Chapter 428: Chapter 428: Joining Forces with Outsiders
"Charles, come on, have a drink!" Jeffrey Katzenberg, sitting with Charles Capet, raised his glass.
Charles smiled in response, lifting his glass and taking a sip. He laughed, "Did Mr. Sumner Redstone just talk to me about something?"
Jeffrey Katzenberg shook his head. Before he could say anything, Charles spoke up, "Mr. Redstone wanted to merge Viacom Group with Capet Entertainment and make me the new group's vice chairman and CEO. He also mentioned having different ideas about NBC Universal!"
The room fell silent as Charles glanced around at the few people nearby, each with a different expression on their face.
Charles took another sip, feeling unfazed. Since Sumner Redstone had already started internal conflicts within Viacom, Charles didn't mind adding fuel to the fire.
Charles' words would quickly reach Shari Redstone and Philipp Dauman's ears. The father and daughter were already on the verge of going to court. Upon hearing her father intended to replace her with an outsider like Charles Capet, Shari would surely take action.
Jeffrey Katzenberg rubbed his shiny, bald head and smiled, "Charles, is that really necessary?"
By publicly stating all this, Charles was essentially tearing off the facade with Sumner Redstone and rejecting him clearly, even turning the situation against him.
Sumner Redstone must have mentioned the current crisis with General Electric to Charles. NBC Universal was likely up for sale, and the only Hollywood company capable and eager to buy it was Charles Capet's Capet Entertainment.
Sumner Redstone, hoping to merge Capet Entertainment with his power and status, likely intended to disrupt Capet Entertainment's acquisition of NBC Universal.
Now, by openly breaking ties, Charles Capet intensified Viacom's internal strife, especially since Viacom was already planning massive layoffs due to the financial crisis.
Charles smiled, "The rise of Capet Entertainment is unstoppable. We welcome any challenge. And, I'm only 26 this year. Failure is something very valuable to me; I really want to experience it at least once!"
Jeffrey Katzenberg was a bit worried and reminded, "Charles, the situation in Hollywood isn't great right now. We should focus on strengthening Hollywood, not burning our own resources through internal conflict."
Charles shook his head, "You're wrong. Only by placing the right resources in the right places can we maximize advantages."
"Do you still want to see MGM's situation continue?"
Wiping his mouth, Charles said, "Alright, I have a date, so I'll be off!"
After Charles left, Jeffrey Katzenberg looked at George Lucas beside him. George Lucas sighed, "Jeffrey, Charles is only 26. You know how young folks can be. He previously expressed interest in Lucasfilm, but I told him I didn't want to retire yet. Don't worry. This level of competition has nothing to do with us!"
George Lucas owned Lucasfilm, and Jeffrey Katzenberg was the chairman and CEO of DreamWorks Animation. Both were top-tier figures in Hollywood.
But Charles Capet and Sumner Redstone were titans - one a new-age billionaire, the other an old-guard titan of tens of billions - both were at the pinnacle of the entertainment industry.
...
"Is that what father wants?" Back at her villa, Shari Redstone listened to her second son, Brandon Korff, recount Charles Capet's words from the estate.
Shari Redstone was very angry. She had been quarreling with her father, Sumner Redstone, for the past two years. Her father even called her an idiot in Forbes magazine.
"Ha, Charles Capet is not an ordinary person. In less than ten years, he amassed more wealth than our family did in three generations," Shari didn't feel positively about her father. The two had long been at odds. If it weren't for the inheritance, Shari wouldn't put up with it.
"Alright, you go rest," Shari sent her son away and sat at her desk.
Maybe Charles Capet could be a partner. Shari didn't think her father Sumner Redstone could significantly obstruct Capet Entertainment's acquisition of NBC Universal.
An elderly man who could hardly get around, the priority should be resolving Viacom's crisis. With Tom Freston gone, Philipp Dauman, who was just a sycophant, had no ability to manage Viacom.
...
Meanwhile, at Sumner Redstone's Beverly Hills mansion, his caregiver, Manuela Herz, brought Philipp Dauman into the room, served coffee, and left.
"Don't worry. Even if Charles Capet joins Viacom, he can't replace you," Sumner Redstone reassured his confidant.
Phillip Dauman shook his head, "Sir, we all know Capet Entertainment isn't going to be taken down by anyone, and Charles Capet won't settle to be second fiddle. This time, by directly confronting us, it's not going to end just like that, given his temper."
Phillip Dauman, having been on Viacom's board for many years, could see the issues clearly.
Ever since Sumner Redstone split Viacom into Viacom and CBS, it had been one bad decision after another.
If it weren't for DreamWorks Animation backing Paramount, its market share would've plummeted significantly.
"Charles Capet is too new. Does he really think he can shake up our Viacom?" Sumner Redstone roared.
"Shari has quite a few supporters within the company. Now is not the time to make Capet Entertainment our enemy."
Phillip Dauman's words further infuriated Sumner Redstone. "Damn it!"
Sumner Redstone and his daughter Shari were like strangers. The idea of Shari joining forces with outsiders against him wasn't even worth considering.
*****
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