On Monday, two stretched Lincolns pulled up outside the MGM building. The Coopers, along with a group of people, entered the film and television empire, which had over 70 years of history. From today, they would be its masters.
The receptionist saw them and quickly jogged over to press the elevator button.
The news had already spread throughout the company. Everyone knew that MGM was about to undergo a major purge, and all eyes were watching.
The factions of executives who usually opposed Haley Cooper would definitely be removed, and one had even resigned voluntarily two weeks prior.
Positions had opened up, and many were eager to move up.
In the boardroom, Haley Cooper sat at the head of the long table. His old friends sat on his right, while Eric and his group sat on his left. The conference room was filled with MGM's middle and upper management.
Eric observed them, and these individuals speculated about the roles Eric and the others would play.
Once everyone had arrived, Haley Cooper surveyed the room and spoke first.
"Since everyone is here, let's begin the meeting. This is the first major conference of the new MGM, and for all of us, it will be a new beginning."
"We've worked together for so long, you know me well. I don't like to talk nonsense; that's a waste of life, a waste of money!"
"I only have one thing to talk about, and that is MGM's reform. Only through reform can MGM achieve new life. We must break away from the big studio model and embrace the new era, embrace the new market, instead of heading towards complete demise under the leadership of a group of self-important old men."
After speaking, Haley Cooper's gaze swept over the executives who usually opposed him, and he reeled off more than a dozen names, covering almost every department.
"Miller Silva, Sarah Dun, Gosling Feller, Chandler Lauren—You are fired!"
Before his words even finished, it was like a bolt from the blue. Everyone whose name was called felt their minds explode.
Although everyone knew that some people would be leaving MGM today, the dismissal of executives from all departments except finance and human resources was still too shocking.
A somewhat balding man suddenly stood up, his eyes practically spitting fire: "Haley Cooper, you shouldn't do this. This approach will lead to your own destruction!"
Another old woman with a face full of wrinkles also stood up: "Haley, we've been colleagues for many years. Do you have no regard for old ties at all? And if you fire all of us, MGM will be completely paralyzed, and you won't be able to accomplish anything!"
Led by the two of them, many people began to grumble and accuse, speaking of their contributions to MGM, implying that without them, the company would head towards ruin!
"Enough!"
Eric, whose head was throbbing from the noise, slammed his hand on the table and roared at the group: "Shut up! All of you, shut up!"
The sudden roar instantly stunned the group. They stared blankly at Eric, then felt a sense of shame.
These executives, these people who had held high positions for many years, were being yelled at by a young punk. If this got out, people would laugh their heads off.
A fat man looked at Eric gloomily: "Young man, who are you? Do you know who you're talking to?"
Eric slowly stood up: "Of course, I know exactly who you are—a bunch of good-for-nothings who only stayed in this company because of Kirk Kerkorian's cronyism."
"You are utterly incompetent. You have no eye for selecting films, no production standards, no marketing and distribution skills, no market intuition. None of it. If Hollywood were to pick the worst people, all of you would be on the list!"
"Clinging to the ridiculous big studio model mindset, do you even know it's the 21st century? It's not the damn 1950s. All I see in you is decay!"
"And I, I am the Vice President of the new MGM. You can call me Eric Cooper. Remember that name!"
"Now, get out of MGM, get out of this building. From today on, parasites and good-for-nothings are no longer welcome here. Everyone who doesn't work hard, get out!"
Intimidated by Eric's powerful presence, the group knew that the die was cast; they definitely couldn't stay at MGM.
So, rather than arguing with this young punk, Eric, and being ridiculed by the entire industry, it was better to leave now and save face.
"Haley Cooper, you will regret today's decision!"
After delivering a harsh warning, the group gradually left the conference room.
Seeing so many executives dismissed at once, everyone at MGM, from top to bottom, felt a sense of insecurity. Eric's fierce, lion-like demeanor quickly spread throughout the company. Everyone knew not to provoke this new Vice President, and Eric was pleased to see this effect.
With the trash dealt with, only his own people remained in the room. The meeting continued, and Haley Cooper took the opportunity to have his son explain the company's development strategy.
The reason he didn't do it himself was, of course, to allow his son to integrate into MGM as quickly as possible. He wanted to tell everyone that Eric wasn't just some second-generation heir playing around, but the true core of the company.
Surveying the room, Eric's expression softened: "As I just said, the root cause of MGM's lack of development lies in the big studio model."
"I know that last century, when MGM faced a crisis, the company gambled everything, investing all its resources into the production of ben-hur."
"And ben-hur did not disappoint MGM, bringing us immense honor and wealth. But that was, after all, a product of a bygone era, and the market no longer responds to that approach."
"If we continue to pour large amounts of resources into a few major productions, a single failure would deal us a heavy blow. Eggs should be put in separate baskets; that's a truth even a fool understands."
"Therefore, we must reform MGM's system; we must develop in multiple directions."
"From today onwards, the marketing department should not only focus on big investments and big productions. We must not only make war films and fantasy films, but also horror films and B-movies. After the meeting, send all the scripts you have to the conference room; I will review them one by one!"
"Additionally, our special effects department, as far as I know, currently only has about 50 people, and the equipment is outdated. We need new blood. Special effects blockbusters are the future trend, and we cannot fall behind."
"And the props team. Our props used to be industry-leading. Although special effects can replace props to some extent, we cannot neglect them. The texture of real-life shooting in some scenes cannot be replicated by special effects."
"Then there are the animators. I grew up watching tom and jerry, and in this area, we are still strong, but we need to cultivate new talent to prevent a talent gap."
Also...
The meeting lasted for over an hour. Eric's explanation wasn't complicated, but it encompassed almost all of MGM's shortcomings. He intended to completely innovate MGM and make this film giant stand at the pinnacle of Hollywood once again.