As the saying goes, good things come in pairs.
Just look at that, the list of nominations for the 73rd Oscar awards was just announced, coincidentally on the same day as the celebration banquet hosted by Page Pictures.
The Harry Potter movie had been released for over a month, with a North American box office of nearly $300 million; naturally, they had to throw a proper celebration banquet.
That evening.
All sorts of film and television big shots, famous directors, heads of film companies... anyone with a name in Hollywood, everyone who could make it, basically all showed up.
In all, over 200 invited guests attended in person.
Bill McNickle, the former CEO of 20th Century Fox and former president of Page Pictures, came to the celebration banquet today as a meritorious veteran of Page Pictures and a retiree who had made outstanding contributions to both the Spider-Man and Harry Potter films.
"Hi, old man, how have you been lately?"
As soon as Mr.Bill arrived at the scene, Kyle put aside everything he was doing and immediately went over to give Mr.Bill a big bear hug.
Kyle often addressed him as "old man," which seemed a bit disrespectful, but... anyone from Page Pictures knew that the relationship between this old man and the young man was excellent.
"Thanks to you, I'm doing great."
Mr.Bill laughed loudly: "You have no idea how happy I am now. Hmm, let me put it this way: I should have retired sooner."
Once upon a time, due to health reasons and age, Mr.Bill reached a point where he had to retire. He was incredibly reluctant, as this was the industry he had fought for for decades.
He had said more than once: "If I leave this industry, I don't even know how I'll live in the future?"
But what about now?
After retiring, he returned to his hometown in Texas, a small town called "Summer," bought a small farm, and spent his days enjoying the most wonderful twilight years with his wife, with whom he had shared his life for half a lifetime.
"Cowboy!"
"I wanted to be a cowboy when I was a kid, but for various reasons, I couldn't make it happen. Who would have thought that now that I'm old, I've actually achieved it."
"I wake up naturally every day, eat breakfast, and stroll around the farm; in the afternoon, I go fishing by the small lake on the farm, and when the mood strikes, I take my beloved shotgun and fire a few shots in the woods; in the evening, it's even more comfortable—I sit by the fireplace and chat about the past with my wife."
"Everything is just so comfortable."
It has to be said that although Mr.Bill was a bit flustered right after he retired, he has now completely adapted to retirement life. Because of this, his health has improved a lot, and he seems incredibly energetic.
Hearing Mr.Bill's chatter, Kyle didn't feel annoyed at all; instead, he nodded frequently, a smile always on his face.
Kevin Feige, who was on the side, also laughed and followed up: "Boss, I've seen the photos Mr. McNickle sent me. Herds of cattle and sheep on the ranch, countless golden corn in the fields, soybeans that stretch as far as the eye can see, and fish and shrimp jumping out of the fishery... I, too, yearn for this kind of life!"
The celebration banquet hosted by Page Pictures this time was not held in a hotel, but at a manor in the suburbs of Los Angeles.
The manor was named—Depeche Manor!
It was a 10-acre (about 40,000 square meters) manor built in 1982 by the well-known Los Angeles tycoon Turner Depeche. It might not be the largest private manor in Los Angeles, and it might not even make the top 20, but in terms of luxurious decor, it is definitely second to none.
Depeche Manor is a private estate and is never open to the public. The fact that it was let to Kyle for the celebration banquet this time was entirely because the tycoon Turner Depeche was deliberately trying to curry favor with Kyle.
Nothing else, Depeche wanted to buy shares in the LinkedIn Corporation under Kyle.
"Lima, what do you say, how about I buy this place?" Kyle suddenly suggested.
"What?"
Lima was immediately stunned: "Are you kidding?"
Kyle spread his hands: "Do you think it's impossible?!"
"Oh my God!" Lima immediately covered her mouth with both hands, shocked: "This is Depeche Manor! I heard that since it was completed in 1982, dozens of tycoons across the United States have wanted to buy it from Turner Depeche, but they were all rejected. You can actually buy it!"
Hearing this, Kyle laughed triumphantly.
No choice, this is the manifestation of strength!
Kyle was a bit stingy in his dealings, but he was not stingy at all when it came to his own life; on the contrary, he was even a bit... slightly extravagant.
Whether it was the property he inherited from his late father after transmigrating, or the $4.6 million Burbank Villa he bought in 1996, neither could satisfy Kyle's needs now.
Not to mention anything else, just in terms of security alone, Kyle needed a better, bigger manor!
Depeche Manor covers 10 acres, with various luxurious buildings and complete facilities. Its overall value is no less than $60 million, which perfectly matches Kyle's needs and status symbol.
At the same time, it can also avoid harassment from many media reporters!
"Originally, when Turner offered to let the manor go, I was a bit hesitant, but seeing how much you like this place, what else is there to hesitate about?" Kyle hugged Lima.
Lima nodded like a garlic masher: "This place is really great."
For a $60 million manor, many tycoons might need to think about it, but for Kyle, it was just a drop in the bucket. Moreover, Depeche Manor was so beautiful.
"It's just that the delivery date for my yacht hasn't arrived yet, otherwise we could go out to sea to play," Kyle suddenly said.
Indeed!
The yacht Kyle bought, worth tens of millions of dollars, would not be delivered until around mid-2001.
Meanwhile...
While Kyle and Lima were whispering, Kevin Feige, the new president of Page Pictures, suddenly became a sought-after figure by many invited guests.
"Kevin, I heard that Page Pictures will have big moves this year! Good grief, just in the first half of the year, in addition to the movies "district 9" and "the devil wears prada" which are currently filming, you have also launched several new movie projects."
Touchstone Pictures president Vichy Williams said.
"That's right, I heard it too!"
Paramount Pictures vice president Jordan said: "Mark's movie called "crank", I was originally interested in taking over, but that guy Mark actually wanted to be the director himself, so I gave up. However, I didn't expect that you at Page Pictures would have the courage; a $12 million movie, you invested in it just like that. Tsk tsk tsk~"
At the same time, in one part of the manor, many Hollywood actors were also chatting enthusiastically.
Keywords: "crank", "the fast and the furious".
Now, two movies have been successively launched by Page Pictures, script preparation has been completed, and casting is about to begin, so many Hollywood agencies and actors have set their sights on them.
"Page Pictures in 2000 is quite spectacular. If possible, I would certainly like to participate."
The person who said this was none other than one of the hottest actors in Hollywood currently, Tom Cruise.
Just as he finished speaking.
Two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks laughed: "Whether it's "crank" or "the fast and the furious", the production cost of both movies does not exceed $40 million. You, Tom Cruise, charge at least $15 million for a leading role. Therefore, do you think it's possible for you?"
Tom Cruise smiled awkwardly.
However...
Joaquin Phoenix, Matt Damon, Paul Walker, and other male actors were moved.