This day.
When Kyle, as the producer of "Memento", was discussing the next filming plan with director Christopher Nolan, he unexpectedly received a call from CEO Victor.
"What?"
Kyle was slightly surprised and asked, "Carlos Foundation, is it the Carlos Foundation in Mexico that I know?"
"Yes, that's it."
Victor's call came on the phone.
Kyle frowned and said thoughtfully: "Well, come over here and we can talk directly."
"Okay, boss."
If your boss asks you to come over, even if you are the company's CEO, can you refuse?
And things are quite urgent.
The phone was hung up.
"Boss, is there any accident?" Christopher Nolan.
Kyle didn't hide it at the moment, but said directly: "It was a little unexpected. You should have heard of Carlos Slim, the Mexican telecommunications tycoon?"
"Certainly!"
Christopher Nolan blurted out: "The richest man in Mexico, one of the richest people in the world, how could I not know him!"
Indeed, in the world, especially in the Americas, if you don't know Carlos Slim, it means you are truly ignorant.
He is the largest shareholder of Telemexico!
He is also the CEO of America Móvil and owns the Mexican Carso Group, which has a business network around the world.
At present, he is the richest man in Mexico!
However...
In the future, especially in July 2008, Carlos Slim's personal assets reached 59 billion US dollars, surpassing Bill Gates' 58 billion US dollars and becoming the world's richest man;
In 2009 and 2010, within just two years, his personal assets increased by another $12 billion, earning him the title of "earning $2.28 million per hour";
In the following years, although he lost the title of "the world's richest man", he has always been ranked in the top ten on the Forbes Global Rich List;
The lowest ranking was in April 2020, only ranking 11th!
Carlos Slim, also known as Carlos Slim Helu, is undoubtedly a true economic strongman.
This time, the Carlos Foundation that contacted the Golden Dawn Entertainment Group was actually Carlos Slim's family foundation.
....
It didn't take long.
CEO Victor rushed to Kyle from the parent company, Golden Dawn Entertainment Group, and told him about the Carlos Foundation in detail.
It turned out that this morning, Victor, who started work as usual, received a request for an appointment.
The applicant is Rio Slim, the American representative from the Carlos Foundation of Mexico!
Rio Slim is the eldest grandson of Mexico's richest man, telecommunications tycoon Carlos Slim, and the fifth in line to the Slim family.
How could the arrival of such a great economic tycoon's eldest grandson not attract attention?
"Victor, you mean that Rio is planning to invest in the two new films "300" and "Memento", right?" Kyle asked again.
"Yes, boss."
Victor said solemnly, "I'm personally optimistic about his application. After all, his family has an extremely formidable influence in Mexico, throughout Central and South America, and even worldwide. This will greatly facilitate our development of a global distribution network."
Kyle nodded.
In fact, according to Kyle's character of "eating alone",
They don't like or even reject others investing in their own movies.
——No one can make money from me!
——No one can share my money!
This is Kyle's consistent principle of doing things. It doesn't matter even if he makes less money.
Besides, I clearly know that the movie will make money, so why should I share the profits with others?
But!
But now this matter involves the Carlos Foundation, which is a little different.
As we all know, establishing a complete global distribution network, requires not only huge financial investment, but also relevant policy support from overseas countries and regions, and the support of certain people with a strong political background and strength.
"You want to establish a distribution channel in our country? Fine, but you have to apply!"
"The application and approval process takes a lot of time, and you have to wait!"
This is what government officials in many overseas countries or regions often say. On the surface, they welcome you to enter their country or region, but in reality, it is very difficult!
What can you do if the approval process is delayed for several years?
A few years later, you might be told, "You are ineligible due to certain issues." You'd probably be furious, thinking that all your years of hard work, effort, manpower, material, and financial resources would have been wasted.
The vast majority of countries in the world are xenophobic;
Moreover, if you establish a film distribution network in their country or region, it will inevitably affect the interests of certain interest groups.
This is very crucial.
Why should people give you a share of the cake?
Even as powerful as the six major Hollywood studios, when they first established their global distribution networks, they would choose to cooperate and compromise with local interest groups in overseas countries and give away benefits.
"Boss, the Carlos Foundation is backed by telecom tycoon Carlos Slim. And if his grandson Rio invests in our new film, I can't guarantee anything else, but our film distribution network in Mexico will be unimpeded."
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
In the following period, CEO Victor continued to persuade Kyle to agree to cooperate with the Carlos Foundation.
How can Kyle decide?
Of course I agree!
This involves the layout of Page Films' overseas distribution network in the global market!
In Mexico, is there anyone more powerful than Carlos Slim in terms of economic and political background?
No!
Not one!
In terms of economic background, Carlos Slim is the richest man in Mexico, and he monopolises 90% of the Mexican telecommunications market and 60% of the telecommunications market share in Central and South America;
As for the political background?
Hehe!
In Latin American countries like Mexico, maintaining good relations with government officials seems to be a compulsory course for entrepreneurs.
For a shrewd businessman like Carlos, this wasn't a difficult task. In fact, he had always had close ties with high-ranking Mexican government officials. Heru had always had a keen business sense and could sense the subtle developments in politics.
In the 1990s, Carlos had a good relationship with Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari;
In 2006, Calderón also successfully ascended to the presidency with the support of Carlos;
"Kyle is of course delighted to be able to meet such a powerful figure with both economic and political backgrounds. Even though the person he is currently meeting is only his eldest grandson, it is still very rare."
However, even if Kyle agreed to let them invest in the two films, he would have to use some means.
For example: the filming cost of "Memento" was quietly increased from $5 million to $12 million; the production cost of "300" was increased from $60 million to $80 million.
Remember, this is just a cost increase on paper. In reality, actual expenditures haven't increased. It's sometimes very easy to fabricate figures.
This is the rule of the game that Hollywood uses to trick outsiders.
Spielberg's DreamWorks often uses this method of increasing paper costs to severely harm investment groups in India and South Korea.