As "Mulan's" director Mark Rydell was about to inquire, Danerys Entertainment CEO Amy Pascal entered, apologizing for a delay due to unforeseen circumstances and asking for a moment's patience.

Normally, figures like Rydell, Lange, Parton, and Hannah were accustomed to others waiting on them. But with Pascal personally apologizing and Danerys Entertainment's rising star, the group was understanding. Otherwise, gathering them on a Saturday would've been impossible.

Everyone was curious about the sudden delay.

After briefly greeting everyone, Pascal left quickly, leaving Jennifer and Vanessa to attend to the guests. Recognizing them as Simon and Amy's personal assistants showed Danerys Entertainment's sincerity, so no one was overly upset.

Meanwhile, in a large conference room upstairs.

Nearly all of Danerys Entertainment's executives were present, including Robert Ager from the East Coast who flew in from New York that morning.

With everyone seated around a large conference table, only Simon stood at the head, his expression serious.

Though not angry, Simon's demeanor and the immense wealth and reputation he wielded commanded respect from these industry elites.

The issue at hand was the roadshow plan for "Mulan."

With "Scream," "Mulan," "Dead Poets Society," and "Rain Man" targeting different audiences towards year-end, the films were assigned to four separate teams for more efficient and precise marketing.

"Scream" was given to New World Distribution, marked with its label; "Mulan," "Dead Poets Society," and "Rain Man" fell under Danerys Distribution, using the Danerys Film label.

Given "Scream" was Danerys Entertainment's first major self-distributed commercial film, its importance was clear.

Robert Rem allocated all elite staff to "Scream's" marketing, pooling vast resources.

Usually, a national roadshow demands extensive media connections, which lesser film companies might struggle to secure cooperation for in each city.

The combination of New World Entertainment's years of foundation and Danerys Entertainment's financial strength made "Scream's" success possible, with a stunning opening week box office of $20.71 million, thanks to the dedicated marketing team.

However, issues arose with "Mulan."

Dividing the films among four teams naturally led to competition.

Given Robert Rem's leadership and the distribution staff's tendencies, resources were allocated based on each film's perceived box office potential. "Scream" was favored for its high potential, attracting everyone to its team. Before "Rain Man's" rights returned, "Mulan" was seen as the least promising, ending up with the weakest distribution team.

Initially, Simon didn't notice the disparity during the advertising phase.

But when "Mulan's" vastly different roadshow plan from "Scream's" was presented, the seriousness became apparent.

Not due to "Mulan's" plan's poor quality—the team, despite their best efforts, couldn't match "Scream's" but the issue lay in the lack of communication between the teams. "Mulan" failed to adopt "Scream's" proven strategies and repeated its mistakes.

Simon wasn't concerned about the films' commercial outcomes but feared internal division and infighting.

Corporate dysfunction often stems from interdepartmental conflicts.

Danerys Entertainment wasn't yet a deeply rooted corporation, but Simon took the issue seriously, relieved to have identified it early.

In a few years, once Danerys Entertainment's culture solidified, reversing such issues without significant upheaval would be impossible.

Amy Pascal returned briefly before Simon continued, emphasizing Danerys Entertainment's unity across production, distribution, merchandising, and support departments. He didn't expect perfect harmony among over 800 employees but demanded cooperation, even if personally at odds. Failure to cooperate meant leaving or dismissal. Competition was inevitable, but cooperation was paramount, affecting everyone's compensation.

Simon highlighted the lack of communication between "Scream" and "Mulan's" teams with their roadshow plans as an example of narrow-mindedness he wished to eliminate. He also pointed out Robert Rem's oversight in coordinating team communication, resulting in a 10% bonus deduction for Rem as punishment.

With plans to establish a dedicated HR department to oversee and enforce collaboration, Simon concluded the meeting, instructing quick action on the discussed changes.

Leaving Rem with a day to produce a unified roadshow plan involving all teams, Simon warned of salary reductions and halved year-end bonuses for failure.

Despite Danerys Entertainment's rapid growth and generous end-of-year bonus plan surpassing industry standards, Simon knew the importance of gradual increases to manage expectations and maintain satisfaction among the still-integrating staff.

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