Chapter 328: Tom Rothman

Early in the morning, Jennifer Connelly emerged from under the covers, panting heavily on top of Arthur, "Are you going to the Golden Globe Awards tonight?"

Arthur shook his head, feeling the 36D sensation on his chest, "Not interested, you all can go on your own!"

"Alright, there are a few reshoots for Addams Family Values that I have to shoot, so I won't be able to accompany you these days," Jennifer Connelly smiled.

"It's okay." 

As disaster relief efforts proceeded following the Los Angeles earthquake, various city functions also quickly resumed. It seemed that the Golden Globe Awards on the night of January 22nd were largely unaffected!

At the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, Tom Rothman met Arthur Smith, "I didn't expect, the development of Galaxy to be so rapid?"

Arthur smiled, raised his glass and clinked it with the other, "It will develop even faster. Next, Galaxy will fully acquire MGM. I no longer want to be held back by film ratings issues."

Tom Rothman had already left Samuel Goldwyn Films and joined Galaxy. After TBS Group acquired New Line and Castle Rock, Galaxy began to make its moves.

"MGM has been in decline since it was acquired by Kirk Kerkorian, especially in recent years under the control of Credit Lyonnais; the results have been dismal. Its production business is outdated, and the staff is aging, no longer adaptable to the modern film industry!" Tom Rothman reminded.

"Don't worry, Galaxy can endure the reform of MGM," Arthur was indifferent, "Moreover, what MGM has that I fancy, you understand quite well!"

Tom Rothman laughed, "It seems MGM/UA and Albert R. Broccoli's Eon Productions have reached an agreement regarding the Bond rights. They are currently planning the next James Bond movie."

Other than its film library and trademarks, the most valuable asset of MGM is the James Bond franchise.

"A new James Bond movie?" Arthur certainly knew this piece of news, but Timothy Dalton no longer wanted to play James Bond.

Producer Albert R. Broccoli was in the process of selecting a new actor for the role!

"Anyway, it will all be mine," said Arthur, getting up and shaking hands with Tom Rothman, "Welcome to Galaxy."

Tom Rothman nodded, "Thank you!"

From now on, Tom Rothman would be the co-president of Galaxy Film Group, managing Galaxy's film and television business together with Amy Pascal.

After Tom Rothman left, Jessica James, an agent from UTA, came over and informed Arthur, "Peter Chernin also invited Mr. Rothman to join 20th Century Fox."

Arthur didn't mind, "20th Century Fox's film president Joe Roth left last year to join Disney Films. It's normal for Peter Chernin to invite Tom Rothman."

Joe Roth's joining Disney Films was orchestrated by Disney chairman Michael Eisner to divide Jeffery Katzenberg's power.

Unfortunately, Arthur's old rival - Michael Ovitz had not yet joined Disney, otherwise, with two such egotistical and arrogant men together, it would be quite interesting!

"By the way, how are the negotiations with MGM's creditors going?" Arthur inquired. MGM was not on the scale of MCA Universal, Columbia TriStar, or Paramount Communications; With UTA's capability, it should be able to persuade MGM's board of directors.

"It's in progress; we need time," Jessica James explained.

Arthur nodded, "Please complete as soon as possible!"

In the evening, Arthur watched the Golden Globe Awards ceremony.

Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocence won Best Motion Picture - Drama and Best Director.

Mrs. Doubtfire won Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy and Best Actor.

Tom Hanks for Philadelphia and Holly Hunter for The Piano won Best Actor and Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama respectively.

Farewell My Concubine won the Best Foreign Language Film award.

Whereas Redemption only won the Best Screenplay award.

...

Anaheim, Honda Center Stadium, in the Clippers' conference room.

Frank Grey, chairman of the Los Angeles Clippers, was cheerfully reporting the progress of the new sports arena project to Arthur.

The Los Angeles City Council had finally approved Arthur's proposal to build a multi-purpose arena downtown!

Arthur smiled and said, "Very good. Let's take advantage of this Los Angeles earthquake to start the construction quickly. I heard the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum may have suffered some damage due to the quake.

The NFL team using the Memorial Coliseum as their home field, the Los Angeles Raiders, seems to want the city government to fund the repairs!"

Frank Grey was taken aback, "It's going to be difficult to get the government to fund the repairs."

"Tough as nails," Arthur stood up.

This year, the World Cup was to be hosted in the United States, with the Pasadena Rose Bowl being one of the venues.

Besides, neither the Los Angeles Raiders, who use the Memorial Coliseum, nor the Los Angeles Rams, who use Anaheim Stadium, have strong appeal in the Los Angeles area.

The Raiders were preparing to move to Oakland in the Bay Area, and the Rams wanted to move to St. Louis, Missouri.

Frank Grey nodded, "Compared to other big cities, Los Angeles seems less enthusiastic about football. A large number of celebrities gathered here can't accept such an aggressive sport."

Simply put, many Hollywood stars and celebrities don't like this unrefined sport.

In early February, Arthur left Los Angeles and went to New York. The Galaxy Plaza Tower project near Times Square was about to break ground.

The Galaxy Group was in a three-way partnership with Ritz-Carlton and Boston Fidelity Investments.

Meanwhile, the comedy Ace Ventura: Pet Detective starring the comedic actor Jim Carrey was released.

This low-budget comedy film, which cost only $15 million to produce, grossed $12 million in its opening weekend!

Jim Carrey's quirky and absurd style made him very popular!

Arthur's Galaxy Group had already collaborated with Jim Carrey on The Mask, and with the boost from Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, the release of The Mask was bound to be even more spectacular.

In a villa in Manhattan's Upper East Side,

"Arthur, I was wrong," Nicole Kidman pleaded weakly, embracing Arthur.

"Hmm, how were you wrong?" Arthur, smiling, lay on top of her, feeling the softness.

Nicole Kidman was gasping for breath, "I shouldn't have doubted your prowess, I was really wrong!"

Arthur exhaled, then rolled off her.

With her face flushed and covered in a sheen of sweat, Nicole Kidman nestled into Arthur's arms, "It's been so long since I saw you. You have many women, but you're still so vigorous?"

Arthur rolled his eyes, "I spent more than half of this month busy securing the downtown Los Angeles new sports arena project; Women can only slow down my progress in making money!"

Nicole Kidman was speechless, "You talk as if you only have one or two women. You probably can't even remember how many you have."

Nicole Kidman ran her slender finger across Arthur's chest, "No wonder you wouldn't come to Australia for a holiday when I invited you earlier. I heard the damage in Northridge was severe. Did you have any losses?"

"Nothing significant, just an old apartment my parents left me collapsed, but I didn't care much for it. I haven't been there in years anyway," Arthur truly had no emotional attachment to that small apartment.

"Yeah, I know. That apartment was once rented to Naomi Watts. I visited many times there; it's a bit of a pity," Nicole Kidman, although not short on money now, didn't have a very high salary.

After the release of Speed, Nicole Kidman's pay exceeded $2 million, whereas before it was only $300,000 to $500,000!

"Naomi Watts, it seems she's been in quite a few works recently, hasn't she?" Arthur almost forgot about the young actress he had brought over from Australia.

The Scream series made Naomi Watts the queen of horror screams!

"She's doing well and is very grateful to you. I met her when I was in Australia," Nicole Kidman kissed Arthur's chest.

"By the way, I heard from Jessica that Jim Carrey became an instant hit. He signed a three-film contract with Galaxy, right?"

Arthur chuckled, "Yes, The Mask will release in April, but his salary will skyrocket for the next two films!"

During The Mask, Jim Carrey's salary was only about $500,000. Now, with Ace Ventura: Pet Detective released, his worth had increased tenfold.

"American actors' salaries are really high, especially male stars," Nicole Kidman sighed.

"Don't worry. You'll eventually make millions per film," Arthur reassured as he started kissing her chest.

"A million per movie?" Nicole Kidman was skeptical, "No female star can get $10 million yet, can they? Meg Ryan and Demi Moore are the highest right now, around $7-8 million!"

"Well, it all depends on negotiations," Arthur lay on top of her again, "Rested enough?"

Nicole Kidman widened her eyes, "You want to go again?"

"What do you think?" Arthur smiled, sealing her lips with a kiss and setting off again at her gasp.

Nicole Kidman's body quickly responded, despite her words of protest.

*****

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