Jeff's hidden little maneuver could not only pressure Spielberg but also keep himself completely clean.
The bad influence would only fall on Leon.
Spielberg was not only a successful director and producer but also one of the three founders of DreamWorks, sitting on a fortune of 3 billion dollars.
He had always been prejudiced against streaming movies.
When Netflix first announced its entry into the field of original content, Spielberg publicly criticized it.
He claimed: "I hope everyone continues to believe that the greatest contribution we can make as filmmakers is to provide the audience with the experience of the cinema."
"I firmly believe that cinemas need to exist forever."
He even put forward the view that streaming movies should never be eligible for the Academy Awards.
With all these circumstances combined, this "Czar of Cinema" was already faintly standing on the opposite side of Leon.
Bonnie immediately saw that Leon's mood was a bit off and tried to change the subject: "Ariana rarely comes back to the company. Are you sure you don't want to see her?"
"Where is she? Why didn't I even see her shadow?" Leon sat up straight.
Ariana indeed rarely appeared in the company. In addition to heavy commercial performances, she was often invited by beauty magazines.
Her pure and beautiful appearance made her very popular among teenagers in school and was regarded as the next "Britney Spears."
But even with a tight schedule, it shouldn't be impossible to spare a little time to return to the company. Leon had asked her on the phone.
Ariana answered mysteriously: "I am cultivating..."
Cultivating?
Combined with this girl's mysterious behavior recently, Leon once guessed whether she had gone astray and been fooled by some religious charlatans.
Such things are common in the entertainment industry. Tom Cruise, who was coerced into divorce three times, and Britney Spears, who was led into a "pit" by peers, were all exposed to having been bewitched by charlatans.
Putting aside the halo of public attention, the average education level of people in the entertainment industry might not be as good as ordinary people.
In terms of income, they are at the top of the pyramid, but in terms of cognition, it is hard to say what level they are at.
After some explanation, Leon felt relieved.
The cultivation Ariana mentioned was creation, retreating for cultivation for the new album.
"She is in the recording studio, looking full of energy." Bonnie said with a smirk: "I think she will need your guidance."
Leon felt what she said made sense, straightened his clothes, stood up, and walked towards the recording studio.
Just as he was about to walk out the door, he was stopped by Bonnie. "Wait, Boss."
"What's wrong?" Seeing the other party's hesitant look, Leon subconsciously thought Bonnie was hungry too.
After a moment of silence, Bonnie said: "There have been some rumors about Ariana in the circle recently..."
"Rumors? Tell me what it is?" Leon turned back and sat on the sofa.
After a year of work, Bonnie was already an excellent assistant.
She not only handled the trivial matters explained by Leon in an orderly manner but also knew all kinds of rumors in the circle like the back of her hand.
Many times what she said was an important source of information for Leon.
For example, JAY-Z's recent big move, Roc Nation was very close to signing Christina Aguilera from RCA Records under Sony Music.
This 31-year-old female singer shocked the industry recently by joining The Voice with a sky-high salary of 13 million dollars.
Externally, Aguilera's team claimed that she was one of the five major mid-generation Divas.
Listing her name alongside Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Pink, and Shakira.
JAY-Z's frequent big spending showed that he had solved his troubles through under-the-table deals with politicians and was currently taking over the territory left by Diddy in an all-round way.
"Actually, this matter has nothing to do with Ariana; it's about her brother," Bonnie said.
"Frankie?" In Leon's impression, this guy was completely useless.
Not only did he think so, but even Ariana's parents thought so.
Frankie idled all day long, going in and out of underground bars and dancing closely with muscular men.
If he didn't have an excellent sister to let him eat the rice of an agent, he could really starve himself to death within a week.
"Frankie is contacting SB Projects. This is not groundless... You know that guy is very famous in the gay circle because he has a star sister... He bragged to many people that he would join SB soon."
What Bonnie said was similar to what Leon guessed. Frankie couldn't do anything, even bad things.
He could only cause trouble on the issue of the agent.
"I know." Leon got up, waved his hand, and walked towards the recording studio.
In the recording studio, Ariana was wearing headphones, immersed in her own music world amidst the rough accompaniment, completely unaware of Leon's figure.
Her brother Frankie leaned against the wall making a phone call, pinching an orchid finger (effeminate gesture). "Oh dear... I want to touch your perfect abs right now... It won't be long before we can party all night in the Beverly Hills mansion... Call all your friends..."
Pat pat—
Leon gently patted him on the shoulder from behind.
"WTF!" Frankie was startled. "Why didn't you make any sound, Bro?"
"Shh..." Leon put his middle finger to his lips, not wanting to attract Ariana's attention. "Follow me."
"What? Wait, why are you acting so mysterious?"
Frankie had a bad feeling in his heart and hesitated.
Leon didn't bother to explain to him and dragged him into the utility room next door.
As soon as the door opened, the scene in Frankie's dream appeared.
Five Mexican muscle men wearing sleeveless T-shirts and covered with tattoos stared at him like staring at a chick.
"Th-this is... what's going on?" Frankie swallowed.
He obviously knew that these Mexicans were not brought by Leon to reward him.
Leon wiped the dust with his hand, sat on an abandoned speaker, narrowed his eyes, and stared at the other party. "Frankie, tell me what you have been doing these days."
"I don't understand what you mean at all..." Thinking of the terrifying reputation of Street Jesus, Frankie trembled with fear.
Seeing that the other party was not very smart, Leon shook his head repeatedly and winked at Jorge.
The Mexican villain understood instantly and strode towards Frankie.
The crisp sound of leather shoes resonated with the other party's trembling heartbeat.
He grinned and laughed, his rough big hand shaking the copper buckle belt on his waist. "I think you will like this; freaks all love this... I will whip you until your skin splits, you pitiful little btch!"
Frankie turned pale with fright, beads of sweat flowed down, and he almost burst into tears.
Usually, he had to spend a lot of money to experience this kind of service, but today he couldn't raise any interest when enjoying it for free.
With his small body of just over 100 pounds, being hit by such a belt was no joke.
"Leon, I am Ariana's brother; you can't treat me like this..." Frankie begged bitterly.
"So what? Ariana will thank me for sending you damn vampire to hell." Leon tilted his head. "Tell me why you secretly met with SB Projects. When we signed the contract, I made it very clear that I must know any adjustments to your agent contract!"
Although biologically male, psychologically Frankie was more woman than a woman.
He gave up resistance without much struggle and told the whole story.
"I contacted SB Projects through a friend's introduction in a bar. They showed strong interest in my ability." Frankie said tremblingly.
"Interested in you?" Leon sneered.
If Frankie were not Ariana's brother, the only thing in the world willing to mate with him would be a goat.
"At first, I wasn't interested in them. I don't like the management mode of professional companies, you know, but..." Frankie hemmed and hawed, swallowing the words on his lips.
"Go on..."
Frankie swallowed. "My financial situation has been very bad recently. My ex-boyfriend, that British bastard, almost cheated me out of all my savings... I can't even pay the huge credit card bill..."
In a nutshell: I was originally a loyal person, but they gave too much.
"Is that all?"
"Yes! I originally planned to tell you about this, but SB Projects told me that you were busy recording a talent show recently and didn't have time to ask about such a small matter..."
"Small matter?" Leon cursed Frankie's stupidity in his heart.
Ariana's debut single became popular all over the world, physical records sold over 1.5 million copies, and she became a campus idol with her youthful and beautiful appearance.
Who would consider such a gold mine with unlimited potential a "small" matter?
Braun must be planning behind this; Leon could easily figure this out.
First sign Ariana to his own management company. Since she just turned eighteen, she is easily bewitched.
After a long time, changing record companies wouldn't be far away.
Leon shook his head helplessly. "Poor Frankie, you can betray friends and your own sister for a little money; you should be ashamed of this."
"That's not a little money..." Frankie whispered.
"What did you say?"
Leon suddenly leaned his ear, closing the distance. "Louder, I didn't seem to hear clearly."
Frankie shut up quickly, not daring to say another letter.
"Why so nervous? I mean if you encounter difficulties, why don't you ask your own people for help? We are family; we should support each other~"
Leon took out JAY-Z's routine, threatening and then immediately connecting with PUA (psychological manipulation), forming a smooth combo.
His attitude reversed 180 degrees.
"I don't understand what you mean..." Obviously, Frankie really didn't understand this time.
"Let's have an open talk. How much money do you owe?"
"Counting what I owe friends and credit cards, almost 200,000 dollars..."
Leon breathed a sigh of relief secretly. This number was much less than he expected, and at the same time, his contempt for Frankie deepened a bit.
As the manager of a popular singer, he was actually worried about $200,000.
He reached out and pulled Frankie up from the ground. "I understand. I will ask Aisha to deposit 200,000 dollars into your account later."
"What?"
Frankie's eyes widened. He suspected he was hallucinating due to excessive nervousness.
Even Jorge and others were equally shocked.
In their impression, this stingy boss had never been so generous to anyone.
Not to mention this was a gay guy who did something wrong.
Except for guessing that Leon had a special fetish, there seemed to be no reasonable explanation.
"In Mexico, we would chop off the head of a bastard like this and put it on the back of a snapping turtle, then throw the rest into the Gulf of Mexico to feed the fish." Jorge sneered. "Women are addicted to betrayal, and sissies are the same... Trust me, this bastard will do it a second time."
Leon did not respond to this, silently despising in his heart: So you brainless reckless men are still racking your brains every day about how to cross the border.
This 200,000 dollars was not given out for charity.
Since the establishment of Apocalypse Management Company, Leon transferred his and Cardi B's agent contracts to this company.
Now it was a good opportunity to transfer Ariana's contract as well.
Frankie, who had a guilty conscience and was short of money, hardly had the option to refuse.
As long as this matter is settled, only Robbie's agent contract is left unbroken in the entire Apocalypse Music.
Currently, it seems this will be a protracted war.
Leon and Robbie had broken up, and Maggie was a shrewd and professional agent.
Holding the recording contract, songwriting copyright, master rights, and agent contract...
Leon can firmly control the fate of these women like an owner to a pet!
"I don't know how to thank you! Oh my God, I am willing to do anything for you!" Frankie thanked repeatedly.
"Anything?" The corner of Leon's mouth curved up.
"Yes! Even if you force me to turn straight!"
Hearing Frankie make even this kind of guarantee, Leon felt completely relieved.
Back in the recording studio, Ariana was still immersed in vocal practice.
She wore a pink miniskirt and sneakers, shaking her body to the rhythm:
"Hey baby even though I hate ya~ I wanna love ya~ I want you~"
From the straightforward and childish lyrics like an elementary school student's confession, it can be judged that this is another original work of Ariana.
In the past, Leon often mocked the other party's lyrics for being too childish, but now his view has changed greatly.
Looking at Ariana singing and dancing in the recording studio, he even saw the shadow of "Britney Spears."
Not every teenager listens to gangsta rap; this kind of campus-oriented style also has a considerable audience.
Plus Ariana's excellent singing skills, even simple lyrics can be performed very brilliantly.
Her use of "light mechanism" (mix voice/head voice) is very unique. When entering the high range, the voice narrows very naturally and loses "weight."
This brings about very little consumption in the high range for her; hitting high notes is very easy, reaching the B5 note in the mixed voice area.
If she holds a solo concert in the future, even if she frequently sings extreme high notes, it won't fatigue her voice too quickly.
Leon didn't want to disturb Ariana's state, and only started clapping after she finished singing.
Clap clap clap—
"Leon!" Seeing Leon's figure, Ariana took off her headphones and ran over bouncing like a happy rabbit.
Ignoring her own brother Frankie aside, she plunged into Leon's arms. "I really missed you..."
"Me too." Leon touched Ariana's head.
Ariana often sent some revealing selfies late at night, allowing him to clearly spy on her growth.
Where it got bigger, where it got whiter...
But this is a different matter from the intuitive feeling of physical contact.
Looking at the scene in front of him, Frankie seemed to have guessed what would happen next.
Under Leon's hint with his eyes, he quietly left the recording studio.
"Want to go to my place?" Ariana's long eyelashes fluttered up and down, and the water in her eyes was about to ripple out.
"How about right here? Let me provide you with some guidance on vocal techniques."
Before Ariana could answer, Leon locked the door of the recording studio.
The two entered the glass recording booth while being intimate.
Taking off the miniskirt, Leon's fingertips slid across the black lace trim. "In here, no matter how high a note you hit, no one will be able to hear it..."
The hot atmosphere plus the high temperature in July made Ariana's cheeks flush, and her breathing became heavy and rapid.
Soon the last trace of reason collapsed, hooking Leon's neck to start a battle in the recording studio.
Half an hour later, Leon sat in the swivel chair and lit a post-coital cigarette.
And Ariana sat on the mixing console in front of him, hugging her thighs, not having time to put on clothes yet.
She stretched out her small feet and shook them in front of Leon. "How did you think I was just now?"
Such a teasing question stunned Leon for a few seconds: When did this girl become so skillful?
He took a deep drag on his cigarette, the corners of his mouth curving up into a smile. "Couldn't stop at all; I wanted to live in there~"
"If my mom wants to write me a letter, she might have to address it to your place."