Chapter 104 104. Good people should not be pointed at with guns, and innocence after death is not innocence
Double Star Entertainment.
Patting Ao Mei's little head, Eric coaxed her in an apologetic voice: "Sorry, little Elizabeth, there is still no role suitable for you at the moment."
Seeing that the other party was a little disappointed, Eric pinched her nose and said, "Although there is none now, there will definitely be one next year. There will be many teenage roles in that movie. I can give you the one with the heavier role."
"Really?" Ao Mei widened her eyes and asked in surprise.
"Of course it's true. I never lie to my fans."
Sending Elizabeth away, Mary Olsen asked, "Eric, do you really have a role?"
"Of course, it's fun to play tricks on kids, right?"
The movie Eric was talking about was naturally "The Hunger Games", which was originally a work aimed at teenagers, so it was easy to squeeze Olsen into it.
He crossed his legs and leaned on the sofa. "But Elizabeth is almost as tall as you two. She developed very early. Apart from her baby face, she doesn't look like a child."
"Are you saying we are short?" Ashley said immediately in dissatisfaction.
Eric shook his finger and said, "Of course not. I never comment on a woman's height, weight, or age. In my eyes, you are all beautiful girls."
"What a smooth-talking man." Mary stuck out her tongue.
"You should be thankful that you have a handsome face." Ashley snorted.
After chatting for a while, the two sisters began to report on the company's recent performance.
Since the last time, Double Star Entertainment has begun to implement a bundling sales strategy. Not long ago, MGM produced a short film that combined the classic cartoon character Pink Panther with the cartoon characters of the two sisters.
The short film is not long, less than 6 minutes, but after its release it received rave reviews for its interesting story. The linkage method has always been popular with the public.
"Eric, although this method has only been implemented for less than 20 days, the effect is really good. According to the data we have obtained, the turnover of Double Star Entertainment has increased by 33% compared to last month."
"If we compare it over a full month, this number should be over 50%. The best-selling series is undoubtedly the joint series with Pink Panther. This IP alone has driven over 25% of sales."
"We estimate that this number will increase next month, and the growth trend should continue for at least three months. The Walking Dead peripheral products are currently in production and will probably be available online this week."
Looking at the numbers in the report, Eric was quite satisfied, as it proved the correctness of his decision.
"Ashley, how many production lines does the company have now?"
"There are six lines. Actually, there were originally four, but two more production lines have been restored recently. If sales data continues to grow like this, we will need to increase it in the next few months. This depends on the situation."
“How many new workers have been recruited?”
"120 people, 60 on each production line, this is the optimal number based on experience. Whether it is more or less, it will lead to lower efficiency."
Eric nodded and looked at the two little girls in front of him who were not even 18 years old, but he knew that he should not look down on them.
Although the Olsen sisters have a poor eye for film selection and their acting skills are average, their commercial skills have at least been honed over the years.
How many people can do better than them before the age of 18?
Not to mention the entire United States, even if it is relaxed to the whole world, it won’t be too many.
According to Eric's idea, MGM should first rely on Double Star Entertainment to gradually establish its own sales network.
When the time is ripe, the commodity processing link will naturally be moved to China to enjoy the demographic dividend there.
Nowadays, the gap in wage levels between Chinese and American workers is too big. Of course, it is still huge twenty years later, but it is even more exaggerated now.
According to data released in 2002, the average monthly salary for an employee in the United States is approximately US$2,400.
The average monthly salary of Yanjing workers is about 2,000 RMB, and the exchange rate difference is nearly 10 times.
The cost of hiring 120 people in the United States is enough to hire 1,200 people in China. More importantly, there is not much difference in the skills of workers on both sides. Why do those big companies and factories like to settle in China?
In the elevator, the Olsen sisters escort Eric out.
"Eric, didn't you say last time that you would like to invite me to the MGM studio? What time?" asked little Elizabeth.
Eric rubbed his palms. He was so busy every day, how could he remember such a small thing?
However, when he looked down and saw the other person's somewhat resentful and expectant eyes, Eric was too embarrassed to say no, as he had just said a few hours ago that he would not lie to his fans.
"Elizabeth, when do you want to go? You can decide the time."
"Then let's do it today. I don't need to go to school today, okay?" Elizabeth said loudly.
Ashley patted her on the back and said, "Eric has something else to do. When Mary and I start shooting our movie, I'll take you there. You can play as long as you want."
"Will he be there?" Olsen looked at Eric.
"Of course he will be there. Eric is the director. How can the movie be shot without him?" Mary said.
"Okay, I'll listen to you then."
As we were talking, we had already walked through the lobby on the first floor and the receptionist opened the door.
Eric was just about to say don't send them off when suddenly a group of reporters came out from somewhere and ran towards them.
"Fuck, squatting in the bushes again, this scene seems familiar!"
The memory of being ambushed last time began to attack him. Eric subconsciously thought that he was being secretly photographed again when he was hanging out with some girl. He turned around and wanted to go back to the company.
But unexpectedly, these reporters did not come for them. Instead, they surrounded the Olsen sisters and started asking questions with cameras.
"Ashley, what do you think of the Michael Jackson case?"
"Mary, did you watch Michael Jackson's Real World, which was broadcast on Fox last night? Tell us what you think about his child molestation case."
"Mary, you were all invited to Neverland Ranch. Were you ever assaulted by Michael Jackson?"
"Ashley, do the Olsen sisters keep in touch with Michael Jackson? What do you think he was like?"
Eric understood the intention of these gossip media after hearing the numerous questions. They wanted to hype up Michael Jackson's child molestation case.
This incident happened in February of this year. At that time, Eric had just ripped off Hasbro in the stock market and was busy filming "Transformers".
It was not until he came out of the Nevada desert that he heard about the incident, but the climax of the incident had already passed.
The incident dates back to 2000, when a boy named Gavin Arvizo was diagnosed with cancer, which resulted in the removal of his spleen and one kidney.
When the hospital informed him that his death was approaching, Gavin Arvizo expressed his last wish, which was to see Michael Jackson.
So with the help of charity businessman Jamie Masada, the family successfully contacted Michael Jackson.
As we all know, Michael Jackson has always been committed to protecting and helping children because he had a difficult childhood. He likes to bring joy to other children.
So after he spent a huge amount of money to buy and build a dream manor, he invited children to visit the manor on a long-term basis. When the children were happy, he also felt happy.
So after learning about Gavin Arvizo's situation, Michael took the initiative to contact him, paid for his medical expenses, and assigned him a blood supply team.
This support, enough to bankrupt a family, lasted for three years.
With Michael's help, Gavin Arvizo's condition improved significantly, and after he was able to move normally, Michael invited him to Neverland Ranch.
Gavin Arvizo visited Neverland Ranch a total of eight times, and on two of those visits he met Michael accompanied by his parents. On the remaining six visits, Michael was not at the Ranch and the children were able to play freely.
If things ended here, it would be a beautiful and kind story, but the reality is often like the farmer and the snake.
In February this year, British journalist Martin Bashir hoped to make a documentary about Michael on the condition that he would "help Michael connect with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to organize a charity event to help AIDS children in Africa". Naturally, Michael agreed with great pleasure.
During the filming, Gavin Arvizo and his family were also invited to appear.
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But after the documentary was broadcast, Michael discovered that Martin Basher did not report the truth at all, but portrayed himself as a pedophile through editing and guidance, a pedophile who wanted to have something with Gavin Arvizo.
This has happened before, in 1993, when an asshole named Evan Chandler used his 13-year-old son, Jody Chandler, to blackmail Michael.
In the end, in order not to delay his career which was at its peak, the company, agent, and team behind Michael persuaded him to settle out of court, for which he paid $22 million.
Now that Martin Basher has framed Michael with the same crime, he is naturally very angry and wants to sue him, and he has also taken counter-measures.
After 1993, he hired himself a personal photographer, who also recorded the interview process.
When this real video was released, there was some reversal in public opinion, and Gavin Arvizo's family also said that Jackson was a good man, not a pedophile.
In this situation, if Michael and Gavin Arvizo had always stood together, things would definitely have gradually turned for the better.
But human hearts are unpredictable. This family, like Evan Chandler's family, ultimately chose to compromise with money.
Their behavior began to become strange. They stopped speaking up for Michael and instead began contacting child protection organizations and legal authorities.
The media also photographed Gavin Arvizo's mother Janet going to the offices of the lawyer and psychiatrist who helped Evan Chandler frame Michael. Her purpose is not difficult to guess.
It was on April 24th, which was yesterday.
Fox TV broadcast a more complete interview record provided by Michael, and the incident, which had been relatively quiet, naturally set off a stir among the public and the media again.
The Olsen sisters were once guests of honor at Neverland Ranch, and now they are celebrities of varying sizes, so they are greeted by the media.
Faced with this group of blood-sucking leeches, Ashley and Mary could only keep their mouths shut. They had to be cautious in dealing with this matter. If they were caught with a language loophole, they would be accused of countless things the next day.
But the media obviously refused to let the two sisters go and continued to ask questions, and most of the questions were obviously biased.
Rumors, scandals and gossip are always the favorite of the masses, no matter what era or country.
"Michael Jackson is innocent!"
In the chaos, a low roar came out of Eric's mouth, and it could be clearly heard by everyone present.
As if sharks smelling blood, the reporters suddenly looked at him collectively.
"Eric Cooper."
A paparazzi shouted, seeming to notice who was standing next to him.
“There’s a big fish!”
After realizing Eric's identity, the paparazzi immediately turned their guns and pointed their microphones at Eric.
"Mr. Cooper, could you please repeat what you just said?"
A paparazzi asked, with a bloodthirsty gleam in his eyes.
Ashley and Mary hurriedly pulled Eric's clothes quietly from behind, signaling him not to comment.
But as an MJ fan in his previous life, Eric knew the whole story very well. MJ should not be treated like this! Good people should not be pointed at with guns, and innocence after death is not innocence.
He pushed the three Olsen sisters, signaling them to stay away, and called the cameraman from Double Star Entertainment to ensure that the complete video of his speech was preserved.
Eric then said in a resounding voice: "I believe Michael Jackson is innocent, not only this time but also the accusation in 1993."
"Michael is so kind that his kindness is exploited again and again, just like the farmer and the snake in Aesop's fables."
"The vicious snake not only enjoyed the warmth given by the farmer, but also wanted to kill the farmer and even take his property."
“Some people are venomous snakes, and some media act as the fangs of the snakes!”
Huh! The paparazzi at the scene groaned and gasped in dissatisfaction.
"Mr. Cooper, why are you so sure that Michael Jackson is innocent? Do you have any evidence?"
I looked at the other person's nameplate and found that he was a reporter from the Independent.
"I have no evidence to prove Michael's innocence, so do you have evidence to prove that he committed a crime?"
The reporter sneered, "I don't have any evidence either, but everyone saw the documentary and what happened in 1993. Besides, the United States is a country with freedom of speech. Journalists are responsible for letting the public know the truth. I am just exercising my power."
"Is the power of a journalist to mislead? You have the right to report but not mislead. Do you think you can make decisions instead of the law? Mr. Reporter!"
Being stared at by Eric, the other party's tone weakened: "No one can replace the law, I just..."
"Yes, no one can replace the law, but whether in 1993 or today, the law has not found Michael guilty."
"If you continue to use words like this, I must question your professionalism and whether The Independent is still a fair and impartial newspaper."
"Please tell me, does the Independent still represent the same fairness and justice that it once did?"
Intimidated by Eric's aggressive momentum, the reporter was speechless. He had no way of answering this question. Suddenly, he seemed to have forgotten that he was the one holding the microphone.
Behind Eric, the three Olsen sisters looked at each other strangely.
"This guy is pretty good."
(End of this chapter)