Chapitre 344: Chapter 344
Rupert Murdoch tried to acquire Manchester United Football Club in the 1990s, but he faced extremely strong opposition. Not only did the English Football Association oppose it, but a large group of fans also united against it.
Eventually, because Sky Sports, the Premier League's broadcaster, was involved in anti-trust issues, the acquisition was directly halted.
Now, Rupert Murdoch helped Charles acquire Arsenal Football Club, repaying Charles for his support in News Corporation's acquisition of The Wall Street Journal.
With more and more foreign investment in the Premier League now, even Manchester United and Liverpool have been acquired by American capital, so adding Arsenal to the mix wasn't a big deal.
At that time, Arsenal had a tough schedule and with News Corporation's propaganda machine behind them, it wasn't hard to see why shareholders would give up.
Charles and Rupert Murdoch left the Hilton Hotel at 2 PM after a meeting. Negotiations between the Producers Guild of America and the two major screenwriters' unions lasted from 10 AM to 4:30 PM Pacific Time.
Finally, the representatives of both sides announced in front of countless news media: negotiations failed, the strike continued!
The Hollywood screenwriters' strike had been going on for a month, causing significant economic losses in Los Angeles. With more and more people out of work, both the screenwriters' union and the Producers Guild were facing greater pressure.
...
In Burbank, Charles flipped through the reports in his office.
Not long after, Phyllis Jones entered to report.
"Boss, Juno is about to premiere. The early reviews are pretty good. Everyone thinks it has a chance at this year's Oscars!"
Charles nodded, "I know. It's opening in a limited release in 140 theaters. Kate Beckinsale's current popularity should help a bit."
"Luc Besson's Taken will be released in February next year; another adaptation, The Intouchables, has a completed script and should start filming in February, with France's Channel 4 involved in the production," Phyllis Jones reminded.
"Luc Besson's pretty fast," Charles was somewhat pleased. However, Taken was only a low-budget film with a $25 million budget, speed was crucial.
The official filming time for Juno was similarly just over a month.
"I'll take a look at The Intouchables script," Charles asked about George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novel series.
"Oh, we've signed a first-look deal with George R. R. Martin. As long as his adaptation plan is met, we can go ahead with the production," Phyllis Jones shrugged.
"Four volumes have been published. Has he started writing the fifth one?" A Song of Ice and Fire had four volumes published over the past ten years: A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, and A Feast for Crows.
"George is still working on the fifth volume!"
Suddenly, Newsweek reported that at 4 AM on November 27th, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were involved in a shooting incident at their Beverly Hills home: The shooter fired two shots. One hit a neighbor's car, while the other shattered the glass of the Pitt-Jolie bodyguard's truck.
On November 29th, one of Pitt's bodyguards confirmed that he "took a bullet" during the shooting, saying he was napping in the truck when he heard the bullet hit the glass.
Neighbors reported that police arrived on the scene within minutes and that several unmarked police cars remained around the Pitt-Jolie home for days.
Nearly ten days later, Newsweek reported it. Brad Pitt's spokesperson insisted that the Pitt family wasn't the shooter's target!
At the same time, the British magazine Empire released its annual "100 Sexiest Movie Stars" list with Angelina Jolie ranked first, and Brad Pitt coming in at seventh.
Empire described Jolie: "Delicate curves, cat-like eyes, lips that look like they've kissed countless bees. She couldn't be more perfect!"
Other stars on the list included Natalie Portman at number 2, Johnny Depp at number 5, Nicole Kidman at number 41, and Tom Cruise at number 81.
In the evening, Charles watched the news about the shooting incident involving the Pitt-Jolie couple from his estate in Beverly Hills, grimacing.
After giving birth this year, Angelina Jolie visited the Middle East, touring Iraq with a large group of bodyguards and a camera crew, in a country that had been war-torn for four years.
She gained a title as a UN Refugee Ambassador, earning fame and fortune, but without bringing any real help to the Iraqi refugees.
If the shooting wasn't targeted at her, who else could it be?
Charles's mother, who was the CEO of ETA, knew Angelina Jolie's agent well. Jolie, who hadn't signed with any talent agency, built her career on being a loner.
Imagine someone who could say "These people have lost everything, they have nothing, but they are free" among the ruins of war. Angelina Jolie was absolutely shameless!
Charles, who had seen enough of the acting profession, found it not only ruthless but also disgraceful.
He shook his head and picked up his phone to call Gal Gadot.
"Charles, what's up?"
"Oh, nothing much. Where are you? I was thinking of taking you out for a drink!" Realizing he had neglected Gal for a few days, Charles remembered her now.
"Sure! I'm staying at the Hilton Garden Inn in Hollywood."
"I'll come pick you up," Charles laughed.
The Hilton Garden Inn Hollywood was on North Highland Avenue, not too far away.
Charles entered his garage and picked an inconspicuous Mercedes SL600.
Without a bodyguard, he drove straight to the Hollywood Hilton Garden Inn.
Meanwhile, Gal Gadot, at the hotel, freshened up her makeup, awaiting Charles's arrival.
After about half an hour, Charles arrived near the Hilton Garden Inn, where Gal awaited.
"Gal, over here!" Charles rolled down his window and waved.
Smiling, Gal Gadot swiftly approached with her long legs and got into the car.
"Gal, you look beautiful tonight!" Charles chivalrously buckled her seatbelt and kissed her cheek.
"Thank you!"
*****
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État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone