America 1919

"So, if you can help us solve this current problem, I can guarantee that Miss America will never lack movie roles in Hollywood!"

Even though he was dissatisfied with Donnie's attitude, the current predicament had indeed arisen and become the biggest headache for these major studios.

Therefore, Carl Lemore was willing to set aside his dignity and make peace with Donnie!

Moreover, Carl Lemore believed that once this matter was settled, he had plenty of ways to control Donnie!

Clearly, Carl Lemore didn't know Donnie well enough!

"Sorry, I can't agree to that, Mr. Lemore. As far as we're concerned, once this thing is successful, my Miss Americas will also have no shortage of film shoots!"

If he suddenly sided with these big studios now, Donnie would offend all of Hollywood's film industry, directors, and screenwriters alike, and without his own foundation, he'd be even more controlled by them. How could Donnie not see through Lemore and their thoughts?

"Donnie, you lack a foundation in Hollywood. If you imagine the worst-case scenario for us, even if we agree to sit down with the three major unions and both sides reach an agreement that everyone can accept,

we can still reject your Miss America!"

Carl Lemore also had his own confidence, fundamentally speaking, the strike and demonstrations by the three major unions were about demanding more money, not really about ruining the game.

That is to say, they would definitely continue to cooperate in the end.

As long as they continued to cooperate, these big studios would always hold more bargaining power.

So Carl Lemore was quite certain about telling Donnie this.

Donnie laughed, "So Mr. Lemore, you're threatening me?"

Carl Lemore leaned on the sofa, picked up the coffee Jessica Dole had poured for him, then smiled, "If you really think so, Donnie, then I can't help that!"

Donnie just glanced at Carl Lemore casually, then said just as relaxedly, "First off, there's something you might not know yet, Mr. Lemore. Before I came to Los Angeles, I had already discussed with both Morgan and Mellon banks.

In the future, they will invest in movies starring or featuring Miss America and fully support the development of United Artists. If United Artists is backed by the financial support from both Morgan and Mellon, Mr. Lemore, how long do you think it would take for them to catch up to Universal's current size?"

"What?"

The previously composed Carl Lemore suddenly sat up straight, disbelievingly looking at Donnie. He hadn't heard a whisper of this news!

But after his surprise, Carl Lemore laughed, "Even with the support of Morgan and Mellon, whether United Artists can develop depends on whether we agree to distribute for them or not!"

Donnie spread his hands, nonchalantly saying, "It seems today we won't be able to negotiate a definite result!"

"So Donnie, are you telling us that you have formally refused our cooperation proposal?"

Carl Lemore stood up, looking down on Donnie from above.

Donnie smiled easily, "If my attitude wasn't clear enough just now, I can now tell you definitively, Mr. Lemore, that our negotiations have indeed broken down!"

"You will regret today's decision, and I can assure you that from now on, no Hollywood film will feature Miss America!"

After speaking, Carl Lemore left angrily!

Donnie watched Carl Lemore's figure disappear, smiled casually, and wasn't concerned about the threat. If the other party was really so confident, they wouldn't have come to find him today!

However, Donnie still had to prepare for what was to come.

"Call the hotel, ask them to send someone to this address, to bring Max over!"

Donnie instructed Jessica Dole.

Jessica Dole immediately went to carry out Donnie's instructions. Find exclusive stories on empire

At the same time, Donnie picked up another phone and informed Charlie Chaplin and others that Universal's Carl Lemore had come looking for him!

If they couldn't succeed on his side, they would definitely turn to Charlie Chaplin and others.

Max arrived at Donnie's an hour later, received a thousand US dollars, and left with orders from Donnie.

Soon after, the call from Charlie Chaplin came in.

As Donnie expected, personnel from other big studios had approached Charlie Chaplin and made a series of offers, none of which satisfied the core demands of Charlie Chaplin and the others.

They agreed to increase their wages and give them greater authority on set.

But they did not agree to allow their United Artists to develop better.

Furthermore, they made one more demand: to ban Miss America from Starry Entertainment.

"Although we didn't agree to these terms, I think, for sure some actors, writers, and directors won't be able to refuse such conditions!"

Charlie Chaplin warned Donnie, "They've started to move!"

The best way to dissolve any unbreakable alliance is actually to disintegrate it from within. Previously, Donnie had used this method to break up the alliance between General Electric and Westinghouse.