Chapter 388

In the early morning, Arthur woke up from the hotel bed.

After washing up, he leaned over and kissed Nicole Kidman, who was still lying in bed. "I'm heading out first. I'll come find you tonight!"

"Okay, go ahead. I'll be waiting for you at home tonight!"

After leaving the hotel, Arthur went straight back to Galaxy's headquarters in Glendale.

"Running a Super Bowl halftime ad for GoldenEye next year is very necessary," Arthur reminded his assistant, Anna Walker.

"Next year's halftime show ads are starting at a million dollars for 30 seconds," Anna Walker was surprised.

Ever since Galaxy ran the trailer for Speed during the Super Bowl a couple of years ago and achieved great success, all film companies wanted to promote their movie trailers during the Super Bowl.

Over the past two years, the cost of Super Bowl ads had been increasing, and this year's 30-second ad almost broke the million-dollar mark!

"No worries, you know how high the Super Bowl's viewership is," Arthur smiled. Spending over a million dollars for a 30-second ad was extravagant but worth it.

"Oh, PolyGram Films has an interesting script idea. It's a new story by the Coen Brothers," Arthur pointed to the draft script on the desk, titled Fargo.

"Let's have United Artists co-produce it with PolyGram, as the North American copyright holder."

PolyGram was also trying to distribute movies within the US, but their partnership with Galaxy continued. Now, United Artists under Galaxy handled indie films and foreign films in the North American market, and Fargo fit this category perfectly.

"Understood," Anna Walker nodded.

"And also, we need to speed up the production of the Mr. Bean movie!"

Meanwhile, MGM in Britain was working hard to ensure the shooting of GoldenEye. But Arthur hadn't forgotten about the Mr. Bean movie.

Anna Walker was aware of the progress. "The Mr. Bean movie is being produced by a studio under PolyGram Films. Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis are still adapting the script. Mr. Curtis was busy developing the BBC comedy The Vicar of Dibley, which will premiere on BBC next month!

By the way, United Artists also received a project about adapting the musical Evita, based on the life of Argentina's former First Lady Eva Peron. The producer is the same one who worked on the original musical, Robert Stigwood."

Arthur took a look. The musical Evita was very popular in the late '70s. After all, Eva Peron, the wife of Argentina's former president Juan Peron, was a remarkable woman known for her beauty and wisdom.

"Since Robert Stigwood convinced the original musical director to helm the film version, this script is definitely worth investing in," Arthur didn't like wasting time.

"Let United Artists handle it. Have someone contact Robert Stigwood to discuss the adaptation rights!"

If Arthur remembered correctly, Madonna was slated to play Eva Peron in the film version of Evita, one of her most notable performances.

Later that evening, Arthur and Nicole Kidman went to a bar in East Hollywood's Silver Lake, enjoying a performance by Canadian singer Shania Twain. Last year, Shania Twain signed with Galaxy Records and released her debut studio album, Shania Twain.

"Country music, not bad," Nicole Kidman leaned against Arthur, her red lips moving lightly. "Seems like she's signed with Galaxy Records. Quite sexy!"

Arthur didn't know much about this, so he touched her thigh, saying, "Look, she's switched to a rock style now."

Soon, Shania Twain on stage had changed into a rock get-up, and her music style had shifted. Indeed, such places were better suited for rock performances!

Nicole Kidman smiled, wrapping her arms around Arthur's neck and giving him a kiss. "I just saw Rupert Murdoch's eldest son, Lachlan Murdoch, here. Lachlan Murdoch is 23 this year, just graduated from college, and is about to start working at News Corp."

"Lachlan Murdoch?" Arthur knew about the Murdoch family's situation. "He has two older sisters, right? The eldest is from Rupert Murdoch's first marriage and has always lived in Australia. The second daughter, Elisabeth Murdoch, works at FOX, Rupert Murdoch's first child with his current wife. Lachlan Murdoch graduated this year, and their youngest brother will graduate next year!"

He looked at Nicole Kidman in his arms. "How do you know them?"

"I attended a 20th Century Fox party before. I'm also Australian, just like the Murdoch family," Nicole Kidman had good relations with 20th Century Fox, especially after Speed's huge success. Besides Galaxy, she also worked with Village Roadshow Pictures and 20th Century Fox.

Arthur laughed. The Australians in the industry were indeed very cohesive, with producers, directors, and actors often collaborating with their own people.

Arthur leaned in to whisper in Nicole Kidman's ear, "A lot of young rich kids are being compared to me now. Too bad my achievements now surpass what some families have accumulated over generations."

"Yeah, you're the best," Nicole Kidman kissed Arthur voluntarily, hugging him tightly. "By the way, do you want to go meet Lachlan Murdoch? After all, he's your age."

Arthur shook his head, "No need. I'm not in the same league as these newly graduated rich kids. I'm dealing with Rupert Murdoch himself now. Lachlan Murdoch might have to call me Uncle Smith, hahaha!"

Nicole Kidman laughed along, "He's your future competitor, isn't he?"

After all, Rupert Murdoch was already 63, and who knew when he might retire.

"Competitor?" Arthur knew that Rupert Murdoch would still be running News Corp at 90. Besides, Rupert would go through many more marriages and divorces. At 63, who would have thought that the two current media giants in Hollywood, Rupert Murdoch and Sumner Redstone, would both live long lives!

Arthur squeezed the softness in Nicole Kidman's arms. "My competitor is Rupert Murdoch himself. Right now, Galaxy Group's rivals are News Corp, Viacom, and Time Warner."

*****

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