fair

August 15.

The acquisition of Panini, and its annex, did not cause a major uproar for Marvel or the business world. The deal concluded with a purchase of 48 million dollars. The sticker and album companies have been shaken since the early '90s, especially since 1993, which unfortunately couldn't be complemented by many managers who couldn't find viable solutions.

Raimon closed the deal once the negotiations were completed and traveled to Italy to learn about all the aspects of the company. Billy was here, visiting, and already had some knowledge about what to do with Panini. His trip to Italy included necessary layovers, one of which was Zurich, Switzerland, chosen for two special solutions. The first was to secure a licensing agreement for FIFA World Cup and Euro Cup stickers, and the second was to make an offer for a video game license for at least 20 years, starting from 1999 or 2000.

The founders are the brothers Giuseppe, Benito, Umberto, and Franco Panini. Of these four, only Franco Panini remains the official administrator of Panini, and his name is recognized as such. There are plans to merge it with the comic distribution company and begin sales. Currently, Panini has factories and locations in five places besides Modena, Italy.

-Mr. Franco, I am Raimon Green, the current director of operations at Lux Animation. We are the new owners of Panini, - said Raimon to Franco, who still had some doubts. Franco and his brother had planned to buy back Panini in a partnership, but the move didn't go as planned, and they had a new boss, one they knew little about, except that he was an actor. News traveled slower in Europe than in the United States and the United Kingdom.

In the Panini offices, not as prominent as expected but still a significant sticker factory, all their assets were currently being used for small licenses in collaboration with some companies, while they waited for 1998 when the World Cup would be firmly established.

-I understand, are you the one who requested a meeting? - Franco Panini commented.

-I am, for now. I am here because we want you to use your connections to help us expand licensing to three competitions. The first is the Champions League, the second is the Euro Cup, and the third is the FIFA World Cup, - mentioned Raimon, biting his cheek. He didn't know much about football, but he memorized everything on the flight over to say this.

-You want to renew the football license, - Franco commented, somewhat reluctantly.

-Yes, sir. We want to secure a license for at least another 30 years, enough time to expand. My boss, Billy Carson, created a graphic representation of how the albums for the three competitions should look, along with their boxes, designs, and what needs to be improved, - said Raimon, handing over the album. It featured a classic layout: crest, team, squad order, goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards, along with a slot for the coach.

In the same way, the first pages followed this order: Panini profile, FIFA logo, World Cup ball, World Cup trophy, mascot, and photo of the trophy, followed by the stadiums. The last pages included World Cup winners, great players, top scorers, and the team with the most World Cup wins.

Billy even suggested using hard and soft cover albums and providing sponsorships on the World Cup pages to two global sponsors to cover production costs. Everything would be packaged in boxes of 100 packs, with five stickers per pack, and sold by the box.

Franco Panini saw the entire organization and even managed to observe how the Champions League commemoration appeared for the year 2000, the new millennium.

-This is pure gold! But who will be our sponsors? - Franco asked, seeing that official sponsors were a crucial part of the activity.

-We have two companies in mind: Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Similarly, we have Nike or Adidas, and Chevrolet or Ford Motors, - commented Raimon, in that order. Although the two companies might be considered direct competitors, this is not as effective as their competitors, but it could be. The campaign depends on marketing and the timing of the campaign.

-It's a great idea. The ideas here are revolutionary, - Franco commented, seeing everything from the designs, layout, how to organize the pages, the stickers, even the colors, the representation of something, and how it should be. It was fantastic.

-Indeed, with just the sponsorships, our production could increase by at least 80%. I believe that if we implement the grand plan for '98, our profits will be astronomical, - commented Raimon.

Billy's mission is to use the press, give away some albums, and likewise talk to the sponsors and run campaigns for Coca-Cola sales. Better yet, it involves commercials worldwide with a single logo: Luxnation and Panini. Marketing takes off, and the campaign only increases and increases.

-Billy was organizing his thoughts as he entered a casting room. There, he would need to focus on his next role, one he was determined to fight for. The script was good, and the attention was right. This year, he had taken on the risk of five movies, three as the lead or co-lead and two in supporting roles in key films like "Nixon" and "How to Make an American Quilt."

The story revolves around a trial where two young Americans near the Mississippi commit an act against a girl. Her father, upon finding out, shoots them both in retaliation. The tension rises due to a radical, racist group. The lawyers, Jake Brigance and his assistant Ellen Roark will do everything possible to save Carl Lee, the girl's father.

Billy would play the role of Jake Brigance. For this role, he would grow a beard. For "Jerry Maguire," he had been asked to shave and undergo intense exercise routines, but for this role, he needed a fuller beard and a more worn appearance due to the stress his character endured.

-Are you ready?- they asked Billy as he prepared for the interview. Not long before, he had made a brief trip to the bar to meet the film's producers. Nothing new or special.

Arnon Milchan was seated alongside Joel Schumacher and John Grisham. Grisham had personally rejected Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson twice, and Val Kilmer had also been canceled due to not fitting the profile, and appearing too old. They needed someone who looked aged, but not too old.

-Welcome, Mr. Carson,- commented Joel.

-It's a pleasure to meet you,- Billy responded, adjusting his suit. This time, his tie was neatly fastened, and his appearance was impeccable. His freshly ironed shirt and tailored suit, complete with cufflinks, made him look the part. His father had worn cufflinks, and unlike the others, Billy wore a light suit.

Although his beard was just starting to grow, it was well-trimmed and neat.

Even with brief details, Billy knew how to portray a lawyer tired of his job but still eager to excel.

-Start,- commented John Grisham, seeing a spark of a lawyer. It was an impromptu interview, with no script, just responses. Without much time, Billy nodded, straightened his back, and adopted a serious, cold, and tough demeanor.

...

-No! No! Honey, I need to attend to this right now,- Billy commented.

-It's important that you take note. You can stay,- Billy said warmly, offering a clear, simple, and quick smile, one given to loved ones.

-It's fantastic.-

-I'll take some questions, but let's move on... Yes, of course, I'll do what I can... I hope you're satisfied.-

-Gentlemen, I stand before you with my heart in my hand, and peculiarly, I speak to you as a citizen, a citizen of the rule of law, a man who turns on the TV in the morning wanting to know about the state of a country, a free, just, and democratic country. Ask yourselves, are we here for justice, or the favor of others? Are we here to judge people by their gender, race, national or familial origin, language, religion, political or philosophical opinion? That's why justice has a scale and is attended by a blindfold to remain impartial,- Billy said, trying to convey passion in his performance, driven by a simple sense of dignity and strength.

There was silence. Now he was Jake Brigance, not too harsh, but not too calm, with a strong, arrogant air.

-Thank you for that. Remember, doubts must always be resolved in court; everyone has the right to a fair trial,- Billy said, interpreting the lawyer.

-Thank you, thank you,- Billy commented.

Just as they were about to wrap up the interview, Billy counterattacked forcefully.

-I never said that! I hope you don't take my words as cunning. I adhere to the rules of a social state of law and the legal equality of individuals under the law. The assertion you're making is erroneous, journalist,- Billy said, pointing. He hadn't read the whole book, just fragments, and from there imagined how the matter would work. It was a quick reversal, mostly thought out and impressive, given he wasn't provided with a script, just a few pages of the plot.

-You can go to court, I'd like to go to court,- Billy commented quickly, forcing a smile. He was a lawyer, not a politician. He made a rare, self-deprecating grimace, mimicking his father's manner perfectly.

-Thank you for your performance.-

...

Billy listened, giving himself no more time but to keep up with the impromptu interview.

***

-What do you think? - Joel asked his two producers.

-I felt a lawyer, - Arnon Milchan commented, feeling the power of the performance, one he accepted as good.

-He's good, the boy, better than expected. Though he sounded tentative, he has the character, that character that's hard to portray, - Joel commented.

-We have other candidates, but I hope they're all as good as this one, - John Grisham commented.

In less than a week, they had to choose one of the many roles, regardless of whether it satisfied the entire table. The film was mostly produced, with all its sets. -

...