Chapter 36: The 1992 Los Angeles Riots

There are always people who think they can have it all in Hollywood, but more often than not, they end up crossing paths with the Big Five and learning the rules of the industry the hard way, ultimately exiting the business altogether.

Kevin, who had a deep understanding of the entertainment industry's rules, chose the path of cooperation and mutual benefit from the very beginning.

From CAA to New Line Cinema, and then bridging the gap between New Line Cinema and Warner Bros, he secured a 30% stake in the investment.

Don't think that Kevin gave up too much.

You see, if this film hadn't been funded by Warner Bros, it would have been impossible for him to have a release in a thousand theaters.

As for the four thousand screens and the scale of the marketing campaign, these are things that Kevin and other small film companies couldn't achieve.

Let me put it this way, if Kevin had tried to distribute the film through a small company on his own, even with a hundred percent investment, the film's maximum box office would have been around twenty to thirty million dollars.

After deducting all expenses, Kevin would have made just over ten million dollars, and when you factor in the high taxes in the United States, it would have felt like a lonely profit.

Not to mention the countless unforeseen circumstances that could have occurred along the way.

You can't compare the joy and satisfaction of the profit he is making now.

The smooth journey he had was largely due to Kevin's willingness to share.

...

"Kevin!"

Sunlight streamed into Kevin's bedroom in his Beverly Hills mansion as the sheets rolled up and down, indicating that something delightful was happening under the covers.

After a moment, the two finally paused.

Jolie obediently lay beside him, and in front of the bed, a television was broadcasting an eagerly anticipated public trial.

Capitalism meant everything revolved around money.

Although it wasn't the era of live broadcasting yet, news radio stations were already aware of its significance.

ABC, the largest television network in the United States, successfully secured the rights to broadcast the Rodney King trial through their connections.

The trial had just begun.

Lawyers from both sides were cross-examining each other based on the law and defending their clients.

After finishing cleaning up the house, Jolie nestled up to Kevin's side.

Ever since the premiere the previous day, Kevin had been glued to the television, seemingly captivated by something that caught his attention.

It was only today that Jolie found out Kevin was following the Rodney King case.

"Kevin?"

"What's the matter?"

"Is the Rodney King case more important to you than the box office performance of Get Out?"

"Why are you more concerned about the Rodney King case than your own film?"

Jolie finally voiced her confusion.

Of course, Kevin couldn't directly tell Jolie that he knew in advance what consequences the Rodney King case would have, so he evaded the question:

"I just feel that Rodney King shouldn't be treated this way."

"America should be a country that embraces diversity."

"Jolie, in the future Hollywood, equality will become the mainstream. If you want to stay in Hollywood, it's best to label yourself appropriately."

Kevin advised.

Apart from Kevin, no one could imagine the terrifying state that political correctness would turn into in the future.

Once a Hollywood star becomes involved in racial discrimination, their career not only suffers but also fades away.

Creating an image as an advocate for equality in advance is Kevin's best strategy to combat future political correctness.

If you can't beat them, join them. That's his thinking.

The trial information was being broadcast on the television. After the lawyers from both sides concluded their arguments and the court presented video evidence showing Rodney King's resistance against the police, the following judgment was made.

"Stacy Koon, Laurence Powell, Theodore Briseno, and Timothy Wind, the four police officers involved in the Rodney King incident, have been found not guilty and are hereby released!"

As the announcement was made, there was an uproar from the dark-skinned people present in the courtroom. The scene descended into chaos.

At this point, Kevin didn't need to continue watching the proceedings. In fact, the major cause of the Rodney King turmoil, as recorded in later years, was the manipulation of the video footage by major broadcast media. Through unethical editing, they turned a case of justifiable police action into a case of police brutality. The public had preconceived notions, which made them believe the police were at fault.

However, the court received the complete and unedited video footage, leading to a fair judgment. This decision greatly displeased the dark-skinned individuals in the courtroom. Furthermore, with the city already in the midst of a financial crisis, many of them were struggling to make ends meet. They were in need of an excuse for unrest.

All these factors combined and led to the outbreak of the Los Angeles riots.

"Julie, it's better for you not to go out these days. I have a feeling that something big is about to happen," Kevin said.

Being aware of the situation, Kevin had already stocked enough supplies in the mansion. At least for the next few days, there would be no need for them to venture outside. The chaos in Los Angeles was primarily concentrated in the downtown area, while Beverly Hills, located in the suburbs and with strong security forces, would not be an attractive target for the dark-skinned individuals seeking to loot stores and cause trouble.

...

"They are guilty!"

"They are guilty!"

"They are guilty!"

A group of dark-skinned individuals held protest banners with the names of the four police officers, their names marked with red crosses made of paint. They marched through the streets, demonstrating their outrage.

Starting with a few hundred people, the protest rapidly engulfed the entire city of Los Angeles, turning into a chaotic gathering of tens of thousands.

With the growing numbers, the dark-skinned individuals, who already had a higher crime rate, quickly lost control. Banks, stores... everything with economic value was taken away by them through looting, effectively at no cost.

Anyone who dared to resist faced physical violence or even death. Even the Los Angeles Police Department felt intimidated when faced with such a large-scale anarchy.

...

Meanwhile, at the White House, President George H. W. Bush received a distress call from the Governor of New York.

As the core of the United States, the significance of New York needed no explanation. The magnitude of the ongoing chaos, involving tens of thousands of people, exceeded the capacity of New York to handle alone.

The unrest had already persisted for two days, and if it continued, it would have severe consequences for the entire country.

Of course, the most crucial aspect was the impact on the businesses of certain corporations in New York. Not only were their stores looted, but under such circumstances, all business activities in the state came to a halt.

This was unacceptable to the corporations and capitalists. They utilized various means, initially exerting pressure on the Governor. When it became evident that the Governor could not resolve the situation, they immediately compelled him to seek assistance from the President.

"Deploy the military to suppress the civil unrest!" they demanded.