Capítulo 426: Chapter 426: Star-Studded
A bunch of reporters gathered near a luxurious estate in Beverly Hills, constantly pressing the shutters on their cameras. However, the surrounding security guards strictly guarded the gate, only allowing guests with invitations and invited media inside.
"Leonardo DiCaprio is here..."
"That's director Martin Scorsese..."
"Harrison Ford and Clint Eastwood are here too..."
"Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have arrived as well..."
"Julia Roberts..."
"Director George Lucas and DreamWorks Animation Chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg..."
"Look, it's Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes getting out of the car," a reporter pointed at Tom Cruise, quickly pressing the shutter.
Tom Cruise saw the reporters and deliberately displayed his signature smile, waving in their direction.
Tom Cruise, who had just reconciled with Paramount, certainly knew how to attract attention.
When Charles Capet's limo arrived, it was already late. Sumner Redstone's estate was dazzling with stars.
After getting out of the car, Charles, dressed in a light blue plaid suit, was immediately bombarded by camera flashes.
Looking at the reporters from various TV stations and newspapers trying to find stories, Charles just shook his head slightly and stepped into the estate.
The large estate was already packed with more than 150 celebrities, primarily from Hollywood and the upper echelons of movie companies, focusing mainly on the entertainment industry.
Greeting Charles was Sumner Redstone's daughter, Shari Redstone. At over fifty years old, Shari Redstone was now the Vice Chairman of Viacom.
"Charles, is your mother Evelyn not in Los Angeles?" Shari Redstone asked with a smile.
Charles nodded and replied, "There's a lot going on. My mother went to New York a few days ago to handle some matters."
Looking at Shari Redstone's smile, Charles truly admired this family. Now that the Viacom Group and CBS Group were independent enterprises, the Redstone family controlled both companies through the National Amusements company.
Sumner Redstone served as chairman of both CBS Group and Viacom Group, while Shari Redstone was the vice chairman!
However, the controlling and hot-tempered Sumner Redstone was recently fighting for control of both groups with his daughter Shari Redstone.
Over the years, Sumner Redstone fought lawsuits with his brothers, ex-wife, son, and nephew over the company's shares, leaving their family relationships in utter chaos. Now, he was publicly quarreling with his daughter Shari Redstone in the newspapers.
It was Sumner Redstone's birthday, yet Shari still helped with the guest reception.
"Have a seat for a while. No one in Hollywood dares to ignore Charles Capet's feelings," Shari Redstone smiled.
Charles shook his head and laughed, "I'm just a junior in Hollywood, there's still a lot for me to learn!"
As Charles entered the estate's banquet area, he immediately encountered Viacom Group Chairman Philippe Dauman and Paramount Pictures Chairman Brad Grey.
"Charles, no date with you again?" Philippe Dauman teased as the three sat inside, chatting casually.
Charles glanced outside, "It's not like there's a shortage of pretty girls here."
Brad Grey laughed, "True, and if you want a date, I bet all the young ladies here would throw themselves at you."
Charles was about to speak when a staff member came over and whispered something to Philippe Dauman. Then, Philippe Dauman stood up and said, "Brad, I need to step away for a moment. You take good care of our Hollywood prince!"
As he said this, Philippe Dauman nodded apologetically towards Charles.
Brad Grey nodded in agreement, but Charles noticed a fleeting look of frustration in Brad Grey's eyes.
Charles watched Philippe Dauman leave and then looked at Brad Grey's slightly weary face, immediately understanding the situation.
Philippe Dauman was just Sumner Redstone's puppet, a lawyer who replaced Tom Freston as the chairman of Viacom, undeservingly.
Tom Freston had developed MTV into a household name, and the entertainment ventures under VMTV were also impressive.
When CBS and Viacom split, Tom Freston had been heading the new Viacom Group for less than a year before Sumner Redstone dismissed him. Such a pity!
The internal struggle at Viacom was intense, with Sumner Redstone's spokesperson Philippe Dauman and Shari Redstone being like oil and water.
"Paramount losing DreamWorks doesn't seem to have had much effect," Charles laughed.
"And Hasbro's other toy franchise G.I. Joe adaptation G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra is in collaboration with Paramount," he added.
"Charles, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra can't compare to your Transformers series, right?" Last year, after the release of Transformers, DreamWorks regretted not securing Hasbro's license. Brad Grey personally went to Hasbro's Rhode Island headquarters to convince their executives to partner with Paramount for G.I. Joe.
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra was being filmed this year and was slated for release next year, but Hasbro's biggest franchise was still firmly in Capet's hands.
"Right now, DreamWorks Animation's distribution contract is still with Paramount. For live-action films, we're not too worried," Brad Grey laughed.
"Really not worried?" Charles chuckled, "That's Steven Spielberg we're talking about."
Faced with Charles' teasing, Brad Grey looked helpless and said, "Charles, do you even care about Spielberg?"
Brad Grey indeed had it tough. His superior Philippe Dauman was just a mouthpiece, and the elderly Sumner Redstone, greedy for power, always focused his attention on Paramount.
"Capet is just a small company; we can't afford such big directors," Charles said lightly.
Brad Grey almost choked on Charles' modest tone. Even though Capet Entertainment's valuation may not compare to Viacom yet, it's not far off!
In a direct comparison with Paramount, Capet Pictures, which owned Marvel Studios, could give Paramount a run for its money with its string of blockbuster movies and high-rating TV shows, making everyone green with envy!
"Let's go, Mr. Redstone is coming out. We should head over," Brad Grey said, noticing Sumner Redstone being helped out of the room.
Charles nodded and got ready to chat with this descendant of the Boston Jewish mob.
*****
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