Hearing my words, Old Man Ma curled his lips, showing his disagreement.


    "How can it be unrelated?! I just want to tell you that now even a big company like the Mutual Company is in such a difficult situation. It will be even harder for small companies. Do you understand?"


    "I understand, but our DreamWorks is different from the Mutual Company. Hollywood is like a forest. You big companies are like lions and tigers, fighting each other fiercely, and naturally there will be casualties. But a company like ours, DreamWorks, is at most an ant. You fight yours, and you eat antelopes and wild boars. What does it have to do with our ant?!" I grinned at Old Man Ma.


    Old Man Ma was teased by my metaphor and burst into laughter. This guy was born to like lions (otherwise, every movie produced by MGM would have a roaring lion at the beginning). He was deeply convinced that I revealed the complex situation of Hollywood at present with such a simple metaphor.


    "Andre, I like this metaphor of yours, but there is one thing you are wrong about."


    "What''s wrong?"


    "We are lions and tigers, no doubt about it, but your DreamWorks is definitely not an ant. If it really is an ant, then it is an ant that can bite an elephant to death." Old Man Ma stood up, took his coat and walked out of the door with a big smile.


    "Sit for a while longer?"


    "No! I''m going home! Lenny is still waiting for me at home."


    "Don''t forget to go to the premiere at DreamWorks Cinema on the 22nd." I reminded him.


    Old Man Ma waved his hand grandly: "I know! I won''t forget it! I really don''t know that you, kid, have so many tricks and even hold a premiere!"


    On June 22nd, the weather was fine, with sunshine all over the sky and no clouds. In the evening, a gentle breeze blew suddenly, making the whole Burbank cool and comfortable. Passers - by who happened to pass by here would find that this originally empty and deserted town suddenly became lively all of a sudden. Cars were converging here from all directions, and among them, there were even many luxury cars. The streets were crowded with people, and the entrance of DreamWorks Cinema was even more noisy.


    Gans, Berg and I stood on the steps outside the cinema to welcome the invited guests. James and my dad took people inside to be busy.


    The premiere was arranged for 200 people in total, most of whom were people in the film industry, and the rest were residents of Burbank Town and enthusiastic audiences who came from all over.


    The first to arrive was Carl Laemmle, the boss of Universal Pictures. The reason why he could attend my premiere was entirely due to his beloved daughter Heidi. If it weren''t for her, with me, such a little director, they would never come to such a shabby cinema.


    "Mr. Laemmle, hello. Welcome to your arrival." I smiled and stretched out my hand. Laemmle just smiled politely, shook hands with me and then walked into the cinema. Heidi beside him made a face at me directly.


    When Sam Warner and Jack Warner arrived, my dad personally ran out from inside to greet them. After all, it was his old employer. I had met Jack once, but I had never known Sam, who held the real power in Warner Company.


    "Hall, I didn''t expect that you, this guy, actually raised such a promising son. Not bad, not bad. Wait until this movie is over, call him to report to our Warner. I''ve talked to Sam. He will definitely make good use of this kid." Jack patted my dad''s shoulder.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    "Dad, thank you so much for your kindness. But Andre has started his own company now. He is independent now. As a father, I''m afraid I can''t control him anymore." My dad said with a beaming face.


    "Mr. Warner, welcome!" I seized the opportunity to walk up and say hello.


    Sam glanced at me and didn''t care much. He walked into the cinema with his head held high. In his eyes, I was just a yellow - haired kid. He wasn''t interested in chatting with me at all.


    "Boss, John Cohen from Columbia!" Fatty pointed to an old man who had just got out of the car.


    I didn''t know John Cohen, but I had seen his son, Mit Cohen, more than once. I guessed that the old man could come probably because of his son. Where there is Heidi, there is Mit. If Mit comes, naturally he will bring his father along.


    Old Man Ma and Fox basically appeared at the same time. The two of them looked extremely friendly. Lenny followed them gracefully, making the men around them almost drop their eyeballs to the ground.


    "Andre, are you ready?" Old Man Ma shook hands with me while asking.


    "Everything is ready. Just waiting for you big bosses." I let Gans take them inside.


    "Take a good rest after you finish this busy work. Look at your dark eye sockets." Lenny murmured softly, blinked at me behind Old Man Ma.


    Fatty saw it clearly on one side and poked my back: "Boss, you are so lucky! You mean, how could a swan like Miss Lenny fall for you?"


    I gave him a flying kick. Fatty screamed continuously: "Fatty, do you mean that I am that toad?!"


    "No, no, boss. You are the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro! The vast Western Prairie!" Fatty begged for mercy.


    That night, except for Adolf Hugenberg, Chaplin of United Artists, and Fairbanks of the Fine Arts Film Company, all the bigwigs of several major Hollywood companies were present. The onlookers, seeing these bigwigs who were usually impossible to see, were discussing whether I had any connections with these people. Otherwise, how could I invite them? Their arrival really made the reputation of DreamWorks soar.


    "Son, your old man has been doing screenings for so many years, and I have only seen Jack Warner before. I didn''t expect that you, after messing around for a month, could invite all these elders to my home. Your old man is really proud. In the future, I can walk with my head held high in Burbank." My dad stood beside me, full of emotion.


    In addition to these film giants, I also invited several bosses of small companies, such as Tom Bodewin of the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company, Sidney Olcott of the Kalem Film Company, Chani Bara of the Flash Film Company, etc. They could come, basically thanks to Grant, the honorary mayor of Hollywood.


    Among everyone, Grant arrived the latest. The young man was full of the smell of alcohol. It was obvious that he had just run over from a banquet. With a little drunkenness, he put his arm around my shoulder and walked into the cinema with me.


    When we went in, warm applause broke out inside. Grant pulled me onto the steps under the screen and waved to the crowd.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, good evening!" Grant smiled and said loudly to the people below: "Tonight is the premiere of Mr. Andre''s first movie ''Lust, Caution''. I''m very glad that you can come to participate. In fact, I''m also very glad."


    Hahaha. The audience below saw Grant''s drunken appearance and burst into laughter.


    "Tonight, I attended a banquet at the city hall. On the way here, looking at this movie poster, I suddenly felt that I was getting old!" Grant held up a copy of the "Lust, Caution" poster high: "Why do I think so? It''s all thanks to this young man beside me! For more than a month, what this young man has done, his movie concept, his shooting techniques, have really broadened my horizons. As for whether you will be surprised or not, you will know after this movie is shown."


    Hahaha, there was another burst of laughter.


    "Today is the premiere of this movie, which can also be regarded as a gathering of us filmmakers. For many years, it has been a long time since we had a meeting like tonight. "Grant looked haggard, and his tone began to become heavy: "Among the people present, Carl Laemmle, when Hollywood was just established, had only a few thousand dollars in his pocket. The Warner brothers were also so poor that their money jingled. As for Mr. Malskrov, he was in debt a few years ago. But today, they are all people whose every move shakes Hollywood. The times are progressing, and the film is developing. Whose credit is it? It''s the credit of the young people! They make us, these old guys, have to run hard with our trousers around our waists. Ladies and gentlemen, I hope that after tonight''s party and this movie - watching, everyone will remember young people like Mr. Andre, remember them, and support them more! Thank you!"


    Clap, clap, clap, clap! Warm applause broke out again.


    As expected of a person who has experienced wind and rain, his speech was flawless.


    After Grant, Malskrov, on behalf of the film giants present, spoke, which was nothing more than praise for me and expectations for this movie. After he finished, I didn''t speak, but let Berg start the movie.


    All the lights in the cinema were turned off, and a beam of light was projected from behind onto the screen. People were silent, with only faint breathing sounds coming one after another.